After this the Jews had some rest But Alcimus the High Priest intending to beat down the old Wall of the Sanctuary was suddenly strucken by God became speechless and fell to the ground and having suffered grievous torments many days he died miserably Whereupon the People by general consent chose Judas Maccabeus High Priest who hearing of the great power and Victorys of the Romans sent two Persons to Rome to make them his Allies and Confederates and to write to Demetrius to give over his Wars against the Jews These Ambassadors coming to Rome were entertained by the Senate and an Alliance was concluded upon these conditions That none under the Romans should War against the Jews nor furnish their Enemies with Victuals Ships nor Silver That if any made War on the Romans the Jews should assist them That the Jews should neither add nor diminiâ—â— from this Association without the general consent of 〈◊〉 Romans and that what was thus concluded should contitâ— forever The death of Nicanor and the loss of his Army being reported to Demetrius he sent another undeâ— Bacchides who coming into Judea and hearing thaâ— Judas was incamped at Bethzeth he marched againâ—â— him with twenty thousand Foot and two thousanâ— Horse Judas had not in all above two thousand meâ—â— who seeing the vast number of their Foes were mucâ— afraid so that many forsaking the Camp fled away anâ— there remained with Judas only eight hundred meâ— and his Enemies pressed so hard on him that he lâ—â— no time to re-assemble his Forces yet he resolved 〈◊〉 fight with that small handful exhorting them to behavâ— themselves valiantly Who answering That they we not able to make head against so great an Army adviseâ— him to retire and stand on his guard till he had reâ—â— inforced himself Judas replied God forbid that the 〈◊〉 should see me turn my back upon mine Enemies though die and spend my last Bloud in this Battel yet will I neveâ— blemish my former Worthy actions by an ignominious flight And having again encouraged his Souldiers he commanded them to use their utmost courage againâ— the Enemy without any apprehension of danger Bacchides marshalled his Army in Battalia and caâ—â—sing the Trumpets to sound and his Souldiers to make 〈◊〉 great Shout he charged his enemies Judas did the like and encountred Bacchides upon which there ensued a most bloudy Fight which continued till Sun-set Judaâ—â— perceiving that Bacchides and the flower of his Army fought in the right wing drew his most resolute Souldierâ— thither who brake in upon them and forcing them to fly pursued them to Mount Aza But the left wing followed Judas and inclosed him on the back part so that finding himself in much danger he with his Followers resolved to sell their lives dearly and fight it out to the last He slew a great number of his Enemies â—ill at length he was so wearied with killing that he â—ell to the ground and was there slain upon which his â—ew remaining companions betook themselves to flight Simeon and Jonathan his Brothers recovered his Body and buried it at Modin all the people weeping and making great lamentation for the death of so valiant 〈◊〉 Commander for whatsoever Virtue hath of great whatsoever valour hath of generous met in the person of Judas Maccabeus to make a Marvel of his life and give â—mmortal memory to his Name In the space of six years be sustained the great and prodigious Forces of three Kings of Asia as you have heard opposing himself with a little flying Camp against Armies of forty sixty an hundred thousand men which he put into disorder and confusion He defeated nine Generals of the Infidels in ranged battles and combates killing some with his own hands and carrying away their Spoils so that of all his great Qualities Valour always held the upper rank and worthily entitled him to the name of a Worthy The History of Arthur King of Brittain The Seventh Worthy of the World. Arthur the Great and Worthy Brittish King Glory and Victory to his Realm did bring He th' Heathen Saxons often overcame Inducing them to own the Christian Name He while he lived upheld the Sinking State And Conquest seem'd upon him still to wait His Subjects Love he thereby doth attain And he must chuse one after him to Reign The Pictish King this Choice doth much resent As if to wrong him of his Rights they meant Both Kings ingage in Fight where both Kings dy'd With Thousands of their Subjects on each side THe Brittish Writers have related such Strange and Miraculous Actions and Adventures of this Worâ—hy Prince that many Intelligent Men have been apt to think that all which hath been written of his Heroicks deeds is meer Fiction and Invention yea some are of opinion that there never was any such Person but though Historians disagree about times and places some writing carelesly and others superstitiously yet they all agree upon the Predecessors and Successors of this Noble King but as it is most execrable Infidelity to doubt that there was a Joshua Wicked Atheism to question if there were a David and unreasonable to deny the being of Judas Maccabcus As it may be judged folly to affirm there was never any Alexander Julius Caesar Godfrey of Bullen or Charlemagne so we may be thought guilty of incredulity and ingratitude to deny or doubt the honourable Acts of our Victorious Arthur This is premised in vindication of our Hero and his immortal name and fame whereby he justly gained the Title of the Seventh Worthy of the World. Now to his History After this Kingdom had for above four hundred and eighty years been subject to the Romans which began by the Conquest that Julius Caesar made here in the Reign of Cassibelan King of the Brittains seventeen years before the birth of our Blessed Saviour and ended in the time of the Emperor Gratianus three hundred seventy six years after Christ Vortigern of the bloud Royal of the Brittish Kings by usurpation and the Murther of Constance the Son of Constantius seized upon the Crown who growing odious and hateful to his Subjects both for his wicked life and ill got Soveraignty he was forced to send to Germany for the Saxons to aid and support him The Saxons at this time possest the third part of Germany holding all the Countreys between the River Rhine and Elbe bounded on the North by the Baltick Sea and the Ocean and governed by twelve Princes who elected a Soveraign Leader and General in time of War This being so sparious populous and near a Countrey well furnisht with Shipping which the Brittains wanted yielded always plentiful supplies to the undertakers of this action who were first Two brothers Hengist and Horsa After they had continued here a while as hired Souldiers and observed the weakness both of Prince and People their number dayly increased At first they had only the Isle of Thanet allowed them to inhabit but soon after the whole County of Kent
two general Assemblies where it was resolved to join all their Forces together under the leading of Agamemnon and revenge this injury and that they should oblige themselves solemnly by Oath not to forsake the War till the Trojans had made full satisfaction for the wrongs received Besides Agamemnon many other valiant Commanders and stout Souldiers were met together in the Graecian Army as Palamedes Achilles Ajax Ulisses Menelaus Stenelus Diomedes Prothesilaus Idomeneus and Nestor who was said to be three hundred years old and whose wise Counsel and Eloquence was very serviceable to the Greeks for he insinuated himself into the minds of the Auditors so pleasantly as if honey had dropt from his mouth with his words They wanted no kind of Instruments nor Engines of War for their assistance in a Seige In short time all things being provided the Graecians landed at the Isle of Tenedos three miles from Troy where they soon got possession of the Castle though valiantly defended by the Trojans After which they sent to Priamus tâ— demand Helena and Satisfaction for the damage they had received by Paris and if not to assure him that sudden ruin would fall upon him Priamus treated the Messengers very roughly and returned them back with an absolute denial and defiance to their General Agamemnon Who thereupon ordered his Ships to sail immediately to Troy where being arrived they endeavoured to Land but were so warmly received by the Trojans who were prepared for them upon the Shore that there ensued a very bloudy Battle so that the Greeks were sometimes forc't back almost to their Ships but being re-inforced they pressed very hard upon the Trojans so that a great cry arose among them which Hector the most Noble Worthy hearing he instantly issued out of the City with fresh Forces and meeting with Protiselaus who had that day slain a great many Trojans he struck him dead to the ground and then pressing forward he bore down all who stood in his way his name being so terrible to his Enemies that none durst withstand him About Evening Hector returned into the City when Achilles landing with his Mirmidons made a great-slaughter of the Trojans and at length all the rest of the Fleet landed though not without stout opposition from Troilus Paris and Deiphobus That night the Greeks incamped in the Field and the Trojans retired within the City and were Besieged thereâ—n by the Greeks Next Morning Hector issued â—ut of the Gates with a gallant Company when Patroclus advanced against him with all his Force so that his Spear pierced through his Shield but Hector with one blow cut him down and observing his gallant Armour was desirous of it and alighting to seize it was immediately incountred by King Menon with three thousand men who endeavoured to seize both him and his Horse but Hector remounting made his way through the thickest of his Foes and overthrew all that opposed and attempted the second time to take off the Armour of Patroclus when Idumeneus King of Crete came upon him with two Thousand more who being inraged at this disappointment made a terrible slaughter among the Greeks striking off Heads Legs and Arms in abundance and killing fitteen of the most valiant Graecian Commanders with his own hand During this skirmish King Menon carried off the Body of Patroclus to his Tent and thereby defeated Hector of his prize to his great vexation The Trojans hearing that Hector was unhorsed and in great danger of his Life issued out with all the strength they had to his rescue so that the Battle was renewed with more sury than ever and Hector being earnest in fight was incompassed on all sides by the Enemy but as his danger so his valour increased so that like a raging Lion he brought ruin and destruction where-ever he came and having another Horse brought him his own being slain under him he revived the courage of the Trojans who by the multitude of their Enemies were even tired out and just ready to leave the Field Hector endeavouring to put the Enemy to flight was hurt in the Face with an Arrow shot by King Humerus but not without a quick revenge for Hector instantly returned upon him and slew him and presently after meeting with King Menon Ha Traytor said he that hinderedst me from taking the Arms of Patroclus I will now be avenged of thee and therewith struck him dead off his Horse This day the Trojans had great advantage of the Greeks and might nave put an end to the War had not Hector unhappily met with Ajax in an Encounter and understanding he was his Kinsman instead of killing him as he might have done imbraced him in his Arms and invited him to come to Troy and see his Kindred Ajax subtilly answered that it was not now a convenient time but if he had so much kindness for him as he said he desired that for his sake the Battle might cease that day only to which Hector readily agreed and blowing a Horn thereby recalled all the Trojans into the City who had already begun to set Fire to the Graecian Ships and had burnt them all if they had not been prevented by this unfortunate accident This short Truce being expired both sides soon prepare again for Battel and both Armies being â—eady Hector assaulted Achilles who commanded the Greeks with so great force that both fell â—o the Earth Hector remounted first leaving Achilles on the ground and fell in among the body of his Enemies whom he slew on all hands having his armor covered with the bloud of his Opponents Achilles recovering himself fell likewise with great fury upon the Trojans and at length again encountred Hector by whom he was again dismounted but being soon horst again there insued a bloody duel between these two gallant Commanders and they had certainly killed each other had they not been timely parted The rest of the Trojan Generals behaved themselves with much courage and Hector was commonly at the head of them King Prothenor observing his advantage came suddenly upon him and struck him to the Earth but Hector remounting in an instant soon dispatcht him whereat the Trojans taking courage followed the Graecians so close that they fled to their Tents whom they pursued till night prevented them and then returned into the City After this battle Agamemnon called a Council of War in his Tent wherein they concluded that it was in vain to hope for success against their Enemies till the valiant Hector was killed and therefore they desired Achilles as well for his Strength as wisdom to undertake it Achilles readily accepted this charge as knowing Hector to be his mortal adversary and being willing he should dye rather by his hand than any other Soon after the Trojans again issued out of the City and engaged with the Greeks in which Battle the Valiant Hector slew three of the Greek Princes and again encountred Achilles both of them being again dismounted by the force of their Spears but
better should enjoy it Neither were the resolutions of his Army less prosaging good fortune than his own who forgetting their Wives and Children and the War which was so far from their own Countrey assured to themselves the Persian Gold and all the riches of the East as if already in their possession When they drew near the Asian Shoar Alexander first threw a dart as into an Enemies Countrey and leaping ashoar in his Armour vaulted twice or thrice into the Air He there again sacrificed praying That those Countreys might willingly receive him as King He did the same at Ilium upon the Tombs of those who fell in the Trojan War Advancing afterward towards the Enemy he made Proclamation That none of his Souldiers should plunder since they ought to spare their own goods and not destroy what they came to possess In his Army were thirty Two thousand Foot and Four Thousand five Hundred Horse and a Fleet of one hundred eighty two Ships With which inconsiderable Force it may seem wonderful he durst undertake to overcome all the Western World especially since his Army did not consist of stout young men in the Flower of their Youth but chiefly of Old Souldiers some of whom by the Laws of War ought for their age to have been discharged from further Service being such as served both his Father and Grand-Father whereby they now seem'd Select Masters of War rather than private Souldiers there being no File-leader who was not sixty years old the Order of the Camp being so excellent as it appeared like the Senate of some ancient Commonwealth therefore in the Battle no man thought of flight but of Victory having no hope in the nimbleness of their Feet but in the strength of their Arms. On the other side Darius King of Persia confident of his strength affirmed he would have nothing done by Policy or Circumvention since it was not suitable to his Grandeur to steal a Victory and therefore thought it more honourable to admit the Enemy to enter his Countrey than to fall upon him on the Borders The first Battle was in the Plain of Adrastum where an Army of six hundred thousand Persians were overcome as much by the Policy of Alexander as the courage of the Macedons great was the slaughter of the Enemy whereas he lost only nine Footmen and one Hundred and Twenty Horse whom to incourage the rest he caused to be honourably buried and Statues were erected for them as for some memorable Commanders bestowing great Priviledges on their Relations and kindred After this Victory the greatest part of Asia submitted to him He also made many Wars with the