to yellow spotted all ouer with round shining spots in like manner are their eies She is a friend almost to all kinde of creatures except the Aspe and Dragon and as Oppianus saith neuer taken but when shee is drunke or in her sleepe She is the female to the Leopard The Leopard is of the same colour and of the nature of a Wolfe being full hee hurteth nothing but if empty he preyeth vpon euery thing yea euen vpon men his breath is very sweet with which many other creatures being delighted he often preyes vpon them but beeing full he sleepeth somtimes three daies together The Tyger also is a very swift and cruell creature from whence he is so called his skin is yellow and full of black spots round and shining If shee chance to lose her yong she neuer leaues seeking till shee findes them out The Trauels of Tryphon that put Antiochus to death IN An. mundi 3826. before Christ 142. Tryphon somtime chief Captain to Alexander King of Syria who was slain in Arabia went to Emalcuel Prince of Arabia deserta with whom Antiochus the son of Alexander was brought vp where he so wrought with him that he got the boy from him and brought him thence into Syria 160 miles and within a while after besieged Antiochia tooke the towne droue thence Demetrius Nicanor and crowned yong Antiochus King of Assyria This journy to and again was 320 miles 1 Mac. 11. In the second yeare of the reign of young Antiochus Tryphon went from Antiochia to Bethsan where he perfidiously betrayed Ionathan the brother of Iudas Machabeus 1 Mac. 12. being thirtie six miles From Bethsan he went to Ptolomais 32 miles From Ptolomais he went to Addus a towne vpon the borders of Iudea 68 miles 1 Mac. 13. To Addus Simon sent his brothers Children and his ransome which was 60 talents of siluer but after hee had receiued the mony he broke his word and went thence with Ionathan and his sons to Ador 48 miles From Ador hee went to Bascharnan in the land of Gilead 96 miles Here he put to death Ionathan and his sonnes From the country of the Gileadites he returned to Antiochia which was 240 miles here he put to death yong Antiochus being but a boy of 7 yeares of age and vsurped vpon the gouernment in his place He began to reign in the 172 yeare of the Grecians gouernment in Syria and reigned 3 yeares 1 Mac. 14. Ios li. Ant. 13. About the end of the three yeares which was in the 174 yeare of the Grecians gouernment in Syria Antiochus Sedetes brother of Demetrius Nicanor made war vpon Tryphon and compelled him to fly from Antiochia to Dora 240 miles from Antiochia toward the South 1 Mac. 15. But Antiochus Sedetes followed him thither and so streightly besieged Dora that he was constrained to steale thence in a ship and saile to Orthosia which was 160 miles Lastly in the way as he was going thence to Apamea which was 120 miles he was taken and put to death So all his trauels were 1360 miles ¶ Of the places mentioned in his trauels which haue been formerly recited Of Dora DOra was a hauen towne scituated vpon the shore of the Mediterranean sea 48 miles from Ierusalem Northward in the mid way between Carmel and Caesarea Strato In Ioseph cap. 17. it is called Dor that is à durans Of Orthosia THis was a city of Assiria scituated vpon the shore of the Mediterranian sea neere to the place where the riuer Eleutherius falleth into it 200 miles from Ierusalem Northward being so called of Diana whom the Grecians called Orthosia that is Exalted or lifted vp Hither Tryphon sailed when hee fled from Antiochus Sedetes 1 Mac. 15. Plin. lib. 5. cap. 20. Concerning the trauels of Apolonius Nicanor Bacchides and Cendebius because they are sufficiently described in the trauels of the Machabees I thought it vnfit to speake further of them The Trauels of Heliodorus HEliodorus signifies the House of the Sun He was Scretarie and chiefe Gouernor of Antiochia in Syria for that mightie King Seleucus Philopater who was brother to that cruel Tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes and was sent by his Lord and master Seleucus from Antiochia to Ierusalem which is 80 miles to spoile the Temple of the Lord but the Lord sent an Angel richly beautified with armor of gold sitting vpon a horse who went to Heliodorus and with his horse trod him vnder his feet and there appeared two other Angels full of majestie and power that strooke Heliodorus and beat him with whips so that he lay vpon the floore of the Temple as a man halfe dead and could not go forth vntil he was caried out 2 Mac. 3. From Ierusalem he went with that good man Onias chief priest of the Iewes at whose earnest prayers and supplications hee was made whole to Antiochia 280 miles where hee told Seleucus Philopater of the wonderfull works of the Lord. So all his trauels were 580 miles The Trauels of the high-Priests of the Iewes that ruled before the Machabees as they are seuerally mentioned in the Books of Machabees And first of the trauels of Onias the high-Priest ONias signifies the riches of God from On Opulency and Iah God for although he was afflicted with pouertie in this world yet he was rich in God He succeeded his Father Simon the Iust an M. 3757. before Christ 211. Antiochus the great being King of Syria He was high-priest 39 years vntil the death of Seleucus Philopater at the end of which time one Simon the chiefe of those that kept the temple being ambitious of rule fell to words with Onias and from words to blowes so that there were many outrages committed by the friends of Simon Wherefore Onias to giue place to the fury of his aduersaries went from Ierusalem to Antiochia which was 280 miles But Seleucus Philopater being dead and Antiochus Epiphanes in the gouernment who was a couetous and cruell prince good Onias partly for fear of him and partly of his brother Iason who had but a little before purchased the office of high priest for 360 talents of siluer and promised to pay a yearely tribute of 80 talents durst not return home to Ierusalem but went to a sanctuary that stood in the wood of Daphne which was about one mile from Antiochia in hope of safety to which place one Andronichus chiefe Captaine to Antiochus came to him and with faire speeches and flattering words allured him out of the Sanctuary and traiterously put him to death So his trauels were 281 miles The Trauels of the high-Priest Iason IAson and Iesus haue both one signification he entred vpon the office of High priest in the first yere of Antiochus Epiphanes which was 173 yeares before Christ He went from Ierusalem to Antiochia which was 280 miles where after the death of Onias he payd to Antiochus for the office of high-priest almost 3 tunnes of gold with promise to pay a yearely tribute of 48000 crowns From Antiochia
