The History of the Nine Worthies OF THE WORLD Three whereof were Gentiles I. Hector Son of Priamus King of Troy. II. Alexander the Great King of Macedon III. Iulius Caesar First Emperor of Rome Three Jews IV. Ioshua Captain General of Israel V. David King of Israel VI. Iudas Maccabeus a Valiant Commander Three Christians VII Arthur King of Brittain VIII Charles the Great Emp. of Germany IX Godfrey of Bulloign King of Jerusalem Being an Account of their Glorious Lives Worthy Actions Renowned Victories and Deaths Illustrated with Poems and the Picture of each Worthy By R. B. Licensed and Entred according to Oâ—dâ—â— London Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultry near Cheapside 1687. BY Arms and Virtue these to Honour rose By both they Conquer'd and ore'came their Foes Whereby of Worthies they obtain'd the name Whose Acts are registred in the Book of Fame Though they are Dead their Deeds will never But still be Famous to Posterity TO THE READER HAving often heard and read of the Nine Worthies and not meeting with any particular Relation of them I thought it might be worth my while to search out who they were and found that the Ancients celebrated the memory of nine Renowned Persons for the most Worthy Hero's in the Ages wherein they lived Three whereof were Gentiles Hector Son of Priamus King of Troy Alexander the Great King of Macedon and Conqueror of the World and Julius Caesar the first Emperor of Rome Three were Jews Joshua Captain General and Leader of the Hebrews into the Land of Canaan David King of Israel and Judas Maccabeus a Valiant Jewish Champion against the Tyranny of Antiochus And the last three were Christians Arthur the famous King 〈◊〉 Bâ—â—â—â—ain who valiantly defended his Countrey against the Saxons Charlemaign or Charles the Great King of France and Emperor of Germany and Godfrey of Bulloign called King of Jerusalem so memorable for his Gallant Atchievements in recovering the Holy Land from Sarazens and Infidels Having discovered their names I next endeavoured to collect from the most credible and Authentick Authors what I could meet with of the Worthy Actions and exploits whereby they obtained the Great Title of Worthies which I have done in as brief a method as such notable Deeds could be contained in which I now present to my Countreymen both for their Information and Delight not doubting but it will be acceptable especially since a Couragious Prince of our own Nation has been dignified with this mighty Honour If it please as I hope it may I shall be very well satisfied with the pains I have taken in gathering these Remarks out of other Voluminous Histories R. B. The History of Hector of Troy the First Worthy of the World. REnowned Hector Priams Valiant Son Deservedly the Name of Worthy won His Countries miseries he did foresee And therefore first ingag'd unwillingly But when his Fathers Glory call'd him forth He then displaid his Gallantry and worth His Thundring Arm no Graecian could withstand All fled and trembled where he did command At length at unawares he lost his Life Achilles thus betwixt them ends the strife Troy and his Fathers House soon after fell As Hellon and Cassandra did foretell THough the Poets have mingled and corrupted the History of the Destruction of Troy with their Fictions and Fables as they have most other true Storys of former Ages yet it is most certainly related by Ancient Historians of undoubted veracity that the Ruin of this famous City was occasioned by means of a Wooden Horse as is commonly believed And that Hector the Son of King Priamus of whom we now write the Life was a renowned and Valiant Captain and lost his Life in defeâ—ce of his Father and his Country But for the better understanding the Story we will look farther back and consider the original of this once Magnificent City Troy was hertofore one of the most Noble Câ—our of Asia Minor as well for its Largeness and â—iches as for that renowned War which it managed against the Armies of Greece It was scituate in Phrygia a Province stretching it self upon the Coast of the Aegean Sea near the Hellespont called now the River of Constantinople over against the Chersonesus of Thracia and the Island Tenedos which was not far distant from it The River Scamander which proceeded from Mount Ida ran by the Walls thereof and joining with the Râ—ver Simois they both together empty themselves into the Sea near the Promontory called Sigeum The first who built this City and commanded there in Chief was Dardanus the Son of the King of Corinth When his Elder Brother was dead a dispute arose between him and his other Brother about the Succession part of the People favouring one and the rest the other but Dardanus having at length defeated and killed his Brother Jasius He with his Favourites were forced for their security to take Shipping and fly into Phrygia where he married the Daughter of King Teucer with whom he jointly reigned in that Countrey which was then named Teuoria and afterward Dardania by which name also the City of Troy was then called This happened about the time that Moses left the leading of the People of Israel to Joshua about seven hundred years before the building of the City of Rome and six hundred and fifty years after the first foundation of the Assyrian Monarchy Dardanus left his Kingdom to his Son Erichthonius who begat Tros When he was possest of the Kingdom he called the City after his own name Troja and the Countrey round about Troas This Tros had several Sons the eldest was named Ganimedes and having War with Tantalus King of Phrygia he took his Son Ganimedes Prisoner and sent him as a present to Jupiter King of Crete now called Candia and this gave occasion to the Fable that Ganimedes was ravished by Jupiter His second Son was Assaracus who was Father of Capys of whom came Auchises the Favourite of Venus who had by him Aeneas born upon the banks of the River Simois But the Heir of his Crown was Ilus who altered the name of Troy to Ilium which he mightily inriched Laomedon succeeded his Father Ilus he fortified Troy with Walls by the assistance of Apollo and Neptune who being both fallen into displeasure with their Prince and seeing themselves reduced to extream poverty in a strange Countrey far from their possessions which were in Crete they resolved to enter themselves into the service of King Laomedon to help to build the Walls of his City They wrought long for this ungrateful King but when they saw no hopes of the reward promised them with an Oath for their labours but that he was so unworthy to refuse it he was afflicted with many diseases so that to be delivered he was forced to expose his own Daughter Hesione to be devoured by a Sea Monster it being required of them to deliver up a Virgin every year to be destroyed by them The King was extreamly
scruple of Religion how they could be dispensed from their Oath of Allegiance Pepin assuring himself of good Friends at Rome sends thither two Bishops to Pope Zachary to represent to him the present State of France who being truly informed of the weakness of Childerick who was hated and contemned of all men and of the general resolution of the French to receive Pepin but chiefly moved with hopes of great Assistance from him against the Lombards his Capital Enemies He discharged the French from their Oath of Obedience to Childerick and all his Race Being thus freed from their Allegiance they Assemble the General Estates where it was concluded That to avoyd that Confusion in the Realm which was apparently grown by the negligence of former Kings Childerick should be rejected and Pepin chosen The one unworthy to reign by reason of his Vices and the other most worthy to be K. for his Royal Virtues But lest the Fundamental Law of Succession should be directly infringed and broken they derive the race of Pepin from Clovis the great King of France to whom he was acknowledged next Heir both by Succession and Virtue The Assembly hereupon commanded Boniface Archbishop of Mentz to declare to Pepin That in regard of his Virtues and their future hope of his worthy Goverment the French had by a free and gener al consent elected him King. And in prosecution of this Decree Pepin was instantly Crowned by the said Archbishop and then being raised upon a Target or Shield he was carried about the Assembly according to an ancient Ceremony of the French And by Virtue of the same Decree Childerick was deposed as unworthy of the Crown and afterward degraded shaven and confined to a Monastery there to pass the remainders of his days This Pepin called the Short the Twenty third King of France having reigned eighteen years with much glory and the great love and affection of his Subjects the strongest Foundation upon which a Prince can build his Authority died in the year 768. After his death the Estates of France being assembled concluded to divide the Realm between his two Sons Charles or Charlemagn the Elder and Caroloman the Younger Charles being Crowned at Worms and Caroloman at Soissons Writers have not set down the bounds of their Dominions since three years after their Fathers death the whole Kingdom came to Charles Brothers they were of different humors who by equality of power endangered the ruin of the Monarchy had not divine Providence united it in the Person of this great Prince Charles He was indued with excellent gifts both of body and mind of a Virtuous conversation and above all carefully educated in the Christian Religion for which he had much reverence all his life Charity Temperance Equity and Justice in relieving his People Fidelity to all and Modesty in using Victorles were the admirable effects of his knowledge and as remarkable in him as in any Prince whatever He naturally loved Learning and Learned men having been instructed in the Greek and Latin Tongues and likewise in Philosophy and the Mathematicks which Sciences he term'd his Pastimes and the Companions of his Sword wherewith he oft diverted himself He took delight in Poetry as some of his writings witness but especially in Histories wherein he was exceeding well read In Arms his Father Pepin was his School-master under whom he had great Commands which he discharg'd with such reputation that he well deserv'd the name of Great both for his Valour and Virtue There appeared in his Countenance a grave sweet Majesty in Personage he was Tall Strong and Patient of labour of a clear Spirit a sound Apprehension Memory and Judgment which never failed him in difficulties terrible to some and pleasing to others according to the occasion These Virtues gain'd him so much Repute that he was Beloved Respected and Obeyed of all men and having received a great Kingdom from his Father he inlarged it with wonderful success Charles â—â—rtel Pepin and this Great Charles seeming to have been raised up after each other to preserve the Christian name amidst the deluge of barbarous Nations and the ruin of the Roman Empire Caroloman was exceeding jealous of his Brothers greatness whom with grief he saw honour'd obey'd and belov'd by all the French which caused him to endeavour as much as possible to countermine his designs who had his eye upon Italy as the most proper Theater for his valour For after the death of Pepin the Church of Rome fell into great confusions by the practices of Didier King of Lombardy