Lieutenants of Darius whom he overcame not so much by Arms as the Terror of his name While he was thus Victorious he understood by a Captive that a Treason was contrived against him by Alexander Son in law to Antipater then the Kings Lieutenant in Macedonia but fearing if he should put him to death it might occasion some Tumult in Macedon he only confined him to Prison in Bonds After this he advanced to Gordium scituate between both the Phrygias which City he desired to be Master of not so much for the plunder as because he heard that in the Temple of Jupiter which was within it there was consecrated the Plough of Gordius the knots of whose cords if any could unlose the Oracle of Old had presaged he should reign over all Asia The Original of the Story was this When Gordius was ploughing in this Countrey with his Oxen great flights of Birds of all sorts flew round about him who going to the Southsayers and Astrologers of the next City to know the meaning he met at the Gate a Virgin of admirable Beauty and asking her whether he should go to be resolved of his doubt she having some knowledge her self in the Art by the instructions of her Parents told him That the Kingdom and Government of that Countrey was presaged to him thereby and offered him to be a companion of his good fortune by giving her self in Marriage to him He was unwilling to refuse so fair a condition which seemed the first felicity of his Kingdom After this Marriage a Sedition arose among the Phrygians and counsel being asked what would put an end to these mischiefs the Oracle replied That there was a necessity of a King And being again demanded who he should be answer was made That they should make him King whom they should find with a Plough entring into Jupiters Temple Gordeus was the man whom they presently saluted as their King who consecrated to Regal Majesty in that Temple the Plough by which the Kingdom was conferred upon him After him reigned his Son Midas who being instructed by Orpheus in the Solemnities of Worshipping their Gods he filled all Phrygia with Religion and Ceremonies by which during his life he was thought safer than by Arms. Alexander soon took the City and entring the Temple inquired for the Plough which being shewn him when he could not discover the ends of the Cords lying hid amongst the multiplicity of the foldings he gave a violent interpretation to the sense of the Oracle and cutting the cords asunder with his sword the knots were undone and he found the ends lying undiscovered in the Mystery of the Twists Mean while he heard of Darius approach with a formidable Army and fearing the danger of the Streights of Taurus he marcht speedily over that Mountain his Foot going five hundred Furlongs without Respite Coming to Tarsus and being taken with the pleasant River Cydnus running through that City he disarmed and covered with dust and sweat threw himself into it which was so very cold that it caused a Chilness and benuming in every joint which rendred him Speechless and made his condition very dangerous and the more because he had received letters that day from Cappadocia that Philip his chief Physician in whom he put most confidence was corrupted by Darius to destroy him However the case being desperate he ordered him to prepare a potion and having received the Cup he delivered these Letters to him and stedfastly beheld him as he drank the Physick and observing no alteration in his countenance in reading them he became more cheerful and in four days was perfectly recovered And now Darius advanced toward him with Three hundred thousand Foot and One hundred thousand Horse and though the multitude of his enemies did somewhat disturb him yet when he reflected what mighty Actions and what notable Conquests over many Nations he had performed with as few men he resumed his former courage but thought it necessary by no means to delay fighting least some discouragement might happen to his Soldiers and therefore riding through the midst of his Troops he by several Speeches and Orations endeavoured to confirm their valour teling them The World had no Souldiers comparable to them and that this one Battle would put an end to their labours but their glory and renown would remain for
of Body and Beautiful Armor of their Enemies The Persians were amazed to think how often so many thousands of them had been overcome with so few Soldiers Alexander bid his Soldiers Not be troubled at the multitude or strength of their Enemies but to consider this was the third time they had fought with them and that they were never the more valiant for flying away so often that they ought to despise an Army shining with Gold and Silver since their Iron would soon purchase it to themselves Then both Armies ingaging the Macedonians in contempt of the Enemy so often conquered threw themselves upon the Swords of their Adversaries and the Persians desired rather manfully to dye than be again defeated seldom more bloud was shed in any Fight Darius seeing his Forces routed would willingly have died himself but those next him compelled him to fly some perswaded him to break down the Bridge of Cydnus and stop the Enemies progress who answered That he would not provide for his safety so dishonourably by expesing so many thousands of his own Soldiers to the fury of the Enemy who ought to be allowed the same way to escape which lay open to himself Alexander was still personally present in the greatest difficulties and where the Enemy stood firmest he clapt in amongst them and made the most pressing dangers more his own than his Soldiers In this Battle he gained to himself the whole Empire of Asia in the fifth year of his reign so happily that none after durst Rebel the Persians whose Empire had continued so many years now patiently enduring the Yoke of Servitude His Soldiers refresht and rewarded the Booty being so great that they were thirty days in dividing it he found hid eleven thousand Talents and then took Persepolis the Chief Seat of the Kingdom renowned for many years and full of the spoils of the World which were now discovered in the destruction thereof At this place eight hundred Greeks who had been formerly taken Captive by the Persians came to Alexander with their dismembred Bodies desiring him as he had delivered Greece so he would likewise them from the Cruelty of their Enemies The King granted them to return home but they rather chose to be seated in some Plantation there least instead of joy they should present to their Parents the lamentable and loathed spectacle of themselves Mean time Darius was seized on by his own Kinsmen and Fettered in Golden Chains in a Parthian Town called Taneas thinking thereby to purchase savour of the Conqueror Alexander pursuing him full speed came to the same Town next day and was inform'd that Darius was by night carried away in a close Waggon Therefore ordering his Army to follow he pursued him with only seven thousand Horse encountring several dangers by the way and having run many miles without gaining any Intelligence of him he staid to refresh his Troops when one of his Soldiers going to the next Spring found Darius there bleeding through many wounds but yet alive who observing the Soldier to be a Persian Captive he said It was some comfort to him in his deplorable Misfortunes that he should speak to one who understood him and should not breath forth his last words in vain He desired him to represent to Alexander his real sense of the many obligations received from him which he was sorry he had not the happiness to return since he had demeaned himself toward his Mother and Children not as an Enemy but a King and that he was more happy in an Adversary than in his own kindred since Alexander had spared the Lives of his near Relations whereas his own Life was taken away by his Kinsmen to whom he had given both Life and Kingdoms for which he should receive that recompence which was due to a Conqueror All the return he could make him for his repeated savours was as a dying man to beseech the Powers above and the Powers below and the Gods that dispose of Scepters to bestow upon him the Empire of the whole World. For himself he desired to have rather a solemn than a sumptuous Funeral As to his death the revenge ought to be exemplary it being not only Alexanders but the common cause of all Kings and would be as dishonourable as dangerous to be passed over since hereby he might both declare his Justice and procure his future safety and in hope of his performing it He gave the Soldier his right hand the only pledge of the Faith of a King and soon after gave up the Ghost Alexander coming thither and hearing this Relation having beheld the miserable condition wherein he was with tears lamented his death so unworthy his former grandeur and commanded his Body to be Buried like a King among the Tombs of his Predecessors Alexander after this honoured the Souldiers he lost in pursuit of Darius with great suneral expences dividing fifteen thousand Talents among their surviving Companions He now received Intelligence that after his departure almost all Greece combined to recover their liberty in his absence the Lacedemonians leading the Van who despising the Peace with Philip and Alexander Agis their King became General of this War which insurrection Antipater supprest in the beginning though with great blood shed on both sides Agis making terrible slaughter of his Enemeis and sometimes driving whole Troops before him After the death of Darius Alexanders Souldiers did not doubt but the War was quite finished expecting nothing but a speedy return to their own Countrey and in their imagination already imbraced their Wives and Children when Alexander calling a General Council declared unto them That they had gained nothing by so many famous victories if their more Eastern Enemies were yet untouched neither did he make War to conquer the Person but the Empire of Darius and that those were to be pursued who fled away and revolted from him Having by this speech revived the courage of his men he subdued the Mardians and Hircanians In this place Thalestris or Minothea Queen of the Amazons addressed her self to him attended with three hundred Thousand Women having travelled twenty five days through many terrible Nations only as she sayd To have a son by so great a Conqueror Her countenance and the cause of her coming were the subject of much wonder both for the strangeness of her habit and request To satisfie which the King took thirty day leasure and when she thought she was with Child she took her leave and departed Alexander now assumed the habit and Diadem of the King of Persia as if tranformed into the fashions and Customs of the Conquered and to prevent envy commanded his friends likewise to wear long Robes of gold and purple and to imitate their Riot also he divided the night by turns among troops of Concubines admired both for birth and beauty adding thereto Feasts and Plays to compleat his Luxury which caused great indignation among his Commanders to see him so far degenerate from his Father
Philip that he did not care to have his own Countrey so much as mentioned being overcome with the same vices which were the overthrow of his Enemies yet he politickly permitted his Souldiers to marry those Women who were their Captives to make the War less tedious and their desires to abate of returning home and likewise that Macedonia might be the less exhausted with recruitâ— if young Souldiers born in the Camp should succeed their Old Fathers The Parthians being next subdued Andragoras a noble Persian was made their Govenor from whom the Kings of Parthia deriv'd their original In the mean time Alexander excercised his rage on his own men more like an Enemy than a King especially on those who upbraided him for subverting the Customs of his Countrey for which offence old Permenio next in dignity to the King and his Son Philotas though upon other pretences were put to death upon which murmurs rose throughout the Camp in compassion to these innocents and secrets whispers that they could hope for little better to themselves which being told Alexander he declared he would send some into Macedonia to give an account of his Conquests desiring his Souldiers to write freely to their Friends who were glad of such an opportunity This done he commanded the Letters to be secretly brought him whereby having discovered every mans opinion of him he reduced those who had writ severely into one Company with an intent either to destroy or distribute them into Colonies in the furthest parts of the World. He then subdued the Dracans and divers other Nations inhabiting at the foot of Mount Caucasus when Bessus one of the Favorites of Darius was brought bound in chains who not only betrayd but kill'd his King whom Alexander delivered to the brother of Darius to be tormented in revenge of his Treason And to leave his name in those remote Countreys he built a City which he named Alexandria on the River Tanais within seventeen days making a Wall about it of six miles compass and transplanting thither the people of three Citys adjacent built by Cyrus He likewise built twelve Citys amongst the Bactrians and Sogdians wherein he placed all whom he found seditious in his Army After this one Holyday he called his chief Captains together to a Banquet where mention being made of the exploits perform'd by Phillip Alexander preferred himself above his Father and extolled his own Atchievements to the skies the greatest part of his guests assenting thereto but Clytus an Old Commander upon confidence of the Kings Friendship still persisted to magnifie the actions of Philip which so inflam'd Alexander that snatching a spear from one of the Guard he killed him at the Feast and insulted over his Dead body but his Passion being abated he heartily repented of that rash action lamenting his innocent Old Friend whom Wine and Gluttony had thus destroyed and would have done execution upon himself for the same had not his Friends prevented him Yet melting into tears he imbraced the dead Body handled his wounds and confessed to him his madness as if alive and taking the spear again into his hands he had certainly slain himself if the attendants had not interposed This resolution to dye continued with him several days after The remembrance of his Nurse who was Sister to Clytus still renewed his griefe for making her so cruel a recompence for the nourishment she had given him and that being a young man and a Conqueror he should requite her who brought him up in her arms with Bloud and Murder He then reflected on the disgrace this act would procure him both in his own Army and the Conquered Nations appearing now more terrible among his Friends at a Banquet than being armed in the face of his Enemies then Permenio and Philotas and all the Princes he had destroyed in Macedon represented themselves to his memory for which he abstained four days from eating a bit of meat till he was at last prevaild on by the Prayers of the whole Army desiring him not so much to resent the death of one as thereby to destroy them all nor to forsake those whom he had brought into the utmost parts of the East among barbarous and cruel Nations sufficiently provoked by his invasions The perswasions of Calisthenes the Philosopher and his familiar acquaintance prevailed much upon him being bred up with him in the School of Aristotle and whom he sent for on purpose to record his Conquests and Victorys Having therefore resolv'd to pursue the War he took several Nations who submitted to him into his protection Yet not long after to render himself still more hateful he commanded That he would not only be Worshipped but adored which was the only thing he had forborn in his proud imitation of the Persian Kings Calisthenes was the most resolute opposor of this innovation which ruined both him and divers other Princes of Macedon who were all put to death under pretence of Treason Yet would not the Macedons submit to adoration but retained their ancient custom of saluting their King. He next marcht into India to bound his Empire with the Ocean and the farthest East and to make himself and his Army more renowned he covered the trappings of their Horses and the arms of his Souldiers with Silver When he came to the City of Nysa the in habitants made no resistance because of their religious confidence in the assistance of their God Bacchus by whom that City was built which he commanded should be spared that he might follow the footsteps of their Deity He then led his Army to see the Holy Hill of Bacchus which was clothed with Vines and Ivy so naturally and elegantly as if adorned by the hand and industry of the Planter From hence he marcht to the Hills of Dedalus and the kingdom of Queen Cleophis who yeilding to him without resistance received back her Kingdom redeeming it by exposing her self to his pleasure and obtaining that by wantonness which she could never have recovered by force of Arms She called her Son then begotten by him Alexander who after enjoy'd the Kingdom of the Indians she was afterward called by her subjects The Royal Harlot Having marcht almost through all India he came at length to a Rock as wonderful for its bigness as ascent into which many Nations fled for security and understood that Hercules was by an Earthquake hindred from taking it Being thereupon transported with ambition to transcend the Actions and labours of Hercules he with almost infinite difficulty and danger became came Master of it and took into his protection all the Nations thereabout One of the Indian Kings named Porus was as admirable for his strength of Body as greatness of Mind who having notice of Alexanders advance prepared an Army to entertain him The Battles being joyned he damanded of the Macedons their King being resolved as a private Enemy to fight with him hand to hand Alexander made no delay to answer him and in the first
