of the East Yet were there of them Dwelling in the South they were grown so many that the East could not hold them § 4. Kings of the Ten Tribes from Jeroboam to Achab § Ieroboam flying from Salomon into Aegypt to Shishaâ— whom Eusebius calls Osochores whose Daughter he Marryed as Adad the Edumenian had his predecessor's Wive's Sister and were prepar'd by Shishak to shake the Kingdom of Iudea that he might pillage it as he accordingly did in the fifth year of Rehoboam This Man was exalted to be King of the Ten Tribes preferring the Policies of the World before God's Service and Honour To prevent the â—eoples falling from him by resorting to Ierusalem he erected the two Calves c. Ieroboam reigned at Sichem Twenty two years Nadab his Son succeeded two years and was slain by Baasha who rooted oâ—â— all Ieroboam's Seed and reigned twenty four Years at Thersa and Ela his Son succeeded two years and was slain in his Cups by Zimri who succeeded seven days but Homri in revenge of Ela besieged him and made him burn himself and succeeded transferring the Regal Seat to Samaria and reigned twelve years § 5. Ahab suceeded his Father married the Daughter of the King of Zidon and embraced her Religion as Ieroboam had his Egyptian Wives Ahab was slain after twenty two years Ocharius succeeded his Father and dyed of a Fall in his second year and his Brother Ioram succeeded 12 years who with Aid of Iuda and Edom could not subdue Moab who sacrificed Edom's Son taken in an â—ruption which he made out of the City whereupon the Siege was broken up through Edom's displeasure against Israel for refusing to make Peace with Moab to save his Son Amos 2.1 Iehu slew Ioram and succeeded twenty eight Years whose Son Iehoâ—haz succeeded seventeen years and was molested by Aza Ioas succeeded his Father sixteen years recover'd from Aram what his Father lost and sacked Ierusalem Ieroboam succeeded his Father forty one years râ—â—over'd all from Hamâ—th to the dead Sea and Zacharias his Son succeeded Six Months and was slain by Shallum who succeeded two Months and Menahen slew him and succeeded ten years with much Cruelty Pekahia his Son succeeded two years and Peka slew him and succeeded twenty years In his time Tyglath Pileser King of Assyria Invaded Israel and carried many Captives into Assyria He was drawn in by Achas King of Iuda whom Peka of Israel and Rezin of Damascus wasted and first he surprized the Monarchs of Syria and Damascus and then Israel prepared the way to Iuda Hosea slew Peka and succeeded nine years in whose time Tiglath Pileser carried the rest of the Ten Tribes Captives and re-peopled the Country with Cuthites out of Arabia Deserta the Persians with Calaneans bordering on Syria and Sepharims out of Mesopotamia with the Avims of old inhabited the Philistins Land but now Inhabited Deserta and called Havaei CHAP. VIII The History of the Syrians bordering their Tribes on the East of Jordan DAmascus in this Border most famous for Antiquity Beauty Riches is called the City of Joy and House of Pleasure The Hebrews think it built by Hus Son of Abraham others as Ierom ascribe it to Damascus Son of Eleasar Abraham's Steward but was before Eleasar David subdued it in the overthrow of Adadezar but Rezin Servant to Adadezer escaped with the broken Forces recovered it and was made King Adadezer returned out of Egypt and forced out Rezin and became King of Syria for Nine Descents § 2. Of the first Kings of Damascus and their growing up § That Damascus was of Note in Abraham's days his Steward is an Argument what the Government was then and long after the Reason of Moses's Story led him not to handle The first occasion was in David's Reign who seeking to Establish the command of Israel unto Euphrates as God had promised Invaded Adadezer who was then of the greatest Force in Syria strictly taken containing Damascus Saba Camath or Ituraea and Geshur Adadezer King of Saba called to his assistance the Damascenes who are not ranked under a King but after the overthrow Reson a Commander under Hadadesar gathered the broken Forces surprised Damascus where David had put a Garrison and was made King there as it seemeth after David's death So that as Rehob and his Son Adadezer are the first Kings of Syria Saba and Toi the first Kings of Camath so Rezon is the first King of Damascus which before was commanded by the Kings of Saba whose Power became formidable to the King of Camath The next King is Adad of Edom who coming out of Egypt whether he fled from David and finding his Forces too weak to recover Edom it seemeth he surprised Damascus and became King of Aram. The next King of Aram was Hezion whom his Sons Tabremmon succeeded the Father of Benhadad who assisted Asa King of Iuda against Baasha King of Israel Almost Fifty years after Benhadad was taken Prisoner by Achab and promised to restore what his Father had taken from Israel This was a Second Benhadad who slew Achab and Besieged Samaria the second time and was smothered by Hazael who succeeded him and did much mischief to Lud but brought Israel to a low Ebb 2 Kings 13.7 § 3. Of the later Kings was Benhadad two or rather three who lost what Hazael had gotten three other succeeded of the same Name in one of whose times Ieroboam 2 d. recovered Damascus it self and Chamath to Israel which by David's Conquest had belonged to Iuda Rezin the 10 th after Adad 1 st molesting Achas and was taking Elath is by Achas's Procurement taken and Slain by Tiglath Pileser and the Kingdom of Damascus dissolved § 4. Of lesser Kingdoms in Syria Gessur where Talmai reigned after Ammihur Sophena or Syria Saba or Coelosyria had Rehob and Adadezer after him whose Kingdom translated to Damascus by Rezin ended with the Kingdom of Israel not long after Ninus's Race in Sardanapalus had been ended by PhulBelechus Father of this Tiglath whose Son Salmanassar led Israel Captive as his Father had Damascus Senacharib Son of Salmanasser attempted Ierusalem in vain but 132 years after Israel's Captivity it also went to Babylon § 5. Hierusalem in Ioshua's days had Adonizedek for King and was not inferiour to Hozar the chief of all Canaanites This City of old called Iebus Inhabited of by Iebusites and therefore likeliest to be Builded by Iebusaeus the Son of Canaan and not by Melchisedek for it could not be in Abraham's way returning from his Victories but rather that Salem by Iordan of which we spake in Manasses Though Ioshua slew their King yet they held out 400 Years till David won it Solomon so perfected the Strength Beauty and Riches of it besides the renowned Temple that the World had not the like That Ditch hewn out of the Rock Sixty Foot deep and Two Hundred and Fifty broad with Walls Gates and Pallaces defended One Hundred Fifty Thousand Men besides Women
