attempted it in Iephtha's days finding Israels weakness by long oppression of the Philistins who had disarmed them had also slain 34000 of them and that 50000 perished about Bethshemes and their King was not yet so acceptable to all his Subjects who were encouraged to begin with Iabesh Gilead so near unto them Saul to shew himself King being proprobably descended of one of the Four Hundred Virgins taken from the Gileadits undertook the relief of Iabesh assembling 330000 Men and Defeated the Ammonites Hence Samuel drew them all to Gilgal where Saul was again Confirmed King where also Samuel exhorted them to fear the Lord and rehearsed his own Justice After a Years Reign Saul chose him a strong Guard of Three Thousand 1 Sam. 13.2 § 4. Saul 's Disobedience and Rejection § Ionathan with his Regiment of 1000 surprised a Garrison of the Philistins which some judge was in Careatjearim where was the Ark but Iunius taketh it to be Gebah in Benjamin near Gibha where Ionathan stayed with his Thousand so that though the Philistins were much broken under Samuel yet they held some strong places in Israel of which this was one whose Surprise so enraged them that they gathered together the greatest Forces mention'd 1 Sam. 12. while Saul was at Gilgal expecting Samuel as he had been required 1 Sam. 10.8 But because Samuel came not so soon as Saul expected he hasteâ—ed to Sacrifice taking the Office of a Priest on him as some think or as others judge he in diffidence and distraction upon the Philistins Power and his Peoples deserting him attended not the Prophet's coming to direct him and pray for him For Samuel had sharply reproved and threatned him with great Indecency had he not had extraordinary warrant from the Lord. So they departed each from other Saul being come to Gibeah his own City being of strength his Forces were but 600 between him and Ionathan and of these not one had Sword or Spear of which the Reason is rendred in the Text. The like Policy Nebuchadonozer us'd in the Conquest of Iudaea and Dyonisius in Sicily It may be the other Israelits had some though these Six hundred had not for they might gain some at the overthrow of the Philistins and Ammonites As for the Weapons the Israelites used in these Wars they were Clubs Bows and Slings wherein they were expert 1 Chr. 12.2 and their Victories were rather extraordinary as by Thunder or Astonishments sent from God as in this next Overthrow by the hand of Ionathan and his Armour-bearer wherein God set them at dissention cap. 14.10 So that the Israelites needed no Swords when every Philistin's Sword supplyed the want After this Victory Saul undertook by turns all the bordering Enemies and by special Commandment the Amalekites in Arabia Petraea and the Desart ravaging from Havila to Shur But for presuming contrary to God's express Charge to spare Agag c. he was utterly rejected of the Lord for all his pretence of Sacrifice and Samuel never after visited Saul § 5. Samuel fearing to Anoint another King as God willed him is directed how to do it safely So that by cautious care to avoid danger he did no way derogate from God's Providence seeing the Lord himself tho' All-sufficient instructed Samuel to avoid Saul's Fury by the accustomed cautions ways of the World and therefore Men neglecting of Prayer to God and exercise of that Wisdom he hath indued the Mind of Man with for his preservation are stupified with the Opinion of Fate c. Iesse having presented all his Sons but David to Samuel he only whom the Father neglected is chosen of God and anointed by Samuel The Philistins in the mean time considering how Saul's Power increased while they sat still and doubting least Israel might become able to revenge themselves if they were suffer'd thus to encrease thought it good to offer a new Check presuming of their own Abilities and former Successes as for late Disasters they might suppose the one was by a casual Tempest and the last by a mistaken Alarum which wrought needless fear and put the Army to Rout. Having therefore taken the Field Encamping near Saul's Army and both keeping their ground of advantage they maintained some Skirmishes not joining in gross which the Philistins had cause to fear considering their late Success and thereupon perhaps provoked to single Combat with their Giant upon Condition of a general subjection of the vanquished Nation in their Champion This gave occasion to David now to make a famous entrance into the publick notice of the People with the success Recorded in Scripture By this Victory David fell under the heavy displeasure of Saul by reason of his great Merits whereupon he became a Convert Tyrant faithless to Men and irreligious to God as the History sheweth which brought him to the end we read of § 6. Of such as lived with Samuel and Saul § Aeneas Sylvius began to Reign over the Latins in Alba about the 11th year of Samuel and Reigned Thirty one years The same year Dorcillus began in Assyria being the Thirty first King and Reigned Forty years The Dores which came with Heraclides obtained Peloponnesus in this Age. Here follows the Account of the First Planters of Greece from Iopetus Father of Prometheus Father of Deucalion and Pyrrha King and Queen of Thessaly of whom came Helen Father of Xuthus Dorus and Aeolus Xuthus fled to Erictheus of Athens of whose Daughter came Achaeus and Ion. Achaeus for a slaughter fled to Laconia in Peloponnesus and gave it his Name and after recovered Thessaly Ion was made Governour of Attica which he brought into a civil Course and Planted Syciona then called Aegiolio and Married Helice the Kings Daughter of whom also the Land took Name Dorus second Son of Helen Planted about Parnassus and Lacedemon but when the Heraclides Nephews of Hercules Invaded Peloponnesus the Dores assisting they expelled the Achaeans in Laconia who seeking Habitation drove out the Ionians who failed into Asia on whose West Coast they Built Twelve Cities Hercules Ancestor of the Heraclides and his Twelve Labours of Fabulous Poets rehearsed Sure it is Greece was oblig'd to him for freeing it from many Tyrants and Thieves which oppressed the Land in the Reign of Euristheus who employed him therein being Jealous of him for his Virtue and Descent from Perseus His Children after his Death fled to the Athenians who assisted them against Euristheus whom they slew but upon the death of Hillus Son of Hercules slain in Combat by Echenus King of Tegeates in Arcadia who assisted Atreus Successor of Euristheus they were to leave the Country for one Hundred years now expired when they returned under Aristodemus when Tisamenus was King of Achaea § 7. Homer the Poet seemed to live about this time but the diversity of Mens Opinions and curiosity about this Age is so Ridiculous that I would not offend the Reader therewith But to shew the uncertainty of Historians as well in
and took an Hundred private Hostages The Rhodians presently erect Statues for Lysimachus and Cassander and make a God of Ptolomy § 3. Demetrius chaseth Cassander beyond the Straits of Thermopilae and recover'd all that Cassander held there the like he did in Peloponesus setting all Free and translateth Sicyon to anâ—ther place and called it Demetrius Then he was proclaimed General of all Greece and Athens decreed all his Commandments should be held Sacred and just with God and Men Cassander's Case now oblig'd him to seek Peace for Macedon but Antigonus will have absolute submission which made Cassander sollicit the Confederates Lysimachus Ptolomy and Seleucus who apprehending the common danger agree to joyn Forces against a common Enemy Lysimachus with part of Cassander's Forces begins and passeth the Hellespont makes hot War in Asia which Antigonus hasteth to oppose but cannot force Lysimachus home who stayed for Seleucus's coming and made him send for Demetrius c. § 4. Seleucus is come and joyned with Ptolomy's Forces and Lysimachus making Sixty four Thousand Foot Ten Thousand Five Hundred Horse Four Hundred Elephants and One Hundred aâ—med Carts Antigonus had Seventy Thousand Foot Ten Thousand Horse and Seventy Five Elephants they met at Ipsus near Ephesus where the only memorable Thing was that Demetrius encountred young Antiochus Son of Seleucus and so pursued him in flight that Seleucus interposeth his Elephants between Demetrius and Antigonus's Phalanx and with his Troops of Horse so forced it that many soon revolted and left him to death Thus Princes commonly succeed who are more fear'd by their Enemies than lov'd by Friends § 5. Demetrius finding all lost made a speedy retreat to Ephesus with Four Thousand Horse and Five Thousand Foot thinking long to be at Athens the Worshippers of his Godhead not knowing they had repealed his Deity 'till he met their Messengers not as Theories to Consult at their Oracle but as Officers to prohibit his entring their City which shameless Ingratitude more afflicted him than all the rest yet he spake them fair 'till he recovered his Ships out of their Haven In the mean time the Confederates are dividing his Father's Provinces of which Seleucus seised on Syria and part of Asia the less whereat the rest repined and consulted to oppose his Greatness in time whereof he was not ignorant knowing the Law of Sâ—â—te ought not to permit the over-growing of Neighbours Therefore to serve his turn of Demetrius against Lysimachus he Married his Daughter Stratonica but to save the life of his Son Antiochus who was passionately in love with her he gave her to him The like Alliance was between Ptolomy and Lysimachus Demetrius and Cassander Demetrius and Ptolomy yet not bound to each other but for the present as it hath been with Christian Kings whom neither Bed nor Book can make faithful in their Covenants Yet Demetrius had this advantage by Seleucus's Affinity that he got Cilicia from Plistarchus Brother to Cassander who yet was pacified by Phila their Sister Wife to Demetrius who also about that time married Ptolomy's Daughter yet Seleucus had rather have Demetrius further off having a mind to Cilicia as Ptolomy had to Cyprus and offered ready mony for it but in vain for Demetrius had already found there Twelve Thousand Talents of his Fathers § 6. Demetrius with Three Hundred good Ships entreth Attica besiegeth the City of Athens which Ptolomy sought to relieve but could not so by extream Famine it was yielded but was spared notwithstanding all their unthankfulness yet he put a Garrison in it to keep them honest by force Then he went to Peloponesus against Lacedemon but was hastily called away into Asia where Lysimachus had won many Towns from him and Ptolomy besieged Salamis in Cyprus where his Mother and Childrâ—n reâ—ained Yet hearing of Cassander's death and that his Sons Antipater and Alexander fought for the Kingdom and that Antipater had furiously slain their Mother Thessalonica for affecting his Brother he chose rather to go to assist Alexander who desired aid of him and Pyrrâ—us King of Epirus § 7. Pyrrhus Son of Aeacides an Infant at his Father's death was conveyed unto Glaucias King of Illyria who at Twelve Years old set him in his Kingdom out of which six years after he was forced and went to serve Demetrius who married his Sister and after the Overthrow at Ipsus became Hostage to Ptolomy upon his reconciliation with Demetrius In Aegypt he got the favour of Berenice Ptolomy's principal Wife and Married her Daughter and was restored to Epirus He being requested of Alexander to aid him against Antipater for reward took Ambracia by force Acarnania and much more leaving the united Brethren to divide the rest Demetrius also bâ—ing come after all was done is discontented and pretending Alexander had plotted his death slew him at a Feast and seized on his part of the Kingdom At which Antipater who had Married Lysimachus's Daughter was so inraged that his Father-in-Law to quiet him took away his troublesome life Thus the House which Cassander had raised with so much Treachery and Royal-Blood fell on his own Grave before the Earth was throughly setled Demetrius after this access of Dominion grew to such dissoluteness in Wine Women and Idleness that he would not endure the trouble of Petitions and doing justice so that the People grew weary of his idleness and the Souldiers of his vanity Having lost all he had in Asia and Cyprus but his Mother and Children which Ptolomy honourably sent him home he went against Thebes and won it twice then he went against Pyrrhus with two great Armies of which one led by Pentauchus was overthrown and he beaten by Pyrrhus upon Challenge hand to hand which loss offended not the Macedonians so much as the young Princes behaviour pleased them seeming to see a lively figure of Alexander in his best qualities This esteem of Pyrrhus was increased by the dislike which he had of Demetrius for his Insolency and Cruelty to his Souldiers of whom he said The more of them died the fewer he had to pay In the end he grew sensible of their general hatred which to prevent he intended a War in Asia with a Royal Army of almost One Hundred Thousand Foot and Twelve Thousand Horse and a Navy of Five Hundred Sail of which many exceeded all former greatness Seleucus and Ptolomy doubting the issue are earnest with Lysimachus and Pyrrhus to joyn against him who accordingly invade Macedon Lysimachus entring that part next him and when Demetrius went against him Pyrrhus broke in on his side and took Berrhaea which News put all the Camp in a consternation few forbearing seditious Speeches and many desiring to return home But he perceiving their design to go to Lysimachus their Countryman led them against Pyrrhus a Stranger thinking so to pacify them wherein he was deceived For though they were as hasty as he to meet with Pyrrhus yet was it not to fight with him but to
Peace between the Two Lions of Gold and Gules doth by many Degrees exceed both by sparing our Blood and assuring the Land As it pleased God to punish the Usurpation and unnatural Cruelties of our own Kings so do we find he dealt with the Sons of Lewis Debonair Son of Charlemain For after Debonair had put out his Nephew Bernard's Eyes the Son of Pipin the Eldest of Charlemain King of Italy and Heir of the Empire and after that caused him to die in Prison there followed such Murder and Bloodshed Poisonings and Civil Wars till the whole Race of that famous Emperor was extinguished Debonair further to secure himself put his Bastard Brothers into a Monastery But God rais'd up his own Sons to vex invade imprison and depose him alledging the former Violences to his Nephew and Brothers Yet he did that which few Kings do he publickly acknowledg'd and recanted his Cruelty against Bernard in the Assembly of the States But Blood unjustly spilt is not easily expiated by Repentance And such Medicines to the Dead have but dead Rewards He having also given Aquitain to Pipin his Second Son sought after that to cast him out as indeed he did his Son after him of the same Name at the Persuasion of Judith to raise her Son Charles Lothair his eldest Son he left King of Italy and Emperor against whom his Nephew Pipin of Aquitain Lewis of Bavier and Charles the Bald made War between whom was fought the most Bloody Battel that ever was known in France in which the Loss of the Nobility and Men of War encouraged the Sarazens to invade Italy the to fall upon Almain and the Danes upon Normandy After being invaded by Lewis and by his own Conscience for rebelling against his Father and other Cruelties he quits the Empire and dyes in a Monastery Charles the Bald seizeth on Pipin his Nephew and kills him in a Cloyster oppresses the Nephews the Sons of Lothair and usurps the Empire His Son Caroloman rebells and hath his Eyes burnt out by his Father Lewis of Bavier and his Son Caroloman are overthrown by Charles and Lewis dies of Grief as Charles doth of Poison by Zedekias his Phisician a Jew Whose Son also Lewis le Begne dy'd of the same Potion and Charles the Simple succeeded whose Natural Brothers Lewis and Charlemain rebell'd The Younger is slain by a wild Boar the Elder brake his Neck as did also the Son of Bavier Charles the Gross became Lord of what Debonair's Sons had held in Germany who invading Charles the Simple is forsaken of Nobles Wife and Wit dying a distracted Beggar Charles the Simple held in Wardship by Eudes Mayor of the Palace and after by Robert his Brother lastly is surprised by the E. of Vermandois and dyed in Prison Lewis his Son succeeded and brake his Neck one of his Sons dyes of Poyson the other in Prison Francis I. was one of the worthiest Kings that ever France had except his exposing the Protestants of Mirandel and Cabriers to the Fire and Sword of which though he repented and charged his Son to do Iustice on the Murderers yet was not that unseasonable Care accepted of by God who cut off his Four Sons without Issue to succeed And notwithstanding all their Subtilty and Breach of Faith with all their Massacres upon those of the Religion the Crown was set on his Head whom they all endeavoured to ruin and the Protestants are now in number and strength more than ever Spain has found God the same as Don Pedro of Castile may witness who as he became the most merciless of all Heathen or Christian Tyrants as the History of Spain records so he perish'd by the Hands of his Younger Brother who dispossessed all his Children of their Inheritance John D. of Burgoign may parallel this King if any can who after a Trayterous Murder of the D. of Orleance caused the Chancellor Constable divers Bishops Officers of Justice of the Treasury Requests Chamber of Accompts with Sixteen Hundred others suddenly to be slain which kind of Death eased the World of himself Ferdinand holding Arragon by Vsurpation of his Ancestors added Castile and Leon which he held by force of Arms from the Daughter of the last Henry and expell'd his Neece from the Kingdom of Navarr He betrayed Ferdinand and Frederick King of Naples his Kinsman to the French with the Army sent to their succour The Politick King who sold Heaven and his own Honour to make his Son the greatest Monarch saw his Death with his Wives and her untimely Birth buried together the like End he saw of his own Eldest Daughter his Second dyed Mad his Third was cast off by our King Henry VIII and the Mother of a Daughter whose unhappy Zeal shed a Deluge of Innocent Blood and had all his Kingdoms possest by strange Masters Charles V. Son to Arch. D. Philip who had Married Ferdinand's Mad Daughter after the Death of many Multitudes of Christian Souldiers and renowned Captains in his vain Enterprizes upon France Germany and other States while the Turk took the City of Rhodes was in conclusion chased out of France and in some sort out of Germany being persued by D. Maurice over the Alps which he passed by Torch Light and crept into a Cloister and became his Son's Prisoner who paid him very slowly Philip II. his Son not content to hold Holland and Zealand wrested by his Ancestors from Jaqueline their lawful Prince and to possess many other parts of the Netherland Provinces in Peace by persuasion of that mischievous Cardinal of Granvil and other Tyrants forgetting the remarkable Services done to his Father and the Forty Millions of Florens presented him at his Entrance and his solemn Oaths twice taken to maintain their Privileges which they had enjoyed under Thirty five Earls conditional Princes began to Tyrannize over them by the Spanish Inquisition and other intolerable Impositions and lastly by Force of Arms sought to make himself not Monarch only like the Kings of England France c. but Turk-like to overturn all their National Fundamental Laws Privileges and Customs To effect this he easily obtained a Dispensation of his Oaths from the Pope and then divided the Nobility under the Government of his base Sister Margaret of Austria and Cardinal Granvil Then he employ'd that Merciless Spaniard Ferdinand Alvarez D. of Alva who in six Years cut off Eighteen Thousand six Hundred Gentlemen and others by the Hand of the Hang-man Failing of his purpose by Force he tryeth Policy and sent Don John of Austria his Bastard Brother who upon the Papal advantage made no scruple to swear and having received Six Hundred Thousand Pounds of the Provinces to ease them of the Garrisons he suddenly surprized the Citadel of Antwerp Namure c. yet after so many Thousands slain Thirty six Millions of Treasure spent in six Years he left the Countrey and the King spent above One Hundred Millions with the Death of Four Hundred Thousand Christians
