by the Syrians reigned over them 23 years But Antiochus Asiaticus and his Brother both of them the Sons of King Antiochus the Pious reigned over part of Syria of which Tigranes could not make himself Master They went to Rome to Petition for the Kingdom of Egypt which belonged to Setene their Mother and themselves too and continued their Suit for two years together Tigranes put Setene Sirnamed Cleopatra to Death in Prison and by this means the Title which Antiochus Asiaticus had to the Kingdom of Egypt and to part of Syria fell to the Ground In several Engagements Tigranes was defeated by Lucullus the Roman Consul who was Governor of the Province of Cilicia After this Pompey marched to Tigranes who was so much terrified at the very sight of him that he quitted his Diadem and with a great deal of Submission and Respect yielded himself to Pompey But he mov'd with Compassion put the Diadem again upon his Head re-established him in his Kingdom of Armenia upon certain Articles and made Syria a Roman Province This happened in the year of the World 3885 before Christ 64. Anno Vrbis Romae Conditae 688. 87 Having thus given you a short Account of the Kings of Syria from Seleucus the immediate Successor of Alexander the Great in that part of his Conquests down to Tigranes we shall in the next place give you a List of the Kings which reigned in Asia Minor who possessed another part of Alexander's Conquests Sect. 3. The Kings of Asia Minor or Pergamos PErgamos a City of Mysia situated on the River Caica in Asia Minor was the Capital City of a great State called The Kingdom of Pergamos which began about the year of the World 3634 before Christ 316 years It had eight Kings and lasted the space of 188 years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3634. 1. Antigonus one of Alexander's Captains who had Asia Minor for his Share marched against Eumenes routed and killed him being betrayed by his Veteranâ— Soldiers At last Antigonus was routed and slain by Seleucus King of Syria and Casander King of Macedonia He reigned 15 years 316 3649. 2. Demetrius his Son succeeded his Father Antigonus and reigned 15 years He was expelled Asia won Macedon but was expelled thence taken by Seleucus and within 3 years after died 301 3666. 3. Next after him succeeded Philaterus Intendant of the Finances of Lâ—simachus King of Thrace against whom he rebelled and became King of Pergamos in the 16th year of his Age over which he reigned 20 years 282 3688. 4. Eumenes succeeded his Brother Philaterus and reigned about 21 years He subdued several small Places round about Pergamos and defeated the Army of Antiochus the Son of Seleuchus near Sardes At last he died by immoderate Drinking 262 3709. 5. Attalus Nephew to Philaterus succeeded Eumenes and reigned 44 years 'T is said that he governed with so much Prudence and managed his Treasures so thriftily that his Subjects freely conferred on him the Title of King which his Predecessors presumed not to take up thô they did hold the Quality and Grandeur of One. He defeated the Gauls contrary to all Expectation At last he fell sick at Thebes and was removed thence to Pergamos where he died in a good old Age being about 72 years old 241 3753. 6. Eumenes II. the eldest Son of Attalus succeeded him and reigned 40 years His three Brothers Attalus Phileterus and Atheneus bore so much Respect as well as Love to the King their Brother that they becames his Life-Guards 197 3793. 7. Attalus II. Sirnamed Philadelphus succeeded his Brother Eumenes and reigned about 21 years He drove Orophernes and Demetrius Soter out of Cappadâ—cia and fully re-established Ariarathes in his Kingdom He was conquered by Prusias King of Bithynia who entred Pergamos robbed the Staâ—ues of the Gods and rifled the Temples Upon this Attaâ—us sent his Brother Atheneus to Rome to complain thereof to the Senate who ordered Prusias to forbear warring against Attalus Pâ—usias slighted the Orders of the Senate burnt the Temples made great Havock in the Neighbouring Countries and defied Attalus who had shut himself up in Pergamos The Senate sent a third time Ambassadors to make up a Peace between him and Attalus which at last was effected This Attalus was a great Friend to the Romans and a constant Favourer of Learned Men at length Peace and Idleness corrupted and spoiled this good Man who left his Kingdom to Attalus Philometor his Nephew 157 3813. 8. Attalus III. Sirnamed Philometor the last King of Pergamos succeeded his Uncle and reigned only 5 years He was a very cruel Prince put his nearest Relations and dearest Friends to Death not so much as sparing his Mother or his Wife In the Second Year of his Reign he retired into the inmost Parts of his Palace where he dressed himself in a very mean Habit let his Beard and Hair grow without cutting never appeared in Publick led a Life exempt from all manner of Pleasures and seemed to inflict a Punishment upon himself for the Crimes he had been guilty of Having thus quitted the Administration of the Government he dug in his Garden sowed Seeds and by an extravagant sort of Humour laid out his greatest Care in cultivating Venemous Plants such as Henbane Hellebore Hemlock Aconite c. He extracted the Juice and Liquor and gathered the Seeds of them of which he made a great many dangerous Presents to his Friends He became so skilful in the Art of Botany especially in whatever related to the Manuring of Plants that he composed a very curious Book upon that Subject wherein as Varro relates he set down the Season of Sowing and of Gathering the Seeds of Plants He applied himself to Founding of Metals became a great Master in that Art cast several Figures and made use of them in raising a Mausoleum to the Memory of his Mother At last being too eagerly set upon these sort of Exercises which exposed him continually to the Heat of the Sun or the Furnace he was seized with a violent Feaver and died on the seventh day of his Illness 137 Eudemius of Pergamus carried the Last Will and Testament of Attalus to Rome and gave the Diadem of the Kingdom and the Royal Robe to Tiberius Gracchus Tribune of the People By this Will Attalus made the People of Rome his Heir Populus Romanus bonorum haeres esto The Romans finding by their Common Law that his Kingdom was a part of his Demeans seiz'd thereon by virtue of these Words Let the People of Rome be the Heirs of my Demeans There was some Fault found with the Romans for putting such a Construction on his Will but having the Power in their own Hands they made it to be a good Title In this City it was that they first dressed Sheep-skins and of them made Parchment whereon they wrote before the Invention of Paper and hence came the Name of Parchment called in Latin Charta Pergamena CHAP. V. Of the
First Year of the CXII Olympiad When Alexander died his Bastard-Brother Arideus was proclaimed King but his Reign lasted not long for Alexander's Favourites shared his Conquests and Empires among them of which Ptolemy the Son of Lagus got Egypt for his Dividend 331 3629. 1. Ptolemy the Son of Lagus Sirnamed Soter reigned over Egypt about 35 years and then surrender'd the Government to his Son 321 3664. 2. Ptolemy Philadelphus About this time the Holy Scripture was translated into the Greek Language by LXXII Iews sent into Egypt by Eleazer the High-Priest at the Request of Ptolemy But there is some Dispute among the Learned concerning the exact time when this Version was made some placing it under the former but most under the latter of these two Kings for Demetrius Phalereus a Grecian who was a great Man under Ptolemy Lagi but not so powerful under his Son is generally supposed to have been the chief Promoter of that Work This Version has been generally follow'd ever since especially by the Romish Church and is that we usually call the Septuagint Ptolemy Philadelphus is also famous in the Learned World on account of the vast Library of no less than 200000 Volumes which he collected by the Assistance of Demetrius Phalereus He reigned near 40 years and died by excessive Drinking c. 286 3703. 3. Ptolemy Euâ—rgetes that is the Well-doer succeeded his Father Philadelphus and reigned 25 years 247 3729. 4. Ptolemy Philopator put his Father to Death succeeded him and reigned about 17 years This is that Ptolemy who was such an inveterate Enemy to the Iews as was before related in Chapter I. of this Third Part. Aelian tells us that he killed his Wife and Sister to please his Concubine Agathoclea who governed all and that he built a Temple to Homer 221 3746. 5. Ptolemy Epiphanes that is the Illustrious succeeded his Father when but 4 years old and reigned 24 years He likewise was a cruel Oppressor of the Iews Antiochus Sirnamed the Great who was then King of Syria upon the News of Philopator's Death broke the League which he had made with Egypt and associating with Philip King of Macedon they both resolved upon turning young Epiphanes out of his Kingdom and to share it between them 204 3770. 6. Ptolemy Philometor so called from that Dutiful Affection which he bore to his Mother Cleopatra succeeded his Father who died with Poison and reigned 34 years and 9 months This Philometor died in the Physicians Hands of the Wounds he had received in his Head by a fall off his Horse in that Battel wherein he conquered Alexander Balas King of Syria Cleopatra Sister and Wife to Philometor deceased was willing to insure the Kingdom to her Son but Ptolemy the younger Brother of Philometor who had reigned in Cyrene opposed it and made himself King A Party rose up against him in favour of Cleopatra but he to put an end to this Contest married Cleopatra his Brother's Widow and Sister to them both On the very Wedding-Day this new King killed Cleopatra's Son whilst she held him clasped in her Arms. Thus Ptolemy the younger Sirnamed Phiscon mounted his Brother's Bed and Throne 180 3805. 7. Ptolemy Phiscon or Euergetes II. was a very cruel Prince not only to his own Family as has been already observed but to all his Subjects He reigned about 29 years In the first part of his Reign he strangled the Grandees of Alexandria who had invited him to accept of the Crown he had no respect to either Sex or Age put away Cleopatra who was both his Wife and Sister and married her Daughter whom he had formerly deflower'd by force Within a while after he sent for his eldest Son who reigned in Cyrene and put him to Death for fear the Inhabitants of Alexandria should make him King after him The People were so enraged at this that they pulled down the Statues and defaced the Images of the King who charged Cleopatra his divorced Wife with this Fact Physcon in Revenge put the Son he had by her to Death and sent her in a Charger his Head Hands and Feet which he ordered to be served up at her Table on the Anniversary of that Queen's Nativity 145 3834. This year the barbarous King died and left the Kingdom to Cleopatra his Wife to whom he had been reconciled before his Death and gave her liberty of making which of her Sons she pleased King in his stead She would have had Alexander mount the Throne but the People constrained her to make choice of Ptolemy Lathurus to be Phiscon's Successor 116 8. Ptolemy Lathurus who was not very well beloved by his Mother became at last by her Intrigues odious to the Commonalty However he reigned together with Cleopatra 11 years At last he was so much hated by the People of Alexandria that he fled from them to Cyprus of which his Brother Alexander had been King for 8 years 3845. 9. Ptolemy Alexander succeeded but did not reign above one year For falling out with his Mother he grew jealous of her Intrigues and thereupon put her to Death The Inhabitants of Alexandria were so exasperated that they raised an Insurrection and forced the King to fly They sent Ambassadors to Cyprus to invite Lathurus back again He reascended the Throne and reigned after the Death of Cleopatra 7 years and 6 months When he died he left a Daughter behind him named Cleopatra who reigned 6 months 105 3854. 10. Ptolemy Dionysius Sirnamed Auletes because of his being a great Lover of Musick succeeded and reigned about 30 years Some say he was the Son of Lathurus He had a Share in the Civil Wars of Rome sided with Cato permitted him to take the Isle of Cyprus and drained all Egypt for the Money which he remitted to the Romans Upon this his Subjects rebelled against him and he fled to Rome where he gained Pompey's Favour who re-established him again on the Throne 96 3885 11. Ptolemy Dionysius II. succeeded his Father Auletes and reigned about 18 years His Faiher at his Death ordered by his Last Will and Testament that his eldest Son should marry his eldest Daughter and reign jointly together for it was then Customary among the Egyptian Kings for Brothers to marry their own Sisters Pompey after he had been defeated by Cesar in the famous Battel of Pharsalia fled into Egypt hoping he might find a secure Retreat with that young King for the Kindness he had shewed his Father in re-establishing him upon the Egyptian Throne But he was disappointed in his Expectation for Ptolemy misled by treacherous Counsellors meditated nothing less than the turning Cleopatra his Wife and Sister out of her Partnership in his Bed and Throne and to ingratiate himself as he thought with Cesar sent Septimius a Roman Refugee to murder Pompey upon his arrival Iulius Cesar pursued Pompey into Egypt where he heard the News of his being Assassinated He was very much troubled at it but however he endeavoured to
was struck up between Ptolemy Cassander Lysimachus and Antigonus four of Alexander's Commanders upon these Conditions That Cassander should be Master of Europe Lysimachus of Thrace Ptolemy of Egypt and the other Countries of which he was in Possession till such time as Alexander the Son of Roxana arrived to years of Maturity but that Antigonus should still preside over Asia where the Greeks should live under their own Laws This League did not last long for each of them was for getting the whole Power to himself and this they thought the more feasible when he who was Sovereign over them all and whose Vicegerents they pretended to have been was once removed out of the way For Cassander no sooner understood that the People were well affected to Alexander and talked openly of seting him at liberty and placing him upon his Father's Throne but he ordered both him and his Mother to be put to Death privately Hercules another Son of Alexander the Great whom he had by Barsine the Daughter of Artabazus the Persian was invited from Pergamos into Macedonia by Polysperchon who envy'd Cassander's growing Greatness and was at the Head of an Army against him but when they were just ready to engage in Battel Cassander by large Promises won over Polyspherchon to his side who killed the young Prince and his Mother 317 Hitherto those who had seized upon Alexander's Conquests were contented to be stiled Governors of the Provinces but when the Blood Royal of Alexander was extinct each of them took upon him the Name of King thereby to create to themselves the greater Respect from their Soldiers Cassander when he died left three Sons Philip Antipater and Alexander 3652. 3. Philip succeeded his Father Cassander and scarce reigned a whole year for he died of a Consumption 298 3653. 4. Antipater I. and Alexander IV. succeeded their Brother and reigned a little more than 3 years The former of these killed his Mother Thessalonice because she favoured Alexander most thô she conjur'd him by the Breasts that gave him suck to spare her Life Upon this the two Kings fell out and Alexander to revenge this unnatural Crime sent for a Supply from Pyrrhus King of Epirus and Demetrius Polyorcetes of Peloponesus They came to an Engagement wherein both the Brothers were cut off 297 3656. 5. Demetrius Poliorcetes that is The City Taker usurped the Kingdom of Macedon after the Death of the Brothers and reigned 7 years He aimed at driving Lysimachus out of Thrace but was diverted from his Design at first by Pyrrhus King of Epirus who invaded Thessaly but having made Peace with him he raised an Army of 100000 Foot and 12000 Horse with a Fleet of 1500 Sail a greater Force than any had been raised since the Death of Alexander Which mighâ—y Force putting Seleucus Ptolemy and Lysimachus under some fear they entred into a Confederacy and prevailed upon Pyrrhus by their joint intreaties to violate the Peace Lysimachus from Thrace and Pyrrhus from Epirus invaded Macedon both at once and by that means Pyrrhus having taken Byrrhea was saluted King of Macedon by the Army of Demetrius 294 3663. 6. Pyrrhus reigned over Macedon only seven months For 287 7. Lysimachus claimed his Share in the Government and having driven Pyrrhus out reigned 5 years and an half Demetrius being turned out of Macedon at last threw himself into the Hands of his Son-in-Law Seleucus who received him kindly but made him his Prisoner at large where giving himself up to Hunting Drinking and Gaming he died within 3 years after Lysimachus was at last defeated by Seleucus in Phrygia where he was slain in Battel 'T is said that his Dog stood by his Carcase and guarded it from Fowls and wild Beasts 2669. 8. Seleucus puffed up with his Victory marched into Macedon over which he râ—igned only 7 months being treacherously killed by Ptolemy Ceraunus 281 9. Ptolemy Ceraunus after the Death of Seleucus took Possession of the Kingdom of Macedon Antigonus Gonnata the Son of Demetrius Poliorcetes opposed it but was defeated in a Sea-Fight and forced to fly into Beotia Ptolemy married his own Sister Arsinoe the Widow of Lysimachus being received by her into her own City named Cassandrea and afterwards killed her two Sons which she had by Lysimachus in her Arms. About this time a great many Gauls finding their own Country too narrow to entertain them marched in three Companies under three Leaders in quest of a new Country to settle in One Company was led into Thrace by Cerethrius another into Pannonia by Brennus and Acichorius and a third into Macedon by Belgius The last of these Ptolemy who thought himself as able to fight as to commit Villanies opposed and was defeated taken alive and slain by them 3671. 10. Meleager succeeded his Brother Ptolemy but within two months time was outed by the Macedonians who put in his stead Antipater the Son of Philip Brother to Cassander 279 11. Antipater II. he reigned only 45 days 3672. 12. Sosthenes a famous Macedonian raised the Youth of Macedon and marched at the Head of them against the Gauls he fought and defeated them and by this means delivered his Country The whole Army proclaimed him King but he refused that Title and would be only stiled their General He did not meet with the same good Success against Brennus another Leader of the Gauls who fell into Macedon plunder'd and ravaged all that lay in his way and at last defeated and routed Sosthenes himself He died after he had presided over the Kingdom about 2 years 278 3674. 13. Antigonus Gonnata the Son of Demetrius Poliorcetes having made Peace with Antiochus Soter marched into Macedon took Possession of that Kingdom and reigned over it 34 years He drove the Gauls whom Brennus had left behind him to guard the Passes and the Frontiers out of Macedon In his time the Gauls who marched in several Bodies before drew into one assisted King Nicomedes against Zypeus who had seized on part of Bithynia and having defeated Zypeus they settled upon the River Haly in that Place which afterwards from them was called Gallo-Grecia or Galatia Antigonus at his first Accession to the Throne met with some Disturbance first from Pyrrhus King of Epirus and then from Alexander the Son of Pyrrhus but within 2 or 3 years the Storm blew over and he was established in the quiet Possession of that Kingdom 276 3708. 14. Demetrius II. succeeded his Father Antigonus who rendred himself odious to the Etolians by inclining Agro the King of the Illyrians to aid the Mydionians who were besieged by the Etolians He became Master of Cyrene and all Lybia and died after he had reigned 10 years Upon his Death he left a Son behind him very young named Philip. Antigonus Sirnamed Doson because of the magnificent Promises of which he was very Liberal was constituted Governor to the young Prince He married his Pupil's Mother and by his Bounty and Clemency prevailed so far upon the
CHRONOLOGY Chap. I. Definitions Page 1. Chap. II. The Grounds of Chronology 9. The Testimony of Authors 9. Reasons of the uncertainty of Chronology 13. Certain means of Computing Times as 9. 1. By the Testimony of Authors 18. 2. By Eclipses and Aspects of the Planets 18. 3. Vndisputed Epochas 21. Chap. III. Of the Uncertainty Chronologers are at concerning the Year wherein our Saviour was Born 23. A Catalogue of Authors disagreeing in this point 25. Chap. IV. The Usefulness of Chronological Tables to Beginners Different Divisions of Times in order to help the Memory 34. § 1. First Division of the Times into two Parts 37. § 2. Second Division into three Parts according to Varro 38. § 3. Third Division into four Parts according to the Poets 40. § 4. Fourth Division according to the several Ages of the World 42. § 5. Fifth Division of Times into thirteen Parts 43. Chap. V. A New Division of Times or the 14 Royal Epocha's of Universal Chronology 44. Epocha 1. Adam or the Creation of the World 45. Epocha 2. Noah or the Vniversal Deluge 47. Epocha 3. The Vocation of Abraham 49. Epocha 4. Moses or the Written Law 51. Epocha 5. The Taking of Troy 53. Epocha 6. Solomon or the Temple finished 54. Epocha 7. Romulus or Rome Founded 56. Epocha 8. Cyrus or the Iews restor'd 58. Epocha 9. Scipio or the Carthaginians Conquer'd 62. Epocha 10. The Birth of IESUS CHRIST 65. Epocha 11. Constantine or the Peace of the Church 69. Epocha 12. Charlemaign or the Establishment of the new Empire 74. Epocha 13. Constantinople taken by the Turks and the Christian Empire of the East terminated 83. Epocha 14. King Charles II. Restor'd the ancient Government and Laws of England re-establish'd and Europe in a profound Peace 91. PART II. Introduction to History and a Character of Historians Chap. I. Of the several Benefits of History 97. Chap. II. Rules to be observ'd in Writing History 107. Chap. III. The manner of Studying History Of the Four ancient Monarchies and of the different kinds of Political Government 112. Chap. IV. Divisions of History 121. Art 1. The Authority of the History of the People of God contain'd in the Books of the Old and New Testament 126. The Order of the Books of the Old and New Testament 131. Art 2. Of Civil History 〈…〉 145. Chap. V. The most Celebrated Authors that have written of Church History 150 An Account of the Qualities Lives and Writings of each particular Author 151 c. Chap. VI. Of the most considerable Greek and Latin Authors of Civil Histoâ—y 175. § 1. Greek writers of History Their Qualities Lives and Writings and the Iudgments of Criticks upon them 177 c. § 2. Latin Writers of ancient History an Account of each Author and his Works with the Opinions of Criticks upon them 197 c. PART III. An Account of the Ancient Monarchies which preceeded the Birth of JESUS CHRIST Chap. I. An Account of the Church of God under the Old Testament 225 Sect. 1. The State of the People of God under the 22 Patriarchs 228. A Remark concerning the Origine of Nations 230. A Remark concerning the Heads of Families of the People of God 235. Sect. 2. The State of the People of God under the 22 Iudges or Leaders 236. Sect. 3. The State of the People of God under 22 Kings 239. The Succession of the Kings of Israel 244. Sect. 4. The State of the People of God in the Time of the 22 Ancestors of Iesus Christ 249. Chap. II. An Account of the Assyrian Monarchy 254. The State of the Assyrian Monarchy from Nimrod it's first Founder down to Sardanapalus which is about 1360 years 2â—â— The State of that part of the Assyrian Monarchy which was under the Babylonians from Belochus the first King to the Death of Belshazzar the last King which lasted 271 Years 260 The State of that part of the Assyrian Monarchy which was Govern'd by the Medes from Arbaces their first King to Cyaxares or Darius the Mede 261 Chap. III. Of the Persian Monarchy 262. The Succession from Cyrus to Alexander's Conquest 262 c. Chap. IV. Of the Grecian Monarchy 267. The History of Alexander's Conquests 267. to 279 The Kingdom of the Syrians under the Successors of one of Alexander's Captains 280 The Kingdom of Pergamos or Asia Minor erected by Antigonus one of Alexander's Captains 288 Chap. V. Of the Empire of China 291 Chap. VI. Of the Kings of Egypt 297 Sect. 1. The State of Egypt under 47 Kings surnam'd Pharaohs which lasted 1220. Years till it was conquer'd by Cambyses 299 Sect. 2. The State of Egypt under 11 Kings of Persia which lasted 193 Years viz. to the time it was subjected to Alexander 305 Sect. 3. The State of Egypt under the Greeks viz. Alexander the Great and the 12 Ptolomy's which lasted 301 Years that is till Augustus made Egypt a Roman Province 308 Chap. VII Of Sicyonia The Succession of its Kings c. 314 Chap. VII Argos The Succession of its Kings from Inachus to Perseus 316 Chap. IX Athens 317 Sect. 1. The State of Athens under 17 Kings for 488. Years 319 Sect. 2. The State of Athens under 13 perpetual Archontes which lasted 316 Years 321 Sect. 3. The State of Athens under 8 Decennial Archontes 322 Sect. 4. The State of Athens under annual Archontes which lasted 751 Years 322 Chap. X. Of the Kings of Troy 330 Chap. XI Of the Spartans or Lacedemonians 332 Sect. 1. The State of Lacedemonia under 14 Kings for 397 Years that is from Lelix to the Heraclides 333 Sect. 2. The State of Lacedemon under the Kings called Heraclides 334 Sect. 3. The State of Sparta under the Kings whose Power were restrain'd by the Gerontes 335 Sect. 4. The State of Sparta under the Kings with the five Ephori 336 Chap. XII Of Corinth The Succession of its Kings c. 343 Chap. XIII Of the Kings of Mycene 346 Chap. XIV The Kings of Thebes 348 Chap. XV. Of the Macedonians 352 Sect. 1. The State of Macedon under 20 Kings from Caranus to Philip the Father of Alexander 352 Sect. 2. The State of Macedon under Alexander 355 Sect. 3. The State of Macedon under 17 Kings after Alexander 355 Chap. XVI Of the Kings of Lydia to Croesus 361 Chap. XVII The Kings of Tyre till it was conquer'd by Alexander 363 Chap. XVIII Of the Italians Latins Romans and of the Fourth or Roman Monarchy 367. Sect. 1. The State of Italy under the Janigenae or Siculi which lasted 557 years 368 Sect. 2. The State of Italy under 15 Kings called Aborigines which lasted 577. from Janus to Romulus 369 Sect. 3. The Regal State of Rome which lasted 245 years 371 Sect. 4. The Consular State of Rome from Brutus the first Consul to the perpetual Dictatorship of Julius Caesar which took up the time of 464 Years divided into fifteen Periods 378 Period 1. From the Banishment of Tarquin to the first Dictator 379
