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
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
of his Forces to divert Polyspercon carrying the rest to Besiege Pidna a strong Sea-Town where Olympias lay with the Court. Aeacides King of Epyrus her Cousin hasted to her Succour but upon Difficulties of passages held by Cassander's Men his Subjects refuse to proceed and upon his seeking to inforce them banish him and join with Cassander Polyspercon now is the Queen 's only hope which also failed for by Callas's means corrupting of the Souldiers he was glad to make a swift Retreat for want of Men. The Miseries of the Besieged by Famin and Mortality was so great that she is forced to yield to Cassander upon promise of Life and procured Aristonus to whom she had committed Amphypolis to yield up the Town which he did and was killed by private Enemies procured to it by Cassander Olympias is then called into publick question in an Assembly of the Macedonians and condemned for the Murders committed by her under Title of Justice and shortly after put to death Cassander after his death Celebrated Funerals for Aridaeus and Euridice Married Thessalonica Daughter of King Philip taken in Pidna built the City Cassandria committed Roxane and Alexander to close Prison Re-edified Thebes and restored it c. CHAP. IV. Of Antigonus's growth in Asia § 1. EVmenes with the Argyraspides or Silver-Bands took his March towards the East with his Commission to take Possession of those Countries having small Assurance of his Silver Shields whose Captains scorned his direction Yet Ptolomy and Antigonus could not withdraw them Python and Seleuchus who govern'd Medea and Babylon as he went refused to let him pass 'till they were forc'd to fly so he came to the East where Peucestes and other Lords receive him yet through Opinion of Self-worthiness contended for Superiority but by his Wisdom and Command of the Kings Treasure he gained many of the most powerful § 2. Antigonus followed taking Python and Seleucus with him to force the Enemies further off from the King's Treasure in Susa but passing over Coprates by small Vessels when the greater part was over Eumenes who kept a Bridge on Tygris came with a Thousand Horse and four Thousand Foot and finding them disordered forced most of 'em into the River and drowned them and slew the rest except four Thousand which yielded in the sight of Antigonus who with Python turned to Media leaving Seleuchus to Besiege Susa Castle § 3. Eumenes desired to lead the Army into the Province left by Antigonus but Peucestes Governour of Persia drew them thither using all means to win the Souldiers which Eumenes prevented by a feign'd Letter from Orontes Governour of Armenia reporting Olympias had slain Cassander and sent Polyspercon with a great Army to join with Eumenes which News bred much fruitless joy Antigonus brings his Army out of Media to all their amazements yet Eumenes then sick in an Horse-Litter set his in a good form of Battle and though he were inferiour to Antigonus by a third part except Elephants he held it out and Antigonus was glad the next Night to steal away into Media § 4. Antigonus in the dead of Winter being within Nine Days Journey of his Enemy passed through a difficult Wilderness forbidding all use of Fire by Night to prevent his being discovered which was observed for some time but broken at last and so discerned Peucestes and the rest as Men amazed fly Eumenes stays them promising to protract Antigonus 'till their Forces be drawn up Then taking some choise Captains he disposed them on Tops of Hills looking towards Antigonus keeping many Fires thereon Antigonus thinking he was discovered and fearing to be forced while his Men were tired turned aside to places convenient for Refreshment but upon Advice finding that he was deluded he sent thinking to be revenged on them who were gone All the Eastern Army was come except the Elephants which he sent to cut off forcing the Horse-men which came with them and had overthrown the Elephants if brave Troops sent by Eumenes to look after them had not come in unexpectedly § 5. Eumenes having obtain'd the honour of an Expert General got therewith the hatred of Peucestes and the other Commanders which conspire his death but conclude to spare him 'till after the Battle with Antigonus which argued their Malice against his meer Virtue Eudamus who had charge of the Elephants whom he had obliged and others of whom he used to borrow Money when he needed not to make them the more careful of his Life certifyed him of the Treason Hereupon he made his Will and burnt his Writings of Secrets and considered what he should do To