this time were Artabazus and Megabysus still Generals of the Forces of Persia the former lay with 300 ships in the Road of Cyprus and the other with a Land-Army of 300000 men quartered in Cilicia Cimon when he had besieged Citium sent some messengers to Delphos to enquire something of the Oracle but ere they got to their journeyes end he died before the place either of sicknesse Cimon dieth in Cyprus or by some wound both which are affirmed When he saw he should die he counselled his men forthwith to depart and conceal his death and they doing so it hapned that neither the Enemy nor Associates knew any thing of it At this time came back the Fleet sent into Aegypt so that all joyning together again they sailed to Salamine a Town in Cyprus where they fought with the Phoenicians and Cilicians who were come to aid their friends of Cyprus In a Sea-fight they sunk many of their Vessels took 100 with the men in them and pursued the rest as far as Phoenicia The Persians with that part of the Fleet which yet remained fled into Cilicia where Megabysus lay but the Athenians followed them with speed and landing fell upon them and making great slaughter amongst the rest slew Anaxicrates the Sea-Captain who most gallantly fought whilst life lasted Then the Greeks victorious got them to their ships and sailed home 14. The King understanding what losse he had received in Cyprus Diodorus ad Olymp. ejusdem ann 4. called a Council to deliberate what should be done thereupon at which when all was considered it was resolved that it was requisite to procure a Peace if possible He wrote then to his Captains about Cyprus to make peace upon as good terms as might be according to which order Artabazus and Megabyzus sent to Athens to treat about it The Athenians not being averse from hearkning to them both sides sent their Commissioners with full power to conclude Herod lib. 7. cap. 101. at which time also the Argives sent to Artaxerxes to demand of him whether the confederacy into which they entered with his Father remained or they were accounted by him as Enemies to which he answered that he did not doubt of it's continuance and as for his part he accounted no City more friendly to him than that of Argos The Articles of Peace concluded with the Athenians were That all the Greek Cities in Asia should be free Plutarch Diodorus ut priùs though in the Peace with Lacedaemon it was agreed they should be under the Persian that the Persian Generals should not come within three dayes journy of the Sea that none of the Persian Subjects should come with a long ship between the Cyanian and Chelidonian Islands The Athenians on the other part took an Oath not to invade the King's Territories For the joy conceived about this Peace they built an Altar of Peace and graced Callias the principal of the Embassie with the greatest honours Cimon was dead and with him in a manner the true gallantry of the Greekish Nation for none of their Captains after him did any thing to purpose against the Barbarians as they termed all except themselves but being drawn by their Orators to intestine differences Diod. ad Olymp. 84. 3. and none after him being left to take them up they fell one upon another and so afforded an happy occasion to the Persian to breath himself and for a good time to effect his own security with the impairment of their interest For though Agesilaus afterwards as will be seen passed over his Army into Asia and made a short War with the Persian Commanders on the Sea-Coasts yet without doing any thing of much consequence was he recalled by Seditions at home leaving the Persian Officers behind him who exacted impositions from the Cities confederate with Greece whereas whilst Cimon was in command not so much as a Carrier appeared in these quarters nor an Horse came within 400 furlongs distant from the Sea 15. In the twentieth year of Artaxerxes Nehem. 1.11 c. Nehemiah his Cup-bearer the son of Hachaliah the Jew received a message that the remnant of the Captivity left in Judaea were in great affliction and reproach that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and the gates thereof burnt with fire Because of this he wept Nehemiah obtaineth leave to repair Jerusalem fasted and mourned certain dayes and praying to God to make the King favourable to him obtained to be sent with ample commission to build up the walls Now was no new Edict promulgated in behalf of the Jews which had been done sufficiently thirteen years before by the consent of the Princes onely letters were written to the Keeper of the King's Forest to furnish Nehemiah with wood sufficient for the building of the gates and walls of the City for the Temple and an house for himself and the Governours beyond the river were ordered to convey him over till he came into Judah By virtue of this authority he came to Jerusalem and notwithstanding the indignation and opposition of the Enemies of the Jews by his great diligence and valour finished the work of the wall in 52 dayes From the new Moon of the moneth Nisan which followed this repairing of the walls to that new-Moon of the same moneth in which Christ suffered passed 475 Julian years which make up 490 Lunar years consisting each of twelve Lunar moneths This being not without a providence that as from the going out of the decree to the death of Christ intervened 490 Solar years so also from the rebuilding of the walls to his death should intervene so many consisting each of twelve Lunary moneths This gave occasion to many eminent men both Antient and Modern to follow the opinion of Africanus in placing the beginning of the 70 weeks in the twentieth year of this King and concluding them with the death of Christ although he reckoneth from that time to the fifteenth of Tiberius 475 years whereas there are to be accounted but 472 and Christ died not in the fifteenth year of his reign but was then baptized 16. Nehemiah not thinking it sufficient to repair the walls whilst the frame of the State was out of frame Nehem. 7 c. restored both the Ecclesiastical and Civil Polity thereof Taking notice how all ranks of men and especially the Priests were out of order no certainly being of their Pedigrees he caused to be sought for and read the Register of those who returned with Zorubbabel from which whosoever could not prove his descent from some Priestly Family was cast off from the Priesthood Twelve years staied he at Jerusalem governing with great moderation and self-denial and reforming abuses both in Religion and the State The Rulers of the People dwelt at Jerusalem the rest of the People cast lots to bring one of ten to dwell therein for that it was little inhabited and nine parts to dwell in other places the People
blessing all such as willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem Then returnd he to the King from whom he yet obtained leave to come again into Judah where he seemeth to have lived untill the sixteenth year of Darius Nothus in which the first part of the seventy weeks endeth consisting of 49 years viz. seven weeks which are thought to be those of which the Angel spake that the street should be built again and the wall even in troublous times 17. After Artaxerxes had made peace with the Graecians he fell into civil and intestine broils with Megabyzus who had done him such service in Aegypt and elsewhere if credit be given to Ctesias from whom we have a relation of these transactions This Megabyzus after he had quieted Aegypt and committed it to the Government of Sartamas departed thence and went to the King Artaxerxes his civil War with Megabysus leading along with him Inarus and some Greekish prisoners after he had obtained a promise from him that no punishment should be inflicted on them though Amytis or rather Amestris the King's Mother had so layn upon him to deliver into her hands not onely them but Megabyzus himself her son in Law being inraged for the death of Achaemenes who in the former Expedition was slain by the Ionians For five years he endured her importunity without yielding but at length being wearied and overcome he gave up the Greeks and Inarus into her power His body she nailed overthwart to three crosses and beheaded 50 of the Greeks which were all she could take That Inarus was crucified Thucydides witnesseth though nothing of this time or manner and Herodotus reporteth Lib. 3. cap. 15. that his son Thannyras was restored by the Persians to the Principality of his Father 18. Megabyzus being sorely moved with the usage of his prisoners concealed his displeasure for a time but getting leave to depart to his Government in Syria whither he had privately sent some Greeks beforehand broke out into open Rebellion and got an Army together of 150000 men Against him then was sent Osiris with 200000 who joyning battel with him wounded him in the thigh but received two wounds from him one in his thigh and the other in his shoulder with the anguish whereof and losse of blood he fell from his Horse and was taken prisoner and though his men well behaved themselves yet were they overthrown and Megabyzus getting the Victory used him very courteously and sent him back to the King who desired it After this was sent more forces commanded by Mexistenes Nephew to Artaxerxes by his Brother Artarius the Governour of Babylon He also giving battel to Megabyzus was wounded by him both in shoulder and head though not mortally and being put to flight Megabyzus obtained another famous Victory 19. Things going thus Artarius dealt with him by Messengers then Artoxares the Eunuch Governour of Paphlagonia and Amestris also advised him yet to be reconciled to the King afterwards Artarius himself Amytis his wife and Artoxares now twenty years of age were sent to him to perswade him to go to him Being perswaded after his return the King signified to him by a message that he freely pardoned him all that was past but going on a time a hunting with him when a Lyon set upon the King as he raised himself up Megabyzus slew him whereat Artaxerxes was in a great rage that he had stricken him before he could touch him and commanded his head to be cut off But by the intercession of Amestris Amytis and others his life was spared yet was he banished to Cyrta a Town upon the Red Sea and Artoxares the Eunuch into Armenia for speaking freely to the King in his behalf Five years he then continued in exile at the end of which feigning himself to be a Pisagas which in the Persian tongue signifieth a Leper at whom no man might come he fled away and came to his wife Amytis at his own house by whom scarcely being known he was by her means and the help of Amestris reconciled once again to the King who made him eat at his own table as formerly and so continued in great favour till his death at 76 years of age for which the King was much troubled 20. Whilst the Graecians were busie with one another in the Peloponnesian War of which now several years had passed Thucyd. l. 4. Artaxerxes sent Artaphernes a Persian to the Lacedaemonians with a Letter written in Assyrian Characters in which amongst other things he desired to know plainly of them how they stood affected for that he was utterly ignorant of what they thought many Ambassadours coming and no one of them agreeing with another wherefore he desired that if they intended to declare themselves they would send some of their own back with Artaphernes What was effected hereby is not known but we find elsewhere Diodorus ad Olymp. 84. an 3. that the Lacedaemonians entred into a League with him in one main matter contrary to that formerly made with the Athenians For whereas it was provided first in the one that the Greekish Cities in Asia should be left to their own liberty in the other they were expresly left under his Dominion such influence had then the Civil Wars of Greece upon the matters of Asia perhaps because the Lacedaemonians were jealous of the Ionians Artaxerxes dieth as the Colony of their adversaries the Athenians who if not now entred into War with them were much suspected jealousies abounding betwixt them Not long after this Message Artaxerxes died Ad Olymp. 88. an 4. having reigned according to Diodorus fourty years compleat according to Sulpicius Severus 41. but after Ctesias 42. amongst which opinions 't is probable that he died in the beginning of the 42 year after the death of Xerxes in the second year of the 89 Olympiad A. M. 3582. 421 years before the birth of Christ 21. Artaxerxes had onely one legitimate son by his wife Damaspia Ctesias in Excerptis Histor Persic named Xerxes but 17 by Concubines amongst which were Sogdianus Ochus and Arsites Xerxes succeeded his father but was slain by Secundianus as he was drunk in the 45th day after his death Secundianus then became King but causing Bagorazus the Eunuch to be stoned for something done about his fathers body incurred the displeasure of the Army which because of this and his brothers death could never be taken off by all the gifts he bestowed on them Being jealous of his brother Ochus whom his father had made Governour of the Hyrcanians he sent for him but he refused to come and so did several times till he had got a considerable Army For Arberius General of the horse revolted to him then Arxanes the Viceroy of Egypt and Artoxares coming out of Armenia caused him to take the Cidaris or Citaris a Cap peculiar to the Kings and Priests of Persia Ochus Ochus thus taking the Royal Ensign and Title of King Idem changed
