Hellen a British Princess he claimed a Succession to the Roman Empire and would e're long come with an Army to Rome subdue it and make it Tributary to Britain which stout Answer so dashed the Legate that he return'd much troubled and some write but upon what Certainty I know not that this King passed the Seas with a Fleet of 1000 Sail of Ships and a mighty Army subduing France Germany the Netherlands and Italy Soon after the Saxons were expelled Loth King of the Picts dyed and the Britains unwilling a Stranger should Reign over them in a manner by their Importunity compelled King Arthur to exclude Mordred now King Pictland from the Succession and to Adopt Constantine the Son of Cador Duke of Cornwal a valiant and virtuous young Man which Disappointment so vexed Mordred that after many threatning Messages finding no Redress he raised the Power of his whole Kingdom to which many Scots joyned themselves and ravaged the Northern Parts slaying and burning all in his way And tho' several Bishops on either Part laboured for a Reconciliation they could not prevail so that to decide the Controversie a dreadful Battle was fought near the River Humber and the Britains being entangled among the Bogs and Quagmires a Place that had been ever fatal to them tho' they fought like Lions yet in the end both Kings with most of their Nobles being slain with 20000 Picts and Scots and 30000 Britains the Day fell to the Picts and Scots by a crafty Device of a Scot who getting among the Britains cryed in the British Tongue Our King and his Nobles are slain every Man shift for himself which wrought such a Fear in the Army that it fell in Rout before there was any Cause for it and this Loss was so great that neither Nation recovered it in many Years The Body of King Arthur being found covered with the Heaps he had slain was honourably buried in Glastenbury Church-yard in Summersetshire and after his Death the Saxons came again and drove the Britains into the Mountains taking strong Possession of all the plain Country The Life and Glorious Actions of Charlemagne or Charles the Great who restored the Roman Empire in the West WHen the barbarous Nations as Goths Huns Sarazens Vandels Lumbards c. had torn the Roman Empire in pieces and divided it among themselves grievously Persecuting all that professed the Name of Christ GOD hearing the Cries and Groans and seeing the abundant Tears of his afflicted People raised them up Deliverers And first Charles Martell a French Prince who taking Courage to rescue his oppressed Country raised an Army of 60000 French and Germans who gave Battle to Abderamen a King of the Sarazens who had over run Franco with an Army of 400000 Men and overthrew him with the slaughter of 375000 of his Men and found him overwhelmed with a Heap of the Slain and tho' not wounded his Men in their Flight from the pursuing French Men pressed him to Death and soon after overthrew with great Slaughter another King of the Sarazens who was coming to Aid the former with an Army of 300000 Men utterly driving the Sarazens out of France and Germany for which worthy Service after his Death his Son Pepin a valiant Prince was made King and Childrick a lazy vicious Prince of the Race of Pharamond laid aside This Man did many great Actions much enlarging his Kingdom and dying divided his vast Dominions between his two Sons viz. Charles or Charlemagne and Caroloman the first being crowned at Wormes and the last at Soissons but long they agreed not for Charles being of a mild Temper and Caroloman of a turbulent Spirit he laboured to supplant him and to that end after some Contests he joyned with the Enemies of Charles went to Rome under a Pretence of Devotion labouring to make the Pope his Friend and to League himself to Didier a powerful King of the Lombards in Italy which wrought much Trouble to Charles from the Lombard and Pope But within three Years after his being crowned Caroloman dyed and then after strugling with some Rebels the whole Inheritance fell to Charles who warred with the Saxons Bavarians and other Nations sixteen Years and overcame them making them his Tributaries And when Didier the King of the Lombards went to Rome and hanged the Pope's two Secretaries for siding with Charles and caused the Pope to be deposed Charles having over come the Sons of Caroloman who raised Disturbances in France to put themselves in Possession of their Father's Estate he raised an Army and passing the Alps entered into Italy and in two great Battles defeated the Lombards besieging them and their King in Pavia which was soon surrendred to him and Didier their King was sent Prisoner to Lyons in France and so ended the Lombard Kingdom in Italy which had long flourished and been the Terror of all that Country and for this great Service Pope Adrian in a Councel held at Rome decreed That Charles should have a Right of Disposing of all the Ecclesiastical Benefits that became Vacant throughout Christendom Charles no sooner returned into France but Aldegise Son to Didier raised Commotions in Italy by the Helpe of Rogand to whom Charles had given the Country of Friuli but by the Care and Vigilence of the French Governours Rogan was taken and by the King's Command lost his Head which ended the Sedition And being now at Leasure he resolved to War on the Sarazens and Moors who coming over to Africa had strongly possessed themselves of all Spain and overthrew them in several Battles taking the Cities of Pampelona and Saragosa and many other strong Places putting those he found therein to the Sword for their Cruelty towards the Christians but Agoland a Sarazen King taking the Advantage of streight Passages in the Mountains fell upon Milon the Brother of Charles and slew him with most Part of his Army and elevated with this Victory he marched into France and besieged Agen in Gascoine but Charles soon overtook him yet his Troops with long Marches were so weary that they were not at that time in a Condition to fight yet Agoland propos'd a Way to decide the Difference viz. That a Troop on either Party should fight it out and the Sarazen promised to turn Christian if his was beaten and his Troop being worsted and mostly slain he did become a Christian in Shew but seeing the King at Dinner and a Table in the same Room at which many poor Men fed of the King's Bounty he demanded what they were to which Charles answered They were God's Ministers Nay then said the impious Sarazen your God must needs be very poor himself seeing his Ministers are so very poor and contemtible and so departed But Charles to be revenged of him followed him into Spain overthrew him in a great Battle and brought away his Head as a Trophy of his Victory Thus this great Man having extended his Dominions very largely was by Pope Leo whom he