who having corrupted some of the Clergy caused Constantine brother to the Duke of Nepezo his creature and trusty friend to be chosen Pope and Phillipicus already elected to be violently deposed The other party resolving not to be imposed on by Didier by common consent chuse Stephen the Third a Sicilian to the Popedom who resolves to call in the King of France to his assistance upon which Charles first sends twelve Prelates to Rome to strengthen his party who unanimously confirm the Election of Stephen and depose Constantine raised by force and disorder Though Didier resolved not to be controlled yet cunningly dissembling his thoughts he sends to congratulate the Election of Stephen and renounces Constantine and pretending to desire the continuance of friendship proposes to come to Rome and confer with him in private The Pope who only made use of the French for necessity was easily perswaded by Didier to consent thereto who coming makes many Protestations of Obedience Paul Ephialte a Graecian was then Governor at Rome for the Emperor whom Didier so corrupted that having the Execution of Justice in his hands he causeth him to seize upon Christopher and Sergius the Popes two Secretaries in the presence of Stephen whom accusing of supposed crimes he infamously hanged their greatest offence being for favouring the French yea he proceeded to banish all the Citizens of Rome who were noted to be of the French Faction resolving to be Master of Rome in sâ—â—ght of the Pope Stephen observing the falshood of the Lombards flies again to Charlemagne for help who resolving to assist him Didier had so wrought with Caroloman his Brother that he found means to hinder him by raising a dangerous War in Guienne Though the County of Guienne depended on the Crown of France yet many Rebellions happened by the practices of the Noblemen who abusing the bounty of the French Kings that allowed them their ancient Priviledges were ambitious to be absolute Soveraigns themselves to cast off their dependance upon France Hunalt at this time was the principal Person in this Countrey whom Caroloman finding to be very desirous of being a Duke or Prince resolves to imploy him against his brother Charles Hunalt not doubting but to have credit enough with the People to make himself absolute if he were favoured by one of the Kings of France against the other Guienne was part of Charlemagnes Territories against whom Hunalt
of Body and Beautiful Armor of their Enemies The Persians were amazed to think how often so many thousands of them had been overcome with so few Soldiers Alexander bid his Soldiers Not be troubled at the multitude or strength of their Enemies but to consider this was the third time they had fought with them and that they were never the more valiant for flying away so often that they ought to despise an Army shining with Gold and Silver since their Iron would soon purchase it to themselves Then both Armies ingaging the Macedonians in contempt of the Enemy so often conquered threw themselves upon the Swords of their Adversaries and the Persians desired rather manfully to dye than be again defeated seldom more bloud was shed in any Fight Darius seeing his Forces routed would willingly have died himself but those next him compelled him to fly some perswaded him to break down the Bridge of Cydnus and stop the Enemies progress who answered That he would not provide for his safety so dishonourably by expesing so many thousands of his own Soldiers to the fury of the Enemy who ought to be allowed the same way to escape which lay open to himself Alexander was still personally present in the greatest difficulties and where the Enemy stood firmest he clapt in amongst them and made the most pressing dangers more his own than his Soldiers In this Battle he gained to himself the whole Empire of Asia in the fifth year of his reign so happily that none after durst Rebel the Persians whose Empire had continued so many years now patiently enduring the Yoke of Servitude His Soldiers refresht and rewarded the Booty being so great that they were thirty days in dividing it he found hid eleven thousand Talents and then took Persepolis the Chief Seat of the Kingdom renowned for many years and full of the spoils of the World which were now discovered in the destruction thereof At this place eight hundred Greeks who had been formerly taken Captive by the Persians came to Alexander with their dismembred Bodies desiring him as he had delivered Greece so he would likewise them from the Cruelty of their Enemies The King granted them to return home but they rather chose to be seated in some Plantation there least instead of joy they should present to their Parents the lamentable and loathed spectacle of themselves Mean time Darius was seized on by his own Kinsmen and Fettered in Golden Chains in a Parthian Town called Taneas thinking thereby to purchase savour of the Conqueror Alexander pursuing him full speed came to the same Town next day and was inform'd that Darius was by night carried away in a close Waggon Therefore ordering his Army to follow he pursued him with only seven thousand Horse encountring several dangers by the way and having run many miles without gaining any Intelligence of him he staid to refresh his Troops when one of his Soldiers going to the next Spring found Darius there bleeding through many wounds but yet alive who observing the Soldier to be a Persian Captive he said It was some comfort to him in his deplorable Misfortunes that he should speak to one who understood him and should not breath forth his last words in vain He desired him to represent to Alexander his real sense of the many obligations received from him which he was sorry he had not the happiness to return since he had demeaned himself toward his Mother and Children not as an Enemy but a King and that he was more happy in an Adversary than in his own kindred since Alexander had spared the Lives of his near Relations whereas his own Life was taken away by his Kinsmen to whom he had given both Life and Kingdoms for which he should receive that recompence which was due to a Conqueror All the return he could make him for his repeated savours was as a dying man to beseech the Powers above and the Powers below and the Gods that dispose of Scepters to bestow upon him the Empire of the whole World. For himself he desired to have rather a solemn than a sumptuous Funeral As to his death the revenge ought to be exemplary it being not only Alexanders but the common cause of all Kings and would be as dishonourable as dangerous to be passed over since hereby he might both declare his Justice and procure his future safety and in hope of his performing it He gave the Soldier his right hand the only pledge of the Faith of a King and soon after gave up the Ghost Alexander coming thither and hearing this Relation having beheld the miserable condition wherein he was with tears lamented his death so unworthy his former grandeur and commanded his Body to be Buried like a King among the Tombs of his Predecessors Alexander after this honoured the Souldiers he lost in pursuit of Darius with great suneral expences dividing fifteen thousand Talents among their surviving Companions He now received Intelligence that after his departure almost all Greece combined to recover their liberty in his absence the Lacedemonians leading the Van who despising the Peace with Philip and Alexander Agis their King became General of this War which insurrection Antipater supprest in the beginning though with great blood shed on both sides Agis making terrible slaughter of his Enemeis and sometimes driving whole Troops before him After the death of Darius Alexanders Souldiers did not doubt but the War was quite finished expecting nothing but a speedy return to their own Countrey and in their imagination already imbraced their Wives and Children when Alexander calling a General Council declared unto them That they had gained nothing by so many famous victories if their more Eastern Enemies were yet untouched neither did he make War to conquer the Person but the Empire of Darius and that those were to be pursued who fled away and revolted from him Having by this speech revived the courage of his men he subdued the Mardians and Hircanians In this place Thalestris or Minothea Queen of the Amazons addressed her self to him attended with three hundred Thousand Women having travelled twenty five days through many terrible Nations only as she sayd To have a son by so great a Conqueror Her countenance and the cause of her coming were the subject of much wonder both for the strangeness of her habit and request To satisfie which the King took thirty day leasure and when she thought she was with Child she took her leave and departed Alexander now assumed the habit and Diadem of the King of Persia as if tranformed into the fashions and Customs of the Conquered and to prevent envy commanded his friends likewise to wear long Robes of gold and purple and to imitate their Riot also he divided the night by turns among troops of Concubines admired both for birth and beauty adding thereto Feasts and Plays to compleat his Luxury which caused great indignation among his Commanders to see him so far degenerate from his Father
favour had been done for me that I might have died for thee Every one cast down his Eyes for pity and the whole Victory was turned into sorrow Joab always bold and insolent toward his Master reproaches David thinking thereby to justify his own fault telling him That he would put to confusion all his faithful Servants who had that day saved his Life his House and Kingdom that he seemed of a very strange nature to hate those that loved him and love them that hated him since it was plain that if all his good Captains and Souldiers had perished to save the life of one Rebellious Son he would have been very well satisfied Further he swore to him by the Living God That if he did not rise and entertain those who returned from the Battel there would not one man remain with him before morning which would prove a greater displeasure than had ever yet happened to him He presses him so vehemently that the King without daring to answer a word rose up and did all he required By degrees his great grief diminished and the rejoicings of the people who came to carry him back to Jerusalem in triumph made him forget his loss and endeavouring to bring back all to him he pardoned them with unspeakable meekness being ready to give Joabs place to Amasa Absolons chief Captain But Joab quickly prevented this by killing with his own hand him who was designed his Successor After this he pursued Sheba a Captain of the Rebels who retired into Adela which being besieged by Joab a Woman of great discretion and credit with the people perswaded them to slay him and throw his head over the Wall which put an end to this whole bloudy War. After Davids re-establishment in his Kingdom he reigned about Eleven years in full peace and in continual exercises of Piety and Justice and assembling the States of his Realm he made his Son Solomon whom he had chosen to be confirmed King in his stead He lived near seventy two years reigned forty and died a thousand thirty two years before the Birth of our Saviour and about three thousand from the Creation of the World leaving