Churlish answer chose Jeroboam the son of Nebat of the Tribe of Ephraim to reign over them He being industrious in the work of Fortifications 1 Kings 11.12.13 14. 2 Chron. 11.13 had been made by Salomon Ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph but the Lord after he was provoked by the Idolatry of Salomon sent Ahijah the Prophet to him to promise him ten Tribes which coming to the ears of the King he sought to slay him whereupon Jeroboam fled for his life to Shishak King of Egypt with whom he sojourned till Salomon's death Then he was sent for out of Egypt and accompanied all Israel as their Speaker in their addresse made to Rehoboam whom after they had rejected they made him King A. M. 30â—6 that the Lord might perform what he had promised by the Prophet 2. In the beginning of his reign he built up Shechem which had lyen waste well nigh 260 years from the time that Abimelech destroyed it This place being situated in Mount Ephraim he first made his habitation till he went over Jordan and built Penuel whence afterwards he also removed his seat to Tirza He forsook the Lord who promised him establishment if he would keep his Statutes and Commandments going about by carnal and wicked policy to secure his interest For lest his Subjects by going up to Ierusalem to Worship should be turned again from their obedience to him he set up two Golden Calves Setteth up to Golden Calves the one at Dan and the other at Bethel having learnt Idolatry towards this sort of Cattel in Egypt To that in Bethel he sacrificed instituting a Feast like to that of Tabernacles and though rebuked by a Prophet he was stricken with Leprosie and might have been convinced by other Miracles yet neither these things nor the many judgements of God against him and his Successors could reclaim either him or them Rejecting the Priests of the sons of Aaron and the Levites he made of the lowest of the people Priests for the high places He had War with Rehoboam continually and with Abiah his son who overthrew him in a great battel and slew 500000 of his men although he added a stratagem to the force of his numbers which doubled those of his Enemy compassing-in Abiah's Army whil'st he was speaking to it Some years after he died having reigned 22. Nadab his son succeeding him Nadab walked in the wayes of his father A. M. 3047. Asae 2. in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin but in his second year he and all Israel besieging Gibbethon of the Philistins Baasa Baasa the son of Ahijah 1 Kings 15. of the house of Issachar conspired against him and slew him there 3. Nadab is said to have began his reign in the second year of Asa and to have reigned two years yet Baasa to have began to reign in the third year of Asa To this either must be said that Ieroboam made his son King whil'st he himself yet lived or else not reigning 22 years compleat but some part onely of the 22th year so that the far greater part of the first year of Nadab must fall in with the greater part of the second of Asa neither did Nadab reign two whole years but one with a piece of another and so the first year of Baasa will fall in with the greater part of the third of Asa For in this comparing of the times of the Kings of Judah and Israel is to be taken notice That 1. A year onely begun is taken for a compleat one 2. The fathers often yet living communicated the royal dignity to their sons 3. Some were twice inaugurated as Joram in the Tribe of Judah and Hâ—shea in that of Ephraim 4. That there were many vacancies especially in the Kingdom of Israel Baasa cut off all the posterity of Jeroboam Jeroboams posterity utterly destroyed not leaving one to pisse against the Wall according as Ahijah had foretold so that here Jeroboam's policy failed him the Golden Calves having pushed down his family When Baasa saw that Asa had restored Religion and for that cause many of his subjects revolted to him he had War with him all his dayes and in his fourteenth year built Ramah to restrain fugitives 2 Chron. 16. Asa to divert him hired Benhadad King of Syria who breaking the league formerly made with Israel came up with his forces and smote Jion a Citie of the Tribe of Asâ—er Dan of the Danites Abel-hethmaach of the Manassites and all Cinneroth with the Land of Napthali which forced Baasa to leave off building Ramah and return to Tirza He reigned 24 years 1 Kings 16. viz. 23 with part of another Elah slain by Zimri 4. Elah his son succeeded him in the 26th year of Asa A. M. 3071. and reigned two years at the end whereof his servant Zimri Asae 26. Captain of one half of his Chariots slew him at Tirzah as he was drinking in the house of Arza his Steward and the Prophesie of Jehu the son of Haneni was fulfilled against the house of Baasa that it should be made like to that of Jeroboam all of it being destroyed in like manner by Zimri Omri But Zimri himself reigned onely seven dayes for the people then besieging Gibbethon and understanding how things had passed at Tirzah made Omri the General of the Army King He presently led them against Tirzah and took it Whereupon Zimri withdrew himself into the Pallace and setting it on fire perished therein because he also walked in the steps of Jeroboam A Schism now followed for one half of the people chose Tibni Tibni the son of Gineth and four years imperfect as the Jews have it this division continued till at length Tibni dying A. M 3076. Omri reigned alone Asae 31. He is also said to have began his reign in the 31th year of Asa which must be understood of his reigning alone having slain Zimri in the 28th year beginning of that King After he had reigned six years at Tirzah he translated the seat of the Kingdom to Samaria which Citie he had built on an Hill bought of one Shemer from whom it took the name Having done worse then any that were before him he died after he had reigned twelve years Which if they be accounted from the death of Zimri and so contain his whole reign then reigned Ahab his son Vide Lud. Cappellum Chron. Sacr. pag. 179. and Successor but two years with him his 11th year falling into the 38 of Asa but if they be reckoned from the death of Tibni then must Ahab have reigned about five years together with him Ahab marrieth Jezebel 5. Ahab exceeded in wickednesse all his predecessors A. M. 3083. Asae 38. not onely living in the sins of Jeroboam but marrying Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal King of Sidon whose God Baal he served and worshipped For this 1 Kings 18.
the Wars had absolute authority To the Senate this honour and power was given to debate and resolve about such things as the King propounded Senate which were decreed by the greater number of voices as agreeable to the constitution of Lacedaemon as our Author observeth People To the People he committed three things to create Magistrates make Laws and resolve about War what was propounded by the King yet so as that the authority of the Senate interposed All the whole multitude together gave not their votes but the Curiae apart and whatsoever seemed good to most was referred to the Senate which custom was afterwards changed when the Senate did not confirm the Decrees of the People but the People the resolves of the Senate 5. For the increase of the City besides the opening of a Sanctuary which Dionysius ranketh after this setlement of the civil policy he forbad when any Town was taken Prisoners to be preserved that prisoners of ripe age should be slain or sold or their grounds left untilled but commanded a Colony to be sent from Rome to which part of them should be assigned and some of the strangers to be admitted to the freedom of the City which device our Author esteemeth of great weight and consequence He made many good and profitable Laws Laws in reference to marriage whereof most were unwritten He ordained in reference to marriage that the wife should be partaker of all that was her husband's when chast and modest If he died intestate she was his absolute Heir Consule Val. Max. l. 2. c. 1. and if he left children equally with them When she offended she was left to his disposal for punishment who admitted his kindred to judge with him concerning the fault if she either violated chastity or drank wine which Romulus utterly condemned as an incentive to wantonnesse So effectual became this constitution to the preservation of the conjugal knot that for 520 years there hapned not any divorce in Rome till in the 137th Olympiad when Marcus Pomponius and Caius Papirius were Consuls Sp. Caruilius an eminent man put away his wife and then though he sware to the Censors that he did it onely to provide for posterity yet was he ever hated by the people He gave to Fathers absolute power over their Sons and that for all their lives either to imprison Parents and their Children c. beat carry away bound to rustick labours or kill although the son bore the greatest Office in the Commonwealth or publickly commended and honoured By virtue of this Law some eminent Persons making Orations to the People in opposition to the Senate in the midst of popular applause have by their Parents been pulled down from their seats and led away to be punished according to their pleasure and as they passed along the Forum none could deliver or rescue them not the Consul Tribune nor multitude it self which they had flattered And because of this absolute paternal dominion several valiant men have been put to death for their valour shewed in some way against the Enemy contrary to the direction or Command of their Fathers 6. He compelled parents to educate all their male children and their eldest daughters he permitted a child younger than three years to be made away if it was born defective in some member or monstrous and yet then was it not to be exposed without approbation of the five next neighbours If any one broke this Law he besides other punishment forfeited half of his goods The Father was permitted by the Law-giver to sell his Son and that three times over if it hapned that he recovered his liberty a greater power than was had over slaves who if once made free thenceforth so continued All sordid Arts and such as were subservient to luxury he forbad which being left to slaves and strangers for a long time the Romans scorned to meddle with Two courses of life onely he enjoined them Warfare and Husbandrie allowing a Market once in nine dayes He divided equally to them the grounds slaves and money taken from the Enemy Concerning injuries be presently decided all controversies or referred them unto others inflicting punishment acording to the crime and seeing the people to be by fear best retained in order he set up his Judgment-seat in the most conspicuous place of the Forum where his guard of 300 Celeres and twelve Sergeants or Lictors carrying rods and axes and in the view of all men either beating or putting to death Malefactors made a terrible shew This is the form of the Commonwealth as Romulus first established it much admired by Dionysius above all the constitutions of his own Country-men the Graecians whose Religion also as giving occasion to the vulgar sort to contemn their gods involved in such misfortunes or to abstain from no iniquity and filthinesse to which they heard that their deities were also abnoxious he esteemeth vain frivolous and dangerous in comparison of that which was instituted by the Roman Law-giver 7. Romulus considering that there were several powerful Nations round about him which with evil eyes beheld the growth of his City bethought with himself how he might contract amity with them Concluding that affinity was the onely means by the advice and consent of the Senate he resolved upon a course to provide wives for his Subjects He caused at the suggestion of his Grand-father Numitor The Rape of the Sabine Virgins a Solemn Feast and exercises in honour of Neptune to be proclaimed throughout the Country to which many flocking with their wives and children upon sign given his men laid hold on such Virgins as were come to see and violently carried them to their houses The number of them amounted to 683 for which Romulus chose out so many husbands and married them after their own Country Rites making them covenant a Society or Communion of fire and water which custom continued for many Ages Some write that this happened in the first year of Romulus but others assign the fourth of his reign for it which scarce could be done till matters were something setled Some delivered that scarcity of women was the cause of this rape others thought that by it an occasion was onely sought for War but a third party will have that by this violent act an affinity with the neighbouring Cities was endeavoured 8. Some were grievously moved and others put a good construction upon the businesse Romulus his defensive wars but at length the matter brake out into a manyfold War of which that with the Sabines was most grievous The Cities Caenina Antemna and Crustumium first began after they could not perswade the Sabines to joyn with them The two former inhabited by the Aborigines Romulus presently subdued and afterwards the later also which was a Colony of Alba the grounds were divided betwixt some Romans sent thither to plant and the old Inhabitants of which such as would were made free of the City and without
forced to fly for his life and went into Crete There being courteously entertained by Minos he wrought many rare pieces of Architecture but at length so displeased the King in some thing which concerned Pasiphae his wife that he also fled thence into Sicily where he was entertained by Cocalus King of the Sicani then reigning at Inycus called also Camicus Some thought that by the means of Pasiphae he escaped by boat his Son Icarus accompanying him in another and that having invented sails whereas before oars onely were in use Icarus not managing his with skill enough his Vessel sunk and thereupon arose the Fable that they escaped with wings made of feathers waxed together and of the young man's soaring so high till the Sun melting the wax he thereupon fell headlong into that part of the Sea which afterwards bare his name Others thought Icarus was drowned as he took water But Minos getting notice whither Daedalus was fled pursued him with an Army and required Cocalus to give him up Cocalus returned him a satisfactory answer and invited him unto his house where he stifled him in a bath or else his daughters for the love they bore to Daedalus when they came to wash him which was the custom for women and maids to do unto guests according to Athenaeus instead of warm water poured on him scalding pitch He gave up his body to his men pretending he had slipped by chance into hot water and perswaded them to stay and plant in the Island where they built Minoa and Engyum now Gange the two first Greek Cities founded in Sicily as some note The Cretans afterwards in revenge for their King's death came and besieged Camicus five years to no purpose and were shipwrackt in their return upon the Coast of Italy where then resolving to stay and hide their disgrace they built Hyria betwixt Tarentum and Brundusium and from them descended the Iapyges and Messapii This passage concerning Minos the younger happened in the dayes of Hercules the Graecian an Age before the Trojan War 7. After Cocalus the several Cities because they wanted rightful and successive Kings as it seemeth and lived under loose Democracy became the prey of Tyranni whereof no Country was ever more fertil than this Island saith Justin Of these Ut supra Anaxilaus his Justice vied with the Cruelty of the rest and was not unrewarded For at his death leaving his children young whom he committed to the trust of Micythus his faithful slave his Subjects so prized his memory as they chose rather to obey him and suffer the Majesty of a Kingdom to be managed by a slave than desert his sons But if by these Tyranni be to be meant such as after the setlement of the Greek Colonies made themselves Masters of the Cities as we have no other ground than to believe the name of Anaxilaus sufficiently declaring it's original then Cocalus living an Age before the Trojan War and the first Greek Colony mentioned by Thucydides being planted in the * A. M. 2723. 11 Olympiad this after Cocalus is with great liberty used by Trogus or Justin several hundreds of years viz. five or six intervening betwixt Cocalus and those Tyrants For the Cities were many years after their founding governed by the People according to the custom of Greece till Phalaris usurped in the State of Agrigentum which Suidas writeth to have happened in the 52 Olympiad and Eusebius in the 54. This difference betwixt them may well be reconciled if with Cappellus we believe that Phalaris coming to Agrigentum there was kindly entertained for eight years A. M. 3441. Olymp. 54. an 1. V. C. 190. Evilmerodachi 2. at the end whereof took occasion from a guest and perhaps a Judge of Controversies to make himself Tyrant and the People slaves 8. Phalaris was born at Astypalea a City in Crete his Fathers name was Laodamus Phalaris the Tyrant who died whilst this his son was an infant He married Erythia and on her begat Paurolas a little before whose btrth being banished and deprived of the greated part of his estate he continued long in a desolate condition not knowing what to do till at length a Sedition being raised in the State of Agrigentum he was sent for by the weaker faction and in conclusion got all the power into his hands He kept the Tyranny by the same arts he first obtained it viz. fraud and cruelty for which cause he was grievously hated by many and his life laid at by those of whom he had well deserved Erythia continued all her life with her son Paurolas at Astypalea where though she was much importuned by many Suters yet she remained stedfast in fidelity to her husband The Citizens of Astypalea when they saw Phalaris had so advanced himself either for that now their hatred was allaied or out of fear of revenge sent to him to intimate that they had revoked what had been formerly done against him as unjust He despised not this late repentance but sent them his hearty thanks and rewarded them Having obtained a victory over the Leontines his son Paurolas sent him a Crown of Gold which he returned back unto his wife Erythia She was at length poysoned by Python one of her Suters inraged at a repulse which thing Phalaris took most impatiently 9. It hapned that one Perillus an Athenian and an excellent Statuary came to Agrigentum where shewing his rare skill he was kindly entertained by Phalaris He taking notice of Phalaris his cruelty framed a brazen Bull which being heated and a man put in his belly would by the roaring of him that was thus tormented Perillus and his brazen Bull. imitate the voice of a natural one Presenting him with this exquisite piece as incomparable for the torturing of men he admired his skill but detesting his wickednesse caused him first to make a tryal of it and excused himself to the Athenians who took it ill as having done nothing but what was just and meet If Perillus had onely made experiments Phalaris had satisfied all reasonable men but threatning his Enemies with this Engine and making good his word upom them as often as he could have occasion he thereby incurred and slighted the hatred of mankind At the same time flourished one Stesichorus a Poet of Himera who died eight years before Phalaris He wrote verses against the Tyrant and raised an Army animating the Inhabitants of Himera against him with whom joyned Conon a most leud and naughty man and divers others all which together with the Poet at length fell into his hands Conon was presently condemned to the Bull. He doubted at first what to do with Stesichorus but at length beholding his worth he not onely dismissed him unpunished but with large gifts and ever after mightily reverenced him both alive and dead insomuch as he desired the Himerians to build him a Temple and Altars offering for that purpose men money and all necessaries and most lovingly comforted