1 Maccab. 7. 2 Mac. 14. and now was not received nor owned by the people because that in the dayes of Epiphanes he had defiled himself came to Demetrius with other Apostates and such like as himself and accused his Countrey-men especially the Hasmonaeans i. e. Judas and his brethren that they had cut off and banished his friends Bachides sent by him against the Jews whereupon he sent one Bachides a trusty friend with great forces into Judaea confirming the Priesthood to Alcimus whom he sent back with him All their design being arrived there was to get Judas into their hands divers Scribes going out to them to sollicit for peace being confident because the Priest was of the seed of Aaron he most wickedly and contrary to his Oath given slew sixty of them in one day then Bachides going from Hierusalem sent about and caused divers that had fled from him and many of the people whom being slain he cast into a great pit and so committing the Countrey to Alcimus to the defence of which he left him some forces he returned unto his King Leaveth Alcimus the High-Priest with some forces After his departure Alcimus striving to confirm himself in the Priesthood made great havock of the people to restrain which Judas went throughout the Countrey and compelled his party to shut themselves up within their holds and growing stronger he restrained their invasions so that Alcimus being afraid of him goes once more unto the King carrying along with him a Crown of Gold a Palm and of the boughs which were used solemnly in the Temple and seeing he could not have any more accesse to the holy Altar taking a fit opportunity when he was asked of the affairs of his Countrey accused the Asidaeans and especially Judas as seditious of depriving him of the Priesthood the honour as he said of his Ancestors and plainly affirmed that as long as Maccabaeus lived the Kings affairs could not be secure This being seconded by some ill-willers to the Jews Demetrius was inflamed and sending for Nicanor one of his chiefest Princes Who accusing Judas Nicanor is sent against him and a bitter Enemy to the Israelites made him Captain over Judea and sent him forth with a Command to slay Judas to scatter them that were with him and make Alcimus High Priest of the great Temple 60. When he was come thither and understood the courage and resolution of Judas his brethren and companions for the defence of their Countrey he feared to try the chance of War and sent to make peace with the people who having agreed unto the Covenants the two Captains came together to consult about the League Nicanor was so taken with Judas as he continued with him loved him in his heart and perswaded him to marry and beget Children and so remained constant in his affection to him till Alcimus perceiving it Nicanor at first much loveth Maccabaeus and understanding the Covenants which were made betwixt them took a third journey to the King told him that Nicanor had taken strange matters in hand and appointed Judas a Traitor to the Realm to be his Successor Demetrius being hereat displeased by Letters checked him for these things and commanded him in all haste to send Maccabaeus bound unto Antioch which grievously troubled him that he who had done no hurt should be thus used but conceving it necessary for him to comply with the pleasure of the King he waited for a convenient opportunity to accomplish it Then complained of by Alcimus seeketh his destruction Behaving himself thenceforth more roughly to him the other suspected something by the great change of his carriage and therefore gathering a few of his men withdrew himself from him but he followed him with a strong power to Hierusalem and drawing him out to talk with him had prepared some to seize on him yet he having notice hereof got away and would see him no more Seeing his design to be discovered he went and fought with him near Capharsalama in which he lost about 5000 of his men and the rest fled into the Citie of David After this he came up to Mount Sion and some of the Priests with the Elders of the people went forth of the sanctuary to salute him peaceably and shew him the burnt-offering that was offered for the King but he jeering hereat demanded Judas to be delivered unto him and they affirming with an Oath that they knew not where he was he stretching out his hand against the Temple swore that except Judas and his forces were delivered up he would when he should return in peace set the sanctuary on fire His blasphemous threats demolish the Altar and build there a stately Temple to Bacchus The Priests hearing this went in and standing before the Altar with tears begged of God that he would frustrate the mans intentions and be avenged upon him and his Host for his blasphemous words 61. Hearing that Judas was gone from Jerusalem into Samaria 1 Maccab. 7. 2.15 he went and pitched his Tents in Bethhoron where new supplies from Syria came to him the Enemy being in Hadasa 30 furlongs off with no more than 3000 men He would fain have fought on the Sabbath day which the Jews who were constrained to follow friendly dehorting him from with great blaspemy uttered against God he refused to hear them demanding if there were a living Lord in heaven who commanded that seventh day to be kept and saying he himself was mighty upon earth to command them to Arm themselves and to perform the Kings businesse He is slain in battel But coming to the ingagement he himself was slain first which when his Army saw they cast away their Arms and fled and the Israelites following the chace slew 30000. so that not one of the Army was left remaining Coming to the plunder of the field they cut off Nicanor's head and hands and carried them to Jerusalem where they were hung up before the Temple his tongue being cut in pieces and cast unto the Fouls The end of the second book of Maccabees Then they decreed that the 13th day of the 12th moneth Adar as the Syrians call it the day before Mardocheus his day should be observed every year as the Author of the second book of Maccabees tells us who with this story finisheth his work 1 Maccab. 8. 9. being the Epitome of the five books of Jason a Jew of Cyrene After Nicanor's death Judaea was quiet for some time and then Judas hearing of the power of the Romans and their compassion of the distressed and how much Demetrius stood in awe of them sent Eupolemus the son of John and Jason the son of Eleazer on an Ambassage to the Senate Bachides and Alcimus sent into Judaea against Judas that entring into society with them the People might be freed from the yoke of Demetrius and the Greeks But Demetrius hearing of the mischance of Nicanor and his
for the Tributes of the places other 500 upon pain of being prosecuted with War To these things Simon answered that he held no Towns belonging to any other but had recovered his own by right of War but as for Joppe and Gazara which had done great harm to his people he offered to pay him 100 Talents at which the King was so displeased that following at that time Tryphon to Orthosias Cendebaeus sent by Antiochus against the Jews is defeated by John the son of Simon he left Cendebaeus to oversee the Sea-Coasts with order to build up Cedron whence he might make War upon the Jews He coming to Iamnia made inroads upon Judaea and built up that Town according to order which John the son of Simon then lying at Gazara understanding gave notice thereof to his father who now being decrepit committed the War to him and his brother Judas He taking with him 20000 foot and a party of horse marched straight down against Cendebaeus and then placing his horse in the midst of the foot that it might protect and be protected against the Cavalry of the Enemy which was exceeding strong he overthrew him and putting the whole Army to the rout some betook themselves into the Fort newly built and others flying away he pursued them as far as the Towers of Azotus which having set on fire and slain 2000 men he retreated safe into Judaea 74. This successe of John sufficiently moved Antiochus to punish Simon but it was done to his hand by one who of all others might least have done it There was one Ptolomy the son of Abubus son-in-law to Simon and by him set over the Province of Jericho He entertaining his father-in-law as he went his Circuit about the Countrey to take care for the Government thereof slew him treacherously after a feast together with his two sons Mattathias and Judas Simon and his two sons murdered by his son-in-law when he had governed the people 8 years His design was being rich to obtain the Principality of that Countrey where he lived and therefore he presently certified Antiochus of his feat desiring an Army of him wherewith he might subdue the Cities of Iudaea He also sent certain cut-throats to murder Iohn Simons son wrote to the Collonels of the Army to draw them over to him and sent others to seize upon Ierusalem and the Temple But Iohn having timely notice of his treachery prevented his death by that of the Messengers and was made High-Priest in the room of his father and here the Author of the first books of Maccabees concludes his work having therein delivered the history of 40 years Antiochus besiegeth Jerusalem Josephus Antiq. lib. 13. cap. 16. Antiochus taking the opportunity of Simons death came into Iudaea which wasting round about he drove up Iohn sirnamed Hyrcanus into Ierusalem to which he laid close siege his Army being divided into seven parts The besieged being exceedingly helped from the strength of the Walls stood out manfully so that he raised an hundred Turrets from which he endeavoured to scale the Walls and compassed in the Town with a double Trench that none might escape but they still defending themselves sometimes sallied out and did him harm Hyrcanus seeing a great and uselesse multitude in the Citie which consumed the victuals put out the more infirm out of the Walls whence being hindred from going any further by the siege they wandred about the Walls almost famished till at the feast of Tabernacles out of pity they were again admitted 75. At this feast of Tabernacles Hyrcanus