caused Cato to be halled violently out of the Senate and committed for only interrupting him and others were made sensible of his least displeasure He then married Calphurnia the Daughter of Piso by which alliance he still grew greater and had a Triumph a lowed him for conquering Gallia now Franâ—â— with which advancement he was so elated thaâ— a while after in a full Assembly he boasted 〈◊〉 had laid his Enemies on their backs His atchievements during the nine years wherein 〈◊〉 had the principal command of the Army weâ—â— generally these He reduced into a Province thaâ— part of France which lies between the Pyreneaâ— Mountains the Alps the Mountains Gerbennâ— the Rhyne and the Rhosne containing thrâ—â— thousand two hundred Miles in circumference imposing a vast Tribute upon all the greaâ— Towns and Cities He was the first of all thâ— Romans who built a Bridge over the Rhinâ— assailed the Germans on the other side the Riveâ— and gave them several considerable defeats He invaded the Brittains likewise who werâ— till then unknown and having over-run them in a short time forced them to give him Hostages and Contribution Amongst all the Variety and Greatness of his Enterprizes he never had ill fortune but thrice First upon the Coasts of Brittain where his whole Fleet had like to have miscarried by storm The Second in France where one of his Legions was intirely cut off and the third on the Frontiers of Germany where two of his Lieutenants were circumvented by an Ambuscade and defeated At this time the Commonwealth was in great consternation and the Senate resolving â—o create but one Consul which should be Pomâ—ey Caesar prevailed with the Tribunes who were endeavouring to make him his Colleague that they should propose to the People That in respect of his absence upon Publick affairs they would make him capable of being chosen again when his Consulship was out lâ—st otherwise he should be constrained to leave the Wars he had so prosperously begun unfinished Having succeeded in his desires his hopes were inlarged with his Designs there was no kind of Bounty or Munificence which he omitted to all people He began to build the Town-Hall with the Spoils of his Enemies paying a vast Sum for the Ground and having published a solemn Sword-play and made a Feast to the People in memory of his Daughter he not only imployed all the Cooks and Victuallers of the City to provide what they could get but made vast preparations likewise at home He doubled the pay of his Souldiers forever He endeavoured to continue his friendship with Pompey by promising him Octavia his sisters Grandaughter in Marriage He obliged all Persons about Pompey and most of the Senators either by giving or lending them mony upon very reasonable Terms He ingratiated himself with the rest by frequent invitations or noble Presents not forgetting to let their Servants partake of his bounty according to their interest with their Masters All Criminals Debtors and Prodigalâ— had their Sanctuary in him provided their Crimes Debts and Necessities were not beyond his relief in which case he used plainly to tell them They had nothing to pray for but a Civil War. Nor was he less studious in insinuating into Forreign Princes and Provinces To some he would make Presents of a thousand Prisoners at once To others he would send as many and great supplies as he pleased without consent or Authority of Senate or People He likewise beautified and adorned the most eminent Cities in Italy France Spain Asia and Greece with their most considerable Buildings Till at length all being amazed to see whither these things should tend Mrcellus the Consul proposed to the Senate to name a Successor to Caesar before his time was expired because the War being finished and Peace restored it would be convenient to disband the Army which was accordly done though opposed by the Tribunes and Caesar was likewise deprived of the Provinces over which he was Governor Caesar being netled at the fierce opposition against him humbly addrest to the Senate That either that Favour and Priviledge of the people might be made good to him or that all other Generals might lay down their Commands intending thereby that Pompey the Senates General should dismiss his Forces and hoping that he could afterward sooner raise a new Army than Pompey But the Senate not thinking it fit to capitulate with a Subject Caesar went into the lower part of France resolving to oppose with his Sword whatever Decree the Senate should make against the intercession of the Tribunes of the People who were of his Party and this was his pretence for the Bloody Civil Wars that followed though Pompey use to say That not being able to finish these publick Buildings which he had begun with so much magnificence nor to satisfy the expectations of the People with his private Estate he resolved to put all things into confusion Others say he was jealous of being questioned for what he had done illegally in his first Consulship contrary to the Laws and Remonstrances of the Tribuns and the rather because Cato had solemnly sworn to impeach him as soon as ever he parted from his Army and it was generally said That if he return'd as a private Persoâ— they would handle him as they did Milo and make him answer before the Judges with strong Guards about him which seems the more probable by what he said at the Battle of Pharsalia when he saw his Adversaries run This is their own doings I my self must have been condemned after so many Noble exploits had I not beg'd the assistance of my Army Some said that having been so long used to command and cunningly computing his own and Enemies power he laid hold of that occasion to usurp that power which he had long before designed since he had often in his Mouth two Verses of Euripedes Nam si violandum est jus c. Ne're stand on Justice when the Stake's a Crown In lesser things pretend Religion When he had Intelligence that the intercession of the Tribunes was ineffectual and that they were gone out of Rome he made bold with a Bakers Mules and instantly clapt them into his Charriot and after Sun-set travelled with great privacy through by-lanes to his Troops on the Banks of Rubicon whither being come he stood still a while ruinating upon the Enterprize he was undertaking at last turning to those next him he said Thus far we are safe and may return if we please if we pass but this Bridge me shall have nothing to trust to but our Arms. While he stood doubting there appeared to him a Person of a Remarkable Stature and Beauty sitting hard by him and playing upon a Reed not only the Shepherds but several of the Souldiers ran to hear him and some Trumpeters among the rest which being observed by this Piper he suddenly snatch a Trumpet out of one of their hands and leaping instantly into the Water he sounded a charge which he
our dearest bloud and life In the mean time the Kings Commissioners pressing every one to declare himself one of the Jews whether induced by terror or reward steps forth from among the people to sacrifice according to the command of the King wherewith Matthias inflamed with Zeal was so displeased that he and his Sons fell upon him and hewed him in pieces they also slew Apollos the Kings Captain and other Souldiers who withstood them Then he overthrew the Altar and with a loud voice said All that are affected to the Laws of their Fathers and the Service of God let them follow me Whereupon many of them retired with their Wives and Children into the Desarts and Caves but were soon pursued and overtaken by the Kings Captains who again renewed their perswasions to them to offer Sacrifice to the Idols which the Jews absolutely refusing and resolving rather to die than commit such Impiety these bloudy Persecutors assaulted them on the Sabbath day and burnt them in their Caves who neither resisted nor defended themselves lest they should prophane the Sabbath Some thousands of Men Women and Children were there destroyed yet divers escaped who joyned themselves with Matthias and chose him for their Captain who then inform'd them that they might lawfully fight on the Sabbath if they were assaulted else they were guilty of their own deaths And having assembled a sufficient number he destroyed the Heathen Altars and slew those who had forsaken their Religion commanding them to circumcise their Children and driving from every place those whom Antiochus had appointed to see the Laws executed Having thus governed one year he fell sick and perceiving his death to approach he sent for his five Sons John Simeon Judas Maccabeus Eleazer and Jonathan whom he earnestly exhorted to follow his steps its maintaining the Law of God and fighting for their Countrey assuring them of the divine assistance which never fails those who love and fear God but taking pleasure in their virtues will grant them favour to recover their former liberty and peace And saith he God will establish you in the possession of your ancient Laws and though our bodies are mortal and subject to death yet the memory of our virtuous actions will remain to eternity never doubt therefore to venture your lives in so good a Cause but above all I exhort you to love and concord and whatever you find any one most apt and fitted for let him prosecute the same without contradiction from the rest I charge you to obey your brother Simeon a politick and valiant man in what ever he shall Counsel you but make Judas Maccabeus your Captain who is couragious and strong for he shall revenge the injuries and outrages that have been done to our Nation and shall put your Enemies to flight Assist him therefore like men of valour and such as fear God and thereby you shall be sure to prevail Soon after Matthias gave up the Ghost and Judas Maccabâ—us was made General who by the assistance of his Brethren and other Jews drove the Enemy out of the Country and cleansed the Land of Idolatry Which when Apollonius the General of Antiochus in Samaria heard he invaded Judea Against whom Maccabeus went forth and in a terrible Battle overthrew and killed Apollonius taking his Camp and therein a very rich Booty together with his Sword. After this Seron Governour of Coelosyria with the assistance of many Apostate Jews marcht against Judas to Bâ—thoron who observing his Souldiers discouraged by their great numbers and because they had fasted so long and were thereby disabled he incouraged them saying That Victory did not consist in numbers of men but in their Devotion toward God who had so assisted their Forefathers that with small Forces they had often defeated many thousands of their Enemies They were hereby so prevail'd upon that without sear of their multitude they ran all upon Sevon routed his Army and slew him together with eight hundred of the Syrians the rest escaping by flight Antiochus inraged at this defeat commanded Lysias the Governour of Egypt to go with a very strong Army and conquer Judea and then to sell the Inhabitants for Slaves to those that would give most and utterly to destroy and ruine Jerusalem Lysias having this command sent Prolomy Nicanor and Gorgias men of great Authority about the King with Forty thousand Foot and Seven thousand Horse to invade Judea who marching to the City of Emaus greatly increased their Forces Judas having viewed the Camp and number of his Enemies exhorted his Souldiers to repose their confidence and hope of Victory in God alone appointing likewise a Fast to humble themselves before God by supplications and prayers in such a time of extream danger and assuring them that God would have compassion on them and strengthen them to put their Adversaries to shamâ— Next day he mustered his Army discharging all who were newly married or had lately bought Possessions according to the Law and then spake thus to the rest Countrymen and Companions we had never more occasion to express our Courage and contemn Dangers than at this present For if you now fight valiantly you may in this one Battle recover your Liberties whereby you will have opportunity again to serve the True God and live a happy life But if you prove Cowards in this Encounter you will be branded with perpetual Infamy and indanger the utter extirpation of your Nation Consider therefore that if you fight not you must die and on the contrary assure your selves that in fighting for your Religion Laws and Liberties you shall obtain Immortal Glory Be ready Theerfore in the morning to give your mortal Enemies Battle Immediately news was brought him that a strong party of Horse and Foot were design'd to falâ— on him that night whereupon Maccabeus suddenly resolved to break into the Enemies Army the same night while they were so divided Having therefore refreshed himself and his Army and leaving many Fires in his Camp to deceive the Enemy he marcht all night to seek them out Gorgias finding the Jews had forsaken their Camp imagined that they were fled to the Mountains for fear and deligently pursued them But in the morning Judas with only three thousand men ill armed shewed himself to the Enemy at Emaus and having observed their posture he perswaded his men To fight Valiantly since he was certain God would deliver their Enemies into their hands and thereupon causing his Trumpets to sound he fell upon them with such fury and resolution that being absolutely affrighted and surprized they instantly gave ground and having slain such as resisted he pursued the rest to the Plains of Idumea In this fight three thousand of the Enemy were Killed yet would he not suffer his Souldiers to take the spoil telling them that they were still to fight with Gorgias and his Army whom when by Gods help they had beaten they should then securely inrich themselves with the booty Gorgias and his