Antigonus got divers Cities into his hands and restored the Milesians to their liberty At this time the inhabitants of Cyrene revolting Ptolomy reduced them again to obedience by the means of Agis his General and in Cyprus suppressed some of the Kings which were of the contrary faction Returning home he was sollicited be Seleucus to undertake an Expedition against Demetrius then in Caelesyria Whose Son Demetrius is defeated by Ptolomy so that with 18000 Foot and 4000 Horse he marched to Gaza where Demetrius expected him In the fight the forces of Demetrius seemed rather to prevail till his Elephants being wounded and taken his Horse out of fear ran away He himself fled accompanied with many till he came to passe by Gaza but then so many forsook him and went in thither to fetch out their goods as multitudes flocking to the gates and they therefore being hindred from being shut the enemies entred with them and took the Town Ptolomy took Sidon also and besieged Tyre whose Governour Andronicus upon summons refused to yield and reviled him A. M. 3693. Ol. 117. an 1. V. C. 442. Seleuci 1. Ptolom 12 yet he getting the place into his power through the sedition of the Soldiers when he looked for present death not onely forgave him but entertained him courteously as his familiar friend 23. Ptolomy getting the places about Syria into his power returned into Aegypt being followed thither by many which were drawn by his great courtesie and clemency But Seleucus thinking this a good opportunity for him to return to his former Principality obtained of him 800 Foot and 200 Horse and with them marched for Babylon In his way in Mesopotamia he got partly by fair means partly by foul those Macedonians which quartered at Carrhae to joyn with him but when he came to Babylon the Inhabitants there willingly received him and he shortly after stormed the Castel which was held by Antigonus his garrison Nicanor the Governour of Media hearing this came against him with above 10000 Foot and 7000 Horse whom he went out to meet with but few more than 3000 Foot and 400 Horse and knowing himself too weak to engage in a set battel with him he hid his men in the Fens till he was past with his Army and then came upon him lying carelesly in the night without any strict guards Seleucus recovereth Babylon and the Eastern parts so as the Persians coming to fight Euagrus their Captain was slain with other Officers at which being struck and also weary of Antigonus his government they revolted and Nicanor with a few at his heels escaped being glad he was not delivered up Seleucus by this means getting a strong Army easily made himself Master of Susiana Media and the Countryes thereto adjoyning so as getting hereby Royal Majesty and Glory suitable to his dignity some have from this year fetched the rise of that Aera which afterwards was called that of the Seleucidae and of the Greeks for that his Kingdom proved the most considerable about the year of the World 3694 Eusebius in Chronico alii the first of the 117 Olympiad 309 years before the Aera of Christ and twelve years after the death of Alexander 24. When Antigonus heard of it he sent his son Demetrius against him who had now redeemed his credit by the overthrow of Cilles sent to expel him out of Syria by Ptolomy and upon it called thither his Father so as they recovered all that Country and Phoenicia out of his hands he not daring to stay and try a battel with Antigonus Demetrius his attempts against him Demetrius led with him an Army of 15000 Foot and 4000 Horse with order to recover the Principality of Babylon and then go down to the Sea Patrocles A. M. 3694. Ol. 117. an 2. V.C. 443. Seleuci 2. Ptolom 13. whom Seleucus had left Governour of Babylon hearing of his coming advised the inhabitants to leave the City and flie some into the Desart or over the River Tigris he himself with a Band of men flew up and down taking advantages at the Enemy and sent to Seleucus into Media for aid so that Demetrius coming and finding the City forsaken stormed one of the Forts therein and for that his time was out beyond which he could not stay he left Archelaus with a strong party to besiege the other Then giving leave to his Soldiers to plunder all they could he departed according to his Father's order to the Sea where he besieged Halicarnassus but was beaten off by Ptolomy and so as it were took his leave of that Province for ever taking what he could get along with him and perhaps for this reason the Chaldaeans with the Author of the second Book of the Machabees in this year one after the other fix the Aera of Seleucus Not long after Ptolomy Cassander and Lysimachus made a Peace with Antigonus on these terms An agreement betwixt Ptolomy Cassander Lysimachus that Cassander should be Captain General of Europe Lysimachus should retain Thrace and Ptolomy Aegypt and the rest which he now enjoyed until Alexander the son of Roxane should come to age and that Antigonus should be over Asia and the Greeks live after their own Laws This agreement was not kept long each one seeking under any pretence to inlarge his Dominions and indeed they might better do it seeing he for whom they pretended themselves Administrators and was their Soveraign Lord was taken away For Cassander taking notice that young Alexander grew up and that the People began to talk that now he ought to be delivered out of custody and to enjoy his Fathers Kingdom he fearing his own interest commanded secretly Glaucius his Keeper to kill him and his Mother and concealing their bodies to acquaint no person living with it Thus he who was unborn when his Father died The death of young Alexander died by the hands of violence and treason thirteen years after him 25. He had a brother yet living elder than himself who being begotten of Barsines never maried to Alexander was held as illegitimate by the Captains Hercules his brother though born before his Father's death His name was Hercules being now kept at Pergamus whence he was called shortly after the death of the other by Polysperchon who now being in Peloponnesus and envying Cassander the Principality of Macedonia sent about to his friends intreating that the youth being seventeen years old might be brought and established in his Fathers Throne The Aetolians especially with others imbraced the motion so as he got together about 20000 Foot and 1000 Horse in no great space and within a while after gathered up a numerous Army with which he marched and came on his way to Stymphalia Diodorus ad Olymp. 117. Justin lib. 15. A. M. 3696. Ol. 117. an 4. V.C. 445. Seleuc. 4. Ptolom 15. Here Cassander opposed him and seeing that his Macedonians took well enough this reduction of their Prince and fearing
built Niniveh and the Citie Rehoboth and Calah and Pesen between Niniveh and Calah Some according to this Translation will have this Assur to have been the son of Sem who having built Niniveh Whether he built Niniveh and founded the Assyrian Kingdom Nimrod dispossessed him or his or some manner of way obtained and joyned it to the Babylonian as Julius Africanus hath delivered But others contend that this Assur is the name of the Countrey and not of a Man and that it is to be read And out of that Land went out Nimrod into Assur i. e. Assyria and builded Ninive c. Otherwise they think it would be out of the way for Moses to mention the son of Sem in this place where he is in hand with the Genealogie of Cham neither could it be peculiar to him to go out of this Land and build Niniveh seeing all mankind almost at the division of the Earth went out of it The last reading onely maketh the sense intire for how else could the four Cities properly be said to be the beginning of Nimrod's Kingdom except he added more unto it Lastly this seemeth very urgent that in Scripture Assyria is called the Land of Nimrod Mich. 5.6 4. He was a mighty Hunter before the Lord or therein none was to be compared with him things being said to be such before God as were so indeed or in an eminent manner He judging not according to outward appearance but as they are in their own natures By the means of Hunting it is probable that he made way unto his Monarchy Made way to his Kingom by hunting For under pretence of what was very necessary at this time when men were few scattered and lying abroad without defence against wild beasts which ever especially abounded about Arabia and Babylon he might gather a band of men and by such exercises which the Heathens (d) Xenophon de venatione in Cyropaedia by their practice as well as opinion shewed to be convenient for breeding of Warriours train them up till he converted their force from beasts to men What was performed by him seemeth to have been attributed to his successors Ninus is (e) Diodorus l. 2. p. 64. A. said to have gathered an Army of Arabians and therewith to have subdued the Babylonians which seemeth to have related to his Conquest of that Countrey For being a Chasaean and consequently an Arabian he might by the assistance of his own Countrey-men and Kindred effect it whom he (f) Bochartus l. 4. c. 12. rewarded with that Region beyond Tigris which thence was by the Hebrews called Chus by the Caldaeans Chuth Cissia by the Greeks and Chuzestan i. e. the Province of Chus by the Persians From his usurping the right of Noah some think the Fable to have sprung of Saturn being cast out of his Kingdom by Jupiter the word Nimrod signifying a Rebell and answerable to his carriage He is also judged to be the true Bacchus The true Bacchus this word being little changed from Bar-Chus that is the son of Chus Bacchus was the son of Jupiter and he was the Grand-son of Jupiter Hammon The most ancient name of Bacchus was Zagreâ—s which signifieth a strong hunter answerable to the Epithete given to Nimrod He undertook an expedition into the East wherein seem to be contained the Facts of Nimrod and his Successors Bacchus was feigned to be born at Nysa in Arabia and Nimrod was also an Arabian And not unlikely might Nimrod be thought to be over the Vines who first raigned at Babylon where was that most excellent kind of Wine dignified by the Ancients with the name of Nectar To the raign of Belus or Nimrod Athenaeus 65 years are given by Julius Africanus Ninus 5. Ninus his son succeeded him and canonized him for a God which gave as 't is said the first occasion to Idolatry He made a confederacy with Arieus His Conquests King of Arabia which Countrey withstood most Conquests and then invading Armenia forced Barzanes the King thereof to submit to his Vassallage Next he entred Media where he took and Crucified Phamus the King and then being pricked on by desire of glory and incouraged by his successe he subdued all the people of Asia in seventeen years except the Indians and Bactrians (g) Biblioth l. 2. p. 65. ex Ctesia Cnidio Justin lib. 1. the latter whereof under Conduct of their King Zoroastres or rather Oxgartes for Zoroaster the great Magician lived many ages after stoutly opposed him and yet at length were brought under as we have it from Diodorus who reporteth also that Ninus built Ninive which he so named after himself Ninive Whether he his father or any other built it A Citie it was of great bignesse strength and ornament being in compasse sixty miles of a Quadrangular form incompassed and fortified with a Wall a hundred foot high and of such a breadth as three Charriots might have been driven together a-breast upon it adorned also with Towers 200 foot in height The place of it is not agreed of and (h) Lege Bocharti Phaleg l. 4. c. 20. some think there were two Cities of this name one upon Euphrates in Comagena and another in Assyria beyond Tigris As for Ninus many things done both by his father and successors seem to be attributed to him He reigned 52 years and the manner of his death is diversly related (i) Orosius One saith he was shot with a Dart as he lay before a Town (k) Dinon apud Aelian var. Hist l. 7. c. 1. Another writeth that Semiramis his wife whom he had chosen for her admirable beauty and now doated on obtained leave to wear his Royall Robe and reign over Asia five dayes and then when she had got the power into her hands commanded one of the Guard to kill him But a (l) Diodorus ubi supra p. 76. D. ex Athenaeo aliis third His death onely relateth him to have been secured in prison Semiramis his wife counterfeiteth her son 6. He left a son by Semiramis named Ninyas who being but young she put on mans Apparel and counterfeiting his person as well as Sexe is reported to have done very great things part of which might rather be challenged by the two foregoing Kings and by some that followed her Justin ex Trogo lib. 1. Diodorus ut prius The resemblance of her son in all the lineaments and proportion of his body took away suspicion for the further prevention whereof she commanded the same kind of Garment to be worn by the people At length when she thought she had got fame sufficient she made her self known which detracted not from her glorie Her acts but added to the lustre of it She re-edified and inlarged Babylon incompassing it with a Wall made up of Brick Sand and a certain Clay or slime clammy like Pitch which there abounded and * Herodotus
200 Gallies 10000 most valiant Souldiers and out of Egypt it self raised 80000 foot Agesilaus the King of Lacedaemon he also procured to come to him Xenoph. Plutarch Aemilius Probus in Agesilao promising him the command of all his forces Upon the report of his landing all sorts of presents were dispatched to him but the Courtiers finding no Train nor any thing of State about him onely an old man little of stature not at all trimmed but with coarse and old Clothes sitting on the shore upon the grasse they greatly despised him and were seized with wonder at his poornesse of spirit when they beheld how amongst the presents taking the Meal Calves and Geese to himself he gave the sweet Meats and Oyntments to be divided amongst the slaves Tachos King of Egypt strengthneth himself And Tachos himself gave him not the chief command according to his promise deriding him for the smalnesse of his stature and saying that the fable was fulfilled in him the Mountains are in Travel and a Mouse is brought forth to which with anger and scorn he answered that afterwards he should have cause to think him a Lyon Diod. Plutarch 95. With Tachos also was Chabrias the Athenian though not sent from the State as was Agesilaus but on his own account who advised him wanting Treasure to command his richest sort of subjects to furnish him with as much money as they could spare and he would repay them out of his yearly Tributes which course he following got great store of money and yet injured no man To him he committed his Fleet to Agesilaus the conduct of the 10000 mercenary Graecians to Nectanebus his son or rather the son of his brother 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or sister being called his Nephew reserving to himself the command over all and though Agesilaus advised him rather to manage the War by his Lieutenants Nectanebus King of Egypt and stay in Egypt he sayled into Phoenicia the Spartan following him though against his dignity and disposition Coming into Phoenicia he sent Nectanebus against the Cities in Syria to whom came a message from the Viceroy of Egypt left there by Tachos signifying that he had revolted and now invited him to seize upon the Kingdom to which he consenting drew presently to his party all the Officers by gifts and the Souldiers by large promises Tachos now being in fear of his own servants and Agesilaus whom he derided betook himself to Sidon and thence to Artaxerxes by whom he was courteously entertained though not declared General in the Egyptian War and so by the help of Agesilaus recovered his Kingdom as Diodorus writeth 96. Another King besides these two was made by the Egyptians of Mendesium of whom 10000 arose and for him made War upon Nectanebus Plutarch Xenoph Cornelius Nepos Diodorus ut suprà The case being thus Agesilaus took part with Nectanebus whom he thought more to favour the Graecians took the other prisoner and confirmed him in the Kingdom who importuning him to stay and winter with him he refused hasting homewards Agesilaus having served him in his return dieth for that he knew the Lacedaemonian State to be at this time ingaged in a War destitute of Treasure and yet to keep strangers in constant pay for want of their own men Nectanebus when he would not stay dismissed him with great gifts and honours giving him 220. or 230 Talents for the maintenance of the War at home with which taking ship he sayled homewards though in the midst of Winter making haste lest through his absence the State should do nothing the next Summer but being carried by Tempest into a desart place called the Haven of Menelaus lying betwixt Cyrene and Egypt he there fell sick and died His friends laying his Corps in Wax for want of Honey carried