sent out to Antiochus to desire a Truce for seven dayes because of the celebration thereof He not onely granted this but sent in also Bulls with gilded horns golden and silver Cups with all sorts of spices and beasts for sacrifice and made a feast to the Army by which the other taking notice of his great humanity whence he was sirnamed Pius as also uncertain for what other reason Sidetes withall considering that the Sabbatical year being now at an end and the people being hindred from sowing a famine was likely to insue he sent out to him desiring that the Iews might be suffered to live according to their own Laws Many about the King advised him utterly to destroy the Citie to blot out the very name of the Iews from under heaven at least to dissolve their Laws and change their course of life so diverse from and disagreeable to other Nations but he being moved by a principle of magnanimity and bounty rejected this counsel and approving of the piety of the Iews commanded them to deliver up their Arms But departeth upon good terms for the besieged pull down their Walls pay Tribute for Joppe and other Towns without Judaea and receive a Garrison A. M. 3870. Ol. 161. ann 2. V.C. 619. Seleucid 178. Ptol. Physconis 12. Joh. Hyrcan 1. upon which conditions he offered them peace They yielded to all but the last because they would not converse with the Gentiles yet in Lieu of it chose to give Hostages amongst others Hyroanus his own brother and pay 500 Talents whereof 300 at present whereupon the siege was removed and they were freed from any further incumbrance Hyrcanus opening the sepulcher of David who had been the richest of Kings took out thence 3000 Talents wherewith filling his Coffers he first listed strangers in his Militia and entertained Antiochus and his Army in Ierusalem very plentifully 76. Antiochus Sidetes in the eighth year of his reign Iustin lib. 38. Appian in Syriacis Livius lib. 59. three years after his departure from Ierusalem undertook an expedition against Phraates the Parthian to fetch back his brother Demetrius still kept there in free custody who had twice attempted an escape but being retaken still was sent back to his wife and children not so much out of any pity or respect of alliance as because that King having an itching desire of getting Syria also into his power preserved him to use against his brother as time and opportunity should serve Antiochus with a great but extraordinarily effeminate Army marched into Media where many Eastern Princes met him with all their hearts giving up themselves and Countreys to him and cursing of the pride of the Parthians whereby he got such strength as overthrowing the Enemy in three several battels he reduced him within the bounds of his own Countrey But what he thus suddenly got he almost as quickly lost again for upon the approach of Winter quartering his Soldiers abroad in the Countrey the people were so oppressed what by the exaction of provisions and their insolence that they again revolted to the Parthian and upon agreement at one and the same time set upon them as they were severally disposed of in their quarters Antiochus Sidetes is slain by the Parthians Antiochus hearing this with that party which lay with him came in to relieve the next to him and there met with Phraates himself
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
sort of people as those Vide Aristot quo prius Strabon yeâ— not out of the whole body but particular families which custom Aristotle accounteth worse than the other of Lacedaemon Those Cosmi at home Governed the Common-wealth in War commanded the Army with absolute Authority There was also a Senate chosen out of those who in this Office had well demeaned themselves being for life and not liable to be called to account There was an Order of Hors-men who were bound to keep Horses for the service of the State whereas they at Lacedaemon had no such tie upon them In the Concio or great Assembly all Members of the Commonwealth had equal Votes but its power was not great confirming onely what was propounded by the Senate and Cosmi They had publick slaves called Periaeci from their inhabiting up and down the Countrey who tilled the grounds and paid in a constant Revenue All when ripe of age were commanded to marry for the propagation of legitimate issue Yet they did not lead their wives to their houses when newly married but let them stay till they were fit to govern a family The Boys took their meat altogether on the ground serving themselves and the elder sort They were cloathed meanly and alike both Winter and Summer they used bickerings with one another both with single hand and Weapon on certain dayes and had those who exercised them also in shooting and a vvarlike kind of leaping invented by Cures moreover in certain Rithms called properly * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rythmi Cretici The Cretians had several commendable Laws as that which severely restrained drunkennesse another commended by Plato that required an account how publick Corn was distributed and spent The younger sort were utterly forbidden to make any inquiry into the equiry of the Laws and if the elder were unsatisfied without their knowledge they were to have recourse to the Magistrates and their own equals But that the Laws might be ingraven in their memories the boyes vvere vvont vvhen they vvere taught to read to get some of them by heart being put into Verse together vvith some Musical Notes 11. Lycurgus the Spartan Law-giver made this model the pattern of his new Commonwealth having travelled into the Island vvhere he had converse vvith Thales a man ennobled for his Lavvs and Lyrick Poems Strabo lib. 10. pag. 482. for vve must not suppose Minos the sole Author of the Cretiam customs As the Cretians had their Cosmi so the Spartans their Ephori though most probable it is that these vvere brought in after the death of Lycurgus As they a Senate so these also endovved vvith the like immunities The Concio or Assembly of the people in Crete resolved nothing but vvhat vvas propounded by the Cosmi and Senate vvhich vvas follovved by the first constitution of Lycurgus the Senate propounding at Sparta The Periaeci Aristot Politic. lib. 2. cap. 8. and Heloti fitly agreed though the Cretians received lesse dammage from the former because being in an Island there vvere no Neighbours to hold correspondence vvith the slaves The Syssitia of the Lacedaemonians vvere fetched as Aristotle proveth from Crete and their Phiditia taken from the Andria of that place as also their education of Children vvas agreeable to the Cretian Plato commendeth much the Commonvvealth of Crete De Legibus lib. 8. and the Legislator for his vvisdom and prudence though he abominateth the immodest love of boyes and rejecteth his reason for it vvhich yet Lycurgus so approved as to put it in his model Aristotle condemneth it as also amongst some other things the Election of the Cosmi and their too great advantage they had of raising seditions in the State vvhen they came to be punished But Polybius affirmeth the two Commonwealths of Crete and Sparta to have vastly differed not fearing to blame Ephorus Xenophon Calisthenes and Plato for saying they were very like because with the Cretians it was usual to ingrosse Land and Money whence they were avaricious contentious sedition and what not moreover they had annual Magistrates Lib. 4. 6. whereas the other had two Kings for life They were he saith fraudulent and crafty in their private demeanour and most unjust in their publick Councils Proverb cum Cretense Cretissare lib. 8. Though some publick abuses taxed by Polybâ—us might have crept in in antient times yet it appeareth from the testimony of that Verse of Epimenides a Cretian which St. Paul citeth and confirmeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the disposition even of the old Cretians for Epimenides is found contemporary with Solon was very naught 12. Minos succeeding his Step-father begat Lycastes and left him his Successor who on Ida the daughter of Corybas begat Minos the secohd fathered also on Jupiter He had issue by Pâ—pphae daughter to Sol and Crete Deucalion Astrea Androgeos Ariadne and other children Androgeos going to the solemn Feast of the Panathenaea instituted by Theseus at Athens excelled all men in the exercises then performed whereby he became farmiliarly acquainted with the Sons of Pallas This when Aegeus perceived fearing they might by his means receive some aid and assistance he procured him to be made away at which Minos sore aggrieved came to Athens to demand satisfaction but obtaining none is said to have procured from Jupiter a Famine to fall upon all Greece and especially Attica which could not be abated till he received satisfaction A (b) Plutarch ut suprà yearly Tribute then be imposed on the Athenians of seven Boys and as many Girls which being unwillingly willing to submit to they were sore displeased when they came to part with their children and repining at Aegeus as the author of their calamity at the third time of sending Theseus offered himself to go amongst the rest The Fable is that they were to be devoured of the Minotaure a Monster whose upper parts were like to those of a Man but resembled a Bull in the other Some thought there might be such a Monster indeed but most account it fabulous and it is interpreted to be meant of one Taurus the Captain of Minos who might have custody of these children whom Aristotle will not have killed but made slaves till their death Theseus promising to kill this Minotaure Aegeus with much adoe yielded he should go and commanded the Master of the ship that whereas for the sadnesse of the occasion they used black sails if his Son came back alive he should change them for white ones as soon as they came within kenning of Attica He killeth the Minotaure 13. Theseus coming into Crete by the help of Ariadne the daughter of Minos which fell in love with him got into the labyrinth where the Minotaure was kept and which was made by Daedalus who having killed his Sisters son at Aâ—hens fled into this Island and slew him It is thought Philocharus apud Plutarchum ut suprà that when he landed he offered the Combat to
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
