this time were Artabazus and Megabysus still Generals of the Forces of Persia the former lay with 300 ships in the Road of Cyprus and the other with a Land-Army of 300000 men quartered in Cilicia Cimon when he had besieged Citium sent some messengers to Delphos to enquire something of the Oracle but ere they got to their journeyes end he died before the place either of sicknesse Cimon dieth in Cyprus or by some wound both which are affirmed When he saw he should die he counselled his men forthwith to depart and conceal his death and they doing so it hapned that neither the Enemy nor Associates knew any thing of it At this time came back the Fleet sent into Aegypt so that all joyning together again they sailed to Salamine a Town in Cyprus where they fought with the Phoenicians and Cilicians who were come to aid their friends of Cyprus In a Sea-fight they sunk many of their Vessels took 100 with the men in them and pursued the rest as far as Phoenicia The Persians with that part of the Fleet which yet remained fled into Cilicia where Megabysus lay but the Athenians followed them with speed and landing fell upon them and making great slaughter amongst the rest slew Anaxicrates the Sea-Captain who most gallantly fought whilst life lasted Then the Greeks victorious got them to their ships and sailed home 14. The King understanding what losse he had received in Cyprus Diodorus ad Olymp. ejusdem ann 4. called a Council to deliberate what should be done thereupon at which when all was considered it was resolved that it was requisite to procure a Peace if possible He wrote then to his Captains about Cyprus to make peace upon as good terms as might be according to which order Artabazus and Megabyzus sent to Athens to treat about it The Athenians not being averse from hearkning to them both sides sent their Commissioners with full power to conclude Herod lib. 7. cap. 101. at which time also the Argives sent to Artaxerxes to demand of him whether the confederacy into which they entered with his Father remained or they were accounted by him as Enemies to which he answered that he did not doubt of it's continuance and as for his part he accounted no City more friendly to him than that of Argos The Articles of Peace concluded with the Athenians were That all the Greek Cities in Asia should be free Plutarch Diodorus ut priùs though in the Peace with Lacedaemon it was agreed they should be under the Persian that the Persian Generals should not come within three dayes journy of the Sea that none of the Persian Subjects should come with a long ship between the Cyanian and Chelidonian Islands The Athenians on the other part took an Oath not to invade the King's Territories For the joy conceived about this Peace they built an Altar of Peace and graced Callias the principal of the Embassie with the greatest honours Cimon was dead and with him in a manner the true gallantry of the Greekish Nation for none of their Captains after him did any thing to purpose against the Barbarians as they termed all except themselves but being drawn by their Orators to intestine differences Diod. ad Olymp. 84. 3. and none after him being left to take them up they fell one upon another and so afforded an happy occasion to the Persian to breath himself and for a good time to effect his own security with the impairment of their interest For though Agesilaus afterwards as will be seen passed over his Army into Asia and made a short War with the Persian Commanders on the Sea-Coasts yet without doing any thing of much consequence was he recalled by Seditions at home leaving the Persian Officers behind him who exacted impositions from the Cities confederate with Greece whereas whilst Cimon was in command not so much as a Carrier appeared in these quarters nor an Horse came within 400 furlongs distant from the Sea 15. In the twentieth year of Artaxerxes Nehem. 1.11 c. Nehemiah his Cup-bearer the son of Hachaliah the Jew received a message that the remnant of the Captivity left in Judaea were in great affliction and reproach that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and the gates thereof burnt with fire Because of this he wept Nehemiah obtaineth leave to repair Jerusalem fasted and mourned certain dayes and praying to God to make the King favourable to him obtained to be sent with ample commission to build up the walls Now was no new Edict promulgated in behalf of the Jews which had been done sufficiently thirteen years before by the consent of the Princes onely letters were written to the Keeper of the King's Forest to furnish Nehemiah with wood sufficient for the building of the gates and walls of the City for the Temple and an house for himself and the Governours beyond the river were ordered to convey him over till he came into