Sophocles And though Papists say that Heathen Images are instead of Letters yet as Heathen Pictures proved notorious Idols so those Stocks Stones c. called Pictures of Christ our Lady c. were by the Ignorant not only Worshipped but thought to live It is safest then for Christians to believe Gods Commandments directly against Images and that which the Prophets and St. Paul speak plainly and convincingly § 8. Ninus the first Idolater an Invader of others and publick Adulterer Of whom nothing is certain which is written for Berosus who chiefly followed him in the Assyrian Succession from Nimrod to Ascalodius in the days of Ioshua is disproved by many Ctesias who lived with Cyrus the Younger a gross flatterer of Princes speaks of incredible numbers in Ninus and Semiramis's Wars He with the help of Aricus King of Arabia subdued Syria Barzanes of Armenia and Zoroaster of Bactria at his second Expedition by the Valour of Semiramis whom he took from Menon her Husband who for Grief drowned himself CHAP. XI Of Ninus Semiramis and Belus § 1. NINVS finished Ninive as Semiramis did Babel began by Nimrod Ninive Four Hundred Forty Furlongs in Circuit the Wall an Hundred Foot high and had One Thousand Five Hundred Towers yet Semiramis exceeded him in Babylon § 2. Ninus Dyed after 52 Years Reign Anno Mundi 2019. Plutarch Reports he gave Semiramis one days absolute Rule as she desired in which she commanded his Death She saith Iustin was so like Ninias her Son as that she took upon her to Personate him but it is highly improbable considering she Reigned 42 Years and used her own Name § 3. Semiramis as to her Parentage and Education is variously Reported but not determined by any Author § 4. Her Indian Expedition if Ctesias were worthy of Credit would yet burthen any Mans faith to believe she had Three Millions of Foot One of Horse Two Hundred Thousand Charets and Camels Mounted All which Power perished with her by the hand of Stenobates § 5. Belus's Temple Built by her Four Square a Mile high by Eight Ascents each a Furlong high and of lesser Circuits on whose top the Chaldean Priests observed the Stars Many take the Ruins of it made by Xerxes for Nimrod's Tower c. See Pyramids of Egypt THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD BOOK II. Part I. FROM Abraham's Birth to the Destruction of Solomon's Temple which was 1525 Years CHAP. I. Of the time of Abraham's Birth and Order of the Assyrian Empire NINEAS or Zameis succeeded Semiramis in the Empire altogether Effeminate and unlike to Conquer Bactria as Berosus reports contrary to Diodorus Iustinus Orosius and all others He changed Governours Yearly out of Jealousie of them Arrius succeeded whom Suidas calls Tâ—uras He only reduced the Revolted Bactrians Aralius succeeded sumptuous in Jewels and the Inventer of some Warlike Engines Baleus Xerxes succeeded The Date and Term of these Assyrian Kings Reigns are best found out by the times of Abraham and his Posterity set down by Scriptures which are only void of Errors whereto all other Writings are subject No marvel then if in the Ancient Affairs History want assurance said Plutarch Abraham's Birth Year is therefore forc't to be ascertained all agree it was in the 43 d of Ninus but the Disagreement between Chronologers is about the Year after the Flood in which he was Born Archilochus de Temporibus in Annius maketh but 250 Years from the Flood to Ninus whereto add 43 which make 293 Years at Abraham's Birth Others do accompt 352 from the Flood to Abraham In this Labyrinth and unresolved Question I chuse rather the scandal of Novelty than sluggishly to proceed in that easie way of Ancient mistaking seeing to be Learned in many Errours or to be ignorant in all things hath little advantage of each other § 2. Arguments for the First Date of 293. § First they Argue from Scripture Secondly from Authority of Iosephus Augustine Beda Isidore and others First The Scripture is Gen. 11.26 when Abraham is first Named the Worthiest and Son of the Promise therefore First-born Secondly Moses respected the History of Abraham not Nahor Thirdly If Abraham were not the First-born his Birth is uncertain Fourthly Unprobable Terah had a Child at 130 Years of Age. § 3. Answer to the Objections § Leaving what Divines have Answered to scan this Question we are to consider whether Abraham made two Journies from Charran unto Canaan the former before the latter after his Fathers Death as some conceive upon what is said Heb. 11.3 Against this fancy Martyr Stephen Witnesseth that God brought him into the Land after his Father was Dead This can be no other than that of which Moses writ Gen. 12. as Beza proveth on Act. 7.2 c. For as Stephen had none of whom to Learn the Story of Abraham's Life but Moses so he would not give so great a scandal to the Iews therein to disagree with Moses Secondly Consider the Journey from Charran to Canaan distant Three Hundred English Miles unknown to him and tedious over Mountains and Desarts which he must pass three times in two Journies and so make Nine Hundred Miles besides his Travel from Vr to Charran as much more And consider the Train Abraham had with him Gen. 12.5 which shew no inclinations of returning to Dwell at Charran till his Fathers Death as 't is plain Act. 7.4 when also by their account Abraham must be about 135 Years Old and Isaac also must be about 35 When he might well have Married him and not send 5 Years after thereabout on such a Journey Neither can this Opinion agree with that which Abraham's Servant Reported to Laban touching his Master which he could not be ignorant of if he had been so lately there Moses hath carefully set down all Abraham's Journies most of them of less importance than this neither can any reason be given why Abraham did return this second time to Charran but only to support their Opinions § 4. To the Objection of Terah's Age unâ—it for a Child as Abraham was at One Hundred Gen. 18 11. it is hardly worth answering but if they consider Sarah's the wonder was in her own disability not Abraham's who had divers Sons 37 Years after yea many Ages after that Boaz Obed and Iesse Begat Sons at 200 Years or there about § 5. To the Objection of making Abraham's Age uncertain and so the succeeding Times I Answer Abraham's Age is as certain as any other from his Father's death as if his Birth had been dated For as St. Stephen tells us his departure followed his Father's death so Moses recordeth his Age to be 75 Years and his Father's 205 at his Death To the Objection that Moses respected not Nahor and Haran to set out their Age as he did Abraham's I Answer There were great Reasons to respect them also considering the Church of God was to spring out of them by Abraham Isaac and Iacob's Marrying with them And though they had Worshipped
of the East Yet were there of them Dwelling in the South they were grown so many that the East could not hold them § 4. Kings of the Ten Tribes from Jeroboam to Achab § Ieroboam flying from Salomon into Aegypt to Shishaâ— whom Eusebius calls Osochores whose Daughter he Marryed as Adad the Edumenian had his predecessor's Wive's Sister and were prepar'd by Shishak to shake the Kingdom of Iudea that he might pillage it as he accordingly did in the fifth year of Rehoboam This Man was exalted to be King of the Ten Tribes preferring the Policies of the World before God's Service and Honour To prevent the â—eoples falling from him by resorting to Ierusalem he erected the two Calves c. Ieroboam reigned at Sichem Twenty two years Nadab his Son succeeded two years and was slain by Baasha who rooted oâ—â— all Ieroboam's Seed and reigned twenty four Years at Thersa and Ela his Son succeeded two years and was slain in his Cups by Zimri who succeeded seven days but Homri in revenge of Ela besieged him and made him burn himself and succeeded transferring the Regal Seat to Samaria and reigned twelve years § 5. Ahab suceeded his Father married the Daughter of the King of Zidon and embraced her Religion as Ieroboam had his Egyptian Wives Ahab was slain after twenty two years Ocharius succeeded his Father and dyed of a Fall in his second year and his Brother Ioram succeeded 12 years who with Aid of Iuda and Edom could not subdue Moab who sacrificed Edom's Son taken in an â—ruption which he made out of the City whereupon the Siege was broken up through Edom's displeasure against Israel for refusing to make Peace with Moab to save his Son Amos 2.1 Iehu slew Ioram and succeeded twenty eight Years whose Son Iehoâ—haz succeeded seventeen years and was molested by Aza Ioas succeeded his Father sixteen years recover'd from Aram what his Father lost and sacked Ierusalem Ieroboam succeeded his Father forty one years râ—â—over'd all from Hamâ—th to the dead Sea and Zacharias his Son succeeded Six Months and was slain by Shallum who succeeded two Months and Menahen slew him and succeeded ten years with much Cruelty Pekahia his Son succeeded two years and Peka slew him and succeeded twenty years In his time Tyglath Pileser King of Assyria Invaded Israel and carried many Captives into Assyria He was drawn in by Achas King of Iuda whom Peka of Israel and Rezin of Damascus wasted and first he surprized the Monarchs of Syria and Damascus and then Israel prepared the way to Iuda Hosea slew Peka and succeeded nine years in whose time Tiglath Pileser carried the rest of the Ten Tribes Captives and re-peopled the Country with Cuthites out of Arabia Deserta the Persians with Calaneans bordering on Syria and Sepharims out of Mesopotamia with the Avims of old inhabited the Philistins Land but now Inhabited Deserta and called Havaei CHAP. VIII The History of the Syrians bordering their Tribes on the East of Jordan DAmascus in this Border most famous for Antiquity Beauty Riches is called the City of Joy and House of Pleasure The Hebrews think it built by Hus Son of Abraham others as Ierom ascribe it to Damascus Son of Eleasar Abraham's Steward but was before Eleasar David subdued it in the overthrow of Adadezar but Rezin Servant to Adadezer escaped with the broken Forces recovered it and was made King Adadezer returned out of Egypt and forced out Rezin and became King of Syria for Nine Descents § 2. Of the first Kings of Damascus and their growing up § That Damascus was of Note in Abraham's days his Steward is an Argument what the Government was then and long after the Reason of Moses's Story led him not to handle The first occasion was in David's Reign who seeking to Establish the command of Israel unto Euphrates as God had promised Invaded Adadezer who was then of the greatest Force in Syria strictly taken containing Damascus Saba Camath or Ituraea and Geshur Adadezer King of Saba called to his assistance the Damascenes who are not ranked under a King but after the overthrow Reson a Commander under Hadadesar gathered the broken Forces surprised Damascus where David had put a Garrison and was made King there as it seemeth after David's death So that as Rehob and his Son Adadezer are the first Kings of Syria Saba and Toi the first Kings of Camath so Rezon is the first King of Damascus which before was commanded by the Kings of Saba whose Power became formidable to the King of Camath The next King is Adad of Edom who coming out of Egypt whether he fled from David and finding his Forces too weak to recover Edom it seemeth he surprised Damascus and became King of Aram. The next King of Aram was Hezion whom his Sons Tabremmon succeeded the Father of Benhadad who assisted Asa King of Iuda against Baasha King of Israel Almost Fifty years after Benhadad was taken Prisoner by Achab and promised to restore what his Father had taken from Israel This was a Second Benhadad who slew Achab and Besieged Samaria the second time and was smothered by Hazael who succeeded him and did much mischief to Lud but brought Israel to a low Ebb 2 Kings 13.7 § 3. Of the later Kings was Benhadad two or rather three who lost what Hazael had gotten three other succeeded of the same Name in one of whose times Ieroboam 2 d. recovered Damascus it self and Chamath to Israel which by David's Conquest had belonged to Iuda Rezin the 10 th after Adad 1 st molesting Achas and was taking Elath is by Achas's Procurement taken and Slain by Tiglath Pileser and the Kingdom of Damascus dissolved § 4. Of lesser Kingdoms in Syria Gessur where Talmai reigned after Ammihur Sophena or Syria Saba or Coelosyria had Rehob and Adadezer after him whose Kingdom translated to Damascus by Rezin ended with the Kingdom of Israel not long after Ninus's Race in Sardanapalus had been ended by PhulBelechus Father of this Tiglath whose Son Salmanassar led Israel Captive as his Father had Damascus Senacharib Son of Salmanasser attempted Ierusalem in vain but 132 years after Israel's Captivity it also went to Babylon § 5. Hierusalem in Ioshua's days had Adonizedek for King and was not inferiour to Hozar the chief of all Canaanites This City of old called Iebus Inhabited of by Iebusites and therefore likeliest to be Builded by Iebusaeus the Son of Canaan and not by Melchisedek for it could not be in Abraham's way returning from his Victories but rather that Salem by Iordan of which we spake in Manasses Though Ioshua slew their King yet they held out 400 Years till David won it Solomon so perfected the Strength Beauty and Riches of it besides the renowned Temple that the World had not the like That Ditch hewn out of the Rock Sixty Foot deep and Two Hundred and Fifty broad with Walls Gates and Pallaces defended One Hundred Fifty Thousand Men besides Women
in largeness This number may be thought strange in so small a Territory being far greater than any Muster ever taken of that Country Ioab had found 500000 Rehoboam 180000 Abia 408000 Asa 580000 Amazia found 300000 Uzziah 307000 and surely if Iehosophat had 1160000 Men he would not have feared Moab and Ammon c. I am therefore of Opinion submitting to better Judgments that the numbers spoken of 2 Chron. 17. were not all at one time but that the two first numbers under Adnah and Iehobanan were after Mustred and Commanded by Amasia Eliada and Iehosabad yet this Mighty Prince made a League with Ahab and matched his Son Ioram with his Daughter and assisted him at Ramoth-Gilead for which he was reproved by Iehu the Prophet as he was a second time by the Prophet Eliezer for joyning with Ahab's Son in preparing a Fleet. So he joyned with Iehoram against Moab and had perished by Famine if Elisha had not relieved them from God whose Goodness was ever prone to save the Evil for the sake of the Good but never destroyed the Good for the Evil. Ophratenes now Reigned in Assyria Capetas and Tiberinus at Alba in Italy Atazedes in Athens Agesilaus in Corinth Archilochus in Lacedemon Badesorus in Tyrus Achab Ochozias and Iehoram in Israel CHAP. XVI Of Jehoram and Ahazia JEhoram the Son of Iehosaphat being thirty two Years old began to Reign and Reigned 8 Year of which 4 was in his Father's Life who at his two Journeys with Ahab and Iehoram Kings of Israel left him Viceroy 'till his return The first was in Iehosaphat's 17th Year when also Ahazia Son of Ahab began to Reign whose Brother Iehoram the 2 d year after succeeded K. of Israel in the 2 d year of Iehoram King of Iuda that is of his Reign when his Father Iehosaphat took the sole Government again upon him 'till the Fifth year after when he reassumed his Son Ioram into the Government 2 Kings 8. two years before his death in the fifth year of Iehoram King of Israel So that Iehosaphat Reigning Twenty five years 2 King 22.42 it is evident his Son Iehoram could not be King of Iuda 'till the Eighth year of Iehoram King of Israel The like regard is to be had in accounting the Reigns of other Kings of Iuda and Israel whose years are sometime to be taken compleat current or confounded with other Kings preceding or succeeding as the comparing of their Times together shall require In this History consider that Iehosaphat a Religious King is the first of Rehoboam's Issue that entred a League both Offensive and Defensive with the Kings of Israel with whom his Predecessors had tyred themselves in vain with continual Wars This Confederacy with one which hated the Lord could not long prosper not issuing from the true Root and Fountain of all Wisdom yet as a piece of sound Policy it wanted not fair Pretences of much common good as mutual Fortification of both Kingdoms against Uncircumcised Ancient Enemies For confirmation of such an apparent Good unto Posterity therefore the Bond of Affinity was knit by Marriage of Iehoram with Athalia a Lady of a Masculine Spirit who had learned so much of Iezabel her Brother's Wife that she durst undertake more in Ierusalem than the other in Samaria as a Fire-brand ordained by God to Consume many Nobles in Iuda and perhaps some whose Worldly Wisdom regardless of God's pleasure had brought her in The Syrian Wars at Ramoth-Gilead were the first Fruits of this League undertaken upon equal Adventure but upon the hope of Benefit only to Ahab As godly Princes seldom thrive by matching with Idolaters but rather serve the Turns of those false Friends who being ill-affected towards God cannot be well affected to his Servants At this time also as Ahaziah was designed King by Ahab his Father so was Ioram by Iehosaphat after the others Example without Example in any of their Predecessors § 2. Iehoram's Reign so diversly dated in Scripture argueth that Iehosaphat having taken him into the Government as Ahab had given Example found cause after to recall that Power Probable it is that his Insolent Idolatrous Wife having corrupted him was the cause that the Government both for Religion and Justice grew so far out of order that Iehosaphat was forced to the Reformation we read of and sequestred his Son from the Government 'till it were setled again and so after five years called him to it the second time which bred a new Date as did his Father's death two years after breed a third Many things might move Iehosaphat to Iehoram's second calling to Govern him as to try what Wisdom his restraint had wrought or to prevent his Brethrens Insolency against him if Iehosaphat had at his Death left him in disgrace which might be the cause of great Tumults it may be also Iehoram by dissimulation had won the good Opinion on of his â—ather and Brethren formerly offended it being usual in violent fierce Natures to be as abject and servile in their Adversity as insolent and bloody upon Advantage Howsoever it was this is manifest that his Father at his death doubting his Affection to his Brethren for their better Security besides great Riches gave them the custody of strong Cities and unusual means against unusual Perils § 3. Jehoram 's Reign alone in which Edom and Libna Rebel § Iehosaphat's providence for his younger Sons availed nothing against the determination of an higher Providence for these strong Cities were a weak defence for the young Princes against his Power to whom the Citizens were obedient If they came in upon the King's Summons he had them without difficulty if they refused they were Traytors yet could not hold out when all would fail them for fear of a Potent King However it was all were slain and many great Men with them who had any way offended the Tyrant either formerly or in behalf of his Brethren Iehoram after this made innovation in Religion not only incouraging the People prone to Idolatry of all other sins detested of God but using Compulsion also and was the first we read of that inforced Irreligion Edom in the mean time revolted and made themselves a King having from David's days been Tributaries and govern'd by Vice-Roys Now Isaac's Prophecy began to take effect that Esau should break the Yoke of Iacob for after this Edom was never subject to the Kings of Iuda Yea in process of time Antipater and Herod Elumeans Reigned as Kings in Ierusalem Lybna also a City of the Levites in Iuda rebelled against him because he had forsaken the Lord God of his Fathers In defence of whose Worship these Levites thought themselves bound especially against his inforcement to the contrary Wherein also they might take Incouragement for Iehosaphat's Charge 2 Chron. 29.8 But as Iehoram had left Edom in their defection so he attempted nothing against Libna which seemeth to proceed from a doubtful Mind whether to put Weapons into the Hands of his
he may be thought a grave wise Man and that by the Fear in which the Oppressed live he may be thought a Reverence to the Oppressed at least it will dazel the Eyes of Underlings keeping them from prying into the weakness of their Governours Thus the time in which by well using it Men might attain to be such as they ought they do usually mispend it in seeking to appear such as they are not so procure more Indignation than was feared instead of the Respect that was hoped which is of dangerous Consequence in an unable Spirit in high Authority too passionate in Execution of an Office and cannot be checked but by violence If Amaziah thought by extreme rigour to uphold his Reputation what did he but make the People think he hated them who easily believed he did not love them He had indeed provided for his own security by revenging on his Father but who shall take Vengeance or on whom of a Murther in which every one hath a part Surely God himself who hath not given Leave to the People to shed the blood of his Anointed Yet as he was careless of God and was carried head-long with his own Affection so his Subjects by his Example not enquiring what was their Duty rose up against him with a precipitant Fury which yet he could not avoid by flying to Lachish as a choice Town for Strengh and Affection where yet he found no other Favour but that they would not kill him with their own Hands but abandon'd him to the Conspirators sent after him who dispatched him with little Opposition § 11. Amaziah being Slain the Throne of Iudah was vacant Eleven Years for as he out-lived Ioash King of Israel 15 Years which Ieroboam held and must dye the 15 th of Ieroboam so it is expresly said Vâ—ziah his Son began to Reign in the 27 th of Ieroboam being 16 Years old and Reigned 52 Years which argueth 11 Years Inter-regnâ—m Others to avoid this Inter-regnum have made divers Conjectures as G. Mercator c. But I know not why it may not be admitted in Iudah seeing the like necessity hath inforced it in the Kingdom of Israel as between the death of Ieroboam 2. and his Son Zecharias and between Peka and Hosea Such suspence of the Crown of Iudah is more probable considering how things stood at the death of Amaziah although the computation were not so apparent For the Publick Fury which extended so far against the King's Person was not like to be appeased 'till order was taken to redress the Matters which caused that eruption We need not then wonder that they who involv'd themselves in the former Treason against the Father would stay the Crown 'till things were set in order the Prince being so young and to be under protection c. To make Ieroboam's Reign to begin the 11th with his Father were the best but only for swallowing up so much of Ioash's Reign extending the Years of the Kings of Israel and contracting the Years of the Princes of other Nations § 12. Contemporaries with Amaziah and Eleven Years after were Ioash and Ieroboam in Israel Cephreras and Mycerinus in Egypt Sylvius Alladius and Sylvius Aventinus in Alba Agamemnon in Corinth Diognetus Pheredus and Ariphron in Athens Thelectus in Lacedemon when the Spartans won Towns from the Achaians Sardanapalus in the 21 st Year of Amaziah succeeded Acrozapes his Father in Assyria 21 Years and was slain the Year before Azariah entred and ended Ninus's Line after 1240 Years Empire This unhappy voluptuous Prince was so base he durst let no Man see him 'till at length Arbaces Governour of Media got a sight of that beastly Spectacle of a Man in Woman's Attire counterfeiting an Harlot which moved him to such indignation that he brake with Belosus a Chaldean about casting off the Yoke of so unworthy a Creature Belosus pleased him too well to tell him he should enjoy the Kingdom who promised him thereupon the Kingdom of Babylon Being thus agreed the one stirr'd up the Medes and Persians the other the Babylonians and Arabians and so drew together 40000 Men against Sardanapalus who contrary to his former course of Life became a Man gathered his Forces and encounter'd the Rebels and foil'd them in three Battles and had not Belosus promised unexpected Succors Arbaces had broken up the Camp About that time an Army out of Bactria was coming to assist the King but Arbaces encountring it upon promise of Liberty drew them to joyn with him In the mean time the King supposing Arbaces to be fled Feasted his Army Triumphing before Victory The Rebels strengthned with new Supplies came upon him by Night forced his Camp unprepared for resistance and made the King retire into the City Ninive leaving Salaminus his Wives Brother to keep the Field 'till new Succours came Arbaces overthrew the King's Army slew Salaminus and lay two whole Years before the City in hope to win it by Famine for force it hâ— could not the Wall being an hundred Foot high and so thick that three Chariots might pass in the Front upon the Rampire But what he could not now do the River Tygris did the third Year for in a swelling after a Rain it cast down 20 Furlongs and made a fair Breach for Arbaces to enter Sardanapalus either terrified with accomplishment of the old Oracle that Ninive should never be taken 'till the River became an Enemy to it or seeing no means of resistance he at last consumed himself and Family with fire in his Palace CHAP. XI X Of Uzziah and his Contemporaries in Israel and elsewhere of his two Successors § 1. UZziah or Aaria being Sixteen Years of Age succeeded his Father Amaziah in the Twenty Seventh Year of Ieroboam and Reigned Forty Two Years he served the God of his Fathers and prosper'd His Victories and Atchievments were far beyond any since the time of David and his Wealth exceeded any since Solomon's days Ieroboam also King of Israel prospered in the North and won Damascus and Hamath not for his Piety being an Idolater It was only the Lord's compassion on Israel so extreamly afflicted by Aram. Yet as God's goodness to Iehu his Grandfather could not win him from Ieroboam's politick Idolatry of the Calves no more could it make Ieroboam his Son render the Honour due to the only giver of Victory so that the Promise made to Iehu for Four Generations grew to an accomplishment to be a fair warning to his Son to expect a Change except himself or his Son would change his Idolatry But as Ieroboam ended his days in his Idolatry so his Son Zachary who should have succeeded presently was held out many years without apparent reason but only the two Calves at Dan and Bethel yet Secondary Causes were like not to be wanting Probable it is that as Ieroboam's Reign had bred many brave Captains so they saw so little in Zechary to respect him for or perhaps found something which
