to him Baleus Baleus subdued many Nations extending his dominions euen vnto Iudea and was therefore sirnamed Xerxes that is a conquerour and triumpher or warriour Armatrites the ninth Armatrites was altogether giuen ouer to pleasure and idlenesse There is nothing written of Belochus the tenth Belochus but that hee applied himselfe to the studie of soothsaying and diuining Baleus the eleuenth paralleld Semiramis in renown for his prowes and militarie industrie and hath the fame to haue beene highly extolled in sundry learned mens workes Altadas Altadas the twelfth of him it is recorded that he followed his ease and tranquilitie of life accounting it a point of folly to be wearied with multiplicitie of labours and fettered with varietie of cares about inlarging the bounds of his kingdome because it tended not to the weale and commoditie of any men but rather to their endammagement seruitude His successour Mamitus the thirteenth Mamitus stirred vp his subiects on fresh againe to diligence and industry in military affaires and his puisance gaue cause of suspition to the Syrians and Egyptians For Mancaleus the fourteenth Mancaleus his actions afford not argument worth the discourse Spharus Sphaerus the fifteenth is commended for his great vertue and wisedome There is no mention in writing of any memorable act performed by Mamelus the sixteenth Mamelus Sparetus In Sparetus the seuenteenth his raigne histories report that woÌ„drous accidents hapned euery where Ascatades Ascatades the eighteenth brought all Syria vnder his subiection And thus farre the suppos'd Berosus of whose writings almost all men make a doubt thinke them counterfeit but because we haue no other records extant they follow this order o See their names at the end of the Booke Others reckon 20 Kings more together with Sardanapalus making him the eight and thirtieth King of the Assyrians This King as without all compare the most effeminate of men continually sitting amongst harlots spining and carding with them and so totally plunged in voluptuousnesse that he would scarce euer shew himselfe in publike For this cause two of his Rulers Belochus of Babylon Arbaces of the Medes alienating their affection from him after they had emblazon'd his filthinesse and lasciuiousnesse vp and downe amongst the vulgar made warre against him Hee with his womanish troopes hauing scarce ioyn'd battell such was his bad successe fled to his palace and â—here causing a great fire to be made threw himselfe and all his goods into it In this deed only The Monarchy diuided as a certaine writer saith shewing himselfe a man Afterwards these two rulers diuided the Monarchy betwixt them Belochus was made King of Babylon and Arbaces of the Medes After is had stood 1300 years Thus Sardanapalus was the last king in that course when that Monarchy had stood 1300. yeares for almost all their Kings liued exceeding long Belochus the nine thirtieth Belochus 2 King 15. 1 Chron. 5. or if it seeme better the first King of the Assyrians in the new Monarchy compelled Manasses King of Israel to pay him Tribute the Scripture calls him not Belochus but Phul. Phul Assur 2 King 15. 2 Chro. 28. Phul Assur surnamed Tiglath Pileser succeeded him He tooke some certaine Cities in Iudea and caried away the people captiue into Assyria Achas King of Iuda in whose time the Prophet Isaias liued desir'd aid from this Tiglath against the King of Syria Salmanassar and sent him presents After Tiglath followed Salmanassar who after three yeares siege tooke the Citie of Samaria and caried away captiue Hosea King of Israel and his people and allowed them a dwelling place in his owne Dominions euen amongst the Medes as the Scripture saith 2 King 18. whereupon some gather that hee rul'd also ouer the Medes His successor Senacherib kept his Court in the City of Niniuie Senacherib 2 King 18. Hee made Ezekiah King of Iuda tributary to him and soone after besieged Ierusalem with a mighty Army and by his Ambassadors exhorting the people to make a reuolt 2 King 19. and scoffed at their King who hoped for helpe from his God But he escaped not vnpunisht for God by his Angell in one night slew 185000. of his men as a little before he had confirmed it to Ezekias by his Prophet Isaiah Isa 37. After his returne home hee was slaine by his owne sonnes Tob. 1. Till this time the Babylonians after Sardanapalus his ouerthrow were in subiection to the Assyrians Senacherib as we said before hauing receiu'd such a destruction at Ierusalem and not long after slaine by his owne sons there folowed a great change in the State of the Kingdome which was then diuided For the two brothers Adramalech and Sarazar who had committed the parricide fled Notwithstanding they leuied forces and prepared Armes against their brother Assaradon Assaradon 2 King 19. who after his fathers death had seized vpon the Kingdome hauing formerly gouern'd the Common-wealth in his fathers p Isa 37. Merodach absence Merodach Gouernour of Babylon taking hold on this faire occasion 2 Kings 20. 2 Chro. 32. for his own good successe reuolted proclaiming warre and hauing by degrees partly by fauour partly by force drawne in the neighbouring countries round about him to his party and ouercome Assaradon in the 12. year of his raigne annexed the whole Empire of the Assyrians to the Babylonians and raigned q Isai 39. 50. Beâ—â—nerodach Nabuchodonozor 1. forty yeares after Many reckon next after him Benmerodach and Nabuchodonozor the first of that name but seeing the holy Scripture discouers nothing hereabouts nor can we rashly giue credit to others wee le rancke that Nabuchodonozor whom the Scripture makes much mention of Nabuchodonozor the Great next in order after Merodach Hee therefore within few yeeres after his entrance made warre with the r Kings 24. Ierem. 46. Aegyptians and tooke from them the whole Countrey therefrom Euphrates to Å¿ Suidas cals this Peleusiuns the Key of Egypt It is now called Damietta Peleusium made tributary to him t 2 Kâ—n. 24. Ioachim King of Iuda and in the eight yeare of his raigne caried away captiue to Babylon his sonne Iechonias together with his chiefe men and artificers not onely of the City of Ierusalem but also of the whole Countrey In the eighteenth yeare of his raigne he tooke * Kings 15. 2 Chro. 36 Ierusalem after two yeares siege within a while after u Ierem. 52 sackt burnt it broke downe the walls caried away most part of the people putting out king Zedekias his eies and killing his sons and Noblemen Ierem. 25. The Prophet Ieremy had foretold this calamity in the first yeare of Nabuchodonozors raigne and from this time we must reckon the 70. yeares captiuity of Babylon Nabuchodonozor about the foure and twentieth yeare of his raigne hauing ouercome the kings of the x Ier. 46.