after the Death of her Son Ahasias resolv'd to make away with all that was left of the Royal Family without sparing her own Sons that she might reign without a Competitor Ioas Son to Ahasias was saved alone from his Grandmothers Fury by Iesabeth who hid him when he was in the Cradle in the House of the Lord and so preserved this precious Remainder of David's Family 3120. Ionah the Prophet lived 3125. Hosea the Prophet lived 3135. Ioel the Prophet lived 3150. Hesiod the Greek Poet lived 3155. Amos the Prophet lived 3180. Isaiah the Prophet lived 3190. Micah the Prophet lived 3174. Olympick Games instituted by Iphitus King of Elis Son of Praxonidas of the Race of the famous Oxiles Here begin the Olympiads where Varro places the end of Fabulous Times and the beginning of the Historical These were celebrated every fifth Year or after four compleat Years 776. 3057. Sardanapalus King of the Assyrians begins to reign 'T is said of him That he built two Towns in one Day viz. Anchiale and Tarsus in Cilicia After him that Monarchy was divided into Assyrians and Medes Arbaces taking advantage of the Effeminacy of Sardanapalus erected to himself a Kingdom and Sardanapalus press'd by his Enemies burnt himself in his Palace 3075. Carthage built EPOCHA VII 3198. Romulus or Rome founded 752. This Epocha goes as far as the end of the Captivity of Babylon and lasts 218 Years REmus and Romulus were Sons of the Vestal Rhea Daughter to Amulius who had usurp'd the Kingdom of Alba from his Brother Numitor. This Amulius not willing to have any Heir commanded his Daughter's two Sons to be cast into the Tyber But the King's Shepherd having found them on the side of that River took them up and nursed them at home At 15 Years of Age they instituted the Feast called Lupercals afterwards they restored Numitor to his Kingdom and some time after they built the City of Rome of which Romulus was declared the Founder It was encompassed at first only with a little Ditch which Remus leap'd over out of Contempt but he paid dear for his Jest and lost his Life for it Thus began the Capital of the greatest Empire that ever was in the World 3205. Obed the Prophet lived 3220. Habakkuk the Prophet 3230. Nahum the Prophet 3215. Syracuse built 3228. Salmanassar King of Assyria takes Samaria the chief City of the Kingdom of Israel after a Siege of 3 Years and carries away the Ten Tribes in perpetual Bondage to Ninive Thus ended the KINGDOM OF ISRAEL which had lasted 258 Years since its Division from that of Iudah 723. Tobiah and his History are to be placed about this Time 3235. Sennacherib King of Assyria enters Iudea with an Army and carries Spoil and Desolation where-ever he comes He besieges Ierusalem but Hezekiah by earnest Prayer obtains Favour of God and an Angel of the Lord kills by the Sword in one Night 185000 of his Men. From thence he flies to Ninive where he is killed 715. 3235. Numa Pompilius King of Rome began to Reign 3254. Manasses King of Iuda is taken Prisoner by the Assyrians and carried in Chains into Babylon where he becomes penitent makes a Prayer extant in the Apocrypha and God restores him to his former Dignity 696. Nebuchodonosor or Nebuchadnezzar the Monarch of Babylon 3350. Enters Iudea with an Army and takes Iecoâ—iah King of Iudah Captive 3360. Zedechias King of Iuda In the 11th Year of his Reign Nebuchodonosor takes Ierusalem Zedechias is taken endeavouring to make his Escape They put his Children to Death before him afterwards they put out his Eyes load him with Chains and carry him Prisoner to Babylon His Palace is burnt the Temple destroyed the Walls of Ierusalem pull'd down and all the Inhabitans led Captive among the Babylonians 590. 3375. Nebuchadnezzar's Pride is punished by God He loses his Senses and is reduced to live 7 Years in the Woods among the Beasts 3385. Nebuchadnezzar being converted and restored to his former Grandeur dies in the 32d Year of his Reign 3387. Ieconiah after 37 Years Imprisonment was freed and treated honourably by Evil-marodoch 3390. Balthasar in the midst of a Feast sees a Hand writing some Words on the Wall which according to Daniel's Interpretation signifie That God will give his Kingdom to the Medians and Persians Which begins to prove true the next Night 3350. Ezechiel began to Prophecy 3370. Pythagoras flourished 3391. Cyrus the Founder of the Persian Monarchy began to Reign 559. Croesus the rich King of Lydia 3400. Conquer'd by Cyrus 3400. Daniel the Prophet flourish'd EPOCHA VIII 3420. Cyrus or the Iews restored 530. This Epocha reaches as far as the Taking of Carthage and lasts 334 Years THe 70 Years of Captivity to which God in his Wrath had condemned the Iews being expired in order to their Restoration he resolved to make Cyrus Master of all the East and place him on the Throne of the Kings of Babylon This Prince hearing the Prophets had foretold That he should rebuild the Temple of Ierusalem gave leave to all the Iews that were Captive at Babylon to return to their own Country under the Conduct of Zorobabel He took all the Holy Utensils of the Temple out of the Treasury of the Kings of Babylon whither they had been transported and gave them back to the Iews who marched away to the number of 42000 Persons and were no sooner arrived but they laid the Foundation of the New Temple 3419. Cyrus having conquer'd and slain Nabboneus otherwise call'd by Daniel Darius the Median King of Babylon becomes Monarch of all Asia 3421. Cambyses succeeds Cyrus 3417. Tarquin last King of the Romans He is sirnam'd the Proud He puts to Death Servius his Father-in-Law and his Wife Tullia has the Impudence to drive her Chariot over the dead Body of her Father 3436. Sextus Son to Tarquin ravishes Lucretia the Wife of Collatinus in regret thereof she stabs her self having first adjur'd her Husband and Friends to revenge the Injury Which they immediately prosecuted under the Conduct of L. Iunius Brutus and Tarquin with all his Family are expell'd Also the Royal Government pull'd down and a new one erected under Consuls whereof Brutus was the first This happen'd 245 Years after the City was built 509. 3429. Darius Hystaspes succeeds his Father Cambyses in Persia. 3460. The Persians are defeated at the Battle of Marathon in Attica by Miltiades the Athenian General 3465. Xerxes the great Monarch of Persia call'd in Scripture Ahasuerus began to reign 485. 3469. Invades Greece with an Army of 5 millions 283000 Men according to Herodotus Plutarch says 5 millions Theodoret 3 millions 3470. This great Army is fought by 5500 Grecians at the Streights of Thermopilae wherein the Lacedemonians being surrounded are cut off The Athenians admonish'd by the Oracle to make use of Wooden Walls by Advice of Themistocles retire on board their Ships which gives Xerxes opportunity to burn Athens 480. 3470. The Athenians under
Great Mogol descended from him Wenceslaus the Emperor depos'd 1399. Rupert of Bavaria succeeds 1400. By reason of the many Civil Wars Italy throws of the German Yoke and several Governors of Cities make themselves absolute as the Scaligers in Verona thâ— House of Est at Ferrara the Gonzagues at Mantua c. Sigismond K. of Hungary chosen Emperor 1410 He erected Savoy into a Dutchy in favour 〈◊〉 Armedeus 141â— Henry V. King of England 141â— He is victorious in France wins the famous Battle at Agincourt 1415. The Government of that Kingdom is resign'd to him by the King Charles VI. 142â— Iohn VII Paleologus Emperor at Constantinople 1417. Henry VI. a Child King of England 142â— Loses what his Father had gain'd in France Richard Duke of York claims the Crown 144â— The Rebellion of Iack Cade suppress'd 1450. The King is worsted by the Yorkists and finally depos'd 1â—60 Albert of Austria chosen Emperor 143â— Frederick of Austria his Brother succeeds 144â— The Art of Printing invented 144â— Iohn Huniades Emperor of Constantinople 144â— Is victorious against the Turks Scanderbeg Prince of Epirus famous for his Victorâ—â—â— over the Turks 144â— Constantine XIII Paleologus the last Christian Emperor of Constantinople famous for his Valour 1443. Mahomet II. call'd the Great Sultan of Turks 1451. Takes Constantinople Constantine being slain puts an end to that Empire 1453. EPOCHA XIII Constantinople taken by the Turks and the Christian Empire of the East terminated 1453. This Epocha is continued as far as the Year 1660. wherein King Charles being Restor'd the ancient Lawful Government of England was re-establish'd IT must be confess'd that this Epocha begins not so happily as those that have gone before it for whereas almost every one of them commenc'd from some great Action whereby the Almighty bestow'd some benefit upon his People this alas begins with a deplorable state of the Christian World and shews us the expulsion of the true Religion out of Greece and its Neighbouring Provinces by the entrance of the Mahometan Cruelty into Europe after it had ravag'd almost all Asia and Africa But it must be acknowledg'd that the Divine Providence was just in this Punishment of those unworthy Christians who by intruding Heresies first caused Schisms and continual Feuds in the Church and afterwards by Superstition profain'd their most Holy Religion and yet by bitter Persecution destroy'd the Holy Professors of true Christianity that in those Ages oppos'd themselves to the innovated Idolatry and Superstition We might justly enough call the last Epocha Dark and Illitarate as we must Name this that follows the Enlightned and Learned Age of Christianity for the Northern Barbarians that over-run Europe in the Fourth and Fifth Centuries had so effectually swept away all sâ—â—ts of Learning that tho' themselves afterwards beâ—ame Christians and somewhat Polite yet it requir'd Ages of Time to revive that Learning which they had destroy'd and in effect what thro' the Wars that happen'd and thro' the absolute Power the Clergy exercis'd which gave them an opportunity of living Lazily in Convents all the Sciences and even Arts too were in a very low Estate till in this Century the discovery of the Art of Printing put Books into the Hands of the Laity the which being follow'd in the next Age with the appearance of those great Literati Picus Mirandula Desider Erasmus Mars Ficinus c. Learning began to Revive and by the continued zealous prosecution of the Work that those great Men begun we may now venture to say We have almost arriv'd to the Perfection of those Ages wherein the Greeks and Romans made themselves immortal by their great Erudition and Ingenuity That wonderfully useful Instrument the Marinerâ— Compass had been found out in the beginning of the Fourteenth Century by the help whereof the Portugueze had ventur'd to Navigate on the Coasts of Africa and by degrees advancing we find them at length towards the end of this Age got as far as India from whence they brought by Sea vast quantities of the rich Commodities of those Parts which before that time came but sparingly hither because brought over an immense Tract of Land to Alexandria before we could receive 'em This was follow'd by a discovery of a new World which Christopher Colombus with great Hazard as well as Skill and Pains found out and thereby gave the Spanish Monarch an opportunity of encreasing his Dominions to an almost infinite extent and of enriching Europe to an inexpressible degree out of the inexhaustible Mines of Mexico and Peru. The following Epocha shews us moreover the Church reform'd and the Christian Religion restor'd to its ancient Purity a Blessing of inestimable value and which we ought all to praise God for and continually pray that he lets not again Superstition to prevail or which is worse Atheism and Irreligion to Profane our Piety Years of Jes. Chr. The Turks having taken Constantinople proceed in their Conquests and gain the Peloponnesus now call'd Morea 1459. Edward IV. Son to Richard Duke of York who had been slain in his Wars against Henry VI. gains the Crown of England 1460. Marries the Lady Gray which disgusts his great Friend the Earl of Warwick 1465. Warwick raises Wars against him and in the end forces him to fly the Kingdom 1470. Henry plac'd on the Throne again after 9 Years Imprisonment but Edward soon expells him 1471. He dies leaving his Crown to his young Son Edward V. 1483. Maximilian of Austria Son to the Emperor Frederick Marries Mary Heiress of Burgundy 1477. They had Issue Philip who Married Ioan the Daughter of Ferdinand King of Spain by which all the Netherlands became afterwards united to that Kingdom Maximilian chosen Emperor 1493. Richard Duke of Glocester usurps the Throne and Murders his Nephews 1483. Richard III. a Tyrant slain at Bosworth by Henry VII who was of the Lancastrian Family and Marry'd the Daughter of Edward IV. declar'd King 1485. Is oppos'd by two Impostors Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck 1486 1499. In the Year 1454. the Portugueze discover'd the Cape of Good Hope and prosecuting their Voyaging they at length got as far as the East-Indies which was discover'd by Vasq. de Gama who was sent by the King of Portugal to that purpose and arriv'd before Calicurt May the 20th 1498. Ferdinand King of Arragon and Isabella Queen of Castille by Marriage unite those Kingdoms and erect the Monarchy of Spain 1474. Ferdinand expels the Moors out of Spain and erects the Inquisition against them which gains him the Title of Catholick 1496. Christopher Columbus a Native of Genoa having partly by his own Study in Geography and partly by Information of some Seamen who had been driven on some far Western Coast conceiv'd an Opinion That there was a large Country Westward of us yet unknown apply'd himself zealously for the Discovery of it to which purpose he first desir'd Assistance of the State of Genoa afterwards of our King Henry VII and of Emanuel King
and told Seleucus that his Son's Distemper was Incurable How so said the King Because reply'd the Physician he is in love with my Wife Ah! said Seleucus to him I know you are more my Friend than to let my Son die and to hinder him from marrying your Wife Pray Sir replied Erasistratus were it your Case would you let him have yours Ay Ay said the King and all my Dominions to boot if his Life could not be saved without it Upon this the Physician unravelled the whole Mystery to him and told him in plain terms that Stratonice was the Person whom he so passionately lov'd Seleucus was as good as his Word called the People together and made a very pathetical Speech to them that they might not be surprized at such an unusual kind of Marriage For thô he had already a Son by his dear Stratonice yet he made no scruple to marry her to Antiochus his eldest Son and not a Man opposed it Thô this Complaisance was very irregular yet none can deny but Seleucus was a very great Prince He was killed by Ptolemy after he had reigned about 35 years 3668. 2. Antiochus Soter succeeded his Father and reigned about 12 years 282 3680. 3. Antiochus Theos the Son of Antiochus Soter and Stratonice reigned about 24 years His Sirname of Theos was given him by the Milesians because he had freed them from the Tyranny of Timarchus He was poisoned by Laodicea one of his Wives whom he had put away and afterwards recalled to Court 270 3704. 4. Seleucus Callinicus or Poron succeeded his Father and reigned about 20 years He died with a fall off his Horse This King aided by the Gauls engaged in a long War against Antiochus Hierax 246 3723. 5. Seleucus Seraunus succeeded his Father and reigned 3 years He was poisoned in Phrygia by his Lieutenant-Generals as he was marching to make War against Attalus 227 3726. 6. Antiochus the Great succeeded his Brother Seleucus being sent for from Babylon by the Aâ—my which was then encamped in Syria that so he might take Possession of the Kingdom He reigned about 36 years He was engaged in a War against several Nations First he waged War against Ptolemy Philopator King of Egypt was beat by him and sued for a Peace which Ptolemy very generously granted him Afterwards he carried on a War against the Romans by whom he was always worsted so that at last he was obliged to sue for a Peace This King likewise routed Malon received Hannibal invaded Greece and was defeated by Glabrio At last having his Treasures drained by these unsuccessful Wars to fill them up again he resolved upon rifling the Temple of Iupiter in Elimais but he was killed in the Attempt by the People of the Place Before his Death he nominated his Son Seleucus Philopator for his Successor 224 3763. 7. Seleucus Philopator succeeded his Father and reigned about 12 years He did little because the ill Successes of his Father against the Romans had exhausted his Kingdom This is that Seleucus mentioned in the Second Book of Maccabees where 't is said of him that because of the Respect which he bore to the High-Priest Onias he supplied the Temple with its necessary Sacrifices every year However Daniel stiles him Vilissimus indignus Decore Regio i. e. The basest and the worst of Men not worthy of the Royal Diadem 187 About the end of his Reign he was prevailed upon to send Heliodorus to rifle the Treasures belonging to the Temple of Ierusalem and it may be very well affirmed that his Weakness was the cause of those Troubles and Seditions which afterwards happened both in Church and State He was at last killed by Heliodorus 3775. 8. Antiochus Epiphanes or the Illustrious who had been carried to Rome as an Hostage after the Defeat of his Father Antiochus the Great made his Escape thence at the end of 3 years and Demetrius the Son of Seleucus was sent thither in his stead As soon as Antiochus was returned into Syria Heliodorus who would fain have been King killed Seleucus But Eumenes and Attalus outed Heliodorus and left Antiochus the Illustrious in quiet Possession of the Kingdom of Syria who reigned over it about 12 years He took away the High-Priesthood from Onias who was a Man of excellent Piety and bestowed it on the Impious Iason his Brother and the next year he took it again from Iason and bestowed it on his Brother Menalaus who gave more Money than the former for it Two years after this a Rumour being spread that Antiochus died in his Expedition against Egypt Iason raised great Disturbances in Ierusalem which caused Antiochus after he had defeated the Egyptians to exercise unheard-of Cruelties in Iudea and to carry away all their Treasures Afterwards Antiochus sent Apollonius into Iudea who one Sabbath-day killed a whole Congregation who were got together to offer Sacrifice Some say that he sent Lysias Gorgian Timotheus and other Commanders against the Iews who were all routed by Iudas Maccabeus Much about this time it was that this Iudas retired into the Wilderness choosing to live upon Herbs rather than defile himself with those prophane Meats which in all Parts were then sacrificed But at last Antiochus hastening out of Persia to Ierusalem with a Design to cut off all the Iews of that Place fell out of his Chariot bruised his whole Body and died of a loathsome Disease 175 3786. 9. Antiochus Eupator succeeded his Father and reigned about 2 years Lysias according to some but Philip according to others governed his Kingdom made a Peace with Iudas Maccabeus which was soon after violated About this time it was that Eleazar having assaulted an Elephant upon which he supposed the King was killed the Beast and was crushed to Death by the fall of him 164 Antiochus having taken Bethsura went against Ierusalem and made a Peace with the Iews but it being broke he caused the Walls to be demolished led away Menalaus along with him whom he put to Death as the Cause of all the War and put Alcimus into his Place 3788. 10. Demetrius Soter the Son of Seleucus Philopator having made his Escape from Rome came to Antioch put Antiochus and Lysias to Death and when he was King sent Bacchides into Iudea with Alcimus to whom he promised the High-Priesthood He afterwards sent thither Nicanor who made a League with Iudas Maccabeus but he having broke it was soon after killed by Nicanor This Demetrius reigned about 11 years 162 The People of Antioch rebelling against Demetrius took a young Man named Alexander who was said to be the Son of Antiochus the Illustrious and being assisted by the Neighbouring Kings set him upon the Throne 3799. 11. Alexander Epiphanes or Balas becoming Master of Ptolemais sent to Ionathan to make a League with him and settled him in the High-Priesthood which had been vacant 7 years and a half by the Death of Alcimus This Ionathan was the first High-Priest of the Race of
the Maccabees After this Demetrius raised Forces against Alexander but was defeated and killed by him By this means Alexander was established in the Kingdom of Syria over which he reigned 6 years 151 Demetrius the eldest Son of Demetrius Soter being willing to revenge the Death of his Father and to regain his Kingdom had great Success therein Apollonius join'd with him and was sent by Demetrius into Iudea to fight the Iews who were in League with Alexander Ionathan and Simon engaged him several times At last Alexander ravaged Syria Ptolemy Philopator and Demetrius marched against him where Ptolemy was wounded in the Engagement Within a few days after Alexander was killed by his Domesticks and Ptolemy upon the sight of his Head died for Joy 3805. 12. Demetrius Nicanor became at last sole King of Syria and suffered the Iews to live very peaceably Ionathan laid Siege to the Fortress of Ierusalem and Demetrius sent to have him come to him and give him an Account of that Action Ionathan still continued the Siege and pacified Demetrius by his Presents 145 No sooner had Demetrius Nicanor disbanded his old Forces having as he thought no further Occasion for them but Tryphon laid hold on the Opportunity to make young Antiochus Sirnamed the Divine King who was the Son of Alexander He endeavoured to make Ionathan his Friend who did him great Services 3807. 13. Antiochus the Divine set up by Tryphon but afterwards the latter being minded to be King himself instead of Antiochus and being afraid Ionathan should oppose him in his Designs surpriz'd and killed him Simon is Elected in his Place to be both General of the Army and High-Priest He several times defeated Tryphon who that he might the more easily usurp the Regal Dignity killed Antiochus 143 3809. 14. Tryphon the Vsurper In his time Demetrius Nicanor marched with his Forces into Media to strengthen himself against Tryphon where he was taken Prisoner by the General of the Army of the King of Persia and Media At last the Soldiers could not away with Tryphon and went over to Cleopatra the Wife of Demetrius who surrender'd her self and her Army to her Brother Antiochus Sedetes 141 3812. 15. Antiochus Sedetes took the Government upon him and reigned about 10 years He at first made a League with Simon the High-Priest and afterwards very dishonourably broke it sending Cendebeus against him whilst he went in pursuit of Tryphon who retired into Apamea which being taken he was killed there Simon the High-Priest being very old sent his Sons against Cendebeus who beat him This only served to foment the Jealousy of his Son-in-Law Ptolemy against the Father and his Children who killed the Father and two of his Sons in a Feast to which he had invited them In the Eighth Year of the Reign of Antiochus Sedetes there happened an Earthquake at Antioch at 10 a clock in the morning on February the 21st After this Antiochus with his Army were cut off in Parthia which gave way for his Brother Demetrius to remount the Throne 138 3822. Demetrius Nicanor reassumed the Throne after his return from the Parthians where he had been Prisoner But he had debauched himself so much among the Parthians and grew by his Pride so intolerable that neither his Soldiers nor his Subjects could endure him but chose themselves another King 128 16. Alexander Zebenna was the Man they Elected who was the Son of a certain great Merchant Demetrius was abandoned by all Men fled from one Country to another and at last was assassinated as he was going into a Ship But some say he was killed by his Wife Cleopatra Zebenna in his Prosperity proved ungrateful to his Friends and forgot his old Benefactor Ptolomy Physicon who had set him upon the Throne Ptolomy by way of Revenge assisted Antiochus Gryphus against him who defeated put him to flight and afterwards killed him 3826. 17. Antiochus Gryphus reigned 8 years very prosperously and all Syria enjoyed a profound Peace His Mother Cleopatra offended at her Son 's good Fortune upon his return from the War he had successfully ended against Zebenna presented him with a Glass full of rank Poison He excused himself out of Compliment and his Mother still urged him to drink it off At last he frankly told her That he was informed of her ill Will towards him and that she could not clear her Innocence better than by drinking up what she was so civil to offer him Upon this she was forced to drink off what she had prepared for her Son and so was poisoned Antiochus Cyzicenus declared War against his Brother Gryphus but was defeated by him 3835. 18. Antiochus Cyzicenus had the Fortune at last to defeat his Brother Gryphus who fled away and was turned out of his Kingdom which his Brother became Master of But no sooner was he King but he gave himself up to all manner of Pleasures and Debaucheries He associated with none but Comedians Buffoons Jugglers and Fencers He applied himself very seriously to the making of Puppets dance and became so great a Master in that Mechanical Art that he could make Figures of Birds to fly and run along as if they were natural 115 3856. 19. Seleuchus the Son of Antiochus Gryphus having raised Forces declared War against his Uncle Antiochus Cyzicenus They came to an Engagement wherein Antiochus was defeated His Horse carried him into the Enemies Camp and he for fear of being taken alive killed himself 92 3860. 20. Antiochus the Pious the Son of Antiochus Cyzicenus having escaped the Ambuscades which his Uncle had laid for him declared War against him after he had taken upon him the Diadem at Arada Seleucus was routed beaten out of all Syria and fled into Cilicia He was received there by the Mopseates who being enraged by the extravagant Contributions which Seleucus raised upon them burnt him in his Palace with two of his Friends Upon this Antiochus and Philip two Twin-Brothers of Seleucus in revenge of his Death besieged Mopsuesta took it by Storm and demolished it Antiochus the Pious marched against them and defeated them Antiochus was drowned in a River as he fled away and his Brother Philip reigned together with Antiochus the Pious and afterwards they endeavoured by War to decide which of the two should be sole Master 90 3861. 21. Demetrius Euceres the Son of Antiochus Gryphus was seated upon the Throne of Damascus by Ptolemy Lathurus But Antiochus the Pious opposed the new King being assisted by his Brother Philip's Forces Iosephus says that Antiochus the Pious was killed in a Battel against the Parthians 89 22. Philip and Demetrius Euceres both of them the Sons of Gryphus became Masters of the Kingdom of Syria Thus for these last years the Seleucides raising continual Commotions with each other for the Crown were at length cut off in several Battels The Syrians offended at these Disturbances called in Tigranes King of Armenia and submitted to his Government 3863. 23 Tigranes called in