Sauiour Christ and the remainder is his age At his circumcision he was called Saul that is a mortall man but when he was made the Apostle of the Gentiles he was called Paul of which name there was a noble family in Rome so called because of the lownesse of their stature and smalnesse of their body as Carolus Sigonius obserueth In the 35 yeare after the natiuitie of Christ Paul was an inquisitor for priuate heresie and a cruel persecutor of the Gospel The next yeare he went from Ierusalem to Damascus in Syria which was 160 miles in which journey about the 25 day of Ianuary he was conuerted and vpon the 28 day of Ianuary was baptized by Ananias So he staied some few daies in Damascus and taught the Gospell of Christ Acts 9. 22. In the same yere that he was conuerted the Iewes those that were enemies to the Gospell went about by deceit to take his life wherefore he went from Damascus to Arabia Petraea which was 160 miles here hee continued teaching the Gospell by the space of three yeares that is from the beginning of the 35 to the end of the 37 yeare after the Natiuitie of Christ Act. 9. In the 38 yeare after the Natiuitie of Christ he returned from Arabia Petraea and came to Damascus which was 160 miles and there he diligently taught the Gospell of Christ But when in the same yeare Araeta King of Arabia went about to put him secretly to death he was let down in a basket ouer the wall and so went from Damascus to Ierusalem which was 160 miles and when hee came thither he brought Barnabas to the Apostles and shewed them his conuersion and remained with Peter 15 daies preaching the Gospell At this time he saw Iames the sonne of Alpheus and brother of our Lord Acts 9. 2 Cor. 11. Galat. 1. But when his aduersaries that were at Ierusalem went about secretly to put him to death hee went from Ierusalem and was brought by the brethren to Caesarea Strato which was 32 miles Acts 9. About the 38 yere after the natiuitie of Christ he went thence into Syria to Tarsus a citie of Cilicia which was 272 miles here he continued some yeares teaching the Gospell of Christ Gal. 1. 2 Cor. 11. In the 41 yeare after the natiuitie of Christ and about the seuenth yeare of his Ministrie hee was brought by Barnabas from Tarsus to Antiochia in Syria which was 120 miles At this time and in this towne all those that beleeued in Christ began to bee called Christians wheras before they were called Disciples and brothers Acts 11. These things hapned in the eight yeare after the resurrection of Christ about this time also Matthew wrote his Gospell and Agabus prophesied of the vniuersall dearth that should happen vnder Claudius Acts 11. In the 42 yeare after the natiuitie of Christ Paul being then at Antiochia and about 32 yeres of age was wrapt vp into the third heauen 14 yeares before he wrote his second Epistle to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 12. In the 43 yeare after the natiuitie of Christ the famine wherof Agabus prophecied being now begun hee went with the gifts of the Church from Antiochia to Ierusalem which was 280 miles this yeare Iames the elder was beheaded at the command of Agrippa Acts 11. 12. In the 44 yeare after the natiuitie of Christ Paul and Barnabas with Peter were deliuered out of prison by the Angell of the Lord. Now hauing distributed the gifts of the Church hee returned in the company of Iohn Marke from Ierusalem to Antiochia which was 280 miles So these trauels were 1928 miles Of the townes and places to which he trauelled of Tarsus or Tharsus THis was the Metropolis of Cilicia scituated vpon the riuer of Cydnus which beginning at Mount Taurus runs thence through this towne into the Mediterranean sea It was first built by Perseus King of the Persians whom the Poëts faigne to bee the sonne of Iupiter and Danaë called Tharsus of the Hyacinth stone which as it seemeth is found thereabouts It was distant from Ierusalem 304 miles towards the North in antient time a goodly city but through the injurie of the time and inuasion of the enemy much impaired lay almost ruined til as Strab. saith li. 14. it was repaired by Sardanapalus that effeminat K. of the Assirians of whom Tully remembreth this Epitaph lib. 5. Tuscula Haec habeo quae aedi quaeque exaturata libido Hausit at illa jacent multa praeclara relicta What things I eat or spend in sport and play Those I enjoy the rest I cast away From his time vntill the raigne of Darius the last king of the Persians it continued in great prosperity and was become a maruellous stately citie the inhabitants therof being growne very wealthy but then Alexander the Great making warre vpon that Prince amongst others brought his Army against this citie but the citisens hearing of his notable exployts durst not abide his comming therefore they fired the citie left hee should make a prey of their riches and fled which when Alexander perceiued he gaue order to Parmenio with all possible speed to quench the fire and saue the citie In the meane time the King being prest with an extraordinary thirst by reason of the extreame heate that was in that country the dust and his long journie put off his roiall garments and cast himselfe into the riuer Cydnus which being a cold water comming out of the North stroke the heat presently inward and so benummed his sinewes that had it not been for the present helpe of his souldiers and the extraordinarie diligence and care of Philip his Phisitian he had died immediately notwithstanding by the great prouidence of God and the carefulnesse of his physitian hee recouered his dangerous sickenesse beyond the expectation of man and after ouercame Darius in a sharpe and cruell warre neere to a place called Issa as you may reade before See Plutarch in vita Alexand. and Quintus Curtius From that time forward this citie grew to be very famous and daily increased in statelinesse and faire buildings And to adde more dignitie to it there was a famous Academie in which were many learned and rare Philosophers in so much that they of Tharsus exceeded the Philosophers of Athens and Alexandria for learning and knowleged though indeed for number of scholers and common resort they exceeded Tharsus Saint Paul was borne and brought vp in this Towne and here learned the knowledge of the tongues Philosophie and other good arts Hee also perused the writings of Aratus Epimenides Menander and other learned men whose sayings are here and there dispersed through his Epistles From thence he was sent to Ierusalem where hee liued and was brought vp at the feet of Gamaliel who was Prouost of that Academy and after was conuerted to be an Apostle of Christ Iesus as appeareth Acts 22. This towne at this day is subject to the Empire of the Turkes and called