as Numa in Peace He made breach with the Albans but doubting the Tuscans their common Enemies would make advantage of the Dissention they put it to a Combate of three Brethren on either side Cousin Germans and of equal years and strength but the Horatij of Rome prevail'd against the Curatij and Alba where the Latins submit to Rome and Alba not long after was demolished Hyppomanes had Ruled seven years in Athens in the entrance of Manasses and the three last Governours for ten years were in his time In whose times ◠follow Halicarnasseus who professing care in matching the Grecian years with the Roman Occasions beginneth with Rome's Building the first year of the seventh Olympiad and the first of Cecrops in Athens Midas now Reigned in Phrygia c. The Scythians invaded him Syracuse in Sicily Founded by Archias Miscellus and other Corinthians Nicomedia formerly Astacus in Propontis enlarged by Zipartus's Navy of Thrace Sybilla of Samus now lived according to Pausanias Croton on the Bay of Tarentum built by Miscellus Gela in Sicily Phaselis in Pamphylia Chalcedon in Asia built by the Magerenses The Parthians expelled Lacedemon were Conducted by Phalantus into Italy where they took Tarentum CHAP. XXIV Of Ammon Josiah and the rest to the Destruction of Jerusalem § 1. AMMON Twenty two years old Succeeded two years and was as Wicked as his Father had been his Servants slew him Iosiah Eight years old succeeded Thirty one Years He sought after the God of his Father David and at Twelve years old made a worthy Reformation fulfilling the Prophecy delivered at Bethel to Ieroboam By which History it appears that Bethel and some parts of the Ten Tribes were come under the Power of Iudah either taken in by Hezechiah upon the death of Assurhaddon while the Babylonians who loved him were busie in Assyria or at Manasses's Inlargement The Babylonians not yet fit to deal with the Egyptian so far off to oblige Iudah to them were content with this Inlargement as necessary against the Egyptians This may be the Reason Manasses Fortified himself after his return which was not against the Babylonians but the Egyptians as appeared in Iosiah his opposing Necho with such earnestness as argueth a firm League with the Babylonians That Egypt's Friendship was little worth Iudah had oft found and payed for by the Assyrians and Babylonians displeasure for adhering to Egypt yet had it been a small matter upon his earnest Request to let him pass if Iosiah had not been obliged to the Babylonians by his Ancestors Covenant to Offend and Defend neither had it been Wisdom to Encounter such an Army offering no Violence Whatever moved Iosiah it is likely he forgot as the best do sometimes to ask Counsel of God and depended on the Babylonians too much which could not please God The Conclusion was that God for the Wickedness of the People took away that good King who had stayed his Hand from Revenging himself upon them whose Miseries presently insued his Death so much bewailed of all § 2. Neco Son to Psamniticus following his Fathers designs who had made entrance into Syria being assisted by the extraordinary Valor of the Greeks and knowing how Assyria stood in danger by the Power of the Medes intended with a Powerful Army to visit Euphrates and strengthen the Passages about Carchemish or further to Invade Syria Having therefore over-thrown Iosiah in his way not intending to stay the Conquest of Iudah he proceeded and took Cadytis perhaps Carchemish and became in a manner Lord of all Syria saith Iosephus particularly of the Phoenicians whom he set to Sail from the Arabian Gulf round about Africa by the Cape of good Hope In his return from Euphrates he took Ieboahaz the younger Son of Iosiah whom Ieremy calls Shallum whom the People had made King and put him in Bonds and put Eliakim in his place calling him Iehojakim and layed a Tribute on the Land but forbore the Conquest Iehoahaz was King but three Months Iehojakim the Elder Son of Iosiah Reigned Ten years he was of the Egyptian Faction and of the behaviour of the worst of his Ancestors which had so Infected the Land that the Chief Priests also were defiled therewith Yet the Lord raised up Prophets which reproved him among whom Vriah flying from the Tyrant which sought his Life is from Egypt sent back to death contrary to the Custom of Nations § 3. Of the Kings of Media and Babylon § Merodach Son of Baladan taking advantage of Senacherib's Misadventure and Death with the Assistance of his Sons made himself King of Babylon but kept in Action 'till Assurhaddon's death Eleven years so that he could not intend Syria but was well rewarded then by a great part of Assyria if not by all as some less probably think Yet his little concern with the Assyrian Affairs all his long Reign argues him busied at Home in setling his Purchases there and having Amity with Hezekiah Ben. Mirodacb his Son succeeded Twenty one years whose Governours as I take it captivated Manasses in whose time Psamniticus with his Greek Mercenaries prevailed in Syria which might procure Manasses his release and it may be a part of the Kingdom of Samaria which the Babylonians could not now intend Nabulassar his Son succeeded Thirty five years whose works at home kept him from looking abroad for Phraortes King of the Medes Invaded Assyria and Besieged Ninive which it seems was not yet subject to Babylon for Nabonassar repelled him not but the Scythians Invaded Media and forced him thence Phraortes Son of Deioces King of Media having inlarged his Dominions attempted Ninive which yet remained of her self well enough saith Herodotus Custom of Danger hardened the Un-war-like whom sudden unknown Dangers amaze Ninive had now been long exercised so that Phraortes and his Family perished there Cyaxares his Son a braver Man of War won in Lesler Asia all from Halis Eastward He Besieged Ninive and took it saith Eusebius whom I rather believe than Herodotus saying the Scythians came upon him which is not likely for we cannot think him so improvident but rather hearing they were to guard Media he left the City which about this time was destroyed as we read in Tobit a Book of sufficient Credit for the Story of those Times And sure we are the Prophecy of Nabum was fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar and probable it is that Nabulassar after Cyaxares left it in weak case might seize upon it easily and put a Vice-Roy in it which upon their Rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar were utterly destroyed § 4. The Scythians about this time made a great Expedition into Asia of which Herodotus speaks much and many Fabulous things ill agreeing with the time Their first Eruption must needs be within the Reign of Psamniticus King of Egypt who met with them in Palestine and got them by intreaty and gifts to leave the Country Before this they had wasted Media and molested Assyria Babylonia c. and◠are said to have
performance he had already given his Son Demetrius an Hostage and four Hundred Talents Great was the joy at the conclusion but the Aetolians are dissatisfied and the Baeotians still favour the Macedonians Some also fear the Romans will prove the worse Neighbours not knowing the Romans design against Antiochus But to prevent all bad Rumours Quintius at the Istinian Games Proclaimed freedom from Garrisons and Liberty of their own Laws to the Corinthians Phocians Locrians Eubaeans Achaeans of Pithiotis Magnetians Thessalians and Perrhubians which the Greeks applauded with exceeding Thanks He also sent to Antiochus by his Embassadour then present requiring him to keep from the free Cities of Asia and restore to Ptolomy and Philip what he held of theirs and not to pass into Europe with an Army CHAP. V. Of the Roman Wars with Antiochus and his Adherents § 1. SEleucus Nicanor slain by Ptolomy Cerannus Anno 4. Clymp 124. Antiochus Soter his Son succeeded Nineteen Years to whom Berosus the Chaldaean Dedicated his Assyrian-History which is notoriously falsified by Fryar Annius He neglected revenging his Fathers Death who had so loved him that he gave him Stratonica his own Wife being sick for her Antiochus the God as the flattering Melesians called him for freeing them from Timarchus the Tyrant succeeded Fifteen Year His first Wife was Laodice to whom he took also Bernice the Daughter of Ptolomy Philadelphus King of Egypt and so compounded the War between them but falling into the hatred of Laodice she Poisoned him for it when her Son Seleucus Callinicus was ready to Reign She also murthered Bernice and her Son two or three Years after Ptolomy's Death but the Brother reveng'd it Ptolomy Philodelphus Son of Ptolomy the first King of Egypt after Alexander began to Reign with his Father and continued Forty Years He was first derived from Alexander's Successours which made League with Rome and his Off-spring the last of those Royal Families they rooted out He set at Liberty all the Iews which his Father made Slaves in Egypt and sent rich Gifts to God's Temple in Ierusalem and requested of Eleazer the Books of Holy Scripture and seventy two Learned Hebrews to Translate them into Greek to furnish his Library in Alexandria of which Genebrard thinks Iesus Sirach was one whom Iansenius proveth then living Iosephus Antiq. li. 12. c. 2. reports one Aristaeus writ the History thereof Seleucus Callinicus began his Reign with his Father's Murder which cost his Mothers Life she being slain by Ptolomaeus Evergetes in revenge of his Sister who Invaded Seleucus but was called Home by Domestick Troubles Seleucus perceiving himself not beloved of his Subjects sought not to gain them by merit but by force prepares a great Fleet against them whereon all his hope relyed which God overwhelmed in the Sea and himself hardly escaped His Subjects hoping he would become a new Man in Commiseration offer him their Service which so revived him that he raised an Army against Ptolomy who overthrew him which made him send for aid to his Brother Antiochus Hierax or Hawk for he cared not on whom he Preyed who was but fourteen Years Old and was extream Ambitious Before he came Seleuchus made Peace with Ptolomaeus but had no Peace of his Brother who overthrew him But shortly after overthrown himself by Eumenes King of Pergamus Son of Attalus and forced to flye away was taken up in Capadocia by Artamenes who designed to betray him which made him take his Wings to Egypt where Ptolomy knowing his persidious Nature imprisoned him whence escaping by means of a Harlot he fell into the hands of Thieves who murthered him Seleuchus at this time going to subdue the Bactrians and Parthians was taken Prisoner by Arsaces Founder of the Parthian Kingdom who yet released him but returning Home he broke his Neck by a fall from his Horse after twenty Years Reign Seleuchus Ceraunus succeeded his Father Three Years and was slain by Treason leaving Antiochus his Brother to succeed and Achaeus to Govern the Army § 2. Ptolomaeus Evergetes who suceeded Philadelphus yet Reigned having Married Berenice Daughter of Magas King of Cyrene added it to his Kingdom and as he thought the Countries of Coâ—losyria Palestine c. His and his Successours Wars with the Seleucidae were Prophecied of by Daniel Onias the High Priest had provoked him by detaining covetously twenty Talents Tribute but was pacified by Iosephus a Iew and having Reigned Twenty six Years Dyed in the 139 Olympiad Antiochus scarce Fifteen Years Old when he began his Reign which lasted Thirty six Years in his Minority was wholly Governed by one Hermias an Ambitions Man who incited him unseasonably to War against Ptolomaeus for recovery of Coelosyria c. while Molo the Kings Lieutenant in Media Rebelled Xenaetas is sent with Forces into Media which are overthrown while Antiochus lay in the Valley of Marsyas between Libanus and Antilibanus seeking to pass into Coelosyria Hearing therefore the News of Xenaetas he hastens into Media which he recovered from Molo whose left Wing Revolting to the King Molo with divers of his Friends to shorten the work killed themselves and so prevented the Hangman with their own Swords After this came the joyful News of his Queen's being Deliver'd of a Son Fortune being thus bountiful Antigonus Marches against Artabanes King of the Atropians who being very Old and Timerous yielded to whatever he Propos'd Antiochus in the East thought good to visit his Borders between the Caspian and Euxine Sea in which Journey his Physician informed him against Hermits of whom himself was grown Jealous and therefore consented to his killing About these times Achaeus rebelled in hope the King would perish in his Expedition yet Antiochus more intending the recovery of Coelosyria neglected him till he had gotten Seleucia first called Antigonia founded by Antigonus and after won by Seleuchus and then by Ptolomy Such is the vanity of Men who think to eternize their Names not by works of Vertue but of Greatness which never lasteth long Theodotus the Aetolian Ptolomy's Mercenary which formerlâ— dâ—fended Caelosyria agâ—inst Antiocâ—us now weary of his former Faithfulness Mercenary like sells it to him who took possession of Tirus and Ptolomais with the Aegyptian Fleet there Antiochus herewith emboldned aims at Egypt it self ruled by Agathocles and Sosibius whilst Ptolomy himself minds only his Pleasure These two make secret preparation but openly solicite Peace by themselves and several of their Allies and Antiochus willing to rest this Winter agreeth on a Truce for four Months to Treat of Peace which he designed only to lull his Enemies asleep who watched him better than he did them During the Truce Embassadours from Egypt are heard and both sides plead their right to Coelosyria and propound Covenants but both would have it or nothing The Truce ended Antiochus takes the Field presuming his ordinary Power will serve against his unprovided Enemies but was deceived and well beaten for it at Raphia losing Ten Thousand
incens'd him he designing they should destroy one another So he entred Egypt though the Young King intreated the contrary by Embassadours of whom he demanded Cyprus and Pelusium and took Memphis and other places The Egyptians seek help from Rome but in vain they being now deep in with the Macedonian War the like they desire of the Greeks especially the Achaeans whose forwardness was hindred by the Roman Faction yet at length the Senate being moved with compassion of the Embassadours lamentable behaviour and supplication sent C. Popilius and others with Command that Antiochus should leave Egypt to which he submitted according to the Prophet Daniel or rather the History of Daniel § 12. Rome we see is grown terrible When the greatest Kings must how to her Majesty how shall inferiour Kings and States carry themselves to be assured of Favour Eumenes had been very officious and help'd to kindle the Fire which has burnt up the Kingdom of Macedon He therefore sends Attalus his Brother to Congratulate the Victory and crave Aid against the Gallo-Greeks But Attalus had succeeded better if he had requested his Brothers Kingdom which because he did not as they expected the Fathers went from what they had promised of his having Enus and Maronia as for the Gallo-Greeks they have a Message sent them rather to incourage than dissuade them The displeasure of the Senate being so manifest Eumenes will again visit them but the Fathers will not receive him it being decreed that no King shall come within Rome Yet Prusius King of Bythinia a little before had been welcomed after a better manner as he who gave these Mortal Gods the Title and Worship done to them kissing the Threshold and calling them his Gods and Saviours commending his Son Nicomedes to their Tuition Cotys the Thracian excused his helping Perseus and intreats the discharge of his Son taken with Perseus's Children which is granted with admonition of his good behaviour to Rome Masanissa only kept his Reputation with these great Masters who stand by him in all Quarrels with Carthage whose Ruin he must help forward before his own turn be served His Congratulations are well accepted Perseus and Gentius the unhappy Kings have the last Act to play at Rome in the Triumphs of Aemilius and Anicius being led in Chains before their Chariot Perseus made application to Aemilius not to be put to the disgrace and was scornfully answered that he might prevent it meaning he might kill himself his end is uncertain whether starved or by over-watching Alexander his Youngest Son became a Turner in Rome what conceit soever his Father had of him when he gave him that Name in wantonness of Sovereignity in which he commanded poor Men to be slain for getting up his Treasure out of the Sea by Diving He considered not that the greatest Oppressours and the most abject Wretches are all subject to one high Power governing all alike with absolute Command But such is our Unhappiness that instead of that blessed Counsel to do as we would be done to which teacheth Moderation wâ—â—â—tertain that arrogant Thought I will be like the 〈◊〉 that is I will do what pleaseth my self The very desire of ability to do Evil without controul is a dangerous Temptation to the performance God hath granted it to few and very few they are which use it not to their own damage as Princes who rack their Sovereignity to the uttermost extent teach others by the like strain to root out their own Progeny Nay excellent Princes are often forced to flatter some base Minion or Harlot which Governs some unworthy Fellow that Governs all of which there are too many Examples Aemilius's Triumph so glorious by reason of a Kings Person brought also such Riches into the Roman Treasury that till Iulius Caesar's Death the State never needed to burden it self with Tribute The joy of this Triumph God abated with the loss of his Two Sons one Five days before another Five days after it We have seen the beginning and end of the three First Monarchies of the World whose Founders thought they should never end And the Fourth of the Romans is already at the highest where we left it in the Field wherein nothing is left to shadow it from the Eyes of the World But after some time the Storms of Ambition shall tear her Branches her Leaves shall fall her Limbs wither and a Rabble of barbarous Nations shall cut her down These great Conquerours have been the Subject of our Ancient Histories and Tragical Poets shewing us their great undertakings not so much desiring Rule over others which is so full of Care as hunting after Fame which Ploweth up the 〈◊〉 and Soweth in the Wind. And certainly as Faâ—â— has often been dangerous to the Living so is it of no use to the Dead who if they did understand what is Reported of them they would wish they had stolen out of the World without â—oise rather than to hear the Report of their Treacheries Murders Rapines giving the spoil of Innocent labouring Souls to the idle and insolent Since the Fall of the Roman Empire omitting the Germans neither great nor of long continuance there hath been no State formidable in the East but the Turk nor in the West except the Spaniard who by so many Attempts hath sought to make himself Master of all Europe As one who is powerful both by his Indian Treasure and many Kingdoms he possessed in Europe But as the Turk is now Counterpoised by the Persian So if for so many Millions spent by English French and Netherlands in defensive War and diversions against them Two Hundred Sixty Thousand Pound were imployed for Two or Three Years it is easie to demonstrate how they may be brought to live in Peace and their swelling Streams be brought within the Banks These are the only Nations of Eminency to be regarded of us the one seeking to root out the Christian Religion the other the sincere Profession of it If farther Reason be required of the continuance of this boundless Ambition of Mortal Men than desire of Fame we may say That the Kings and Princes of the World have always laid before them the Actions not the Ends of those great ones the Glory of the one Transporting them never minding the Misery of the other till it seized upon him They neglect the Advice of God while they hope to live but when Death comes then they believe what it tells them Death without speaking a word persuades what God with promises and threats cannot do though the one hates and destroys Man whereas the other made and loves him I have considered saith Soloâ—â—n all Works that are under the Sun and behold all is Vanity and vexation of Spirit Who believes this till Death beats it into us It was Death which forced the Conscience of Charles 5th and made him enjoyn Philip his Son to restore Navarre and Francis the First King of France to command justice to be done upon the Murderers of the Protestants in Merindol and Calabries till then neglected Death alone can make Man know himself the proud and insolent that he is but abject and can make him hate his forepast Happiness The rich Man he proves a naked Beggar which hath interest in nothing but in the Gravel that fills his Mouth and when he holds the Glass before the Eyes of the most Beautiful they see and acknowledge their Deformity and Rotteness O eloquent just and mighty Death whom none could advise thou hast persuaded what none hath presumed thou hast done whom all the World have flattered thou hast cast out of the World and despised Thou hast drawn together all the extravagant Greatness all the Pride Cruelty and Ambition of Man and covered it all over with two narrow Words Hic jacet Lastly Whereas this Book bearing this Title The First Part of the general c. implying a Second and a Third which I intended and have hewn out besides many other Discouragements persuading my Silence it hath pleased God to take that glorious Prince out of the World for whom they were designed Whose unspeakable and never enough lamented loss hath taught me to say with Iob Versa est in luctum cithara mea organum meum in vocem flentium FINIS Ecclesiasticus 11.7 From the Creation to Abraham 2009 Years In Pomanâ—ro Orpheus de summo Jove Gen. 1.1 Ver. 2. Gen. 1.3 Gen. 1.6 De opâ—r Dei De Ment. Idiot * See Aug. de Civ D. * Stralo lib. 17. Gen. 6.11 Strabo De Civ Pliny Sybilla Plin. l. 14.12 Sect. 1. Sect. 3. Pagus P. Belonius See cap. 8. Sect. 3. See cap. 8. Sect. 3. Augustine Augustine Natalis Comes â— Iudg. N. Damascenus Numb 12. in success See cap. 1.4 Sect. 2. * See Junius De Civ li 13.14 Ant. lâ— 7.12 See Siracides 47. â—3 14. c. * Lib. 1. Sect. 3 14. and c. 10. * Diodorous Siculus out of Câ—esias Strabo Plutarch * So Functius * Apries in Herodotus * Her lib. 3. * Iust. l. 9. * De Civ Lib. 19. * See Cap. 4. §. 8.
