Antigonus got divers Cities into his hands and restored the Milesians to their liberty At this time the inhabitants of Cyrene revolting Ptolomy reduced them again to obedience by the means of Agis his General and in Cyprus suppressed some of the Kings which were of the contrary faction Returning home he was sollicited be Seleucus to undertake an Expedition against Demetrius then in Caelesyria Whose Son Demetrius is defeated by Ptolomy so that with 18000 Foot and 4000 Horse he marched to Gaza where Demetrius expected him In the fight the forces of Demetrius seemed rather to prevail till his Elephants being wounded and taken his Horse out of fear ran away He himself fled accompanied with many till he came to passe by Gaza but then so many forsook him and went in thither to fetch out their goods as multitudes flocking to the gates and they therefore being hindred from being shut the enemies entred with them and took the Town Ptolomy took Sidon also and besieged Tyre whose Governour Andronicus upon summons refused to yield and reviled him A. M. 3693. Ol. 117. an 1. V. C. 442. Seleuci 1. Ptolom 12 yet he getting the place into his power through the sedition of the Soldiers when he looked for present death not onely forgave him but entertained him courteously as his familiar friend 23. Ptolomy getting the places about Syria into his power returned into Aegypt being followed thither by many which were drawn by his great courtesie and clemency But Seleucus thinking this a good opportunity for him to return to his former Principality obtained of him 800 Foot and 200 Horse and with them marched for Babylon In his way in Mesopotamia he got partly by fair means partly by foul those Macedonians which quartered at Carrhae to joyn with him but when he came to Babylon the Inhabitants there willingly received him and he shortly after stormed the Castel which was held by Antigonus his garrison Nicanor the Governour of Media hearing this came against him with above 10000 Foot and 7000 Horse whom he went out to meet with but few more than 3000 Foot and 400 Horse and knowing himself too weak to engage in a set battel with him he hid his men in the Fens till he was past with his Army and then came upon him lying carelesly in the night without any strict guards Seleucus recovereth Babylon and the Eastern parts so as the Persians coming to fight Euagrus their Captain was slain with other Officers at which being struck and also weary of Antigonus his government they revolted and Nicanor with a few at his heels escaped being glad he was not delivered up Seleucus by this means getting a strong Army easily made himself Master of Susiana Media and the Countryes thereto adjoyning so as getting hereby Royal Majesty and Glory suitable to his dignity some have from this year fetched the rise of that Aera which afterwards was called that of the Seleucidae and of the Greeks for that his Kingdom proved the most considerable about the year of the World 3694 Eusebius in Chronico alii the first of the 117 Olympiad 309 years before the Aera of Christ and twelve years after the death of Alexander 24. When Antigonus heard of it he sent his son Demetrius against him who had now redeemed his credit by the overthrow of Cilles sent to expel him out of Syria by Ptolomy and upon it called thither his Father so as they recovered all that Country and Phoenicia out of his hands he not daring to stay and try a battel with Antigonus Demetrius his attempts against him Demetrius led with him an Army of 15000 Foot and 4000 Horse with order to recover the Principality of Babylon and then go down to the Sea Patrocles A. M. 3694. Ol. 117. an 2. V.C. 443. Seleuci 2. Ptolom 13. whom Seleucus had left Governour of Babylon hearing of his coming advised the inhabitants to leave the City and flie some into the Desart or over the River Tigris he himself with a Band of men flew up and down taking advantages at the Enemy and sent to Seleucus into Media for aid so that Demetrius coming and finding the City forsaken stormed one of the Forts therein and for that his time was out beyond which he could not stay he left Archelaus with a strong party to besiege the other Then giving leave to his Soldiers to plunder all they could he departed according to his Father's order to the Sea where he besieged Halicarnassus but was beaten off by Ptolomy and so as it were took his leave of that Province for ever taking what he could get along with him and perhaps for this reason the Chaldaeans with the Author of the second Book of the Machabees in this year one after the other fix the Aera of Seleucus Not long after Ptolomy Cassander and Lysimachus made a Peace with Antigonus on these terms An agreement betwixt Ptolomy Cassander Lysimachus that Cassander should be Captain General of Europe Lysimachus should retain Thrace and Ptolomy Aegypt and the rest which he now enjoyed until Alexander the son of Roxane should come to age and that Antigonus should be over Asia and the Greeks live after their own Laws This agreement was not kept long each one seeking under any pretence to inlarge his Dominions and indeed they might better do it seeing he for whom they pretended themselves Administrators and was their Soveraign Lord was taken away For Cassander taking notice that young Alexander grew up and that the People began to talk that now he ought to be delivered out of custody and to enjoy his Fathers Kingdom he fearing his own interest commanded secretly Glaucius his Keeper to kill him and his Mother and concealing their bodies to acquaint no person living with it Thus he who was unborn when his Father died The death of young Alexander died by the hands of violence and treason thirteen years after him 25. He had a brother yet living elder than himself who being begotten of Barsines never maried to Alexander was held as illegitimate by the Captains Hercules his brother though born before his Father's death His name was Hercules being now kept at Pergamus whence he was called shortly after the death of the other by Polysperchon who now being in Peloponnesus and envying Cassander the Principality of Macedonia sent about to his friends intreating that the youth being seventeen years old might be brought and established in his Fathers Throne The Aetolians especially with others imbraced the motion so as he got together about 20000 Foot and 1000 Horse in no great space and within a while after gathered up a numerous Army with which he marched and came on his way to Stymphalia Diodorus ad Olymp. 117. Justin lib. 15. A. M. 3696. Ol. 117. an 4. V.C. 445. Seleuc. 4. Ptolom 15. Here Cassander opposed him and seeing that his Macedonians took well enough this reduction of their Prince and fearing
years of age had a Son named Nachor And Nachor one when he was 29 called Terah or Thare Abram 2. Terah being 70 years old begat Abram Nachor and Haran Vers 26. Not that all these were born at the same time or are to be accounted in age as we find them in order What year of his Father he was born De istis lege Ludov. Cappellum Chronol Sacra notis ad Tabulam 5. Joh. Gerard. Vossii Isagog Chronolog Dissert 5. c. 6. Jacob. Cappell Hist Sacra Exotica ad A. M. 2003 multus alios priority in years not being constantly observed in Scripture but rather that of piety and true worth Haran is to be reckoned as the eldest who died at Ur of the Chaldees before his Father departed thence and left 3 children viz. one Son named Lot and two Daughters Milcah married to his Brother and her Uncle Nahor and Sarai or Iscah to Abram The second was Nahor Father to Chesed or Chased and so Abram the youngest because he was born not in the 70th as hath been thought but 130 year of his Father For Terah lived in all (a) Vers 32. 205 year and died in Charan Abram when he came out of Charran which (b) Acts 7. â—4 Stephen saith was after his Father's death was (c) Gen. 12.4 75 years old which being deducted out of 205 130 years will remain But if he was born in the 70 year of his Father then at his death was he 135 years old and having Isaac born to him when 100 in the Land of Canaan he must with him have returned back to Charran which seemeth very incredible or else he left it not at his Father's death as Stephen must make us believe he did 3. Abram therefore was born in the 130 year of his Father's life A. M. 2008. and the 2008th of the World as is clear from the ages of all his Progenitors taken at the births of their Sons and laid together About the 70 year of his age God commanded him to leave his Father's house SECT I. Gen 11.12 Acts 7. and come into the Land which he should shew him promising to make of him a great Nation to blesse him and in him all the Families of the Earth He obeying this command drew on his Father also with him He cometh from Ur to Canaan and so together with Lot the Son of Haran and Sarai Abram's wife they came from Ur of the Chaldaeans to Charran and dwelt there A. M. 2078. Dwelling there seemeth to intimate a longer stay than of one year so that some probably think 5 years to have been there spent For Terah now very old might detein them by his weaknesse they being unwilling to leave him till they saw him either recovered or dead But after his death mindfull of God's command they left Charran and came into the Land of Canaan Thence into Canaan This journey from Ur to Charran was the beginning of the 430 years of his and his posteritie's sojourning in a strange Land the promise also made to him being so many years before the promulgation of the Law in Mount Sinai as the Apostle Paul hath observed 4. The first place of Canaan in which Abram made any stay was Sichem Gen. 12. where God again appeared to him and renewed his Promise another of giving that Land to his Seed being added to it and in this place he built the first Altar to the Lord. Thence he removed towards the hilly Country and the Eastern tract of Luz afterwards called Bethel where he built another Altar and so proceeded into the Southern Coasts whence a Famine drove him into Aegypt Sojourneth in Aegypt There he sojourned and taught the Aegyptians Astrology which Josephus saith they were ignorant of till he communicated to them the knowledge of it and of Arithmetick His wife being beautifull for fear of his life he counterfeited himself her Brother so that Pharaoh began to cast his affections on her till plagued by God he was constrained to dismisse them both in peace Out of Aegypt then he returned to that place between Hai and Bethel where he built the second Altar Chap. 13. Now was he and Lot grown so rich that no longer could they conveniently live together Lot being departed to the Plains of Sodom God again renewed his promise to Abram which he more largely explained both as to the giving of the Land and the propagation of his Posterity After this as he was commanded he went and viewed the Land then pitch't his Tents in the Plain of Mamre neer Hebron where he built another Altar to the Lord. 5. At this time 4 Kings about the River Euphrates Chap. 14. viz. Amraphel King of Shinar oâ— Babylonia Arioch King of Ellasar thought to be Arabia because of a City upon the borders of that Country called Ellas Chedorlaomer King of Elam afterwards Persia and â—idal King of Nations thought to be many petty Kingdoms adjoyning to Phoenicia and Palaestine came and fought against the 5. Kings of the Pentapolis viz. Bera of Sodom Birsha of Gomorrah Shinab King of Admah Shemeber of Zebojim and the King of Bela afterwards called Zoar all who had 12 years served Chedorlaomer Recovereth Lot and the Booty from the 4 Kings and in the 1â—th rebelled They overthrew these five petty Princes led away much pillage and many Captives amongst which was Lot who then sojourned in Sodom Abram hearing this armed 318 servants and pursuing them recovered Lot and all the prey which he restored to the owners In his return Melchisedech whom some improbably make Sem King of Salem or Jerusalem Priest of the most high God brought forth Bread and Wine and blessed him to whom he gave the Tithes of all In this storie Abram is first called an Hebrew by Moses And there came one which had escaped and told Abram the Hebrew which word in Scripture is not found applied to any other before him 6. Some (d) Vide Bochartum Phaleg lib. 2. c. 10. think he was so called from Heber the Son of Salah and that this appellation onely was proper to his Family Why called an Hebrew because it kept the most antient or Hebrew tongue incorrupt But (e) Lege Ludov Cappell Chronol Sacra p. 111 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 others finding the word to signifie one that cometh from beyond the water or a Stranger think it was given to Abram upon no other account then because he came from beyond Euphrates None of Heber's Posterity being called so but onely he and some of his they think addeth much to their reason They conclude that the Hebrew language was not appropriate to Heber as a reward of his piety because those that descended of him used it not alwayes and to others besides his posterity it appeareth to have been natural They instance that Laban spake Syriack and the Canaanites and Philistins the Hebrew naturally as
exceeding rich and therefore requiring large room Esau departed to his former possession of Mount Seir Providence so ordaining it that when the Israelites should afterwards come to inherit Canaan his posterity might neither be destroyed nor displaced He was otherwise called Edom Edom. and from him Idumaea took it's name which seemeth from Strabo to have also included the Country of the Nabataeans And likely enough it is that he who married the Sister of Nebaioth might joyn himself to them and praeside over them This is the famous Heroe Vide Fulleâ— Miscell 4. c. 20. from whom not onely Idumaea but also the adjoyning Erithraean Edomaean or Red Sea all signifying the same thing was so called being known to the Greeks by the name of Erythras the same with Edom. 15. Gen. 41. But two years after Joseph had interpreted the Dreams of the servants of Pharaoh he was called up out of prison to explain the meaning of one which the King himself had dreamed This A. M. 2290. betokening 7 years of great plenty to come and after them as many of famine and it being necessary as he hinted to Pharaoh to chuse out some wise Man who being set over the Land should gather and preserve the fruits of the Earth against the time of want Pharaoh made choice of him being about 30 years old for this purpose he appointed him next to himself Joseph advanced and gave him in marriage Asenath the Daughter of Potipherah Priest of On or Heliopolis where Strabo writeth that the Priests of old time had their habitation on which be begat Ephraim and * A. M. 2297. Manasses According to his praediction 7 most plentiful years ensued wherein he gathered into store-houses the Corn that abounded and after them came 7 other of famine which praevailed sore both in Aegypt and the neighbouring Countries of Canaan and Arabia Chap. 42 43 c. Jacob amongst others wanting provisions in the 2d year of the famine sent his Sons down into Aegypt to buy Corn. Joseph knowing them though undiscovered accused them for coming as Spies cast them into prison and dismissed them not till Simeon the eldest of those which conspired against his life was bound and left as an Hostage for their bringing down of Benjamin that so their story might be confirmed of their being one Man's Sons and that their youngest Brother was left behind The next year being pressed with famine they returned and Benjamin with them whom their Father was constrained to let go Now after some further terrifying of them he made himself known and sent for his Father down into Aegypt Jacob understanding of his Son's life and promotion whom he had given over of a long time Jacob goeth into Aegypt A. M. 2298. for dead gladly went down and with him 66 Souls besides his Sons Wives in the 3d year of the famine of the World the 2298th aged 130 years 16. By Pharaoh's consent Joseph placed them in the Land of Goshen Chap. 47. and there nourished them during the famine He sold to the Egyptians the Corn formerly treasured up and therewith purchased for the King all their Money Goods and Lands except the Lands of the Priests which were not alienated The grounds he afterwards granted to the former owners Chap. 48 49. paying the fifth part of the profit to Pharaoh's use After Jacob had lived in Aegypt 17 years he adopted the two eldest Sons of Joseph viz. Manasses and Ephraim of whom the younger he preferred before the elder He called his Sons together blessed them and told them apart what should befall them in their posterity From Reuben his first born he took the preheminence because he had defiled his bed and gave it to Judah A. M. 2315. He prophecied of Christ's coming Dieth commanded them to bury him in the Cave of Machpelah in the Land of Canaan with his Ancestors and then died at the age of 147 years in the year of the World 2315. Joseph caused his servants the Physitians to embalme Israel and a mourning of 70 dayes or 72 was observed for him which number in that Country was onely proper to Kings Then obtaining leave of Pharaoh he and his Brethren with a great company of Courtiers carried him into the Land of Canaan Gen. 50. and buried him there according to his will where they also mourned for him 7 dayes 17. Being returned into Aegypt Joseph forgave his Brethren the fault they formerly had committed against him which now they feared he would revenge after their Father's death and as long as he lived he nourished them and their children This space of time was 54 years after his Father's death at the end whereof having exhorted them to Unity and Concord foretelling them their departure out of Aegypt Joseph dieth and commanding them thence to carry his Bones he dyed at the age of 110 years A. M. 2370. when he had governed Aegypt under severall Kings the space of 80. Trogus Pompeâ—us as appeareth out of Justin * Lib. 36. c. 2. his Epitomizer wrote many things concerning him partly taken out of the Sacred History partly mixed with such Fables as the Heathen were not wanting to invent concerning the Jews Abram Moses and Israel are made by him Kings of Damascus which City took it's name from their Predecessor Israel had ten Sons to whom he committed the Kingdom and commanded them to call themselves Jews from Judah who died before the division and whose portion was divided amongst them all The youngest of the 10 Sons was Joseph whose excellent wit his Brothers fearing they sold him to some Marchants that carried him down into Aegypt Here learning the Magick Arts he became very dear to the King having skill in working Wonders and interpretation of Dreams moreover nothing either Divine or Humane was beyond his reach insomuch that he foretold the barrennesse of the ground severall years before it hapned and all Aegypt had perished with famine but that the King by his advice caused Corn to be treasured up many years finally such was his knowledge that his answers seemed rather the Oracles of a God then the replies of a Man Then followeth that Moses was his Son who being both wise and beautiful became a leader to such Aegyptians as were infected with scab and itch and so returned to Damascus the Country of his Ancestors Which lyes with others hereafter to be mentioned are to be attributed to the malice of the Aegyptians With the life of Joseph endeth the first Book of Moses his history called by the Greeks Genesis which containeth the account of 2369 years of the World The next to it in order of time the Book of Job is thought to be of which Moses also is reputed Author by the common consent and opinion of the Hebrews 18. After the death of Joseph and all that generation Exod. 1. the Children of Israel increased abundantly and grew exceeding mighty so
in times of Rebellion and for their exercise to be as Thorns in their eyes and Goads in their sides The Canaanites being thus deprived of their ancient habitation by Joshua and the Israelites Many of them as is conjectured removing to the Mediterranean-Sea where they were known afterwards by the name of Phoenicians continued not all there but spread themselves abroad and sent Colonies far and wide into many places of Europe Asia and Africk concerning which that excellent book of Bochartus called Canaan is to be consulted That is remarkable which * A. M. 2555. Procopius mentioneth concerning Pillars erected in the Province of Africk In Vandalius called Tingitana with a Phoenician-inscription to this purpose We are they who fled from the face of Joshua the Robber the son of Nane How long this War continued till the division of the Land is not expressed in Scripture yet is thence to be gathered For Caleb being fourty years old when with others he was sent by Moses to search the Land was at the time of the Division as he saith 45 years older Now the Spies were sent out in the fifth moneth of the second year after their departure out of Egypt or sooner so that from that time to the entrance into Canaan followed almost 39 years the Israelites being fourty years in the Wildernesse which being deducted out of the said forty five six years and some few remain during which the War in Canaan must have continued The Clerouchia or division of the Land 19. The Clerouchia then or division of the Land fell out in the beginning of the seventh year from their entrance into Canaan and in the year of the World 2555 also beginning It continued about one year as some gather from the story First of all an inheritance was given to two Tribes and an half viz. the Tribes of Judah Ephraim Chap. 14.15 c. and the other half Tribe of Manasses Then met the Israelites together in Shiloh because seven other Tribes yet remained undisposed of Therefore certain men were sent from that place to bring a Survey of all the Land which could not be done in a few dayes and then after their return the division was perfected for all which no lesse then the space of a year seemeth necessary So there are from the beginning of the World to the end of this Division 2555 years Vide Ludov. Capellum in Chronol Sacr. containing just so many weeks of years as there are natural dayes in a year viz. 365. Or if we make a great year consisting of so many years as the solar year consisteth of dayes then have we six or seven such great years It is further observable that from the beginning of the World to the entrance of the Israelites into Canaan may be reckoned so many Jubilies of years viz. 52. as are dayes in the seventh part of a Solar year one onely excepted The War having endured six years they rested on the seventh wherein the Division was made as in the Sabatical year 20. The rise therefore and beginning of the Sabbatical year and of Jubilies some chuse rather to fetch from the first entrance into Canaan then from the division of the Land The rise of Sabbatical years and Jubilies For though they began not to sow the Land on this side Jordan till after the division yet before this had they taken possession of the Countrey lying beyond the River which was divided betwixt the two Tribes and the half whereof though it must be granted that those which were fit for War accompanied their brethren over Jordan according to the charge laid upon them by Moses yet is it to be supposed that those which stayed behind were nourished by the fruits of that soyl For Manna had already ceased and the Corn which the other reaped of the Enemies sowing being but gotten by degrees according as they Conquered the Countrey could scarce maintain them without sending for supplies to those that stayed beyond the River When they had ended the division the Children of Israel gave for an inheritance to Joshua that which he asked even Timneth Serah in Mount Ephraim where he built a Citie and dwelt therein Josh 18. The Tabernacle of the Congregation was set up at Shiloh by the whole Assembly As for the Levites they had no inheritance assigned them Chap. 20. but the Lord being their inheritance they were to live of Tythes Offerings Onely 48 Cities on both sides of Jordan were set apart for them to dwell in which were also to be Cities of refuge whither those that were guilty of casual homicide might fly from the avenger of bloud and there remain in security till the death of the High-Priest Joshua dieth Joshua being very old at the division is by the Jews said to have lived past the first Sabbatical year but to have died before the next arrived Some give to his government twenty years and some above Chap. 24. v. 29. Judge 11.8 but others think he died not long after the division There is no certainty thereof from Scripture but that he lived a hundred and ten years is expresly recorded The Israelites fall to idolatry 21. After Joshua and that generation were dead which had seen the wonders of the Lord another arose after them that knew not the Lord nor the works he had done so that the Children of Israel followed other gods serving Baal and Ashtaroth For this cause the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers which spoiled them He sold them into the hands of their Enemies round about insomuch that they could not stand before them but whithersoever they went out the hand of the Lord was against them for evil as he had said and sworn Neverthelesse he raised them up Judges to deliver them out of the hands of those that spoiled them and yet they would not hearken to their Judges but went a whoring after other gods and bowed themselves unto them Hereupon the Lord resolved not to drive out thenceforth any Nations before them which Joshua left when he died that by them he might prove Israel whether they would keep his way and to teach them War Chap. 3. There were left five Lords of the Philistins with all the Canaanites the Sidonians and Hivites that dwelt in Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal Hermon unto the entring of Hamath The Children of Israel dwelt amongst the Canaanites Hittites Ammorites Perizzites Hivites and Jebusites they took their daughters to be their wives gave their daughters to their sons and served their gods Cushan oppresseth them 22. For this the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel Vers 8. and he sold them to the hand of Cushan-rishathaim King of Mesopotamia How long this was after the division the Scripture expresseth not Lud. Cappellus We read that he oppressed them eight years but some think it should be read in the
13th of the one and the 4th of the other In this year Pharaoh Necho fell upon the Babylonians with War Chap. 8. because as it seemeth they had sollicited Iehoiakim his Tributary to revolt and fought against Nebuchadnezar at Carchemish near Euphrates Pharaoh Necho slain A. M. 3396. Olymp. 42. an 4. by the Greek and Latin Writers called Cercusium in which battell he was overthrown and slain 19. After this Victory came Nebuchadnezar to Ierusalem where he either took Iehoiakim captive to lead him to Babylon or at least made him his tributary Vassall Some account this year as the beginning of the reign of Nebuchadnezar so of the Captivity of Iudah and the desolation of that Country because that Ieremiah having spoken first of the 13 years in which he and the other Prophets had warned the people to no purpose afterwards addeth Chap. 25.9 11. that God would send Nebuchadnezar his Servant against the Land which should be a desolation and an astonishment and that these Nations should serve the King of Babylon 70 years But the Prophecy of Daniel beginneth thus In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim King of Judah came Nebuchadnezar King of Babylon to Jerusalem and besieged it and the Lord gave Jehoiakim King of Judah into his hand with part of the Vessels of the House of God which he caried into the Land of Shinar to the house of his God This place seeming to contradict the other some have chosen to close with the literall sense of it and to hold that in the third year of Iehoiakim began the Captivity of the Jews Others see more reason to stick to the other place and to take away all difference interpret this third year of the third of the Sabbaticall year or the week of years and thus would read it In the third year Jehoiakim the King of Judah reigning came Nebuchadnezar King of Babylon unto Jerusalem c. But the Jews with some modern Writers understand by this third year the third of the rebellion of Jehoiakim against whom Nebuchadnezar coming about the end of the fifth year of his reign made him his Tributary and so he continued three years The beginning of the Seventy years of Captivity which is variously assigned viz. the 6 7 and 8th of his reign Afterwards changing his mind he rebelled in the beginning of his 9th year and so continued for three years in rebellion which being expired in the end of his 11th Nebuchadnezar took Ierusalem and caried him Captive to Babylon with part of the holy Vessels and others of the Royall and Princely Race amongst whom was Daniel and so the Captivity of Seventy years began not till this year 20. That this third year cannot be understood of the third of Iehoiakim's reign is clear from Ieremiah who joyneth his fourth with the first of Nebuchadnezar and because elsewhere is made mention of his fifth whence is aprarent that he could not be led Captive in his third year The second opinion indeed is not amisse for this was really the third year of the week or the third from the Sabbaticall year For the 18th of Iosiah in which the Passeover was celebrated being the last year of the 19th Jubilie and so the Sabbaticall year from that to the 11th ending of Iehoiakim or the 12th beginning are counted 31 years viz. four weeks and three odd years this being usuall with the Pen-men of holy Story to count their times by Sabbaticall years or Jubilies Iacobus Cappellus * Ad. A. M. 3391 3392. would have Nebuchadnezar at the command of Nabopolasser his Father to have come into Iudaea in the second year of the reign of Iehoiakim who then sware fealty to him but in the third year rebelled whence Nebuchadnezar came down again in his fifth year and took him Captive Then will he have him to have set Shallum over the Kingdom till Ieconias his Son an Infant of a year old should come to age but Iehoiakim himself there lived miserably in Captivity till the 11th year reckoned from his first being made King by Necho He being then dead and news of it brought to Ierusalem they there made his Son Iehoiakim King in his stead And he beginneth the Seventy years of the Captivity in his fifth year when he will have him caried to Babylon 21. But Ludovicus Cappellus his Brother replyeth that in no place is there any mention made of Nebuchadnezar's coming up against him in the second year of his reign the * 2 Kings 24 1. place thought to make for the purpose having as much respect to the fifth as the second year And as little mention is there any where made of Iehoiakim's six years of Captivity who if he had died at Babylon the Scripture would never have attributed to him the reign of eleven years but onely so many as he really reigned viz. 5. The rest it would either have given to Shallum the pretended Viceroy or to Iehoiakim his Son it being a thing improbable that the name should be preserved for Iehoiakim whilst Sallum indeed reigned Besides the Babylonian King observed no such matter afterward in Iehoiakim whom taking away he really made King Zedekiah without the title of Vice-Roy or Lievtenant Nay though Jehoiakim lived long at Babylon and after the death of Nebuchadnezar being loosed out of bonds was honoured and esteemed by Evilmerodach above any of his condition and therein excelled Jehoiakim if he lived there so long yet is there no more time given to his reign than that wherein he onely continued in his principality As for the Regencie of Shallum it is a meer invention there being no other according to the Jews then Jehoahaz who was also called by that name For in the Ierem. 22.11 Consule Ludov. Cappellum Chronol Sacr. p. 202. place thought to make this out they are bidden not to weep for the dead viz. Iosias but for him that goeth away Iehoahaz taken away by Necho for he should return no more into his Native Country 22. Iehoiakim therefore being taken to be led away Captive in the third year of his rebellion and the 11th of his reign died ere he went as we may suppose and was cast out or buried according to the Prophecy of Ieremiah Chap. 22.18 19. 36.30 who had foretold he should be buried with the buriall of an Asse being cast forth beyond the gates of Ierusalem in the day to the heat and in the night to the frost which could be done by none except the barbarous Babylonians After his death the Conquerour placed in his stead Jehoiakim his Son called also Conias and Jechonias who did evil in the sight of the Lord 2 Chron. 36. 2 Kings 23. A. M. 3404. Olymp. 44. an 4. Nebuchad 8. as his Father before him Jehoiakim and Nebuchadnezar it semeeth repenting of what he had done lest he should be drawn from his obedience by the example of his Father and the perswasions of those