Subjects against their Fellows whose Cause might well be favour'd by many who yet durst not discover themselves being unarmed as they might when Weapons were put into their Hands So desperate is the Condition of Tyrants who think it a greater Happiness to be Feared than Loved yet are oblig'd to fear those whose Love would make them dreadful to others § 4. Iehoram taking no notice of God's displeasure by these Afflictions was threatned by a Prophetical Writing sent to him being such a Tyrant as the Prophets durst not reprove him to his Face as they had done many of his Predecessors bad as well as good but they writ to him keeping themselves from him Elias being Translated might have left this Writing or as some conjecture by mistaking in Writing one Letter for another Elias is put for Elisha c. The Accomplishment of the Prophecy proved as terrible as the Sentence when the Philistins which from David's days durst never look out brake in upon him c. with the Arabians a naked People on Horse-back of no Force dwelling in a Barren Desert So that the one quarter of those whom Iehosaphat Mustered had been able to repel greater Forces than both these Enemies could raise had the Iudean People been Armed as by their Prince's Jealousy they were not according to the Policy of the Philistins in the days of Saul The House of Iehoram which they surprised seemeth rather a Country House than in Ierusalem considering they made no further Ravages It is probable all Iehoram's Children were not now slain considering the Slaughters made after by Iehu and Athaliah within two years Lastly himself after two years Torment voided his Guts c. And as the People had small cause of comfort in his Life so they observed not the decency of pretending Sorrow for his Death neither had he the Honour of his Ancestors Burial though his Son Succeeded and his Wife did all Athaliah busie in Plotting her own Greatness and providing trusty Counsellors for her Son thought it unreasonable to offend the Eyes of the People with a magnificent Funeral of a Man by them detested and chose rather to let the Blame of past Actions lie upon the Dead than by doing him Honour to procure an ill Opinion of her self and Children which it now concerned her to avoid Such is the quality of Wicked Instigators to charge the Man whose Evil Inclination they corrupted by sinister Counsel not only with his own Vice but with their Faults also when once he is gone and can profit them no longer Thus we may clearly see how the corrupted Affections of Men impugning the Revealed Will of God accomplish nevertheless his hidden Purpose and without miraculous means confound themselves in the seeming Wise Devices of their own Folly All Men may likewise learn to submit their Judgments to the Ordinance of God rather than to follow Worldly Wisdom contrary to his Commandments § 5. Ahaziah succeeded his Father in the Twelfth year of Iehoram King of Israel and was guided by the same Spirits that had been his Father's Evil Angels Touching his Age 2 Chron. 22.2 a Point more difficult than important I see not a more probable Conclusion than that of Torniellus's mentioning an Edition of the Seventy at Rome Anno. 1588 which saith he was Twenty years old when he succeeded and the Annotations thereon which cite other Copies which give him two years more c. He accompanied Iehoram King of Israel to Ramoth Gilead and returneth home after the Battle and presently took a new Journey to visit Iehoram It seems his speedy return to Ierusalem was not pleasing to Athaliah as interrupting her in her Plots who therefore sought to oblige him abroad if it were but in a vain Complement to visit one whom he had seen but yesterday But however these things may seem accidental yet all concurred as disposed at this time to fulfil the high pleasure of God yea Athaliah's secret Plots which intended nothing less § 6. Ahaziah and that Family perished with the House of Ahab § Iehu is anointrd King and made Executioner of the Sentence of God against the House of Ahab according to the Prophecy of Elias and is proclaimed by all the other Captains He having this Honour upon the sudden thrown upon him was not slow in the heat of their Affections to put himself in possession and to set on foot the Business which so nearly concerned him and not to be retarded being no more his own than God's Ahab's House never so flourished having Seventy Princes of the Blood a valiant King honoured with the Victory of Ramoth Gilead so deeply Allied with Iudah and Courted by the King and so many Princes of his Blood that it might discourage all common Enemies and make Rebellious Enterprises hopeless In this Security and Joy of the Court for the King's Recovery and Entertainment of the Princes of Iudah the King his Court and Friends are suddainly surprized and slain neither could Iezebel's Painted Majesty nor Man-like Spirit with untimely brave Apothegms terrify her Adversary who of her Servant became her Lord at whose Command her base Grooms feared not to violate her affected Majesty Ahaziah is also wounded to Death CHAP. XVII Of Athaliah and Ioash that succeeded her § 1. AThaliah Vsurpeth and upon what pretences § Ahaziah being dead after one Years Reign his House was not able to retain the Kingdom 2 Chron. 