follow after him both because his Army was in want of Provision and in other ill Circumstances as likewise for that he had a great desire to inter his Dead in the most solemn manner he possibly could Upon which occasion here sell out a strange Accident at this time very unusual and dissonant from the Laws of the Grecians For there was one Ceteus who commanded them The Story of Ceteus his two Wives that came out of India and fought with great Resolution but di'd in this Battel He left two Wives behind him who follow'd him all along during the Campagne One he had but lately marry'd the other had been his Wife for some years before and both lov'd their Husband exceedingly It had been an ancient Custom in India for Men and Women to marry themselves with their own mutual Liking without consulting the Advice of their Parents And in regard that in those former times young People would rashly marry one another and often repent afterwards as being deceiv'd in their Choice many Wives were corrupted and through their inordinate Lusts fell in Love with other Men and because they could not with their Credit and Reputation leave them they first chose they would often poison their Husbands to the more ready effecting of which the Country did not a little contribute by bearing many and divers sorts of Poisonous Plants some of which never so little bruis'd either in Meat or Drink do certainly kill the Party This wicked Art growing still more and more to Perfection and many being destroy'd by this Means and though several were punish'd for these Pieces of Villany yet other would not be reclaim'd nor restrain'd from the like Practices another Law therefore was made That Wives should be burnt together with their dead Husbands except they were with Child or had born Children and that she who would not observe the Common Law of the Land should remain a Widow and as one convicted of that Impiety should be excluded from all sacred Rites and all other Benefit and Privilege of the Laws This being thus establish'd hence-forward this Wickedness of the Wives was chang'd into a contrary P. 689. Ant. Ch. 314. Practice For being that every Wife to avoid that insufferable Disgrace was voluntarily to Die they became not only careful to preserve the Health and provide for the Well-being of their Husbands as that which was likewise their own Preservation but the Wives strove one with another as who should gain the highest pitch of Honour and Reputation An Example of which sell out at this time For although by the Law one only was to be burnt with the Husband yet at the Funeral of Cetius both strove which should die as for some Honourable Reward of their Virtue Whereupon the Matter was brought before the Generals for their Decision The Younger declar'd That the other was with Child and therefore her Death could not satisfy the Law The Elder pleaded That it was a greater Piece of Justice that she who was before the other in Years should be preferr'd before her in Honour For in all other Cases the constant Rule is to yield more Honour and Respect to the Elder than to the Younger The Captains being inform'd by the Midwives that the Elder was with Child preferr'd the Younger before the other Upon which she lost her Cause went out weeping and wailing renting her Vail in pieces and tearing her Hair as if some sad and dreadful News had been told her The other rejoicing in the Victory made forthwith to the Funeral Pile crown'd by the Women of her House with Attires call'd * Attires Women us'd to wear with Labels hanging down Mitres and by her Kindred brought forth most richly adorn'd as to some Nuptial Festival setting forth her Praises all along as they went in Songs fitted for that occasion As soon as she came to the Pile she threw off her Attire and distributed them amongst Ant. Ch 14. her Servants and Friends leaving these behind her as tokens of Remembrances for them that loved her Her Attire was multitudes of Rings upon her Fingers set with all manner of precious Stones of divers Colours Upon her Head were a great number of little Golden Stars between which were plac'd sparkling Stones of all sorts About her Neck she wore abundance of Jewels some small others large increasing by degrees in bigness as they were put on one after another At length she took leave of all her Family and Servants and then her Brother plac'd her upon the Pile and to the great Admiration of the People who flock'd thither to see the Sight with an Heroick Courage she there ended her Life The whole Army solemnly in their Arms march'd thrice round the Pile before it was kindled She in the mean time disposing of her self towards her Husband's Body discover'd not by any Screeks or otherwise that she was at all daunted at the Noise of the Crackling Flames so that the Spectators were affected some with Pity and others with Admiration and extraordinary Commendation of her Resolution However there are some who condemn this Law as Cruel and Inhumane After the Funeral was over Eumenes march'd from Patetacine to Gabiene which being Eumenes marches to Gabiene Ant. Ch. 314. yet untouch'd was in a condition to supply the Army with all Things necessary which was distant from Antigonus his Army going through the Countries inhabited Five and twenty Days Journey but passing through the Desarts where there 's no Water 't is but Nine Days Journey Being thus far distant one from another he there winter'd and so gave his Army time to refresh themselves As for the Affairs of Europe Cassander while he lay at the Siege of Tegea hearing of Cassander marches into Macedonia the return of Olympias into Macedonia and of the Death of Eurydice and King Philip and what was done to the Sepulchre of Jollas his Brother agreed with the Taegeans and march'd with his Army into Macedonia leaving his Consederates in great Trouble and Perplexity For Alexander the Son of Polysperchon was then entred Peloponnesus and ready P. 690. to set upon the Cities with a great Army And the Aetolians to ingratiate themselves with Olympias and Polsyperchon seiz'd upon the straight Passes at Pylas and block'd up the Passage to stop Cassander in his march But he perceiving that it was very difficult for him to force his way through those narrow Streights by the help of some Ships and several Boats out of Eubea and Locris pass'd over into Thessaly And hearing that Polysperchon lay with his Army in Perrhabea he order'd away Callas his General with some Forces to fight him In the mean time Dinias being sent away to secure the * Strights of Perrhabea Streights possess'd himself of those Passes before the Forces of Olympias could reach them As soon as Olympias heard that Cassander was entring Macedonia with a great Army she created Aristonous General and commanded him to
Fables report that in the Time of Isis there were Men of vast Bodies whom the Grecians call Giants and whom they place in their Temples in prodigious Shapes who are whipt and scourg'd by them that Sacrifice to Osiris Some idly give forth that they sprang from the Earth when at first it gave Being to Living Creatures Others report that from many extraordinary things done by Men of strong Bodies the Fables and Stories of Giants arose But in this most agree that for the War they rais'd against the Gods Jupiter and Osiris they were all destroy'd It was a Law likewise they say in Egypt against the Custom of all other Nations that Brothers and Sisters might Marry one with another which accordingly was prosperous and successful in the Marriage of Isis who marry'd her Brother Osiris and after his Death made a Vow never to marry any other Man and after she had reveng'd her Husbands Death upon his Murderers she govern'd the Kingdom and reign'd justly all her Days and did good universally to all sorts of People obliging them with many and extraordinary Benefits and Advantages And for her sake it is a Custom among them that they honour a Queen and allow her more Power and Authority than a King And in their Contracts of Marriage Authority is given to the Wife over her Husband at which time the Husbands promise to be obedient to their Wives in all things Obedience to Wives in Egypt Isis was Buri'd at Memphis where at this day her Shrine is to be seen in the Grove of Vulcan Although some affirm that these Gods lie Bury'd in the Isle of Nile at Philas as is before said Neither am I ignorant that some Writers say their Sepulchers are at Arabia whence Dionysus is call'd Nysaeus there they say is a Pillar erected to each of the Deities with Inscriptions of Sacred Letters upon them in one of which that belonging to Isis are these Words I am Isis Queen of all this Country the Scholar of Mercury What Laws I have made none ought to disannul I am the Eldest Daughter of the Youngest God Saturn I am the Wife and Sister of King Osiris I am she that first found out Corn for Man's use I am the Mother of King Orus I am she that arises in the Dog-Star The City Bubastus was built in memory of me Farewel rejoyce O Egypt that was my Nurse that brought me up Upon Osiris's Pillar are these that follow My Father was Saturn the Youngest of all the God's I am Osiris that led an Army through all the Nations as far as to the Deserts of India and in the Countries lying to the North as far as to the Head Springs of the River Ister and to other Parts as far as to the Ocean I am the Eldest Son of Saturn a Branch of a famous noble Stock Cosin German to the Day There 's not a Place in the World where I have not been and what I have discover'd I have imparted to all So much of the Inscriptions on the Pillars they say may be read the rest is defac'd and worn out through length of Time Thus therefore many disagree concerning the Sepulchres of these Gods because the Priests who were secretly instructed in the perfect Knowledge of these matters would not suffer them to be spread abroad out of fear of those Punishments that such were liable unto who reveal'd the Secrets of the Gods They report that afterwards many Colonies out of Egypt were dispers'd over Colonies out of Egypt all parts of the World That Belus who was taken to be the Son of Neptune and Lybra led a Colony into the Province of Babylon and fixing his Seat at the River Euphrates Consecrated Priests and according to the custom of the Egyptians freed Babylonians them from all publick Taxes and Impositions These Priests the Babylonians call Caldeans who observe the Motions of the Stars in imitation of the Priests Naturalists and Astrologers of Egypt That Danaus likewise took from thence another Colony and planted them in Argos the most ancient City almost of all Greece And that the People of Cholchos in Pontus and the * Cholchians Jews 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Circumcision Jews lying between Arabia and Syria were Colonies out of Egypt and that therefore it is an ancient Custom among these Nations to Circumcise all their Male Children after the Rites and Customs receiv'd from the Egyptians That the Athenians likewise are a Colony of the †Athenians The Saits of the City Sais near one of the Mouths of Nile in Delta in the lower Egypt Saits which came out of Egypt and are their Kindred they endeavour to prove by these Arguments That is to say That they only of all the Greeks call the City Astu from Astu a City among those People of the Saits And that for the better Government of the Commonwealth they divide their People into the same Ranks and Degrees as they in Egypt do to wit into Three Orders the first of which are call'd * The Nobility Eupatride imploy'd for the most part in studying the Liberal Arts and Sciences and are advanc'd to the highest Offices and Places of Preferment in the State as the Priests of Egypt are The Second Order of Men are the Rustick and Country People who are to be Souldiers and take up Arms upon all occasions for the Defence of their Country like to those who are call'd †Tillers of the Ground Husbandmen in Egypt who furnish out Soldiers there In the Third Rank are reckon'd Tradesmen and Artificers who commonly bore all the necessary and publick Offices which agrees exactly with the Orders and Usage among the Egyptians They say likewise that there were some of the Athenian Generals that came Captains out of Egypt Vid. Plutarch Theseus out of Egypt For they affirm that Peteos the Father of Menestheus who was a Captain in the Trojan War was an Egyptian and afterwards was King of Athens That the Athenians had not Wit enough to find out the true reason why Two Natures were ascrib'd to him for every Man knows that he was call'd Half a Beast that is half a Man and half a Beast and the true ground was because he was a Member of Two several Commonwealths a Grecian and a Barbarian * The Fourth King of Athens time of the Exodus of the Children of Israel Erechtheus likewise one of the Kings of Athens they say was an Egyptian which they prove by these Arguments viz. That whereas there was a great Drought as all confess almost over all the World †This seems to be the Seven Years Famine Scarcity all over the World but in Egypt except Egypt only because of the peculiar property of the Place which destroy'd both Men and the Fruits of the Earth together Erechtheus transported a great quantity of Corn to Athens out of Egypt because they and the Egyptians were of the same Kindred with which Kindness the
of the Herbs and Onions that were spent upon the Labourers during the Works which amounted to above Sixteen Hundred Talents There 's nothing writ upon the lesser The Entrance and Ascent is only on one side cut by steps into the main Stone Although the Kings design'd these Two for their Sepulchers yet it hapen'd that neither of them were there buri'd For the People being incens'd at them by the reason of the Toyl and Labour they were put to and the cruelty and oppression of their Kings threatned to drag their Carkases out of their Graves and pull them by piece-meal and cast them to the Dogs and therefore both of them upon their Beds commanded their Servants to bury them in some obscure place After him reign'd Mycerinus otherwise call'd Cherinus the Son of him who Mycerinus built the first Pyramid This Prince began a Third but died before it was finish'd every square of the Basis was †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Three Plethras Three Hundred Foot The Walls for fifteen Stories high were of black Marble like that of Thebes the rest was of the same Stone with the other Pyramids Though the other Pyramids went beyond this in greatness yet this far excell'd the rest in the Curiosity of the Structure and the largeness of the Stones On that side of the Pyramid towards the North was inscrib'd the Name of the Founder Mycerinus This King they say detesting the severity of the former Kings carried himself all his Days gently and graciously towards all his Subjects and did all that possibly he could to gain their Love and Good Will towards him besides other things he expended vast Sums of Money upon the Oracles and Worship of the Gods and bestowing large Gifts upon honest Men whom he judg'd to be injur'd and to be hardly dealt with in the Courts of Justice There are other Pyramids every Square of which are Two Hundred Foot in the Basis and in all things like unto the other except in bigness It 's said that these Three last Kings built them for their Wives It is not in the least to be doubted but that these Pyramids far excel all the other Works throughout all Egypt not only in the Greatness and Costs of the Building but in the Excellency of the Workmanship For the Architects they say are much more to be admir'd than the Kings themselves that were at the Cost For those perform'd all by their own Ingenuity but these did nothing but by the Wealth handed to them by descent from their Predecessors and by the Toyl and Labour of other Men. Yet concerning the first Builders of these Pyramids there 's no Consent either Uncertain who built the Pyramids amongst the Inhabitants or Historians For some say they were built by the Kings before mention'd some by others As that the greatest was built by Armeus the Second by * Ammosis Amasis and the Third by †Maronas Inaronas But some say that this last was the Sepulcher of one Rhodopides a Curtesan and was built in remembrance of her at the common Charge of some of the Governors of the Provinces who were her Amours Bocchoris was the next who succeeded in the Kingdom a Bocchoris in the Reign of Vzziab King of Judah An. Mun. 3283 before Christ 766. Helv. Cron. very little Man for Body and of a mean and contemptible Presence but as to his Wisdom and Prudence far excelling all the Kings that ever were before him in Egypt A long time after him one Sabach an Ethiopian came to the Sabacon or Sabaco taken to be so who joyn'd with Hoshea King of Isreal Throne going beyond all his Predecessors in his Worship of the Gods and kindness to his Subjects Any Man may judge and have a clear Evidence of his gentle Disposition in this that when the Laws pronounc'd the severest Judgment I mean Sentence of Death he chang'd the Punishment and made an Edict that the Condemn'd Persons should Persons to work in Chains instead of being put to Death be kept to work in the Towns in Chains by whose Labour he rais'd many Mounts and made many Commodious Canals conceiving by this means he should not only moderate the severity of the Punishment but instead of that which was unprofitable advance the publick Good by the Service and Labours of the Condemn'd A Man may likewise judge of his extraordinary Piety from his Dream and his Abdication of the Government for the Tutelar God of Thebes seem'd to speak to him in his Sleep and told him that he could not long reign happily and prosperously in Egypt except he cut all the Priests in Pieces when he pass'd through the midst of them with his Guards and Servants which Advice being often repeated he at length sent for the Priests from all parts and told them that if he staid in Egypt any longer he found that he should displease God who never at any time before by Dreams or Visions commanded any such thing And that he would rather be gone and lose his Life being pure and innocent than displease * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord. Anarchy God or injoy the Crown of Egypt by staining his Life with the horrid Murder of the Innocent And so at length giving up the Kingdom into the Hands of the People he return'd into Ethiopia Upon this there was an Anarchy for the space of Two Years but the People falling into Tumults and intestine Broyls and Slaughters one of another Twelve of the chief Nobility of the Kingdom joyn'd in a Solemn Oath and then calling a Senate at Memphis and making some Laws for the better directing and cementing of them in mutual peace and fidelity they took upon them the Regal Power and Authority After Twelve Kings reign lovingly in Egypt Herodot lib. 2. c. 147. they had govern'd the Kingdom very amicably for the space of Fifteen Years according to the Agreement which they had mutually sworn to observe they apply'd themselves to the building of a Sepulcher where they might all lye together that as in their Life-time they had been equal in their Power and Authority and had always carried it with love and respect one towards another so after Death being all bury'd together in one Place they might continue the Glory of their Names in one and the same Monument To this end they made it their business to excel all their Predecessors in the greatness of their Works For near the Lake of Myris in Lybia they built a Four-square Monument of Polish'd Marble every square a Furlong in length for curious Carvings and other pieces of Art not to be equall'd by any that should come after them When you are enter'd within the Wall there 's presented a stately Fabrick supported round with Pillars Forty on every side The Roof was of one intire Stone whereon was curiously carv'd Racks and Mangers for Horses and other excellent pieces of Workmanship and painted and adorn'd with divers sorts of