some time till weary of this bondage he conspired with So King of Aegypt and refused to pay his tribute Hereupon Salmanasser subdued first the Moabites lest he should have an Enemy at his back then invaded Israel and besieged Samaria A. M. 3280. Ezechiae 6. in the fourth year of Hezekiah King of Judah The Israelites carried away Captive and the seventh of Hoshea At the end of three years in the sixth of Hezekiah and the ninth of Hosea he took the City and carried the Israelites Captive into Assyria where he placed them in Chalach Chabor by the River of Gosan and in the Cities of Media because they had not obeyed the voice of the Lord but transgressed the Covenant In their Seat he placed certain Persians that inhabited by the River Chuthus and afterwards in distinction from the Jews were called Samaritans The Samaritans placed in their room This hapned to Israel for their abhominable Idolatry 255 years after the rent of the Kingdom so that this Schism lasted five Jubilies and ten years in the 832 after the entrance into Canaan according to Ludovicus Cappellus and therefore in the end of the seventeenth Jubilie from that in the year of the World 3380. or 3381. and so in the end of the 69 Jubily from the Creation SECT 3. 134 before the destruction of Jerusalem and the Captivity of Iudah CHAP. IV. The most ancient Kingdom of Egypt Contemporary with the Babylonian Empire C ham the first inhabitant of Egypt after the Flood 1. THis Countrey falling at the Division of the Earth to Cham and his Posterity seemeth also to have been inhabited by himself For thence (a) Psal 105.23 27. David knew it by the name of the Land of Ham (b) In Iside Plutarch found it was called Chemia Stephanus Hermochymius the Inhabitants themselves calling it (c) Isiodorus Hieronymus in Genesim vide cap. 1. Parag. 22. Kam who distinguished their Nomi by this Allusion into Chemmis Psochemmis Psittachemmis the Oracle of Jupiter Hammon in Africk and the names of Ammonis and Ammonia given to that Countrey challenge no other Original It is not probable that these names should be onely given to it upon this account that part of his Posterity here fixed themselves for then the like might have been expected concerning many other places Misraim his son Misraim his second son succeeded him or he to whom Moses giveth this name Lege Bocharti Phaleg l. 4. c. 24. as father of the Inhabitants of the Land of Misraiim it scarce being the name of a man because not of the singular number The Scripture calleth Egypt (d) 2 Kings 19.24 Esaias 19.6 Mich. 7.12 often by the name of Masor which seemeth the singular of Misraiim contracted from Mesoraiim signifieth a fortified place no Countrey in the World being more fenced by its natural situation The Arabians at this day know the Metropolis Alcairo by the name of Mesre and the Egyptians anciently called their first moneth Mesori The dual word Misraiim seemeth to hint at the distinction of Egypt into (e) Orosius l. 1. c. 2. Upper and Lower whereof the former watered by the River Nile running in one Channel was divided into Thebais and Heptanomus Thebais being called the Land of Pathros and distinguished from Egypt by Isaiah and Jeremiah and the lower part was by the Greeks called Delta from the Triangular Figure thereof the River being herein divided into many branches The same with Osiris 2. This Misraim is thought to be the same with Osiris so much spoken of by the Egyptians and accounted the son of Saturn the eldest of the gods and also the son of Jupiter Hammon For Osiris being by the Greeks named Dionysus Diodorus Siculus lib. 1. pag. 1. one telleth us that he had this appellation both from his Father and Countrey the former part of the word noting the one and the later the other viz. Nysa a Citie of Arabia Foelix built by Cham in which he seemeth to have been born From the reign of Osiris to the coming down of Alexander the Great into Egypt the Priests reckoned some above 10000 years others little lesse then 23000. But several forms of years being used in several Nations we are to suppose theirs to have been measured rather by the course of the Moon through the Zodiack than that of the Sun Jacobus Cappellus therefore thinketh 1889 years to have passed from the reign of this Osiris to Alexander his going down into Egypt the beginning whereof he fixeth at the 1778th year of the World 100 and odd years after the Flood about the same time that Nimrod his Nephew began his principality at Babylon Osiris and Isis their renowned acts This Osiris is feigned by the Egyptians to have married his sister Isis and they make them the true Bacchus and Ceres Much they are both reported to have done for the benefit of mankind by bringing it to civility to him they ascribe the finding out of Agriculture and to her the invention of Corn and Laws He built Thebes the ancient seat of the Kings with 100 Gates travelled into the greatest part of the World to teach men civility with the use of Corn and Wine taking Pan along with him who being had in great reverence amongst the Egyptians dedicated a Citie to him by the name of Chemmis In his time lived Hermes or Mercurius SECT 4. and Hercules who being otherwise called Gygâ—n or Gygnâ—n is said to have helped the gods against the Gyants Osiris when he returned was killed by his wicked brother Typhon Osiris killed by Typhon 3. Typhon seizing upon the Kingdom was by Isis Diodorus through the help of her son Orus dispossessed again of it and his life after which gathering together the 26 parts of her husbands body into which he had mâ—ngled it she instituted to him divine honours Typhon punished by Isis and her son Orus ordering that the several Tribes of the Priests should dedicate some one of their living Creatures to him and for him worship it as long as it lived then at its death seeking out another of the same kind to do as much to it Several things were consecrated in several places yet by a general consent the Sacred Bull called Apis The Sacred Bull Apis. or Mnevis was most valued and chiefly adored because of the special help that kind of Creature affordeth to Tillage This Bull was black all over having onely a square white spot in his forehead saith Herodotus on his right side saith Pliny like to a Crescent being also sacred to the Moon as Marcellâ—nus will have it On the back he had the image of an Eagle a knot on the tongue like to a Crab and on his Tail double hairs This kind of beast did the Egyptians worship as the greatest God with astonishing veneration as Macrobius termeth it till it had lived several years but not being suffered to passe a certain
5th after the destruction of Jerusalem Conquered Egypt killed the King thereof and appointed another in his stead Some think Amasis might be used as an instrument by Nebuchadnezar and for that was made Governour by him others that the Deputy or Vice-Roy which he had set over the Land was slain by Amasis Agreeable to this later opinion the Army of Ionians and Carians are held to have been none other than the Garrisons of Mercenaries left by the Assyrian for the Guard of his Viceroy and custody of this his new subdued Province as likewise the Company returning from Cyrene and Barce who together with the friends of such as were slain in that expedition deposed slue Apries are conceived to have been the Egyptian Fugitives which then recovered their own Countrey seeing that of the Prophet was verified At the end of fourty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people where they were scattered and I will bring again the Captivity of Egypt and will cause them to return into the Land of Pathros into the Land of their habitation and they shall be there a small Kingdom 28. Amasis being a man of mean extraction Herodotus and perceiving himself upon that account despised of his people took a Golden Vessel wherein he and his Guests had used to wash their feet and thereof made an image of a god which when the Egyptians worshipped with great reverence he called them together and comparing his Original with the former use of the Gold convinced them of that equal reverence which the change of both ought to beget in them Under him the Egyptians boasted that their Countrey was most happy no fewer then 1020 Towns of good note flourishing therein in his dayes Amasis his Law He made a Law that all men should yearly give account how they lived which if they could not prove to be by some honest calling they were to be punished with death and this Solon is said to have translated to Athens He being the first of all others that took Cyprus reigned 54. or 55 years It seemeth probable enough that he revolted from Cyrus being before tributary to the Babylonian Empire though the Priests hid this amongst other things from Herodotus and others and that this was the chief cause whatever is pretended why Cambyses came down and conquered his Kingdom This was not accomplished in his time he dying in preparation for the War A. M. 3480. V.C. 229. Cambysis 5. But his Son Psammenitus succeeding him lost all and so Egypt became a Province of the Persian Empire Psammenitus which things involving much of the affairs of Persia and nearly relating to the tragedie of Cambyses are to be referred to a more proper place The Kingdom of Aegypt very antient 29. The Egyptians accounting themselves the most antient of all Nations were not wanting indeed of many reasons to witnesse their antiquity although their pride transported them beyond the true Epoche of their Original The Scripture it self witnesseth Egypt to have been a mighty Kingdom every way better replenished then any other Country that we can read of in so antient times in the dayes of Abraham it was a flourishing Kingdom and the Israelites were not a People till such time as the Egyptians were one of the most flourishing Nations upon Earth The Ethiopians concluded themselves more antient because Egypt as they thought was of old a Sea or Lake (k) Ephorus apud Diodorum l. 1. p. 25. Herod lib. 2. c. 5. Arist Meteor l. 1. c. 14. Strabo l. 12. p. 536. D. Plut. in Iside Plin. l. 2. c. 85. Ammian l. 22. antient Writers being of opinion that it was the gift of the River Nile which having once contained within it self all the compasse of the Land at length warped it up out of it's bowels so that from it's mud or dirt the firm ground proceeded and became a Continent They urge that in the yearly inundations of the Nile much mud is left and sticks immovable that in the moutains of Egypt the shells of Fishes are found that the Springs and Wells there digged affoard water of a brackish taste as if the reliques of Sea-water yet remained in the Earth Lastly they say that the Island Pharus at this day Aegypt not the gift of the Nyle as was generally imagined is scarce a mile distant from Alexandria whereas in the time of (l) Odyss l. 4. ver 356. Homer it was a day and a nights sail off from Egypt But experience sheweth that for some thousands of years there hath been no accession by any such mud but that those Towns which anciently stood upon the Shore of the Sea and River still continue there The shells might come from the generall Deluge being found also in other places as well as Egypt Many describe the Fountain of the Sun at Heliopolis Vide Brodaei Miscell l. 3. c. 5. Bocharri Phaleg l. 4. c. 24. and yet none observe any brackish taste in the water And as for Pharus in the Trojan times it was distant from Canobus where Menelaus is thought to have arrived but 120 furlongs and therefore could not be a day and nights sail from Egypt as Homer wrote by virtue of his Poetick liberty or rather his ignorance in Geographie The antiquity of the Greeks novelty in comparison of that of the Aegyptians 30. Certainly they had cause enough to charge the Greeks with novelty and to jeer as they did at their pedantick pretence to Antiquity the lustre of any one of their Common-wealths being to that of theirs but as yesterday their Laws and Policy their Religion and Rites but new upstarts and as the Egyptians would go about to demonstrate but copies of their Originall There was ripenesse of literature civil discipline and inventions of severall sorts amongst them before the like did as much as bud forth in Greece Italy Herod l. 2. c. 49. or other Western Countries They stick not to instance wherein the Greeks have borrowed of them All or most of the names of their gods with the superstition belonging to them were they say stollen out of their Country the Rites being something altered and new stories invented to blind the World as to their Originall Diodorus l. 1. p. 14. c. Osiris they avow to have been the true Bacchus or Dionysus in whose Mysteries Orpheus the Poet being initiated whilst he sojourned in Egypt when he was afterwards kindly entertained at Thebes in Boeotia to gratifie them of that place raised a Fable of his being born there and begotten by Jupiter on Semele the Daughter of Cadmus a certain Bastard having at that time been born of her and fathered upon Jupiter Isis the Sister and Wife of Osiris they affirm to be the true Ceres Hercules was an Egyptian not born immediately before the Trojan War but in the most antient time even at the beginning of Mankind to which season the wearing of a Club and Lyons-skin was most
Nephew or Grand-son to the former Some think Joseph some Moses the true Mercury What ever he was his Works lost and * Translated by Facinus Apulcâ—us those yet extant shew him to have been a Man very well skilled in true Divinity and have gained him the credit to be numbred amongst the Prophets and Sibylls for that he wrote many things of God worthy of admiration nay also it 's believed of the coming of Christ of the Trinity and the last Judgement Of the Learning of the Egyptians he is (n) Jamblichus said to have written 36525 Books if Pages be not rather meant hereby And (o) Clemens Stromat l. 6. telleth us that in his time were extant 36 of his Books viz. of the wisdom of the Egyptians sixteen of Physick six of the Orders of Priests ten and four of Astrology The antient Government of Egypt 35. The most antient Government of Aegypt though Monarchicall yet left not Princes to the liberty of their own wills which were restrained by the Laws and Customs that had such authority over their private and domestick actions as they could not exceed the bounds of Temperance and Moderation prescribed to them thereby For no slaves were they suffered to entertain which might prove instruments for debaucherie but were attended by the Sons of the most noble Priests excellently educated Their hours both night and day were destined and set over to particular businesses In the morning when first awake Letters were brought in to them that having perfect intelligence they might be better able to provide for the publick safety When washed and royally apparelled they sacrificed during which devotion the chief Priests prayed for them and their subjects extolled their vertues cursing at last their sins of ignorance committed without their faults and reflecting upon their Advisors and Councellors Then did the Priests read out of the Records famous Presidents of Council or Action performed by their most Illustrious Predecessors which were to them proposed as Copies to take out Their time was prescribed not onely of speaking to the people and distributing Justice but also of walking washing and other more secret imployments Their diet was very moderate usually Veal and Goose with a moderate quantity of Wine as if ordered by an exact Physician No liberty was there of punishing any man in passion or choler either of acting any otherwise unjustly every case being determined by the Laws Yet neither did they hereby account themselves straitned of true liberty but rather happy in that they indulged not their appetites like other men Hereby obtained they the love of their subjects who held them more dear alive or dead than their own relations and the Government continued for many Generations as long as they submitted to those Rules and Orders The divisions of the Land and its Inhabitants 36. Sesocsis or Sesostris divided Egypt into 36 Nomi which word Diodorus lib. 1. p. 35. c. Strabo l. 17. whether Greek or Egyptian signified several Cities with certain Villages and Grounds thereto belonging Of these 10 belonged to the Province of Thebes or to Thebais other 10 to Delta Aristot Oeconom lib. 2. and the rest to the Midland Countreys lying betwixt them all which had their several Nomarchae or Governours who ruled them and took care of the King's Tributes The Lands were divided into three portions whereof the first belonged to the Priests who were in great Authority Diodorus and high esteem with the people Of their Revenues they maintained Sacrifices throughout the Land and their own families being exempted from all burthenâ— and impositions They were chief Counsellors to the Kings alwayes assisting with their advice judging of things out of their deep skill in Astrology and suggesting usefull matter out of the Records their function hereditarily descending upon their Children The second portion of Land belonged to the Kings by which they maintained their State waged War rewarded deserving persons and which affording them sufficient Treasure they burthened not their Subjects by any Taxes The third portion belonged to the Souldiers who were at all occasions ready for the War it seeming reasonable that such as ventured their lives for the safety of their Countrey should be well rewarded and good policy not to commit the safeguard thereof to any that had nothing dear or precious in it and hereby they were incouraged to be carefull in behoof of their posterity which succeeded them in their possessions As for the rest of the people they were divided into three Ranks or Orders viz. Shepheards Husband-men that farmed the grounds and Artificers who all attending their businesse and not medling with State-affaires neither having any right to Offices thereby the more improved their Arts and saved the Commonwealth harmlesse from such distempers as are bred by the violence of an heady and ignorant multitude The Courts of Justice 37. Their Courts of Justice were furnished with the most upright and able men that could be procured Thirty Judges were chosen from Heliopalis or On Thebes and Memphis each of them 10. Which Assembly would not give place either to that of the Areopagites at Athens or the Senate at Lacedaemon One of these thirty being chosen President the Citie for which he served made choice of another to sit in his place All had maintenance from the King but the President in larger proportion who also wore about his neck in a Chain of Gold an image of Truth made of precious stones as a badge of his Office When they were sate and the Codes wherein the Laws were contained laid before them then the Plaintiff exhibited his Bill of the Crime the manner of it and the estimate of the dammage The Defendant having a Copy of the Bill answered particularly to it either that he did not the thing committed no Crime in doing it or else had not deserved so great a punishment The Plaintiff had liberty to reply and the other to rejoyn his answer but after this the 30 proceeded to judgement and the President set the image of Truth towards one of the parties No Lawyers were suffered to plead as being thought rather to cast a mist upon the Cause and darken the Evidence Particular Laws 38. As for particular Laws Perjury was punished with death as a great offence both against God and man If one man suffered another to be murdred in the high-way or undergo any other violence without giving his assistance he was to die for it and if he could give him no help he was bound to discover the Robber and follow the Law against him under pain of enduring a certain number of stroaks and being deprived of all sustenance for three dayes False accusers underwent the punishment due to that fault they accused of Every one was bound to give in an account to the Magistrate how he lived under pain of death which Law was made by Amasis Wilfull murder either of Bond or Free was death
Lycurgus his brother Lycurgus then governed as King Lycurgus but not long after his brothers wife proved to be with Child She sent to acquaint him therewith and to tell him that if he would marry her she would make away the infant He detesting from his heart such Villany yet returned her no denial but desired her not to practice any thing upon her self whereby she might come in danger for when the Child was once born he would take care for the destruction of it and by this deceit he drew her on till the time of her Travel When that came he sent some to observe her with command if it were a Girle to deliver it to the women but if a Boy to bring it strait unto him As he was supping with the Magistrates a Boy was born and brought to him who taking him in his arms told the Spartans that there was their King and presently put him in the Royal seat And A.M. 3107. because all men wonderfully rejoyced at so strange a thing admiring his Magnanimity and Justice he gave to the Child the name of Charilaus Tutor to Charilaus 6. Then as Tutor to this his young Nephew he managed publick affairs for some eight moneths but there wanted not those of the Queens kindred especially her brother who reproached him to his face as intending no good to the Child which she also now stuck not to say incensed by his repulse in the matter of marriage He took this in very ill part Lege Plutarchum Strab. lib. 10. pag. 482. and fearing that some inconvenience might follow these suspitions that were begotten by his adversaries in the breasts of several persons resolved to cut them off by Travel wherein he purposed to continue so long till his brothers son should come to maturity and had begotten an Heir for his Kingdom He went first unto Crete Travelleth where he made observations of the Laws and Customes of that Commonwealth instituted by Minos which afterwards he made his pattern and whence he sent Thaletas an Eminent Lyrick Poet of those times by his charming Verses to stir up the Lacedaemonians to Love and Unity From Crete he passed over into Asia that he might compare the luxury thereof with the Cretian severity and as good Physick make up a temper out of both where he found Homer's Verses kept as it seemeth by the Sons of Creophylus the Poet being dead not above thirty years before which he then copied out and bringing them home first made them publick in Greece though in great disorder in which they continued till the dayes of Pisistratus The Egyptians reported that he came down into their Countrey and there learnt the distinction of Military men from Artificers and those of other callings But whilest he thus improved himself abroad he was much wanted at home and often earnestly sollicited to return by all parties 7. For great need there was of his pretence to heal the distempers into which the State was now fall'n the heady multitude having by its desire of loose liberty brought all things into confusion The first Government till the coming in of the Heraclidae for any thing that can be found was meerly absolute and afterwards we do not find that the Regal power was diminished till Eurypon or Eurytion most imprudently let loose the reigns of Government This gave occasion to the Rabble to fly high in disobedience and contest with his Successors when they endeavoured the recovery of their old Authority Many great tumults and seditions were hence raised insomuch that Eunomus the Grand-son of Eurypon father of Lycurgus and fifth from Procles was murdred in one of them with a butchers knife These distempers increasing Plutarch and the Kings not being strong enough to rule the dissolute Rabble nothing but absolute ruin and destruction was expected when Lycurgus returning home of whose prudence and integrity they had had formerly large demonstrations alone seemed able to give any hope of better things 8. He thought this opportunity was not be neglected now that all were in so good a mind and resolved to use his utmost indeavour for an alteration At his return he anew modelleth the State Herein this was the scope he aimed at to make Provision for equality which he thought to be the best Nurse of Concord and the Bulwark of all societies To accustom the People from their tender years to obey the Laws and Magistrates and hereby to render them more inclinable to live justly and frugally to bridle all corrupt affections indure labour and hardship refuse no danger for the publick good nor death it self if the case required Having therefore a design to make a full evacuation of all bad humours as he accounted them and knowing how full of difficulty and danger this might prove to the body politick mens minds much loathing so violent a Purgation he considered that they were apt to be led by a shew of Religion and having learnt how Minos pretended to have received his Laws from Jupiter with whom he conversed in a Cave he resolved to go to Delphos and make use of that Oracle to the same advantage There was he received with incouraging words saluted Beloved of the gods a god rather than a man and received in an Oracle the frame of a Commonwealth which bringing home he called Rhetra to gain the more Authority to it At his return he first consulted with his intimate friends and drew others on by degrees till having made a party he ordered thirty principal persons to go Armed into the Market-place betimes in the morning that they might thereby strike a terrour into their Adversaries A.M. 3122. Charilaus at this much affrighted as thinking it some plot against himself fled to Chalciaecum the Temple of Minerva much spoken of where he took Sanctuary but understanding how things were came forth and joyned himself to his Uncle being of a most sweet and mild disposition 9. The Rhetra according to which he framed his Model was of this tenour Let him build a Temple of Jupiter Syllanius and Minerva Syllania Let him divide the People into Phylae and Obae ordain thirty Senators with the Archagetae then let him call together the People betwixt Babyces and Cnacion so let him propose concerning matters or null them Gamodan Gorian c. In these words of the Oracle saith Plutarch Obae and Phylae that is Tribes signifie certain parts into which the People was to be divided the Kings are called Archagetae as Captains and to assemble the People is in Greek expressed by apollazein for that he attributed the beginning and cause of the Commonwealth to Apollo Pythius Babycas and Cnacion is at this day called Oenuns Aristotle writeth that Cnacion is the name of the River and Babycas of the Bridge In the middle betwixt these the Concio was assembled though there was neither Gallery nor any other accommodation because he thought that those things conduced nothing to Council but rather
he thrust his feet in Iron fetters and exposed him as a prey to wild beasts Yet either by those that had this charge Diodorus l. 4. p. 185. A.M. 2695. or others that found him he was carried to Polybus King of Corinth who caused his feet to be healed from the swelling of which he had the name of Oedipus and brought him up Many years after when he was grown Laius either hearing some rumor concerning him or carried by natural affection went to enquire of the Oracle what had hapned to his son and at the same time it chanced that Oedipus having heard of some design against himself went thither also to enquire who were his true Parents They met in Phocis A.M. 2722. where Laius bidding the other somewhat imperiously to give way Oedipus moved with choler killed him being utterly ignorant who he was Creon 8. Laius being dead Creon the brother of Jocaste called also Epicaste seized upon his Kingdom Oedipus and kept it for some time till Oedipus explained the ridle of Sphinx T is Munster which the Boeotians also called Phix Apollodorus is feigned to have had an head and face like a woman the hinder parts like a Lyon and wings as a Bird and keeping upon the Hill Phicion Plutarch in lib. quòd bruta ratione utuntur or Phiceon so named from her she proposed ridles which whosoever could unridle should have Jocaste in marriage with the Kingdom but if not she presently devoured them Unridleth the ridle of Sphinx Her ridle to Oedipus was this what is it that which goeth both on two Legs three and four A.M. 2758. Many having lost their lives for a misinterpretation he expounded it to be meant of a man who when an Infant creepeth on hands and feet when arrived at ripenesse of age goeth upright on legs and when he cometh to be old useth a staff Some think her a deformed and savage kind of woman that living on prey used to lie in wait for passengers But Pausanias writing that she was the Bastard daughter of Laius others judge her to have been for her wisdom preferred to determine the pretences of such as claimed the Kingdom and that those who were cast in the tryal she punished with death which cruelty the Poets detesting raised the fable Because of her abilities this kind of Monster was made by * Clemens Strom. l. 5. the Aegyptians an Hieroglyphick of wisedom and strength in both wich Plutarch maketh her to have excelled 9. Oedipus then married Jocasta his own mother not knowing what she was to him and obtained the Kingdom of Thebes Diodorus telleth us that he had two sons by her Eteocles and Polynices with as many daughters but others say he had them by Euryganea the daughter of Hyperphas At length all came to light both that he had killed his father and married his own mother whereupon she presently hanged her self and his sons kept him up close for the filthinesse of the thing as some say though others will have him driven from Thebes and that going to Theseus King of Athens he there died a little after Polynices while his father was yet living went to Argos Pausan Diodorus Apollod where he married Argia the daughter of Adrastus but after his death returned to Thebes to succeed him in the Kingdom The two brothers then agreed to reign by turns Eteocles Polynices but Eteocles having the first course refused to yield up his power at the time prefixed so that Polynices was glad to return to Argos At the same time there hâ—pned to be with Adrastus one Tydeus the son of Oeneus who having killed a man in Aetolia fled also to him both these he kindly received and by direction of the Oracle making them his sons-in-law promised to restore them to their Countreys and Estates Beginning first with Polynices he sent Tydeus in Ambassage to Eteocles who caused fifty men to lie in wait for him by the way but he killed them all and returned safe to Argos Adrastus to revenge the injury made all possible preparation for a War and invited all the best Souldiers from all quarters to the expedition Seven Eminent Captains gave their names whereof Amphiaraus who had married Eriphile the sister of Adrastus was Chief though of so ancient a thing as this Theban-war there can be little certainty The Theban War 10. A.M. 2785. Having each of them his several Army or Company rather they marched to Thebes which they besieged and divided themselves according to the Gates of the Citie Eteocles made all preparations for defence assigning to every Gate its Officer and consulted Tiresias a Prophet then blind concerning the event of the War He answered that the Thebans should overcome if Menaeceus the son of Creon would devote himself as a sacrifice to Mars which he presently did killing himself before the Gates Diod. l. 4. p. 177. The Thebans then made a sally but were beaten back to the Walls which when the Argives approched Capaneus one of the seven Captains first of all others set to Ladders and mounted but he being killed the other retreated and many of them were slain in the pursute After this it was agreed that the two brothers in a single Combat should decide the quarrel and so doing they mutually fell by the hands of each other then followed a very sharp fight wherein all the Captains that followed Adrastus were slain and he onely escaped by the swiftnesse of his Horse Arion Yet this victory cost the Thebans so dear that being themselves almost ruined hence Cadmea victoria became a proverb This War fell out 28 years before that of Troy Laodamus 11. Eteocles leaving behind him a young son named Laodamus Creon the brother of Jocasta assumed the Guardianship of him and would not suffer the Argives to be buried till Theseus and the Athenians procured it Ten years after the War when Laodamus was now grown up the sons of those Captains that had been slain called Epigoni made an expedition against Thebes to revenge the death of their fathers The expedition of the Epigoni A.M. 2795. Consulting before-hand the Oracle of Delphos about the successe they were bidden to chuse Alcmaeon the son of Amphiaraus for their General which having done and marching into Thebais they wasted all the Countrey round about the Citie Hereupon the Thebans made a sally and a sharp conflict insued wherein Laodamus slew Aegialeus the son of Adrastus and was himself killed by Alcmaeon though Pausanias saith he escaped out of the fight and fled to the Illyrians After this the Citie was taken and with other plunder Pausan Tiresias the Prophet was sent as a present towards Delphos but drinking by the way presently died This is he SECT 1. Thersander who is said to have experienced both Sexes and lived seven Generations even from the dayes of Cadmus to this time The Epigoni having taken
the one consisting of 354. and the other of 365 doubled these eleven dayes and every other year inserted a moneth after February consisting of 22 dayes and by the Romans called Mercedonius because at that time wages were wont to be paid He changed the order of the moneths assigning to March formerly the first the third place to January the first and February the second whereof this was the last and the other the 11th in the dayes of Romulus Many have been of opinion that Numa added January and February to the rest of the moneths and that formerly the Romans had but 10. which appeareth by the name of December the last moneth and because the fifth and sixth moneths from March were called Quintilis and Sextilis Thus March must have been the beginning of the year which Romulus so named from Mars his supposed father The second was April so called from Venus as some thought because her superstitious worship was performed in it when the women were Crowned with Myrtle as they washed or as others gathered from the opening of Plants at that time of the year The third was May named from Maia and sacred to Mercury the fourth was June from Juno as some thought others deriving the names of these two from Majores and Juniores the Elder and younger The rest had their names from their order as Quintilis Sextilis September October November December Afterwards Quintilis was from Julius Caesar called July Sextilis August from Augustus September and October the Emperour Domitian changed into his own names but presently after he was killed they recovered their former Onely the two last ever retained their first appellations Of those moneths which Numa either added or ranked February was so called from the expiations which used to be in it signified by the word Februa then they were wont to make parentations to the dead and celebrate the Lupercalia certain Sacrifices and Games in honour of Pan much like to the Sacrifice of Expiations January was named of Janus which Numa seemeth to have set before March because he would shew that Civil vertue is ever to be preferred before what is exercised in War For Janus was accounted one of the most antient Gods or Kings from whom reigning in Italy some make the Romans descended very studious for civil society and humane converse and who changed the course of mans life from brutish and savage to an humane and gentle kind He is therefore feigned to be double faced because he brought in another fashion of life than what formerly had been and had a Temple built by Numa with two doors that were shut in peace and open in vvar as was before said These things Plutarch relateth in the life of Numa 15. But Livie and other considerable Authors (a) C. 3. Solinus (b) Satur. lib. 1. c. 12. Macrobius and (c) c. 20. Censorinus write that the first Roman year consisted but of ten moneths and 304 dayes six of the moneths having 30 dayes and the other four 31 apiece But this account differing from the course of the Sun Numa to make them agree added 51 dayes to the year That he might make up the twelve moneths from the six consisting of thirty dayes he took one day apiece and therewith made up 57. which were divided into two moneths whereof the one contained 29. and the other 28 dayes and so the year began to have 355. Of this opinion besides Junius Grauhanus and Fulvius both Varro and Suetonius were as appeareth out of Censorinus Yet Licinius Macer and Lucius Fenestella by the same testimony two antient Writers of Annals delivered that the first Roman year consisted of 12 moneths agreeable to the former opinion related by Plutarch This a * Joseph Scaliger de Emendatione Temp. lib. 2. Lidyatus de variis annorum formis cap. 17. noble pair of modern Criticks prove to have been the truer opinion affirming that January and February were not added by Numa but transferred from the end to the beginning of the year and endeavouring to shew that they who would have the year but to consist of 10 moneths make it no shorter than they that are for 12. distinguishing it not so much in number as placing of dayes for the Romans in Romulus his time filled up the year either by assigning more dayes than thirty to the moneths or adding so many in the end thereof as seemed to be wanting But it sufficeth to have touched these things for the direction of beginners 16. Numa to gain credit and obedience to his constitutions feigned that he had converse with the Goddesse Egeria He married Tatia daughter to Tatius the King by which he had a daughter named Pompilia Some said he neither had any other wife nor any more Children but others both as to wife and children dissented from them He lived above 80. reigned 43 years and at his death was buried with great honour His body was not burned which he forbad but buried in a stone Coffin under the Janiculum and the Books of his Ceremonies laid by him in another which being twelve written in Latine and as many in the Greek tongue were 400 years after when Publius Cornelius and Marcus Baebius were Consuls by water wrought out of the earth and for that it was thought wickednesse to have such things discovered to the multitude from which he also kept them after the fashion of the Pythagoreans not communicating discipline by writing but onely by word of mouth burned by command of the Senate He kept the State in constant peace and his ability herein contributed to the general quiet of Italy so that by the example of his reign Plutarch judgeth that saying of Plato to be verified that the onely means whereby men should be made happy would be to have a Philosophical mind and regal power concur in a Prince who would make vertue superiour to dishonesty But the fortune of the succeeding Kings added to the lustre of his glory For of the five which followed the last was cast out and died in exile and none of the rest obtained a natural and quiet end according to Plutarch Tullus Hostilius 17. Numa being dead and the Government devolved upon the Senate after several Interreges at length Tullus Hostilius was created King by the Universal consent of the Citie His Grand-father was that Hostilius A. M. 3333. V.C. 82. Olymp. 27. an 1. who most gallantly behaved himself against the Sabines at the Cittadel and married of that Nation the daughter of Hersilia After much valour shewn he was slain in battel and left a young son who at ripenesse of age of a noble Matrone begat this Tullus Hostilius the third King of Rome whose beginning according to the account of Dionysius was in the second year of the 27th Olympiad wherein Eurybates the Athenian was Victor when Leostratus was Archon at Athens in the 83 year of the Citie and the 31 of Manasses King of Judah At his first beginning he