a Moment is enough to overthrow what seemeth founded in Adamant Henry VI. overwhelmed with the Storm of his Grandfathers grievous Crimes generally esteemed an innocent Prince yet refused the Daughter of Armaignac of the House of Navarre to whom he was Ally'd and Married a Daughter of Anjou and so lost all that he had in France He also condescended to the unworthy Death of his Vnkle of Glocester the main Pillar of the House of Lancaster Buckingham and Suffolk contrived the Duke's death by the Queen's procurement but the Fruit was answerable to the Plantation and they and their Adherents were destroy'd by York whose Son Edward depriv'd Henry the Father and Edward the Son of Life and Kingdom The Politick Lady the Queen lived to see the miserable End of her Husband Son and all her Adherents her self plunder'd and Father beggar'd to Ransom her Edward IV. hath his turn to Triumph when all the Plants of Lancaster except the Earl of Richmond were extirpated whom he had also bought of the D. of Britain but could not keep him But what stability can Edward's Plantation promise when he had seen and approved Prince Edward's Murder by Glocester Dorset Hastings c. which escaped not the Iudgment of God in the same kind He instructed Glocester to Murder Henry VI. and taught him the Art to kill his own Sons and to Vsurp the Crown Richard III. The greatest Master in Villany of all that went before him who by necessity of his Tragedy being to play more Parts in his own Person than all the rest yet so well fitted every Mans Humour that join'd with him as if each had acted his own Interest Buckingham and Hastings Enemies to the Queen and her Kindred are easily allured to condescend that Rivers and Grey the King 's maternal Vnkle and half Brother should first be separated from him then imprisoned and for avoiding future Inconveniences to lose their Heads Having brought them to the practice of that common Precept which the Devil has written on every Post To depress whom they have injur'd and to destroy whom they have depress'd Then Buckingham has it form'd in his Head That when the King and his Brother shall be of sufficient Age they will take severe Revenge of the Wrong to Rivers and Gray and therefore of necessity the King and his Brother must be made away Hastings being sounded by Catesby and found not fordable by reason of his Fidelity to his Masters Sons after an attempt to kill him sitting in the Council the Hangman must get the Tyrant an Appetite to his Dinner by striking off his Head a greater Iudgment of God than this upon Hastings I never observ'd For the same Hour and in the same lawless manner by his Advice the Execution of Rivers and Gray was performed Buckingham has yet a part to play for Richard in persuading the Londoners to Elect him King and to be rewarded with the Earldom of Hereford But after much vexation of Mind and unfortunate attempts being betrayed by his trustiest Servant he lost his Head at Salisbury without troubling his Peers Richard after other Murders and Mischievous Policies having destroy'd his Nephews and Natural Lords by the great Out-cry of innocent Blood became an infamous spectacle of Shame and Dishonour both to his Friends and Foes Henry VII the Instrument of Gods Iustice in cutting off the Cruel King Succeeded a Politick Prince if ever there was any who by the Engine of his Wisdom beat down as many strong Oppositions both before and after he wore the Crown as ever any King of England did For as his Profits held the Reins of his Affections so he wayed his Vnderstanding by his Abilities leaving no more to hazard than what cannot be denyed in all Human Actions This King never indured Mediation in rewarding Servants and was therein exceeding wise for what himself gave himself received both Thanks and Love Knowing that the Affections of Men purchased no way so ready as by Benefits were Trains which better became Great Kings than Great Subjects On the contrary in whatsoever he grieved his Subjects he wisely put it off to those that he found fit Ministers of such Actions He used not to begin their Processes whom he hated or feared by the Execution as Lewis XI did Yet he somewhat follow'd the Errors of his Ancestors as the Head of Stanley who set the Crown on his and the Death of the young E. of Warwick Son to George D. of Clarence do shew and likewise the Success of his Grand-children of the first Line c. Henry VIII the Pattern of a merciless Prince Succeeded One who precipitately advanced many but for what Virtue no Man could imagine and with change of his Fancy ruined them no Man knowing for what Offence To how many others gave he abundant Flowers from whence to gather Hony and in the end of Harvest burnt them in the Hive How many Wives did he cut off or cast off as his Fancy or Affection changed How many Princes of the Blood with many others of all Degrees did he Execute What causeless cruel Wars did he make upon his own Nephew King James V What Laws and Wills did he invent to establish the Kingdom in his own Family using his sharpest Weapons to cut off the Branches which sprang from the same Root that himself did Yet God took away all his own without increase though for themselves in their several Kinds all Princes of eminent Virtues And that Blood which King Henry affirmed that the cold Air of Scotland froze up in the North God hath diffused by the Sun-shine of his Grace from whence his Majesty now living and long may is Descended Of whom I may say truly that Malice her self cannot charge him justly with any of those foul Spots by which the Consciences of all the forenamed Princes were defiled or the Sword of his Iustice stained with any Drops of that innocent Blood which had stained their Hands and Fame And for the Crown of England it may truly be avowed He received it from the Hand of God neither hastning the Time upon any provocation nor taking Revenge upon any that sought to put him by it And refused Assistance of her Enemies that wore it long with as great Glory as ever Princess did He entred neither by Breach nor Blood but by the ordinary Gate which his own Right had set open and was received in at it by an universal Love and Obedience Thus the Northern parts of Britany infinitely severed from the South in Affection for a long time whereof grew deadly Wars with much Cruelty were at length happily united For which Blessing of God never to be forgotten as we are bound to much Thankfulness so the Fruit of this Concord maketh all petty Grievances to appear but as a Mole-Hill to a Mountain And if the uniting of the Red Rose with the White were the greatest Happiness next Christian Religion that ever the Kingdom received from God to that Day certainly the
greater difference in the rest which cannot be ascribed to the long abstinence from Marriage upon Religious respect as we see in holy Enoch Noah's Brethren perished in the Flood and so might some unnamed Children begotten before the three named being 500 Years old before § 5. The Patriarchs Years have been questioned some holding them Lunary or Egyptian but that cannot be for then some should beget Children at 6 7 or 8 Years old and the Eldest should live not 100 Years which is short of many after the Flood yea long since Pliny witnesseth under Vespasian in a search many were found above 120 and some 140 Years Old Simple Diet and temperate Life made the Essaeans Egyptian Priests Persian Magicians Indian Brachmans live long saith Iosephus Pliny reports Nestor's 3 Ages Tyresia's 6 Sybils 300 Years Endymion's little less Ant. Fumea a good Historian reports of an Indian above 300 Years Old and my self knew the old Countess of Desmond An. 1589 who lived many Years after who had been married in the Reign of King Edw. 4. To conclude there are three things not to speak of Constellations which are natural Causes of long and healthful Life Strong Parents pure Air and temperate use of Dyet Pleasure and Rest all which excelled in the First Ages And though the Flood infused an impure quality into the Earth to hurt the means of Man's Life yet Time hath more consumed Natures Vigour as that which hath made the Heavens wax old like a Garment Hereto add our strange Education of Children upon unnatural Curiosity nourished by a strange Dugg Hasty Marriage before Natures Seed be ripe or Stock well rooted to yield a Branch fit to replant But above all the Luxury of latter Ages which wilfully oppresseth Nature and then thinks to relieve her with strong Waters hot Spices Sauces c. § 6. The Patriarchs knowledge of the Creation might well come by Tradition from Adam to Moses seeing Methusalem lived with Adam 243 Years and with Noah 500 Years and he with Abraham 58 Years from whom it was not hard to pass by Isaac Iacob and his Posterity to Moses Yet for the more certainty of the Truth it was undoubtedly delivered to Moses by immediate Inspiration of the Holy Ghost as his many Miracles do prove Questionless also Letters were from the Infancy of the World as Enoch's Pillars and his Prophecy witness of which part was found in Saba saith Origen and Tertullian read some Pages neither can it be denyed there was such saith Augustine § 7. The Patriarchs Lives were lightly passed over 'till Enoch whose Piety is commended and his leaving the World not by Death Whether his Change were such as shall be at the last day let Divines judge Lamech's Prophecy of his Son Noah is touch'd upon but Noah's Life is handled more amply The Wisdom Policy and Wars of that World were no doubt great as may be gathered Gen. 5.4 but the Universal Impiety which brought the Universal Destruction deserved that the Memory of their Actions should be drowned with their Bodies It were madness to imagine the Sons of God spoken of Gen. 5.24 were good Angels which begat Giants on Women as Iosephus dreamt and deceived Lactantius Confuted by Augustine and Chrysostom § 8. The Giants spoken of Gen. 5. Becanus strains his Wit to prove they were not such properly but so called for their Oppression But Moses calling them Mighty which argueth extraordinary Strength and Men of Renown and great undertaking there is more Reason to hold them Giants in a proper sense especially considering what Scripture Reporteth of such in the Days of Abraham Moses and Ioshua David c. yea of whole Kindreds and Countries If such were found in the Third and Fourth Ages of the Worlds decay there is no Reason to doubt thereof in the First and Second flourishing Ages From this Story grew the Conceit That Giants were the Sons of Heaven and Earth And from Nimrod grew the Tale of Giants casting up Mountains to the top of Heaven CHAP. VI. The Original of Idolatry and Reliques of Antiquity in Fables §. 1 THE Greeks and others corrupting the Story of the Creation and mingling their Fables with them suppos'd that After-Ages would take those Discourses of God and Nature for Inventions of Philosophers and Poets But as skilful Chymists can extract healthful Medicines out of Poison and Poison out of wholsome Herbs c. so may much Truth be found out of those Fables §. 2 The Antiquity of Corruption was even from Noah's Family For the liberal Grace of God being withdrawn after Man's Fall such a perpetual Eclipse of spiritual things follow'd and produc'd such effects as the general Deluge could not cleanse them even in the selected Family of Noah wherein were found those that renewed the Defection from God for which they had seen the Worlds destruction Hence the Caldeans Egyptians and Phaenicians soon after became Idolaters and the Greeks received their 12 Gods from Egypt and erected to them Altars Images and Temples saith Herodotus §. 3 As Men departed out of the way of Truth stray on in unknown Vices to Eternal Perdition so these blind Idolaters being fallen from the God of Heaven to seek God's on Earth to Worship beginning with Men they proceed to Beasts Fouls Fishes Trees Herbs the Four Elements Winds Morning Evening Stars Yea Affections Passions Sorrow Sickness besides Spirits infernal and among Terrestrials even the basest wanted not divine Honour as Dogs Cats Swine Leeks Onions c. which barbarous Blasphemy Iuvenal thus derided O happy Nations which of their own sowing Have store of Gods in every Garden growing § 4. Of Iupiter and other Gods That Egypt had knowledge of the First Age by Misraim the Son of Cham who had lived 100 Years in it we doubt not Having therefore learned that Cain did first build Cities they made him ancient Iupiter whom the Athenians also called Pollyeus and Herceios Founder and Fortifier of Cities This Iupiter married his Sister as did Cain His Father Adam they made Saturn and his Sons Iubal Tubal and Tubal-Cain were made Mercury Vulcan and Apollo Inventers of Pastorage Smiths-craft and Musick Naome Augustine expounds Venusta which was Venus Vulcan's Wife and Eva was Rhea the Dragon which kept the Golden Apple was the Serpent that beguiled Eva. Paradise was the Garden of Hesperides So Saturn's dividing the World between Three Sons came of Noah and his Sons and Nimrod's Tower was the attempt of Giants against Heaven The Egyptians also Worshipped Seth as their most Ancient Parent from whom they called their chief Province Setheitica and in Bithinia we â—ind the City Cethia § 5. Of the Three Chief Iupiters the First was Son of Aether Dies the Second of Coelum an Arcadian and King of Athens the Third Famous in the Greek Fables was of Creet or Candia as some say but there is no certainty c. § 6. Iupiter Chammon more Ancient than all the Grecian Iupiters was Cham Father
expulsion of Natives and that every Man began to desire a distinct place and disliked to live in Common Phaleg Son of Heber in whose time fell the division of Tongues which the Hebrews refer to his Death Anno 340 after the Flood for at his Birth Anno 101 there could be no multitude to divide They say farther that Heber gave Phaleg his name by Prophesy foreseeing the division to come But Heber might without Prophecy foresee the division of Families would grow upon the encrease of the World besides Phaleg might change his Name upon that occasion as Iacob into Israel long before he died For his death fell in Ninus's days but 12 Years before Abraham whereas the division had been long before and the Multitudes were infinite in Ninus's days Ioctan Heber's other Son had thirteen Sons all inhabiting from Copuz or Coas a Branch of Indus into the East saith Ierom but their particular places are uncertain Sheba or Seba one of them may be he of whom Dionysius Apher writing of East India saith The Sabaei and Taxili do dwell in the midst of them As for the Sabeans which sprang of Chush we found them in Arabia and many will place Shaba Abraham's Grand-Child there in Arabia Deserta where Ptolomy places a City of his Name whose Inhabitants pillag'd Iob. Iob 1.15 Opher another of Ioctan's Sons Ierom placeth in an Island of East India and indeed Opher is found among the Molucks Ar. Montanus and Diessis seek it in Peru of America and Iunius taketh Barbatia in Characene a Province in Susiana to be it corrupted from Parvaim to Barbatia As for Peru Iucatan c. in America they are late mistaken Names Havilah another of Ioctan's Sons is thought to Inhabit the Continent of East-India watred by the River Ganges as the Country of Havilah the Son of Chush was watred by Pison West of Tygris or rather to Shur But if the common Opinion of Ierom be true Ioctan and his Posterity setled about Mesech or the Hill Masius between Cilicia and Mesopotamia And that these Three Sons or their Issue went afterwards into East-India As for Sepher a Mountain of the East as Ierom looks for it in East-India so Montanus in the West maketh it Andes in America But for Moses Sepher we find Sipphora placed by Ptolomy on the East side of Masius neither is it strange to say Mesopotamia is in the East Numb 23.7 This Order of Plantation which I have followed doth best agree with the Scripture Reason and Probalities which Guides I follow little esteeming Mens private Opinions CHAP. IX Of the Beginning and Establishment of Government § 1. GOvernment hitherto in the World was only Paternity and Eldership from which the word Elder was used as well for Governours as the Aged to shew that the Wisdom of Years should be in Governours the first Government being from the Father to the Elder Son Hence grew Segnour and Segnourie for Lordship and Dominion which is Puissance in Property and Power Power having command of Subjects as Property hath Mastership of Servants Caesar hath Power to Command whatever a Man possesseth but Property only in his own When Paternal persuasion grew too weak to resist Inclination to Evil and to Correct it when it grew Habitual Necessity which bindeth all Mortals made both the Wise and Foolish at once to perceive that the Estate of Men would prove more miserable than that of Beasts if a general Obedience to Order and Dominion did not prevent it and that licentious Disorder promising Liberty upon Tryal would prove no less dangerous to all than an intolerable Bondage Necessity propounds and Reason confirms this Argument All Nations were persuaded to submit to a Master or Magistrate in some degree which Change was pleasing when compared with former Mischiefs in want of Government Yet Time brought out therein some Inconveniences which Necessity also sought to avoid and thereupon thought upon some equal Rules to limit Dominion which before was lawless Laws being then set for Government acquired the Title of Regal Power or Government and want thereof was known to be Tyrannical the one Ordained by God for his People's good the other permitted to afflict them In this Infancy of Regal Authority Princes Iust and Religious were esteemed Gods said Fabius Pictor And though Necessity and Reason seem Authors of Government yet God kindled this Light in the Minds of Men and set them a Pattern in the Law of Nature wherein they see Bees Cranes Deer c. to follow a Leader and God in his Word taketh it upon him to appoint Government Prov. 8.15 Dan. 2.21 and 5.21 Iohn 19.21 § 2. What was the Government before the Flood more than Paternal is uncertain or from what better kind of publick Government the Tyranny of that Age did grow After the Flood Three sorts of Government are found approved 1st The Government by one Ruling by Just Laws called Monarchy opposed to Tyranny 2 dly The Government by divers principal Persons Established by Order and Ruling by Laws call'd Aristocracy opposed by Oligarchy in Usurpation of a few 3. The Government of the People called Democracy opposed to Ochlocracy which is a tumultuous Will of a confused Multitude without Law The Eldest of every Family at the first set Order to his Issue and upon increase planted them about him in one Field of which grew Villages then followed Society by divers Villages called Pagus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is a Fountain for that all these Villages drank of the same Fountain like our Hundreds And when Malice Pride and Emulation set one Race against another Men joined divers Villages which had Banks and Ditches for defence calling it Oppidum as opposed to their Enemies Vrbs ab Orbe a Circuit first made with a Plough said Varro which word was first used for the Walls and Buildings as Civitas for the Inhabitants but were after confounded yet every Inhabitant is not properly a Citizen but he which hath the Freedom and Priviledges of it and is capable of bearing Rule in it And as Cities grew by Association of Villages so did Common-Weals by Association of Cities § 3. The First Age after the Flood was called Golden while Ambition and Avarice c. were in the Blade Men being more plain simple and contented yet in respect of Government they were as the following Ages in which as good Kings made Golden times so the contrary yea Princes Beginnings are commonly Golden in which their Game is commonly smoothly plaid but Time shrinks their Hearts and small Errors at first breed greater as it is also in every Man's Life his Youth is Golden which when Time hath eaten up and bred such alteration we praise what is past It is the Vice of our Malignity to extol the past and loath the present such inquire not wisely said Ecclesiasticus Our Ancestors have we and our Children will make the same Complaints and what is new shall be old saith Arnobius The Virtue of Kings
strange God's as Terah himself Ios. 24. Yet after Abraham's being called their willing departure with him from their Country and ordinary reverend Speeches of Iehova prove they were no Infidels and without Faith Gen. 24.31 50. I dare not therefore pronounce them out of the Church who I am sure were in the Faith § 6. Abraham's being first named proveth him not the Eldest § If in Scripture it appear not that God made especial choice of the First-born as it is in Seth Isaac Iacob Iuda David c. the being first named can prove no Birth-right Shem is first named among the Sons of Noah whereof said Augustine Order of Nativity is not here respected but signification of future Dignities in Gen. 25. And he rather judged Abraham the Youngest of the Three Piety saith he or rather Divine Election which draweth with it Piety and the Fear of God gave precedence to Shem among the Sons of Noah and to Abraham among the Sons of Terah Again Moses testifies Abraham was 75 Years old when he left Charran Stephen saith it was after Terah's death at 83 he rescued Lot at 86 Ismael was born and Isaac at 100 and all in Canaan But if he begat Abraham at 70 Abraham must be 135 Years old when he entred Canaan c. Moreover by this Accompt Isaac must be 35 years Old and Ismael 49. at Terah's death and Born in Mesopotamia contrary to Scripture Thirdly by this reckoning Terah should be but 145 Years Old at his Death when Abraham was 75. Fourthly Sarah being within Ten Years of Abraham her Unkle Haran her Father being his younger Brother must beget her at Nine Years Old which Reason Lyra useth The like Reason is taken from the Age of Lot the Son of Haran called an Old Man at Abrahams's Eighty third year § 7. The Conclusion noting the Authors on both sides § It agreeth with Scripture Nature Time and Reason that Haran was Terah's Eldest Son Augustin was herein uncertain and what he saith in his City of God lib. 16.15 is answered in his 52d Question on Gen. And as he follow'd Iosephus so Isidore and Beda follow him The Hebrews and generally the Romanists following the first Opinion allow but 292 Years from the Flood to Abraham But Theodoret and divers later Beroald Codornan Beucer Calvin Beza Iunius c. hold Abraham begotten in the 130 th Year of Terah Scaliger Seth Calvisius c. to the contrary call it Heresy in Chronology Bucholcreus Chitreus Functius and others follow them yet Torniellus in his Annals confutes them But if we advisedly consider the state of the World in Abraham's days we shall rather increase the time from the Flood to Abraham as the Septuagint did to 1072 than shorten it to 292 For such paring of Time to the quick draws the Blood of the Story if Scripture's Testimony were not supreme Seeing then we know the World was so peopled and Kingdoms so furnished with Cities of State and Strength more time is required for it than many imagine c. § 8. The Assyrians Times order'd by Abraham 's History § Thus Abraham's Birth being 352 Years after the Flood and so the 2009 th Year of the World bringeth Ninus's 43 to the same date of the 352 Years we must consider what probably was spent before the coming to Shinar admitting Chus were born the Year after the Flood His youngest Son Nimrod Founder of the Empire born after Dedan Son of Raamah the fourth Son of Chus could not according to the ordinary course of those Times be esteemed Born 'till 65 Years after Chus allowing 30 Years to Chus before his first Son and 30 Years to Raama Father of Dedan born before Nimrod and 5 Years for his five Elder Brethren Allow 60 Years after for two Generations before their setting forth before Shinar and six Years for their Travail with Wives Children and Cattel out of the East through over-grown Countries and Mountains Thus 131 Years are spent before Babel is taken in hand the 221 Years which remain of 352 are divided to Ninus 42 before Abraham's Birth 65 to Belus and 114 to Nimrod yet this maketh Nimrod in all not above 180 Years old which was not much for that Generation Gen. 11.3 in which they lived yea 400 Years Ninus lived 9 Years after and Semiramis suceeded 42 Years when Abraham was 52 Years old Ninias or Zameis succeeded 38 in whose 23 d Year Abraham at 75 years old came to Canaan and 10 years after Abraham over-threw Amraphel King of Shinar which may seem to have been Ninias in whose 33 d year it happen'd though the Reasons to the contrary are not easily answer'd § 9. Amraphel King of Shinar probably was Ninias § Ninias was King of Babylon at that time in the 85th year of Abraham It is objected that Chedorlaomer was greater now than Amraphel who therefore was not like to be Ninias To this it may be answered under Ninias the Babylonian Command was fallen and the Persian his Neighbour King of Elam was enlarged § 10. Arioch King of Ellassar § This Country can neither be Pontus nor Hellespontus as some think being so far out of the way to be drawn by the Persian who little needed to seek such aid against such petty Kings which had not in all so much ground as Middlesex of which sort Canaan had 33 destroyed by Ioshua And the whole Country these four Kings subdued was no more than the two little Provinces of Traconitis or Basan and the Region of the Moabites Stephanus a Grecian Cosmographer de Vrbibus findeth Ellas in the Border of Coelosyria and Hierom calls it the City of Arioch This City was also in the Borders of Arabia of which Arioch indeed was King and Confederate with the Assyrian Kings as in Ninus's Life c. § 11. Tidal King of Nations § There were divers petty Kingdoms adjoining to Phoenicia and Palestine as Palmirenia Batanea Laodicene Apamena Chalcidice Cassiotis Chalibonitis having Mesopotamia on the North and Arabia on the East It is probable these were joined together under Tidal § 12. Chedorlaomer the chief of the Four § He was not King of Assur and the other three Vice-Roys as Pererius judgeth for Moses never useth Elam for Assyria or Babylon Neither do I believe the Assyrian or Babylonian Kingdoms were very large at this time 1. From Example Things hastily set up with violence last not as Alexander's Conquests and Tamberlain's whose Empires dyed with them neither had they time to review what they had done God adjoining short life to asswage Fury and Nature cares least for what she doth in hast Ninus persued boundless Dominion with Violence Semiramis exceeded him c. 2. Ninias having changed Nature and Condition with his Mother preferring Pleasure and Ease before Honour and Greatness as he indured his Mother's Reign so wanted he Spirit to maintain what she left him against Neighbouring Princes whose Wounds and Wrongs from his Parents put them in mind to cure the one