The Famous and Renowned HISTORY OF THE Nine Worthies of the World VIZ. I. Hector Son of Priamus King of Troy II. Alexander the Great who first Conquered the World III. Julius Caesar the first Emperour of Rome IV. Joshua Captain-General of Israel V. David King of Israel VI. Judas Maccabeus a valiant Jewish Commander VII Arthur the famous British King VIII Charles the Great Emperour of Germany IX Godfrey of Bulloigne King of Jerusalem Giving a true Historical Account of their Glorious Lives Victories and Deatâ—â— London Printed by W. O. and are to be sold by the Booksellers of Pye-corner and London by The History of the Nine WORTHIES c. I. The Noble Actions Life and Death of the Famous and Renowned Hector Prince of Troy c. I Suppose there is few who have not heard of the famous Siege of Troy once a renowned City in Asia the Less against which all the Power of Greece fought ten Years e're they could subdue and utterly destroy it But being now to write of the glorious Actions of the Nine Worthies of the World whose famous Valour has made Men stand amazed and transmitted their Names and worthy Deeds to Posterity I must however say something of that War which has employed so many Pens Antient and Modern to set forth the Life and noble Atchivements of the Every-renowned and Valiant Hector the eldest Son of Priamus King of Troy This famous City commanding once so many Realms in Asia stood on the Coast of the Aegean-Sea on the Asian side near the Helespont called now the Streight of Constantinople over-against the Chersonesus of Thrace water'd by the famous Rivers Scamander and Simois after changing his Name till at length it was called Illium and Troy and was twice subdued by Hercules and Priamus Son to King Laomedon and Hesione his Daughter were carried Captives into Greece the first of them was ransom'd but the latter being very beautiful King Telamon Father to Ajax kept her for his Pleasure and would by no Entreaty consent to restore her though Priamus after the Death of his Father Laomedon coming to the Crown sent Antenor one of his chief Nobles to Telamon's Court to solicite her Delivery by whom and other Princes of the Greeks he was dismissed with Scorn and terrible Threats But Priamus concluding himself now strong enough to be revenged on the Greeks for the Injury and Affront done to him in the detaining his Sister called his Sons and Nobles to Councel laying the matter before them and requiring Advice All the Nobles approved of the Design but Hector and Helenus two of his Sons perswaded him from it as an Attempt full of Danger as likewise did Cassandra his Daughter who was a Prophetess and ever spoke Truth but never could have any Credit to be believed However the King being stedfastly bent on the matter ordered his Son Paris at whose Conception Queen Hecuba his Mother dreamed she brought forth a Fire-brand that set all Troy in a Flame was with his Brother Diophebus sent to Sparta with many Ships and armed Men where King Manelaus reigned and there being entertained as Guest they in his Absence stole away his Queen the fair Hellena Daughter to Ledea with many of her Ladies and laying the City wast brought with them great Riches to Troy where Paris was married as Venus had promised him to Hellena the most beautiful Lady in the World King Menelaus no sooner heard of this great Injury done him but he consulted with King Agamemnon his Brother and other Princes of Greece who looking upon it as an insufferable Affront done to all the Estates resolved upon a War vowing once more to level the Walls of Troy appointing Agamemnon General over all the Forces So with a thousand Ships passed from Europe to Asia and took Tenedos after a stout Resistance made by the Trojans who garisoned the strong Castle then coming near the City they Landed but not without great Effusion of Blood on both sides so that the Sea became red for Hector who by his Father 's Appointment was General of the Trojans advancing to Succour his Men that fainted with a mighty two-handed Sword levelled all in his way killing King Protesilaus as he came with a huge force to stop his Fury and soon after King Patarocleus who came upon him with two thousand Men whose rich Armour he coveted to take but was hindred by King Menon with a great Power which King after the Slaughter of Multitudes of his Men he slew in Revenge of that Disappointment driving many of the Greeks into the Sea but at last the strong Achilles Menelaus Agamennon Ajax Diomed Vlysses Idumeus and other valiant Princes and Captains getting on Shore so encouraged their Men that the Fight continued exceeding bloody till Night parted them and then the Trojans retired to the City Early the next Morning the Trojans took the Field and found the Greeks encamped not far from the City when the Trumpets sounding to Battle the two Armies joyned more furiously than before and Hector fell on like an impetuous Storm making whole Lanes of Dead before him at every stroke giving Death making Heads and Limbs to fly about the