their Hourly Imployment Sacrifices Diet c. Their Burials The division of Egypt Their Trades in Egypt Courts of Justice Their Law Proceedings The several Laws of Egypt Beasts and Birds ador'd in Egypt as Lions Wolves Cats the Bird Ibis Kites c. Costs in their Burial of these Creatures Reasons given of this Adoration SInce sufficient hath been said of the Egyptian Kings from the most ancient The Customs of the Egyptians Times to the Death of Amasis leaving for a while what remains till a more proper time we shall now give a brief account of those Laws and Customs of the Egyptians that are most to be admir'd and may especially delight and profit the Reader For many of the ancient Customs of the Egyptians were not only allow'd by the natural Inhabitants but were greatly admir'd by the Grecians so that every Learn'd Man earnestly coveted to travel into Egypt to learn the Knowledge of their Laws and Customs as things of great weight and moment And though the Country anciently forbad all reception to Strangers for the Reasons before alledg'd yet some of the Ancients as Orpheus and Homer and many of latter times as Pythagoras the Samian and Solon the Lawgiver adventur'd to travel thither And therefore the Egyptians assirm that Letters Astronomy Geometry and many other Arts were first found out by them and that the best Laws were made and instituted by them To confirm which they alledge this as an undeniable Argument that the Native Kings of Egypt have reign'd there for the space of above Four Thousand and Seven Hundred Years and that their Country for all that time has been the most prosperous and flourishing Kingdom in the World which could never have been so if the Inhabitants had not been civilized and brought up under good Laws and Liberal Education in all sorts of Arts and Sciences But we shall omit what Herodotus and other Writers of the Egyptian History relate who wilfully pursue and prefer prodigious Stories before Truth and relate a company of Fictions meerly for Sport and Diversion sake and shall give an Account of such things as we have carefully perus'd and examin'd recorded in their Books by the Egyptian Priests The First Kings of Egypt liv'd not after the way and manner of other Monarchs The way of Living of the First Kings of Egypt to do what they list without Controul but in every thing conform'd themselves to their Laws not only in the publick Administration of the Government but in their daily private Conversation and their very Meals and Diet. For among their Attendants they had neither Slaves for Servants nor such as were born in their Houses but the Sons of the chiefest of the Priests after they attain'd to the Age of Twenty Years brought up and educated more nobly than any other of the rest of the Egyptians that having such noble Attendants upon his Person of the best and highest Rank in the Kingdom to be always with him night and day he might not do any thing that was base and blame-worthy For no Prince is apt to be very wicked except he have some ready at Hand to incourage him in his Lusts There were Hours set apart in the Night as well as the Day wherein the King Hours set apart was to do something injoyn'd him by the Laws and not to indulge himself in his Pleasures When he rose in the Morning the first thing he was to do was to peruse all the publick Letters and Advices sent from all Parts that he might order his Concerns the better by having perfect knowledge of all the Affairs of the Kingdom Then Washing himself and putting on his Splendid Robes and the Ensigns and Badges of his Royal Authority he went to Sacrifice to the Gods When the Victims were brought to the Altar it was the Custom for the High The Priests Prayers for the King Priest in the presence of the King and People standing round about him to pray with a loud Voice for the Health and Prosperity of the King who righteously rul'd and govern'd his Subjects wherein he recounted all the Virtues of the Prince his Piety towards the Gods his kindness to his People how Continent Just Magnanimous and Faithful he was how Bountiful and what a Master he was over all inordinate Appetites and Passions how he was Mild and Gentle in inflicing Punishments upon Offenders less than their Deserts and Bountiful in distributing of his Rewards When the Priest had utter'd these and such like Commendations he at last pronounc'd a Curse upon all such Offences and Miscarriages as had been ignorantly committed yet withal clearing the King and laying all the Blame and Guilt upon his Ministers and Advisers And this the Priest did that he might thereby induce and persuade the King to an Awe of the Gods and to live so as might be pleasing to them and likewise by Praise and Commendation rather gently to win upon him than by harsh and rugged Rebukes to drive him to the practice of Virtuous Actions Afterwards when the King had view'd the Intrals and * Atton'd the Gods by Sacrifice History read finish'd his Sacrifices the Priests read out of the Sacred Records the Edicts Laws and most useful and remarkable Actions of such as were most famous in their Generations that the Prince might seriously consider and ponder upon what was most commendable in those Examples and imitate them according to the Rules there prescrib'd For there were not only set Times allotted for dispatch of publick Business and Administration of Justice but likewise for taking of the Air Bathing lying with the Queen and almost every action of their Lives The Custom was likewise for the Kings to feed upon plain and ordinary Meat Diet. as Veal and Goose and to drink Wine according to a stinted measure which might neither overcharge their Stomacks nor make them drunk Such a moderate Diet was prescrib'd as that it seem'd rather to be order'd by a Skilful Physitian for Health sake than by a Law-maker It is indeed to be admir'd and very strange that the King should not be left to his liberty for his daily Food but much more is it to be admir'd that he could not do any publick Business Condemn or Punish any Man to gratify his own Humour or Revenge or for any other unjust Judgment not to be given to gratify the King's Passion Cause but was bound to do according as the Laws had ordered in every particular case The Kings observing those Rules according to the ancient Custom were so far from thinking it dishonourable or being uneasy under it that they lookt upon themselves to live most desirable and happy Lives and judg'd that all other Men who inconsiderately indulg'd their natural Appetites did many things that were attended with great Losses or apparent Hazards at the least yea that some though they know beforehand that what they were about to do was ill and unjustifiable yet overcome either with
had been inform'd of the Gold and Silver by an Eunuch that was a Deserter whom he had hid and conceal'd Arbaces therefore being ignorant of the Contrivance because all the rest beside this Eunuch were consum'd with the King granted to him liberty both to carry away the Ashes and likewise the absolute Government of Babylon without paying any Tribute Whereupon Belesis forthwith prepar'd Shipping and together with the Ashes carry'd away most of the Gold and Silver to Babylon But when the King came plainly to understand the Cheat he committed the Examination and Decision of this Theft to the other Captains who were his Assistants in the deposing of Sardanapalus Belesis upon his Trial confess'd the Fact and thereupon they condemn'd him to lose his Head But the King being a Man of a noble and generous Spirit and willing to adorn the beginning of his Reign with the Marks of his Grace and Mercy not only pardon'd him but freely gave him all the Gold and Silver which had been carry'd away neither did he deprive him of the Government of Babylon which at the first he conferr'd upon him saying That his former good Services did overballance the Injuries afterwards This gracious Disposition of the King being nois'd abroad he thereby not only gain'd the Hearts of his People but was highly honour'd and his Name famous among all the Provinces and all judg'd him worthy of the Kingdom who was so compassionate and gracious to Offenders The like Clemency he shew'd to the Inhabitants of Nineve for though he disspers'd them into several Country Villages yet he restor'd to every one of them their Estates but raz'd the City to the ground Nineve raz'd The rest of the Silver and Gold that could be found in the Pile of which there were many Talents he convey'd to Ecbatana the Seat Royal of Media And thus was the Assyrian Empire overturn'd by the Medes Ann. Mund. 3080. Before Christ 868. Herodotus says lib. 1. c. 95 but 520 Years from Ninus which Vsher follows so that Ninus falls in with the times of Deborah as is before observ'd against the Stream of all Chronologers almost after it had continu'd Thirty Generations from Ninus above Fourteen Hundred Years CHAP. III. Of the Ancient Chaldeans and their Philosophy The Planets and their Course The Empire of the Medes and their Kings A Description of India The ancient Manners and Customs of the People Their Laws Tribes A Description of Scythia Of the Amazons Of the Hyperboreans HEre it will not be amiss to say something of the Chaldeans as the Babylonians call them and of their Antiquity that nothing worth Remark may be omitted They being the most ancient Babylonians hold the same station and dignity in A Description of the Chaldeans the Common-wealth as the Egyptian Priests do in Egypt For being deputed to Divine Offices they spend all their Time in the study of Philosophy and are especially famous for the Art of Astrology They are mightily given to Divination and foretel future Events and imploy themselves either by Purifications Sacrifices or other Inchantments to avert Evils or procure good Fortune and Success They are skilful likewise in the Art of Divination by the flying of Birds and interpreting of Dreams and Prodigies And are reputed as true Oracles in declaring what will come to pass by their exact and diligent viewing the Intrals of the Sacrifices But they attain not to this Knowledge in the same manner P. 82. as the Grecians do for the Chaldeans learn it by Tradition from their Ancestors the Son from the Father who are all in the mean time free from all other publick Offices and Attendances and because their Parents are their Tutors they both learn every thing without Envy and rely with more confidence upon the truth of what is taught them and being train'd up in this Learning from their very Childhood they become most famous Philosophers that Age being most capable of Learning wherein they spend much of their time But the Grecians for the most part come raw to this study unfitted and unprepar'd and are long before they attain to the Knowledge of this Philosophy And after they have spent some small time in this Study they are many times call'd off and forc'd to leave it in order to get a Livelihood and Subsistence And although some few do industriously apply themselves to Philosophy yet for the sake of Gain these very Men are opinionative and ever and anon starting new and high Points and never fix in the steps of their Ancestors But the Barbarians keeping constantly close to the same thing attain to a perfect and distinct Knowledge in every particular But the Grecians cunningly catching at all Opportunities of Gain make new Sects and Parties and by their contrary Opinions wrangling and quarelling concerning the chiefest Points lead their Scholars into a Maze and being uncertain and doubtful what to pitch upon for certain truth their Minds are fluctuating and in suspence all the days of their Lives and unable to give a certain assent unto any thing For if any Man will but examine the most eminent Sects of the Philosophers he shall find them much differing among themselves and even opposing one another in the most weighty parts of their Philosophy But to return to the Chaldeans they hold that the World is eternal which had neither any certain Beginning nor shall have any End but all agree that all things are order'd and this beautiful Fabrick is supported by a Divine Providence and that the Motions of the Heavens are not perform'd by chance and of their own accord but by a certain and determinate Will and Appointment of the Gods Therefore from a long observation of the Stars and an exact Knowledge of the motions and influences of every one of them wherein they excel all others they foretel many things that are to come to pass The say that the Five Stars which some call Planets but they Interpreters are most worthy of Consideration both for their motions and their remarkable influences especially that which the Grecians call Saturn The brightest of them all and which often portends many and great Events they call * Sol 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sol the other Four they name †Mars 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mars * Venus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Venus †Mercury 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mercury and * Jupiter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jupiter with our own Country Astrologers They give the Name of Interpreters to these Stars because these only by a peculiar Motion do portend things to come and instead of Jupiters do declare to Men before-hand the good-will of the Gods whereas the other Stars not being of the number of the Planets have a constant ordinary motion Future Events they say are pointed at sometimes by their Rising and sometimes by their Setting and at other times by their Colour as may be experienc'd by those that will diligently observe it
sometimes foreshewing Hurricanes at other times Tempestuous Rains and then again exceeding Droughts By these they say are often portended the appearance of Comets Eclipses of the Sun and Moon Earthquakes and all other the various Changes and remarkable effects in the Air boding good and bad not only to Nations in general but to Kings and Private Persons in particular Under the Course of these Planets they say are Thirty Stars which they call Counselling Gods half of whom observe what is done under Stars Counselling Gods the Earth and the other half take notice of the actions of Men upon the Earth and what is transacted in the Heavens Once every Ten Days space they say one of the highest Order of these Stars descends to them that are of the lowest like a Messenger sent from them above and then again another ascends from those below to them above and that this is their constant natural motion to continue for ever The chief of these Gods they say are Twelve in number to P. 83. each of which they attribute a Month and one Sign of the Twelve in the Zodiack Through these Twelve Signs the Sun Moon and the other Five Planets run The Course of the Sun Moon and the Five other Planets their Course The Sun in a Years time and the Moon in the space of a Month. To every of the Planets they assign their own proper Courses which are perform'd variously in lesser or shorter time according as their several motions are quicker or slower These Stars they say have a great influence both as to good and bad in Mens Nativities and from the consideration of their several Natures may be foreknown what will befal Men afterwards As they foretold things to come to other Kings formerly so they did to Alexander who conquer'd Darius and to his Successors Antigonus and Seleucus Nicanor and accordingly things fell out as they declar'd which we shall relate particularly hereafter in a more convenient time They tell likewise private Men their Fortunes so certainly that those who have found the thing true by Experience have esteem'd it a Miracle and above the reach of Man to perform Out of the Circle of the Zodiack they describe Four and Twenty Stars Twelve towards the North Pole and as many to the South Those which we see they assign to the living and the other that do not appear they conceive are Constellations for the Dead and they term them Judges of all things The Moon they say is in the lowest Orb and being therefore next to the Earth because she is so small she finishes her Course in a little time not through the swiftness of her Motion but the shortness of her Sphear In that which they affirm that she has but a borrow'd light and that when she is eclips'd it 's caus'd by the interposition of the shadow of the Earth they agree with the Grecians Their Rules and Notions concerning the Eclipses of the Sun are but weak and mean which they dare not positively foretel nor fix a certain time for them They have likewise Opinions concerning the Earth peculiar to themselves affirming it to resemble a Boat and to be hollow to prove which and other things relating to the frame of the World they abound in Arguments but to give a particular Account of 'em we conceive would be a thing foreign to our History But this any Man may justly and truly say That the Chaldeans far exceed all other Men in the Knowledge of Astrology and have study'd it most of any other Art