happened between them and the Saxons thereabout but Winter â—oming on they gave up themselves to drinking banuetring and other voluptuous pleasures so that when they harcht into the Field next Summer they were unable to â—ndure the labours and Fatigues of War and for several ears performed very little Service At length Arthur concluded a League with Loth King of â—icts whereby it was agreed That Arthur during his life â—ould be King of Brittain and after his discease the Kingâ—on should descend to Mordred the eldest son of Loth and his â—eirs That the Picts should at all times assist the Brittains against the Saxons and should freely possess all such Lands as â—bey recovered from them beyond the River Humber â—hat they should duly observe the League which was maâ—â— between them and the Scots That Mordred should marry the Daughter of Gawolan a Noble Brittain and next to Arthur himself That the Children of this marriage should be brought up by their Grand-father in Brittain till they came to years of discretion That Gawan the Brother of Mordred should serve King Arthur in his Wars for which he should receive large possessions and rewards Arthur having concluded this League and being desirous to purge this Island of the Heathenish Saxons he sent to the Kings of Scotland and Pictland requiring them That for the advancement of Christs Religion which they professed and owned they should forthwith assemblâ— their Forces and meet him at Tynmouth at a day appointed that so they might join together and march against their commoâ— Enemies the Saxons These two Kings presently consented to this so reasonable request and in a few days meeting with the Brittains they presently marcht altogether against the Saxons whom they understood were already in the Feild under Occa their General ready to receive them Both Armies approaching each other Colgern Duke 〈◊〉 Northumberland rid up to the very Front of the Picts Army where he severely reproached Loth and his Nobility 〈◊〉 their breach of Friendship with the Saxons and told theâ— he did not doubt but suddenly to see some just judgmenâ— fall upon them for their Treachery and Falshood 〈◊〉 thus joining with their former Enemies against theâ— most trusty Friends and constant Allies The Pictish King being mayed hereat commandeâ— his Standards to advance neither were the Saxons idâ—â— so that the Skirmish began which Arthur perceiving commanded the Brittans to ingage so that there immediately followed a terrible slaughter The Scots in thâ— right wing killing Childrick an eminent Saxon Captain quickly discomfited them on that side Colgern earnesly desiring to be revenged of King Loth rushed in up him with such violence that at the first encounter threw him to the ground but instantly two Pictish Heremen coming on one side of Colgern ran him quite throuâ—â— the body Loth soon recovered himself but Colgern beâ— dead his men were so disheartned that they presenâ— ran away Arthur perceiving the main battel of 〈◊〉 Saxons was now left naked pressed â—n so violently up Ocea that having received a desperate wound 〈◊〉 escaped out of the battle but being at length brought to the Sea side he got into a Ship and escaped into Germany This Victory being thus obtained the Saxons were forc'd to submit themselves to King Arthur who offered them pardon as to life and goods if they would turn Christians and never hereafter ingage against their Neighbours the Brittains Scots and Picts which if they would not consent to he commanded them that leaving their Arms and goods behind they should upon pain of death depart the Kingdom within fourteen days Hereupon many Saxons went over to Germany others pretending to be Christians still remained hoping for better fortune Several who continued after the time appointed and refused to be baptized were put to death according to the proclamation so that very few were thought to profess he Christian Faith sincerely All things thus quieted in Northumberland Arthur repaired several Churches in York and other places which had been ruined and defaced by the barbarous Infidels Next year he had notice that the Saxons who inhabited the Isle of Wight joining with those in Kent had fallen upon the Brittains on that side the Thames killing and destroying a great number of them whereat being much moved he hasted toward Lonaon with his Forces resolving utterly to root out the East and South Saxons since his Subjects could never be secure so long as that wicked generation remained amongst them In pursuance of the League he had Twenty Thousand Picts and Scots in this expedition Eugenius Nephew to King Congal and Mordred Son of King Loth being their General Then marching forward he incamped in the Field near the Thames and himself with some of his Nobility going to London caused prayers to be made to Almighty God three days together for their good success against the Saxons on the fourth day Divine Service being celebrated by the Bishop of London and a Sermon preached in the Market place he committed himself and his whole Army to the tuition and protection of Jesus Christ and then issuing out of the City he exhorted his Souldiers to be of good courage since they were to fight in a just quarrel against Pagans and the implacable enemies of the Christian Faith. Morderd and Gawolan his Father in Law marched in the front with five thousand Horse and being come within five miles of the Saxons Camp there came Ambassadors to King Arthur desiring him not to proceed any further since if he pleased they were willing to depart the Land with their goods and substance without further molesting the Brittains ever hereafter But Arthur would not consent hereto neither would so much as allow them a Truce for three days which they earnestly desired only he told them that he would not march above two miles that day so that if they came again next morning he would in the mean time consult with his Nobility and Captains what answer to give to their request Whilst the Brittains were busied about the news these Ambassadors brought the Saxons suddenly marching out of their Camp fell with much violence upon the Forces of Mordred and Gawolan of whom they killed a great number in that surprize though by their exhortations their men made the utmost resistance so small a company could against the multitude of their Enemies by whom being at length opprest they were forced to fly not resting till they came to the rest of the Army Mordred and Gawolan by the help of fresh Horses made their escape without hurt though many of their followers were killed in the Fight and Chase The Saxon Ambassadors being not yet gone out of the Camp were hereupon secured till next morning and then sent back with this answer That the Brittains were resolved for the future never to treat with any Messengers free the Saxons about Peace since it is apparent they designed nothing but treachery and falshood having contrary to the Laws of Arâ—â— unworthily fallen upon the
who hearing that Constantine was proclaimed Prince was much disturbed and sent Ambassadors to Arthur to complain that contrary to the honour of a King he by proclaiming Constantine his Heir had broken the League between himself and his Father and endeavoured to defeat him of his rightful Inheritance desiring him not so easily to consent to the perswasions of the Brittains as thereby to violate the Laws both of God and man and admonishing him yet to observe the League which he had solemnly sworn to and to perswade his Subjects to do the like lest they should provoke the wrath of Almighty God against them who is a just revenger of the breach of all Oaths Leagues and Covenants To this the Nobles of Brittain answered That the League concluded between Arthur and Loth endered but for their Lives and was determined upon the death of either of them and therefore Arthur had done nothing but according to the duty of a Prince who tendred the peace and happiness of his Subjects in providing one of their own Nation to succeed him thereby to prevent the Realm from falling into the hands of strangers which they could by no means suffer Therefore if the Picts loved their Weal Security it would be good for them to be contented with their own Bounds and Dominions since if they should attempt to gain other mens Estates and Territories they would be forced in a short time to see the mischievous Consequences of such ill advised undertakings The Ambassadors of Pictland returning with this Answer the whole Nation were so stirr'd with indignation that they resolved immediately to revenge their wrongs by open War But first they endeavoured to procure the Scots to assist them and sending Ambassadors to Eugenius then King of Scotland he readily agreed to their requests upon pretence that some Scotch Rebels who fled to Arthur were received by him and likewise suffered to make In roads into Scotland Arthur having notice of these Transactions and War being Proclaimed against him he first secured the Sea coasts with consâ—derable forces to prevent the Landing of the Saxons if they should attempt it And then marched with the rest of his Army as far as the River Humber near the Banks whereof he pitcht his Tents a place formerly fatal for the overthrow of the Brittains expecting the Scots and Picts who in a short time came up to them and both Armies were in sight ready to ingage each other when certain Bishops of all the three Nations riding to and fro took great pains to perswade the Kings to Peace and Concord especially since what they were going to try with the Sword and the loss of much Bloud and many Lives might as well be composed by an Amicable and Friendly Agreement Neither could they better gratifie the Saxons the common Enemies to the Christian Religion than by weakning and destroying each other to make way for them to Conquer all together Mordred and Eugenius were induced by these carnest exhortations to refer the differences to some indifferent Persons and presently to lay down their arms upon assurance that the League with King Loth should be faithfully observed Arthur was also content for his part to have agreed thereto but the other Brittains especially the Kindred and Allies of Constantine utterly refused it and gave divers reproachful words to the Bishops for their unseasonable interposing since they were already ranged in battel so that it might be doubted they designed to betray their Army to their Enemies under pretence of an unprofitable agreement After this both Parties ingaged with great fury but the Brittains had such disadvantage by the place where they stood which was full of Mire Bogs and Mosses that they could neither advantagiously defend themselves nor offend their Enemies yet the Battel continued a long time with the slaughter of so many men that the river Humbâ—r near which it was fought grew red with bloud and carried a multitude of dead bodies into the Sea. In the heat of the sight a subtil Scot cryed out with a loud voice in the Brittish tongue that Arthur and most of his Nobility were slain and it was therefore in vain to resist any longer or hope for Victory but better for every man to shift for himself and endeavour to make his escape This news wonderfully incouraged the Scots and Picts but the Brittains were so much astonished at it that the greatest partinstantâ— fled away Others judging it only a crafty device to discourage them continued to make the utmost resistance till they were overpowred and almost every man slain This Victory was veryhardly got and cost more lives than any other for many years before for of the Scots and Picts who won the Feild there were killed above Twenty Thousand together with King Mordred and abundance of the Nobility of both Nations Of the Brittains and their confederates in the fight and pursuit above thirty thousand fell and among them King Arthur himself and Gawan brother to Mordred who had such an intire affection for his Lord and Master Arthur that he fought couragiously on his side that day against his own brother Mordred Gawan and most part of the Brittish Nobility were likewise slain Next day the Camp was plundred and among other rich spoyls Guyniver King Arthurs Wife with a great number of other Ladys and Gentlewomen were taken Prisoners though she and some others were afterward redeemed upon ransom This Bloudy Battel was fought in the year of our Lord 542. the 26 year of the reign of King Arthur and so much weakned both the Picts Scots and Brittains that they could not recover their losses in man years The same year many strange Prodigies were seen The Grass and Herbs in Yorkshire were stained with Bloud Near Camelon a Cow brought forth a Calf with two heads and an Ewe brought forth a Lamb of both Sexes The Sun for several days appeared like Bloud The Sky was full of bright Stars at noon divers days together In Wales there was a Battel between the Crows and Magpies on one side and the Ravens on the other and great slaughter was made on each side The Body of this famous Worthy was buried at Glassenbury in Somersetshire in the Church yard and discovered in the reign of King Henry the second who being informed by a Welch Ministrel that could sing many Historys in Welch of the Acts of the ancient Brittains declared that Arthurs Body was there buried Sixteen foot deep between two Pillars lest his Enemies the Saxons should have found him Henry caused the place to be dug up After they had digged about seven Foot they found a mighty broad Stone with a leaden Cross fastened to that part which lay downward with this Inscription Hic jacet Sepultus inclytus Rex Arthurus in Insulae Avaloniae Here lieth the renowned King Arthur in the Isle of Avalonia His Body was inclosed in a great Tree made hollow whith being opened his Bones appeared of a very great bigness his
ever Darius on the other side was no less industrious admonishing his men not to forgot the ancient Glory of the Persian Empire and of their everlasting possession of it which was granted them by the Immortal Gods. After this the Battle was fought with great resolution in which both Kings were wounded and the Victory was doubtful till Darius fled thereupon there followed a great slaughter of the Persians threescore and ten thousand Foot and ten thousand Horse being slain and forty thousand taken Prisoners Of the Macedons were slain one Hundred and Thirty Foot and one hundred and fifty Horse Much Gold and other rich moveables were found in the Persian Camp and among the Captives there were the Mother and Wife of Darius and his two Daughters to comfort whom when Alexander came in person with some Souldiers they imbracing one onother expecting present death made a Screaking lamentation then humbling themselves to the knees of Alexander they desired not life but only a reprieve till they had buried Darius Alexander moved at their Piety assured them he was alive and to remove from them the fear of death commanded they should be honoured as Queens and that the daughters should chuse them Husbands according to their Quality After which observing the riches and precious furniture of Darius he was possest with admiration and then first began to delight in luxurious Banquets and Feasts and to be tempted by the Beauties of Barsinoe his Captive on whom he begot a Son named Hercules But considering Darius was yet alive he commanded Parmenio to seize upon the Persian Fleet and sent other Commanders to take possession of some Citys in Asia who soon delivered themselves up with vast Sums of Gold upon the same of this great Victory He then advanced into Syria where many Kings of the East with Fillets and Miters met him some of whom he received as Friends others he deprived of their Kingdoms preferring new Kings and among others Abdolominus was by him chosen King of Sidonia who before lived miserably his only imployment being to scour Ditches and water Gardens Alexander rejecting the Nobility least they should impute their Royalty to their birth and not his generosity The Citizens of Tyre sending him a weighty Crown of Gold on pretence of gratifying him the gift was gratefully accepted and the Ambassadors were told He would come thither himself and pay his vows to Hercules Who alleging he might perform that better in the Old Town of Tyre in the ancient Church he was so incensed that he threatned utterly to destroy their City and immediately drawing his Army to the Island was resolutely received by the Tyrians who depended on assistance from Carthage but that failing they were not long after surprized by Treachery and destroyed He then took Rhodes Egypt and Cilicia upon composition and resolved to visit the Temple of Jupiter Hamon to inquire of future events and of his own Original since his Mother Olympias had confessed to his Father Philip that Alexander was not begot by him but by a vast great Serpent and Philip a little before his death openly declared That Alexander was not his Son and divorced Olympias as guilty of incontinence Alexander therefore being ambitious of being a God and to free his Mother from disgrace sent some before