and Children It endured many changes Shishak of Egypt Sackt it so did Ioas of Israel but Nebuchadonozor fulfilled all Gods Judgments threatned and made way to Seventy Years Desolation and Captivity of City and People After the restoring by Cyrus Bagòses Lieutenant and Artaxeres spoiled it and after Alexanders Empire was divided Ptolomy the First pretending to Offer Sacrifice then Antiochus Epiphanes and Apollonius his Lieutenant after him spoiled it and Pompey long after took it But after all Repairs that wicked Herod did so Reedifie and Adorn both Temples and Cities that it far exceeded what Solomon did continuing in this state about Forty Years after our Saviour's Death Titus invested it till it was taken and Demolished it in which by Famine Pestilence Sedition and Enemies Sword 1100000 were consumed 65 Years after being in part repaired Elius Adrian for a new Revolt Overthrew all and Built another which he called Elia Capitolia and Decreed that never Iew should dare after to enter or from high place look to behold it Yet after the Christian Religion flourished in Palestine it was Inhabited after by Christians 500 Years and then it was taken by Egyptian Sarazens and held 400 Years and then regained by Godfrey Bouillon and so continued 88 Years when the Souldan of Egypt won it but lastly Selim the Turk took it and called it Cusunbaris § 6. Malicious Reports of the Heathen as Quintilian Diodor Strabo Iustin Tacitus touching the Iews Original answered by Iosephus against Appion and Tertullian in his Apologet. CHAP. IX Memorable things from Joshua to Jeptha and the Destruction of Troy § 1. IVDA by Gods Directions took the Management of the War after Ioshua was Dead Caleb with Phineas and the assistance of Seventy Elders were in Ioshua's time Commanding in Chief Their Achievements we read Iudg. 1. as also of the other Tribes which sought to establish their own Territories What befel them after upon their making Peace with the Canaanites and their affliction 8 Years and how Othniel the Son of Cenas Younger Brother to Caleb delivered them from Chushan a King of Mesopotamia who Oppressed them we read in Scripture How long it was between the Death of Ioshua and Othniel is uncertain though it could not be a short time considering what Wars followed and the Surprize of Laish by the Danites and their Warring with Benjamin are thought to be in this interim which War so weakened them that they could not so strongly resist their Bordering Enemies § 2. Othniel Governed 40 Years in whose 20 th year Pandarius Fifth King of Athens entred and Reigned 40 Years Father of Erictheus and Progne and Philomela in the Fables Cadmus about this time obtained Thebes which Amphion and Zethus Governed after Triptolâ—mus is placed first by Augustine of whom and the rest Authors so disagree that I desire to be excused if I Err with better Judgments whereto I submit For if the first Authors had but a borrowed uncertain light from other Conjectures all our labour in Example to uncover the Sun is for ought I see a more over-shading § 3. Ehud was next who Delivered Israel from Eglon King of Moab after 18 Years Misery Samgar his Successor freed them from the Philistins so from Othoniel's Death 8 Years expired Elimelek went to Moab in Ehud's days and Ruth's Story is referred hither Adoius King of the Molosseans in Epirus had by Ceres his Wife a Fair Daughter called Proserpina a common Name of such whom Peritheus intending to steal drew Theseus into the attempt which being discovered Aidonius surprized them cast Peritheus to Cesarus his Mastive and kept Theseus Prisoner till Hercules delivered him by a strong hand Pindus's Mountains in Epirus of which Oeta is Chief whence Acheron springeth Erictheus was King of Athens whose Daughter Orythia Boreas King of Thrace Forced Tereus King of Phocis in Greece Inhabited by Thracians Married Progne the Daughter of Pandarius and Ravished her Sister Philomela and cut out her Tongue for which Progne killed his Son Itys and made Meat of him for Tyrus and fled to Athens Tros began to Reign in Pardania the 47 th Year of Ehud about which time Tantalus was King of Lydia not Phrygia whose study of Wisdom made him neglect the Pleasure of Riches of which he had great Plenty Others said his covetous Mind made him miserable whereof grew that Fable c. Here the Author is out Taxing the unfolding of Secrets to Vulgars perverting Mar. 4.11 Cecrops 2 d. 7 th King of Athens and Arrisius Thirteenth King of the Argives now Reigned the first 40 Years the other 31 toward the end of the 8 Years Pelops lived of whom Peloponesus took Name Titius Tyrant of Panopea in Phocis slain by Apollo Admetus King of Thessaly Perseus of Peloponesus and Medusa slain by Perseus Souldiers of whose Blood sprang Pegasus Belerophon's Horse with which he slew Chimera a Pyrat of of the Lycians Ion of whom the Athenians are called Iones or rather of Iovan c. § 4. The former 80 Years of Peace and Plenty having bred security it brought forth neglect of Gods Commandments and their ripe Sins called for God's Judgment who raised Iabin King of Hazor who laid an heavy yoke on Israel 20 Years keeping his chief holds even in Naphtalim and reduced them to such a weakness as among Forty Thousand a Weapon was not seen But as Volumes may be gathered of Examples proving all Power is the Lords how impotent soever his means be so now the Lord set it out in delivering Israel two Women Deborah and Iael striking the chief stroke Thus Forty Years were expired under Iabin Deborah and Barac Argos's Kingdom which had continued 544 Years was Translated to Micenae Built by Perseus Son of Danae Daughter of Acrisius King of Argos The King of Argos The King of Argives we find Inachus whose Daughter Io was the Egyptian Isis Phoronius Apis Argus Pirasus Phorbas Triops Crotopus Sthelenus Donaus Lynieus Abas Acrosius Pelops After the Translation to Micenae Perseus Sthenelus Eurystheus Atreus Son of Pelops Agamemon Egypthus Orestes Tisamenus Penthilus and Cometes Midas now King of Phrygia and Ilus who Built Ilium Contemporaries with Debora § 5. Barac was no sooner dead but Israel returned to their impious Idolatry and God raised up the Midianites assisted with the Amalekites to infest them yet his Compassions which never fail raised them up a Deliverer Gideon the Son of Ioash whose story is largely set down in Holy Scripture His severities in the revenge upon Succoth and Penuel his own Sons found shortly after his death For the debts of Cruelty and Mercy were left unsatisfied And because he Converted the Gold into an Ephod a Garment proper to the High-Priest and set it up in his City Ophra as it drew Israel to Idolatry so was it the destruction of his own House Aegeus Son of Pandeon now reigned in Athens Euristheus in Micenae whom Atreus succeeded who killed Thyestes his Brother's Children and feasted
this as other Questions of Time c. Eusebius in his Evan. praepar out of Tatian nameth many Greek Writers more Antient than Homer Hesiodus's Age is also questioned some hold him Elder some Younger than he But Varro leaves it uncertain finding that both the Fathers lived some Years together Senyes or Senemyres seemed to have Ruled Egypt at this time For Tenefersobris his Successor preceded Vaphres Father-in-Law to Solomon About the end of Saul the Amazons and Cymmerians Invaded Asia After the Fall of Troy Six Kingdoms grew up as the Latins in Italy Lacedemon Corintâ— and Achaia in Greece Syria Soba and Damascus under the Adads in Arabia of which were Ten Kings which began and ended in effect with the Kings of Israel which now changed their form of Government into a Monarchy CHAP. XIII Of David First of his Estate under Saul § 1. DAvid's hazards after he was designed King were many first with Goliaâ— which won him Fame with all Love with Ionathan like that he bare to his own Soul and a ground of deadly Hatred in Saul though it brake not out 'till he had entertained him to play on his Harp and had made him his Son-in-Law when in a raving Fit he threw his Spear at him Censorinus speaketh of Esculapius a Physician and Seneca of Pythagoras's Curing Frenzie by Musick but Saul's Madness arose from the Cause of Causes and therefore incurable and the ease he had God ordained for the Musician's good more than the King 's Saul after this fearing to trust David about his Person imploy'd him against the Philistins hoping of his Fall by them And being disappointed therein he moved Ionathan and his Servants to kill him but in vain From many other desperate Perils the Lord delivered him at home and abroad yea in a Mutiny of his own c. as the History of this part of his Life witnesseth Saul being slain the Philistins Victory was such as some Towns even beyond Iordan were abandon'd and left to their Oppression without resistance It is therefore to be wonder'd at that they being Warlike and Ambitious did not follow the Victory to make the Conquest entire But it may be that the Civil Wars between David and the House of Saul immediately breaking out gave them hope of an easie Victory over both whereas their farther Pursuit might inforce an Attonement against a common Enemy § 2. David's beginning of his Reign was opposed by Abner who sought to advance Ishbosheth the Son of Saul yet without right while Mephibosheth the Son of Ionathan lived The first War was defensive in David when Abner fought it upon a Challenge of twelve Combatants on either side which slew each other like the Combate between 300 Lacedemonians and as many Argives wherein three survived and between the Horatii and the Curatii for the Romans and the Latins The Text Chap. 3.1 makes it probable The Wars between David and Ishbosheth lasted longer than two years so that those two Years mentioned Chap. 2.13 some Rabins refer to the time when this was written § 3. Abner being reconciled to David was murthered by Ioah in revenge of Asael and in jealousie of his Place and Dignity which admitted of no Companion much less a Superiour as he doubted Abner would prove being General of Ten Tribes Upon like jealousie he also murdered his own Kinsman Amasa The death of Abner might greatly have endanger'd David's Condition if any thing could withstand God's Ordinance therefore he wisely bewailed it so openly complaining of Ioab's Greatness which makes Princes oft put up Wrongs at their hands yet he publickly Cursed him c. § 4. David's Reign over all Israel after Ishbosheth's death being confirmed his first Enterprize was against Ierusalem the Center of the Kingdom held by the Iebusites from Ioshua to that day whose strength was such that in derision they Manned the Wall with Blind and Lame Men but lost it The Pâ—ilistins hearing of David's Anointing thought it good to try him before he was warm in his Seat but were overthrown twice David after this brought the Ark to the City of David after which he intended to Build a Temple but was forbidden because he was a Man of War The Wars which he had made were just yet God refused to have the Foundation of his Temple to be layed by his hands whereby the damnable Pride of Princes appeareth who by terrours of Wars think to grow to Greatness like the Almighty not caring to imitate his Mercy and Goodness or to seek the blessed Promise by our Saviour to Peace-Makers yet God so accepted his Religious intent that his Kingdom was confirmed to him and his and a Promise is made of that Everlasting Throne to be Established in his Seed § 5. David after this overthrew the Philistins and demolished their strong City of Gath which was their Frontier Town at the entrance into Iudah and Ephraim from whence they made their incursions and thither retreated and was therefore called in the Text the Bridle of Amgar After this he gave them 4 Overthrows of which see 2 Sam. 21.17 But the Conquest of Moah and the Arabian Wars came between Of Moab he slew two parts and saved a third to till the ground yet the occasion is uncertain only Moses for bad them to seek their peace From thence to Syria Zoba against Hadadezer § 6. David overthrew Hadadezer going to inlarge his Borders to Euphrates which purpose for Euphrates cannot be understood of David who upon this Victory and winning of Damascus upon it had a fair way and help of Chariots and Horses now won sit for such a Journey if he had intended it all which notwithstanding he returned to Ierusalem This purpose is better referred to Hadadezer Next hereto followed the Victory against the Ammonites and their Confederates with the severe Revenge David took for the Affront Hanun shewed his Ambassadors But before Rabba afterwards called Philadelphia was Besieged David gain'd another great Victory over the Aramites brought to Helam by Adadezer out of Mesopotamia from whence yet David proceeded not to Euphrates § 7. David 's Troubles in his Reign § As Victories beget Security and Prosperity Forgetfulness of former Misery and many times of God himself the giver of all Goodness so it fell out with this good King For being free from dangerous and apparent Enemies he began to indulge Human Affections as we see in his Carriage towards Vriah and his Wife forgetting the zealous care which formerly he had to please God in the precise keeping of his Commandments After this he fell by degrees from the highest Happiness and his Days were filled with inter-changeable Joys and Woes and the Sword never departed from his House Then followed the death of the Adulterous Child Incestuous Rape of Thamar Murder of Amnon Insurrection Usurpation Incest and Death of Absalom the Treachery of Ziba the Affront front of Shimei the Insolence of Ioab the Rebellion of Sheba the Murder of Amasa c. The
Land also indured three Years Famine for Saul's wrong to the Gibeonites which was relieved by the death of Seven of Saul's Issue of which Five were the Sons of Michoâ—'s Sister as by an Elipsis the Hebrew will bear as in the like ver 19. As the Lord by this Execution secured David's House from Competitors so was the Nation strengthened by the valour of many brave Commanders of which Six Colonels under the General had Thirty Captains of Thousands among whom the difference of place and Honour grew by meer consideration of Virtue as we see Abishai Brother of Ioab and the King's Kinsman short in Honour of the first Three David thus Established in ostentation of his Power provoked the Lord to punish his People with Pestilence for his numbring of them and slew Seventy Thousand § 8. David's last Acts. § Abishag in his impotence keepeth him Warm c. Adonijah aspireth which causeth David publickly to declare Solomon his Successor and to set him in his Throne whereupon Adonijah and his Associates were scattered After this David having two especial Cares remaining of which he desired to discharge his Thoughts one concerning Solomon's peaceable holding his Crown the other about building the Temple he called a Parliament of all the Princes c. In this Assembly he signifieth his purpose and the approbation of God chargeth all and Solomon by Name v. 9. and produceth the pattern of the Work according to the Form which God himself had appointed laying down his own preparation whereto the Princes and others added their free-will offering This being done David made a solemn Feast at which time Solomon was again anointed King and received Fealty of the Princes People and the King's Sons After all this David as upon his Death-Bed again with powerful words giveth Solomon the Charge of the Lord his God and then adviseth him concerning Ioab who otherwise tho' of exceeding desert yet for his intolerable Insolence came to such an end by Justice when time served as many worthy Men had done for acts of the like presumption David after Forty Years Reign died being Seventy Years old having been a Man of small Stature exceeding Strength and for internal Gifts and Graces passing all others and putting his Human Frailty apart commended by God himself to be according to his own Heart Being a Prophet as well as a King he fore-told Christ more lightsomly and lively than all the rest and writ many Psalms but whether all the Book is disputed though Chrysostom and Augustin hold it Christ and his Apostles cite him § 9. David and Solomon's Treasures § David's Treasure exceeded as appeareth by what he gave toward the Temple 1 Chron. 22.14 which amounteth to 3333â— Cart loads of Silver or 6000 l. sterling to every Cart-load and 23 Millions and 1000 l. in Gold a matter incredible but for Testimony of Scripture where consider how such a Treasure could be raised by Parcimony Eusebius cites Eupolemus for a Navy which he sent from Melanis or Achanis to the Isle Vpher or Opher by Ortelius then his Husbandry which was great his Presents Tributes Taxations Capitations his Spoils the Riches of the Sanctuary long increasing by large Gifts and the Portion out of all Prizes from Enemies even from Ioshua's days Of Solomon's Treasure see 1 Kings 9.20 and 10.14.29 See Iosephus of the Treasure he hid in David's Sepulcher out of which Hircanus took 3000 Talents and Herod more § 10. David's Contemporaries § Achis a Philistin King of Gath and another in Solomon's days Latinus Sylvius King of Alba. Cedrus the last King of Athens after whom they changed the Government into a Principality for Life without Regal Title This change was made in honour of Codrus voluntarily slain for their sakes in a War with the Dores to disappoint the Oracle Eupalus the Third King of Assyria sate 38 Years Ixion the second King of the Heraclids in Corinth Son of Eurythenes Agis the second King of the Heraclids in Lacedemon he restored the Laconians and made the Citizens of Helos Slaves for refusing Tribute as at length all the Messenians were and thereof called Helons that is Slaves Slave came from Sclavi which were Samaritans now Russians which Conquering Illyria would be called Slaves which with them signifieth glorious but when the warm Clime had thawed their Northern hardness but not ripened their Wits the Italians which made many of them Bond-men used their Name in Reproach calling all Bond-men Slaves Achetratus succeeded Agis in whose time Androchus the Third Son of Codrus assisted by the Iones built Ephesus in Caria and was slain of the Carians He also held Erithrae famous for Sybyls which writ Verses of Iesus Christ Son of God the Saviour reported by Augustine who saw them Vaphres King of Egypt began to Reign when David Besieged Rabba Magnesia on Meander in Asia founded now and Capua Campania CHAP. XIV Of Solomon Anno Mundi 2991. § 1. SOlomon began to Reign in the 2991 st Year of the World and was first Congratulated by Hiram King of Tyre according to the Ancient Custom of Princes Though his Reign were peaceable yet his beginning was with the blood of his Brother Adonijah without warrant either from his Father or the Law of God The occasion was his desire of Abyshag but being his Elder Brother who also had sought the Kingdom it was enough as a word is to the Wise and he which seeth the Claw knows whether it be a Lyon or no. Solomon took the motion as a demonstration of a new Treason such was the jealousie of seeking a King's Widow or Concubines as Absolom's taking his Father's Concubines was a taking possession of a Royalty so it was applied to David by Nathan c. 2 Sam. 12.8 Birth-right pleaded by Adonijah was according to God's Law and of Nations but the Kings of the Iews were more Absolute and not without Example in Iacob for private Inheritance As for what we read of Peoples Elections it was but an acknowledging him whom the Lord chose and not to frustrate the Elder 's Right Solomon also executed Ioab deposed Abiathar and put Shemei to death He Married the Daughter of Vaphres as Eusebius calls him King of Egypt and according to his request to God obtained extraordinary Wisdom especially for Government as appeared in the Example purposely set down of his judging the two Harlots yet did he excell in all other Knowledge § 2. Solomon's Building and Glory § Renewing the League with Hiram of Tyre he had much of his Materials for his Buildings from him Of the Glorious Temple and parts of it many Learned Men have Written as Salmeron Montanus Bibera Barradas Azorius Villalpandus Pineda c. The Letters which passed between Solomon and Hiram Eusebius sets down out of Eupolon which Iosephus also Records in his Antiquities Lib. 8. § 2. Besides the matchless Temple he made many other Magnificent Buildings of which Gerar on the Border of Ephraim taught the Egyptians to