Angle betweene the dung gate and the gate of the valley which was called Hananiel and signifieth The grace and gift of God This is much spoken of in the Scripture vpon this wall King Herod the Ascalonite built three faire Towers one betweene the Garden gate and the old gate which hee called Hippicum in honour of his father Hippicus the other Phaselum in honour of his brother Phasilus and the third Mariamne after his wiues name who notwithstanding hee caused innocently to be put to death These three gates were built of polisht Marble Pliny and Strabo saith That this was the fairest and most spacious city of the East and for the munition and fortification almost inuincible The wals of it were all of white polisht marble some 25 or 30 cubits high the stones were 20 cubits long 20 broad and 5 thicke so closely joyned that the junctures could scarce be perceiued Many of the Towers also were made of such stones but those of the Temple exceeded the rest for they were 25 cubits long 12 broad and 8 thicke as Iosephus witnesseth lib. Ant. 15. ca. 14. de Bel. Iud. li. 6. ca. 6. which things being rightly considered we may easily perceiue that these walls were very difficult to be destroyed Neither were the ditches of lesse strength that went about the Towne for they were cut out of hard stones at least forty cubits deepe and two hundred and fifty cubits broad which were vnpossible to haue beene woon if God had not holpen and assisted the Romans filling vp those ditches with the bodies of those that died of the plague and famine within the towne Of the gates of Ierusalem IT had twelue gates to goe out and in Vpon the East side lay fiue the first of which was the Fountaine gate which was so called of the Fountaine Siloah And this stood close by the gate of mount Sion In which Fountain the man that was borne blind washt himselfe at the commandement of our Sauiour and had his sight restored Ioh. 9. and at this gate Christ came riding in vpon an Asse when he came from Bethania on Palme Sunday 2 The Sheepe-gate which was so called of the multitude of sheepe that were driuen in by it to be offered in the Temple for it stood hard by the temple Right before this gate stood mount Oliuet some halfe an English mile and a furlong from Ierusalem Eastward By it stood the Garden called Gethsemane where Christ was taken and led into the citie through this gate to be offered vp like an innocent sheepe for the sinnes of the whole World 3 The Dung-gate this tooke the name from a dung-hill because the raine water comming with great power through the Citie washed nway the filth and with great violence carried it through this gate into the poole Cedron Not far from this gate was the water gate and stood a little within it 4 The Valley-gate which tooke the name of the valley Iehosaphat and lay not farre from the other gate Hereabouts also stood the Dragon gate 5 The Horse-gate and stood just in the joyning of the East and North part of the Citie it tooke the name from the Kings horses as appeareth Ier. 31. Neh. 3. The gates vpon the North. 6 The corner gate which stood Northwest 2. K. 14. 1. Ch. 26. Ier. 31. Zach. 14. 7 The Benjamin-gate so called because men by this gate went to the borders of Benjamin in this gate the Prophet Ieremy was prisoner Ier. 37. 8 The Ephraim gate by which they went to the borders of Ephraim The gates vpon the West 9 The Raine-gate so called because the raine water clensing the streets carried away all the filth and so past through this gate toward the West and there thrust it out of the Citie Neh. 12. 10 The Garden-gate before which the garden stood wherein Christ was buried 11 The old gate before this Mount Caluarie stood whereon Christ was crucified 12 The fish gate so called because of the Sea fish that came in by it it was also called the Bricke gate Here the Prophet Ieremy broke an earthen pitcher Ieremy 19. and out of this gate they went to Bethlehem But on the South side there were no gates for there mount Sion stood which was so high and steepe that no man could goe vp vpon it Of the gates within the Citie THe gate of Sion the water gate of which two I haue already spoken The middle gate whereof Ieremie speaketh cap. 19. and it is thought it stood in the middle of the citie in the valley Cedron not farre from the Tower called Mariamne The Iron gate which opened of it selfe when the Angell led Peter out of prison Acts 12. this stood in the City walls passing from one suburbe into another all these gates stood within the city And thus much shall suffice to haue spoken of the portraiture of it Of the Springs Valleys Fountaines and other memorable places as they were scituated neere to the Citie and how to the foure parts of the World IN the next place it resteth to shew what things worthy memorie were about and stood neere to the City the first of which was the brooke Cedron which sprung out of a hill not farre from it vpon the South and with great swiftnesse ran through the East part of the citie and so between Ierusalem the mount of Oliues to the valley gate of Iehosaphat thence passing through the cliffes of mount Oliuet it ran directly East till it came to the dead Sea which brooke in the Summer time was most commonly dry The water of it was something blacke which colour the valley Iehosaphat which was very fertile gaue it from thence it was called Nigrescens torrens a blackish streame This is mystically spoken of in 2. Sam. and Psa 100. where it is said He that is our Sauiour Christ shall drink of the brook in the way which he fulfilled when he made satisfaction for our sinnes by his death passion as it appeareth in the 69 Psal Saue me ô God c. Into this brooke ran the water of Silo and that which came out of the temple Of the mount of Oliues and Bethania which signifies a house of mourning THese two the one lay vpon the East the other Southwest about halfe an English mile and a furlong from Ierusalem Of Bethania you may reade in Nehemia Of the hill Gihon GIhon stood before Ierusalem on the West side right against the fish gate and the old gate 2. Chr. 22. Here King Solomon was crowned 1. Kin. 1. Not farre from this stood the mount Golgatha where Christ was crucified From whence may be obserued That as Solomon vpon that hill was crowned King so Christ vpon this was crucified our Sauiour and the true Solomon that made euerlasting peace betweene God and vs. From this mount Gihon sprung the Fountaine Gihon and thereabouts also was the Fullers field 2. King 18. 2. Chron. 33. In which place Senacharib and other