200 Gallies 10000 most valiant Souldiers and out of Egypt it self raised 80000 foot Agesilaus the King of Lacedaemon he also procured to come to him Xenoph. Plutarch Aemilius Probus in Agesilao promising him the command of all his forces Upon the report of his landing all sorts of presents were dispatched to him but the Courtiers finding no Train nor any thing of State about him onely an old man little of stature not at all trimmed but with coarse and old Clothes sitting on the shore upon the grasse they greatly despised him and were seized with wonder at his poornesse of spirit when they beheld how amongst the presents taking the Meal Calves and Geese to himself he gave the sweet Meats and Oyntments to be divided amongst the slaves Tachos King of Egypt strengthneth himself And Tachos himself gave him not the chief command according to his promise deriding him for the smalnesse of his stature and saying that the fable was fulfilled in him the Mountains are in Travel and a Mouse is brought forth to which with anger and scorn he answered that afterwards he should have cause to think him a Lyon Diod. Plutarch 95. With Tachos also was Chabrias the Athenian though not sent from the State as was Agesilaus but on his own account who advised him wanting Treasure to command his richest sort of subjects to furnish him with as much money as they could spare and he would repay them out of his yearly Tributes which course he following got great store of money and yet injured no man To him he committed his Fleet to Agesilaus the conduct of the 10000 mercenary Graecians to Nectanebus his son or rather the son of his brother 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or sister being called his Nephew reserving to himself the command over all and though Agesilaus advised him rather to manage the War by his Lieutenants Nectanebus King of Egypt and stay in Egypt he sayled into Phoenicia the Spartan following him though against his dignity and disposition Coming into Phoenicia he sent Nectanebus against the Cities in Syria to whom came a message from the Viceroy of Egypt left there by Tachos signifying that he had revolted and now invited him to seize upon the Kingdom to which he consenting drew presently to his party all the Officers by gifts and the Souldiers by large promises Tachos now being in fear of his own servants and Agesilaus whom he derided betook himself to Sidon and thence to Artaxerxes by whom he was courteously entertained though not declared General in the Egyptian War and so by the help of Agesilaus recovered his Kingdom as Diodorus writeth 96. Another King besides these two was made by the Egyptians of Mendesium of whom 10000 arose and for him made War upon Nectanebus Plutarch Xenoph Cornelius Nepos Diodorus ut suprà The case being thus Agesilaus took part with Nectanebus whom he thought more to favour the Graecians took the other prisoner and confirmed him in the Kingdom who importuning him to stay and winter with him he refused hasting homewards Agesilaus having served him in his return dieth for that he knew the Lacedaemonian State to be at this time ingaged in a War destitute of Treasure and yet to keep strangers in constant pay for want of their own men Nectanebus when he would not stay dismissed him with great gifts and honours giving him 220. or 230 Talents for the maintenance of the War at home with which taking ship he sayled homewards though in the midst of Winter making haste lest through his absence the State should do nothing the next Summer but being carried by Tempest into a desart place called the Haven of Menelaus lying betwixt Cyrene and Egypt he there fell sick and died His friends laying his Corps in Wax for want of Honey carried it to Lacedaemon where it was buried according to his worth and dignity 97. About the time of his death died also Artaxerxes the King of Persia Plutarch in Artaxerxe Justin lib. 10. after he had reigned 43 years He had 115 sons of which three onely were legitimate Darius Ariaspes and Ochus the rest being begotten of Concubines Artaxerxes dieth having before his death made Darius King who plotting against him of which he kept 360. with which yet he could not be contented without the addition of Atossa his own daughter his own mother to please him becoming a Bawd to his incestuous affections When he was grown old perceiving his sons to strive about the succession and especially Ochus who although the youngest hoped by the means of Atossa to procure the Kingdom of him fearing lest after his death he might do as his Uncle Cyrus had formerly done contrary to the custom of Persia which admitted not of two Kings at the same time he made Darius the eldest now 50 years old King whilest he lived lest his death should involve the Empire in civil broils It was the fashion for him that was made King to ask and receive something at the hands of him that made him according to which Darius asked Aspasia to wife which formerly having been Concubine to Cyrus Artaxerxes took and afterwards married He out of indulgence to him first granted his request for that she being a free woman and no slave might chuse whether she would have him and hoping she would refuse but she willingly accepting of the thing and he then repenting of what he had rashly promised consecrated her as a Nun to Diana that she might live for the remainder of her dayes a single life Darius hereby incensed through the provocation of Tiribazus who bore Artaxerxes malice for defrauding him of his daughter Amistris whom he promised to him but married her himself entred with 50 of his brethren into a conspiracy against the life of his father Is put to death and the plot being revealed by an Eunuch was put to death with his complices Darius being removed out of the way Ochus was more inflamed with a desire of reigning to which he was more incensed by Atossa his sister But he feared two of his brothers Ariaspes legitimate and the elder and one Arsames who though base born and the younger yet was much esteemed for his wisdom and especially beloved by his father Both of them he resolved to destroy Ochus his wicked practices for the Kingdom the former by his cunning and the later by down-right cruelty for he hired some who never ceased to tell Ariaspes as a great secret that his father was resolved to make him away by a cruel and shamefull death and so often inculcating it unto him as speedily to be done drove him to that fear and desperation that he poysoned himself Artaxerxes mourned for him but knowing the kind of his death and suspecting the cause yet through extream age was unable to search into the matter and find it out onely he imbraced Arsarmes more affectionatly than ever and not obscurely signified
that he onely could trust and rely upon him Ochus judging then that no delay was to be used procured Harpates the son of Ieribazus who fell in the treason of Darius to murder him Artaxerxes was already so spent with age that he seemed to want but the least furtherance to his death so that word being brought him of the death of Arsames he was not able to bear it but died heart-broken with sorrow after he had lived 94 years in the 43th of his reign in the third of the 104 Olympiad A. M. 3644. about 360 before the birth of Christ He was esteemed mild and loving towards his subjects which opinion was mightily confirmed by the cruelty and paricide of his successor SECT IV. From the death of Artaxerxes Mnemon and the beginning of Ochus to the death of Darius Codomannus containing the space of 32 years 1. OChus succeeded his father Diodorus after whom he was also named Artaxerxes and whose name the Persians put upon his Successors for a memorial of his mild and prosperous Government Some think him by the Persians to have been called Ochosueros Ochus succeedeth or Achosueros and that he is to be taken for that Achesuerus or Ahasuerus the husband of Esther mentioned in Scripture who by the seventy and Josephus after them is named Artaxerxes Some have thought Cambyses to have been the man Jacobus Cappellus alii but he reigned onely seven years whereas above twelve are given to Ahasuerus Neither could Darius the son of Hystaspes be he if the Jews with others rightly accounted the book of Esther to have been the last in order of all the Canonical Scripture of the Old Testament and for that Vashti his wife is thought to be Atossa the daughter of Cyrus it cannot be because he never put away Aâ—ossa on whom he begat Xerxes And although some plead hard for Xerxes because his wife is called by Herodotus Amestris which they take in the Persian tongue to be onely Ham-Esther yet 't is apparent out of the same Author that she was the daughter of Otanes a Persian Satrapa by Religion an Heathen and of a most cruel disposition Besides Ahasuerus in the seventh year of his reign was at Sushan but Xerxes in the seventh of his reign was absent in the War with Greece and though the Greeks corrupted forein names and might call Xerâ—es him whom the Persians named Actachsasta or Artachas-ta yet not one in his own language called Achoschverosch Esther's husband Neither is it probable that Longimanus could be the man who is both in sacred and prophane story called Artach-sasta and Artaxerxes but no where Achasuerus The same may be said of Nothus who both by Nehemiah and Greek writers is called Darius and of Artaxerxes Mnemon concerning whose wife Statira such things are written as can neither agree with Vashti nor Esther Now if that of Esther be the last Canonical book and Nehemiah lived to the time of Darius Nothus then is it probable that Esther lived in the reign of his son or Grand-son and cannot so conveniently be assigned for a wife to any as to Ochus 2. Ochus knowing of how great Authoâ—ity his fathers name was to his subjects and how contemptible he should be after his death was known Polyaenus Stratagem lib. 7. procured of the Eunuchs Chamberlains and Colonels to conceal it for ten moneths and in the mean time sending about the Royal Seal commanded in his fathers name to proclaim Ochus King When all owned and obeyed him as King he then confessed his fathers death and commanded a general mourning according to the custom of Persia and presently took away all Competition filled (a) Justin lib. 10. the Court with the bloud of his kindred and relations no regard being had either to Sex or Age. Amongst the rest he put to death his (b) Valerius Max. lib. 9. cap. 2. Ext. ex 7. Lib. 10. cap. â— sister Ocha being also his mother-in-law with cruel torments and his Uncle with his two sons and Nephews he caused to be set in an empty place and killed with Darts who seemeth well to have been father to Sisigambis mother to Darius the last Persian King whose 80 brethren together with their father Curtius reporteth to have been murdered by Ochus 3. From Ochus revolted Artabazus Diodorus ad Olymp. 106. ann 1. 4. against whom were sent some of the Persian Satrapaes with 70000 men and yet by the help of Chares the Athenian he overthrew them and rewarded Chares with a great summe of money Artabazus revolteth from him which he laid out in the paying of his Souldiers Ochus knowing of this expostulated seriously with the Athenians about it who hearing that he intended with 300 ships to assist their Enemies with whom they were now ingaged in the social War presently clap't up a peace with them Artabazus being forsaken of the Athenians betook himself to the Thebans who ordered Pammenes with 500 men to passe over into Asia to assist him by whose help Artabazus again overthrew the King's forces sent against him in two great and bloudy battels which got no small credit to Pammenes and his Boeotians Yet a few years after Idem ad Olymp. 107. ann 2. when the Thebans were ingaged in the Phocian War and reduced to extremity for want of money they sent to Artaxerxes Ochus and obtained of him 300 Talents which he did as it seemeth to put an obligation upon them to assist him in the War which he renewed against the Egyptians 4. Although Egypt had long before this revolted from the Persian Empire yet Ochus not at all affecting War kept himself quiet for having sent some Armies thither by the treachery or ignorance of their Captains they miscarried so that having several times badly sped though despised on that account by the Egyptians yet being a lover of his ease and quiet he submitted to the disgrace But now at this time about the eleventh year of his reign the Phoenicians and Cyprians taking heart and rebelling also he resolved to chastise them all with Arms and that in his own person and making great provision of all things for the War raised 300000 foot 30000 horse He invadeth Phoenicia and 300 Gallies besides Vessels of burthen The first Tempest of the War fell upon Phoenicia which revolted upon this occasion A famous Citie there was therein named Tripolis consisting according to it's name SECT 4. of three Cities distant a furlong from each other and inhabited by Tyrians Sidonians and Arcadians in which the assembly General of the Phoenicians met and resolved of their most important affairs Herein the Persian Satrapaes and Ambassadors behaving themselves very uncivilly and abusing the Sidonians they thereupon resolved to rebel and perswading the other Phoenicians to side with them for the obtaining of their liberty sent to Nectanebus King of Aegypt to desire him to receive them into confederacy against Ochus Then to begin their hostility they
might never be able more to handle spears but row with oares and having taken the two Gallies of Andrus and Corinth to cast headlong all the men into the Sea the perswader to this being Philocles Hereupon it was resolved that they should all be put to death except Adimantus who had withstood the Decree of cutting off the hands All of them put to death except Adimantus which sentence was accordingly executed Lysander then sailing about to the Cities under the Athenian power dismissed the Garrison Soldiers and all others he found with charge to get them to Athens under pain of death which crafty policy he used to fill the City with men that it might not be able long to endure a Siege for want of Victuals When they of the City heard the news they were affected accordingly bewailing not onely the fortune of the slain but their own also expecting now that should be done to themselves which heretofore they had done to the Melians a Colony of Sparta and to the Histiaeans Scionaeans Toronaeans Aeginetans and many other Greek Cities not in way of revenge for any injury but out of indulgence to their own lust for that they rejoyced in other mens miseries Yet as grief would give way to prudence they took care for fortifying the City against a Siege in which they could not look for any assistance from elsewhere all their Confederates except the Samians having forsaken them and such as they had banished from their dwellings being again restored to those places which they had filled with Colonies of their own 90. Lysander having taken away Democracy brought in the power of a few into all the Cities Herein he dealt with much cruelty and ambition putting in such men onely as were his creatures that he might obtain an unlimited power or Tyranny over all Greece and sending for Land forces from Sparta Lysander besiegeth Athens both by Sea and Land he besieged Athens both by Sea and Land The Athenians continued so resolute for a long time that till many were already dead of famine not a word was heard of asking Peace Then Ambassadors were sent to Agis the Spartan King about it who referred them to Sparta having as he said no commission to entertain their overtures Thither then they went offering that they might gain the friendship of Lacedaemon to part with all places besides the City and Piraeus where they would retain the Fortifications but they had for answer that if they seriously desired peace they must repair home and not return till they had better advised of the matter Hereat the Athenians were much abashed thinking now of nothing but servitude none daring to propose the demolishing of the walls for the Lacedaemonians having offered them Peace upon these terms Archestratus for advising them to embrace it was imprisoned and it was decreed that it should be unlawful to mention it for the time to come Theramenes then procured to be sent to Lysander to get out what his intention was whether to enslave them or to have the walls demolished and thence he returned not till the fourth moneth that in this time they might be constrained to resolve of something At his return SECT 4. he said he could get no other answer but that they must send again to Sparta and thereby he procured himself and others to be sent with full authority for concluding a Peace 91. The Ambassadors of the Confederates being assembled at Sparta many of them especially the Corinthians and Thebans urged that no composition was to be made with them but that Athens should be destroyed but the Spartans would not give way to it saying it was not their intention to destroy a City which in the greatest dangers of Greece had done the greatest things for it's deliverance They then without much delay made peace with them upon these terms That the long walls and the fortifications of the Piraeus should be demolished that they should deliver up all their ships except twelve receive their exiles follow the Lacedaemonians both by Sea and Land in the Wars Which yieldeth and have the same Friends and Enemies with them Some at the return of the Ambassadors would have refused these terms but the far major part siding with Theramenes accepted of them Lysander then seized upon the ships and the walls upon the sixteenth day of the moneth Munichion on which they had formerly overthrown the Persians at Salamine and went about to alter the Government which the People strongly resisted insomuch that he sent back to Sparta to complain of them saying they had broken the League in that their walls were not demolished and though no worse thing was yet decreed against them though pressed by some yet this made them willing to receive any thing The walls demolished and the Gallies burnt Then sent he for all the Pipers out of the City to whom joyning those in his own Camp at the noise of their instruments he caused the walls to be demolished and the Gallies to be burnt the Confederates making great solemnity as if that day gave beginning to the liberty of Greece Herewith the 27th year and the War it self ended which being carried on for so long a time with most various fortune dubious and inconstant events with infinite charges all sorts of contests and the ruine of so many Captains as had not perished in all the Wars of Greece besides was finished by the politick industry of one man A. M. 3600. Ol. 93. an 4. V. C. 349. Darii Nothi 19. Belli Pelop. 27. whom some thought thereupon they could not sufficiently admire in the 780th year after the end of that of Troy in the fourth of the 93d Olympiad the nineteenth of Darius Nothus who died presently after the conclusion of the Peace A. M. 3600. SECT IV. From the end of the Peloponnesian War to the beginning of the reign of Philip King of Macedonia containing the space of 44 years 1. THe year following being that wherein the 94th Olympiad was celebrated in the course of which Crocinas the Thessalian got the prize Xenoph. ut prius Endicus was Ephorus at Sparta and Pythadorus Archon at Athens whom yet the Athenians did not so account because that the Oligarchy being brought in this year they esteemed it as anarchical As soon as the long walls and the Piraeus were demolished by the command of Lysander thirty men were chosen to make Lavvs by vvhich the Commonvvealth might be governed After their creation and investiture in the povver they deferred both to publish or vvrite the Lavvs but constituted the Senate and other Magistrates at their pleasure The 30 Tyrants at Athens Then first they laid hold of all such as had under the Democracy lived by informing and false accusing of others vvhich vvas not displeasing to honest men So that those being condemned by the Senate they vvere put to death But aftervvards they began seriously to lay their heads together hovv they might
make themselves Masters of all They sent Aeschines and Aristotle tvvo of their company to Sparta to desire a Garrison for the better government of the City till they had taken out of the vvay all naughty persons and had setled the Commonvvealth promising themselves to pay the Soldiers Lysander being made use of procured vvhat they desired and Callibius vvas sent as Harmostes unto Athens whom they so flattered that they brought him to consent to vvhatsoever they should act Novv then they fell upon not onely naughty and dissolute persons but on the best vvhosoever they thought ill affected and would endeavour to stop their proceedings Theramenes one of them protested against this cruelty and added that it was impossible their power should continue in that State without a sufficient company to assist them Hereupon they fearing him lest he should make himself Captain of the discontented which was almost the whole City chose out of the Citizens 3000 which they thought meetest for their purpose and gave them some part of the power with this privilege that none of them should be put to death without the consent of the Senate all the rest of the People being left to the discretion of the thirty whom they also disarmed at a general muster 2. Now thinking themselves secure enough they filled all places with murders Fill all places with murders and rapine not onely of their private Enemies but such whose wealth might enrich them of which they were excessive greedy and to this purpose they agreed that every one should name one man whom he would put to death for to seize upon his goods Theramenes having disliked the election of the 3000 uttered now also his detestation of this wickednesse refusing himself to commit it For this they were more jealous of him fearing he might crosse their abhominable practices and resolved upon his destruction so that having provided a Company of young men with daggers to assist them they called the Senate together and therein Critias his once familiar friend but now his deadly Enemy because the most cruel Tyrant of the thirty bitterly accused him as a turbulent and unsetled man being novv for the People and another vvhile against them he objected against him the death of the six Captains procured by him and concluded he vvas not a fit man to live in a Common-vvealth Theramenes one of them for detesting their wickednesse is put to death especially so constituted Theramenes replyed vvith undaunted courage and gave satisfaction to the Senate as Critias perceived by their muttering vvho thereupon concluding that if he escaped it vvould endanger his ovvn life he consulted vvith his Companions and then returning to the Senate told them that having first expunged his name out of the Catalogue of the 3000 and hereby he being subjected to their censure they condemned him to death Theramenes replied again that his name was no more easy to be blotted out than any other mans in consideration vvhereof he advised them all to make his case their ovvn but none daring to oppose for that they knew the men that were present to be privily armed he was led away and compelled to drink poyson which he did with a resolute and gallant Spirit After this the Tyrants as being at liberty to do what they pleased forbad all that were not contained in the Catalogue to come into the City from which they expelled them and the borders that they and their Associates might enjoy their Lands The Citizens betook themselves to the Piraeus but being thence also expelled they filled Megara and Thebes with their multitudes 3. This banishment of the Athenians procured their liberty For now they entred into consultation and resolved to hazard their lives for the freedom of their Country seeing that now what would have been treason at home would have no danger abroad but such as might be found in the execution First Thrasybulus who was then at Thebes with but * Corn. Nepos in Thrasybulo thirty in his company seized upon Phyla a Castle in the Territories of Athens which the Tyrants understanding endeavoured to recover but to no purpose for he having gotten to him within a while 700 men put to flight the Garrison Soldiers of Sparta whom they had set to watch two miles off from the Castle killing of them about 120 men Herewith the Tyrants were something discouraged Thrasybulus opposeth the Tyrants but thinking it best to get Eleusine into their power they went thither and perceiving the Inhabitants that were able to bear Arms to go out at the gates that they might onely as they pretended take the number of their heads most wickedly murdered them After this Thrasybulus with 1000 men seized upon the Piraeus against whom though the Tyrants came out with their whole power yet he obtained the victory against them killing 70 and what more Critias the Arch Tyrant with Hippomachus one of his Collegues and Charmiaes one of the ten Captains which had been placed over the Piraeus When the slain were delivered up to be buried and thereupon both parties met Câ—eocritus a Cryer belonging to the Priests and a man famous for his loud and audible voice expostulated with those who sided with the Tyrants for expelling them their fellow Citizens educated together partakers heretofore of the same things sacred and prophane prosperous and adverse and all for to satisfie the lust of those Monsters who had kindled such a flame as had already consumed more than the Peloponnesian War did in ten years His speech produced such effect that the 3000 fell at difference amongst themselves such as had been busied in the destruction of other men together with the Tyrants vehemently contended that nothing was to be granted to them in the Piâ—aeus but those that were confident in their own innocence crying out there was no reason that they should obey the will and pleasure of the thirty and suffer the Citie to perish prevailed against them Then was the power of the thirty abrogated and ten chosen into their room one out of very Tribe Their power is abrogated after which they quitted the Citie and retired to Eleusine 4. Notwithstanding the change of the Government yet there was no accord betwixt them in the Piraeus and those in the Town They send for aid from Sparta but several acts of Hostility they committed against one another At length the 3000 in the Town and the Tyrants of Eleusine sent to Sparta to desire aid against the other saying that the people revolted from the Lacedaemonians and Lysander procured them 100 Talents to be sent out of hand himself ordered to go General to assist them and his brother Libys General of the Fleet. Then besieged he the Piraeus Lysander is sent and besiegeth Thrasybulus and his fellows in the Piraeus both by Land and Sea and sorely straightned them but Pausanias the Spartan King thinking much that he should get the glory of Conquering Athens the second
time which he would make as his own he perswaded the Ephori to give way that he should follow him with another Army under pretence of assisting him upon which account the Corinthians and Boeotians amongst the Confederates refused to follow him alleging they should break their Oaths by fighting against them who had done nothing prejudicial to the peace This they did concluding that the Lacedaemonians would lay the Territories of Athens to their own demains Pausanias after his arrival sent to them in the Piraeus to bid them depart and they refusing it for a colour to his designs he lead his Forces against them But returning without any thing performed he went to view the Walls the next day at which time they sallied out upon him and still fresh supplies coming in on both sides wrought and received considerable damage 5. Yet for all this he underhand sent unto them about a composure and instructed them what they should offer They obeyed him and he perswaded also those in the Citie to end the controversie that both might become friends to the Lacedaemonians But Pausanias the Spartan King emulating Lysander taketh up the matter The two Ephori present with him for two used alwayes to accompany the Spartan Kings in their expeditions inclined to his opinion rather than to the severity of Lysander and so accordingly they sent Ambassadors from both parties to Lacedaemon about an agreement The Lacedaemonians after audience presently dispatched ten Commissioners with them back to Athens who together with Pausanias might make an agreement They presently composed all on these terms That all should return home to their own habitations except the 30. and the 10. and 11 men which had commanded in the Piraeus and if any feared the people they might remove to Eleusine These things being done Pausanias drew off the Spartan Army and those that were in the Piraeus went up with their Arms into the Citie The popular Government restored and there sacrifized to Minerva Then by the perswasion of Thrasybulus the popular Government was restored and all things ordered as in former times A little after it being heard that they in Eleusine hired Soldiers abroad attempting new matters the whole Citie rose against them took their Captains as they came to parley and slew them the rest by their friends sent to them were perswaded to agree Then passed a general Act of Oblivion for all that was past confirmed by an Oath to keep which they being very carefull even yet saith Xenophon joyntly mannage the affairs of the Commonwealth By which wise order the Citie returned to its former quietnesse upon this Sedition raised by the 30 Tyrants who being created by a Decree of the Senate as * another saith put to death 1400 Citizens unheard Isocrates in Areopagit and forced more than 5000 to fly into the Piraeus 6. But this Tyranny of the 30. not onely produced the destâ—uction of many in the Town but of Alcibiades also then living in Asia with Phanabazus Plutarch in Alcibiad Cora. Nepos whom he intended to make use of to bring him to the King hoping he might deserve no worse of that Prince than Themistocles had done of his Predecessor When the Athenians were deprived of their liberty by the means of Lysander and the Tyranny of the 30. they then began again to repent of what they had done to him judging that if he had been yet at the Helm they should never have made shipwrack of their liberty and still their confidence was in him and thought their cause was not utterly desperate as long as he was safe The thirty Tyrants procured Alcibiades to be made away The Tyrants also were jealous of him procuring all the intelligence they could concerning all his actions and at length Critias remonstrated to Lysander that things could not stand as they did long if he lived who yet was nothing perswaded to procure his death till he received a Scytala from the Magistrates at Sparta who either feared his great abilities or did it to gratifie Agis to remove him by some means out of the way He sent to Pharnabazus requiring him to dispatch him who enjoyned his brother Magaeus and his Uncle Susamiâ—hres to be his Executioners They coming to the Village in Phrygia where he lived durst not enter his house but compassing it about set it on fire He perceiving what was done took some Clothes and casting them into the fire which keeping down the flame for some space he brake out whereupon the Barbarians fled not daring to stand to him but at a distance killed him with Darts after which his body was burnt with that matter that was prepared to consume him alive by the care of his Paramour Timandra the Mother of Lais the famous Corinthian Courtisan Thus he died in the flour of his age scarce exceeding fourty years a man very beautifull of most excellent parts fit for any imployment able to accommodate himself to all both times and customs though never so repugnant and therein yet esteemed also to excell Socrates upon him exercised the true Platonick love labouring to infuse such virtue into him as might make him truely lovely but such were his temptations and inclination that counterpoising the instructions nature in this man seemed to try what she could do it being agreed by all saith * Com. Nepos one who wrote of him that none was ever more eminent both for vice and virtue 7. After these things Cyrus made War upon his brother Artaxerxes Xenoph. lib. 3. as hath been said elsewhere at what time he sent to Lacedaemon demanding a return for his kindnesses shewed to them who thinking it most just sent their Admiral to keep in play Syeunesis the Satrapa of Cilicia till he passed that Countrey After his overthrow Tissaphernes his greatest Enemy being a most insolent man before now grew more haughty after the King had laid the Province of Cyrus to his Satrapie and began to be more troublesome to the Greek Cities in Asia Thimbro sent into Asia They sent to complain hereof at Sparta which State sent to their relief Thimbron with an Army of 1000 new raised Soldiers out of Laconia 4000 Foot of Peloponnesus and 300 Horse from Athens which the Citie willingly parted withall with no good prosperity wished to their persons for that they had been in the service of the thirty Tyrants What he did in Asia and how he returned home after Dercyllidas was sent to succeed him and was banished upon complaint of the Confederates is related in the Affairs of Asia At the same time as Dercyllidas managed the War beyond the Seas the Lacedaemonians and Eleans reviving their old grudges and complaints broke out into another War which was begun by the Lacedaemonians at the instance of the Ephori They sent out Agis their King who led an Army into the Territories of the Eleans but an Earth-quake hapning at his first entrance which was counted ominous he returned