Plain till he came where King Humerus fought successfully him he encountered and soon overthrew with the slaughter of most of his Men and pressing forward came where Achilles and his Mirmydons made great Destruction overthrowing that strong Champion and slaying his Horse and had surely slain Achilles had not his Men rushed violently to his Succour and lost many of their Lives to save him and so pressing on he threw flaming Brands on the Grecian Fleet and set part of it on Fire and this Day he had gained assured Victory had he not met Ajax in the fierce Encounter and knowing him spared his Life and by him was perswaded to a Sessation of Arms for that time and making a Truce so that the Retreat was sounded much against the Will of the Conquering Trojans which Over-sight cost him his Life and the Destruction of his Family with the Ruin of the City The Greeks having gained a Truce recruited with fresh Forces secured their Fleet with Trenches and after this and some other dreadful Battles they plainly perceived unless Hector was slain all their Hopes of winning Troy was in Vain and that they should rather perish with their whole Army they then held a Consult how to bring it to pass by any means and in the Conclusion that Task was imposed on Achilles the Fiercest and Strongest of all the Greeks who watched many Opportunities but was as often worsted and wounded in all the fair Encounters and most of his Mirmydons the valiantest of the Soldiers slain till one Day contrary to the Intreaty of his Wife Andromache who dreamed if he went that Day to the Field he would be slain as also the King and the Tears of his Mother and Sisters hearing Margetton his natural Brother was slain and the Trojans in Rout he armed and
desperately rushing on slew a Multitude with his own Hand and restored the Battle but having taken a King in rich Armour Prisoner as he cast his Shield behind him to lead him out of the Ranks his Breast being Defenceless Achilles suddenly came upon him inclosed him with his Men and run his Spear into his Body so that he fell down dead and with him dyed all the Hopes of Troy for though Achilles was soon after slain by Paris Phyrrus his Son no less in Strength and Courage arriving in the Camp Paris and Tragilus King Priamus's Sons being slain and the Palladium which was the Safe-gaurd of Troy stole by Vlysses and Diomede who slew the Warders of the Tower who kept it the City was soon after taken by the means of a mighty Wooden-Horse the Greeks dedicated to Pallas to attone as they feigned for the Theft of the Palladium which upon the supposed Departure of the Enemy was by the Perswasion of one Sinon a crafty Greek drawn into the Gity and the Walls broke down to give it entrance when in the Night he let out the armed Men in the Belly of it who seized the Gate called in their Companions slew the King laid the City in Ashes and carried the Queen her Daughters and most that escaped the Sword Captives to Greece II. The Life Actions and Death of Alexander the Great King of Macedon who conquered the World c. ALexander from his many glorious Exploits and amazing Victories Sir-named The Great was the Son of Philip King of Macedon by Olympius his Queen this Philip before his Death brought all Greece under his Subjection and intended to war on the Persian Monarchy then flourishing in Asia and Part of Africa of vast Extent governed by King Darius but being slain before he put his Intendments in Execution his Son Alexander assembled the Grecian States at Corinth and was by them chosen General of their Armies in his Father's stead but soon after by the Perswasion of Demosthenes the Orator corrupted with the Gold of Persia the Lacedemonians Athenians and Thebans revolted from him and made an Alliance with Darius but Alexander soon reduced them to Obedience levelling the City of Thebes to the Ground and selling the Citizens for Slaves Thus having settled his Affairs in Greece and put to Death all those he suspected could disturd its Quiet in his Absence distributing his Treasure amongst his Commanders and Soldiers reserving nothing but Hope of the World's Empire for himself he passed into Asia with an Army of 30000 Foot and 4500 Horse mostly of Soldiers who had served his Father which small Number Darius so much despised that he sent to his Lieutenant in the Lesser Asia to fall upon and destroy them but to take Alexander alive to scourge him and send him bound in Chains to Babylon where he resided But it fell out much otherwise than he expected for with his handful of Men he overthrew several Armies commanded by the Persian Lieutenants with almost incredible Slaughter taking most of the strong Places in the Way as he marched which rouzed King Darius from his Ease and Luxury of his Court to raise the whole Strength of his Kingdom in hopes to drive out an Enemy now grown so formidable to him and a mighty Battle was fought between the Plains of Abrastum where he overthrew an Army 600000 Persians with the Loss only of 9 Foot-men and 100 Horse-men and taking exceeding rich Plunder having buried the Dead and erected several Monuments in Token of his Victory upon which a great Part of Asia submitted to him After this Battle he marched to the City of Gordium where in the Temple of Jupiter he cut the Gordian Knot in two with his Sword of which there went a Prophesie That whoever could unfold it should be King of that Country and having garrisoned that City marched on but fearing to be entangled in the narrow Passages of the huge Mountain Taurus he marched speedily over it his Foot marching five hundred Furlongs without Respite and so he came to Tursus where being taken with the pleasant River Cydnus he plunged into it to cool and refresh himself when hot which caused an Ague-fit and when Philip his Physician presented him a Portion he took it boldly though he had a Letter sent him that Philip was bribed by Darius to