the inhabitants to death because of their mocks From thence he went to Ophra foure miles where gathering together all the gold which hee had taken from the Midianites he made a rich Ephod Iudg. 8. From Ophra hee went to Sichem where his sonne Abimalech was borne which is 10 miles From thence he returned backe to Ophra which is ten miles and there he died after he had judged Israel 10 yeares So all the trauels of Gedion were 82 miles The Description of the Townes and places to which GEDION trauelled Of Iesreel IEsreel was a faire Citie scituated vpon a hill neere to the flood Kison bordering vpon the Tribe of Isacher 48 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and signifieth the seed of God being deriued from El and Dara the seed of the Almighty God There was another of this name in the tribe of Iuda Ios 15. In times past this was onely the seat and chiefe abiding place of the Kings of Israel For Ahab and Iesabel kept their Court there and Ioram their sonne whom Iehu ouercame and here Iesabel was eaten vp of dogs At this day this faire citie hath in it but thirtie houses and is called by the inhabitants of the holy land Sanatham being scituated at the foot of the mountaine Gilboah Westward in it there is a Watch tower vpon the top whereof you may see through all Galile to Carmel and the mountaines of Phaenicia also to mount Thabor and the mountaines beyond Iordan called Gilead Of this Towne you may reade Ios 17.19 2 Sam. 2. Of Nobach THis was a citie beyond Iordan and stood in the halfe Tribe of Manasses 38 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward In times past it was called Kenah but after Nobach Prince of the halfe Tribe of Manasseh had conquered it he called it Nobach Num. 23. and signifieth a Prophet being deriued of Nabah or Nabach he hath prophesied or cryed out Of Iogbeha THis towne was built by the children of Gad and lies beyond Iordan 34 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward and taketh the name from the height of the place where it standeth being deriued from Gabah which signifieth it excelleth in height Of this you may reade Iudg. 8. Numb 32. Of Karkor KArkor is a citie in the halfe Tribe of Manasseh and is scituated beyond Iordan some forty miles distant from Ierusalem Northeastward and taketh the name from Kir which signifies he hath destroyed or subuerted the walls for here the two Kings Zeba and Zalmuna were taken Saint Ierom saith in his booke de locis Hebraicis That in his time it was a faire Towne The typicall signification of GEDION THis Gedion whose name signifieth to root out destroied and subuerted the enemies of the Iewes so Christ hath destroied the kingdome of Sathan and daily rooteth out all his impious and wicked members which are enemies to his Church The Trauels of Abimalech the sixt Iudge of Israel GEDION being dead Abimalech his sonne went from Ophra to Sichem which is ten miles and there was chosen by the citizens to succeed his father in the gouernment From thence he went backe to Ophra which is ten miles and there put to death his 70 brethren all sonnes of Gedion but by diuers concubins for God permitted Bigamie but did not command it From Ophra he went ten miles into the land of Sichem and there was chosen King about the yeare of the World 2712. From Sichem which was the seat of the kingdome he went to Ophra being ten miles there he iudged Israel three yeares After that hee went the third time backe to the Sichemites which is 10 miles but they breaking promise with him for very madnesse he caused the citie to be destroied and salt to be sowne in the place that so euer after it might become barren accursed and vnhabitable From Sichem hee went with his hoast to Thebets or Tebez which is two miles where he was mortally wounded by a woman that flang a stone vpon him at the siege of that towne wherof he died Iudg. 9. So all the Trauels of Abimelech were 52 miles Of Thebez THis was distant from Sichem two miles Northward and from Ierusalem 38 it tooke the name from Bitzah which signifieth a deepe pond Abimelech tooke his name from an hereditary kingdome or rather because he obtained the kingdome ouer Israel after his father and is as much to say as My father is a King because good Princes differ little from good fathers for Maelaech with the Hebrews signifieth a King Malechah a Queene and Malchech a kingdome So that this name Abimelech properly signifieth a King or one that is a father of his people Of the flight of Iotham which was the brother of Abimelech IOtham signifieth a perfect and swift man being deriued from Iatham that is perfect and swift This man at such time as Abimilech put to death the rest of his brethren to saue his life fled to Mount Carizin where hee propounded the riddle mentioned Iudg. 9. And after from thence he went to Beerah where he hid himselfe from the fury of Abimelech All this was 44 miles Of Mount Gerizim GErizim or Garizim was a mountaine in the kingdome of the Samaritans and extended it selfe in the longitude as farre as Iericho neere to mount Hebal In these two mountains the blessings and the cursings were recited of which more shall be said hereafter and it taketh the name from the felling down of trees being deriued from Garaz which signifieth to cut or to fel down here Christ spoke with the Samaritan Iohn 4. Of Beerah BEerah was a Towne in the Tribe of Iudah ten miles from Ierusalem Westward Neere to this Citie Iudas Machabeus fought a memorable battell against Bacchides and others whom he conquered It taketh the name from a cleere Well being deriued of Beer that is he hath made cleere Of Thola the seuenth Iudge of Israel In the 3 yeare of this mans rule Hercules king of the Argiues famous for his twelue labors began to raign Macrob. lib. 1. THola takes his name from a red worme or purple colour which colour is proper to Princes Hee succeeded Abimelech in the gouernment of the Iewes and began to rule An. mun 2715. and 1253 yeares before Christ His fathers name was Puah of the Tribe of Issacher He dwelt in Samir a citie of Mount Ephraim not far from Iericho twelue miles from Ierusalem towards the North and there he was buried as you may see Iosh 15. Of Iair the eighth Iudge of Israel In the 10 yeare of this Iudge An. mun 2747 and before Christ 1221 Hercules died and Priamus king of Troy began his raigne which he lost fortie yeares after IAir succeeded Thola began his gouerment in the yere of the world 2738 and 1230 yeares before Christ He took his name from the singular worth and noble disposition that was in him This Iair was one of the tribe of Manasseh he was lame of both his feet and was a man of great estimation among the Iewes for
