four miles from Ierusalem upon the North lying between the two Towns of Bethel and Hay and is called Mount Ephraim where Abraham at his return out of Egypt the second time set up his Tabernacle of purpose to be conversant with Melâ—hisedeck who dwelt in Ierusâ—lem and with him gave thanks to God for the singular favours that he had shewed toward him in delivering his Wife Sara from the hands of Abimelech King of Egypt who woulâ— have ravished her and as he feared indangerâ—d his Life In this place Lot separated himself from Abraham and went to dwell in Sodom Of the Plain or Oâ—k of Mamre THE Plain of Mamre stood a mile from Hebron towards the East and distant from Ierusalem twenty two miles South-eastward In this Vallâ—y there was a fair and pleasant Wood where a certain young man called Mamre dwelt This man was Brother to Escal and Aner mentioned by Moses Genes 14 who according to the custom of Gentlemen with us in these times built up his house nea◠〈…〉 pleasant Wood or Bottom which as some think was called after his name Mamre Others of which Opinion is Ierom of Aelon which signifies a Valley or Tree an Oak-tree saith he But Ioseph and Aegesâ—ppus call it a Terebinth tree which both Summer and Winter beareth green Leaves like a Palm-tree the Sap or Juyce whereof is very good for Medicine Abraham dwelling near to this Tree being entertained by the three Brothers as a Stranger grew into such favour and familiarity with them that he converted them from Paganism and taught them to know the true and ever-living God To gratifie which great favour they aided him in his War against the four Kings that had taken Lot Prisoner and gave him free liberty to inhabit in and use the Plain thereabouts for his Cattel before whose door as some Authors affirm this Terebinth or Oak-tree stood and so continued from the beginning of the World till the time of Constantine the Great it being lawful for none to cut a bough of it or touch it witâ— a Hatchet because it was in those days accounted a holy Tree and visited by divers Strangers and then Helena caused a fair Church to be built in that place and so much the rather for that Abraham sitting under that Tree the three Angels appeared unto him in the Similitude or Likeness of men Gen. 8. â— 2. And some are of Opinion That because of this the Jews offered Incense to their Gods and committed Idolatry upon high Mountains and under green Trees Ezek. 16. There was also a double Cave made of white Marble which as Iosephus saith was very fair and beautiful to the eye and curiously wrought and polished wherein Abraham Isaac and Iacob with their Wives Sarah Rebecca and Leâ—h were buried and as some think was that Cave which he purchased of the Hittites Gen. 23. 34. But that Adam and Evah lye buried in the same place seeing there is no warrant for it in the holy Scriptures I let it pass because whatsoever hath not Authority of Scripture to prove it may as easily be contemned as allowed But Abraham's Sâ—pulchre in Ierom's time was to be seen being old and decayed Of Hebron THIS City was not only a Kings Seat but a Priests also being built not long after the Flood and some seven years before that City of the Aegyptians called Zoan or Tanis Numb 13. and was placed upon a goodly high Mountain very pleasant and delectable It taketh the name from Chabar which signifieth to accompany and from thence Chebron or Hebron a pleasant and delectable Society It was a metropolitan City in the Tribe of Iuda and after called Kiriatharba as it appeareth in Iosh. 14. taking that Name from Arba the Chief Governour of that City This man was one of the Anakims and a very mighty Prince Others there are that say the City being divided into four parts was thereof called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Arba signifies a Quaternion from the Rote Raba four square It was first built by Heth the Son of that cursed Canaan whose Posterity the Hittites inhabited in it and such was their Hospitality that they entertained Abraham being a Stranger and Traveller These People dwelt there until Joshua's time and then one Hoham was King thereof who with other Kings opposing the Children of Israel was by them slain and had their Country wasted and destroyed This Town was after made a Town of Refuge and belonged to the Inheritance of Caleb and was together with Mamre in the Tribe of Iuda Ios. 20. Here David was first anointed King and reigned therein for the space of seven years 2 Sam. 5. But this Town by the injury of Time and oppression of the Enemy is now become desolate only some few old Relicks are to be seen to shew there had been a Town there Nevertheless there is a Town not far from it which retaineth the name placed in a very fruitful Valley called Mamre to this day Here while it was under the Jurisdiction of the Christians stood a Cathedral Church and a Bishops See but the Turks have turned it into a Mosko or one of their Churches Into this place they will not suffer any Christian to enter The Inhabitants take upon them to shew unto Strangers many things as the Vault or Cave wherein Abraham was buried the place where Cain killed Abel the Well where Adam and Evah wept seven years for the death of their Son with many such like Fables which are to no purpose seeing they are not warrantable by Scripture Some Bows-shot Eastward from this place is the Field of Damascus where the red Earth lieth whereof they feign Man to be made It is naturally tough and may be wrought like Wax or Pitch There is also that is white of the same kind and this is conveyed to many places by the Saracens and sold at dear Rates They use it either for the teering of Sepulchres or to mingle with Salves and Unguents Of Gerar. GErar is the uttermost Town in the Land of Canaan and lieth between the Desarts of Sur and Cades Gen. 20. Here King Abimelech kept his Court at such time as Abraham came thither and here Isaac was born Gen. 21. It takes the name from Gor which signifies a Pilgrim or Traveller and did well agree with the Condition of the ancient Patriarchs that sometimes lived there because for the most part they were like Pilgrims and wayfaring men Gen. 47. It lay six miles from Hebron South-west and from Ierusalem 30 upon the Territories of the Tribe of Iuda Of Beerazaba BEerazaba is a Town scituated upon the utmost Bounds of the Holy Land forty miles from Ierusâ—lem South-westward and is derived from Beer and Shebuah and sigâ—ifieth the Well of Covenant for Abraham having digged a Well near to this place Abimelech King of Gerar entred into League with him and his Posterity Isâ—ac also renewed this League in this place as appears Gen 21. It is now called Gallim or
Captivity of his Brother Ionathan whom Tryphon by cunning had betrayed as is before-said he was chosen by the People of the Iews into the Principality From thence he went to Addus to meet Tryphon sixteen miles where he would have ransomed his Brother Ionathan 1 Mac. 13. From Addus he went to a City of the Idumeans called Ador or Adaram forty eight miles From Ador he returned into Iudea with his Army forty miles that he might oppose the Invasion of Tryphon and his Souldiers lest they should have destroyed the Country and got Ierusalem in his absence Tryphon having put to death his Brother Ionathan which was in the year before Christ 140. Simon entred upon the Office of High-Priest the same year and continued in the Government eight years In the first year of his Government he went from Ierusalem to Modin fourteen miles Here he buried the Body of his Brother Ionathan in his Father's Sepulchre very honourably and richly beautified it From Modin he returned to Ierusalem fourteen miles where he executed his Priestly Function diligently and repaired the Holds and decayed Towns of Iudea compassing them about with Stone Walls and fortifying them with Towers and Bulwarks From thence he went to Gaza forty four miles from Ierusalem South-westward This Town he took From thence he returned to Ierusalem which was four and forty miles There he repaired the Tower of Acropolis wherein he dwelt From Ierusalem he went to Ioppa and won the Town which was twenty miles From Ioppa he returned to Ierusalem which was twenty miles where for a time he lived very honourably and kept a Princely Court 1 Mac. 14. Lastly he went with his two Sons Iudas and Mattathias and his Wife to visit his Father-in-law Ptolomeus the Son of Abodus to the Castle of Doch which was near to Iericho some ten miles from Ierusalem towards the North-east Here he was slain by his Father-in-law at a Banquet in the year before Christ 132 in the eleventh Month which answereth to our February 1 Mac. 16. So all his Travels were 799 miles The Description of the Places mentioned in his Travels Of Arabath ARabath or Araba was a City near to the Lake or River Merom not far from Dothan forty four miles from Ierusalem towards the North. It seems to take the name from Locusts whereof there are many kinds 1 Mac. 5. for there are Locusts that live upon Herbs and Flowers others that fly in great swarms in the Air and some also that live in the Waters not much unlike Crabs or Cray-fishes their Tails only excepted Plin. lib. 9. cap. 12. reckons up another kind of Locusts whereon Iohn Baptist did feed and it was lawful for the Iews to eat of them he describes them to have four Feet and Wings so that they can either fly or leap upon the Earth They can be resembled to nothing more fitly than to Grashoppers These the Hebrews call Robae Levit. 11. Mat. 3. because of the abundance of them being derived of the Verb Rabah He hath multiplied or increased because these kinds of Locusts come in mighty great swarms and multitudes into the East part of the World Of these kinds of Locusts Arabath took the Name but they are not known to us nevertheless such there are and as it appeareth in Leuit. 11. were permitted to be eaten among the Iews From whence may be concluded that Iohn Baptist lived upon these kind of Locusts and not upon Crabs or Cray-fish or any such kind of Locusts Mat. 3. Of Sephela SEphela is a Plain compassed about with Mountains near the River Sorek It lieth fourteen miles from Ierusalem Westward Here Simon built the Castle Adida and fortified it very strongly Afterward there was a City built near to this Tower called Eleutheropolis It was a free City in the Tribe of Iudah half way between Ierusalem and Ascalon of which St. Ierom speaketh lib. de Locis Hebr. Of Doch THIS was a strong Tower the Ruines whereof may be seen to this day It was scituated near Iericho in the Field of Hiericuntis ten miles from Ierusalem North-eastward where Ptolomeus the Son of Abodus persidiously put to death his Son-in-law Simon High Priest of the Jews From this Tower you might have seen all the Countrey of the Gileadites the two Tribes of Gad and Reuben and the half Tribe of Manasses with the Mountains of the Moabites Nebo Pisgah and Abarim Vid. 1 Mac. cap. ult The Travels of John Hyrcanus JOHN Hyrcanus was made Captain over all the Men of War by his Father Simon and went from Ierusalem to Gaza forty four miles where he dwelt 1 Mac. 13. From thence he returned to Ierusalem forty four miles in the fifth year of his Father's Government to let him understand how Cendebius had invaded the holy Land 1 Mac. 16. From Ierusalem he and his Brother Iudas went with their Army to Modin fourteen miles where they stayed all night The next morning before day they gave Battel to Cendebius not far from Modin overcame him and put him to flight So he pursued the chase till he came to the Fortress of Cedron which stood in the Field of Azotus even eight miles From the Field of Azotus he and his Brother Iudas returned to Ierusalem being twenty two miles 1 Mac. 16. From Ierusalem he returned to Gaza 44 miles Now when Sorius Ptolomeus the Son of Abodus who a little before had treacherously slain his Son-in-law Simon at a Banquet heard of Iohn's coming into the Town he sent forth certain Traitors and Homicides to put him to death also but Hyrcanus having certain intelligence of the matter prevented the mischief and put these Traitors to the Sword 1 Mac. 16. So all his Travels were 176 miles Concerning the Towns and Places mentioned in these Travels you may read before Of the Kings of Syria that succeeded Antiochus Epiphanes and made War upon the Macchabees And first of the Travels of Antiochus Eupator THIS Antiochus the younger succeeded his Father Antiochus Epiphanes in the 149 year of the Grecians Government in Syria which was the 161 Year before Christ and he continued King of Asia and Syria three Years Lysias the King's Substitute for Syria called this man by the name of Eupator that is a good Father because Kings ought to be Fathers of their Countries This Antiochus Eupator in the second year of his Reign came with a great Army from Antiochia to the Town of Modin which was 380 miles From Modin he went to the Hold at Bethsura this he sharply besieged being 12 miles From Bethsura he went to Bethsachara almost a mile to meet with Iudas Macchabeus who put him to flight and kill'd 600 of his Men 1 Mac. 6. From Bethsachara he returned to the Hold of Bethsura and won it being almost a mile From Bethsura he came to Ierusalem which was half a mile From Ierusalem he went with his Army to Ptolomais being seventy six miles From Ptolomais he returned to Antiochia two hundred and four miles
close to that part of Thracia where Hebrus falleth into the Sea sometimes called Dardani◠of Dardanus King of Troy who when he had slain his Brother Iacius and taken from him the Palladiam he came first into Samothracia and then into Asia where he first laid the Foundation of the City called Troy and of that Kingdom And although this Isle at that time was called Dardania yet because of the nearness that it had to Thrace and the altitude of the Rock whereon it stood it soon changed the name and then especially when the People called Samos came thither to inhabit who after their own name called it Samothracia It stood upon such a lofty place that from thence all the Countries round about might easily be seen Arsinoe Queen of Thrace was banished by Ptolomeus her Brother into this Island who after put to death all her Children and usurp'd upon the Kingdom of Thrace A cruel part in a Brother Virg. lib. Aeneid 3. makes mention of this Island saying Terciamque Samum quae nunc Samothracia fertur And Samian-Troy which now adays is Samothracia call'd Strabo also writeth of it li. 13. And in Act. 16. It is said St. Paul sailed from Troadis to Samothracia and so went thence into Thracia and came to the City of Neapolis Of Neapolis THIS Neapolis to which Paul went was a City of Thrace not far from Macedonia 880 miles from Ierusalem North-westward called also of some Caurus There are many other Cities of this name one in Iudea where Sichem and Sicha◠stood another in Caria a third in Africa a fourth in Pannonia but above all that which stands in Campania is most remarkable being the chief City of the Neapolitan Kingdom Of Philippa THIS City in times past was called Crenides because of the Veins of Gold that were found close by it But after Philip King of Macedon Father of Alexander the Great caused it in the year before Christ 354 to be re-edefied and inlarged and then after his own name called it Philippos It was scituated in Grecia close by the River Stridon 926 miles from Ierusalem toward the North-west and indowed with many Priviledges In those times the Gold was so much increased in this place that the Revenue thereof was worth to this King more than a thousand Talents which at 4500 l. the Talent amounteth to forty five millions of pounds yearly By the which means King Philip grew so rich that he caused his Gold to be coined and called it after his own name Philippian Gold To this place Paul came and did many Miracles taught the Gospel and converted many From hence he wrote his second Epistle to the Corinthians and sent it to Corinth even 292 miles He also wrote an Epistle from Rome to the Christians of this Town and sent it them by the hand of Epaphroditus even 628 miles It was afterward a Colony of the Romans Of Amphipolis THIS was a City of Macedonia compassed about with the River Strymon from whence it took the name and was distant from Ierusalem 960 miles towards the North-west Here also the Apostle Paul was Act. 17. Of Appollonia THIS was a City of Mygdonia scituated not far from Thessalonica towards the West close by the River Echedorus 948 miles from Ierusalem towards the North-west being so called from Appollines which signifies the Sun It stood twenty miles from Thessalonica There are many other Cities of this name one scituate in Grecia close by the Adriatick Sea another among Islands of Thrace a third in Crete on this side the River Ister a fourth in Syria and a fifth in Africa amongst the Cyrenes Of Thessalonia or Thessalonica THIS was a City of Macedon in ancient times called Halia because it stood upon the Sea after called Therma of the hot Baths that were in it and lastly Thessalonica of Philip the Son of Amintas King of the Macedonians who gave it that name either of the great Victory that he had against the Thessalonians or else after the name of his Daughter called Thessalonica who was the Mother of Cassandrus It stood close by the Thermaick Gulph not far from the Mouth of the River Echedorus 932 miles from Ierusalem towards the North-west The Apostle Paul taught publickly in this City and there converted a great multitude of People Act. 17. He also wrote two Epistles to the Inhabitants thereof and sent them from Athens being 232 miles distant In the time of Theodosius the first Emperour of Rome there hapened by reason of some Discontent a grievous Sedition amongst the Thessalonians in which stir some of his Captains and Governours were slain Wherefore the Emperour having intelligence of what had hapened sent an Army against the City with Authority to put to death a certain number of those who had rebelled whence it happened that the City was fill'd with many unjust slaughters for the Souldiers respecting more their private profit than the equity of the cause spared neither Innocent nor Nocent Young nor Old so that as well the Inhabitants as Strangers that resorted thither did partake of this Misery and suffered like punishment as did they which were the first Authors of this Rebellion But because the Emperour was consenting unto these evils Ambrose Bishop of Millain would not suffer him without publick repentance to come to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper wherefore in a publick Assembly he acknowledged his offence with great Contrition Theodor. li. 5. ca. 17. Soz. li. 7. ca. 14. This Town was afterward purchased by the Venetians of Andronicus Palaeologus Son of Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople who held it a long time until Amurath Emperour of the Turks won it from them and exercised grievous cruelty upon the Inhabitants At this day it is a fair and goodly City wherein is to be seen 23 Churches and is inhabited both by Christians Iews and Turks as Sebastian Munster saith but the greatest number is Iews who are partly Merchants partly of other Trades their number in this place as it is said by some of their own Nation is 14000 and they have 80 Synagogues but they are constrained to wear yellow wreaths about their heads the Christians blew and the Turks white There are many Iews also in Constantinople and Adrianople but in no place more than in this Town which is now called Salonica Of Berraea THIS is a City of Macedon scituated upon the River of Halakmon 960 miles from Ierusalem North-westward In this City the Iews stirred up a great tumult and sedition against the Apostle Paul Act. 17. At this day it is called Voria Of Athens THIS was the most famous City of all Grecia the Mother of Arts and a bountiful nourisher of large and mighty Colonies in that part of Achaia called Acte or Attica It was scituated upon the shore of the Mediterranean Sea 720 miles from Ierusalem Westward It took name from a Divine knowledg for the word is derived of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the mind