Polybiades was sent to command the Army who besieging the Olynthians at length forced them by famine to yield on these terms Olynthus taken by Olybiades To have the same Friends and Enemies with the Lacedaemonians and to follow them as associates whithersoever they should lead them in their Wars 28. In the mean time the Phliasians grown confident upon the absence of Agesipolis began to act very insolently and unjustly against the Exiles which of late they were made to re-admit The Exiles complained of them at Lacedaemon and they thereupon in their absence put a mulct upon them which understanding they still continued and praied justice from that State At length the Ephori resolved upon War and Agesilaus was sent against the Phliasians who thereupon offering largely to do all things fitting he refused them saying he must have deeds and not words to which now without further confirmation he could give no credit They asking what he would demand he required their Castle to be delivered up to him which being utterly refused he besieged the City They held out longer than he expected because the Magistrate suffered them not to eat above half of the ordinary proportion and by means of one Delphion who with 300 assistants imprisoned such as spake of a surrender But at length consumed with famine they desired a Truce to send Commissioners to Sparta to treat of Peace Agesilaus stomached that they should passe him by The Phliasians subdued by Agesilaus and therefore sending his friends to the City he obtained that the matter should be referred back to him He ordered that 50 should be chosen of the Exiles and as many others who should determine which Citizens should be suffered to live and which put to death and that then power should be given them to make Laws for the Government of the City Whilst these things should be done he left a Garrison in the Town and so departed having spent Twenty moneths in this businesse 29. All things thus falling out to the Spartans according to their wish they judged their Empire sufficiently established Xenoph. ut prius Diodorus ad Olymp. 100. an 3. Plutarch Corn. Nepos in Pelopide but another event as Xenophon gravely discourseth of divine vengeance taught the contrary it being clear both from the Histories of Greeks and Barbarians that God suffereth not to escape unpunished wicked and ungodly actions They had sworn not long before to leave the Cities to their own liberty and yet they kept in their hands the Citadel at Thebes and therefore being formerly invincible were now sufficiently plagued by those alone whom they had injured There was one Phillidas Secretary to the present Polemarchi of Thebes who being not at all suspected by his Masters went to Athens where the Exiles lay and there entered into a conspiracy with Mello one of them for the killing of the Polemarchi and recovery of their Countries liberty Mello and six others being let in by Phillidas were in womens apparrel brought in to the Polemarchi as Courtezans whilst they were drinking and celebrating the Feast of Venus at the end of their Office whom they stabbed with daggers hid under their clothes after which they did as much to Leontides the chief revolter as he lay in his bed Thebes recovered by the Exiles Mello being easily admitted to him without suspition Then went they to the common prison and killing the Keeper set at liberty their friends when now they called the people together and exhorted them to stand in defence of their native liberty They presently besieged the Castle wherein the Lacedaemonian Governour seeing the alacrity of the assailants was forced to yield upon this condition to go out with his Army and for that was put to death at his return to Sparta The Thebans then slew such as they could come by who sided with Leontides and too rigorously extended the same punishment to their children 30. The Ephori sollicited by the Exiles that fled to Sparta Xenoph. Plutarch and moved by the authority of Agesilaus who pretended a sufficient quarrel for that Archias and Leontides were slain sent Cleombrotus their King against the Thebans now in the depth of Winter He in his passage slew those whom Phillidas had let out of prison to the number of 150 who kept watch upon the mountains but did nothing farther considerable onely he left Sphodrias Governour of Thespae to raise new Forces and be a refuge to the discontented party amongst the Thebans and so returned Yet herewith were the Athenians exceedingly affrighted insomuch that one they put to death who had conspired with the Theban Exiles and condemned another who fled upon it The Thebans also despaired of being able to graple with the Lacedaemonians and therefore betook themselves to a politick device which was invented by Pelopidas and Gorsidas principal of the late Conspirators A Merchant was sent to Sphodrias then lying at Thespis a rash and ambitious man to perswade him to fall upon the Piraeus or Haven of Athens as a work very grateful to his superiours for thereby he should cut off the Athenian power at Sea and he might be sure the Thebans would not assist them being already too much incensed Sphodrias invadeth Attica by the cunning of some Thebans He pricked forwards by these conceits invaded Attica as far as Eleusine but there his design being known and his Soldiers unwilling to proceed any further as not sufficiently prepared for such an enterprize he was forced to return 31. The Athenians cast into prison the Spartan Ambassadors as conscious of such an unlawful act but they utterly renounced the least knowledge of it Xenoph. Plutarch and promising Sphodrias should answer it with his life they were content to expect the justice of the State upon him The Ephori called him to account indeed and yet though he appeared not was he acquitted to the great admiration of all men especially because of the author of his acquitment which was Agesilaus Agesilaus moved by his son Archidamus â— procureth him indemnity whence the Athenians joyn with the Thebans For the King though at first he refused several times to hear any thing in his behalf yet Cleonymus the son of Sphodrias beloved by Archidamus made such means to him that at length being very indulgent to his children he excused the matter and saying he held Sphodrias to be an honest man and that the Commonwealth stood in need of such Soldiers he got him acquitted to his great dishonour The Athenians hereupon out of indignation joyned themselves to the Thebans and the Boeotians and they sent to the Cities under the command of Sparta to draw them to their party which they effected with most they groaning under the yoak of Lacedaemon They appointed a Common-councel to be held at Athens for carrying on the War made up of one out of every confederate City by which course and other wayes of self-denial the Athenians recovered much authority
notwithstanding they should have to do with such Horse as exceeded theirs in the number and the best esteemed of in all Greece resolved to do their utmost in their behalf In the engagement they had the better of it and thereby preserved all that the Mantineans had without their walls His case how it stood in reference to his return or stay Epaminondas after this thinking with himself that he must be gone within a few dayes the term of his commission being almost expired was full of various thoughts If he should leave those for the aid of whom he was sent to be besieged by the Enemy he saw he should lose the honour he formerly had obtained especially seeing he had been repulsed at Sparta by so few a number and now also had miscarried at Mantinea and he considered that by this Expedition of which himself was author he had given occasion to the Lacedaemonians Arcadians Achaeans Eleans and Athenians to enter into a straight League of offence and defence From these reasons he concluded he could not in honour depart without a battel in which if he overcame he should make amends for all and if hee should die such a death could not but bee glorious which should bee undergone in an endeavour to make his Country Mistresse of all Peloponnesus 58. Ere long the Armies of the Lacedaemonians and Mantineans appeared consisting with their allies of 20000 Foot and about 2000 Horse To the Boeotians were assistants the Tegeatans and such other Arcadians as were most powerful and wealthy the Argives Euboeans the Thessalian Horse which the Thebans brought the Messentans Sicyonians and other Peloponnesians the number of all which amounted to 30000 Foot and little fewer than 3000 Horse This is much admired by Xenophon that Epaminondas should so discipline his Soldiers that neither night nor day they should shun any labour refuse to undergo any danger to be contented with any kind of provision and very ready to obey all orders When he had ranged his men in order of battel he led them not straight on against the Enemy but fetched a compasse towards the Mountains of Tegea and made as though he would there pitch his Tents This made the Enemy secure which he well understanding formed his battalia like a wedge thereby to break them sooner and led with speed against them who now were all to seek and in a confusion some hasting to bridle their Horses others to buckle on their harnesse and all in a condition rather to suffer than act any thing And lest the Athenians should relieve their Companions from the left wing he placed a Party of Horse and Foot in the hills to keep them in awe by being continually ready to fall upon their reer 59. His expectation was not crossed for on what part he fell he carried all before him The battel at Mantinea wherein Epaminondas was mortally wounded the Enemy not daring to stand but rushing more violently amongst them the Lacedaemonians taking notice of him flocked to him and laid at him amain with darts some of which declining and fencing himself from others those that stuck in his body he took thence and rerorted Whilst he heroickly thus contended for the Victory he received a mortal wound from one Anticiates a Spartan who gave him so mortal a stroak with a dart that the wood of it brake leaving the iron and a piece of the tronchion in his breast By the vehemency of the wound he sank down A. M. 3642. Ol. 104. an 2. V.C. 390. Ante Aeram Christi 362. Artax Mnem 41. and then ensued a most bitter contest about him but the Thebans inflamed with wrathful indignation at this sad mischance with great slaughter compelled their Enemies to give back but knew not how to improve the Victory For neither Foot nor Horse pursued them flying but continued still in the same place and at length went off carelessly insomuch that many of the Foot fell into the hands of the Athenians Which so falling out another thing hapned than men generally had expected For almost all Greece being here gathered together one State against another in two factions every one supposed that when they should once come to fight they that overcame would obtain the Dominion over the rest who should be forced to submit to their yoak But God so poysed affaires saith Xenophon that both sides as if they had overcome erected a Trophy not being hindred by each other Both sides also as Conquerours gave up the slain and as Conquered received their dead by composition And whereas both sides said they had the better of it neither obtained thereby either Countrey City or Dominion other than they before enjoyed but a greater disturbance thereupon followed in Greece So much for these matters saith our Author Xenophon with it endeth his History As also Anaximenes and Philistus as for what is behind perhaps some other will take care to commit them to writing and so he endeth his History with this battel though he lived almost three years after it as we have from Laertius Anaximenes also of Lampsacus who began his History with the beginning of the gods and mankind and therein in twelve Books almost comprehended all the affaires of the Greeks and Barbarians finisheth it with the Battel at Mantinea and the death of Epaminondas So did Philistus his History which he wrote of Dionysius the younger in two Books 60. Epaminondas being caried alive into his Tent Vide Diodorum ut supra Justin lib. 6. the Physicians affirmed that as soon as the dart should be drawn out of his body he would die He then called for Diaphantus to declare him General of the Army but it being answered he was slain he bade them send for Iolaidas but it being answered that he was dead also he advised the Thebans to make peace Valerius Max. lib 3. cap 2. ext exemp 5. whilst with advantage they might for that they had none lest that was able to discharge the Office of a General Understanding of his approaching end he inquired of his Armour-bearer if his Shield was safe which to have lost was a great dishonour It being answered it was Aelian var hist l. 12. cap. 3. he asked which side had the Victory answer being made the Boeotians then said he It 's time for me to die and comforting his friends who mourned he should die childlesse with this answer that he left behind him two daughters Pausan in Aridicis the battel of Leuctra and Mantinea which should propagate his fame to all posterity he thereupon caused the dart to be drawn out and so expired Ciceros Epist lib. 5. cap. 12. This was the end of the worthiest Soldier that ever Greece brought forth and hardly to be parallel'd in any other Country all the Virtues which in others were but singular having concenâ—red and united themselves in him In strength both of body and mind Epaminondas his character in Eloquence
Justice Temperance Wisdom Magnanimity and Sincerity he excelled all men and so far in Military skil the art of a General and in valour that he could not adequately be called a Valiant Politick Wary Bountiful Industrious or Prudent Captain all these Titles and many others being due unto him His modesty was incredible shewing it self especially in this that after the Victory of Leuctra and many other rare atchievements he refused not to go in the Expedition into Thessalie in quality of a private Soldier He was grave yet affable and courteous as a means to all those virtues having great insight into all parts of Philosophy and Learning being therein instructed by Lycis the Tarentine a Pythagorean But * Corn. Nepos in vita Epamin enough will be said in his commendation if this be added that the City Thebes before the birth and after the death of Epaminondas was ever subject to the command of others but as long as he had to do in the management of the affairs thereof was the head of all Greece from which may be gathered that this man was of more consequence than the whole City 61. For with Epaminondas all the strength of the Theban Commonwealth was extinct as if he had not onely died Justin but all the rest of the Citizens with him who as before him they did nothing memorable so now after were famous for nothing but their overthrows and disasters After this battel of Mantinea all the Graecians being tired out with War Diodorus entred into a League offensive and defensive together out of which Agesilaus would have excluded the Messenians But Artaxerxes stood for them as having Territories as large and fruitful as the Laconians whereupon the Lacedaemonians burning with an implacable grudge against them refused to subscribe and alone by themselves refused to be comprehended in the League Corn. Nepos Plutarch in Agesilao hoping still to recover Messenia This reflected something upon Agesilaus who out of an insatiable thirst after War had by his utmost endeavour hindred the union of Greece and the burying of publick quarrels And he seemed to increase the infamy by undertaking an Expedition shortly after into Aegypt though it was by his service in his decrepit old age to get some money for the supply of the now very poor and exhausted State For it appeared a thing unseemly for the best man in Greece and one who had filled the world with his fame Agesilaus blamed to go serve a mean man and a Traytor and venture his life credit and all for a little gain when as because of his old age he had refused the Office of General at home and in his own Country though for the liberty of Greece But he thought nothing too much wherein he might serve the Commonwealth and in this respect undervalued his own honour and having served in Aegypt in a condition far unworthy of him after he had received 230 talents of Silver as a reward from Nectanbis died in his return when he had lived 84 and reigned 41 years A most excellent Captain in whom Nature inwardly made amends for that wherein outwardly she had been deficient His death most ambitious of glory and yet of exceeding great humility which he shewed in his house and in his constant conversation Though his justice was overruled by his passion in the businesse of the Theban War yet generally he held it most sacred and as a punishment for his default therein that great glory whereby he even reigned over Greece till then was afterwards together with the splendor of the Lacedaemonian greatnesse much eclypsed by the rising Fortune of Epaminondas 62. Artaxerxes King of Persia and Agesilaus of Sparta Diodorus ad Olymp. 104. an 3. died both in the same year and the next after the death of Epaminondas And the same year the peace of Greece was again broken by some Arcadians who having been translated out of the neighbouring places into Megalopolis took occasion at some words of the League which gave leave to all to return home to quit the City and return to their old habitations The other Megalopolitans endeavoured to reduce them by force Stirs amongst the Megalopolitans and thence insued a great controversie they calling in to their help the Mantineans and the rest of the Arcadians and Eleans The Megalopolitans sent to the Athenians for aid who sent them 3000 Foot and 300 horse under the command of Pammenes He with this Force took some of the Towns and terrified others into composition and so reduced them all to Megalopolis The year following Alexander the Phaerean Tyrant subdued several of the Cyclades and took thence abundance of Captives The Athenian Garrison commanded by Leosthenes opposed him in Peparethus whereupon he set upon the Athenian Gallies and took them together with one belonging to Peparethus and 600 prisoners The Athenians inraged hereat condemned Leosthenes and sent Chares with a Fleet into those parts who spending his time in scaring the Enemies but oppressing the Confederates thereby contracted an ill name For going to Corcyra he there caused such a Sedition as could not be ended but in the ruine of many and committed other things which much tended to the disgrace of those that sent him With this year Diodorus concludeth his fifteenth Book having according to his promise related such things as hapned before the reign of Philip King of Macedonia and such as together with other affairs of the Greeks related by others shew that peace security and order are things little akin to Antimonarchical Government Learned Men during this period 63. Of Learned Men Contemporary with this period in the first place is to be remmebred Hippocrates native of the Island Cous Prince of all Physicians He was the son of Heraclidas and Phaenarete Sordanus the twentieth in descent from Hercules and the nineteenth from Aesculapius Some have written that he was born in the first year of the 80th Olympiad But a certain passage mentioned in his life of his curing Perdiccas of an Erωtick Feaver Hippocrates argueth him at this time to have been famous This Perdiccas King of Macedonia who having reigned 28 years according to Eusebius or according to others 53 died about the third of the 93 Olympiad fell in love with Phila his Father Alexander's Concubine but modesty forced him to conceal his grief till he fell into a Consumption and languished Hippocrates by the motion of his eyes found out the cause of the distemper and told Phyla it was in her power to save the King's life whereupon she was willing though with the impairment of her own credit to redeem it The like story is told of Erasistratus the Physician who discovered that Antiochus the son of Seleucus was in love with his Fathers Concubine which Galen * mentioneth adding Lib. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he had made the same discovery in a certain woman 64. Hippocrates grew so famous in his Art that
much prudence and dexterity The regaining of such places as were lost to the Illyrians and Olynthians with the overthrow of the neighbouring Kings and the State of Olynthus were such things as would have seemed too difficult for many ages to his predecessors The matters atchieved by him required both Mars and Mercury for assistants and therein he bred so many choise Commanders as for their skill and valour being worthy to wear Crowns He seemeth most to deserve that glory which his son by the influence of his abilities afterwards attained 35. Alexander his son succeeded him aged about twenty years Diodorus ibid. in the first of the 111th Olympiad wherein Cleomantes was Victor Pithodorus being Archon in the first of the reign of Darius Codomannus and the year of the World 3669. being by the father's side descended of Hercules Plutarch in Atexandro Alexander succeedeth him and the mother 's from Achilles neither of which lines he disgraced by the course of his fortunes Of a great and lofty spirit he was from a Child easie to be perswaded but hard to be compelled His father apprehending his wit procured Aristotle to be his School-master offering him very large rewards whose Native Citie Stageira being before by him demolished he re-edified for his sake By such a Master he was not onely instructed in morality but had some insight into the more abstruse Sciences and seemed to have some skill in Physick being wont to give directions to his friends about their health Being sixteen years old Philip undertaking an expedition against the Byzantians left him his Deputy in Macedonia where improving his time he subdued the Medaeans who had revolted and taking that Citie planted it with new Inhabitants and called it after himself Alexandropolis At the battel of Chaeronea he behaved himself very stoutly which with other his good parts drew great love upon him from his father insomuch as he willingly suffered the Macedonians to call him King and himself General but Philips mind towards his later end being withdrawn from his mother and fastned upon Cleopatra thereupon ensued great dissatisfaction on both sides whilest his mother stirred him to great indignation insomuch as he escaped not suspition of being privy to her designs against his father's life 36. Yet began he his reign with justice against such as had an hand in the murther killing them upon his Grave Idem ibid. Diodorus ad Olymp. 111. ann 2. and blamed his mother that in his absence she had dealt so cruelly with Cleopatra Then celebrating the funeral of his father with royal Rites and Ceremonies he began to take care of his publick affaires He beginneth his reign well and being contemned for his youth and little experience above all expectation explicated himself out of all difficulties by imitating his Fathers courtesie and overcoming many by the invinciblenesse of his spirit which through the course of his life bore down all opposition He renewed the discipline of War and gained the affections of the Army knowing also that Attalus upon the account of his Niece Cleopatra lay at all advantages to do him mischief he sent Hecataeus with a band of men with order to attack him and send him over alive if possible or else to kill him one way or other which was at length effected In the mean time Demosthenes having had secret intelligence of Philip's death went to the people and pretending to have dreamt it stirred up the Athenians all wayes possible to contemn the youth of Alexander and not to suffer him to obtain the Principality of Greece and to this purpose they sent unto Attalus and entred into conspiracy with him how they might best effect it The Aetolians intended to restore the Exiles of the Acarnanians banished by Philip. The Ambraciots expelled the Garrison there His difficulties in Greece and the Thebans decreed to do the same by that in Cadmea As the Arcadians had refused to consent that the Father should be General of Greece so were they now nothing better inclined towards the Son and the rest of the Peloponnesians as the Argives Eleans and Lacedaemonians were ready to do any thing for the asserting of their own liberty and power The Nations about Macedonia began to stir being altogether inclining to renounce their obedience 37. Alexander as an earnest of his future successe easily removed those obstacles reducing some by entreaty and good words others by awe and some by force of Arms. He first obtained of the Thessalians by a publick Decree to be owned as his Fathers Successor in the Generalship and then easily bringing the neighbouring People to do the same Which he overcometh passing the Pylae called the Council of the Amphyctiones and procured by their suffrages to be elected the Captain General of all Greece Having done this to bring over the rest by fear he led down his Army into Boeotia where pitching his tents by Cadmea he affrighted the Thebans and the Athenians also so much that these getting in all their goods to the City and fortifying it as well as they might they sent to beg his pardon that they had owned him no sooner One of the Ambassadors was Demosthenes who came not with the rest to Alexander but returned back when he was come on his way either fot that he stood in fear of him for the Orations made against his Father or because he would not crack his credit with the Persian King from whom Aeschines accused him to have received much money He answered the Ambassadors to their satisfaction and then sent for the Deputies of the Estates to meet him at Corinth where speaking very courteously to them he vvas again declared General against the Persian and aid decreed to him for carrying on the War after vvhich he returned into Macedonia Whilst he here vvas in the Isthmus many Philosophers came to salute him * Diogenes Laertius Plutarch alii onely Diogenes the Sinopian made no reckoning of him The King understanding this vvent to visit him then at Athens and finding him sunning himself in his tub saluted him kindly and desired him to ask any thing of him vvhatsoever he pleased He onely desired him to stand out of the Sun vvhich greatnesse of mind Alexander so much admired that vvhen his follovvers laughed and jeered at the man he ansvvered that If he were not Alexander he would be Diogenes 38. In the beginning of the Spring he made an Expedition into Thrace Diodorus Plutarch vvhere he subdued several People and afterwards prospered in the same manner in Poeonia and Illyria In the mean time came intelligence that many of the Greeks had a design to revolt and not a few Cities amongst which Thebes was most eminent and had renounced his authority Hereupon he returned into Macedonia But the Thebans fall upon his Garrison in Cadmea the Thebans in the mean while besieging his Garrison in Cadmea which being supplied with Arms by Demosthenes they fell upon and
forced to fly for his life and went into Crete There being courteously entertained by Minos he wrought many rare pieces of Architecture but at length so displeased the King in some thing which concerned Pasiphae his wife that he also fled thence into Sicily where he was entertained by Cocalus King of the Sicani then reigning at Inycus called also Camicus Some thought that by the means of Pasiphae he escaped by boat his Son Icarus accompanying him in another and that having invented sails whereas before oars onely were in use Icarus not managing his with skill enough his Vessel sunk and thereupon arose the Fable that they escaped with wings made of feathers waxed together and of the young man's soaring so high till the Sun melting the wax he thereupon fell headlong into that part of the Sea which afterwards bare his name Others thought Icarus was drowned as he took water But Minos getting notice whither Daedalus was fled pursued him with an Army and required Cocalus to give him up Cocalus returned him a satisfactory answer and invited him unto his house where he stifled him in a bath or else his daughters for the love they bore to Daedalus when they came to wash him which was the custom for women and maids to do unto guests according to Athenaeus instead of warm water poured on him scalding pitch He gave up his body to his men pretending he had slipped by chance into hot water and perswaded them to stay and plant in the Island where they built Minoa and Engyum now Gange the two first Greek Cities founded in Sicily as some note The Cretans afterwards in revenge for their King's death came and besieged Camicus five years to no purpose and were shipwrackt in their return upon the Coast of Italy where then resolving to stay and hide their disgrace they built Hyria betwixt Tarentum and Brundusium and from them descended the Iapyges and Messapii This passage concerning Minos the younger happened in the dayes of Hercules the Graecian an Age before the Trojan War 7. After Cocalus the several Cities because they wanted rightful and successive Kings as it seemeth and lived under loose Democracy became the prey of Tyranni whereof no Country was ever more fertil than this Island saith Justin Of these Ut supra Anaxilaus his Justice vied with the Cruelty of the rest and was not unrewarded For at his death leaving his children young whom he committed to the trust of Micythus his faithful slave his Subjects so prized his memory as they chose rather to obey him and suffer the Majesty of a Kingdom to be managed by a slave than desert his sons But if by these Tyranni be to be meant such as after the setlement of the Greek Colonies made themselves Masters of the Cities as we have no other ground than to believe the name of Anaxilaus sufficiently declaring it's original then Cocalus living an Age before the Trojan War and the first Greek Colony mentioned by Thucydides being planted in the * A. M. 2723. 11 Olympiad this after Cocalus is with great liberty used by Trogus or Justin several hundreds of years viz. five or six intervening betwixt Cocalus and those Tyrants For the Cities were many years after their founding governed by the People according to the custom of Greece till Phalaris usurped in the State of Agrigentum which Suidas writeth to have happened in the 52 Olympiad and Eusebius in the 54. This difference betwixt them may well be reconciled if with Cappellus we believe that Phalaris coming to Agrigentum there was kindly entertained for eight years A. M. 3441. Olymp. 54. an 1. V. C. 190. Evilmerodachi 2. at the end whereof took occasion from a guest and perhaps a Judge of Controversies to make himself Tyrant and the People slaves 8. Phalaris was born at Astypalea a City in Crete his Fathers name was Laodamus Phalaris the Tyrant who died whilst this his son was an infant He married Erythia and on her begat Paurolas a little before whose btrth being banished and deprived of the greated part of his estate he continued long in a desolate condition not knowing what to do till at length a Sedition being raised in the State of Agrigentum he was sent for by the weaker faction and in conclusion got all the power into his hands He kept the Tyranny by the same arts he first obtained it viz. fraud and cruelty for which cause he was grievously hated by many and his life laid at by those of whom he had well deserved Erythia continued all her life with her son Paurolas at Astypalea where though she was much importuned by many Suters yet she remained stedfast in fidelity to her husband The Citizens of Astypalea when they saw Phalaris had so advanced himself either for that now their hatred was allaied or out of fear of revenge sent to him to intimate that they had revoked what had been formerly done against him as unjust He despised not this late repentance but sent them his hearty thanks and rewarded them Having obtained a victory over the Leontines his son Paurolas sent him a Crown of Gold which he returned back unto his wife Erythia She was at length poysoned by Python one of her Suters inraged at a repulse which thing Phalaris took most impatiently 9. It hapned that one Perillus an Athenian and an excellent Statuary came to Agrigentum where shewing his rare skill he was kindly entertained by Phalaris He taking notice of Phalaris his cruelty framed a brazen Bull which being heated and a man put in his belly would by the roaring of him that was thus tormented Perillus and his brazen Bull. imitate the voice of a natural one Presenting him with this exquisite piece as incomparable for the torturing of men he admired his skill but detesting his wickednesse caused him first to make a tryal of it and excused himself to the Athenians who took it ill as having done nothing but what was just and meet If Perillus had onely made experiments Phalaris had satisfied all reasonable men but threatning his Enemies with this Engine and making good his word upom them as often as he could have occasion he thereby incurred and slighted the hatred of mankind At the same time flourished one Stesichorus a Poet of Himera who died eight years before Phalaris He wrote verses against the Tyrant and raised an Army animating the Inhabitants of Himera against him with whom joyned Conon a most leud and naughty man and divers others all which together with the Poet at length fell into his hands Conon was presently condemned to the Bull. He doubted at first what to do with Stesichorus but at length beholding his worth he not onely dismissed him unpunished but with large gifts and ever after mightily reverenced him both alive and dead insomuch as he desired the Himerians to build him a Temple and Altars offering for that purpose men money and all necessaries and most lovingly comforted
to stand to any award as he knew they would a more specious pretence might be obtained for the War They accordingly opposing it the Syracusians decreed to hold them as Allies and Confederates and also to be at peace with the Carthaginians but the two concerned Cities falling upon each other both Syracuse and Carthage was thereby drawn into the quarrel Hannibal then having both in Spain and Africk made great preparations Ad ann 4. the next year landed at Lilybaeum the most Southern Cape of Sicily towards Africk and setting upon the Selinuntians at unawares with a vast Army took their Citie in the 10th day of the siege wherein he made Captive 7000 persons 16000 being slain and 2600 escaped to Agrigentum He permitted Empedion and his kindred to people it anew Selinuns taken by the Carthaginians under condition of paying Tribute to Carthage This was the condition of Selinuns after it had stood 242 years from its first founding by the Megarians who being descended from Megara in Greece first came into Sicily under conduct of Lamis and built a Town upon the River Pantacius called Trotilus Thence Lamis departing with some of his Colony went to the Leontines and Chalcidians with whom having lived some time he was driven out by them and planting some Inhabitants in Thapsus after his death they left the place and under conduct of Hyblon the Sicilian King who betrayed the Countrey inhabited Megara and were called Hyblaeans After 245 years they were driven hence by Gelon of Syracuse but 145 years before this they sent out a Colony with Pammilus which built Selinuns 22. Hannibal from Selinus marched to Himera having a particular grudge against that place for his Grand-father's death And Himera Falling on it with all his might he was repulsed for a little time by the resolute valour of the Inhabitants but the Wall being beaten down with his Engines he shortly took it Many Women and Children had withdrawn themselves out of the Citie of those men which he took he carried up 3000 to the Hill where his Grandfather had been slain and there killed them being before used with all kinds of indignities then rased he the Citie which had been inhabited 240 years and dismissing his Mercenaries and Subjects of Sicily departed home where he was received with greatest expressions of honour and affection for having done in three moneths what other Captains would have required far larger time to effect After his departure Hermocrates the Syracusian who having been sent as General to the assistance of the Lacedaemonians was condemned to banishment in his absence through the malice of his Enemies returned with a considerable Force into Sicilie and to ingratiate himself with his Country-men repeopled Selinus and fell upon the tributaries of Carthage The more still to indear himself he took up the bones of those Syracusians that fell at Himera and in a cariage sent them to the City Diodorus ad Olymp. 93. an 1. well knowing that this would procure as love to him so envy and hatred to Diocles his main adversary who having been the Captain of the slain had taken no care for their burial Diocles much opposed their publick Sepulture but the People resolutely decreed it then banished him and yet they recalled not Hermocrates being lealous lest he should improve his power and abilities to the making of himself absolute He then being in despair of returning by fair means attempted to do it by force and getting in to the City was amongst his complices killed by the multitude 23. In the second year of the 93 Olympiad A. M. 3598. Ol. 93. an 3. V.C. 347. Idem ad an 2. the Syracusians sent to Carthage to complain of the late War and to desire that for the time to come they would forbear all hostility to which they returned an ambiguous answer and made all possible provision for an Army wherewith to subdue the whole Island Before they transported any Forces they sent a Colony thither which at the hot waters built a City and called it Thermae The year following they ordered Hannibal to go over as General who excusing himself by reason of his Age they joyned with him Imilco the son of Hanno one of the same Family These two Generals then made Levies throughout Africk Ad an 3. hired Soldiers out of Spain the Islands Baleares and Italy and got together an Army of 120000 men according to Timaeus but after Ephorus his reckoning 300000. As they were passing over the Syracusians met them and sunk fifteen of their Vessels but with the rest Hannibal passed safe over and fell upon the rich and stately City of Agrigentum which contained 200000 persons The Agrigentines wanted not assistance from their friends all the Greek Cities being deeply concerned in their welfare and the Syracusians gave the besiegers a considerable defeat who demolishing the Tombs and Monuments the better to get to the walls had thereby pulled down a Pestilence upon themselves saith Diodorus wherein Hannibal died But Imilco or Imilcar thereby not discouraged continued the Siege expiating the offence as he thought by sacrifizing a Boy to Saturn and drowning a company of Priests in the Sea as an offering to Neptune His Soldiers mutinying for provisions he supplied by taking of the ships which loaded with necessaries were sent from Syracuse to the besieged Hereby he starved them within And Agrigentum and constrained them to quit the City being guarded to Gela by armed men Imilcar found extrordinary rich plunder in it whereof some rarities he sent to Carthage amongst which was Phalaris his Bull though Timaeus the Historian carping at all others by denying that there was ever any such thing is justly censured by Diodorus For Scipio Africanus the younger 260 years after having destroyed Carthage restored this Engine to the Agrigentines with whom it was yet remaining when Diodorus wrote his History 24. Imilcar having after a Siege of eight moneths thus mastered Agrigentum a little before the Winter solstice destroyed it not presently that therein he might quarter his Soldiers that Winter All the Island was struck with great fear upon report of what had happened some of the Sicilians departed to Syracuse and others transported their wives and children with their wealth into Italy The Agrigentines being got safe to Syracuse accused their Captains as having betrayed their Country and the Syracusians were also blamed by the rest for having chosen such Generals as by their dishonesty had brought Sicilie into extreme danger A meeting being had at Syracuse and great fear of a War possessing all men's minds none dared to speak one word or give any advice All sticking at the matter at length stood up Dionysius the Son of Hermocrates and accusing the Captains of having betrayed Agrigentum Dionysius his tricks for making himself absolute earnestly moved the People to punish them forthwith and not stay the time prefixed by Law For this unlawful and seditious motion the Magistrates