poison him which Letter he delivered to Philip whilst he was drinking the Potion who read it undauntedly and soon after Alexander recovered And now Darius approached with a recruited Army of 300000 Foot 100000 Horse when Alexander encouraging his Soldiers and extolling their Valour who had broke through so many Nations and been ever victorious he caused the Charge to be sounded and the two Armies rushed together with great Fury and Violence but after a bloody Encounter in which both Kings were wounded the Persians gave way after 30000 Foot and 10000 Horse were slain and 4000 taken Prisoners with the Loss of no more than 130 Foot and 150 Horse of the Macedonians and all Darius's Treasure of Gold Silver Jewels c. fell into the Hands of the Victors and among the Captive were the Mother Wife and two Daughters of Darius who fell on their Knees with piteous Cries before Alexander expecting no less than Death or worse Treatment but he kindly raised and comforted them causing them to be honouaably attended and well-used and falling into Love with the beauteous Barsione one of the captive Ladies he got a Son on her whom he named Hercules and after that married Statira the eldest Daughter to Darius giving Parisatis to his dear Friend Haephston and seizing on the Persian Fleet marched unto Syria where many of the Eastern Kings who had been tributary to Darius came and layed their Crowns at his Feet most of them receiving them again as his Bounty to be tributary under him Then he passed from Syria into Egypt taking all the Cities in his Way and having been reputed to be the Son of Jupiter Ammon and not of King Philip who had put away his Mother upon her confessing Jupiter came in the Shape of a Dragon and got him in the Absence of Philip he enquired of that and other Events at the the Temple of Ammon where the flattering Priests declared him to be the Son of Jupiter Ammon and that both Victories in all Wars and the Possession of all Lands were granted to him charging his Followers to adore him as a God which puffed him up with such Pride which together with the Luxury of Asia utterly debauched his Virtues for complaining of which Parmenio one of his greatest Captains was by his Command flead alive and his Son Philotes slain After this he built a City on the Sea-coast of Egypt calling it Alexandria from his own Name and settled a Colony of Macedonians in it And here Darius writ to him to part his Empire with him and that he should freely enjoy his Part with his Daughter also he offered him a vast Sum to redeem
his Mother Wife and Daughters but he refused all unless he would surrender up the whole Empire of Persia Upon which Darius resolving to try another Field raised an Army of 400000 Foot and 100000 Horse but in his March heard his Wife was dead and that Alexander had buried her very honourably and wept at her Funeral using the rest very courteously which made him confess he was truly conquered since after so many Battles his Enemy had overcome him in Kindness and that it was some Comfort to him in his Misery to be subdued by so noble an Adversary However another bloody Battle was fought on the Plains of Arbella where the Persians and Scithians at first prevailed and with barbarous Shouts run on the Plunder but suddenly an Eagle hovering over the Head of Alexander it was taken by his Men as a Presage of Victory which reviving their fainting Spirits made them fall on so desperately that with the Battle they won him the Empire of the East for Darius flying was taken by Neorbarzanes and Bessus two of his own Princes bound in Chains and laid on a Waggon thinking with the Head of their King to purchase their own Conditions with Alexander but being hotly pursued they mortally Wounded him and left his Body on the Land where he expired and was magnificently buried by Alexander who took Possession of the Persian Empire Alexander having gotten the Empire of Darius warred on many Nations and coming to the great Indian Sea after he had overcome King Porus who made a stout Resistance he wept because as he supposed there were no more Countries to conquor and in his return Kings submitted every-where to him and Thelestus Queen of the Amazons came with 5000 Virgins arm'd to request him to lye with her that she might have a Son by so Great a Conquerour and had her Wish Peace being now pretty well settled Alexander laying aside the Macedonian Fashion followed the Persian Mode as well in Apparel as in Riot and Luxury making many drunken Banquets in one of which he killed Clytus an aged General who had done him great Service in his Wars but being sober he exceedingly mourned his Death refusing Food for four Days but afterward putting many of his Lieutenants to Death upon little Pretences and growing Outragious in his Actions Antipater Lieutenant of Macedon fearing his own Life caused his Son Cassander who waited on the King to Poison him at one of his Banquets and so dying without an Heir his mighty Empire was divided amongst his great Captains and his Body carried to Egypt and there buried III. The Life and glorious Actions of Julius Caesar the first Emperour of Rome JVlius Caesar the great Roman Captain and Emperour of the World descended of the Julian Family so called from Julius Ascunius the Son of Aeneas of Troy and Caesar from his being cut from his Mother's Womb began very early to climb to the highest Honours being made Priest of Jupiter at sixteen Years of Age and though he was grievously persecuted by Syla who foreseeing his rising to Greatness labour'd to destroy him often saying There were many Mariuses in that Boy he escaped his Hands and studied at Rhodes under A. Molon the famous Orator where he grew so perfect that on all Occasions he had moving Words at Command which mightily favoured his Purpose and once appeas'd a Mutiny in his Army when the Soldiers in their Rage and Fury sought his Life And having