molten Sea standing upon twelve Oxen in the uppermost Court THE molten Sea and Fountain was a figure of Baptism and that living Water issuing from the Wounds of Christ whereby we are washed from all our Sins the Laâ—er of Regeneration whereby we are made capable of Eernal Life that Well of Water whereof if we drink we shall never thirst The twelve Oxen represent the twelve Apostles whose voices have gone through the World according to that in the Corinthians and have carried the Sea of Grace through all parts of the Earth Of which Water saith St. Augustine if thou drinkest but one drop it is more effectual to quench the thirst of Worldly and insatiable desires than an Ocean of earthly Waters The Mystery of the middle Court SOlomon's Court wherein Christ taught and in which the Jews used commonly to pray was a figure of that Church which should be gathered from amongst the Jewes For from thence he indeavoured first to assemble and gather together a Christian Congregation according to that which he spake to the Canaanitish Woman Mat 15. I am sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel Of the outward Court of the Gentiles THis Court signified That the Gentiles also should partake of the sheepfold and Congregation of Christ and be members of his holy Church according to that of Iohn 10. I have yet other sheep which I must also bring hither that sothere might be one sheepfold one Pastor c. Of the rest of the memorable Buildings standing upon mount Moriah HAving thus described the Temple together with the several Courts and Ornaments all which did typically represent Christ and his Church I will now proceed to the rest of the Buildings standing upon mount Moriah The first and most memorable was the house of Solomon which stood just against the Temple upon the South it shined so with Gold and Silver and was so stately and sumptuously built that when Queen Saba came to Ierusalem she stood amazed to see it There belonged to it divers Courts and Walks in one of which the Prophet Ieremy was prisoner Ier. 37. Over against this he made the Judgment-hall in which he placed the Ivory Chair spoken of 1 Kin. 10. He built by that another house for his Queeen she that was daughter of Pharaoh 1 Kin. 7. But when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Ierusalem all these together with the Temple were burnt and utterly deâ—aced Of the Peol of Bethesda UPon the North lay that sheep-fold or sequestred place called Bethesda Ioh. 5. which had five porches or Xenodochius as some would have it here Cattel came to drink and the Priests used to wash their Sacrifices because no unclean Beast might come within the Temple nor any thing that was foul or spotted be offered upon the Altar The water was of reddish colour and ran into that place in great abundance and therefore it was called the house of effusion or pouring out This was the place into which the Angel of God sometimes descended and troubled the Water after which whosoever stepped in was presently cured and here our Saviour Christ healed the Man that had been diseased 38 years Ioh. 5. This place was made by King Hezekiah who caused the water of the uppermost Pool which was called Gâ—â—on not far from mount Calvary to be conveyed by Pipes and passages through the Earth into the lower city called Acra and so fell into this place for which cause it was called the lower Pool The Allegorie or mystery hereof is That every one of Christs Sheep ought to be washed in the Pool of his Blood before they can be made fit Sacrifices to enter into his Temple or Church 1 Ioh. 1. Of the Tower or Castle called Antonia THis Castle as Ioseph hath it lib. 6. de Bell. cap. 6. stood between two Courts of the Temple at the North-West corner at first built by the Machabees and called by the name of Bâ—ris but after King Herod taking affection to that place bestowed great cost upon it walled it about built up sumptuous Towers and made it very strong then gave it the name of Antonia in favour of Antonius that noble Roman which Augustus a long time sustained after their decease Of the Hall called Coenaculum Anguli THis house stood upon an Angle or Cantle of the Hill and was therefore called Coenaculum Anguli it was very large and spatious and within had a great Hall whereof Nehem. cap. 3. maketh mention and here as some think our Saviour Christ ate the Paschal Lamb with his Disciples but I rather think it was in the Suburbs Of the Tower Ophel or the dark Tower NEar to the Valley of Cedron towards the East not far from the Temple and near the Castle Antonia there was builded a lofty and strong Tower or Palace called Ophel that is a place of darkness it was a very sumptuous thing Of Hamea or the Tower of the Centurions IN the Town wall between the Sheep-gate and the Dung-gate stood this Castle Hamea or Centurion taking the name â— Centenario numero i. The number of an hundred and was upon the East side of the City near to the sheepfold or Pool Bethesda Neh. 3. 12. Here the Centurions commonly kept watch Of Mount Acra and the buildings upon it MOunt Acra as is aforesaid stood upon the West side of Ierusalem it was a very high Mountain and took that name from the Greek word Acra a sharp or high Hill It was much higher than mount Moriah in times past till Machabeus's brother caused it to be cut lower to make it equal in height with mount Moriah Between these two Hills lay the Valley Cedron which was in profundity 400 Cubits Upon this Mountain another part of the City was builded being strongly fortified and richly adorned with sumptuous houses of which David and Solâ—mon were the principal Founders and was called the lower City or the Daughter of Sion It was so beautiful that some hold of which number are 〈◊〉 and Eusebius that it it exceeded the rest of the City Here stood the house of Helena Queen of the Adiabenoâ—s near about the midst of it as Ioseph observeth Li. Bell. 7. cap. 13. which Queen being converted to the Jewish Religion built her an house in this City that she might pray in the Temple Here stood the houses of her Sons Monebasius and Grapta here stood the houses of the High Priests Annas and Caiphas not far from the Valley Tyropae King Herod also that wicked Man who caused the innocent Children to be put to Death built him an house here near about the place where the Machabees in times past had a Castle for they built two one in Mount Moriah another in this Mount That in Mount Moriah was after called the Castle of Antonia and stood right against the Temple as is aforesaid And this being very sumptuously built and a Royal Seat was after the death of this Herod a Palace for his Successors Archilaus and Herod Agrippa
Benjamin through the middle of the City to the Gate of Sion From this Valley they ascended into eâ—ther Mountain that is Mount Aâ—ra and Mount Moriah by certain steps or stairs These two Hills as is beforesaid were joyned together with a Bridge and this Valley passing between them was called by Zephaniah cap. 1. Machten In which place above all the rest of the Cities dwelt Merchants and such as used Commerce and trade as appeareth in the eleventh verse of his Prophecie Howl ye Inhabitants of the Low place for the company of Merchants is destroyed all they that exchange for Silver are cut off Upon which place of Scripture the Chaldaean Paraphrase reads it thus Howl ye Inhabitants of the Valley Cedron Iosephus in tit Bell. 6. c. 6. lib. 6. c. 7. calleth this Valley by two names one Machten from the profundity the other Cedron from the obscurity for so the name signifieth and whosoever looked down into it from the Temple Fogs and Mists seemed to lie in the bottom of it like a cloud of darkneâ—s such was the depth of it There was another Valley which lay between Mount Sion and these Mountains called by the name of Tyrexdon Of the Mountain Bezetha THis place lay Northward in Ierusalem and between it and the former Hills were deep Ditches cast it had two Towns standing upon it divided with two Walls and was commonly called the Suburbs the name of the one which lay nearest to mount Moriah was called the second City the other that lay upon the North was called Neapolis or the new Town In the second dwelt Hulda the Prophetess and Zacharias the Father of S. Iohn Baptist 2 Kin. 22. 2 Chr. 34. Nehem. 3. Ioseph li. 10. c. 5. It was adorned with many fair and sumptuous Buildings among which was that princely house Of Herod Ascalonites that great and mighty King of the Iews in whose time our Saviour Christ was born This house was sumptuously built supported and adorned with Pillars of polisht Marble and so spatious that in one room thereof there might stand an hundred Tables the Hall also was very great and richly gilded with refined gold intermixt with Silver about it were many pleasant and delectable Walls goodly Gardens and Fountains for pleasure it was compass'd with a wall of polisht Marble 30 Cubits high And as Valerius writeth in that house Herod caused Christ to be mocked put a long white garment upon him in contempt and so sent him to Pilate Here also was a Prison in which Peter was kept when the Angel of the Lord delivered him Acts 12. Of the Town Neapolis or the New City THis lay without the Walls of the City and became inhabited by reason of the great concourse of People that flocked thither for in times past there were no inhabitants and stood upon the North side of the Hill Here dwelt the Christians and other Laborers and Strangers and by all likelihood it seems that the house of Mary the Mother of Iohn sirnamed Mark stood here which because of the continual resort of the Apostles thither was called the house of the Church Hither Peter resorted when he was delivered from the hands of Herod by the Angel for thus saith the Text Acts 12. 9. That when Peter had past the first and second Watch he came to the Iron Gate which led into the City and loe it opened of it self And from thence he went to the house of Mary the Mother of John sirnamed Mark. Here also in my opinion Christ celebrated the last Paschal Lamb because after Supper he went into the Mount of Olives for this lying unwalled lay open for them to go and come at their pleasure But afterward in Agrippa's time it was begun to be compassed in with a Wall and before it could be fully finished the Angel of the Lord struck him and he died miserably Here also stood the Monument of Iohn Hircanus the High Priest and of Alexander King of the Iewes as it appeareth in Iosephus lib. de Bello 6. cap. 6. The tops of the Houses in the City Ierusalem were flat and covered with fair and plain Roofs compassed about with Battlements upon which they used to Leap Dance and Banquet and such Recreations as they observed upon their Festival days were there celebrated And thus much shall serve to have spoken of the Mountains or Hills whereon Ierusalem stood Of the Walls that compassed the City THis City of Ierusalem was so strongly fortified by Nature on every side except the North for it stood upon high Rocks and Cliffs that it seemed to be invincible And that that side might be the better strengthened they compassed it in with three Walls and those so strong that when Vespasian the Emperor and his Army invaded the City they had much ado to conquer them The first of these Walls was that which Agrippa built and it compassed in Neapolis otherwise called the New Town At the North-west end of which Wall was built an exceeding high Tower of very fair Marble stone so high that standing on the top thereof a man might see from thence to the Sea and into Arabia and the uttermost bounds of Iudaea This Tower was called Psephina The second Wall was that which divided the two Suburbs wherein there stood 14 Towers and Gates This King Hezekiah built 2 Chr. 32. in a corner of which between the West-gate and the Valley-gate there stood a high Tower wherein all the night great fire was made which cast a light a great way off round about so that Travellers passing towards Ierusalem were guided by it in their way Of this light we read in Nehem. cap. 3. The third Wall compassed in the Temple and all the lower City in it was sixty Towers but the chief of them stood in the East Angle between 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 upon this Wall King Herod the Ascalonite built three fair Towers one between the Garden-gate and the Old-gate which he called Hippicum in honour of his Father Hippicus the other Phaselum in honour of his Brother Phasilus and the third Mariamne after his Wives name who notwithstanding he caused innocently to be put to death These three Gates were built of polish't Marble Pliny and Strabo say that this was the fairest and most spacious City of the East and for the munition and fortification almost invincible The Walls of it were all of white polish't Marble some 25 or 30 Cubits high the stones were 20 Cubits long 20 broad and 5 thick so closely joyned that the junctures could scarcely be perceived 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 thick as Iosephus witnesseth lib. Ant. 15. ca. 14. de Bel. Iud. li. 6. ca. 6. which things being rightly considered we may easily