first obtaining the Kingdom of Media 5. What time passed from the Conquest of Babylon and the beginning of his Monarchy unto his death is controverted amongst learned Writers Some reckon ten years or thereabouts and others but three of which number was once Joseph Scaliger who afterwards retracted it as an error but Ludovicus Cappellus hath renewed the assertion making it probable by arguments drawn from Scripture who therefore is to be consulted in his sacred * In notis ad Tab. 13. Chronology His issue Cyrus had issue two sons Cambyses and Smerdis or Tanaoxares with three daughters Atossa Meroe and Artystona to which Ctesias addeth Amytis Atossa and Meroe their brother Cambyses afterwards married and Darius Hystaspis obtained Artystona as also Atossa after the death of Cambyses Of the two sons to Cambyses he left his Kingdom and to Smerdis or Tanaoxares assigned the Government of Media Armenia and the Cadusians according to Xenophon Cambyses maketh War upon Egypt 6. Cambyses presently after he came to the Government made all possible provision for a War with Egypt the cause whereof is to be enquired after Herodotus telleth a story how he sent to Amasis King of that Countrey to desire his daughter Nitetis in marriage Lib. 3. cap. 1. which he not daring to deny because of the then formidable power of the Persians and not willing to gratifie him absolutely for that he conceived his daughter would be entertained but as a Concubine he found out a way as he thought to satisfie Cambyses A. M. 3476. Olymp. c. 2. an 4. V.C. 225. Cambysis 1. and yet keep his daughter There was one of Apries his predecessor's daughters yet unmarried her he sent to him under the name of his own who when she had sufficiently ingratiated her self with Cambyses told him how indeed she was nothing a kin to Amasis but begotten by his Lord and Master whereat the Persian conceived such indignation that to be revenged on him he invaded Aegypt But that which moved Cambyses to send for this woman seemeth something strange He had formerly desired from Amasis a Physician for the eyes the best that could be procured in Aegypt wherewith he gratifying him the man took it so ill of Amasis to be sent out of his native Country that in way of revenge he moved the matter to Cambyses concluding with himself that the King of Aegypt would not send his own daughter This was the saying of the Persians which Herodotus rather approveth than what the Aegyptians alleged that Cambryses was son to Nitetis the daughter of Apries and that the Persians ascribed that to the Son which beonged to the Father Vide Polyaenum lib. 8. because they would have Cambyses born of Cassanâ—ane the daughter of Pharnaspes of the noble race of Achaemenes and yet he confesseth there was a report that besides Cassandane Cyrus kept Nitetis as his Concubine whom he most affected and that to revenge his mother upon her Cambyses when but young threatned and after his Father's death made War upon Aeâ—ypt However things might go in reference to the daughter of Apries Cambyses seemeth to have invaded that Kingdom upon pretence of the right he had to it as Heir by conquest to Nebuchaâ—nesar who subdued it though it revolted from his Successors which might be concealed from Herodotus by the Priests who spared not to invent lyes for a cover to the disgrace of their Country 7. While Cambyses was yet busie in his preparations Vide Herod l. 3. cap. 4 c. one Phanes an Halycarnassaean by birth taking something in distaste from Amasis whom he served fled out of Aegypt by ship and coming into Persia advised this King that for his better passage of the sandy Desarts he should send to the King of the Arabians for sale conduct who being no good friend to the Aegyptian Passâ—th throâ—gh the Sâ—ndie Desarts came and met him with Camels bearing abundance of water which was necessary for the sustenance of the Army in that hot and dry place Ere Cambyses could arrive in Aegypt Amasis had prevented captivity by a natural death and Psammenâ—tus his son having succeeded him expected his coming at Pelusium one of the mouths of Nile Here a battel being fought the Aegyptians were overthrown and fled to Memphis whither Cambyses sent after them to yield up themselves to him but they tare in pieces the messengers and then being besieged stood out for some time but at length the City was taken Conquereth Aegypt Psammenitus had his son put to death before his eyes to try his patience though the Conquerour too late repented of it and had given him his life with the Kingdom to govern as a Province had he not attempted new matters for which he was forced to drink Bulls blood and so died having reigned six moneths after his Father His extravagant practices 8. This work done in Aegypt Cambyses betook himself to extravagant practices The dead body of Amasis he caused to be brought forth to be beaten pinched and then burnt contrary to the practice as well of the Persians as Aegyptians who abhorred such a thing because the former accounted Fire a god the later a ravenous beast perishing with the thing devoured by it Then resolved he to make a three-fold War One upon the Carthaginians another upon the Ammonians or the Inhabitants of the place situate about the Temple of Jupiter Hammon and the third against the long-lived Aethiopians who inhabited Africk near to the Southern Sea He resolved to send a Fleet against the Carthaginians an Army of Foot against the Ammonians and as for the Aethiopians he would first send to discover their Country While his Messengers were dispatching towards Aethiopia he gave order to the Phoenicians who having yielded themselves were his onely strength at Sea to fight against Carthaâ—e which they flatly refused because that City was a Colony of their own and thereby this design was dâ—shed After the return of his messengers who brought him word how he was slighted by the Aethiopian King in great rage and haste he set forwards against him without all thought of victualling his Army commanding all his foot to follow His fruitlesse Expeditions except the Graecians When he was come to Thebes he sent about 50000 men against the Ammonians with command after they had spoiled them to burn the Temple and so he marched on with the rest of the Army But ere he had passed the fifth part of his journy all provisions failed and all the beasts that carried burthens were eaten up yet did he not now recollect himself but proceeded till they were constrained to eat up every tenth man and then returned he with great losse and disgrace to Memphis where he dismissed the Greeks from his service The forces sent against the Ammonians never reached thither neither ever returned being all overwhelmed as was reported in the Sandy Wildernesse 9. Cambyses at his return to Memphis found
his name into Dariaeus and was also most commonly called Darius Nothus By the advice of Parysatis his wife he enticed by all means Secundianus to come to him not sparing Oaths or any other wayes to get him into his hands and so far prevailed that though Menostanes the Eunuch counselled Secundianus not to trust himself yet he came to him and being cast into ashes he died the same way as Darius the son of Hystaspes formerly made away his Emulators Jacobus Cappellus though some think this Darius to have been the first inventor of this punishment and that it is falsly ascribed by Valerius Maximus to the son of Hystaspes Then reigned he alone by himself after his brother had reigned six moneths and twenty dayes The three Eunuchs Artoxares Artibarxanes and AthoÌ„us were in great power with him but especially he was advised by his wife His Children by whom he had two Children Amistris a daughter and Arsaces a son called afterwards Artaxerxes before he came to the Kingdom Afterwards he begot of her another son called Cyrus from the Sun and others to the number of 13. But all the rest died young except these two and his fourth son named Oxendras Ctesias Stirs in his time 22. After this Arsites his own brother both by father and mother and Artyphius the son of Megabyzus revolted from him Artasyras was sent with an Army against them who falling upon Artyphius was worsted in two battels but in the third overthrew him and corrupting the Greeks that fought for him drew away all his Company except three Milesians so that upon the Oath of Artasyras for his security for that Arsites could not be found he yielded himself to the King He was minded to put him to death but Parysatis his wife perswaded him to spare him for a time for Arsites seeing him unpunished would also be moved to yield himself and then he might rid himself of them both together which accordingly came to passe both being cast into the ashes though Darius was hardly brought by her perswasions to make away his brother now also Pharnacyas who with Secundianus had slain Xerxes was put to death and Menostanes being apprehended shunned the same punishment by laying violent hands upon himself This Rebellion was followed by the revolt of Pisathnes the Governour of Lydia against whom Tissaphernes and others being sent he met them having in his Army Lycon the Athenian with such Greeks as he had brought with him who being corrupted by the Kings Captains revolted from him so that with fair words he was drawn in and carried to the King who cast him into the ashes and gave his Government to Tissaphernes and the Cities with the regions adjoyning to Lycon for a reward of his treachery After this followed the treason of Artoxares in great power with Darius who conspired about killing him and transferring the Kingdom to himself For this purpose being an Eunuch he caused his wife to make him a beard that he might seem no other than a perfect man but the matter being revealed by her he was delivered up into the hands of Parasytis who put him to death 23. Arsaces afterwards called Artaxerxes the eldest son of Darius married Statira the daughter of Idarnes a man of prime rank amongst the Persians and Terituchmes the son of Idarnes who after his death succeeded in his Government married Amistris daughter to the King She had a sister named Roxana who being very beautifull and well skilled in shooting Terituchmes fell in love with her and having to do with her detested his wife insomuch as he resolved to murder her by the help of 300 men with whom he practised to revolt Whilest he thought hereof one Udiastes a man in great power about him being promised great matters if he could deliver the Kings daughter from so great a danger slew him but the son of this Udiastes who was Armour-bearer to Terituchmes and was not present at his death after he had notice thereof cursed his father and seizing upon the Citie Zaris delivered it up to Terituchmes his son Then did Parysatis bury alive the Mother Brethren and Sisters of Terituchmes and commanded Roxana to be cut in pieces alive Darius would have had her to have made away Statira his daughter-in-law together with the rest but through the importunity of Arsaces her husband she spared her of which Darius told her that afterwards she would sorely repent as it came to passe From the second year of this King * Hist sacr lib. 2. Sulpicius Severus and * Josephus Scaliger Edu Livelaeus Junius many learned men with him count the beginning of the seventy weeks of Daniel ending them with the destruction of Jerusalem because the number of years do agree and the Angel maketh mention of that desolation though nothing be spoken in any place concerning any going out of a Decree during the reign of this Prince from which those weeks must needs have commenced They must needs allow the work now to have been carried on by the sollicitation of the Prophets Haggai and Zachariah which had been interrupted for 115 years ever since the second year of the return of Zerubbabel and Jeshua at which time they began to build But now at this time and before this lived Malachias the last of all the Prophets who exhorts not the people to the building of the Temple as the others did which is an evidence of the finishing of it before but reprehends those corruptions which * Cap. ult Nehemiah in his second Government had observed amongst the Jews viz. marriages with strangers unjust detention of Tithes and corruption of Divine worship And because the succession of Prophets was no more to be expected in the later end of his Prophecie he exhorts the people to keep the Law of Moses untill such time as the great Prophet the Messias should be revealed before whom John Baptist was to come in the spirit and power of Elias The ending of the Canon of holy Scripture is by Eusebius placed in the 32th year of Artaxerxes Longimanus After these Prophets the Hebrews held the men of the great Synagogue to have succeeded but the later Jews reckon the three last Prophets amongst them and Esra as the President of the Council 24. Against this Darius the Medes rebelled but were after some time reduced again into obedience At this time the States of Gâ—eece being plunged deep in the Peloponnesian War Xenoph. Hellenic 10. he made his advantage thereof as much as he could siding with the Lacedaemonians against the Athenians who did him most hurt in Asia both by their great skill and practice in Navigation and being allied to the Ionians whom as their Colonies they helped against him so that much entercourse and great transactions passed betwixt Tissaphernes his Lieutenant and those of Sparta which are involved in the affairs of Greece Idem ibid. Exped Cyri lib. 1. Diodorus ad Olymp. 93. an 1. ad