Ammonites and Moabites passed into Aegypt with an army where hauing got possession of all that Countrey afterwards begun his Monarchy In the second yeare of his Monarchy as the learned of our times collect he saw in his dreame a great Image whose head was of gold the brest and armes of siluer the belly and thighes of brasse the legges of iron the feet part of iron part of clay When hee awakt and could not call to mind what he had dreamt but yet remain'd mightily astonisht calling together his Magicians and soothsayers charged them vnder paine of death to interpret his dreame Daniel a yong man Captiue with the rest of his Nation brought thither from Ierusalem signified that he could satisfie the kings desire being brought forth first hee shewed what the dreame was and afterwards interpreted the meaning therof The Image said hee signifies the foure chiefe Monarchies of the world which are to succeed in order and turning his speech to the King himselfe Thou said hee whom God hath inuested with supreame power and glory to whom he hath giuen rule ouer all men beasts of the field fowles of the ayre Thou I say art the Golden Head of that Image After thee another kingdome of siluer shall arise worse then this of thine afterwards the third kingdome of brasse which shall beare rule farre and wide but the fourth kingdome shall be of iron for as yron breaketh in peeces and subdueth all things so also shall the fourth and last breake in peeces all the rest and bring them in subiection to it This therefore is the first and formerly neuer heard of prophesie of the four Monarchies which God reuealed to vs by his Prophet Daniel A thing truly worthy to bee committed to memory because in a few words it comprises the historie of all ages vntill the end of the world as afterwards I am to speake of Now it sufficeth how at this time first of all God hath discouered to vs the order and successiue course of the Monarchies Dan. 4. That place in Daniel also manifests more clearly of what great puissance this Nabuchodonozor was where the Scripture compares him to a Tree whose height reached to heauen which as it were oueâ—shaddowed the whole earth whose leaues were very faire and most abundantly loaden with fruit whereby all creatures were fed and fatned in whose braÌ„ches boughes all manner of fowle dwelt and made their nests This therfore is the first Monarchy which as it was exceedingly amplified in this Kings raigne hoisted vp to the very highest steppe So also it fell away and in his Nephewes time was quite extinguished euen as God had denounced by Daniel and other of his Prophets This Nabuchodonozor raigned three forty yeares It would quite the cost if all mortall men especially Kings and Princes would read diligently consider with how dreadfull a spectacle and example God as Daniel sets it downe reuenged his pride Dan. 4. and 5. that so they might the more reuerence Gods diuine Maiestie Euilmerodach 2 King 25. Ierem. 51. and performe that office to the people which is committed to them His son Euilmerodach succeded him he raigned 30 yeares Assur Labassardach and his successor Assur three yeares Labassardach who raigned y Metasthener and others say but 6. euen yeares succeeded him After him Balthasar bore rule â—â—ue yeares Many reckon them after this manner but the learned of our time omitting two of them Balthazar put Balthasar next after his father Euilmerodach write that he raign'd 14. y. which is very necessary to make the perfect number of 70. yeares during which space the Iewes were in captiuity to the Babylonians sithence their captiuity begun in the nineteenth yeare of Nabuchodonozors raigne Those who obserue this order and leaue out the two Kings before spoken of follow the Tract of Scripture and especially the Prophet Ieremieâ—s testimony Ierem. 25. who prophesied that the Iewes should serue the King of Babell his son and his sons son but in this point let euery man haue his iudgement free to himselfe Howbeit Balthazar as the Scripture mentions was the last King of the Babylonians Dan. 5. and in this all Writers agree As for the manner of the taking of Babylon many Authors describe it Dan. 5. Daniel also mentions how God denounced to this King his imminent and euen present calamitie and relates how the gouernement of the Monarchie after that King was slaine was translated to Darius the Mede Darius then 62. yeeres of age Many Writers call this Darius Cyarxes who was the son of Astiages eight King of the Medes whom Daniel cals Assuerus Dan. 9. who hauing no issue male bestowed his daughter in mariage vpon Cyrus the King of Persia's sister sonne and being prouokt to enter into a warre with the King of the Assyrians sent for aid to Cyrus who leading his forces thither and being made Generall of the whole armie returned conquerour hauing taken that most powerfull z Babylon Dan. 9. Citie It is recorded that Darius liued not aboue a yeere after this victorie And then when Darius was yet liuing after the taking of Babylon and the children of Israel Ier. 25. and 29. Dan. 9. had by this time remained captiue in Babylon almost 70. yeeres God reuealed in more ample manner to Daniel according to his praiers in