the Kings house and watch the servants there that they should carry away no Letters he himself with his Clients and Friends went to the house of the Aquillii where he got into his hands what was written to Tarquinius The Aquillii being abroad met him at the Gate where they endeavoured to recover by force the Letters from him but he through the help of those about him drew them into the Forum as his brother also having seized on other Letters at the King's house forced some of his servants thither The tumult being appeased by the Consuls Vindicius related the Story and the Letters were read The parties said nothing for themselves all were astonished and silent at length some to flatter Brutus mentioned banishment Collatinus shedding tears gave the prisoners hope and this was increased because Valerius held his peace 8. But furious and implacable Brutus calling both his Sons by their names Titus and Tiberius asked them why they said nothing to what was laid to their charge and when they answered not at the third time he turned to the Lictors or Executioners Brutus putteth to death his sons and said Now is it your part to perform the rest They presently took the youths and stripping them tied their hands behind them then did they beat with rods and after that beheaded them he whilst others could not behold so abhominable a spectactle feeding his angry eyes with the object till all was done Then left he the rest to the discretion of his Colleague and departed after which a stupidity horrour and amazement as the things required for a time possessed all Collatinus his backwardnesse and delay incouraged the Aquilii to desire time to answer and that Vindicius their Slave might be given up to them and not continue in the hands of their accusers The Consul was about to do both when Valerius who kept the Slave all this while in the midst of his followers would neither deliver him nor suffer the People to depart without censuring the accused though Collatinus was ready to dismisse the Assembly He laid hands upon the Aquilii and sent for Brutus crying out that Collatinus did unworthily to impose upon his Colleague a necessity of killing his sons and think of granting the lives of the other unto women The Consul being vexed commanded the Lictors to take away Vindicius so that they laying hands on him wounded those that kept him and Valerius his friends fighting in his behalf the People cried out for Brutus When he came he said that by his full authority he had animadverted upon his own Sons and left the other delinquents to the People giving leave to every man to speak There was no need of this The rest beheaded saith Plutarch though Dionysius relateth a great contest betwixt the two Consuls but the rabble called to the vote condemned them by all their Suffrages according to which sentence they were beheaded Collatinus now who for being a kin to the King had been suspected and whose name was hateful to the People having by his carriage in this businesse offended the generality voluntarily laid down his Office and departed from the City seeing now to what a sad passe he had helped to bring things and too late repenting of his rebellion To him succeeded Valerius the Comitia being held for an election whom Brutus much desired to have had his Colleague at first but that the greatnesse of Collatinus carried it from him Valerius Consul in the room of Tarquinius Collatinus 9. Valerius being with the good-will of all the multitude created Consul thought the first fruits of his Office due to Vindicius whom manumitted he made free of the Commonwealth this privilege being given to him first of all Liberti or Freed-men according to Plutarch which Appius long after communicated to them all and from him a perfect and full manumission had the name of Vindicta This done the Consuls gave the gooâ—â— of the King to be rifled by the People demolished his house Dionys lib. 5. Livius lib. 2. Val. Maxim l. 1. c. 8. Plutar. in Poplicola Plin. l. 29. c. 1. Festus in voce Insula and laid the Campus Martius which he had to himself open as before wherein lying Corn cut down already they threw it into the River and sending trees that grew there after it these receiving gravel and such rubbish as came down the chanel at last grew into an Island called Insula Sacra though some say this happened in after times when Tarquinia a Vestal Nun gave the adjoyning field to the Publick and for that obtained great honours as these amongst the lest of all women alone to appear as a witnesse in any cause and liberty to marry which she refused But Tarquinus seeing that reason failed betook himself to force and brought a great Army of Tuscans against Rome The Consuls opposed him with another and when they came to joyn Aruns the son of Tarquin and Brutus the Consul with greater wrath and fury than discretion singled out each other and so carelesly demeaned themselves as both of them lost their lives A great and bloody battel was fought betwixt the Armies Brutus slain which night onely broke up and that with such equal fortune as neither party could boast it self till at length either by a voice out of a grove A. M. 3497. Ol. 68. an 1. V.C. 246. Darii 15. as the story goeth that the Etruscans had lost one man more or some other way the Romans were so revived and the other discouraged that the later forsook their tents for fear and being fallen upon by the Enemy were nigh 5000 taken prisoners having lost 11300 in the fight Valerius triumphed at his return to the City leaving an example to posterity which was duly followed and then buried his Colleague with great honour making himself a funeral Oration in his commendation which custom Dionysius will have more ancient at Rome than in Greece although Anaximenes wrote that Solon was the Author of it Valerius suspected 10. But when the People considered how Brutus the father of their liberty as they accounted him would not govern alone without a Colleague and yet Valerius made no haste to take a partner they began to complain that he had not taken to himself so much the place of Brutus which yet not at all belonged to him but that of Tarquinius and were much offended with him They confirmed themselves in their hard opinion from his having all the Rods and Axes caried before him and with them in greater state than Tarquinius used marched from his house which was much larger than the Palace that he demolished His house was very fair situate in such a place as afforded him prospect round about and had a difficult ascent so that the convenience of the site considered with his Kingly port and attendance seemed to threaten their infant Commonwealth now an Orphan by Brutus his death His friends remonstrating to him these particulars he
Principis and Quaestor Principis or Augusti whose Office Ulpian describeth This gave original to the Quaestor Palatii saith Lipsius to whom was granted great authority as to make Laws and Decrees subscribe Petitions return answers and to be as it were the keeper or President of the Laws which name is now changed into Chancellour But to speak something of the Treasury the Temple of Saturn was first made use of to this purpose The Aerarium or Treasury as Plutarch telleth us Here also were kept the Libri Elephantini Books wherein the 35 Tribes were written and the Decrees of the Senate but the Libri Lintei or the Annals were kept by the Pontifices who therein recorded such things as were memorable In the Aerarium was also a more secret place where the twentieth part of the revenues were reserved for cases of extremity onely The Aerarium was afterwards called Fiscus from the Fiscella or bags wherein the money was kept according to Varro The first Advocatus Fisci was instituted by Adrian the Emperour as Spartianus witnesseth Amongst other tributes the People of Rome had the twentieth part of all revenues of Corn throughout Italy besides Salt which was the device of Livie thence Sirnamed Salinator Those that farmed the Tributes or Custom were called Publicans and the principal of them Mancipes according to Pedianus whom Volateranus followeth 14. Valerius Poplicola having finished his constitutions of Setlement held the Assembly of the People for the election of another Consul Lucietius the father of Lucretia was chosen Lucretius Consul to whom as the elder Poplicola granted the Fasces or bundle of Rods which respect of age was ever after observed by their Successors till the time of (a) In poplicola Plutarch as himself writeth This granting of the Fasces was yet but for the first moneth which indeed afterwards was wont to be granted to the elder Consul but no longer than till the Lex Julia in the seventh Chapter whereof this privilege was given to him who had most children either still in his own power that is to be understood not emanicipated or already lost in War But if both Consuls had an equal number of children he who at present was a maried man was preferred If both were husbands and fathers alike then the antient custom returned and he who was eldest had first the Fasces Concerning such who were both unmaried had the same number of children or were both maried and had no children the Law commanded nothing But I hear saith (b) Noct. Attic. lib. 2. c. 15. Gellius that those who were exempted were wont to yield the Fascos of the first moneth to their Colleagues that far exceeded them in age or in birth or entred upon their second Consulship In the mean time that Consul who had no Fasces that he might be known by some note of distinction had an Accensus a certain Bedle or Crier concerning whom (c) De Ling. Lat. pag. 62. Varro is to be consulted that went before him and Lictors followed with Rods and Staves as (d) Lib. 5. Dionysius (e) Lib. 3. Livie and (f) In Julio Suetonius de testifie 15. Lucretius died also a few daies after his creation to whom succeeded M. Horatius Horatius who continued the Colleague of Poplicola for the remaining part of the year Novv vvas the Capitol finished vvhich had been vovved by Tarquinius Priscus and begun by Superbus his grand-son Poplicola had a great ambition to dedicate it but the Nobility envied him the honour and stirred up Horatius to stand for it whom when the other was constrained to be absent in the War they injoyned by a Decree to do it and caried him up thither knowing that in the presence of Poplicola they could not have prevailed Some write that by lot the War fell to Poplicola much against his will and the Dedication to Horatius On the Ides of September which fell in with the full Moon of the Greek moneth Metagitnion answering to August the 28 of the Julian year as Jacobus Cappellus computeth when many flocked to behold the Solemnity Horatius having commanded silence and finished all the usual rites touched the door and pronounced the words of Dedication Then Marcus the brother of Poplicola standing near for that purpose and watching for an opportunity said Thy son O Consul is dead in the Camp whereat when all others were struck Horatius nothing disturbed answered onely Then cast him out whither you please for I admit not of mourning and went on with the matter in hand Neither was the story true The Capitol dedicated but feigned by Marcus to deter him from the Dedication The same fortune hapned to the Dedication of the second Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus after this was burnt in the Civil Wars For Sylla having rebuilt it died before the Dedication as Tarquinius was banished and so that honour came to Catulus When this had perished in the sedition of Vitellius Vespasian built the third and was herein more fortunate than Sylla thâ—t as he died before the Dedication of his so the Emperour lived not to see the destruction of this which presently after his death was also burned The fourth which stood in Plutarch's time was both built and dedicated by Domitian Tarquinius as was reported spent 40000 pounds of silver in founding his Temple but the fourth was not guilded for so little as the wealth of the richest private man The Marble Pillars Plutarch saw at Athens being then of a thicknesse answerable to their length but afterward when they were new cut at Rome they got not so much splendour as they lost of proportion and beauty being rendred too slender in bulk or substance 16. In the * Polyb. lib. 3. p. 160. Consulship of Junius Brutus and M. Horatius that is in the same year that Horatius succeeded though not immediatly into the place of Brutus who with Tarquinius his Collegue governed but 4 moneths when the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus was Consecrated 28 years before Xerxes his expedition into Greece the first League was made betwixt the Romans and Carthaginians The first League betwixt the Romans and Carthaginians Herein it was provided that the Romans should not sayl beyond the Fair Promontory which lay before Carthage towards the North. Polybius thinketh the cause was for that the Carthaginians would not have them take notice of the places about Byzacium nor the little Syrtis which for the fruitfulnesse of the soyl they termed Emporia But if it hapned that any either by Tempest or Pirats were forced in thither they promised they would furnish them with all things necessary but forbad any thing to be taken by force and commanded all to be gone thence within five dayes It was lawfull hereby for the Romans to Traffick to Carthage and all that part of Africk which lieth on this side the Fair Promontory as also Sardinia and that part of Sicily then under the Carthaginians who promise
Alexandri 7. of whom Livie is to be consulted the principal actors were together with â—itruvius put to death and the rest of the Inhabitants made free of the City The first year of this Warre fell in with the last of Darius Codomannus the last King of Persia being the 424 of the City when L. Papyrius Crassus the second time and L. Plautius Venox or Veuno were Consuls AN INSTITUTION OF General History The First Part. BOOK III. Of the Empire of the Macedonians and Affairs of the World Contemporary with it CHAP. I. From the beginning of the Monarchy of Alexander to his death containing the space of six years and ten moneths 1. ALexander riding hard after Darius came a little after he had expired Alexander bewaileth Darius saw the body and bewailed his death with tears he cast his own Garment over him and sent him to his Mother to be royally interred amongst his Ancestors Curtius lib. 5. cap. 14. Diodorus ad Olymp. 112. anâ— 3. 4. His brother Oxyathres he received into the number of his own friends and maintained him in his former Dignity Then did he begin to pursue Bessus but finding that he was fled far before into Bactria he left off his pursute and returned to Hecatompolis in Parthia where his Soldiers being tickled with a rumour that the Macedonians should have leave to return home Curtius lib. 6. Capp 2.3 rouzed him up from his idlenesse and luxury to which now he began to give way after the Persian fashion but they were at length quieted and perswaded by him to perfect the work thus for carried on in Asia Leaving then Craterus in this Countrey with some Forces he marched into Hyrcania which Nabarzanes had seized on who yielded it up Marcheth into Hyrcania and himself to him After this he invaded the Mardi a neighbouring people who not being wont to be thus provoked by any made resistance with 8000 men and intercepted Bucephalus his most beloved horse which being given him by Demaratus the Corinthian A.M. 3676. Ol. 112. anâ— 4. V.C. 425. Alexand. 8. when unsadled would suffer none to come on his back and when adorned none but the King himself whom to receive he bowed down Alexander exceedingly moved with the losse of him after he had slain and taken most of these men cut down all the Trees and threatned the Nation with utter destruction in case they did not restore the horse so that for fear they did it and with him sent their Presents and asked pardon by 50 Messengers 2. Returning back he received 1500 men which had been sent out of Greece to Darius with 90 Ambassadors Over this party he made Captain Andronicus who brought them to him and then went on to Zadracarta the principal Citie of Hyrcania where he staid fifteen dayes Hither Thalestris Queen of the Amazons Whether the Queen of the Amazons ever came to him is said with 300 vvomen Consulae Plutarchum in Alexandro Arrianum lib. 7. to have come to have issue by him which story though it be delivered for a truth by some yet is there better ground to suspect it seeing that neither Ptolomy the son of Lagus who was then with him and wrote his Acts neither any other good Author of those times approved of it and Alexander himself in his Letters to Antipater wherein he gave him an account of his affairs mentioned how the Scythian King offered to him his daughter in marriage but not a word of this matter After this he returned into Parthia and purposing now to go against Bessus who in Bactria had taken upon him a royal Robe and the name and little of Artaxerxes King of Persia he thence removed into the Countrey of the Arii He cometh into the Countrey of the Arii Satibarzanes the Governour thereof meeting him at the City Susia he confirmed him in his place but after his departure he revolted from him whereby the King was constrained to march back against him which he hearing fled with 2000 men towards Bessus so as Alexander following him some time but in vain reduced the Countrey to obedience and returned to his former expedition Then came he into the Countrey of the Zarangaei which was governed by one Barsaentes who having had an hand in the murther of Darius now fled into India whence he was afterwards sent That of the Zarangaei and put to death Here in this Land of the Zarangaei or Drangae was a conspiracy against Alexander discovered first by Dymnus to Nicomachus who though he swore secrecy communicated it to Zeballinus his brother Zeballinus or Ceballinus acquainted with it Philotas the son of Parmenio who delaying to tell it to the King either through heedlesnesse or on purpose thereby procured the destruction of himself and family 3. For Ceballinus suspecting him to be in the plot because of his delay discovered the matter to Metro a young Nobleman and Master of the Armory who acquainting the King therewith he presently caused them all to be apprehended Dymnus knowing wherefore he was called Lege Cartium lib. 6. 7. Plutarch Diodorum ut priùs Arrianum lib. 3. killed himself Ceballinus cast all the blame upon Philotas who denied not that he had been told of such a businesse but said he revealed it not to the King onely through neglect and because he esteemed it of no consequence Being brought to the Rack Philotas put to death for Treason he either confessed the thing as it was or feigned a story and wrongfully accused himself to escape the extremity of Torment after vvhich he vvas put to death Now vvas Parmenio his father a man of 70 years of age Governour of Media one vvho had done especial service for the King and his father Philip. Alexander either for that he feared he vvas privy to the conspiracy And Parmenio his Father or thought it not safe that he should out live his son sent one away vvith speed vvho delivering a counterfeited Letter to him as from Philotas slevv him as he read it Amongst others that vvere shot to death for this conspiracy was Alexander Lyncestes the son-in-law of Antipater who had conspired the destruction both of Philip and Alexander and for his treason been kept in durance now three years This being done the King proceeded in his Expedition against Bessus 4. Though the Soldiers condemned Parmenio and his Son while living yet they pittied them when dead and conceived great indignation against their Judges Alexander understanding this that he might know their several minds gave out that he was sending into Macedonia and whosoever would might have an opportunity thereby to write to their friends By their Letters all which he caus'd to be opened he knew who were discontented and ready to Mutiny and all those he gathered into one company lest they should corrupt the rest setting over them one Leonidas an intimate friend of Parmenâ—o The King in his March came to the Country of the
after he was held with a sharp Feaver and was removed near the great place for swimming where he discoursed with his Officers about supplying Vacant places in the Army with the fittest persons On the 24th his disease increasing he sacrificed being borne out to the place and commanded the principal of his Officers to stay in the Court and the rest to watch before the Gates Being removed into the inner Palace on the 25th day he rested a little but the Feaver abated not and when the Captains came to see him he spake not a word So he passed over the 26th day whereupon the Macedonians thinking him to be dead came with great noise to the Door and compelled his friends to let them in so in their Coats every man of them passed by his bed's side The same day Pithon and Seleucus were sent to the Temple of Serapis to ask if he should be removed thither and received answer that he should continue where he was On the 28th day towards the evening he expired Though he (a) Val. Max. lib. 5. cap. 1. Exter Exemp 1. fainted by the violence of his disease yet leaning on his Elbow he reached out his hand to all Soldiers that would touch it in their passage and which seemeth incredible (b) Curtius lib. 10. cap. 7. continued in the same posture he had set himself till the whole Army had saluted him 40. The Soldiers being all gone he asked his friends about him whether they thought they should have such another King When all kept silence he said that as he was ignorant hereof so he knew could Prophesie Justin lib. 12. Corn. Nepos in Eumene Curtius ut suprà and almost see with his eyes how much blood Macedonia would shed in this controversie with what slaughters and bloudshed it would make him a Parentation when he was dead At length he commanded his body to be buried in the Temple of Hammon and when his friends asked him to whom he would leave his Kingdom he answered to the most Valiant Yet having taken his Ring from his finger he gave it to Perdiccas whereby all conjectured that he commended his Kingdom to him till his Children should grow up Again Perdiccas demanding of him when he would have Divine honours given to him Of which he dieth the eleventh day he replied then when they his followers were happy which were his last words and a little after he departed He * Justin Curtius Diodorus lived 32 years and eight moneths reigned twelve and also eight moneths He died six years and ten moneths after the murther of Darius in the first year of the 114 Olympiad A. M. 3681. 322 years before the Aera of Christ Sâ—sâ—gambis the Mother of Darius having with some patience born the losse both of her Son's life and Empire when she heard of Alexander's death refused to live any longer So refraining from all sustenance she died the fifth day after CHAP. II. Of such things as hapned after the death of Alexander amongst his Captains till their Cantonizing of his Empire into their particular Kingdoms and their taking the Stile and Title of Kings upon them containing the space of 17 years Alexanders Issue and Linage 1. ALexander though he had taken several Wives yet left but one Son already born of Barsine the Daughter of Artabazus a Persian and another in the belly of Roxane the Daughter of Oxyaries His Son called Hercules was despised upon his Mothers account by the Captains who much scorned the Conquered Nations He had a sister named Cleopatra Widow to the King of Epirus and their Uncle who was slain in Italy and a base brother called Aridaeus begotten on Philinna a vvoman of Larissa who married Eurydice the daughter of Amyntas whom being the right Heir and his Nephew Philip kept from the Kingdom of Macedonia after he had exercised the Office of his Protector and on him bestowed a daughter of his own in marriage This Amyntas bore patiently the want of the Kingdom all Philip's time but in the beginning of Alexander's reign with the losse of his life attempted something His title through the prowesse of the two late Kings was utterly forgotten Cleopatra as a woman perhaps was not thought of Aridaeus neither by birth personage or qualities was fitly endowed yet upon him the election fell for want of a better because the Captains were at a losse what course to take 2. For Ptolomy the son of Lagus as he was called but reputed the son of Philip who as it 's said having used the company of Arsinoe his Mother put her off in marriage to Lagus Contention amongst his Captains about the succession when great with Child rejecting the title of the half Persian brood though as Alexander's Children they should have been considered was for the Captains their taking the rule upon them and deciding all things by Vote of the major part But as he might think this course most likely to serve his own ambition so Aristonus perhaps on the same grounds betook himself to the words of Alexander which he interpreted as meant of Perdiccas because saying that he left his Kingdom to the worthiest at the point of death he delivered to him his Ring He was seconded by many who either bore good will to Perdiccas or out of fear that he would carry it would not venture to oppose him But he would needs make a shew of modesty thinking thereby the more to indear himself whereat Meleaeger an envious man and one who bore to him a particular grudge took advantage to inveigh against him and disturbed all Councils by perswading the Soldiers that whosesoever was the Empire they had the best title to the Treasure During the uproar Aridaeus was mentioned and his name laid hold on by some peaceable spirits who labouring betwixt the parties wrought a composure for the time wherein yet Perdiccas had the better of his adversary Aridaeus declared King It was agreed according to the desire of the Infantry that Aridaeus the base son of Philip should be King and for as much as he was stupid and dull rather through the practising of Olympias upon him as some thought than any Original indisposition Perdiccas was made his Protector and Commander of his Forces who hereby in effect was King for a time though that title with the name of Philip for a greater grace was conferred upon the other 3. Then did the Officers distribute the Provinces of the Empire amongst themselves Macedonia and Greece were left to Antipater Thrace with the neighbouring Countreys was assigned to Lysimachus Egypt with all that which of Cyrâ—ne The Provinces distributed amongst the Captains Africk and Arabia had belonged to Alexander was set over to Ptolomy the son of Lagus Syria and Phoenicia were committed to Laomedon Armenia to Neoptolemus Mesopotania to Arcesilaus In Asia the lesse Cappadocia and Paphlagonia with the Countreys thereto adjoyning which Alexander had passed by in his Conquests were assigned
out 100 of his chiefest friends put them to cruel deaths Killeth Nicanor and others But he hearing she was arrived in Macedonia marched out of Peloponnesus against her whereupon she made Aristonous her General and commanded him to meet Cassander she betaking herself with Alexander her Grand-son his Mother and others into Pydna hoping she should have many assistants but she was deceived For A. M. 3690 Ol. 116. ann 2. V. C. 439. Ptolom 9. Cassander besieged her by Land and Sea Aeacida was coming to assist her but by his means his men fell away from him and banishing him his Countrey joyned themselves and Kingdom to the other others in Macedonia intended to aid her but fearing Cassander fell off also to him and as for Polysperchon in whom rested now all her hope Callas being sent against him corrupted also most of his Soldiers The siege therefore lasted without any let till famine so prevailed in the Citie as many of the Defendants came out and she was then driven by necessity to yield very hardly obtaining promise of safety to her person Afterwards he caused such as whole Kinsfolks she had put to death to accuse her to the Macedonians who naturally hated and now incensed by them She is also murdred by Cassander condemned her Then did he send some of her friends to her willing her to fly but she denied it and resolved to plead her cause before the people so that he fearing their affections might be moved towards her sent some Soldiers to kill her They were so struck with her Majesty as they returned without doing their errand but then some the friends of whom she had made away came in and slew her not at all amated or behaving herself otherwise than as the Mother of Alexander whom she had out lived for eight years 20. Pithon the Governour of Media envying Antigonus his power and greatnesse laboured to draw most of the Soldiers now in their Winter quarters to his own party Pithon put to death by Antigonus intending to establish himself which Antigonus being aware of gave out that he would commit the East unto him and by divers friendly Letters drew him to him after which he got him condemned in a Council of his Associates and put him to death Then marched he into Persia being received by the Inhabitants as King for that now without controversie he was Lord of Asia Here calling a Council he confirmed divers in their Governments and amongst the rest Sibyrtius of Arachosia to whom he delivered 1000 of the most turbulent Argyraspides who had delivered up Eumenes under pretence to serve him in the Wars Who ordering matters as he pleaseth in the East but indeed to destroy them giving him secret order to expose them to ruin that so they might never see more Macedonia nor the Greek Sea Perceiving Peucestes to be in great favour here he removed him from the Government to the great grief of the people and then got the Treasure at Susa into his hands out of which he made 25000 Talents Thence he journeyed to Babylon where Seleucus the Governour royally entertained him but offering to punish a certain Officer of the Army without his knowledge he called him to an account for the Revenues of the place Seleucus denied to account saying that place was given him by the Macedonians for his faithfull service performed to Alexander but the Contest grew sharper everyday so as he remembring and fearing the case of Pithon Seleucus flyeth into Egypt with fifty horse in his Company fled into Egypt Antigonus was glad he had gotten Babylon and that without any violence offered to his antient friend but being told by the Chaldeans that if he let him go he should get all Asia into his power and he himself should die in a battel against him he sent some to pursue him but in vain 21. Seleucus being courteously entertained by Ptolomy sent his friends into Europe to stir up Cassander and Lysimachus against Antigonus who suspecting some such matter sent also to retain them in his friendship but they entred into confederacy together with Ptolomy against him and all three sent their Ambassadors to him as he was now marching towards upper Syria to demand that Cappadocia and Lycia might be restored to Cassander Governour of Caria Maketh the Captains combine against Antigonus Phrygia upon the Hellespont to Lysimachus all Syria to Ptolomy and Babylon to Seleucus and to divide all the treasure he had got into his hands since the death of Eumenes with them and the other Macedonians who had lost their Governments To this he answered sharply and that he was already pteparing for Ptolomy so that the Ambassadors returning without any effect they made great preparations both by Sea and Land He understanding how full his hands would be sent about to the chief States to retain them in friendship and also to hire more Soldiers he himself went into Phoenicia where he besieged Tyre used great endeavour for the making of ships and took in Joppe and Gaza Aristodemus also he sent into Laconia who there by the permission of the Lacedaemonians raised 8000 Soldiers and joyned Polysperchon and Alexander his son in confederacy with him of whom the former was made General of Greece and the later he desired to go over to Antigonus who going accordingly in an assembly of the Army accused Cassander for that he had put Olympias to death had committed Rhoxane and her son to custody maried by force Thessalonica the daughter of Philip and sister of Alexander and so plainly affected the Kingdom of Macedonia moreover that he had re-edified Thebes destroyed by Alexander and restored the Olinthians whereupon he was declared an Enemy except he would amend what was amisse and obey Antigonus and set all the Graecians at liberty and so Alexander rewarded with 500 Talents was sent back Not long after he revolted to Cassander being for that declared General of Peloponnesus and shortly after was traiterously slain by the Sicionians 22. Seleucus in Cyprus prospered against the party of Antigonus Diodorus ut prius and Polyclitus his Lieutenant overthrew Theodotus his Admiral both at Sea and Land after which Ptolomy and Antigonus met and conferred together but to no purpose Cassander shortly after fearing Antigonus might passe over into Europe to divert him sent an Army over into Caria to help those Cities which were confederate with Seleucus and Ptolomy Cassander the Governour there joyning with him which Antigonus fearing left Demetrius his son in Syria with order to entrap Ptolomie's forces if they should march that way and for that he was but then 22 years old left 4 grave men his friends to counsel and direct him Upon his coming to Caria Cassander the Governour having too great a burthen upon him made a Peace on condition to keep his place and gave his brother for an Hostage whom yet he getting again out of his hands he presently revolted after which