17. Codrus succeeded his Father Melanthius and reigned 21 years He for the safety of his People lost his own Life and by his Death gave them the Victory for the Oracle having predicted that the Party which lost their King should gain the Victory he disguised himself and secretly got into the Enemy's Camp where he purposely provoked them and received his Death for his Country's sake His two Sons Medon and Nileus contested the Kingdom which was the reason why the Athenians fearing that they should never have such another King as Codrus put an end to the Regal Power declared that Iupiter was the only King of the People of Athens and established Perpetual Archontes that is Governors or Magistrates who should have the Administration of the State during their whole Life and were only different from the Kings in Name and were accountable to the People 1090 Sect. 2. The Second State of Athens under XIII Perpetual Archontes which lasted the space of 316 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2882. 1. MEdon the Son of Codrus govern'd Athens 20 years 1068 2902. 2. Acastus governed 36 years In his time happened the famous Ionian Expedition For the Ionians being driven out of Peloponnesus by the Heraclidae and the Dorians under the Conduct of Neleus and Androclus Sons of Codrus took Ephesus and other Places in Asia Minor and called that part of it Ionia 1048 2939. 3. Archippus governed 17 years 1011 2956. 4. Thersippus governed 42 years 994 2998. 5. Phorbas governed 31 years 952 3029. 6. Megacles governed 30 years 921 3059. 7. Diognetus governed 28 years 891 3087. 8. Phoreclus governed 19 years 863 3106. 9. Ariphron governed 20 years 844 3126 10. Thespieus governed 27 years 824 3154. 11. Agamestor governed 11 years 796 3173. 12. Aeschylus governed 23 years 777 3174. At this time being 407 years after the taking of Troy 12 years before the building of Rome and 777 years before Christ the Olympiads began each containing the space of four years The first Olympiad was very famous for the Prize which Corebus the Cook won in a Race at the Olympick Games Here ended the time which Varro calls Fabulous because all that preceded the first Olympiad was mixed with a great many Fables And here began the Historical Time because some Rays of Truth began then to shine forth in History 3196. 13. Alcmeon governed 2 years and after his Death the Government of Athens was committed to Archontes or Governors who ruled only 10 years 754 Sect. 3. The Third State of Athens under VII Decennial Archontes which lasted 70 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3198. 1. CHarops the Son of Aeschylus governed 10 years 752 3208. 2. Esimedes governed 10 years 742 3218. 3. Clidicus governed 10 years 732 3228. 4. â—lippomanes governed 10 years 'T is said that he tore his Daughter's Adulterer into pieces with wild Horses for which he was Deposed He accoâ—ding to Suidas was the last of the Race of Codruâ— 722 3238. 5. Leocrates governed 10 years 712 3248. 6. Apsandrus governed 10 years 702 3258. 7. Eâ—yxias governed 10 years He was the last of the Decennial Archontes So that the whole space of Time from Cecrops the first King of Athens down to the end of the Government of Eryxius takes up 874 years After his Government was expired Democracy was established in Athens and the State was to be governed by Annual Archontes 692 Sect. 4. The Fourth State of Athens under Annual Archontes which lasted about the space of 751 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3268. CReon was the first 682 3269. Next to him succeeded Tlesias 681 Instead of giving you an Account of the Succession and Names of these Annual Archontes which would be both a tedious and an useless Undertaking it will be more proper to set down those particular Events which contributed to the Happiness or Misery of Athens and these we will bring under their proper Centuries without affixing the Time to every particular Event but only to such as are most remarkable Years of the World Years before Christ. 3300. In this Century flourished the Seven Wise Men of Greece viz. Solon Bias Thales Pittacus Periander Chilon and Cleobolus Besides these flourished Anaximander the Son of Praxidamus who was born in Ionia Pherecydes Bion Proconessus Epimenides Anaximenes and several others The Photians a People of Ionia set out a Fleet and went and built Marseilles Within a while after Pittacus of Mytelene one of the seven Wise Men of Greece was sent by his Countrymen into Troas to fight Phrino the Commander of the Athenians but was conquered Soon after Periander another of the seven Wise Men of Greece made a Peace between the Athenians and the Mytelenians Within this Century Cylon attempted to make himself King but failing of his Aim fled with his Accomplices to the Altar who contrary to Promise were all killed by Megacles the Archon of that Year which caused great Disturbances and Factions to arise Epimedides to free the City from the Plague erected that famous Altar mentioned in the Acts to the VNKNOWN GOD. A second War happened with the Megarenses wherein Salamis was recovered 650 3384. Pisistratus descended from Codrus became a Tyrant of his Country He won the Poorer sort and by their means made himself King He was expelled by Megacles and Lycurgus afterwards sent a counterfeit Minerva in a Chariot to admonish the People of Athens to restore him He married the Daughter of Megacles was restored ruled well for some time honoured Solon collected Homer's Verses and put them in Order built the first Library in Athens which Xerxes afterwards carried away He repudiated the Daughter of Megacles was again expelled by him but returned and was kindly received by the People 566 In the 4th Year of the 39th Olympiad Anno M. 3330 Draco was Archon and made such severe Laws that they were said to be written in Blood and 22 years after Solon ruled who repealed these Laws and made many excellent Alterations in the Athenian Government In this Century Thales of Miletum died and Anaximander his Disciple was the first who discovered the Obliquity of the Zodiack which his Master could never find out 3400. After Pisistratus his Son Hipparchus succeeded and after him his other Son Hippias Hipparchus was a great Favourer of Learned Men but Harmodius and Aristogiton killed him who were also killed themselves Leaena the Harlot bit off her Tongue that she might not discover the Accomplices Hippias became at last very Cruel for which he was banished Athens Upon this he fled to Darius and set him upon the Thoughts of conquering Greece Darius was so incensed against the Athenians that every time he supp'd he ordered one of his Servants to cry out Here Mâ—mento Atheniensium Pray Sir don't forget the Athenians By the Instigation of Hippias the Persians did invade Greece but were beaten at Marathon by Miltiades where Hippias was killed And when Xerxes the Son
among the Canonical Writings of the New Testament This City was at first called Ephyra afterwards Heliopolis i. e. The City of the Sun It was famous for its Painters Architects and Carvers and was built by Sisâ—phus Corinth in the several Risques of Fortune which it has run has appeared to the World under VI. distinct States Sect. I. The First State of Corinth under the Race of Sisyphus of which there were X. Kings which lasted 269 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2543. 1. Sisyphus The same with him who as the Poets tell us was condemned to the endless Labour or rouling a Stone up a Hill which no sooner was at the top but rouled down again to the bottom and so renewed his Labour 2. Glaucus the first Instituter of the Ishmian Games 3. Bellerophon He being guilty of Homicide fled to Argos where he was kindly received by King Pretus But it seems Sthenobea the Queen of Argos falling in Love with Bellerophon tempted him to lie with her but upon his Refusal accused him of tempting to violate her Chastity which by the way is much the same with the Story of Ioseph and his Egyptian Mistress Upon this Pretus was offended sent him into Lycia to his Father-in-Law Iolas with Orders to put him to Death But Iolas after several Trials of his Valour so admired him that he not only spared his Life but married him to his Daughter Philonoe 4. Orynthion 5. Phocus 6. Thoas 7. Demophâ—on 8. Propodas 9. Doridas Both Sons of Propodas and 10. Hyanthidas Both Sons of Propodas Under these two last Kings the Heraclides fell into Peloponnesus and became Masters of Corinth 'T is to be observed that History is so obscure about these first Kings that the exact Time and Duration of each Reign cannot be set down Sect. II. The Second State of Corinth under IV. Kings called Heraclides which lasted 144 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2812. 1. Aletes the Son of Hippotaâ— the Son of Antiochus who was Nephew to Hercules He reigned 38 years 1138 2850. 2. Ixion reigned 34 years 1100 2884. 3. Agelaus reigned 37 years 1066 2921. 4. Prymnis reigned 35 years 1029 Sect. III. The Third State of Corinth under VIII Kings called Bacchides which lasted 215 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2956. 1. Bacchis reigned 35 years 994 2991. 2. Agelaus reigned 30 years 959 3021. 3. Eudemus reigned 25 years 929 3046. 4. Aristodemus reigned 35 years 904 3081. 5. Agemon reigned 16 years 869 3098. 6. Alexander reigned 39 years 852 3137. 7. Telstes reigned 34 years 813 3171. 8. Aristomenes or Automenes reigned only one year 779 Sect. IV. Years of the World Years before Christ. 3172. The Fourth State of Corinth was under Annual Magistrates which lasted 121 Years viz. From the Year of the World 3172 to the Year 3293. At this time the Government was changed into Aristocracy For 200 of the Bacchides ruled in Common and only created a Prytanis every Year from among themselves till at last it fell under the Tyranny of Cypselus and Periander who reigned about 73 Years 778 Sect. V. Years of the World Years before Christ. 3245. The Fifth State of Corinth was that of the Re-establishment of their Liberty By this means it became a Free Republick and had a great Share in the Wars carried on by the Grecians against the Persians and in the Wars between the Athenians and Lacedemonians as has been already observed This State lasted about 439 Years Sect. VI. The Sixth State of Corinth was under the Romans of which we shall have occasion to speak when we come to the Roman Monarchy CHAP. XIII Of the Mycenians MYcene was a City of Peloponesus situated between Argos and Corinth It was founded by Lacedemon the Son of Semelé But the Kingdom of Mycene was founded by Perseus the Son of Danae after he had killed by an Accident his Grandfather Acrisius King of Argos So that this State is to be looked upon only as a Continuation of the Kingdom of Argos the Regal Authority being translated thence by Perseus to Mycene about the year of the World 2641 before Christ 1309. This Kingdom or State lasted 218 Years under VII Kings Years of the World Years before Christ. 2641. 1. Perseus reigned about 57 years Before he was King he did many great Exploits among the rest overcame the Gorgons three Sea-Monsters 1309 2708. 2. Sthenelus succeeded his Father and reigned 8 years 1242 2716. 3. Eurystheus succeeded his Father Sthenelus and reigned 43 years In his time lived Hercules said to be the Son of Iupiter and Alcmena who by Eurystheus was injoined to destroy divers Monsters in hopes that he would have been killed by them But he always returned home Conqueror which gave an occasion to the Story of the twelve Labours of Hercules Eurystheus jealous of the growing Greatness of this Hero made War against the Heracâ—idae wherein he and all his Sons was killed 1234 2759. 4. Atreus and Thyestes the Sons of Pelops and Grandsons of Tantalus reigned conjunctly the space of 8 years They had another Brother named Plisthenes who died whilst young and committed the Care of his two Sons Agamemnon and Menelaus to his Brother Atreus He married Aerope the Mother of these Children and Daughter to Minos with whom Thyestes was caught in the Act of Adultery Atreus was so enraged that he first banished his Brother then recalled him within a while after and having killed his Sons dress'd them and served them up to him to be eaten Hence arose the Proverb of Thyestes's Supper 1191 Atreus after the Death of Eurystheus became Master of all Peloponnesus and put the Heraclidae to flight 2767. 5. Agamemnon reigned 15 years He declared War against the Trojans in the Behalf of his Brother Menelaus After Troy was taken he returned home but was there immediately killed by Aegysthus and his own Wife Clytemnestra who lived in Adultery with Aegysthus 1183 2782. 6. Aegysthus the Son of Thyestes born in Incest after the Death of Agamemnon succeeded and reigned 7 years 1168 2789. 7. Orestes the Son of Agamemnon revenged his Father's Death upon Aegysthus and his own Mother Clytemnestra whom he slew After which he ran mad but was restored to his Senses at the Altar of Diana in Taurica He reigned 70 years over Lacedemonia and Mycene 1161 2859. Orestes left two Sons behind him viz. Tisamenes and Penthilus who were Dethroned by the Heraclidae as they were returning to Peloponnesus 1091 CHAP. XIV Of the Thebans BOEOTIA one of the States of Greece was bounded on the West by Phocis on the East by the Eubean Sea on the North by Locris and on the South by Attica and Megaris The Metropolis of this Country was Thebes but who built it is uncertain Calydnus is said to have reigned first in that Place after him Ogyges but last Cadmus But since the Account of the Thebans before the Reign of Cadmus is very obscure we shall pass that
by and begin our Account with him Years of the World Years before Christ. 2525. The State of the Thebans under XIV Kings which lasted 295 Years 1425 1. CAdmus was the first King of the Thebans The Grecians tell us that he was the Son of Agenor who sent him and his other two Brothers in quest of their Sister Europa whom Iupiter had ravished forbidding them to return unless they brought their Sister with them That Cadmus at last after many fruitless Journeys came into Boeotia where despairing of ever meeting with his Sister being admonished by the Oracle he built or as 't is most probable repaired Thebes and added a Fort to it which from him was called the Cadmean Fort That he married Harmonia the Daughter of Mars and Venus of whom he had one Son named Polydorus and four Daughters Semele Ino Autonoe and Agaâ—e That he at last warred against the Illyrians conquered and reigned over them leaving the Kingdom of Thebes to be governed by his Son Polydorus This is the Account which the Grecians give us of Cadmus But thô they in Honour to him say he was a King's Son yet the Sidonians his Countrymen deny it and affirm that this Cadmus was only the King's Cook and that he ran away with a certain Musick-Girl called Harmonia His coming into Greece was about the same time that Ioshua governed Israel so that it may be very justly supposed that he carried a Colony of the Canaanites whom Ioshua had expelled into Greece Whether this or the other Account be truest we shall not here stand to determine thô upon very weighty Reasons the latter seems to be most probable However most agree that this was the Man who first brought Letters into Greece from Phenicia 2. Polydorus succeedded his Father married the Daughter of Nycteus by whom he had one Son Labdacus whom at his Death he left to the Care of his Father-in-Law 3. Labdacus succeeded In his time Epopeus the King of Sicyonia ravished Antiope the other Daughter of Nycteus upon which a War broke out between them wherein they both died of their Wounds which they received Upon the Death of Nycteus his Brother Lycus was made Labdacus's Governor who administred the Government so faithfully that Labdacus upon his Death committed his Infant Son Laius to his Care 4. Laiùs succeeded his Father In his Reign his Governor Lycus having punished Antiope according as Nycteus had ordered him was at War with her two Sons Amphion and Zethus and was killed by them in an Engagement Thebes was taken by them and the young Child Laius very narrowly escaped 5. Amphion and Zethus reigned over Thebes Amphion built Walls round Thebes married Niobe the Daughter of Tantalus and Sister of Pelops who having a great many Children boasted that she was a better Breeder than Latona her self which occasioned her to lose them all For Apollo was commanded to kill all the Males and Diana all the Females upon which Niobe was so stupified that the Poets feign she was turned into a Stone Thô this Account is rather Romance than true History yet we thought it would not be amiss to insert it that so our young Reader may have some Light even in the Fictions of the Poets which he may meet with A while after Amphion and his whole Family were cut off by the Plague Zethus pin'd away upon the Death of his Son whom his Wife had unfortunately killed and these Brothers being thus removed the Thebans restored Laius again to the Throne Laius married Iocasta the Daughter of Meneceus by whom he had a Son but the Oracle advising him to beware of him he bound his Feet and exposed him in order to make him away The infant was according to his Order exposed but found by a Shepherd and brought to Polybus King of Corinth He took care of the Child brought him up as his own and cured him of the Swelling which he had in his Feet from whence he was called Oedipus A long time after Laius uncertain what was become of his Son and Oedipus ignorant who were his Parents both went to make their Enquiries at the Oracle In Phocis they met by chance where Laius very roughly commanding him to give the way was killed by his Son whose hot Blood it seems could not brook such rude Provocation 6. Upon the Death of Laius Creon the Brother of Iocasta usurped the Throne till such time as Oedipus did explain the Riddle of the Monster Sphinx For all Travellers who passed by where she sate had the Riddle proposed to them upon these Terms That in case they could not explain it they should be put to Death but whoever did should marry Iocasta and be King of Thebes Oedipus unriddled the Riddle and married his own Mother Iocasta after he had killed his Father Both which he did ignorantly At last a full Discovery was made both of the Murder and the Incest of Oedipus upon which Iocasta hanged her self and he was kept Prisoner by his Sons sent to Athens and there died with King Theseus 7. Eteocles and Polynices the two Sons of Oedipus agreed to reign alternately but Eteocles being once upon the Throne would not let his Brother have his Turn in the Government Upon this Polynices made his Aplication to Adrastus King of Sicyon his Father-in-Law Adrastus to revenge the Affront marched at the Head of an Army and sat down before Thebes After many dubious Skirmishes it was agreed That the two Brothers should determine the Quarrel by fighting a single Duel They accordingly fought and killed each other but did not put an end to the Contest for a sharp Engagement followed wherein the Soldiers of Adrastus were cut off and himself rid away full speed for his Life 8. Laodamas the Son of Eteocles succeeded but being in his Minority Creon the Brother of Iocasta was his Governor Within ten years after the Sons of those who were cut off in the last Battel to revenge themselves upon the Thebans raised another War wherein Thebes and Laodamas were taken 9. Thersander the Son of Polynices set up by the Victors who leading the Beotians against Troy was slain by Telephus in Mysia 10. Pencleus made King by the Beotians but engaging with Euryphilus the Son of Telephus was slain in the Battel 11. Tisamenus the Son of Thersander succeeded 12. Damasicthon the Son of Opheta and Nephew to Pencleus 13. Ptolemeus succeeded 14. Xanthus the last King of Thebes was killed in a Duel by Melanthus the Messenian With him ended the Kingdom of Thebes which was turnâ—d into a Common-wealth in the year of the World 2820 before Christ 1130. But still the Thebans had a great Share both in the Intestine and Foreign Wars with which Greece was engaged as appears in the Accounts we have given of Athens and Lacedemonia CHAP. XV. Of the Macedonians THE Kingdom of Macedonia or Macedon so called from Macedon the Son of Osiris or as some say from Iupiter and Aethra was bounded on the West
we did not think it proper to insert the Account of them in this our System CHAP. XVIII Of the Italians Latins Romans and of the Fourth or Roman Monarchy OUR Reader must not expect in this short System of Vniversal History that we should give an accurate and particular Account of all the Roman Affairs since many of the Ancients such as Diodorus Siculus Dionysius Halicarnasseus Livy and others who have only given us an Account of part of them have filled whole Volumes with that Account And since our Countryman the ingenious industrious and indefatigable Mr. ECHARD has favoured the World with a large Book even of his Abridgment of the Roman History 'T is enough that we give only a Taste of the most eminent Transactions which contributed towards the making Rome so famous to future Ages that by this means the Reader may be the better prepared and the more excited to look into more Voluminous Tracts which treat of these Matters It must be likewise acknowledged that all the Account we have of Italy before Romulus is very Fabulous and Precarious and such as no Historian can rely upon However we shall give you a short Account of what passed in Italy before those Times thô we shall not vouch to the Truth of all that is contained therein nor do we desire to impose any thing upon the Reader but leave him to be a Free Thinker and his own Judge in the Case Having by way of Preface said thus much we shall divide this Chapter into V. Sections In the First we shall consider the Italians under the Government of the Ianigenae or Siculi In the Second we shall consider them under the Government of the Aborigines In the Third we shall consider them under the Seven Kings The Fourth Section shall give you an Account of the Consular State of Rome And the Fifth shall treat of the Fourth or Roman Monarchy Sect. I. The First State of Italy under the Janigenae or Siculi which lasted 557 Years 'T IS said that Gomer the Son of Iaphet first planted Colonies in Italy But we have no certain Account of this only that the first Inhabitants were called Ianigenae or Siculi It must not be expected that we should give an exact Chronology of these dark Times we shall therefore only give you a Catalogue of the Principal Men whether Kings or only Petty Governors is very uncertain who lived within this time Years of the World Years before Christ. 2044. 1. Aurunus It seems he built a Temple to Ianus 1906 2. Malotages 3. Sicanus the Husband of Ceres who taught the People Tillage 4. Several Tyrants 5. Osiris drove them out and was chosen King 6. Neptune 7. Lestrigo 8. Hercules Libycus 9. Tuscus 10. Alteus 11. Kittim or Atlas or Italus out of Spain ruled the Ianigenae 12. Iasius 13. Dardanus He killed Iasius and afterwards fled into Thrace 14. Tyrrhenus He came out of India and his Subjects after him were called Tyrrhenians We have no Account after him of any King or Governor for above 100 years together Sect. II. The Second State of Italy under XV. Kings called Aborigines which lasted 577 Years from Janus down to Romulus Years of the World Years before Christ. 2621. 1. JAnus the Son of Erectheus King of Athens came into Italy was received by the Aborigines and built Ianiculum He reigned 10 years 1329 2631. 2. Saturn expelled Crete by his Son Iupiter fled into Italy civiliz'd the People taught them Tillage coin'd Money c. He reigned 19 years 1319 2650. 3. Picus the Son of Saturn succeeded and reigned 41 years 1300 2691. 4. Faunus succeeded his Father and reigned 42 years 1259 In his time Evander and Carmenta his Mother came out of Arcadia and taught them Letters and Hercules living with Evander killed Cacus 2733. 5. Latinus reigned 36 years He had a Daughter named Lavinia whom Aeneas married 1217 2769. 6. Aeneas after the taking of Troy came into Italy where he built Lavinium killed Turnus King of the Rutuli married Lavinia was drowned and afterwards Deified He reigned 5 years 1181 2774. 7. Ascanius or Iulus the Son of Aeneas by Creusa succeeded his Father and reigned 38 years He resigned Lavinium to Lavinia and Sylvius her Son built Alba and left the Kingdom to Sylvius 1176 2812. 8. Sylvius the Son of Aeneas by Lavinia succeeded and reigned at Alba 29 years 1138 2841. 9. Eneas Sylvius succeeded his Father and reigned 30 years 1109 2871. 10. Latinus II. reigned 51 years From him the People were called Latines 1079 2922. 11. Alba Sylvius succeeded his Father and reigned 39 years 1028 2961. 12. Capetus I. called by Ovid Epitus succeeded and reigned 26 years 989 2987. 13. Capys succeeded and reign'd 28 years He built Capua 963 3015. 14. Capetus II. succeeded and reigned 12 years 935 3027. 15. Tyberinus succeeded and reigned 8 years He was drowned in the River Tyber which has its Name from him 923 3035. 16. Agrippa Sylvius succeeded and reigned 41 years 915 3076. 17. Alladius or Aremulus succeeded and reigned 19 years He imitated Thunder and was swallowed up with his Palace 874 3095. 18. Aventinus succeeded and reigned 37 years The Aventine Hill derived its Name from him 855 3132. 19. Procas succeeded and reigned 23 years When he died he left his Sons to rule by turns yearly 818 3155. 20. Amulius expelled his elder Brother Numitor and reigned 25 years He killed Numitor's Son Lausus made Rhea Numitor's Daughter a Vestal Virgin ravished her afterward in the likeness of Mars by whom he had two Sons Romulus and Remus killed her and exposed them 795 3180. 21. Numitor is restored by his Grandsons Romulus and Remus to the Throne and reigned 18 years 770 Thus have we given the Reader some glimmering sort of Light into the State of the Italian Affairs even in these dark Times We shall now proceed to what History gives us a clearer Insight into and by what follows we may perceive from what small Beginnings and by what Steps and Degrees the Romans rose to that Grandeur as to be at last the Masters of the greatest part of the then known World Sect. III. The Third State under VII Kings called the Regal State lasted 245 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3198. 1. ROmulus was 18 years of Age when he laid the Foundations of the City of Rome upon the River Tyber near the Place where he and his Brother Remus were brought up At first he took in only Mount Palatine on which he built about 1000 Houses but within a while the Inhabitants increased to such a Number that they were forced to take in six Hills more so that Rome from hence was called The City with 7 Heads At first there was only a Colony of 300 Horse and 3000 Foot but to increase the Number he set up an Asylum which was a Sanctuary to all Malefactors and Discontented Persons 752 Romulus upon founding the City killed his Brother Remus for some Affront he had