hand with presents to the Priests ordering them what answers they should return so that entring the Temple they instantly saluted him as the Son of Hamon who being joyful of this adoption by this Deity commanded that Jupiter Hamon should be esteemed his Father He then demanded Whether full Revenge had been taken of his Fathers Murtherers It was answered That his Father could neither be killed nor dye but the Revenge for King Philip was fully perform'd In Answer to a third demand it was said That both Victory in all Wars and the possession of all Lands was granted to him His Commanders and Intimates were likewise enjoyn'd by the Priest to worship him as a God and not as a King. From hence he was possessed with wonderful insolence and pride altogether estranging himself from his former familiarity learnt of the Graecians and Macedonians He then built Alexandria and setled a Colony of Macedons there commanding it should be the Chief City of Egypt Darius flying to Babylon sent Letters to Alexander offering him a vast sum of money for redeeming the Captive Ladies who returned answer That to redeem them he must not only give his money but his Empire Darius soon after writ again proposing his Daughter in Marriage and a great part of the Empire but Alexander writ back That he gave him only what was his own before and commanded him to come as a Suppliant to him and to permit the Conqueror to dispose of the Kingdom at his own pleasure Darius hereby dispairing of Peace prepared again for War and advanced against Alexander with four hundred thousand Foot and one hundred thousand Horse In his march he was informed his Wife was dead and that Alexander had been extreamly kind to her and the rest lamenting her death and assisting at her Funeral and that he often went to comfort his Mother and Daughters whereat he confessed He was truly Conquered since after so many Battles his Enemy had likewise overcome him in kindness and that it was some comfort to him in his Misery to be subdued by so gallant an Adversary He thereupon writ the third time to him giving him many thanks for his Civil Respects to his Family offering his other Daughter and the greater part of his Kingdom even to the River Euphrates and thirty thousand Talents for the other Captives Alexander answered That giving thanks to an Enemy was superfluous neither had he done any thing either for Flattery fear of future events or in hope of peace but out of the greatness of his mind whereby he had learnt to contend against the Forces but not the calamities of his Enemies He promised to allow the same grants to Darius if he would be his second not his equal but as the World could not be governed by two Suns no more could it endure the Government of two such great Empires in a safe condition therefore said he Come if you will and this very day surrender your self to me or else prepare for Battle the next wherein you have no reason to promise your self any beter success than you have already found Next day both Armies stood ready to fight at which instant Alexander possest with too much care fell into a deep sleep and was hardly waked by Parmenio and all admiring that he who slept little should now be overcome therewith in so great danger he replied That his being delivered from a great fear was the occasion of it since now he was to fight with all the Forces of Darius at once being before afraid the War would be delayed should the Persians have divided their Army Before the Battle both Armies viewed each other the Macedons admired the multitude greatness
he had Married Caesars Daughter for whose sake he had put away his own wife though he had three Children by her and they were wont in Passion to call him Adulterer But his greatest affection was for Servitia the Mother of Brutus presenting her with a Pearl of a very vast value suffering her to purchase Lands at a very low rate Nor did he abstain from the Ladys in the Provinces where he commanded if we may believe what the Souldiers sung at his Gallick Triumph Look to your Wives our bald-pate Fornicator Will cuckold you See therefore to the matter His Money 's spent in France He 's now come home At the Old Rate to borrow more at Rome He was likewise inamoured of several Queens as Eunoe wife of the King of Mauritania and others but his chiefest Passion was for Cleopatra with whom he would oft entertain himself till next morning passing with her in the same Barge or Pleasure-boat into Egypt almost as far as Ethiopia and had doubtless gone through had not his Army mutined and refused to follow him He after invited her to Rome and sent her back with many Honours and Rewards He permitted her to call a Son of hers by his name who its said did exactly resemble him That he was temperate in drinking his very Enemies confess Cato's saying was That he was the only sober man ever went about to subvert the Government of the State. In his Diet he was so indifferent that being at a publick Entertainment where ill Oyl was brought up instead of good the rest refusing to touch it he eat very heartily lest otherwise he should upbraid his Host of poverty or neglect He abstained from no way of getting Money in his Civil and Military Commands and maintained his Civil Wars Triumphs and shews by all manner of Rapine and Sacriledge In Eloquence and Martial Conduct he excelled the best of his Predecessors none being more pungent nor frequent in his Sentences or more Neat and Elegant in his words He writ the Commentaries of his own Actions in the Wars of France and against Pompey in so Judicious Eloquent and Modest a Stile as justly makes it a question whether he writ or fought with the greater Spirit At his Weapon and riding the Great Horse he was excellently expert and in labour most indefatigable marching constantly at the head of his Army both on Horseback and a foot always with his head bare in all weathers His diligence was so incredible that upon an expedition he would go fifty Leagues a day in a Hackney Chariot swimming over Rivers if any were in his way or else passing over with blown Bladders so as he out-ran all Intelligence of him In his Martial undertakings it is doubtful whether he used more Caution or Courage he never marched his Army in any dangerous ways till he had first throughly discovered them Before his landing in England he himself surveyed the Ports and Acesses to go into that Island Having notice that his Camp was Besieged in Germany he passed the Enemies Guards disguised like a Frenchman and came safe to their relief No Religious scruple ever hindered his designs when he went against Juba the Beast ran away just as it was to be Sacrificed which was thought an ill Omen yet he valued it not As he was getting out of the Ship he fell to the ground but perverting the bad presage he cried out I take possession of thee O Africk When he saw any Battle doubtful he dismounted his Troopers and sent away all their Horses and his own first that it being impossible to escape they might either Fight or Dye He rid upon a most remarkable Horse whose Feet were almost like a Mans the Hoofs being cloven to the Toes he bred him up from a Colt with great care because the Astrologers declared That Horses Master should have the Empire of the World Neither would the Horse suffer any Body upon him but Caesar who back't him himself He several times restored the Battle when it was almost lost by opposing himself against them that fled taking them by the Throats and forcing their Faces toward the Enemy After the Battle of Pharsalia going to Sea in a Bark by himself he met with ten of the Enemies Ships and stoutly commanded them to yield which they instantly performed At the Siege of Alexandria as he was attempting the Bridge the Enemy made a desperate Sally and forced him into a Boat into which others throwing themselves he leapt into the Sea and swam two hundred paces to the next Ship though he held his left hand above water to preserve some Papers and haled his Generals Robe after him with his Teeth lest it should fall into his Adversaries hands He considered his Souldiers neither by their Qualities nor Wealth but their Courage and Strength using them all alike with the same severity and indulgence and would oft give them false Alarms If they were at any time discouraged with the report of the number of their Enemies he would not lessen but increase their number above what was true As upon the approach of Juba whose power was terrible to them he called them together and said Know that in few days Juba will be here with ten Legions thirty Thousand men at Arms an hundred Thousand Horse and three hundred Elephants Therefore let every one forbear to inquire or concern himself further for I am sufficiently informed and if any presume to discourage you I will put him into the oldest Ship I can get expose him to the mercy of the Winds and Flouds He neither took notice of all faults nor punished them alike Those that were seditious or deserted their Colours he punisht severely After a Victory he would abate his strict Discipline suffering all their Riot and Luxury boasting often That his Souldiers could fight in their very perfumes He used to call them his Companions and Fellow Souldiers and kept them always brave in Arms shining with Gold and Silver that they might fight more stoutly if but to save their Armor he loved them so well that hearing of the defeat of his party under Titurius he let his Beard and Hair grow for indignation till he was throughly revenged By which obliging carriage his Souldiers had such an entire affection for him that when he first undertook the Civil wars there was not a Captain in his Legions but offered to find him a Horse out of their own pay neither did any forsake him and though taken by the Enemies and offered their lives to take up Arms against him chose rather to dye They indured hunger and other extremities of War with extraordinary constancy and when repulsed at Dyracchium they came and offered themselves to be punished So that Caesar had more trouble to comfort than correct them During his ten years War in Gaul they never mutined in his Civil Wars but seldom and then returned presently to their duty After he had made himself Emperor he advanced Persons of
for his Death The Children likewise lamented because in their tender years they had understood the virtue and samous Acts of Moses Who beholding their affection could not restrain himself from Tears Afterward he walked toward the place where he was to die and they all followed him weeping when beckoning to them to stand still and not afflict him any longer with their griefs having appointed Joshua to be his Successor to head the Armies against the Canaanites according to the Command of God and laid his hands on him he went accompanied only with him and Eleazer the High Priest up to the Mount Abarim which is very high and from whence he could discover the greatest part of the Land of Canaan where taking his last leave of Joshua and Eleazer with many endearing imbraces on a sudden a Cloud incompassed him and he was carried into a certain Valley where he died and was buried The whole time of his Life was a hundred and twenty years the third part whereof he spent in governing this great People In Counsel and Judgment he had no equal In Eloquence he was incomparable His skill in War made him renowned amongst the greatest Captains and no man had the gift of Prophecy in so great a degree for his words seemed as so many Oracles and as if inspired by God himself The People mourned for him thirty days with real grief and trouble In short he left behind him a great estimation among all who were acquainted with his Virtues and Graces After Moses was taken from among men and the time of mourning past Joshua a man in whom was the Spirit of wisdom commanded the People to prepare and march forward to battel Sending spies to Jericho to sound their minds and discover their Forces and then raising his Camp he proceeded toward the River Jordan And the Princes of the Tribes of Reuben and Gad and of the half Tribe of Manasses to whom the Countrey of the Amorites which was the Seventh part of Canaan was given for an habitation having furnished him with Fifty â—housand men he proceeded toward the Enemy At which time the Spies returning and having surveyed Jericho gave an Account thereof and likewise how narrowly they escaped having been hid by Rahab the Harlot under some packs of Linnen who being thus delivered from danger by her means she desired them to swear That when they should take Jericho and kill all the Inhabitants with the Sword as she knew that God had commanded they would save her life and the lives of her family as she had saved theirs Which they accordingly agreed to advising her that when she should perceive the City ready to be taken she should bring all that she would have spared into her own house and then hang a red Cloth over her door that the General observing the sign might forbid the Soldiers from plundring or destroying her or hers After this she let them down with a rope from the Wall whereby they escaped back again Joshua having this account seemed somewhat concerned how they should pass over the River Jordan because it was deep and without Bridges But God promised him they should have a safe passage over Joshua therefore waited with his Army two days and then passed over the River the Priests going first with the Ark who as soon as they had set their feet in the Water which was then very high it being in harvest the Waters from above rose up in an heap and the Priests stood on dry ground in the midst of Jordan till all the People passed quite over and then according to Gods command they took out of the middle of the River Twelve Stones wherewith to build an Altar for a Memorial to after-ages of this wonderful deliverance And all things being finisht the Priests came out of the River which instantly after flowed with as much violence as before Whilst the Israelites did all this the Canaanites never sallied out upon them but dismayed with fear kept themselves within the Walls of Jericho which Joshua resolved to besiege with all his Forces But God commanded him that on the first day of the feast the Priests leaving the Ark and guarded on every side with Troops of armed men should draw near Jericho sound-Seven Rams horns and at night to return to their Camp This they performed six days together but on the Seventh Joshua assembled the People early and caused them to incompass the City seven times that day and the Trumpets sounding with great force the Walls by the power of God without any violence used by the Hebrews fell down flat to the ground so that entring the City over the ruines they put all within it to the Sword the Enemy through the sudden astonishment that fell upon them being unable to resist and so great was the slaughter that they neither spared Women nor Children but filled the City with dead Carcases which at length being set on fire served for a funeral flame to consume them Only Rahab and her houshold were saved by the Spies and Joshua bestowed an Inheritance upon her and ever after held her in great honour Then Joshua denounced Curses on those who should endeavour to rebuild this City foretelling That he should lay the foundation thereof in the days of his Eldest Son and should lose his youngest ere it was finished There was much Spoil taken both of Gold Silver and Brass in this City and Joshua having before commanded that all the Gold and Silver should be brought to one place to offer to God as the first fruits for his assistance none of them but only one man kept any thing to himself all being delivered to the Priests to be laid up in the Treasury but Achan the Son of Zebedias of the Tribe of Judah having got the Kings Coat imbroidered with Gold and a Wedge of Gold of two hundred Shekels in weight and thinking it unjust that what he had got with the hazard of his Life should be taken from him he digged a Pit in his Tent and buried his Spoils therein designing to defraud God as well as his Companions At this time the Israelites Tenâ—s were pitched in Gilgal which signifies Liberty because being delivered from Egyptian bondage and the wants of the wilderness they now thought they had nothing more to fear A few days after the distruction of Jericho Joshua sent out three thousand armed men against Ai a City hard by who encountring with their adversarys the Israelites were put to flight and lost thirty six men The news of this disaster being brought to the Camp they were much astonished not only for the men they had lost but dispairing of future success since they perswaded themselves they were already Masters of the Feild and that their Army should be always Victorious according to the promise of God and that this advantage would much incourage their Enemies So that cloathing themselves in Sackcloth they spent three days in tears and lamentations without taking any meat