or Science But the number of Years during which the Chaldeans say those of their Profession have given themselves to the study of this natural Philosophy is incredible for when Alexander was in Asia they reckon'd up Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand Years since they first began to observe the Motions of the Stars But lest we should make too long a digression from our intended Design let this which we have said concerning the Chaldeans suffice Having now therefore spoken of the Assyrian Empire and its Translation to the Medes we shall return to that part of our History from whence we broke off Whereas remarkable Authors have differ'd among themselves about the large Empire of the Medes Empire of the Medes we conceive we shall not stray from the Duty of true and faithful Historians if we compare the different relations of Writers one with another Herodotus indeed who liv'd in the time of Xerxes says that the Assyrians were conquer'd by the Medes after they had held the Empire of Asia for the space of five Hundred Years That thence for many Ages after there was no one King that had the sole and absolute Authority of the Empire but that the Cities in every Place enjoy'd their own Laws in a Democratical Government At length after the Course of many Years he says one * Cyaxares besieges Nineve and taketh it An. Mun. 3348 about 3 or 4 years after the death of Josiah before Christ 600. Herod Cyaxares renown'd for his Justice was advanc'd to the Throne and that he was the first that subdu'd the neighbouring Nations to the Medes and gave beginning to that Empire whose Posterity afterwards brought under the bordering Countries and inlarg'd their Dominions and continu'd their Empire to the time of Astyages who was conquer'd by †Conquered by Cyrus An. Mun. 3391. Before Christ 557. Cyrus and the Persians of whom we shall now only give a touch in short and shall treat more distinctly and particularly hereafter when we come to the Times more proper for this Purpose For in the second year of the seventeeenth Olympiad as Herodotus says Cyaxares was elected King by the Medes But Ctesias the Cnidian who was later then Herodotus and liv'd about the time of Cyrus his Expedition against his Brother Aâ—taxarxes for being then taken Prisoner for his Skill in Physic he was taken into the King's Favour and continu'd with him in great Honour and Esteem for the space of seventeen years Out of the publick Records in which the Persians by force of some Law made for that Purpose had in Order of Time noted and registred the ancient Affairs and Things done in the Kingdom he industriously pick'd out every thing that was remarkable and methodically compos'd them into an History and brought them over into Greece In this History he declares that after the Overthrow of the Assyrian Empire all Asia was under the Power of the Medes and that Arbaces who overcame Sardanapalus as is before related was sole Monarch and that after he had reign'd eight and twenty years his Son Mandauces succeeded him who reign'd over all Asia fifty years After him reign'd Sesarmus thirty years then Artias Fifty after whom succeeded Arbianes two and twenty years In his time it s said a great War broke out between the Medes and the Cadusians upon the Occasions following One Parsodes a Persian for his Valour Prudence and other Virtues was a Man
of Victuals for being that the Land there bears Two Crops every Year once in the Winter about the time of Wheat-seeding among other Nations and the other about the time of the * Beginning of June Summer Solstice when Rice Bosporus Sesamus and Millet are us'd to be sown at both these times the Indians reap very plentifnl Harvests And if one Harvest happens to miss the other is sure to make amends for it Besides there are many Fruits which grow naturally of themselves and the Marishes afford for Mens Food abundance of Roots of a most sweet and delicious Taste For all the Fields almost of the whole Country are watered in Summer time with the sweet Waters of the overflowing Rivers and with the Rains from Heaven which fall constantly at certain times every Year in the Summer and the Roots in the Marishes especially of the Canes are perfectly boyl'd by the heat of the Sun There are Laws likewise in India which conduce much to the preventing of Famine among them Amongst other People by Devastations in time of War the Land lies untill'd but amongst the Indians Husbandmen as sacred are never toucht so that though the Armies fight and ingage even under their very Noses yet they are never in the least prejudic'd For though the Armies on both sides slaughter one another yet they never hurt the Husbandman as one who is a Servant for the common good and advantage of them all neither do they burn their Enemies Country or cut down their Trees or Plants Moreover in India are many great navigable Rivers which descend into the Rivers Ganges Plains from the Mountains in the Northern Parts where they have their Spring-heads and at length all meet together and fall into the River Ganges which is †Something above Three Mile Thirty Furlongs in breadth and takes its Course from the North to the South and so empties it self into the main Ocean passing by in its course the Nation of the Gandarides lying on the East where are bred Multitudes of most monstrous Elephants No Foreign King hitherto ever conquer'd that part of the Country all Strangers dreading the number and strength of those Creatures Even Alexander himself who conquer'd all Asia besides left only the Gandarides untoucht For when he came with his whole Army as far as to the River Ganges and had subdu'd all the Indians behind him as soon as he understood that the Gandarides had Four Thousand Elephants sitted and compleatly furnished for War he wholly desisted the further Prosecution of his Design against them Much like to the River Ganges is that call'd Indus which runs with a swift Course likewise from the North and falls into the Ocean and divides India from the rest of Asia and in Indus its Course through wide and spacious Plains takes in many Navigable Rivers amongst which the most famous are Hipanis Hydaspes and Arcesines There are many other Rivers also which pass through several Parts of India which inrich the Country with pleasant Gardens and all sorts of Fruits The Philosophers and Naturalists of this Country give this Reason why there P. 87. are so many Rivers and such plenty of Water in India They say that the adjacent Countries the Scythians Bactrians and Arianians lye higher than India whence from good reason they conclude that the Rains flowing down by degrees into the lower Countries so water them that they make many large Rivers But above all the other Rivers of India that they call Silla which springs from a Fountain of the same Name has a peculiar property For this only of all the others will not admit any thing thrown into it to swim but in a wonderful manner swallows up every thing and forceably draws it to the bottom Moreover India being of the largest Extent of all other by far is inhabited by many different Nations of whom none are Foreigners but all natural Inhabitants And they say that no Strangers ever planted amongst them nor they themselves ever sent forth any Colonies into other Countries and they tell Stories that anciently the Inhabitants fed only upon Herbs and Roots that grow in the Fields and cloath'd themselves with wild Beasts Skins as the Grecians did and that Arts and other things conducing to the well-being of Man's Life were found out by degrees Necessity pressing upon a Creature that was rational and ingenious and had likewise the further helps and advantages of Hands Speech and quickness of invention to find out ways to relieve himself Some of the Learnedst of the Indians have given an account of the Antiquity of their Country of which it is our part here to say something in short They say that in ancient Time when Men liv'd scatter'd and dispers'd here and there Bacchus with a great Army from the West overran all India which at that time had no considerable City in it able to make any resistance and that a Plague through the violent and parching heat destroying many of his Souldiers they say that prudent General drew his Army out of the Plains to the tops of the Mountains where by means of the cool Blasts of the refreshing Air and drinking of the Spring-Waters there at hand they were restor'd to their former Health and that the Place where his Army was thus recover'd was call'd the †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thigh hence the Grecians frame a Story of this God to this Day that Bacchus was bred in the * Jupiter's Thigh Thigh Afterwards they say he diligently imploy'd himself in sowing and planting divers Fruit-Trees and imparted the Art to the Indians and found out the use of Wine and other things conducing to the comfort of Man's Life He built likewise stately Cities and remov'd the Villages to more commodious Situations and instituted the manner of Divine Worship and made Laws and set up Courts of Justice and at last for the many excellent Inventions imparted to the Indians he was esteem'd as a God and obtain'd immortal Honours They report that he had a Regiment of Women in his Army and that in the heat of Battel he made use of Timbrels and Cymbals the Trumpet being not at that time found out And that after he had reign'd over all India for the space of Two and Fifty Years he dy'd of extream old Age leaving the Kingdom to his Sons who injoy'd it and their Posterity after them successively till many Ages after the Regal Authority was abrogated and the Cities were govern'd by a Democrasy These are the things related of Bacchus and his Posterity by the Inhabitants of the Mountainous parts of India They say moreover that Hercules was born amongst them and like the Greeks furnish him with a Club and a Lion's Skin and for Strength and Courage that he excell'd all other Men and clear'd both Sea and Land of Monsters and Wild Beasts That of many Wives he begat many Sons but one only Daughter Among P. 88. these Sons when they were
grown up he divided India into equal Parts and appointed each to be King over their several shares allotting likewise one part of the Kingdom to his Daughter whom he carefully brought up under his own Eye It 's said that he built many Cities the most famous of which is call'd Palibothra in which he built a stately Palace and planted it with a great number of Inhabitants and fortify'd it round with deep Trenches fill'd with Water from the River And at length after his Death he was honour'd as a God His Posterity reign'd for many Ages together and perform'd many noble Actions but never made any Foreign Expeditions or sent forth any Colonies into other Parts and though that after the Course of many Years most of the Cities reduc'd themselves under the power of a Democratical Government yet there were some of the Indians that flourish'd under a Monarchy till the very time that Alexander invaded that Country Although the Indians have Laws peculiar to themselves differing from all other The Indian Law concerning their Liberties People yet one especially is most remarkable instituted by their ancient Philosophers which is this It 's an establish'd Law That none amongst them should be a Servant but that every one being free all should be honour'd with equal respect For they that know that they are neither to be superior nor inferior to any are ready to undergo all the Shocks of Fortune with Courage and Resolution For it 's a Foolish thing to make Laws for an equality amongst all and yet at the same time to order inequality of Estates All the People of India are divided into Seven Ranks the First is Philosophers The division of the People 1 Tribe Philosophers who are least in number but chiefest in esteem For they are free from all publick Offices and are neither subject themselves to any nor any subject to them Yet they are made use of by their Friends to offer Sacrifice for them while they are alive and to perform the solemn Exequies at their Funerals when they are dead as Persons who are greatly belov'd of the Gods and skilful in Matters relating to the Affairs of the Dead in the Shades below for which piece of Service they are highly honour'd and presented with many rich Gifts Especially they much advantage the Indians in general at such times as being admitted into the publick Assemblies at the beginning of every Year they foretel Droughts Rains Winds and Diseases and other things convenient and useful for the Auditors to be inform'd of for so both King and People being forewarn'd of things to come provide against them and always prepare something or other that may be of advantage to them in such cases And if any of the Philosophers prove afterwards to be mistaken in his Prognostication he undergoes no other Punishment save only that he is evil spoken of and is to be silent ever after while he lives The Second Rank or Tribe is of the Husbandmen These are more in number 2d Tribe Husbandmen than any of the rest These likewise are free from the Militia and all publick Offices and spend all their time and care about Tilling and Improving the Lands No Enemy ever does them any Prejudice but out of a due regard to the common good forbear to injure them in the least degree and therefore the Land being never spoil'd nor wasted yields its Fruits in great Abundance and furnishes the Inhabitants with plenty of Victuals and all other Provision The Husbandmen live in the Fields with their Wives and Children and never meddle with the concerns of the Cities They pay the King his Tribute out of the Fruits of the Ground For all the Land of India belongs to the King and no private Man has any Land of his own Besides the Tribute the Fourth part of the Fruits are paid to the King The Third Tribe comprehended the Herdsmen and Shepherds and all sorts of 3d Tribe The Shepherds and Herdsmen feeders of Cattel and these neither liv'd in the Cities nor Villages but in Tents and by Hunting clear'd the Land both of wild Beasts and hurtful Birds and by this Exercise all India was freed from Ravenous Creatures which abounded in the Country both Birds and wild Beasts of all sorts that eat up and devour'd the Seed and Fruits of the Husbandman The Fourth Classis and Order of Men amongst them was made up of the Mechanicks 4th Tribe Artificers some of whom were imploy'd in making of Arms and others of Tools for Tillage and Husbandry and other serviceable Utensils This Order is P. 89. not only free from all Taxes and Impositions but is allow'd a yearly proportion of Corn out of the King's Granaries The Fifth is the Militia the Second for number who in Times of Peace live 5th Tribe Souldiers idle lives and give themselves up wholly to their pleasures All the Souldiers with the War-Horses and Elephants are kept and maintain'd out of the King's Treasury The Sixth Tribe are the Ephori who are the Inquisitors and have a diligent 6th Tribe Ephori and observant Eye upon every thing that is done throughout all India and upon any discovery inform the King of what the know and when there 's no King the Princes and principal Ministers of state In the Seventh Rank are reckon'd the Senators such as have Place in the great 7th Tribe Senators and General Councils These are the fewest in number but of greatest Dignity for their Birth and highest esteem for their Wisdom and Prudence Out of these are chosen the King's Privy-Council Governors of Provinces Judges Generals of Armies in Times of War and other Principal Officers These are the parts into which almost all India is divided It is not lawful for any to marry out of the Tribe to which he belongs nor to exercise any other Trade or Calling than that wherein he has been bred up as for a Souldier to imploy himself in Husbandry or for an Artificer to turn Philosopher India breeds the largest most couragious and strongest Elephants of any Elephants other Place This Creature does not couple with the Female in any strange or unusual manner as some say but as Horses and all other four-footed Beasts They go with young at the least Sixteen Months at the most Eighteen They 16 Months with Young bring forth for the most part like Mares but one at a time which the Dam suckles till it be Six Years old Most of the Inhabitants live very long the Oldest attain to Two Hundred Years In India there are Magistrates appointed to take care of Strangers to see that no Injury be offer'd them and if any of them be sick these Magistrates provide Physitians and in all other respects are very careful of them and if they dye they bury them and whatever Goods or Monies they leave behind they give it to their Kindred Their Judges are very diligent in deciding Suits brought before