that behalf who made knowne the same to the Prophet Ieremie foreshewer of the captiuitie Cyrùs founder of the second Monarchy of the Persians when the first of the Assyrians had stood about 1538. yeeres this was about 3434. and did not onely confirme the nearnes of their freedome but also shewed what time the Messias should come who should satisfie for the sinnes of men After Darius his death the sway of gouernment was committed to his sonne in law Cyrus and this is the beginning of the second Monarchie for now Cyrus alone held in his owne hands Assyria Media and Persia euen to the Ionian sea as Thucidides hath it hauing before his winning of Babylon taken Craesus that most puissant King of Lydia So this Cyrus is first King of the Persians and founder of the second Monarchie This most renowned Prince hauing vanquisht the Babylonians made warre with the Scythians whether going with his armie and at length intrapped and inuironed by his enemies was there slaine In the beginning of his raigne after the taking of Babylon hee permitted the Iewes to returne home againe out of captiuitie 2 Chro. 16. that they might reedifie the Temple and the Citie of Ierusalem and to that purpose bestowed very liberally out of his own Treasurie Isai 44. and 45. God by his Prophet Isai had foretold him by name some ages before he was born Xenophon brings him in discoursing with his sons before his death about the immortalitie of the soule as Cicero hath it who interprets that place as all others very elegantly Cyrus reached the 70. yeere of
Rhyne and entred the Gallia's there to seat themselues in regard of the goodnesse of the soile For the Teuthons broke into the Prouince of Gallia and were put to flight by Caius Marius the Consull Afterwards the Aruernes and Heduies quarrelling about principality the Germanes hired with pay from the Aruernes and Sequans marched thither at first indeed but with indifferent forces but increasing by degrees in Arcouistus their Kings raigne possessed a good part of the country but them Caius Caesar ouerthrew it battell and some yeeres after when he made warre against the k Inhabiting Lâ—ke beâ—ond Brabant Eburons a people of Gallia Belgica the Germanes againe march ouer the Rhyne with intent to beat backe the Roman Armie but were by him discomfiâ—ed at the meeting of the Riâ—er Maze and the Rhyne Many yeers following they contained themselues within their owne bounds because the Roman Emperours held them in play by warres yet as oft as they could lay hold on fitting opportunity slackt not their owne commoditie but continually wasted Gallia After this manner Gallienus being Emperour one no lesse carelesse then voluptuous they made an inroade and by little and little sprung vp to that potencie that the Emperour Probus had much adoe to repell them Iulianus also Constantius his Lieutenant made warre against them Afterwards when Honorius was Emperour the Gothes broke into Gallia to whom the Emperour detained by sundry warres granted the Country of Aquitania to inhabite On the other side the l Of Frankenlandt then Franconia in Germany French-Germanes making their way through m Holland Belgia vanquishing the n In and about Triers Treuires o Of Iuliers or Gulicke Menapians Eburons p Part in Flanders part in Picardie Morines q Of Turnay Neruians r of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Amtians Å¿ of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Bellouacans t of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Soissons seated themselues in that part of Gallia which retaines their name and is called France in which Country Paris is the chiefe Citie and not farre from thence stands San-Denis afterwards consecrated for the Sepulture of the Kings of France to this day After this manner inlarged hauing formerly possession of a good part of Germany euen all the Country betwixt the Riuer Maine and the Rhyne they easily repelled not onely offred hostilitie but also made warre vpon others Besides the Roman Empire in Asia and Affrica daily more and more sliding away and the Lombards wasting Italy they almost extended their dominions quite through Gallia and after many of their Kings had raigned there in successiue course at length the Crowne came to Pipin also and to his sonne Charles Charles Martel Pipins Father who was not king himselfe but onely one of the Nobles and Gouernour of the Pallace or as they are commonly called Majors of the house vanquished the Bauarians and Sueuians For as the writers of the French Annals deliuer it the Kings there for some yeers together had nothing at all besides their title the principalitie of gouernement belonging to the Gouernour of the Kings house For those Kings degenerated from the worth of their Predecessors and gaue themselues ouer to pleasure reiecting the care of the Common-wealth whereupon the Gouernour of the Pallace bore all sway and by how much greater the kings negligence was so much more hee augmented his authoritie At length vpon this occasion Pipin who was Gouernour in Childrickes raigne when the cause as they say came to canuasing before Pope Zacharie got the Kingdome Hereof is mention made in that decree which they name Gratians to wit that it is lawfull for the Pope to depriue Kings of their principalitie but the title and inscription of that place is false seeing there were two Anastatio'â— Emperours and it cannot be referred to either of them for the former raigned about 200. and the other 37. yeeres before this happened as also there was no Pope Gelasius in the later Emperors time I thought good to adde this for the Readers aduertizement that they may wisely and warily peruse the Papall records for it is not one place alone which discouers this to be their prime practice so to fasten an opinion of antiquitie vpon their lawes that they may carry the more weight and authority Pipin besides his repression of the Lombards in Italie at the Popes request as before mentioned commenced war also against