22.9 which Speech hath bred the question of Ioash's Pedigree Athaliah having Reigned under her Sons Name had laid the Plot to play the Queen under her own Title if her Son fail'd and to that end had furnished the King Councel and Places of Chief Command with Men fittest for her purposes And though Ambition be violent yet seldom is it so shameless as to neglect Beauty It is not therefore improbable to think that Athaliah seeing the Royal Blood so wasted in her Husband and Son's days had by some means drawn her Husband or Son to make her Heir if the King's Blood should be extinct considering that without some such order taken when the King's Blood fail'd the Kingdom were like to be torn in sunder by Competitors or some Popular Seditious Man should be chosen that would subvert all regularity and exercise his Cruelty on such as they loved most and cast aspersions on the Royal House Pretence of Testaments to thrust out true Heirs is no new thing Yea what is new under the Sun To prefer a younger before the natural Heir hath proof in David and for State-Policy to slay a Brother by example of Solomon c. And though these had ground of their doings yet they which follow Examples which please them will neglect the Reasons which please them not Solomon slew Adonijah which had Rebelled and was entred a new practice Iehoram slew his Brethren better than he David purchased the Crown yet he gave it by God's direction when as Ahaziah sought to cut off David's Issue which the Lord had appointed
Peace between the Two Lions of Gold and Gules doth by many Degrees exceed both by sparing our Blood and assuring the Land As it pleased God to punish the Usurpation and unnatural Cruelties of our own Kings so do we find he dealt with the Sons of Lewis Debonair Son of Charlemain For after Debonair had put out his Nephew Bernard's Eyes the Son of Pipin the Eldest of Charlemain King of Italy and Heir of the Empire and after that caused him to die in Prison there followed such Murder and Bloodshed Poisonings and Civil Wars till the whole Race of that famous Emperor was extinguished Debonair further to secure himself put his Bastard Brothers into a Monastery But God rais'd up his own Sons to vex invade imprison and depose him alledging the former Violences to his Nephew and Brothers Yet he did that which few Kings do he publickly acknowledg'd and recanted his Cruelty against Bernard in the Assembly of the States But Blood unjustly spilt is not easily expiated by Repentance And such Medicines to the Dead have but dead Rewards He having also given Aquitain to Pipin his Second Son sought after that to cast him out as indeed he did his Son after him of the same Name at the Persuasion of Judith to raise her Son Charles Lothair his eldest Son he left King of Italy and Emperor against whom his Nephew Pipin of Aquitain Lewis of Bavier and Charles the Bald made War between whom was fought the most Bloody Battel that ever was known in France in which the Loss of the Nobility and Men of War encouraged the Sarazens to invade Italy the to fall upon Almain and the Danes upon Normandy After being invaded by Lewis and by his own Conscience for rebelling against his Father and other Cruelties he quits the Empire and dyes in a Monastery Charles the Bald seizeth on Pipin his Nephew and kills him in a Cloyster oppresses the Nephews the Sons of Lothair and usurps the Empire His Son Caroloman rebells and hath his Eyes burnt out by his Father Lewis of Bavier and his Son Caroloman are overthrown by Charles and Lewis dies of Grief as Charles doth of Poison by Zedekias his Phisician a Jew Whose Son also Lewis le Begne dy'd of the same Potion and Charles the Simple succeeded whose Natural Brothers Lewis and Charlemain rebell'd The Younger is slain by a wild Boar the Elder brake his Neck as did also the Son of Bavier Charles the Gross became Lord of what Debonair's Sons had held in Germany who invading Charles the Simple is forsaken of Nobles Wife and Wit dying a distracted Beggar Charles the Simple held in Wardship by Eudes Mayor of the Palace and after by Robert his Brother lastly is surprised by the E. of Vermandois and dyed in Prison Lewis his Son succeeded and brake his Neck one of his Sons dyes of Poyson the other in Prison Francis I. was one of the worthiest Kings that ever France had except his exposing the Protestants of Mirandel and Cabriers to the Fire and Sword of which though he repented and charged his Son to do Iustice on the Murderers yet was not that unseasonable Care accepted of by God who cut off his Four Sons without Issue to succeed And notwithstanding all their Subtilty and Breach of Faith with all their Massacres upon those of the Religion the Crown was set on his Head whom they all endeavoured to ruin and the Protestants are now in number and strength more than ever Spain has found God the same as Don Pedro of Castile may witness who as he became the most merciless of all Heathen or Christian Tyrants as the History of Spain records so he perish'd by the Hands of his Younger Brother who dispossessed all his Children of their Inheritance John D. of Burgoign may parallel this King if any can who after a Trayterous Murder of the D. of Orleance caused the Chancellor Constable divers Bishops Officers of Justice of the Treasury Requests Chamber of Accompts with Sixteen Hundred others suddenly to be slain which kind of Death eased the World of himself Ferdinand holding Arragon by Vsurpation of his Ancestors added Castile and Leon which he held by force of Arms from the Daughter of the last Henry and expell'd his Neece from the Kingdom of Navarr He betrayed Ferdinand and Frederick King of Naples his Kinsman to the French with the Army sent to their succour The Politick King who sold Heaven and his own Honour to make his Son the greatest Monarch saw his Death with his Wives and her untimely Birth buried together the like End he saw of his