first he was made a Shepherd together with another of his Fellow Captives Afterwards he was again taken by Ethiopian Skulkers and carry'd away into the Maritime Parts of Ethiopia And they were thus stolen and carried away that being Strangers by them they might purge and expiate the Land For the Ethiopian Inhabitants there had a Custom anciently us'd among them and appointed by the Oracles of the Gods Twenty Generations before that is Six Hundred Years every Generation comprehending * Thirty Years a Generation Thirty Years that the Land should be purg'd by Two Men that were Strangers They prepar'd therefore a little Ship yet sufficient to endure the Storms at Sea and easily to be govern'd by Two Men Upon this Ship they put the Men on Board with Six Months Provision that according to the direction of the Oracle they might sail away in a direct Course towards the South in order to arrive at a Fortunate Island where they might find People that were gentle and kind with whom they might live happy lives And that if they arriv'd safe at the Island they told them their own Nation from whence they came should enjoy Peace and Prosperity for Six Hundred Years to come P. 97. But if they were affrighted with the length of the Voyage and should return again they told them that like impious Wretches and destructive to the Nation they should undergo most severe Punishments Then they say the Ethiopians kept a Festival upon the Sea-shoar and after splendid Sacrifices crown'd the Purgators with Garlands and sent them away and so perfected the Purgation of the Nation These Two Men they say being tossed for Four Months together having pass'd over a vast Ocean after many Storms and hardships at Sea at last arriv'd at the Island design'd in the Fourth Month. The Island is of a round Form †About Eight Hundred Miles Five Thousand Furlongs in Compass When The shape of the Island the Men drew near to Shoar some of the Inhabitants came to meet them and brought the Ship into Harbour Whereupon many more flockt in and throng'd about the Strangers wondring how ever they got thither however they courteously receiv'd them and entertain'd them with what their Country could afford The Inhabitants are much unlike to us in these Parts of the World both as to The Inhabitants their Bodies and their way of living but among themselves they are for Form and Shape like one to another and in stature above * Six Foot Four Cubits high They can bend and turn their Bones somewhat like unto Nerves and as the Nervous Parts after motion ended return to their former state and position so do their Bones Their Bodies are very tender but their Nerves far stronger than ours for whatever they grasp in their Hands none are able to wrest out of their Fingers They have not the least Hair in any part of their Bodies but upon their Heads Eye-brows Eye-lids and Chins all other Parts are so smooth that not the least Down appears any where They are very comely and well shap'd but the Holes of their Ears are much wider than ours and have something like little Tongues growing out of them Their Tongues have something in them singular and remarkable the Effect both of Nature and Art for they have partly a double Tongue naturally a little divided but cut further inwards by Art so that it seems two as far as to the very Root and therefore there 's great variety of Speech among them and they not only imitate Mans Voice in articulate Speaking but the various Chatterings of Birds and even all sorts of Notes as they please and that which is more wonderful than all is that they can speak perfectly to two Men at once both in answering to what is said and aptly carrying on a continu'd Discourse relating to the subject Matter in hand so that with one part of their Tongue they speak to one and with the other part to the other This Island is under a most excellent and moderate Climate lying †near rather under the The Climate Aequator neither scorcht with Heat nor pincht with Cold there they have ripe Fruit all the Year long as the * Himer Poet says 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apples and Pears always both ripe and green With Grapes and Figs may ever there be seen The Days and Nights are there always of an equal length neither is there any Shadow at Noon-day because the Sun is directly in the Zenith over head They live divided into Tribes according to their Kindred and into distinct Societies Divided into T 〈…〉 s. yet so as that there are not above Four Hundred admitted into any one Tribe or Society They live in Meadows where they are plentifully supply'd with all things necessary for Food by what the Earth produces For the Fertility of the Soyl and the Temperature of the Air is such that Corn more than enough grows there of it self Plenty of Calamus likewise is produc'd there whose Fruit is like to †〈…〉 ed Eâ—â—e white Vetches When they have gather'd it they steep in it hot Water till it puffs up to the bigness of a Pigeons Egg then bruising it and rubbing Their Bread it skilfully in their Hands they knead it into Dough and then bake and eat it being exceeding sweet and delicious Bread to the Taste There are there both hot and cold large Baths both for the curing and preventing of Distempers being Baths P. 98. exceeding sweet and pleasant They are learn'd in all sorts of Sciences especially in Astrology They use Eight and Twenty particular Letters for the signifying what they mean and Seven Characters every one of which are form'd Characters Long liv'd Four manner of ways They live long generally without ever being Sick to an Hundred and Fifty Years of Age. Those that are lame or have any other weakness or infirmity of Body according Customs and Laws to the severe Law of their Country they put to Death They write not cross over the Sheet as we do but begin at the top of the Leaf and go on in one direct Line down to the Bottom They have a Law that they may live to such a certain number of Years and when those are run up they dispatch themselves by a strange kind of Death for there 's an Herb of a double nature that grows among them upon which if any one lies down he silently passes away and dies without any sense of pain as if he were in a sweet Sleep They never marry but make use of Women promiscuously and breed up the Children so begotten as common to them all with equal care and affection to one as well as to another The Children while they are tender Infants are often chang'd by the Nurses that they cannot be known by their Mothers and therefore by that means there being no Ambition among them they live
Taprobana In this ensuing Book pursuing such things as are coherent with those that went before we shall treat of the Ethiopians and Africans and of the Atlantick Islands CHAP. I. Of the Ethiopians Their Letters Laws Arms Religion Funerals The Description of several Parts of the Country Manner of making of Gold Of the Ichthyophages their several sorts and way of Living THE Ethiopians say that they were the First Men that ever were in the World and that to prove this they have clear Demonstrations For they say they are Natives of the Country and not Strangers that came to settle there and are therefore by the general Consent almost of all Men call'd †Born in the Land Autochthones and that in every Man's Opinion it 's most probable that those that inhabit the * Near the Pole Antartick South were the first Living Men that sprung out of the Earth For being that the heat of the Sun at the first exhal'd the Moisture of the Earth and in the first production of all things influenc'd it with a quickening Virtue they say it 's very rational to conclude that those Places next to the Sun should be the first Parents of all Living Creatures It 's affirm'd among them that they were the first that instituted Religious Worship and pompous Sacrifices with solemn Assemblies and other things us'd in the Service and to the honour of the Gods and they hold that the Sacrifices of the Ethiopians are the most acceptable to the Gods of any other and in Testimony hereof they produce the most ancient Poet and of greatest Authority amongst the Grecians who in his Iliads introduces Jupiter with the rest of the Gods travelling into Ethiopia to the Anniversary Sacrifice and solemn Festival prepar'd for them by the Ethiopians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer Iliad lib. 1. v. 424. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For Jove and all the Gods are gone to Feast With pious Ethiopians in the West And they say it 's very evident that the Gods reward them for their Piety for that they were never brought into subjection to any Foreign Prince but always remain'd a free People and at perfect Peace among themselves And although many and those most Potent Princes likewise have invaded yet none have succeeded in their Attempts For Cambyses making in upon them with mighty Forces was in danger both to have lost his Life and his whole Army And Semiramis who was so famous both for her Skill and Success in Arms having but enter'd a little way into Ethiopia presently saw it was to no purpose to think of conquering that Nation Hercules likewise and Bacchus who ran through the whole World forbore only the Ethiopians being awed by the Piety of that People and discourag'd with the difficulty of the Attempt The Ethiopians likewise say that the Egyptians are a Colony drawn out from P. 101. them by Osiris and that Egypt was formerly no part of the Continent but a Sea at the beginning of the World but that afterwards it was by degrees made Land by the River Nile which brought down Slime and Mud out of Ethiopia And that that Country was made dry Land by heaps of Earth forc'd down by the River they say is apparent by evident Signs about the Mouths of Nile For always every Year may be seen fresh Heaps of Mud cast up at the Mouths of the River by the working of the Sea and the Land increas'd by it Moreover they affirm that most of the Egyptian Laws are the same with those in Ethiopia the Colony still observing the Customs of their Ancestors and that they learnt from the Ethiopians the Custom of Deifying of their Kings and their Care and Costs in their Burials and such like things us'd amongst them Besides the making of Statues and the Characters of their Letters For whereas the Egyptians have common and ordinary Characters us'd promiscuously by all the Inhabitants and likewise those they call Sacred known only by the Priests privately taught them by their Parents yet the Ethiopians use both those sorts without any difference or distinction The several Colleges of the Priests they say observe one and the same Order and Discipline in both the Nations For as many as are so consecrated for Divine Service are wholly devoted to Purity and Religion and in both Countries are shaven alike and are cloath'd with the like Stoles and Attire and carry a Scepter like unto a Plow-share such as their Kings likewise bear with high crown'd Caps tufted at the Top wreath'd round with Serpents call'd Asps by which is seem'd to be signify'd that those who contrive any thing against the Life of the King are as sure to dye as if they were stung with the deadly Bite of the Asp Many other things they report of their Antiquity and of a Colony of them heretofore carry'd away into Egypt of which it's unnecessary further to write But lest we should omit things that are antient and remarkable it 's fit something Hieroglyphicks should be said of the Ethiopick Characters and of those which the Egyptians call Hieroglyphicks The Ethiopick Letters represent the Shapes of divers Beasts Parts and Members of Mens Bodies and Artificers Tools and Instruments For by their Writing they do not express any thing by composition of Syllables but by the signification of Images and Representations the meaning of them being ingraven and fixt in the Memory by use and exercise For sometimes they draw the Shape of a Kite Crocodile or Serpent sometimes the Members of a Man's Body as the Eye the Hand the Face and such like The Kite signifies all things that are quickly dispatcht because this Bird flies the swistest almost of any other For Reason presently applies it by a suitable Interpretation to every thing that is suddain and quick or of such nature as perfectly as if they had been spoken The Crocodile is the Emblem of Malice The Eye the preserver of Justice and the Guard of the Body Amongst the Members of the Body the Right Hand with open Fingers signifies Plenty the Left with the Fingers close Preservation and custody of Men's Goods and Estates The same way of reasoning extends to all other Parts of the Body and the forms of Tools and all other things for being that they diligently pry into the hidden signification of every thing and have their Minds and Memories daily imploy'd with continual Exercise they exactly read and understand every thing coucht within the Hieroglyphicks A great part of the Ethiopian Laws differ very much from other Nations especially The Laws of the Ethiopians those which concern the Election of their Kings For they pick out the best of their Priests out of every Rank and Order and whomsoever of those so chosen their Revelling God which they carry about according to Custom does first lay hold on the People they make King and forthwith fall down upon their Knees and worship as a God and render him other Honours as he
sides at length it broke out into open War The Japiges of their Citizens and Confederates bring into the Field above Twenty Thousand Men. The Tarentines understanding the great Preparation made against them both with their own Citizens and Confederates of Rhegium likewise take the Field A bloody Battel was fought and after many kill'd on both sides at length the Japiges became absolute Victors and in the Pursuit the Tarentines were scattered and broken into Two Parties whereof one fled back towards Tarentum the other were furiously driven towards Rhegium The Japiges likewise divided themselves into Two Parties of which the one pursu'd close upon the back of the Tarentines and in regard the distance of Place was but very small there was a very great Slaughter made The other Party so hotly pursu'd them of Rhegium that they fell in pell-mell with them into the City and so took and possessed it CHAP. XI The Death of Thero Prince of Agrigentum and the Tyranny of his Son Thrasydeus who Abdicated the Government and kill'd himself Three Hundred of the Family of the Fabii slain at one time THE next Year Chares was Archon at Athens and at Rome Titus Memius and P. 296. Caius Horatius were Consuls Then were celebrated the Olympian Games at Elis being the Seventy Seventh Olympiad An. Mund. 3500. Olymp. 77. 1. in which Dancles of Argos was Victor About this Ant. Chr. 470. time Thero King of Agrigentum died in the Sixteenth Year Thero King of Agrigentum dy'd of his Reign and Thrasydeus his Son succeeded Thero governed with great Moderation and Justice and The Commendation of Thero therefore was greatly loved and honoured by his Subjects And at his Death was reverenced as a Divine Heroe but his Son even in his Father's Life-time appeared to be of a violent and bloody Disposition And after his Father's Death throwing aside all restraint of the Laws he rul'd arbitrarily and tyrannically For which Thrasideus King of Agrigentum his Cruelty reason his Subjects combin'd against him as one not fit to be intrusted with the Government and perfectly hated by all Ant. Chr. 470. And therefore within a little time after he came to an end suitable to his Deserts For after the Death of his Father he rais'd a great Army of Mercenaries and of his own Subjects of Agrigentum and Himera to the number of above Twenty Thousand Horse and Foot and with these went against the Syracusians But Hiero furnish'd with a considerable Army The Fight of the Agregentines and Syracusians wasted the Borders of Agrigentum and after join'd Battel with the Enemy in which most of the Grecians on both sides being drawn up one against another were slain But the Syracusians got the Day with the loss of Two Thousand Men of the other side were kill'd above Four Thousand Thrasideus by this ill Success perplexed in his Mind Abdicated his Government and fled to the Megarians call'd Miseans and being there condemn'd to Dye slew himself The Agrigentines after Thrasideus abdicates the Government and kills himself they had restor'd and setled their Democratical Government sent an Embassador to Hiero to strike up a Peace At the same time in Italy the Romans had War with the Veians and in a great Battel at Cremera were routed and amongst others Three Hundred of the Fabii all of one Family were slain every Man And these were the Affairs and Events of this Year CHAP. XII The Malice of the Lacedemonians against Themistocles and his Banishment His Praise THE next Year Praxiergus being Archon of Athens Aulus Virgilius Tricostus An. Mu. 3500. Olymp. 77. 2. Ante Chr. â—â—9 and C. Servilius Roman Consuls the Eleans who before lived dispers'd in several little Villages now imbody'd themselves into one City call'd Elis. The Lacedemonians observing how Sparta was contemn'd and evil spoken of by reason of the Treachery of Pausanias and how the Name of Athens grew famous for their Loyalty and Faithfulness one to another endeavour'd all they could to stain the Athenians with the same Blot of Ignominy And therefore for as much as Themistocles was a Man of great Repute and Esteem amongst the Athenians they accuse him of Treason as if he consulted with Pausanias how Themistocles accus'd to betray Greece to Xerxes And the more to provoke the Enemies of Themistocles and to stir them up to accuse him they made use both of Bribes and false Insinuations affirming that Pausanias discover'd his Treasonable Design of betraying Greece unto Themistocles and solicited him to join with him both in Counsel and aid other ways But though Themistocles would not then agree to do that yet he did not look upon himself obliged to discover his Friend However notwithstanding the Potency of his Adversaries Themistocles was clearly acquitted Themistocles acquitted and his Name grew more famous amongst the Athenians for he was greatly beloved by the Citizens for the former eminent Services he had done the Commonwealth But afterwards when by reason of his Popularity he became suspected by some and envy'd by others unmindful of his former Deserts they determin'd both to weaken his Authority and to bring down the height of his Spirit In the first place therefore they Banish'd him the City by the Judgment of Ostracism This Themistocles Banished P. 270. Law was instituted at Athens after the Tyrants were expell'd out of the City by Pisistratus And the Law was thus Every Citizen writ the Name of him in a Shell whom they The Law of Ostracism most suspected to be in a capacity by reason of his Power and Interest to overturn the Popular Government and he whose Name was writ in most of the Shells was forthwith Banished for the space of Five Years And this Law was used at Athens not so much as a punishment for any particular Ant. Chr. 469. Offence as to humble the Spirits of proud and aspiring Men and by their Banishment to reduce them to more Moderation and Submission Themistocles thus banish'd from his Country went to Argos which when known by the Lacedemonians supposing now they had a fair opportunity to ruin him they sent again Embassadors to Athens to accuse him as being in Conspiracy with Pausanias in his Treason alledging that those Injuries which did concern all Greece in general should not be determin'd by the Athenians only but by a Common Council of Greece which was wont upon such occasions to be assembled at Sparta Themistocles considering that the Lacedemonians were resolv'd to expose the Athenians to Shame and Contempt and that they of Athens were as ready to oppose them in defending their Country against the Crime objected he concluded that the matter concerning him would be agreed to be heard in a Common and General Assembly of the Grecians at Sparta And he had had experience that the Lacedemonians were guided more by Interest and Favour than by the Rules of Justice as by a late Experiment was apparent