passed the Offices of Questor in Spain and Tribune of the People he gained by his fair Speeches and Liberality so much Love amongst the Vulgar that they every-where extolled him to the Skies especially when he had successfully fought against and overthrown the Lieutenants of Mithridates King of Pontus and turned many to their Alliance who were wavering and ready to Revolt And to strengthen his Alliance he married Cornelia Daughter to Cinna who had been four times Consul by whom he had a Daughter named Julia after married to Pompey the Great when coming to the Temple of Hercules and seeing the Statute of Alexander the Great he wept because he had lived to his Age and had done nothing to compare with him And ever after it put such an Aspiring into his Mind that he grew restless till he subdued to himself the Roman Empire far larger in Extent than that that Alexander had possessed After he had done many obliging things to bind the Affection of the People of Rome to his interest he was made Consul with Bibulus and soon so prevailed over his Partner that he laid him aside and acted alone in all Publick-Affairs managing the Farms and Revenues of the Roman People to great Advantage causing Cato to be violently pulled out of the Senate house and committed for interrupting him for which he incurred his mortal Hatred ever after And his Wife dying he married Calphurnia Daughter of Piso which so strengthen'd his Alliance that he awed the Senate Soon after he went with the Consullary Army over the Alps subdued France then Gallia and a great part of Germany and sailing over into Britain after many dangerous Battles fought with the Britains he subdued a great Part of this Island in his three Expeditions and laid a Tribute of 3000 Pound Weight of Silver on the Natives to be paid Yearly to the Romans And when he had warred ten Years successfully abroad hearing that Pompey had made a great Party against him in the Senate and that they were about to divest him of all his Honours and calling him home as a private Man appointing Domitius his Successor in Gallia he was much disturbed and setling his Affairs as well as he could resolved to march with his Army to Rome though upon a Table of Brass placed on the other side the River Rubicon whereon was engraven an Act of the Senate that no Roman should pass that River homeward Armed when encamping on the Bank of that River he paused a while saying to those about him Thus far we are safe and may return if we please If we pass this Bridge we shall have nothing to trust to but our Arms. When he had spoke these Words there appeared a Person of remarkable Stature and Beauty playing melodiously on a Reed which made many flock about him when snatching a Trumpet out of one of their Hands he stalked through the River sounding a Charge whereat Caesar seemed to be much amazed though it was thought to be a Device of his to draw on his Men more willingly and crying out Come then it is decreed 〈◊〉 go where the Progenies of the Gods and the Iniquities of our Enemies 〈◊〉 and immediately causing his Eagles to advance he passed the forbiddes River at the Terror of whose Approach Petreus Affâ—â—nas young Syla and most of Pompey's Lieutenants in Italy deserted the Towns and fled and the Massilians and some others that made Resistance were reduced into which Towns Caesar putting Garrisons marched to Rome for Fear of whom Pompey and the
when the King of Jerusalem and other Confederate Kings assembled a mighty Army utterly to destroy them for making this League with the Enemies of their Country upon their Supplication Joshua made a hard March to their Relief and utterly in a terrible Battle discomfited the Kings and their Armies and to lengthen out the Day for their Distruction at the Prayer of Joshua the Son and Moon that were hastening to set stood still for the space of a whole Day so that there was no Day like that Day in which God fought for Israel by destroying Multitudes of their Enemies with mighty Hail stones that fell upon them yet hurt not one of the pursuing Israelites and their five Kings being found hid in the Cave Mukkedaâ— Joshua pulled them out and caused the People to set their Feet upon their Necks in Token of Subjection slew them and hanged them on five Trees burning 2000 War-charriots with Fire and then marched through all the Land of Canaan taking Cities and Strong holds and in five Years utterly subdued it unless some few strong Garrisons and having caused is to be viewed divided it amongst the Tribes by Lot of 〈…〉 as Moses had appointed setting up the Tabernacle of God 〈◊〉 Shiloe This famous War as it was thus finished the fifty Thousand whose Lot was in the Land of the Amorites returned with great Riches to their Wives and Children and that the parting of the River Jordan might not in time to come make them be taken for another People they erected an Altar there which by a Misunderstanding had like to have created a bloody War between their Bretheren and them but the real Cause being known it was prevented And now Joshua having Governed successfully twenty Years and grown Old finding the time of his Death approaching assembled the Princes and Heads of the ePple and gave them a strict Command to Obey the Lord their God in all things that he had commanded by the Mouth of his Servant Moses and to walk uprightly in his sight that it might be well with them and their Children for ever And soon after he died greatly lamented of the People in the 110th Year of his Age and from â—â—e World's Creation 2560. and before the coming of Christ 1500. V. The Life and glorious Reign of David King of Israel DAvid the renowned King of Israel and Captain of the Peple of the Lord of Host was the Son of Jesse of the Tribe of Judah who in his young Years kept his Father's Flocks and was then very Daring and Valiant as appears by his fighting with and killing a Lion and a Bear who came