them to let the Inhabitants of Megara have the liberty of their Port and Market without which they must expect nothing but War but to none of these demands was there given any satisfying answer the Megarians being accused for appropriating to their own use the ground which belonged to the goddesse of Eleusine and receiving such fugitive slaves as fled from Athens In the third message Ramphius and his Collegues added but this to the other demands that the Lacedaemonians were desirous of peace and would grant it in case the Athenians would suffer all the Graecians to be free and live according to their own Laws These things thus often the Spartans demanded to amuse the other party till they themselves could be provided and to catch at a specious pretence for a quarrell 29. The Athenians upon the last message called the Assembly of the people to deliberate about the matter Thucyd. lib. 1. Diodorus ex Ephoro ad Olymp 87. ann 2. that they might send a clear and positive answer once for all Many speaking pro and con at length Pericles the most excellent of all the Athenians of that age both for doing and speaking with his eloquence wherewith he was said by the Poets to Thunder and Lighten easily drew the multitude to his mind After he had inveighed against the Lacedaemonians as swollen with envy he excused themselves and incouraged the people from their ability to undertake the War He advised that this answer should be returned That the decree against them of Megara should be rescinded in case the Lacedaemonians would give such freedom of their City to the Athenians and other of the associates that they would set all Cities under their jurisdiction at liberty which were free before The Athenians by the advice of Pericles gave a positive answer once for all by way of denial when the League should be entred into provided the Spartans would do the same and suffer such as were under them to live according to their own customs and not to be tyed to those of Laconia and lastly that they were content to be judged concerning the things in controversie according to the leagues neither would they first make War but effectually defend themselves He added that this was both just and honourable and if they undertook the War chearfully they should find their Enemies lesse conderable that out of the greatest extremities the greatest honour was wont to accrue both to their State in general and to each Citizen in particular which he made good by instancing in the Median War at which time the City was far lesse considerable than at the present and whence it arrived to that pitch of greatnesse he told them it was fit they should imitate their Ancestors and leave not the Empire received from them diminished unto posterity 30. Why Pericles should be so earnest for the War (a) Vide Plutarch in Pericle several reasons have been alleged and this (b) Idem ibid. Val. Max. l. 3. c. 1. ext exempl Diodorus ut supra amongst the rest that he was not able to make account for the publick money he had received to build a Portal in the Castle to the honour of Minerva He consumed abundance of treasure in this work and none looking after him diverted the publick money taken up under that pretence to other uses Whilst he considered hereof and sat sorrowful at home Alcibiades a Boy and his Sisters Son whom after his Brother in Laws death he brought up in his own house and who afterwards became very eminent came and asked him why he was so sad to whom he answered because he knew not how to give an account of his Office at which the Boy replied Alcibiades when a child his advice to his Uncle Pericles Study therefore rather how thou mayst not need to give an account of is This most prudent man destitute of advice from himself used this of a child and for this reason perswaded the people to the War that being intangled therein they might have no leisure to call him to account for the disbursment of the money What ever his motives were the People (c) Thucyd. in fine lib. 1. decreed what he proposed and answered the Lacedaemonians particularly according to what he said and in general that they would do nothing they had enjoyned them but were ready to acquit themselves of those matters laid against them before equal and indifferent Judges and with this answer the Ambassadors returned to Lacedaemon whence no more came These were the quarrels which foreran the War being begun about the affairs of Epidamnus and Corcyra Notwithstanding this disagreement yet they continued commerce with each other went to and fro without any publick Officer or Herauld but yet not without jealousy of one another For these things that hapned made confusion in the Leagues and ministred matter for War 31. Several Learned Men flourished in this space as (a) Anonymus ad Ol. 76. an 4. Aeschylus the Tragoedian (b) Steph. in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iccus a famous Physician of Tarentum in Italy (c) Plutarch in Pericle Anaxagoras the Clazomenian Philosopher who was defended by his Scholar Pericles when accused of Atheism (d) Anonym ad Olymp. 78. an 1. Panyiasis a famous Poet Pericles himself the Son of Xanthippus accounted by (e) In Bruto Cicero the first Athenian Orator Besides these (f) Diodorus Charondas and Zaleucus both Scholars of Pythagoras whereof the former gave Laws to the Thurians and the other to the Locrians Melissus Protagoras the Atheist and Empedocles (g) Diog. Laert. Anonymus all who flourished about the 84th Olympiad Herodotus of Halicarnassus who being sent to Thurium in Italy with some new Planters to restore the Colony there lived to the beginning of the Peloponnesian War which he mentioneth and in the 42d year of his age about the third of the 84th Olympiad recited his Book at (h) Vossius de script Graecis Athens in the Assembly of the Panathaenaea by the emulation of which Thucydides then young was much moved so that afterwards this stirred him up to write (i) Euseb Euripides the Tragoedian the Scholar of Anaxagoras (k) Schol. in vitam Anonym Suidas Sophocles who was chosen General of the Athenian Forces and l Phrynicus the Comoedian and (m) Idem Pindar a Theban the Prince of Lyrick Poets who died aged 85 years in the second of the 86th Olympiad SECT 3. (n) Cappellus Censorius c. 18. Aelim var. Hist lib. 10. c. 7. lib. 13. c. 12. Menâ—on an Athenian in the year before the beginning of the Peloponnesian War according to the account of Thucydides Apseudes entring into his Office of Archon began his Cycle of the Moon containing nineteen years In this space though not precisely the Lunations do recur so that if the Quadrature of the Moon fall out as at this day this year the same shall return the same day of
in the place Near upon 13000 were slain and 15000 taken with 200 Chariots the greatest part whereof was broken in pieces and 1000 brigandines with 10000 shields though most of the Arms were swallowed up in the water Those Carthaginians that remained in great consternation escaped to Lilâ—baeum Their friends at Carthage hearing of their defeat were in no little fear out of conceit that Timoleon would now come over thither Wherefore they recalled Gisco the brother of Hanno out of banishment and made him General over the Army which they raised with money out of other Nations not thinking it meet to thrust themselves into such danger for the time to come But Timoleon returning to Syracuse found it a convenient time to punish the mutiniers whom he banished Sicilie commanding them to depart the City before Sun set Passing over into Sicilie they seised on a Town amongst the Brutii who rising and besieging them took the place and therein put them all to the sword 55. Hicetas often mentioned before and Mamercus Tyrannus of Catana joyned with the Carthaginians against Timoleon perswading them for fear of losing their share in Sicilie to send over some forces They sent away Gisco who hired some Greeks the first which served that Nation They cut off some hundreds of Timoleon's Mercenaries and Hicetas invaded the Syracusian Territories whence getting much booty he marched into Calauria in contempt of Timoleon who lay there now with inconsiderable forces in comparison of his Hicetas being pursued by Timoleon got over the River Damyria and then endeavoured to hinder his passage but he pressing upon him slew 1000 of his men and putting him to flight pursued him into the Territories of Leontium Timoleon taketh and putteth to death Hicetas where he took him alive with his son Eupolemus and put them both to death as Traitors to their Country together with Euthymus his General of the Horse for that in a speech to the Leontines he had scoffed at the Corinthians saying they needed not to be afraid though the Corinthian women were come from home terming Timoleon and his men no other than women Overthroweth Mamercus After this Timoleon overthrew in battel Mamercus killing 2000 of his men whereof the greater number were Carthaginians who thereupon earnestly begged peace and had it granted on these conditions That they still retaining all in their hands within the River Lycus it should be yet lawful for any one to remove thence to Syracuse with his goods and family and to renounce alliance with them and with all the Tyranni in Sicilie which at this time had enslaved many Cities of the Island Mamercus fled over into Italy Hippo and Mamercus put to death and Catana was delivered up to Timoleon who betook himself to Messana where he besieged Hippo by Land and Sea and taking him in his flight delivered him up to the Citizens who put him to death Mamercus yielded himself to Timoleon who having promised him he would not be his accuser he cast himself upon the People of Syracuse but perceiving them as he began to speak inraged against him he attempted to dash out his own brains and that not dispatching him he was taken up and executed as a robber 56. Timoleon after this drove away Nicodemus who ruled over the Centorippini Nicodemus Apolloniades put out of their power and forced Apolloniades to lay down his power which he exercised over the Agynnaeans whom having restored thus to liberty he made free of Syracuse Then did he restore all the other Cities to their desired liberty one after another and received them into confederacy with Syracuse and it was proclaimed by the voice of a publick Crier throughout Greece A. M. 3666. Ol. 110. an 2. V. C. 415. Ochi 23. Phil. 22. that The People of Syracuse offered houses and land to all that would joyn themselves as members to their Commonwealth Hereby it came to passe that multitudes flocked thither as to a new inheritance Timoleon setting himself to the care of the State corrected and explained the Laws of Diocles and acted other things necessary SECT 1. as he thought to the well being thereof till growing old he lost his sight which calamity as he bore very moderatly so by reason of it he intermitted not publick businesse Not long after he died and was buried by the confluence of all Sicilie the affaires whereof he had setled Timoleon 's death games being celebrated yearly in memory of him as for an Hero This hapned in the 58 year of his government the last of the 110 Olympiad and the last also of the reign of Philip of Macedon father to Alexander the Great about the year of the World 3668 A. M. 3668. Ol. 110. an 4. V. C. 417. Arsis 2. Phil. 24. the second of Arses King of Persia and seven before the beginning of the Macedonian Empire to the time whereof what we have further to say concerning the affairs of Sicilie is to be referred which affaires