it to Lacedaemon where it was buried according to his worth and dignity 97. About the time of his death died also Artaxerxes the King of Persia Plutarch in Artaxerxe Justin lib. 10. after he had reigned 43 years He had 115 sons of which three onely were legitimate Darius Ariaspes and Ochus the rest being begotten of Concubines Artaxerxes dieth having before his death made Darius King who plotting against him of which he kept 360. with which yet he could not be contented without the addition of Atossa his own daughter his own mother to please him becoming a Bawd to his incestuous affections When he was grown old perceiving his sons to strive about the succession and especially Ochus who although the youngest hoped by the means of Atossa to procure the Kingdom of him fearing lest after his death he might do as his Uncle Cyrus had formerly done contrary to the custom of Persia which admitted not of two Kings at the same time he made Darius the eldest now 50 years old King whilest he lived lest his death should involve the Empire in civil broils It was the fashion for him that was made King to ask and receive something at the hands of him that made him according to which Darius asked Aspasia to wife which formerly having been Concubine to Cyrus Artaxerxes took and afterwards married He out of indulgence to him first granted his request for that she being a free woman and no slave might chuse whether she would have him and hoping she would refuse but she willingly accepting of the thing and he then repenting of what he had rashly promised consecrated her as a Nun to Diana that she might live for the remainder of her dayes a single life Darius hereby incensed through the provocation of Tiribazus who bore Artaxerxes malice for defrauding him of his daughter Amistris whom he promised to him but married her himself entred with 50 of his brethren into a conspiracy against the life of his father Is put to death and the plot being revealed by an Eunuch was put to death with his complices Darius being removed out of the way Ochus was more inflamed with a desire of reigning to which he was more incensed by Atossa his sister But he feared two of his brothers Ariaspes legitimate and the elder and one Arsames who though base born and the younger yet was much esteemed for his wisdom and especially beloved by his father Both of them he resolved to destroy Ochus his wicked practices for the Kingdom the former by his cunning and the later by down-right cruelty for he hired some who never ceased to tell Ariaspes as a great secret that his father was resolved to make him away by a cruel and shamefull death and so often inculcating it unto him as speedily to be done drove him to that fear and desperation that he poysoned himself Artaxerxes mourned for him but knowing the kind of his death and suspecting the cause yet through extream age was unable to search into the matter and find it out onely he imbraced Arsarmes more affectionatly than ever and not obscurely signified
therewith acquainted one Aristogiton a man of a middle rank amongst the Citizens Stirs at Athens and who most passionately loved him He fearing he should be deprived of this his dear one consulted with himself how he might destroy both Hipparchus and the Tyranny Hipparchus still going on to sollicite Harmodius but in vain at length resolved to be revenged on him and executed it on his sister which being on a certain solemnity to carry up the basket that was to be dedicated to Minerva he put her by as unworthy of the office though some of late have thought that he ravished her 10. Harmodius taking this in very evil part and Aristogiton much worse prepared all things necessary for their conspiracy but expected the great feast called Panathenaea on which day onely the Citizens might be in Armour without suspition for discharging the solemnity They provided not many men before hand for the more close carrying of the businesse and because they hoped all the rest would without any hesitation be ready to come in to them When the day came they and their party being ready with their Poniards espied a man talking with Hippias Whereupon they thought they were discovered and therefore resolved to do that wherein especially they were concerned Hipparchus slain by Harmodius and Aristogiton if they could and so rushing in violently upon Hipparchus they slew him in the place Aristogiton defended himself for some time from the Guard but the multitude flocking in he was taken after he had received many wounds and his friend Harmodius slain outright Hippias having notice of what had passed came cunningly upon the Citizens that were Armed for the solemnity and by his Guard picking out such as had Daggers about them or whom he suspected thereby prevented at this time all further trouble The behaviour of the Pisistratidae in the Goverment of Athens 11. Hitherto he and his brethren had not been distrustfull of their own safety and therefore had used no great Guards about them not rendring their power very burthensom to the people but acting according to the rules of vertue and prudence They exacted onely the 20th part of the publick revenue exceedingly beautified the Citie waged War and left the Citizens to their former Laws onely some one of them was alwayes Magistrate and other men held of them yearly Offices Pisistratus the son of Hippias and Nephew to the founder of this Kingdom as it appeareth from Thucydides having sometimes had the power in his hands But Hippias after this fearing himself exercised his power very severely against the Athenians putting many of them to death and to establish himself by forein alliance he gave his daughter in marriage to Hippocâ—us the son of Aeantides the Tyrant of Lampsacus knowing them to be in great grace with Darius King of Persia To find out the complices of these two young men he tortured amongst others a woman named Leaena the Paramour of Aristogiton but she was so constant as to endure all and biting off her tongue spit it in the face of the Tormentors lest therewith she should discover any one in memory of which the Athenians afterwards Consecrated in the Castle a Lionesse without a tongue as also Erected Statues to the memory of Harmodius and Aristogiton as the liberators of their Countrey These Statues were taken away by Xerxes into Asia and long after sent back by Alexander or Antiochus or Seleucus as is severally delivered by Historians They also Decreed that their names should never be given to any slaves 12. Though these two did not actually procure the freedom of Athens but perished in the attempt yet it was attributed to them because that in the 4th year after some imitating their example expelled Hippias effectually prored it At this time the Alcmaeonidae or those of the family of Alcmaeon Herodotus lib. 5. Capp 62. c. who was great Grand-son to Nestor and being cast out of Messenia by the Heraclidae came and lived at Athens being driven into exile by the Pisistratidae or Pisistratus his sons having sometimes endeavoured in vain the recovery of their Countreys liberty still lay in wait for a more convenient opportunity to accomplish it Being full of money they hired the Amphyctiones to let them build a new Temple at Delphos which was very magnificent and corrupted the Pythia or the woman that received and delivered the Oracles standing in a Tripos or three footed stool as often as any of Sparta came thither still to propose to them to set Athens at liberty This being constantly done the Lacedaemonians accounted it a piece of their religion to do it and sent Anchimolius a man of prime Rank amongst them with an Army to expell the Pisistratidae though their friends and such as had deserved no otherwise than well of them They being aware of this had contracted friendship and alliance with the Thessalians and now procured from them a supply of 1000 horse which by a common decree they sent under the Command of Cixeas their King which falling in upon the Camp of the Spartans slew amongst many others Anchimolius the General and beat the other to their ships in which they returned home 13. Afterwards the Lacedaemonians sent another Army by Land under the Conduct of Cleomenes the son of Anaxandridas Herodotus ut priùs cap. 64. c. who invading the Athenian Territories was encountred by the Thessalian horse which he put to flight and having killed above fourty of them the rest shifted away and betook themselves as they could into Thessaly Cleomenes then coming up to the Citie besieged the Tyrants being shut up within the Pelasgick-wall but being unprovided for a siege and they furnished sufficiently with provisions after a few dayes he was about to depart homeward had not one thing falln out As the Children of the Pisistratidae were privatly to be conveyed out of the Countrey The Pisistratidae banished they were intercepted which overturned the affairs of their Parents and forced them to Covenant with the Athenians for their Ransom within five dayes to depart out of Attica which accordingly was done Hippias going straight to Sigaens thence to Lampsacus from which place he went to Darius and in the 20th year after returned with his Army Thucydides ut suprà and died as some say in the battel at Marathon Sigeus was a Town situate upon the Hellespont which Pisistratus took by force out of the hands of the Mitylenaeans and made Hegesistratus his base son by a woman of Argos Tyrant there Hippias was offered from Amyntas the King of Macedonia either Anthemus or Iolcos a Citie in Macedonia but he refused both and betook himself to Darius whose Army he afterwards conducted into Attica 14. The state of Athens great before Herodotus cap. 66. grew greater after this grand mutation in which two men contended for the chief Authority Clisthenes one of the Alcmaeonidae the Nephew by his Mother of Clysthenes the
Temple of Argus and had burnt the grove which he had taken This passage betwixt the Lacedaemonians and Argives is to be described though in the same order Herodotus hath done it it having hapned long before the death of Cleomenes In Laconicis and as Pausanias saith in the beginning of his reign 23. Consulting the Oracle at Delphos it was answered that he should take Argos and hereupon he raised at Army and invaded the Territories of that State The Argives in their own defence made hast to meet him but he setting upon them as they were at dinner put many of them to the Sword and besieged the rest in the grove at Argus whither they fled Then learning their names from such fugitives as were with him he called them man by man out of the Wood to redeem themselves which at the Lacedaemonian rate was for two minae a man and so 50 of them coming out of the grove in which place they could no see beforehand what was done to their Companions he put to the Sword At length one of them climbing up on a tree discovered the matter after which no man would come out but then he set fire to the grove and burnt it and them together After this asking to whom of their gods the grove belonged to it was answered to Argus and so he found and acknowledged himself deceived by the Oracle Returning to Sparta he was accused as having been corrupted for that he might have taken Argos if he would but the major part were satisfied with his excuse and acquitted him As for Argos it was rendred by this overthrow so desolate of men that the Slaves governed all things till such time as the sons of the slain grew up and recovered their Patrimony after which the Slaves conquered Tyrinthes and held it till perswaded by Cleander a certain Wizard they returned and made War upon their Masters which continued long till such time as the Argives with difficulty remained Conquerours 24. Cleomenes being dead the Aeginetans sent and complained of Leutychides for the injury he had done to them in causing together with Cleomenes ten of their principal men to be kept as Hostages at Athens He was given up to them but fearing to carry a King of Sparta away prisoner though for the present the State had given him up they took him onely to Athens to procure them the liberty of their Hostages But the Athenians put them off Leutychides punished for the injury offered to Demaratus as refusing to deliver them without the authority of two Kings seeing both of them committed them to their custody and the journy being to no purpose Leutychides was dismissed and so returned but yet he also paid for the injury offered to Demaratus * Herodotus Lib. 6. cap. 72. For Menander leading an Army into Thessaâ—ie of which as of the War he had full and ample power he was corrupted with money and betrayed the interest of his Country after which being discovered as he held the money in both his hands fitting in his tent he was apprehended and carried to Sparta where being called to account he fled to Tegea and there died in exile his house being razed as a traytor to his Country 25. But the Aeginetans of old Enemies to those of Athens Idem cap. 87. were now much more incensed against them for detaining their Hostages and set themselves to studie a revenge At that time there was at Sunium the utmost promontory of Attica a Gallie which according to the custome observed every year since the time of Theseus was then going to Delphos abord of which were the principal men of Athens on this they seized and taking the men prisoners bound them all The Athenians hereat inraged laboured with all might on the other hand to revenge this and agreed with one Nicomachus to have the City betraied to them yet for that they could not get their Fleet together soon enough they came a day too late and missed of that enterprise But through the counsel of Themistocles having rigged a Fleet of 70 Gallies 20 of which the Corinthians sold them at an inconsiderable rate because by the Law they could not give them they set upon the Aeginetans War betwixt the Athenians and Aeginetans and overthrew them in a Sea-fight They betook themselves for aid to the Argives their old friends but having offended them not long before they received a publick denial yet underhand a supply of 1000 Volunteers most of whom fell in Aegina by the hands of the Athenians against whom yet the Aeginetans afterwards reinforcing their power at Sea in another battel became Victors But what the issue of this War farther was is not declared by Herodotus who yet elsewhere affirmeth that it give occasion to the safety of all Greece by putting the Athenians upon the care of Sea matters whereby when Xerxes came they became the bulwark thereof Probable it is that this War which was begun before the battel of Marathon was not composed till the time that Xerxes was about to invade Greece when we read that all the Graecians and these two States amongst the rest resolved to lay aside all private quarrels amongst themselves the Aeginetans being observed by * Euseb in Chronico another to have had the Dominion of the Sea 20 years untill the passage of Xerxes which thenceforth they were forced to yield to the Athenians 26. Whilest the Athenians were busie in the War against Aegina Darius sent his Forces into Greece against them and the Eretrians inhabitants of the Island Euboea which though they took the Citie of the later and made them Captives yet were they overthrown by the former in the battel at Marathon The battel of Marathon After the fight 2000 Spartans came to Athens being hindred hitherto by their superstition which forbad them from a Law of Lycurgus not to stir out till the full Moon whence they proceeded to Marathon to see the number of the slain and then commending the valour of the Athenians returned home Of these were slain in this fight Callimachus one of the Polemarchs Cynaegirus commended by many Writers Justin lib. 2. who when the Persians fled and betook themselves to their ships held one of them with with his hands till they were cut off and then with his teeth till at length he was slain and Hippias the late Tyrant who now hoping to recover after twenty years banishment his old power became the conducter of the Persian Forces though neither Herodotus nor Thucydides make mention of his death yet is reported by later Authors here to have been slain Miltiades Themistocles now a young man behaved himself gallantly in the battel but the successe is ascribed to the valour and conduct of Miltiades to whom Plutarch in Aristide when Aristides one of the Captains had assigned his day's Goverment the rest when it came on their turns did the same after that by the same help he