Ierom 3941. Iohn Carion 3944. Calvisius Helvicus Alstedius 3947. Origanus Argolus 3949. Scaliger Vbbo Emmius 3950. Cornelius a Lapide 3951. Beda Hermannus Herwart 3952. Landsperg 3958. Iohn Picus Count of Mirandola 3959. Luther Scultetus Iohannes Lucidus 3960. Beroaldus 3961. Sixtus of Siena Abbat Vrspergiensis Chrytreus 3962. Tostatus Melancthon Funcius 396â— Gerardus Mercator Opmeir 3966. Butting Santphurdius 396â— Bulingerus 3969. Nigrinus Pantaleon 3970. Brentzhein Bucholzer 3971. Theophilus of Antioch 3974. Bibliander 3979. Father Petavius 3984 Archbishop Vsher Tirinus Capellus Thomas Lydyat 4000. William Langius 4040. Tornelli Salianus Spondanus 405â— Labbe Muller 4053. Rabbi Moses 4058. Ioseph Son to Mattathias 4103. Laurence Codoman 4142. Riccioli according to the Hebrew and the Vulgar Bible 4184. Odiaton or Edwicon an Astronomer 4320. Cassiodorus 4697. Origines 4830. Adon of Vienna 4832. Methrodorus 5000. S. Epiphanius Bishop of Salamina 5029. Paulus Orosius 5049. Philo Iudaeus Sigibertus 5195. Isidorus of Sevil 5196. Philip of Bergama 5198. Eusebius of Cesarea 5200. Iohn Nauclerus 5201. Rabanus 5296. Albumazar an Astronomer 5328. Isidorus of Pelusium 5336. Petrus de Alliaco 5344. S. Augustin 5353. Theophanes 5500. Cedrenus 5506. Isaac Vossius 5590. Suidas 5600. S. Clement of Alexandria 5624. Riccioli according to the Septuagint 5634. Nicephorus of Constantinople 5700. Lactantius 5801. Philastrius 5801. Father Pezon 5868 or 5872. Onuphrius Panvinus 6310. Alphonsus King of Spain 6984. Of all these various Opinions we must of necessity take up with one for 't would be needless if not vain to pretend to a new one different from all the rest since it is not to be imagined but that among so many Systems there is some or other satisfactory and upon which one may depend For my part I have pitch'd upon the Opinion which places the Birth of our Saviour in the Year of the World 4000. The Reasons for this Choice are these 1. This space of Time is sufficient to explain and answer the Successions of the Patriarchs Judges and Kings in a Word all the History of the People of God which is the main thing to be considered in the choice of this Epocha Now some very learned Men have already made it out how those 4000 Years do exactly comprehend all the Series of Sacred History according to the Hebrew and the Vulgar Bible and besides that they fill up the Vacancies which the Silence of the Scripture has left towards the end of the Fourth Millenary the extent of which we cannot perfectly know without the Help of Prophane History or the Iewish History of Iosephus The PROOF Years of the World GENESIS contains the History of 2369 Years from the Creation of the World to Ioseph's death 2369. EXODVS comprehends the History of 145 Years reaching from the Death of Ioseph to the Year 2514. two Years before the going out of Egypt 2514. LEVITICVS takes in the Transactions of one Month and a half 2514 1 m. ½ The Book of NVMBERS contains the History oâ— 38 Years and a half that is from the second Month after the coming out of Egypt down to the Death of Moses or thereabouts 2552 7 m. ½ 'T is thought that JOB liv'd about this Time and that Moses wrote his History DEVTERONOMY contains the History of one Month and a half 2552 9 m. Therefore the Pentateuch or five Books of MOSES contain the History of 2552 Years and about nine Months 2552 9 m. The Book of IOSHVAH contains the History of 17 Years because it begins at the 41st Year after the coming out of Egypt and ends with the Death of Ioshuah 2570. The Book of IVDGES comprehends the History of 317 Years it begins at the Death of Ioshuah and ends at that of Sampson 2887. The History of RUTH happen'd under one of the Judges The First Book of SAMVEL contains the History of 101 Years because it begins with the first Year of the Administration of Heli towards the Year 2848. and ends with the Death of Saul in the Year 2949. However this Book does but add 60 Years to the History of the Book of Iudges because the forty Years of Heli's Government of which the first Chapters of the First Book of Samuel give the Particulars are included in Sampson's Time and therefore contained in the 317 Years of the Book of Iudges 2949. The Second Book of SAMVEL contains the History of David's Reign of about 40 Years 2989. The First Book of KINGS contains the History of Solomon's Reign and some Kings of Israel in all about 126 Years 3115. The Second Book of KINGS comprehends the History of 308 Years during which we see the Wars and Misfortunes of 16 Kings of Iuda and 12 Kings of Israel and the Downfal of those two Kingdoms But because the first Chapter of this Second Book concerning Ochosias and Iosaphat run back towards the Year of the World 3108. by that Reason the 308 Years reach no farther than the Year of the World 3456. The History of TOBIAH happens about this time The First Book of CHRONICLES is an Abridgment of the History of the World from Adam to the return from the Captivity Afterwards the Author resuming the History of David in particular pursues it at large till the time that Solomon was crowned King towards the Year of the World 2990. The Second Book of CHRONICLES contains the Sacred History from the Year of the World 2990. down to the Year 3468. at which time ended the 70 Years of the Captivity So that these two Books do but add 52 Years to the History of the People of God 3468. The First Book of ESDRAS contains the History of 82 Years beginning at the end of the Captivity of Babylon and reaching to the 20th Year of Artaxerxes Longimanus and the Year of the World 3550. The Second Book of ESDRAS contains the History of 31 Years as far as the beginning of the Reign of Darius Nothus in the Year of the World 3581. From the Year 3581. where ends the Second Book of Esdras the Scripture gives us no Account of what has happened during 250 Years This Silence and Vacancy cannot be supply'd otherwise than by the Help of Prophane History which about this time being clear and full of Light we may easily perceive that there are 250 Years from the end of the Second Book of Esdras down to the Maccabees or the Reign of Antiochus Epiphanes This Silence of 250 Years lasts to the Year of the World 3830. The Two Books of MACCABEES contain the History of 40 Years and so they lead us as far as the Year of the World 3870. The Holy Scripture fails us again in this Place where we find a Silence of 130 Years which continues till the Birth of our Saviour in the Year of the World 4000. This 130 Years Silence may be supply'd by the Hiâ—story of the Iews which Iosephus has probably extracted from the Journals of the High Priests 'T is plain by this Chronology of the Historieâ— Books of the Bible that the space of 4000
regulate Sacred Chronology and gives us little or no Account concerning the History of the Nations of the Earth III. The Historical Time begins with the Olympiads in the Year of the World 3174. and 776 Years before the Vulgar Aera It is called Historical Time because since the Olympiads the Truth begins to shine and be conspicuous in History §. 3. The Third Division of the Times into Four Parts according to the Poets SInce ancient Poets were Historians Philosophers Divines and Masters in all sorts of Arts and Sciences to the first Men we must not altogether reject what they have left us tho' intermix'd with abundance of Fables and idle Stories They divided all the Times into Four Ages The First was the Golden Age the Second the Age of Silver the Third the Age of Brass and the Fourth The Iron Age. I. The Golden Age so much celebrated in their Writings the Poets ascrib'd to Saturn's Reign during which the Prolifick Earth spontaneously produc'd the many good Things which she now bestows only on the laborious Cultivater Then Ianus gave Peace to Mankind Astrea i. e. Iustice reigned in this lower World and all Men had every Thing in Common and lived in perfect Amity together They tell us That this Age lasted till Saturn was expelled his Kingdom From this Description it is easy to understand that this Fable does properly suit with that Age which our first Parents past in the Terrestrial Paradice and that Adam turned out of this delicious Place whereof he was Master is most certainly the same with Saturn so famous in the Heathenish Poets who represent him as an Exile from Heaven wandering up and down the Earth II. The Age of Silver is attributed to Iupiter's Reign whom Virgil charges with furnishing Serpents with Poison and sending Wolves and other fierce Creatures to annoy Mankind At that time the Earth yielded nothing but proportionably to the Care and Labour of the Husbandman We may extend this Age as far as the Time when Tyrants arose among Men who out of an ambitious Thirst after Power oppressed the rest by Violence and Injustice This Age of Silver ends with the Time when Nimrod Cham's Grandson made himself powerful built Babylon and laid the Foundation of the Empire of the Chaldeans towards the Year of the World 1718. and 62 Years after the Deluge Thus far the People of God lived happy as one may see by the Patriarchs of those Times But their Condition was extreamly chang'd afterwards beginning with Abraham III. The Age of Brass begins with the Time when furious Men possessed by an unjust Passion for Power and Authority began to domineer over others Such a one was Nimrod who was the first that fell foul upon his Neighbours and endeavoured to destroy them by so cruel and bloody Wars that there 's Reason to doubt whether there be in Nature a greater Enemy to Man than Man himself In this Age happen'd the War taking and burning of Troy by the Greeks in the Year of the World 2767. and 1183 Years before the Vulgar Aera The Poets close this Age of Brass with the Time when there were no more Hero's or as they call them Demi-gods In this Age of Brass the People of God suffered more than they had done before Abraham had great Wars to maintain and afterwards the Israelites were oppressed under the Domination of the Egyptians and underwent great Slavery in the Times of the Judges IV. The Iron Age begins with the First Olympiad that is the Year of the World 3174. And indeed towards that time Hesiod begun to complain that it was so Ovid in the Description he makes of it says That all manner of Crimes begun then to reign that Shame and Justice fled away instead of which succeeded Impudence Violence Imposture and Murder and that whereas Men were formerly contented with those Riches which Nature yielded on the Superficies of the Earth they begun then to rack her Bowels and dig the Gold and Silver she concealed there which may be called the fatal Cause of all the Disorders and Calamities which both trouble and dishonour the Society of Men. Effodiuntur opes irritamenta malorum Down deep to Styx below With hellish Art th' insatiate Miners go Mr. Milburn The People of God after the Prosperities they had enjoy'd under the Reigns of Saul David and Solomon felt the Hardships of the Iron Age For the Ten Tribes became tributary to Phul King of the Assyrians and Salmanassar having taken Samaria after a Siege of 3 Years carried the Ten Tribes into Captivity to Babylon and so put an end to the Kingdom of Israel As for the Tribe of Iuda Zedechias its last King was led Captive with all the People to Babylon by Nabuchodonosor after he had taken Ierusalem burnt the King's Palace and destroyed the Temple in the Year of the World 3360. before our Saviour 590. §. 4. The Fourth Division of the Times according to the Seven Ages of the World THe Time of Man's Life being divided by some into Seven Ages Chronologers have thought fit by a sort of Analogy to divide likewise all the Times of the World into Seven different Ages I suppose they have taken this Method from S. Augustin and Iohannes Damascenus who divide all the Times of the World into Seven Parts However I shall not follow the Division of those Holy Doctors because they allow the Third and Fourth Ages a greater Extent than we do now adays The First Age begins with the World and ends with the Deluge it comprehends 1656 Years The Second Age began at the end of the Deluge that is in the Year 1657. and ends at Abraham with whom God made the first Alliance with Men in the Year of the World 2023. it comprehends 367 Years The Third Age began with Abraham and ended at the Deliverance of the Iewish People and their coming out of Egypt in the Year 2453. it comprehends 430 Years The Fourth Age begins at the going of the Iews out of Egypt and ends at Solomon or the finishing of the Temple in the Year of the World 2940. and contains 487 Years The Fifth Age begins with the finishing of the Temple and reaches as far as the end of the Captivity of the Iews at Babylon when Cyrus gave them leave to return home in the Year of the World 3419. and comprehends 479 Years The Sixth Age begins with the Liberty granted to the Iews by Cyrus and ends at the Birth of JESUS CHRIST in the Year 3950. or according to Helvicus 3948. It comprehends 531 Years The Seventh Age begins with the Birth of our Saviour and comprehends at this time 1698 Years according to the Vulgar Aera This last Age will last to the end of the World § 5. The Fifth Division of the Times into Thirteen Parts HEre is still another ingenious way of dividing the Times related by Alstedius Encyclopoed Lib. 20. cap. 11. p. 2904. which consists in digesting and distributing all the History under
there that God published first with his own Mouth the Ten Commandments which are still a Compendium of all the Holy Laws and are look'd upon by all Christians as the most firm and unshaken Foundation of their Piety which no Body can strike at without committing a Crime Two Months after the going out of Egypt the Manna is sent from Heaven which served for Food to the Israelites during 40 Years The third Month the Law was given Sacrifices offered and an Alliance made betwixt God and the People 2455. Afterwards the Ceremonial Law is given and the Tabernacle the Priesthood the Holy Utensils the Priestly Habits and all that belongs to the Levitical Service is settled and regulated 2470. Dardanus first King of Troy 2500. Letters brought into Greece by Cadmus 2493. Moses dies 120 Years old Here ends the Pentateuch which contains 2493 Years of the History of the World 1457. Ioshua Moses's Successor goes dry-foot over the Iordan and enters the Land of Canaan The Walls of Iericho fall to the Ground He stops the Sun that he may have time to compleat the Defeat of the Gabaonites 2499. Ioshua being old divides the Promised Land among the Children of Israel having defeated 31 Kings and conquered in six Years the greatest part of Palestine 2517. Ioshua dies 110 Years old having govern'd the Israelites during the space of 24 Years 2671. Gideon judges Israel 1279. The Israelites through their Sins fall under the Power of the Madianites This Fourth Servitude lasts 7 Years 2679. Deliver'd by Gideon 2741. The 5th Servitude of the Israelites under the Philistines and Ammonites 1210. 2710. Hercules liv'd 2720. The Voyage of the Argonauts to Colchis for the golden Fleece 2750. Towards this time Paris Son to Priam King of Troy commits a Rape on Helena The Grecians to revenge this Affront besiege Troy 1194. EPOCHA V. 2767. The Taking of Troy 1183. This Epocha reaches as far as the finishing of the Temple and lasts 180 Years HElena Tyndarus's Daughter being an extraordinary Beauty Theseus fell in Love with her and ravish'd her from her Parents but her Brother having rescu'd her gave her in Marriage to Menelaus Brother to the King of Micenae from whom Paris Son to Priam King of Troy ravish'd her a second time The Grecians resented this Affront declared War to the Trojans besieg'd their City and having taken it after Ten Years Siege burnt it to the Ground This War is the Subject of the two greatest Poems that ever were written the Iliad and Aeneid But the Genius of Homer and Virgil is more to be extoll'd than the Valour of their Hero's for this we see and know to be real but there is Reason to believe the other is but Fiction These Times are called Fabulous or Heroick by reason of those that have been celebrated by the Poets under the Names of Hero's and Demi-gods in the History of which they have intermix'd abundance of Fables Historians place about this Time Castor Pollux Achilles Agamemnon Vlysses Hector Sarpedon Iupiter's Son Aeneas Son of Venus whom the Romans acknowledge for the Founder of their Empire Aeneas flying from Troy settles in Italy marries the Daughter of Latinus King of the Aborigines and succeeds him From Aeneas a Race of Kings succeeded out of which sprung Remus and Romulus the Founders of Rome 2781. Abdon Judge of the Israelites famous for his 30 Sons 1169. 2800. Heli High-priest of the Iews is succoured in the Defence of the People of God by Sampson then but 19 Years of Age who kills himself 1000 Philistines with the Jaw-bone of an Ass. 2808. Sampson pulls down the Temple of Dagon and at his Death kills more Philistines than he had done during his Life 1142. 2848. The Ark is taken by the Philistines Ophni and Phineas are killed in the Fight Heli the High-Priest hearing this News falls down from his Seat breaks his Neck and dies 2849. Samuel the last Judge of the People of God succeeds Heli 1101. 2879. The Israelites ask for a King God gives them Saul then 40 Years old 1071. 2881. Saul is rejected by God Samuel goes to Bethleem to anoint David King then but 15 Years of Age. 2890. Saul dies miserably having obliged his Shield-bearer to run him through with his own Sword 2889. David now 30 Years old succeeds Saul and is anointed King at Hebron 1061. 2890. The Athenians spread their Colonies in that part of Asia minor called Ionia which is particularly owing to the Care of Codâ—us the last King of the Athenians The Aeolian Colonies were settled much about that time and all Asia minor was by degrees filled with Greek Cities 2929. Solomon is made King by his Father David 2930. Solomon succeeds his Father David 2932. Solomon in the 4th Year of his Reign lays the Foundation of the Temple of Ierusalem 1018. 2914. Homer born EPOCHA VI. 2940 Solomon or the Temple finished 1010. This Epocha reaches to the Foundation of Rome and lasts 250 Years KIng David had made the Project of the Temple of Ierusalem but the many Wars wherewith his Reign was embroiled kept him from putting it in Execution The profound Peace which his Son Solomon enjoyed inclined this young Price to bend all his Thoughts upon that Work and he had the Honour of raising upon Earth the first Temple that was ever consecrated to the Name and Glory of the True God He appointed 3600 Persons to oversee the Work-men 80000 more to hew and cut Stones in the Mountains and 70000 others to carry the Materials on their Shoulders He obtained Leave of Hiram King of Tyre to fell Cedar-trees on Mount Libanus and in 7 Years time he built a Temple where the Majesty of God was sensibly conspicuous when upon the Day of its Dedication a Cloud fill'd all the Temple insomuch that the Priests could not stay in it to perform the Duties of their Office Solomon is courted by the King of Tyre The Queen of Sheba makes him a Visit. 2960. Solomon dissolves into an excessive Love of Women who make him idolatrous 2969. Rehoboam succeeds his Father Solomon 918. The bruitish and extravagant Haughtiness of thâ—s young Prince made him lose Ten Tribes which Ieroboam drew away both from their God and their King constituting a separate Kingdom call'd The Kingdom of Israel in opposition to the other of the Two Tribes call'd The Kingdom of Iuda the former reigning in Samaria and the latter in Ierusalem which Separation continued till the Kingdom of Israel was pulled down and the Ten Tribes carried into Captivity by Shalmaneser King of Assyria in the Year of the World 3227. 3026. Achab 7th King of Israel reigns with his Wife the impious Iezabel Daughter of Ithabalus King of Tyre and Sidon 924. 3029. Iehoshaphat the good King of Iudah 3035. Miracles of the Prophet Elijah He is taken up into Heaven in a fiery Chariot 3040. Miracles of the Prophet Elishah Eliâ—ah's Disciple 3040. Lycurgus the great Law-giver of Lacedemon liv'd 3062. Athalia Queen of Iuda
the Conduct of Themistocles defeat the Persian Fleet at Salamina Xerxes flies to Asia leaving Mardonius with three hundred thousand Persians in Greece 3471. The Battle of Plataea wherein the Persians are totally defeated by the Greeks under Pausanias and Aristides and Mardonius slain 3486. Artaxerxes Longimanus succeeds his Father Xerxes 465. 3430. Pindar the Poet born 529. 3450. Heraclitus the Philosopher flourished 500. 3470. Aeschylus the Tragedian flourished 480. 3490. Democritus the Philosopher flourished 460 3490. Hippocrates the Physician flourished 460. 3510. Euripides and Sophocles the Tragedians also Herodótus the Historian 3530. Haggai and Zechariah the Prophets also Socrates the Philosopher 3532. Alcibiades 3545. Malachi the Prophet 406. 3550. Aristophanes the Comedian 400. 3550. Ezra the Prophet 3565. Nehemiah the Prophet 385. 3556. Rome taken and sack'd by the Gauls deliver'd by Camillus the Dictator 394. 3560. Xenophon and Plato flourished 3585. Demosthenes Aeschines the Orators Diogenes the Cynick 3588. Philip King of Macedon Father to Alexander the Great began to Reign 362. 3588. Alexander the Great born Diana's Temple at Ephesus burnt 3606. Philip King of Macedon routs the Army of the Athenians at the Battle of Cheronea in which his Son Alexander then 18 Years of Age breaks through the Theban Troops Aristotle flourishes 344. 3615. Alexander invades Asia overcomes Darius Codomannus King of Persia and made himself Ruler of all Asia and thereby erects the Third Monarchy 335. 3626. Alexander after the Conquest of the Indies dies at Babylon 33 Years old His Generals divide his Kingdoms among them 323. Alexander being dead his Dominions are seiz'd by his chief Captains these were Ptolomy Seleucus Nicanor Perdiccas Antipater Cassander Lysimachus Meleager Eumenes Laomedon Leonatus Pytho Philetas Craterus Menander 3638. Seleucus Nicanor makes himself King of Syria Babylon c. 3626. Ptolomy took Egypt and Africa Aridaeus Alexander's Brother succeeds in Macedon routed by Perdiccas 3633. Cassander obtains the Kingdom of Macedon 3620. Crates the Philosopher Euclid the Mathematician flourished 3634. Agathocles King of Sicily began to Reign 3662. Seleucus having overcome Demetrius and Lysimachus becomes Monarch of Syria Babylon Asia c. 3668. Antiochus Soter his Son succeeds him 282. 3666. Ptolomeus Philadelphus King of Egypt began to Reign 284. 3690 to 3700. The LXXII Translators of the Bible call'd the Septuagint 3670. The War between the Romans and Pyrrbus King of Epirus 3686. The first Punick or Carthaginian War began A. V. Rom. Condit 489. 264. 3733. The second Punick War began A. V. C. 536. Hannibal the Carthaginian passes the Alpes and invades Italy 3734. Defeats Flaminius and the Roman Army Fabius Maximus the Dictator opposes Hannibal 3735. Aemilius Paulus and Terentius Varro with all the Roman Army defeated by Hannibal at Cannae 3737. Hannibal's Army by Wintering at Capua becomes Luxurious and Effeminate which gives the Romans advantage 3740. Scipio call'd afterwards Africanus chosen Proconsul of Spain at 24 Years of Age. 3746. Scipio passes over into Africa and by his Victories there obliges the Carthaginians to re-call Hannibal 3737. Syracusa taken by Marcellus Consul notwithstanding the vigorous Resistance owing to the ingenious Machines of Archimedes the Year of Rome 590. 213. EPOCHA IX 3750. Scipio or the Carthaginians conquered 200. This Epocha descends to the Birth of our Saviour and lasts 200 Years THe long Wars maintained by the Carthaginians against the Romans have made the Name of Carthage famous for ever The First lasted 24 Years It was begun upon the Account of the Mammertins who being attack'd by King Hieroi and the Carthaginians were assisted with great Supplies by the Romans The 2d Punick War lasted 17 Years It was fatal to Rome by the Losses she received from Hannibal in Italy but it had a glorious Issue in Africa where Scipio was very prosperous and gain'd a great Advantage He twice defeated the Enemy commanded by Asdrubal and Siphax King of Numidia The next Year after he routed Hannibal killed 20000 of his Men and took as many Prisoners with 11 Elephants After which Carthage besieg'd both by Sea and Land submitted upon Conditions very advantagious for Rome where Scipio entred leading Siphax in Triumph and merited the Sirname of Africanus in the Year of Rome 553. 3762. Hannibal flies to Prusias King of Bithynia where he Poisons himself for fear of falling into the Hands of the Romans 3763. Scipio the Younger born 3768. Scipio Africanus the Elder died 3775. Antiochus Epiphanes King of Syria began to Reign Rages against the Iews 3782. He plunders the Temple of Ierusalem and puts the Macchabees to Death 173. 3775. Hircanus the Jewish Captain 3784. Iudas Macchabaeus the Jewish Captain 165. 3779. Perseus King of Macedon wars with the Romans 3782. Paulus Aemilius overcomes Perseus and thereby the Kingdom of Macedon which had lasted 645 Years from Caranus to Perseus and had for the space of near 200 Years given Masters to Greece and all the East becomes now a Roman Province 168. 3801. The third Punick War begins 3805. The end of the third Punick War Carthage taken plunder'd and burnt down under the Conduct of the young Scipio Aemilius who wept over the City afterwards returned in Triumph to Rome with the glorious Sirname of young Africanus in the Year of Rome 608. 145. 3795. Terence the Comick Poet lived 3816. Scipio Aemilius arrives in Spain 3817. Numantia the second Terror of the Romans taken and destroyed 132. 3827. Mithridates King of Pontus who had great Wars with the Romans 4846. Aristobulus King of Iudea 102. 3866. The Civil War between Marius and Sylla began A. V. C. 666 82. 3867. Sylla returning from the Mithridatick War commits great Cruelties in Italy 3869. Is made perpetual Dictator which Office he voluntarily resign'd at 3 Years end 3873. Alexandra Salome governs the Iews 78. 3882. Aristobulus her Son succeeds 66. 3887. Ierusalem taken by Pompey 61. 3887. Marcus Tullius Cicero Consul of Rome 61. 3887. Cateline's Conspiracy detected 61. 3890. The Confederation or Triumvirate of Pompey Caesar and Crassus whence the Loss of Rome's Liberty is dated 58. 3895. Caesar conquers the Gauls 53. 3896. Caesar invades Britain 52. 3897. Crassus rifles the Temple of Ierusalem slain in Parthia 51. 3901. Caesar displeas'd with the Actions of Pompey and being deny'd the Consulate enters Italy with his Army which obliges Pompey to fly 47. 3902. The Battle between Caesar and Pompey at Pharsalia wherein Pompey is slain 46. 3903. Caesar made Dictator Corrects the Calendar 3907. Is kill'd in the Senate-house by Brutus and Cassius A. V. C. 710. 41. 3908. Brutus and Cassius being defeated at the Fields of Philippi kill themselves 3908. The Triumvirate of Mark-Anthony Lepidus and Augustus 3919. Anthony and Augustus having ruin'd Lepidus's Party quarrel with one another Anthony loses the Battle of Actium where the Mastery of the Universe lay at Stake Alexandria opens the Gates to the young Caesar. Cleopatria kills her self after Anthony and Egypt becomes a Roman Province 29. 3924. Rome being now
a Caesar who was the Second in Dignity and the First Degree to come to the Empire Constantine the Great Emperor 306. The Image of Constantine who now succeeded his Father Constantius Chlorus being carried to Rome according to Custom is rejected by Maxetius's Orders 306. Maximinus carries on the Persecution But all on the sudden the Face of Church-Affairs is altered Constantine the Great a wise and victorious Prince publickly embraces Christianity 310. Constantine overcomes Maxentius and Maximinus his Rivals 312. EPOCHA XI Constantine or the Peace of the Church 312. This Epocha reaches as far as the Emperor Charlemaign and lasts 488 Years WHile Constantine the Great besieg'd Maxentius in Rome a bright luminous Cross appear'd to him in the Air in the presence of every Body with this Inscription In hoc Signo Vinces The same was confirmed to him in a Dream and the next Day he gain'd that famous and celebrated Victory which freed Rome from a Tyrant and the Church from a Persecutor At the same time Constantine openly renounced Paganism and embraced the Christian Religion and in the 312th Year of our Lord he issued out a Proclamation permitting Christians the open Profession of their Faith and to assemble and build Temples The Church whose Brightness and Purity till then had only shined in the midst of the Blood and Ashes of her Children assumes a new Face and from the wild Deserts where she wandered before now comes to live in Towns and finds an Entertainment even in Imperial Palaces The Cross was set up as the Defence of the Roman People and all the Empire And the Bishops had by this first Christian Emperor's Bounty both Honours and Riches heaped upon them Constantine calls at Nice in Bithynia the first Oecumenical or General Council wherein 318 Bishops condemned the Heresy of Arius who denied the Godhead of JESUS CHRIST There also the Kalendar was reformed a Day for the Celebration of Easter determined and the Nicene Creed composed 325. Constantine rebuilds Byzantium which he named Constantinople and makes it the second Seat of the Empire having enrich'd it with the Spoils of all Europe he had now conquered This is the most flourishing Condition of the Roman Empire since the Destruction of Ierusalem 330. Constantine Constantius and Constans all three Sons to the Great Constantine divide among them the Empire of their Father who dies at Nicomedia 337. Gaul and Spain falls to Constantine Thracia Egypt and Asia to Constantius Italy Illyria and Africa to Constans 'T is said That from this first Division the Imperial Eagle has been spread with a double Head with Relation to the two most considerable Seats Rome and Constantinople For Constantine who was the eldest dy'd at 3 Years end The Emperor Iulian the Apostate dies enraged having received a fatal Blow by a Lance in a Fight wherein he rashly engaged in Persia 363. Valentinian and Valens Emperors 364. Theodosius Emperor 379. The second General Council at Constantinople 381. Theodosius dies at Milan The Empire is again divided between his 2 Sons The East falls to Arcadius and the West to Honorius 396. The Roman Empire begins to decay The Goths spoil Italy Alaric King of the Goths besieges takes and plunders Rome The Emperor Honorius shamefully flies to Ravenna 410. Atolf first King of the Visigoths in Spain which ceases to be under the Domination of the Romans 409. The Franks enter Gaul and raise to the Royal Dignity Pharamond Son to Marcomir one of their Dukes The Foundation of the Monarchy of France 420. Pharamond first King of France 418. Venice built by those that fled the Goths Cruelty 421. Fergus King of Scotland who shakes off the Roman Yoke 422. Valentinian III. Emperor 425. The third General Council at Ephesus 431. Attila King of the Huns called The Plagâ—e of God spoils Italy Valentinian the Emperor kills with his own Hand Aetius a Patrician the Support of Rome and the Terror of Attila From that time the Western Empire falls so to decay that it could never come to it self again 451. The fourth General Council at Calcedon 451. The Britains being deserted by the Romans and not able to Resist the Picts and Scots call in the Saxons to their Assistance Vortigern being King about 451. Hengist the Saxon erects the Kingdom of Kent the first of the Heptarchy 455. Augustus called also Augustulus is the last Emperor at Rome He is dispossess'd by Odoacer King of the Heruli a People that came from the Euxin Sea Thus ends the Empire of the West and Italy falls under the Power of Odoacer who takes the Name of King of Italy 476. Theodoric King of the Ostrogoths drives Odoacer from Rome routs him kills him with his own Swâ—â—â— and founds the Kingdom of Italy 493. Clovis the first Christian King of France â—84 He kills Alaric King of the Wisigothâ—â—â— â—ith his own Hand in the Battle of Poitou He traâ—â—â—â—tes his Royal Seat from Tours to Paris â—95 The South Saxon Kingdom in Britain erected by Ella 488. The West Saxon Kingdom in Britain founded by Cerdick 519. The East Saxon Kingdom commenc'd by Erchinwin 527. Arthur King in Britain flourish'd from 516 to 542. The Kingdom of Northumberland began by Ella and Ida 547. The Kingdom of the East Angles erected by Offa 575. The Kingdom of Mercia began Crida being the first King 582. Iustinianus Emperor began to Reign 527. The Office of Consuls of Rome which had continued thus long ended with Basilius 541. Totilas the Ostrogoth takes Rome 547. The City recover'd by Belisarius but re-taken by Totilas 550. He is kill'd by Narses 552. Alboinus founds the Kingdom of Lombardy and takes Milan and Pavia 568. The Latin Tongue ceases to be vulgarly spoken in Italy 587. About the Year 550. the Seat of the Empire was totally remov'd to Constantinople Iustinus junior Emperor at Constantinople 565. Tiberius II. Emperor 575. Mauritius 586. Phocas 602. Heraclitus 610. Cosroes King of Persia beats the Emperor Heraclius afterwards Heraclius conquers five times and retakeâ— the true Cross 620. At this time was Christianity established in Britain Austin the Monk being sent by Gregory the Great in 596. is entertain'd by Ethelbert King of Kent and made Archbishop of Canterbury Mahomet broaches his false Doctrin about 610. Being in danger at Mecca he flies to Medina whence begins the Aera of the Turks call'd Hegira which in the Arabian Language signifies Flight 622. In 19 Years time that Impostor gain'd all Arabia and laid the Foundation of the Empire of the Caliphs call'd afterwards Turks Damascus and Ierusalem taken by the Sarazens 636. Constantine Emperor four Months Heracleonas six Months 642. Constans Son of Constantine 642. The Saracens infest the Empire Constans Emperor of Constantinople is overcome by them in a Sea-fight 654. Constantius Emperor 669. Iustinian II. 686. Expell'd and his Nose cut off by Leontius who succeeds him 694. He again recovers the Empire 703. The House of Clovis now fallen into a deplorable Weakness