all the Cities of Beotia under their dominion unto their ancient Liberties Afterwards at the time when Calimachus was Archon of Athens and Sextus Olymp. 83. 3 Quintilius Tergeminus Roman Consuls In Greece many Cities revolted from the Athenians who were grown very low by reason of the late defeat at Cheronea Ant. Ch. 445. especially the Inhabitants of Eubea were plotting and contriving some dangerous Designs Pericles therefore being made General makes for Eubea with a great Army and assaulted and took the City of the * Call'd Hestiea Hestieans and all the Citizens Captives and transplanted them and by this so terrified the rest that they all submitted unto the Athenian Government And a Peace was concluded for Peace Concluded by the Cities with Athens for 30 Years Thirty Years and the Articles were Sign'd and Seal'd by Callias and Chares CHAP. III. The War between the Agrigentines and Syracusians in Sicily The War between them of Crotona and the Siberites Sibaris raz'd The Building of Thurium Charondas his good Laws in Thurium His remarkable Death The Laws of Zaleucus of Locris IN Sicily Wars arose between them of Syracuse and of Agrigentum for these P. 294. Reasons After the Syracusians had broken the Power of Ducetius Prince of the Siculi upon his submission to the People for Mercy they pardon'd him but commanded him to lead a private Life at Corinth But he continued not long there before he broke all his Engagements and Agreements and pretending that he was commanded by the Oracle to People the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pleasant Sea Coast in Sicily he arriv'd in the Island with a great Number of Men as Colonies to Plant there Some of the Siculi join'd him and amongst them one Archonides Prince of †Now St. Nicholas Erbita While he was intent upon his Colony the Agrigentines partly out of envy to the Syracusians and likewise because they had spar'd Deucetius their common Enemy without their Consent make War upon the Syracusians Upon this the Cities of the Siculi then divided some joyn'd with the Agrigentines others with the Syracusians and great Armies are rais'd on both sides and the Cities are pressed to the War with great Importunity At length emcamping one over against the other at the River Himera they came to a Battle and the Syracusians got the day and kill'd a Thousand of the Agrigentines upon the Place But presently after the Fight the Agrigentines sent Embassadors to Syracuse to make Peace which was agreed unto upon Conditions Whilst things were thus acting in Sicily the City Thurium was Built in Italy And this was the Thurium Built in Italy occasion The Grecians sometime before having Built Sybaris in a short time the City grew very Rich by reason of the fruitfulness of the Soil For being Situated between two Rivers Crathis and Sybaris from whence it took it's Name and the Inhabitants having a large and rich Country to Till they grew Rich on a The City Sybaris very rich suddain and taking in many into the Freedom of the City flourish'd to such a degree as that they seem'd to exceed all the Inhabitants of Italy For they were so populous that this one City had in it three hundred thousand Inhabitants There was at that time in the City one call'd Telys who had great Influence over the People This Man by raising Scandals amongst the the Citizens against those who were the Richest so far at length prevail'd with the Sybarites that they Banish'd Five Hundred of the most wealthy Citizens and confiscated The Wealthy Citizens Banish'd by the instigation of Telys their Estates to the public Use These Banish'd Men went to Crotona and there after the manner of suppliants fled to the Altars erected in the Forum Hereupon Telys sent Embassadors to the Crotonians either to deliver up the banish'd Men or expect War A Council was call'd and put to the question whether they should deliver up the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Italiotes so strangers were call'd that liv'd in Italy Pythagoras Ant. Ch. 445. The War between the Sybarites and them of Crotona Suppliants to the Sybarites or ingage in a War with an Enemy more powerful than themselves The Senate and People made some doubt and the People first inclin'd to deliver them up rather than endure the War But afterwards Pythagoras advising them to protect the Suppliants they chang'd their Opinion and determin'd to Fight in their Defence Hereupon the Sybarites took the Field with an Army of three hundred Thousand Men. The Crotonians had but an hundred Thousand which were commanded by Milo the Wrestler who at the first Onset put to flight that Wing of the Army which was opposite to him for he was of invincible Strength and had Courage answerable to his Strength and had been six times Victor at the Olympick Games when he began his Fight he was Crown'd with Olmpick Wealths wearing like Hercules a Lion's Skin and a Club at last he gain'd an absolute Victory and thereupon was much admir'd by his Country-Men Upon the rout the Crotonians gave no Quarter but Kill'd all they took so that most of the Army was destroyed the City was sackt and miserably laid wast and desolate But within fifty eight Years Sybaris ras'd after the Thessalians arriv'd in order to Plant there and P. 295. Rebuilt 58 Years after within less than five Years after they had rebuilt the City they were likewise ejected by the Crotonians For when Calimachus was Archon of Athens this City began to be Inhabited But shortly after it had chang'd both it's Name and Sybaris remov'd chang'd it's Name and call'd Thurium Place being Built elsewhere by Lampo and Xenocrates which was upon this occasion The Sybarites driven out of their Country a second time sent Embassadors into Greece and desir'd aid from the Lacedemonians and Athenians to assist them in restoring them to their Country and likewise desiring that they would send a Colony to partake with them The Lacedemonians rejected their Address but the Athenians resolved to assist them and sent ten Ships with Soldiers to the Sybarites of which Lampo and Xenocrates Ant. Ch. 445. were Generals And Proclamation was made through all the Cities of Peloponesus by the Athenian Heralds that it should be lawful for any that would to Plant with them in their intended new Colony Many comply'd especially being mov'd thereunto by the Oracle of Apollo who advis'd them to Build a City there where there was little Water and yet Bread without Measure Setting Sail therefore for Italy they at length arriv'd at Sybaris and there made diligent search for the Place commended to them by the Deity And finding a Fountain or Spring not far from Sybaris which was call'd Thuria issuing it's Waters through a brazen Pipe call'd Medymnum which signifies a Bushel judging this to be the Place foretold by the Oracle they compass'd it in with a Wall and there
if thou seekst to be curs'd again In truth he who miscarries twice in one and the same thing may justly be accounted a Fool. For what Philemon the Comick Poet says of them that have often escap'd Shipwrack some have apply'd to this Case I wonder not that one the Sea should enter And Sail but that he made the second venture It 's no wonder to see a Man Marry but to see him twice Marry For it 's safer and more advisable for a Man to expose himself twice to the dangers of the Sea than to the hazards of a second Wife For most sad and cruel discords often arise in Families between Parents and Children by the tricks and devices of Stepmothers Hence we have the frequent and horrid pieces of Villany of this kind represented upon the Stage by the Tragedians Charonidas fram'd another very good Law concerning the Guardianship of Orphans 5 About Orphans Upon the first view there seems to be little in it worthy taking notice of but Examining it more closely we may discern much in it Wisdom and excellent Contrivance Their Estates he commited to the care and Guardianship of next of Kin on their Fathers side but their Education and the custody of their Persons Ante Chr. 445. to them of the Mothers At first here seems nothing of any great weight in this Law but upon more serious Consideration it will evidently appear to be a most excellent Constitution For if the Cause be seriously pry'd into why he order'd the care of the Estate to one and the Education of the Person to another the Wisdom and Prudence of the Lawmaker will be very evident For they on the Mother's side would never contrive any thing of prejudice to the Person whose Estate could never come and descend to them and the mischief was prevented as to the Kindred of the Father's side because the Person was not committed to their Custody On the other hand in regard the Estate of the Orphan was to fall to the Father's Kindred in case of his Death it was to be presum'd they would take care to preserve and improve it upon the prospect of the possibility of it's coming unto themselves Another Law he made against those that ran 6 Against such as ran from their Colours away from their Colours or refus'd to take up Arms for the Defence of their Country For whereas former Lawgivers made it Death his Edict was That such Men should sit three days in the Forum cloth'd in Womans Apparel which Constitution as it was more moderate than those in other places so the greatness of the disgrace did work more upon ingenious Spirits to deterr them from softness and effeminatness judging it far better to dye than to undergo so much disgrace in their own Country By this way he destroy'd not those that were Guilty but reserv'd them for the future Service of the City as occasion should be who in all likelyhood after such disgrace would carry themselves better and endeavour to wipe off the stain of their former reproach by doing something more than ordinary for the time to come The Severity and Strictness likewise The severity of his Laws as to the repeating of them of his Laws gave a perpetual vigor to them For it was absolutly forbidden to depart in the least from the Letter of the Law tho' it were never so severe or inconvenient But if any were fit to be repealed or amended he gave power for that purpose For he judg'd it fit and just for every Man to Stoop to the Ant. Chr. 445. Authority of the Lawgiver but to suffer the Cavils and Exceptions of every private Man to prevail nay though they seem'd to tend to the Public good was most absurd And by this means he restrain'd those that would in giving of of Judgment for criminal Matters bring in their own Glosses and Expositions against the express Words of the Law lest by their Cavils the Authority of the Laws should come to nothing And hereupon it is reported that some Prosecutors P. 298. against Criminals said to the Judges that either the Law or the Malefactor must of necessity be preserv'd Charonidas therefore appointed something more than usual concerning the amendment of the Laws For whereas he saw that there were many in diverse Cities who rashly and hand over head going about to correct and amend the Laws did nothing else but by corrupting them involve the common People in Seditions he publish'd this most excellent Law differing from all that were before That any Person who would have any Law to be altered or amended a Council should be call'd and he who would have an alteration 8. Concerning amendment of the Laws should have a Rope put about his Neck and so continue while the Votes of the People-concerning the change of the Law were in taking and if the Assembly did approve of the new Law then the Author should be discharg'd A notable Law to prevent Innovation but if it were rejected then he should be forthwith hang'd By this so severe a Caution to prevent Innovation new Law-makers disappear'd and none durst so much as whisper any thing concerning the amendment or alteration of the Laws From that time forward there were at Thurium only Three forc'd by urgent Provocations that appear'd and stood up to persuade the People to Abrogation of some Laws For there was a Law that he who struck out the Eye Ant. Chr. 445. of another should have his own Eye pluckt out It happened that one who had only one Eye by the injury of another lost that also so that he was altogether Eye for Eye The Story of him that had but one Eye blind In this case although the Offender was to lose his Eye for the injury done to the other yet the punishment was not thought equivalent to the nature of the Offence for he who made his Fellow Citizen wholly blind although by losing one of his Eyes he satisfied the letter of the Law yet the loss and prejudice was not equal and therefore it was conceiv'd to be most equitable and just that he who depriv'd another of his sight wholly should lose both his Eyes if the punishment were proportion'd to the Offence This blind Man therefore mov'd and heated with the pain and indignity of the thing complain'd to the People of his sad Condition and made his Address to them One mov'd to have some Laws amended for amendment of the Law At length having the Rope about his Neck he prevail'd and the Law was abolish'd and another made more effectual in its place and so he escap'd hanging Another Law likewise was moderated whereby power was given to the Wife in some cases to leave her Husband and marry whom else she thought fit For one grown old being forsaken by his young Wife proposed to the People for an amendment of the Law to have this further Addition That it might be lawful for
any Wife that had a desire to leave Law about Marriage her Husband to marry any other Man provided he were no younger than her former Husband and that he who cast off his Wife should marry none younger than the Wife he rejected And he succeeded so well in his Proposal that by having the Law amended he not only escap'd the Rope but by this means his Wife that had a Mind to a young Fellow was forc'd to return to him again Ant. Chr. 445. The Third Law which Solon likewise had made which was amended was that concerning Virgins and Orphans The Law was that where there was an Heiress left the next of Kin might demand her in Marriage and so on the other hand a young Woman an Orphan might demand him that was of her next Kindred in Marriage and he should be forc'd to marry her or if she were poor give her Five Hundred * Drachma was of the Value of 7 d. in our Money Drachma's for her Portion There was an Orphan of this kind left of a good Family but yet extream Poor she by reason of her Poverty in no likelihood to get a Husband made her application to the People and with many Tears bemoaned her desolate condition and despicable state of Life and desir'd an amendment of the Law to this purpose That in lieu of the Five Hundred Drachma's the next of Kin whom by the Law the Orphan might demand in Marriage should be forc'd to marry her The People commiserating her Condition chang'd the Law and so she was delivered from P. 299. the Rope and the rich Kinsman was forc'd to marry the poor Maid without any Dowry Now it remains we should speak of the Death of Charonidas concerning which The remarkable Death of Charonidas there happened something remarkable and wonderful for when he was gone forth against some Robbers that made inroads into the Country before he return'd there happened a Tumult to be rais'd by the People in one of their Common Assemblies Determining therefore to make diligent Enquiry into the Cause and Authors of the Sedition he came hastily in amongst them with his Sword girt at his side and a Law he had made that none should come arm'd into the Senate-house but had forgotten his Sword then at his Side and so rushed into the Assembly and thereby gave an occasion to them that maligned him to accuse him Upon which one cries out You break the Law which you your self made No says he but I will confirm it and forthwith ran himself through †Vid. lib. 13. f. 53. Some Writers ascribe this Fact to Diocles the Law-maker of Syracuse But having spoken enough of Charonidas we shall now relate something in short of Zaleuchus the Law-maker because they were much alike in their Consultations The Law-maker Zaleuchus and bent their Minds and Thoughts to the same things and flourished in Cities near adjoyning one to another Zaleuchus was an Italian born at Locris of a noble Family of great Learning and Scholar to Pythagoras He was of great esteem and account in his Country and chosen by the People to be their Law-maker He began his Laws first with the Worship of the Gods In the Preface he requires the Inhabitants That in the First place and above all they should be fully perswaded and Law about Religion Excellent Notions and Rules of Natural Religion relating to Divine Worship and this by a Heathen undoubtedly believe that there were Gods and that devoutly looking up to Heaven and viewing the Beauty and admirable Harmony and Order thereof they should judge and certainly conclude that that great Work was not of Men or came there by chance And therefore he ordain'd they should adore and worship the Gods from whom all that is good descends upon Men. And to that end that they ought to have their Minds pure and unspotted inasmuch as the Gods are better pleas'd with the just and honest Actions of Righteous Men than with all their costly Sacrifices Having made this Preface or Introduction he then subjoyns his Precepts First That none should be implacable Ant. Chr. 445. 1. Against Implacableness one against another but that all should so manage their Animosities as to keep a reserve in a short time to be reconcil'd and in full Friendship with their Adversaries and if any did otherwise such a Man should be reputed of a fierce and inhumane Disposition Secondly He commanded the Magistrates 2. About Magistrates that they should not be Proud and Domineering that they should not give Judgment in any matter either for Love or Hatred And in other particulars he devised many things with great Wisdom Prudence and Ingenuity 3. Whereas in all other Countries by the excess and extravagance of Women 3. Against the Expence of Women much Silver was spent and wasted by a witty and ingenious kind of Punishment he restrain'd their Excess for he ordered That no Woman that was Free of the City should be attended Abroad with any more than one Servant unless she were Drunk That none should walk abroad in the Night except it were with an intent to play the Whoâ—e nor wear golden Ornaments or Garments embroider'd with Gold unless with the same intent Nor that any 4. Expences of Men. Man should wear a Gold Ring of a Milesian Garment unless he were guilty of Fornication or Adultery By these dishonourable Exceptions and Conditions of Indempnity which were Punishments in themselves he easily restrain'd the Citizens from Luxury and Excess for none were willing to expose themselves as laughing-stocks to their Fellow Citizens by owning themselves guilty of such foul Offences Many other Laws concerning Contracts and other Differences which might arise were with great Judgment made by him which would be too tedious particularly to relate and beside the scope and intent of our History We shall therefore return whence we made a digression P. 300. Olymp. 83. 4. Ant. Ch. 443. Lysimachides was chief Ruler of Athens when the Romans conferr'd the Consular dignity upon Titus Menenius and Poplius Sestius Capitolinus In their time the Sybarites that had escap'd in the late Sedition seated themselves at the River Tarentum where they continu'd for some time but at length were rooted out and utterly destroy'd by the Brutii In Greece in the mean time the Athenians having recovered Eubea drave the Hestians out of the City and sending thither a Colony of a Thousand Citizens of their own they divided the City and Land adjacent amongst them by Lot CHAP. IV. Of the Decemviri in Rome chosen to make Laws The War between the Thurians and Tarentines The sad Story of the Daughter of one Lucius Virginius in Rome which caus'd a disturbance and great Sedition The Law of the Twelve Tables Peace all over the World WHen Praxitiles was Governor of Athens the Eighty Fourth Olympiad was Olymp. 84. 1. Ant. Ch. 442. celebrated in which Crison of Himera