that hee was constrained to leaue the battell 1 Reg. 22. And as he went backe againe to Samaria which was 24 miles he dyed of his wound Of this man you may reade more 1 Reg. 21. 22. So all the Trauels of Ahab were 152 miles The Description of Carmel Apheck and Ramoth you may reade before Of Iesreel IEzreel is a city in the Tribe of Issachar scituated vpon a rising ground some 48 miles from Ierusalem towards the North where Ahab somtimes kept his court Here Noboth the Israelite dwelt an honest and religious man one of good esteeme and authoritie that feared God and would not suffer the inheritance of one Tribe to be transferred to another because God had commanded the contrary Nu. vlt. For which cause he would not sell his vineyard to Ahab wherefore Iezabel that wicked woman to satisfie the Kings desire caused him to be stoned Iezreel signifies The seed of God being deriued of Sera Seed and El the Almighty God Though in former times this hath bin a faire town yet at this day there is not past 30 houses in it and is called Charity standing at the foot of Mount Gilboah they shew at this day the field of Naboth the Iesrelite lying towards the West as you goe into the citie a little before you come at it This towne standeth vpon a faire prospect for you may see from thence through all Galile to Carmel the mountaines of Phoenicia and Mount Thabor also from Mount Gilead by Iordan and Mount Salem where Iohn baptised neere by Mount Hermon vpon the North side of Mount Gilboah there lies a faire and plaine way to the citie Iezreel by which Iehu came when he made wars vpon Iehoram King of Israel of which you may reade more 2 Reg. 9. It stood not far from the riuer Kison as you may reade Ios 17.19 1 Sam. 2. 1 Reg. 4. 18. Of Ahaziah the sonne of Ahab AHaziah was crowned king of Israel during the life of his father a cruell and wicked man he began his raigne in the 17 yeare of Iosaphat king of Iudah Anno mundi 3049 and before Christ 919 about such time as Ahab went downe to Ramoth Gilead to recouer it from the Syrians within a while after the death of his father hee fell through the lattice window in his vpper chamber which was in Samaria of which hurt he died Of this you may reade more 1 King 1. The Trauels of Iehoram King of Israel IEhoram succeeded his brother Ahazia in the kingdome of Israel who began his raigne in the 18 yeare of Iosaphat King of Iudah and as Iosephus saith li. Ant. 9. about the fifth yeare of his raigne went from Samaria to Ierusalem which was 32 miles There he told Iosaphat how the king of Moab had rebelled against him therefore desired him to goe along with him to the war 2 Reg. 3. Then Iehoram and Iosaphat and the King of Edom went from Ierusalem and compassed about through the wildernesse of Idumaea by the space of seuen daies so that they and their army for want of water had almost perished but at the prayers of the Prophet Elisha they were miraculously preserued At length they came to Petra the Metropolitan Citie of the Moabites and is distant from Ierusalem 172 miles which they tooke and consumed it with fire and sword 2 Reg. 3. From the citie of Petra Iehoram King of Israel returned backe to Samaria which was 104 miles where within a while afrer he was so sorely besieged by Benhadad king of Syria that the famine grew very great within the towne insomuch as a certaine woman eate her owne childe 2 Reg. 6. From Samaria he went to Ramoth in Gilead with his armie which is 24 miles where he was ouercome by Asahel King of the Syrians and wounded euen to the death 2 Reg. 8. From the fight of Ramoth Gilead he was carried in his chariot backe to Iezreel which was 24 miles where he lay to be cured of his hurts But Iehu one of his chiefe Captaines rebelled against him and as hee was in his Charriot shot an arrow and wounded him the second time whereof he died in the field of Naboth the Iezrelite 2 Reg. 9. So all the Trauels of Iehoram were 356 miles The Trauels of Iehu King of Israel IEHV signifies A constant man in himselfe and was the sonne of Iosaphat the sonne of Nimschi hee was annointed King of Israel in the castle at Ramoth in Gilead by Elisha Anno mundi 3063 and before Christ 905 hee raigned 28 yeares 2 Reg. 9. From Ramoth in Gilead in his Chariot he went to Iezreel which was 24 miles where in the field of Naboth the Iezrelite he killed Iehoram with an arrow And when he came to the gates of the citie he caused Iezabel to be throwne from a tower whom he trampled vnder his horse feet And after in that same place shee was eaten vp with dogs Then hee sent messengers to Samaria commanding the Samaritans that they should put to death the 70 sonnes of Ahab which they immediately did and sent their heads vnto him in baskets 2 Reg. 10. From Iezreel he went to Samaria which is 16 miles In that journey he caused to be slaine by his ministers the 42 brothers of Ahaziah king of Iuda neere to the well which was beside the house where sheepe was shorne And when he came to Samaria he caused all the posterity of Ahab to be vtterly destroied and rooted out And to conclude the tragedy by a cunning policie put to death all the priests of Baal 2 Reg. 10. So all the trauels of Iehu were 40 miles Of Iehoahas King of Israel IEhoahas was the sonne of Iehu and succeeded his father in the Kingdome of Israel he began his raigne in the 33 yeare of Ioas King of Iudah in the yeare of the World 3091 and before Christ 876 hee raigned ouer Israel 17 yeares God stirred vp against this wicked King Asahel King of the Syrians who with 10000 foot and fiue hundred horse besieged Samaria very strongly put to the sword many of his subjects and got many cities and townes from him as the Prophet Elisha had before told him 2 Reg. 8. 13. The Trauels of Ioas King of Israel IOas succeeded his father Iehoahas and while he was yet liuing was annointed King of Israel in the 37 yeare of Ioas King of Iudah and raigned two yeares with his father after his death 15 so all the raigne of Ioas was 17 yeares This man was a great souldier and went from Samaria with an army against the Citie of Apheck which was 14 miles there he smote the Syrians and in three seuerall battels carried away the victory recouering the Cities which his father Iehoahas had lost according to the prophecie of Elisha 2 Reg. 17. From Apheck he returned to Samaria which was foureteene miles From thence he went with his army to Bethsemes in the land of Iuda where in a sharpe and cruell war he conquered Amasia and tooke him