vast Treasures for building the Temple as an Eternal Monument of his Devotion and Understanding It was a special favour to him that Jesus Christ should be born of his Line and that his Birth was revealed to him so long before it was known to the world He oft sets it down on the â—ide of his Psalms and was in an Extasie in Contemplation by the foretast of this happiness Men usually take their Nobility and Names from their Predecessors but David drew his from a Son who is the Father of Glory and Author of Eternity All things were great in Davids Person but the height of all this greatness is that from his Family there was given to us a Jesus The Hist of Judas Maccabeus a Valiant Commander of the Jews The Sixt Worthy of the World. This Valiant Worthy for his Countreys Cause And in defending of Gods Truth and Laws Was still ingag'd and often with a few He Thousands of his Enemies did subdue Their Number nor their strength he did not fear Hoping that God would still for him appear Who fought his Battels And would ne're comply To wicked Heathenish Idolatry At length forsook by almost all his men His Courage would not suffer him even then To fly away but being with killing tir'd He dearly sold his life and so expir'd AFter the death of Alexander the Great his Army and Dominions were divided between his Captains among whom Seleucus made himself King of Syria And afterward Antiochus Epiphanius reigned in Asia who being invited by some Apostate Jews to come to Jerusalem he incamped before it and by his Faction within had the gates opened and the City betrayed to him about the year of the World 3796. and before the Nativity of Christ 168. He robbed the Temple and carried away the Golden Table Candlestick and Censers with all the other vessels dedicated to God leaving nothing of any value behind him and raising such an horrible persecution against the Jews that the Heavens seemed to weep and the Earth to blush with Bloud It was a sport to that barbarous man to prophane Holy things and a continual exercise to flea and roast men alive or to throw them into boiling Caldrons for no other crime but persisting in the True Religion as he did by the Seven Sons of the Maccabees whose courage and constancy out-brav'd all his most exquisite Tortures He overturned the Altars upon the bleeding Priests strangled the Children in the bosom of their sighing Mothers the Flames devoured the sacred and prophane Buildings without distinction and the Houses that now seemed but Dens of Beasts represented so hideous a spectacle as gave more desire to die than courage to live Amidst these desolations was found a gallant Old man named Matthias a Priest the Father of many Sons all men of valour who went out of Jerusalem to retire himself to the City of Modin where he assembled his Family resolving to oppose themselves against the fury of the Tyrant but was quickly summoned to render up himself and all his men and to offer Incense to their Pagan Idols But this virtuous man calling his people together spake thus to them We should be too much in love with Life to keep it with the loss of the True Religion I am sorry that ever I was born in such an Age as to have seen the disasters of my Nation and the desolation of the Holy Jerusalem abandoned to the hands of Rapine and to impious prophanation Her Temple hath been the Object of all reproaches and those Vessels of Glory that served for the Ministry of the Living God have been taken away by violence We have seen our Streets covered with dead Bodies and the little Children with their Throats cut lying upon the Carcasses of their Fathers And what Nation hath not possessed our Inheritance and enriched themselves with our Spoils The holiness of the Temple hath not stayed Sacriligious hands neither hath this famous City been able to preserve it self from Flames After this what pleasure can we have in Life unless it be to revenge the quarrel of God I am promised all the honours and priviledges I can reasonably hope for if I will obey King Antiochus and joyn with those Apostates who have so basely betrayed their Faith but God forbid that I should ever fall into so odious a compliance When almost all my Nation have conspired to forsake the Law of their God and accommodate themselves to the times and their Princes will I can answer for my self my Children and my Brethren and can assure my self they will never commit so vild a crime Let all those who have a Zeal for True Religion joyn themselves with us and know that among so many miseries there is nothing better than to proceed in the ways of Religion and Glory though with the loss of
After this the Jews had some rest But Alcimus the High Priest intending to beat down the old Wall of the Sanctuary was suddenly strucken by God became speechless and fell to the ground and having suffered grievous torments many days he died miserably Whereupon the People by general consent chose Judas Maccabeus High Priest who hearing of the great power and Victorys of the Romans sent two Persons to Rome to make them his Allies and Confederates and to write to Demetrius to give over his Wars against the Jews These Ambassadors coming to Rome were entertained by the Senate and an Alliance was concluded upon these conditions That none under the Romans should War against the Jews nor furnish their Enemies with Victuals Ships nor Silver That if any made War on the Romans the Jews should assist them That the Jews should neither add nor diminiâ—â— from this Association without the general consent of 〈◊〉 Romans and that what was thus concluded should contitâ— forever The death of Nicanor and the loss of his Army being reported to Demetrius he sent another undeâ— Bacchides who coming into Judea and hearing thaâ— Judas was incamped at Bethzeth he marched againâ—â— him with twenty thousand Foot and two thousanâ— Horse Judas had not in all above two thousand meâ—â— who seeing the vast number of their Foes were mucâ— afraid so that many forsaking the Camp fled away anâ— there remained with Judas only eight hundred meâ— and his Enemies pressed so hard on him that he lâ—â— no time to re-assemble his Forces yet he resolved 〈◊〉 fight with that small handful exhorting them to behavâ— themselves valiantly Who answering That they we not able to make head against so great an Army adviseâ— him to retire and stand on his guard till he had reâ—â— inforced himself Judas replied God forbid that the 〈◊〉 should see me turn my back upon mine Enemies though die and spend my last Bloud in this Battel yet will I neveâ— blemish my former Worthy actions by an ignominious flight And having again encouraged his Souldiers he commanded them to use their utmost courage againâ— the Enemy without any apprehension of danger Bacchides marshalled his Army in Battalia and caâ—â—sing the Trumpets to sound and his Souldiers to make 〈◊〉 great Shout he charged his enemies Judas did the like and encountred Bacchides upon which there ensued a most bloudy Fight which continued till Sun-set Judaâ—â— perceiving that Bacchides and the flower of his Army fought in the right wing drew his most resolute Souldierâ— thither who brake in upon them and forcing them to fly pursued them to Mount Aza But the left wing followed Judas and inclosed him on the back part so that finding himself in much danger he with his Followers resolved to sell their lives dearly and fight it out to the last He slew a great number of his Enemies â—ill at length he was so wearied with killing that he â—ell to the ground and was there slain upon which his â—ew remaining companions betook themselves to flight Simeon and Jonathan his Brothers recovered his Body and buried it at Modin all the people weeping and making great lamentation for the death of so valiant 〈◊〉 Commander for whatsoever Virtue hath of great whatsoever valour hath of generous met in the person of Judas Maccabeus to make a Marvel of his life and give â—mmortal memory to his Name In the space of six years be sustained the great and prodigious Forces of three Kings of Asia as you have heard opposing himself with a little flying Camp against Armies of forty sixty an hundred thousand men which he put into disorder and confusion He defeated nine Generals of the Infidels in ranged battles and combates killing some with his own hands and carrying away their Spoils so that of all his great Qualities Valour always held the upper rank and worthily entitled him to the name of a Worthy The History of Arthur King of Brittain The Seventh Worthy of the World. Arthur the Great and Worthy Brittish King Glory and Victory to his Realm did bring He th' Heathen Saxons often overcame Inducing them to own the Christian Name He while he lived upheld the Sinking State And Conquest seem'd upon him still to wait His Subjects Love he thereby doth attain And he must chuse one after him to Reign The Pictish King this Choice doth much resent As if to wrong him of his Rights they meant Both Kings ingage in Fight where both Kings dy'd With Thousands of their Subjects on each side THe Brittish Writers have related such Strange and Miraculous Actions and Adventures of this Worâ—hy Prince that many Intelligent Men have been apt to think that all which hath been written of his Heroicks deeds is meer Fiction and Invention yea some are of opinion that there never was any such Person but though Historians disagree about times and places some writing carelesly and others superstitiously yet they all agree upon the Predecessors and Successors of this Noble King but as it is most execrable Infidelity to doubt that there was a Joshua Wicked Atheism to question if there were a David and unreasonable to deny the being of Judas Maccabcus As it may be judged folly to affirm there was never any Alexander Julius Caesar Godfrey of Bullen or Charlemagne so we may be thought guilty of incredulity and ingratitude to deny or doubt the honourable Acts of our Victorious Arthur This is premised in vindication of our Hero and his immortal name and fame whereby he justly gained the Title of the Seventh Worthy of the World. Now to his History After this Kingdom had for above four hundred and eighty years been subject to the Romans which began by the Conquest that Julius Caesar made here in the Reign of Cassibelan King of the Brittains seventeen years before the birth of our Blessed Saviour and ended in the time of the Emperor Gratianus three hundred seventy six years after Christ Vortigern of the bloud Royal of the Brittish Kings by usurpation and the Murther of Constance the Son of Constantius seized upon the Crown who growing odious and hateful to his Subjects both for his wicked life and ill got Soveraignty he was forced to send to Germany for the Saxons to aid and support him The Saxons at this time possest the third part of Germany holding all the Countreys between the River Rhine and Elbe bounded on the North by the Baltick Sea and the Ocean and governed by twelve Princes who elected a Soveraign Leader and General in time of War This being so sparious populous and near a Countrey well furnisht with Shipping which the Brittains wanted yielded always plentiful supplies to the undertakers of this action who were first Two brothers Hengist and Horsa After they had continued here a while as hired Souldiers and observed the weakness both of Prince and People their number dayly increased At first they had only the Isle of Thanet allowed them to inhabit but soon after the whole County of Kent