make his Peace with Antigonus were contrary to his Faith given to Olympias and the Princes c. He therefore resolved to withstand the Enemy and after to look to himself c. § 6. Eumenes's Souldiers not knowing the cause of his Perplexity encouraged him only desiring him to draw 'em up in Battalia and they would play the Men. Antigonus had the advantage in Horse but his Footmen advanced heavily being to encounter the old Silver Shields who had beaten them so oft as now also they slew five thousand of them without the loss of a Man Antigonus's Horse and Elephants had the better the rather by Peucestes who drew off one thousand five hundred Horse and departed But while all the charge lay on Eumenes Antigonus sent Companies of Horse about unto Eumenes's Carriages unseen by reason of the Dust and surprized them for the Night growing on they return'd to their Camps § 7. Eumenes finding the Silver Shields discontented for the loss of their Carriages comforted them with hopes of Recovery the Enemy being weakened by their Valour and unable to draw the Carts through the Wilderness of Mountains This availed not for Peucestes was gone and other Captains would fight no more Teutamus one of the Silver-shield Captains to win the Love of the Bands dealt secretly with Antigonus intreated the restoring of the Booty which was all the Old Souldiers had for many Years service The crafty Man answered that if they will deliver Eumenes he will do more for them which they presently performed and villanously betrayed their worthy General whom his Ambitious Adversary despairing to win slew This was the end of the Wisdom Fidelity Valour and Patience of him whose Courage no Adversity could lessen nor Prosperity his Circumspection But his Virtue Wit and Industry were all cast away by lâ—ading an Army without power to command besides God's purpose to cast down that Family he sought to uphold Antigonus buried him honourably burnt one of the Captains alive that betrayed him and committed all the Silver Shields to a Leader to carry them into far Countries with charge to Conjure such perjured Wretches nâ—vâ—r to come near Greece § 8. Antigonus and Python return to Media where while Pithon by Gifts sought to win the Souldiers which he only wanted to become chief Antigonus discerning it took him in his security condemn'd and
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
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
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
from thence and other parts with which he repassed Oxus on whose South he built Six Towns near one another for mutual Succour But he is troubled with ◠new Rebel Arimaxus a Sogdian who with Thirty thousand maintain'd the Top of an Hill which Alexander could not Win 'till three hundred choice young Men crept up to the Top thereof upon promise of Ten Talents to the first Nine to the Second and so to the rest in proportion of which Thirty two were lost thus Wit effecteth what Force could not § 19. Alexander having committed Maracanda and the Countries about it to Clytus slew him soon after for that in a drunken fit he derided the Oracle of Hamon and objected to the King the death of Parmenio Thus in Cups the one forgot whom he offended the other whom he slew which when he was recover'd he would have revenged on himself but for Calisthenes's persuasion remembring too late he had deserved as much as any and had saved his Life Drunkenness both kindles and lays open every Vice it removes Shame which gives impediment to bad Attempts c. Spitamenes shortly after was murdered by his Wife and Dataphernes is sent bound by the Dalians to Alexander who proceeded into Gabara where he lost a Thousand in a Tempest and the rest suffered Hunger Cold Lightnings c. So he came to the Cohortans which welcomed him with Feasting and a Present of Thirty fair Virgins of which one was Roxane afterward his Wife Here he tore Calisthenes asunder on a Rack without any proof for Harmolaus's Treason But indeed for Reasoning at a Drinking against Deifying Alexander propounded by a Parasite and heard by the King standing behind a Partition Seneca calls this Act his eternal Crime which no Virtue or Felicity can redeem for whatsoever can be spoken to his Praise is not answerable to this Reproach He slew Calisthenes § 20. Alexander with Twelve Thousand Foot and Horse entred the Indian Borders where after a few days Nisa built by Bacchus was delivered from whence he went to Dedala and so to Arcadera abandoned by the Inhabitants so that they failed of Victuals and were forced to divide the Army Here he took Nora c. and came to Indus where Hephestion had prepared Boats and had persuaded