without any thing at all performed The year after he undertook another expedition the Athenians and all the other Confederates except the Corinthians and Boeotians following him wherein he sorely afflicted all the Countrey sparing the Citie Elis it self and though he retreated yet the Garrison he left behind him continuing these depredations all the next Summer and the Winter following the next Summer the Eleans were constrained to receive such conditions as their Enemies would give them The Wall about Patrae was demolished Cyllene relinquished five Towns delivered into the hands of the Spartans and three to the Arcadians the management of the Affairs of the Temple belonging to Jupiter Olympius being onely left remaining to them 8. Not long after these things Agis died Idem ibid. Corn. Nepos Plutarch in Agesilao Lysandro Xenoph. in Orat. de laudibus Agesil having falln sick in his return from Delphos He had born to him by his wife Timaea a son called Leutychides but conceived at that time when Alcibiades sojourned at Sparta by whom there were great presumptions that he was begotten He had not been with his wife of ten moneths before the Child was born Timaea her self was wont when she would play with it to call it Alcibiades more commonly than Leutychides as was acknowledged by her maids and neither did Alcibiades himself forbear to acknowledge that he had to do with her saying it was not out of any carnal affection but out of a desire that those who should proceed from him might reign at Lacedaemon upon these grounds Agis owned not Leutychides for his son but told the Ephori he was none of his divorcing also his Mother A contention betwixt Leutychides and Agesilaus for the Spartan Kingdom but when he lay sick having no Children and moved by his prayers and tears he owned him for his son before many witnesses After his death a great contention insued about the succession betwixt Leutychides and Agesilaus brother to Agis a man lame of one foot but of a most noble and valiant disposition Agesilaus was bred after the ordinary strict way as not having expected the Kingdom being a younger brother and yet was in great favour vvith the people and pressing the illegitimation of his adversary had their ear but one thing they much stuck at vvhich vvas an old Prophecie much urged by Diophites their Prophet that it should go very hard with Sparta when it should have a lame King Yet Lysander vvho had taken a great affection to him Agâ—silaus carrieth it by the means of Lysander answered that by a lame King vvas not meant lame of a foot vvhich could be no hinderance to virtue but one of spurions extraction and herewith and by his private interest procured the sentence to passe for Agesilaus 9. Agesilaus had not been a year in his Office before that being to sacrifize for his Countrey according to the custom the entrails of the beast three times did not permit it which being viewed by the Prophet he foretold that a grievous conspiracy was hatched against him and all Magistrates both in Town and Countrey Five dayes after this a notable conspiracy indeed was disclosed to the Ephori by one of the Complices the head of which was Cinaedon They presently referring it to the Senate it was thought fit that he should be sent out of the Citie under pretence of some employment and that some should go after him to make him reveal his fellows which accordingly was done and an ignominious death was executed upon them After the execution Herodus of Syracuse came with news out of Phoenicia that a Fleet of 300 Gallies was prepared by Tissaphernes and the King but upon what design was not known The Lacedaemonians moved at this called the Deputies of their Confederates to Sparta to consult about it Now Lysander had a great mind to return into Asia desirous to relieve those his friends who being by him placed in the Government of the Cities ten in a place were for their violence and great misdemeanours either killed or driven into banishment He therefore perswaded Agesilaus to undertake so noble and pious an expedition and wrote to his friends in Asia to desire of the State that he might be sent Being perswaded he offered his service on condition they would grant him thirty Assistants He is sent into Asia by the same means by whose directions and advice he might manage the War with 2000 choice men newly to be raised and 6000 of the Confederates These were all decreed to him by the dealing of Lysander who procured himself to be sent as chief of the thirty to which place he might well pretend for the great glory of his atchievements and his friendship to Agesilaus whom as he judged he had more obliged by procuring this employment than by the former courtesie of preferring him to the Kingdom 10. Having his Army and Provisions in a readinesse he marched to Aulis that thence after the example of Agamemnon he might passe over into Asia but going about to sacrifize a Doe to the Goddesse with which he thought she would be better pleased than she was with Agamemnon for his daughter he was hindred by the Boeotians from doing that which was contrary to their custom and was constrained in a great chase to passe over without the Ceremony the Omission of which he accounted as a bad presage When he came to Ephesus it appeared that he onely bore the name and Lysander had all the credit and authority all men making application to him and observing him as a man of whom they had had former experience to exceed all men in earnestnesse to gratisfie his friends and destroy his Enemies This much moved Agesilaus Is Eclypsed by Lysander though a man of a most mild spirit who was famous for bearing with any thing and troubled also his own Collegues so that the King resolving to cut off his authority rejected all the sutes he made for any and plainly shewed that his design was to crosse him in all he attempted Lysander hereupon told his friends how the case stood that they must make no more addresses to himself and being sensible of the disgrace expostulated with him about it who let him understand that he could not endure to be overtopped by him He then desired some imployment of him wherein he might both save his own credit and do him service wherein he promised to be faithfull He then sent him to the Hellespont where findding Spithridates the Persian to be offended by Pharnabazus he brought him over to him with a great Treasure and 200 Horse although hereafter it was found that he took very hainously the diminishing of his reputation 11. Agesilaus in Asia prospered in the War to admiration gaining great glory for his wisdom valour and courtesie both at home and abroad insomuch that the Spartans in confidence of his abilities and integrity committed the Fleet also to his command judging it most convenient for
notwithstanding they should have to do with such Horse as exceeded theirs in the number and the best esteemed of in all Greece resolved to do their utmost in their behalf In the engagement they had the better of it and thereby preserved all that the Mantineans had without their walls His case how it stood in reference to his return or stay Epaminondas after this thinking with himself that he must be gone within a few dayes the term of his commission being almost expired was full of various thoughts If he should leave those for the aid of whom he was sent to be besieged by the Enemy he saw he should lose the honour he formerly had obtained especially seeing he had been repulsed at Sparta by so few a number and now also had miscarried at Mantinea and he considered that by this Expedition of which himself was author he had given occasion to the Lacedaemonians Arcadians Achaeans Eleans and Athenians to enter into a straight League of offence and defence From these reasons he concluded he could not in honour depart without a battel in which if he overcame he should make amends for all and if hee should die such a death could not but bee glorious which should bee undergone in an endeavour to make his Country Mistresse of all Peloponnesus 58. Ere long the Armies of the Lacedaemonians and Mantineans appeared consisting with their allies of 20000 Foot and about 2000 Horse To the Boeotians were assistants the Tegeatans and such other Arcadians as were most powerful and wealthy the Argives Euboeans the Thessalian Horse which the Thebans brought the Messentans Sicyonians and other Peloponnesians the number of all which amounted to 30000 Foot and little fewer than 3000 Horse This is much admired by Xenophon that Epaminondas should so discipline his Soldiers that neither night nor day they should shun any labour refuse to undergo any danger to be contented with any kind of provision and very ready to obey all orders When he had ranged his men in order of battel he led them not straight on against the Enemy but fetched a compasse towards the Mountains of Tegea and made as though he would there pitch his Tents This made the Enemy secure which he well understanding formed his battalia like a wedge thereby to break them sooner and led with speed against them who now were all to seek and in a confusion some hasting to bridle their Horses others to buckle on their harnesse and all in a condition rather to suffer than act any thing And lest the Athenians should relieve their Companions from the left wing he placed a Party of Horse and Foot in the hills to keep them in awe by being continually ready to fall upon their reer 59. His expectation was not crossed for on what part he fell he carried all before him The battel at Mantinea wherein Epaminondas was mortally wounded the Enemy not daring to stand but rushing more violently amongst them the Lacedaemonians taking notice of him flocked to him and laid at him amain with darts some of which declining and fencing himself from others those that stuck in his body he took thence and rerorted Whilst he heroickly thus contended for the Victory he received a mortal wound from one Anticiates a Spartan who gave him so mortal a stroak with a dart that the wood of it brake leaving the iron and a piece of the tronchion in his breast By the vehemency of the wound he sank down A. M. 3642. Ol. 104. an 2. V.C. 390. Ante Aeram Christi 362. Artax Mnem 41. and then ensued a most bitter contest about him but the Thebans inflamed with wrathful indignation at this sad mischance with great slaughter compelled their Enemies to give back but knew not how to improve the Victory For neither Foot nor Horse pursued them flying but continued still in the same place and at length went off carelessly insomuch that many of the Foot fell into the hands of the Athenians Which so falling out another thing hapned than men generally had expected For almost all Greece being here gathered together one State against another in two factions every one supposed that when they should once come to fight they that overcame would obtain the Dominion over the rest who should be forced to submit to their yoak But God so poysed affaires saith Xenophon that both sides as if they had overcome erected a Trophy not being hindred by each other Both sides also as Conquerours gave up the slain and as Conquered received their dead by composition And whereas both sides said they had the better of it neither obtained thereby either Countrey City or Dominion other than they before enjoyed but a greater disturbance thereupon followed in Greece So much for these matters saith our Author Xenophon with it endeth his History As also Anaximenes and Philistus as for what is behind perhaps some other will take care to commit them to writing and so he endeth his History with this battel though he lived almost three years after it as we have from Laertius Anaximenes also of Lampsacus who began his History with the beginning of the gods and mankind and therein in twelve Books almost comprehended all the affaires of the Greeks and Barbarians finisheth it with the Battel at Mantinea and the death of Epaminondas So did Philistus his History which he wrote of Dionysius the younger in two Books 60. Epaminondas being caried alive into his Tent Vide Diodorum ut supra Justin lib. 6. the Physicians affirmed that as soon as the dart should be drawn out of his body he would die He then called for Diaphantus to declare him General of the Army but it being answered he was slain he bade them send for Iolaidas but it being answered that he was dead also he advised the Thebans to make peace Valerius Max. lib 3. cap 2. ext exemp 5. whilst with advantage they might for that they had none lest that was able to discharge the Office of a General Understanding of his approaching end he inquired of his Armour-bearer if his Shield was safe which to have lost was a great dishonour It being answered it was Aelian var hist l. 12. cap. 3. he asked which side had the Victory answer being made the Boeotians then said he It 's time for me to die and comforting his friends who mourned he should die childlesse with this answer that he left behind him two daughters Pausan in Aridicis the battel of Leuctra and Mantinea which should propagate his fame to all posterity he thereupon caused the dart to be drawn out and so expired Ciceros Epist lib. 5. cap. 12. This was the end of the worthiest Soldier that ever Greece brought forth and hardly to be parallel'd in any other Country all the Virtues which in others were but singular having concenâ—red and united themselves in him In strength both of body and mind Epaminondas his character in Eloquence
same with the Common of all Greece he might be unwilling to force them to the utmost But he placed a Garrison of his own in Thebes and Justin writeth how he sold for slaves all the prisoners of that Citie and the bodies of such as had been slain to their friends for burial that of the chiefest of the Citizens some he put to death and confiscated the goods of the rest being sufficiently sensible of their ingratitude After the fight when the Athenians fortified their Citie as expecting a siege (d) Plutarch in Demosthene Demosthenes at his own charge re-edified part of the Wall for which service Ctesiphon thought he was to be honoured with a Garland at the publick meeting of Greece but Aeschines contended it was against the Law and so his Oration against Ctesiphon concerning the Crown or Garland was written this year Charonides or Charondas being Archon the third of the 110th Olympiad and the first of the reign of Arses the Persian King 32. (a) Diodorus ad ann 4. Philip by his successe having utterly broken the courage of the principal Cities of Greece now gave out that he would undertake a War against the Persian for the general commodity all the estates and thereby and with his great courtesie gained much upon some sorts of people At length he called them together at Corinth and largely discoursing of the War shewed the certain hope of successe and earnestly exhorted them to undertake it Obtaineth to be named General at Sea for all Greece against the Persian to which all either out of love or fear assented He was chosen Captain General for the expedition allowance of men and money were appointed to the several Cities the (b) Justin lib. 9. Lacedaemonians alone scorning both him and the conditions of his peace accounting that slavery and not peace which was imposed by the Conquerour The Auxiliaries of Greece amounted to 200000 foot and 15000 horse over and above the forces of Macedonia and the barbarous Nations thereto adjoyning Whilest he thus prospered in his affairs abroad (c) Plutarch in Alexandre great differences arose in his own house by his putting away Olympias upon pretence of incontinency and marrying Cleopatra the Niece of Attalus Olympias a woman of an high spirit and melancholick nature took it exceedingly to heart Differences in his house by a new marriage incensed all she could her son Alexander who at the Wedding hearing Attalus in his Cups to exhort the Macedonians to pray for a lawfull Heir of the Kingdom from Philip and Cleopatra calling him naughty fellow asked him if he counted him a Bastard and therewith threw a Cup at him Philip hereupon with his drawn Sword made at Alexander but to the good of both being light headed with Wine and mad with anger stumbled and fell After this Alexander carried his mother into Epirus and went himself into Illyricum whence his father shortly recalled him by the procurement of Demaratus the Corinthian Not long after Pexodarus the Governour of Caria sent to offer his eldest daughter in marriage to Aridaeus the base son of Philip whence great talk being raised that Philip did it on purpose to devolve the Crown upon Aridaeus Alexander sent one Thessalus a player to Pexodarus to perswade him to neglect a Bastard and a Fool and transfer his affinity upon himself which was very well liked by Pexodarus Philip smelling out the matter checked Alexander grievously as degenerate and unworthy of the hope of a Kingdom being ambitious to become son-in-law to a Carian who was no better than a slave to a barbarian King 33. The next Spring having enquired of the Oracle concerning the successe of the Persian War which gave him answer as ambiguous Diodorus ad Olymp. 111. ann 1. Pausan in Arcadicis Justin and to the same purpose as formerly to Craesus he sent three Captains over into Asia under pretence of setting the Greek Cities at liberty Attalus Parmenio and Amyntas He himself whilest the forces were gathering together made a magnificent sacrifize to the gods and celebrated the marriage of his daughter Cleopatra with her Uncle Alexander of Epirus to which he invited all that would and gave large entertainment being willing to show to the Graecians how thankfully he took their making him General of all Greece Feasting and Musick there was in abundance and the Feast being done for that day but all the solemnity to be renewed on the next whilest it was yet night all the people ran together into the Theatre Thither were carried twelve Images of his gods in solemn procession and his own next after in a Divine habit as arrogating to himself a place in the Council of the gods Then followed he himself apparelled in a white Roab in the midst of the two Alexanders his son and son-in-law As he thus proceeded in the ruff of his pride He is stabbed the people sending up loud acclamations to the skies and Ecchoing his felicity one Pausanias met him in the straightest place of his passage and stabbed him into the side the wound being so mortal that he fell down dead This Pausanias having been invited to a Feast by Attalus had been carnally abused by him after he was drunk and then prostituted to the filthy lust of base fellows A.M. 3668. Ol. 110. ann 4. V.C. 417. Arsis 2. Phllippi 24. for which having complained to the King partly because of their affinity and because Philip intended to use him in the War he could have no satisfaction and for this cause took this revenge upon his unjust judge yet Alexander objected to Darius that his father was made away by his procurement 34. The murderer having mounted on hors-back had got away whilest the tumult was about the body but that his shooe catching hold on a Vine he was thereby pulled down and then slain by Perdiccas and others This end had Philip after he had reigned 24 years and lived 46. to which Olympias is reported by some to have contributed by incouraging Pausanias to commit the fact and neither knew they how to clear Alexander of the matter She put a Golden Crown upon Pausanias his head as he hung on the Crosse and a few dayes after burnt his body upon the Reliques of her husband and built him a Monument in the same place and caused a yearly parentation to be made to him After this having killed Cleopatra's young son in her bosom she then hanged her or as one saith fried them both to death in a brazen Vessel and consecrated the sword wherewith Philip was slain to Apollo under the name of Myrtalis by which she was called when young The foundation of a great Empire was laid by Philip and a great pattern left unto his son which to make was far more hard than what with greater glory was atchieved by Alexander His great atchievements The recovery of Macedon when there were two Competitors that had such assistants was a work of