Shinbone reached above the knee of a very tall man his skull was so large that the place between his eyes was a span broad in which there appeared some signs of wounds and bruises The Body of his wife Gynever was likewise buried with him the Hair of her head was curiously plaited and shin'd like burnisht Gold but being toucht instantly fell to dust The Abbot who by the Kings command searched for the Grave removed both their Bones to the great Church and there buried them in a sair double Tomb of Marble laying the Body of the King at the head thereof and the Queen 's at the feet above six hundred years after they were first buried and in the year of our Lord. 1191. I shall conclude the life of this Worthy Prince with an Ephitaph written in me â—â—ry of him by John Leland a Monk in Latin and translated into English many years since by Nicholas Roscock which you shall have in the Poetry of those times Saxonicas toties qui fudit Marte cruento Turmas peperit spoliis sibi nomen opimis c. Who vanquished the Saxon Troops With Battles bloudy broils And purchas 't to himself a name With Warlike Wealthy Spoils Who with his shivering shining Sword The Picts so oft dismayed And an unweildy servile Yoke On Necks of Scots hath laid Who Frenchmen puft with pride and who The Germans fierce in fight Discomfited and beat the Danes With strong and martial might Who of that murdering Mordred did The Vital breath expel That horrid cruel Monster great That bloudy Tyrant fell Here liveless Arthur lies intomb'd Within this stately Hearse Famous for Strength and Chivalry And ' gainst his Enemies fierce Whose glorious Acts and Victories Through all the World do fly And whose most worthy Fame and Name Doth reach the very Sky Therefore you Noble Progeny Of Brittish Line and Race Never forget your Emperor Great Of thrice renowned Grace But place upon his sacred Tomb Your Rosie Garlands gay Whose fragrant smell may witness well Your duties you display Grass and He◠〈…〉 Near Camelon 〈…〉 The Hist of Charles the Great K. of France and Emp. of Germany The Eight Worthy of the World. HE well deserv'd the name of Charlemagne That to such mighty Glory did attain Who all his Enemies having overcome Was own'd and Crown'd Great Emperor of Rome Virtue and Valour he still mixt so well 'T was hard to say in which he did excell The Christian Faith he always did defend And against Saracens did oft contend The Huns and Pagans too he conquered His name alone fill'd them with fear and dread Yet all his fury he layd by if they Would Idols leave and the True God obey THE Ancient French Historians relate that the original Habitation of this now Potent Nation was in that part of Germany which lay nearest Gaul now called France and having together with the Romans obtained a great victory against the Alans Enemies to the Empire in the Reign oâ— Valentinian they got possâ—ssion of a great part of Gaul as a fruit of their Conquest which they held by their Sword not doing any homage for it but to their own valour Pharamond laid the first Stone in the Building of this great Monarchy Clodion prosecuted this design Merovee made it appear above ground Clovis adding the profession of Christ to his own and Predecessors valour so won the Hearts of the Gauls the Natives of this Countrey who were generally Christians that he procured voluntary obedience from them and an assured possession of his new Conquests uniting both Nations into one and giving Law to the Conquered with such wisdom and discretion that the name of France was generally received in Gaul The race of Pharamond continued successively in France during the Reign of one and Twenty Kings for about one hundred and twenty years At which time nine or ten Idle Kings as the French History calls them succeeding each other the Kingdom was thereby reduced to a multitude of dangers and inconveniences which gave occasion to Charles Martel to lay the Foundation of a new race of Kings from his own Posterity who being first Mayor or Governor of the Pallace was chosen Prince of the French and upon this account is reckoned the 22 King of France He was a man of great wisdom and courage and managed all Aâ—â—â—rs of War and State during the Reigns of the three last Kings In the time of Thierry the Second the Saracens or Turks issuing out of Asia into Africa and Spain possest themselves of many mighty Kingdoms and Provinces under the command of Abderamen their King and afterward invaded France with an Army of four hundred thousand men but by the admirable conduct and valour of Martel this vast multitude was utterly vanquished three hundred seventy five thousand Barbarians being slain in the Field and their King found dead in a heap of Carcasses not wounded but smothered by the multitude that fled the French lost fifteen hundred and among them many of their Nobility and Gentry The Care and Toil of great Affairs together with his Age having much broken Martel and the weakness of Childerick the last King of the first Race giving him incouragement he resolves so to dispose of things as to leave the Kingdom to his Children and therefore observing that Childerick loved no man neither any man him and that Pepin Ins own Son was beloved of all both for his own and Martels sake as the Protector of their Liberty whereas Childerick did not regard the common good but spent his time in folly and voluptuousness Martel therefore at his death left France to the Government of Pepin whom he knew to be stout and of a great Spirit After his death the Friends of Pepin proclaimed his merits in all places but Religion and the Reverence and Devotion the French Nation naturally bear to Kings seemed to be insuperable difficulties to his advancement to the Crown Childerick had already Reigned nine years only in appearance under Martel and four more under Pepin who to remove the last scruple represented to the People that their Allegiance was vowed to true Kings and not to Kings in imagination and disguise that they were sworn to maintain a Religious Just Merciful Diligent and Active King able to withstand their Enemies to punish the wicked to defend the good and to protect the Christian Law according to the express words thâ— French Kings are Sworn to in their Coronation-Oath Why then should they think themselves bound to a vicious King who was negligent and careless of himself and his Subjects since the Conâ—â—ct between them was limited and the French were only obliged to obey him who being endued with many Royal Virtues persorms the Office of a true King. These reasons were plain and easily received by all men as absolutely necessary for the common good though most of thera who seemed thus convinced had an Eye to their particular advantage by the favour of Pepin As to the
Royal Crown richly adorned with Pearls and precious Stones which he absolutely refused with this Zealous answer Why should I bear the name of a King in a place where my Saviour hath been crowned with reproaches should I take the Scepter in my hand where he hath taken the Cross upon his Shouldiers Should I suffer a Crown of Gold upon my head where he hath received a Crown of Thornes Sure I should then hold my self for vanquished if such a vanity should be victorious over my heart It is God that hath inspired us with these designs It is he that hath conducted and crowned us with success I pretend therefore to no other honours than to lay all honours at the seet of the Cross of Christ But though he would not take upon himself the name of King yet it was constantly given him as all Historians of that time and Posterity have ever since done to this very day and certainly never any King better deserved to wear that glorious Title which he adorned with so many Royal Actions The Sultan of Egypt coming too late to relieve Jerusalem advanced now with a formidable Army to besiege it against whom Godfrey and his Souldiers marched with much courage and resolution over whom they obtained an intire Victory with richer pillage than any time before in the whole War the Enemy losing thirty thousand upon the place and as many more in the pursuit After this Battle the Princes and great Lords who followed them believing they had fully accomplished their vow of recovering the Holy Land took their leaves of King Godfrey to return to their respective Countries leaving him only three hundred Horse and about two thousand Foot with which few Troops the King to inlarge the Frontiers of his new Kingdom conquered the places which were yet untaken round about Jerusalem And now after so many Toils being fallen sick he caused himself to be removed to the City where July 8. 1100. In the fortieth year of his age and the first of his Reign he rendred his glorious Soul into the hands of his Almighty Redeemer by a most Religious death his brother Baldwin succeeding K. of Jerusalem in his stead He was a Prince in whom all Virtues Christian Civil and Military met in the highest point of humane perfection without mixture of any default so that it will remain difficult to find another like him to whom without Flattery the same praises may be given and which induced future Ages to bestow on him the honourable Title of one of the Worthies of the World. FINIS There are newly Published seventeen very useful pleasant and necessary Books all sold by Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside I. 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War I will send some Prudent Person fairly to demand the Restitution of Hesione which if granted I will be content to remit all their other Affronts The whole Council approved of this his Resolution and Anthenor one of his Princes was instantly dispatcht to Salamine to King Telamon and being admitted into his presence he thus Addressed him Sir Priamus King of Troy hath sent me to your Highness to desire you would please to restore him his Sister Hesione whom contrary to the Laws of Honour you detain as your Concubine it being no way proper to your glory thus to abuse the Daughter and Sister of a King who issues from a more Noble Family than your self Yet if you please to send her back my Master is willing to pass by all other Indignities and Damages which he hath received from you or yours King Telamon upon hearing this Message fell into an extreme Passion and fiercely replyed Friend whatever you are I cannot but much admire at the weakness of Priamus with whom I have no Correspondence nor Amity and whom I have not the least cause to fear nor grant his request Thy King ought to remember that I and others my Confederates came into his Country to revenge an injury which his Father Laomedon offered to some of our Allies and because I was the first who entered the City of Troy with great danger of my Life and Effusion of my Blood Hesione of whom thou speakest was bestowed upon me as the recompence of my Victory to use her at my pleasure and since she is so Noble and Beautiful a Lady I am very unwilling to be deprived of what is so delightful to me and whom I obtained with so much pains and danger go therefore and tell Priamus that he is never like to recover her but with the point of his Sword Neither can I think that thou art a very discreet Person to undertake such