the King's House and the Egyptian Kings after claimed Sovereignty of Iuda After 17 Years Reign Rehoboam died and Ieroboam out-lived him 4 Year Tersippus in Athens Doristus in Sparta Priminas in Corinth Sylvius Alys over the Latins Periciades in Assyria and Abdastrartus in Tyre whom his Foster-Brother Murdered and Usurped 12 Year but Astartus Son of Baleaster recovered the Kingdom from them § 3. Abia succeeded Rehoboam in his Kingdom and Vices yet God was pleased to give him the Victory over Ieroboam of whose Subjects he slew 500000 though he suffered his Father to be vanquished by Sesac the Egyptian not for want of Strength but Wisdom and Carriage which God giveth when and where it pleaseth him Who by the Affinity by which Solomon thought to assure his Estate the Lord brake it in his next Successor And tho' then God used to shew the Causes of such Judgments by his Prophets yet is he the same just God to raise and throw down Kings and Estates for the same Offences And those Afflictions of Israel and the Courses thereof are set down for Presidents to succeeding Ages As the Famin for Saul's Cruelty David's Calamities for Vriah Solomon's loss of Ten Tribes for Idolatry Rehoboam for Idolatry and Sodomy in the Land Ieroboam Ioram Ahab Iesabel The like Judgments are executed daily for the like Offences though Men wise in the World raise these effects no higher than to second Causes § 4. Asa after three years succeeded Abijah who reformed Religion and prospered He overthrew Zerah and his 100000 Men c. That Zerah was an Arabian not an Aethiopian was proved before But after he fell to rely on Man and hired Benhadad against Baasha not relying upon the Assistance of God he fell to persecute the Prophet which reproved him and to oppress the People for which God plagued him There lived at the same time Agesilaus and Bacis of Corinth Astartus and Astarlaius Kings of Tyre Alys and Capis Kings of the Latins Ophrateus in Assyria Tersippus and Phorbas in Athens Chemmis in Egypt whom Cheops succeeded and Reigned Fifty six years to the sixteenth of Ioas Baasa King of Israel began in the Third year of Asa and Reigned Twenty four years which was about the Twenty sixth Year of Asa so that his Attempt against Asa 2 Chron. 16.1 was the 26th of Asa but the 36th of the Kingdom of Iuda called Asa's because he there Reigned in it Consider that Rehoboam Reigned seventeen years Abijah three and Asa Forty one in whose Three Baasan began so the Thirty sixth year of Iuda's Kingdom fell in the Sixteenth year of Asa. § 5. The Alterations in the Kingdom of Israel in the Reign of Asa might have reduced the Ten Tribes to the House of David if God had not determined the contrary Ieroboam lost 500000 Nadab his Son in two years lost his Life and Kingdom so that of his Fathers Worldly Wisdom to Establish a Kingdom in his Posterity nothing remained but the hateful Memory that he made Israel to sin Baasa rooting out Ieroboam's House yet imbraced his Idolatry which drew the same Sentence of God's Wrath upon him and his Family and tho' he thought it Wisdom to Fortify his Kingdom which he found weakened by Asa by making League with Benhadad yet God turned his Wisdom into Foolishness and by the same Hand destroyed Nephtalim Ela Son of Baasha succeeded and was slain by Zimri who wanting strength to defend himself against Omri had Courage enough to burn himself in Terza Omri by the Peoples Division was a while opposed by Tibni but prevailed § 6. Israel thus afflicted under those unhappy Princes it is a wonder that the People returned not to their ancient Kings and reunited not to those Two Mighty Tribes but they still continued in grievous oppressions of the Factious Usurpers and Competitors and under the revenging hand of God for their defection To say God's secret Will was such was not reason either to the Ten Tribes not to return nor to Abijah after he had so weakned Israel not to perfect his Conquest for though his Father was restrained expresly by the Lord yet was not he We may then boldly look into two Causes First Why the People bore so quietly the slaughter of Nadab and interpretation of Ieroboam their own chosen King and revenged the death of Ela Son of Baasa an Usurper It is therefore probable that the People by defection from Rehoboam seeking ease of former Burthens found Ieroboam and his Son to retain some Kingly Prerogatives which had been grievous to them under Solomon which Baasa had forborn and reduced the form of Civil Government to a more temperate Method which much pleased them Secondly the same may be the Reason they returned not to the House of David whose Scepter they found so heavy under Solomon and were threatned by his Son with more burthen They had seen Ioab and Shimei slain without all form of Judgment Adonijah without Cause as Ieroboam should have been which lawless Power grew more barbarous in Iehoram Manases c. As for the Kings of Israel we find no such arbitrary proceeding for even Iezabel kept the form judicial against Naboth And well it may be though Ieroboam had established a Law against the Prophets of God which the Idolatrous People approved by which Law Iezabel slew so many This difference of Power Arbitrary and according to Law made the People of Iudah less affectionate to their Princes than the Israelites who were accustomed not to kill their Kings as the Iudeans did but revenged when they were able such as were slain by Usurpers The like moderation of Kingly Prerogatives in the Government of England gained such affection of the People as never any perish'd by the Fury of the People whose heat in greatest Insurrection was extinguished with the blood of some great Officers Let not Monarchs fear straitning of their Absoluteness by mighty Subjects as long as by their Wisdom they keep the hearts of the People who will be sure to come in on their side As Briarius with his hundred hands assisted Iupiter when all the Gods conspired against him For a good Form of Government is sufficient of it self to retain the People not only without assistance of a laborious Wit but even against all devices of the shrewdest Politicians every Sheriff and Constable being sooner able to arm the Multitude in the King's behalf than any over-weening Rebel against him Princes immediately assign'd by God or getting Command by strong hand have presumed of more Absolute Prerogatives than Kings Chosen and the People which thought Obedience to Princes a part of Duty to God will endure much more with patience than others who have Kings of their own chusing § 7. Iehosaphat a Religious Happy Prince succeeded Asa whose Forces of Men of War were 1160000 by which he recovered his Tributes from the Arabians and Philistins besides his own Garisons yet his Country did not exceed the County of Kent
Subjects against their Fellows whose Cause might well be favour'd by many who yet durst not discover themselves being unarmed as they might when Weapons were put into their Hands So desperate is the Condition of Tyrants who think it a greater Happiness to be Feared than Loved yet are oblig'd to fear those whose Love would make them dreadful to others § 4. Iehoram taking no notice of God's displeasure by these Afflictions was threatned by a Prophetical Writing sent to him being such a Tyrant as the Prophets durst not reprove him to his Face as they had done many of his Predecessors bad as well as good but they writ to him keeping themselves from him Elias being Translated might have left this Writing or as some conjecture by mistaking in Writing one Letter for another Elias is put for Elisha c. The Accomplishment of the Prophecy proved as terrible as the Sentence when the Philistins which from David's days durst never look out brake in upon him c. with the Arabians a naked People on Horse-back of no Force dwelling in a Barren Desert So that the one quarter of those whom Iehosaphat Mustered had been able to repel greater Forces than both these Enemies could raise had the Iudean People been Armed as by their Prince's Jealousy they were not according to the Policy of the Philistins in the days of Saul The House of Iehoram which they surprised seemeth rather a Country House than in Ierusalem considering they made no further Ravages It is probable all Iehoram's Children were not now slain considering the Slaughters made after by Iehu and Athaliah within two years Lastly himself after two years Torment voided his Guts c. And as the People had small cause of comfort in his Life so they observed not the decency of pretending Sorrow for his Death neither had he the Honour of his Ancestors Burial though his Son Succeeded and his Wife did all Athaliah busie in Plotting her own Greatness and providing trusty Counsellors for her Son thought it unreasonable to offend the Eyes of the People with a magnificent Funeral of a Man by them detested and chose rather to let the Blame of past Actions lie upon the Dead than by doing him Honour to procure an ill Opinion of her self and Children which it now concerned her to avoid Such is the quality of Wicked Instigators to charge the Man whose Evil Inclination they corrupted by sinister Counsel not only with his own Vice but with their Faults also when once he is gone and can profit them no longer Thus we may clearly see how the corrupted Affections of Men impugning the Revealed Will of God accomplish nevertheless his hidden Purpose and without miraculous means confound themselves in the seeming Wise Devices of their own Folly All Men may likewise learn to submit their Judgments to the Ordinance of God rather than to follow Worldly Wisdom contrary to his Commandments § 5. Ahaziah succeeded his Father in the Twelfth year of Iehoram King of Israel and was guided by the same Spirits that had been his Father's Evil Angels Touching his Age 2 Chron. 22.2 a Point more difficult than important I see not a more probable Conclusion than that of Torniellus's mentioning an Edition of the Seventy at Rome Anno. 1588 which saith he was Twenty years old when he succeeded and the Annotations thereon which cite other Copies which give him two years more c. He accompanied Iehoram King of Israel to Ramoth Gilead and returneth home after the Battle and presently took a new Journey to visit Iehoram It seems his speedy return to Ierusalem was not pleasing to Athaliah as interrupting her in her Plots who therefore sought to oblige him abroad if it were but in a vain Complement to visit one whom he had seen but yesterday But however these things may seem accidental yet all concurred as disposed at this time to fulfil the high pleasure of God yea Athaliah's secret Plots which intended nothing less § 6. Ahaziah and that Family perished with the House of Ahab § Iehu is anointrd King and made Executioner of the Sentence of God against the House of Ahab according to the Prophecy of Elias and is proclaimed by all the other Captains He having this Honour upon the sudden thrown upon him was not slow in the heat of their Affections to put himself in possession and to set on foot the Business which so nearly concerned him and not to be retarded being no more his own than God's Ahab's House never so flourished having Seventy Princes of the Blood a valiant King honoured with the Victory of Ramoth Gilead so deeply Allied with Iudah and Courted by the King and so many Princes of his Blood that it might discourage all common Enemies and make Rebellious Enterprises hopeless In this Security and Joy of the Court for the King's Recovery and Entertainment of the Princes of Iudah the King his Court and Friends are suddainly surprized and slain neither could Iezebel's Painted Majesty nor Man-like Spirit with untimely brave Apothegms terrify her Adversary who of her Servant became her Lord at whose Command her base Grooms feared not to violate her affected Majesty Ahaziah is also wounded to Death CHAP. XVII Of Athaliah and Ioash that succeeded her § 1. AThaliah Vsurpeth and upon what pretences § Ahaziah being dead after one Years Reign his House was not able to retain the Kingdom 2 Chron. 22.9 which Speech hath bred the question of Ioash's Pedigree Athaliah having Reigned under her Sons Name had laid the Plot to play the Queen under her own Title if her Son fail'd and to that end had furnished the King Councel and Places of Chief Command with Men fittest for her purposes And though Ambition be violent yet seldom is it so shameless as to neglect Beauty It is not therefore improbable to think that Athaliah seeing the Royal Blood so wasted in her Husband and Son's days had by some means drawn her Husband or Son to make her Heir if the King's Blood should be extinct considering that without some such order taken when the King's Blood fail'd the Kingdom were like to be torn in sunder by Competitors or some Popular Seditious Man should be chosen that would subvert all regularity and exercise his Cruelty on such as they loved most and cast aspersions on the Royal House Pretence of Testaments to thrust out true Heirs is no new thing Yea what is new under the Sun To prefer a younger before the natural Heir hath proof in David and for State-Policy to slay a Brother by example of Solomon c. And though these had ground of their doings yet they which follow Examples which please them will neglect the Reasons which please them not Solomon slew Adonijah which had Rebelled and was entred a new practice Iehoram slew his Brethren better than he David purchased the Crown yet he gave it by God's direction when as Ahaziah sought to cut off David's Issue which the Lord had appointed
Palm or Olive so that the choice Orators Poets and Musicians resorted thither to shew their skill in setting out his Praise that won the Garland with such Vanity said Tully as if it had been a Conquest of a Province The time of the year was the Fifteenth of Hecatobaeon our Iune whereto they brought the Full Moon § 6. Iotham Twenty Five years old succeeded his Father Vzziah in his life time and reigned 26 years happy in all things as he was Devout and Virtuous 2 King 15.33 Contemporaries Aucomenus succeeded Pelesteus in Corinth whom Annual Magisteus succeeded contrary to Pausan. Aesculus in Athens Accamenes in Sparta Tiglath Pileser in Assyria Twenty five years and Two with his Son Twenty Seven in all Nahum the Prophet now fore-told the destruction of Ninive One Hundred and Fifty years beforehand Sosarmus and Medidus succeeded Arbaces in Media the Second and Third Kings there § 7. Achas succeeded in Iudah one year with Iotham in the Seventeenth year of Peka he was Twentâ— years old and Reigned Sixteen years an exceeding Idolater Sacrificing his Sons to Moloch or Saturn after the manner of the Heathens used of old Levit. 18. Deut. 12. by many Nations and at this day by the Americans as Acosta witnesseth c. God raised â—im Enemies on all sides so that when he saw his dead Gods failed him yet neglecting the living God he sought Aid of Tiglath Pileser who embraced the Advantage to go through with what his Father entred but had no leisure to finish it He therefore invaded Syria and won Damascus all Israel made Iudah Tributary though Achaz had hired him Contemporaries the Ephori in Lacedemon 130 years after Lycurgus opposed to Kings as the Tribunes in Rome against Consuls Alcamenon in Athens the last Governour for Life after which followed a Magistrate for Ten years Sylvii of Aeneas's Race ended after Three Hundred Years Romulus now built Rome the Eighth of Achaz the First of the Seventh Olympiad CHAP. XX. Of Italy and Rome's Foundation in Ahaz's time § 1. ITALY before the Fall of Troy was known to the Greeks by the names of Hesperia Ausonia Oenotria of a Colony of Arcadians and Italy of Italus Reyneccius derives the Name rather from a Colony of Aetolians which Inhabited Brundusium from whose Names with small Change that part was called Italia which in time grew the common name saith Pliny Such change in the Aeolic Dialect is Familiar as to call an Island Peopled by Aetholians Aethalia The Original of Greeks and Latins was from Iavan who sailing over the Ionian Sea between Aetolia and the Western Ocean planted Greece and Italy Reyneccius makes Atlai Italus one which Berosus calls Cethim Italus but is deceived for Atlas is esteemed more Antient than Moses and if he were Cethim or Kithim Noah's Grand-Son his Antiquity exceeds that of Italy which Name Virgil confesseth later and from a Captain But seeing Hercules a little before Troy's Fall left a Colony of Eleans or Aetoleans it may be under the command of one called Aitolus a Name famous among Aetolians Italy might take Name of him § 2. Aborigines that is the Natives of the place Inhabited Latium whom Halycarnassus Varro and Reyneccius think to have been Arcadians who used to vaunt of their Antiquity having more constantly kept their Country in Peloponesus than other Greeks yet being fruitful sent Colonies to other Countries as when Evander was sent into the same parts of Italy Pelasgi an Antient Nation after gave Name to all Greece but such of them as came into Italy lost the Name of their Tribe in a short time Sicani Ausones Aurunci Rutili in after Ages disturbed Latium whiâ—h Satâ—rn had brought to some Civility and taught to dung the Ground That Latium took the name of Saturn's lurking there from Iupiter is far fetched and questionless a Fable yet many Fables were occasioned from some Antient Truths It may be then that Saturn hiding himself was some allusion to the old Opinion of the Wise Heathen that the true God was an unknown God to whom Paul found an Altar dedicated It cannot be in vain that the word Saturnus should also signify hidden coming of the Hebrew Satar to hide as some think c. Reyneccius proceedeth in deriving Latium from the Posterity of Iavan Inhabiting a Territory in lesser Asia called Elaitia who after the Trojan War went into Italy whence might grow Elaitinus and so Latinus c. § 3. The Latin Kings 'till Aeneas were Saturnus Picus Faunus Latinus Whether Saturnus were he whom the Greeks called Cronos e. the time of the Aborigines will admit but his Names of Stercus or Sterculius do argue him another so called of the Dungs he taught them to lay upon their ground Ezechiel often cals Idâ—ls Deos Stercoreos as Belzebul is Dominus Stercoreus c. § 4. Aeneas a Trojan of the Blood-Royal came to Latium with some 1200 Trojans and Married Laviana King Latinus's Daughter He had a Son before by his Wife Creusa Daughter of Priamus called Ascanius and Sirnamed Iulus After Aeneas's death Lavinia was great with Child by him and fearing Ascanius fled into a Wood where being Delivered the Child was called Sylvius Posthumus Bâ—t upon the Peoples disapproving of Lavinia's flight Ascanius called her home used her like a Queen and Educated her Son Ascanius to avoid dissention left the City Lavinium to Laviana and Founded Alba-Longa where he Reign'd about 30 Year and left his Son Iulus who upon contention with Sylvius whom the People favoured left the Kingdom and took the Priesthood for him and his Posterity Sylvius Posthumus Reigned 29. Sylvius Aeneas 31. Sylvius Latinus 10. Sylvius Alba 39. Sylvius Atis 36. Sylvius Capijs 28. Sylvius Capelus 13. Sylvius Tiberinus 8. Sylvius Agrippa 41. Sylvius Alladyus 19. Sylvius Aventinus 37. Sylvius Procas 23. Sylvius Amulius 44. He expelled his Elder Brother Sylvius Numitor slew his Son Aegestius and made his Daughter Ilia a Vestal-Virgin Numitor who yet either by her Uncle or some Warlike-Man conceived 2 Sons Romulus and Reineccius who in time slew Amulius and all his Family and restored Numitor in whom the Kingdom of Alba ended and received Magistrates Yet it contended with Rome 'till her Three Curiatij were vanquished by the Three Horatij Champions for Rome After this Metius the Alban Dictator following Tullus Hostilius in his War upon Tullus's disadvantage withdrew his Companies to distress Tullus for which he was torn in pieces at two Chariots and Alba Reigned but the Citizens were made free Denisons and her Nobles Patricians of Rome among whom was a Family of Iulij which hath since risen in Iulius Caesar c. § 5. Rome which devoured the Alban Kingdom and brake all the Kingdoms from Euphrates to the Western Ocean as that Alban the IV th a Beast with Iron-Teeth forespoken of cometh now to be handled only touching her Original which some seek to derive from Ianus others from the Greeks Plâ—tarch in the Life of Romulus
Dominereed in Asia Twenty eight Years within the Compass of the Reign of Ardis Sadiatts and Haliatts Kings of Lydia and the Twenty eight last years of Nabulassar King of Babel What these Nations were is next to be considered Herodotus tells us the Cimmerians being driven out of their Country by the Scythians invaded Asia and that the Scythians pursued them into remote parts and by chance fell on Media and Egypt c. But it is no uncommon thing for the Greeks to slander them by whom their Nation hath been Beaten as they were by these For the Cymmerians or Cimbrians are well known by their Conquests of many Nations to have been no such Cowards These were of the Posterity of Gomer who Peopled most of the Western World and whose Reflux over-whelmed no small portion of Greece and Asia of whose Original read Goropius Becanus his Amazonica where we find the Cimmerians Scythians and Sarmatians were all one Nation distinguished by divers Names according to their Tribes c. Homer also spake disgracefully of them for the same cause for they had wasted his Country as had the Amazons As for the expulsion they write of it was no more than sending out of Colonies into Asia with an Army of Scythians to help to Plant them elsewhere their own Country being over-charged The Sarmatians also were their Companions as their return by Novogrod in Russia which was Sarmatia sheweth Such another Eruption they made above Five hundred years after The Cimmerians being the first Company held the way of the Euxine Sea on their Right hand passing through Colchis entred Pontus then Paphlagonia where fortifying the Promontory whereon the Greeks after built Synope they there left the unserviceable men of their Train under Guard From thence to Lydia Phrygia and Ionia the way lay open In Lydia they Won Sardis from the King of Ardis c. The misery of Wars is never such as when Men are forced to seek a State which others possess when all is little enough for the one side and worketh the rooting out of the other They which Fight for Mastery are pacifyed with Tribute and Services but in these Migrations the Assailants are so unsatiable that they need all the Defendants have even to the succeeding Infants Cradle The merciless terms of this Controversy arms both sides with desperate Resolution seeing all is at the stake on both sides to the utter Ruin of the one side Our Britains can witness the differenc of Conquests who lost but Liberty by the Romans for the which they gained civil Acts which before they never knew but by Saxons they lost all to the eradication of the Britains Race The Danes made the like attempt on the Saxons with such continuance as bred acquaintance between them neither being able to subdue the other so many Danes became peaceable Inhabitants in wasted parts and the rest returned home Such was as I think the end of the Cimmerian War in Lydia which having continued long made both sides willing to rest so that upon some Victory of King Halyattes the Cimmerians were content with what they had gotten on the East side of the River Halys which henceforth became the Border of Lydia on whose East side dwelt the Amazons that is the Cimmerians and Scythians Hereto serveth that when Cyaxares of Media sought Revenge on the Scythians Haliates assisted them to prevent his encroaching Westward Herodotus's Tale of this War about the Scythian Fugitives is less probable The Scythians and Sarmatians took to the South as the Cimerians had to the West passing between Caucasus and the Caspian Sea through Albania Colthene c. where now are Servia and Georgia and entred Media in the time of Phraortes who was glad to Compound with them while Psammiticus reigned in Egypt and in the sixth year of Nabulassar from which their Twenty Eight Years Dominion ended in his Thirty fourth the Medes not venturing a second Battel thought nothing dishonourable to remove such troublesome Guests and therefore submitted to a Tribute and so got them to remove who finding the Country more Pleasant toward the South were easily perswaded How Babylon being in their way to Egypt escaped is uncertain yet 't is certain that all those parts of Asia were Tributaries to them Psamniticus to prevent their entring Egypt as a Iealous Husband of a fair Wife which he would not be willing they should see met them in Syria on the South of Palestine and at their being at Ascalon and he at Gaza and with fair words and rich Gifts so perswaded 'em that they returned to visit their high Country Friends and left Syria the more easy for him to deal with while the Nations beyond Euphrates who had new work to entertain these Strangers with returned The Scythians flowing back the way they came grew an intolerable Burthen to all they light on especially the Medes which there over-swarm'd being Rich and near home in a Climate best agreeing with their Bodies Here they fell from exacting the agreeed Tribute to take what they liked yea All from many whereby the Land was unmanured Cyaxares to remedy this oppression took this Course that the Medes Feasting the better part of the Scythians made them drunk and slew them and recovered all like as the Danes had been used in England 'T is like that this was done on the Chief Leaders which forced the Multitude upon indifferent Conditions to return home being yet strong enough against the Encounters by the way Others perhaps were setled in the Country before others might go to their Countrymen in Lydia At this time is reported the Story of the returned Scythians which vanquished their Corrival Slaves at home with Horse-whips according to the Custom of the Muscovian Women sending a Whip which she Curiously Worketh to the Man which shall be her Husband in token of Subjection § 5. Contemporaries besides the Kings of Egypt Babylon Medes and Lydians of whom we spake Tullus Hostilius Reigned in Rome 'till the twenty first year of Iosiah Ancus Martius succeeded twenty four years Tarquin Priscus a Stranger was next who being Tutor to Ancus's Children was so gracious with the People and so Rich that they chose him King the fourth year of Zedekiah and Reigned thirty eight years Cypsilus in Corinth expelling the Bacides Reigned thirty years in Peace Periander his Son succeeded a Tyrant who slew his Wife and in Honour of her stript all the Women stark naked and burnt their Apparel to her Ghost Yet the Greeks were then so Wise as to admire his Wisdom as one of the Seven Sages Draco the Law-Maker of Athens punish'd every Offence with death Solon abrogated them Zeleucus Law-giver to the Locrians in Italy his Law put out the Eyes of the Adulterer and to save one of his Sons offending that way put out one of his own He restored Womens immodest Attire by allowing it to intice a Lover not to go out of the House by Night but to play the Whore nor to