will shew that the infirmity of Popular Government is greater than that Timoleon by his constitutions could heal the distempers thereof and further evince the worth of Monarchy CHAP. IV. The affairs of the Romans contemporary with the second Empire SECT I. From the Banishment of Tarquinius and first change of the Government to the alteration made by the Decemvivi the space of 57 years 1. THe Kingly Office being banished with Tarquinius though both rebelliously and impudently that of Consuls succeeded Consuls Who were so called a Consulendo Festus observeth out of Verrius that the word Consulas was used by the Antients not onely for Consilium petas and perconteris but also for judices and statuas Moreover the word Consulere is many times taken for providere or prospicere According to this Etymology various is the opinion of Learned Men concerning this Office Some derive it from the duty or work of consulting the Senate Whence so called which was incumbent upon the Consuls Others interpret it of judging which saith (a) De Magistrat pop Rom. cap. 7. Lipsius I onely read in (b) Lib. 1. c. 9. Quintilian who puts the question whether Consul was so named from consulting or judging seeing that consulere was used also for the later whence arose that phrase Rogat boni Consulas that is judices but not only Quintilian but Festus also in the word Consulas giveth this Etymology Lastly some derive it from the end of the Office which was consulere or providere as (c) Lib. 1. c. 9. Florus and Justinian's Code But those Magistrates were not first of all named Consules but Praetores which name although it was common to others yet stuck to them by way of excellency (d) In voc Praetoria Porta Festus saith it expresly and so doth (e) 24 25. Justinian in his Novellae Constitutiones Xonaras saith the name of Praetor continued till the Decemviri who being banished then at length crept in
is betraied by the instrument into the hands of justice and held him by the clothes till he was taken Being brought into Antiochus his Tent who sat late at night with a few attendants to see the issue of the project the King was amazed and could not forbear weeping to see him so eminent a man lye bound before him upon the ground in so sad a condition but a Council of War being called after several wayes of punishment proposed at last it was agreed that he should have his outward members and limbs cut off after that his head A. M. 3791. Ol. 141. an 3. V.C. 540. Ant. Mag. 10. Ptol. Philom 9. and that being sowed into an Asses bladder his body should be nailed to a crosse which was executed accordingly This end had he who was son to Andromachus the brother of Laodice wife to Saleucus who had maried Laodice daughter to Mithridates and had held all Asia on this side Taurus having recovered it by his own industry and valour a man he was exceeding wise and of great experience yet left as Polybius observeth for us a double warning to posterity not to trust any rashly and not to be puffed up with prosperity or be secure of any thing incident to mankind to which we may add another viz. that none presume to rebel against their Soveraigns for punishment will overtake them His death being known within as they all first agreed in making lamentations for him so shortly after they fell at odds being divided into two factions of which the one stuck to his wife and the other to Ariobazus the Governour so that having suspition of each other both parties yielded themselves and the place to Antiochus 24. A year or two after Polyb. lib. 10. excerpt Appian in Syriacis Antiochus undertook an Expedition into the East to reduce Media and Parthia which had revolted and he passing through both thereupon caused Arsaces to withdraw himself into Hyrcania which he considering and judging that he would not have forsaken this Couctry if he had been able to have defended it resolved to follow him so that with great difficulty he passed over the hills and entred also into that Region where we find that he took some Towns Antiochus maketh an Expedition into the East but what further he did against Arsaces or upon what terms he returned if Polybius his history had been kept entire we might have known After this he quieted the upper Asia and coming into Bactria for a good while endeavoured to drive out thence Euthydemus the King thereof whom he defeated Polybius excerpt lib. 11. and behaved himself most stoutly whence he got great credit for his valour At length Euthydemus complaining that he was injurious in opposing him thus who had not revolted from him but cut off the posterity of those that had beseeching him also not to envy him the name of King especially considering that by this dissention neither of their affaires could be secure for that a number of the Scythian Nomades hovered at the borders and were like to overrun the Country Antiochus who being tired with the tediousnesse of the War had sought occasion to make a Peace not unwillingly now heard the overtures of it especially after that Euthydemus sent his son Demetrius to him with whom he was so taken for his person and parts as thinking him worthy of a Kingdom he first promised him one of his daughters and then yielded that his Father should take the title of King Then the conditions of the league being written down and sworn to and taking with him all the Elephants that Euthydemus had he marched over Caucasus and renewed the confederacy with Sophagasenus the Indian King then taking with him more Elephants of which he had now 150 and leaving Androsthenes of Cyzicus to bring the treasure promised him he came to Arachosia and so through Drangiana into Carmania The fruits of it where he was forced to Winter having received this fruit by this Expedition that besides the Countries recovered and the maritime Cities and Dynasties on this side Taurus added to his Dominions he struck such an awe into his Subjects as kept them more in order and he was thought to be esteemed as well by the People of Europe as those of Asia worthy to govern 25. Not long after this A. M. 3803. Ol. 144. an 3. V.C. 552. Ant. Mag. 22. Ptol. Epiph. 2. Ptolomy Philopater dying and leaving a young son behind him but four years old Philip of Macedonia and he as we before hinted made a wicked League for the outing him of his Kingdom and dividing it amongst them wherefore he striking again at Coelesyria and Phoenicia got Judaea into his power which * Antiquit. l. 12. c. 3. Livius l. 33. as Josephus telleth us was tossed betwixt these two Crowns as a ship with the waves For Scopas the Aetolian recovered it again out of his hands for young Epiphanes and yet again not long after lost it with Coelesyriâ— being overthrown by Antiochus near the fountains or heads of Jordan at the City Panaeas with whom the Jews then presently joyned He joyneth with Philip against Ptolomy getteth Judaea and presently loseth it again Falling upon Attalus his Territories the Romans procure him to desist but the Inhabitants of Gaza standing still out for Ptolomy their City was taken and razed In the mean time whilst Scopas was recovering the Cities of Syria Antiochus himself was busie in invading the Kingdom of Attalus who then being employed with the Romans in the Macedonian War against Philip had left it naked of defence both by Land and Sea but upon his complaint to the Roman Senate they sent to Antiochus to tell him that seeing Attalus was employed by them against Philip the common Enemy he would do a thing very acceptable unto them to abstain form his Territories adding withall A. M. 3807. Ol. 145. ann 3. V. C. 556. Ant. M. 26. Ptol. Epiphanis 6. that it was convenient for all the Kings which were the friends and allies of the People of Rome to be at peace amongst themselves with the authority of which message he was so moved as he drew out his Army again from the borders But this respect to the Romans continued not many years he entering upon such courses as gave them offence and proceeding therein at length to an open War 26. For having reduced all Coelesyria into his power Idem ibid. and wintered at Antioch the next Spring sending before his two sons Ardyes and Mithridates with the Army and command to stay for him at Sardis he himself followed with the Fleet to attempt the several maritime Towns of Cilicia and Caria which were under Ptolomy Yet he ministreth occasion for a War with them and also to help Philip both at Sea and Land who now was busie in the War with the Romans Divers places by fair and foul means together he took in yet Coracesium stood out
was decreed for a Province and upon the reporting of the matter an order was made Lentulus to stop Pompey's mouth procuring him to have the charge of Provisions in that time of dearth throughout the Empire The Alexandrians in the mean while ignorant of his voyage into Italie and thinking he had some wayes miscarried set over the Kingdom Berenice his legitimate daughter together with Tryphaena her elder sister called also Cleopatra the elder and sent into Syria to Antiochus Asiaticus to come and reign with the women and afterwards he dying to Philip Euergetes the son of Antiochus Grypus by Tryphaena daughter to Lathurus late King of Egypt but he was also hindred by Gabinius then late Roman President in Syria But hearing at length how things went at Rome they sent 100 of their Countrey-men thither to make their defence and recriminate their lawfull King which he understanding procured most of the Messengers to be made away in their journey and the rest coming to the Citie he either took away or deterred or else perswaded them to hold their peace The Senate hearing of this was grievously moved and the rather because that divers publick Ministers of others their Confederates had been made away with the rest as also for that it appeared that there was much corruption amongst themselves They sent therefore for Dion the Chief of the Embassie but Ptolomy his money had such influence upon him that he appeared not and not long after was also dispatched out of the way Pompey harboured the King all this time in his own house being yet desirous to restore him himself as Cicero signifieth to Lentulus then the Pro-consul of Cilicia who still waited also for the employment At length Sibylla's books being consulted were reported to forwarn the people of Rome never to reduce him by force and therefore to that purpose another decree was made in the Senate A great debate then ensued how the thing should be done some proposing one way and some another till at length Auletes perceiving it was neither likely to be effected by Pompey nor Lentulus Where getting no relief he departeth to Ephesus despaired of his return and getting him into Asia expected at Ephesus in the Temple of Diana a better advantage for the recovery of his right out of the hands of the imperious Rebels 26. And he had not been long there Dio lib. 39. when a convenient opportunity presented it self For Gabinius the President of Syria having grievously afflicted his Province by oppression not thinking that sufficient Joseph de bello Judaico lib. 1. cap. 6. Appian in Parthicis but hearing the Parthians to be exceeding rich set his resolution strongly to invade them When he had passed the River Euphrates Ptolomy came to him with Letters from Pompey and offered him 10000 Talents besides a great sum of money to the Soldiers part whereof they should have in hand to restore him Hireth Gabinans to restore him Most of the Officers were against the thing and Gabinius himself something stuck at it but being stirred up to it by Antonius who then Commanded the horse under him and especially bewitched by the money notwithstanding it was not lawfull for a President to stir out of his Province nor undertake Wars at his pleasure and the people at