to passe over with it into Asia and with the rest marched for Thessaly there to oppose Demetrius and the Greeks Stirs preceding the great battel There meeting and incamping with vast Armies neither of them would begin the battel expecting how things went in Asia till Demetrius was recalled thither by his father Lysimachus being landed there the Inhabitants of Lampsachus submitted to him whom he restored to their liberty stormed Sigeus and placed a Garrison there then he taketh in Phrygia upon the Hellespont and divers other places by the means of Docimus an Officer of Antigonus whom he had drawn over to him Prepelaus also whom he sent with a party to subdue the Cities of Aeolis and Ionia took other Towns Antigonus was at this time celebrating publick Games at Antigonia when hearing this news he presently broke them off and with all speed marched against Lysmachus Whom he reached and besieged him in his Camp for some time till he taking the opportunity of a dark and rainy night fled away Then hearing that Seleucus was drawing down his Forces from the upper Provinces he sent for Demetrius to come over with all expedition Seleucus had lately made peace with Sandrocottus or Androcottus who being a man of no quality had sollicited the Indians to revolt after the death of Alexander and to kill his Officers and thence took an occasion to subdue them under himself Bactria being subdued Seleucus had waged War with him but now for a Composure gave to him some Countrey lying upon the River Indus which Alexander had taken from the Arians and received 500 Elephants again of him in exchange Ptolomy with a compleat Army had come into Caelesyria where he reduced divers Cities but as he was besieging Sidon came a false report that Antigonus had overthrown Seleucus and Lysimachus and now was coming thitherward wherefore he made a Truce with the Sidonians for five moneths and returned but not long after came up again to that fatal ingagement with Antigonus 4. Plutarch in vita Demetrii Appianus in Syriacis The Forces of these several Princes were drawn down to be in readinesse against the Spring Antigonus had an Army of 70000 foot 10000 horse and 75 Elephants the contrary party had made up amongst them 64000 foot 1500 horse 400 Elephants and 120 Chariots Antigonus bragged that he would scatter the meeting of these Kings together as one might do the flocking of birds gathering Corn with the throwing of a stone but when they approached he was more melancholick than usual and was seen to discourse with his son in private in his Tent which he never used to do commended him also to the Army as his Successor This battel was fought at Ipsus a Town in Phrygia in which Demetrius leading the best party of horse ingaged with Antiochus the son and afterwards Successor of Seleucus whom he routed and put to flight but being too hot in the pursute undid all for retiring back he could not again joyn himself with the foot by reason that the Elephants were gotten between them Seleucus seeing this made as if he would have falln upon the Infantry thus destitute of the horse wherein his expectation failed him not for they fearing it part revolted to him and the rest were broken Antigonus slain in it and put to flight Antigonus standing his ground expected continually Demetrius to come to relieve him but in that expectation ended his life by a multitude of Darts thrown against him being now something above 80 years old Demetrius his son with 5000 foot and 4000 horse fled to Ephesus but there fearing his Soldiers might be some way false to him A. M. 3704. Ol. 119. ann 4. V. C. 453. Seleuci 12. Ptolom 23. he sayled to Salamine in Cyprus which he then held This fell out in the 3704 year of the World the fourth of the 119 Olympiad 23 years after the death of Alexander and six after their taking the Title of Kings upon them 5. The Conquerours parted his Dominions amongst them as we are told Iidem but it seems to have been chiefly Seleucus and Ptolomy who did not well agree about their prey and upon this account left a contention to their Successors Seleucus fell presently upon building Cities the first of which he called after himself Seleucia and the later to which he transferred the Inhabitants of Antigonia to the number of three thousand five hundred as we said before he called Antiochia either after his father or son's name for both are affirmed and this afterwards proved the Metrapolis of Syria Ptolomy after the death of Antigonus got Syria again with Cyprus Vide Usserium in prima parte Annal. pag. 461. and afterwards Cyrene also into his power and married his daughter Arsinoes unto Lysimachus as few years after his other to Agathocles the son Seleucus seeing that thus these two strengthned themselves in affinity The Alliances of the Kings thought not amisse to joyn also with Demetrius though gone down the wind and accordingly sent to him for his daughter Stratonice He receiving this unexpected Message sayled with her into Syria Passing by Cilicia which then Cassander held Plistarchus his brother cried out that he would invade his Territories and went strait to Seleucus to expostulate with him his being reconciled to the common Enemy But Demetrius landing went to Quinda where finding yet 200 Talents left in the Treasury he took them away and so went and met with Seleucus at Orossus who taking his wife away with him to Antioch Demetrius seized upon Cilicia and sent his wife Phila to Cassander her brother to purge him of those things laid to his charge by Plistarchus Notwithstanding Cassander he held Cilicia Plutarch ibid but Seleucus his son-in-law required that for a sum of money he would give it up into his hands which he refused and then he with some anger demanded Tyre and Sidon of him not being content though he held all from the Syrian Sea as far as India that his father-in-law should rest quiet with it A. M. 3707. Ol. 120. ann 3. V.C. 456. Seleuci 15. Ptolom 26. being sufficiently tossed with adverse fortune but he as stoutly denied this also saying that though he were a thousand times more overcome yet would he never purchase the affinity of Seleucus Cassander dieth and fortified the Cities with Garrisons The next year Cassander King of Macedonia died of a Dropsie which was so loathsom as Lice withall broke out of him after he had ruled that Countrey 19 years 26 after the death of Alexander A. M. 3707. 6. He left three sons by Thessalonice the daughter of Philip Idem ibid. in vita Pyrrhi Just lib. 16. and sister to Alexander Philip Antipater and Alexander The first succeeded his father but died presently of a Consumption Antipater coming after him killed his mother for that after her husbands death she seemed to favour his younger brother Alexander more than him in the
came into his Camp and so extolled the valour and kindnesse of Pyrrhus as the Macedonians first in little Companies and after all the Army revolted to him so as Demetrius was much deceived who fearing they might do so to Lysimachus little suspected this towards the other being a stranger Pyrrhus thus obtaining all the Army without a stroak Loseth all was saluted King of Macedonia by the Soldiers but Lysimachus coming shortly after alleged the endeavour of suppressing the Enemy to have been common to them both and demanded the parting of the Kingdom to whom he assented for that he did not trust the Macedonians and so the Countries and Cities were divided amongst them 11. Demetrius thus outed of his Kingdom fled to Cassandria Idem and thence into Greece where after a little time he got some Forces together and being angry with Athens for that revolting from him the Inhabitants had sent for Pyrrhus And flying up and down he besieged it but upon the entreaty of Crates the Philosopher whom being a man of great authority they had sent to him he gathered together his ships and sailed away into Asia with 11000 men His design was to take â—f he could Caria and Lydia from Lysimachus and he took divers Towns and seized upon Sardis but Agathocles Lysimachus his son coming down with an Army against him he marched for Phrygia with intention to passe into Armenia and Media and so attempt to make himself Master of some of the upper Provinces of Asia which at the worst would afford retreating places enough and other helps to a beaten party In his way hee was superiour to Agathocles who pursued him but being brought into great distresse for want of provisions there fell withall such a Plague upon his Army that he lost 8000 men and so was forced to retreat and came to Tarsus This place being under Seleucus he was very loath to hurt for fear of giving him offence but being forced by want he wrote to him whereby he excused himself and sadly lamented his condition Seleucus pitying him at first commanded his Governours to use him and his Army with great respect but Procles one of his most familiar friends filled his head with such suspitions that he led down an Army towards Cilicia against him whereat hee wondering retired to the most convenient place of the mountain Taurus where he sent to him to give him leave to seize upon some Country of the Barbarians where he might put an end to his flight and wandrings and spend the residue of his dayes 12. Seleucus making a bad interpretation of the message Idem onely would give way that giving up for Hostages the chiefest of his friends he might quarter for two moneths in Catoania a Country bordering upon Cappadocia and secured the passage out into Syria Here he was kept up as a wild beast what by Seleucus on one side and Agathocles on the other so that he was constrained to betake himself to force and wasting the Territories alwaies had the better of Seleucus in their encounters and got possession of the Straights which led into Syria This so encouraged him that he thought now of giving battel to Seleucus but falling into a sicknesse thereby his affaires were ruined his Soldiers falling away from him to the Enemy or running away yet he recovered after forty dayes and away he marched and getting over the hill Amanus wasted the bordering Territories Then Seleucus coming near him he joyned and fought him and overthrew one of his wings but then all his Army revolted and he with a very few fled into the Woods whence endeavouring to passe to the Sea through the mountains At length is forced to yield himself to Seleucus his discovering there the Enemies fiers prevented that attempt and then one saying he must even yield himself he drew his Sword and would therewith have ended his life but being hindred by his friends he sent to Seleucus by their advice and yielded Seleucus caused him to be royally received at first but the great confluence thereupon to him lessened that respect he else would have allowed him so as sending Pausanias with 1000 men he caused him to be caried straight vvithout as much as seeing him into a Peninsula of Syria Here he vvanted nothing desirable not onely for necessity but pleasure only his liberty vvhich yet to comfort him there vvas hope given of after that Antiochus should come vvith his vvife Stratonice vvhom his Father Seleucus upon his passionately falling in love vvith her had yielded to him Antigonus his son much interceded for him so did divers Princes and States onely Lysimachus offered 2000 Talents to have him killed vvhich Seleucus abhorred At first he exercised himself much vvith hunting and such toiles but by little and little grevv sluggish And dieth after three years in restraint and as if he had never been Demetrius Poliorcetes gave up himself to drinking and dice vvhereby he grevv fat and contracted a disease of vvhich he died 54 years old after he had continued three of them in restraint 13. Idem Lysimachus and Pyrrhus after his expulsion out of Macedonia presently fell out for the former seeing Demetrius thus made sure and captivated by Seleucus grew secure of his condition despised Pyrrhus and upbraiding the Macedonians for suffering him being an alien whose Ancestors alwaies had served them now to reign over them drew many from him Pausan in Atticis Justin lib. 17. Appian in Syriasis and afterwards overthrew him and Antigonus son of Demetrius in a great battel and so quite dispossessed him of Macedonia After this he killed his eldest son Agathocles at the instigation of his wife Arsinoe who was sollicitous for her own children if they should fall into their brother's hands after their Father's death Lysandra the widdow of Agathocles and sister to Arsinoe accompanied with Alexander another son of Lysimachus fled to Seleucus whom they desired to make War against him and after this he putting divers of his chief Subjects to death for bewailing the young man many of his Captains and Governours followed all earnestly desiring that Prince to make War upon him Seleucus was easily perswaded to it now having the whole strength of Asia and Syria united into one Kingdom after the fall of Demetrius Lysimachus having expelled Pyrrhus out of Macedonia is slain in battel against Seleucus which the other being aware of thought it best first to begin with him and so passed over the Hellespont A. M. 3722. Ol. 124. an 2. V. C. 471. Seleuci 30. Ptolom Philadelphi 2. These two being now only alive of the 36 Captains and fellow-soldiers of Alexander joyned in a great and bloody battel in Phrygia where Lysimachus though fighting most valiantly was overthrown and slain having formerly lost fifteen children divers wayes and now compleating the ruine of his Family after he had lived 80 years and held Macedonia four A. M. 3722 the second of the 124
slew him and not long after was forc'd to return home for Alexander King of Epirus to revenge his fathers death had invaded Macedonia Coming thither his Army revolted from him so that once more he lost his Kingdom and was compelled again to shift for himself But his son Demetrius in his absence gathering some forces together so ordered the matter against Alexander Demetrius his son again recovereth it that he not onely recovered his fathers Kingdom but spoiled him also for a time of his own After this nothing of great concernment occurs of Antigonus who died after his first possession of Macedonia 36 years having ruled in some Greek Cities ten years before when he had lived above 80. A.M. 3762. in the 2d of the 134 Olympiad 7. Demetrius his son succeeded him Polybius ad principium l. 2. He hired Agron King of the Illyrians to relieve the Mydionians whom the Aetolians had besieged which he performed though the besiegers were before ready to fall out about their prisoners And succeedeth him whether the old or new Praetor should have the honour to dispose of them and their goods When it was agreed that both in common should do it the Illyrians falling upon them and killing many forced them to break up their Siege after which Agron possessed with incredible joy A. M. 3762. Ol. 134. an 2. V. C. 511. Seleuci Callinici 4. Ptolom Euergetae 4. gave himself up to surfetting and drunkennesse and thereby falling into a Pleuresie ended his dayes and was succeeded by his wife Teuta She being elevated also with the former Victory and not thinking of any thing from without gave leave to her Subjects to invade all persons in what place soever by Sea whereupon they took Phoenice the wealthy City of Epirus and injuring those of Italy drew upon themselves the displeasure of the People of Rome which the rashnesse of their Queen heightned to a War as will be seen hereafter But by this act Demetrius so set the hearts of the Aetolians against him that whereas before they took part with his Kingdom against the Achaeans now they joyned in league with them against him 8. He holding yet the Piraeus or Haven of Athens Plutarch in Arato Aratus the Praetor of the Achaeans pretending a desire to set the Athenians at liberty from that bondage which thence lay upon them endeavoured to take it out of his hands but was overthrown by Bithyes his General whereupon a rumour arose that he was slain or taken Diogenes the Governour of the Piraeus hearing this sent word to Corinth to command all the Achaeans there to depart the Town and the Athenians to please him and his party very solemnly rejoyced wearing Garlands But Aratus himself then was at Corinth and hindring Diogenes his design there marched down to be revenged on the Athenians and he came as far as the Acadaemy but then being overcome by entreaty Justin l. 28. did them no harm Some years after this the Aetolians endeavoured to take away part of Acarnanina from Epirus which then Olympias sister and wife of Alexander now dead governing in right of her sons Pyrrhus and Ptolomy betook her self to Demetrius and gave him her daughter Othiae in mariage He had before this the sister of Antiochus King of Syria to wife Antiochus Hierax as it seemeth who endeavouring to dispossesse his brother Seleucus of his Kingdom is called King by Justine who thereupon fled to her brother and stirred him up to make War upon her husband The Acarnanians fled to the Romans for help against the Aetolians who were then commanded to abstain from their incursions but despising the Ambassage harrased the borders both of Acarnania and Epirus and Olympias having delivered up the Kingdom to her son they all shortly after died Porphyr in Graecis Euseb Demetrius also whom we read * to have also enjoyed Cyrene and all Lybia but know not how he got it survived not long after dying when he had reigned ten years and 50 after the death of Alexander the great 9. He left behind him a son called Philip who being very young and the Princes of Macedonia fearing an Anarchy Plutarch in vita Aemilii Pausan in Achaicis 5. they constituted Antigonus the brother or uncle of the deceased for both are affirmed his Tutor giving his mother to him in mariage At first he held the Office by the title of Captain General but afterwards being found moderate and civil he was saluted King being Sirnamed Doson Antigonus Doson for that he promised more than he did perform After the death of Demetrius the Greek Cities begun to lift up their heads Vide Polybium lib. 2. and the several Tyrants which through the incouragement of him and his Predecessors had got many places for fear renounced their power and joyned themselves with the Achaeans who being much reverenced of a long time by all their neighbour Cities of Peloponnesus for their Justice and Prudence had united themselves together in the 124 Olympiad A. M. 3772. Ol. 136. an 4. V. C. 521. Sel. Callinici 14. Ptolom Euergetae 14. and drawn some others into a body against the Macedonians Their affaires were mightily strengthened by Aratus the Sicyonian who drayning his own City though but young joyned it unto them and afterward by his great wisdom and industrie secured and bettered their condition The Athenians being incouraged at Demetrius his death now thought again of recovering their liberty and he having done what he might before to help them though in vain and they again imploring his assistance though sick he made himself be caried thither and whereas Diogenes held for the Macedonians Piraeus Sunium Munychia and the Island Salamis he perswaded him for a reward of 150 Talents to deliver them all up War betwixt the Aetolians Achaeans twenty of which Talents he presented of his own money Whilst he thus laboured for the Publick good especially of the community of the Achaeans the Aetolians envying their condition raised a dangerous War against them in which Antigonus Doson came to be ingaged 10. Idem ibid. Plutarch in vita Arati Cleomenis The Aetolians though they had been helped by the Achaeans against the house of Macedonia of late being vexed about the businesse of Mydionia yet now seeing their union and the flourishing condition of their body envying and also fearing it resolved to disunite if possible and withdraw the Cities one from another At this time Cleomenes reigned at Lacedaemon who resolving to better the constitution of his Country by reducing it to it 's antient form Wherein Cleomenes King of Sparta cometh to be ingaged and how and taking away the Ephori those impudent and rascally Tyrants sought for an opportunity of War as most fit to bring about his purpose Ever since the Victories of Lysander luxury and other vices had crept into Sparta together with the use of riches And the equality of possessions in Land