hand of God his mortal Enemy was now delivered into his power by whose death he might put an end tâ— all his Calamities But David by a strong inspiration from God resolved in his heart never to lay his hands upon Gods Anointed and contenting himself with only cutting off the Skirts of his Garment he went out of the Cave after Saul and cryed after him with a loud voice saying Behold my Lord my Father and my King the innocence of my hands and be no more filled with vain and false suspitions of poor David you cannot be ignorant that God at this time had put me into your power and that I could have taken away your life to have saved my own but God by his grace hath preserved me from such ill thoughts and hath secured you from all danger I had never yet any intent to hurt you though you cease not to persecute and torment my life with a thousand afflictions Alas my Lord what is it you desire Against whom are you come forth with so great a strength of Arms and Horses against a poor dead Dog a miserable little Beast I beseech the living God to be Judge between us and to make you sensible of the goodness of my cause Saul was so amazed with this action that he ran to him and imbracing him weeping said This O David is a sure sign whereby I know for certain thou shall reign after me so great a goodness not being able to be rewarded but by an Empire I only beseech and intreat you to have pity on my poor Children after my death and not to revenge upon them the injuries I have offered you Hereupon he swore to deal peaceably with him for the future But the Spirit of Saul was unequal and oft departed from reason for a long season Whereupon David resolved to go out of the Kingdom to Achish King of the Philistines a Sworn Enemy to Israel since he could not besecure any where else yet did he never bear arms against the people of God At last the fatal day of Saul drew near and he saw the Philistines came upon him with their utmost strength and being troubled in mind in the confusions of a disturbed Spirit he sought to the Divine Oracles to learn his destiny in this pressing necessity but this unhappy Prince sought after the dead in vain having trod under feet the admonitions of the Living and therefore he applies himself to the Witch of Endor who by Samuels appearance foretold the routing of his Army his own death and likewise his Childrens sad Fate at which he was so affrighted that he fell into a Swound Being recovered he went to his Army and the next morning perceived the Philistines wonderfully increased and resolv'd to fight And his own people exceedingly weakened and seeming to carry misfortune in their faces The Enemies gave the onset with very great violence and overthrew the foremost of the Israelites wherein Jonathan with his two Brethren sealed the last proofs of their valour with their bloud and death in the sight of their miserable Father who seeing he could not dye so soon as he desired suffered himself to fail upon his own Sword vomiting forth his Soul and bloud with ragings and griefs unspeakable While this unhappy Battel was fought David was pursuing the Amalakites who in his absence had sackt the Town of Ziglag the place of his retiring whom he overtook loaden with their prey and regained his two Wives Ahinoam and Abigail whom they had taken away As he came from this Battle a young Amalekite presents himself and brings him the news of the death of Saul and Jonathan and his other Sons affirming that he himself had stood by at the death of the King and had helped him to die by his own command Whereat David moved with extream grief tore his garments wept fasted and made a funeral Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan Causing likewise the Amalekite to die who by his own confession was accessary to the death of the King And though David at this time might have taken possessesion of the Kingdom yet upon prudent deliberation he thought it not convenient to be too hasty Whereupon Abner a chief Captain without losing time seeing there yet remained a Son of Saul alive named Ishbosheth aged forty years though of little courage and less understanding he made him presently come into the Camp and caused him to be proclaimed the true and lawful Successor of Saul not so much for the love he bore him or the esteem of his sufficiency as intending to reign by him and over him All the People swore Allegiance to Ishbosheth except the Tribe of Judah from whom David sprung which joyning together in favour of him crowned him King in Hebron where he reigned seven years before he possest the whole Kingdom of Israel Afterward Abner laying aside his war-like humor fell in love with a Concubine of Sauls named Rispah whereat Ishbosheth being offended Abner for one poor word spoken in a very mild manner entred into a rage against the King and said It was to use him as a Dog to quarrel with him for a woman after so great Services as he had done for the Crown and from whom he held both his Life and Kingdom The poor Prince held his peace and durst not answer a word to this bold Fellow and was pitifully devoured by his own Servant Abner grew so hot with anger that he dispatcht Messengers to David to desire his friendship and promiseth to bring the whole Kingdom of Ishbosheth into his hands David answered That he was willing to make peace with him if he would cause his Wife Michol to be restored to him whom they had married to another after his departure which was readily agreed to and performed Mean time Abner powerfully sollicites the people of Israel to betake themselves to David since God had committed their safety and rest into his hands who would unite all the Tribes under one Monarchy which would make him a happiness to his people helpful to his friends and terrible to his Enemies This Discourse prevail'd very much on the Principal ones of the Nation who saw small hopes of Ishbosheth he being disparaged both by Nature and Fortune Soon after Abner meets David at Hebron who made him a Feast hearkned to his Propositions and conducted him back with honour Joab who was at that time absent soon understood the coming of Abner and being jealous that the Friendship of a man who seem'd to draw a whole Kingdom after him might much prejudice his interest he enters roughly into the Kings Chamber telling him that Abner was but a deceiver who came to spy out his secrets and that he ought to have secured him when under his power And since David seeing him in such a rage answered nothing Joab without Authority sends a message to Abner to return to Hebron under colour of treating more fully with David He lightly believed it and came back the same way when
Army observing from a Hill the flight of their Frieâ—â—s and the readiness of the Jews to give them battel were so discourag'd that they fled likewise whereupon Judas and his men return'd to gather the Pillage where finding great store of Gold Silver Scarlet and Purple they return'd home with Joy praising God for their good success Lysias was extreamly concerned at this overthrow and presently invaded Judea with Sixty thousand Chosen Foot and five thousand Horse and incamped in Bethsura Which Judas hearing came out against him with only ten thousand men and seeing their number so vastly exceed his he cryed earnestly to God that he would please to fight with him and for him and then charged the front of the Enemy with such force that he discomfited and slew above five thousand of them Lysias perceiving the resolution of the Jews who would rather dye than lose their liberty He returned with the rest of his Army to Antioch to reinforce them Mean while Judas assembled the People and told them That having obtained so many Victorys through the mercy of God they ought now to go up to Jerusalem and purifie the Temple that was desolate and to offer Sacrifices according to the Law of the Lord Then going up with a great multitude of People he found the Temple desolate the gates burnt and grass growing within the same At this sad spectacle he and all present could not forbear weeping and presently applyed themselves to purge the Temple Then Judas caused a Table a Candlestick and an Altar for Incense to be made all of Gold putting up a Rail and Gates to the Temple and throwing down the Altar which was prophaned by Antiochus he built a new one of stones neither Newed nor Hammered And on the twenty first of Chasleu or September lights were put in the Candlesticks perfumes layd upon the Altar Loaves set upon the Table and Sacrifices offered upon the New Altar which had been neglected for three years past Then did Judas and his Countrymen celebrate a Feast unto the Lord for eight days praising God with Hymns and Psalms He also inclosed Jerusalem with a Wall and built 〈◊〉 Towers thereon in which he planted Garrisons against the incursions of the Enemy and fortified Bethsura for a defence to it The Nations â—ound about envying this prosperity of the Jews surprized many of them by Treachery whereupon Judas made an incursion slew many Idumeans and brought a great prey out of their Countrey besieging the Sons of Baan their Prince who lay in wait for the Jews and at length setting fire to their Towers killed all that were therein After this he overcame a mighty Army of the Ammorites under the command of Timotheus taking and burning their City of Jazor and leading their Wives and Children Captive into Judea The Neighbouring People hearing of his departure assaulted the Jews and Galaad who retiring into the Fort of Dathema sent to Judas for relief And at the same time Letters came out of Galilee that they were indangered by the Inhabitants of Ptolemais Tyre Sydon and others thereabout Judas hereupon sent his Brother Simeon with three thousand chosen men to relieve Galilee and himself with his Brother Jonathan and eight thousand others marched to Galaad Simeon fought against his Enemies in Galilee and slew about three thousand pursuing them to the Gates of Ptolemais and taking much spoil and releasing many Jewish Prisoners he returned victoriously home But Judas passing Jordan was there inform'd that his Brethren were Besieged in their Cities and Castles and some already in great extremity Hereupon he first fell upon the Inhabitants of Bozra took their City set it on fire and kill'd all able to bear Arms Then marching all night he arrived early next morning to the Castle where the Jews were Besieged by the Army of Timotheus who were just ready to scale the Walls when Judas dividing his Forces into three Battalions couragiously assailed them who hearing it was Maccabeus were surprised with such dread that they instantly fled Judas his men slaying about eight thousand in the pursuit Then marching to Molla he seized it slew all the men therein and burnt it with Fire after which he destroy'd several other places Soon after Timotheus raised another Army wherewith he marched to Jordan exhorting them valiantly to oppose the Jews and to hinder their passage over the River since if they once past Jordan they were sure to be defeated Judas hearing this marched hastily against the Enemy and passing the River unexpectedly fell upon them with such violence that casting away their Arms they fled for their lives some endeavoured to save themselves in Carnain but Judas taking that City and Temple slew them and burnt the same and then he led away all the Jews who dwelt in Galaad with their Wives Children and substance and brought them into Judea When he drew near the Town of Ephion they had barricado'd up his way that he could not pass and refusing upon his desire to open the passage he Besieged the City took it by assault burnt it and slew all the Inhabitants After this passing over Jordan they came into Judea with great joy and gladness praising God and Offering Sacrifices of Thanksgiving for the safe return of the Army because in all these Batrles and Encounters they had not lost one Jew But whilst Judas and Simeon were gone upon these expeditions the two Captains with whom he had left the rest of his Forces with a strict command to have a watchful Eye over Judea but not to join Battle with any Enemy till his return being desirous to gain the repute of valiant men went out with their Souldiers toward Jamnia against whom Gorgias Governor of that place issued out and slew two thousand of them the rest flying back into Judea Then Judas and his Brethren took divers Cities from the Idumeans and with much Booty and great Joy returned home The Bloudy Antiochus being at this time in Persia heard of a wealthy City called Elymais wherein stood a rich Temple of Diana Thither he went and beseiged it but the Inhabitants sallied out and with great loss drove him from thence whereupon he returned to Babylon where having notice of the overthrow of his Captains in Judea and the power of the Jews this with his former defeat so wrought upon him that he fell sick and finding no hope of recovery he called his most familiar Friends about him telling them That he was plagued with this violent and desperate affliction for tormenting the Jews destroying the Temple committing horrid Sacriledge and contemning the True God But now he vowed if it pleased the Lord to restore him he would become a Jew and do many great things for them and would go through all the known World to declare thâ— power of God Who knowing his hyprocrisy continued to plague him in a terrible manner He had an intollerable pain and torment in his bowels and inward paits from whence issued abundance of Worms