the Saxons and afterwards against the Aquitanians whose Chieferaine he tooke and put to death not long after departing his life they forthwith rebelled and King Charles his sonne with much difficultie and infinite toile at length made an end of that double warre For he was in armes against the Saxons full thirty three yeeres during which warre hee made other also Bauaria likewise with their Chiefetaine Tassilo hee brought vnder his subiection and in two expeditions against the Lombards marching into Campania subdued all Italie and setled it with lawes and reduced into subiection those Cities of Gallia lying vpon the Ocean which Caius Caesar cals Armorica but now goe vnder the name of little Brittaine which refused any longer to pay yeerely tribute to the Kings of France In Hispaine also whither hee made an expedition with an Armie against the Saracens victorie attended him but in his returne vpon the Pyrene Mountaines by a stratagem receiued a fore ouerthrow from the u Of Gascoigne Vascones a people of Aquitane notwithstanding at last after eight yeeres warre hee ouerthrew the Hunnes then in possession of Pannonia and likewise by his Lieutenants composed Bohemia And his last warre was against the Danes or * For the Normans originally inhabited Norway Normans then with a great Nauie forraging the maritime coasts of Germanie and France By the atchieuement of those so famous exploits he gained his sirname the Great For whereas before him the French Kings onely held that part of Germanie lying betwixt Saxonie and the Riuer Danow and betwixt the Rhyne and the Riuer Sala to this he added Sueuia and Baâ—arta all Saxonie afterwards both the Pannonia's Dacia Istria Ireland and the midland Country of Dalmatia whereas also the French Kings had onely that part of Gallia lying betwixt the Rhyne and the Riuer Loire betwixt the Ocean and the x Against the Ilands oâ— Maiorqâ—e and Minuerque Balearique Sea hee added all Aquitania all the top of the Pyrene mountaines to the Riuer Iber and which should haue beene named first all Italie from the Alpes to the furthest part of Calabria And this done hee sets forward to Rome the fourth time where hee was proclaimed Emperour Augustus by Leo the Third and all the people after he had raigned thirty three yeeres Thus the Romane Empire in the West rent almost into peece-meales especially from that time when the Emperours made choice of Constantinople for their Court
Citie of Burdeaux Many of the prime Nobilitie were slaine in that battell The annall-Annall-Writers record that the English were not aboue 7000. when the French made against them with many forces about 60000 strong This was in the yeere 1356. the XII of the Kalends of October The King was carried prisoner into England and died the feuenth yeere after Wencestaus being as historie speakes of him both by nature and course of life Wenceslaus 1379 an 2. m. 5. d. 28. very vicious quite neglected the Common-wealth Hee for a summe of money created Iohn Galeas of the house of the Viscounts a man both couetous and cruell Duke of Millaine and Lombardie In his raigne Iagello Duke of Lithuania or Luten was after King Lewis his death created King of Polonia by consent of the Nobles This King was great Grandfather to Sigismund the moderne King there and was the first that receiued Baptisme changing his name to Vladislaus Sigismund King of Hungarie was ouerthrowne in battell at Nieopolis by Baiazet Emperour of the Turkes the third of the kalends of October Charls the VI. K. of France sent a goodly troope of horse for aid into Hungarie vnder conduct of Iohn sonne of Philip the bold Duke of Burgundie which Iohn was taken in that battell and carried prisoner to the Turke where he stood at the next doore to death but yet escaped which as the French Writers relate happened thus There was a certaine Physiognomer one of that packe that professe to know the dispositions and natures of men by their body eyes countenance and face familiar with Baiazet who viewing the prisoner willed and perswaded the Emperour to dismisse him in safetie For hee should bee the man that after his returne home should kindle a most violent combustion which should set a good part either of Europe or of the Christian world on fire Vpon this perswasion the Turke dismisses him and the rest of the Nobilitie that were prisoners after they had paid 20000. crownes for their ransome After his returne into France hee began to quarrell with Lewis Duke of Orleans the Kings brother For he by reason of the Kings sicknesse which was in a manner desperate desired to gouerne the Common-wealth being nearest of kindred to the king But the Duke of Burgundie for that he was cousin-germane to the King and elder then the other challenged the gouernment his Father Philip being dead rather to belong to him This sore euery day more and more festering at length the Duke of Orleans was murthered in Paris in the night time as hee was going home from supper The murtherers were sent priuily by the Duke of Burgundie who was so farre from denying the fact that he maintained it This was in the yeere 1407. the ninth of the kalends of December The XII yeare following the Duke of Burgundy comming to a place appointed about a pacification in this cause was entrapped by treachery and murthered by certaine of the Duke of Orleans his friends that had sworne his death Charles the Dolphin the Kings sonne who was iudge in that controuersie being present at the fact This is the head-spring of the warre betwixt those two houses which hath so often broke forth euer since that time till within our memory Wenceslaus by reason of his negligence growne into contempt Robert 14â—0 an 9 m 8. d. 22. the Princes depriue him of the gouernment and elect Robert Duke of Bauaria Count Palatine He presently applied himselfe about reformation of Wenceslaus his misgouernment and would not ratifie the grant made by him to Iohn Galeas but contriued a new how to reduce Lombardy into the Imperiall