a Voyage with so great peril of thy Life and to bring such an Errand into a Countrey where thou and thy Countreymen are mortally hated I command thee therefore to go hence with all speed as thou hopest to escape a severe and cruel death Anthenor instantly took Shipping and carried the same Message to King Peleus then to King Castor and Pollux and lastly to Duke Nestor all of them Graecian Princes who all defied Priamus with the utmost contempt and scorn especially Nestor who all inraged said Thou vile wretch were it not for my Nobility I would cause thy Tongue to be pluckt out of thy mouth for presuming to utter such things before me and in despight of thy King would see thee torn piecemeal by Wild-Horses Anthenor doubting he might be as good as his word returned immediately to Sea and sailed toward Troy where at length after many dangers he arrived in safety And then in the Company of several Noblemen he presented himself before King Priamus all the Barons of the Realm and all the Kings Sons being present to hear what Tydings he brought To whom Anthenor gave a full Account of his Embassy and of all that happened to him during his Voyage At the recital whereof Priamus was very much disturbed and by their opprobious Speeches he perceived that it was impossible to recover his Sister without bringing on himself the utmost force and fury of the Graecians Soon after he again assembled his Nobility to his Palace of Ilium to whom he thus spake My Lords you may remember that by your advice I sent Anthenor into Greece to demand the return of my Sister by all fair means possible you likewise are sensible what injurious answers they gave to my proposals and how little they value the wrongs we have received insomuch that they threaten us with new mischiefs which Heaven forbid should ever fall upon us But since we have a strong and well fortified City and several considerable Princes firmly confederate with us in my opinion we are in a Capacity to revenge these reiterated damages Therefore if you think fit we will send our Forces privately into their Countreys where finding them utterly unprovided of defence we shall be able in some measure to right our selves upon them Neither ought you to be discouraged because they have been lately so victorious against us since it often happens that the Conquerors at length are vanquished by the Conquered All present were satisfied with this determination and being all dismist he called all his Sons who were not present at the debate to whom he again declared his intention with tears in his eyes to this purpose Dear Sons you ought never to forget the death of your Grand-father Laomedon nor the servitude of your Aunt Hesione whom the Greeks our inveterate Enemies abuse at their own pleasure which methinks should stir up thoughts of revenge in your minds but if this do not move you yet you ought to endeavour it for my Satisfaction who have brought you up with the utmost care and diligence and who am ready to dye with sorrow and vexation in reflecting on the multiplied injuries I have received from them And thou my Wise and Valiant Son Hector thou who art the Eldest of thy Brethren I require thee chiefly to undertake this matter thou shalt be the Principal Commander in executing this my will and all the rest will gladly obey thee yea the whole Kingdom will willingly submit to thy Conduct whom they know to be so valiant and couragious and therefore upon thee I must lay all the burden of this War and discharge my self thereof not doubting but by thy prudence and valour all will be brought to an happy effect and thy Father be revived in his old Age with the reports of thy growing glory To this speech Hector returned this mild and discreet answer Dear Father and my Soveraign Lord I am satisfied that there are none of your Sons but are sufficiently inclined to require satisfaction for any wrongs offered us or any of our Family according to the quality of the Person abused so doth the injury appear greater It is natural to men to seek redress of injuries yea the very Beasts by nature strive to do the same Neither Most Dear Father is there any of your Sons who ought more sensibly to resent the Murder of our Lord and Grandfather than I who am the eldest But I beseech you before you undertake this enterprise to consider seriously what may be the Issue and Event thereof otherwise you may have cause to repent that ever it was begun I speak not this out of Contradiction or Cowardise but only to induce your Highness to take mature advice and deliberation in the matter You know that all Africa and Europe are Subject to the Greeks and that they abound with stout and valiant Souldiers so that our strength in men at Arms is not comparable to theirs Why therefore should we who live in peace and quietness disturb our own Welfare and Prosperity Hesione is not of so much value that
we should indanger all our Lives and Estates only for her sake She hath been already a long time in Greece and I think it were better she should spend the rest of her days which cannot be many in that Countrey than that we should run such great hazards to fetch her home again I again declare Dread Sir I speak not this for fear or want of Courage but because the chance of War is uncertain and lest fortune by this adventure should confound and destroy our Realm or at least cause us to wish a thousand times that we had never undertaken so dangerous an Enterprize When Paris heard Hector thus declare his mind he was much concerned and standing up say'd Dread Lord I beseech you hear me one word To what ill end can this undertaking against the Greeks possibly come Are we not furnished with as gallant and couragious Knights as any in the World Yes certainly and are able to defy the greatest force can be brought against us Go on therefore I intreat you with your design in sending some Men and Ships to Land and Forrage in Greece and if you please to accept of my Service I shall most readily undertake this imploy not doubting but to do them very great damage and to bring away some Noble Lady by exchanging of whom you 〈…〉 your Sister Hesione without further troubâ—â—â— Deiphobus the third Son confirmed what Paris had say'd but Helenus the fourth who was a Priest or Southsayer smartly replied Mighty Father and Soveraign beware that the thirst of revenge do not bring upon you greater mischiefs You know very well I understand and can foretel things to come as you have often experienced The Gods forbid that it should ever happen Paris should be sent into Greece for if you make an assault upon them I now declare and presage you shall see this Honourable City destroyed by them and your Trojans and all your Children killed be therefore perswaded not to adventure upon what will certainly end in utter desolation with the death of your self and Queen and we that are your Children shall not escape For if Paris go into Greece all these evils shall surely come upon you The King was much disturbed at these words and for some time all stood silent when Troylus his youngest Son briskly answered My noble Lords why are you discouraged for the words of this cowardly Priest who you know doth as naturally hate War and Fighting as he loves good eating and drinking Who can believe that any man knows future events unless they are revealed to him by the Gods it were then great folly in us to concern our selves about his dreams If Helenus be afraid let him go into the Temple and sing Service and let us Dear Lord and Father revenge by force of Arms the injuries we have received from the Greeks send your Ships therefore instantly and doubt not but your valiant Subjects will procure you sufficient satisfaction from your enemies The whole Assembly approving this advice they broke up and Priamus presently dispatcht his two Sons Paris and Deiphobus to raise Forces in Panonia though Cassandra his Daughter Sirnamed the Prophetess upon hearing this their resolution like one frantick thus cryed out O Noble City of Troy what Fury hath moved thy Citizens to bring thee to ruin and desolation How soon wilt thou be overthrown and destroyed even unto the ground O Queen Hecuba for what crime hast thou deserved to see the lamentable death of all thy Children Why dost thou not prevent Paris from going into Greece which will be the cause of so many deplorable mischiefs She then ran to her Father and drowned in tears humbly besought him by no means to proceed in this enterprize because by her Science she certainly foresaw horrible effects would undoubtedly follow But neither the disswasions of Hector nor Helenus nor the admonitions of Cassandra could prevail in the least upon the mind of Priamus nor stagger his resolution as if inevitable destiny had absolutely designed the ruin both of himself and his Kingdom In the Spring Paris and Deiphobus returned with three Thousand stout Soldiers and were soon after imbarqued in twenty Ships accompanied with Aeneas Anthenor and Polidamas and Landing at Sparta were received by Menelaus King thereof with all expressions of kindness and civility and when his Affairs did require his presence in Crete now Candia he left Paris at his Pallace in his absence but the Affection of this King was requited with a notable Treason and Ingratitude For Paris having secretly Contracted a Friendship with Helena his Queen the Sister of Castor and Pollux and accounted then one of the greatest Beauties in the World he Debauched her and when he saw a favourable opportunity he rifled his Pallace plundered the City of Argos and carried all away Captive with Helena and her two Ladies of Honour and at length brought them all to Troy The next Morning he married her in the Chief Temple of that City King Priamus received his Sons and their Booty with great joy remembring his hard usage from the Greeks during his Captivity and because they had utterly ruined his City in the Reign of his Father Laomedon in hope likewise hereby to recover his Sister Hesione out of their hands When Cassandra heard and saw the rejoicing at the Marriage of Paris which lasted eight days throughout the whole City she like a Frantick Woman cryed out O unhappy Trojans what madness is it to rejoice at this Wedding which will bring so many evils Your selves and your Children shall be slain this Famous City shall be utterly destroyed O unhappy Mothers you shall see your sucking Babes torn in pieces before your Eyes O most unfortunate Mother and Queen Hecuba where wilt thou find Tears enough to weep for the Murder of thy Children O blind and foolish people why do you not send Helena home again before the Swords of your Enemies be sheathed in your Bowels do you believe that her King and Husband will not seek Revenge Yes certainly and woful will his vengeance be unto you O unhappy Helena thou wilt be the cause of sad calamities to this our Countrey King Priamus hearing her thus crying commanded her silence which she refusing was cast into Prison where she continued many days Happy had it been for him and his people too had they believed this warning of hers which might have prevented those desolations that will be read with pity to the end of the World. Menâ—laus who was at that time with King Nestor at Epirus hearing the news of the carrying away his Wife and ruin of his City was exâ—reamly disturbed and sent to Agamemnon King of Mycene his brother to come to him who arriving and understanding the affair he was mightily concerned for this disgrace of Menelaus which obliged him to acquaint the Princes of Greece with this notable affront which all the Nations had received by this Action They all agreed to consult about this business in