to devour his Sheep and when Saul King of Israel sinned against God in disobeying his Commands this Striplin was appointed to Reign over Israel and by a special Command was annointed King by Samuel the Prophet And the first of his publick Appearance to make himself known and to rise to Greatness was when Saul and his Armies were defied by Goliah the great Giant of Gath whom he slew with a Sling and a Stone and had Michol the King's Daughter in Marriage as it had been promised to him that should overcome that daring Champion of the Philistines who had been a Man of War from his Youth upward and highly was he favoured in the Court of Saul by Abner the Captain of the Host with the Giant 's Head in his Hand But after his many Victories the Virgins in their Songs ascribed to him ten Thousands of Slain and to Saul but one which stirred up his Jealousie and Envy against him without his deserving it David no sooner became renowned at Court and throughout all the Land of Israel but Jonathan Saul's eldest Son and a very vertuous Prince made a very strict League of Friendship with him insomuch that they became as own Brothers he labouring to pacifie his Father's Wrath towards David till he incurred it himself and narrowly escaped Death as David had often done Saul by this time having Notice that by God's Appointment David was to be King of Israel his Spirit was so troubled that at times he fell into a melancholy Madness so that an evil Spirit possessed him and when David was playing before him on his Harp as he often did to drive away the Spirit Saul falling into one of his Fits narrowly mist slaying him by throwing a Javelin at him with such Force that it stuck in the Wall and David fled for his Life and Saul sent Soldiers to pursue him and beset his House where he had been taken but that his Wife let him down a Back-way and laid an Image in his Bed pretending he was sick till he escaped to the City of Nob where of Abimelech the High-Priest he obtained Shew-bread for his Sustenance and the Sword of Goliah kept there as a Monument for his Defence of which Doeg the Edomite informing all the People belonging to that place were slain by Saul's Command as Abettors to his Enemy which News greatly grieved David who then made his aboad in the Woods and Mountains And many were the Persecutions he endured from that time till Saul and his Sons being discomfitted by the Philistines fell on their Swords and died on Mount Gilboa After the Death of Saul Abner his Uncle after some Battles fought against David on the behalf of Ishosheth Saul's Son upon a Quarrel between them about Rispha one of Saul's Concubines deposed his Master and made an Agreement with David to settle him in the Kingdom which he performed by drawing the Tribes of Israel to his Party and David was saluted King but Joab Captain of David's Host envying a Man that had such great Power with the People and become a new Favourite with the King to his Prejudice secretly sent for him to treat about Affairs at Hebron and there in the Gate treacherously killed him whose Death David greatly lamented but Joab being powerful in the Army he durst not punish him for it And soon after Ishosheth the late King of Israel was murthered whose Murtherers David caused to be put to a cruel Death And soon after the Philistines invading the Land he overthrew them in two great Battles and extended his Borders by Victories over the Moabites and Ammonites and Westward upon the Phoenetians warring with the Arabians Syrians Humeans Amalekites and Messopotamians and much enlarged his Kingdom to which it was in the time of Joshua or ever before his Reign and settling his Affairs in Peace and Plenty the great Decayers of Virtue he unhappily cast his Eyes from his Tarras on the beautiful naked Body of Bersheba Wife to Vriah one of his faithful Captains as she was Bathing in a Fountain sent for her and lay with her and when she had told him she was with Child he sent for her Husband to cover the Shame but he refusing to lie with her he sent Letters by him to Joab to have him destroy'd who as he was directed set him in the Front of the Battle and retired
Senate fled with the greater Part of the Inhabitants whereupon he 〈…〉 without Resistance and was received by his Friends with joyful Acclamations then he seiz'd on the vast Treasure sent by all Nations as Tribute in the Temple of Saturn enriching his Soldiers and having settled Affairs and hearing Pompey was gathering forces in Greece and other Easter Countries he hasted after him with Part of his Army leaving Mark Anthony with the rest in Calabria who lingering behind Caesar impatient of Delay in a stormy Night stole from his Army and in a little Fisher-boat passed the Seas to fetch them a Danger the meanest of his Soldiers would not have ventured And then having his full Army after some Skirmishes and taking of Towns and drawing a Bullwark about Pompey's Army of fifteen Miles in Circuit both Armies upon the Plains of Thessaly joyned in a dreadful Battle where Crastinus an old Soldier crying out O Caesar I shall so behave my self this Day praise me alive or dead threw the first Pile and was himself slain being run through the Mouth with a Sword In this Battle Caesar as in all others was victorious most of the Senators and noble Romans with 40000 others being slain and Pompey fled to Egypt for Succour from King Ptolomy and being invited on Shore with great Promises of Kindness was treacherously slain e're he landed by Achilles and Septinus and his Head cut off and that Embalmed for Caesar's fight but he coming into Egypt not only detested the base Murther but wept over the Head causing it with the Body honourably to be buried But soon Phatinus and others of the Court conspired to take his Head but by his Courage and Fortune were prevented by his firing the Ship-house and swimming to his own Fleet after which he conquered all Egypt