of Portugal by all whom being refus'd he at length obtain'd it of Ferdinand and Isabella King and Queen of Spain who in the Year 1492. gave him Three Ships with Men and Provisions with these he set out and happily effected his Intention discovering Cuba and Hispaniola and return'd to Spain 1493. Afterwards Americus Vespusius being set forth by Emanuel King of Portugal discover'd the Southern Continent of America which Name he had the Honour to give to all that vast Country 149â— Maximilian Emperor an excellent Prince 1493. Henry VIII King of England 1509. he married Katharin of Spain the Widow of his Brother Arthur 1509. Charles V. Son of Philip who was the Son of Maximilian and Mary of Burgundy which Philip married Ioan the Heiress of Spain by which means Charles succeeded in both these Estates 1516. and was chosen Emperor on the Death of Maximilian 1519. Fr. Picus Count of Mirandola in Italy and D. Erasmus Native of Rotterdam flourished Martin Luther begins to Preach in Germany against Indulgences and other Errors of the Church of Rome 1517. Solyman styl'd The Magnificent began to Reign 1520. The Island and City of Rhodes after a vigorous Defence taken by the Turks 1523. Belgrade was taken and Vienna besieg'd by Solyman King Henry of England Wars successfully with France 1510. writes against Luther and obtains the Title of Defender of the Faith 1521. Is divorc'd from Queen Katharin and marries Anne Bollen 1533. Beheads her and marries Iane Seymour 1536. Marries Anne of Cleeve and Katharin Howard 1540. Marries again the Lady Katharin Parr 1543. he advanc'd Cardinal Wolsey to the highest pitch of Greatness who having displeas'd him is pull'd down and Cromwel advanc'd 1531. Cromwel also disgrac'd and beheaded 1540. This King suppress'd Monasteries and made way for the Reformation which follow'd in the Reigns of his Son and Daughters The Straights of Magellanica in America discover'd and nam'd by Ferdinand Magellan 1520. Mexico and Peru conquer'd by the Spaniards about this time The Name of Protestant first began on occasion of a Protestation the Lutherans made against a Decree of the Chamber of Spire against them 1529. The Smalcaldan League or agreement between the Protestants of Germany for their mutual Defence made at Smalcald 1540. The Council of TRENT began 1540. Edward VI. Son of Henry VIII by his Wife Iane Seymour succeeds his Father at 9 Years of Age 1547. a wonderfully wise and pious Prince he reforms Religion and expels the Superstition and false Doctrin of the Romish Church his Uncle Edward Seymour the Protector beheaded 1551. Mary his Sister succeeds him 1553. she restores Popery marries Philip the Son of the Emperor Charles V. afterwards King of Spain 1554. loses Callice which had been held by the English ever since King Edward IIId's time 1557. Elizabeth her Sister Queen of England 1558. restores the Reformation and reigns with great Wisdom and Reputation 44 Years The Emperor Charles V. Resigns all his Kingdoms 1557. Ferdinand his Brother chosen Emperor 1558. Philip II. his Son succeeds him in Spain 1558. Charles IX King of France 1560. The Civil War for Religion began there 1562. The Massacre of the Protestants at Paris 1572. Maximilian II. Emperor 1564. The Wars in the Low-Countries against the Inquisition c. began 1565. King Philip sends Duke d' Alva to suppress it 1567. William Prince of Orange heads the Protestants in the Low-Countries 1572. Under whose Protection Holland throws off the Spanish Yoke and soon after Six more of the Provinces joyn with them and altogether conclude a solemn Union at Vâ—recht 1579. Queen Elizabeth being at this time at War with Spain gives them assistance The famous Sea Fight at Lepanto wherein the Venetians kill 20000 Turks and sink 200 Galleys 1572. Henry III. King of France 1574. The Holy League in France began 1576. Rodolphus II. Emperor 1576. Sir Francis Drake Sails through the Magallonnie Streights thence over to the Phillipine Islands and the East-Indies and having encompass'd the whole Globe of the Earth returns to England 1580. Pope Gregory XIII Corrects the Calander 1582. William Prince of Orange Assassinated at Delft 1584. Succeeded by his Brother Maurice who for many Years maintain'd the War against the Spaniards The Spaniards with a mighty Armado attempt to invade England but are totally routed by the English 1588. Mary Queen of Scots beheaded in England 1587. Henry III. King of France is stab'd by Ia. Clement a Friar 1589. Henry IV. King of Navarre succeeds him 1589. Turns Roman Catholick restores the Peace of the Nation Years of Jes. Chr. Makes an Edict at Nants in favour of the Protestants 1598. Is stab'd by Ravillac 1610. Iames King of Scotland succeeds Queen Elizabeth in the Throne of England 1602. The Gun-powder Plot 1605. Philip III. King of Spain 1598. Peace made between Spain and Holland whereby the united Provinces are declar'd a free State 1609. Lewis XIII King of France 1610. Gustavus Adolphus the famous King of Sweden began to Reign 1611. Matthias King of Hungary and Bohemia elected Emperor 1612. Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine Marries the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to King Iames of England 1612. Frederick II. chosen Emperor 1619. The Elector Palatine being chosen King of Bohemia is oppos'd by the Emperor and defeated in the Battle of Prague 1620. Philip IV. King of Spain 1621. The Elector Palatine outed of all his Dignity given to the Duke of Bavaria 1624. Great Wars in Germany ensued King Charles I. King of England succeeds his Father 1625. Henry Frederick Prince of Orange succeeds Maurice 1625. Cardinal Richelieu chief Minister in France He labours to ruine the Protestant Party and finally takes the City Rochel their chief Strength after a long Siege and vigorous Defence 1628. The renown'd Gustavus Adolphus after many victorious Acts in Germany Italy c. is slain at the Battle of Lutzen in Germany November 6 1632. Christina his Daughter succeeds him 1632. Count Tilly the Emperor's General famous for his Conquests in Bohemia Denmark and Germany died 1632. Portugal throws off the Spanish Yoke and receives Iohn Braganza of the ancient Royal Family for their King 1640. Ferdinand III. chosen Emperor 1637. The Rebellion and Massacre in Ireland 1641. King Charles by reason of the Factious disorders in London retires into the North is denied entrance into Hull 1642. Sets up his Standard at Nottingham Aug. 2. 1642. Lewis XIV the present King of France began to Reign being then but Five years old 1643. William II. Prince of Orange Father of his present Majesty of Great Britain succeeded his Father in all his Honours 1647. Peace among the Germans c. concluded at Munster in Westphalia 1648. The Civil War rages in England King Charles I. Martyr'd 164â— The famous Rebellion at Naples on occasion of the grievous Excises headed by Thomas Aniello commonly call'd Massanello 1647. Oliver Cromwel usurps the Government of England under the Name of Protector 1651. The Prince of Orange dyes October 8. 1650.
his Common Places which will produce another Advantage for by this second Reading he must undoubtedly engraft them the deeper into his Memory But here a great deal of Care must be taken to reject Minutia Trifles which contribute nothing to the Benefit of the Publick which ought to be the chief end propos'd in reading History Hoc est illud praecipue in cognitione rerum Salubre Frugiferum omnis te exempli documenta in illustri posita Monumenta intueri Vnde tibi tuaeque Reipublicae quod imitere capias inde faedum exitu quod vites Liv. lib. 1. Hist. I would here conclude this Chapter did I not foresee two Observations which it is necessary Youth should be acquainted with OBSERVATION I. Vpon the Four Monarchies There is a very considerable Error crept into Chronology and History which relates to the placing of the Four Monarchies for they are commonly thought to have succeeded each other immediately As first the Assyrian Empire is supposed to end with Sardanapaluâ— and then the Median to succeed to all the Power of the Assyrians which is not true for altho' Aâ—baces caus'd the Medians to revolt from Sardanapalus whom he consequently freed from the Yoke of the Assyâ—ians yet the Assyrian Empire continu'd after this for near 150 Years to the time that Cyrus the Great ruin'd it by the taking of Babylon What remain'd of the Assyrian Monarchy after the death of Sardanapalus was term'd the second Assyrian Empire which altho' it was altogether unknown to the Greeks yet it is nevertheless famous in Holy Scripture The like Fault is committed in regard to the Medeâ— and Persians of which the Bishop of Meaux speaks thus As to what relates to the Monarchy of the Medians which the greatest part of Prophane Historians place in the second Rank and separate from that of the Persians it is certain that the Holy Scripture unites them together and over and above the Authority of these Holy Books the bare Order of Matters require it should be so The Medes before Cyrus altho' they were powerful and very considerable yet were they totally eclips'd by the Grandeur of the Babylonish Kings but Cyrus having conquer'd their Kingdom by the united Force of the Medes and Persians and to which afterwards he came to be the lawful Successor as we have observ'd after Zenophon that Great Empire whereof he was the Founder ought reasonably to take its Name from those two Nations altho' the Glory of Cyrus has occasion'd that of the Persians to be prefer'd Also it may well be imagin'd that before the War with Babylon the Median Kings having extended their Conquests all over the Greek Colonies of Lesser Asia might have been exceedingly famous among the Greeks who consequently might have attributed the Empire of all Asia to them inasmuch as they were then acquainted with no other Eastern Kings for the Kings of Nineveh and Babylon who have been more Potent have scarce been so much as mention'd in those Remains we have of the Greek Historians when all that was considerable from the time of Sardanapalus to that of Cyrus was wholly ascrib'd by them to the Medes Bodin imploys all the 7th Chapter of his Method to refute those that make the Four Empires of the Assyrians Persians Greeks and Romans to succeed immediately to each other and who likewise pretend that those Monarchies were figured to us by the Four Beasts and the Statue compos'd of Four Metals spoken of by the Prophet Daniel and which they also affirm are to continue to the end of the World But here Bodin finds no great difficulty to demonstrate that the Roman Empire which was the last of the Four came to a Period under Augustulus in the Year 475. and that from thenceforward it was never more able to re-establish it self for it is most absurd to imagine the present German Empire to be the same with the Roman as appears by the ancient and modern Bounds for the Roman Empire in the time of Trajan according to Sixtus Rufus was bounded on the North by the Danube and the Oâ—cades on the West by the Isle of Cadiz on the East by the Euphrates and on the South is contain'd all that was then known to be habitable in Africa to which Trajan added moreover his Conquests in Mesopotamia and Arabia Felix whereas at this Day what is call'd the Empire of the Romans scarce comprehends the hundredth part of that All Asia as every Body knows is now under the Turk Persian Mâ—gul c. and Rome has nothing left to boast of in Africk England France Spain Portugal Denmark c. with all Greece and the neighbouring Countries as likewise Sicily Sardinia c. are now fell off from that Empire and are long since become New States under several potent and formidable Kings Italy which was the first Patrimony of the Roman Empire is at this Day subject to divers Princes and Rome it self under the absolute Dominion of the Pope Father M. Lomejer has lately maintained That the Four Sovereign Monarchies boasted of by so many Authors did not take up all that space of time from the building of the Tower of Babel to their supposed Conclusion for he pretends that there were other Monarchies both before and after these as likewise several considerable Empires which flourished at the same time with them The Image which Nebuchodonosor saw in a Dream did not foretel the Four pretended Monarchies seeing that David who expounded this Dream says That the first should be the Empire of Nebuchodonosor whose Reign would be the most Glorious for that afterwards the others would decrease by little and little till they came to be of small Note And moreover the Assyrian Empire was in its declension when Daniel expounded Nebuchodonosor's Vision By all that has been observed we may collect That those who lay down the Successions of the Four Monarchies for a Ground of Universal History may build upon a deceitful Foundation OBSERVATION II. Vpon the several kinds of Government As there is frequent occasion to speak of Empires Monarchies Republicks Aristocracies c. in History and as it may happen that they may not always be rightly understood I do not think it amiss to give some general Ideas of them and first of I. Theocracy which is when a State is govern'd by the sole Power and Will of God For Example The ancient Government of the Iews was a Theâ—cracy as Iosephus observes for God there administred all Matters relating to a Sovereignty For 1. He gave them Laws which were either Political Ceremonial or Moral 2. He denounc'd War order'd their Camps and nam'd their Generals 3. He created their Magistrates appointed them Judges even to Saul's time who were then as it were his Viceroys and moreover it was by his Order that Samuel consecrated Saul King of Israel Thus we see God was pleased to be a Monarch and Sovereign Judge and Arbiter over the Iews but this Theocracy or Divine Government lasted only to
not certainly known who compil'd this Book tho' some ascribe it to Samuel It represents the Republick of the Iews under the Dominion of Iudges counting from the death of Ioshua to that of Sampson It contains a Series of History of it may be 317 Years that is to say from the Year of the World 2570 to 2887. Therein the Israelites are to be found groaning under very severe Hardships God having delivered them over to the Power of their Enemies for the Punishment of their Idolatries VIII Ruth This Book whose Author is not known contains an Example of uncommon Piety and of the singular Providence of God Ruth a Moabitish Woman being not willing to forsake her Mother-in-Law follows her till she comes into her own Country where God so employs his Providence for the Welfare of Ruth that she marries for her second Husband Boas a very rich Man of that Country and becomes Mother of Obed Grand-father of David from whom our Saviour Iesus Christ descended according to the Flesh. There is no doubt but this History of Ruth hapned in the time of the Iudges 'T is said to be during the Administration of Samgar about 28 Years after the death of Ioshua IX The first Book of Samuel contains all that passed under the Governments of Heli and Samuel as likewise under the Reign of Saul for about the space of 101 Years that is from the Year of the World 2848 to 2949. X. The second Book of Samuel comprehends all the Reign of David during 40 Years XI The First Book of Kings contains the History of Solomon's Reign as likewise how his Kingdom was divided after his Death Afterwards it treats of Four Kigns of Iuda There is in this Book a Series of History for the space of 126 Years XII The Second Book of Kings contains the several Reigns of 12 Kings of Israel to the Destruction of that Kingdom and of 16 Kings of Iuda to the Captivity of Babylon This Book also relates wonderful Things of Elijah and Elisha his Companion It contains in all the History of 308 Years The Author of the First and Second Books of Kings is unknown but all together include the space of 597 Years XIII The First Book of the Paralipomenes or Chronicles XIV The Second Book of the Paralipomenes or Chronicles These two Books are so nam'd because they contain the Acts and other Circumstances which had been omitted in the foregoing Historical Books This Second ends at the Year of the World 3468. where ended likewise the 70 Years of Captivity when Cyrus gave Liberty to the People of Iuda to return into their own Country to build their Temple and the Walls of Ierusalem 'T is commonly thought that Esdras was Author of these two Books XV. The First Book of Esdras according to the common Opinion was written by the Person whose Name it bears It contains the History of the Captivity of the Iews with their Deliverance and Re-establishment in Iudea from the first Year of Cyrus his Reign to the 20th of Artaxerxes sirnam'd the Long-handed All which comprehends the space of 28 Years computing from the Year of the World 3468 to 3550. XVI The Second Book of Esdras was compil'd by Nehemiah It begins at the 20th Year of Artaxerxes and continues even to the beginning of the Reign of Darius his Son sirnam'd the Bastard which comprehends the History of the Iews during 31 Years and extends to the Year of the World 3581. XVII Tobit There are those that are of Opinion that Tobit the Father and the Son were the Compilers of their own History but this carries no Authority along with it Tobit was one of those Israelites that was transported out of Samaria by King Senacherib This Book includes several great Examples of Virtue and excellent Principles of Morality You may there observe Tobit faithful to God even under strange Trials His Charity the Care he had to bury the Dead his Patience after he had lost his Sight and finally his admirable Instructions of Piety to his Son Tobit the Son informs us with what Dispositions we are to engage in Marriage In a word the Providence of God towards all those that put their Trust in him shines throughout the whole course of this Book XVIII Iudith The Author of this Book is by no means known Huetius was of Opinion That it was writ during the Captivity in Babylon tho' the History of Iudith related in this Book hapned according to the Opinion of the Learned before this Captivity Thus it is thought that this wonderful Expeditâ—on of that Pious Widow who was 64 Years old when she cut off Holofernes's Head was transacted after King Manasses was Re-establish'd Iudith liv'd 41 Years after this bold Action that is to say to the Year of the World 3389. when she was 109 Years of Age. XIX Esther The History of Esther hapen'd under the Reign of Darius Son of Histaspes It is Ahasuerus who is all along mention'd in this Book The Composure of it is attributed to Mordecai but it appears to me that Esther might also have had a hand in it XX. Iob. It is thought that this Book was first written in Arabick and afterwards Translated into Hebrew by Moses The History of Iob can by no means be a Fiction the Persons and Nations therein mention'd by their proper Names the several Testimonies of Tobit Ezekiel and S. Iames together with the Sentiments of the ancient Fathers ought to convince us that this Story is true Iob was either before Moses or else at the same time with him and this History probably hapned during the Israelites being in the Desert because there is no mention made in it of the written Law XXI The Psalms These are commonly ascrib'd to David altho' there be many that are none of his and which have been written a long time after his Death as well by Esdras as other Prophets XXII The Proverbs of Solomon This Book was Compos'd by him whose Name it bears and contains excellent Precepts of Life as well in what relates to the Service of God as our duty towards our Neighbour XXIII Ecclesiastes also belongs to Solomon This Book decries perfectly the Vanity of the greatest Enjoyments in this World XXIV The Canticles or Song of Songs is also of Solomon This Book is altogether Mystical It describes in a very lively manner the incomprehensible Love of Christ towards the Church his Spouse as likewise the Churches return to Christ. S. Ierom observes that among the Iews none were suffer'd to read this Book till they had attain'd the Age of 30 Years so that we may say with this Father That Solomon writ his Proverbs for those that were just entred in the Paths of Piety his Ecclesiastes for such as were somewhat advanc'd But for his Canticles they requir'd a Mind altogether elevated and disengag'd from the Clogs of this World XXV The Book of Wisdom This Book contains the Spirit and many other Things of Solomon altho' in all
many obscenities which the World would not much care to know and it were to be wished says Muret that Suetonius had not inform'd us so well of so much Lewdness as Tiberius Nero and Caligula have been guilty of For it is to be fear'd that when a Man relates so many Impurities he may seem to set up a School to Teach them There are some other Pieces of Suetonius but they do not concern History X. Iustin according to the most probable Opinion flourish'd in the time of Antoninus Pius He is the Abridger of Trogus Pompeius's History and so they charge upon him the loss of that great Work The History of Trogus Pompeius contain'd XLIV Books and Iustin has kept to the same Number in his Abridgment The Latin of Iustin is very fine and such as is thought worthy of the Age of Augustus As for Trogus Pompeius he was a Native of the Country of the Vocontii in the Gallia Narbonensis and flourish'd under Augustus His Grand-father was made Free of the City of Rome through the favour of Pompey the Great And his Father after having born Arms under Caesar became his Secretary and Keeper of his Seal The Loss of his History is one of the greatest Misfortunes that could happen to the Common-wealth of Learning It began at Ninus the Founder of the Assyrian Monarchy and came down as low as the Emperor Augustus In Iustine's Epitomy of this History there are many Chronological Faults which ought not to be imputed to Trogus Pompeius for he was a Person too skilful to be guilty of them THESE are the most considerable Writers of the Roman Story which was continued by those commonly call'd Augustan Writers whose Names were Spartianus Lampridius Capitolinus Vulcatius c. and afterwards by Amianus Marcellinus a faithful and judicious Historian who flourish'd in the Year of Christ 375. and Aurelius Victor who liv'd in 395. and was an Author of great Prudence But to give particular Accounts of these and the many other Historians who will claim the same Respect would too much swell our Volume and they may be the rather omitted because those that follow are abundantly short in excellence of those we have been speaking of which the learned Gerhard Vossius declares and confessed that the good Days of History were past and the doating Age of it began after the Antonines when he began his second Book of Latin Historians with these Words Transitur ad Historiae Senectutem It is exceedingly useful to a Reader to be made acquainted with the History of the Author's Person and Circumstances together with a Character of his Work before he begins to read it for whereas without being preinform'd perhaps half the Book shall be read before he discover it and many Excellencies and Beauties and it may be Faults of the Work pass'd by unobserv'd for want of such Knowledge The Reader is on the contrary very much enlightned and Studies the Author with a great deal more pleasure and true Profit when he is already taught wherein his excellency consists or where his Faults lie that he pass not by the one without proper Notice or be 〈…〉 'T is for this Reason that we have given the preceeding Account of Historians and have been so large in their Characters wherein we have not presum'd to give our own Judgment but only to set down that of such Criticks as are of approv'd Learning and Judgment And this we think is the properest Introduction to the Study of History We shall proceed now to a short but distinct and as exact as possible Account of the most considerable Ancient and Modern Monarchies and Governments of the World But in as much as we perceive that the finishing this Work so perfectly as it should be will take up greater space than we at first intended this Volume shall terminate at the Birth of our Saviour and therefore having in this gone through the Three great Monarchies of Assyria Persia and Greece together with the Chinese and Egyptain Monarchies and the several smaller Kingdoms and Republicks that were contemporary with and mostly swallow'd up by them I say having gone through these and the Roman History till the arrival of that Monarchy to its highest pitch of Grandeur under the Emperor Augustus we shall close this Volume and compose another which shall continue a General History down to these Times A SYSTEM OF Universal History PART III. CONTAINING A Compendious History and Chronology of the most considerable Transactions that happen'd in the World from the Creation to the time of our Saviour Exhibiting a Series of the History and Succession of the Governments of these Nations Viz I. The Church of God under Patriarchs The Israelites under the Judges and Kings and the Iews under the High-Priests and Captains II. The Assyrian Monarchy III. The Persian Monarchy IV. The Grecian Monarchy V. The Empire of China VI. The Kingdom of Egypt VII The ancient Governments of Greece viz. of Athens Lacedemon Macedon Corinth Sicyon Argos Troy Lydia Tyre c. VIII The Roman Monarchy from its Origine to its Establishment under Augustus Printed for Tim. Childe 1698. A Short SYSTEM OF Universal History PART III. An Account of the Ancient Monarchies which preceded the Birth of IESVS CHRIST CHAP. I. An Account of the Church of God under the Old Testament GOD created the Heaven and the Earth and all that in them is He created them out of Nothing by the sole Power of his Word for his own Glory He did not make them all at once as if it were out of Necessity but in Six Days time and according to the Order which he thought most convenient The first Day he made the Light the second he made the Heaven the third Day he divided the Heaven from the Earth and caused the Earth to bring forth Herbs Trees and all manner of Plants the fourth Day he made the Sun Moon and Stars the fifth Day he made the Fishes and the Fowls the sixth Day he caused the Earth to bring forth all the other Beasts and lastly he made Man to command all the rest of the Creation The seventh Day God rested having finished all his Works that is he ceased from producing new Creatures God made Man in his own Image and Likeness that is to say after he had formed a Body out of the Earth he breathed into it the Breath of Life 'T is this Soul which is the Image of God because it is a Spirit God having made Man made also Woman to be an help meet for him and he made her of one of the Man's Ribs that so the Man and the Woman might love each other entirely and be made one as being but one Flesh. The Man whom God called Adam and the Woman whom God called Eve were Innocent when they came out of the Hands of their Cteator but they fell into Sin by the Malice of the Devil and involved all their Posterity in their Guilt and in all the Miserie 's