Judah By virtue of this authority he came to Jerusalem and notwithstanding the indignation and opposition of the Enemies of the Jews by his great diligence and valour finished the work of the wall in 52 dayes From the new Moon of the moneth Nisan which followed this repairing of the walls to that new-Moon of the same moneth in which Christ suffered passed 475 Julian years which make up 490 Lunar years consisting each of twelve Lunar moneths This being not without a providence that as from the going out of the decree to the death of Christ intervened 490 Solar years so also from the rebuilding of the walls to his death should intervene so many consisting each of twelve Lunary moneths This gave occasion to many eminent men both Antient and Modern to follow the opinion of Africanus in placing the beginning of the 70 weeks in the twentieth year of this King and concluding them with the death of Christ although he reckoneth from that time to the fifteenth of Tiberius 475 years whereas there are to be accounted but 472 and Christ died not in the fifteenth year of his reign but was then baptized 16. Nehemiah not thinking it sufficient to repair the walls whilst the frame of the State was out of frame Nehem. 7 c. restored both the Ecclesiastical and Civil Polity thereof Taking notice how all ranks of men and especially the Priests were out of order no certainly being of their Pedigrees he caused to be sought for and read the Register of those who returned with Zorubbabel from which whosoever could not prove his descent from some Priestly Family was cast off from the Priesthood Twelve years staied he at Jerusalem governing with great moderation and self-denial and reforming abuses both in Religion and the State The Rulers of the People dwelt at Jerusalem the rest of the People cast lots to bring one of ten to dwell therein for that it was little inhabited and nine parts to dwell in other places the People
treason commanded her to deparr his Camp After this the Dahae who had revolted by the procurement of Dataphernes delivered him up and returned to obedience and Craterus with Polysperchon having finished the War against the revolters in a short time they all met at Bactra Alexander was now so puffed up as to require divine honours from his followers which Callisthenes the Philosopher stifly refusing to give him felt the effect of his ambition 12. It hapned that the King hunting on a time one Hermolaus a Gentleman of his guard and Scholar to Callisthenes killed a wild Boar which Alexander himself intended to have struck for which he was beaten by his Command The young man bearing the disgrace most heavily as also Sostratus his inward friend they conspired with others of the Guard to kill the King Curtius ut supra Plutarch in Alexand. Orosius lib. 3. cap. 18. Arrianus lib. 4. which to perform they agreed that one night they would all watch together It was long ere they could so change their courses as to bring this about but at length having done it it chanced that the King sate up drinking all that night so then the matter being frustrated was revealed by one of them and they were all stoned to death Now whether any of them accused Callisthenes as some reported or Alexander did it himself he was made away though as to the manner of his death they who were present themselves agreed not in their relation Callisthenes put to death with others for treason Callisthenes was the Scholar of Aristotle and the son of his Cousin germane of so severe a temper that he could not order himself according to his Master's directions who when he sent him to Alexander advised him Either very pleasantly or very rarely to converse with him Valer. Max. lib. 7. cap. 2. that so he might be either more acceptable for his discourse or safe by his silence Aristotle also himself seemeth to have been threatned in a letter written by the King to Antipater in Macedonia 13. Alexander had ere this time resolved to make War upon India and bound his Conquests with the East That he might not leave any impediment at his back he commanded 30000 men to be raised out of the Provinces that he might have them both as Soldiers and Hostages Out of a conceit of the glory of the Expedition he adorned the shields of his Soldiers with silver plates their Horses with golden bridels and their Armour was set out with gold and silver Alexander marcheth for India Leaving then Amyntas in Bactriana with 3500 Horse and 10000 Foot he set forwards in the Spring leading an Army of 120000 men In ten dayes he passed over Caucasus and came to Alexandria which he had caused to be built in the Country of the Parapomisadae whence he marched to the River Cophenes and sent to Taxiles to meet him who came with such presents as India afforded Dividing now his Army with one part