with the fairest cities of those times being strongly fortified both by sea and land so that it seemed to be inuincible But at this day it is but a smal city the incursions of forrein enemies hauing wasted and destroied the greater part and left the rest to be a wonder to the world the heaps and ruins of goodly buildings making euident lamentable destructions Thus man with his deuices perisheth but the Lord endureth for euer Vpon the Booke of MACHABES The Trauels of Antiochus Epiphanes ANtiochus Epiphanes that is An illustrous Aduersary in the yeare of Christ 380 was sent out of Syria by Antiochus the Great to Rome which 1600 miles where he remained as an hostage for his father and his brother Seleucus Philopater seuenteen yeares 1 Mac. 1. After the death of his father he stole secretly from Rome and went backe again to Antiochia in Syria which was 1600 miles and there succeeded his brother Seleucus Philopater in the gouernment He began to reign 173 yeares before Christ In the third yeare of his reign he went from Antiochia to Tyrus 60 miles in that journey he conquered all the lower part of Syria and Phoenicia From thence he went aboue sixe score miles through Galilee and Iudaea conquering al the cities and countries that lay in his way and would also haue gon downe into Egypt but when hee heard that his nephew Ptolomais Philometor had proclaimed an assembly and parliament and would not acknowledge him for his Protector he sent Apolonius one of his princes vpon the day of the meeting into Egypt and he himselfe returned back again to Ioppa 2 Mac. 4. From Ioppa hee went to Ierusalem which was 20 miles where Iason the high-Priest and all the people receiued him with great honour At that time Antiochus placed a Gard in the Castle or tower of Ierusalem which was the beginning of their intolerable seruitude But for that yeare which was the fourth of his reign he returned through Phoenicia to Antiochia in Syria 280 miles In the fift yeare of his reign hee went from Antiochia with a great army into Cilicia being 80 miles There he appeased the vprores of the inhabitants of Tharsus and Mallotus and conquered all Cilicia 2 Mac. 4. From Cilicia he returned backe againe to Antiochia eightie miles In the sixt yeare of his reign Antiochus went with a great army both by sea and land wherein were many Elephants to Pelusio 400 miles This city he conquered and ouercame the Alexandrians in a navall battell 2 Mac. 4. From Pelusio hauing built a bridge ouer Nilus he went with his army to Memphis conquerd all the countries strong cities as he went about 140 miles and brought thither a mightie and great prey where according to the saying of the Prophet Daniel cap. 11. He dealt subtilly with Ptolomais Philometor From Memphis he returned to Alexandria where the citisens would not suffer him to enter the gates wherefore he besieged it but to small purpose which was 120 miles From Alexandria he returned to Pelusio which was 160 miles there he left a garrison to retaine what hee had gotten in Aegypt 1 Mac. 4. From Pelusio he returned to Antiochia with a great prey being 400 miles In the mean time Ptolomais King of Egypt his sister Cleopatra brought in the aid of the Romanes Livy Decad. lib. 4. 5. In the next yeare that is in the seuenth yeare of Antiochus Epiphanes there was seen in the aire as if there had been men fighting a Comet also appeared This happened in the yeare before Christ 167. This yeare in the spring Antiochus went the second time from Antiochia with his army into Alexandria in Egypt which was 560 miles So passing through Coelosyria and Iudaea hee came into Egypt which he inuaded with open war endeauoring to get that by force which hee could not get by entreaty But the Romans sent P. Popillius with other Embassadours into Egypt who hearing that Antiochus was come to Leusia which was within a mile of Alexandria the Romanes went thither to him Where when he had welcommed them and shewed all the courtesie hee could to P. Popillius P. Popillius deliuered him certain tables that he had about him written And first of all commanded him to reade them which he did Then he counselled with some of his friends What was best to be done in the businesse While he was thus in a great study P. Popillius with a wand that hee had in his hand made a circle about him in the dust saying Ere thou stirre a foot out of this circle returne thy answer that I may tell the Senate Whe-thou hadst rather haue warre or peace This hee vttered with such a firme countenance that it amased the King Wherefore after he had paused a while quoth hee I will doe what the Senate hath written or shall thinke fit So doing little or nothing in Egypt hee returned backe againe Iustine Lib. 34. Decad. Lib. 4. cap. 5. Ios lib. 12. cap. 6. These things hapned ann vrb Rom. 585. L. Aemilius Paulus Caius Licinius Crassus being then Consuls in which yeare the Moon was totally eclipsed Aemilius ouercame Perseus King of Macedon and reduced Macedonia into a Prouince Lib. Dec. 4. lib. 5. From Leusia Antiochus fearing lest the Iewes would forsake his Empire and rebell went to Ierusalem which was 288 miles but the inhabitants of the towne shut him out of the city wherefore he besieged it and by the treason of Menelaus chiefe Priest who for that purpose conspired with the gard that was in the castle quickly got it and entred the gates In every place where he came hee put the Citisens to the sword and for three daies space did little else but cruelly massacre the people He went also with Menelaus into the Temple where he polluted the sacred things of the Temple and took thence the vessels of siluer gold or whatsoeuer he found pretious or worthy so that the prey he tooke amounted to 1800 talents which make almost 11 tunne of pure gold all which were partly gifts dedicated to the Temple and partly treasure that was left there as in a safe and sure place to the vse of poore distressed widowes and orphans After that Antiochus had robbed the Temple of all the siluer and gold that he could finde had banished Iason had placed a strong garrison in the tower of Acropolis the captaine of which was one Philip a very cruell man and made Menelaus high-Priest with all this booty and some number of captiues hee returned to Antiochia which was 280 miles In the yeare following that is before Christ 166 Lu. Aemilius Paulus triumphed for the wars of Macedonia Not long after Antiochus misdoubting the fidelitie of the Iewes sent Apolonius with an army of 22000 to Ierusalem who entred the city vpon the Sabbath day and committed many outrages Then Antiochus hauing spent a great part of the gold and siluer which he had got from Ierusalem about the eleuenth yeare of his