perceive that these Walls were very difficult to be destroyed Neither were the Ditches of less strength that went about the Town for they were cut out of hard stones at least forty Cubits deep and two hundred and fifty Cubits broad which were impossible to have been won if God had not help'd and assisted the Romans filling up those Ditches with the Bodies of those that died of the Plague and Famin within the Town Of the Gates of Jerusalem IT had twelve Gates to go out and in Upon the East side lay five the first of which was the Fountain Gate which was so called of the Fountain Siloah And this stood close by the Gate of mount Sion in which Fountain the Man that was born blind wash'd himself at the Commandment of our Saviour and had his sight restored Ioh. 9. And at this Gate Christ came riding in upon an Ass when he came from Bethania on Palm Sunday 2. The Sheep-gate which was so called of the multitude of sheep that were driven in by it to be offered in the Temple for it stood hard by the Temple Right before this Gate stood Mount Olivet some half an English mile and a furlong from Ierusalem Eastward by it stood the Garden called Gethsemane where Christ was taken and led into the City through this Gate to be offered up like an innocent sheep for the sins of the whole World 3. The Dung-gate this took the name from a Dung-hill because the Rain-water coming with great power thâ—ough the City washed away the filth and with great violence carried it through this Gate into the Pool Cedron Not far from this Gate was the Water-gate and stood a little within it 4. The Valley Gate which took the Name of the Valley Iehosaphat and lay not far 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 City it took the name from the Kings Horses as appeareth Ier. 31. Neh. 3. The Gates upon the North. 6. The Corner Gate which stood North-west 2. King 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 upon the West 9. The Rain-gate so called because the Rain-water cleansing the streets carried away all the Filth and so past through this Gate toward the West and there thrust it out of the City Neh. 12. 10. The Garden-gate before which the Garden stood wherein Christ was buried 11. The Old Gate before this Mount Calvary stood whereon Christ was Crucified 12. The Fish-gate so called because of Sea Fish that came in by it it was also called the Brick-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 steep that no Man could go up upon it Of the Gates within the City THE Gate of Sion the Water-gate of which two I have already spoken The middle Gate Ieremy speaketh of cap. 19. and it is thought it stood in the middle of City in the Valley Cedron not far from the Tower called Mariamne The Iron Gate which opened of it self when the Angel led Peter out of Prison Acts 12. this stood in the City Walls passing from one Suburb into another all these Gates stood within the City And thus much shall suffice to have spoken of the Pourtraiture of it Of the Springs Valleys Fountains and other memorable Places as they were scituated near to the City and how to the four parts of the World IN the next place it resteth to shew what things worthy memory were about and stood near to the City the first of which was the Brook Cedron which sprung out of a Hill not far from it upon the South and with great swiftness ran through the East part of the City and so between Ierusalem and the Mount of Olives to the Valley-gate of Iehosaphat thence passing through the Cliffs of Mount Olivet it ran directly East till it came to the Dead Sea which Brook in the Summer time was most commonly dry The Water of it was something Black which colour the Valley Jehosaphat which was very fertile gave it and from thence it was called Nigrescens torrens a blackish stream This is mystically spoken of in 2 Sam. and Psa. 100. Where it is said He that is our Saviour Christ shall drink of the Brook in the way which he fulfilled when he made satisfaction for our Sins by his Death and Passion as it appeareth in the 69 Psalm Save me O God c. Into this Brook ran the Water of Silo and that which came out of the Temple Of the Mount of Olives and Bethania which signifies a House of Mourning THese two the one lay upon the East the other South-west about half an English Mile and a furlong from Jerusalem Of Bethania you may read in Nehemia Of the Hill Gihon GIhon stood before Jerusalem 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 far from this stood the Mount Golgatha where Christ was Crucified From whence may be observed That as Solomon upon that Hill was Crowned King so Christ upon this was Crucified our Saviour and the true Solomon that made everlasting peace between God and us From this Mount Gihon sprung the Fountain Gihon and thereabouts also was the Fullers Field 2 King 18. 2 Chron. 33. In which place Senacharib and other the Princes and Embassadors of the King of Assyria spake Blasphemous words against the Lord wherefore he slew 185 thousand of them as appeareth in the 2 King 19. Of the Valley of the Son of Hinnon THis Valley lyeth behind the City of Ierusalem Southward on the left hand as they went from Jerusalem to Bethlehem In this Valley the Jews set up an Idol of Copper like a King which they called Moloch that is a King of Idols This Copper Idolâ—stood with the Arms stretching out and under it there was a great Fire whereby the Image shewed fire-red and besides that the more to honour it they made a great Fire between two Walls which burnt for his sake and through this Fire the Idolatrous Priests cast living Children into Moloch's burning Arms which he with his Arms red hot burnt to Death And in this manner the Jews offered up their own Children to the Idol Moloch and when they did it they made a great noise and cry and beat upon a Drum that the Fathers when their Children were offered should not hear them cry by reason of the great noise of the Drums This Valley was called the Valley of Tophet for Tophet signifies a Drum This was a most gross and fearful Idolatry and
therefore Christ likened this Valley of Hinnon to Hell-fire for he called it Gehenna Mat. 5. That the Iewes should keep themselves from this Monstrous Idolatry God made a Law That if any Man were taken committing this kind of Idolatry he should forthwith be stoned to death and not suffered to live Levit. 18. and 20. The Valley of Gehennon is often times named in the Holy Scripture Iosh. 15. Nehem. 11. 2. Paral. 28. 33. Ier. 7. Jerom writeth that here by this Idol Moloch in the Valley of Hinnon there was a Wood for the Water ran out of the Fountain Siloah along by it and made the Valley Moist Of the field of Blood called Hakeldama THis Field of Blood which was bought for thirty silver Pence for the which Judas betrayed our Saviour Christ lay not far from the Valley of Hinnon Southward by the City of Jerusalem as Jerom writeth Of the Hill Hameskita or Offence and Slander THis Hill lay South-east not far from Jerusalem something wide of Mount Olivet so that there was but one Valley between them and was not altogether so high as it Also upon this Hill King Solomon in his old age suffered his Wives or Concubines to make Idolatrous Temples wherein he and his Wives worshipped Idols Of the Destruction of this famous City of Jerusalem by TITUS VESPASIAN THus have have I briefly set forth the Dignity Scituation and Curiosity of the Buildings of Ierusalem together with the Richness of the Temple and sumptuousness of the Houses now it rests to describe unto you the manner and means how this Famous City was destroyed surely a thing worthy Wonder according to that in Ieremy Whosoever shall hear of it his Ears shall tingle And that it might be the more famous and the Christians within it might take notice of the near approaching Desolation there were divers strange Accidents happened and Visions seen As first about some four years before the River Iordan was turn'd out of her course and was brought into the City Pella A while after that for a Year together there hung a Comet like a flaming Sword over the City and in the Night there was seen a Light in the Temple And in the Day when they were at Sacrifice a Calf brought forth a Lamb. Then about the middle of the Night the Eastern Gates of the Temple opened of their own accord In the Skies were seen Armies of Men Fighting and Horses and Chariots running to and again And at last there was heard a terrible Voice in the Temple uttering these Words Migremus Hinc that is Let us go â—ence And that there might be a general Proclamation of this sad and cruel Desolation through the whole City one Ananiâ—s the Son of Jesus a Man poor and Impotent upon the Feast of the Tabernacles ran through all the streets of the City and crying O a Voice from the East and a Voice from the West a Vâ—ice from the four Wiâ—dâ— a Voice over Jerusalem and the Temple a Voice over the Bridegroom and the Bride and a Voice over the whole multitude of this City And although he was Whipt and Imprisoned and cruelly handled yet so long as he lived he would not cease to utter these words which by somewere judg'd to foretell the horrible Desolation which after hapned For Tiâ—us Caesar Son of Flâ—vius the Emperour about seventy years after the Nativity of our Lord and about eight and thirty after his Ascension utterly overthrew it even to the ground about the first day of the Month of April and within a year after these signs For he taking advantage of the three Factions which at this time swayed in Ierusalem One of Eleazar the the Priest the Son of Simon the other of Zilotus the chief Prince which held the Temple and the third of Iohannes Giscalenus a cruel fellow which had the command of the inferior City besieged it and made this a fit opportunity to further his Enterprises while the Seditious and factious People little regarding their own Safety gave way by their evil and intestine Wars to what he intended weakning themselves much more by their continued slaughters than the Enemy by his Invasion Insomuch as the whole City and Temple was filled with dead Bodies common Insolencies and publick Rapines were ordinarily amongst them some set fire of the City others despoiling the Temple a third for killing the Priests even as they were at Sacrifice all places full of dead Bodies and to this to add a greater measure of misery without any regard at all to their future defence set fire of the store-house wherein the Corn lay for the sustentation of the City and consumed that in one day which had been long a gathering by this means it came to pass that they were sorely afflicted with the Pestilence through the corruption of the Air and with Famin for want of Corn. All these things notwithstanding such was the cruelty obstinancy and perverseness of this People could not restrain them from violating the most Sacred and holy things of the Temple insomuch as Iohannes Giscalenus had a full determination to have destroyed it but that he was prevented by the Romans About this time was the Feast of the Passeover and it fell upon the fourteenth day of April being the Sabbath to the Celebration whereof there resorted to Ierusalem about three hundred thousand Iewes These the Enemy gave way to enter into the City but considering their present necessity for want of Victuals upon a suddain drew up their Forces and so straitly beleaguered them that all this huge multitude was as it were 〈◊〉 within the Walls where partaking of the former misery they either diâ—d by the Plague or Famin. Whence may be perceived the marvellous Providencâ— of God that even on the same day and in the very same place where but eight and thirty years before our Saviour Christ suffered the Authors of such cruelty suffered a most just and severe revenge Now as the Army of the Romans lay upon the North of the City Titus drew out a Band of six hundred Horse to ride about to behold and view the Walls of the Town but as he was in this manner wondring at the sumptuousâ—eâ—s of the City the Jewes in great multitudes slipt out at a Postern-gate and set upon him so fiercely that they endangered his Person being without Armour and had he not with great difficulty broke through them and recovered the Tower of the Romans he had bin there slain But presently upon this seâ—â—ng the danger he besieged the City in three parts himself aâ— the Emperour of the Army built a Castle about some two Furlongs from the City 〈◊〉 against the Tower Pseâ—hina the other part of the Army was 〈…〉 the Tower Hiâ—â—ieus not far from the Garden of the Resurrection and the third part had their Castle in the Mount of Olives some five Furlâ—nâ—s or thereabouts from the City Then did he build Bulâ—â—rks make Engiâ—s and wonderful Devices for the battering of
the Travels of Sampson were 240 miles The Description of the several Towns and Places to which Sampson travelled Of Zarea THIS is a City in the Tribes of Iuda and Dan near the River Soreck and taketh the Name from a Cole or Leprosie being derived of Sarag that is He was Leprous it stood eighteen miles from Ierusalem Westward Of Esthaol THis was a Town in the Tribe of Dan two miles from Zarea and stood near the River Soreck some twenty miles from Ierusalem towards the West and taketh the name from a Woman and Fortitude for Isca signifieth a Woman and El or Ol strong and powerful Here Sampsen was brought up In St. Ierom's time this was called Asto not far from whence Sampson lieth buried Of Timnah You may read of this in the Travels of Iudah Of Ascalon THis was a City of the Philistines scituated upon the shore of the Mediterranean Sea some thirty miles from Ierusalem Westward and to this day retaineth the figure of half a Circle it taketh the name from an ignominious Fire being derived of Esh and Kalon an ignominious light Of Gaza Of this Town you may read in the Travels of Ioshuah Of the River Soreck THis was a very pleasant River upon the Bank whereof grew great plenty of Vines and Palms from whence it seemeth to have taken the Name for Soreck in Hebrew signifieth a Myrtle Branch which bringeth forth a pleasant Berry whereof excellent Wine is made It takes the beginning at a Fountain in the Tribe of Iuda some twelve miles from Ierusalem towards the West where there is a very fertile Valley in which Dalilah that betrayed Sampson dwelt and from thence it runneth through the Land of the Philistines and falleth into the Mediterranean Sea Of the Rock Eta IN this Rock there was a Cave wherein Sampson dwelt as in a strong Tower it stood in the Tribe of Iuda near to the River Soreck twelve miles from Ierusalem toward the West and seemeth to take the Name from Fowls for before that Sampson inhabited there a multitude of Fowls bred upon it and therefore it was called Eta for Aith signifies a Fowl This Rock growing to decay was repaired again by Ieroboam that Idolatrous King of Israel Of Sampson SAmpson or Schimpson according to the Hebrew Text taking his Name from the Sun for Schaemas in Hebrew signifieth the Sun and seemeth to have some Affinity with Hercules which â—ignifieth The glory of the Air for what can be said to be the glory of the Air but the Light of the Sun without which it would become exceeding dark Wherefore as some think this Sampson was the true Hercules and those noble Exploits that he did the Graecians attributed to their Hercules The typical Signification of Sampson HE typically representeth Christ divers ways first in his Person he was a mighty Man secondly in his Profession he was a Nazarite thirdly in his Calling he was a Prince and Judge fourthly in his manner of living for he went from place to place to revenge himself upon the Enemies of God's People the Children of Israel and in his Death even so our Saviour Christ is that strong man who being mightier than the Devil hath dispossest him of his tyrannical Jurisdiction over the Souls of Mankind hath taken away those gates of Death by his Mercy opening unto us the door of Life that so being set at Liberty from that hellish Imprisonment we may be made Partakers of everlasting Happiness he was also a Nazarite even from his Mothers Womb born and bred there tying himself to a Vow of Bondage that we might be made free he is a Prince for ever and a Priest after the Order of Melchisedeck during the continuance of his Life in this Vail of Misery his chiefest Actions were to go from place to place to teach to do good and to rescue and relieve the poor distressed Members of the Church who lay miserably afflicted under the hands of Satan healing some relieving others and bringing a third sort into the state of Grace so that as Sampson delivered the Israelites from the Bondage of the Philistines Christ our Prince and Judge delivereth his from the Slavery of Satan by his Death saving more Souls than in his Life And thereby pulling down the strong Buildings the Temptations of Satan hath laid them level with the Ground that they shall never be restored again And lastly after this Life ended he shall be our Prince and Judge and bring us to that place of Promise prepared for us in his everlasting Kingdom The Travels of the Spies of the Danites SHortly after the Death of Sampson the Spies of the Danites went from Zarea and Esthaol to Mount Ephraim to the House of Michah which is twenty four miles Iudg. 18. From thence they went to Lais which is a hundred and four miles Iudg. 18. From thence they returned to Zarea and Esthaol which is 126 miles Iudg. 18. So all their Travels were 244 miles Of Lais. LAIS was a City scituated at the Foot of Mount Libanus some 104 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and was sometimes called Belenus this because it stood so far from Aid was quickly conquered by the Danites and by them utterly destroyed it signifieth a roaring or devouring Lyon But after being rebuilt by the Danites they called it Dan and the Canaanites Lesem Dan being derived of Laeschaem which signifieth a Lyon The Travels of the Danites THE Army of the Danites went from Zarea and Esthaol to Kiijath-jearim and there pitched their Tents which is sixteen miles Iud. 15. From thence they went to Mount Ephraim to the house of Micha and took his carved Image and his Levite from him which was eight miles Iudg. 15. From thence they went to Lais 104 miles So all the Travels were 128 miles Of Kirjath-jearim KIrjath-jearim was a City of the Levites in the Tribe of Iuda upon the Borders of the Tribe of Benjamin about a mile from Ierusalem Westward It sometime belonged to the Gibeonites Iosh. 9. and signifies a City of the Desart or Woods being derived from Kiriath which signifies a City and Iaar a Wood or Forrest Here stood the Ark of the Covenant after it had been in the Land of the Philistines seven months and stood in the house of Abinadab whose Son Eleazer because he was of the Family of the Levites by consent of the Children of Israel was consecrated Priest thereof to attend and keep it here it remained forty eight Years till David fetched it thence with great Joy 1 Sam. 7. 2 Sam. 6. 1 Chr. 14. Here Saul was anointed King by Samuel here the Company of the Prophets that is the Scholers of the Wise came down from the more eminent places where the Ark of God was with holy Songs and Instruments of Musick and the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul and he sung and praised God with them They called this the Hill of God because the Ark of the Covenant stood in it 1 Sam.