to keep as it were a Parliament of the whole World some Magicians advised him not to enter that City affirming it would be fatal to him therefore declining it he turn'd aside to Bersia a City heretofore unpeopled on the other side Euphrates where he was importuned by Anaxarchus the Philosopher to despise the Presages of the Magicians as false and uncertain and if proceeding from Destiny or Nature not to be prevented Going therefore to Babylon after a while he again prepared a Solemn Feast which he had for some time intermitted where he devoted himself absolutely to mirth both day and night After which Thessalus his Physician invited him and his Companions to another debauch where taking the Cup into his hand in the middle of his draught he groaned as if he had been struck through with a Sword and his Body became so extream tender that he complained if but touched as though he had been wounded His Friends said his disease was occasioned by excess of Wine though it were really Treason the infamy whereof the power of his Successors did suppress The Author of this Treason was Antipater who when he beheld his dearest friends commanded to death his Son in law slain and himself who had performed such considerable Service in Greece disrespected and accused by his Mother Olympias of many insolencies and likewise considered his late severity to his Lieutenants and expected the same treatment to make sure work with the King he suborned his son Cassender with his Brother Philip and Jolla who used to minister to him to poison him So great was the strength of the Poyson that it could not be contained in Iron Brass nor any thing but a Horses hoof Cassander was bid to intrust none but Thestalus so that when the Feast was in his house after Philip hast tasted the Kings Cup having the poyson ready in cold Water they put it into the Wine Four days after Alexander finding Death certainly approaching said He believed it was the fate of his Family to dye about thirty years Old. After which he pacified his Souldiers who were ready to mutiny suspecting he perisht by Treason being therefore brought into the highest place of the City he admitted all into his presence and gave them his right hand to kiss and when all wept he appear'd without the least trouble comforting those who impatiently lamented his courage being now as invincible against death as formerly against his Enemies The Souldiers departing he askt his Friends about him If they thought they should have another King like him When all holding their Peace he confidently presaged as if he had seen it with his Eyes That Macedon should lose much bloud in his quarrel and many Thousand Lives would be sacrificed at his Funeral He then commanded his Body to be buried in the Temple of Jupiter Hammon and then fainting away his Attendants demanded whom he would constitute heir of his Empire he only answered To the most Worthy So great was the vigor of his mind that though he left behind him his Son Hercules his Brother Arideus and his Wife Roxane big with Child yet forgetting those Obligations he only nominated The most Worthy to be his Heir as if it were unreasonable that any but a valiant man should succeed a Conqueror With these words as if the Spirit of Discord had been sent among them his chief Captains instantly grew jealous of each other and privately sought to gain the favour of the Soldiers to themselves On the sixth day being Speechless he gave his Ring off his Finger to Perdâ—ccas which for the present pacified the growing dissentions for though by voice he was not nominated Heir yet by choice he seemed to be so Alexander deceased being Thirty three years and one mouth Old a man endewed with a mighty Spirit above other men whose Mother Olympias dream't when he was conceived that she had commerce with a God and by his Actions he after seemed to be above the condition of Mortal men There appeared also many Presages of his future greatness on his Birth-day for two Eagles flying all that day round about the Palace setled at last upon the battlements of his Fathers Court seeming to prognosticate to him the two Empires of Europe and Asia and on the same day his Father received the glad tydings of two Victories one in Illyria and another in the Olympick race whither he sent some Charlots drawn with four Horses which portended to the Infant the Victory over all the World. He was of admirable apprehension and learning and was educated under Aristotle the most famous Philosopher Being invested in his Fathers kingdom he commanded himself to be called King of all Countreys and Lord of the World So great a confidence had his Souldiers in his good fortune that he being present they scared not though unarmed the force of any Enemy He never encountred any Adversary whom he did not overcome nor besieged any City which he did not take nor invaded any Nation over whom he did not Triumph and therefore deservedly gain'd the name of Alexander the Great and one of the Worthies of the World. Yet was this Great Conqueror at length destroyed not by the valour of his Enemies but the Villany and Treason of his own Friends and Subjects He lived in the Year of the World 3611 before Christ 337 years The History of Julius Caesar first Emperor of Rome The Third Worthy of the World. GReat Julius Caesar next attain'd the Name Of the Third Worthy Whose immortal Fame Remains still fresh in the Records of time He to the Empire of the World did clime And what he Conquer'd by his Sword in Fight He with his Pen did elegantly write At length through many wounds his Soul hence fled And he who ner'e before was Conquered In War He who with slaughter strew'd So many Lands With his own bloud imbru'd The Seat of wronged Justice And fell down A Sacrifice t' appease the incensed Gown Julius Caesar of the Noble Family of the Juliâ— so called as some think from Julus Ascanius the Son of Aeneas from whom they were ambitious to have descended and Caesar because it is said he was cut out of his Mothers Womb though others derive it a Caeso Elephanto from his Grandfathers killing an Elephant He was but Sixteen years old when his Father died and yet was designed the next year to be High-Priest of Jupiter and having divorced himself from his first wife whose birth was not so eminent as his Fortune he married Cornelia daughter of Cinna who had been four times Consul by whom he had his daughter Julia Sylla used all possible arguments to have separated him from her but not prevailing he pursued him as an Enemy and designed to arrest him At length by the intercession of the Vestal Virgins and some of his kinsmen he obtained pardon though Sylla then cryed out by way of prediction Take him then since you will needs have him but know the person for whom
instead of continuing in all ill opinion of us we desire that for the future you would never suspect us conscious of such a crime whereof none of Abrahams Posterity can he guilty without deserving to lose his life Having heard this modest reply and praised their Constancy Phinehas returned and gave Joshua an Account thereof in the presence of the People who rejoicing that there was no cause of Bloudshed Offered Sacrifices of Thansgiving to God and dissolving the Assembly each man returned nome A â—r twenty years Joshiea being extream old called to him the Princes Magistrates and Elders to whom he uttered his dying words to this Effect That they should call to remembrance the many benefits God had bestowed upon them whereby from a very mean and afflicted condition they had attained to great Riches and Glory He then earnestly exhorted them Religiously to observe Gods Commandments that so he might continue his merciful hand over them since he assured them that they could obtain his favour by no other way but Obedience Which he thought himself obliged to admonish them of before his departure out of this Life That he was certain was now just at hand As he ended these words he gave up the Ghost and died in the hundred and tenth year of his Age whereof he spent forty as Minister under Moses their Chief Magistrate and after his death he Governed the Common-wealth twenty five years A man of incomparable Prudence and Eloquence Wise and Diligent in matters of Government and equally capable of the most important Affairs in Peace and War in a word the Most Excellent Captain General of his time whose only presence was worth hundreds or others whose Souldiers thought nothing impossible under him and by whom his Enemies esteemed themselves vanquished as soon as seen But let us remember while we speak of Joshua that God hath covered him with the Rays of Glory so that we are constrained to cover his brave Acts in silence He died in the year from the Creation of the World 2560 and about 1500 years before the Birth of Jesus Christ The History of David King of Israel The Fifth Worthy of the World. DAvid a Man was after Gods own heart Who wondrous blessings did to him impart By whose assistance in his youth he kill'd The Great Goliah and so won the Field But though he made this mighty Monster fall A greater rose The jealousy of Saul Yet Saul at length in battle overthrown David obtains the Kingdom and the Crown A Worthies name he justly doth deserve Whom many Worthies did obey and serve He reigned forty lived seventy years And then Death put an end to all his Cars THE Life of David is a mixture of Good and Evil of Joy and Grief of Contempts and Glories of Vices and Virtues of Actions and Passions of unthought of Successes and of strange Accidents and Marvels We will consider him in a twofold state of a Servant and of a Master and will observe with what Wisdom he preserved himself in the one and with what Majesty he behaved himself in the other He comes first to Court under the quality of a Musician there he makes himself known for a good Souldier admired as a Commander of an Army and crowned as a Conqueror Saul was tormented with an Evil Spirit which was maintained by his melancholy humor and nourished by his passion They seek out for him a fair Young man who withal was skilful in playing on the Harp to make him merry one of his Servants said That David the Son of Jesse was fit for that Imployment He is sent for in the Kings name he comes he pleaseth while he played on his Instruments but Saul is displeased when he handleth his Weapons whose envy caused his Valour to be reputed a fault This young Shepherd who in his Apprenticeship had learned to fight with Lions and Bears would go to the War as well as his Brethren who blame his Curiosity and despise his Person There must be usually some famous Exploit to put a man at first in great credit at Court and the Combate of Goliah was that which Heaven had prepared to raise David One man alone who affrighted the whole Army nine foot high and armed with five hundred pound weight of Iron continues for forty days his proud Bravado's challenging the stoutest of the Israelites to combate All their hearts were frozen at the sound of his terrible voice and none