they might revolt to him sent to Polysperchon and with vast promises secretly perswaded him to make away the young man which accordingly was performed Made away About this time Demetrius overthrew Ptolomy his Lieutenants in Cilicia and he to be revenged invaded Licia where he took some Cities after that sailed into Greece where he endeavoured in emulation to Antigonus to set the Cities at liberty but the Greeks not keeping their promise of sending money and corn having received Sicyon and Corinth from the Widdow of Alexander the son of Ephaestion who had revenged stoutly her husbads death and kept still these places he agreed with Cassander that each should retain such places as he had in his power and returned 26. Alexander had yet a sister living called Cleopatra Diodorus l. 20. ad Olymp. 118. formerly the Widdow of Alexander King of Epirus who making an Expedition into Italy perished against the Lucanians as Livie tells us and after that maried to Perdiccas whom also now being at Sardis Antigonus seems to have wooed But she inclining rather to Ptolomy stole out of Saxdis to go to him whereupon Antigonus took such order by the Governour of the Town that she was not onely stopped in her journy And Cleopatra their Aunt but by means also of some women secretly made away after which to colour the matter he put some of them to death and buried her body with royal magnificence Shortly after this Demetrius was sent into Greece to set the Cities at liberty which he accomplished at this time for Athens Demetrius Phalareus being driven out and conducted to Thebes where he lived till Cassander's death and then fled to Ptolomy After this Demetrius being recalled to make War in Cyprus thither he passed where he overthrew Menelaus Ptolomy his brother and Governour there and pursuing him to the City Salamine slew 3000 of his men and took 1000 and then besieged him in that place Ptolomy hearing of the defeat of his men came both with Sea and Land forces and ingaged the besiegers in battel Demetrius his Victories against Ptolomy whereupon Antigonus and then the rest take the title of Kings wherein though he overthrew that Wing against which he himself fought yet the other prevailing he was discomfited with the losse of 8000 men and all his ships save eight with which he fled away and Demetrius became Master of the Town and Island Idem ibid. Plutarch in Demetrio Justin lib. 15. A. M. 3698. Ol. 118. an 2. V.C. 447. Seleuci 6. Ptolom 17. Antigonus being elevated with this successe received the title of King given him by his friends and a Diadem set upon his head which title and honour he also gave to his Son Demetrius The Aegyptians also hearing this lest they should seem to be dejected for their losse gave the name of King to Ptolomy who thenceforth in all his Letters stiled himself so Neither now would the other great ones come behind these for Seleucus Cassander and Lysimachus after their example took upon themselves the same dignity and title all the near relations of Alexander being quite extinct CHAP. III. From Alexanders Captains taking the Title of Kings to the death of Seleucus the Surviver of them containing the space of 24 years 1. ANtigonus animated by his late successe against Ptolomy in Cyprus Diodorus ibid. now thought of no lesse than outing him also of Egypt it self wherefore recalling his son from the Island he commanded all his Forces to meet at Antigonia a Citie newly built by him upon the River Orontes in Syria as convenient for the lying in wait against the upper Provinces Egypt which afterwards Seleucus destroyed translated the Inhabitants to his Seleucia Antigonus leading the Land-forces himself committed the Fleet to his son which was to sayl along upon the Coasts with the Army as it marched Having good Provision both for men and beasts he marched through the desert the Navy went through great hazard at Sea but the Tempest ceasing in good time Antigonus his fruitlesse expedition against Ptolomy they came all together unto Nile Ptolomy by this time had so fortified the several mouths of the River as the Sea-forces could do no good though they removed from one to another and the Land-Army could not find any food at that time of the year the water being very high Moreover A. M. 3699. Ol. 118. ann 3. V.C. 448. Seleuci 7. Ptolom 18. Ptolomaeus in Regum Canone many fell away to the Enemy being allured with his promise of 2. l. to every common Soldier and a Talent to an Officer so that Antigonus was fain to retreat into Syria Ptolomy being exceeding glad hereof sent to his Confederates to acquaint them with his good successe and now having thus defended his Kingdom accounted himself rightly to enjoy it and hereupon some have accounted the beginning of his reign from this very time fixing it at 19 years distance from the death of Alexander 2. This want of successe allayed not the ambition of Antigonus For Diodorus ibid. he sent his son Demetrius presently against the Rhodians who had formerly displeased him by a denial to send him aid and ships For they endeavouring as near as they could to keep in with all these great ones yet were drawn by their private interest especially to favour Ptolomy from whose Kingdom they got the greatest part of their livelyhood by way of Traffick And as fruitlesse against Rhodes Demetrius according to his fathers command went and besieged their Citie lying before it nigh a whole year during which time he made all sorts of opposition he could till ordered by his father to make peace with them which they were prone to accept of though Ptolomy with others sent them Provisions A. M. 3700. Ol. 118. ann 4. V.C. 449. Seleuci 8. Ptolom 19. and supplies of men Departing from Rhodes Demetrius passed into Greece to restore the Cities which Cassander and Polysperchon had lately mastered through the absence of Antigonus his Forces Chalcis he freed from a Garrison of the Boeotians whom he also withdrew from Cassander's friendship joyned in society with the Aetolians and afterwards restored Sicyon Corinth Athens and other places to their freedom Cassander seeing things by the help of Demetrius to go well with Greece sent over to Antigonus to desire peace but he refused it except he would refer himself whole unto him He being affrighted at this sent to Lysmachus in Thrace to come and Consult with him and then they both dispatch away Messengers to Ptolomy and Seleucus to let them see how they were concerned also to resist Antigonus A Combination against him They hearkned willingly to the offers made unto them and joyned in Confederacy against him as their common Enemie promising great supplies for carrying on the War 3. Cassander thinking it good policy not to stay for the Enemy to come upon him but invade him first gave part of his Army to Lysimachus
Philip lighting upon his men drove them to their ships and then going to Dymae cast out thence the Garrison of the Aetolians called thither by the Eleans Their Territories he also wasted Cycliadas the General of the Achaeans having united his Forces with his and then went against the Citie it self Philip again worsted by the Romans at Elis. It hapned that Sulpicius was secretly got in thither with 4000 men which struck a terror into the besiegers as soon as they espied the Roman colours and Philip would fain have drawn off his men but a skirmish being begun he was forced to charge the Roman Cohort with his horse His own horse being shot under him A. M. 3796. Ol. 142. ann 4. V.C. 545. Antioch M. 15. Ptolom Philop 14. a sharp conflict followed about his person now on foot but being overpowered he was rescued by his followers and mounting another fled away Then pitched he his Tents five miles from Elis and the next day marching to Pyrgus a Castle not far off there took a multitude of Countrey people which with their Cattel had fled thither for protection but as he was dividing the plunder a Messenger came out of Macedonia and informed him that a certain man of the Aeropians had taken Lychnidus and was raising the Dardanians wherefore leaving 2500 men under the Government of Menippus and Polyphas for a Guard to the Achaeans away he marched into Thessaly where he heard the Dardanians had invaded his Kingdom and that he was reported to be slain After his departure Sulpicius went and wintred at Aegina with Attalus and the Achaeans fought prosperously against their Enemies His acts in Greece 35. The year after Livius lib. 28. P. Sulpicius Galba the Proconsul and Attalus departing from Aegina with their Navies joyned together which made up fifty sayl came into Euboea and there took Oreus through the treachery of Plator the Governour Philip now being at Demetrias great complaints came to him of the Aetolians who being very high troubled grievously the Associates the Achaeans moreover being molested again by Machanidas Tyrant of Lacedaemon and desiring aid he dismissed the Messengers with promise to provide for the safety of all as near as he could and appointed fires to be made on the tops of the Mountains with a Watch-Tower to give him warning if the Enemy invaded the Sea-Coasts The fires upon the coming of the Navy to Oreus were by the cunning of Plator made too late but upon the sign given he hasted with his Army having beaten off the Aetolians who opposed him at the Straights of Thermopylae and came to Elatea a Town in Phocis Attalus at this time the Proconul having attempted Chalcis to no purpose came to Opus which being taken the King's Soldiers were to have the plunder of it as the Romans had before of Oreus Here he staying too long to gather money was almost surprised by Philip and hasting to his ships had not got all his men aboard before he fell upon him then departing to Oreus he there received news that Prusias King of Bithinia had invaded his Kingdom so that he presently returned home and Sulpicius to Aegina Philip chiding the Opuntians for yielding so soon went and took Thronium inhabited by them of Thebes Pthiotick who being outed thence by him 8 years before as we said the Aetolians had given them this Town to dwell in After this returning to Elatia where the Ambassadors of Ptolomy and the Rhodians stayed his coming to move him again about the peace and hearing that Machanidas had determined to set upon the Eleans he resolved to prevent him Machanidas hearing of his coming retreated presently to Sparta and then went he to Aegium to the general Council of the Achaeans to whom he restored Heraea and Triphylia and Aliphera to the Megalopolitans He made some depredations upon the Aetoliam then returned to Oreus and so to Demetrias where he gave order for making of ships things being quiet there after the departure of Attalus and so into his own Kingdom against the Dardanians 36. The two years following Idem lib. 29. little or nothing was done by the Romans in Greece so that the Aetolians being destitute of their aid in which they most confided were forc'd to make a Peace with him on his own terms Scarce was it concluded The Aetolians forced to make a peace with him when Publius Sempronius the Proconsul was sent to succeed Sulpicius who carelessly managed his affaires with 10000 Foot 1000 Horse and 35 Gallies who coming to Dyrrhachium raised the Parthini and set upon Damallum Coming a little after to Apollonia Philip having received the news of his arrival marched down thither and would have given him battel but the Proconsul refusing it and he not daring to attempt the Town as also because he was now inclinable also to Peace he returned again into his own Kingdom Not long after the Epirotes bearing also the same mind sent to him desiring he would think of Peace which they despaired not of so he and Sempronius would but meet together He condescended to go down into Epirus and then came to an interview with the Proconsul at Phoenice together with Aminander King of the Athamanians and the Deputies of the Epirotes and Acarnanians where it was agreed that the Parthini A general peace made betwixt him the Romans and others the Cities Dimalum Bargulum and Eugenium should fall to the share of the Romans and the Atintanae because they had desired it from the Senate at Rome to Philip in the confederacy were included on the Kings part Prusias King of Bithinia the Achaeans Boeotians Thessalonians Acarnanians and Epirotes and on the Roman the Inhabitants of Ilium King Attalus Plearatus the Eleans Messenians and Athenians with Nabis Tyrant of Sparta and successor of Machanidas Polybius l. 11. excerpt c. 7. slain in battel by Philopomenes who now had begun to defend his Country from the Lacedaemonians and others A Truce was made for two moneths to have the consent of the People of Rome who now having turned the War into Africk upon the Carthaginians were glad to free themselves from all other troubles and therefore the Peace was confirmed by the suffrages of all the Tribes 37. But Philip's mind was so inured to action Plutarch in Philopomene that he could not but make himself work for perceiving Philopomenes now Praetor the second time of the Achaeans to be in great respect for his military skil and valour he sent to murder him at Megalopolis which being discovered he deservedly incurred the displeasure of all Greece He kept some correspondence together with Antiochus the Great with Ptolomy Philopator He incurreth odium several wayes when living but after his death they two consulted together to deprive his young son of his Kingdom and might well have done it especially seeing the Aegyptian Court was much vexed by the discord of the great ones had they not both been diverted
Cleomenes the Spartan entertained as we said lovingly by his father with promise to endeavour his restitution now finding things to make for it at home by the death of Antigonus and the Conjunction of the Aetolians with them of Sparta against the Achaeans earnestly desired to be dispatched away but he minding nothing but his pleasures and buried in sottishnesse regarded him not at all Sosibius indeed considered of the thing called his friends to advise about it but upon mature deliberation concluded it not wisdom to dismiss him provided of men and arms lest finding all clear abroad his Enemies being now dead or quiet he who knew sufficiently the state and condition of Egypt under such a Prince Stirs about Cleomenes King of Sparta might attempt something rather beneficial for himself than safe for it Hereupon it s resolved he shall be retained still and after some time an occasion was found to confine him For one Nicagoras a Messenian who ought him an injury coming to Town he not at all considering to whom he spake jeered the King to him for his filthy manner of life which he being glad of as having an opportunity against him acquainted Sosibius with his words and they two plot together that Nicagoras at his departure should leave a Letter directed to the other wherein he should accuse Cleomenes of an intention to make stirs in Egypt except he were sent away according to the promise of Euergetes This being laid to his charge by Sosibius and soundly aggravated to the King he was secured in free custody having a large house but kept with a Guard assigned to him whereupon growing desperate one day when Ptolomy was gone out of Town he made his Keepers drunk and with his followers brake out into the streets and called the people to liberty But none stirring being all astonished at the greatnesse of the Enterprize they made for the Castle which finding to be strongly defended he and all with him after a Laconian fashion as Polybius termeth it killed themselves This was the end of this famous man who being indued with a singular dexterity and promptnesse of wit had a genious suitable to great and weighty matters and was fitted by gifts of nature as well as experiences for the Offices either of a great Commander or a Prince 7. Though Cleomenes his sodain and unexpected attempt made no such impression upon the City as that any insurrections ensued thereupon and indeed the luxurie of the Court had infected it and the whole Land with the same distemper yet the minds of the People being something scowred by the Wars with Antiochus from this rust and elevated upon their successe against him after the battel at Raphia and the recovery of Coelesyria Polyb. ut prius they began to slight their lawful King and then arose to such an height as they clearly revolted intending to set up against him a Captain of their own making which shortly after they did and waged War with him though in what manner or with what end we know not further than thus that as it seemeth he had the better of it for he retained his dignity and power About this time 60000 Jews are said to have been slain in Aegypt Eusebius in Chronico 3. Maccab. Usserius Annal. Vet. Test pag. 510. who seeing they amounted to such a number we may have ground enough to think that they took part with the People and that his cruelty towards them ensued as a revenge hereupon though others there be that judge the contrary and deliver it as a thing not to be doubted of This is certain that about this time he grievously persecuted those of that Nation which lived at Alexandria abusing them first with libels and seeking to withdraw them from their Religion Those that refused to turn were either put to death or being deprived of all dignity and liberty were branded with the image of an Ivy leaf as the badge of Bacchus The Jews persecuted and because they were suspected to withdraw others from their obedience to the King all the Jews throughout the Land were in forty dayes space gathered together to be destroyed by 500 Elephants A. M. 3789. Ol. 141. an 1. V.C. 538. Ant. Mag. 8. â— Ptol. Philop. 7. to which was given wine mingled with much frankincence to inrage them But in the morning when Ptolomy should have come out to the sight a sluggish fit is said to have detained him until dinner and on the next day such a forgetfulness to have seized on him as he thought them mad which mentioned the thing to him and then on the third when the beasts were ready to be let loose two terrible Angels appeared which struck King and People with extraordinary horror and drove the Elephants upon those who came to be spectators of the cruelty Hereupon ensued such a change of the Kings mind as he dismissed the Jews after he had feasted them seven dayes and giving them leave to kill the Apostates Ptolomy dieth acknowledged God to be their protector At length he died leaving a childe of five years old and begotten of his sister behind him after he had reigned about eighteen years A. M. 3801 in the first of the 144 Olympiad 8. His son a child of five years succeeded him Justin lib. 30 being declared King by him before his death in the 20 year of Antiochus the Great King of Syria and was sirnamed afterwards Epiphanes Polyb. lib. 15 The death of Philopator was for a long time kept close by Agathocles and his party till his mother and sister had rifled the Court and he had found out such a way as he thought most effectual for the establishment of himself in that power he already enjoyed Then brought he out the King to the Macedonians His son Ptolomy Epiphanes a child of five years succeedeth him and with great expressions of sorrow for the death of his Father tells them the childe was by him delivered into the arms of Agathoclea his sister inveighs bitterly against one Tlepolemus who being a true Patriot was an eye-sore to him as if he intended to seize upon the Kingdom labouring to impose upon the belief of the Soldiers and secure himself by their strength but no man gave any credit to whatever he said so intirely was he hated by all The remembrance of the former outrages committed by him and his being more freshly renewed by some other attempts of cruelty whilst things still hung in this condition so inraged the multitude A. M. 3801. Ol. 144. an 1. V. C. 550. Ant. Mag. 20. that from all the quarters of the City flocking to the Court they would not be satisfied till having the young King first delivered to them they broke open the dores and getting him his sister mother and other of his creatures into their hands they put them to death mangling their bodies afterwards it being natural to that People to be cruel if once in
plotted his destruction and being caught in the manner was according to her deserts though perhaps not his duty put to death after she had domineered over him and expelled his brother eighteen years 22. Alexander being known to the People to have killed his mother Justin ibid. such a Sedition was thence moved as glad he was to flie for his life and thence they recalled his elder brother Lathurus from Cyprus and restored him his Kingdom for many years after his expulsion Who being thereupon expelled Lathurus is restored being now if we may believe Justin so satisfied with his present condition as of himselfe hee would never have made War upon his mother nor thereby sought to recover out of his brothers hands what he had formerly injoyed About this time his base brother Apion of Cyrene died and left the People of Rome his heir which thereupon left the Country to it 's own freedom but after ten years was it sore shaken and almost rent in pieces by Wars and Tyranny Livius Epitom lib. 70. which fell on it being destitute of a Royal Monarch Lucullus going thither composed the differences and setled the Commonwealth as he thought which after other ten years came to be reduced out of necessity to a Roman Province From Cyrene Lucullus returned through Egypt and in his passage being set upon by Pyrats lost almost all his Vessels Platarch in Lucullo yet escaped he safe to Alexandria the Kings Fleet being sent out to meet him where Lathurus entertained him with great magnificence lodged him in his own Court which favour had never before been bestowed on any stranger and presented him with gifts to the value of 80 Talents He entertaineth Lucullus the Roman But he onely received what was necessary and neither visiting Memphis nor seeing any of the rarities of Egypt being called away by his occasions returned through Cyprus unto Sylla whose Lieutenant then he was in the War against Mithridates King of Pontus After this the Inhabitants of Thebes revolted from him but in the third year he reduced them again to obedience Pausan in Attiis which is not to be understood of Thebes in Boeotia seeing he had nothing there to do but of the City so called in his own Country Not long after he died 37 years wanting some moneths after the death of his Father Physcon A. M. 3925 and the first of the 175 Olympiad 23. It 's difficult to assign certainly who succeeded him (a) Porphyr in Graecis Euseb Some say Cleopatra his daughter and wife to his brother Alexander others (b) Apian de bello civ lib. 1. that Alexander's son being received into familiarity with Sylla the Roman Dictator was by him placed in the Kingdom then destitute of issue male They may be reconciled by that which is further affirmed by the former viz. that he maried Cleopatra then Queen Apian saith that being seized on the Kingdom Alexander the second the Alexandrians not enduring his insolence on the nineteenth day drew him out of the Court and killed him but Porphyrie reporteth him to have slain her nineteen dayes after he had maried her Certainly though his reign be accounted no longer and that of Auletes to begin here yet cannot be rejected that which is produced to the contrary For Suetonius reporteth In Julio c. 11. that Julius Caesar in his younger dayes having ingratiated himself with the People attempted by their Tribunes that Egypt might be assigned him as a Province having gotten an opportunity of extraordinary command for that the Alexandrians had expelled their King on whom the Senate had bestowed the title of friend and allie This can in no wise be meant of Auletes for when he was expelled and came to Rome Caesar was then above such a condition having spent some years in the Wars of Gall. And that King of Egypt mentioned by Cicero to have died at Tyre In Orat. 1a. 2a Agraria and reported to have left the People of Rome his heir in his Consulship can be meant of none but of this Alexander the Second who being expelled rebelliously by his Subjects lived and died there in exile so that we must necessarily assign him counting from the death of Lathurus to the Consulship of Cicero about fifteen years during which time of his life he is to be supposed to have reigned longer than onely so many dayes contrary to the vulgar opinion 25. Alexander being expelled by the Alexandrians they immediately set up in his room Auletes succeedeth Alexandor the son of Lathurus sirnamed Dionysius and Auletes because he was too much addicted to the rites of Bacchus and dancing to the sound of Cymbals and Pipes He was base born as appeareth by the Prologue to the 39 book of Trogus and so was also his brother the King of Cyprus if that be true which Pausanias speaketh of his Fathers having no legitimate issue except one daughter After some years they that set him up pulled him down for his brother of Cyprus being most unjustly spoiled of his Kingdom by the Romans through the malice of Clodius Tribune of the People they pressed him sore either to demand Cyprus of the Romans or renounce their friendship Being unwilling to do this â—od lib. 39. and by reason of his great exactions which hee made for paying of his debts contracted by his purchase of the Roman alliance he incurred their hatred Plutarch in Catone Minore and whereas he could neither quiet the tumults by fair means nor foul was glad to withdraw himself out of the way and went to Rome At Rhodes he met with Cato who was sent by Clodius out of the way under colour of doing him honour to reduce Cyprus into the form of a Roman Province Is compelled by his rebellious Subjects and betaketh himself to Rome who advised him to return and be reconciled to his subjects rather than leaving his former happy condition to expose himself to danger and the avarice of the Roman Officers which Egypt it self could not be able to satisfie Being by the Counsel of his grave and wise man reduced as into his wits he was minded to follow his advice but was presently again turned by his friends A. M. 3948. Ol. 180. ann 1. V.C. 697. Hyrcani 7. and hasted to the Citie where he had time and cause enough to repent of his despising the Oracle as then he accounted it of so great a man 25. Being come to Rome he created the Senate much trouble Strabo lib. 17. being commended to it by Pompey whom some reported to have been the cause of his leaving Egypt more than any injury offered him by his subjects Plutarch in Pompeio Dio ibid. Cicero Familiar Epist lib. 1. Epist 1. Strabo Dio ut priùs Porphyrius in Graecis Eusebii that so he might afford matter for new Wars He desired he might be reduced into his Kingdom by Cornelius Lentulus the Consul to whom Cilicia
threatned to burn she having a great ambition to be loved by all great persons would not stick at killing Anthony She desiring indeed that it might be so remembring how his Uncle in time past and since that Anthony had been bewitched by her easily fooled her self into a fond belief thereof and promised her ambition not onely pardon and Egypt but the Roman Empire it self Anthony seeing her kind to the Messenger above measure suspected something and soundly lashing him sent him back to his Master and then she to wipe off his jealousie most solemnly celebrated his birth-day though suitably to her present condition she neglected her own and sought all manner of wayes how to humour him She betrayeth Pelusium and causeth the Fleet and Horse to revolt to him Yet did she betray Pelusium into Caesars hands and when he drew down towards Alexandria secretly forbad the Towns-men to go out against him though openly she exhorted them to resistance And when Anthony had provided a Fleet she caused it wholely to revolt and in like manner the horse which Anthony plainly seeing after the overthrow of his foot returned into the Citie crying out that he was betrayed by her into their hands against whom for her sake he had taken Arms. 40. She being afraid of him went to her Monument as intending to kill her self under pretence of being afraid of Caesar and sent a Messenger to him to tell him she was dead He giving credit to it desired Eros his servant to kill him but he preventing it with his own death he wounded himself in the belly Anthony killeth himself but the stroak not being such an one as could presently dispatch him he intreated his friends to do it who refusing and running out of the room a tumult ensued and she perceiving what was done sent for him up into her Monument He understanding she was alive arose thinking he might also possibly live but the blood issuing out in great abundance he despaired of it and was born by his attendants to the door of the building whence he was drawn up with Cords in a lamentable plight all in goar blood helping himself as it were and stretching out his hands to her and her women who haled him up thus to the top When he was got up she laid him on a bed tore her flesh wiped off his bloud with her face calling him Lord Husband and General after which he presently expired Caesar now desired to get her into his power by strong hand having an extraordinary ambition to grace his Triumph with her and not willing to promise any thing Caesar earnestly desireth to lead her in Triumph and doth all he can to deceive her and be counted a deceiver by falsifying his word She continued still in the Monument hoping at least to purchase her Kingdom by the Treasure she had yet in her power and refused to come down talking with the Messengers from above But presently some got in to her removed all things out of the way wherewith she might hurt her self and then bringing her into the Palace detracted nothing from her former state thereby to delude her with vain hope Caesar now without any trouble entred Alexandria with Arius the Philosopher on his right hand who formerly had read the Sciences to him he permitted her to bury Antony as she pleased which after she had done being spent with sorrow and her breast all exulcerated with stroaks she thereby contracted a Feaver and glad of that pretence to abstain from all sustenance and so end her dayes she consulted also with Olympus her Physician how to reduce her self into a Consumption But Caesar smelling it out so terrified her about her Children that she was content to desist 41. Shortly after he coming to comfort her Plutarch Dio ut suprà she cast her self down at his feet indeavouring with all the art she had to inveigle his affections which though he perceived yet fixing his eyes on the ground he onely said Be of good chear Woman thou shalt have no harm she being sollicitous Vide Suetonin Octavio Florum lib. 4. cap. 11. Orosium lib. 6. cap. 19. Eutropium l. 7. not for life but love and a Kingdom Then gave she in an Inventory of her Goods and Treasure at which Seleucus one of her Officers was so Malapert as to accuse her of suppressing something whereupon she flew in his face and soundly buffeted him Caesar smiling and gently reprehending her for it But she asked him whether it was not an hard case for her whom he had deigned to visit to be accused by one of her own slaves if she had reserved any thing not for her self but wherewithall to present his wife and sister that they might render him the more favourable to her Hereat he exceedingly rejoyced hoping she had a great desire to live and promised her great matters vainly supposing he therein deceived her But she having notice by Dolobella a young Gentleman amongst his followers and one that bare her great good will that after three dayes she and her Children were to go for Italy first obtained leave of him to celebrate the obsequies of Antony which having performed with lamentations and great shew of affection she commanded a Bath to be prepared and sitting down to meat sumptuously Dined After Dinner she gave a Letter to her Keeper to carry to Caesar wherein she desired she might be buried by Antony sealed that he thinking the contents to be of consequence might the more easily be removed out of the way He being gone with the help of her two women she made fast the doors most gorgeously apparelled her self as upon some solemn day with her royal Ornaments and then put an Asp which she had procured to be brought in secretly amongst Figs Grapes and Flowers to her left Arm with the biting of which she fell presently as into a sleep and so died But she having notice of his intentions dieth by the biting of an Asp Caesar having read the Letter presently perceived what was done and indeavoured with all speed to recall her to life though in vain grieving sore that he was frustrated of a glorious Triumph A. M. 3975. Ol. 187. ann 3. V. C. 724. Herodis 10. Octavio Caesare 4. M. Licinio Crasso Coss yet pitying and admiring the person whom he caused to be royally interred with Antony according to her desire and afterwards dealt very nobly with their Children Adorned she was with all the endowments of nature above her Sex Being learned her self she was a great Lover and Promoter of knowledge which she testified in erecting another Library in the room of that which had been burnt supplied with books from Pergamus at the procurement of Antony She lived 39 years reigned 22. counted from her fathers death fourteen whereof she spent with Antony And with her perished her Kingdom now reduced into the form of a Roman Province and the Macedonian Empire was quite
