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
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
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
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
When Joshua saw them thus dejected falling on his face to the Earth he thus addressed himself to God. O Lord thou knowest we have not been induced by our own rashness and temerity to attempt the Conquest of this Land by force but have been thereunto incouraged by thy Servant Moses to whom thou didst promise by divers signs to give us this Country to inhabit and that our Armys should always have the Victory in Battle and of these thy promise we have oftimes experienced the certain accomplishment But now O Lord what shall I say when Israel turneth their backs before their Enemies for having beyond all expectation received an overthrow and lost some of our Souldiers we are extreamly terrified by this accident lest the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the Land should hear it and should incompass us and cut off our name from the Earth for we have little hope of any prosperous proceedings in time to come But be thou assistant to us O Lord who art Almighty and in thy mercy change our present sorrow into joy our discouragement into confidence and give us Victory Joshua having made this Prayer God presently commanded him to arise and purge the People from that Sacriledge and Theft which had been committed among them by concealing those things which were consecraed to himsef assuring him that his was the cause of their present Calamity which as soon as it was discovered Israel should be again victorious over their Adversaries Joshua hereupon calling for the High Priest and the Magistrates he cast Lots upon the Tribes and the Lot fell upon the Tribe of Judah he then cast them again upon Families and it fell upon the Family of Zacharias Lastly the Lots were cast Man by Man and it fell upon Achan who unable to deny what was discovered by God himself confessed the fact and produced what he had concealed whereupon he was presently stoned to death and the Anger of the Lord was appeased Then Joshua having purified the People led them forth against the City of Ai and laying an ambush of men secretly over night above the City early in the morning he drew the Enemy out to fight who being encouraged by their former success boldly assaulted them but Joshua seeming to retreat and flie drew them farther off the City imagining that the Israelites fled and that they should gain a second Victory over them and thereupon all the Men of Ai and of the next City Bethel were called out to pursue them so that there was not a man left in either City When Joshua suddenly making a stand and giving a signal to those in ambush they instantly marched into the City and set it on fire which when the Men of Ai looking back perceived they presently fled and scattered themselves through the Fields but were pursued so furiously that few escaped the King of Ai was taken alive and hanged on a Tree by Joshua and twelve thousand even all the Inhabitants of Ai were slain that day The spoil they got was very considerable both in Silver and Cattel all which Joshua when he came to Gilgal distributed among the Souldiers The Gibionites who dwelt near Jerusalem having notice what had happened to Jericho and Ai and fearing the same misfortune since they understood that Joshua intended utterly to root out the Canaanites from off the Earth they resolved to send Ambassadors to conclude a Peace with him and knowing that if they owned themselves to be Canaanites Joshua would make no League with them They came to him with protestations that they had no converse nor alliance with that Nation but being incited by the fame of his glorious Victories they were come from a very far Countrey which he might perceive by their old Shoes and Garments and by the mouldy Bread which were all new when they set forth on their Journey but by the length of the way were now in the condition they saw them And that they were assured that God had given the Israelites the Land of Canaan to inherit with whom they therefore desired to be confederate By this subtil practice they perswaded the Hebrews to enter into Amity with them and Eleazer the High Priest and the Council of Elders sware to them that they should for the future be their Friends and Allies and no hostility should be offered them In three days after Joshua incamping on the Borders of their Countrey understood that the Gibeonites dwelt not far from Jerusalem and were Canaanites and sending for the Chief of them charged them with this deceitful dealing who alledged that having no other way to procure their safety they were obliged to make use of this whereupon he called to him the High-Priest and Elders and they concluded not to infringe the Outh of God but however for this treachery they were condemned to be Hewers of Wood and Drawers of Water to the Camp. When the King of Jerusalem heard that the Gibeonites had submitted to Joshua he assembled live Kings his Neighbours and resolved to fall upon them who perceiving their danger desired Joshua to assist them who marching with all speed to their relief he with his whole Army fell upon them early in the morning and quickly put them to flight and pursuing them to a steep Tract called Bâ—thhoron the Lord destroyed a great number of them by Thunder Lightning and Hailstones from Heaven and the night approaching Joshua with mighty Faith cryed out Sun stand thou still upon Gibeon and thou Moon in the Valley of Ajalon and the Sun stood still and the Moon was stayed till the Peope had avenged themselves on their Enemies and the Sun did not go down about a whole day and there was no day like that before or after it that the Lord hearkned to the voice of a man for the Lord fought fâ—r Israel and the five Kings hid themselves in a Cave near Makkedah but were discovered and brought to Joshua who commanded his Captains to tread upon their Necks as an evident token to them of success against all the rest After which he slew thom and hanged them on five Trees and their Forces were utterly cut off and destryed After this wonderful success Joshua led his Army to the Mountains of Canaan where having made a great slaughter and taken rich booty he brought back the People to Gilgal The Renown of the Israelites Victories and that they gave no quarter coming among the Neighbour Nations they were possest with extream fâ—ar and resolved to try their utmost strength Whereupon their Kings raised an Army of three hundred thousand Foot â—en thousand Horse and twenty thousand Chariots so great an Host as was sufficient utterly to swallow up the Israelites But the Lord bid Joshua not to fear since they should all surely be delivered into his hand Incouraged by these promises Joshua marcht out couragiously against his Enemies and the fifth day he came upon them The Encounter was strong and the Slaughter very great multitudes being
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
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
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
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
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