dares come forth against him The King propounds great Riches and his Daughter in marriage to him who would take away this blemish from the People of God printed on the whole face of the Army by this Philistine David hereupon presents himself and gets forth to fight with him not with the guilded Arms of Saul but only with a Sling The Giant scoffs at him and finding him sufficiently armed to defend himself from Dogs but not fit to set upon Men he designs Davids little body as a fit prey for some Bird of rapine But this Champion of the Lord of Hosts reads first a Lesson to him of Religion before he shews his skill in fighting Thou comest to me saith he with a Spear a Sword and a Buckler but I come to thee in the Name of the God of Armies of the God of the Hosts of Israel at which thou this day hast scoffed with so great insolence It is written in Heaven that this great God will deliver thee into mine hands and that I shall take away thine head from off thy shoulders and that I shall make a great Feast for all the Beasts of prey with the flesh of this thy monstrous Body whereby thou shalt know there is a God in Israel He saith it he doth it he strikes his Adversary with a blow of the Sling in the midst of his Forehead makes this mighty Tower of flesh to fall in a moment cutting off the head of this terrible Giant with his own Sword which put the whole Army of the Philistims to confusion and raised up the glory of the chosen People to an incomparable height Yet this is the fountain of all the great Evils that David after suffered the Great ones admire him the People applaud him he is the Subject of the Songs of the Daughters of Jerusalem which set him above Saul It is this Musick that enraged Sauls evil Spirit and would not give him any rest David must be destroyed because he saved the Nation He must be put to death because he restored the people to life He must be dishonoured for having recovered the honour of the King He is sufficiently faulty because he is too virtuous Saul resolved to be rid of David yet thought it dangerous to attempt his life openly who was so high in the peoples esteem and therefore under pretence of honour bestows on him a chief place in the Army believing his Courage would carry him into danger and so his death would be imputed to chance or destiny But when he saw
hand of God his mortal Enemy was now delivered into his power by whose death he might put an end tâ— all his Calamities But David by a strong inspiration from God resolved in his heart never to lay his hands upon Gods Anointed and contenting himself with only cutting off the Skirts of his Garment he went out of the Cave after Saul and cryed after him with a loud voice saying Behold my Lord my Father and my King the innocence of my hands and be no more filled with vain and false suspitions of poor David you cannot be ignorant that God at this time had put me into your power and that I could have taken away your life to have saved my own but God by his grace hath preserved me from such ill thoughts and hath secured you from all danger I had never yet any intent to hurt you though you cease not to persecute and torment my life with a thousand afflictions Alas my Lord what is it you desire Against whom are you come forth with so great a strength of Arms and Horses against a poor dead Dog a miserable little Beast I beseech the living God to be Judge between us and to make you sensible of the goodness of my cause Saul was so amazed with this action that he ran to him and imbracing him weeping said This O David is a sure sign whereby I know for certain thou shall reign after me so great a goodness not being able to be rewarded but by an Empire I only beseech and intreat you to have pity on my poor Children after my death and not to revenge upon them the injuries I have offered you Hereupon he swore to deal peaceably with him for the future But the Spirit of Saul was unequal and oft departed from reason for a long season Whereupon David resolved to go out of the Kingdom to Achish King of the Philistines a Sworn Enemy to Israel since he could not besecure any where else yet did he never bear arms against the people of God At last the fatal day of Saul drew near and he saw the Philistines came upon him with their utmost strength and being troubled in mind in the confusions of a disturbed Spirit he sought to the Divine Oracles to learn his destiny in this pressing necessity but this unhappy Prince sought after the dead in vain having trod under feet the admonitions of the Living and therefore he applies himself to the Witch of Endor who by Samuels appearance foretold the routing of his Army his own death and likewise his Childrens sad Fate at which he was so affrighted that he fell into a Swound Being recovered he went to his Army and the next morning perceived the Philistines wonderfully increased and resolv'd to fight And his own people exceedingly weakened and seeming to carry misfortune in their faces The Enemies gave the onset with very great violence and overthrew the foremost of the Israelites wherein Jonathan with his two Brethren sealed the last proofs of their valour with their bloud and death in the sight of their miserable Father who seeing he could not dye so soon as he desired suffered himself to fail upon his own Sword vomiting forth his Soul and bloud with ragings and griefs unspeakable While this unhappy Battel was fought David was pursuing the Amalakites who in his absence had sackt the Town of Ziglag the place of his retiring whom he overtook loaden with their prey and regained his two Wives Ahinoam and Abigail whom they had taken away As he came from this Battle a young Amalekite presents himself and brings him the news of the death of Saul and Jonathan and his other Sons affirming that he himself had stood by at the death of the King and had helped him to die by his own command Whereat David moved with extream grief tore his garments wept fasted and made a funeral Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan Causing likewise the Amalekite to die who by his own confession was accessary to the death of the King And though David at this time might have taken possessesion of the Kingdom yet upon prudent deliberation he thought it not convenient to be too hasty Whereupon Abner a chief Captain without losing time seeing there yet remained a Son of Saul alive named Ishbosheth aged forty years though of little courage and less understanding he made him presently come into the Camp and caused him to be proclaimed the true and lawful Successor of Saul not so much for the love he bore him or the esteem of his sufficiency as intending to reign by him and over him All the People swore Allegiance to Ishbosheth except the Tribe of Judah from whom David sprung which joyning together in favour of him crowned him King in Hebron where he reigned seven years before he possest the whole Kingdom of Israel Afterward Abner laying aside his war-like humor fell in love with a Concubine of Sauls named Rispah whereat Ishbosheth being offended Abner for one poor word spoken in a very mild manner entred into a rage against the King and said It was to use him as a Dog to quarrel with him for a woman after so great Services as he had done for the Crown and from whom he held both his Life and Kingdom The poor Prince held his peace and durst not answer a word to this bold Fellow and was pitifully devoured by his own Servant Abner grew so hot with anger that he dispatcht Messengers to David to desire his friendship and promiseth to bring the whole Kingdom of Ishbosheth into his hands David answered That he was willing to make peace with him if he would cause his Wife Michol to be restored to him whom they had married to another after his departure which was readily agreed to and performed Mean time Abner powerfully sollicites the people of Israel to betake themselves to David since God had committed their safety and rest into his hands who would unite all the Tribes under one Monarchy which would make him a happiness to his people helpful to his friends and terrible to his Enemies This Discourse prevail'd very much on the Principal ones of the Nation who saw small hopes of Ishbosheth he being disparaged both by Nature and Fortune Soon after Abner meets David at Hebron who made him a Feast hearkned to his Propositions and conducted him back with honour Joab who was at that time absent soon understood the coming of Abner and being jealous that the Friendship of a man who seem'd to draw a whole Kingdom after him might much prejudice his interest he enters roughly into the Kings Chamber telling him that Abner was but a deceiver who came to spy out his secrets and that he ought to have secured him when under his power And since David seeing him in such a rage answered nothing Joab without Authority sends a message to Abner to return to Hebron under colour of treating more fully with David He lightly believed it and came back the same way when
Joab trecherously surprizing him killed him at the Gate of the City David was much perplexed hereat and uttered grievous Curses against Joab and his whole race and to deface the blemish of this Murder be assisted at the Funerals of Abner protesting against the cruelty of those who had taken away his Life and highly setting forth the praises of the dead yet he caused not process to be made against Joab conceiving that he was not able to destroy him in such a time when it was dangerous to provoke him After this Ishbosheth King of Israel was slain by two Murtherers Rechab and Baanah as he slept on his Bed at Noonday who cut off his Head and brought it to David at which this great King was so highly incensed abhorring this barbarous Fact that he instantly condemn'd them to death and their Heads and Feet being cut off they were hang'd up at the Fishâ—ood of Hebron The death of Ishbosheth the Son of Saul ended the difference between the two 〈◊〉 Houses and all the Tribes yielded universally to David So that now he began to Reign absolutely and to disscover the Admirable Qualities and Royal Virtues wherewith he was adorned And it is certain that of all the Kings of Judah none equall'd him in all kind of perfections He was one who feared God without Superstition was Religious without Hypocrisie Valiant without Sternness Liberal without reproaching any a good Husband without Covetousness Valiant without Insolence Vigilant without Unquietness Wise without Subtilty Courteous without Loosness Humble without Cowardliness Cheerful without too much Familiarity Grave without Fierceness and Kind without any Complement Above all he was all his Life very Zealous for Religion and wonderfully affected toward Divine things setling the Worship of God and composing Hymns for the people which have continued to all Ages and serve for perpetual Springs of Devotion even to this very day Yet did these Exercises no way diminish his Actions of Valour He overthrew the Philistines in two great Battels and made War on every side in the East against the Moabites and Amonites in the West against the Phoenicians on the South against the Amalekites Arabians and Idumeans and in the North against the Syrians Sabeans and Mesopotamians and was happy in all his Enterprizes Besides which he made Leagues with the Kings his Neighbours which he gained either by