dominions for which and other such like causes marching downe into Italy the said Galeas hindered and repelled him The State of Italy was in those times very troublesome cheifly by the Emperour Charles and Wenceslaus their default being too indulgent ouer that Nation For ouer and besides Galeas lately made Duke of Millaine The Venetians Florentines Genowaies made war vpon their neighbours and all right was swayed by the sword and violence Furthermore by reason of the Popes continuall absence nothing but factions and those dangerous ones swarmed at Rome Then also Galeas D. of Millaine made warre vpon the Florentines who to worke their owne reuenge solicite the Emperor by large proffers to march downe againe into Italy but when the Emperor was come to Padua Hee at request of the Venetians who likewise hated Galâ—â—a and withall perceiuing that their prouision was not answerable to their great promises retires into Germanie casting off all care of Italy whose estate afterwards grew more weake by its owne ciuill broyles To the Emperour Robert Sigismund 14â—â— an 26. m. 8. Sigismund the Emperour Wencestâ—us his brother King of Hungary succeeds At this time there were three Popes Iohn the XXXIII Gregory the XII and Benedict the XIII insomuch as by their factions almost all the Prouinces of Europe were at oddes For there was not one publike Councel at any time since Innocent the III. as their bookes testifie being 200. yeares and the state of the Clergie was most corrupt a kinde of bottomlesse sincke of vices and maladies hauing made an inundation which in a manner scorned to be stopped For Boniface the VIII was Pope in the interim who tooke vpon him both the Papall and Imperiall authority Then the next after him Clement the V. of Burdeaux at Philip the Faire the French Kings request forsaking Rome remoued his Court into France and after his death the Cardinalls falling into sharpe dissentions amongst themselues made a vacancie for some yeares but at length Iohn the XXII of Aquitaine was created Pope at Lyons The fifth Pope after him which was Gregory the XI when the Popes had kept their Court in France then for 71. yeares together returnes to Rome but after his death Vrbane the VI. a Neapolitan and Clement the VI. a Sauoysin contended for the Papacy The first whereof vpheld himselfe by the Italian partie and liued at Rome the other by the French and liued at Auinion After those two were dead the other there before mentioned were by seuerall factions chosen in their places the Papall Monster hauing then three heads At what time many worthy men both Italians and French deplored the State of the Church inueighing bitterly enough against the corruptions and vices of those times as farre as they could see in those dayes of darknesse Amongst the rest Petrarch was one who when the Popes and Cardinals lay at Auinion called that City the whore of Babylon Whereupon to determine that Controuersie a Councell was assembled at Constance in Germanie by order whereof those Three were deposed and Martin the V. elected At this Councell Iohn Hâ—â— and Hierome of Prague were burnt for heresie though they came thither vnder safe conduct from the Emperour Sigismund the Emperour is much commended for that He to benefit the Common-wealth went almost to all the Kings in Christendome to exhort them to
length the Athenians incounter with their enemies in the Port of Syracusa but after a doubtfull and dangerous battell were all of them put to flight and slaine In the meane time the Lacedemonians and their confederates conclude a league against the Athenians with Darius King of Persia Tissaphernes was Darius his Ambassadour Next after Codrus Polydor of Sparta and Aristomenes of Messene these following are for the most part reputed the chiefe and most renowned Captaines of the Greekes some whereof performed worthy seruice for the whole Country of Greece and euery one for his owne country at the least as Miltiades Leonidas Themistocles Pericles Aristides Pausanias Xantippus Leotychidas Cimon Conon Epaminondas Leosthenes Aratus of Sicyon Philopoemen Most of these were at length banished their countries Cicero describes the Port of Syracusa and reports how the Athenian Nauie onely which consisted of 300. ships did within mans memorie inuade it and was vanquished and ouerthrowne within the same by reason of the aduantage in the scituation and nature of the place and port it selfe and then first of all was the puissance of that Citie borne down abated and ouerwhelmed and shipwracke was made of Nobilitie Gouernement and Glory Thucidides relates that the circuit of Sicilie is as much as a great vessell can saile round about in eight daies space and that the Iland is distant from the Continent about twenty g Two miles and a haâ—e furlongs Darius had two sonnes Artaxerxes Mnemon and Cyrus Artaxerxes Mnemon the first whereof succeeded his father and Cyrus gouerned lonia but not being content with his owne share made war vpon the King his brother was there ouerthrown and slaine Marcus Portius Cato as Cicero hath it cals this Cyrus the yonger King of Persia a man of an excellent wit and the glory of his Kingdome He commends him also for his delight in husbaÌ„dry as Xenophon writes of him for this Xenophon was one of his souldiers and very familiar with him and for that cause was afterwards driuen into exile by the Athenians who were in league amity with Mnemon Ochus Darius After Mnemon raigned Ochus his third and youngest sonne Darius the last of all succeeded Against him Alexander King Philip of Macedon his sonne made warre who after hee had subdued Thebes and pacified Greece set forward into Asia in three battels ouerthrew Darius taking his mother wife and daughters prisoners Darius offered him very large conditions part of his kingdome to the riuer of Euphrates but he refused both and ceased not till hee had ouerthrowne him for when Darius saw that hee could not make his peace vpon these conditions hee renewes the