their hands but by reason of his faire speeches they suffered him to depart with life 2 Mac. 12.1 Mac. 5. From thence he went to Bozor a faire citie which was scituated beyond Iordan neere to Bethabara in the Tribe of Reuben it was also called Bazra which was 24 miles this towne he tooke and burned with fire Isa 64. 1 Mac. 5. From Bozor he went to Mizpa where Ieptha sometime sacrificed his daughter which was 32 miles In that journey Iudas Macchabeus rescued the castle of Datheman draue thence Timotheus and put to the sword 8000 of his armie After he went thence to Mizpa woon the towne burnt it with fire and put to the sword all the male children because the inhabitants had vexed the children of Israel with continuall robbery After that hee woon many other townes and cities thereabouts 1 Mac. 5. From Mizpa Iudas passed the riuer and went to Astaroth-Carnaim which in the second of Macchabes is called Carnion which was eight miles here he destroyed the temple of Venus which the inhabitants call Astaroth and put 25000 of the inhabitants to the sword He went also to Atargation a towne not far off and tooke it and deliuered all the Israelites from the greatest to the least which were in captiuitie amongst the Giliadites 1 Macch. 5. 2 Macch. 22. From Astaroth-Carnaim hee went to Ephron which was 16 miles this citie Iudas Macchabeus destroied because the inhabitants thereof denied him passage and went through it ouer the dead bodies 2 Macch. 5. Here Gideon Iudge of Israel sometime dwelt it tooke the name from the rising vp of the dust being deriued of Aphar that is he hath made a dust From Ephron Iudas passed ouer Iordan into the great field of Galile and so went to Scythopolis which in antient time was called Bethsan which was foure miles From Bethsan or Scythopolis he returned to Ierusalem which was 44 miles a little before Penticost in the fourth yeare of his gouernment in the yere 161 before Christ 1 Macch. 5. 2 Maccab 12. After the feast of Penticost he went from Ierusalem to Maresa which was 16 miles here he ouercame Gorgias gouernour of Idumaea in a great buttell 2 Mac. 12. From Maresa hee went with his army to Odullam which was 6 miles Here sometime Dauid hid himselfe From Odullam he returned to Ierusalem which was 8 miles 2 Mac. 12. From Ierusalem he brought his army to Hebron the Metropolitan citie of the Idumaeans which was 22 miles this Towne he woon and all the townes and castles neere adjoyning 1 Macchab 5. From thence he went to Samaria which was fiftie six miles 1 Mac. 5. From Samaria he led his army against Azotus which was 44 miles This was a citie of the Philistins which he destroied broke their Altars and burnt their idols in the fire 1 Mac. 5. After that he conquered two castles in Idumaea 1 Mac. 10. After that he returned to Ierusalem which was accounted 22 miles 1 Mac. 5. From Ierusalem he went to meet Timotheus chiefe captaine of the Syrians who came with a great army to inuade Iudaea But when the battell waxed hot there appeared to the enemies from heauen fiue comely men vpon horses with bridles of gold two of which led the Iewes and tooke Macchabeus betweene them and couered him on euery side with their weapons that none could hurt him but against their enemies they shot Darts and lightnings so that they were confounded with blindnesse and beaten downe whereby the Iewes obtained a great victory and put to the sword 20500 foot and 600 horse the rest seeing this great slaughter fled So Iudas praised the Lord and pursued the enemies to Gazara which was 16 miles Heere Timotheus hid himselfe in a caue but the Iewes tooke the citie found him out and put him to death together with his brother Chaerea and Pollophanes 2 Mac. 10. From Gazara Iudas Macchabeus returned to Ierusalem which was 16 miles In the yere following which was the fift of his taigne and 160 before Christ Iudas Maccab. besieged the tower of Sion in Ierusalem because those that were in the garrison had put to the sword some of the Iewes that were sacrificing in the Temple But Antiochus Eupator the son of Antiochus Epiphanes hearing of it at the instigation of Menelaus chiefe Priest of the Iewes brought a great armie to their rescue wherefore Iudas Macchabeus hearing of his comming left the siege and went from Ierusalem to Modin to meet him which was 14 miles Here he ouercame Antiochus destroyed his Elephants and put 4000 of his souldiers to the sword 2 Macc. 13. When King Antiochus had felt a taste of the boldnesse of the Iewes he went with his army through by-waies and secret passages to the castle of Bethsura which he besieged whither Iudas followed him which was 12 miles incamping himselfe a mile from Bethsura in a straight place called Bethzachara Here Antiochus betimes in the morning thinking to take the armie of the Iewes at an aduantage set vpon them But the Iewes and their leaders behaued themselues so manfully that they put Antiochus the second time to flight and kil'd 600 of his men In this battell Eliazer the brother of Iudas Macchabeus was slain by an Elephant Ios lib. Antiq. 12. lib. 16.1 Macc. 6. From Bethzachara he returned backe to Ierusalem which was 2 miles And when the king had taken the town of Bethsura for they were constrained to yeeld by reason of famine he followed Iudas with whom he joyned the third time in battell but Iudas ouercame him and put to the sword many of his army Wherefore hauing certaine intelligence that Philip whom he had made ouerseer of the affaires at Antiochia rebelled he made a peace with Iudas Macchabeus was appeased towards the Iewes did sacrifice adorned the Temple and shewed great gentlenesse towards the people So Antiochus departed out of Iudaea and tooke Menelaus that seditious high Priest along with him captiue 1 Macc. 6. 2 Mac. 13. After in the 6 yeare of his gouernment Iudas went with his armie through all the borders of Iudaea and executed justice vpon all such as were offenders and contemners of the true religion After when Iudas had certaine intelligence that Nicanor whom Demetrius King of Syria had sent against Ierusalem went about by fraudulent courses and vnder pretence of friendship to take away his life 2 Macc. 14. he went priuily from Ierusalem and came to Caphar-Salama scituated 12 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Here Nicanor and he joyned battell but Iudas discomfited his armie and put to the sword about fiue thousand of his men himselfe not escaping without great danger 1 Mac. 7. From Caphar-Salama Iudas came to Samaria which was 28 miles here he rested himselfe and refreshed his armie a while 2 Mac. 15. In the yere before Christ 128 he went from Samaria to Adarsa which was 28 miles and there vpon the 13 day of Adar which answereth to the 13 day of February neere to Bethoron the