Dâ—r signifies He hath made sure It is distant from Ierusalem forty four miles toward the North. In S. Ierom's time this was but a small Village Of Bethsan THIS was a City in the Tribe of Mâ—nasses between Bethâ—lia and the Sea of Gâ—lilee some forty four miles from Ierusalem towards the North Ioâ— 17. It taketh the name from a Church-yard or a place of Rest for Bâ—th signifieth a House and Iaschan he hath slept Here Saul killed himself and the Philiâ—â—ines cut off his Head and set it upon the Wall of this City Afterward about St. Ierom's time Ptolomy called this Scythoâ—oliâ— You may read in the Second Book of the Macchabees how it was the Town of the Sâ—â—thians for the Scythians which dwelt some 800 miles from Ierusalem towards the North came with a great Army into the Holy Land and by force won this City and dwelt there of whom it was called the Scythian Town Iosâ—ph in lib. 2. de Bell. Iud. cap. 18. remembreth a strange Accident that hapned near this Town for the Iews besieging it there were of their own Nation that dwelt within the City who that they might make a private Gain took wages of the Scythians to oppose their Brethren and Country-men by which means the Scythians got the better But after a while the Scythians considering that the number of the Iews was great and fearing some sudden Insurrection or Innovation gave them warning to depart and leave the Town they though with great Grief as being prest with a two-fold necessity their own Wants and the hatred of their Kindred did so relying merely upon the Courtesie of Strangers But about some two days after in the night time the Inhabitants of Scythopolis breaking out of the City unawares fell upon them and in recompence of their Kindness put to the Sword some thirteen thousand many slain unawares some as they were eating and most in their Sleep After they had committed this Massacre they compassed about the Wood where they were took away all their Substance and suffered not a Man to depart alive Wherefore one Simon the Son of a certain ancient and noble Citizen called Saul perceiving their present Misery and that there was no hope to escape imminent Dâ—ath and utter Ruine in a cruel and desperate manner breaks out into these Words O miserable Wretch that I am that against my own Conscience have lift up these Impious Hands against my Country committing daily Massacres to pleasure them who at this day lay violent hands upon all we have die therefore thou that art thus prophane and with thine own hands make an end of thy wretched Life since thou dost not deserve to die honourably in the face of the Enemy but wretchedly in a corner and for thine own offence So soon as he had ended these words he turned him about with a fierce countenance and falling upon his Father Mother Wife and Children put them all to the Sword after burnt his Goods and to make an end of the Tragedy ran himself upon his own Weapon These things happened but a little before Vespasian came into the Land of Iudaea At this day this City Scythoâ—olis is called after the ancient name Bethsan The typical representation of Saul SAVL if it be properly taken doth sometime signifie a Grave or Sepulchre and sometimes Hell being derived from Scheuol which may be taken for both As therefore Saul persecuted innocent David with an inveterate malice even unto the death so the Sons of Sathan evil and wicked men persecute Christ and his Members with an immoveable malice sparing neither Prophets nor Apostles neither such as are Religious no nor Christ himself but with cruel torments put them to lingring deaths till they be utterly extirpate as they think and then wanting objects to satisfie their Savage minds they follow their own devillish councels till with Saul they come to desperate ends Schâ—ul or Saul if it be taken in the better part signâ—fieth He hath desired or called The Philistines Travels from their Camp to Michmas THE Philistines incamped themselves at Michmas upon Mount Ephraim some ten miles from Ierusalem Northward and out of the Philistines Camp there issued three Armies to spoil the Countrey The one marched towards Ophra and went from Michmas to Salem twenty eight miles From thence they went to Ophra four miles The second went from Michmas to Bethoron eight miles The third went from Michmas to the Valley of Zeboim eight miles So all the Travels of the Philistines were fifty eight miles Of Zeboim THis Valley is not far from Ierusalem in the Tribe of Benjamin Nehem 11. The Travels of Jonathan Saul's Son JONATHAN went from Gibeah to Kirjath-jearim which was two miles where he drave the Philistines out of their Camp 1 Sam. 13. From thence he went back again two miles From thence he went to Michmas which is eight miles and there by the help of his Armor-bearer he gave the Philistines a great overthrow 1. Sam. 14. From thence he followed the Enemy to Ajalon which is twelve miles there his Father would have put him to death because he had tasted a little Honey 1. Sam. 14. From Ajalon Saul and his Son Ionathan returned to Gibeah his own City which was two miles From Gibeah he went with his Father to Socho and Asekah which was eight miles where after David had slain Goliah for that singular Virtue and Heroical Spirit which Ionathan saw in him he loved him as he did his own Soul and preferred him before his own Life and Honour 1 Sam. 18. From thence he went with his Father to Gibeah some eight miles where Women with great mirth and joy met him saying Saul hath slain his thousand and David his ten thousand for which cause Saul out of meer envy for then he did not know that he had been anointed by Samuel would have slain him and his Son Ionathan also for excusing him 1 Sam. 18 19. From Gibeah Ionathan went into the Desart of Ziph some 22 miles to comfort David there they swore a solemn Oath of mutual friendship to continue as long as they lived 1 Sam. 23. From thence Ionathan returned which was 22 miles 1 Sam. 23. At last he went to the Wars with his Father to Mount Gilboah forty miles there he his Father his Brothers Abinadab and Melchisuah were slain So all the Travels of Ionathan were 126 miles The Travels of Abiathar Abimelech's Son WHEN Doeg the Idumaean at the command of Saul had slain the Priests of the Lord this Abiathar the Son of Abimelech the High Priest fled to the Wood Hareth not far from Kegilah some twenty miles and came and told David of all that had happened 1 Sam. 22 23. Of Kegilah THis was a City in the Tribe of Iudah four miles Hebron towards the East and twenty from Ierusalem toward the South-west From which Town David drove away the Philistines that had besieged it 1 Sam. 23. You may read of it Iosh. 23. Nehem. 3. In St.
of Israel who was crowned King his Father yet living about the beginning of the twenty sixth year of Asa King of Iuda at such time as Benhadad King of Syria invaded and wasted Galilee He reigned two years one of them during the Life of his Father the other alone in Thirza at the end of which he was slain by Simri his Servant 1 Reg. 15 16. Of Zimri King of Israel ZImri signifieth a Singer and was a Captain over King Elah's Chariots he reigned seven dayes in Thirza in which time he put to death and utterly rooted out all the Posterity of Baasha and then Omri besieged the City so straitly that he had no hope to escape wherefore he set the City and Palace on fire in which he also perished 1 Reg. 15 16. The Travels of Omri King of Israel OMRI signifieth a Souldier or one that deserveth his Pay He was made King by the Israelites in his Tent while he was at Wars near to Gibithon from whence he went to Thirza which was thirty six miles and besieged the same upon the very day that Zimri had put the Posterity of Baasha to the Sword and took it He began to reign in Thirza Ann. Mund. 3017 and before Christ 951. and reigned over Israel twelve years the first six in Thirza that latter six in Samaria 1 Reg. 16. From Thirza he went to Mount Semer six miles there Omri built Samaria and made it the Seat of his Kingdom He went thither about the seventh year of his Reign 1 Reg. 16. So these two Journeys were forty two miles Of Samaria SAmaria the chief Seat and Metropolis of Israel was built by Omri in Mount Semer 32 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and took that name of Semer who was Lord of that Mountain of whom King Omri bought it for two Talents of Silver which amounteth to 1200 Crowns In this City fourteen Kings of Israel kept their Courts viz. Omri who was the first Founder of it Ahab Ahazia Iehoram Iehu Ioachas Ioas Ieroboam Zacharias Sallum Menahem Pekahia Pekah and Hosea who was the last of the Kings of Israel that reigned in this City and lost it together with his Liberty Of all these Kings there were but five that died naturally for the Lord being moved to wrath by reason of their Impiety and Idolatry either gave them up into the hands of Foreign Enemies or by Civil War amongst themselves they cruelly murthered one another until such time as the Assyrians destroyed the Land and and led the People captive Thus the Lord punished with a sharp and severe punishment this obstinate Nation because they contemned the Admonitions and Doctrines of the Prophets amongst which Elias and Elizeus were the chief So that although Samaria was a fair and beautiful City and the Countrey for that cause was called the Province of Samaria yet notwithstanding that great God the Judge of all things for the Iniquity of the People caused this fair City to be left desolate the Inhabitants of the Land to be dispersed and the Earth for want of due usage to lye as a Wilderness 2 Reg. 17. This City in the Old Testament according to the Hebrew Phrase is called Shaemaer of Schomron which signifies to keep or a Tower of strength You may read of this 1 Reg. 2. 2 Reg. 1 7. The Greeks and Latines call it Samaria which signifies the Castle of Iehovah or of God You may read more of this in the second Volume Of Hiel that built Jericho again AFter the death of Omri King of Israel when Ahab his Son began to reign Hiel a very rich man in the Town of Bethel that he might leave behind him an eternal memory of his Name went to Iericho which had been formerly destroyed by Ioshuah the Son of Nun and had lain waste for the space of 536 years where contrary to the Commandment of the Lord and curse of Ioshuah he caused the said City to be rebuilt such was the impious Security and Incredulity of this man but the Lord was angry with him and he struck all his Children that they dyed The eldest Son called Abiram at the laying of the Foundation and his youngest Son called Segub at the hanging on of the Gates Ios. 6. 1 Reg. 16. The Travels of King Ahab AHab went from Samaria to the Hill Carmel where Elias put to death the Priests of Baal which was about thirty two miles 1 Reg. 18. From thence he went to Iezreel which is sixteen miles there he told his Wife how Elias had put the Priests of Baal to the Sword 1 Reg. 18. From Iezreel he went again to Samaria eighteen miles where being prest with a hard Siege by Benhadad King of Syria he broke out of the City for his better safety and by Gods great providence and assistance he assailed the Syrians put a great multitude of them to the Sword the rest fled and he went away with a noble Victory as the Prophet of the Lord had formerly told him 1 Reg. 20. From Samaria he went with his Army to Apheck which was fourteen miles where he renewed a second Battel and therein had good success so that he took Benhadad alive and put to the Sword 100000 Syrians In this place the Prophet of the Lord reproved him for his ingratitude and obstinacy wherefore Ahab being angry he went from Apheck to Samaria which was eight miles 1 Reg. 20. From Samaria he went to Iezreel sixteen miles where that perfidious Queen Iesabel caused Naboth to be put to death and took possession of his Vineyard 1 Reg. 21. From Iezreel he went to Ramoth-Gilead twenty four miles and there in a fight that he had against the Syrians was so sore wounded with an Arrow that he was constrained to leave the Battel 1 Reg. 22. And as he went back again to Samaria which was twenty four miles he dyed of his wound Of this man you may read more 1 Reg. 21 22. So all the Travels of Ahab were 152 miles The Description of Carmel Apheck and Ramoth you may read before Of Iezreel JEzreel is a City in the Tribe of Issachar scituated upon a rising ground some forty eight miles from Ierusalem towards the North where Ahab sometimes kept his Court. Here Naboth the Iezreelite dwelt an honest and Religious man one of good Esteem and Authority that feared God and would not suffer the Inheritance of one Tribe to be transferred to another because God had commanded the contrary Num. ult For which cause he would not sell his Vine-yard to Ahab wherefore Iezabel that wicked Woman to satisfie the Kings desire caused him to be stoned Iezreel signifies the Seed of God being derived of Sera Seed and El the Almighty God Though in former times this hath been a fair Town yet at this day there is no past thirty houses in it and is called Charity standing at the foot of Mount Gilboah they shew at this day the field of Naboth the Iezreelite lying towards the West as you go
of Tharsis that is of the Sea beside many such like speeches From whence St. Ierom concludes that Tharsis may better signifie the Sea than the City Tharsis Of the Euxine Sea THE Euxine Ocean is that great and troublesome Sea which beginning not far from Constantinople runneth from Bosphorus and Thrace towards the East and North containing to the Longitude eight hundred miles but to the Latitude two hundred and eighty Towards the South it toucheth upon Asia the less towards the East upon Calcos towards the West upon Thracia and Valachia but towards the North it is â—oyned to the Pool of Maeotides This Sea in times past was called Pontus Axenus that is the inhospitable Countrey because as Strabo lib. 1. of his Cosmography saith The Inhabitants near about the Sea-shore did usually sacrifice those Strangers they got or else cast their Bodies unto Dogs to be devoured making drinking-cups of their Skulls But after when the Ionians had built certain Towns upon the Sea-coast and had restrained the Incursions of certain Scythian Thieves which usually preyed upon Merchants that resorted thither at the command of Pontus their King who had obtained a large and spatious Kingdom in that Country they called it Pontus Euxinus which is as much as to say the hospitable Country Ovid testifieth almost the same concerning the original of the name of this Sea after this manner Frigida me cohibent Euxini littora Ponti Dictus ab antiquis Axinus ille fuit The chilly shoars of th' Euxine Sea constrains me to abide In antient time call'd Axinus as it along did glide Of Ninus or Nineveh NINVS or Nineveh was a City of Assyria where the Emperours of that Country used to keep their Courts It was first built by Ninus that great Emperour of the first Monarchy 300 years after the flood and 2000 before Christ about the time when the Patriarch Abraham was born It continued in great glory for the space of almost 1500 years and was distant from Ierusalem toward the North-east 684 miles upon the East side joyning to the River Tygris on the North to the Caspian Sea It takes the name from the Beauty of it being derived of Navah which signifieth A comely place spatious and pleasant There are many that are of opinion that in many things it exceeded Babylon as for the sumptuousness of the Buildings the strength of the Walls and the extent The Walls were so thick that three Chariots might have met upon them without any danger and beautified with an hundred and fifty Towers Ionas being sent of God to this City was three days going through it that is as Luther expounds it through every Street of it in which time he converted a hundred and twenty thousand to repentance Arbaces who was called Arphaxad was then Emperour This Arbaces Iustine lib. 2. calleth Arbactus he was a Captain of the Medes who perceiving the effeminate disposition of Sardanapalus the then Emperour taking advantage of the times and this man's weakness conspired with some of his Companions to usurp upon his Government and that he might make them hate and loath his looseness brought them into a Room where they might see him sitting amongst his Harlots tired in Womans apparel and carding Wool This sight greatly displeasing them and before being encouraged by Arbactus they seized upon the City and besieged Sardanapalus in his Palace But to prevent the misery of a shameful death after he had gathered all his Riches together he set fire on his Palace where he his companions and Treasure perished this fire continued fifteen days and happened 823 years before Christ about which time Arbactus succeeded Sardanapalus began to reign and continued his Government twenty eight years But the Medes held not the Assyrian Empire long for Phul Belochus who at this time reigned in Babylon and his Successor Tiglath Philasser are called Kings of Assyria between whom there happened many great Wars 2 Kings 15. 