war the third time and comming against him with a most puissant Army was the third time ouerthrowne and as he fled slaine by his owne men when together with him the Monarchy of Persia which had stood 200. yeares was extinguished Alexander by these famous victories brought vnder his subiection almost all the countries lying Eastward The third Monarchie of the Greekes founded by Alexander the Great about 3609. after the Persian Monarchie had stood about 200. yeares translated the Imperiall feat out of Asia into Europe and founded the third Monarchie After this he made warres in India but such is the weakenesse of mortall men those blasts of ful-handed and indulgent fortune could not breath vpon him but must needes puffe him vp with ambition when hauing plaied many insolent prankes and in a manner commanded diuine worship to be giuen him comming to Babylon there died of a feuer or as many write of poison being 33 years of age and hauing raigned 12 yeares Calanus an Indian as Cicero relates foretold him of his death whom as he was going to be h He caused himselfe to be burnt following the ancient custome of the chiefemen of his Nation burnt AlexaÌ„der asked if he had any thing to say Oyes quoth he I shall see thee â—re it be long Within a few dayes after Alexander breathed his last which was as it is commonly taken in the hundred fourteenth i Games in honor of Iupiter celebrated euery fift yeere they begun An. mund 3186 〈◊〉 Most authors as Meibomius notes agree that he dyed in the 429 y. after the building of Rome Olympian in the foure hundred and ninth yeare after the building of the City of Rome which is 322. yeares before the birth of Christ He was a very deuout louer of good Arts most liberall towards learned men is therefore highly extold in many of their workes He delighted much in Homers Poems and though we read that hee was neuer without many learned men about him to record his acts yet when hee stood before Achilles his tomb in Sigeum O happy young man said he that hast found such an Herald as Homer to proclaime thy vertues For as hee would rather then any others haue Apelles his l Painter Pictor and Lysippus his m Statuist Fictor so would hee haue his worth extold and commended to the memorie of posterity by such as in setting forth his glory could purchase renowne to their owne wits He imployed his Tutor Aristotle about describing the nature of all liuing creatures and for that purpose procured certaine thousands of men throughout Greece Asia as Grasiers Huntsmen Fishermen Fishmongers Fowlers many more such like to giue him information of each creature It s written that hee gaue to the Author himselfe in recompence of his labour 800 Talents which amounts as the learned of our times collect to 1480. Crownes He sent Xenocrates the Philosopher 50 Talents by his Ambassador which comes to 1030 Crownes which when hee refused and sent him word back again by his Ambassadors that he hath no need of so much money What said he has he no friend whoÌ„ he may benefit by theÌ„ In his tender yeares when he was Aristotles scholler hee was as Cicero writes endued with a most excellent wit and exceeding great modesty but afterwards aduanced with the title of King He grew proud cruell and deboist Historiographers tell wondrous stories of Darius his gorgeous pomp delicious pastimes and riotous exesse For hee kept within his Tents Cookes of all kinds Hucksters crammers of fowle Artificers clerks of his kitchin and Confectioners lest hee should bee vnprouided of any meanes that might encrease his bodily pleasure Many writers speake of the Kings of Persia their solemnities and sumptuous prouision in their daily banquets elsewhere They were wont to keep many wiues as Cicero writes and to those they gaue certaine cities that such a citie should find such a woman with all manner of attire for her head and such a City with this or that apparell Such was Darius his end as I formerly recited who as he fled from Alexander drinking foule water polluted with dead corpes denyed that euer in al his life he drunk a more pleasant draught for he neuer drunke when hee was a thirst
To Antonius Pius his sonne Marcus Antoninus surnamed the Philosopher succeeded Antoninus the Philosopher 160 an 19. m. 0. d. 11. He tooke his c Carien calls him his brotuer kinsman Lucius Aurelius Verus to be his Associate in the Empire By him hee had happy successe in his warres in Parthia hee himselfe looking to the affaires of the Common-wealth at home and in the City but soone after Verus dying he raigned alone and ouercame in his warre against the Germaues ouerthrowing also the f Now Morauians Marcomannes Sarmatians Vandalls and g Inhabitants in and about Silesia Quadies who had inuaded the h Vpper lower Hungaria Pannonia's For at this time almost all the nations from Illyricum to Gallia had conspired against the name of the Romanes Commodus Antoninus the most lewd sonne of this most laudable Prince Commodus Anteninus 79. an 12. m. 8. d. 15. by his Leiutenants ouerthrew the i Of Mauritania or Morisco in Barbary Pertinax m. 3. Didius Iulianus m. 7. Septimius Seuerus 192. ca. 17. m. 8. â— 5. Moores and Dacians quieted the Pannoniaes Germanie and Britanie which Countries cast off their subiection He himselfe in the meane while wallowing in all manner of filthinesse and crueltie Septimius Seuerus had ciuâ—ll warres with Niger and Albinus who procured Asia and Gallia to make a reuolt he had good successe in his warres against the Parthians vanquâ—shed the Iewes throughout Syria subdued Abagatus King of the Persians and compelled the Arabians to come to composition He fortified Brittanie with a wall crosse ouertwart the Iland reaching to the Ocean on both sides and hauing subdued those people that annoyed the Country dyed at Yorke His son Antoninus Bassianus Caracalla Caracalla 210. an 6. m. 2. d. 5. made warre against the Parthians and Armenians This was hee that commanded Pupinianus * PrafectuÌ„ praetorij Gouernor of the