Souldiers but was taken and slain in Greece to Alexander's great Joy Great discontentment grew in his Army knowing his purpose to send his decay'd Souldiers to Macedon and to detain the rest whom he labour'd to pacify in vain 'till their Passions were evaporated when the inconsiderate Multitude may be led as a Whale with a twined Thread is drawn to Land after some tumbling Craterus is sent with those which were Licensed to return and made Lieutenant of Macedon Thrace and Thessaly which place Antipater now sent for by the King had held with great Fidelity Antipater could see no reason of his removal but a disposition in the King to send him after Parmenio With this Antipater the King for all his great courage had no great Appetite to grapple for Jealous Princes do not always stand in doubt of every ill affected though Valiant Man but where there is a Kingly Courage compounded of Hardiness and Understanding this is often so fearful to Kings as they take leave both of Law and Religion to free themselves of such Alexander after this went to Media to set things in Order where Hephestion his greatest Favourite dyed on whose Monument he bestowed Twelve thousand Talents The King took Methods to make all Men weary of his Government seeing Cruelty is more fearful than any Adventure that can be made against it Antipater therefore came not nor sent any Excuse but free'd himself by his Sons Cassander Philip and Lollaus who waited on the King's Cup. These at a drinking Feast in a Carouse in Hercules's Cup gave him a Draught of Drink stronger than Hercules himself so he quitted the World within a few days Princes seldom find advantage by making their Ministers over-great and thereby suspicious to themselves For he which doth not acknowledge Fidelity to be a Debt but that Kings ought to purchase it of their Vassals will never please himself with the Price given only the Restorative indeed that strengthens it is the Goodness and Vertue of the Prince and his Liberality makes it more diligent Antipater had Govern'd two or three Kingdoms Twelve years and peradventure knew not to play another part as Caesar which forgot the Art of Obedience after long governing the Gauls § 23. Alexander's Cruelty and Pride is inexcusable his Drunkenness no less Augustine justly derided his lamenting want of Employment when he should have no more to Conquer as if well to Govern the Conquered would not sufficiently busie his Brain His Valour a Thousand in his Army Matched His Liberality Seneca Taxeth and his Speech about a Kings gift is Foolish Compared with other troublers of the World Caesar and others after more glorious for he never undertook Warlike Nations CHAP. III. Aridaeus his Reign after Alexander ALexander in his stubborn Pride refused to establish any Successor esteeming none Worthy and the greatest Ambition of his Followers Learned of their Master to endure no Equals a Lesson soon taken out by Spirits reflecting upon their own Worth wanting the Reverence of a greater Object Thus the Question of the Succession became difficult Alexander having no Issue but by Barsinoe a Persian and Roxane of mean Condition both excepted against as of Conquered Nations Ptolomy the Son of Philip who gave his Mother Barsinoe great with Child to Lagus is of opinion the Rule should rest in the Captains to order it by Voices Aristonus another Captain propounded Perdicas as designed Successor by Alexander who at the point of death left his Kingdom to the worthiest and delivered his Ring to him who had succeeded his Favourite Hephestion in Favour and Place he being urged by many to take the Royal Estate upon him not content with the Souldiers acclamation of a counterfeit Modesty put it off looking that every one of the Princes would intreat him that so his Acceptance might be the less Envied But as he which feigns a sleep may be eaten with a Wolf so Meleager his Enemy took advantage of his Irresolution and acted against him concluded that whoever were Heir to the Crown the Souldiers ought to Inherit the Treasure to that which he invited them who were nothing backward in sharing it § 2. Aridaeus a Natural Brother of Alexander in this Uproar is named by some one liked by many and produced and commended by Meleager to the Army which changeth his Name to Philip investeth him in Alexander's Robes and proclaims him King contrary to the Mind of many of the Nobles who yet by the intercession of the Ancient Captains are reconciled though neither side meant faithfully For Meleager now Governing the King who was no wiser than Alexander's Chair in which he fate attempted to kill Perdicas who understanding of their coming which are sent to do it rebuked them with such Gravity that they departed honester than they came The Camp hearing of this Attempt fell into an Uproar which the King their Creature could not appease 'till offered to resign unto them so upon the King's motion after sundry Embassies between him and his Nobles Meleager is joined with Leonatus and Perdicas in Government of the Army so much Love is protested where none is meant For presently after upon Rumors against Perdicas purposely raised as if they proceeded from Meleager to make him guilty of seditious Rumours if he should give way thereto He to prevent the danger persuades Perdicas to a general Muster for cleansing the Army by punishing seditious Persons and other Offenders not in the least intending his special Friends and such as followed him when he disturbed the Election of a King by calling away Souldiers to the sharing of the Treasure The manner of this Muster is solemn having the Horsemen among whom the King must ride the Elephants the Macedonian Foot and Mercenaries set in Batalia in distinct parties so as to skirmish by way of Exercise The Macedonian Pikes called the Phalanx led by Meleager is placed at disadvantage and so charged by the Horse-men and Elephants as afforded no jesting and the King being now in Perdicas's possession must command to be delivered to death such of the Infantry as Perdicas required Thus Three hundred of Meleager's Friends and Followers are cast to the Elephants to be slain and Meleager flying to a Temple for Sanctuary having too late discovered the Design was there also slain The Princes held a new Counsel divide the Provinces among themselves leave Aridaeus the Office of a Visitor and Perdicas his Protector and Commander of his Forces and gave Aridaeus a Captain the Charge to bury the Corps of Alexander at Alexandria in Egypt Alexander in his life time knowing the factious quality of the Greeks had commanded that all the banished should be restored thinking by them to have a sure Party in every City but by that proud Injunction contrary to their Laws lost the Hearts of the rest who esteemed it a beginning of open Tyranny The Athenians and Aetolians who oppos'd this Decree upon Alexander's Death Proclaim War against the Macedonians and
slew him Goes into Persia Peucestes entertain'd him obsequiously but lost his place § 9. Antigonus visiting Seleuchus in Babylon hath Kingly Entertainment and Susa's Castle with the Persian Treasure and Riches yet calls for a further Accompt Seleuchus doubts the meaning of his Friend of whom he never deserved well and so fled to Ptolomy in Egypt CHAP. V. Civil Wars between Alexander's Captains § 1. ANtigonus's Riches and Power made him formidable and caused Ptolomy Cassander and Lysimachus to combine against him notwithstanding his Embassadours by whom he intreated the continuance of their Amity In their Answer they require a share of the Eastern Treasure increase of Cassander and Lysimachus's Dominions and restoring of Seleuchus He roundly replyed that he would share his Victories with them who afforded him no succour and injoy'd what they had thereby being by his Arms freed from Polyspercon § 2. Antigonus prepareth for War Guards the Sea Coast to hinder Cassander and invaded Syria setting Workmen on Lybanus to build a Navy takes Ioppa and Gaza and forces Tyrus by Famine to yield upon Condition that Ptolomy's Souldiers might depart with their Armies Ptolomy kept close in his Country not being able to Incounter the other in the Field but sent a Fleet of One Hundred Sail with Sâ—leuchus to strengthen Cyprus by which also Caria held by another Cassander took a Resolution to hold out § 3. Greece was desired on both sides as an aid of much Importance where Antigonus by his Treasures gained the Lacedemonians and others of Peloponesus He also sought to make Cassander odious for the Death of Olympias and Imprisoneth Roxane and her Son forcing Thessalonica building Cassandria and re-edifying Thebes in spite of Philip and Alexander Upon these Reasons he required the Army to declare Cassander a Traitor except he restored Roxane and her Son and submitted to the Lieutenant General himself and that all the Cities of Greece should be set free His regard of the Royal Blood was not soon to be abated but 't was the Liberty of Greece which induced Ptolomy to decree the like Antigonus to make sure work gave Alexander Son of Polyspercon Five Hundred Talents to make War in Peloponesus But he at the persuasion of one sent from Cassander kept the Treasure and had the Lordship of Peloponesus put into his hand making a League with Ptolomy and Cassander But this Honour he enjoy'd not long being slain by the Treason of the Sycionians hoping thereby to become free but were subdued by Crâ—tisipolis his Wife c. § 4. Antigonus with his Five Hundred Talents having bought an Enemy stirred up the Factious Aetolians but Cassander curbed them and won from them Ptolomy's Fleet Commanded by Polyclitus who upon Alexander's defect from Antigonus left Peloponesus and returned homewards hearing of the Rhodian Fleet led by Theodatus Admiral to Antigonus he cunningly surprized it not one escaping This ill News brought Antigonus and Ptolomy to meet about some composition but to no effect § 5. Lysimachus Overthrew Seuthes a King of the wild Thracians with the Cities which Rebelled and slew Pausanias and took his Army sent by Antigonus Philip also Lieutenant of Cassander wasted the Aetolians and drove most out of their Country and slew Aeacides King of Epirus lately Restored Antigonus in the mean time won Caria sent Armies into Peloponesus and other parts of Grâ—ecâ— bestowing Liberty on whom he took and making shew to come over into Macedon forc't Cassander to hast thereto and to leave many places weakly Guarded which his Army freed § 6. Antigonus's Presence in lesser Asia gave life to his Affairs there and in Greece but Ptolomy took advantage of his Absence in Syria visited Cyprus recover'd it and left a Lieutenant in it and in return made Ravage in Caria and Cilicia and drew Demetrius Policartes Son of Antigonus to the rescue and departed to Egypt where with Seleuchus he raised a Royal Army for recovery of Syria Demetrius being return'd and hearing of Ptolomy's coming is advised to give way and not to Encounter two such Generals but he rejects the Council as a cold Temper of aged Men and will needs stand them at Gaza Ptolomy hath the odds but wanted Elephants which â—e supplied with a Palisade sharpned to gall the Beasts and Overthrew Demetrius who fled to Azotus Thirty Miles off Won Gaza and the best part of Syria § 7. Seleuchus Nicanor now took leave of Ptolomy with Eight Hundred Foot and Two Hundred Horse too small a Garrison to keep much less to win one of those great Cities in the East but Men enough to enter where the Hearts of the Inhabitants are already gain'd Seleuchus's Name whose Government the Babylonians had found so good was sufficient to them to put all the resistance upon Antigonus Men wishing them ill to speed The defection grew so general that the Antigonians durst stay in no strong Town only they held a Castle full of Hostages and Prisoners which Seleuchus took and so the Possession of Mesopotamia and Babel Nicanor left in Media by Antigonus with an Army came with Ten Thousand Foot and Seven Thousand Horse Seleuchus having but Four Hundred Horse and above Three Thousand Foot drew them into a Marsh near Tygris which Nicanor thinking to be a flight grew less careful to Fortiâ—ie his Camp and so was surprized the first Night and lost all with Susiana and Media Now began the Aera or Date of the Greeks used by the Iews Chaldeans and Syrians whose first Compleat Year at Babylon was accounted from the end of the 438th of Nabonasser saith Gauricus § 8. Ptolomy having taken Gaza sent Demetrius all his Goods Pages and Servants freely with a courteous Message that their War was upon Terms of Honour not Personal hatred This inflam'd Demetrius's earnest desire of Requital which made him gather all the Force he could and send to his Father for supply against which Ptolomy sent Cilles with part of his Army which was suddenly Surpriz'd by Demetrius through Cilles's careless Marching as against a beaten remnant Thus Demetrius repaired his Honour and requited his Enemy by restoring Cilles and many other Friends with rich Presents Antigonus hasteth into Syria to embrace his Son and perfect the recovering of it upon his Son's Foundation but Ptolomy now at leisure returns to Egypt Dismantling the Principal Cities as he went thus all fell to Antigonus presently So easily did the Provinces accept strange Lords as Sheep and Oxen change Masters having no Title to their own Heads These People of Syria Egypt Babylon Assyria Persia were of no such manly Temper as at this time the States of Greece were who took all occasion to recover Liberty which these little esteemed So that the Persian Nobles never strove to recover Liberty after Alexander's Death but tamely submitted to the Captains and Officers of the Army The Reason hereof Machivel gives from the Form of Government For where the Subjects are kept as Slaves as in Turkey a
expelled them neither would the Romans invited by them undertake it as they likewise refused to accept Vtica offering it self This might have served for an example of Roman Faith to Posterity if they had not thrust themselves into it after Carthage had ended her home Wars and prepared for Sardinia which the Romans pretending to be against Rome it self made the Quarrel to proclaim War which forced Carthage in her present weakness to renounce her Right in Sardinia § 5. Carthage having found her own Punick Faith and Dealing at the hands of Rome learned how necessary it was to make her self strong or resolve to submit to Rome and because the Roman jealousie forbad them to attempt any thing in the Midland-Sea they resolve upon an Expedition to Spain which they commit to Amilcar who in Nine Years subdued most of the Country and was then slain in Battle with the People which then inhabited Portugal Asdrubal his Son-in-Law succeeded enlarged their Dominions and built Carthagena in the Kingdom of Granado Rome grew jealous but knows not how to ground a quarrel having no acquaintance in Spain They send to Asdrubal requiring him not to pass over Iberus hoping his Resolute Spirit would give them a ground to work upon but are deceived by his appearance to conform to their will The Saguntines on the South of Iberus perceiving how Carthage gave way to Rome entred Confederation with her which the Carthaginians now grown strong thought to be an ill example and to their prejudice and remembring old injuries prepare against the Saguntines § 6. Greece during the first Punick War after Pyrrhus's Death had somewhat recover'd her Liberty through the dissentions in Macedon which after Pyrrhus was established in Antigonus the Son of Demetrius and his Issue as Aegypt was in Ptolomy's and Asia and Syria in Seleucus Antigonus being after Pyrrhus driven out by Alexander the Son of Pyrrhus was restored by his own Son Demetrius who also expelled Alexander the Epirot out of Epirus Demetrius also got his Father possession of the Citadel of Corinth which was the entrance by Land into Peloponnesus Demetrius succeeded Antigonus in Macedon Ten Years and left Philip a young Son his Uncle Antigonus being Protector who held it for life and by the dissentions of Greece got no less Authority therein than old Philip had done by the same means The Achaians in his time were grown the most powerful People of Greece unto whom many other Cities united themselves by means of Aratus a Sicyonian who having freed Sicyon from the Tyrant which held it for fear of Antigonus entred the League He also surprized the Citadel of Corinth and the Magarians fell from him and joyned with Achaia as did other States Aratus freed Argos Megapons and Hermion from their Tyrants and by Mony gain'd the Captains of the Garrison in Athens Now also the Aetolians grew powerful but after Devastations made in Peloponnesus they were glad to beg assistance of Achaia against Demetrius yet ungratefully they sought to â—et the Lacedemonians against them and drew in Antigous Lacedemon at that time was in a weak Condition but by Cleomenes one of their Kings was raised to such hopes that he was so bold as to claim the Principality of Greece Aratus seeing the danger of Achaia by the Lacedemonians rising which he knew not how to stop used means to Antigonus giving him hopes of the Achaians submitting to him But it had been more honourable if Aratus had ended the War withdrawing Achaia to yield to Cleomenes seeing he had sâ— freed his Country of further trouble and the Macedonian Command But as disdain at the Lacedemonians rising over them carried them to Antigonus so Aratus that wrought it lost his Honour and Life by the Macedonians who might have been Fellows with Cleomenes with whom Ptolomy joyned and left the Achaians with whom he had been in League After this Cleomenes gave them such an overthrow that they sought Peace which was willingly yielded upon fair Conditions that Lacedemon should lead in the Wars and will restore all Persons and Places taken Aratus opposed this all he could so that Cleomenes proceeded with his War and many Cities became his whereupon Aratus hasteneth Antigonus who promiseth help if he may be put in possession of the Corinthian Citadel which Aratus promised and sent his Son for Hostage The Corinthians importune Cleomenes to prevent this which he sought to do by all fair offers to Aratus which he rejected surrounding it with Trenches but all in vain for upon the danger of losing Argos Cleomenes went to rescue his Garrison there and in the mean time Corinth yielded to Antigonus who following Cleomenes disappointed him at Argos also and after took in many other Places so that Sparta shortly lost all again to Antigonus whom Aratus honoured even as a God offering Sacrifice to him at his being at Sicyon which Example the other Cities of Achaia followed For though Cleomenes performed many brave Services and put many Affronts upon Antigonus yet at length in a Battel at Selasia he was overthrown and all his Forces broken and himself returning to Sparta persuaded the little remainder to yield to Antigonus and so departed from them embarking for Egypt where Ptolomy lovingly entertain'd him Thus ended the Glory of Lacedemon which as a Light ready to go out had with a great but no long blaze shined more brightly of late than in some Ages past and Cleomenes a generous Prince but his Son Leoniaus who had wretchedly brought worthy King Agis his Fellow with his Mother and Grandmother unto a bloody end â—lew himself in Aegypt and had his own Wife and Grand Children murdered by the vicious young Prince Ptolomy Philopater Antigonus after this entred Sparta whereinto the force of the Enemies could never make way before where he kindly treated the Citizens and left them to their own Laws but he could not stay the Illyrians wasting Macedon whom he overcame but by straining a Vein died soon after Philip the Son of Demetrius a Boy succeeded in Macedon as did Antiochus the Great in Asia and Ptolomy Philopater in Aegypt who was young also c. § 7. Rome subdued Sardinia and Corsica and the Illyrians while Carthage is Conquering Spain The Illyrians Inhabited the Country now called Slavonia whom Demetrius King of Macedon hired to rescue the Macedonians so distressed by the Aetolians yet strive for dividing the Booty before the Town was won as did the French at Poictiers and Agin-Court But the Illyrians ended the Controversie slew many and took more and divided their Baggage The Illyrians proud of worsting the stoutest of the Greeks Tuta their Queen gave them liberty to rob at Sea whom they could Friend or Foe and sent an Army by Sea and Land which invaded Epirus and took Phaenice by the Treachery of Eight Hundred Gauls entertain'd there being driven out of Sicily by the Romans for the like Treachery Lying here they made prize of many Italian Merchants and being