was Victor and at Rome Ten Persons call'd the Decem-viri were chosen to compose new Laws * Appius Publius Claudius Regillanus Titus †Crenucius Minutius Sporius Viturius Caius Julius * Servius Caius Sulpitius Publius Sestius †T. Romilius Romilius Sporius Posthumius * A. Manlius Culbinius and Publius Horatius By these Persons were Laws made In their time a War broke out between the Thurians and them of Tarentum in which War the Countries were wasted on both sides by Inroads by Land and Invasions from Sea many small Battels and Skirmishes were fought but nothing done of any moment Lysanias being chief Ruler at Athens the Romans again chose Ten Men for Olymp. 84. 2. Ante Chr. 441. The Story of the Daughter of Virginius making of Laws Appius Claudius Marcus Cornelius Lucius Minutius Caius Sergius Quintus Pitilius Marcus Rabuleius T. Antonius Meranda Q. Fabius Vibulanus C. Duilius and Sp. Oppius But these could not perfect the Business wherein they were imploy'd for †Appius one of them fell in Love with a beautiful Virgin but of small Fortune whom he endeavour'd to debauch by Money But when he saw he could not gain his Design by those means he subborn'd a * One Marcus Claudius Fellow fit for his purpose to claim her for his Bondslave and to bring her before the Decem-viri and demand Judgment against her as his Slave which was easily obtain'd from a corrupt Judge the Author of the Villany She being delivered to him the Sycophant Knave carry'd her away as his Bond-maid In the mean time the ‖ One Lucius Virginius Father of the Young Woman mov'd with Grief and Rage at the indignity offer'd hasten'd to the Court where seeing no hopes of redress he follow'd his Daughter close behind her and spying a Knife in a Butcher's Shop as he pass'd by he snatcht it up and forthwith stabb'd his Daughter to Death to avoid the indignity and disgrace of such a condition and forthwith without delay hastening out of the City made to the Army that was then encamp'd at Algidum and with many Tears declar'd his miserable Condition and implor'd their Assistance which on the suddain affected them all with Commiseration and great sorrow at his Calamity upon which being all stirr'd up with a resolution to relieve the distressed Father in the Night they rush into Rome and possess themselves of the Aventine Mount As soon as the Day brake the Decem-viri being inform'd of the Rage of the Soldiers against the wickedness of the Fact by force of Arms resolving to defend their Collegue got together a multitude of Young Men to dispute the matter with their Adversaries by the Sword And now a great and bloody Fight seem'd to be at hand when some of the Citizens of the best Quality foreseeing the danger interpos'd by Messengers to both Parties in order to compose the Difference intreating and earnestly beseeching them that they would forbear and not involve their Country in Blood and Destruction At length the matter was agreed upon these Conditions That there Tribunes of the People chosen at Rome should be Ten call'd * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tribunes of the People Tribunes of the People chosen who should have Sovereign Power and Authority over all the rest of the Magistrates of the City and who might protect the common Liberty of the People And that one of the Consuls every Year should be chosen out of the Senators and the other out of the Common People Yea further that they should have Power to chuse both Consuls out from among themselves if they thought fit And this Law was then made to be a Check to the exorbitant power of the Patricians for they Ant. Chr. 441. P. 301. under colour of their great and high Birth and the glory of their Families with insufferable Pride engross'd to themselves all the power and authority of the City Amongst the Conditions it was further added That the Tribunes of the People at the end of every Year should appoint as many new ones in their room to succeed and if they did neglect it they should be burnt alive And though the Tribunes could not agree in their Choice yet they should continue still in their Offices in the mean time And this was the end of the great Commotion at Rome Diphilus being Archon of Athens the Romans created Marcüs Horatius and Olymp. 84. 3. Ant. Ch. 440. The Twelve Tables at Rome Lucius Valerius Potitus Consuls who perfected the Laws which suffered an irruption by the Sedition For there were then Ten of the Twelve Tables as they were call'd only finished the other Two were added by these Consuls The Roman Laws thus perfected the Consuls ordered them to be engraven upon Twelve Tables of Brass and fix'd them to the Pleaders Desk in the face of the Court. And these Laws thus written briefly and plainly without any flourish of Words remain unto this Day About the time these things were done most Nations through the World were at Peace for the Persians made a double League with the Grecians and with the Athenians and their Confederates Most Nations of the World at Peace whereby Liberty was restor'd to all the Greek Cities of Asia The other afterwards was with the Lacedemonians by which This may be the time mention'd in Zachary Zach. 1. 11. which continued to the time of Darius Nothus Ant. Chr. 440. it was agreed quite contrary that the Greek Cities in Asia should remain under the power of the Persians In like manner the Grecians were at Peace among themselves the Athenians and Spartans having entred into a League for Thirty Years And all was likewise quiet in Sicily the Carthaginians having made Peace with Gelon and all the Grecian Cities submitted to them of Syracuse And the Agrigentines after the Slaughter at Himera accepted of Terms of Peace And all the People of Italy France Spain and most Parts of the World were at perfect Concord one with another Therefore we have no account in History of any thing memorable done in War during this time but all were every where at rest solacing themselves with Sports and Sacred Festivals and other Jollities the common Attendants of a prosperous State and Condition CHAP. V. The War between the Samians and the Melesians A Sedition in Samos which revolts from the Athenians The War in Sicily by the Syracusians against the Trinacrians TImocles was now chief Governour of Athens and Larius Herminius and Titus Virginius Tricostus Roman Consuls In their time the Samians break forth into War against the Milesians concerning Olymp. 84. 4. Ant. Chr. 439. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro Priene Thucyd. Priene a Town in Ionia under the Mountain Micale Pericles sent against the Samians Priene and discerning the Athenians more to favour the Milesians they revolted from them Hereupon the Athenians sent Pericles made Admiral some time before with Forty Sail against the
time werefour Military Tribunes appointed at Rome to execute the Consular Dignity Caius Furius Caius Servilius Caius Valerius and Numerius Fabius And this Year was celebrated the Ninety Fourth Olympiad in which Cocynas of Larissa was Victor About this time the Athenians their Power being broken obtain'd a Peace with the Lacedaemonians and liberty to govern according to their own Laws upon Condition they demolish'd their Walls which they pull'd down accordingly but could not agree among themselves about the Form of their Government For they that were for an Oligarchy gave their Votes for the restoring that ancient Government But the greatest part who stood up for the Democracy preferr'd the Government by the Senators declaring that to be the truest Democracy When this banding one against another had continu'd some days they for the Oligarchy sent to Lysander the Spartan hoping thereby to gain the Point in regard he was order'd now the War was at an End to settle the Government of the Cities and in every Place he set up an Oligarchy To this end they sail'd to him to Samos where he then was having lately taken the City When they arriv'd and had crav'd his assistance he promis'd them his Aid and thereupon after he had made Thorax Governor of Samos pass'd over to the Pireum with an hundred Sail. Then calling a General Assembly he advis'd them to chuse Thirty Men who should Govern the Common-wealth and Manage all the Affairs of the City Theramenes oppos'd this Proposal repeating the Articles of Ant. Ch. 402. the Peace whereby it was agreed That they should be govern'd according to the Laws of their own Country and declar'd it would be a most intolerable piece of Injustice The Thirty Tyrants chosen at Athens if against the Sacred Ties of an Oath their Liberties must be thus ravish'd from them Lysander answer'd That the Athenians had first broken the League themselves because they did not pull down their Walls within the time agreed and grievously threaten'd Theramenes and told him That unless he desisted from his Oppositions against the Lacedaemonians he would put him to Death Upon this both Theramenes and the People being in a great Fright were forc'd by a general suffrage to abolish the Democracy and Thirty Men were forthwith chosen to be Governors of the Common-Wealth in Name call'd Fit Magistrates but in Deed and in Truth nothing but Tyrants But because the Justice and Moderation of Theramene P. 397. was evidently discern'd by the People they judg'd he would be a Bridle to the Covetousness Theramenes chosen one of the Thirty of the rest of those plac'd over them and thefore chose him to be one of the Thirty The Duty and Office of these Men was to chuse the Members of the Senate to create Magistrates and to make Laws for the Government of the City But they forbore to make any Laws upon many specious pretences Yet they fill'd the Senate and all the Ant. Ch. 402. Places in the Magistracy with their own Creatures who were call'd Pretors but in truth were meerly the Tyrants Tools At first they executed Justice upon Malefactors with great Severity to the putting of them to Death So that as yet they were well spoken of and commended by every honest Citizen But not long after when they resolv'd to be Lawless and set up an Arbitrary The Cruelty of the Thirty Tyrants of Athens Power they sent for a Garison from the Lacedaemonians upon pretence that they would mould all things in the Government to the advantage of their Interest For they knew very well that without a Foreign Force they could not execute those Slaughters and Butcheries they design'd for that all would as one Man rise up against them in their own defence When the Garison from Lacedaemon was come they presently gain'd the Governor Callibius with Bribes and other fawning and flattering Addresses Then they singled out some of the richest Citizens such as they thought fit and charging them as Innovators and Plotters against the Government put them to Death and consiscated their Estates But when Theramenes oppos'd his Collegues and others who were Zealous for the Common-Wealth stood up for the Defence of their Liberties the Thirty call'd a Senate in Ant Ch 402. which Critias the President loads Theramenes with many grievous Crimes and chiefly that he betray'd that Government in the Administration of which he himself voluntarily accepted a share with the rest Theramenes in Answer to what he said so clear'd himself of every particular laid to his Charge that he gain'd the good Opinion of the whole Senate Upon which Critias with the rest of his Faction being afraid lest this Man should Theramenes accus'd by the Tyrants overturn the Oligarchy surrounded him by the Soldiers with their Swords drawn with an intent forthwith to seize him But Theramenes foreseeing their purpose rushes through and flies to the Altar in the Hal'd from the Altar in the Senate Senate-house crying out That he fled to the Gods not that he hop'd thereby to save his Life but that the Impiety of his Murtherers might be the more aggravated by the violation of the Sacreds of their Religion But though he was thence violently hal'd by the * Sheriffs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lictors yet bore all with an undaunted Spirit being well principled in the Precepts of Philosophy by his late Master Socrates The People generally lamented his sad Misfortune and unworthy Usage but none durst rescue him by reason of the Soldiers that clos'd him round But Socrates the Philosopher and two of his Servants ran in and endeavour'd to hinder the Lictors But Theramenes intreated them they would forbear declaring he could not but honour their Love and Courage shew'd on his behalf but that it would be his greatest Misery if he should be the Cause of the Death of those who so greatly lov'd him Socrates therefore and the rest when they saw none to come in to their assistance and that Ant. Ch. 402. the stronger Faction more and more increas'd let fall their design Theramenes thus forc'd from the Altars was led through the Market-place to Execution by the Officers who had him in charge But the common People affrighted with the arm'd Men Theramenes Executed while they bewail'd the Condition of this miserable Man as one most unjustly condemn'd at the same time likewise deplor'd their own Bondage and Slavery For every poor Man seeing the Virtue of Theramenes so despis'd and trampled under foot foresaw that they by reason of their mean and low Condition would be valu'd no more than things set behind the Door After they had executed him the Thirty upon false Accusations put to death several Many other Executed others of the rich Men whom they had written down in a List and when they were dead seiz'd upon all they had Among whom was Niceratus the Son of Nicias the General who was formerly sent against the
they were moved and acted as by some Enthusiasm so he likewise was inspir'd with a Spirit of Prophecy The News presently spreading abroad among the Inhabitants how wonderfully they were affected that look'd down into the Chasm many flock'd to the place and out of Curiosity made Experiments and as many as came near were always acted with a Spirit of Divination For these Reasons the Place was counted the Residence of some Oracle For some time therefore it was a practice that those who had a desire to know Future Events would approach to this Denn and there return Answers of things that were to come one to another But whereas many through an Excess and Transport of Mind would leap into the Gulf and so were never seen more it was judg'd adviseable by the Inhabitants to avoid the like danger for the future that some one Woman should be consecrated Prophetess and that by her the Answer of the Oracle should be deliver'd and that an Engine should be made for her whereon she might sit and by that means be inspir'd without any danger and give Answers to them that consulted with her concerning Future Events This Machine had three Feet from whence it was call'd the Tripode whose Figure and Three Bases Shape almost all the Tripodes of Brass made to this day do imitate But sufficient we conceive is said concerning the manner of finding out the Seat of the Oracle and for what Reasons the Tripode was made It 's reported That at the first Virgins were assign'd to this Office because that in their Nature they are more pure and harmless and of the same Sex with * The Sister of Apollo Diana And besides for that they were judg'd fittest to keep the Secrets of the Oracle But it 's said that of latter time one Thessalus Echecrates coming to the Oracle upon sight of the Virgin-Prophetess for her admirable Beauty fell in love with her and ravish'd her Which wicked Fact caus'd the Delphians to make a Law That no young Virgin for the future but a Ant. Ch. 353. grave Woman of fifty Years of Age in a Virgin 's Dress to keep up the Memory of the ancient Mode in Divination should preside and return the Answers These are the old fabulous Stories that are told concerning the first discovery of the Oracle But to return to the Acts of Philomelus who being now Lord of the Temple commanded Pythia to answer him from the Tripods according to the ancient Rite and Custom of the Country When the Prophetess answer'd him saying This is the Custom of the Country he commanded her with Threats to ascend the Tripode Whereupon she submitting by force to the Authority of the Imposer answer'd him That it was lawful for him to do what he list At which he was very jocund and said he had receiv'd an Answer fit for his Purpose And thereupon presently caus'd the Answer to be recorded and expos'd to be read that so it might be evident to all that the God had given him liberty to do what he pleas'd Then he call'd a General Assembly and rehears'd to them the Divine Oracle and bid them all to be constant and courageous and then betook himself again to the Business of the War Moreover a Prodigy appear'd to him in the Temple of Apollo for an Eagle hovering over it and at length casting her self down to the ground pursu'd the Pigeons that were fed and kept in the Temple from place to place so that she snatch'd away some even from the Altars themselves Those that were vers'd in interpreting things of this Nature declar'd that this portended that Philomelus and the Phocians should possess themselves of all the Treasures of the Temple Being greatly puff'd up with this Encouragement he singles out the choicest of his Friends to send as Messengers Ant. Ch. 353. abroad some to Athens others to Lacedaemon and others to Thebes and other most remarkable Cities of Greece with this Apology That he had seiz'd upon Delphos not with any design to commit any Sacrilege but to regain the Patronage of the Temple for his Country and declar'd that he was ready to give an exact account to all the Greeks of the Money and all the dedicated Gifts there both for weight and number whoever should require the same At length he desir'd that if any out of Envy or Malice should make War upon the Phocians that they would rather join with him against such or at least stand Neuters The Ambassadors quitting themselves with all diligence in this matter the Athenians Lacedaemonians and some others entred into the Confederacy and promis'd them assistance But the Boeotians with the Locrians and some others were of a contrary Mind who took up Arms in defence of the Oracle against the Phocians These were the things done in the Course of this Year CHAP. VII The Battel at Phaedra between Philomelus and the Locrians The Parties engag'd in the Phocian War The Battel between the Boeotians and Phocians Philomelus kill'd Onomarchus made General His Dreams Successes and Death NOW Diotinus executed the Office of Archon at Athens and Cneius Manlius and Caius Martius of Consuls at Rome when Philomelus having a prospect of the Storm Olymp. 