Philip lighting upon his men drove them to their ships and then going to Dymae cast out thence the Garrison of the Aetolians called thither by the Eleans Their Territories he also wasted Cycliadas the General of the Achaeans having united his Forces with his and then went against the Citie it self Philip again worsted by the Romans at Elis. It hapned that Sulpicius was secretly got in thither with 4000 men which struck a terror into the besiegers as soon as they espied the Roman colours and Philip would fain have drawn off his men but a skirmish being begun he was forced to charge the Roman Cohort with his horse His own horse being shot under him A. M. 3796. Ol. 142. ann 4. V.C. 545. Antioch M. 15. Ptolom Philop 14. a sharp conflict followed about his person now on foot but being overpowered he was rescued by his followers and mounting another fled away Then pitched he his Tents five miles from Elis and the next day marching to Pyrgus a Castle not far off there took a multitude of Countrey people which with their Cattel had fled thither for protection but as he was dividing the plunder a Messenger came out of Macedonia and informed him that a certain man of the Aeropians had taken Lychnidus and was raising the Dardanians wherefore leaving 2500 men under the Government of Menippus and Polyphas for a Guard to the Achaeans away he marched into Thessaly where he heard the Dardanians had invaded his Kingdom and that he was reported to be slain After his departure Sulpicius went and wintred at Aegina with Attalus and the Achaeans fought prosperously against their Enemies His acts in Greece 35. The year after Livius lib. 28. P. Sulpicius Galba the Proconsul and Attalus departing from Aegina with their Navies joyned together which made up fifty sayl came into Euboea and there took Oreus through the treachery of Plator the Governour Philip now being at Demetrias great complaints came to him of the Aetolians who being very high troubled grievously the Associates the Achaeans moreover being molested again by Machanidas Tyrant of Lacedaemon and desiring aid he dismissed the Messengers with promise to provide for the safety of all as near as he could and appointed fires to be made on the tops of the Mountains with a Watch-Tower to give him warning if the Enemy invaded the Sea-Coasts The fires upon the coming of the Navy to Oreus were by the cunning of Plator made too late but upon the sign given he hasted with his Army having beaten off the Aetolians who opposed him at the Straights of Thermopylae and came to Elatea a Town in Phocis Attalus at this time the Proconul having attempted Chalcis to no purpose came to Opus which being taken the King's Soldiers were to have the plunder of it as the Romans had before of Oreus Here he staying too long to gather money was almost surprised by Philip and hasting to his ships had not got all his men aboard before he fell upon him then departing to Oreus he there received news that Prusias King of Bithinia had invaded his Kingdom so that he presently returned home and Sulpicius to Aegina Philip chiding the Opuntians for yielding so soon went and took Thronium inhabited by them of Thebes Pthiotick who being outed thence by him 8 years before as we said the Aetolians had given them this Town to dwell in After this returning to Elatia where the Ambassadors of Ptolomy and the Rhodians stayed his coming to move him again about the peace and hearing that Machanidas had determined to set upon the Eleans he resolved to prevent him Machanidas hearing of his coming retreated presently to Sparta and then went he to Aegium to the general Council of the Achaeans to whom he restored Heraea and Triphylia and Aliphera to the Megalopolitans He made some depredations upon the Aetoliam then returned to Oreus and so to Demetrias where he gave order for making of ships things being quiet there after the departure of Attalus and so into his own Kingdom against the Dardanians 36. The two years following Idem lib. 29. little or nothing was done by the Romans in Greece so that the Aetolians being destitute of their aid in which they most confided were forc'd to make a Peace with him on his own terms Scarce was it concluded The Aetolians forced to make a peace with him when Publius Sempronius the Proconsul was sent to succeed Sulpicius who carelessly managed his affaires with 10000 Foot 1000 Horse and 35 Gallies who coming to Dyrrhachium raised the Parthini and set upon Damallum Coming a little after to Apollonia Philip having received the news of his arrival marched down thither and would have given him battel but the Proconsul refusing it and he not daring to attempt the Town as also because he was now inclinable also to Peace he returned again into his own Kingdom Not long after the Epirotes bearing also the same mind sent to him desiring he would think of Peace which they despaired not of so he and Sempronius would but meet together He condescended to go down into Epirus and then came to an interview with the Proconsul at Phoenice together with Aminander King of the Athamanians and the Deputies of the Epirotes and Acarnanians where it was agreed that the Parthini A general peace made betwixt him the Romans and others the Cities Dimalum Bargulum and Eugenium should fall to the share of the Romans and the Atintanae because they had desired it from the Senate at Rome to Philip in the confederacy were included on the Kings part Prusias King of Bithinia the Achaeans Boeotians Thessalonians Acarnanians and Epirotes and on the Roman the Inhabitants of Ilium King Attalus Plearatus the Eleans Messenians and Athenians with Nabis Tyrant of Sparta and successor of Machanidas Polybius l. 11. excerpt c. 7. slain in battel by Philopomenes who now had begun to defend his Country from the Lacedaemonians and others A Truce was made for two moneths to have the consent of the People of Rome who now having turned the War into Africk upon the Carthaginians were glad to free themselves from all other troubles and therefore the Peace was confirmed by the suffrages of all the Tribes 37. But Philip's mind was so inured to action Plutarch in Philopomene that he could not but make himself work for perceiving Philopomenes now Praetor the second time of the Achaeans to be in great respect for his military skil and valour he sent to murder him at Megalopolis which being discovered he deservedly incurred the displeasure of all Greece He kept some correspondence together with Antiochus the Great with Ptolomy Philopator He incurreth odium several wayes when living but after his death they two consulted together to deprive his young son of his Kingdom and might well have done it especially seeing the Aegyptian Court was much vexed by the discord of the great ones had they not both been diverted
unto all Greece which so affected the hearers as with admiration of the thing they were scarce themselves 48. During the War between the Romans and Antiochus Livius lib. 30. which shortly after followed Philip behaved himself suitably enough to the expectation of the Conquerours afterwards considering and comparing his present condition with his former he grew something impatient and especially amongst other things this vexed him that power of animadverting upon those Macedonians who had revolted in the War was taken from him for after that Antiochus was overcome and the War with the Aetolians was now in hand Acilius the Consul taking Heraclea and Philip besieging Lamia when he was in a fair way of taking of it he was commanded to depart from it that so it might be surrendred to the other His dissatisfaction after the War Acilius to pacifie him gave him leave to make War upon Athamania and to recover the Cities which the Aetolians had taken from the Thessalians so that he presently drove out Aminander from Athamania recovered divers Cities amongst which was Demetrias and possessed himself of the Countrey of the Magnetes and some Cities in Thrace also This pacified him for the present yet did he not let fall his indignation but in time of peace made all provision possible for another War increasing his Revenues not onely by Customs but by renewing the works of the Mines and digging others as also taking care for increasing the number of his people now exhausted Whilest he thus imployed himself there wanted not an occasion to inflame his mind anew for the Thessalians and Athamanians sent to Rome to complain of him Eumenes also about the Cities of Thrace The Senate not being willing to judge the matter in his absence sent three Commissioners into Greece to hear and determine it who sitting and hearing all parties as Arbitrators were something provoked by some words he uttered affirming that as yet the Sun of all the dayes he had to live was not set and all being heard they Decreed he should withdraw his Guards from all the Greek Cities and that the Kingdom of Macedonia should be terminated by its antient limits As for the Cities of Thrace much being alleged pro and con betwixt him and Eumenes they kept the middle way reserving the decision of that to the Senate and ordered in the mean time that his Garison Soldiers should be drawn out of them The Senate resolved he should quit them and all the Maritime Coasts of Thrace so that now being sufficiently incensed he wanted but convenient Forces to make him revolt 49. Being commanded to quit Aenus and Maronea with all the Sea Coasts of Thrace he procured the principal of the Maronites who were strongly bent against him to be murdred in the night and then the Romans complaining of it as an unworthy deed he denied it and when Onomastus and Cassander the instruments of the fact were required to be sent to Rome the later he gave way for to go but then it's thought procured him to be poysoned in the way lest he should tell tales and as yet his affairs not being ripe for a revolt he sent Demetrius his younger son to Rome to purge himself and deprecate the displeasure of the Senate Underhand he sollicited the inhabitants upon the River Ister to break into Italy Demetrius had got heretofore so much good-will at Rome as coming to have audience in the Senate though he was abashed at that presence and the heavy loads of imputations laid upon his Father by the Ambassadors of his Enemies Yet were his Father's faults passed over at this time for his sake He is displeased at the favour of the Romans towards his younger son Demetrius and so much signified to Philip by Q. Marcius sent into Macedonia to see whether he had done all that was injoyned him Then did he quit all the Cities of Thrace inhabited by the Greeks and performed all other things which the Romans required that he might not give any suspition but get leisure to provide for the intended War With Demetrius his son he was not well pleased for that the Senate making no account of himself had given him the credit of deserving onely favour but especially Perseus his elder son conceived great indignation and malice against him not onely for the credit he had at Rome but being jealous he might deprive him thereby of his Father's Kingdom Indeed the Macedonians looking upon Demetrius as one to whom they were obliged for saving them harmlesse from the Romans designed the succession to him whom also they held legitimate but not Perseus whose mother was no better than his Father's Concubine 50. Perseus growing more and more sensible of the favour his brother was in both with the Romans and Macedonians Which advantage Perseus his eldest son improveth bent his mind to bring him into the jealousie and hatred of his Father and thereby to work his destruction His visit in way of merriment and jollity to him he represents as an opportunity taken to make him away whereby the young man is called for by his angry Father and is forced with tears to make an apology to which credit is hardly enough given suspitions and jeajousies getting ground At length Perseus accuseth him of having dealt with them at Rome underhand about the Kingdom and place of his Father who sends two thither to enquire of it but such as were Perseus his creatures and partners in the plot Philip having a mind to go up to the top of the Mountain Haemus for to have a view and prospect of the Country round about took with him his eldest and sendeth his youngest into Macedonia to look unto it with whom he sent one Didas Governour of Paeonia with a small guard He being also one of Perseus his Complices he gave him in charge to insinuate into him and thereby get out his most inward intentions which he easily did the poor young man being resolved to flie to the Romans for shelter and desirous to use his help therein This is presently made known to Perseus and by him with improvement to Philip who having wearied himself and Soldiers to little purpose and being troubled with this report returneth home casts Herodorus Demetrius his chiefest friend into prison and causeth him also to be narrowly looked to Some moneths remained the King thus exceedingly troubled and anxious in himself till the Ambassadors returning from Rome put an end within a short time to his resolutions 51. These men being returned feigned grievous accusations against Demetrius Livie lib. 40. and amongst the rest brought counterfeited letters as from Quintius And compaseth his brothers death by false accusations wherein he begs pardon of the King if the young man had dealt with him in any kind out of his desire to the Kingdom but promiseth he will do nothing against any one that belongs to him for that he would not be accounted for the time to come the author
Forces sent Bachides and Alcimus again into Judaea with the greater part of his forces who coming to Jerusalem to seek for Judas marched thence with 20000 Foot and 2000 Horse against him who had but 3000 men in all With these few he setting upon Bachides all of them forsook him but 800 with which yet he so charged him as fighting from morning till night he put to flight the right wing in which he stood but they of the left perceiving this followed him behind as he gave the charge and compassing him in slew him all his men then shifting forthemselves This hapned A. M. 3844. Maccabaeus is slain of the Greeks or Seleucidae the 152. in the second of Demetrius Soter and after he led the People from his Fathers death six years 62. A great famine then raging 1 Maccab. 9. almost all the Country submitted to Bachides that they might the more commodiously get bread and he made such wicked persons Governours as bringing to him the friends of Judas he mocked them and revenged himself upon them But such of them as remained and could do it assembled themselves together and chose Jonathan Sirnamed Apphus their Captain in the room of Judas his brother which Bachides hearing sought to kill him but he understanding thereof fled into the Desert Thecoa having sent his brother John Sirnamed Gaddis with a party to the Nabathaean Arabs Jonathan his brother chosen Captain in his room to desire they might leave their baggage amongst them He going down with it was met in the way by the children of Iambri from Medaba who killing him and those with him seized upon the prey but no great joy had they of their booty for Jonathan and his brother Simon hearing that they were about to make a great mariage and bring the bride from Medaba with great pomp being the Daughter of one of the noblest Princes of Canaan they went A. M. 3845. Ol. 155. an 1. V. C. 594. Seleucid 153. Demetr Sot 3. Ptolom Philomet 21. and hiding themselves under the covert of the Mountain when the Bridgroom and his friends came forth with Timbrels and instruments of Musick rose up out of the ambush slew many of them and took the spoil so having revenged the death of their brother they returned again unto Jordan When Bachides heard this he marched down and came thither with a great Army upon the Sabbath Day and Jonathan being beset behind and before with the Enemy and on each side with the River and Marishes encouraged yet his men to fight and lifting up his hand struck at Bachides But he declined the blow then seeing himself too weak for the Enemy he leaped into the River after he had slain 1000 of them and swom over with his men to the further side Bachides would not adventure to follow but returning to Jerusalem built up the strong Forts throughout the Land and placed therein strong Garrisons that thence making excursions he might endammage the Jews He fortified the Cities Bethsura and Gazara with the Castle at Jerusalem where he placed Soldiers with provisions and taking the sons of the chief of the Country for Hostages he secured them in the later 63. 1 Maccab. 