Rome out of respect to the Verses of Sibylla had forbidden Auletes to be restored at least such a way yet he onely made the difficulty of the thing a means to inhance the price of it and omitting the Parthian War undertook that against the Egyptians Berenice had about this time called one Seleucus out of Syria Dio Strabo ut suprà who vaunted himself of the blood royal of that Nation and made him partaker of the Kingdom marrying her self unto him but finding him to be of a sordid and base condition made him away after a little while Then an husband of a royal stock being enquired out for her Archelaus the son of Archelaus General to Mithridates the great King of Pontus and who had been made by Pompey Priest of the Tomani counterfeiting himself the son of the King procured by his friends to be received on the same terms with the other and reigned with her six moneths 27. But Gabinius leaving Syria to the tuition of a Child his son Plutarch in Antonio Dio Strabo ut suprà marched for Egypt through Palestine and coming to the sandy desart sent Antonius before with the horse to secure the Straights at the entry of the Countrey which he not onely bravely performed but took also Pelusium thereby gaining entrance for the whole Army A. M. 3950. Ol. 181. ann 2. V. C. 699. Hyrcani 9. Cn. Pompeio Mag. 2. M. Licinio Crasso 2. Coss which presently put to flight the Egyptians Archelaus himself was now taken but Gabinius considering that perhaps Ptolomy would be unwilling to give him so much money as he expected if with so small ado he should compleat the work being also soundly bribed by Archelaus he dismissed him under pretence of an escape A little after the Egyptians more earnest alwayes in rebellions than Wars were utterly discomfited Archelaus was slain and all Egypt recovered and restored to Auletes who presently put to death his daughter and the richest of the Nobility as they deserved standing then in great need of money Gabinius leaving a Guard behind him for Ptolomy's security which stayed at Alexandria married and begot Children giving up themselves to the luxury of the place went back into Syria and thence to Rome where his great gifts meeting with the corruption of the times onely purchased him his life being fined for his bribery and disobedient carriage A. M. 3954. Ol. 182. ann 2. V. C. 703. As for Auletes we hear no more of him Dieth since that he died 4 years after his restitution In the year of the World 3954. and the 2d of the 182 Olympiad 28. He left two sons and as many daughters behind him Caesar Comment de bello civili lib. 3. Dio lib. 42. Eutropius lib. 6. of which the eldest of either Sex he ordered should succeed him by his last Will and Testament which he conjured the people of Rome under whose tuition he left his Children by all the gods and the Leagues he had made with them should be observed and one of the Tables of which were brought to Rome to be laid up in the Treasury but this being hindred by publick businesse it was left with Pompey who was also appointed Guardian to the young King in this his nonage His eldest son and eldest daughter succeeding him she is driven away After three years the boy or rather Pothinus not Photinus as he is corruptly called in Caesar's Commentaries the Eunuch who managed his affairs expelled Cleopatra his sister and fellow both in marriage and the Kingdom so that she was forced to withdraw into Syria there to make provision for her re-establishment by
For it is manifest that Cicero having read this Poem did translate it into Latine and joyned it to his works who was afterward put to death by the Triumvir Antonius and Antonius was overcome by Augustus who reigned six and fifty years Tiberius succeeded Augustus in whose reign our Saviour came into the World and the mystery of religion began to flourish and the people were changed Of which I suppose the chief of the Italian Poets hath thus sung 81. He meaneth Virgil Eclog. 4. whose Poem he reciteth concerning the Golden dayes foretold by Sibylla Cumaea by which name the Romans called all the Siybills because of the old Cumana or Cumaea whose Verses were burnt in the Capitol in the 671 year of the Citie and were supplied by other fetch 't from Erythrae and elsewhere as also concerning a Child that was to be born He ascribeth to this Child such Divine things as none can doubt but that he must be above a man whom Sibylla described by such expressions Now that such Verses could be feigned by Christians none can affirm but the grosly ignorant who know not that Virgil died several years viz. 18 before Christ was born Neither can it be thought he feigned it on his own head although we cannot say with Constantine or Eusebius that he did thus mystically involve and cover the truth lest the Emperour should be offended with him for writing that which was contrary to their Laws and Statutes established concerning their Gods or that we do believe that he foresaw the happy and glorious mystery of our Saviours coming but that he might avoid their cruelty and speak his audience in the accustomed manner Some of late also have rejected the Poems ascribed to these women as feigned by Christians because they seem to speak more plainly of Christ than the true Prophets do and exhibit rather an history of Christ already come than a Prophecy of his coming They think it contrary to the Word of God to think that these profound mysteries should be more clearly propounded to the Gentiles than to the Jews Some of late have also questioned them This also much moveth them for we will confesse the utmost that they perceive many of the antients in the most primitive times to have counted it the choicest work they could perform to help the heavenly truth by their fictions whereby the new doctrine might more easily be admitted by the Pagan wise men And as they cannot but most grievously reprehend this thing so not sufficiently can they admire the judgment of those Fathers who with such facility received these writings and as doubt not to produce testimonies from them to underprop the heavenly truth 82. But it is answered by way of utter denial that there were many in the Primitive times who sought to establish the truth by fictions and lyes and by challenge made for them to produce any one lye or fiction made or used by the most antient Fathers though for a good end Certainly they which in their disputations with the Pagans appeal to the testimony of the Sibylls deserve great commendations for their prudence And hence may it be proved that those testimonies were not forged because they in all conflicts more willingly had recourse to them than to any other For can we imagine them fools with whom these Fathers had to do They were as cunning and knowing as the best they were Philosophers Rhetors Professors of Arts States-men and most commonly such as enjoyed the greatest honours Where is it objected by any of these in the most Primitive times But in vain that these testimonies were feigned by Christians This answer would have been easie and ready and such as would instantly have stopped the mouths of Primitive Saints But the wisest and bitterest of the Enemies of Christians do not make any such reply in the most antient times knowing well enough these Oracles to which the Romans had ever recourse and which were known sufficiently to the whole World through which it ran for current that in the Books of the Sibylls was held forth that one should reign who came out of the East The clearnesse of these testimonies concerning Christ can make nothing against them for Esaâ—as spake not more evidently of Christ than Balaam who said that a Star should rise out of Jacob. Who dare prescribe to God a manner of prophecying as if it were not free to him to speak plainly or obscurely to Jew or Gentile or as if there were not in the Scripture most clear predictions concerning Christ But grant that the Sibylline Oracles are clearer Ought not those things which are predicted to the Gentilles corcerning Christ to be clearer because they wanted Moses and the rest of that learning which should direct them unto him that what here was wanting might be supplied by the perspicuity of these Oracles Although we ought not to judge of these Oracles by that light which at present appeareth For what things are most evident to us after the accomplishment were most obscure when they were predicted If any one had feigned them he would have made them industriously more obscure that they might seem written before the things were done and like to those Prophecies which are contained in the Scriptures These Heathen Prophets spake some times clearly according to the intention of God who overruled them but often abruptly It 's thought they prophecied as of old Balaam's Asse spoke and not otherwise did Hydaspes and the Sibylls speak clearly of the coming of Christ the Holy Spirit moving them and governing their tongues It appeareth (a) In Apolog. 2. p. 82. totius operis from Justin Martyr that it was forbidden upon pain of death to read Hydaspes Sibylla or the Prophets lest the People should attain to the knowledge of good things To these (b) Strom. l. 6. Clemens bringeth in St. Paul himself referring the Greeks Take ye also the Greek Books acknowledge Sibylla that she manifested one God and things to come Take ye also Hydaspes read him and you shall find the Son of God more clearly and openly described 83. To omit what might be and by others hath been produced out of * Vide August de Civit. Dei l. 10. c. 23. Lud. vivem in Locum Tertul. Apollog c. 21. Heathen Writers concerning the blessed Trinity for we may easily admit that God who was ever the God of the whole World and designed to do the Gentiles good also in the knowledge of himself might give to them such hints of the truth as afterwards might be improved for their welfare we shall come to the last testimony concerning Christ and that such an one as will reduce us to the course of our design After that Christ was risen from the dead Pilate made report unto Tiberius of the Person and Works of Christ and had sent his Disciples about to preach and work miracles for the conversion of the World Pilate who then governed in Judaea reported