was made over to them upon condition they should defend the Land against the Picts and Scots And in short time greater priviledges were granted them upon Vortigerns marrying the daughter of Hengist an exceeding beautiful Lady who was brought over on purpose to steal away the heart of a dissolute Prince so that by thaâ— alliance and the fruitfulness of the Countrey so many 〈◊〉 this populous and Military Nation came in that Kent iâ— a little while grew too narrow for them and Hengist 〈◊〉 extend their power into all parts of the Kingdom perswaded Vortigern to plant a Colony of them in the Nortâ— beyond Humber to be a continual guard against all invasions on that side Which being granted he sends foâ— Occa his Brother and his Son Ebusa to manage that design and hereby the Saxons came to possess Kent and Northum beland which contained all the Countrey from the Riveâ— Humber to Scotland And now of Servants they became Masters contemâ—ing their Entertainers and committing many insolencies whereupon the Brittish Nobility combine together and resolve to depose Vortigern the Author of this inconsiderate admission of Strangers and to chuse Vortimer 〈◊〉 Son in his stead a Prince of great worth who whilâ— he lived gave them many fierce encounters but all prevailed not for the Saxons being possest of the chief Gaâ—â— of the Land which lay open to their own Countrey 〈◊〉 receive continual supplies from thence without resistanâ—â— had the advantage to weary them all out at last And beside force they are said to have used treachery in murthering three hundred of the Brittish Nobility at Ansbury where they innocently met to treat of a peace with them took their King Prisoner and would not release â—im but upon granting them three Provinces more Also the long life of Hengist a Politick General who â—ved almost forty years made much for the setling â—heir Dominion here which was not effected withâ—ut a great deal of labour and much effusion of â—loud For the Brittaines being by continual Wars made exâ—ert in Military discipline grew at length so inraged to â—e their Countrey ravished from them by Forreigners â—hat they sold their Liberties and Inheritance at a very â—ear rate Wherein much must be attributed to the courage â—nd gallantry of their Leaders from whom the Spirit and alour of a people doth usually proceed of whom none â—re more worthy to be remembred than Aurelius Ambrosius â—e last of the Romans and our worthy Prince Arthur â—e Noblest of the Brittains A man in conduct and vaâ—ur almost above a man and worthy of eternal memoâ—y who while he stood bore up the sinking state of his â—ountrey He was the Son of Vter Pendragon by the â—ir Igrene and during his life had continual War â—ith the Saxons and the Picts and Scots who were someâ—â—mes confederate with them In the beginning of his â—eign the two Kings of these two Nations seemed to envy â—s advancement to the Crown of Brittain Loth King 〈◊〉 the Picts having married the elder sister of Aurelius â—mbrosius and Vortigern and Conran King of Scots â—â—e younger and because Arthur was begot out of wedâ—ck though his Mother was after married to Vter â—â—ey thought it more reasonable the Kingdom should deâ—end to their Sisters Son than to him Whereupon Loth â—â—nt Ambassadors to the Brittish Lords and Nobility reâ—iring that according to the ancient Laws and Cusâ—â—ms of this Realm they should receive him as King who â—nd Married the Sister and Heir of the two brethren Amâ—osius and Vter their last Kings The Erittains received â—is Message with great scorn disdaining to think of subâ—iting to a stranger and dispatching the Ambassadors â—ith many reproaches against Loth and the Picts they proclaimed Arthur King of the Realm who raising a potent Army marched instantly against the Saxons hoping to engage them before the Picts should join which doubtless they would do suddenly Having therefore procured more aid from Armorica or little Brittain in France they met with the Saxons within ten Miles of London whom they vanquisht in two set battels and obliged them to pay Tribute and receive such Governors over them as Arthur should appoint with several other very hard conditions to the great rejoicing of the Brittains for such prosperous and happy success under their new elected King. After this the Brittains easily took London where Arthur continued for some time in consultation with his Nobility and Commanders how they should proceed it their Wars against the rest of the Saxons Having aâ— length prepared a mighty Army Arthur resolved to geâ— against those beyond Humber in the North with whom the Picts had concluded a League whereby they were obliged to assist each other against their Common Enemies the Brittains Arthur marching into Yorkshire incamped near the Enemy who were already joined together and resolving to fight the next day he appointed Howel Commander of the French Brittaines to ingage the Picts while himself dealt with the Saxons The battel was very furious and for some time the Victory was doubtful but at length the Picts were put to flight which the Saxons perceiving and thinking themselves unable to bear the whole Force of the Brittains they likewise left the Field and fled with all speed toward York Arthur pursuing them beseiged that City almost three months the Saxons valiantly defending it and making brisk sallies upon the Besiegers but at length provisions growing very scarce they were just ready to have surrendred when notice was given them that a strong Army of Picts and Saxons were coming to their relief together with Occa who escaping into Germany from the last battel was newly arrived with fresh Forces in the River of Humber whereupon the Saxons refused to treat any further not doubting but the Brittains would be quickly forc't to raise the seige and be glad to get off with their own lives Arthur having Intelligence of these Succors and judging it no wisdom to stay for their coming considering how many of his Souldiers were diseased and sick by lying so long in the Field raised his seige and went into Wales where leaving the French Brittains to quarter that Winter he with his choice Troops marched to London to prevent any disturbance from the Kentish Saxons or others In the Spring having mustered his Forces he proceeded against Colgern and Occa the two Saxon Generals who coming out of Northumberland wasâ—ed and destroyed the Brittish borders with their usual Cruelty Whereupon Arthur encountring them twice in â—attel overcame in both and then again beseiging York 〈◊〉 at length got possession thereof by means of a Brittain who living among the Saxons within the City privately â—et in some Brittains in the dead of the night who breaking open the gates gave entrance to the whole Army Arthur would not suffer many of the Saxons to be slain but â—ardoned all who beg'd quarter thereby to gain a repuation of Clemency amongst his adversaries The Britains having thus gotten York many skirmishes
Brittish Ferces whilst their Ambassadors pretended to make an Accommodation that therefore they should expect nothing from Arthur but the utmost reveng and the most cruel Severities of War in recompence of their wicked infidelity They had no sooner received this answer but forty other of the Principal Saxons arrived who endeavoured to excuse what had happened over night laying all the blame on some few rash heady fellows who knew nothing of the proceedings of the Commanders of the Army nor of their sending Ambassadors to them But Arthur suspecting this to be another subtle trick of the Saxons commanded these Messengers as well as the former to be secured in the Marshals Tent whilst he himself in the second Watch of the night marched privately against the Enemy dividing his Army into three parts and having goue about three miles they fell upon the Saxons Out-guards e're they were aware which caused such a tumult and confusion amongst them one calling and crying out upon another that the most valiant among them were dismayed Mordred desirous to revenge his last overthrow fell in fiercely among them But some having by this time armed themselves made resistance defending themselves amidst the Carts and Carriages and thereby for a while stopt the violence of the Brittains others unable to resist broke out of the Camp and fled but being pursued by the Brittish Horse a great number perisht in the next River chusing drowning rather than to fall into the hands of their merciless Adversaries who that day gave no Quarter It was thought this Bloudy Battle and so great a slaughter of such a multitude of Saxons would have utterly disabled them that they should never after have been troublesome to the Brittains Arthur having thus vanquished his Enemies dismist all the Ambassadors in his Camp upon condition they would return back to Germany but suffered the rest of the meaner Saxons to remain still in the Land provided they would turn Christians and pay a yearly Tribute The Scots and Picts who had assisted him in this War he treated with much State and Magnificence at London giving them all possible respect and honour and dismissing them with rich Presents and Princely rewards It is written of King Arthur that in one Battle against the Saxons with his Sword named Callibourn he slew above eight hundred of them if it be possible to be true In twelve set Battles besides Skirmishes he is said to have return'd Victor from the slaughter of the Saxons The names of which places are said to be The first at the mouth of the River Gleyn The second third fourth and fifth near the River Douglas in Lenox The sixth at the River Bassus The seventh in the Wood Calidon The eight near the Castle of Guinien The ninth at Carlion in Wales The tenth by the Sea-side in a place called Rithwood The eleventh upon a Hill named Agued Cathergain The twelfth at Bath or Bathen Hill. Whilst these things were acted in Brittain Conranus King of Scotland was Murthered in his Bed-chamber by the Treason of Donald Governor of Athol in the twentieth year of his Reign and the sixteenth of Arthurs Dominion over Brittain After whom succeeded Eugenius his Nephew About this time some Authors ascribe to Arthur the obtaining of many glorious Victories against the Irish Danes Norwegians and other Northern Nations yea some affirm that he subdued most part of Germany the Low Countries Normandy France the Romans and the people of the East the credit whereof seems very doubtful Only it is certain as Hector Boetius affirms that Arthur lived in the days of Justinian the Emperor about which time the Goths Vandals Burgonians and French invaded and ruin'd divers parts of the Roman Empire yet we find no mention of K. Arthur acting any thing among them But notwithstanding his wonderful Atchievements it is related Lucius Hiberus the Roman Legate demanded of him a Tribute for Brittain which he not only denied but also threatend to have a Tribute from Rome as appears by his Letters sent to the Senate to this purpose Vnderstand you of Rome that I am King Arthur of Brittain and freely it hold and shall hold and at Rome hastily will I be not to give you Truage or Tribute but to require Truage of you for Constantine who was Hellens Son and other of my Ancestors Conquered Rome and thereof were Emperors and what they had I hope to recover by Gods grace And accordingly saith the story he set forward against Lucius Hiberius who with great power and vain confidence came marching against him where after a long and bloudy fight the Romans were discomfited their General kill'd and his slain Body sent to the Senate for a Tribute from Brittain King Arthur to increase the Courage of his Soldiers is said to have instituted the Order of the Knights of the Round Table to which none were admitted but such of the Nobility as were most renowned for Virtue and Courage they were in all the number of one hundred and fifty the Chiefest of them being Sir Lancelot Sâ—r Tristram Sir Lamrock Sir Gawin and others They were all recorded for Knights of great Renown and had not King Arthurs Valour been most transcendent each of them might have passed for no less than a Worthy These things are related of him of which the Reader may credit as much as he please To pass therefore these questionable matters let us proceed to what is more certain After the Brittains were delivered from the terror of the Saxons and had for some time enjoyed peace and quietness they grew Rich and Wealthy and then began to repent of the League they had made with Loth King of the Picts whereby it was agreed that Mordred his Son should succeed they now resolving that no Forreigner should Reign over them and therefore addressing themselves unanimously to King Arthur they humbly beseech him since he had no Sons to nominate a Successor of their own Nation to govern them after his decease Arthur finding it in vain to contradict this their resolution since they absolutely refused to be ruled by a Stranger advised them to find out one of the Bloud-Royal themselves whom for his Wisdom Valour and Nobility they were willing should Reign over them and he for his part promised to ratifie and confirm their Election The Nobility and Commons thereupon met together with great joy and at length agreed upon Constantine the Son of Cador Duke of Cornwal a virtuous and comely young Gentleman and induced with all Princely qualities who being brought by the Peers of the Realm into the Council Chamber and presented to Arthur he gladly accepted their Choice and forthwith caused Constantine to be Proclaimed Heir Apparent to the Crown by the name of Prince of Brittain who being thus preferr'd behaved himself with that discretion and gallantry that the Brittains entertained a very high opinion of his worth and future Government Mean time Loth King of the Picts deoâ—asing Mordred his Son succeeded him
God is very poor himself since his Messengers are so very mean and contemptible and thereupon takes occasion to retire Charlemagne resolving to be revenged for this bold affront of the Saraeen raises an Army of an hundred and thirty thousand men wherewith he defeated Aigolands Forces at Pampelona and carried away the head of this prophane King as a Tropby of his Victory and afterward utterly defeated the remainder of his Forces The Saracens again Mustering a new Army Rowland Nephew to Charles marches against them with only twenty thousand men and being suddenly set upon in his passage over the Pyrenean Mountains he is over powerâ—d with numbers and retiring himself apart for some refreshment he there perishes for thirst by reason of the long and painful Combat he had indured yet not without revenge for he killed Marseilles one of their Kings with his own hand Charlemagne advertised of this unexpected loss returns suddenly and takes revenge on the Saracens killing a vast number of them and building Tombs for Rowland and those other valiant Commanders who died in the Bed of Honour and his other urgent Affairs in France requiring his presence he returned thither That the War in Spain ended with little success having disturbed Charles at divers times for fourteen years past At his return from Spain Charlemagne finds occasion to exercise his Valour first in Italy where Alde I se the Son of Didier again attempted to settle himself but was soon suppressed with much loss to the Lombard Rebels The like occasion bred a War in Germany For King Tasilon Son in Law to Didier by his Wives perswasions endeavours to shake off the Yoke and flies to Arms ingaging the Huns and other Nations against Charlemagne who suppressed them with such happy success that Tasilon being Vanquished and found guilty of Treason and Rebellion was according to the Salique Law condemned to lose his Estate whereby the Kingdom of Bavaria ended and was incorporated into the Crown of France The Huns from whom the Hungarians are derived together with the Danes Westphalians and divers other Nations who were united in this War against Charles were all brought under his Obedience their Countreys containing Hungary Valachia Bohemia Transilvania Denmark and Poland Thus the French Mâ—narchy grew great by the happy Valour of â—â—â—rlemagne France Italy Germany Spain and Hungary made the Romon Empire in the West and Charles being Master of these goâ—dly Provinces was in effect Emperor thereof and wanted only the Title which he obtained by this means Leo being then Pope of Rome a strange sedition was raised against him by Silvester and Gampul men of great credit in the Court of Rome who in a Solemn procession seize upon the Pope before St. Laurence Church they stript him of his Pontificial robes throw him to the ground tread him under their feet bruise his face with their fists and having drawn him ignominiously through the dirt they throw him into Prison But he continued not long there being freed by a Groom of his Chamber and recovering St. Peters Church he intreats Vingise Duke of Spoleto to free him from this miferable Captivity who presently marching to Rome carried him thence to Spoleto From whence he goes with all speed to France to Charles whom he found ingaged in many troubles who yet neglected all other affairs to assist Leo in this his great necessity And marching to Rome with a potent Army he speedily pacifies all disturbances and punishes the Popes Enemies according to Law Leo being thus put into possession of his Soveraignty declares Charles to be Emperor of the West which with the price of his bloud lost in opposing the furious incursions of barbarous Nations he had valiantly gotten possession of and accordingly Crowns him Emperor with the full consent of the Roman People who asisted at his Coronation crying with one general voice All happiness long life and Victory to Charles Augustus Crowned the Great and Peaceable Emperor of the Romans always happy and victorions This was performed in the year of our Lord 800. Italy having for thirty years past suffered horrible Confusions without Emperor without Laws and without order The Seat of the Roman Empire since Constantine the Great remained at Constantinople a City of Thrace convenient for the guard of the Eastern Provinces All the West being full of strangers who having expelled the Roman Name and Authority the force of the Empire remained in the East where the State was in a strange confusion