own Eldest Daughter his Second dyed Mad his Third was cast off by our King Henry VIII and the Mother of a Daughter whose unhappy Zeal shed a Deluge of Innocent Blood and had all his Kingdoms possest by strange Masters Charles V. Son to Arch. D. Philip who had Married Ferdinand's Mad Daughter after the Death of many Multitudes of Christian Souldiers and renowned Captains in his vain Enterprizes upon France Germany and other States while the Turk took the City of Rhodes was in conclusion chased out of France and in some sort out of Germany being persued by D. Maurice over the Alps which he passed by Torch Light and crept into a Cloister and became his Son's Prisoner who paid him very slowly Philip II. his Son not content to hold Holland and Zealand wrested by his Ancestors from Jaqueline their lawful Prince and to possess many other parts of the Netherland Provinces in Peace by persuasion of that mischievous Cardinal of Granvil and other Tyrants forgetting the remarkable Services done to his Father and the Forty Millions of Florens presented him at his Entrance and his solemn Oaths twice taken to maintain their Privileges which they had enjoyed under Thirty five Earls conditional Princes began to Tyrannize over them by the Spanish Inquisition and other intolerable Impositions and lastly by Force of Arms sought to make himself not Monarch only like the Kings of England France c. but Turk-like to overturn all their National Fundamental Laws Privileges and Customs To effect this he easily obtained a Dispensation of his Oaths from the Pope and then divided the Nobility under the Government of his base Sister Margaret of Austria and Cardinal Granvil Then he employ'd that Merciless Spaniard Ferdinand Alvarez D. of Alva who in six Years cut off Eighteen Thousand six Hundred Gentlemen and others by the Hand of the Hang-man Failing of his purpose by Force he tryeth Policy and sent Don John of Austria his Bastard Brother who upon the Papal advantage made no scruple to swear and having received Six Hundred Thousand Pounds of the Provinces to ease them of the Garrisons he suddenly surprized the Citadel of Antwerp Namure c. yet after so many Thousands slain Thirty six Millions of Treasure spent in six Years he left the Countrey and the King spent above One Hundred Millions with the Death of Four Hundred Thousand Christians
next after God produc'd their Crowns and the Peoples Love so purchas'd kept them on their Heads § 4. From this beginning of Regality grew Nobility Princes chusing by the same Rule of Virtue Men to assist them which Honour succeeded not by Blood but Virtue which is true Nobility the note of one Excelling another in Virtue and should bind Nobility not to degenerate As for Riches Power Glory c. they do no more define Nobility than bare Life defines a Man Honour is the Witness of Virtue and well-doing and true Nobility is the continuance of it in a Family so that where Virtue is extinguished they are like painted Images worshipped by the Ignorant for Christ our Lady and other Saints Flowers not manured turn to Weeds and the purest Fountain running through a filthy Soil is soon Corrupted Race and Linage is but the Matter Virtue and well deserving of a Common-wealth is the Form of true Nobility which being found in Posterity over-weigheth our proper Honour acquired by our own Virtue but if Virtue be wanting to Nobility by discent then Personal acquired Nobility is to be preferred without comparison for that by Descent may be in a very Villain There is a third Nobility which is in Parchment purchased by Silver or Favour being Badges of Affection which when Princes change they could wish they were blotted out But if we had as much Sense in our denegeration in Worthiness as we have of Vanity in deriving our selves from such Parents we shou'd perceive such Nobility to be our Shame CHAP. X. Of Nimrod Belus and Ninus § 1. NIMROD the Sovereign after the Flood was generally held a Tyrant But Melancton and Onomasticum Theologicum judge otherwise And it seemeth that his leading this Troop to Shinar was rather given him than Usurped seeing it is not Recorded that Noah or any of the Sons of his Body came with him or were in that presumptuous Action Some Ancients conceive Suphne and Ioctan were also Leaders but joyned not in that unbelieving Attempt and therefore lost not their Language § 2. Nimrod Belus and Ninus were different Persons though Eusebius and Ierom confound the two first and Augustine makes Belus King of Babylon which Argueth him to be Nimrod Mercator with less probability confounds Nimrod and Ninus out of Clemens Diodorus Siculus Reports that Ninus subdued Babylon which perhaps had Rebelled upon setling the Empire at Ninive which was also in Shinar § 3. Nimrod not Assur Built Ninive as Iunius hath rendered Moses's Text agreeable to Reason and Sense though Writers differ That Assur Built it greeth not with Moses's Order who especially intending the Story of the Hebrews first handleth the Birth of Noah's other Sons beginning with Iaphet proceeding with Cham and lastly with Shem not intermingling one with the other till he had set down a brief of all Three In the Narration of Cham he makes a distinct Discourse of Nimrod and his Brethren being to speak after at large of Babels Confusion by it self to shew us the Founder of the place and of the Empire which first over-ruled all the rest As for the Assyrian Kingdom it arose from the Babylonian according to Iunius So Calvin before followeth Epiphanius Ierom Cyril Methodius and P. Comestor with Cedrenus took Assur Gen. 10.11 to be Nimrod's Son as doth Torniellus of late But Rab. Maurus understood it as Iunius Yet Calvin contrary to Iunius and himself objecting Esay 23.13 than which no place more difficult to prove Assur founded the Chaldean much more the Assyrian Empire But the City of the Chaldeans founded and after destroyed by the Assyrians may with good probability be understood of Vr called Vrcta by Ptolomy Chaldeopolis