pretorian Cohort Captaine of the Guard to bee put to death for refusing to defend his k For Caracalla slew his brother Geta. fratricide In his time flourisht many Lawyers and most of them Pupinianus his Auditors as Tarruntius Paternus Macer Papirius Fronto Anthius Maximus Hermogenianus Africanus Florentinus Triphoninus Iushts Callistratus Venuleius Celsus After Caracalla was slaine Macrinus succeeded Macrinus 216. An. 1. m. 1. d. 28. who hauing bad successe in his warres against Artabanus King of the Parthians and perceiuing the legions encline to Heliogabulus Bassianus his son Heliogabulus 217. an 3 m. 9. d. 4. Alexander Senerus 221. an 13. m. 0. d. 9. concluded a peace Alexander Seuerus a stout souldier successor to Heliogabulus that most brutish of men ouerthrew Artaxerxes King of the Persians in maine battle and recouered Mesopotamia which was lost by Heliogabulus Hee made warre by his Lieutenants in Mauritania Illyricum and Armenia and had good successe but afterwards in his expedition against the Germanes who had forraged the Countrey of Gallia was murthered by certaine of his owne souldiers Vlpianus the Lawyer Pupinianus his scholler was very intimate with him and in his time liued Paulus Pomponius and Modestinus To this Alexander Maximinus succeeded Maximinus 234. An. 2. Hee with maine forces marches into Germanie his Army consisting not onely of Roman souldiers but also of Moores Osdronians and Parthians who had serued vnder Alexander He burnt the Dorps in Germany farre and wide put very many of his enemies to the sword and tooke many more prisoners returning with a wealthy Army Germany being at peace he marches to Syrmium and was purposed to haue made warre against the Sarmatians not onely so but his further intent was to haue brought all those Countries which lye northward euen to the Ocean in subiection to the Roman Empire but his souldiers not enduring his cruelty Gordianus 236. m. 1. d. 6. created Gordianus their Captaine Generall which the Senate bearing no good will neither towards Maximinus ratified and proclaimed the other enemie to the Common-wealth He going about to reuenge this fact first made an Oration to the armie and then set forwards towards Rome the Senate vpon notice hereof proclaime Pupienus and Balbinus their Emperours Pupienus Balbinus 236. an 1. some moneths and to Pupienus was committed the charge of the warre against Maximinus who together with his sonne was at the siege of l A Citie in Italie Aquileia slaine by his owne soldiers as hee lay asleepe in his Tent. After this Pupienus and Balbinus being both slaine in a mutinie amongst the soldiers in the second yeere of their raigne the gouernement of the Empire was committed to Gordianus a yong Gentleman Gordianus iunior 237 Ann. 6. He in the fourth yeere of his raigne marched through Moesia and Thracia against the Persians in those countries subdued the enemies of the Romans from thence striking through Syria came to Antiochia which was then held by the Persians There he fought diuers battels in so much as hee compelled the Persians who were in a manner accounted the terror of Italie to containe themselues in their own limits At length in the sixth yeere of his Empire hee was slaine being betraied by Philip Captaine of the Gâ—ard Philip 243. An. 5. who had raised a mutinie amongst the soldiers And this Philip also who sent ouer his Lieutenants with an armie against the Scythians that were vp in armes against the confederates of the Romans and their free-boroughs came to the m He was slaine by his owne soldiers at Verona Decius 248. An. 2. like end Decius succeeded him who being created Emperour by the Legions of Illyricum and afterwards by coÌ„sent of the Senate first of all appeased the troubles in Gallia Afterwards commending the care of the Common-wealth to the Senate Hee together with his sonne whom hee had made his Collegue in the Empire sets forwards hauing the Senates consent thereunto on his expedition against the Scythians who both by sea and land forraged the country of Thracia and other dominions of the Empire from whence after some battels hauing got the vpper-hand and drawne the enemie into a narrow straight place he had returned with complete victorie had not Gallus Hostilianus Gouernour of the furthest parts of Moesia reuealed his counsell to the enemie whereupon it came to passe vpon ioyning battell that both hee and his sonne by trecherie circumuented were slaine After this Gallus 250. An. 1. m. 6. Gallus made Emperour by one of the Legions and the remainder of the furuiuing soldiers concluded a peace with the Scythians to the dishonour and ignominie of the Romans in that he promised to pay them tribute neuer heard of before and altogether vnworthy the Maiesty of so renowned a State The Scythians hereupon growne more fierce broke the league ouer-runne Dardania Thrace Thessalie Macedonia not resting there but Asia also â—ouerthrowing and subuerting very many Cities At length many other Countries after the example of the Scythians turned enemies to the Romans and many rebelled
was crowned by some of the Cardinals because Pope Clement the V. hauing left the Citie was remoued into France and kept his Court at Auinion When the Cardinals required the oath of him which they said was to bee giuen to the Pope hee refused it and would not haue any such kind of oath to be thereby bound to the Pope vpon notice hereof the Pope to inlarge his owne power expounded that generall forme of the oath at large and annexed it to the rest of his decrees now extant For he himselfe also preferred many lawes which retaine their name from him and are called the Clementines The knights of the Temple supprest about 1308. Now also those Knights called the Templars being very puissant were by the same violence put to death and made away in diuers places Philip the Faire King of France by the Popes permission seized vpon a great part of their Reuenues Soone after the name and memorie of them was