whom he killed great Numbers At last by the Allurements of a Woman he was made Prisoner by the Philistines had his Eyes put out and in Revenge pulled down an House upon himself and three thousand People of the Philistines 1161 2810. 21. Eli governs the Iews the space of forty years who was so remiss in the Government of his loose and disorderly Sons that he provoked God to Anger against him and upon hearing the News of his Sons Deaths and of the taking of the Ark he fell backwards from his Seat and brake his Neck by the fall 1140 2849. 22. Samuel succeeds Eli and governs the Iews the space of one and twenty years 1101 2879. The Israelites require Samuel to give them a King He gives them Saul who was about forty years old when he began to Reign 1071 Sect. 3. The State of the People of God under the 22 Kings This State lasted 481 Years from the beginning of the Reign of Saul the first King of the Jews to the end of the Reign of Zedekiah who was their last King Years of the World Years before Christ. 2879. 1. SAVL is anointed King by Samuel and reigns over Israel ten years Saul contrary to the Order of God spares Agag the King of the Amalakites at which God is offended and sends Samuel to acquaint him of his Displeasure who makes Amends for the Fault of Saul by causing Agag to be put to Death 1071 2889. The Army of Saul is defeated by the Phililistines his three Sons slain in Battel and he being very much wounded laid violent hands on himself 1061 2. DAVID having consulted the Oracle of God returned into Iudea where the Tribe of Iudah anointed him for their King being then about thirty years old Abner Saul's General takes his Son Ishbosheth to be King over the other ten Tribes But at last Abner being killed by Ioab and Ishbosheth after he had reigned five years being murdered by two barbarous Assassins Rechab and Baanah David became King of all Israel 2901. About this time it was that David fetched the Ark home and Vzzias who laid hold on the Ark to keep it from falling was struck dead 1049 2926. At this time David out of a Motive of Vain-glory caused Ioab to number the People for which Offence God sent the Plague among them which in three days time destroyed seventy thousand Men. 1024 2929. David at the Instance of Bathsheba and the Prophet Nathan makes his Son Solomon King the one being about seventy and the other about eighteen years old 1021 2930. David dies after he had reigned above forty years viz. seven and an half at Hebron and three and thirty years at Ierusalem 1020 2931. 3. SOLOMON when he first began his Reign married the Daughter of Pharoah and prays God to give him Wisdom 1019 2934. Solomon builds the Temple which David had designed to do but was prevented from it by reason of the Wars wherein he was engaged This temple began to be built the fourth year of his Reign 480 years after the coming out of Egypt and it was finished the beginning of the year of the World 2940 just 1010 years before the coming of Christ. 1016 2969. Solomon dies after he had reigned about forty years 981 4. Rehoboam succeeds his Father Solomon But this young King following the Counsel of the young Men and not that of the old Men who advised him to use his People mildly and with moderation in the beginning of his Reign returned a rough Answer to the Deputies of his People and by this imprudent Act lost the Kingdom of Israel For all Israel that is the Ten Tribes revolted from Rehoboam and took Ieroboam the Son of Nabat to make him their King Here began that fatal Division between the Kings of Judah and Israel which lasted for so many years after We will at present continue the Succession of the Kings of Iudah without intermixing any thing of the Kings of Israel that so we may avoid Confusion But after we have done with the Account of their Succession we think it proper to subjoin the Series of the Kings of Israel adding what happened most Remarkable in each of their Reigns 2986. Rehoboam dies after he had reigned seventeen years 964 5. Abijam a wicked King succeeds his Father and reigned three years 2989. 6. Asa a good King succeeds his Father and reigns one and forty years 961 3030. 7. Iehoshaphat a good King succeeds his Father and reigns five and twenty years 920 Elias the Man of God in a time of Dearth is fed by two Ravens by the Brook Cherith In this King's Reign Elias was taken up into Heaven and Elisha inherited a double Portion of the Spirit which rested on that Prophet and the Children who mocked Elisha were torn in pieces by two Bears 3055. 8. Iehoram a wicked King succeeded his Father and reigned eight years 895 3063. 9. Ahazias a wicked King succeeded his Father and reigned one year 887 3064. Athalia usurped the Throne of Iudah which she held the space of six years 886 In her time a dead Man who by chance was thrown into the Sepulcher of Elisha was raised to Life again by touching the Prophet's Bones 3070. 10. Ioash at seven years old was shewn to the People by the High Priest Iehoiada He was anointed King and reigned over Iudah the space of forty years During the Life-time of Iehoiada Ioash behaved himself regularly and governed well but after that Priest's Death he soon degenerated 880 Zacharias the High Priest was stoned to Death between the Temple and the Altar by the express Order of King Ioash whom he had reproved for his Misdemeanours 3110. 11. Amaziah a good King succeeded his Father and reigned nine and twenty years 840 3139. 12. Vzziah or Azarias after his Father was killed began to reign and his Reign lasted two and fifty years 811 In his Reign Isaiah began to Prophesy He prophecied for above the space of one hundred years Hosea prophecied in the time of Vzziah Iotham Ahaz and Hezekiah during the space of a whole Century Ioel prophecied about the same time Amos. 3191. 13. Iotham a good King succeeded his Father Vziah and reigned sixteen years 759 About this time Obadiah prophecied in Israel when Isaiah prophecied in Iudah Micah prophecied for the space of fifty years and upwards Ionah seems to have been sent much about this time to Nineveh 3207. 14. Ahaz a wicked King succeeded his Father Iotham and reigned sixteen years 743 This impious Prince renewed all the Abominations of Idolatry in Ierusalem which provoked the Lord to deliver him up into the hands of his Enemies 3223. 15. Hezekiah a good King succeeded his Father Ahaz and reigned nine and twenty years 727 In his Reign Sennacherib King of Assyria invaded Iudah sent Rabshokah to Ierusalem to threaten Hezekiah and the Iews But blaspheming the God oâ— Israel he sent a destroying Angel among the Assyrian Army who cut off in one night an
hundred fourscore and five thousand Men. In his time likewise the King of Babylon sent Ambassadors to Hezekiah who out of Civility shewed them the House of his precious Things and all his Treasury which gave an occasion to Isaiah of prophesying concerning the future Babylonish Captivity Nahum prophecied and comforted the Ten Captive Tribes The Angel Raphael was sent by God to attend young Tobias in the Journey he was to take 3252. 16. Manasses a wicked King succeeded his Father Hezekiah at the age of twelve years and reigned five and fifty years 698 3274. Manasses was taken and carried to Babylon in the two and twentieth year of his Reign But his Affliction made him reflect and humble himself in the sight of God upon which he was brought immediately back to Ierusalem where he reigned three and thirty years more 676 At this time happened the History of Iudith who cut off the Head of Holofernes and delivered the City of Betâ—uliah 3307. 17. Amon a wicked King succeeded his Father Manasses and reigned two years after him and was killed treacherously by some of his own Court 643 3309. 18. Iosias a good King at the age of eight years succeeded his Father Amon and reign'd one and thirty years He re-established the Worship of God throughout his Kingdom and exceeded in Virtue all the Kings who had went before him 641 3321. Iosias in the twelfth year of his Reign purged Iudah and Ierusalem from their Idolatry 629 Ieremiah began to prophecy and continued it for the space of near five and forty years Zephaniah Baruch Habakkuk and other Prophets belong to this time 3338. Iosias inconsiderately waged War with Pharaoh Neko King of Egypt wherein he was killed and all the Joy of Iudah was turned into Mourning 612 19. Iehoahaz or Shallum succeeded his Father and reigned three months Neko King of Egypt returning from Assyria deposed Iehoahaz and made his elder Brother Eliakim King in his stead turning his Name into Iehoiakim and carried Iehoahaz along with him Captive to Egypt where he died 3339. 20. Iehoiakim succeeded his Brother and reigned over Iudah eleven years 611 3344. This year Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon took Iehoiakim Captive with an intention to carry him to Babylon afterwards having released him upon very hard Terms he left him at Ierusalem where he remained as his Vassal This Nebuchadnezzar carried away with him part of the Vessels of the Temple with several Children of the Blood Royal and several Persons of Quality among whom was Daniel and his Companions 'T is here we must begin to reckon the Seventy Years of Captivity 606 Daniel begins to prophesy being then very young 3350. Iehoiakim was kill'd by the Babylonians and cast out to be devoured by the Fowls of the Air and the Beasts of the Field 600 21. Iechonias or Iehoiachin succeeded his Brother Iehoiakim and reigned in Ierusalem the space of three months But Nebuchadnezzar carried him away to Babylon with his Mother and the principal Men of his Court among whom were Ezekiel and Mordecai the Uncle of Esther with all the Treasures of Iudah and all the Vessels of the Temple which remained He made his Uncle Mattaniah King and changed his Name to Zedekiah 3350. 22. Zedekiah the last King of Iudah reigned at Ierusalem the space of eleven years 600 Ezekiel began to prophecy the fifth year of his Captivity at Babylon and prophecied to the seven and twentieth year He was descended from the Race of the Priests 3360. In the eleventh year of Zedekiah Ierusalem was besieged taken and plunder'd by the Babylonians Zedekiah was taken in his flight His Children killed before his face his Eyes put out himself bound with Fetters of Brass and carried away to Babylon His Palace was burnt the Temple destroyed the Walls of Ierusalem thrown down and all the People of Iudah led Captive to Babylon where they remained till the year of the World 3419 before Christ 531. 590 Here follows the Succession of the Kings of Israel The State of the Ten Tribes under the Government of Nineteen Kings from the beginning of the Reign of Jeroboam to the end of the Reign of Hosea in whose time they were carried into Captivity by Shalmaneser This State lasted 258 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2969. 1. JEroboam the Son of Nobat was made King and reigned over Israel two and twenty years He to strengthen himself and to keep the People from revolting to Rehoboam set up two Golden Calves the one at Dan and the other at Bethel and by this means made Israel to sin 981 In his Reign a Man of God was sent out of Iudah who prophesied against the Altar at Bethel foretold the Ruin of it by Iosiah restored Ieroboam's wither'd Hand and was slain by a Lion for disobeying the Command of God in eating contrary to the Divine Prohibition at the old Prophet's House 2991. 2. Nadab a wicked King succeeded his Father Ieroboam and reigned two years He and all Ieroboam's Family were cut off by Baasha according as Ahijah the Shilonite had foretold 959 2993. 3. Baasha a wicked King succeeded Nadab and reigned over Israel four and twenty years He was engaged in a War with Asa King of Iuda walked in the Sin of Ieroboam and was threatned by Iehu the Prophet the Son of Hanani 957 3016. 4. Elah a wicked King succeeded his Father Baasha and reigned over Israel two years He was killed by Zimri as he was drinking himself drunk in Tirzab 934 3018. 5 Zimri succeeded Elah but was outed by Omri within seven days 932 6. Omri succeeded Zimri killed Tibni who opposed him translated the Royal Palace from Tirzah to Samaria and reigned over Israel twelve years 3029. 7. Ahab a wicked and idolatrous King succeeded his Father Omri and reigned over Israel two and twenty years He married Iezebel the Daughter of Ethbaal King of the Zidonians was a Worshipper of Baal killed the Prophets of the Lord was besieged by Benhadad King of Syria whom he overcame and sent away with Honour Caused Naboth the Iezreelite to be stoned to Death and unlawfully seized on his Vineyard and at last was seduced by false Prophets to go to Ramoth Gilead to Battel where he was slain according to the Word of the Lord spoken by Micaiah the Prophet 921 In this Kings Reign Hiel the Bethelite built Iericho He laid the Foundation thereof in Abiram his First-born and set up the Gates thereof in his youngest Son Segub according to the Word of the Lord which he spake by Ioshua the Son of Nun. 1 King 16.34 3050. 8. Ahaziah a wicked King succeeded his Father Ahab and reigned over Israel two years He was hurt by a fall sent Messengers to Baalzebub the God of Ekron to enquire whether he should recover or no Elijah meets and stops the Messengers denounces the Death of the King and brings Fire from Heaven upon his Messengers 900 3051. 9. Iehoram a wicked King succeeded his Brother Ahaziah and reigned over
Israel twelve years He overcame the Moabites by Elisha's Miracle was besieged by the Syrians and afterwards slain by Iehu 899 In his time the Shunamite's Son was raised to Life by Elisha Naaman was cleansed of his Leprosy the Army of the Syrians was struck with Blindness a great Famine happened in Samaria the Syrians raised the Siege in haste and leave a great Plenty of Provisions behind them and the incredulous Lord who would not believe the Prophet Elisha who foretold this Plenty having the Charge of the Gate was trodden to death by the Croud 3063. 10. Iehu the Son of Nimshi was anointed King by a Prophet at Ramoth-Gilead Killed Iehoram and his Mother Iezebel and Ahaziah the King of Iudah and reigned over Israel eight and twenty years He killed all the Sons of Ahab destroyed the Worshippers of Baal but follows the Sin of Ieroboam and worshiped the Golden Calves 887 3091. 11. Iehoahaz a wicked King succeeded his Father Iehu and reigned over Israel seventeen years He was greatly oppressed by Hazael King of Syria but was reliev'd by Prayer 859 3107. 12. Iehoash or Ioash a wicked King succeeded his Father Iehoahaz and reigned over Israel sixteen years He obtained three Victories over Banadad King of Syria according to the Propheâ—y of Elisha who died in his Reign 843 3123. 13. Ieroboam a wicked King succeeded his Father Ioash and reigned over Israel one and forty years He recovered Hamath and Damascus from the Syrians but departed not from the Idolatry of Ieroboam the Son of Nabat who made Israel to sin 827 3164. Here happened an Interregnum which lasted Twelve Years after which 786 3175. 14. Zachariah a wicked King succeeded his Father Ieroboam and reigned over Israel six months He was the last of Iehu's Race and killed by Shallum 775 3175. 15. Shallum succeeds Zachariah and reigns only one month and is killed by Menahem 775 3176. 16. Menahem succeeded Shallum and reigned over Israel ten years He was invaded by Pul King of Assyria to whom he gave Money to settle him in the Kingdom 774 3187. 17. Pekahiah a wicked King succeeded his Father Menahem and reigned over Israel two years He was killed by Pekah 763 3189. 18. Pekah a wicked King succeeded Pekahiah and reigned over Israel twenty years and was killed by Hoshea 761 In his time Tiglath Pileser King of Assyria carried the People of Gilead and Galilee and the Land of Naphthali into Captivity 3210. 19. Hoshea the Son of Elah a wicked King succeeds Pekah and reigned 17 years He became Tributary to Shalmaneser but rebelling against him was carried away Captive with all the Ten Tribes in the year of the World 3227 before Christ 723. This Shalmaneser transplanted several strange People into the Country of Israel who worshipped Idols and afterwards being plagued made a mixture of Religions partly Heathen and partly Jewish 740 And now to this short View which has been given of the State and Condition of the People of God under the Government of their Kings it will not be amiss to add one or two Remarks REMARK I. IN the first place it may be observed from God's Dealings with his own People the Iews in this whole Period of Time how and after what manner he generally deals with Publick Communities and Societies of Men. So long as the Kings and their Subjects were Obedient to his Laws and served him with an upright Heart so long did he give them Peace and Prosperity at home and Success and Conquest abroad But when at any time they deviated from their Duty and set up an Idolatrous Worship instead of worshipping the only true God then he gave them over to the Will of their Enemies and made them who hated them to be Lords over them This is apparent in the whole Series of this History and what Samuel foretold and threatned upon the Establishment of their first King was abundantly verified upon them at last viz. That if they did wickedly God would destroy both them and their King For when the Measure of their Iniquity was filled and they had arrived to the highest Perfection of Impiety Human Nature was capable of then were they carried into Captivity their Temple and City defaced and themselves made Slaves to the Heathens whose Gods they had worshipped I need not Instance in any more Particulars since all the World knows and our own Nation has experienced that Publick Communities considered as such receive according to their Deserts their Rewards or Punishments even in this World REMARK II. IN the next Place it may be observed from the Revolt of the Ten Tribes how Dangerous and Prejudicial and of what ill Consequence Faction is in the State as well as Schism in the Church From Ieroboam down to Hoshea we find not so much as one good King who reigned in Israel The first King established his Usurpation by wicked and unlawful Methods and the rest continued it by as bad or worse They were all Idolaters and corrupted the People so far that at last they provoked God to throw them out of his Embraces to permit them to be led away into Captivity by Shalmaneser and to cut off the very Memory oâ— them from the Face of the Earth And if God as the Apostle speaks upon the like Occasion dealt thus with the Natural Branches his own peculiar People the Iews let not us then who by Nature were Branches of the Wild Olive Tree and were grafted contrary to Nature into the Good Olive Tree let not us I say be high-minded but fear For Faction in the State as well as Schism in the Church do in their own Nature tend to the Ruin and Destruction of both Sect. 4 The State of the People of God in the Time of the 22 Ancestors of Jesus Christ. This State lasted 590 Years that is from the end of the Reign of Zedekiah to the Birth of Jesus Christ who is that Corner Stone which united the two Covenant or Testaments This Genealogy is according to St. Luke's Account in the Third Chapter of his Gospel IT must here be observed That thô we are very well assured that these two and twenty Ancestors of Iesus Christ did live between the end of the Reign of Zedekiah and the Birth of the Messiah that is before the year of the World 3950 yet we are ignorant how many years each of them lived for History gives us no Light in the Case Nay 't is very probable that we should not have come to the knowledge of their Names had not St. Luke recorded them for us in the Third Chapter of his Gospel Potest fieri says St. Ambrose ut alii longaevam transegerint vitam alterius verò generationis viri immaturâ aetate decesserint i. e. 'T is probable that some of them were long-lived and others cut off by an untimely Death in the very Flower of their Age. 'T is upon this Account that we range these two and twenty Ancestors within the compass of
After Ninus he places 1. Arius Both the same with those in the former Catalogue 2. Aralius Both the same with those in the former Catalogue 3. Mamylus 4. Sparthaeus 5. Ascatades His Name is likewise mentioned in the former List. 6. Amyntas All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 7. Belochus All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 8. Balatores All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 9. Lamprides All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 10. Sosares All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 11. Lampraes All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 12. Panyâ—s All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 13. Sosarmus All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 14. Mithraeos All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 15. Teutamos All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 16. Teutaeus All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 17. Arabelus These are not in the List of Zuingerus 18. Chalaos These are not in the List of Zuingerus 19. Anabos These are not in the List of Zuingerus 20. Babios These are not in the List of Zuingerus 21. Thinaeos These four the same with those in the former List only Eupacmes here is there called Eupales 22. Dercylus These four the same with those in the former List only Eupacmes here is there called Eupales 23. Eupacmes These four the same with those in the former List only Eupacmes here is there called Eupales 24. Laosthenes These four the same with those in the former List only Eupacmes here is there called Eupales 25. Pyritiades 26. Ophrateus 27. Ephacheres 28. Acracarnes 29. Sardanapalus Notwithstanding the Darkness and Obscurity of these Times and the various Opinions of Authors about the first Founder and about the Names and Number of the succeeding Kings of the Assyrian Monarchy yet they afford us so much Light as to give us occasion to make these following Reflections REMARK I. THO' the Title of Monarchy belongs equally to all States that are under the Government of one single Prince who is stiled the Monarch of that State so govern'd yet in History it more peculiarly relates to the four great Monarchies of the World who succeeded each other and in their Turn conquered and gave Law to the other Petty Monarchies of the Earth REMARK II. THE first of these Monarchies was according to the joint Testimony of all Writers the Assyrian which by Historians both Sacred and Prophane is promiscuously stiled the Babylonian the Chaldean and the Assyrian Monarchy It was called the Babylonian Monarchy because of the Tower of Babel which Nimrod the first Founder of this Monarchy built and because a great many of its Monarchs held their Court at Babylon It was stiled the Chaldean Monarchy because Babylon was in Chaldea and several of its Kings were Chaldeans Lastly it is called the Assyrian Monarchy because Ninus after he had built Nineveh the Capital City of Assyria translated the Seat of the Empire thither REMARK III. FRom the Beginning Growth and Decay of the Assyrian Monarchy and of the other three we may once for all observe that the Providence of God thô unseen and unregarded had the greatest Share in advancing them from so small a Beginning to so great a Grandeur as to be at last the Terror and Scourge of the rest of the Inhabitants and Kingdoms of the Earth That the Designs and the Glory of this Supreme Being were all along carried on and promoted by these Humane Instruments even whilst they only thought of advancing their own private Interests and of enlarging their own Territories That when the Designs of this great King of Kings and Lord of Lords were once brought about and his Glory sufficiently signalized then he discarded those Instruments took the Empire away from them and bestowed it on another People This is so visible from the whole Series even of Prophane History that it needs no other Proof than the Considerate Perusal of what Historians have delivered to us about the various Changes and Revolutions that have happened in the several great Monarchies of the World Those who were the Greatest arrived by degrees to their Height from very small Beginnings and when they were there there they stopp'd some invisible Power giving a Check to their growing Greatness Afterwards we find that in the midst of all their Glory they have either dwindled away as they rose or else lost all they had been conquering for several Ages together within the compass of a few years or days And does not all this sufficiently prove an over-ruling Providence which takes care of all Human Affairs and disposes of Kings and Kingdoms as he thinks fit Having made these short and we hope useful Reflections we shall now proceed to give you an Account of the State of the Assyrian Monarchy as it was divided into that of the Medes and Babylonians Sardanapalus was conspired against by two of his Generals Arbaces and Belochus the former was made King of the Medes and latter King of the Babylonians The State of that part of the Assyrian Monarchy which was under the Babylonians from Belochus the first King to the Death of Belshazzar the last King which State lasts 271 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3148. 1. PHul Belochus after Sardanapalus reigned 48 years over the Assyrians 802 3196. 2. Tiglath Pileser reign'd 23 years His Name is mentioned in the Scriptures 754 3219. 3. Salmanasar succeeded reign'd 10 years 731 3229. 4. Sennacherib reign'd 7 years This was that King of Assyria mentioned in the Scriptures who brought an Army into Iudea besieged Ierusalem had his Army destroyed by an Angel retired in Confusion to Nineveh and was killed by his two Sons Adrammelech and Sharrizer who fled afterwards into Armenia 721 3236. 5. Assarhaddon succeeded his Father and reign'd 10 years 714 3246. 6. Merodach conquer'd Assarhaddon and reign'd 40 years 704 3286. 7. Ben. Merodach reigned 21 years 664 2307. 8. Nebuchadnezzar I. reign'd 35 years He in the 12th year of his Reign defeated Arphaxad King of the Medes by some called Dejoces who built the City of Echatane The next year he sent General Holofernes into the Land of Iudea who laid Siege to Bethulia and was beheaded by Iudith in his Tent. 643 3342.