whomsoever would accept of it and that this Taurus who bore himself high upon his valour and was hated by all for his ill manners was forced by Minos to accept of it Theseus having killed him was so admired by the King that he gave him back the children and remitted the Tribute Ariadne fell in love with him whom some say he carried away with him but others that he left her behind and she hanged her self several things one contrary to another being reported of her Peace now being made and Theseus returning homewards they were so transported with joy that they forgot to set up the white sailes whereupon Aegeus dispairing of his sons safety threw himself headlong from a Rock and perished The death of Aegeus From this Aegeus some would fetch the name of the Aegean Sea But others think it was so called from Aegae the Island near Euboea others from Aegae a town of Euboea some from Aega a promontory of Aeolis and others from the Rock Aege lying betwixt Tenedus and Chius Again some from Aegeus the name of Neptune in Pherecydes and others from Aegeon the same with Briareus and others from a Goat because by it's turbulency it leapeth like that creature Festus who deriveth the name also from Aegeus mentioneth other two Originals as probable viz. the many Islands which to one looking at them a far off appear as Goats in the Greek language called Aegae and the perishing of Aege the Queen of the Amazons in it Concerning Aegeus Suidas telleth a long story out of Nicocrates which is refuted by the Scholiast of Apollonius who concerning this is to be consulted together with Strabo and Pliny Theseus gathereth the Athenians into one City 14. Theseus succeeding his Father A. M. 2775. set himself all manner of wayes to deserve well of his Subjects Whereas before they were dispersed in twelve Towns or more he gathered them into one City as being more convenient for strength concord and dispatch of publick businesse This being hard to effect by reason that the people were unwilling to quit their present possessions for new hopes he went from place to place shewing them the convenience of the thing and that he might effectually perswade he promised them liberty offering to lay down all power except that of the Generalship and of keeping the Laws in all other things to be like them and the power to rest in the people The multitude being allured by this promise he made the chief City called Cecropia his regal seat and built another about it for the people which he divided into three ranks of Nobility Husbandmen and Artificers all under the same aequality of liberty and Law But the former sort he appointed to be the fountain of Magistracy yet so as elective by the suffrages of the other two He abolished the several Courts of Judicature belonging to the twelve Towns and constituted one general Prytaneum in the City Thus did he devest himself of all royalty in a manner and brought popular-government into the State His exploits 15. As Hercules had instituted the Olympick Games in honour of Jupiter Plutarch so he ordained the Isthmian and dedicated them to Neptune He sailed with Hercules into the Euxine Sea some say by himself against the Amazons from amongst whom he got Antiope his wife which gave occasion to that sort of women to come against Athens They sore distressed it by a Seige till peace was made by Antiope or Hippolyta as others called her Some have affirmed that he was not partaker in any Exploit with any of the Heroes of his time except in that he helped the Lapithae against the Centaurs Others again contend that hee sailed to Colchos with Jason and assisted Meleager in killing the Boar whence came the Proverb Non sine Theseo he also performed many brave things by himself without the assistance of any hence he came to be counted Alter Hercules Having contracted near friendship and alliance with Perithous the Son of Ixion being now 50 years old he joyned with him in stealing away Helena the daughter of Tyndareus from Sparta and when they cast lots who should have her she fell to him He carried her to his Mother living at Aphidna there to be kept till she were ripe for marriage But having agreed that he who obtained her should help the other to procure him a wife elsewhere they both travelled into Epirus to steal thence the daughter of Aidoneus King of the Molossians whose wife was called Proserpina and his Dog Cerberus he himself by the Fable being named Pluto When he understood their errand that they came not to wooe but to steal be laid hands on them both and caused his Dog to devoure Perithous kept Theseus in prison till Hercules desired he should be set at liberty 16. Whilst Theseus was absent one Menestheus the son of Peleus who was Grand-son to Erechtheus by his Son Oâ—neus incensed the people against him and that upon the account of that change he had made in the State which he would have them believe was intended to inslave them under pretence of liberty and at this time came down the Tyndaridae Idem Castor and Pollux some think by his procurement against Athens in behalf of their Sister Finding that she was not there and discovering the place of her restraint they went to Aphidna and taking it by force recovered her and took Aethra the Mother of Theseus which afterwards accompanied her as her servant to Troy and at the taking of that Town was set at liberty by her Grand-son Demophon By means of Menestheus the Tyndaridae were received into Athens and great honour was done unto them which thing contributed to his design For when Theseus returned the Citizens were so wrought upon His exile that in no wise would they be reconciled and so was he forced to banish himself into the Island Scyrus having sent away his children privatly to Elpenor the son of Chalcedon into Euboea One writeth Diod. l. 4. p. 184. Pausanians in Atticis A. M. 2802. that sailing towards Crete to Deucalion the son of Minos whose Sister Phaedra he had married after the death of Antiope he was driven by tempest upon Scyrus the Inhabitants whereof receiving him with great honour for reverence of his name Lycomedes their King out of jealousie made him away having led him up to a Rock And death as though to shew him the Country and thence tumbled him down headlong Menestheus 17. Menestheus then began his reign at Athens in the dayes of Atreus King of Argos and Mycenae and some years after accompanied Agamemnon and Menelaus to the siege of Troy with 50 ships During the War we hear little or nothing of him but after the City was taken he honoured the Funerals of Ajax the son of Telamon with a Funeral Oration Philostratus in Heroicis which work belonged to the Athenians to perform for those that died in the Wars but
within a while he himself afforded matter for that office dying in the Isle Melos at his return homewards Demophon After his death Demophon the son of Theseus who together with his brother Achames both begotten on Phaedra followed Elphenor to Troy went to Athens and obtained the Kingdom As he returned Phyllis daughter to Sithon and Queen of Thrace fell in love with him Servius in Eclog. 5. Virgil and wood him for marriage He told her he would first go to settle his affairs at Athens and then come and marry her but staying somewhat long she had no patience to wait and thinking she was slighted hanged herself He stole the Palladium or image of Pallas from the Argives who brought it from Troy and in their return with Diomedes made encursions unwittingly into Attica being driven by night upon Phalerus and not knowing where they were He reigned about 34 years and then left his Kingdom to his son Oxyntes Oxyntes Aphidas Thymoetes who after twelve was succeeded by Aphidas his son who reigned but one year Then followed Thymoetes the fifteenth King Atheneus who being a Bastard is reported to have murdered Aphidas his brother and after eight years lost the Kingdom He was the last of the Erechthidae that reigned at Athens 18. It hapned that the State of Athens had War with the Boeotians about Celoenae a place seated in the confines of both Countries and it pleased the parties that their Kings should decide the quarrel in their own persons Thymoetes declined the combat and for that was deposed Melanthius a Messenian who was then driven from home by the Heraclidae accepted it Pausan in Atticis and overcame Xanthus the Boeotian King by a stratageme for when they came to fight he cried out Thou dost not justly Xanthus Frontinus Stratagem l. 2. c. 5. Exemp 41. but contrary to our agreement who accompanied with another person comest to fight against me a single man at which he wondering and looking back to see who should follow him Melanthius Melanthius ran him thorow with his Lance. He then reigned in the room of Thymoetes and at his death left Codrus his son his Successor who willingly offered himself to death for the safety of his Athenians Codrus the last King There were now distasts arisen betwixt the Heraclidae who held Peloponnesus Justin lib. 2. and them for that they harboured the Iones Strabo lib. 9. and other fugitives out of that Country and at length the Heraclidae intending to make War upon them consulted the Oracle beforehand concerning their successe which answered that they should have the better if they kept off their hands from the Athenian King and not otherwise They gave order to their men to beware of hurting him but he getting knowledge of the matter disguised himself and going into their Army by blows provoked them to kill him This being known they raised their Siege though some of them had already got into the City on whom then the Athenians had mercy and dismissed them without any harm This happened 486 years after Cecrops A. M. 2935. 114 after the destruction of Troy 35 after the return of the Heraclidae 293 before the first Olympiad A. M. 2935. The Archons for life Pausan in Messeniciis 19. After Codrus his death the people took away the title of King and gave the name of Archon with a diminished power to his Successor who might be called to an account for what he did though he kept the principality during life This was Medon the son of Codrus whom the rest of his brothers despising as weak and lame led out Colonies of the Ionians Idem in Achaicis Strabo l. 14. and some others Attica being now full into Asia The twelve Cities of Ionia and there founded the 12 famous Cities of the Ionians viz. Ephesus Miletus Priene Colophon Myus Teos Lebedus Claromenae Erythrae Phocaea Chius in the Island Chios and Samus in an Isle of the same name over against Ephesus which at first being subjected to several petty Princes at length joyned in one body politick and became very famous in after-ages Twelve other Archons succeeded Medon named from him Medontidae and in this condition the state remained unaltered for 315 years during which time there is little remarkable Euseb either concerning Princes or Commonwealth onely the time of Ariphron the 19th Archon fell in with that of Sardanapalus and Alcmaeon the son of Aeschylus was the last who dying when he had scarce reigned two years the people took another occasion to alter the Government for being weary of this perpetual power of their Princes they confined it to the space of 10 years This change being made about the beginning of the first Olympiad Archons for ten years A. M. 3248. Charops was the first that underwent it in whose time Dionysius of Halycarnassus will have Rome built Six others succeeded him in the power thus qualified whereof Hippomenes the fourth in order was the last of the posterity of Codrus being deposed for his cruelty to his daughter Suidas whom being defloured he shut up with an Horse that had no meat given him and so caused to be devoured quick The last of all the six was Eryxias Euseb who after he had Governed six years either died or being deposed for some Crime opened the Door to a new and greater innovation after 70 years continuance of the Decennal Government Annual Archons nine in number 20. The people still burning with a desire of greater liberty A.M. 3318. abolished quite the power of a single person and instead of him made nine Archons Lege Sigonium de Repub. Athen. Uttonem Emmium to be but annual a new Election being to be made every year out of those who for birth wealth or favour were most considerable in the Citie The first in order was properly called Archon as principal of the College and Eponymus because he signed the Calendar and all things that fell out in that year were said to be done he being Archon He had the care of their superstition to him it belonged to take Cognisance of differences arising about inheritances as also betwixt Husband and Wife Parents and their Children and Kinsfolks one amongst another Moreover he took care of Orphans and assigned them Guardians The second in order had the name of King who taking care also of another part of their superstition determined causes both Civil and Criminal or referred them to the greater Courts of Judicature The third was called Polemarchus who besides the charge of some religious customs had that of War committed to him whence he had his name was General of the Armies abroad and at home the Judge of strangers The other six were termed Thesmothetae being keepers of the Laws or Customs Judges in several Cases and had power to commit to prison all suspicious persons These were their distinct Offices Altogether