condemned and by the French nationall Synod at Vienna their lands were giuen to those called the Knights of the Rhodes At this time also the Vniuersitie of Orleans was founded by King Philip and Pope Clements authoritie After the Emperour Henries t He was poisoned by a Monk with a cup of Wine in the Communion decease and buriall at Pisa being poisoned as it was strongly suspected there followed most bitter contentions about the election for Fredericke Archduke of Austria the Emperour Alberts sonne Lewis 1314 an 32. m. 11. d. 24. Fredericke of Austria opposeth him and is elected Emperour also and Lewis Duke of Bauaria were competitors for the Empire The Archbishop of Mentz crowned Lewis at Aix and the Archbishop of Cullen Fredericke at Bena and Pope Iohn the XXIII proclaimed them both Emperours but of the two was more inclined to Fredericke which proclamation increased the flame of discord Forces being mustered vpon both sides a sharpe battell was fought at Esling a towne in Sueuia but in a manner with equall fortune and soone after another in Bauaria with stronger forces Fredericke the other Emperour taken prisoner 1323. in which the Archduke Fredericke was taken prisoner losing a good part of his Armie afterwards he was see at libertie and returning home died within a few yeeres after Lewis the Emperour hauing thus compast the Empire marches downe into Italie in despight of the Pope constitutes Gouernors ouer al the Cities free-burroughes and is crowned at Millaine by the Archbishop there from whence hauing sent his Ambassadours to the Pope at Auinion againe and againe about his solemne inauguration and there failing he goes to Rome after he had setled the affaires of Millaine At Rome hee was entertained with exceeding great ioy and crowned by one or two of the Cardinals but the Pope ingeminating his excommunication he by the aduise of his Nobles creates another Pope and after this fashion continued these most deadly flames of hatred betwixt them not without most scandalous criminations cast forth on both sides The French annall-Annall-writers report that Charles the Faire King Philips sonne was the first that granted Pope Iohn Tenths of Ecclesiasticall goods in France and shared the prey betwixt themselues but the Popes chiefe aime in procuring this was to furnish himselfe with money against the Emperour After the Emperour was returned into Germany the Pope dies and his successor Benedict the XII both excommunicated and depriued him of his dignitie Whereupon the Emperour conuening the Princes at Franckeford in a solemne speech complaines of the Popes iniuries explaines the reasons of his allegiance produces and declares the ancient lawes of the Empire withall shewing that the Bishop of Rome had nothing to doe with the Common-wealth of the Empire For he who is elected by the Princes consent is truely Emperour without any assent consent or consecration from the Pope all that being but a ceremonie which by little and little crept vp and now is growne too high to the great dishonour and indammagement of the Empire After this Pope Benedict dying Clement the VI. succeeded one farre more violent then any before him who in vehement manner propounded certaine ignominious conditions vpon refusall whereof hee grew a great deale more furious sharpely admonishing the Princes to choose another Emperour within a certaine time by him limited which if they would not dae hee would take care that the Church should not want a Patrone and Aduocate any longer Whilest the Common-wealth was thus tossed the Emperour Lewis departed this life and Charles King Iohn his sonne Henry the VII his Nephew was elected King of Bohemia A little before this began the occasion of that cruell war betwixt the French and English When Charles the Faire King of France dying without issue male which was in the yeere 1327. Edward king of England of that name the III. being sonne to Isabel King Charles his sister challenged the Kingdome as due to him but the Estates of France which are called the Peeres set the crowne vpon Philip of Valeis cozen germane to the deceased King Charles excluding not onely King Edward the sisters sonne but also King Charles his posthume daughter alledging that the inheritance of that kingdom did in no wise appertaine to daughters hereupon insued that bloody warre scarce yet quenched The beginning of the Emperour Charles the IIII. Charles the IIII. 1346. an 32. m. 7. d. 14. his raigne was troublesome and the Imperiall dignitie was offred to Edward the third King of England but hee as it was reported refused it being hindered by the French wars After the quenching of sundry combustions in Germany the Emperour Charles goes downe into Italie and by consent of Pope Innocent the VI. then being in France is crowned at Rome by some Cardinals vpon condition not to stay any longer either at Rome or in Italie Hee returnes to Millaine and granted the office of perpetuall Vice-Emperour for Lombardie to the house of the Viscounts who then bore great sway in Millaine in respect of which honour they gaue him an huge masse of money and not they onely but others also vpon whom hee had bestowed any thing which act much extenuated the Emperours authority in that Country After his returne out of Italie he summoned a Diet of the Princes and there preferred that decree of the Empire called the t Containing the lawes and rites to be obserued in the election of the Emp as also the dignitie and office of each Elector and other Princes and Nobles Golden bull lastly he assignes his sonne Wenceslaus his successor in the Empire which as it is wriâ—ten he procured with great difficultie though with large rewards and not long after died In his raigne Iohn King of France Philip of Valois his sonne together with his yongest sonne Philip afterwards Duke of Burgundie sirnamed the Stout or the Bold was in pitcht field neere Poictiers taken prisoner by the English who were then in possession of a good part of Aquitaine and the