broad here Xerxes when he inuaded Graecia built vp a bridge for his army to passe ouer There is also another strait and narrow place in this sea which is called by the name of Cimmerius Bosphorius These two Bosphori are so called as some authors hold because a Bull when he loweth may be heard from the one side to the other but Pliny seemeth to deriue the name from Io that faire maid which Iupiter turned into a Cow who swam ouer this sea and of her was called Bosphorus lib. 6. cap. 1. It is also called Propontus because it lieth just before the Euxine sea and Hellespont from Helle the daughter of Athamantis K. of Thebes who was drowned therein then running thence it falleth into a gulph of the Mediterranean Ocean there it is called the Aegean sea of Aegeus King of Athens who drowned himselfe therein for the supposed losse of his sonne Theseus In this sea were scituate the Isles of Pathmos Mytelene Samothrace Chius Lesbus and many other Isles as you may reade in the trauels of S. Paul Of Samothracia ot Samothrace SAmothracia is an Isle of the Aegean sea scituate between Troades and Thracia eight hundred and eightie miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest close to that part of Thracia where Hebrus falleth into the sea sometimes called Dardania of Dardanus King of Troy who when hee had slaine his brother Iacius and taken from him the Palladiam he came first into Samothracia and then into Asia where he first laid the foundation of the citie called Troy and of that Kingdome And although this Isle at that time was called Dardania yet because of the neerenes that it had to Thrace and the altitude of the rocke whereon it stood it soone changed the name and then especially when the people called Samos came thither to inhabit who after their own name called it Samothracia It stood vpon such a loftie place that from thence all the countries round about might easily bee seen Arsinoë Queene of Thrace was banished by Ptolomeus her brother into this Island who after put to death all her children and vsurpt vpon the kingdome of Thrace A cruell part in a brother Virg. li. Aeneid 3. makes mention of this Island saying Treiciamque Samum quae nunc Samothracia fertur And Samian-Troy which now adayes is Samo-Thracia call'd Strabo also writeth of it li. 13. And in Acts 16. it is said S. Paul sailed from Troad is to Samothracia so went thence into Thracia and came to the city of Neapolis Of Neapolis THis Neapolis to which Paul went was a city of Thrace not far from Macedoni 880 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward called also of some Caurus There are many other Cities of this name one in Iudea where Sichem and Sichar stood another in Caria a third in Africa a fourth in Pannonia but aboue all that which stands in Campania is most remarkable being the chiefe city of the Neapolitan kingdome Of Philippa THis city in times past was called Crenides because of the veins of gold that were found close by it But after Philip King of Macedon father of Alexander the Great caused it in the yeare before Christ 354 to bee re-edified and inlarged and then after his own name called it Philippos It was scituated in Grecia close by the riuer Stridon 936 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northwest and endowed with many priuiledges In those times the gold was so much increased in this place that the reuenue thereof was worth vnto this King more than a thousand Talents which at 4500 li. the talent amounteth to forty fiue Millions of pounds yearely By the which means King Philip grew so rich that he caused his gold to be coined and called it after his owne name Philippian gold To this place Paul came and did many miracles taught the Gospell and conuerted many From hence he wrote his second Epistle to the Corinthians and sent it to Corinth euen 292 miles He also wrote an Epistle from Rome to the Christians of this Towne and sent it them by the hands of Epaphroditus euen 628 miles It was afterward a Colony of the Romans Of Amphipolis THis was a city of Macedonia compassed about with the riuer Strymon from whence it tooke the name and was distant from Ierusalem 960 miles towards the Northwest Here also the Apostle Paul was Acts 17. Of Apollonia THis was a citie of Mygdonia scituated not farre from Thessalonica towards the West close by the riuer Echedorus 948 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest being so called from Apollines which signifies the Sunne it stood twentie miles from Thessalonica There are many other Cities of this name one scituate in Graecia close by the Adriatick sea another among the Islands of Thrace a third in Creet on this side the riuer Ister a fourth in Syria and a fift in Africa amongst the Cyrenes Of Thessalonia or Thessalonica THis was a citie of Macedon in ancient times called Halia because it stood vpon the sea after called Therma of the hot bathes that were in it and lastly Thessalonica of Philip the sonne of Amyntas King of the Macedonians who gaue it that name either of the great victory that he had against the Thessalonians or else after the name of his daughter called Thessalonica who was the mother of Cassandrus it stood close by the Thermaick gulph not farre from the mouth of the riuer Echedorus 932 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest The Apostle Paul taught publiquely in this city and there conuerted a great multitude of people Act. 17. Hee also wrote two Epistles to the inhabitants thereof and sent them from Athens being 232 miles distant In the time of Theodosius the first Emperor of Rome there hapned by reason of some discontent a grieuous sedition amongst the Thessalonians in which stirre some of his captains gouernors were slain Wherefore the Emperor hauing intelligence of what had hapned sent an army against the city with authority to put to death a certain number of those who had rebelled whence it hapned that the city was filled with many vniust slaughters for the soldiers respecting more their priuat profit than the equitie of the cause spared neither innocent nor nocent yong nor old so that as well the inhabitants as strangers that resorted thither did partake of this miserie and suffered like punishment as did they which were the first authors of this rebellion But because the emperor was consenting vnto these euils Ambrose Bishop of Millaine would not suffer him without publique repentance to come to the sacrament of the Lords supper wherefore in a publique assembly hee acknowledged his offence with great contrition Theodor. li. 5. ca. 17. Soz. li. 7. ca. 24. This town was afterward purchased by the Venetians of Andronichus Palaeologus son of Emanuel Emperor of Constantinople who held it a long time vntill Amurath Emperor of the Turkes won it from them and exercised grieuous cruelty vpon the inhabitants At this day it is