26. From whence may be gathered that after the death of Arbactus these Emperours dwelt in Nineveh and succeeded in the Empire Thus was this City greatly defaced with continual evils the Lord before-hand giving them many admonitions and gentle Corrections if it had been in them to have conceived it to win them to repentance but they continued still in their Sins therefore according to their former Prophecies Cyaxares King of the Medes besieging this Town took it and destroyed it even unto the Ground as Eusebius saith This desolation happened thirteen years before the destruction of Ierusalem in the eleventh year of Sadyattis King of the Lydians who was Grandfather to Croesus Anno Mundi 3349 before Christ 619. After this Destruction it lay a long time desolate but at length some part of it was restored though with much trouble and then when it was at the best estate constrained to suffer many changes and at length utterly destroyed by Tamerlane the Great the second time Anno Mundi 3390. After this the Inhabitants of that Country upon the East side of the River Tygris began the third time to build it But whether this third restoring of this City was at the command of some Prince that had the Government of the Country thereabouts or because of the scituation or for private profit it is not set down nevertheless it is again repaired standing upon the Borders of Armenia beautified with goodly Buildings with fair and spacious Streets compassed about as other Cities of the East are with Walls and Ditches sufficiently strengthened to oppose the Enemy But in respect of the former Nineveh it seems a small Village It hath a Bridge built of Ships lying upon the East side of it over the River Tygris and upon that side of the River there stand many fair Gardens or Orchards and the Land there also is very fertile and pleasant But upon the West of Tygris the Soyl is nothing so fruittile At this day it is called by the name of Mossel so that although it stands in the same place yet doth it not retain the same name To this Town there is a great resort of Merchants who bring up their Commodities from the Rier Tygris hither and from hence convey them to Bagdeth and many other parts of the World The Inhabitants thereof are for the most part Nestorians of whom you may read before in the Description of the Sects remaining in Ierusalem at this day They are had in great account and estimation among the Turks because it is imagined that one of this Sect helpt Mahomet to compose the Alcoran This Nestorius lived Anno Dom. 429. and taught at Constantinople but after he was condemned at Ephesus for an Heretick he was constrained to steal from Constantinople and to flie to Thebes in Aegypt where God laid a grievous punishment upon him for his Tongue began to rot his head and to consume with Vermin of which he died miserably The spiritual signification of the Prophet Jonas JOnas signifieth a Dove and typically representeth
called Arar a Destroyer Aram Noble or Mighty Armenia and Syria are so called of Aram the Son of Sem the chief City of which Country is Damasâ—us Pliny lib. 6. I7 saith the Scythians were also in ancient times called Aramites Arnon a famous River of the Moabites in the Tribe of Reuben which falls into the dead Sea 20 miles from Ierusalem Eastward In Esa. 16. it is called Ranan he hath shouted for joy Aroer by usurpation an Ewe Tree This is a City of the Moabites near to the River Arnon in the Tribe of Gad beyond Iordan 24 miles from Ierusalem Eastward Ier. 40. there is another City so called near to Damascus in Syria Esa. 7. Arpad the light of Redemption This was a City in the Land of Damascus Ier. 49. There is another flourishing City of that name which may compare with Antiochia for greatness Esa. 10. But where it is scituated it is uncertain Arvad was a part of the Land of Canaan so called of Arvad the Son of Canaan Gen. I0 Ascanes or Tuiscones are a People descended of Ascenitz the Son of Gomer the Son of Iaphet which sometimes dwelt in Armenia but now have their abiding in Germany 2 Gen. 10. Esa 51. so that of Gomer they are called Germanes and of Ascanes Ascanians or Tuiscons Asseca fortified round about Neer to this Town David killed Goliah It stood eight miles from Ierusalem Westward Assur or Assyria a blessed Country being so called of Assur the Son â—f â—em Aven Iniquity Bethel was so called after Ieroboam had there set up a Golden Calf Hos. 10. B. BAbel Confusion Babylon is the Metropolitan City of Chaldaea 280 miles from Ierusalem Eastward Bath Domestical It was a Town of the Moabites in the Tribe of Reuben beyond Iordon Esa. 16. Bazra a Grape-gathering It was a City of the Edomites scituated upon the Bank of Iordan on the farther side near to Bethabara twenty miles from Ierusalem North-eastward Esa. 24. 36. Ier. 48. Note here that the Country of the Moabites in times past was subject to the Edomites and then this City was in their jurisdiction but after the Moabites got it into their hands again and held it It was one of the six Towns of Refuge mentioned Ios. 29. Berothai a Cypress Tree This Town stood near Hemath or Antiochia 280 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ezek. 49. In this City David King of Israel took Hadadesar King of Zoba or Sophena and constrained him to give him a great deal of Brass as it is thought yearly for Tribute for near that City were many Brass Mines Bethavin the house of Iniquity Bethel was so called Hos 6. It stood eight miles from Ierusalem Northward Beth-Cherem the house of the Vines It was a Town not far from Ierusalem Northward Ier. 6. Beth-Diblathaim the house of dried Figs. It was a City of the Moabites Ier. 48. Bethieâ—imoth the house of Desolations It was also a City of the Moabites beyond Iordan in the Tribe of Reuben Ios. 13. Ezech. 25. twenty miles from Ierusalem Beth-Gamul the house of Restitution This was a City of the Moabites Ier. 48. Beth-Bealmeon the house of habitation for the Idol Baal It was a City of the Moabites twenty four miles from Ierusalem Eastward not far from Aroer Ezek. 25. 1 Chr. 5. Butz a Castle of Prey It was a City of the Ismaelites in Arabia-Petraeâ— eighty miles from Ierusalem South-Westward Ier. 25. Bel and Neob two Idols of the Babylonians Esa. 45. Bel signifieth the God of Mixture or Confusion Neob the God of Prophecy C. CAlno his Perfection This is Selucia scituated upon Tygris beyond Babylon 316 miles from Ierusalem Eastward It is now called Bagdeth Gen. 10. Esâ—y 2. Canne a firm foundation It was a City of the Syrians Ezek. 27. Caphihor a little Sphere or a round Globe like unto a Globe or Pomegranate Also Capâ—adocia a Country of Asia the less 600 miles from Ierusalem Northward Carchemis a sacrificed Lamb. This was scituated too near Euphrates in Syria 400 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ierem. 25. D. DEâ—dan a City of the Idumaeans so called of Dedan the Son of Esâ—u Ier. 25. Isa. 21. Dâ—bon a Mist. This was a City of the Moabites near Hesbon in the Tribe of Reuben twenty eight miles from Ierusalem North-eastward Diblath a bunch of Figs. It was a City in the Tribe of Naphtali near to the Lake of Samachonites eighty miles from Ierusalem Northward Ezek. 6. Here Zedekiah had his eyes put out 2 Kin. 25. Ier. 39. 52. Dimon Bloudy This is a City in the Tribe of Reuben which as St. Ieron saith is twenty eight miles from Ierusalem North-eastward Duma Silence A City of the Israelites so called of Duma the Son of Ismael It stood in Arabia Petaea eighty miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest Esa. 25. 21. E. EGbathana the Metropolitian City of the Medes distant from Ierusalem 1136 miles North-east-ward Eden Pleasure A City of Syria scituated near Euphrates 400 miles from Ierusalem North-eastward Esay 7. This is thought to have been a part of Paradice Eglaim a round Drop It was a Town of the Moabites Esa. 15. 16. Elam a Young man so called of Elem the Son of Sem Esa. 10. 21. After Perseus had got in this Countrey a great Government he called it after his own name Persâ—a Eleale the Ascension of God It was a City beyond Iordan in the Tribe of Reuben between Iacza and Heshbon 26 miles from Ierusalem North-eastward Num. 32. Elim a Hart. This was a Lake so called in the Land of the Moabites Esa. 10. Elisa the Lamb of God So were the Aeolians called in Grecia of Elisa the Son of Iavan the Son of Iaphet Ezek. 7. Gen 10. Enaglaim the Fountain of Calves It was a Town or Castle near to the Red Sea Ezek. 10. Epha the Land of Obscurity It was a part of Arabia Petraea so called of Epha the Son of Midian the Son of Abraham Gen. 25. Esa. 60. G. GEbim a Ditch This was a Town in the Tribe of Iuda Esa. 10. Gebah a Hill It was a Hill in the City of Kirjath-jearim there was a Town also of the same name standing within a little of it This was little more than a mile from Ierusalem Westward Esa. 10. Gebal a bound or limit It was the bounds and limits of Syria bordering upon the Mediterranean Sea This City Gibal or Gebal was 160 miles from Ierusalem Northward 1 Reg. 5. Psal. 82. Gibeah a Hill It was also called Gibeon where Saul dwelt four miles from Ierusalem Northward Esa. 10. Gilgal a roundle or the compass of a hill Here Ioshuah pitched his Tents it stood between Iericho and Iordan twelve miles from Ierusalem North-eastward Gog. The Turks were thus called because they liv'd in Tents Ezek. 48. Gosan a Land and River in Mesopotamia called after that name 2 Reg. 17. Esa. 37. H. HAdad Rimmon a Pomegranat This was a Town near to Megiddo where Iosiah King of Iudah was wounded to death 46 miles from
Mac. 5. 2 Mac. 22. From Astaroth-Carnaim he went to Ephron being 16 miles this City Iudas Macchabeus destroyed because the Inhabitants thereof denied him Passage and went through it over the dead Bodies 2 Mac. 5. Here Gideon Judge of Israel sometime dwelt it took the Name from the rising up of the Dust being derived of Aphar that is he hath made a dust From Ephron Iudas passed over Iordan into the great Field of Galilee and so went to Scythopolis which in ancient time was called Bethsan which was four miles From Bethsan or Scythopolis he returned to Ierusalem which was 44 miles a little before Pentecost in the fourth year of his Government in the Year 161 before Christ 1 Mac. 5. 2 Mac. 12. After the Feast of Pentecost he went from Ierusalem to Maresa which was 16 miles here he overcame Gorgias Governour of Idumaea in a great Battel 2 Mac. 12. From Maresa he went with his Army to Odullam which was six miles Here sometime David hid himself From Odullam he returned to Ierusalem being eight miles 2 Mac. 12. From Ierusalem he brought his Army to Hebron the Metropolitan City of the Idumaeans which was 22 miles this Town he won and all the Towns and Castles near adjoyning 1 Mac. 5. From thence he went to Samaria which was fifty six miles 1 Mac. 5. From Samaria he led his Army against Azotus being 44 miles This was a City of the Philistines which he destroyed broke their Altars and burn'd 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 chief Captain of the Syrians who came with a great Army to invade Iudaea But when the Battel waxed hot there appeared to the Enemies from Heaven five comely men upon Horses with Bridles of Gold two of which led the Iews and took Macchabeus between them and covered him on every side with their Weapons that none could hurt him but against their Enemies they shot Darts and Lightnings so that they were confounded with Blindness and beaten down whereby the Iews 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 being sixteen miles Here Timotheus hid himself in a Cave but the Iews took the City 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 being 16 miles In the Year following which was the fifth of his Reign and 160 before Christ Iudas Macchab besieged the Tower of Sion in Ierusalem because those that were in the Garrison had put to the Sword some of the Iews that were sacrificing in the Temple But Antiochus Eupator the Son of Antiochus Epiphanes hearing of it at the Instigation of Menelaus Chief Priest of the Iews brought a great Army to their Rescue wherefore Iudas Macchabeus hearing of his coming left the Siege and went from Ierusalem to Modin to meet him which was 14 miles Here he overcame Antiochus destroyed his Elephants and put 4000 of his Souldiers to the Sword 2 Mac. 13. When King Antiochus had felt a taste of the boldness of the Jews he went with his Army through by-ways and secret Passages to the Castle of Bethsuâ—a which he besieged whither Iudas followed him which was twelve miles encamped himself a mile from Bethsura in a straight place called Bethzachara Here Antiochus betimes in the Morning thinking to take the Army of the Iews at an Advantage set upon them But the Iews and their Leaders behaved themselves so manfully that they put Antiochus the second time to flight and kill'd 600 of his men In this Battel Eliazer the Brother of Iudas Macchabeus was slain by an Elephant Ios. lib. Antiq. 12. lib. 16. 1 Macc. 6. From Bethzachara he returned back to Ierusalem being two miles and when the King had taken the Town of Bethsura for they were constrained to yield by reason of Famine he followed Iudas with whom he joyned the third time in Battel but Iudas overcame him and put to the Sword many of his Army Wherefore having certain Intelligence that Philip whom he had made Over-seer of the Affairs at Antiochia rebelled he made a Peace with Iudas Macchabeus was appeased towards the Iews did sacrifice adorned the Temple and shewed great Gentleness towards the People So Antiochus departed out of Iudaea and took Menelaus that seditious High-Priest along with him captive 1 Mac. 6. 2. Mac. 13. After in the sixth Year of his Government Iudas went with his Army through all the Borders of Iudaea and executed Justice upon all such as were Offenders and Contemners of the true Religion After when Iudas had certain intelligence that Nicanor whom Demetrius King of Syria had sent against Ierusalem went about by fraudulent Courses and under pretence of Friendship to take away his Life 2 Mac. 14. he went privily from Ierusalem and came to Caphar-Salama scituated twelve miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Here Nicanor and he joyned Battel but Judas discomfited his Army and put to the Sword about five thousand of his Men himself not escaping without great danger 1 Mâ—c 7. From Caphar-Salama Judas came to Samaria which was 28 miles here he rested himself and refreshed his Army a while 2 Mac. 15. In the Year before Christ 128 he went from Samaria to Adâ—rsâ— which was 28 miles and there upon the 13th day of Adar which answereth to the 13th day of February near to Bethoron the lower he gave Nicanor a great Overthrow and put him with 35000 of his Host to the Sword 1 Mac. 7. 2 Mac. 15. From Adara and Bethoron the lower he followed the Enemies to Gaza a City of the Philistines being 44 miles 1 Mac. 9. From Gaza he returned to Ierusalem being 44 miles there he caused the Arm of Nicanor whom a little before he had slain at the Battel of Adarsa to be cut off and his Tongue to be cut out of his Head shred small and given to the Fowls of the Heaven and his Head to be cut from his Shoulders because therewith he had blasphemed the Lord and the Temple swearing Desolation and Destruction to it and the Iews 1 Mac. 7. 2 Mac. 15. A little after that is to say almost at the end of the sixth year of his Government Iudas Macchabeus went out with 3000 chosen men in his Army and pitched his Tents near Laisa twelve miles from Ierusalem towards the West but when the Iews perceived the mighty Army of Bacchides for he had 20000 fooâ— and 2000 Horse in his Host there were many of them discouraged so that all left him but 800 men yet nevertheless Iudas constrained by necessity withstood Bacchides and so manfully behaved himself in the Battel that he overcame him and put him to flight 1 Mac. 2.