106. 3. Ant. Ch. 352. An. M. 3596. of War that was rushing in upon him hir'd a great number of Soldiers with whom he join'd the most expert and choicest of the Phocians But tho' he was in want of Money yet he still forbore to meddle with the Sacred Treasures but got sufficient to pay the Mercenaries out of the Estates of the greatest men among the Delphians When he had rais'd a considerable Army he march'd into the Field that all might take notice that he was ready to fight with any Enemy that appear'd against the Phocians Upon this the Locrians The Battel at the Rocks of Phaedra See the Story in Ovid. Epist Phaedra to Hippolytus made out against him and fought with him at a Place call'd The Rocks of Phaedra whom he routed and kill'd multitudes of them and took many Prisoners and forc'd some of them to cast themselves down headlong from the Top of the Rock After this Battle the Phocians grew very high crested upon the account of their prosperous Success The Misfortune on the other hand greatly discourag'd the Locrians they sent therefore an Ambassador to Thebes to desire them to afford their assistance both to them and the Oracle The Baeotians both out of their Piety towards the Gods and for Confirmation of the Decrees of the Amphictyons wherein they were greatly concern'd solicited by their Ambassadors the Thessalians and others of the Amphictyons to join with them in the War against the Phocians Upon which after that the Amphictyons had decreed War to be made upon the Phocians there arose great Uproars and Factions throughout all Greece Some were for assisting the Oracle and for prosecuting the Phocians with Revenge as Sacrilegers others were for defending them And while
sent Ten Gallies full of Soldiers and Pay for them to Syracuse By these Supplies Timoleon took Heart and the Carthaginians were so discouraged and affrighted that very imprudently they sailed out of the Harbour and drew off their whole Army and marched away into their own Territories Hicetas being thus stripp'd of all Assistance Timoleon now stronger than the Citizens possessed himself of all Syracuse Presently after he received Messina who had sided with the Carthaginians into his Protection And this was the State of Sicily at the time In Macedonia Philip who bore an Hereditary Hatred against the Illyrians and had Philip invades the Illyrians with them an everlasting Controversy invaded their Country with a powerful Army and wasted and spoiled their Lands and after the taking of many Towns returned with rich Booty into Macedonia Afterwards making an Expedition into Thessaly he cast all the Tyrants out of the Cities and by this means gained the Hearts of the Thessalians For by gaining them to be his Allies he hoped easily to procure an Interest in all Greece and by the Issue it appeared so afterwards For the bordering Grecians presently in imitation of the Thessalians very readily entred into a League with Philip. Pythodorus was now Lord Chancellor of Athens and Caius Plautius and Titus Manlius Olymp. 109. 2. Ant. Ch. 341. An. M. 3605. Dionysius abdicates the Government executed the Consular Dignity at Rome At this time Dionysius being brought into extremity of Danger and in a terrible Fright was wrought upon by Timoleon to surrender the Castle and upon Condition of Abdicating the Government had Liberty safely to depart to Peloponnesus with all his Goods and Movables And thus he through Sloth and Cowardise lost this so eminent and famous a Principality bound fast as they used to term it with an Adamant and spent the rest of his Days * It 's said he kept a private School at Corinth till he was very old Just lib. 21. in a poor and mean Condition Whose change of Fortune and course of Life exhibit a clear Example to those who like Fools boast in the Times of Prosperity For he who a little before had Four hundred Gallies at Command not long after in a small Skiff was conveyed to Corinth and became a Spectacle to Admiration of a wonderful Change Timoleon having possessed himself of the Island and Castles lately held by Dionysius demolished all the Forts and Palaces of the Tyrants through the Island and freed all the Towns from the Garisons And continually employed himself in framing of Laws and instituted such as were most proper for the Administration of the Democracy And in his making such as related to private Contracts he had a special Regard to Equality and mutual Recompence Moreover he appointed a chief Magistrate to be Ant. Ch. 341. Yearly chosen whom the Syracusians call the * Servant of Jupiter Olympus Amphipolus of Jupiter Olympus and the first Amphipolus was Callimenes From hence arose the Custom amongst the Syracusians to note their Years with the respective Governments of these Magistrates which continues to this very time of writing this History and though the Frame of the Government be now chang'd For since the Romans imparted the Laws of their City to the Sicilians the Office of the Amphipolus has still continued being now grown old having been executed above Three hundred Years And thus stood the Affairs of Sicily at that time In Macedonia Philip having persuaded all the Greek Cities in Thrace to Concord amongst themselves made an Expedition against the Thracians For Cersobleptes the Thracian King was continually destroying the Greek Cities in the Hellespont and harrassing and spoiling the Country Therefore Philip to put a Check to the Designs and Progress of the Barbarians invaded them with a great Army and was so Victorious that he forced them to pay a Tenth as a Tribute to the Kingdom of Macedonia And by building of strong Towns in convenient Places he curb'd the Insolency of the Thracians The Greek Cities therefore being freed from their Fears with great Eagerness enter'd into a League of Confederacy with Philip. As to Writers Theopompus of Chius composed an History of the Acts of Philip in Three Books in which are interwoven the Affairs of Sicily For beginning with the Sovereignty of Dionysius the Elder he comprehended an Account of the Transactions of Fifty Years and ended with the Expulsion of Dionysius the Younger These Three Books are from the Forty first to the Forty third Year of the Fifty Years CHAP. XII The Acts of Timoleon in Sicily The Preparations of the Carthaginians against Timoleon The remarkable Siege of Perinthus by Philip. Pexodorus expells his Brother Adam from the Principality in Caria Byzantium beâ—ieged by Philip. WHEN the chief Magistracy of Athens was in the Hands of Sosigenes and Marcus Valerius and Marcus Publius executed the Office of Consuls at Rome Arymbas Olymp. 109. 3. Ant. Ch. 340. An. M. 3604. King of the Molossians died after he had reigned Ten Years leaving his Son Aeacidas the Father of Pyrrbus But by the Help of Philip of Macedon Alexander the Brother of Olympias succeeded Arymbas * Caius Petilius In Sicily Timoleon marched against the Leontines to whom Hicetas had joined himself with a great Army and in the first place besieged the new City as it was called * A part of Epyrus But the Garison being very strong they easily repulsed the Assailants and thereupon he raised his Siege without effecting any thing Then he made for Engya at that time under The Acts of Timoleon in Sicily the Tyranny of Leptines and ply'd it with continual Assaults being very earnest and intent to set them free by the Expulsion of Leptines While Timoleon was thus employ'd Hicetas marches away from Leontium with all his Forces and besieg'd Syracuse but having lost there a great part of his Army he hasted back to Leontium Timoleon at length so terrifi'd Leptines that under the Terms of safe Conduct he was sent away to Peloponnesus and by these Banishments Timoleon expos'd to the Graecians the Trophies of his Victory over the Tyrants And forasmuch as the Apolloniates were likewise under the Power of Leptines he receiv'd Apollonia into his Protection and restor'd them as well as the Engyans to their Liberty But being in great want of Money so that he knew not how to pay the Soldiers he order'd a Thousand Arm'd Men commanded by Expert Officers to make Incursions into the Carthaginian Territories These harrass'd the Country far and near and got together abundance of rich Plunder and Spoil and brought it to Timoleon who expos'd all to publick Sale and rais'd a vast Sum of Money whereby they paid the Soldiers for a long time before-hand Presently after he possess'd himself of Entella and put to Death Fifteen of the Citizens who adher'd to the Carthaginians and restor'd the rest to their Liberties Timoleon growing every Day in Reputation for his
Ch. 307. and fought and routed the Hetruscans and pursu'd them to their very Camp About ' the same time the Samnites when the Roman Army was abroad at a great distance without the least fear of an Enemy besieg'd the Japyges Allies to the Romans Therefore the Consuls were forc'd to divide their Forces Fabius continu'd in Hetruria but Marcius march'd against the Samnites and took the City of Allita by Storm and freed their Allies from the Siege of Japyges But Fabius while the Hetrurians flock'd in great multitudes to besiege Sutrium slipt secretly by the Enemy through the bordering Country and made an Incursion into the Higher Hetruria which had for a long time been free from all manner of Inroads and Invasions where breaking in upon the sudden he wasted and harass'd the Country up and down and routed those of the Inhabitants that made head against him and kill'd many of them and took a great number of Prisoners Afterwards he overcame and kill'd many of them in another Battel at a Place call'd Perusia and put that People into a great Consternation He was the first of the Romans that ever enter'd with an Army into those Parts But he made Peace with the Arretines and Crotoneans and them of Perusina and taking the City call'd Castula he forc'd the Hetrurians to raise their Siege before Sutrium This Year there were two Censors created at Rome the one of whom was Appius Claudius who with the concurrence of his Collegue Caius Plautius abrogated many of the ancient Laws For to gratifie the People he made no account of the Senate He brought Water which was from him call'd Appia into Rome from Places * About 10 miles fourscore Furlongs distant P. 751. and expended a vast Sum of Money in this Work receiv'd out of the Treasury by Consent of the Senate Then he laid a Causey of hard Stone the greatest part of that way which is from him call'd Appia extending from Rome to Capua a * About 120 miles Thousand Furlongs An 〈…〉 Ch. 307. The Appian 〈◊〉 and upwards and with great Costs and Expence levell'd all the rising Grounds and fill'd up all the Holes and hollow Places making all even and plain but hereby drain'd the Treasury almost of all the Money that was in it And by this his laying out of himself in promoting the Publick Good he left behind him an immortal Memorial He also made up the Senate not only of the Nobility as the ancient Custom was but likewise of the * Such as had been Slaves and were see free Libertines by chusing many of them and mixing them with the other which the Patritians took very heinously Moreover he gave liberty to the Citizens to incorporate themselves into what Tribe they thought fit and to be tax'd in what Rank soever they pleas'd At length perceiving how greatly he was envy'd by the Nobility he avoided the Storm by insinuating himself into the favour of the Common People and making use of them as a Bulwark against the Envy of the Patricians In must ' ring of the Horse he never took any Mans Horse from him neither ever remov'd any Person never so mean out of the Senate that was once chosen when he took an account of the Senators which the Censors us'd to do But the Consuls both out of Envy and to gratifie the Nobility conven'd a Senate of such as were inroll'd by the former Censors and not those that were allow'd by him But the People oppos'd them and sided with Appius and that he might confirm the Advancement of such as were but of mean and obscure Birth he preferr'd one Cains Flavius the Son of a Libertine to the Office of Aedilis and to the highest Place in that Office And this was the first Roman born of a Libertine that ever before was advanc'd to that Honourable Station Appius at length being remov'd out of his Office out of fear of the Senate's Malice kept his House under pretence of being blind Now Charinus was Chief Governor at Athens and the Romans created Publius Decius and Olym. 118. 1. Ant. Ch. 306. An. M. 3642. The Acts of Ptolemy in Corinth and other places Quintus Fabius Consuls And at Elis was celebrated the Hundred and eighteenth Olympiad in which Apollonides of Tegeata bore away the Prize At which time Ptolemy sailing from Myndus along the Islands which lay in his way came to Andros and putting out the Garison that was there restor'd it to her former Liberty Thence he sail'd to the Isthmus and receiv'd Sicyon and Corinth from Cratesipolis But for what reasons and upon what account he took these eminent Cities into his hands we have related in the former Books and therefore we shall forbear repetition He design'd also to restore the rest of the Greek Cities to their Liberties judging that by gaining the Hearts of the Grecians he should very much promote his own Interest But when the Peloponnesians were order'd to provide Money and Victuals but perform'd nothing of what they had agreed to he was so incens'd that he made Peace with Cassander upon this Condition That each of them should retain those Cities they had then in their hands Then having put Garisons into Sicyon and Corinth he return'd into Aegypt In the mean time * Alexander's 〈◊〉 Ant. Ch. 306. Cleopatra being incens'd against Antigonus of her own accord inclin'd to Ptolemy and left Sardis to go to him She was Sister of Alexander the Conqueror of the Persians the Daughter of Philip Son of Amyntas and the Wise of Alexander who undertook an Expedition into Italy And therefore upon the account of the Nobleness of her Birth Cassander Lysunachus Antigonus and Ptolemy and even the Chiefest of Alexander's Captains after his death were every one ambitious to marry her For every one hop'd by this Marriage to draw all the the Macedonians after them and therefore P. 752. each coveted to be related to the Royal Family looking upon that as the way to gain the Sovereign Power and Command over all the rest But the Governour of Sardis whom Antigonus had commanded to retain Cleopatra stopt her Journey and afterwards by Order from Antigonus with the help of some Women privily murther'd her But Antigonus Cleopatra kill'd by the Governour of Sardis who would no ways be thought guilty of her death struck off the Heads of some of those Women for having a hand in her Murder and bury'd her with all the Magnificence that might be And such was the end of Cleopatra before any Solemnization of Marriage who was earnestly coveted as a Wife by all the most Noble Captains and Generals of the Army Having now gone through the Affairs of Asia and Greece we shall pass over to other Parts of the World In Africa the Carthaginians sent an Army against the Numidians who had revolted from them in order to reduce them Upon which Agathocles left his Son Archagathus with Ant. Ch. 306. Agathocles