9. Nebuchadnezzar II. stiled the Great succeeded his Father Nabopolassar This man besieged and took Ierusalem carried away Zodekiah and all his Nobles into Captivity rifled the Temple of its Vessels brought them to Babylon and placed them in the Temple of his God Bell. He dreamed a Dream of the Four Monarchies which Daniel explained erected an Image in Susa cast the Three Children into the burning fiery Furnace was puffed up with Pride at the Greatness of his Conquests and the Magnificence of his Buildings was deprived of his Reason and turned out to feed with Beasts was restored after 7 years and died after he had reigned 43 years 608 3386. 10. Evilmerodach succeeded his Father Nebuchadnezzar and reigned a little more than 2 years 564 3388. 11. Nerigloosser kill'd Evilmerodach and reign'd with his Son Laborosoarchod about 4 years The former was defeated by Cyrus and killed in Battel and the latter was slain for his Irregularities 562 3392. 12. Belshazzar Son to Evilmerodach and Grandson to Nebuchadnezzar succeeded In a Prophane Feast which he made he saw an Hand writing upon the Wall which Daniel explained and according to his Prophecy he was deposed and killed by his Soldiers and Cyaxares or Darius the Mede seiz'd upon the Throne Thus ended the Assyrian Monarchy which was translated to the Persians 558 The State of that part of the Assyrian Monarchy which was governed by the Medes from Arbaces their first King to Cyaxares or Darius their last Years of the World Years before Christ. 3148. 1. ARbaces having defeated Sardanapalus and taken Nineveh reigned over the Medes 28 years 802 3176. 2. Sosarmus reigned 30 years 774 3206. 3. Medidus reigned 40 years 744 3246. 4. Cardiceas reigned 13 years 704 3259. 5. Dejoces or Arphaxad reigned 53 years 691 3312. 6. Phraortes or Artynes succeeded his Father Dejoces conquered the Persians and reigned 22 years 638 3334. 7. Cyaxeres I. succeeded his Father was more Warlike than his Predecessors but was subdued by the Scythianss who ruled 18 years afterwards were made drunk by him and were killed He reigned 40 years 616 3374. 8. Astyages succeeded his Father and reigned 35 years This King sent his Son Cyaxeres and his Grandson Evil-Merodach who with a great Army of Horse and Foot made Incursions on the Frontiers of Media The Assyrians were beaten and forced to retire 576 3409. 9. Cyaxeres II. or Darius the Mede succeeded his Father and reigned 30 years This was he who conquered Belshazzar and began to lay the Foundation of the Persian Empire being during his Life called the Empire of the Medes and Persians but after his Death united by Cyrus 541 CHAP. III. Of the Persian Monarchy THE second of the four great Monarchies was the Persian which lasted from Cyrus the first Monarch to Darius Codomannus the last 206 years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3419. 1. Cyrus obtain'd the Kingdom of Persia by the Death of his Father Cambyses and the Kingdom of the Medes by the Death of his Uncle Cyaxeres and by this means founded the Persian Monarchy Cyrus died in the 70th year of his Age. But some say that being defeated by Tomiris Queen of the Scythians he had the Misfortune to fall under her just Vengeance who cut off his Head threw it into a Vessel full of Blood and insulted over him in these Terms Satia te sanguine Cyre i. e. Now Tyrant take thy fill of Human Blood 531 3421. 2. Cambyses succeeded his Father Cyrus and reigned over Persia 7 years and 7 months He was a cruel King killed his own Brother Smerdis crucified Polycrates and killed himself at last by his own Sword 529 3429. Oropastes the Magician usurps the Throne under the false Name of Smerdis but within a few months after was killed by seven great Lords who conspired against him Their Names we learn from Herodotus to be Otanes Hidarnes Megabizus Gobrias Aspatines Intaphernes and Darius 521 3430. 3. Darius I. Sirnamed Hystaspes one of the seven Lords who had killed Oropastes is acknowledged King by all the rest which he brought about by this Stratagem These Lords could not very well agree among themselves what Form of Government they had best have Otanes was for a Democracy Megabizus maintained that an Oligarchical Government would be most advantageous But Darius preferred a Monarchical State before either of the former and his Opinion met with the greatest Applause The Question then rose who should be their King since the Heirs-Male of Cyrus were extinct At last they agreed unanimously That the next morning by Sun-rising they should all mount on Horseback and the Man whose Horse neigh'd first should be acknowledged King Oebor Darius's Groom had the Art of making a Horse neigh when he pleased which Skill he then made use of in favour of his Master So that no sooner was Darius mounted but his Horse neigh'd the other Lords alighted did Obeisance to him and owned him for their King He reigned 36 years 520 In the beginning of his Reign he married Atossa the Daughter of Cyrus Widow of Cambyses and of a certain Grandee to whom she had been afterwards married This he did out of Policy to support himself in the Throne thereby insinuating that the Kingdom was not translated to a Stranger but to one of Cyrus's Family Within a while after Darius being returned from Hunting sprained his Foot as he alighted off his Horse There were a great many Egyptian Physicians then at Court who used their utmost Skill to ease the King but all to no purpose for he neither slept nor was his Pain abated for 7 days together At last Democedes a Greek Physician was called for who managing the Distemper according to the Grecian Method gave the Prince something to make him sleep and healed him in a few days The same Democedes was likewise Fortunate in curing the Queen Atossa of an Ulcer in her Breast Among other Favours which that Princess urg'd him to demand of her he intreated her to inspire the King with a Resolution of conquering Greece He had his Desire granted for Darius ordered fifteen of his chief Nobles to attend Democedes that they might take a View of the Cities of Greece which he intended to conquer Accordingly they departed from Susa the Capital City of Susiana in the Kingdom of Persia and passing through Phenicia to Sidon they furnished themselves with Provisions and embarked for Greece They took a View of the Sea-Ports drew Charts of the Coasts omitted nothing that might be of Use to their Design went as far as Italy and visited Tarentum At last Democedes being arriv'd at the Place he desir'd very cunningly gave his magnificent Attendants the slip who in the whole Expedition followed his Orders and by this means got to Crotona where his House was leaving the others to get home as well as they could Other Authors tell us that it was Hippias who instigated Darius against the Greeks But whâ—ther one or either of them occasion'd it 't
was I then 'T is certain that about this time Alexander abandon'd himself to Luxury Pleasures Debaucheries and other Effeminacies of the Persians He put Philotus and his Father Parmenio to Death upon suspicion of being guilty of High-Treason His good old Soldiers the Macedonians being jealous that their old Greek Customs would be abolished found great fault at his Proceedings and took the liberty to Censure him for causing himself to be called the Son of Iupiter To divert which he drew them out to another Battel and ordered them to march against Satibar-Zenes Governor of the Arians who had revolted 3621. This year Alexander marched into the Country of the Arismaspians a People of Arachosia whom he subdued as well as the Inhabitants of Parapamisa He passed the Mountain of Caucasus in 17 days became Master of Bactriana of which he made Artabazus Governor Afterwards with a Flying Army he entred Sogdiana which is part of Tartary But Water being scarce in that place himself and Army had like to have perished for Thirst. 329 About this time they brought Bessus the Murderer of Darius to Alexander who stripp'd him naked loaded him with very heavy Chains caused his Ears and Nose to be cut off and referred him to the farther Vengeance of Oxiatres Brother of Darius whom Alexander affectionately loved By him he was crucified and then quartered alive in the same place where he had killed the King his Master 3622. Alexander marched against the King of the Scythians who lived on the other side the River Tanais He engaged the Army of that Barbarian defeated and put it to flight From thence he went to Marakand and reduced all the Rebels who had taken up Arms against him in Sogdiana whither the King of the Scythians sent Ambassadors to him Here it was that Alexander in his Drink killed his dear Friend Clitus the Occasion of which was this Alexander gave a Treat to all his Chief Commanders and in the midst of his Cups began to extoll his own Actions and to depretiate those of his Father Philip. The young Generals were very well pleas'd to hear such fine Things but the old Commanders who had served under King Philip were offended at the Discourse Among the latter was this Clitus who being a frank and sincere Man could not flatter the King in his Vanity but check'd him for his Ambition and Ingratitude Which provoked the King so far that he rose from his Seat and would have stabb'd him with his Lance in the very Room if he had not been hindred from it by several who stood by But Alexander still intent upon Revenge followed Clitus and stabb'd him with a Spear that he took from one of the Centries who was then sleeping The next day when the Fumes of Wine were evaporated and the King saw Clitus weltring in his Gore his Grief was so great that he had killed himself if he had not been prevented by those who attended him He kept his Chamber fasted and mourned for 4 Days together but at last was reconciled to himself through the Importunity of some of his old Courtiers who brought a great many fine Arguments to perswade him that he had killed Clitus justly 328 3623. Alexander continued enlarging his Conquests ravaged and raised Contributions from all the Provinces round about Oxiatres Cohortanus Governor of a small Territory invited him to a splendid Treat to which Alexander made several of his Friends go and invited them to marry the fairest Daughters of these Barbarians himself leading an Example in marrying Roxana the Daughter of Oxiatres an extraordinary Beauty And now he resolved on attempting the Conquest of India and issued forth such Orders as he thought necessary for so great a Design 327 About this time it was that the King gave Ear to his Flatterers and would be adored as a God Calisthenes the Philosopher the Kinsman and Disciple of Aristotle took the freedom to blame him for it but was afterwards cast into Prison where he died in Torments He was accused under a pretence of being an Associate in the Conspiracy against the King's Life for which Hermolaus had been put to Death before Alexander leaving Bactriana marched into India intending to push on his Conquests to the Eastern Sea that so his Empire might have no other Bounds than what the World had He besieged and took Nisa situated at the foot of the Mountain Meros which was consecrated to Bacchus where the petty Kings of India waited upon him and did him Homage He received them honourably and made use of them as Guides to direct him in those unknown Countries He marched to Mazâ—ga the chief Town of Assaceni which Queen Cleophis held out against him with 30000 Men. There he received a Wound by the shot of an Arrow and the extremity of his Pain made him cry out They call me the Son of Jupiter but at last I find my self to be no more than a Man He took this great City and Cleophis with a great Train of Ladies waiting upon the Conqueror to implore his Clemency was re-established in her Estates After this he stormed several Cities passed the River Indus and very civilly received a Neighbouring King named Omphis who came to surrender both himself and his Army to his Service Abisarius a Potent Prince whose Territories lay on the other side Hydaspes sent his Ambassadors to assure him That he was ready to put himself and Kingdom under his Protection In the midst of these Successes Alexander sent to King Porus willing him in way of Acknowledgment to bring him Contribution-money and to meet him upon the Frontiers of his Dominions to which Porus very haughtily replied That he would give him the Meeting at the Head of his Army But he was convinced of his Error for his Army was defeated and himself taken Prisoner Alexander being affected at the Misfortune of this King and admiring his Courage restored his Kingdom to him and made him one of his Friends This Defeat of Porus opened the way for the Conqueror to proceed further into India several of whose Provinces he subdued 3624. This year Alexander took the City of Oxydraca by Storm where he himself was the first who entred He was dangerously wounded by the shot of an Arrow which pierced his Armour and went into his Body He made War with other People and subdued the Musicani who inhabit the more Southerly Parts of the River Indus He caused their King to be hanged because he had falsified his Word From thence he passed into Pathalia where the King of that Country waited upon him and offered him all his Kingdom 3625. This year having conquered all he could by Land he lanched out into the Ocean to see if there were any more Provinces left for him to conquer He returned back by the way he came embarked upon Euphrates and Tigris with a Design to go into the Persian Sea in search of the Heads of that River hoping he might discover them as he did those
make up the Breach between the young Queen and King Ptolemy who afterwards took an Occasion to fall out with Cesar. They declared War against each other Cesar was like to have been cut off but at last Ptolemy was conquered and drowned in his flight After this Cesar became Master of all Egypt which he was not then willing to make one of the Roman Provinces For he bestowed this great Kingdom on his Mistress Cleopatra for some private Favours he had received of her and to secure the Government to her married her to the younger Brother of Ptolemy 65 3904. 12. Ptolemy Iunior reigned in conjunction with Cleopatra who had the entire Authority in her own Hands because her young Brother whom she had married was not above 11 years old 46 3909. Mark Anthony charmed with the Beauty of Cleopatra abandoned the War he was engaged in against the Parthians and waited upon that Princess into Egypt where he spent whole Days and Nights in Revellings and Banquetings Pliny makes mention of a Pearl worth 50000 l. which the Queen powder'd and made him drink off to excite him to Venery Whether this be true or no is not so certain as that Anthony married Cleopatra and bestowed upon her Phenicia the Lower Syria the Isle of Cyprus Cilicia Arabia and part of Iudea The Romans were very much offended that he should be so Prodigal of what was none of his own but belonged to them Anthony after he had with great Success conquered Armenia returned back to Egypt where he gave himself up to a thousand Extravagancies He stiled Cleopatra the Queen of Queens and Ptolemy Cesareon her Son he called the King of Kings He never afterwards marched out in any Expedition but took Cleopatra with him 41 3919. Augustus Cesar offended that Anthony had repudiated his Sister Octavia upon his marrying Cleopatra rendred him odious to all the Romans and made Preparations to carry the War into Egypt against that Queen who at Rome was accused of bewitching Anthony The next year a Sea-fight happened at Actium between Anthony and Augustus wherein the former was defeated Soon after they engaged by Land where Anthony's Army was again routed and he forced to fly and was abandoned by his Friends Anthony in despair of Success laid violent Hands upon himself and soon after Cleopatra did the same by applying an Asp to her Wrist as some Authors report By her Death the Kingdom of Egypt was reduced to a Roman Province in the year of the World 3920 before Christ 30 Anno Vrbis Romae Conditae 722. We should now give you an Account of the State of Egypt as it was a Province under LVIII Emperors viz. XLI Roman and XVII Eastern which lasted 667 years to the year of Christ 637 at which time Omar the second Calif and Successor of Mahomet conquered Egypt from Heraclius the Eastern Emperor by Amar one of his Generals But this we shall treat of in the next Volume wherein we shall give you a Succession of the Roman and Eastern Emperors CHAP. VII Of Sicyonia SIcyon was one of the most ancient Cities of the World It was situated in Peloponesus a Peninsula of Greece upon a Hill about two Leagues off the Sea 'T is from this City that Sicyonia a part of Greece derives its Name The Account of this State is the most Ancient of any in Europe but withal the Darkest and most Obscure However to give some Idea of Sicyon we shall consider it under two distinct States which lasted about 966 years Sect. 1. The State of Sicyon under XXVI Kings from Egialeus who began to Reign in the Year of the World 1900 to the 33d Year of the Reign of Zeuxippus in the Year of the World 2833 which lasted 933 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 1900. 1. EGialeus reigned about 40 years 2050 1940. 2. Europs reigned about 35 years 2010 1975. 3. Telchin reigned about 15 years 1975 1990. 4. Apis reigned about 20 years 1960 2010. 5. Thelxion reigned about 40 years 1940 2050. 6. Egirus reigned about 32 years 1900 2082. 7. Thurimachus reigned 45 years 1868 2127. 8. Leucippus reigned about 53 years 1823 2180. 9. Messapus reigned 47 years 1770 2227 10. Peratus reigned 46 years 1723 2273. 11. Plemneus reigned 48 years 1677 2321. 12. Orthopolis reigned 63 years 1629 2384. 13. Melanthus or Marathon reigned 30 years 1566 2414. 14. Marathus reigned 20 years 1536 2434. 15. Echires reigned 55 years 1516 2489. 16. Chorax reigned 30 years 1461 2519. 17. Epopeus reigned 35 years 1481 2554. 18. Laomedon reigned 40 years 1396 2594. 19. Sicyon reigned 45 years from him Sicyonia took its Name which before was called Egialea 1356 2639. 20. Polybus said to be the Son of Mercury by the Daughter of Iupiter reigned 40 years 1311 2679. 21. Inachus or Ianiscus reigned 42 years 1271 2721. 22. Phestus reigned 11 years 1229 2732. 23. Adrastus reigned 4 years 1218 2736. 24. Poliphides reigned 31 years 1214 2767. 25. Pelasgus reigned 33 years 1183 2800. 26. Zeuxippus reigned 33 years 1150 Sect. 2. Years of the World Years before Christ. 2833. THE Second State of Sicyonia was governed by the Priests of Apollo on whom the Administration was devolved after the Death of Zeuxippus This State lasted only 33 years viz. to the year of the World 2866 at which time the Kings of Mycene seized upon this little Kingdom and annexed it to their own Dominions 1117 CHAP. VIII Argos THere were several Places of this Name but the Argos we treat of here was the Capital City of Argia or Argolidis It was situated on the Banks of Planizza which by the Latins was called Inachus Fluvius in Peloponesus Father Coronelli in his Description of the Morea tells us That this City formerly Dared the whole World to shew its Equal for Stateliness and Magnificence We shall consider this Kingdom under two States which lasted about 545 years Sect. 1. The First State of Argos under IX Kings began in the Year of the World 2093 which is 1081 Years before the first Olympiad Years of the World Years before Christ. 2093. 1. INachus reigned 50 years He is reckon'd by the Greeks to be the most Ancient of all the known Kings 1857 2143. 2. Phoroneus reigned 63 years He is said to be the first Law-maker 1807 2206. 3. Apis reigned 35 years He was a great Prince ruled in Egypt and was called Serapis or Osiris as the Greeks report and ruled also in Spain and Italy 1744 2241. 4. Argus reigned 70 years 1709 2311. 5. Criasus by others called Pâ—irasus reigned 54 years 1639 2365. 6. Phorbas reigned 35 years 1585 2400. 7. Triopas reigned 46 years 1550 2446. 8. Crotopus reigned 21 years 1504 2467. 9. Sthenelus reigned 11 years 1483 His Son Gelanor succeeded and was expelled by Danaus Sect. 2. The Second State of Argos under V. Kings called Danaides Years of the World Years before Christ. 2478. 1. DAnaus being driven out of Egypt by his Brother came into Argos and conquered
it To revenge the Injury his Brother Egyptus had offered him he married his 50 Daughters to his Brother's 50 Sons and perswaded his Daughters each to kill her Husband They all obeyed his Orders except she who married Lynceus Hence arose the Fable of the Greek Poets who feigned That 49 of the Daughters of Danaus were condemned in Hell to an Endless Labour of filling Pails or Sieves that were full of Holes with Water which ran out as fast as they poured it in This Danaus reigned about 50 years 1472 2528. 2. Lynceus succeeded his Uncle Danaus and reigned 40 years 1422 2568. 3. Abas succeeded his Father Lynceus and reigned 23 years 1382 2591. 4. Pretus succeeded his Father Abas and reign'd 19 years 1359 2610. 5. Acrisius succeeded his Father and reigned 31 years 1340 2641. Perseus put his Grandfather Acrisius to Death and removed the Regal Power from Argos to Mycene From this time it became a Republick but had a Share in all the Wars of Greece 1309 CHAP. IX Athens AThens the Capital City of Attica was seated on the River Cephissus in the very Heart of that Province which was looked upon as the most eminent Province of all Greece This City was consecrated to Minerva whom the Greeks called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and has been esteemed one of the most magnificent and flourishing Cities of the World Cicero says that the Athenians were perfect Masters of Politicks Religion and Husbandry that they were the first Founders of Law and Equity and that they transmitted these Things to the rest of Mankind Nor was Athens only the Publick School of Arts and Sciences but it was likewise the Seat of Magnanimity and Valour and as famous for great Commanders as it was for Men of Polite Parts and Learning It 's Areopagus Liceum Academy Portico and the vast Number of its stately Temples have been very much celebrated and talked of in the World The Areopagus was properly the Senate-House of Athens the Place where a certain Number of Magistrates determined the Causes of Private Persons It was to this Place that St. Paul was brought to give an Account of his Doctrine and where he made that excellent Discourse the Subject of which he occasionally took from an Altar which he had seen in that City dedicated ΘΕΩ ΑΓÎΩΣΤΩ TO THE VNKNOWN GOD. Dionysius one of the Areopagites and a Woman of Quality named Damaris embraced the Christian Religion and were converted by Paul's Preaching The Liceum was a College where Aristotle taught his Philosophy for which Reason it was called the Lycéan Philosophy The Academy was a fine House with Gardens and Fountains where Plato taught his Philosophy This Name of Academy came from one Academus an Athenian who gave that House to Plato and hence those who were his Disciples were called Academicks Arcesilaus who came after Plato being willing to reform some Points of his Doctrine founded that which was called the Second Academy of which Pericles the Disciple of Arcesilaus was the Head Arcesilaus taught That we cannot come to the perfect knowledge of any thing and that therefore we ought to suspend our Judgment in all things without being positive in the determining any thing about them There was a Third Academy founded by Carneades of Cyrene who taught That there was some Things probable and others true and false but that the Mind of Man could not tell how to distinguish them The Portico which was called Pecilé because of the Variety of admirable Pictures with which Polignotus had enrich'd it was the Place where Zeno the Cynick held his Lectures of Philosophy whose Followers were called Stoicks In the History of Athens we meet with Four different States under which it appeared to the World from the year of the World 2394 in which it was founded down to the present Times For there are 10 this day some Remains of old Athens which soem call Seâ—ines and the Turks Athina Sect. 1. The First State of Athens under XVII Kings lasted 488 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2394. 1. CEcrops I. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 came out of Egypt brought in their Gods and was the first that called God by the Name of Zeus or Iupiter He founded the Kingdom of Athens and reigned about 50 years Pausanias tells us that in his time the Areopagus was founded and that Mars pleaded there first But others place it in Demophoon's Reign about 380 years later In Cecrops's Reign Deucalion King of Thessaly lived of whose Flood the Poets make such large Descriptions 1556 2444. 2. Cranaus reigned 9 years and was expelled by Amphictyon 1506 2453. 3. Amphictyon the Son of Deucalion succeeded Cranaus set up the Council of Greece and reigned 10 years 1497 2463. 4. Ericthonius the Son of Vulcan expelled Amphictyon succeeded and reigned 50 years He invented Chariots to ride in to hide his Feet 1487 2513. 5. Pandion I. the Son of Ericthonius succeeded his Father and reigned 40 years He was the Father of Philomela and Progne the one as Ovid relates was transformed into a Nightingale and the other into a Swallow 1437 2554. 6. Erecthâ—us the Son of Pandion succeeded his Father and reigned 50 years In his time the Isthmian Games were instituted by Glaucus the Father of Bellerophon Eumolphus King of Thrace aided the Elâ—usians in in their War against the Athenians 1396 2603. 7. Cecrops II. succeeded his Brother Erectheus and reigned 40 years 1347 2643. 8. Pandion II. the Son of Erectheus succeeded his Uncle Cecrops and reigned 25 years In his time the Olympick Games were instituted by Pelops who reigned in Peloponesus which Country derived its Name from him 1307 2668. 9. Egeus the Son of Pandion succeeded his Father and reigned 48 years In his Reign the Athenians had a cruel War with Minos King of Crete and being conquered by him were obliged to send 7 Children yearly to be devoured by the Minotaur In his time likewise Iason with his Argonauts went in quest of the Golden Flcece And Hercules renewed the Olympick Games 1282 2716. 10. Theseus succeeded his Father Egeus and reigned 30 years He emulated Hercules destroyed the Robbers killed the Minotaur assembled all the People of Attica in Athens setled the Government routed the Amazons assisted the Lapithae against the Centaurs and took Helena Castor and Pollux by way of Revenge took Athens but used it kindly 1234 2746. 11. Mnestheus who was descended from Erectheus expelled Theseus and reigned in his stead 29 years In his time Troy after a Siege of 10 years was taken by the Greeks 1204 2775. 12. Demophoon the Son of Theseus succeeded his Father and reigned 27 years 1175 2802. 13. Oxynthes succeeded his Father Demophoon are reigned 12 years 1148 2814. 14. Aphidas succeeded and reigned only one year 1136 2815. 15. Thymetes succeeded and reigned only 8 years He killed his Father and was afterwards killed himself by his Successor 1135 2823. 16. Melanthius the Son of Andropompus who reigned 37 years 1127 2860.