Antiochia they went with their Army to a Plain near the Mountain Amanus 120 miles where in a sharp War they overcame Alexander and put him out of his Kingdom Ios Ant. li. 3. c. 7. Now after the death of Ptolomeus Philimetor Demetrius Nicanor returned to Antiochia 120 miles where he governed the Kingdom of Syria two years From Antiochia he went to Ptolomais which was 200 miles to which place Ionathan the High-Priest came to meet him where he gave to him many Presents and great Gifts to win his Favour 1 Mac. 11. From Ptolomais he returned to Antiochia 200 miles There his Souldiers and the City of Antiochia rebelled against him For which cause Ionathan the High-Priest sent him 3000 men which delivered the King out of danger put to the Sword 100000 of the Seditious and burnt the City of Antiochia 1 Mac. 11. But after Demetrius shewed himself unthankful he was driven out of his Kingdom by Tryphon and young Antiochus the Son of King Alexander who was also called Theos which signifies God In the 172 year of the Reign of the Grecians in Syria which was 138 years before Christ Nicanor having slain Antiochus the Son of Alexander he would have reigned alone in Syria wherefore Demetrius who was the lawful King of Syria being three years before driven thence went 1200 miles into Media to crave aid against Tryphon but Arsaces King of the Medes Parthians and Persians sent the chief Captain of his Host against Demetrius who burned his Tents took him Prisoner and carried him back to his Master to Hecatompilon the chief City of his Kingdom distant from Syria 1220 miles toward the East Iustin. lib. 36. 38. From Hecatomâ—ylon Arsaces sent him to Hyrcania the metropolitan City of that Country which was 176 miles where although Arsaces kept him as a Prisoner yet he allowed him royal Attendance and after marryed him to his Daughter Iust. lib. 38. After the Death of Arsaces with singular Industry and Policy he got out of Captivity after he had been twelve years Prisoner in Hyrcania and came into Syria which was fourteen miles where he recovered his Kingdom and reigned four years So all his Travels were 4156 miles Of the Places to which he travelled Of Creta now called Candia THIS is an Island of the Mediterranean Sea diftant from Ierusalem 600 miles westward very fruitful and pleasant in which there grows great plenty of Cypress Trees and Grapes of divers kinds but principally such whereof Malmsey and Sack are made Here Paul's Disciple was Bishop wherefore you shall read more of it after Of Seleucia SEleucia is a famous City of Syria scituated upon the shore of the Mediterranean Sea 280 miles from Ierusalem North-ward near to which the River Orantes runneth and the Mountain Casius standeth which is four miles high Plin. l. 5. c. 22. You may read more of this in the Travels of St. Paul Of Syria SYria was sometimes called of the Hebrews Aram of Aram the Son of Sem of whom all Armenia took the Name Aram signifies A man of great Spirit and Dignity being derived of Rom that is lifted up for he was a man of an excellent Spirit Gen. cap. 10. Syria signifieth a great Tract of Land and is divided into two parts the upper and the lower In the upper Syria are these Cities Antiochia Seleucia Laodicea and Apamea in the lower Syria are Sydon Tyrus Berytus Tripolis and Orthâ—sia This Country is scituated in a very temperare Zone from whence it happeneth that it is neither oppressed with too much Cold nor Heat There are that divide Syria into four parts that is into Syria Assyria Leucosyria and Coelosyriae Also Pliny lib. 5. cap. 12. attributeth Mesopotamia and Babylonia to Syriâ— But it is evident that these were distinct Countries from them in the which there reigned Emperours and Kings which had large and spacious Dominions For Syria is scituated between the Mediterranean Sea and Euphrates but Mesopotamia which is so called because it is scituated in the middle of Waters is separated from Syria and Assyria with the Rivers Euphrates and Tygris and Arabia is separated from Syria and Babylon with many vast Wildernesses Therefore these Countries cannot properly pass under the denomination of Syria Of Parthia PArthia is a spacious Countrey full of Mountains and Desarts lying upon the Borders of Media Westward the Metropolis whereof his Hecatompylon taking the name of an hundred Gates wherewith it is fortified It lieth as Stephanus saith 1512 miles from Ierusalem Eastward Here Arsaces that mighty King of the Parthians kept his Court who had under his Government Media Parthia Persia Hircania and the greatest part of all the Countreys toward the East It is called Parthia because of the fruitfulness of the Soil being derived of Parah to fructifie Of Hyrcania HYrcania is a fruitful and pleasant Countrey bordering upon Media and the Caspian Sea for the most part plain and champian beautified with many fair Cities the chief of which are Hyrcania the Metropolis of the whole Kingdom Talebrota Samariana Carta and Tape It was so fat and fruitful that the Inhabitants use not to till and dress the ground as they do in other places but the Seed that falleth from the husk upon the Earth springeth up and bringeth forth great Plenty and increase without farther labour The Dews also falling upon the Trees there droppeth from them Oil and Honey in great Plenty It taketh the name as it is thought from a Wood called Hyrcania In like manner the Caspian Sea which bordereth upon it of this Countrey is called Hyrcanum Many cruel Beasts are found therein as the Panther the Tyger and the Leopard The Panther is of a whitish colour inclining something to yellow spotted all over with round shining spots in like manner are their Eyes She is a friend almost to all kinds of Creatures except the Asp and Dragon and as Oppianus saith never taken but when she is drunk or in her sleep She is the Female to the Leopard The Leopard is of the same colour and of the nature of a Wolf being full he hurteth nothing but if empty he preyeth upon every thing yea even upon men his Breath is very sweet with which many other Creatures being delighted he often preys upon them but being full he sleepeth sometimes three days together The Tyger also is a very swift and cruel Creature from whence he is so called his skin is yellow and full of black Spots round and shining If the chance to lose her young she never leaves seeking till she finds them out The Travels of Tryphon that put Antiochus to death IN An. Mundi 3826 before Christ 142. Tryphon sometime chief Captain to Alexander King of Syria who was slain in Arabia went to Emalâ—uel Prince of Arabia Deserta with whom Antiochus the Son of Alexander was brought up 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
The Land round about it is very pleasant and fertile abounding with all kind of good things necessary for the maintenance of life and delight There is also found great abundance of Grapes which are very delicious and pleasant to the taste whereof the Wine Canamella is made But because the Turks and Saracens are prohibited by the strict Law of the Alcoran from drinking of Wine therefore they suffer no Vineyards to be planted neither the Inhabitants to dress those Vines that grow naturally Before the East Gate of the antient City which now lies destroyed there is built a Chappel in which place they say the Woman of Canaan intreated our Saviouâ— Christ to cast a Devil out of her Daughter Mat. 15. The Mountain Antilibanus beginneth close by the River Eleutherius and extends it self beyond Tripolis and in some places it joyneth so close to the Sea that for the streightness of the wayes those that travel that way can scarce pass In this City was the fairest Purple in all those parts nay as some Authors affirm the like was not to be found in the World c. Of Cana Syro-Phoenicia THIS Town which was called Cana the Great was scituated upon the borders of Tyrus and Sidon 112 miles from Ierusalem Northward scituated in the Tribe of Ashur four miles from Sidon towards the South and three from Sareâ—ta towards the East In this Town the Syroâ—hoenician dwelt that besought our Saviour Christ to heal her Daughter that was possessed of a Devil Mat. 15. Mar. 7. It was called Cana Syro-Phoenicia to put a diffâ—rence between it and another Cana scituated in Galilee the lower in which City our Saviour Christ turned Water into Wine You may read more of this Town before Of Traconitis THIS City was so called from the stony hardness of the Mountains of Gilead which compass it in upon the East side in which Province the Tribe of Gad and the half Tribe of Manasses inhabited It was in antient times called Basan in which Og the mighty Gyant had a great Command but Moses overcame him and gave the Land to the Tribe of Gad and the half Tribe of Mâ—nâ—sses In Christ's time the Tetrarch and Governour of it was Philip who was Son to Herod the Great and Brother to Herod Anâ—ipas Tetrarch in Galilee and Petraea which Herod took to Wise Herodia whom his Brother Philip had formerly married the said Philip being at that time alive but because Iohn Baptist reprehended him for that fact therefore at her request he was beheaded in the Castle of Machera Itura was another Province belonging to the Tetrarchy of Philip joyning upon the West to the River of Iordan and called Galilee of the Gentiles of which you may read before Of Decapolis THIS Country is so called of ten Cities that were scituated in it It stood beyond Iordan and the Sea of Galilee as may be gathered out of Mark cap. 7. and Mat. 15. So that it is manifest that that Country which in times past was called Gilead was afterward known and called by the name of Decapolis because of the â—en Cities which stood there as Chorazin which Christ cursed Mat. 11. Gamala where Agrippa King of the Iews was hurt in his right arm Ios. de Bell. Iud. lib. 4. cap. 1. Iuliades built by Herod Antipas in honour of the Empress Iulia Gadara where our Saviour Christ cast out the Legion of Devils suffering them to enter into the Herd of Swine Mat. 8. Mar. 5. Astoroth the chief City of that Country in the time of Og King of Basan Ios. cap. 12. Here also that holy man Iob sometimes had his dwelling Iabes in Gilead where Saul King of Israel lieth buried 1 Sam. 31. Mizpah where Ieptha offered his Daughter for a Sacrifice to the Lord Iudg. 11. Ramoth in Gilead where King Ahab was slain with a Dart 1 Reg. 22. and Abel of the Vines where Baalam's Ass spake Num. 22. These are those ten Cities whereof this Country is called Decapolis being scituated in the Land of Gilead beyond Iordan where our Saviour healed the Man that was born blind and deaf Mark 7. This Opinion exactly agreeth with that of the Holy Scripture Yet I know there are some as Plin. lib. 5. cap. 18. and others who differ from this in the description of this Country but they erâ— from the truth Of Magdala THIS was a City scituated upon the West side of the Galilean Sea fifty two miles from Ierusalem Northward in which Country Mary who of this Town was called Magdalen was born At this time this City is called by the name of Castle Magdala in which place they shew the House of Mary Magdalen Upon the West and North-side of the City there lieth a great and spacious Plain preserved only for Pasture which Mark cap. 8. calls Dalmanutha that is Drawn dry or a poor and naked Habitation being derived of Dalal He hath made dry and Maon a House or dwelling place It may be a notable figure of the Christian Church which in this World may rightly be said to have a poor Habitation but yet is a right Magdala that is a strong and impregnable Tower against which the Gates of Hell shall not be able to prevail Mat. 16. Upon the Borders of Magdala and Dalmanutha the Pharisees and Sadducees tempting our blessed Saviour Christ demanded of him a sign from Heaven Mat. 15. 16. Mar. 8. This City belonged to the Tribe of Issachar Of Thabor MOunt Thabor was a round and high Hill upon which our blessed Saviour Christ was transfigured scituated upon the borders of the Tribes of Issachar and Zebulon fifty two miles from the City of Ierusalem towards the North and extendeth it self towards the South to the River Kison Here Deborah and Barak discomfited the Host of Sisera King of the Canaanites and put them to flight Iudg. 4. Of this Mountain you may read Psal. 89. Hos. 4. Ier. 45. There was also a Town called after this Name scituated at the foot of this Mountain where Ziba and Zalmana Kings of the Midianites put to death the Brothers of Gideon Iudges 8. It was a very fruitful and pleasant place Concerning the signification of the name you may read before Egesippus saith That this Mountain is almost four miles in height and that upon the top thereof there is a round Plain almost three miles over in which there grows great plenty of Trees of an admirable Pleasantness and Sweetness amongst which Trees there are many Birds which sing very pleasantly to the great delight of all such as hear them and the Air on the top of it is very pure and pleasant It is the received Opinion That upon the top of this Mountain our Saviour Christ in the presence of Peter Iames and Iohn was transfigured and he spake with the holy Prophets Moses and Elias Mat. 17. Luke 9. which place at this day is compassed about with a great Wall within which is a fair and pleasant Orchard watered with many clear and
away and we that are wounded are made whole as with a most precious Balsom Isa. 53. Hellen the Empress in an Orchard close by this Town set up a fair and beautiful Church over the Sepulchre of the Virgin Mary which she called by the name of the Mother of God Niceph. lib. 2. cap. 30. It is said that this Sepulchre remaineth to this day in this Church made of white polished Marble standing about eight and forty steps under ground being something wider than the Sepulchre of Christ in it there is two doors one to go in another to go out But whether this be the right Sepulchre of the blessed Virgin it concerneth us not since it appertaineth not to our Salvation neither is mentioned in the holy Scriptures but if any Man be desirous to be further satisfied in it let him read Niceâ—horus who makes mention of that and her Ascension both in my Opinion of like Credit because I suppose that Saint Luke who wrote the Acts of the Apostles and lived in those times would not have omitted so memorable an Action But to return to the Garden of Gethsamene About some fifty paces towards the East of this Sepulchre of the blessed Virgin close by the foot of the Mount of Olives stands a certain Chappel just in the place where sometimes the Town of Gethsamene stood Not far from this Chappel is shewn a certain hollow place under a Rock where the Inhabitants say our Saviour sweat drops of Blood They also shew a certain stone whereon the Angels stood which comforted our Saviour Descending thence about a stones cast they shew unto Pilgrims a place close by the Cave in the Mount of Olives where Peter James and John sat when our Saviour was in his Agony They also shew the place where Peter cut off Malchus Ear. There is to be seen a memorable Place where Judas betrayed our Saviour with a kiss when he delivered him to the Jews Not far off is to be seen the Place where the Jews fell backward when our Saviour ask'd them Whom seek ye Besides many other things if Borchardus may be credited as the Impression of his hair and head upon a stone and of his finger as if it had been in Wax upon a Rock and in the place where he prayed of his Hands and Knees which are so firm in stone that they cannot be defaced with any Instrument But there have been many in this place since these times which have seen none of these things from whence may be gathered that they have been idle delusions used by ancient Monks to get money from Pilgrims and Strangers and I have here remembred them that others knowing these may beware of the like Fallacies and Deceits purposely invented for Lucre's sake This Garden of Gethsamene is credibly thought to have been planted in former times by the Kings David and Solomon but increased and inlarged by other succeeding Princes that there they might recreate themselves and receive some content by the Fruits of the Earth But on the contrary that great King the anointed of the Lord our blessed Saviour in this place of Pleasure this Paradice of the Iews was constrain'd to undergo that almost unsupportable Passion to make us partakers of that heavenly Paradice and place of Pleasure Not far from hence is to be seen the place where Iudas hanged himself and a little from that the Field of Akeldama which was bought with the thirty Silverlings for which Iudas betrayed Christ. This Field by the appointment of the Empress of Hellen was compassed about with four Walls in the manner of a Tower upon the top whereof there are seven distinct doors like Windows by which the dead Bodies of Christians are let down into it it is fifty foot wide and seventy two long It standeth not far from the Valley of Hinnon towards the East and upon the South-side of Mount Sion in Ierusalem c. Of Kidron or Cedron THIS Brook was so called because of the blackness of the Water being derived of Kadar to wax black The Mountain whence it first riseth stands not far from Ierusalem towards the South from whence it runeth through the Valley of Jehosaphat which Valley being very fat and fertile changeth the colour of the Water and makes it look black and so through Jerusalem then passing towards the East over a cliff of Mount Olivet it falleth into the Lake Asphaltites When there falls any store of Rain the Channel is very full but in Summer it is oftentimes dry with the extremity of Heat Over this Brook David passed when he was persecuted by his Son Absolon 2 Sam. 16. and our Saviour Christ when hedrank of the River in the Way that is when he suffered upon the Cross for the Sin of Man according to that Saying of the Psalmist Psal. 69. save me O God because the Waters are entred even into my Soul Of Mount Calvary THIS Mountain according to the common Opinion was so called of dead Mens Skulls or the Skulls of such who were put to death for some capital Offence It stood upon the West-side of Jerusalem as you go out of the ancient Gate and is a part of Mount Gihon At this day it standeth within the City of Jerusalem together with the Sepulchre of our Saviour and upon it is built a fair Church which is joyned unto the Church of the holy Sepulchre being as it were a Quire unto it But it standeth somewhat lower It is built all of Marble and the inside is all polished and wrought very curiously It is also paved with the same Stone Within it is seen a piece of the Pillar of Stone to which they say Christ was tied when he was whipped in which Stone are to be seen certain red specks as if they had been drops of Bloud and these also they say were the Blood of Christ when he was scourged besides many other things of which you may read at the beginning of this Treatise in the description of Ierusalem as it is at this day The Description of the holy Sepulchre THE Sepulchre of Christ stood upon the West side of Ierusalem close by Mount Golgatha in the Garden of Ioseph of Arimathea for it was the custom of the Iews to build their Tombs or Sepulchres in their Orchards and Gardens and beautifie and adorn them with Lillies Roses and other Flowers on purpose to put them in mind of their Mortality according to that of David Psal. 103. The days of Man are like Grass as a Flower of the Field so flourisheth he for the Wind goeth over it and is gone and the Place thereof shall know it no more And for this cause the Iews but especially the Kings would be buried in their Gardens so Ioseph a good and just Man following this custom had hewed him out of a Rock a new Monument in which there had been no Man laid that so when he walked in the Garden to take the Air he might be put in mind of his Mortality