the Demetrians who Assaulted by turns and mutually reliev'd one another with fresh Supplies having clear'd the Wall by their Shot broke into Munychia and so forcing the Soldiers within to lay down their Arms they took the Governor prisoner Having dispatcht this Business in a few Days time Demetrius demolish'd Munychia and entirely restor'd the People to their Liberty and entred with them into a League of Peace and Amity Ant. Ch. 305. The Athenians therefore made a Decree which was written by Stratocles that Golden Statues of Antigonus and Demetrius should be set up and mounted upon a Chariot next to Harmodius and * Two Brothers that kill'd the Tyrant Hyparchus in Athens Olymp. 66. Thucid. Hist Honours of Demetrius in Athens Aristogiton and that they should be both Adorn'd with Crowns of Gold of Two hundred Talents weight apiece and that an Altar should be erected in Honour of them call'd the Saviour's Altar And in further Honour to them to the Ten Tribes of Athens they added Two more call'd the Antigonian and Demetrian And thus the People of Athens after they had been stripp'd out of all their Liberties by the Lamian War after Fifteen Years were restor'd to their Ancient Laws and Government Magera was still under the curb of a Garison but Demetrius likewise took this City and restor'd the People to their former Privileges therefore he was highly Honour'd and richly presented by the Inhabitants upon this Account Moreover when the Athenian Ambassador who was sent to Antigonus presented to him the Decree he understanding that they both wanted Corn for necessary Provision and Timber for building of Ships sent them a hundred and fifty * Every Medimna 18 Gallons Medimna's of Wheat and as much Timber as would build a hundred Ships Then he withdrew the Garison out of Imbrus and restor'd the City to the Inhabitants Afterwards he writ to his Son Demetrius and order'd him to call a Senate of Members chosen out of all the Confederate Citys in order to Consult concerning what might be most conducing to the publick Good of all Greece And that he himself with all speed should transport Forces into Cyprus and there fight Ptolemy's Captains In Obedience to his Father's Commands without any further delay he put over first into Caria and mov'd the Rhodians to make War against Ptolemy who were slack Ant. Ch. 30â— Demetrius Voyage into Cyprus and slow in the matter willing rather to be Neuters and keep in with all sides hence first grew the Heart-burnings between them and Antigonus Thence he sail'd into Cilicia and furnishing himself there with Shipping and Men he pass'd over into Cyprus with Fifteen thousand Foot and Five hundred Horse and a Fleet consisting of an Hundred and ten Ships of Three tire of Oars apiece of singular swiftness and Fifty three not so swift as the other but men of War as they were besides Transport Ships of all sorts answer able to so great a multitude of Men and Horses Being landed he first encamp'd near the Shoar not far from Carpasia and drawing up his Ships to land fenc'd them with a deep Trench and Ramparts and then he set upon the Cities next at hand and took Urania and Carpasia by Storm and leaving a sufficient Guard to defend his Trenches about the Fleet he march'd to Salamis Menelaus appointed by Ptolemy chief Commander of the Isle being then at Salamis Ptolemy's Brother and seeing the Enemy within forty Furlongs of the City drew out of the Garisons adjoining to the Number of Twelve thousand Foot and Eight hundred Horse and went out to meet him and fought a while but not being able to endure the Enemy's Charge fled and Demetrius pursuing him even to the Gates of the City took to the Number of Ant. Ch. 305. Three thousand of his Men and kill'd a Thousand upon the Place The Prisoners he P. 758. Pardon'd and distributed them among his own Men But finding they were ever ready to fly over again to Menelaus because their Wealth was in Ptolemy's hands in Aegypt he Shipp'd them all away to Antigonus his Father Antigonus at that time was building a City in the Upper Syria near the River Orontes call'd by his own name Antigonia laying out great Sums of Money upon it and taking in within the Walls seventy Furlongs of Ground For the Place it self was very opportune to lie as a Yoke both upon Babylon and the Upper Provinces and likewise upon the Lower with the other Provinces as far down as to Aegypt But this City continu'd not long for Seleucus raz'd it and transplanted the Inhabitants to another built by himself call'd Seleucia after his own Name But we shall give an Account of these things when we come to the Time proper for them But Menelaus after he was thus routed in Cyprus drew in all his Engines within the Walls and lin'd all the Bulwarks and Battlements with Soldiers and prepar'd for Fighting observing at the same time that Demetrius was doing the like He dispatch'd likewise a Messenger to Ptolemy to tell him what had happen'd and to desire more help in regard the Affairs of Cyprus were in a very low and dangerous Condition Demetrius seeing the City was in no contemptible Condition and that it was furnish'd with a great Number of Soldiers for its Defence was resolv'd to prepare Engines of an Extraordinary Bigness and all sorts of Battering Rams and other Instruments of War Demetrius his Engines that might in any sort terrify the Besieg'd He sent likewise for Workmen out of Asia and for Iron Timber and every thing else that was necessary to be made use of in the Ant. Ch. 305. Works he design'd And now every thing being ready at hand he built an Engine which he call'd Helepotis from taking of Cities Forty five Cubits broad on every side and Ninety in height drawn with four strong Wheels Eight Cubits high he made likewise two exceeding great Battering Rams and Galleries to support them He put several great shot of Massy-Stones in the lowest Story of the Helepolis the greatest of which weighed three Talents In the middle were plac'd very great Machines to shoot Darts and Arrows In the highest Part were those that were less and a great store of Stone-shot and above Two hundred Men who knew the manner of managing all these Devices to the best advantage Bringing up therefore his Engines to the Walls of the City by showers of shot he there swept off the Turrets and Battlements and batter'd down the Walls by his Rams But the Besieg'd made such obstinate Resistance and opposing Engines to Engines that the Issue for some days was very doubtful and Toil Labour and Wounds were the mutual Lot and Portion of each Party At length the Wall tumbled down and the City was even upon the Point of being taken by Storm But Night coming on both sides drew off Then Menelaus having a diligent Eye for the Security of the City lest
the Caesars That common Place wherein are these Fragments of Diodorus is one of the Fifty three and is Titled thus viz. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of Virtues and Vices It was brought out of Cyprus to Paris by Nicholas Fabricius not long before the Fragments were Publish'd by Valesius as appears in his Epistle dedicated to Fabricius himself and in that to the Reader The rest of the Fifty three Heads of this Emperor are lost save only one which is Intituled thus viz. Of Embassies divided into two Volumns The De Legationibus first publish'd by Fulvius Ursinus where Collections are again made out of Diodorus the Sicilian and the other by David Hoeschelius This account of the preservation of these Fragments and how they came to light I conceiv'd was needful to satisfie the Reader to the end he may be assur'd he is not impos'd upon by any thing in this Kind that is Fictitious and Spurious Fragments out of the History of Diodorus the Sicilian publish'd by Henry Valesius The 6th Book CAstor and Pollux who were also call'd Dioscuri are said to be Eminent above others for Valour and remarkable in their Assistance in the Expedition with the Argonauts Castor and Pollux two of the Captains with the Argonauts An. M. 2714. in the time of Abimelech and afforded considerable help to them that were but otherwise very weak and to speak all in sum they gain'd in all places exceeding honour and reputation for their Valour Justice Piety and Martial skill and discipline and were ready in all hazards with them that were most forward and therefore for the eminency of their Valour were reputed the Sons of Jupiter and after their deaths were honour'd with Divine honours Epopeus King of Sicyon challenging the Gods to a Combat to that end destroy'd their Temples and Altars 3 Sicyphus is said for craft and subtilty to excel all others and by looking into the intrals of Beasts declar'd future Events 4 * King of Elis. Salmoneus was Proud and Prophane contemn'd the Gods and preferr'd his own above the acts of Jupiter himself and therefore out of an * A brazen Bridge over which he drave a Chariot to imitate Thunder Virg. Ened Lib. 6. Engine which sent forth a mighty sound he us'd to Thunder and never offer'd any Sacrifices or observ'd any solemn Festivals to the Gods 5 Tyro they say was Salmeneus his Daughter who was so call'd from her Beauty and Comeliness of her Person 6 Admetus for his Justice and Piety was so approv'd and belov'd of the Gods that when Apollo fell into the displeasure of Jupiter he was order'd to be a Servant to Admetus They say likewise that Alcestes the Daughter of Pelias who was the only Daughter that was Innocent as to the Murther of her Father for her Piety was Marry'd to Admetus 7 Melampus was belov'd by Apollo for his eminent Virtues and Piety 8. When Troy was entred and taken Aeneas with some other of the Citizens possessed Aeneas An. M. 2764. Helv in time of Ebzan 7 Jud. 12. 9. The destruction of Troy Ush Ann. says in 2820 in the time of Jeptha was next before Ebzan before Ch. 1184. 408 Years before the first Olymp. Romulus Silvius himself of part of the City and defended it bravely and valiantly against the assaults of the Enemy When the Greeks upon the terms made agreed that each of them should carry away with them as much of their Goods as they could all of them but Aeneas took away Gold and Silver and what ever else of such kind was esteem'd pretious and valuable but he carry'd away only his old Father upon his shoulders At which the Grecians did so admire that they gave him liberty to make choice of what part of his Wealth and his houshold Goods he pleas'd upon which taking only his houshold Gods the Virtue and Piety of the Man caus'd them to admire much more than before for they perceiv'd that in the height of his dangers and troubles his chiefest care was to discharge his duty to his Father and his due and pious regards to the Gods And therefore they say that both he and the rest of the Trojans that remain'd had liberty given them with all assurance of safe passage to go from Troy to what place soever they pleas'd 9. Romulus Silvius was exceeding Proud all the days of his Life and a contemner of the Gods When Jupiter thundred he us'd to Command his Soldiers upon a sign given all at once to strike upon their shields with their Swords and vaunted that it was a greater noise than the other and therefore he was struck dead with a Thunder-bolt 10. About this time one Malachus became King of the City Cuma by ingratiating Malachus himself with the common People and accusing and calumniating great Men For afterwards putting to death the richest of the Citizens he seiz'd their Estates and with the Wealth thus got hir'd strong Guards and struck a Dread and Terror into all the Cumeans 11. Such was the eminent Virtue of Lycurgus that once when he came to Delphos the Oracle Lycurgus before Ch. 884. In the time of Jehu saluted him with these Verses Seek in the Fragments of Sentences While the Lacedemonians observ'd the Laws of Lycurgus from a mean and low condition they grew very Potent and held the Sovereignty of Greece for above 400 Years But when by degrees they slighted and disregarded one Law after another and fell to Sloath and Voluptuousness and began to heap up Money and Wealth they lost their sovereign Authority 12. Whereas the Eleans were full of strong and youthful Men and had a well govern'd Commonwealth the Lacedemonians jealous of the increase of their power endeavour'd Eleans all they could to make them Sacred that so being at Peace they might gain no experience in matters of War to that end with the consent of all the Grecians they devoted them to Jupiter and therefore neither when Xerxes broke into Greece were they compell'd to raise any Soldiers but as the Priests of Jupiter and overseers of the Games were free Nor in the Civil Wars of the Greeks did any molest them all endeavouring to preserve their Country as a City Sacred and Inviolable But in after times the Eleans betook themselves to Arms of their own accord The two Brothers Romulus and Remus being thus expos'd in a Cradle when they Romulus Remus grew up to Mens Estate far excell'd their equals in strength and comeliness of their Persons and secur'd all the Shepherds and their flocks by freeing them from the Theeves that us'd to make a prey of them killing some in their attempts upon the flocks and taking others alive And besides the honour they wan by their Valour they were greatly belov'd by the neighbouring Shepherds both for their familiar converse and their civil and courteous behaviour to all that made their addresses to them The security Polychares Eucephnus This was
the end they might advance the Honour and Reputation of their General And if any other at any time happen'd to be sent to command them the Soldiers on purpose in the very height of the Battel would fight more carelesly so that most commonly things miscarry'd and came to nought when any other commanded the Army but when Marius was General the Romans were ever Conquerors Out of the 36th BOOK 1. THE Rebellious Slaves did not only waste and destroy Sioily but those that were The Slaves in Scicily and others their Cruelties free who had neither Lands nor Goods betook themselves to Rapine and Robberies and ravag'd up and down in the Country in Flocks and Droves they drave away whole Herds of Cattel Robb'd the Barns in the Towns and Villages and carried away the Corn and other Fruits of the Earth and kill'd every one they met without distinction of either Bond or Free that none might be left to tell tales of their Murthers and Cruelties For being there was at this time an Anarchy in Sicily having no Roman Praetor that exercis'd any Jurisdiction all ran headlong and committed many and great Enormities with impunity so that all Places were full of Rapines and Robberies and the Goods of the Rich made a Prey to Force and Violence and they who a little before were Noted and Eminent amongst their fellow Citizens for their Wealth by a sudden change of Fortune were not only with the greatest Contempt and Scorn imaginable Robb'd of all they had by their Slaves but were forc'd to bear unsufferable Abuses from them that were Freemen of the same Country And therefore none could scarcely call any thing his own within the City Gates but what was without they lookt upon as quite lost and to be an irrecoverable Prey to the Robbers To conclude Confusion and utter Subversion of Law and Justice rag'd throughout all the Cities and Towns in the Country For the Rebels after they had wasted the Country out of Hatred to their Masters and insatiable Covetousness beset the High Ways and made them impassable And those Slaves that were yet within the Cities Sick but in their Hearts longing for an opportunity to Rebel were a dread and terror to their Masters 2. Saturninus the Tribune being a Man of a profuse Life and Quaestor in the Province of Ostia ordering all the Corn to be carry'd away to Rome for his Male Administration Saturninus of the Government was Rebuk'd by the Senate and divested of his Authority and the Province committed to the Care of another But afterwards leaving off his former Luxurious course of Life and growing Sober in his Conversation he was chosen Tribune of the People 3. Whereas for Two years together in every Publick Assembly Q Metellus his restoring from Banishment was taken into Debate His Son traversing the Market-place with his Beard and Hair overgrown and in a nasty Garment with Tears in his Eyes prostrated himself at the Feet of every Citizen intreating them to recall his Father But the People though they were very backward to make a President for Exiles for the time to come to hope for Return against the Laws yet in Compassion to the Young Man and being moved with importunity of his Intreaty they recall'd Metellus from Banishment and sirnam'd the Son Pius for his singular Affection and Care he had of his Father 4. The Romans formerly being govern'd by good and wholesom Laws and Constitutions by degrees grew to that height of Power that at length they gain'd the greatest The Roman Manners degenerated Empire of any that ever any History makes mention of But of later times after they had conquer'd many Nations and had so long nuzzl'd themselves in the Enjoyment of an unterrupted Peace they declin'd from their Ancient manners to wicked and destructive Courses For the young Men enjoying Rest and Ease from War with Plenty of all things to be Fuel to their Lusts gave themselves up to Luxury and Intemperance for in the City Prodigality was preferr'd before Frugality and living at Ease before the Service of the Camp And he that Wasted all his time in Voluptuousness and not he that was of a virtuous and sober conversation was accounted by all to be the only happy Man And therefore sumptuous Feasts most fragrant Oyntments flowr'd and embroider'd Carpets rich and stately Furniture for their Banqueting Rooms curiously wrought with Gold Silver Ivory and such like Materials were then cry'd up every where Wine that was but of an ordinary Gusto would not be toucht but only * Of Falerinus in Campania in the Kingdom of Naples now call'd Terra di Lavaro Falernian and Chian and such like pleasant Wines the choicest Fish likewise and every thing of the best sort was provided to gratifie their shameless Luxury The young Gallants likewise wore Garments of the finest and softest Wooll Woven so fine as that they were even transparent and for their slender Webb altogether like unto Womens Gowns All these things serving to nourish Luxury and Voluptuousness to their Ruin and destruction being generally coveted by all in a short time grew to excessive Rates for a Hogshead of Falernian Wine was sold for a 100 * Every Drachma Seven pence half-peny so 100 Drachmas is 3l 2s 6d Drachmas and a Hogshead of Salted Fish from the Pontick Sea for 400. Skilful Cooks were sold for Four Talents a-piece and delicate and beautiful Boys for many Talents And whereas all with full swing gave up themselves to this luxurious course of Life some of the Governors in the Provinces us'd their utmost endeavour to reform these Enormities and to that end being in high Places and so most observable by reason of the Eminency of their Stations they fram'd their own Lives so as to be Examples of Virtue and liberal Education to others 5. Quintus Mucius Scoevola us'd his utmost endeavour to reform other Mens corrupt Mucius Scaevola his Virtues Ush An. 509. Cited Manners by his own Virtuous Example For when he was sent Proconsul into Asia he made choice of Quintus Rutilius his most intimat Friend for his Legate and ever took his Advice in the management of his Government and making of Laws All the Costs and expences both of himself and his Retinue he order'd to be defray'd out of his own * Publius Rutilius Rufus Purse and by his moderation and frugality together with his just and upright dealing he freed the Province from its former Miseries and Oppressions For the Proconsuls of Asia that were before him confederated with the Publicans in whose hands at that time was the administration of Justice at Rome and fill'd the whole Province with the Pressures of their illegal Exactions 6. Mucius Scoevola managing his Government with all possible Diligence and Integrity did not only suppress all false Accusations but restrain'd the Injuries and Oppressions Mucius Scaevola Ush An. cited 509. committed by the Publicans For as often as any who