by the Greeks and Cameria by Hecateus This Vr stood upon the chief stream of Euphrates by which it passed into the Persian Gulf though now it is stopped and runneth into Tigris of which stoppage Niger and Pliny speak This City then had Trade with Tyrus and was a Port Town By which the Sabeans sent Commodities to Babylon and so to Tyre This Vr founded by Shem's Son Assur was afterwards destroyed by the Assyrians which God fore-seeing sent away Abraham from thence That the Founder differs from Assur the destroyer is agreeable to the Truth and circumstances For thus Seth's Posterity which followed Assur being Planted at Vr were separated from the Idolatrous Chushits And if Sem's Son Assur founded Ninive how left he it to Ninus Son of Belus and Husband of Semiramis § 4. Nimrod called Saturn by Iulian Africanus established the Babylonian Monarchy which he inlarged into Assyria Where he Founded Ninive and other Cities which his Son Belus finished who after Nimrods 114 Years Reign succeeded and spent much time in draining the Marshes of Babel and began with Sabbatius in Armenia and Scythia Saga which Ninus finished § 5. Ninus's days might well afford many Kingdoms if we consider the order of their departing from Babel according to their Kindred every Family following the chief thereof whom Nature and Necessity taught the rest to submit unto and who took opportunity from Time and Nimrod's examples to exercise legal Authority Belus who succeeded Nimrod found Sabatius King of Armenia and Scythia able to resist him whom I take to be Tanais in Iustine As for his Vexoris Reineccius hath judiciously taken to be Sesostris the Great some Ages after Ninus Belus in common accompt Reigned 65 Years § 6. Belus I judge to be a Name rather given by Ninus for Honour to his Father than taken by him Cyrill calls him Arbelus and saith he was the first that would be called God Bel say the Learned signifying the Sun in Chalde and there Worshipped for God And many words in Scripture grew from it Bel Baal Belzebub Baalim which Name was given to God till upon abuse he forbad it The first Idolatry grew from hence c. The Old the most Ancient of every Family and Kings which Founded Cities were called Saturns their Sons Iupiters and Valiant Nephews Hercules § 7. Image-Worship began from Belus in Babel c. Schoolmen shift off this fearful Custom strangely For seeing the very Workman-ship is forbidden how can the heart of a wise Christian satisfie it self with the distinction of Douleia and Latrua and Hyperdouleia which can imply but a difference of Worship and it is most strange that Learned Men do strain their Wits to defend what Scripture oftentimes expresly forbids and Curses the practicers And where they say the Prophets condemn Heathen Idols only it is manifest Moses spake of the Living God saying You saw no Image when the Lord spake to you in Horeb. Basil forbids us to imagine any Form of God lest we limit him in our Minds what Presumption then is it to put him under the Greasy Pensil of a Painter or the rusty Tool of a Carver Rome for 170 Years by Numa's Law held it impiety till Tarquin Priscas and Varro condemned it as Augustin shews So Seneca Sybil
five thousand more § 9. Mardonius's Army of thirty thousand was increased to fifty thousand with the Macedonians Thaebans and Thessalians against which the Forces of Greece were One hundred and ten Thousand of which forty thousand were weightily Armed All these comfronted one another in a convenient place belonging to the Plataeans who gave it to the Athenians upon the Oracles promise of Victory if the Battle were fought on Athenian ground In the end the Armies encounter each other Mardonius is slain his Army destroyed and Artabasus with three thousand flyeth to Byzantium and so Shipped into Asia § 10. Xerxes being at Sardis committed Sixty thousand to Tygranes to keep Ionia and the Coast where his two Admirals lay at Mycale who perceiving the Grecian Fleet was coming drew their Ships on ground and fortifyed the places and disarmed the Samians among them and set the Miletians far off to keep the Streights doubting them The Greeks resolutely â—orce them and the Samians in the Fight get what Weapons they can and play the Devil against the Persians whose Example the Ionians follow so that the Persians are overthrown and of those that fled the Milesians had the slaughter this was the Evening of that Day the Battel was at Plataea which was the last that was heard of this mighty Army levied against Greece § 11. Xerxes not regarding these Losses was engag'd in the love of his Brother's Wife who rejected him and after of her Daughter Wife to his Son whereof did follow the Salvage Cruelty of Amestris his Wife on his Brother's Wife and his Murther of his Brother Masistes her Husband CHAP. VII The Greek Affairs from the Persian Wars to the Peloponesian of Twenty Seven Years § 1. THE Greeks having utterly defeated that Persian Army of Seventeen Hundred Thousand and left a few thousands of them that the Peloponesians sent home leaving Xantippus and his Athenians assisted with the revolted Ionês who took Sestos in the Streight of Hellespont between which and Abidos Xerxes's Bridge had stood and in the Spring return'd home taking their Wives and Children with them out of the Islands where they had left them The Athenians neglecting their private interest fell presently to fortifie their City which the Lacedemonians doubting the Athenians power at Sea dissuaded but in vain being held in suspence with fair words till the work was ended and then were answer'd That Athens knew what belonged to her safety as they had shewed in the Persian War without direction from others § 2. The Athenians sent out Thirty Ships the Lacedemonians Twenty the rest of Greece adding thereto Pausanias of Lacedemon having the Conduct who having possess'd themselves of many Principal Places in Cyprus went from thence to Thrace and recovered Bizantium now Constantinople from the Persians After