out of it but through very difficult and straight passages The Consuls leading their Army through this as the nearest way were quickly stopped up so as they could neither proceed nor retire because on all sides Pontius had blocked up the passage A. M. 3684. Ol. 114. an 4. V. C. 433. Ptolom Lagi 3. 4. The Samnites having the Roman Armies at this advantage sent to Herennius the father of Pontius their General and a very wise man for his advice what was to be done He sent word they should dismisse the Romans without any injury at all which answer not pleasing they sent back for another and then he counselled them to cut them off and not leave a man alive These two extremes being ascribed to dotage he came to the Camp and offered his reasons He said he gave the first advice as such which if followed would by a great courtesie have for ever obliged a most powerful People and the second as tending so far to the weakning of their power as they could not for a long time either recruit themselves or renew the War having lost two so considerable Armies as for any third expedient he found none Being asked concerning a middle way of dismissing the Romans in safety but under the obligation of some conditions he answered that this course would not procure them friends nor diminish their enemies for such was the Roman Nation that being disgraced or defeated it could not rest but would still retain the memory of what present necessity urged it to submit to neither saith he will they suffer you to rest till punished abundantly But this wise cousel would not be heard so that the Romans had these conditions set them The Army was to march away onely with their clothes having first in token of slavery passed under the jugum the Romans should quit wholly the Country of the Samnites and thence remove their Colonies and both Roman and Samnite live under the same terms of confederacy and alliance The Armies were constrained to submit Make it disgracefully passe under the jugum and march away disarmed and in great shame and consternation marched away disarmed This disaster hapned in the 433 year of the City and the third after the death of Alexander the Great when T. Veturius Calvinus the first and Sp. Posthumius the second time were Consuls 5. The City was most grievously afflicted with shame and anger at so disgraceful and unusual a thing Posthumius perswaded the Senate to deliver himself and his Collegue into the hands of the Samnites as being onely obliged to the conditions and not the State which was unacquainted therewith This being accordingly done Pontius refused to receive them exclaiming against the perfidiousnesse of the Romans The conditions are renounced at Rome and the Samnites often again defeated The Army then marching down again sufficiently revenged themselves under conduct of Papirius Several Towns which had revolted were recovered and scarce could the Samnites obtain a Truce for two years They brake this Truce ere the time was out and thereby drew the War again upon them which enduring for eleven years they lost many thousands of men with many Towns which humbled them so that upon their submission the usual confederacy was granted to them Then were the Aequi chastized who had helped them and thereby were other Nations affrighted into subjection In the second year after began another War with the Hetruscans wherein were fought divers bloody battels but still the Romans had the better who stormed divers Towns and wasted the Country Two years after the Samnites rebelled again and joyned with the Hetruscans but with the same successe as formerly being grievously slaughtered especially under the conduct of Q. Fabius Maximus and Decius Mus the later of whom seeing his wing give ground in a great and bloody battel fought with the Samnites and Galls for those now had joyned with them solemnly devoted himself and the Enemy to the Dii Manes Decius Mus as his father before him devoteth himself to the Dii Manes and rushing into the midst was killed as his father had been 44 years before Still continued the miseries of the Samnites and two years after their last Army for this time it must be understood was cut in pieces by L. Papirius son to the former who also took many Towns and for his service obtained a most splendid Triumph It is observed that over the Samnites the Romans triumphed thirty times viz. Consuls 26 times L. Papirius the Dictator twice Publius Philo once who first of all others triumphed with Proconsular power and once Q. Fabius another Proconsul The family of the Fabii obtained of these thirty four Triumphs and that of the Papirii five as may be seen in the Capitoline Tables This War having begun in the 410 year of the City ended in the 481 and therefore continued 71 years A summary account of the War with the Samnites not fifty onely as Florus according to his custome falsely computeth neither 81 as Appian nor 49 onely as Eutropius nor yet onely seventy which number Livie assigneth with tolerable difference All Writers agree that the Romans had no Enemy in Italy who longer or more pertinaciously managed the grand quarrel with them than the Samnites 6. During these successes abroad the People having got of late so many privileges were reasonably quiet yet their Tribunes having one occasion left to create trouble to the Fathers stomached much that all the Priests and Augurs should be created out of the Nobility The Priesthood and Augurship communicated to the Commons and laboured to make the Commons partakers of those Offices The Senate made no great resistance as being now accustomed to yield and that in things of far greater moment as the Consulship Censorship Dictatorship and Triumphs So whereas as yet there were but four chief Priests and as many Augurs to them were added four and to those five out of the body of the Commons And this same year did M. Valerius the Consul prefer a Law of Appeale more diligently enacted The Law of Appeal renewed the third time Now was it the third time preferred since the banishment of the Kings alwaies by the same family The cause of renewing it saith Livie I suppose was no other than that the power of a few prevailed above the liberty of the Commons Which cannot be if we consider how for a long time the will of the multitude had got ground and before this overturned the prerogative of the Patricians The Lex Porcia saith he seemeth alone to be enacted for the backs of the Citizens because it inflicted an heavy punishment upon him that should beat with rods or kill a Roman Citizen The Lex Valeria having prohibited any to be killed or beaten who had appealed if any did contrary added no more than it was naughtily done which such was then the modesty of men was I believe a sufficient obligation for the Law Now scarcely can
for he contented himself with the Equestrian rank neither could he not obtain greater things but he would * Maecenas eques Hetrusco de Sanguint regum Intra fortunam qui cupis esse tuam Propertius l. 3. not He had great power with Augustus which he improved to the allaying of his passion and doing good offices for others as one example shews above the rest On a time as Augustus sate in Judgment and was about to sentence many to death he perceiving it and nor able to come at him for the croud wrote these words Rise up at last Executioner in a table and cast them into Caesar's lap as some other matter who having read them presently departed without condemning any Neither did this offend Augustus but he was glad that he had one who would be so free with him and curb that anger which either his inclination or the urgency of businesse moved him to (a) Cilnius Arreti Tyrrhenis ortus in oris Clarum nomen erat Silius Italicus Cilnius was the antient name of his Family and Arretium in the Tyrrhenian Coasts the place of it (b) L. 7. c. 5â— Pliny telleth strange passages of him as that he never was without an Ague and for three years before his death never slept a quarter of an hour together In the same year which was that wherein Augustus mended the Calendar and called the moneth Sextilis after himself Horace the Poet also died in the 57 year of his age His familiarity with Caesar and Maecenas is sufficiently known His life is written by Suetonius 40. Augustus having again quieted all Nations and shut the Temple of Janus the third time having ordained a general taxation throughout the Empire that he might know the State and worth thereof having also refused the name of Dominus or Lord with great earnestnesse which he forbad even his Children and Nephews by an edict to use towards him the Lord and Heir of all things came into the World in the fulnesse of time revealed by the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Daniel for the fulfilling of the promises made concerning the seed of the woman The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ which should break the serpents head A. M. 4003. Ol. 194. an 3. V. C. 752. Caesare Augusto 13. M. Plautio Silano Coss Great difference there is in assigning the year of the World wherein our Saviour was born by reason of the difficulty of computation arising from the several versions of the Scriptures the intricate and uncertain successions of the Judges the variety of the forms of years and the several reckonings as to parcels of such as are related in Scripture A great help for the regulation of these things is afforded from prophane Histories But it beginneth but with Cyrus whose History as to the restauration of the Jews presenteth us with the first certain note of conjunction he being so named both by holy and prophane Writers but not Nebuchadnesar and yet the duration of his reign is also uncertain Yet as from all these opinions weighed together a good account may be given in another place more proper for the length of it as to the year of the World so the Evangelist teaching us that in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Christ was about thirty years old it must needs follow that Augustus reigned fifteen years after his birth so that if we count as some do the reign of Augustus from the death of Julius Caesar it lasted 57 years and then must Christ be born in the 42 of it But if we follow them as the order of this Work doth who with more reason fetch the beginning of his Empire from the death of Antony and the conquest of Aegypt then Christ's birth fell into the 28 year thereof and according to the computation which we most approve into the 4003 year of the World the 752 of the City and the third year of the 194 Olympiad wherein Caesar Augustus himself the thirteenth time and M. Plautius Silanus were Consuls Although Cyrenius who was Consul ten years before and is called elsewhere P. Sulpicius Quirinus might not formally be President of Syria which Office as others say was now obtained by Quintilius Vanus Josephus Antiq. l. 17. c. 7. who succeeded Saturninus who as yet was not departed out of the Province yet being set over this taxation by Augustus in that place this title might well be given him though he then governed Cilicia De bello Judaic l. 1. c. 15. as Herod is by Jesephus said to be constituted Procurator of all Syria though it had it's Officers who were to act by his assistance and direction Herod had now reigned 37 years and odd moneths and being deluded by the Wise Men whom he willingly suffered to search out Christ that he might destroy him killed all the children in and about Bethlehem of two years and under Matth. 2.16 which cruelty was but agreable with his disposition and constant practice Here that we may describe his affaires we must make a little digression and take them where we formerly left them A digression to the affairs of Herod 41. After he had obtained the possession of his Kingdom Josephus Antiq. l. 15. c. 1 c. he put to death 45 of Antigonus his friends having procured him to be beheaded as we formerly shewed Then did he prefer to the High-Priesthood one Ananel an obscure man neglecting Aristobulus the son of Aristobulus the King and brother to his own wife Mariamne and Antony desiring to see this youth for the fame of his beauty he fearing the Roman might advance him to stay him at home gave him the Priesthood and excused his neglect to send him by the inclination of the Jews to rebellion Perceiving him then to be in extraordinary favour with the Jews and that his mother Alexandra which he kept very close because of her restlesse spirit plorted the escape of her self and son into Aegypt a year after as he was swimming he caused him to be drowned and though Cleopatra accused him hereof to Antony yet by presents he made his Peace He maketh away Aristobulus In the Civil Wars he sided with Antony who having forces sufficient desired him to chastize the Arabians that denied the Tribute imposed on them This he did and though at first his attempts miscaried yet in another battel he quite overthrew and brought them under After the overthrow of Antony he had little hope that his own matters would go well He murdered Hyrcanus who onely survived of all the males of the Royal Family and whom he had recalled from Babylon Idem ibid. c. 9 c. whither he was caried by the Parthians He took the advantage of the old man's intent to flye into Arabia through the importunity of his daughter Alexandra who promised him great things if Herod should miscary under the power of Augustus Then providing as well as he could for the worst in case it should happen
he went to Rhodes to visit Caesar from whom he concealed not the love he bore to Antony but with notable courage declaring it withall signified that he was ready to serve him as faithfully which so wrought upon the magnificent Prince that he liked him extremely and confirmed him in his estate Is reconciled to Caesar having sided with Antony After Caesar's return out of Aegypt into Syria he entertained him and as he thereby procured the reputation of a noble and heroick spirit so also an addition to his Kingdom Yet was he unfortunate at home having commanded several times that if any thing hapened in his absence they should make away his beloved wife Mariamne She hearing of it used him frowardly whereat being inraged he was throughly perswaded to put her to death by his sister Salome which envious woman feigned certain accusations against her Killeth his wife Mariamne But after the deed was done having extraordinarily loved her he fell even mad and thereby into a great sicknesse so that casting off all Government he departed to Samaria then called Sebaste in honour of Augustus 42. Alexandra in the mean time endeavoured to get the strong places of Jerusalem into her hands wherewith he being acquainted Cap. 11 c. ordered her to be put to death Groweth cruel and then returning to the City grew exceeding cruel and distasteful The prejudice was increased by his making Games in honour of Caesar and hanging his Theatre with Trophies which the People sorely distasted as being by their Religion principled against Pictures Ten men conspired against him but were discovered and put to death Not long after he redeemed his credit by liberality in a great dearth and maried the daughter of Simon whom he preferred to the Priesthood having displaced Jesus the son of Phabes Then did he imploy his time and treasure in sumptuous and royal buildings as that of Caesarea amongst the rest formerly called the Tower of Straton and he built a Temple to the honour of Augustus who had again inlarged his Dominions and bestowed a Tetrarchy at his desire upon his brother Pheroras To the People which was ready to mutinie because of his idolatry he released the third part of their Tributes to please them forbad all their meetings punished severely such as were obstinate and bound the rest to him by an oath After this taking down the old Temple of Jerusalem he built another much more stately and magnificent being a Work of most admirable beauty in the space of nine years and six moneths Repaireth the Temple at at Jerusalem during which time it 's said that it onely rained on nights lest the Work should be hindred In the dedication he sacrificed 300 Oxen and the rest of the People according to their abilities He made a Law that thieves which broke walls should be sold for slaves out of the Kingdom Josephus Antiq. l. 16. c. 1 c. Which the People ill resented as against their Religion which not onely provided otherwise concerning thieves but would be broken also by these men who must necessarily serve Idolaters Now he himself fetched from Rome Alexander and Aristobulus his sons by Mariamne whom having sent thither to be bred Augustus had kindly entertained These youths were feared by Salome and Pheroras as intending to revenge their mothers death and therefore they resolved they must not live especially she that was incouraged by the successe she had had against their mother And they presented her with an opportunity of accusing them seeming indeed not to be well affected toward their father desiring the Kingdom and exclaiming greatly against the authors of their mother's death Herod troubled hereat called to Court Antipater his son begotten when he was a private man that opposing him against them he might make them more carefull of their behaviour But thereby were they more incensed and Antipater making use of his time got more and more into his father's affections who commended him in especial manner to Caesar though he had not a thought at first of making him his Heir and sent him to Rome to procure the Emperour's favour 43. Antipater improving his father's displeasure against his brothers Idem ibid. cap. 7. c. effected that he carried them to Augustus then at Aquileia and grievously accused them of an intention to poyson him Accuseth his two sons begotten of Mariamne unto Caesar Yet the young men by their tears and Alexander's refutation of the calumny so moved Caesar that he reconciled them and for that Herod had given him 300 Talents and been very liberal as his custom was to be in all places unto the people of Rome he bestowed on him half of the profits of the Mines in Cyprus and gave him liberty to leave which of his sons he pleased his Successor or if he would to distribute his Kingdom amongst them all which Herod presently would have done but Caesar would not permit it In his absence the Inhabitants of Trachonitis a considerable part of his Kingdom rebelled and were reduced by his Captains After his return he made a speech to the people and named to succeed him first Antipater and then his sons by Mariamne which naming a Successor beforehand when the inheritance is uncertain hath ever wrought great inconvenience to both parties Cap. 11. c. After he had opened David's Sepulchre to search for Treasure as John Hyrcanus had done before him where he found none except very costly Attire After his rifling of Davids Sepulchre his affairs decline and Ornaments of Gold 't is observed that his family fell into a very sad condition nothing being heard but complaints accusations one against another The greatest part of Antipater's malice fell upon Alexander and the Court hereby was filled with tortures and slaughters Herod suspecting all and trusting none put many to death and those of his most intimate friends and committed Alexander to prison being captivated by so great a fear of an untimely death that he was almost ready to run mad These things were diverted by the rebellion of the Inhabitants of Trachonitis which Countrey Caesar having taken it from Zenodorus gave unto him who again revolting were protected by Syllaeus an Arabian that being to marry his sister Salome was rejected because he would not turn Jew Saturninus and Volumnius Presidents of Syria resolved he might by force of Arms chastize these Rebels whereupon he entred Arabia and having formerly destroyed their families which they left in their Corn Countrey took a Castel they held there Syllaeus now being at Rome accused Herod unto Caesar as having wasted all Arabia and he so far believed it that he twice denied his Ambassadors audience The Rebels and Arabians hereupon did him much injury which he was glad to put up for the present but sent Nicholaus Damascenus to plead his cause 44. He first joyned with the Ambassadors of Aretas King of Arabia Cap. 16. c. â—â— in accusing
was well rewarded For Augustus procured him equal power with himself over Provinces and Armies which he held for two years and then arrived at the Monarchy of the Roman Empire 54. Augustus in the year preceding his death when his fourth ten years Government was now expiring unwillingly as he ever pretended Dio l. 56. accepted of the fifth and prorogued to Tiberius the Tribuneship for other five years The year wherein he died he made his third Census with Tiberius his Collegue and in this Lustrum were found 4137000 polls of Roman Citizens Inscript Gruteri p. 230. Celebrating the Lustrum in the Campus Martius and with great concourse of People an Eagle flew about him several times and directing her flight to a Chapel near adjoyning sate down over the name of Agrippa at the first letter Which considering Sueton. in Octavio c. 99 100 he commanded Tiberius his Collegue to make those vows which it was the custom to make for the following Lustrum For though the tables were written and ready yet he refused to undertake that which he should not perform About the same time the first letter of his name on his statue in the Capitol was stricken out by a Thunderbolt The Fortune-tellers answered that he should onely live 100 dayes longer Patercul l. 2. c. 123. which was signified by the letter C and must be reckoned amongst the gods for AESAR the rest of the name in the Hetruscan language signified a God In the mean time he wrote a breviary of his actions which he commanded to be cut in brasse and set before his Mansoleum Then sending Tiberius into Illyricum to settle matters there he followed him as far as Beneventum but returning back indisposed by a Dirrhaea he came to Nola whither he also recalled Tiberius and had long discourse with him in private His last day being come he called for a looking-glasse caused his hair to be combed and his wrinckled cheeks smoothed up Then asking his friends if he had not acted his part well upon their answer yea he said Plaudite and so died in the imbraces of his beloved wife Livia A. D. 15. V. C. 767. bidding her remember their Mariage and Farewel Augustus dieth He died in the same rome as Octavius his Father had done and on the same day August 19 on which he entred his first Consulship having lived 76 years all but 35 dayes in the 767 year of the City the second of the 198 Olympiad the 57 after the death of Julius Caesar and the fifteenth after the death of Christ Sextus Pompeius and Sextus Apuleius being Consuls He was the founder of the Roman Monarchy his Uncle having been rather the chalker of it out Having obtained it with the destruction of many he managed it with great prudence and moderation His publick demeanour was with modesty and his private with temperance altogether void of luxury for though his fortune was high his fare was but mean and his apparel suitable being made of cloath wrought in his own house by his wife sister and daughter He was most unfortunate in his first mariage through the incredible wantonnesse of his daughter Julia which died at Rhegium in confinement not long after him And he was not much happier in his second mariage except his dearly beloved Livia was much wronged For 't is reported that she fearing Agrippa Posthumus might be received into favour again whom Augustus had lately visited set him foreward to his long home by poysoning some Figs as they hung on a Tree from which she knew he was wont to gather that kind of fruit 55. Tacitus maketh it a doubt whether Tiberius found him alive or dead Sueton in Tiberio Capp 22 24. for Livia kept all things close gave out words sometimes as if he recovered secured the High-wayes denied all accesse to the house and sent for her son her self when he had scarcely entred Illyricum so that by their practices Agrippa Posthumus was first taken out of the way Tacitus Annal. lib. 1. and all things necessary being provided the very same report gave information that Augustus was dead Tiberius succeedeth him and Tiberius possessed of the Soverainty For he had secured it to himself by strength though he played the dissembler most egregiously refusing the Government so long as till the Senators fell down at his feet and besought him to accept of it whom he answered with ambiguous words and at length complaining that a miserable and intollerable servitude was imposed on him received it as by constraint and yet so as he seemed to signifie that he would again relinquish it Indeed there was cause for him to say as he did that he took a Wolf by the ears For Clemens the slave of Agrippa had got a considerable party together under pretence of revenging his Lord's death Scribonius Libo secretly plotted his own advancement and the Legions both in Germany and Illyricum mutined the former chusing Germanicus for their Prince who earnestly refused to accept of their offer and at length quieted them with much ado as Drusus did the other in Pannonia they being frighted into obedience by a total Eclypse of the Moon which fell out on the 27th of September five hours after midnight Clemens was apprehended and Libo not effecting any thing was in the second year accused to the Senate Tiberius in the mean while looking carefully to himself notwithstanding those motions obtained the Supream power betwixt which and his rule with Augustus for two years there was this difference that his former command extended onely to the Armies and Provinces subject to Augustus but this to the Citie it self Mistresse of all Formerly he had Tribunitial and Censorian power but now he became Monarch and was loose or exempt from all power of Laws as Augustus before him For he had not together with him when living so equal authority as afterwards L. Verus had with M. Antoninus the Philosopher which two first governed the Commonwealth upon equal terms but such like as Antoninus Pius had with Adrian who also adopted him and made him his Collegue in the Proconsular power as to Provinces and in the Tribunitial power at home And therefore Suetonius telleth us In Tiberio cap. 23. that Tiberius first assembled the Senate by virtue of his Tribunitial Office onely 56. Sueton in Tiberio Capp 26 27 28 c. Tacitus ut suprà Tiberius at first carried himself as ever in some cases very cunningly cloaking with marvelous dissimulation those enormities which afterwards appeared Tiberius at first dissembleth his vices For some time he counterfeited incredible patience stooped too low in his complementing of Senators and Magistrates rejected all high titles and honours not enduring the name of Dominâ—s or Lord and consulted the Senate continually not doing little or much without its consents nay suffering some things therein to be carried against his mind he was also at first very temperate in his diet
who used him as his most inward Counsellour or Minister of State and erected to his honour his statue of brasse in the Theatre Tiberius punished by the treachery of Seianus who poysoneth his son Drusus Now he thought of no lesse than the Empire it self as a step to which he poysoned Drusus the son of Tiberius having brought Livia the young man's wife to a compliance with him by his filthy dalliance and corrupted Lygdus the Eunuch to betray his trust Drusus had the year before the Tribumtial power conferred on him but for that he was none of the most towardly was little regarded by his father who as soon as his Funeral was over returned to his wonted employments forbidding any longer vacation upon his account Sueton in Tiberio cap. 52. The Inhabitants of Ilium sending their Ambassadors something too late to condole his death he answered that he also was sorry for the death of Hector their excellent Countrey-man Tiberius after this commended the two sons of Germanicus Nero and Drusus to the Senate which done Seianus began to strike at them though at first through the sides of their mother labouring to bring them all into suspition and hatred Tacitus ut suprà This first advantage he took was from the prayers of the Priests who made vows for their health as for that of Tiberius for he took it hainously that they herein should be made equal to him Then did he provoke them and never ceased till he caused them to be declared Enemies by the Senate after which he starved them to death using also their mother most injuriously for that she was not sparing of her tongue in reprehending and upbraiding him Now was Tacfarinas who had maintained a tedious war in Africk slain by Dolabella Sueton. in Tib. cap. 40. As for Tiberius by the perswasion of Seianus he withdrew into the Isle Capreae and thence forward minding nothing gave up himself to all sorts of enormities 60. For casting off all care of the State being out of sight Idem ibid. Capp 41 42. c. he returned to his natural disposition not looking to the supply either of Army or Provinces suffering Armenia to be seized on by the Parthians Maesia by the Dacians and Sarmatians Tiberius returneth to his natural humour and Gall to be wasted by the Germans He instituted a new Office for the management of pleasures unto which he preferred a Knight T. Caesonius Prisous he held such in greatest esteem bestowed Offices on men that were most for his turn that way being given up to such beastlinesse as is incredible and not to be mentioned He was excessively covetous both as to getting and keeping what was unjust He was so undutifull to his mother as he refused to come at her when living and when dead he neglected to bury her neither would he perform her will but persecuted her friends but she was justly rewarded though as to him unjustly having over and above other wicked practices been suspected to have had an hand in the death of Germanicus His Character given him by his School-master So cruel and filthy he became that he verified the Character given him when but young by Theodorus Gadareus his School-master that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Dirt mingled with blood Having chosen twenty of the principal men of the Citie to be his Counsellors he scarcely left two or three of them alive Seianus being found out and punished justly for his wickednesse amongst others that were innocent He spared not the familiar friends of his mother nephews Agrippina or Seianus No day either holy or prophane was free from slaughters Every offence little or great was Capital Many were codemned with their wives and children Rewards were proposed to informers and all testimonies taken for true Simple death he accounted nothing and therefore invented painful waies especially after he knew how his son Drusus died he neither spared any person nor sort of torments Caius the son of Germanicus he cared not for as suspecting him and Tiberius his grandson by Drusus he despised as conceived in adultery 61. Joseph Antiq. l. 18. c. 3. Euseb Eccles Hist l. 1. c. 9. Luc. 3. In the twelfth year of Tiberius was Pontius Pilate sent into Judaea to succeed Valerius Gratus the fourth Governour after the banishment of Archelans the son of Herod to Vienna Pontius Pilate succeedeth Gratus in Judaea Coponius was the first M. Ambivius the second Annius Rufus the third and Gratus the fourth Pilate at his first entrance set up the Images of Caesar at Jerusalem which moved the Jews to sedition but overcome by their intreaties he removed them to Caesarea He being now Governour of Judaea Herod Antipas Tetrarch of Galile his brother Philip Tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis and Lysanias of Abilene Annas who formerly having had the Office though displaced by Gratus yet for his authority still caried the name and Caâ—phas otherwise called Joseph whom lately Gratus had placed in the room of Simon by him deposed also being High-Priests in the fifteenth year of Tiberius entering John Baptist began to preach and baptize in the resemblance and spirit of Elias John Baptist beginneth to preach and baptize Amongst others he baptized Christ himself of whom he was the forerunner His ministry is thought to have commenced on the tenth day of the seventh moneth which was Penitential and so great a Fast A. D. 29. Ol. 201. an 4. V. C. 781. that the soul which did not afflict it self was to be cut off from amongst it's People and was also Expiatorie wherein the High-Priest the Type of him before whose face John was sent entred into the Holy of Holies alone with blood expiating the sins of the People this being also the same day wherein by trumpet the Jubile was proclaimed 62. Jesus now about thirty years of age being baptized of John in Jordan and owned for the Messiah and son of God by the descending of the Holy Ghost in the form of a dove and resting upon him as also by a voice from Heaven was led of the Spirit into the Wildernesse to be tempted of the Devil A. D. 30. Ol. 202. an 1. V. C. 782. After his temptation he returned in the power of the Spirit into Galile Going into Galile he received Andrew and Simon his brother the day following called Phlip of Bethsaida the City of Andrew and Simon sirnamed Cephas or Peter by the Lord. On the third day being invited to a mariage in Cana of Galile he turned water into wine this being his first miracle and by it his glory was manifested and his Disciples believed in him Afterward he went down to Capernaum with his mother The Lord Jesus executeth his Ministry his brethren or kinsmen and disciples where they abode not many dayes Then came he to the exercise of his Ministry the acts whereof are distinguished by four Passeovers Amongst the four Evangelists which
the hill where staying for more company that they might ascend all together Pilate prevented them and killing some took many dispersed the rest and put to death the chief of those he had taken Hereof the Senate of Samaria complained to Vitellius President of Syria who sent Marcellus his friend to take charge of Judaea and commanded Pilate to go to Rome there to answer before Caesar what should be laid to his charge Hereupon he departed after he had governed Judaea ten years but ere he reached Rome Is sent to Rome to give an account of it Tiberius was dead About the same time that these things hapned in Samaria the Jews were banished Rome by the Emperour upon this occasion A certain Jew flying his native Country for breaking of the Laws came to the City where he professed himself an expounder of them and drew to him two or three no lesse reprobate than himself They made a Proselyte Fulvia the wife of Saturninus an honourable person and perswading her to send some Purple and Gold to the Temple of Jerusalem converted it to their own use The Jews banished Rome Saturninus complaining of this to Tiberius he thereupon commanded all Jews to depart Rome Of these the Consuls chose out and listed 4000 men whom they sent into Sardinia and punished many that refused to bear arms upon no other account than because they would not transgresse the Ordinances of their Country 87. About two years after the deach of Christ died Philip the Tetrarch son to Herod the Great a man of a modest and quiet disposition whose Principality Philip the Tetrarch dieth for that he died without issue Idem ibid. cap. 6. Tiberius laid unto the Province of Syria By this time Artabanus King of Parthia prospering against his neighbours was much puffed up and despising the old age of Tiberius Tacitus Annal. l. 6. c. 31. when his son Artamas was dead made his other son Arsaces King of Armenia in his stead The Parthian King revileth and dispirseth Tiberius He also reviled Tiberius by Letters objecting paricide murthers Sueton in Tiberio c. 60. lazinesse and luxury to him and willed him by a voluntary death to satisfie the most just hatred of his subjects as soon as possible But many Noble men of Parthia to escape his cruelty came to Rome and desired a King from Tiberius who thereupon gladly named Phraates the son of Phraates that had been of a long time Hostage at Rome and he dying in Syria he commended to them Tiridates Mithridates brother to Pharasmenes King of the Hiberi was also ordered to get Armenia who breaking into it joyned the Albanians to him and procured the death of Arsaces for the Parthians were easily overthrown being discouraged by a false rumour of the death of Orodes their Captain another of Artabanus his sons Artabanus having before this attempted Cappadocia sent also to demand the Treasure which Vonone had left in Syria and Cilicia and that had been seized by Tiberius * Idem in Tib. c. 49. who with great perfidiousnesse killed the owner at Antioch and he further demanded the antient Borders of the Persians and Macedonians bragging that he would invade whatsoever had been possessed by Cyrus and Alexander But Vitellius the President of Syria having drawn many of his subjects from their trust his mind so changed Tacitus ut suprà cap. 41. Dio l. 59. that he fled away cowardly with a few to the confines of Scythia Vitellius taking the opportunity carried Tiridates into the Kingdom but he by delaying to seize on the chiefest places and hastning his Coronation gave occasion to some of the great ones again to fly unto Artabanus who coming on the other fled as fast back into Syria so that he recovered his Kingdom with Armenia and resolved to set upon Syria 88. Tiberius hereupon wrote to Vitellius to make a peace with him Vitellius about this time was come to Jerusalem after the expulsion of Pilate where he celebrated the Passeover remitted to the Citizens the Impost upon such fruits as were sold Caiphas deposed and deposed Joseph sirnamed Caiphas Josephus Antiquit lib. 18. cap. 6. from the High-Priesthood to which he promoted Jonathan the son of Annas He met with Artabanus upon a bridge built over the River Euphrates where they concluded a peace and afterwards they were feasted by Herod the Tetrarch Darius the son of Artabanus was sent an Hostage to Rome with many presents But Tiberius died before Sueton ut suprà cap. 73. c. Tacitus Annal. l. 6. c. 50. March 16 having since the death of Seianus cruelly raged against many Tiberius dieth and lived dissolutely from his retirement to the Island Capreae whence he never returned to the Citie though he was twice on his way The people ran up and down overcome with joy upon the report of his death Some would have had his body cast into Tiber and others prayed that no other place might be assigned him now dead than amongst the wicked He reigned 22 years A. D. 38. Ol. 204. ann 1. V. C. 790. seven moneths and odd dayes and died in the 78th year of his age and the 790 of the Citie Cn. Acerronius Proculus and C. Pontius Nigrinus being Consuls CHAP. II. From the death of Tiberius to that of Nero the last Emperour of Caesar's family containing the space of 20 years 1. TIBERIUS left behind him a Grand-son of his own name by his son Drusus yet he preferred before him Caius the son of Germanicus either for some reason fetcht (a) Josephus Antiquit. l. 18. c. 8. from Astrology to which he was much given Caius the son of Germanicus succeedeth Tiberius or through the means (b) Sueton in Caligula c. 12. Tacitus Annal. l. 6. c. 50. of Macro his Freed-man and greatest favourite who being a loose and vile person Caius insinuated himself into his favour by the procurement of his wife With her Caius was wantonly familiar and promised her marriage by an Oath and under his hand if he could compasse the Empire wherewith Macro was well pleased if so be he could but therewith purchase greater preferment 'T is reported that he helped his Master forward by stifling him in the bed-cloths Others have thought (c) Sueton ut priùs that a slow-working poyson was given him by Caius some that meat was denied him others that when he demanded his Ring which they had pulled off from his finger they choked him with the Pillow However it came to passe Caius succeeded him and some (d) Xiphilinus ex Dione judged him willing that so it should be because he knew he would prove a very bad man and hoped that thereby the faults of his own reign might be something covered (e) Josephus ut suprà He was received with great applause by all men By the Army for that he had been brought up continually amongst them Some say he was