by fatal differences Constantine Son to Leo the Fourth was then Emperor who together with the Empire was governed from his infancy by Irene his Mother At this time there was great division in the East about Images which had already continued eighty years the 〈◊〉 ops would needs bring them into the Christian Church but were always opposed by Constantines Predecessors but the Empress having assembled a Council at Nice it was there decreed by her consent and earnest desire That â—mages should be planted in Christian Churches for Devotion Charlemagne did not approve of this decree but writ or caused to be written a small Treatise against this Council to be seen at this day and called A Treatise of Charlemagn's touching Images against the Greek Synod The present Emperor Constantine retained the hereditary hatred of his Father and Grand-Father against them so that being now of age and in possession of the Empire he disanulled all those new decrees and caused images in all places to be beaten down yet he still shewâ—ed respect to his Mother allowing her great part of her former Authority which occasioned an horrible Tragedy to follow for being inraged both for his crossing her new opinion about Images and for the loss of part of her power She resolves to disposless him of the Emâ—ress and having corrupted the Chief Officers with her Sons Money she seized on him put out his eyes sent â—im into banishment where he soon after died for greif and took possession of the Empire for her self These unnatural Tragedies were acted in the East while Charlemagne by his great Valour erected an Emâ—ire in the West After Constantines death Irene sent to Charles to excuse her self disowning the Murther and charging it on some who had done it without her command and likewise treated with him about Marrying â—er his Empress being lately dead premising to consent he should be declared Emperor of the East and that â—he would resign up all her power to him but Charlemagne would not accept thereof the Nobility and People after this had such a publick derestation of her the Murtheress of her own Child that having sufâ—ered â—er three years Nicephorus a Noblemant of Greece affâ—â—ed â—y the Chief of the Couâ—â— and with the consent of the people makes himself Emperor and only Banishes Irent He afterwards Treats and Compounds with Charles thaâ— the Empire of the East continuing under his Command that of the West should remain to Charlemagne which being confirm'd by the general assent
own Quarter and unable to endure this insolence of a Barbarian with a well placed Arrow shot him through the very Heart and tumbled him dead into the Ditch Thus the bravest man of the Turks seem'd to stay to receive an honourable death from the hand of the gallantest of the Christians Soon after Solyman having made another fruitless attempt to relieve them the Besieged delivered up the City by Treaty to the Christians The Princes not to lose the season of the year marched immediately from thence toward Syria and for convenience of Forrage they separated into two Bodies that part under the Earl of Flanders and the Duke Normandy taking the left and Godfrey the right hand but yet without distancing the Armies above two miles asunder The Duke of Normandy had not marched far when they had notice that Solyman with three hundred and sixty thousand Turks and Persians all Horse with an infinite number of Arabians intended to surprize and surround the Christians the next morning Who instantly sent to advertise Duke Godfrey of their danger who again joining the Army the Princes incouraged their Souldiers telling them That they were the same Enemies they had oft before vanquished at Nice and that in sighting valiantly against those wicked Insidels if they died they might be certain of eternal happiness And then drawing their Swords they cryed out It is the will of God which words the whole Army repeated with such a terrible Harmony the Vallies Rocks and Mountains shook with the dreadful Eccho and thereupon presently engaging by the Conduct of Godfrey and Reymond who ran full speed upon the Turks with their European Lances which they had neither Shields nor Breast-plates to oppose they were overthrown horse and man and the Arabs not enduring a charge hand to hand fearing to be surrounded began to betake themselves to slight which caused such fear and disorder in the whole Army that it put them in a moment to general rout and the Christians obtained a compleat Victory with a Prodigious quantity of booty and plunder which they found in the Turkish Camp and then marching forward toward Syria they arrived about Antioch in Pisidia which surrendred to them without ressistance as did most of the other Cities in their passage Whilst the Army refresht themselves in Pisidia after such Toyls and hardships Prince Godfrey had like to have been lost by a strange accident which however redounded in conclusion much to the honour of this Prince advancing his Reputation Courage and Nobleness which appeared even to admiration upon this dangerous occasion For one day entring alone on Horseback into a Wood he heard the voice of a man who cryed out for help with all his power and advancing to the place from whence the noise came he perceived it was a poor Souldier who coming to cut Wood was running almost quite cut of breath round a great Tree to save himself from the merciless Jaws of a monstrous and furious Bear which was just ready to seize upon him Godfrey transported with Courage and Charity spurred on his Horse with his sword in his hand toward the cruel Beast who forsaking the Souldier with inflamed eyes gaping Jaws and the terrible Claws of her two fore Paws advanced toward him and raising her self upon her hinder feet to throw her self upon the Horse she was affrighted with the Sword and to avoyd the blow fell sideling but so that Horse and man fell over her and she catchâ— hold of the Dukes Coat to draw him toward her but Godfrey nimbly recovering his fall and seizing on her left paw which she thrust out to lay hold of him he ran his Sword up to the hilt in the belly of this monstrous enemy when one of his Gentlemen coming in at the noise dispatcht the Beast already overthrown with the terrible blow she had received But Godfrey in drawing his Sword from between his legs after his fall having given himself a cruel wound in his Thigh which during the heat of the combate he did not perceive he had lost so much bloud that after he began to cool he suddenly sunk down in a Swoon This accident though it proved not dangerous spread a mighty Consternation through the whole Army as if all had been lost so much confidence and authority they placed in his Valor and Judgment especially since the last battle where he gained the Christians a glorious Victory out of the hands of the Insidels who were just ready to ruine them The Christians having conquered Cilicia and great part of Armenia they next besieged the City of Antioch and having lain some time before it two Fleets from Genoa and Pisa arrived very fortunately at the Port of St. Simeon with all sorts of Provisions which were very welcom after a five months Seige the news whereof no sooner arrived at the Camp but the Souldiers ran thither in Shoals to furnish themselves with what they wanted The Turks who continually watched for all advantages laid an Ambuscade of four thousand men that secretly sallied out of the Town who meeting with the Souldiers in their return without Order or Arms but only their Swords and loaden with Provisions they fell upon them and obliged them to fly to the Mountains leaving all their Provisions and a thousand of their Companions dead upon the place Godfrey soon advertized of this disaster took a strong Party resolving immediately to charge the Tarks whom he doubted not to find in sufficient disorder upon Joy of their Victory The Governor of Antich having from one of the Towers of his Castle observed this motion of the Christians was in much pain for the safe return of his men and therefore commanded the greatest part of his Army to sally out of the City for their relief Godfrey marched on slowly having notice that the Conquerors having joined the Troops of the Town drew near loaden with their booty then drawing his Sword and turning to his men after he had lookt fiercely toward the Enemy he cryed Follow me it is the will of Godâ— Ordering them only to use their Swords without either Lances or Arrows so that with their Swords drawn and their Bucklers they made a kind of Penthouse against the Arrows of the Turks who being thereby put out of their usual way of fighting the Service of their Bows being taken from them they presently recoiled upon their assistants and being incumbred with Spoils the Christians fell into the midst of them and on all hands made a most horrible slaughter of these miserable wretches so that they were totally routed some flying to the mountains others toward the City not dreaming that the Gate was shut against them Godfrey to prevent their return into the Town flew like lightning among his enemies there was no blow of his terrible Sword which drew not a dreadful death with it so that he filled all with Horror Lloud and Terror which way soever he turned himself and the other Princes finding the Enemies stopt by
Royal Crown richly adorned with Pearls and precious Stones which he absolutely refused with this Zealous answer Why should I bear the name of a King in a place where my Saviour hath been crowned with reproaches should I take the Scepter in my hand where he hath taken the Cross upon his Shouldiers Should I suffer a Crown of Gold upon my head where he hath received a Crown of Thornes Sure I should then hold my self for vanquished if such a vanity should be victorious over my heart It is God that hath inspired us with these designs It is he that hath conducted and crowned us with success I pretend therefore to no other honours than to lay all honours at the seet of the Cross of Christ But though he would not take upon himself the name of King yet it was constantly given him as all Historians of that time and Posterity have ever since done to this very day and certainly never any King better deserved to wear that glorious Title which he adorned with so many Royal Actions The Sultan of Egypt coming too late to relieve Jerusalem advanced now with a formidable Army to besiege it against whom Godfrey and his Souldiers marched with much courage and resolution over whom they obtained an intire Victory with richer pillage than any time before in the whole War the Enemy losing thirty thousand upon the place and as many more in the pursuit After this Battle the Princes and great Lords who followed them believing they had fully accomplished their vow of recovering the Holy Land took their leaves of King Godfrey to return to their respective Countries leaving him only three hundred Horse and about two thousand Foot with which few Troops the King to inlarge the Frontiers of his new Kingdom conquered the places which were yet untaken round about Jerusalem And now after so many Toils being fallen sick he caused himself to be removed to the City where July 8. 1100. In the fortieth year of his age and the first of his Reign he rendred his glorious Soul into the hands of his Almighty Redeemer by a most Religious death his brother Baldwin succeeding K. of Jerusalem in his stead He was a Prince in whom all Virtues Christian Civil and Military met in the highest point of humane perfection without mixture of any default so that it will remain difficult to find another like him to whom without Flattery the same praises may be given and which induced future Ages to bestow on him the honourable Title of one of the Worthies of the World. FINIS There are newly Published seventeen very useful pleasant and necessary Books all sold by Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside I. A View of the English Acquisitions in Guinea and the East Indies With an Account of the Religion Government Wars strange Customs Beasts Serpents Monsters and other observables in those Countries And among others the Life and Death of Mahomet the Grand Impostor with the Principal Doctrines of the Turkish Religion as they are displayed in the Alcoran Two Letters one written by the Great Mogol and the other by the King of Sumatra in the East-Indies to our King James the First of an unusual and extravagant stile The cruel Executions in those parts with the manner of the Womens burning themselves with their dead Husbands Together with a description of the Isle of St. Helena and the Bay of Souldania where the English usually refresh in their Voyages to the Indies Intermixt with pleasant Relations and Enlivened with Picture Price One Shilling II. THE English Empire in America or a Prospect of his Majesties Dominions in the West-Indies namely New-sound-land New-England New-York New-Jersey Pensylvania Mary-land Virginia Carotina Bermuda's Barbuda Anguilla Montserrat Dominica St. Vincent â—ntego Mevis or Neâ—â—is St. Christophers Barbadoes and Jamaica With their Discovery Scituation and Product The Religion and Manners of the Indians and other excellencies of these Countreys With the first Discovery of this New World and of the Remarkable Voyages and Adventures of Sir F. Drake Sir T. Cavendish the E. of Cumberland Sir W. Rawleigh and other English Worthies to divers places therein Illustrated with Maps and Pictures Price One Shilling III. THE Second Edition of Englands Monarchs very much enlarged Or A Compendious Relation of the most Remarkable Transactions and Observable Passages Ecclesiastical Civil and Military which have happened during the Reigns of the Kings and Queens of England from Julius Caesar to this present Adorned with Poems and Pictures of every Monarch from William the Conqueror to our gracious Soveraign King James 2. with the Names of his now Privy Council The Great Officers of the Crown A List of the Nobility The Knights of the most Noble Order of the Garter at Windsor and the Principal Officers Civil and Military in England The number of the Lords and Commons in both Houses of Parliament and many other very useful particulars Price One Shilling IV. THe History of the Kingdoms of Scotland and Ireland Containing 1. The most Remarkable Transactions and Revolutions in Scotland for above Twelve hundred years past during the Reigns of Sixty eight Kings from 424 to the Happy Union of both Kingdoms under King James the First in 1602. 2. The History of Ireland from the Conquest thereof by Henry the Second to this time With the Miraculous Persons and Places in that Countrey Intermixt with Variety of Excellent Speeches Strange Accidents and Prodigious Appearances With a List of the Nobility and Great Officers of State in both Kingdoms Illustrated with near Thirty Pictures Price One Shilling V. DElights for the Ingenious In above Fifty Select and choice Emblems Divine and Moral Ancient and Modern Curiously Ingraven upon Copper Plates with Fifty Delightful Poems and Lots for the more Lively Illustration of each Emblem Whereby Instruction and Good Counsel may be promoted and furthered by an honest and pleasant Recreation To which is prefixed An Incomparable Poem Intituled Majesty in Misery or an Imploration to the King of Kings written by his late Majesty King Charles the First with his own Hand during his Captivity in Caisbrook-Castle in the Isle of Wight 1648. With a cuious Emblem Collected by R. B. Price half a Crown VI. SUrprizing Miracles of Nature and Art in two parts containing I. The Miracles of Nature or the wonderful signs and Prodigious Aspects and Appearances in the Heavens Earth and Sea with an Account of the most famous Comets and other Prodigies from the Birth of Christ to this time II. The Miracles of Art describing the most Magnificent Buildings and other curious Inventions in all Ages as the Seven Wonders of the World and many other excellent Structures and Rarities throughout the Earth Beautified with Sculptures Price One Shilling VII THE Second Edition of Two Journies to Jerusalem Inlarged containing first an Account of the Travels of Two English Pilgrims some years since and what admirable Accidents befel them in their Journey to Jerusalem Grand