and the King in his Flight being drown'd in the River Nilus he made Cleopatra his Sister Queen and begot on her a Son named Cesaria afterwards slain by the Command of Octavius Augustus Having settled Affairs in Egypt he overthrew Pharnaces who had rebelled in Asia and in the Field of Thapsus in Africa in a bloody Battle overthrew Cipio the Roman General and Juba King of Mauritania who joyned his Forces with him Then coming to Rome had all the Honours he could wish heaped on him But Pompey's Son raising a War in Spain drew him thither where in the fatal Battle of Munday he overthrew them Then returning to Rome was decreed by the Senate Perpetual Dictator ever Augustus and Father of his Country had Temples and Statues erected to his Honour and without Controul whatever he pleased But attempting to be made a King that he might overcome the Parthians Brutus and Cassius with other Senators conspired against him and though several unlucky Dreams and Omens fore-run his Death as his Dreaming he was taken up into the Clouds and shook Hands with Jupiter his Wife 's dreaming the Night before he was slain she found him stabbed and bloody in her Arms a little Wren flying with a Laurel-branch to Pompey's Theatre was pulled to pieces by other Birds and all the Sacrifices appearing unlucky yet undaunted he went to the Senate-house and pocketed by the way a Scrole presented him unread that revealed the whole Conspiracy but no sooner had he taken his Seat but Cimber rudely took him by the Shoulders and the rest stabbed him with twenty three Wounds he in vain resisting such a Multitude And thus this Worthy never overcome but always fortunate in Wars fell a Sacrifice to the inraged Gown-men but his Death was severely revenged on them IV. The famous Life and Renowned Acts Joshua Captain General of the Israelites who subdued thirty Kings with the whole Land of Canaan AFter Moses by the mighty Hand of God with many Signs and Wonders had brought the Children of Israel out of their Egyptian Bondage fed and instructed them forty Years in the Wilderness he having Notice to prepare for his Death by the Appointment of God chose Joshua the Son of Nun to succeed him as Captain General of the People and utterly to subdue the Canaanites on the other side Jordan as he had done on this side When going up into Mount Abarim Moses died and was buried by God in a Valley least the Israelites who had a great Veneration for him knowing the Place of his Burial should have builded an Alter there and committed Idolatry in Worshipping him Upon Notice that Moses was dead Joshua encamped two Days before the River Jordan and on the third the Priests entered with the Ark of God when immediately the Waters retreated and stood like a Wall on either Hand so that the whole Army whilst the Priests stood in the middle passed over on dry Ground and then they took twelve Stones according to the Tribes and raised as a Monument to succeeding Ages And no sooner were the Priests come out of the River but the Waters returned to their full Forces before And the Princes of the Tribe of Gad and Rhuben and the Half Tribe of Manasses to whom the Land of the Amorites being the seventh Part of Canaan fell as a Lot of Inheritance having sent 50000 fighting Men to assist their Brethren in conquering the rest Joshua sent Spies to Jerico to view that strong fenced City who had been destroyed upon Notice of their coming had not Rahab the Harlot hid them under Bundles of Linnen till the Search was over and then let them down by the Wall in a Basket so they escaped to Joshua by which good Office she saved herself and her Houshold when the City was utterly destroyed for Joshua immediately went against it and by the command of God the Priests encompassed it six Days blowing Trumpets of Rams-horns and on the seventh Day seven times when by the mighty Power of God the Walls fell flat to the Ground and the whole Army marching into the City destroy'd all the People Rahab and her Houshold accepted and burnt it with Fire laying up the rich Spoil as the First-fruits of their Victory as a Dedication to God Almighty except a Wedge of Gold and a rich Babilonian's Garment which Achan with-held and hid in his Tent but going against Aii a strong fenced City and the Men of Israel being there discomfitted and thirty of them slain this Fraud was discovered to be the Cause of it and Achan stoned to Death after which they took Aii and put all to the Sword except the King who taken alive was hanged on a Tree as the like also they did by the City of Bethel and the rich Spoil was divided amongst the People The Gibeonites who dwelt in a Town near Jerusalem hearing how Joshua destroyed all before him dealt craftily sending Ambassadours pretendedly from a far Country wearing old Shooes and Cloaths with rent Bottles and mouldy Bread to make a League which they did but for this Deceit they were nevertheless punished by being made Slaves to hew Wood and draw Water for the Camp And
Antioch to recruit his broken Army whereupon Judas exhorted the People that as an Acknowledgment of God's Favour and Goodness in giving them so many Victories they should go up to Jerusalem purge the Temple and offer Sacrifice which they did with much Devotion giving Praise and Thanks to Almighty God for their Deliverance rebuilding the Altars and repairing the Breaches After this he set upon his Enemies and wasted them round about Jerusalem relieving those Jews that were distressed by their Enemies by his Brother Simeon whom he sent with an Army unto Galliles and other places obtaining these and many other gallant Victories with little Loss of Men which made Antiochus storm and in the End send Bacchides the Great Marshal of his Army with a mighty Force even all the Strength of Syria and Judas having but few in number many being fled for Fear nevertheless contrary to the Mind of his Captains who desired him to retreat