after rebuilt this Temple of Diana and made it much fairer than it was before all the Citizens contributing with willing hands to the charge of the building insomuch that the Women brought all their Silver Gold and other pretious Ornaments and communicated them towards this great Work Also in after times those fair Pillars before spoken of were again erected towards the rebuilding whereof they received so many and wonderful Gifts from all the neighbouring Kings Cities and Countries that this Temple might as it was thought compare with all the World beside for Riches and Treasure It was standing in St. Paul's time who came thither about twelve years after the Resurrection of our Saviour and continued there three years in which time he so faithfully and diligently preached the Gospel that he converted most of the Citizens from their Idolatry and Worship of Diana to the reverend Knowledge and Confession of our blessed Saviour For which cause Demetrius the Silver Smith who made a great gain by Idolatry stirred up a great tumult so that the Gentiles running up and down the City for two hours space cried out with a loud voice Great is Diana of the Ephesians Acts 19. Here also Paul fought with Beasts 1 Cor. 15. And to this City Paul wrote his Epistle and sent it from Rome 996 miles He made Timothy also a Bishop of this City to whom he wrot two Epistles the first was sent him from Laodicea to Phrygia being 280 miles the second from Rome as I said By these Epistles Timothy was greatly comforted and taught them to his Disciples and Auditors that so they might constantly continue and persevere in the Christian Faith and Religion to the end To conclude Iohn the Evangelist came also to Ephesus and wrote his Gospel against the Heretick Cerinthus who denyed Christ to be the true God for which cause God grievously punished him so that he died as he was bathing himself in a Bath Irenaeus lib. 5. ca. 3. Euseb. li. 3. c. 22. This was the first Church to which Iohn wrote his Revelation and there when he returned out of Pathmos he raised his Host Drusana from death to life So when he had governed the Churches in Asia thirty years after the death of Paul he died when he was ninety one years old and was honourably buried at Ephesus not far from the City There was also another Iohn that liv'd in Ephesus to whom as many think the Epistles of Iohn the Evangelist were dedicated as Ierom sheweth in his Catalogue of Ecclesiastical Writers The Sepulchre of this man is shewed not far from the Sepulchre of St. Iohn the Evangelist as Euseb. witnesseth lib. 3. cap. 31. At this day this City is named Figlo ho Epheso See Gesner Of Pathmos THIS is an Isle of the Aegean Sea scituated betwixt Asia minor and Grecia 2080 miles from Ierusalem North-Westward Pli. l. 4. c. 12. saith that it was thirty miles in compass Into this Isle the Evangelist was banished by Domitian Nero where he wrote his Revelation It was one of the Cyclad Islands which were fifty three in number that lay round about the Island Delus as Stra. li. 10. Geog. observes It stood forty miles from Ephesus South-Westward and as Petr. Apianus saith was sometimes called Posidius but now Palmosa Of Smyrna THIS is the second City to which Iohn dedicated his Revelation It was scituated in Ionia in Asia minor 540 miles from Ierusalem North-Westward This was a very fair City beautified with many goodly buildings and of good account in Grecia It was at first but a Colony transplanted from another City in that Country But Theseus that great Prince being then King thereof that he might add some grace to that which he had begun he called it after his Wives name Smyrna signifying Myrrh Herodot saith that Homer was born here but not Blind and called by the name of Melisigines but after the Gumaenians called him of his Blindness Homer Strab. li. 14. Geogr. saith that the Inhabitants take upon them to shew his Picture standing there and also a Temple built in his Honour During his Life he was a man of small or no Reputation or rather contemned than honoured as Herod saith But after his death his Works beginning to grow famous the Cities of Greece contended who should Patronize him The Colophonians claim a part in him because he was in that Town and there made some of his Odysses They of Chios say he belonged to them because he lived there a long time and taught School But for ought that can be found by Authors the Smyrnians have most interest in him Nevertheless I leave him to them that please to Patronize him since it is not certainly found where he lived He lived about 900 years before Christ. Eusebius saith Hist. Eccl. lib. 4. cap. 14. that in after-times this City grew very famous and was so much inlarged that it became a Bishops See whereof Polycarâ—us a very godly and Religious man was Bishop He governed the Church in that place at such time as Iohn the Evangelist wrote his Revelation and by him cap. 2. is called the Angel of the Church of Smyrna This man after he had faithfully preached the Gospel for the space of 86 years was by the Inhabitants thereof condemned to death for the profession of Christ Anno 170. But the town of Smyrna because of the unthankfulness and cruelty of the Inhabitants was grievously punished for within ten years it was cast down by an Earth-quake since which time it was hardly rebuilt again The River Pactolus which beginneth in Lydia runneth by this Town of Smyrna But the Inhabitants because of the golden Veins that are found therein call it Crysorrhoas Plin. lib. 5. cap. 29. A little after that there was such an extreme Plague happened in Rome that they were constrained to carry out the dead Bodies in Carts Thus God turneth the Air and the Earth to the confusion of those that persecute his Church Of Pergamus THIS was another of the Towns whereto Iohn wrote his Revelation It was a famous City and Metropolitan of Mysia scituated in Asia minor 228 miles from Ierusalem North-westward It stood upon a high Rock close by the River Caicus from whence it was called Pergamus For in ancient times all famous and notable places were called amongst the Graecians Pergama as Suidas and Servius observe Strabo lib. 13. saith that in the time of Lysimachus the Son of Agathocles who was one of the Successours of Alexander the Great it was but a Castle in which place because of the strength of it he usually kept all his Treasure and those things that were of account and committed the custody of it unto one named Philetaerus an Eunuch of Tyanus But this man being accused to Lysimacus that he would have forced his Wife Arsinoes for fear of some future punishment because of that Offence moved the Inhabitants of that Hold to Rebellion At the same time also there happened many Commotions in
cost that he much exceeded Alexander and made it a fair and goodly City At this day it is called Ilium But in the place of old Troy there is little to be seen only a small Town as Strabo saith It is distant from Ierusalem 760 miles North-westward Of Bythinia THIS Country is opposite to Constantinople scituated in Asia minor distant from Ierusalem North-westward and so called of Bythinus the Son of Iupiter and Thrax It was sometime called Pontus Bebrycia and Mygdonia as Stephanus saith In this Country the Apostle Paul could not preach the Gospel of Christ when he went into Macedonia and Graecia because he was hindred by the Spirit Act. 16. The principal Cities thereof were Calcidon Heraclea Nicea Nicodemia Apamea Flaviopolis Libissa where Hannibal lieth buried and Prusa now called Brysa where in times past the Enperours of Turky kept their Courts and were buried The Mother and Metropolis of all these Cities was Nicea or rather Nicaea being distant from Ierusalem 720 miles towards the North-west at the first called Antigonia of Antigonus the Son of Philip King of Asia who built it after the death of Alexander the Great But Lysimacus called it Nicaea after his Wifes name and at this day it is called Nissa The compass thereof is two miles being four square scituated as Strabo saith lib. 12. in a fair and pleasant place lying close by the Pool of Ascania and hath in it four Gates standing in a direct line all which Gates might easily have been seen from a certain Stone which stood in the middle of the Market-place In this City the most Christian Emperour Constantine the Great celebrated a Councel Anno Dom. 325. at which time there were present 320 Bishops who condemned the Arrian Heresie and instituted the Nicene Creed But after that viz. Anno Dom. 326. the Arrians endeavouring to hold a second Councel in this City to confirm their Opinions and to dissolve that which went before the Lord hindred them with an Earth-quake by which almost half the City was thrown down Not long after there happened another Earth-quake which utterly destroyed it Notwithstanding it was rebuilt again and in it a second Councel held wherein the Nicene Creed was condemned There were many Cities of this name that before spoken of another in Thrace a third in France not far from the River Varus a fourth as Stephans saith is amongst the Lorrenses in Graecia a fifth in Illeria a sixth in India a seventh in Corsica and the eighth in Leuctris of Boetia Of Mysia THIS is a Country of Asia the less bordering upon Hellespont and Troada being divided into two parts that is the greater and the less That part that bordereth upon Troada is distant from Ierusalem 800 miles North-westward but that which is called Mysia the less and bordering upon Lydia is 1028 miles from Ierusalem North-westward In this Country stood Pergam to which Iohn wrote his Revelation Scepsis where one Neleus kept the Books of Aristotle till Apollonius time also Antandrus Adramitium Tranoiapolis and Aâ—ollonia which stood close by the River Thyndaeus The Inhabitants were Men of a base condition and contemned of the World insomuch as they became a Proverb as often as a Man would denote a thing of no estimation they would say Viâ—imum esse myliorum that is It is worse than the Mysians as it appeareth in Cicero's oration for Flaccus Yet notwithstanding Paul and Iohn the Evangelist preached the Doctrine and Light of the Gospel to this poor and despised People so that the Mysians which were a contemptable and abominable Nation before all the World were not so before God for they were converted at the preaching of Iohn and Paul From whence he saith Not many Wise according to the flesh not many mighty not many noble but God hath chosen the foolish things of this World that they might confute and overthrow the Wise c. 1. Cor. 1. Intimes past they were a great People though of small estimation for they had under their jurisdiction Lydia Caria Pergamus Thyatira Sardis Philadelphia and Laodicea to many of which Iohn wrote his Revelation Also as Herodotus saith lib. 7. the Mysians and Teucrians before the Trojan War past into Europe and there won and held Thracia Macedonia and all the Land of the Adriatick Sea c. Of Troas THIS City Troas where Paul raised Eutichus which signifies Happy or Fortunate from death to life Act. 10. stood upon the Sea of Hellespont in Asia the less 720 miles from Ierusalem North-westward Antigonus King of Asia called it Troas because it was in the Country where Troy was But after the death of Alexander he called it after his own name Antigonia and the better to honour it kept his Court there But Lysimachus King of Thrace having got this City into his Jurisdiction bestowed great cost upon it and set up many fair and goodly Buildings then called it after Alexander's name Alexandria and so it began to be called Alexandria Troas Plin. lib. 5. Strabo lib. 13. Ier. de locis Hebraicis Now it was called Alexandria Troas to put a difference between it and divers other Cities of that name for there was an Alexandria in Aegypt another in India and many others elsewhere but only this in the Country where Troy stood It was scituated in a high and spacious Mountain about a mile and a half from the Shore of Propontus towards the East between which and Troas is twenty eight miles It is a thing worthy Observation to consider by what divers names the Sea that lies between Europe and Asia the less is called for between Constantinople and Calcidonia close by the Euxine Sea it is called Thrascius Bosphorus in which place it is not above half a mile broad here Xerxes when he invaded Graecia built up a Bridge for his Army to pass over There is also another streight and narrow place in this Sea which is called by the name of Cimmeriu 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 derive the name from Io that fair Maid which Iupiter turned into a Cow who swam over this Sea and of her was called Bosphorus lib. 6. cap. 1. It is also called Proâ—ontus because it lieth just before the Euxine Sea and Hellespont from Helle the Daughter of Athamantis King of Thebes who was drowned therein then running thence it falleth into a Gulph of the Mediterranean Ocean and there it is called the Aegean Sea of Aegeus King of Athens who drowned himself therein for the supposed loss of his Son Theseus In this Sea were scituate the Isles of Pathmos Mytelene Samothrace Chius Lesbus and many other Isles as you may read in the Travels of St. Paul Of Samothracia or Samothrace SAmothracia is an Isle of the Aegean Sea scituated between Troades and Thracia eight hundred and eighty miles from Ierusalem towards the North-west