Friendship or Force He rendred Justice exactly to his Subjects favoured Arts Inricht and Fortified Towns Erected Stately Pallaces and brought the Kingdom of Judah out of Servility who had not yet known what Magnificence was He was honoured by the great Ones beloved by the Priests admired by the Wisest and almost adored by the People But as all light in mortal things hath a shaddow God suffered him to fall into a great offence which served to humble him and caused very much trouble in his House His mind being freed from the cares of War and Business he descried from the top of his Pallace a Woman that bathed her self in her Garden he inquired her name her Kindred and her Quality and becoming in Love thereby sends for her to his house and had Company with her How dear did this unhappy cast of his Eye cost him When a man once exceeds in this blind Passion he goes further than ever he designed She soon after sends word to David that she had Conceived and that her Husband having not seen her of a long time might have very ill apprehensions of her The honour of this lost Creature must now be covered the King sends for her Husband under some other pretence he comes from the Army is kindly entertained and David is earnest with him to go home and take his ease with his Wife but the good man refuses it saying That it was not fit for him to lye in a Bed when the Ark of God and his Captain Joab were under Tents He lies on the ground before the door of the Kings Chamber and so passeth the night having no desire but to return speedily to the Army Alas poor Vriah thou art made a harmless Sacrifice and wast but too faithful and therefore must water with thy bloud the guilt of thy Master David dictates a bloudy Letter to Joab to place Vriah in the Forlorn hope that he might be fairly rid of him and Vriah carries this deadly Letter Joab without inquiring obeys the Innocent Vriah is massacred and these false Lovers now think themselves secure David remains nine Months covered with this Filth and Bloud without coming to the knowledge of himself until Nathan the Prophet removes the Vail that blinded him who though he knew how dangerous it was to reprove a King and especially in such a case yet resolved to shew David his sin by uttering a Parable of a Rich Man that had great Store of Sheep who yet had violently taken away one only Ewe from a Poor Man which David finding very strange judged him worthy of death whereat the Prophet hits him home telling him He was the Man who had caused poor Uriah to be slain after he had taken Bathsheba from him David awaking as it were out of a dead sleep acknowledged his sin with a true humility and submitted himself to all the Chastisements it should please the great Judge to inflict upon him He was presently changed into another man and was exceeding Penitent his Heart bleeding and his Eyes weeping continually for his grievous offence and God beginning the punishments of his sin which yet he had pardoned as to his own person caused the Child Conceived in Adultery to dye A year after those pitiful Tragadies of his House which the Lord had threatned him with came upon him and filled his heart with terrors Amnon the eldest Son of David fell in love with his sister Thamar a very fair Princess and being in dispair of obtaining his desire falls sick The King his Father goes to see him to take order for his health who tells him There is but one medicine that will cure him which is that his sister Thamar should come and make him broth with her own hand wherein she had much skill This is easily granted and the innocent Maid goes to him who soon discovers his passion to her which she as violently opposed by reasons and tears Whereupon this barbarous Man proceeds to force and ravishes her which being past he entred into as furious a repentance and not enduring to behold her drives her out of his House with reproach and scoâ—â— she puts on morning attire and covers her head with ashes and at last discovers all to Absolom her brother by the same Mother who comforts her and promises revenge David hears of it but remembring his own offence durst not censure that of his Son especially since he loved him tenderly and feared to offend him Absolom seeing David did nothing in it resolved to do himself Justice with his own hands and having kepâ— his design secret two years to prevent suspition he makes
continually crawling out so that he rotted above ground with such an intollerable stink that none could come near him neither could himself indure it And thus this vile Person who had insolently boasted he would make Jerusalem a common Burying place and the streets thereof run with the Bloud of Gods People by his just Judgment ended his life in extream misery Before his death he made Philip his Cheif Captain Governor of his Kingdom requiring him to be very careful of his Son Antiochus Then was Antiochus proclaimed King and Sirnamed Eupator About which time the Apostate Jews in garrison at Jerusalem did much mischief slaying those unawares who came to Worship and offer Sacrifices in the Temple Judas hereupon resolved to cut them off and accordingly besieged the Fort with his Army when some of the beseiged escaping by night went and desired Antiochus not to suffer those to perish who for his Fathers sake had forsaken their God and their Religion who thereupon sent a mighty Army of an hundred thousand foot twenty thousand Horse and thirty two Elephants under Lysias their Captain to relieve them who sate down before Bethsura a strong City but were valiantly resisted by the inhabitants who fallied out and burnt the Engines prepared for battery Whereupon Judas raising his seige before the Castle of Jerusalem marched toward the Enemy who preparing to meet him Antiochus then present caused his Elephants to march first through the narrow passage where Judas was incamped each Elephant having a thousand Foot and an hundred Horse for his guard with a Tower on his back furniâ—â—â— with Archers The rest of his Forces were ordereâ—â—â— march by the Mountains and with great shouts to aâ—â—â—l their Enemies and by uncovering their brazen and golden Bucklers to dazel the eyes of the Jews Yet was Judas no way disturbed but incouraging his Army slew six hundred of the Forlorn Hope Eleazer the Brother of Judas seeing a huge Elephant with Royal trappings and judging the King was on him having with a noble courage slain those about him thrust his Sword into the belly of the Beast who suddenly falling slew him with his weight Judas observing the great strength of the Enemy matcht back to Jerusâ—lem Antiochus following him and taking Bethsura by Treaty for want of provisions and dispairing of relief they having the Kings Oath that no violence should be offered them yet he thrust them out of the City and put a Garrison therein He lay long before the Temple of Jerusalem the besieged defending it gallantly only they wanted Victuals the Land not having been tilled for seven years before whereupon divers secretly fled and few remain'd to defend the Temple when by Gods providence Antiochus had news that Philip his Fathers Governor was coming out of Persia to make himself Lord of his Countrey Whereupon Antiochus sent an Herald to Judas promising the Jews peace and the liberty of their Religion Which Judas accepting and taking the Kings Oath for the true performance thereof he surrendred up the Temple to Antiochus who entring the same and finding it so impregnable a place he contrary to his Oath commanded the Wall that incompassed it to be levell'd and so returned to Antioch with Onias the High Priest whom by the counsel of Lysias be put to death because he had advised his Father to inforce the Jews to forsake their Religion A just reward for so wicked a Fact. Philip having Conquered much of his Countrey Antiochus marcht against him fought with him and slew him Soon after Demetrius Son of Seleucus took Tripolis in Syria and declaring himself King invaded the Kingdom of Antiochus to whom the people generally submitting seized on Antiochus and Lysias and bringing them to Demetrius he caused them to be slain To this new King divers Jews banished for their impiety together with Alcimus the High Priest resorted accusing Judas Maccabeus his brethren and the rest of the Nation for killing their Friends and banishing such as were for Demetrius Who much moved with these reports sent a great Army under Bacchides a Valiant and Experienced General to destroy Judas and his Confederates He marching into Judea sent to Judas pretending to make peace with him who observing him to have such strong Forces would not trust to his false promises though some of the people did having his Oath for their protection but paid dear for their credulity for he slew threescore of them at one time Then going from Jerusalem he seized and put to death many Jews commanding the rest to obey Aleimus the High-Priest who by his feigned and familiar deportment drew many wicked Jews to join with him and then marched through the Countrey slaying all who were for Judas who seeing many upright men thus causlesly killed he with his Army went through the Land and flew all the Apostates that were of Alcimus his Faction He thereupon going to Demetrius made grievous complaints against Judas and shewing how dangerous it would be to the State if he went thus on Demetrius thereupon sent an Army against Judas under Nicanor commanding him not to spare any one of the Nation of the Jews Nicanor coming to Jerusalem offered no act of hostility but endeavouring to intrap Judas by subtilty sent him a peaceable Message protesting he deâ—gned no injury but came only to express the good affections of Demetrius to the Jewish Nation Judas and his Brethren deceived with these fair pretences entertained him and his Army and Nicanor saluting Judas whilst they were in discourse he gave a sign to his Souldiers to seize him but Judas discovering the Treason escaped from him and got to his Army Upon which Nicanor proclaimed open War against him and fought him near Caper-Salama where â—e obtained the Victory and constrained Judas to reâ—etreat into the Fortress of Jerusalem where Nicanor â—esieged him a while and then retired At which time certain of the Priests and Elders met him and having given him reverence they showed him the Sacrifices they intended to offer to God for the Kings prosperity But Demetrius blaspheming threatned them if they did not deliver Judas into his hands at his return he would destroy the Temple Hereupon the Priests wept abundantly beseeching God to defend the Temple and his True Worshipers from the outrage of their Enemies Nicanor coming near Bethhoron received a great supply of Souldiers out of Syria Judas likewise was not far off with about a thousand men yet exhorting his Souldiers to trust in God and not fear the multitude of their Enemies he couragiously encountred Nicanor where the Conflict was doubtful yet at last Judas had the advantage killing a great number of his Enemies Nicanor himself fighting valiantly was slain whereupon his Army fled and Judas speedily pursuing made a great slaughter and by sounding a Trumpet giving notice to the Neighbouring places the Inhabitants armed themselves and killed those that fled so that not one escaped from this Battle though they were at least Nine thousand men