till he was better recruited gave Battle and the Jews fought like Lions selling their Lives at a dear Rate yet being over-powered by Numbers and enclosed with the Multitude of their Enemies Judas after he had slain many of the Enemies weary with Killing fainted and fell to the Ground where he was slain But Simeon and Jonathan recovered his Body and buried it VII The Life and famous Actions of Arthur King of the Britains who subdued the Pagan Saxons and drove them out of the Land with many other great Exploits ARthur of famous Renown and Memory the Worthy King of the Britains of whom so many wonderful Stories are related as likewise of his valiant Knights of the Round Table was according to true History passing others over the Son of Vter Pendragon got on the fair Igrene Daughter to the Duke of Cornwal and tho' he was born out of Wedlock yet afterward Vter married his Mother and left him Heir to his Kingdom tho' he had two Sisters one married to the King of the Scots and the other to the King of the Picts which Kings were highly displeased that Arthur who was not Legitimate should succeed to the Crown in bar of their pretended Right and the Saxons who a considerable time before had been called in by Vortegern under the Leading of their two Captains Hihgest and Horsa as Aid against the Picts and Scots who miserably harazed the Britains when the Romans withdrew their Forces to support their tottering Empire having of Servants forcibly possessed themselves of most of the East and Northern Parts of what is now called England Loth the Pictish King who had married the eldest Sister finding he could not by his Ambassadors prevail with the Britains to admit him their King but that they had accepted Arthur they disdaining to submit to a Stranger when they had so Valiant and Worthy a Native to defend them he joyned League with the Saxons soliciting the King of Scots to do the like resolving utterly to exterpate the British Name from off the Face of the Earth The Knowledge of this Confederacy soon rouzed King Arthur when leaving the Pleasures of his Court and having raised an Army of his own Subjects and received some Forces from Armorica or Little Britain in France he marched couragiously against the Eastern Saxons to give them Battle e're the Picts should joyn their Forces and meeting their Army very numerous about ten Miles from London he vanquished them in two bloody Battles and made them become his Tributaries and receive over them such Governours as he appointed with many other hard Conditions After this he took London and held a kind of a Parliament of the British Estates wherein it was agreed to recruit the Army and speedily march Northward against those beyond the River Humber when in Yorkshire he fought the Picts and Saxons who had joyned their Armies and overthrew them with a terrible Slaughter pursuing the flying Saxons to York where he besiged them but Scarcety and Sickness growing in his Army and hearing great Multitudes of Picts and Saxons who had passed the Seas from Germany under Occa their Captain were coming to Relieve them he broke up the Siege and retired into Wales but early in the Spring marched to London and settling Affairs with the Saxons of Kent marched Northward and overthrew Colgern and Occa two Captains that were ravaging the Country and took the City of York sparing the Lives of the Inhabitants and concluded a League with Loth King of Picts wherein it was concluded that Mordred Loth's eldest Son should succeed Arthur in the Kingdom of Britain and in the mean time with Joynt Forces help to expel the Saxons and that Mordred should marry the Daughter of Gawolum a noble Britain and the Children to be brought up by the Grandfather in Britain And in this League was included the King of Scots who at King Arthur's Desire joyned their Forces near Tinmouth where they overthrew the Saxons with a terrible Slaughter killing Colgern and Childrick two of their chiefest Captains so that the remaining Saxons were so disheartened that most of them left the Kingdom others submitted to live peaceably under such Governours as should be appointed them and turned Christians at least in Shew and such as stayed after Proclamation and refused to be Baptized suffered Death Then the King repaired several Churches the Pagan Saxons had ruinated But the Saxons of the Isle of Wight joyning with those of Kent and Sussex fell surprizingly upon the Britains that inhabited amongst them flew them and made Spoil of their Goods but the King with the Aid of the Picts and Scots marched against them who feignedly sent their Supplications to him to treat about their departing the Land but whilst they were Treating they fell upon the advanced Part of the King's Army and killed many of them and tho' their Commanders sent to excuse it as done rashly by some who were ignorant of the Treaty the King resolved to Punish such Treachery which he did by setting upon them with such Fury that few of their great Army escaped the Slaughter and many urg'd by the devouring Sword behind threw themselves into the River to avoid it and were drowned and so the Land was cleared of all but those who complied to the Terms beforementioned And in this Battle with his Sword called Callibourn some Histories say he slew 800 but this looks something incredible but certain it is he returned Victorious from twelve set Battles besides Skirmishes the 1st at the River Gleyn 2 3 4 and 5 at the River Douglass in Lenox 6 at the River Bassus 7 in the Callidonian Wood 8 near the Castle of Guiven 9 at Carleon 10 near Richwood 11 on a Hill called Agued Cathbergain and 12th at Bath or Bathen Hill Some Authors mention he had several Battles with the Danes and Norwigians and drove those Invaders out of the Land and when Lucius Hiberius the Roman Legate came to demand Tribute for Britain King Arthur stoutly answered That from Constantine the Great Son of