8. The Ambassadors sent by Maccabaeus to the Romans were well received and entered into a League and society with the Romans which being written in Tables of brasse contained an ingagement mutually to succour and relieve each other Demetrius is forbidden by the Romans to hurt the Jews The Senate also wrote to Demetrius charging him no more to hurt or indammage the Jews being their confederates under pain of being prosecuted with War both at Land and Sea Not long after Alcimus the High-priest commanded the wall in the Temple which severed the Court of the People from that of the Gentiles to be pulled down which had been built by Zorobabel and the Prophets 1 Maâ—cab 9. whose monuments he began to pull down and destroy but at the same time he was so smitten that he could not open his mouth Alcimus his ill end being taken with a Palsie so as he could not speak nor give order concerning his house and died with great torment When Bachides saw that he was dead he returned unto the King Two years then did the Land continue quiet but at the end thereof certain wicked persons sent for Bachides to return telling him he might easily apprehend Jonathan and all his Company in one night at which message he arose with great haste and sent letters privily to his adherents to take them but they having notice of it took fifty of these men which had been the greatest sticklers and slew them Then Jonathan departing into the Wildernesse built up the walls of Bethbusin and fortified it which Bachides having notice of went down thither and closely besieged it but such was his entertainment from the besieged who getting out killed his men and burnt his engines that having lain before the place a long time to no purpose and seeing his journy to be frustrate he eased his stomach against those that had been the cause of his Expedition and putting to death many of them resolved to retreat into his own Country Jonathan having notice of this sent to him to treat of Peace and exchange the prisoners Bachides sweareth never more to molest the Jews which he gladly accepted of and made an oath never more to disturb him Returning then home he never brake it so that the Warre being removed Jonathan dwelt at Machmas or Michmash in the Tribe of Benjamin began to govern the People and destroy the ungodly out of Israel 64. Aritrathes the fifth of that name King of Cappadocia Excerpt Diori Siculi Polyb. maried as we said before Antiochis the daughter of Antiochus the Great She having no children by him at the first introduced two suppositions boyes Ariarathes and Orophernes he knowing nothing hereof but a little after growing fruitful she brought forth two daughters and a son called Mithridates and then acquainting her husband with what she had formerly done procured the two Counterfeits to be sent the one to Rome and the other into Ionia lest they should disturb the true one in his succession who being named Ariarathes and brought up in the fashions and customs of the Greeks obtained the Kingdom after his Fathers death Orophernes afterwards resolving to venture for it came to Demetrius complaining he was injuriously deprived of the Kingdom by his younger brother Orophernes one of suppositions brood getteth Cappadocia by the help of Demetrius and craved his assistance for the recovery of it He being offended at Ariarathes for the refusing the mariage of his sister the widdow of Perseus bargained with Orophernes for 1000 Talents and expelled Ariarathes from Cappadocia though he was helped by Eumenes King of Pergamus Orophernes having thus invaded the Kingdom behaved himself not like one who intended to secure it to himself in the love of his People but
come without a dowry brought over to him the Army of Cyprus whereby thinking himself sufficiently strengthned against his brother he joyned battel with him but was forced to retire unto Antioch Cleopatra continuing here was besieged by Grypus and taken and then Tryphaena his wife and her sister required her to be delivered into her hands that she might put her to death as her enemy and emulator and though he refused it utterly as being against the custom of Warriours to rage against the weaker Sex especially when allied in blood so near as she was and protected by the religion of the Temple to which she fled yet she being more hereat enflamed as judging his answer to proceed from love rather than pity sent some Soldiers in who murdered her imbracing the image of the Goddesse And expelled out of Syria This was not left long unrevenged for Cyzicenus renewing the War and giving battel again to his brother now by the turning of the chance of War overthrew him and taking Tryphaena with her blood appeased the ghost of his wife and expelling Grypus out of Syria seized on the Kingdom 80. Antiochus Grypus fled to Aspendium Excerpt Diodori Siculi Josephus lib. 13. cap. 17 18. whence he got the sirname of Aspendius but the next year returning ordered the matter so with his brother The two brothers reign together that the Kingdom being divided he made him be contented with Coelesyria Both of them after this gave up themselves to nothing but idlenesse and luxurie onely preying upon each other as their opportunities served them which difference of theirs mightily conduced to the setlement of the affairs of the Jews Cyzicenus getting of Ptolomy Lathurus 6000 men went to relieve Samaria which Hyrcanus besieged by wasting his territories but to no purpose Afterwards it hapned that Lathurus being expelled Aegypt by his mother and she fearing that by the help of Cyzicenus he might recover his Kingdom she sent great supplies to Grypus Justin ut prius with Selenes for a wife whom she had taken from her son before his expulsion to provoke him thereby against his brother whence succeeded those civil Wars betwixt them concerning which we have onely the title left unto us in the Epitome of the 68 Book of Livie who related the story Grypus died first being slain by the treachery of one Haeracleon after he had lived 45 years Joseph ut supra cap. 21. and reigned 26 wherof 15 were in conjunction with his brother He left five sons whereof Seleucus his eldest and successor made War upon his uncle Cyzicenus for the Kingdom and overthrew him in battel after which the Horse of Cyzicenus ran away with him into his Camp wherein when he was about to be taken he killed himself after he had reigned eighteen years Porphyr apud Eusebium Seleucus after this obtained Antioch and the Kingdom but against him arose Antiochus sirnamed Eusebes Great stirs amongst their sons or Pius the son of Cyzicenus who having avoided his snares by the help of a certain Courtizan that extremely loved him went to Aradus where taking a Diadem he gathered forces and in one battel clearly overthrew him Seleucus then fled into Cilicia where being received by the Mopsuestians as they are called when he began to exact money of them had fire set to the house wherein he lay and was burned quick with those about him 81. Two twin brothers of Seleucus Antiochus and Philip Idem ibid. caried down forces to Mopsuestia which having taken in revenge for their brothers death levelled it with the ground Josephus ibid. but Antiochus Pius coming presently upon them overthrew them in fight Antiochus taking the River Orontes in his flight was drowned Philip escaping caried the title of King Appian in Syriacis and gathering again considerable forces strugled hard with Antiochus for the whole Realm till such time as Ptolomy Lathurus calling from Cuidus his fourth brother Demetrius made himself King at Damascus so that they joyning their forces together they both opposed Antiochus who though he manfully resisted yet was put to the worst and glad at last to flie into Parthia whence yet returning after two years he re-obtained Syria Philip being thus deprived of that Kingdom fell into contest with his other two brothers Demetrius Eucaerus and Antiochus sirnamed Dionysus for the Kingdom of Damascus and being driven into Beraea was there besieged by Demetrius Joseph Antiquit lib. 13. cap. 22 23. Straton the Governour of Beraea being Philip's friend calls in Zius the Arabian Captain and Mithridates Sinax who coming with a great power overthrew Demetrius raised his siege and taking him prisoner sent him into Parthia where he was honourably treated till his death and Philip marching to Antioch again as it 's said obtained the Kingdom of Syria or as is most probable part of it Antiochus Dionysus the younger brother getting Damascus into his hands made War against the Arabians and was slain in a battel with their King Aretas who then was chosen King by the inhabitants of Damascus and thereby obtained the Kingdom of Coelesyria The histories which onely give us hints of these things are so confounded as no certain thing concerning the ends of Antiochus Pius or Philip can be assigned yet this we find Justin lib. 40. that the Syrians taking occasion at these dissentions and Wars of the Seleucidae amongst themselves began to think of forein aides and cast their minds upon forein Kings At length they all agreed to make choice of Tigranes King of Armenia Tigranes getteth Syria who being called in held Syria for the space of 18 years and by his dealing with them made them know they had had no reason to rebel against their natural and rightful Princes 82. Antiochus Pius being outed thus by Tigranes of all Syria Appian in Syriacis Mithridaticis Justin lib. 40. Joseph lib. 13. cap. ult from Euphrates to the Sea and also of part of Cilicia lay hid in another corner of it which neither the Armenian nor Roman as yet touched and his wife Selene with her two sons reigned as it 's termed in Phoenicia with some part of the lower Syria till being besieged in Seleucia a City of Mesopotamia or Ptolomais she was therein taken by Tigranes and killed for that she endeavoured to recover Syria as justly she might out of his hands For fourteen years Tigranes governed the Country by one Magadates till such time as siding with his Father in Law Mithridates the Great of Pontus Appian in Syriacis against the Romans and overthrown by them he was forced to recall him with his Army Antiochus the son of Antiochus Pius sirnamed Asiaticus taking this opportunity insinuated himself into the Principality the Syrians being not unwilling Antiochus Asiaticus recovering it out of respect to the dignity of his family and Lucullus the Roman General whose work it was to drive Tigranes out of his new
a great present of money and arms Some six years after he sent other Ambassadors to them now having well nigh fallen out with the Romans offering them ten ships of fifty oares sufficiently manned and furnished for War which as of concernment amounting almost to ten Talents they accepted of most gladly and dispatched back to him Lycortas again with Polybius his son though he was too young by the Laws for such an employment with Aratus the son of famous Aratus the Sicyonian to give him thanks for the former present and fetch the ships into Peloponnesus but he was dead ere they could get out of their own Country For plotting now against Seleuous Philopator who had succeeded Antiochus his Father in the Kingdom of Syria and preparing an Army against him Hieronym in Danel when one of his Captains asked him where he would get money sufficient for such an enterprize he answered that his friends were riches to him which being told abroad amongst the People his Officers fearing he would fleece them to supply himself Is poysoned took him away by poyson after he had lived 27 years and reigned 24 thereof A. M. 3825 and the first of the 150 Olympiad Ptolomy Philometor 12. He left two sons and one daughter all very young A. M. 3825. of which the eldest son succeeded him being sirnamed Philometor in the eighth year of Seleuous Philopator King of Syria After his Anacleteria Idem ibid. his mother Cleopatra the daughter of Antiochus the Great being lately dead through the perswasion of Eulaius the Eunuch and Lenaeus his principal Counsellours he began to cast his thoughts upon Coelesyria Prepareth for Soelesyria which being given to his mother as a portion was unjustly kept from him as he conceived by his uncle Antiochus Epiphanes who now had succeeded his elder brother in the Kingdom of Syria Antiochus hearing of their preparations for the War at Alexadria came down into Egypt to prevent them and overthrew the King several times as hath been said But his uncle Antiochus Epiphanes preventeth him by getting all Aegypt into his hands and got the whole Country except that City Polyb. Legat. 81 82. into his power after which Ptolomy deliberating with Comanus and Cineas what was to be done it was resolved that a Council of the most expert Captains should be erected by the advice whereof all things should be managed The first resolve of this Council was that such Graecian Ambassadors as were present should be sent to Antiochus about an agreement with whom Ptolomy joyned of his own two others The first day after their arrival they were entertained very nobly and on the next had audience wherein they laid all the blame upon Eulaius the Eunuch and urging the youth and kindred of the King to him laboured to pacifie him He after he had assented to them in these things and spoken more to the same purpose laboured with much earnestnesse to demonstrate that Coelesyria belonged to the Crown of Syria alleging it to have belonged to Antigonus the first founder of that Kingdom and produced the conveiances of it to Seleucus after the death of the other from the Macedonian Kings Moreover calling to their remembrance that Antiochus his Father had lately obtained it again by right of conquest he flatly denied that ever he passed it over as a portion with his daughter to the late King of Egypt and so having discoursed on this subject to the satisfaction of all his hearers he then departed to Naucratis where friendly treating the Inhabitants and giving a largesse to such Greeks as dwelt there he thence departed for Alexandria deferring to give any answer to those that had been sent to him till such time as Aristides and Theris were returned saying he would have all the publick ministers of Greece to be conscious to and witnesses of all his intentions 13. But no satisfactory answer if any was given Porphyr in Graecis Euseb or any thing done for Philometor by Antiochus so that being thus outed of his Kingdom after 12 years reign and giving up himself for all that to nothing but sluggishnesse and luxurie the Alexandrians took upon them to make his younger brother King sirnaming him Euergetes though the badnesse of his manners made them afterwards change it into Cacergetes being also called Physcon from his extraordinary fat paunch Athenaeus lib. 12. cap. 17. Philometor was forced at length to betake himself to the Alexandrians too who receiving him made him partaker with his brother in the Kingdom Ptolomy Physcon made King but shortly after again expelled him which thing Antiochus made use of and under pretence of restoring him continued the War and overthrowing young Ptolomy in a Sea-fight besieged Alexandria Polyb. Legat. 83 84. but seeing that to be to no purpose arose and departed into Syria leaving Philometor at Memphis to whom he restored all Egypt except Pelusium which he kept as the key of the Country in his own hands not doubting but when one of the brothers had ruined the other to come and with ease enough devoure the Conquerour Livius l. 45. But though his two Nephews were otherwise sottish enough yet in this they shewed prudence to disappoint him A. M. 3837. Ol. 153. ann 1. V.C. 586. Ant. Epiphan 9. Ptol. Philom 13. for the elder seriously considering how little he ought to trust him sent to Cleopatra his sister who seconding him to her brother both by advice and entreaty The two brothers agree and are saved harmlesse from their Uncle by the Romans procured a peace to be made with consent of both their friends the Citizens of Alexandria giving way the more readily because of the dearth which troubled them by reason of the War as well when they were at liberty as besieged This drew off the Vizard from Antiochus who whereas he ought to have rejoyced if he really intended the restitution of Philometor fretted exceedingly hereat and nothing would serve him but needs he must come down again into Egypt and had laid siege to Alexandria the second time had not the Roman Ambassadors terrified him from his purpose as we shewed in its more proper place and forced him to quit both Egypt and Cyprus 14. Idem ibid. The Roman Ambassadors took some pains by their Authority to make them two friends not being throughly reconciled before and so they continued for six years peaceably together Porphyrius ut prius But then differences betwixt them arose so high thar the Senate at Rome wrote to their Ambassadors sent into Syria after the death of Antiochus Epiphanes by all means to reconcile them of which mediation we yet hear of no fruit at all Polybius Legat. 107. for presently the younger expelled his elder brother Philometor being thus spoyled of his Kingdom with a very few attendants and in a pitifull habit Valerius Max. Lib. 5. cap. 1. Exemp 1. came to Rome for help making