Laomedon succeeded and reigned about 44 years He built the Walls of Troy and the Treasuries of Neptune and Apollo and at last was killed by Hercules 1280 2714. 7. Priam succeeded and reigned about 53 years His Son Paris went into Greece and brought thence by force the beautiful Helena Wife of Menelaus Upon this Agamemnon Brother to Menelaus excited the Greeks to a Confederacy to revenge this Affront The Grecians having made him their General marched against Troy which after a ten years Siege they took in the year of the World 2767 before Christ 1183 before the first Olympiad 407 before the building of Rome 431. 1183 It is here to be observed that the Account which the Poets give us of the famous Siege of Troy is full of Fabulous Relations so that all they tell us of the chief Hero's of this War such as Achilles Ajax Vlysses Hector Eneas c. is not to be credited but the greatest part is to be looked upon as Romance and Poetical Fiction and not as true History CHAP. XI Of the Spartans or Lacedemonians SParta or Lacedemonia was the Capital City of Laconia and one of the most considerable Republicks of Peloponnesus seated on the River Eurotus It was the strongest City in all Greece thô it had no Fortifications and defended its self without Walls for the space of 800 years against all its Enemies Authors are not agreed about the Time or the Founder of Sparta Some say Spartus the Son of Amilcas others that Sparta the Wife of King Lacedemon founded it Some assert that Spartus the Son of Phoroneus King of Argos and others that Lelex was the Founder of it from whom it was called Lelegia it not receiving the Title of Lacedemonia till in Lacedemon's time who was its fourth King And there are others which affirm that Cecrops the Founder of Athens was likewise the Founder of Sparta It is by all acknowledged that there was never any People in the whole World more skill'd in Politicks than the Lacedemonians We have one famous Instance of this and which seems to be almost a Prodigy viz. That one and the same Government should be under two Kings at the same time and so united to each other in their Interests as to last above 800 years together under that Form And 't is manifest that after this Government of two Kings ceased both the Glory and Grandeur of the Lacedemonians began to decline As Authors agree not about the Founder of this Commonwealth so neither do they agree about the Time wherein it was founded nor about the Number of their first Kings All things were so obscurely handed down to us before the first Olympiad that Chronology and History too must needs be very imperfect The famous Vsher passes by in his Chronology all the first Kings as well as those called the Heraclides thinking it more proper to be silent than to advance any thing on Matters so uncertain yet since Dr. Howell and others have given us the Names of these Kings without mentioning the precise number of the years of their particular Reigns we shall consider Lacedemonia under Four distinct States Sect. I. The First State of Lacedemonia under XIV Kings not much known lasted about 397 Years that is from Lelex their first King to the Heraclides But forasmuch as 't is uncertain how long each King lived or reigned we shall only set down their Names Years of the World Years before Christ. 2450. 1500 1. Lelex 2. Myles 3. Eurotas 4. Lacedemon who married Sparte the Daughter of Eurotas 5. Amyclas 6. Argalus 7. Cynortas 8. Oebalus 9. Hippocoon expelled by 10. Tyndareus 11. Castor and Pollux 12. Menelaus who married Helena the Sister of the two former 2775. 13. Orestes He killed his Mother and Aegystus King of Argos ruled over both the Kingdoms 70 years 1175 2845. 14. Tisamenus reigned only two years 1105 Sect. II. The Second State of Lacedemonia under the Kings called Heraclides till such time as their Power was moderated by the Gerontes or Senators Years of the World Years before Christ. 2847. 1103. They were called Heraclides as descending from Hercules For Aristodemus one of his Descendants had two Sons namely Eurysthenes and Procles both which the Spartans chose for their Kings from whom descended the two Royal Families called Eurysthenides and Proclides who jointly governed Lacedemonia for the space of 249 years The Kings called Eurysthenides 1. Eurysthenes reigned 42 years 2. Agis the Son of Eurysthenes succeeded From him the Royal Family was called Agidae and that of Eurysthenes was extinct He reigned only one year 3. Echestratus succeeded his Father and reigned 35 years 4. Labotas succeeded his Father and reigned 37 years 5. Dorâ—ssus succeeded his Father and reigned about 30 years 6. Agesilaus succeeded his Father Doryssus and reigned about 44 years 7. Archelaus succeeded his Father Agesilaus and reigned 60 years The Kings called Proclides 1. Procles 2. Soos the Adopted Son of Procles 3. Eurypon the Son of Soos from whom the following Kings were called Eurypontides which put an end to the Name of Proclides 4. Prytanis succeeded his Father Eurypon 5. Eunomus succeeded his Father Prytanis 6. Polydectes succeeded his Father Eunomus 7. Charilaus succeeded his Father Polydectes He was the Posthumous Son of Polydectes and reigned under the Tuition of Lycurgus the famous Legislator of the Lacedemonians Lycurgus was Son to Eunomus the Brother of Polydectes and Uncle to Charilaus About this time it was that he made Laws for the Lacedemonians Sect. III. The Third State of Lacedemonia under such Kings whose Power was restrained by 28 Gerontes or Senators whom Lycurgus instituted Years of the World Years before Christ. 3096. 854. This State lasted 130 years to the year of the World 3198 at which time the Epheri were set up 8. Teleclus the Son of Archelaus reigned about 40 years He was killed by the Messenians in the Temple of Diana 9. Alcamenes succeeded his Father Teleclus and reigned 37 years 10. Polydorus succeeded and was killed by Polemarchus In his time the Ephori were set up to Bridle the Kings and Senate Five of them were yearly made and thô the first was only named and the others stiled Eponymous yet they were all five of equal Power 8. Nicander succeeded his Father Charilaus and reigned 39 years 9. Theopompus The years of his Reign and the rest who succeeded are unlimited till the year of the World 3447. Sect. IV. The Fourth State of Lacedemonia under the Kings with the Five Ephori or Inspectors instituted by Theopompus 130 Years after Lycurgus Years of the World Years before Christ. 3198. 752. This State lasted about 532 years viz. down to such time as Cleomenes was defeated by Antigonus King of Macedon 11. Eurycrates I. the Son of Polydorus 12. Anaxander the Son of Eurycrates 13. Eurycrates II. the Son of Anaxander 10. Zeuxidamus Grandson to Theopompus 11. Anaxidamus his Son 12. Archidamus the Son of Anaxidamus Before we proceed to
Man from the course of a few years but by the close of his Life Cresus derided the Philosophical Severity of Solon but soon found by a sad and fatal Experience that what he said was too true Within a while after Cresus made Preparations for a War against Cyrus but was defeated by the Army of the Medes 556 3408. This year Cresus after the gaining several Victories in Cappadocia supposing Cyrus had no great mind to fall upon him disbanded his Army and retired to Sardes where he thought to have spent the Winter very quietly He was scarce got thither but Cyrus came and sat down before it with his Army and after 14 days Siege the City was taken and Cresus condemned to be burnt This unfortunate King considering he was now drawing to his End remember'd what Solon had said to him about the Happiness of Mankind and thrice invoked the Name of that great Philosopher Cyrus moved with Compassion towards him set him at Liberty and afterwards asked his Advice upon all Occasions 542 Thus with Cresus ended the Kingdom of the Lydians after it had lasted 675 years For afterwards it was subject to the Persians Greeks and Romans and at present to the Turks CHAP. XVII Of Tyre TYRE was a Sea-Port Town built upon a Rock and the Capital City of Phenicia If what Archbishop Vsher says be true it must be acknowledged that this City was more Ancient than Troy and Corinth For he tells us it was founded in the year of the World 2499 by Agenor the Father of Phenix and Cadmus who came from Thebes in Egypt into Syria to fortifie Tyre and Sidon But Iosephus assures us that it was not built till about the year of the World 2733. It is likewise to be observed that the most ancient King of the Tyrians which we can meet with in History was Abibal the Father of Hiram the Friend of David and Solomon 'T is certain that the Tyrians were very Powerful by Sea but whether they were the first Inventers of Letters as some assert is not so certain To give you some Idea of such a confused History as is that of Tyre we shall consider this Kingdom under Four distinct States Sect. I. The First State of Tyre under XII Kings which lasted 213 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2886. 1. A Bibalus reigned 35 years 1064 2921. 2. Hiram succeeded his Father and reigned 34 years This was that King of Tyre who sent King David Cedar-Trees Carpenters and Masons to build his Royal Palace 1029 2955. 3. Baltazar or Baleastartus reigned 7 years 995 2962. 4. Abdastratus succeeded and reigned 9 years 988 2971. 5. ..... the Son of the Nurse of Abdastratus reigned 12 years 979 2983. 6. Astartus reigned 12 years 967 2995. 7. Aserim or Astarimus his Brother succeeded and reigned 9 years 955 8. Pholes or Pheletes reigned 8 months 3006. 9. Ithobaal the Priest of Astartus reigned 31 years 944 3037. 10. Badesorus reigned 6 years 913 3043. 11. Matgon or Mettinus reigned 9 years 907 3052. 12. Pygmalion reigned 47 years After him we have no Account of the Affairs of the Tyrians for 250 years together 898 Sect. II. Years of the World Years before Christ. 3099. The Second State of Tyre which is very obscure and unknown lasted 250 Years For in History we meet with no mention of any of their Kings except Eluleus of whom very little is said 8â—1 ELuleus reduced the Gitteans who had revolted In his time God humbled the Tyrians who were grown very Insolent by the Greatness of their Riches and that long Prosperity which they had enjoyed Isaiah in the 23d Chapter of his Prophecy foretells the Miseries which were to fall upon Tyre as a Punishment of its Pride and Cruelty especially towards their Neighbours the Israelites It seems as if Isaiah in his Chapter acted the part of an Historian rather than that of a Prophet every thing being there so naturally described The Riches Vanity and Luxurious Way of these Wealthy Merchants living who were the principal Inhabitants of Tyre are therein so lively represented Sect. III. The Third State of Tyre under X. Kings which lasted only 64 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3349. 1. IThobaal reigned 24 years In his time Nebuchadnezzar laid Siege to Tyre which after 13 years he took and instead of Ithobaal set up Baal for King 601 3373. 2. Baal reigned 10 years After his Death the King of Babylon set up Judges to govern Tyre 577 3383. 3. Eeni-Baal the I. Judge governed 2 months 567 4. Chelbes the Son of Abdeus governed 10 months 3384. 5. Abbarus governed Tyre the space of 3 months 566 6. Mitgon and the two Sons of Abdelin governed the space of 4 years 7. Gerestrapus the two Sons of Abdelin governed the space of 4 years 3388. 8. Balatorus governed the space of one year 562 3389. 9. Merbaal was sent from Babylon to Tyre to preside there in the room of his Brother Balatorus deceased He governed 4 years 561 3393. 10. Hiromus came from Babylon to Tyre to reign instead of his Brother Merbaal deceased He governed 20 years Here we meet with another Chasm in the History of Tyre which lasted about 205 years whereof we have no Account 557 Sect. IV. Years of the World Years before Christ. 3413. The Fourth State of Tyre which is very dark for 205 Years for History is silent about it till such time as it was besieged by Alexander the Great which happened in the Year of the World 3618 before Christ 332. 537 3618. THis year the Inhabitants of Tyre sent a large Crown of Gold to Alexander as a Compliment to him for his Conquests He told their Ambassadors That he would come himself to Tyre to pay the Vows which he had made to Hercules The Ambassadors replied That he needed not to come so far as Tyre to do that since the Temple of Iupiter stood without the City in the Place where old Tyre stood Alexander took this as an Affront and as if they seemed to deny him Entrance into their City whereupon he threatned to lay it in Ashes Accordingly he besieged it and after 7 months with the loss of a great many Men took it by Storm put all the Tyrians to the Sword and burnt their City In this general Calamity Strato and his Son were spared to whom and their Posterity Alexander gave the Kingdom of Tyre 332 Quintus Curtius tells us That Tyre rose out of its Ashes was rebuilt in a short time and so strongly fortified that it held out 15 months against Antigonus King of Asia Thus have we given you a summary Account of the Empire of China the Kingdoms of Egypt Sicyon Athens and the other States of Greece of Lydia Tyre c. We are sensible there were other Petty Kingdoms such as Cyprus Sicily Crete c. but forasmuch as they did not then make any great Figure in the World and since History does not say much about them
given him He upon his Grandfather's Advice left the People to choose what sort of Government they pleased who immediately made him King and being established upon the Throne he divided the People into three Tribes each Tribe into ten Curiae and each Curia into ten Decuriae Another Distinction which he made of the People was into Patritians and Plebeians He made choice of 100 of the former to assist him in the Government who were called the Senate Such as he enrolled in this Assembly were called Patres Conscripti the common Title of all Senators for ever after The next thing he did was to settle the Authority of King Senate and People After which he raised 300 young Men out of the Curiae to be a Guard to his Person and made choice of twelve Lictors to be his constant Attendants to punish Offenders and to obey his Commands His next Device to encrease the City was to get Wives for his Subjects whereupon by Advice of his Grandfather and the Consent of the Senate he proclaimed a Feast and Publick Games in Honour of Neptune which caused a great Concourse of Men Women and Children from all Parts In the midst of the Solemnity upon a Signal given the Romans with drawn Swords seized upon 683 Virgins for whom Romulus chose so many Husbands This Act incens'd their Neighbours who immediately prepared for a War against the Romans The Cities of Cenina Antemna and Crustuminum begun the War first but were defeated by Romulus for which he triumph'd and at his return marked out a Spot of Ground upon Mount Capitoline for a Temple â—o Iupiter Feretrius the Place where the Capitol afterwards stood The Sabines who were principally concerned in the late Affront were the most backward but withal the most formidable of those who warred against the Romans They marched against Rome under the Command of their King Tatius took the Capitoline and were very near giving a total Rout to the Romans But the Sabine Women whom the Romans had stolen and married put an end to the War made them Friends and the Sabines came and increased the number of the Inhabitants of Rome The Peace was made on these Terms First That Romulus and Tatius should reign jointly in Rome Secondly That the City should be still called Rome from Romulus but the Citizens Quirites from Cures the Native Place of Tatius Thirdly That the two Nations should be united and as many Sabines as pleased should be made free of Rome Upon this the Capitoline was taken in built upon and inhabited by the Sabines 100 of the principal Men among them being added to the Senate Tatius was soon after killed by the Lavinians and Romulus remained sole Monarch of Rome fought against the Fidenates and others with good Success But thô he was thus engaged in continual War yet he laid the Foundation of Religion and enacted several wholsom Laws At last he was killed as is supposed in the Senate-House and his Body carried away Piecemeal by the Senators who concealed the Murder and reported that he was taken up among the Gods He reigned 37 years After his Death there happened an Interregnum for a whole year but the People being dissatisfied at that sort of Government resolved upon Electing a new King Numa Pompilius a Sabine was chosen who at first refused but at last accepted of the Kingdom 3236. 2. Numa Pompilius succeeded Romulus and reigned 44 years 714 This good King had an opportunity by the Peace he enjoyed to compleat what his Predecessor had begun He first Disbanded the 300 Celeres who were the Guard of Romulus then built a Temple to Ianus brought in the Pontifices Ordained the Vestal Virgins and Instituted the Orders of the Salii and the Feciales and to gain the more Credit and Obedience to his Constitutions he pretended they were dictated to him by the Goddess Eggeria with whom he said that he had often and immediate Converse His Religion was chiefly the Pythagorean Besides those Religious Matters he made many good and wholsom Laws and by both softened the Genius of that rugged People and strengthened that City which had been founded upon War and Bloodshed One of the Principal Things he did was the Reformation of the Year which in Romulus's time was much out of Order 3279. 3. Tullus Hostilius the Son of that Hostilius who in the Reign of Romulus had behaved himself very valiantly against the Sabines in the Citadel was created King by Universal Consent and reigned 33 years 671 In his time the Albans robbed and pillaged in the Roman Territories and the Romans to revenge the Injury did the same to the Alban State upon which a War broke out between them Both Parties drew up their Army in Battalia but agreed at last that the Quarrel should be decided by a Combat of three Persons on each Side and the Conquering Party should have the Preeminence and Command over the other The three Horatii for the Râ—mans and the three Curiatii for the Albans undertook the Combat wherein two of the Horatii were killed outright and the three Curiatii were wounded the third Horatius by a Stratagem fought with and killed the three Curiatii and so went off Conqueror Tullus Hostilius warred against the Fidâ—nates and Veleâ—tes who had in the last War with â—iba drawn their Forces together at Fidenae with a Design of falling upon both Albans and Romans after they had weaken'd themselves in Battel He drew out an Army of both against them and routed them notwithstanding the Treachery of Suffetius the Alban General his Ally who after the Battel was condemned to be torn in pieces by Wild Horses for his double Dealing This King sent and demolished Alba transplanted the Inhabitants to Rome allowed them Mount Celius to live in and granted them all the Roman Privileges After he had conquered the Fidenates he warred with the Sabines and subdued them and began a War against the Latines which lasted several years At last he died some say by Lightning with his whole Family thô more probably by some Treasonable Practices 3312. 4. Ancus Martius the Grandson of Numa was made King and reigned 24 years 638 This Ancus was much of the same Temper with his Grandfather and was for restoring the Religious Ceremonies which had been neglected in the last Reign He was no great lover of Fighting but was at last forced to be a Warriour against his will For the Latines contemning him as a sluggish Prince made Incursions into the Roman Territories Upon this he was obliged to proclaim War against them according to the Ceremonies appointed by his Grandfather Numa He defeated them in several Rencounters forced them to sue for a Peace and obtained a Triumph over them Some of the Latines he transplanted to Rome and granted them the Aventiâ—e Hill to build upon and possess After this he fought with great Success against the Fidenates Sabines Veientes and Volsci whom he subdued Beside these great Actions abroad he did many at
home He rebuilt the Temple of Iupiter Feretrius fortified the Hill Ianiculum made a large Ditch called Fossa Quiritium built a large Prison in the heart of the City fronting the Forum enlarged the Pomaerium of the City and built a Town called Ostia at the Mouth of the River Tyber In his time Lucumo an Hetrurian the Son of Demaratus a rich Merchant of Corinth came to Rome with his Wife Tanaquil from Tarquinia in Hetruria He changed his Name into Lucius adding that of Tarquinius from the Place of his Birth By his Liberality and magnificent way of Living he became known to Ancus and was beloved by the People Ancus made him a Senator and at his Death Guardian of his two young Sons who being Minors occasioned an Interregnum and gave opportunity to 3336. 5. L. Tarquinius Sirnamed Priscus to manage the Publick Affairs and in the end obtain'd the Government for in a Speech to the Senate he in a manner begg'd the Crown and was made King and reigned 38 years 614 In the beginning of his Reign the better to ingratiate himself with the common People he chose 100 out of the most Eminent of the Plebeians and added them to the Senate which made up the number of 300. These last were called Patres minorum Gentium i. e. Senators of a lower Degree He likewise increased the number of Vestal Virgins from four to seven The Latines warred against him but were forced to sue for Peace After this he defeated the Sabines twice and obliged them to do the same Next he had to deal with the Hetrurians or Tuscans whom he likewise conquered in several Battels and humbled them so far that they owned him for their Prince and in token of their Allegiance presented him with a Crown of Gold an Ivory Chair a Sceptre with an Eagle on the top a Purple Coat wrought with Gold and a Purple Gown pink'd This King built the Walls of the City which before were patched up in haste with large square Stone adorn'd the Forum with Porticos Galleries and Shops made several Cloacae or Common-Shores to carry the Filth of the City into the Tybâ—r built the Circus for Publick Games with Seats and Galleries for the Spectators and laid the Foundation of the Capitol At last he was killed by the two Sons of Ancus Marcius 3374. 6. Servius Tullus succeeded and reigned 44 years 576 This Prince was the Son of a Noble Prisoner taken by Tarquin at Corniculum a Town in Latium He was in great Repute with Tanaquil the Wife of Tarquin who gave her Daughter in Marriage to him and was an Instrument of making him King The Senate was against it but the People were for it and elected him at the Comitia Curiata Not long after his Settlement he according to Promise divided the publick Lands among the poorer sort He enlarged the City taking three Hills to the four former viz. the Quirinal Viminal and Esqueline He divided the City into four Parts making four Tribes instead of three and first instituted the Census or Numbering the Citizens according to six distinct Classes or Orders After this he instituted the Lustrum which was to be repeated every five years and was the first who coined Money at Rome with the Image of a Sheep whence it had the Name of Pecunia Nor did he only settle Affairs at home but took care likewise to suppress Disturbances abroad For the Hetrurians revolting he had Wars with them for 20 years successively defeated them several times triumphed over them thrice and obliged them to sue for a Peace He married his two Daughters to the Grandsons of Tarquinius Priscus Aruns and Tarquinius who was afterwards Sirnamed Superbus The latter had a mild-natur'd Wife the former an imperious Dame Tarquin agreed with his Brother's Wife to kill the one her Husband and the other his Wife and afterwards to marry together which was accordingly put in Practice After this Tarquin killed his Father-in-Law and his Wife Tullia hastening to salute her Husband King ordered her Chariot to drive over the Body of her dead Father in that Street which before was called Cyprius but after the Fact it was called Vicus Sceleratus 3418. 7. Tarquinius Superbus having thus barbarously killed his Father-in-Law usurped the Kingdom and reigned 25 years 532 Upon his mounting the Throne he put all the Friends of Tullus to Death and dreading the natural Consequences of his Tyranny and ill-gotten Greatness kept a stronger Guard than ordinary about his Person He managed the whole Affairs of the State himself slighted the Senate diminished their Authority cut off several of them and seized upon their Estates Among the rest Marcus Iunius was one who left behind him a Son named Lucius Iunius Lucius fearing he should suffer the same Fate with his Father and eldest Brother counterfeited himself a Fool was thence called Brutus and kept by Tarquin in his House to make his Children sport He carried on the Dissimulation for many years very dexterously and was at last the chief Instrument in banishing the Tyrant Tarquin was engaged in several Wars first marched against the Sabines and subdued them Then began a War with the Volsci which with some Intermissions lasted above 200 years and took from them Suessa-Pometia Next he fell upon Gabii which he took by the Treachery of his Son Sextus who under a pretence of Deserting from his Father for some Injuries offered him got to be their General and cut off the chief Citizens After this he built the Capitol and bought the three Books of the Sibyls Oracles six of the nine that were offered him being burnt which Books were kept as Sacred by the Quindecimviri in the Capitol and perished in that Building when it was burnt in Sylla's time At last he proclaimed War against the Rutili and invested their Metropolis Ardea At the time that the Army â—ay before this City it was that Sextus Tarquin's Son inflamed by Lucretia's Beauty stole priviâ—y to Câ—â—latia where she resided and ravished her The virtuous Lucretia almost dead with Grief and Shame sent for her Father from Rome and her Husband Collatinus from the Camp desiring them to bring along with them some of their particular Friends Publius Valerius came with her Father Lucretius and Lucius Iunius Brutus with her Husband to them she related the whole Story and immediately with a Ponyard stabbed her self to the Heart They were startled at the Sight and filled with Grief and Indignation but to their great Surprize Brutus throwing off his Disguised Folly declared his Resolution and made them swear upon the bloody Ponyard to assist him in revenging this and the other Wickednesses of Tarquin and his Family by expelling him and them the Government And immediately entring upon Action they shut up the City-Gates and assembled the Senate who being made sensible of the Wickedness of their King and his Family issued out a Decree of Expulsion against Tarquin Afterwards Brutus brought out Lucretia's Body exposed it to
World Years before Christ. 3806. Now Rome began to enlarge its Dominions abroad but grew Corrupt and Degenerate at home This year Corinth one of the noblest Cities of Greece was taken by Mummius one of the Consuls and suffered the same Fate with Carthage and with it the Republick of the Acheans perished In Spain several Places revolted but were reduced by Scipio Africanus to their former Obedience after he had taken Numantia a City in Gallicia and demolished it In Sicily a Servile War broke out but the Slaves who began the War were in a short time broken and dispersed After this there happened some Risings at Athens and Delos which were with some trouble suppressed At last the Romans had great Wars with Aristonicus about the Kingdom of Pergamos or Asia Attalus the last King had made the People of Rome his Heirs upon which they entred into Possession of that Kingdom but Aristonicus the Bastard-Brother of Attalus seized upon it as his own Right and Inheritance This was the occasion of the War which ended within a year or two Aristonicus being taken Prisoner led in Triumph and afterwards strangled in Prison by order of the Senate 144 Thô the Romans were thus Successful abroad yet at home their Glory was sullied by many inglorious Factions Jealousies Seditions and Contentions The chief Fomenter of these was Tiberius Gracchus a Man of a restless and turbulent Temper He being made Tribune preferred a Law forbidding any Man to possess above 500 Acres of the Publick Lands and ordering the Overplus to be divided amongst the Poor This Law he carried and three Men called Triumviri were yearly appointed to be Judges what Lands were Publick and what Private This so much disgusted the Senate that under the Conduct of Scipio Nasica they set upon Gracchus in the Capitol and killed him and 300 more of his Faction His Death did not put an end to the Dissentions for his younger Brother Caius being first made one of the Triumviri and afterwards Tribune gave the Senate great Disturbance till being at last much persecuted by them he caused his Servant to kill him Within this Period flourished Lucilius the famous Satyrift and the third Order among the Romans called the Equestrian was set up to be the Judges of corrupt Officers XIII Period from the end of the Seditions of the Gracchi to the end of the First Civil War in Italy which takes up the space of 41 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3829. During the late Troubles the Sardinians rebelled and were reduced by Aurelius and the Fregellans were punished with the loss of their City by the Praetor Opimius About this time was carried on the War with the Allobroges who together with the Arverni and Ruteni were defeated by Fabius Maximus and Gallia Narbonnensis was reduced into a Province The Scordisci a People of Gaulish Extraction inhabiting Thrace were defeated by Didius the Praetor and the Consuls Drusus and Minutius gained a Triumph over them 121 Some time after this happened the Iugurthine War The occasion of this War was that Iugurtha Grandson to Massanissa King of Numidia having killed his Brethren seized upon that Kingdom whereupon the Romans declared War against him They were several times diverted from prosecuting it by the rich Presents which Iugurtha made but at last he was defeated first by Metellus and afterwards by Marius who subdued him notwithstanding the Assistance of his Father-in-Law Bocchus King of Mauritania took him Prisoner and led him and his two Sons in Triumph to Rome About the same time the Romans warred with the Cimbri who were defâ—ated by Marius together with the Teutones and Ambrones In Sicily a second Servile War was ended by Aquilius Nepos the Collegue of Marius At home there happened some Disturbance occasioned by Saturninus one of Marius Friends at first he was favoured by Mâ—rius but at last his Fortune declining Marius forsook him too and he was cut in Pâ—eces by the Equites in the Fâ—râ—â—n About this time flourished Lucretius the famous Poet. After this there happened a Quarrel between the Senâ—torâ—â—â— and Equestrian Order which Drusus the Tribune accomolâ—ted but this Man afterwards proposing the Agrarian Law was stabbed in the Court of his own House But these Troubles did not end with the Death of Drusus for several of the Italians who thought themselves injured joined in a Confederacy against the Romans viz. the Lucanians Apulians Marsi Paligni and Samnites with many others Against them the two Consuls with Marius and Sylla were sent who were worsted in several Engagements but at last within 3 years became Conquerors No sooner was the Social War finished but two others broke out One was with Mithridates King of Pontus against whom Sylla one of the Consuls for that year was sent Marius opposed the sending Sylla on that Expedition whereupon Sylla returning to Rome forced Marius and Sulpicius the Tribune his Friend to fly for it and declared them with 10 more Enemies to their Country Upon this Marius fled into Affrick and Sylla departed on his Expedition against Mithridates Whilst he was gone Cinna and Octavius were made Consuls the former of which proposed the recalling Marius but the latter opposed it and so hot was the Contention that Cinna was forced to leave the City and being joined with Marius raised an Army went and sat down before Rome entred it and committed great Outrages therein In the mean time Sylla was engaged against Mithridates in Greece first routed his General Archelaus and at last forced the King himself to a Peace Upon this he returned to Italy to revenge himself on Marius Cinna and all their Adherents Marius died and Cinna was killed by the fury of the Soldiers before his Landing At length Sylla came defeated all that opposed him entred Rome committed many and great Cruelties there was the first who published Tables of Proscription and procured himself to be made Perpetual Dictator which was a great Step towards the Downfal of the Consular State and which happened in the 672d year of the City in the 4th year of the 174th Olympiad and 80 years before Christ. Within this Period of Time the Capitol was burnt but by whom or what means is uncertain XIV Period from the Perpetual Dictatorship of Sylla to the first Triumvirate which was 22 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3870. Whilst Sylla was Dictator a second War broke out with Mithridates which was ended in two years In the third year of his Dictatorship he laid down his Office retired into the Country and there died After this a dangerous War broke out in Spain against Sertorius one of Cinna's Faction Pompey was sent against Sertorius who was killed treacherously by Perpenna one of his Commanders who himself was afterwards overthrown taken and killed by Pompey 80 The year before this a third War broke out with Mithridates against whom Lucinius Lucullus one of the then Consuls was sent He did many great and