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
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
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
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
to Rome his brother made him a feast wherein were served up 2000 several dishes of fish the daintiest that could be found and 7000 sorts of fowl But he far exceeded this preparation at the Dedication of the Great Platter which he called Minerva's Target in which were mixed together the livers of Guilt-heads brains of Pheasants and Peacocks with the tongues of Phaenicopters and the small guts of Sea-Lampries fetched as far as the Carpathian Sea and the Straights of Gibraltar He would also eat meat taken from the hearth in time of sacrifice and fetched from Victualling houses either smoaking made ready the day before or half eaten And cruel 5. He was prone to the killing of any person and for any cause whatsoever Noble-men his School-fellows and contemporaries he deceitfully made away by degrees To one in a Feaver desiring a draught of cold water he gave poyson in it with his own hands He scarcely ever spared any of his creditors or others that asked him the money he ought One of them saluting him he sent away to be put to death and presently again calling him back for which the by-standers commended his clemency he caused him to be killed before his eyes saying that he would satiate his eyes with the slaughter of him and another that interceded for him he put to death with his two sons A certain Knight whom he commanded to be slain to save his life told him he had made him his heir whereupon he commanded his will to be produced in which finding that the man's Freedman was made coheir with him he caused them both to be put to death He was most cruel towards Mathematicians because they foretold his reign would be but short And to compleat all he was suspected to have killed his mother These vices onely seemed to put him in mind of his condition for else so great a stupidity had seized on him that if others had not known him to be the Prince he himself would quickly have forgot it He accounted all sharp that was wholesom liking of nothing but what was pleasant and fortifying himself onely with mirth and sottishnesse against all dangers he forgot all things past and regarded nothing present or to come not a word of Warre proceeded from him Vespasian put upon seeking the Empire the rumour and talk of which was forbidden in the City But he was within a short time rouzed by the coming of the forces of Vespasian who was by others put upon seeking the Empire being then Judaea 6. Vespasian that we may now prosecute the History of his actions in that Country after Titus had brought the Army to Ptolemais our of Aegypt His acts in Judaea Josephus de bello lib. 3. c. 5. c. with his forces united set upon Galile and at the first onset took Gedara which was burnt and destroyed Thence removing to Jotapata on the 21 day of May he took it by storm after 40 dayes though stoutly defended by Joseph the Historian Joseph was taken and kept to be sent prisoner to Nero but desiring to speak with Vespasian foretold him that he should loose him out of captivity but as Emperour After this bestowing his Armie at Caesarea and Scythopolis to refresh the Legions he himself went to Caesarea Philippi where he was entertained by Agrippa the King for twenty dayes Then went he about to subdue Tiberias and Tarichaea whereof the former yielded and was spared at the request of the King Idem l. 4. c. 1 2 c. but the later was taken by force and destroyed After this were Gamala Giscala and the Hill Itaburium taken and all Galile being reduced Vespasian and Titus returned to Caesarea The Jews fall out amongst themselves 7. The Jews were now imbroyled in civil dissentions whilst some desired Peace and others would not hear a word of it Idem ibid. c. 5 6. Parties were made and fought in every City and rash young men prevailed every where against the grave and elder sort who foresaw the calamity At first they robbed one another singly but at length turned thieves in whole troops committing such cruelties as equalled the misfortune received from the Romans At last the thieves loaded with plunder brake into Jerusalem where they not onely consumed the provisions of the People but filled the City with slaughters rapines and dissentions They cast the principal of the Citizens into prison and then put them to death unheard pretending that they intended to betray the City to the Romans yet for all this wickednesse they boasted of zeal for the Law of God and customs of their Country and thereupon were called Zealots Horrid outrages committed by the Zealots The People being about to rise against them they betook themselves to the Temple where they made one Phanias an ignorant fellow High-Priest though he was not of the order of Priests but they were opposed by Ananus who procured the People to rise against them and beat them into the inner part Hereupon they sent to the Idumaeans accusing Ananus of an intention to betray their Counntry and forasmuch as they fought for the liberty thereof and now were besieged they implored their assistance Twenty thousand came and being let into the City together with the Zealots committed horrid outrages against the Inhabitants They slew 8000 the first night and afterwards other 1200 of the chiefest amongst whom was Ananus besides an infinite number of the common sort then at length the Idumaeans perceiving the wickednesse of the Zealots and that they had falsely accused the Nobility set at liberty 2000 which they had imprisoned and returned home After their departure the Zealots renewed their slaughters and raged more cruelly than ever especially against such as they had found attempting to flye to the Romans 8. But they presently after fell out amongst themselves Idem l. 5. c. 3 4 5 6 c. by reason of one John who with a seditious party holding Giscala pretended to receive the conditions given him by Titus and stole away to Jerusalem There becoming the great Incendiary he now affected soveraign power but he was withstood by such as before this had been equal to him Though they thus disagreed yet herein they consented to spoil the People and Jerusalem being thus filled with tumults those that were without the City had liberty to rob and spoil and those whose Towns were hereby destroyed assembled together in the Wildernesse and uniting brake into other Temples and Towns so that there was no place in Judaea All Judaea languisheth in an unheard-of manner which did not languish in an unheard-of manner together with the mother City Vespasian excited by the seditious and intreated by the fugitives to save their Country prepared for the siege of Jerusalem and that he might not leave an Enemy at his back took in Gadara where 13000 were put to the Sword and all other places beyond the River except the Castle of Macheron He
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