this Pausanias beginning to play the Tyrant is called home and Docres put in his Place who is also misâ—iked as indeed a good Commander might be in comparison of the Wise and Virtuous Aristides Commander of the Athenians much more Men of ill desert The Lacedemonians being weary of following the War of which the Athenians were eagâ—r return home and take their easâ— while the other got Honour and had all the rest of the Greeks willing to be Commanded by the Athenians and to bear what Charge they lay upon them for the common defence of Greece gladly referring themselves to Aâ—istides But just Aristides could not prevent the Athenians making Slaves of their Fellows in short time imposing Thirteen Hundred Talents a year upon their Confederates Timon Son of â—â—â—â—iades was General who brought many Inhabitants 〈◊〉 Greece into the Athenian Servitude while neglecting to follow the Wars chusing rather to bear the Chaâ—ge than seâ—ve grew weak as the other became strong Timon having taken Phaleis entrâ—d Erquidom in Pamphiâ—ia overthrew the Persian Army at Land and took two hundred Ships and forced Eighty Sail of Phaenicians to râ—â— on groâ—nd and perâ—â—â— This forced the Persians to an honourable Peace with the Athenians § 3. Xerxes becomes cruel to his Kindred and those about him which made hiâ— Uncle Artaâ—â—â—â—â— to repose less safety in his Fidelity thaâ— in the hope of a Crown by destroying a Cruel Cowaâ—dly and Hated Prince Thus by means of Millorldatus an Eunuch the King is murther'd and his Son Darius charg'd with it and put to death But Artabanus is surpriz'd by Artaxerxes and slain § 4. Artaxerxes making Peace with the Athenians Themistocles seeking to check the Peoples insolency in their Democratical Government is Banished Ten Years who for safety fled to Persia where to avoid leading Forces against Athens he Poisoned himself § 5. Athens contrary to the Peace with the Persians measuring Honour by profit thought to Surprize Cyprus a convenient Seat for any State which would Trade with Syria Egypt Cilicia c. But Timon with two hundred Sail solicited by Icarus King of Lybia to joyn in Conquest and shewing him Egypt accepted the motion succeeded in the Attempt to the taking two parts of Memphis 'till Magabazus sent Forces to assist the Persians there by which means the Athenians were forced to Prosopotes and there slain with loss of all their Gallies and fifty more sent to their assistance § 6. The Athenians in these six years of Egyptian War held their own with advantage winning the Aegyptian Phocis Tanagra c. spoiled the Sea-Coast of Peloponesus and then made a Peace with them § 7. Artaxerxes Longimanus to whom most good Authors give forty and some forty four years was he which so much favoured the Iews as we see in Esdras and Nehemiah which was that Ahasuerus who Married Hester lived in Susa and Reigned from India to Aethiopia and therefore a Persian Now as Darius Hystaspes his many Wives the Honour he left Atossa in Iojachim's being High-Priest in the days of Artaxerxes prove he was not Hesters Husband so much less was Xerxes and Mordocha proveth he could be none of the succeeding Kings of Persia. § 8. The Greeks prosecute their Civil-War leaving the Persians in Peace for many Ages Their Egyptian Expedition being come to nought the Lacedemonians recover Delphos which the Athenians regain and commit to the Phocians But the Baeotians recover their Liberty against the Athenians as did Eubaea and Megaras and Athens seek Peace with Sparta for thirty years but after six years Invaded Samos CHAP. VIII Of the Peloponesian War § 1. GReece was never under the Government of one Prince 'till Philip of Macedon and Alexander his Son and by them rather United than Subjected as they were by the Kings following who brought all Greece into servitude except those Two which deserved it most Athens and Lacedemon which distracted all by their private quarrels drawing all the rest to side with them Lacedemon having lived under one form of Government four hundred years used only to War as glorying only in Valour The Athenians to the contrary measured Honour and all by Gain The Lacedemonians were
Universe Piercing Moving and Governing All Things hath ordained as which is seen in this King 's Undertaking c. who not meeting with a Spirit like his own was opposed only with difficulties of Passages and tedious Journies and certainly the things performed by Xenophon discover as brave a Spirit as Alexander's working no less exquisitely though the effects were less material as were the Forces and Power of Commanders by which it wrought But he who would find the exact Pattern of a Noble Commander must look upon such as Epaminondas that in courting Worthy Captains better followed than themselves have by their singular Vertue over-top'd them that would not have yielded one foot to another Such as these seldom obtain to great Empires seeing it is harder to master the equal Forces of one hardy well-order'd State than an unweildy Empire of many servile Nations and that only Brave Roman Caesar is the Example whose exquisite managing attained the Greatness Alexander hasteth to the Streights of Cilicia to prevent Darius which Arsenes the Governour had left to a weak Guard which abandoned it when he pretending to wast the Country withdrew himself further off so the Province came easily into Alexander's Power § 4. Darius approached with his Army of more than Two Hundred and Ninety Thousand of divers Nations saith Curtius Four Hundred Thousand after Iustine and Six Hundred Thousand in Plutarch Curtius describeth the manner of his coming with such Pompous Riches Gorgeous Apparel a Pageant of his Gods Train of Ladies attending his Mother Wife Children with their Nurses Eunuchs Concubines all sumptuously Apparel'd with Six Hundred Mules and Three Hundred Camels laden with Treasure c. Such was the Train of this May-game King so unmarshalled effeminate unarmed but with Gold and glittering Garments as would