his accustomed Food Thus it continued so that the Dolphin would suffer the Boy to handle him take him by the Gills play with him yea and sometimes to get upon his Back then swim with him a great way into the Lake and bring him back again and suffer him to go safe upon the shore After this manner he continued for many Years together and in the end the Youth died Yet the Dolphin resorted to his usual place expecting his accustomed Food from the hands of this Boy but missing him he left the shore languish'd away and died Concerning the nature of this Fish you may read more at large in Pliny lib. 9. cap. 8. Of Colossa THIS City is scituated in Phrygia a Country in Asia minor near the Rivers of Lycus and Meander 520 miles from Ierusalem North-westward not far from Laodicea so called from the mighty Statues and Colosso's that were set up in it These Cities Colossa Laodicea and Hierapolis where the Apostle Philip was put to death in the tenth year of Nero a little before Paul's Martyrdom were sunk by an Earthquake which without doubt was a great judgment of God upon them because they refused the Grace and Comfort of the Doctrine of the Gospel offered unto them by the Apostles The Epistle of Paul dedicated to the Colossians was sent by the hand of Onesymus from Rome unto these Towns being 1080 miles For although the Rhodians were called Colossians because of that famous Colossus that stood there yet this City wherein Archippus and Philemon dwelt to whom Paul directed that Epistle stood in Phrygia a Country in Asia minor and not in Rhodes Of Nicopolis NIcopolis is a City of Macedonia scituated close by the River Nessus not far from Philippus upon the Borders of Thrace 920 miles from Ierusalem North-westward From hence the Apostle Paul wrote his Epistle to Titus and sent it to Crete 600 miles There are many other Cities of this Name one standing in Epyre built by Augustus another between Cilicia and Syria built by Alexander in glory of his Victory against Darius a fourth in Bythinia a fifth in the Holy Land formerly called Emmaus Of Rome THis City if we rightly consider the derivation of the Name in Hebrew was not built without the singular Providence of God being derived of Rom i. He hath exalted or made high But the Grecians derive it from Romen i. Strength and Power Now although the Providence of God extendeth to every Creature nay to the very hairs of a Man's Head yet where he determines to express his singular Power there he worketh beyond the expectation of man And who knows not that the beginning of this City was mean raised from a confused Company destitute both of Civility Community and Laws yet hath it been and for the most part is the glory of the World and the great Commander of the Princes of the Earth It was so called at first by Romulus as Livy lib. 1. saith who first built it seven hundred fifty and one years before the Nativity of Christ being scituated upon seven Hills that is Capitolinus Aventinus Palatinus Cealius Exquilinus Viminalis and Quirinalis But after when the City was compassed about with Walls the Hill Ianiculus was inclosed within it The Vallies that lay between these Hills were so raised up with Arches Vaults and artificial Mounts that in process of time they became level with the top of some of those Hills It was beautified with fair and sumptuous Buildings so that as it was the head of the World for Command and Power in like manner it exceeded all the rest of the World for Glory and Riches but principally for stately Buildings There were many goodly Temples dedicated to Iupiter Apollo Aesculapius Hercules Diana Iuno Minerva Lucia Concordia Fides Pietas Pax Victoria Isis besides many other dedicated to other Gods But above all that was the most sumptuous that was called Pantheon Deorum at this day called the Church of Alhallows Moreover here was to be seen the Princely Edifices of Kings Emperours Consuls Senators Patricians and other Romans who were mighty in Wealth and Substance built all of polished Marble beautified with Gold and Silver beside Palaces Bulwarks Theatres triumphant Arches Statues and such like all which were glorious and greatly adorned the City But above all these the House of Nero was most worthy of Observation which to see to was built all of burnish'd Gold very curiously wrought Here also stood the Monuments of the two Caesars Iulius and Augustus also their Statues the one made of pure Brass the other of white Marble Besides there were many fruitful Orchards Water Courses and wholsome Baths brought thither by Antonius Nero Dioclesian and Constantine the Great Also the Emperour Constantine erected many goodly Churches for the use of the Christians and endowed them with great means and amongst the rest that which was dedicated to St. Iohn of Latteran a fair and goodly Church and for Riches and curious Workmanship might compare with the stateliest Temples that ever had been in the World most of the Ornaments and Images being made of Gold and Silver he also erected the Vatican which was dedicated to St. Peter and another holy House dedicated to St. Paul in either of which he placed their several Sepulchres and Monuments bestowing extraordinary Cost to beautifie them So many were the Gifts and Gratuities of this Emperour that they can scarce be numbred so that although the Emperour Trajan and Boniface the Fourth Pope of Rome bestowed great Cost to beautifie and adorn the City yet were they nothing comparable to that which this Emperour did These things then being presented to your view you might justly say That Rome in her Prosperity and Eminency was the Glory of the World but as all Estates are fickle and uncertain still subject to Variety and Change so was this first envied of the World because of the extream oppression of her Governours and after made desolate by Violence and Force all her former Glory being eclipsed and the greatest part of these goodly Buildings laid level with the Ground Thus have I shewed you what Rome was when it was in her Prosperity it resteth now to shew what Rome is Rome at this day differeth as much from the ancient Rome as the Substance from the Shadow For although the Pope hath beautified and adorned the West part of it with many fair and goodly Buildings and called it by the name of new Rome yet it is nothing comparable to the ancient City as it was when Augustus and Constantine the Great were Emperâ—ours thereof neither doth it stand in the ancient place for the first City stood upon the East side of Tyber this upon the West The chief part of the other stood upon the Mountains Capitolinus and Palatinus upon which were the stately Buildings of Senators Kings and Emperours but now they lye desolate and waste The Capitol also and the Temple of Iupiter Feretrius goodly Buildings beaten to the
extendeth from Damascus to Jordan after his name was called Vz that is the Land of Counsel for so Vz signifieth There were two Towns in this Country where Job is said to have dwelt that is Astaroth Carnaim and Batzra Astaroth Carnaim was distant from Jerusalem fifty two miles towards the North-East the Inhabitants of which Town worshipped the Goddess Venus and called her by the name of Astaroth of which you may read before St. Jerom saith That the Sepulchre of Job was to be seen in his time in that Town and later Writers testifie as much â—ore their times This Town at this day is called Carnea Batzra is mentioned in the thirty sixth of Genesis it signifieth a Grape gathering In this Town it was thought that Iob was born it lay beyond Iordan in the Tribe of Reuben twenty miles from Ierusalem towards the North-East All this Country in those times was subject to the King of the Edomites or Idumaeans but after it was joyned to the Land of the Moabites they having conquered the Kings of Edom you may read more of it in the sixth of Isay also Ios. 20. where is shewed that it was one of the six Cities of Refuge appointed by Ioshuah Here Iob for the most part continued and held this Town in great honour and reputation He lived about the time of Baela the first King of the Edomites and according to the opinion of St. Ierom Augustine Ambrose Philo and Luther was for his excellent Vertue and singular Piety chosen King of that Country which he greatly inlarged making all the Countries and neighbouring Princes near adjoyning tributary unto him wherefore as Ierom saith in locus Hebraicis having obtained so large an Empire he removed his Seat from Batzra to Astaroth-Carnaim which was a strong and well-defenced City where in those times as Moses witnesseth Gen. 14. there inhabited mighty men and noble Heroes that so by their Vertue he might with the greater facility suppress and conquer other Provinces There are many think him to be of the Stock of Abraham and of the Family of Esau because he is mentioned in the 36 of Genesis where it is said That when Baela died Iobab the Son of Zerah of Bozra or Betzrah reigned in his stead And St. Ierom in his Preface upon the Book of Iob sheweth that he was but five degrees removed from Abraham for Abraham had Ishmael Basmath who was the Wife of Esau Mother of Reguel Grand-mother to Serah and great Grand-mother to Iob. So that by the Mothers side Iob descended from Ishmael and by the Fathers side from Esau. Isaac Esau Reguel Serah Iob or Iobab King of Idumaea Gen. 36. Notwithstanding there are some that are of opinion that he descended from Abraham's Brother and was of the Family of Nahor's Son which opinion also St. Ierom mentioneth in his Hebraâ—cal Qâ—estions But most of the Antient Fathers hold this nothing so probable Luther upon the thirty sixth Chapter of Genesis saith That he was King long time before Moses caâ—ried the Children of Israel out of Egypt For Iuda and Aser the Sons of Iacob had Children before they went into the Land of Egypt Gen. 46. therefore it is not impossible for Reguel the Son of â—sau to have Children also since he was married long before his Brother Iacob From hence then it may be gathered that Iob was King of Idumaea bâ—fore Iacob and his Sons went into the Land of Egypt for although the fourteen Sons of â—sau governed the Land of Edom like so many Princes of which number Reguel the Grand-father of Iob was one because they held it as their Inheritance yet to avoid Sedition and Distractions which oftentimes happen where there is not a certain Head and principal Commander therefore they elected Bela the Son of Beor to be their King after whose death they chose Iob because he was a holy man of God and in his Actions just and upright who without doubt reigned amongst the Edomites a long time for he lived after his Afflictions which God imposed upon him to try him 140 Years Plato saith he married Dina the Daughter of Iacob but St. Ierom That he married the Daughter of an Arabian by whom he had Enon Both these may be true for his first Wife being dead he might marry an Arabian After the death of Iob the Gyants and Heroes in Asteroth-Carnaim fell again from the Idumaeans for when Moses brought the Children of Israel out of the Desart of Arabia-Petraea and that they had conquered the Land beyond Iordan the City Astaroth-Carnaim had a King called Og who governed all the Kingdom of Basan This Gyant was of a mighty Stature he had a Bed of Iron nine Cubits long and four broad Deut. 3. Of Eliphaz ELiphaz the Themanite was the Brother of Iob's Grand-father This Eliphaz had a Son called Theman who built a City and after his own Name called it Theman where Eliphaz his Father dwelt with him From whence it hapned that he was called Eliphaz the Themanite Iob. 2. It was distant from Ierusalem forty miles towards the South and therefore it was called a City of the South you may read of Eliphaz in Ier. cap. 25. He had a Concubine called Thimnah because of her Beauty and comely Proportion by her he had Amaleck of whom came the Amalekites between whom and the Children of Israel were cruel Wars Exad 17. The Travels of Eliphaz the Themanite FROM Themen he went to Astaroth-Carnaim where Iob dwelt which is accounted ninety two miles to comfort his Friend Iob Iob 2. From Astaroth-Carnaim he returned back to his own house which was ninety two miles So the Travels of Eliphaz were 184 miles Of Bildad Job's Friend BEyond Iordan and the Sea of Galilee not far from Astaroth-Carnaim there is at this day found a Town called Suah where as it is thought Bildad the Friend of Iob dwelt Near to this Town as Sebastian Francus observes in his Cosmography there was yearly in the Summer Season a great Mart kept in certain Tents and Tabernacles erected for that purpose of divers colours Bildad signifies an antient Friend and Suah taketh the name from Desolation being derived of Scho He hath made desolate Of Zophar the Friend of Job ZOPHAR dwelt in the City of Naema Iosh. 15. but how far it stood from Ierusalem is uncertain Zophar of Zaphar signifieth swift Naema signifies Pleasant and delectable of Naem courteous and comfortable Of Job's Daughters THE Lord gave unto Iob after his Affliction and that he had tryed his faithfulness three Daughters so fair that there were none fairer to be found in all the Land The name of the first was Iemmima that is as fair as the day of Iom which signifies a Day The second Kazia that is such a one as giveth a pleasant savour like unto Gum Cassia The third because of the excellency of her Countenance was called Kaeren Hapuch that is casting forth rayes or beams Iob 42. APOCRYPHA The Book of JUDITH Of Egbatana
AFTER the death of Arbactus or Arphaxad which signifies a mighty Lyon to whom Ionas prophecied as is said before there succeeded in the Empire of the Medes Mandanes Sarsomenes Artecarnis Cardiceas and Deioces who being enthronized in that Empire called himself Arphaxad or Arbactus the second This man built Egbatana the Metropolitan City of the Medes and beautified it with very fair Buildings and goodly Walls made all of four-square Stone cut and polished 70 Cubits high and 30 broad Towers standing upon it 100 Cubits in height as well those that were for the Defence of the Town as those where the Gates were The Air in that Countrey was temperate inclining rather to Cold than Heat because it lay toward the North it stood 1136 miles from Ierusalem North-eastward Here for the most part this Emperour kept his Court till as Herodotus saith he was utterly conquered by Nebuchadnezzar Emperour of the Babylonians This was that Nebuchadnezzar which sent Holofernes with a mighty Army against Iudaea Bethulia and many other Cities and Countries and would be worshipped as a God Iudith 3. Of Hydaspes HYdaspes is a River that ariseth in Media which runneth through a part of Parthia extendeth it self into India and not far from the City Nisa falleth into Indus according to the Opinion of Pliny and Strabo l. 15. Near this River Nebuchadnezzar overcame Deioces otherwise called Arbactus Iudg. 1. The Description of the Countries conquered by Holofernes Of Kedar KEdar the Wilderness of Zur was thus called stood in the Land of the Ishmaelites eighty miles from Ierusalem towards the South-west and took the name of Kedar the Son of Ishmael Gen. 25. Of the Mountains of Ange. THE Mountains of Ange lay between Pamphylia and Cicilia to the Latitude of that famous Countrey of Cilicia in Asia minor 320 miles from Ierusalem towards the North not far from Anchiale a City of Cilicia from whence it seemeth to take the name Of Cilicia CIlicia is a Province of Asia minor so called of Cilice the King's Son of Syria and Phoenicia the Metropolitan City of which Country was Tharsus where the Apostle Paul was born it was distant from Ierusalem 304 miles towards the North. Of Mallos MAllos a City of Cilicia was so called of Malo that is Plenty of all things Stephanus saith that it took that Name of Mollo who first built it It is a City to this day and of most of the Inhabitants of that Counâ—ry called Mallo as Gesner observeth Of Gesem GEsem signifies fruitful The Land of Gosen in Aegypt was so called being derived of Gusch that is a Turf it stood 174 miles from Ierusalem towards the South-west Of Aethiopia THIS Country stands beyond Aegypt 800 miles from Ierusalem towards the South where the Sun is extream hot that it turneth the Complexion of the Inhabitants to Blackness here breed great abundance of Dragons and cruel Beasts Of Esdrelon ESdrelon was a Plain lying between the Mountains Thabor Hermon and Gilboa extending it self from the Cities of Megiddo and Apheck to the Sea of Gennezareth or Galilee In this great Field which was called the Plain of Galilee and the Field of Megiddo and Esdrelon there were many cruel Battels fought for here Gideon overcame the Midianites here Saul was put to flight by the Philistines from whence ascending into Mount Gilboa he killed himself Iosias also King of the Iews was in this place put to flight by Pharaoh Necho and wounded unto the death The Camp of Holofernes was so great that it took up all the Plain which contained sixteen miles in length In some parts it was wonderful fruitful and brought forth Wine Oyl and many other Commodities in great Abundance It stood 52 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and was so called of Caeder that is A hid order and disposition for Alam is as much as to say he hath hid Of Sobal SObal was a Country upon the Borders of Syria where Sophena was scituated near to the River Euphrates which Country Saul and David Kings of Israel sometime conquered it stood 600 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and signifies an ear of Corn. Of Apamea THIS was a famous City in Tetrapolis of Syria two hundred and eighty miles from Ierusalem towards the North built by Seleucus Nicanor King of Syria and was so called of Apamea his Wife Of the City Bethulia BEthulia was scituated within four miles of Dothan and two of the Galiâ—lean Sea forty four miles from Ierusalem Northward About four miles from this Town in a Mountain a little beside Dothan lay the Tents of Holofernes in the sight of Bethulia Iudeth c. 7. between which and Bethulia lay the Plain of Esdrelon in the midst whereof there ran a pleasant River which in times past watered it Here Iudeth according to the custom of the Iews washed her self The place where Bethulia stood is to be seen at this day the ruins of the Town and many houses still remaining It was scituated upon a goodly high Mountain strongly fortified by Nature and as it seemeth by Art also A man might have seen it thorough the greatest part of Galilee but above the rest a certain Castle in the end of the Mountain made for the defence of the Ciâ—y They shew at this day in the Mountain and Field near Dothan the place where Holoferne's Camp stood and the Reliques of their Tents also the Brook where Iudeth washed her self Bethulia signifieth The Hand-maid of God being derived of Bethulah a Virgin and Iah God Holofernes a prophane Captain of which sort are those Tyrants that persecute the Church of God The BOOK of TOBIAS The Travels of Tobias the Elder TOBIAS the elder was carried captive out of the Tribe of Naphtaly where he was born to Nineveh the Metropolitan City of Assyria being 600 miles at such time as Salmanasser King of the Assyrians carried away the ten Tribes of Israel into Assyria captive in the year before Christ 742. 2 Kings ca. 17. Tob. 1. From that time he continued in Nineveh being then about twenty seven years old and numbred amongst the young men that went into Exile for he was born about such time as Romulus and Remus were born which was An. Mundi 3200 and before Christ 798 Tob. 1. About the thirtieth year of his Age he went from Nineveh into Media which was 752 miles and there came to a City called Rages in that Country to visit the banished Israelites at which time he lent Gabel by Bond ten Talents of Silver which amounts in our Mony at 5. s 6. d. the Ounce to 2062 pound and 10 s. or thereabouts From Rages he returned back again to Nineveh 752 miles So all his Travels were 2104 miles The Travels of the Angel Raphel and young Tobias IN the year before Christ 708 the Arch-Angel Raphel went from Nineveh to Rages in Media with Tobias the younger being 752 miles From Rages in Media they returned back again to Nineveh 752 miles So these Journeys were 1504