to the Sun-beams 17. In the time of this Philometor Josephus ibid. the Jews and Samaritans inhabiting Alexandria fell out about their way of Worship they contending earnestly that the Temple of Jerusalem Dissention betwixt the Jews and Samaritans those that that at Gerizim was founded most according to the prescript of Moses and so earnest was the dispute that both parties appealed to him and his Council for a decision of the controversie who being to judge according to evidence produced out of the Law was to put to death those pleaders which could not make good their cause For the Jews appeared Andronicus the son of Messalani for the Samaritans Sabbaeus and Theodosius who being heard by Ptolomy in a full Assembly all were so well satisfied in the proofs brought by Andronicus as the King gave sentence on his side and condemned Sabbaeus and Theodosius Justin lib. 35. Philometer about this time was deeply ingaged in the affairs of Syria for Demetrius Soter having molested him much with War together with Attalus King of Asia and Ariarathes of Cappadocia all these agreed to suborn a young man of base condition who counterfeiting himself the son of Antiochus Epiphanes spoiled Demetrius both of his Kingdom and life This Alexander as he is called being especially beholden to Ptolomy for this change of his condition desired of him his daughter in marriage 1 Maccab. 10. 11. which he readily agreed to and brought her named Cleopatra to him to Ptolemais where the nuptials were solemnized with great state Afterwards Alexander giving up himself to cruelty and luxury Demetrius the son of Demetrius Soter Joseph Antiq. lib. 13. cap. 8. having hired Soldiers in Crete attempted the recovery of his fathers Kingdom Ptolomy with great forces both by Land and Sea came then into Syria under pretence of helping his son-in-law but getting a great part of the Countrey into his hands as far as the River Orontes and the Citie Seleucia he had other intentions having conceived great prejudice in his mind against Alexander the special occasion of which was that whereas one Ammonius a great Officer of his had conspired against his life at Ptolemais Ptolomy fighting against Alexander King of Syria whom he had formerly set up received a wound and dieth he refused to give him up to him upon his demand Wherefore though he went to Antioch and there set two Diadems on his head the one for Syria and the other for Egypt yet perswaded he the Antiochians to receive Demetrius for their King and taking away his daughter from Alexander gave her to him Alexander was overthrown after which he fled into Arabia as we said and there was made away A. M. 3859. Ol. 158. ann 3. V. C. 608. But in the fight it hapned that his Horse being affrighted at the noise of an Elephant threw him which the Enemies perceiving came upon him and gave him such a wound in his head that for four dayes he lay sencelesse and though coming to himself on the next he was mightily pleased at the sight of the head of Alexander Balas which was sent him yet proved it not such a Cordial but the third day after Livius Epit. lib. 52. as his Physicians were busie in dressing his own he died after he had reigned 34 years A. M. 3859. in the third of the 158 Olympiad 18. After his death the order of succession was first changed in this Kingdom For whereas hitherto the son had continually followed his father Justin lib. 38. Valerius Max. lib. 38. Valerius Max. lib. 9. cap. 1. Exter Exemp 5. and now Cleopatra his wife with the help of the Princes endeavoured to have it so in his son and hers yet his brother Euergetes the second or Physcon then reigning in Cyrene withstood her purpose and forced her for to put an end to the controversie to marry him Coming to Alexandria he first caused the favourers of the Child to be slain and then the boy himself in the arms of his mother on their Wedding day and amidst the solemnities according to which beginning he proceeded being nothing milder towards those that had sent for him For giving liberty to the outlandish Soldiers to kill and rifle he filled all places with slaughters Excerpt Diodori Siculi many being accused as though they had plotted against him were made away with cruel torments others under some pretence or other banished and their goods confiscate Ptolomy Physcon unjustly obtaining the Kingdom his cruelty Having a son born of this his sister he named him Memphitis after the place of his birth but whilest he was keeping his birth-day that he might also feed his cruel humour he put to death divers Cyrenaeans who brought him into Egypt for taxing him somewhat liberally for his too much familiarity with Irene his Concubine As his cruelty so also his lust knew no bounds for ravishing first his wives daughter and his own Niece both by Father and Mother he put away his wife and married her Val. Max. ibid. whereat the Inhabitants of Alexandria being affrighted for fear of death quit their habitations so that he being left alone as a King of houses and not of men by Proclamation called and gave leave to strangers to inhabit them It hapned that at such time as they flocked thither came also P. Scipio Africanus the younger Sp. Mummius and L. Metellus Cicero in somnio Scipionis A. M. 3875. Ol. 162. an 3. V. C. 624. Ptol. Phys 17. Joh. Hyrcani 6. sent from Rome to visit the Kingdoms and States of the East and compose their differences Scipio being landed and having his face covered the People flocked about him and desired him to uncover himself which he granting they out of the great pleasure conceived at the sight of such a person gave a shout Physcon himself coming out to meet them was exceedingly ridiculous to them being a man otherwise sufficiently deformed of a low stature and such corpulence as his belly resembled rather that of a beast than a man He provided magnificent entertainment but they despising his dainties as corrupting the manners of men ate very sparingly Excerpt Diodori onely minded that they came about and travelled into the Country where viewing the several places thereof considering the populousnesse strength and convenience of their situation they concluded Egypt a convenient seat for the greatest Empire if it had but Lords that knew how to make use of it and so departed to Cyprus and thence into Syria 19. After some time he became so odious to the new inhabitants also for his cruelty that they set fire to his Palace Justin ut prius Livius Epit. lib. 59. Val. Max. l. 9. c. 2. exter exempl 5. and he was driven with his wife and son to get away to Cyprus after which they restored the Kingdom to Cleopatra his sister whom he had put away Hereupon he raised an Army and made War upon her and them and fearing
statue made him a Senator though but nineteen years old decreed that he should be considered towards preferment as ten years older and gave him equal power with Hirtius and Pausa the Consuls whom now they sent to relieve Brutus They took Bononia but Antony being bold for that he had got the better in some skirmikes went and met Pansa whom he overthrew but returning carelesly into his Camp was worsted by Hirtius A littel after a great battel was fought near Mutina wherein Antony was quite defeated and fled to Lepidus then Proconsul in the further Gall. A. M. 3962. V. C. 712. Both the Consuls died of wounds Hirtius in Antonie's Camp and Pansa at Bononia Brutus being at this time spared by Caesar thought of departing with his ten Legions to M. Brutus and Cassius now in Greece but his Soldiers moved by the difficulty of the journy revolted the six new raised Legions to Caesar and the four of old Soldiers to Antony He then purposing with a small attendance to passe through Gall was taken at Aquilea and betraied by Capenus Sequanus Governour of the Countrey who sent his head to Antony Before this Appian Livius lib. 120. Cicero Philip. 11. Trebonius another of his Complices in Caesar's death excluding Dolabella whom the Senate had judged an Enemy from Pergamus and Smyrna was taken by him in the later place and after grievous torments had his head cut off which the Soldiers kicking about as a foot-ball did so abuse as no face was to be seen on it Not long after the death of Decimus Brutus Minutius Basilius another of the Conspiratours was slain by his slaves whom he had gelded in a great rage 9. Now the Senate having no need of young Caesar slighted him exceedingly Yet having no need of Caesar the Senate again slighted him decreeing the honour due to him unto Brutus whom he had relieved giving him very bitter taunts and denying him a Triumph Being sensible hereof and how most of them were of Compey's Faction Appian ut supra Livius l 119. Sueton. in Angusto Patercul l. 2. c. 62. Livii Epitom lib. 120. he began to tamper with Antony by Letters as also with Lepidus for a conjunction and sent 400 Soldiers into the City in the name of the Army to demand the Consulship for him Hereat the Senat straining hard one Cornelius a Centurion laying his hand on his Sword said This shall do it if you will not Then called he Antony and Lepidus into Italy whereat the Senate much startled and too late blaming their own rigidity decreed him Consul and whomsoever he would take to himself So he invaded the Consulship a moneth and five dayes before he was twenty years old and took Q. Pedius for his Collegue Then by a Law was fire and water forbidden to all that had an hand in the death of Caesar and their goods were sold The Senate was now so changed either through good advice or fear that in stead of slighting they advanced him above all example Vide Dionem lib. 46. They resolved that after his Consulship he should take place of all Consuls and though formerly they were displeased with his levying forces being a private man now they desired him to add to his Army and decreed to him the Legions of Decimus Brutus The City was committed to his care Livii Epit. l. 120. Appian bell civil l. 4. and power given him to act what he pleased Which procureth the Thumviraté though without the prescript of the Laws which he retained fifty six years till his death Not long after came Aemilius Lepidus and M. Antonius into Italy whom he met about Bononia and after a three dayes conference entred into confederacy with them which is famous by the name of the Triumvirate The Terms of the Combination 10. The terms of this Combination were That Caesar for the remainder of the year should leave the Consulship to Ventidius who formerly in the Social War when a Boy was led in Triumph and after that rubbed the heels of * Concurrite omnes Augures Aruspices Portentum inusitatum constatum est recens Nam mulos qui frecabat Consul factus est Mules for his living Idem ibid. Dio lib. 46. That a new authority of three men should be erected to take away civil dissentions which they three should execute for five years with Consular power for the Dictatorship was waved because of a Law lately preferred against it by Antony with authority to dispose of all Offices for that Term. That Antony should have as a Province all Gall except that of Narbon which Lepidus was to have with Spain and to Caesar was Africk with Sardinia and Sicily assigned other places beyond the Seas being left to another time They agreed further that their Enemies should be destroyed wherein the case of Cicero moved the greatest controversie For Antony would not meddle except he in the first place should be slain These Verses were scattered up and down the Citie Lepidus was content but Caesar stood much against it Gellius lib. 5. cap. 4. yet on the third day he assented an exchange being made for he yielding up Cicero Lepidus permitted his brother Paulus and Antony L. Caesar his Uncle by the Mother's side to be proscribed Lastly it was agreed that Lepidus should be Consul the following year instead of Decimus Brutus designed formerly by Julius Caesar He guarding Rome and Italy the other two were to make War upon Brutus and Cassius who now though at first without any decree of the Senate had seized on Macedonia and Syria Cassius in Laodicea besieged Dolabella who being judged an Enemy by the Senate for the death of Trebonius when the Citie vvas taken caused his Page to cut off his head and so ended his life being a man of no great solidity He vvas son-in-law to Cicero but after the divorcing of Tullia they fell into great enmity vvhereupon the Orator proved a back friend to him in the Senate reigning amongst the Fathers and the People with his Eloquence The effects of it 11. The first effect of the Triumvirate was a Proscription of some 300 persons of Equestrian and Senatorian ranks Appian Though the pretence was to revenge Caesar's death yet many were murdered for their rich Estates others out of malice and some for their convenient Houses and Gardens Amongst those of greatest note was Varro who now living to see and feel a second Tricipitina yet escaped with his life Cicero the man most aimed at by Antony for opposing him so vehemently in the Senate upon the Triumvirs their coming went to Sea but the winds being contrary and because he could not endure the shaking of the ship he returned saying he would die in his Countrey often preserved by him Being weary both of his flight and life Plutarch in Cicerone he came to a Village a little more than a mile distant from the Sea Here his servants
who used him as his most inward Counsellour or Minister of State and erected to his honour his statue of brasse in the Theatre Tiberius punished by the treachery of Seianus who poysoneth his son Drusus Now he thought of no lesse than the Empire it self as a step to which he poysoned Drusus the son of Tiberius having brought Livia the young man's wife to a compliance with him by his filthy dalliance and corrupted Lygdus the Eunuch to betray his trust Drusus had the year before the Tribumtial power conferred on him but for that he was none of the most towardly was little regarded by his father who as soon as his Funeral was over returned to his wonted employments forbidding any longer vacation upon his account Sueton in Tiberio cap. 52. The Inhabitants of Ilium sending their Ambassadors something too late to condole his death he answered that he also was sorry for the death of Hector their excellent Countrey-man Tiberius after this commended the two sons of Germanicus Nero and Drusus to the Senate which done Seianus began to strike at them though at first through the sides of their mother labouring to bring them all into suspition and hatred Tacitus ut suprà This first advantage he took was from the prayers of the Priests who made vows for their health as for that of Tiberius for he took it hainously that they herein should be made equal to him Then did he provoke them and never ceased till he caused them to be declared Enemies by the Senate after which he starved them to death using also their mother most injuriously for that she was not sparing of her tongue in reprehending and upbraiding him Now was Tacfarinas who had maintained a tedious war in Africk slain by Dolabella Sueton. in Tib. cap. 40. As for Tiberius by the perswasion of Seianus he withdrew into the Isle Capreae and thence forward minding nothing gave up himself to all sorts of enormities 60. For casting off all care of the State being out of sight Idem ibid. Capp 41 42. c. he returned to his natural disposition not looking to the supply either of Army or Provinces suffering Armenia to be seized on by the Parthians Maesia by the Dacians and Sarmatians Tiberius returneth to his natural humour and Gall to be wasted by the Germans He instituted a new Office for the management of pleasures unto which he preferred a Knight T. Caesonius Prisous he held such in greatest esteem bestowed Offices on men that were most for his turn that way being given up to such beastlinesse as is incredible and not to be mentioned He was excessively covetous both as to getting and keeping what was unjust He was so undutifull to his mother as he refused to come at her when living and when dead he neglected to bury her neither would he perform her will but persecuted her friends but she was justly rewarded though as to him unjustly having over and above other wicked practices been suspected to have had an hand in the death of Germanicus His Character given him by his School-master So cruel and filthy he became that he verified the Character given him when but young by Theodorus Gadareus his School-master that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Dirt mingled with blood Having chosen twenty of the principal men of the Citie to be his Counsellors he scarcely left two or three of them alive Seianus being found out and punished justly for his wickednesse amongst others that were innocent He spared not the familiar friends of his mother nephews Agrippina or Seianus No day either holy or prophane was free from slaughters Every offence little or great was Capital Many were codemned with their wives and children Rewards were proposed to informers and all testimonies taken for true Simple death he accounted nothing and therefore invented painful waies especially after he knew how his son Drusus died he neither spared any person nor sort of torments Caius the son of Germanicus he cared not for as suspecting him and Tiberius his grandson by Drusus he despised as conceived in adultery 61. Joseph Antiq. l. 18. c. 3. Euseb Eccles Hist l. 1. c. 9. Luc. 3. In the twelfth year of Tiberius was Pontius Pilate sent into Judaea to succeed Valerius Gratus the fourth Governour after the banishment of Archelans the son of Herod to Vienna Pontius Pilate succeedeth Gratus in Judaea Coponius was the first M. Ambivius the second Annius Rufus the third and Gratus the fourth Pilate at his first entrance set up the Images of Caesar at Jerusalem which moved the Jews to sedition but overcome by their intreaties he removed them to Caesarea He being now Governour of Judaea Herod Antipas Tetrarch of Galile his brother Philip Tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis and Lysanias of Abilene Annas who formerly having had the Office though displaced by Gratus yet for his authority still caried the name and Caâ—phas otherwise called Joseph whom lately Gratus had placed in the room of Simon by him deposed also being High-Priests in the fifteenth year of Tiberius entering John Baptist began to preach and baptize in the resemblance and spirit of Elias John Baptist beginneth to preach and baptize Amongst others he baptized Christ himself of whom he was the forerunner His ministry is thought to have commenced on the tenth day of the seventh moneth which was Penitential and so great a Fast A. D. 29. Ol. 201. an 4. V. C. 781. that the soul which did not afflict it self was to be cut off from amongst it's People and was also Expiatorie wherein the High-Priest the Type of him before whose face John was sent entred into the Holy of Holies alone with blood expiating the sins of the People this being also the same day wherein by trumpet the Jubile was proclaimed 62. Jesus now about thirty years of age being baptized of John in Jordan and owned for the Messiah and son of God by the descending of the Holy Ghost in the form of a dove and resting upon him as also by a voice from Heaven was led of the Spirit into the Wildernesse to be tempted of the Devil A. D. 30. Ol. 202. an 1. V. C. 782. After his temptation he returned in the power of the Spirit into Galile Going into Galile he received Andrew and Simon his brother the day following called Phlip of Bethsaida the City of Andrew and Simon sirnamed Cephas or Peter by the Lord. On the third day being invited to a mariage in Cana of Galile he turned water into wine this being his first miracle and by it his glory was manifested and his Disciples believed in him Afterward he went down to Capernaum with his mother The Lord Jesus executeth his Ministry his brethren or kinsmen and disciples where they abode not many dayes Then came he to the exercise of his Ministry the acts whereof are distinguished by four Passeovers Amongst the four Evangelists which