have encouraged the nakedest Nation in the World against them We find by common Experience that no discourse of Magnanimity National Vertue Religion or Liberty and whatsoever else is wont to encourage Vertuous Men hath any force with the Common Souldier in Comparison of Spoil and Riches Rich Ships are Boarded upon all disadvantages Rich Towns furiously assaulted and plentiful Countries willingly invaded War is willingly made and for the most part with good success against the Richest Nations For as the needy are adventurous so Plenty is wont to shun Peril and Men which are well to live do rather study to live Wealthy than care to dye Honourable for no Man hasteth to the Market where nothing is to be bought but Blows This Battle at Issus is no where well described but we may guess what resistance was made if it be true that Curtius saith that of the Persians were slain Two Hundred Thousand and of the Macedonians but Two Hundred and Eighty of which number Arianus and others cut off almost half so that it seemeth these died rather by over-labour in killing than being killed Darius found it true now what Charedemus a Banished Athenian told him near Babylon That his rich delicate confused Multitude would be more fearful to the Countries through which they should pass than to the Long-trained Macedonians against whom it were fitter to oppose a competent number of Grecians of equal Courage having such abundance of Treasure to do it for which unpleasing Discourse the poor Greek was slain c. Desperate is that Princes safety whose Ear judgeth what is profitable to be too sharp and will entertain nothing that is unpleasant For Liberty in Council is the life of it which vanisheth if it be taken away The like Advice was given by the Grecians which served under him which he set light by who intreated him not to fight in the Streights but to retire into the Plains of Mesopotamia where he might environ all the Macedonians and to divide his Army into Parts not committing the Whole to one stroak c. But that Infinite Wisdom of God which worketh diversly doth often in the alteration of Kingdoms and States take Understanding from Governours not to discern of Counsel Alexander by Advice of Parmenio stayed in a place where Darius could bring no more Hands to fight than he and utterly overthrew him took his Treasure Wife Mother Children and Train of Ladies which the Grecians had advised to leave at Babylon and Darius casting off his Crown hardly escaped Yet after this he writ to Alexander about ransoming his Women and some proud Conditions of Peace which he scorned Alexander after the Victory made Parmenio Governour of all Phoenicia which presently submitted Zidon's Kingdom committed to Hephestion he gave to a Day Labourer of the Royal Blood who desired he might bear his Prosperity as well as he had done his Adversity § 5. Alexander coming near Tyre received from them a Crown of Gold and store of Victuals and other Presents but could not be admitted into the City as he desired to offer Sacrifice to Hercules 'till he erected a Cause-way from the Main Eight hundred Furlongs to it which he did in Seven Months He put Eight Thousand to the Sword Crucifyed two Thousand on the Shore and made Thirteen Thousand Slaves for that they had barbarously drowned his Messengers The Government he gave to Philotus Son of Parmenio § 6. Darius sendeth again to stay his passage on toward the East laying down the difficulties threatning to compass him in the Plain Countries and offering him his Daughter and many Kingdoms for Dowry Alexander answered he offer'd him what was his own that he was to give not to take Conditions and disdained all resistances at Rivers having past the Sea Parmenio full of Years Honour and Wealth told Alexander if he were Alexander he would accept his Offer So would I said he If I were Parmenio Alexander proceeded to Gaza defended by Belis for Darius with much Resolution where he buried many Macedonians in the Sands and was wounded in the Breast yet took the Town and caused Belis to be drawn about it being weak by many Wounds defending that Cruelty by Achilles's usage of Hector From thence he went to Ierusalem where Iaddus the High Priest in his Robes met him whom he fell down before remembring he had in Macedon seen such a Priest which professed the same God and incouraged him in his purpose for Persia so he gave the Jews what Immunities they desired § 7. Alexander turned from thence towards Egypt where Astaces Lieutenant unto Darius delivered Memphis into his Hands with 800 Talents of Treasure There doating after Deities he took a desperate Journey to visit Iupiter Hamon through the dangerous Sands that the lying Oracle might acknowledge him Iupiter's Son and so to be Worshipped Many prodigious Fables feigned hereabout look like those of the Spaniards in the West-Indies Curtius's description of the place disproved It is Two hundred Miles from any Sea in the South of the Lybia having the Nassamons on the West § 8. Alexander returneth to Memphis where he committed the Provinces of Egypt to sundry Governours according to his Master