Herod by St. Luke labouring all manner of wayes to gratifie the Jews killed James the brother of John and shut up Peter in prison Act. 12. intending to bring him forth to the People after the Passeover but he was miraculously delivered by an Angel A just punishment from God overtook Agrippa not long after For having begun to build the walls of Jerusalem when upon complaint of Marsus President of Syria he was forbidden by Claudius he descended to Caesarea there to celebrate games in honour of Caesar Being clothed with a robe of silver which glittered exceedingly by the reflection of the Sun-beams he rejected not the flatteries of those who ascribed to him divine honours and was presently seized by a pain in his guts Whom vengence overtaketh for the death of James and being eaten with worms gave up the ghost within five dayes after he had reigned seven years in all A. D 45. V.C. 797. and three over Judaea His Kingdom was not committed to his son by reason of his youth for he was but seventeen years old and therefore Cuspius Fadus was sent to govern it 9. Claudius restored also Mithridates the Iberian to his Kingdom whom Caius had imprisoned On another Mithridates descended from Mithridates the Great King of Pontus he bestowed the Kingdom of Bosphorus giving one part of Cilicia to Polemo in requital and another part of this Country to Antiochus with Commagena Claudius restoreth several Princes for he had also been deprived of this his Kingdom by Caius But the Lycians and Rhodians he deprived of their liberty The former for that they had raised a Sedition wherein some Romans had been slain and the later because they had crucified some of them About this time the Britains were very tumultuous The Britains tumultuous for the reducing of whom to obedience he sent A. Plautius in his second year with an Army out of Gall. 10. Since the time of Julius Caesar the Romans had attempted nothing upon Britain Augustus seemeth of purpose to have neglected it Lege Cambdenum counting it policy to keep the Roman Empire within it's bounds to wit the Ocean the Rivers Ister and Euphrates limits set by nature to the end it might be a State Adamantine for so he himself speaketh in Julian or invincible and not miscary through it 's too great bulck and burthen This Island from Julius Caesar his Expeditions untouched by the Romans Strabo is of opinion that he despised it seeing no cause to fear nor hope of much profit from the Britans and yet it seemed that no small danger would be presented from other Nations lying about the said Island But at length he departed from Rome with a purpose to transfer the War into Britain but when he was come into Gall the Britains pacified him by Ambassadors and having obtained his amity dedicated presents and oblations in the Capitol They brought the Island now familiar to the Romans and endured taxes and imposts which saith Strabo are now nothing grievous to them being raised out of such marchandise and commodities as are shipped to and fro out of Gall and Britain those be Ivory works bits and bridles chains and wreathes Vessels of Electrum and glasse with other base and common wares of like sort And therefore there needs no Garrison for that Island For it would require one Legion at least and some Horsemen if tributes were to be levied from thence and the said tributes would but countervail the charges of maintaining a Garrison there Augustus was diverted from it for of necessity by imposing a tribute the revenues coming by tollage and poundage and such like imposts would be lesse and if any violent course were used some peril or other must be expected The year following also Augustus intended a second Expedition into Britain because there was some variance about the Covenants but by occasion of some insurrections made in Spain by the Cantabri and others that journey was staied 11. Tiberius nothing transported with an inordinate desire of inlarging the Empire seemeth to have rested in that counsel of Augustus For he brought out a Book written with Augustus his own hand wherein was contained the whole wealth and estate of the Commonweal what number as well of Roman Citizens as Allies were in Arms how many Navies Kingdoms and Provinces what tributes and imposts belonged to the State with a resolution annexed thereto of containing the Empire within the same bounds Which advise and resolution of Augustus contented him so well that as Tacitus reporteth Tiberius neglected it he would attempt nothing in Britain nor maintain any Garrison or Deputies there For whereas Tacitus reckoneth up the number of Legions and what Coasts and Countries they defended at that time he maketh no mention at all of Britain And yet it seemeth that the Britains entertained amity with the Romans For when as at the same time Germanicus sailed the Ocean some of his Company being by force of Tempest driven to this Island were by the Princes thereof sent back again That Caius Caesar cast in his mind to enter this Island is certain but by his shittle brain sudden repentance and wonderful attempts against Germany it came to nothing For to the end that he might terrifie Britain and Germany over which he hovered with the same of some mighty piece of work he made a bridge between Baiae and the Piles of Puteoli three miles and 600 paces in length Caius his rare exploits But having atchieved no greater exploit than received to grace Adminius the son of Cynobelliuus King of the Britans who being by his Father banished had fled over Sea with a small power and train about him he sent magnificent and glorious letters to Rome as if the whole Isle had been yielded up into his hands warning and wishing the Posts to ride forward directly into the Forum and Curia and in no wise to deliver the said missives unto the Consuls but in the Temple of Mars and that in a frequent Assembly of the Senate 12. After this to the Ocean he marched as if he minded to translate the War over into Britain There upon the shoar he embattelled his Soldiers he himself took Sea in a Gally and having lanched forth a little from the Land returned again Then mounting an high scaffold he sate him down and gave his Soldiers the sign for battel And great atchievement and commanding the Trumpets to sound on a sodain charged them to gather Cockles Muskles and other small shel-fishes Having gotten these spoils he waxed proud as if he had conquered the Ocean and having rewarded his Soldiers he brought some of these shel-fishes to Rome to shew the booty he had gotten In token and memorial of this great atchievement he caused to be built a brave high Turret out of which as from a watch-tower there might blaze all night long lights and fires for the better direction of Sea-men The ruines hereof are some times
Lucius and was commanded to adopt Marcus but they being both young Hadrian adopted Pius and commanded him to adopt Lucius and Marcus Antoninus Pius F. Auâ—elius Fulvius Antoninus for his goodnesse sirnamed Pius the son of Aurelius Fulvius and born in Gall within the Alpes succeeded Adrian There was little stir in the Provinces during his reign onely something was done in Britain against the Natives by Lollius his Lieutenant and some bickering with the Jews the last and weakest struglings of a dying Nation Now was another wall of turf made in Britain and for the Victories obtained by Lollius Urbicus the Emperour was saluted Britanicus who as * In Arcadicis Pausanias telleth us fined the Brigantes part of their grounds because they had fallen with War upon the Genunii the Allies of the Roman People And at this time saith Cambden as we collect out of Jabolenus Seius Saturnius was Archigubernus of the Navy in Britain But whether by this title he was an Admiral of the said Navy or a principal Pilot or the Master of a ship I would have the Lawyers to tell Antoninus ruled with such care moderation and humanity that he was called another Numa all things flourishing in calmnesse and tranquility He repaired several Cities that had been overturned with Earthquakes in which and other respects Pausanias giveth him large commendations He was excellently learned a subtil and deep Philosopher He was rendered favourable to Christianity by the Apologies of Justin Martyr and the supplications of others in behalf of the faithful in Asia which were grieved with all sorts of contumelies practized against them by their Provincials He graciously sent a constitution in their behalf unto the body of Asia which was read at Ephesus in the audience of this great Assembly and yet is preserved to our sight in the end of Justin Martyr his second Apology and by Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History according to this tenour 16. The Emperour Caesar Titus Aelius Adrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius Pontifex Maximus fifteen times enjoying the power of Tribune four times Consul not thrice as it is corruptly written in Eusebius Father of the Country to the People of Asia Health I know the gods are careful to disclose hurtful persons For they punish such as will not worship them more grievously than you do those whom you bring in trouble confirming that opinion which they have of you to be wicked and ungodly men It 's their desire in Gods quarrel His edict in behalf of the Christians rather to die than live So that they become conquerours yielding their lives unto the death rather than to obey Edicts It shall seem very necessary to admonish you of the Earthquakes which have and do happen amongst us that being therewith moved you may compare our estate with theirs They have more confidence to Godward than you have you during the time of your ignorance despise other gods contemn the Religion of the immortal God banish the Christians which worship him and persecute them unto the death In the behalf of these men many of the Principal Presidents have written heretofore unto our Father of famous memory whom he answered in writing again that they were not to be longer molested unlesse they had practized treason against the Roman Empire And many have informed us of the same matter whom we answered as our Father did before us If any therefore hereafter be found thus busied in other mens affaires we command that the accused be absolute and free though he be found such an one I mean as faulty and that the accuser be grievously punished That this Edict was proclamed at Ephesus in the hearing of the great Assembly of Asia witnesse is Meliton saith Eusebius Bishop of Sardis who flourished at that time in his profitable Apology for our doctrine delivered unto the Emperour Verus But Antoninus died on the Nones of March after he had reigned 22 years seven moneths and 26 dayes in the first year of the 235 Olympiad the 914 of the City A. D. 161. In his time flourished besides many excellent Lawyers and Justin the Christian Philosopher the son of Priscus Bacchius and born in Flavia a new City of Palaestine as he saith himself Polycarpus Bishop of Smyrna Galen that excellent Physician and Aelian Writer of the natural and various Histories 17. In the first year of Pius died Telesphorus Bishop of Rome on the Nones of January Bishops the Sea was vacant seven dayes both the terms being excluded and then Hyginus the ninth Bishop succeeded on the Ides of January and the first feria In the fifth of Pius died Hyginus on the third of the Ides of January and Pius succeeded him when Sex Erucius Clarus and Cn. Claudius Severus as Damasus will have it were Consuls which if it be true the Sea was vacant four years In the thirteenth of Pius Damasus died Pius the Bishop on the fifth of the Ides of July and his seat being vacant fourteen dayes Anicetus the eleventh succeeded him on the 25 of July the first feria (a) Euseb l. 4. c. 5 6. From the Passion of our Saviour till the eighteenth year of Adrian there were fifteen Bishops in the Church of Jerusalem all Jews In the which year after the utter overthrow the siege and conquering of the City under the said Aelius Adrianus Jerusalem was called Aelia and began to be inhabited of strange Nations Until (b) Idem l. 4. c. 22. wellnigh this time this Church was called a pure and uncorrupted Virgin for till about the year 110 there was no false doctrine sown there Of the Gentiles (c) Idem l. 4. c. 6. l. 5. c. 11. Marcus was the first Bishop of Jerusalem After Abilius (d) Idem l. 3. c. 21. Cerdo was Bishop of Alexandria in the first year of Trajan where he continued thirteen years Him succeeded Primus who continued in the Sea twelve years After Primus was (e) Idem l. 4. c. 4 5. Justus Bishop of Alexandria where he continued eleven years After Justus (f) Idem l. 4. c. 5 11. Eumenes was Bishop and so continued thirteen years He was succeeded by Marcus who governed that Church ten years Then followed (g) Idem l. 4. c. 11 20. Celadion who continued fourteen years And in the Sea of Antioch that we may still continue the series of Bishops formerly began after Heros who succeeded Ignatius (h) Idem l. 4. c. 20. Cornelius was Bishop about the twelfth of Adrian Hereticks 18. After the Bishops and Fathers of the Church it 's convenient to continue the series of Hereticks formerly laid down About the year 110 (a) Euseb l. 4. c. 22. Thebulis was the first Heretick in the Church of Jerusalem It 's said that he fell from the Faith because they would not chuse him Bishop after Simeon About the same time were certain Hereticks called Ophitae who worshipped a Serpent and thought that the Serpent which
came into his Camp and so extolled the valour and kindnesse of Pyrrhus as the Macedonians first in little Companies and after all the Army revolted to him so as Demetrius was much deceived who fearing they might do so to Lysimachus little suspected this towards the other being a stranger Pyrrhus thus obtaining all the Army without a stroak Loseth all was saluted King of Macedonia by the Soldiers but Lysimachus coming shortly after alleged the endeavour of suppressing the Enemy to have been common to them both and demanded the parting of the Kingdom to whom he assented for that he did not trust the Macedonians and so the Countries and Cities were divided amongst them 11. Demetrius thus outed of his Kingdom fled to Cassandria Idem and thence into Greece where after a little time he got some Forces together and being angry with Athens for that revolting from him the Inhabitants had sent for Pyrrhus And flying up and down he besieged it but upon the entreaty of Crates the Philosopher whom being a man of great authority they had sent to him he gathered together his ships and sailed away into Asia with 11000 men His design was to take â—f he could Caria and Lydia from Lysimachus and he took divers Towns and seized upon Sardis but Agathocles Lysimachus his son coming down with an Army against him he marched for Phrygia with intention to passe into Armenia and Media and so attempt to make himself Master of some of the upper Provinces of Asia which at the worst would afford retreating places enough and other helps to a beaten party In his way hee was superiour to Agathocles who pursued him but being brought into great distresse for want of provisions there fell withall such a Plague upon his Army that he lost 8000 men and so was forced to retreat and came to Tarsus This place being under Seleucus he was very loath to hurt for fear of giving him offence but being forced by want he wrote to him whereby he excused himself and sadly lamented his condition Seleucus pitying him at first commanded his Governours to use him and his Army with great respect but Procles one of his most familiar friends filled his head with such suspitions that he led down an Army towards Cilicia against him whereat hee wondering retired to the most convenient place of the mountain Taurus where he sent to him to give him leave to seize upon some Country of the Barbarians where he might put an end to his flight and wandrings and spend the residue of his dayes 12. Seleucus making a bad interpretation of the message Idem onely would give way that giving up for Hostages the chiefest of his friends he might quarter for two moneths in Catoania a Country bordering upon Cappadocia and secured the passage out into Syria Here he was kept up as a wild beast what by Seleucus on one side and Agathocles on the other so that he was constrained to betake himself to force and wasting the Territories alwaies had the better of Seleucus in their encounters and got possession of the Straights which led into Syria This so encouraged him that he thought now of giving battel to Seleucus but falling into a sicknesse thereby his affaires were ruined his Soldiers falling away from him to the Enemy or running away yet he recovered after forty dayes and away he marched and getting over the hill Amanus wasted the bordering Territories Then Seleucus coming near him he joyned and fought him and overthrew one of his wings but then all his Army revolted and he with a very few fled into the Woods whence endeavouring to passe to the Sea through the mountains At length is forced to yield himself to Seleucus his discovering there the Enemies fiers prevented that attempt and then one saying he must even yield himself he drew his Sword and would therewith have ended his life but being hindred by his friends he sent to Seleucus by their advice and yielded Seleucus caused him to be royally received at first but the great confluence thereupon to him lessened that respect he else would have allowed him so as sending Pausanias with 1000 men he caused him to be caried straight vvithout as much as seeing him into a Peninsula of Syria Here he vvanted nothing desirable not onely for necessity but pleasure only his liberty vvhich yet to comfort him there vvas hope given of after that Antiochus should come vvith his vvife Stratonice vvhom his Father Seleucus upon his passionately falling in love vvith her had yielded to him Antigonus his son much interceded for him so did divers Princes and States onely Lysimachus offered 2000 Talents to have him killed vvhich Seleucus abhorred At first he exercised himself much vvith hunting and such toiles but by little and little grevv sluggish And dieth after three years in restraint and as if he had never been Demetrius Poliorcetes gave up himself to drinking and dice vvhereby he grevv fat and contracted a disease of vvhich he died 54 years old after he had continued three of them in restraint 13. Idem Lysimachus and Pyrrhus after his expulsion out of Macedonia presently fell out for the former seeing Demetrius thus made sure and captivated by Seleucus grew secure of his condition despised Pyrrhus and upbraiding the Macedonians for suffering him being an alien whose Ancestors alwaies had served them now to reign over them drew many from him Pausan in Atticis Justin lib. 17. Appian in Syriasis and afterwards overthrew him and Antigonus son of Demetrius in a great battel and so quite dispossessed him of Macedonia After this he killed his eldest son Agathocles at the instigation of his wife Arsinoe who was sollicitous for her own children if they should fall into their brother's hands after their Father's death Lysandra the widdow of Agathocles and sister to Arsinoe accompanied with Alexander another son of Lysimachus fled to Seleucus whom they desired to make War against him and after this he putting divers of his chief Subjects to death for bewailing the young man many of his Captains and Governours followed all earnestly desiring that Prince to make War upon him Seleucus was easily perswaded to it now having the whole strength of Asia and Syria united into one Kingdom after the fall of Demetrius Lysimachus having expelled Pyrrhus out of Macedonia is slain in battel against Seleucus which the other being aware of thought it best first to begin with him and so passed over the Hellespont A. M. 3722. Ol. 124. an 2. V. C. 471. Seleuci 30. Ptolom Philadelphi 2. These two being now only alive of the 36 Captains and fellow-soldiers of Alexander joyned in a great and bloody battel in Phrygia where Lysimachus though fighting most valiantly was overthrown and slain having formerly lost fifteen children divers wayes and now compleating the ruine of his Family after he had lived 80 years and held Macedonia four A. M. 3722 the second of the 124
Olympiad and 40 after the death of Alexander the Great 14. Seleucus being exceedingly elevated with the thoughts of his Victory and more with consideration that he onely survived of Alexander's followers resolved to passe into Macedonia and there to end his dayes giving up Asia to his son Antiochus Who being the surviver of Alexander's Captains is slain by Ptolomy Ceraunus the same year Hee passed the Hellespont and journying towards Lysimachia came to a place called Argos where his time being but to live seven moneths after Lysimachus he was slain by Ptolomy Sirnamed Ceraunus the son of Ptolomy the first by Euridice daughter to Antipater who having fled out of Aegypt for that his Father preferred his younger brother before him joyned himself first to Lysimachus Justin ut prius Memnon apud Photium who had maried his sister and afterwards to Seleucus by whom he was lovingly entertained though he thus requited him Ptolomy as soon as he had done his feat posted away to Lysimachia when putting on a Diadem and taking a Company of Gallants along with him he went to the Army which received him as King having all Seleucus his money given unto them Antigonus Genatas so called it 's probable from a place in Perrhaebia where he was born son of Demetrius Poliorcetes presently after undertook an Expedition for the recovery of Macedonia hoping to justle out Ptolomy ere he could be well setled but he having notice of his coming and enjoying Lysimachus his Fleet went and met him at Sea where he overthrew him and forcing him to retire into Boeotia then confirmed himself in his Kingdom CHAP. IV. The Macedonian Kingdom From the death of Seleucus to the Captivity of Perseus and the end of this Kingdom containing the space of 139 years Ptolomy Ceraunus King of Macedonia maketh Alliances 1. PTolomy that he might provide for the time to come made Alliances with other Princes as Antiochus of Asia and Pyrrhus of Epirus who now being about to passe into Italy made him Overseer of his son and Kingdom he also wrote to his brother Ptolomy Philadelphus pretending to acquiesce in the missing of that his fathers Kingdom being sufficiently satisfied with this taken from his fathers Enemy Moreover he counterfeited himself to be in Love with his sister Arsinoe and married her for that it was according to the custom of Egypt promising to adopt her Children which he badly performed for being received by her into Cassandria he caused them to be first killed in the bosom of their mother and then thrust her out of the Citie from whence she went to Samothracia At this time the Galls being too many for their own Countrey under three Captains went to seek their fortunes so many several wayes some towards Thrace under the Conduct of Cerethrius others unto Pannonia under Brennus and Acichorius and the rest to Macedonia being headed by Belgius or Bolgius These Ptolomy met with a stragling company being more heady than wise refusing 20000 men offered him by the King of the Dardanians and peace by the Galls if he would but buy it which he scornfully rejected and answered he would not yield them it except they would give up the Chiefest amongst them as Hostages and deliver up their Arms. Joyning battel his Army was overthrown and he being sore wounded was cast by an Elephant on which he rode Is slain by the Galls and so taken alive by the Enemy They tore him in pieces and cutting off his head put it upon a Lance and carried it about to the terror of his followers of which a few escaping all the rest were either taken or slain This end came Ptolomy to after he had held Macedonia scarce a year and a half 2. Meleager his brother succeeded but onely for two moneths Porphyrius in Graecis Eusebii Justin lib. 24. for then the Macedonians cast him out as unworthy of the Dignitie and in his room placed Antipater son to Philip the brother of Cassander whom they sirnamed afterwards Etesia because he continued but 45 dayes during which term the Etesian winds blew After this succeeded an Interregnum if we look at the title of King for Sosthenes who gathering together a company of young men and thereby restraining the pride and covetousnesse of the Gauls though he might have been preferred before divers of Royal Races yet refused the name and made the Soldiers swear to him onely as General But Brennus hearing of the good successe of Belgius and what plunder he had got in the East with 150000 foot and 15000 horse marched thitherwards but 20000 falling off from him by the way and turning up for Thrace where they brought under the Cities of the Propontis he came into Macedonia where he made havock of all things Sosthenes overthrown by Brennus Belgius as it seems before his coming being repelled or gone Sosthenes went and met him with an Army but carrying too few against so great a number was easily overthrown after which the Macedonians securing themselves in the Cities Brennus wrought his pleasure in the Countrey and Villages throughout the Land When he had satisfied himself here with an Army of 152000 foot and 20400 horse of Celtes or Cimbres and Illyrians together he invaded Greece Each horsman had two servants followed him on hors-back who were to succeed their dead Masters which custom they called Trimarkasia or Trima asia rather for Mare in the Teutonick signified the whole species as also in our own Saxon tongue and so furnished they entred Thessaly and came to the Straights of Thermopylae Here they were opposed by the Greeks so as they lost many men till being lead over the Mountains the same way that in the expedition of Xerxes Hydarnes passed and getting over came upon the backs of the Spartans the Greeks then fled away Who with his whole Army is destroyed and they went to Delphos then to spoyl the Temple where with Thunder and Lightning Cold falling of Rocks and the opposition of the Enemy most of them came to their ends Brennus himself being wounded and not willing or not daring to outlive this shamefull expedition of which he had been the Author at home first drinking much Wine killed himself the rest flying were taken with a Pannick fear and killed one another for Enemies and what by this means the rage of the Countreys through which they passed with hunger and cold scarce any of them ever returned to their homes 3. During their stay in Greece Sosthenes died after he had ruled 2 years Euseb and then Antigonus Gonatus having made peace with Antiochus Soter returned and obtained his fathers Kingdom Brennus departing into Greece Justin lib. had left some Gaules to defend the borders and they lest they should be idle with 15000 foot and 3000 horse first fell upon the Getae and Triballi whom overcoming Antigonus Gonatus they then sent to Antigonus offering him peace if he would purchase it with money but
that they might send for his eldest son from Cyrene and make him King to prevent that he murdered him which being known they cast down his statues and images He taking this to be done as well in favour of his sister Cleopatra as in despight of himself to be revenged sufficiently on her A. M. 3876. Ol. 162. an 4. V.C. 625. Ptol. Physcon 18. Joh. Hyrcani 7. commanded their son Memphites a comely and towardly childe to be killed in his presence and then his head hands and feet to be cut off and being sent to Alexandria to be presented her as she was feasting at the celebration of her own birth day This struck not onely her but all the City into exceeding horror and amazement and the sad spectacle was shewed to the People to let them know what they might expect from such a King He notwithstanding all this yet went on in his own way for considering how he was hated by his People that he might reign more securely as he thought in their weaknesse he caused a place of publick meeting full of youth to be set on fire and destroyed all therein either with fire or sword Cleopatra having put an end to mourning for her son Justin Lib. 39. Vide Hegelochum apud Usserium p. 118. and seeing her self pressed with War by her brother sent to Demetrius Nicator King of Syria and her son in Law for aid offering him the Kingdom for his pains in securing it He gladly accepting the offer came down and waged War with Physcon for some time but his People revolting from him at home was forced to return so that she being then in a manner destitute was glad to follow him into Syria Physcon then reentering and being seized anew of the Kingdom the Antiochians knowing his prejudice against Demetrius He suborneth one against Demetrius Nicator sent to him for one of the posterity of Seleucus to reign over them whereupon he suborned a young man and son of a Merchant to mend the matter giving out that Alexander Balas was his Father The counterfeit by his help outed Demetrius of his Kingdom but then not being able to bear so high a condition for which he was never bred grew proud and despised him Therefore to be revenged on him being now reconciled to his sister Porphyr apud Euseb A. M. 3888. Ol. 165. an 4. V. C. 637. he pulled him down again Dieth by sending aid and his daughter for a wife to Antiochus Grypus the son of Demetrius Not long after Physcon died after he had reigned from his brothers death 29 years A. M. 3888 and the last of the 165 Olympiad 20. He left three sons and as many daughters behind him Idem Pausan in Atticis One of his sons being base born and called Ptolomy Apion he left King of Cyrene by his will as for Egypt he left that to his wife and to either of her sons which she should chuse judging that the State of Egypt would be better setled than the Kingdom of Syria He leaveth Aegypt to his wives disposal when the mother making choice of one son should make the other her Enemy She thinking that her youngest named Alexander would be more pliable and observant of her laboured with the People to accept of him for their King but they not at all yielding to this she was forced to call home the elder Lathurus or Lathyrus from Cyprus whither she had procured his father to banish him but before she gave him the Kingdom she took away his beloved wife Cleopatra Who first taketh to her one son and then another and commanded him to mary his younger sifler Selene Cleopatra being thus divorced by her mother rather than forsaken of her husband maried to Antiochus Cyzicenus in Syria as we before said and caried away with her the Army in Cyprus for a portion The Queen mother that she might be the more awful to Lathurus her son in the second year of their reign made Alexander King of Cyprus and sent him thither and then at the end of other six took away from him his wife Selene though she had brought him two sons and again to compleat her malice stirred up the People against him For taking such of her Eunuchs as were most faithful to her she brought them wounded into the publick accusing him of having endeavoured to make her away and of so using those that were true to their trust in her defence at which the Alexandrians being sore moved came so upon him as he narrowly escaped with his life and then sent they for Alexander from Cyprus and made him King 21. Lathurus made but an exchange with his brother as it fell out Joseph Antiq. lib. 13. c. 20 21. making himself Master of Cyprus whither yet his mother followed him with het hatred and War the effect thereof Here he lay not idle for Alexander Jannaeus at this time King of the Jews besieging Ptolemais the inhabitants thereof sent to him for aid and though they repented them of the bargain made with him and sent to stop his journy yet he came on and at his approach the siege was raised Then invaded he Judaea and overthrowing Jannaeus in a great and bloody battel Lathurus invadeth Judaea but his mother marcheth against and spoileth all his projects harased the Country Cleopatra his mother was sttartled at this his power and prosperity and resolved he was to be brought down else her affaires were but in a tottering condition therefore sending a good part of her treasure with her Nephews and testament to the Island Cous She came her self into Phaeucia besieged Ptoelmais and persecuted him into Coelesyria He having some hopes to get Egypt into his hands in her absence marched in all haste down thither but being disappointed and pursued by a party sent by her he was forced to return and winter at Gaza She in the mean time took Ptolemais whither Jannaeus came to her with whom a little after she renewed the League at Seythopolis and then he prospering much in Coelesyria Lathurus was forced to return to Cyprus and his mother seeing that departed also into Egypt During these Wars betwixt the mother and son it hapned Justin ut prâ— Porphyr ibid. that he was once taken by her General but dismissed again whereat she was so inraged as she put to death her Commander Her son Alexander being afraid that at length her cruelty might extend to him also withdrew himself from her preferring a secure though obscure estate before a dangerous reign She notwithstanding went on in her way not neglecting her affaires and fearing her elder son might be helped by Antiochus Cyzicenus sent great supplies to Grypus his half brother and rival with Selene for a wife taken formerly from Lathurus and by messengers prevailed with Alexander to return She is killed by Alexander her son Divers years then they lived and reigned together but at length she really