storms at the News and will be revenged She sends to Carthage to know whether Hannibal had their allowance which question Carthage calls insolent and gives them an impertinent answer forgetting as Polybius thinks to charge Rome with breach of Oath in taking Sardinia from them But in the end both sides resolve upon War as that which both desire This is plain dealing and no wrangling about breach of Covenants which they only stand about who are unwilling to fight For Kings understand the obligation of a Treaty by the Condition of their own advantage and commonly the best advised begin with the Sword and then with the Trumpet as the Arrogonois with the French in Naples and Philip the Second of Spain with England taking all our Ships in his Ports Hannibal besides the forwardness of Carthage had also been sworn by his Father to pursue Rome with immortal hatred being but Nine Years old which I doubt not but some Kings not at peace with us were charged with by their Predecessors to declare themselves our Enemies when their Coffers were full § 2. Hannibal upon this resolves to visit Rome instructing Asdrubal his Brother about the Government of Spain and sends as many Troops of Spaâ—â—â—â—â—â— into Africk as there were Africans in Spain to be Pledges each Nation for other viz. Thirteen Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Foot and One Thousand Two Hundred Horse with Four Thousand young Men of Quality out of the best Cities to be Garrison'd in Carthage and with his Brother he left Fifty Seven Gallies Twelve Thousand Africans and of other Foreigners Two Thousand and Twenty One Elephants Then he sends to the Pirene Mountaineers and Gauls for a quiet passage and in the Spring passeth over Iberus Ninety Thousand Foot and Twelve Thousand Horse with which he Conquer'd Spain on the East of that River and left one Hanno with Ten Thousand Foot and One Thousand Horse to Govern it At the Borders he dismissed the Spaniards that desired it and so with Fifty Thousand Foot and Nine Thousand Horse he entred Gaul and by fair words and gifts passed to Rhodanus where the Vivaretz to be rid of them gave way and directed him yet he was put to some trouble on the other side and in passing over his Elephants on Boughs of Trees covered with Turffs and towed over Then the Cisalpine Gauls in Piemont and Milan lately revolted from Rome and came over to him and gave him Guides over the Alps yet was he exceedingly molested by the Savoiards and put to loss both of Carriages and Men besides Fifteen Days tedious March over the Mountains in the beginning of Winter § 3. The Cisalpine Gauls before Hannibal's coming had revolted from Rome and besieged the Roman Commissioners in Modena when they could not force Cremona and Placentia two Roman Colonies but seeming weary and desirous of Peace Rome sent Ambassadors whom they detain Manlius the Praetor who lay in those parts with an Army coming to relieve the Besieged is overthrown by the Gaul's Ambush in a Wood and Atilius his fellow Praetor sent with another supply was beaten c. Rome not dreaming that the Carthaginians after so many indignities slavishly endured would grow so brave as to look into Italy had sent Titus Sempronius one of their Consuls with an Army and Two Hundred and Sixty Quinqueremes into Africk and P. Cornelius Scipio the other Consul with an Army into Spain hoping to find Hannibal there But he hearing at Massilia that Hannibal was past over Rhodanus sent his Brother Curius Cornelius Scipio with the greatest part of the Forces to try Asdrubal and himself with some choice Men hastened after Hannibal by Sea to Pisa and so to Lumbardy where he gathered together the broken Troops of the beaten Praetor § 4. Hannibal after Five Months tedious Journey and having past the Alps hath but Twenty Thousand Foot and Six Hundred Horse left of those he muster'd at Rhodanus as the Monument he raised in Iuno's Temple witnesseth besides the Gauls Lycurgians c. lately joyned In Piemont he forced the City Turine which had refused his Alliance which drew many Gauls and others to joyn with him and prepared others which yet held off hearing of the Consul Scipio's coming which wavering made both Generals to hasten the Trial. Ticinum was the place where they exhort their Armies and where Hannibal set before his the desperate sight of his Savoy Captives which he had used so miserably that he who was slain by his Fellow thought he succeeded well though he which overcame had Liberty with an Horse and Mony This he shewed his Souldiers was their case whose Life without Victory will be a bondage worse than Death but with Victory will be well rewarded Scipio encouraged his Men by the Victories of their Ancestors even over the Carthaginians that these were but a declining Troop of Rebels feeble by hard travel and many wants In the Battle Scipio was dangerously wounded and left in the place if his Son after Sirnamed Africanus had not brought him off The Consul seeing his Horsemen beaten and the rest discouraged made his retreat to Placentia Hannibal after two Days got over Ticinum and presented himself before Placentia but no Man looks out whereupon the Consul 's Gauls fell from him to Hannibal who sent them home with kind usage the better to persuade their Nation to confederacy The Consul steals away in the Night but had been overtaken by the Numidian Horsmen if they had not stayed to plunder his Camp while he recovered the Bank of Trebia where he fortified himself expecting his Fellow Consul The Gauls come over dayly to Hannibal who is in want of Victuals but relieved himself by taking Chastidium in which all the Roman Store and Ammunition lay which was betrayed to him Rome hearing of these Disasters will revenge it by Sempronius the other Consul with his Armies at Ariminum which being brought to Trebia where Scipio lay of his Wounds Sempronius will have the honour of the day before the other recovers or his Office now almost out should expire neither can he be dissuaded Hannibal by the Gauls in their Camp understanding it conceal'd his Brother Mago within an Ambush in a low place overgrown with Reeds who pressing the Enemy in the Reer while the other charged them in Front and Flank Twenty Six Thousand of the Romans were slain Sempronius erred First Fighting in a Champion Country to the advantage of Hannibal's Elephants Secondly in not discovering the Ground Thirdly In leading his weary hungry Men through the River immediately to fight with fresh and well-fed Men. § 5. Winter is wellcome to the beaten Romans who kept themselves warm in Cremona and Placentia whom yet Hannibal kept waking c. The Lygurians joyn with Hannibal and put into his hand two Roman Quaestors or Treasurers two Colonels and five Sons of the Senators of which he kept the Romans in miserable Bondage but sent home their followers Having wearied those Gauls where he
unprosperous than that of Generals besides the Rapes Slaughters Devastations c. which are so hateful to God That were not the Mercies of God infinite as Monluc Marshal of France confessed it were in vain for those of his profession to hope for any portion thereof such Cruelties being permitted or committed by them And true it is that as the Victories obtained by so many of the greatest Commanders are commonly ascribed either to Fortune or to their Followers or Cowardize of the vanquished so the most whose Virtues have raised them above all Envy have in the end been rewarded either with Disgrace Banishment or Death as Examples both of the Romans and Grecians Witness § 3. Philip well perceiving the Romans aimed at his Kingdom repented himself of his Obsequiousness to them Yet was in ill Condition to help himself having been beaten by them his People unwilling to deal with them and no Friends to assist him Yeâ— Necessity the Mother of Invention made him resolved to remove the Inhabitants of his Maritime Towns to Emathia and people them with Thracians that feared not the Romans He also designed to draw the Bacternae an hardy Nation beyond Danubius into Dardania and to root out the Dardanians always troublesome to Macedon But this device took slow effect and was hindred divers ways His Subjects removed against their Will broke into words which his cruel Nature seeking to repress by putting many unto Death increased to exclamation which inflamed him barbarously to Massacre their Children After this the Furies enter his own House and Vengeance was poured upon him from Heaven in his own Children as was thought by the jealousie he had of Demetrius his Younger Son and the fear Prusius had of him for his Interest in the Romans Affections Wicked Instruments are not wanting who counterfeit a Letter from Quintius to Philip intreating for Demetrius with an intimation of his ambitious Desire against his Brother Prusius One Didas also to whom he was committed by Philip pretending Friendship to him sounded him and told the King that he meant to flye to the Romans who would not fail him So the Father without any examination commanded his unhappy Son to be Murdered and after upon his Cousin Antigonus his searching found out the Contrivance too late Hereupon he intended to confer the Kingdom upon Antigonus but Death prevented it § 4. Perseus succeeded his Father who had Reigned Forty two Years he thought it not expedient to imbroil himself so soon with the Roman War but to settle his Dominions and therefore to prevent danger slew Antigonus Then to get his Subjects Affections he sate in Judgment and made them many publick Shows and to win the Romans he sent and renewed the League Masanissa had heretofore taken the Country of Emporia from Carthage and about this time he took other Land from them by force about Seventy Towns and Castles of which when the Carthaginians complained by their Embassadours prostrate with Tears before the Senate desiring Right or Liberty to defend themselves against him or at least to know how far Masanissa should be allowed to proceed And if none of these would be granted that then the Senate it self would inflict upon them what they thought meet rather than to keep them in continual fear of this Numidian Hangman See the fruits of their Envy against that valiant Family of the Barchines and of the Roman Peace desired by Hanno which hath made them Slaves to the Servants of the Numidian whose Fathers they had used to sell over Africk and Greece Their Answer was gentle but without effect and Masanissa hath a mild rebuke Perseus is not yet brought into such a Yoke but must be for he is questioned for taking up Arms without their leave though to subdue his own Rebels After the same manner they dealt with Greece And of all others with the Achaeans who presumed most on their Favour So that all saw that the Roman Patronage tended to nothing but the bondage of Greece This gave Perseus hopes to find a Party there as indeed he did though it little availed him § 5. Eumenes King of Pergamus hated Perseus exceedingly not only for an Hereditary quarrel with Macedon but for that he perceived the Greeks began to favour him more than himself whom they seemed to neglect for being over serviceable to Rome For Redress hereof he thought it not hard to induce the Romans utterly to overthrow the Macedonian Kingdom which the Greeks now adored to which end he took a second Journey to Rome where he laboured to provoke the Fathers against Perseus which needed not though yet they heard him willingly that their Pretence of War might have the fairer shew as proceeding from the information of such a King come on purpose so far as out of Asia The Rhodians also were there with the Macedonian Embassadours to answer with matter of recrimination that Eumenes had provoked the Lycians to Rebel against the Rhodians Careless Audience was given to the Rhodians for their Friendly Office in conveying Laodice the Daughter of Antiochus to Perseus and their Answer is that the Lycians were assigned to Rhodes not as Vassals but Associates Thus their Subjects are become their Fellows Masanissa and the Aetolians whose Subjects were not increased by the Romans or by the Cities and Peo +ple bestowed upon them after Antiochus's Overthrow but their Friends had cause to resent this Decree The Macedonian Embassadours were heard not so carelesly as angerly being glad that Harpatus the chief Embassadour had by violent Speeches given them cause of anger And though Perseus his faint Heart was not sit to threaten Yet now he might think to get more by a little Bravery than submission seeing the Eyes of all Greece were set upon him for a Delivery from the Roman Servitude And it seems Perseus was not very cautious of offending them when he hired three or four Ruâ—â—ians to Murder Eumenes in his return from Worshiping at Delphos whom they had left for Dead though he recovered The Report of his Death made Attalus his Brother to take upon him as King and would have taken Stratonica his Wife as a matter of State had not Eumenes's coming home put a stop to it All which Eumenes only checked with wishing him not to Marry with the Queen till he was sure the King was Dead who then bequeathed her to him The Senate upon these occasions Decree War and send Embassadours to require satisfaction or to denounce it which Perseus slights calling the Romans greedy and insolent commanding them to depart This present heat was too much he wanting constant resolution which he neglected in hope of Peace § 6. Rome had now fair occasion of War with Macedon which though it had been long sought yet the preparation for War was to seek and the want of it helped to sound the disposition of Greece which they solicite by Embassadours with better terms than Threatnings though they durst not but promise aid to them
Passage over Olympus was as difficult now as then So that Aemilius fell to enquire and found a Passage over Olympus but narrow leading to Perrabia difficult of Ascent but slenderly Guarded either not found or not attempted by Martius whose Men being tryed in getting over Ossa would hardly adventure such another But Paulus was a far more able Commander and had Taught them better than to question a Generals Command and made choice of five Thousand for the Enterprize whom he committed to his two Adopted Sons Scipio Aemilianus and Quintus Fabius Maximus These two the better to conceal their Journey over the Mountains Marched out another way till Night came and the Consul made shew as if he would have set upon Perseus and gain a Passage over Enipeus to divert him from the business intended so that Scipio and Fabius having forced the small Guard got in three Days over and were not discovered till the Guard which fled were come to the Camp Then was all in a Tumult and the King most of all amazed hasteth to Pydna where he consults whether he should Fortifie some Town or put all to the hazard of a Battle which latter though the worst is resolved upon and that which the Consul wished The King chose the place near Pydna whither the Consul came but made a stand till a place for the Camp were Intrenched and the Souldiers refreshed after Marching though both sides thought it long especially the Romans feared lest the King should remove further off That Evening was the Consul told by a Tribune of an Ecclipse of the Moon that Night and the Natural cause of it who was contented it should be Published in the Camp to prevent their Fear Superstition captivates the Wise where the help of true Religion is wanting Aemilius as soon as the Moon recovered her Light Congratulated her with a Sacrifice for which Plutarch calls him a Godly Man And the next Morning he made another to Hercules about which much of the Day was spent before the Grecian partial God gave a good sign to the Entrals of the Sacrifice so that on Day neither side had any great desire to Fight Yet after ten of the Clock upon a light occasion of watring of Horses two or three of each side fell to Blows and Parties came in so fast that both the Generals were forced to put their Men in order of Battel and after an Oration set them together But Perseus used the shift of a Coward to leave his Men and withdraw himself to Pydna pretending Sacrifice which being unseasonable proved him an Hypocritical Coward He sped accordingly for returning he found it little better than lost but got the Honour to be present that he might run away with his Men leaving Twenty Thousand Foot slain in the Field while he recovered Pella from which he fled in â—he Night for fear of his own Peopâ—e and came to Amphipolis but was glad to beâ— gon by Sea with his Treasure to Samothrace The Head having forsaken the Body little Sense was left or Strength to stand all the Kingdom fell presently into the Conquerours hand â—â—ile the King taketh Sanctuary with his Treasure Wife and Children in Samothrace and after base Suit to the Consul endeavours to escape in a Cretian Ship which having taken in much of his Treasure set Sail and left him in the lurch in the end he was forced to yield himself and all into the Consuls hand and so made the Conquest compleat Being before the Consul he meanly prostrated himself so that he seemed to dishonour the Victory as obtained upon a Man of so base a Condition Thus ended the Macedonian Kingdom after a War of Four Years and the Glory of the World was Translated to Rome § 9. Gentius King of Illyria with fifteen Thousand Men at Lyssus ready to assist Perseus upon Receipt of the Mony promised was attack'd by Anicius the Roman Praetor who drove him into Scodra or Sutary where after a while he yielded himself and all his Men to the Roman Praetor who ended that War in Thirty days § 10. Rome swelling with the Pride of her Fortune called the Rhodian Embassadours whom they threaten as Parties with Macedon whose Cause they had presumed to undertake And though they Congratulated the Victory Deprecated their Folly and their Citizens had put to Death or sent Prisoners to Rome all the chief Men of the Macedonian Faction yet War had been Proclaimed against them but for Cato who said it would be judged rather a Quarrel at their Wealth than any just cause considering also what Friends they had been to Rome in former Wars Macedon was divided into four Quarters and each prohibited Commerce with other Their Laws abrogated new given and all the Nobles sent into Italy and the Tribute lessened by half which was the best part of the Liberty Rome used to give Greece must now bear her Yoke and all that can be found not only Associates with Perseus but good Patriots which were not held serviceable to Rome were sent to Rome and there clapt up of which sort a Thousand were sent out of Achaea and Polybius among them This was the Virtue of the Roman Oath and League Epirus was more barbarously dealt with and given to the Souldiers to Plunder for their Pay to save the Macedonian Treasure whole So in one day seventy Cities of the Roman Confederates were Plundered by the Companies put into them in Peace only to Quarter and One Hundred and Fifty Thousand made Slaves which act of Aemilius stained his other Virtues § 11. Antiochus the Great dyed in the Thirty sixth Year of his Reign Seleuchus his Eldest Son succeeded Twelve Years whom Daniel described Three Hundred Years before Onias being then High Priest Mac. 3. The First Book of Maccabees ends An. 167 of the Syrian Kings the Second Book ends the 151 Year Antiochus Epiphanes succeedes his Brother in Syria An. 137 whose death he procured Ptolomeus Epiphanes after twenty four Years left Egypt to his Son Ptolomeus Philometor so called by the Rule of contraries for Murdering his Mother he was hated by his Subjects and rebelled against by his Brother Ptolomy Phiscon who got possession of Alexandria upon which contention Antiochus Epiphanes his Uncle thought to possess that Kingdom under pretence of protecting the Young Prince Antiochus's proceedings herein and at Ierusalem are Recorded 1. Mac. 1. About the beginning of the Macedonian War when besides the Spoil of Egypt he took all Coelosyria and sold the High Priests place to Iason thrust out Onias and after sold it to Manelaus who procured Onias being fled into the Sanctuary at Daphus by Antioch to be Murdered 2 Mac. 4. Onias his taking protection of Apollo and Diana seemed allowed by the Author which argues the Book to be Apocryphal His Second Expedition into Egypt 2 Mac. 1. was foreshewn by prodigious Signs in the Air for forty days together and was occasioned by the unexpected agreement of the Brethren which
after the Flood which succeeding Times through Vain-Glory amplified So Berosus and Ephigenes tell us of the like Antiquities of Chaldea where the Babylonians knew Letters and Astronomy 3634 Years befor Alexander the Great Egypt was divided in the Upper called Thebaida from Syene to Memphis and in the lower from Memphis to the Mediterranean Sea making the Form of a Δ by Memphis Pelusin and Alexandria Thebes had 100 Gates called Diospolis by the Greeks No-hamon in Scripture from the incredible number of Inhabitants Phut the Third Son of Cham Planted Lybia whose Ancient People were called Phuts said Iosephus and Pliny found the River of Phut in Mauritania running from Mount Athos Two Hundred Miles Phut and Lud Associated Egypt Ezek. 30. § 12. Canaan Fourth Son of Cham Possessed Palestine from Sidon to Gerar in length Gen. 10. Sidon his Eldest Son built a City of his Name in Phoenicia See ca. 7.6.3 Heth his Second Son Father of the Hittites in the South about Beersheba near Paran Iebusen the Third Son Father of the Iebusites about Iebus or Hierusalem Conquered by David Amoreus the Fourth East of Iordan from Arnon past the Sea of Galilee containing two Kingdoms His Posterity also Inhabited the Mountains of Iuda part of Idumea near Libania Gergeseus the Fifth East from the Galilâ—an Sea where was Gerasa he also Built Geris after called Beritus Three Miles from the River Adonis in Phoenicia Hevius the Sixth under Libanus near Emath The Caphtorims expelled many of them Archius the Seventh between Libanus and the Sea over against Tripolis He Built Archas. Sinius the Eighth Iunius placeth him South of Iebus more probably he Built Sin which the Iews call Sein or Symira by Ptolomy or Synoctis by Arcas after Brocardus Aradeus the Ninth Built Arados in the Isle against Phoenice opposite to Antarados in the main Ocean Zemari the Tenth Son 't is uncertain whether he Inhabited Coelosyria or was Father of the Perizzites or the Emisani or of Samaria which latter the Scripture seemeth to disprove 1 Kings 16.28 Hamath the Eleventh Son Founder of Emath in Iturea East of Hermon joining to Libanan not Emath which Iosepus and Ierom confound with Antioch or Epiphania c. § 13. Seba or Saba Eldest Son Chush setled in the West of Arabia the Happy East of the Red Sea Regama or Raama the Fourth Brother and Sheba his Son took the West side by the Persian Gulf. Pliny saith the Sabeans dwelt along the Persian and Arabian Seas where Ptolomy places the City Saba toward the Red Sea and Regma toward the Persian where also Sabta another Brother is found by Montanus out of Ptolomy Beroaldus thinks it strange that any of these Sabeans should go One Thousand Two Hundred Miles to Rob Iob in Traconitis between Palestine and Coelosyria But Guilandinus Melchior findeth Sabeans nearer in Arabia the Desart whom Ptolomy calls Save now Semiscasac from whence the Magi came to Worship Christ as he judgeth The Queen of Saba which came to Solomon Beroaldus and Pererius bring from East Arabia I rather think the West next Midian and Ezion Gaber then under the command of Solomon Sabeta hath there left his Name in the City Sabbatha or Sabota Iosephus's fancy is that Saba was Father of the Ethiopians about Meros and Sabta of the Aabanies is Confuted by the Names For in Arabia Desert are the Cities of Saba or Save and Ragana for Regma and People called Raabeni of Raamah In Arabia the Happy are Rhegama and Rabana and the Cities Sapta in the South of Arabia is Sabatta the Metropolis and the great City Saba toward the Red Sea and the Region Sabe more Southern Didan the second Son of Raamah whom Iosephus and Ierom carry to West-Ethiopia but Ezechiel joyned with Father and Brother in Trade to Tyre with precious Cloaths which Naked Black-Moors never knew 'till the Portugals Traded with them But Ieremy and Ezechiel will shew us Dedan near Idumea which will remove all Scruples § 14. Ludim Eldest Son of Mizraim Father of the Lybians in Africa where the Lydians are also adjoined as a Nation of Africa For 2 Chron. 12.3 Lubim or Luhaei is the same with Ludim in Hebrew saith Montanus with some difference in writing from the Lybies Misraim's other Sons are assigned no certain place in Holy Scripture only the Philistins are said to come of Casluhim and Caphtorim in the Entrance into Egypt by the Lake Serbonis and the Hill Cassius Caphtorim between that and Pelusium is a Tract called Sithroitis where Pliny and Stephanus place the City Sethron which Ortelius takes to be Hercules parva in Ptolomy The Philistins Inhabited the South of Canaan driving out the Avims or Hevites saith Iunius on Gen. 10.14 Deut. 2.23 Ios. 13.3 where their Bounds are set forth and their five Principalities § 15. Sem's Posterity Moses reckoneth up last that he might proceed with the Genealogy of the Hebrews to Abraham for which Arpbaxad's Age only is expressed and his Children and of Aram. The common Opinion possessed him of what was beyond Tygris to the Indian-Sea saith Ierom saving India which I believe Noah held to whom after Ioctan came Ophir and Havilah and planted there of whom hereafter Elam Father of the Elamites the Princes of Persia whose Seat was Susan by the River Vlai which Ptolomy calls Eulaeus which runneth into Hiddekel Asher the Second Son of Sem Father of the Assyrians disdaining Nimrod's Pride left Babel and built Ninivy according to the common Opinion and contended for the Empire Arphaxad was Father of those Chaldeans which were about Vr the rest were possessed by the Sons of Cham. Lud Sem's Fourth Son Iosephus and Ierom place in lesser Asia but I question it Aram his Fifth Son Father of the Syrians as well about Mesopotamia as Damascus Padan Aram or Aram Neharaim that is Syria between two Rivers which were Tygris and Euphrates Strabo reports it was antiently called Aramenia or Aramia and the Name Aram was changed into Syria by Syrus before Moses saith Eusebius Part of it is called Ancobaritis by Ptolomy being divided by the River Chaboras saith Iunius Vz or Hus Aram's Eldest Son built Damascus saith Iosephus Ierom and Lyra. It hath Iordan West Mount Seir East Edrai South and Damascus North in the East part of Traconitis and adjoining to Basan where Iob the Son of Hus the Son of Nahor dwelt full of petty Kings in the days of Ieremy 25.20 Hal Aram's Second Son Father of the Armenians saith Ierom but Iunius placeth him in the Palmeriâ—n Desarts by Euphrates where Ptolomy places the City Cholle Gether the Third Son set down in Cassiotis and Seleucis and is seated where Ptolomy places the City Gindarus Mesech the Fourth Son set down North of Syria tween Silicia and Mesopotamia near the Mount Masius These Plantations can no other ways be known than by this probability The Fathers having large Regions planted their own Children in them for mutual Comfort 'till Ambition bred