sent T. Manlius who in his Consulship had won the Island with Twenty Two Thousand Foot and Twelve Hundred Horse as their commendable manner was to suport in their Provinces those Men and their Families which had first subdued them Manlius soon after his Arrival in one Day overthrew Hyostius who in his Fatherâ—s absence would needs venture upon the old Soldiers who slew above Thirty Thousand Men. Asdrubal the bold and other Carthaginians came soon after and made Manlius leave Cornus which he had Besieged and go to Calaris where in a Battle he slew Twelve Thousand and took Three Thousand Hyostus Asdâ—ubal and the rest dy'd and the Rebellion ended Sicily also grew troublesome after the Battle at Cannae when old Hierom King Siracuse dying left his Kingdom to Hyeronismus a Grandchild fifteen Years Old under tuition of fifteen Principal Men of which Andronodorus that Married Demarata Daughter of Hiero designing how to be the only Man applyed himself to the King pushing him on to assume the Government wherein he quickly exceeded and turned Tyrant He affected not the Romans as his Father had done despising the present weakness of Rome and casting an Eye upon the prevailing Fortune of Carthage entred League with them upon Condition that Sicily should be his But while he was busie herein his Tyranny produced Treason against his Person which took effect at Leontium where he was slain Andronodorus push'd no by his Wife endeavoured to become Tyrant but finding it yet too â—ard to compass applauded the Peoples liberty and so by them is chosen chief Praetor He â—inding Themistius who Married the Sister of Hieronymus affected as himself as he was also Wiv'd dealt with him and drew him to take his part But being too free in communicating their design 't was discover'd to the Senate so that entring into the Senate both were slain and their Wives also for affecting Royalty Then new Praetors are chosen in their place called Epicides and Hippocrates Born in Carthage but of Syracusan Parents both which Hannibal had used in the League with Hieronymus who being in Office opposed the Roman League But finding the People afraid of Marcellus who also required the City to expel them they stirred up the Leontines to take their Liberty as Syracuse had done for seeing the Tyrant was slain there it was no reason they should remain Subject to Syracuse When Marcellus heard that Leontium revolted from Syracuse he offered his help and won the Town in a day So the two Ringleaders fled to Hebersus but the Citizens were pardoâ—ed tho' the contrary Report bred a mutiny against the Roman Praetors Cruelty among the Syracusan Mercenaries These being led by their Praetors to Herbesus Epicides and Hyppocrates came out with Olive Branches to the Army wherein Six Hundred Creets whom Hannibal had used well took Protection of them and at Megara by a counterfeit Letter of Hyppocrates to Marcellus from Syracuse intreating him to make away their troublesome Mercenaries the Army was in such Uproar that the Praetors fled for Life So the Army was led by Hyppocrates to Syracuse who let him in where he slew whom he lifted set Slaves and Prisoners free as is usually done by Tyrants and thus the two Brethren became Lords of Syracuse Marcellus hearing of the alterations hoping by his success at Leontium to make short work at Syracuse presently Besieged it by Sea and Land omitting no violence and terrour in two or three Assaults but was beaten off not so much by virtue of the Defendents as by the skill of that Noble Mathematician Archimedes who at Hiero at the late King's request framed such Engines of War as did the Romans more mischief than could have been done by Cannon either by Sea or Land for they cast among them great Stones and Timber and by an Iron Graple would take up a Galley by the Prow and shake out all the Men c. Marcellus not knowing which way to turn and loath to give over resolved to famish the Town which was a desperate piece of work considering the large Haven and their Carthaginian Friends who even then had sent Himilco with twenty five Thousand Foot three Thousand Horse and twelve Elephants and Bomilcar with a Fleet had Victualled the City Upon Himilco's Landing many Towns yielded which forced Marcellus to rise with a great part of his Army to prevent him of other places as he did but came too late to Agrigentum which Himilco had gotten Winter coming on Marcellus leaving sufficient Force before Syracuse went to Leontium where Studying how to save his Honour which his leaving the Enterprize would impeach he falls on another Point of Dishonour to prevail by Treason which yet succeeded not In the end a Fugitive out of the City informed him of a Feast to be held to Diana for which there was plenty of Wine Upon this in the Night he scaled the Walls and took some part of the City which was divided by Walls like four or five Cities The Souldiers and Citizens after this offer to compound which Marcellus liketh but once or twice it is interrupted and being at a stand Marcellus in the time of the Treaty corrupted one of the Captains of the Town which was a Mercenary Spaniard by whose Treason he entred the Town and had a Booty no less than that of Carthage In this surprize Archimedes was slain whose death Marcellus lamenteth and Buried him Honourably This under-dealing of Marcellus was not approved at Rome considering Hiero's benefits and that the Citizens when at Liberty favoured Rome but were now over-ruled by Tyrants and MercenaÌ„ries Yet the Senate thought not good to restore the Booty nor give over the the Dominion Nevertheless it was not so well with Syracuse before as after considering their Factions Conspirators Tyrants Murders Banishments c. which yet Justifieth not Rome's injustice more than him which stole the Cup from a sick Person because he was always drinking in it After this all Sicily yeilded except Agrigentum c. held by Epicides Hanno and Mutines a Numidan a Wise and Valiant Man by whom Marcellus was much interrupted yet was his Virtue so envied by Hanno that he took his Charge from him The Numidians were so Incensed with this Indignity to their Country Man that they left Hanno and committed themselves to Mutines disposition who entring into Intelligence with Valentine Levinus the Roman Consul newly come delivered Agrigentum into his hands and assisted in the Conquest of all the rest § 16. Rome wanting Money to pay off the Souldiers and to mannage the War against Hannibal and that in Sicily when Marcellus and Livinus were chosen Consuls they proposed that the Consuls should bring in all the Money they had that the Senators do the like reserving of Gold or other Plate only a Salt-seller a Cup a Ring and some pieces of Art as Toys for their Wives and Children This example the Gentlemen and Commonality followed cheerfully all holding it equal that every private