Omphis King of the Country who offered his Service to Alexander and presented him with Fifty Elephants Abiasaris hearing thereof made his peace with Alexander so that Porus only remained the other Enemy of Omphis Alexander sent to command his Homage at the Border of his Kingdom He answered he would attend him there but for other acknowledgment he would take Counsel of his Sword Porus attends him on the Bank of Hydaspes with Thirty thousand Foot Nine hundred Elephants Three hundred Armed Chariots and a great Troop of Horse The River was Four Furlongs broad and swift and deep with many Islands of which one was well shaded with Wood where Alexander staid and sent Ptolomy up the River with a great part of the Army which Porus supposing to be the Whole removed to oppose their coming over while Alexander recovered the further Shore without Resistance and advanceth towards Porus who a while took him to be Abiasares his Confederate come over the River to aid him But finding it to the contrary he sent his Brother with Four thousand Men and a hundred Armed Waggons having four hundred Armed Men in them but of small use by reason of late Rain and the Scythians which Galled their Horses and made them overturn the Waggons Perdicas charg'd the Indian Horses and made all to retire which made Porus move forward with the gross of his Army that the scatter'd parts of his Vant-guard might recover his Rear c. The Elephants much molested the Macedonians 'till being inraged by the galling of Arrows and Darts they turned head upon their follower's Foot c. After a long and doubtful Fight Porus fore wounded and Abandoned by his Men and over-matched in Numbers and skill of Leaders fell into the Conquerors hands who restored and inlarged his Kingdoms § 21. Alexander having overthrown Porus and hearing by these Indian Kings that one Agamenes beyond Ganges commanding many Nations was the powerfullest King of all these Regions and able to bring into the Field Two hundred thousand Foot three hundred Elephants twenty thousand Horse and two thousand armed Chariots was much inflamed to proceed but all the Art he had could not persuade the Souldiers thereto only they are content to follow him to the South having Indus for his guide So he returned to Acesines intending to lay up his Fleet where it encountreth Hydaspes by which two Rivers he built two Cities Nicae and Bucephalon Here he intended a fourth supply of six thousand Horse-men and seven thousand Foot out of Thrace and twenty five thousand Rich Armour from Babylon which he distributed among the Souldiers Hereabout he won many Towns received One hundred Embassadors from an Indian King with a Present of three hundred Horses one hundred thirty Waggons and one thousand Targets Sailing Southward by many obscure Nations among them he built another Alexandria and took among many other places one called Samus whose Inhabitants fought with poisoned Swords Being come to the out-let of Indus he sent to discover the Coast along toward the Mouth of Euphrates After part of Winter spent here he marched in Eighteen Days to Gedrosia in which Passage his Army suffered such Misery for want of Food that not the fourth part returned alive § 22. Alexander came to Carmania and drawing near Persia he fell to imitate Bacchus's Triumphs in Cups which Swinish hateful Vice always inflamed him to Cruelty For the Hang-man followed the Feast saith Curtius and Apastes a Provincial Governour was slain by his Commandment Here Cleander and his Fellows employed in the Murder of Parmenio brought him a supply of Five thousand Foot and one thousand Horse but upon complaint of their Out-rages Cleander and the rest with six hundred Souldiers were commended to the Hang-man to the joy of all Alexander removed and came to Pasargada where Cyrus was buried and was presented with many rich Gifts by Orsines a Prince of the Race of Cyrus whom Alexander put to Death by the practice of Bagoas one his of Eunuchs because he was neglected of him the Accusation that he had robbed Cyrus's his Tomb was from Two loose Fellows Phrates also was slain upon suspicion of his Greatness so headlong was he become to shed Blood and believe false Reports Calanus an Indian Philosopher burnt himself being Seventy three years old fore-telling Alexander of his own Death shortly after Alexander removed to Susa where he Married Statira Darius's Eldest Daughter and her Sister he gave to Hephestion and Eighty Persian Ladies to his Captains and at the Marriage hé gave Six thousand Cups of Gold to so many Guests Harpalus his Treasurer in Babylon having been lavish of the Treasure fled away with five thousand Talents and six thousand hired