of it he sent Haephestion and Perdiccas another way with command that when they came at the River Indus they should provide things necessary for passing over it He with the other invaded the Aspians Thyraeans and Arasacans and crossing the River Choë the first City he came at opposed him He himself and Ptolomy the son of Lagus were wounded in the storm but he took the place and putting all the Inhabitants to the sword burnt it In the Country of the Aspians he got a booty of 40000 men and 230000 head of cattel whence marching toward the Gruraeans Curtius Justin lib. 12. with difficulty he passed over the River Gruraeus Invading the Assacenians he took the City Massaga the King whereof being lately dead his mother Cleophis reigned and by the prostitution of her body to Alexander procured a confirmation in the Kingdom 14. After this he took Bazira and Nora was forsaken by it's defendants who betook themselves to a strong rock called Aornos This place was exceedingly fenced by it's wonderful height and the River Indus which ran by one side of it as also by deep pits and craggie rocks by reason whereof the report went that Hercules himself attempted but could not take it The story of Hercules inflamed the King with a desire to master it who having first taken several other places brought his forces and by means of an old man who shewed him the onely passage closely besieged it By incredible diligence he filled up the ditches so as he could bring his men to fight but yet he was not able to storm the Rock and therefore resolved to starve them out leaving a way for their escape and they seeing his resolution took the advantage but many were slain in the persute Taking order then for the full clearing of the Country he passed on to the River Indus near to which he hunted Elephants and continuing in the plains thirty dayes for the refreshment of his Army sacrificed to his gods and celebrated games and exercises Now Hephaestion and Perdiccas had finished all things necessary for passing the River and not of this onely but others also with one almost and the same labour For divers Rivers runing through India as besides Cophenes Coes and Indus Hydaspes Acesines Hyarotis Hyparus and Ganges they so framed the boats as they might easily be taken in pieces and being conveied in cariages be as easily upon occasion again joyned together 15. In the eleventh year of his reign and the fourth after the death of Darius Crosseth the River Indus in the Spring Alexander passed over the River Indus and was received above his expectations For Omphis or Mophis A. M. 3679. Ol. 113. an 3. V. C. 428. Alexand. 11. King of the Country had perswaded his Father when yet living to submit himself and now having suceeded in the Kingdom met him in the way and gave it up into his hands who restored it to him and permitted him to assume the name of Taxiles common to all Kings of that Country of what family soever Coming to Taxila the Metropolis he was sumptuously entertained and receiving great gifts gave also very liberally to the disdain of those about him of whom Meleager in his cups congratulated with him that at length in India he had found a man worthy to receive from him in way of free gift 1000 Talents Alexander remembring how he had repented the killing of Clytus contained himself but not impertinently answered him that Envious men are nothing else than their own torment The next day Abisarus King of the Indians inhabiting the mountains and who together with Porus had wars with Taxiles by Ambassadors gave up himself and Kingdom Alexander leaving a Garrison in Taxila marched towards the River Hydaspes beyond which reigned Porus Thinking by the terror of his name to affright this Prince into obedience he sent to him beforehand willing him to pay tribute and meet him on the frontires of his Kingdom to which he answered that he
no injury in making that invasion for that he had but recovered his right alleging much the Conquests of those parts by Antigonus Cocies and the possession of them by Seleucus and that Ptolomy the first waged not War with Antigonus for his own particular but to help Seleucus to the Sovereignty of that Province but above all he pressed the common agreement of all the Kings made at that time when Antigonus was overthrown wherein by Lysimachus and Cassander all Syria was decreed to Seleucus His Plea for Caelesyria On the contrary Ptolomy's Commissioners aggravated the height of the injury offered to him by the unworthinesse of closing with the treasonable practices of Theodotus and affirmed that Ptolomy the son of Lagus intended the Dominion of Syria to himself and joyned with Seleucus on no other terms than that indeed all Asia should be his but Syria fall to his own share Such like objections and replies as these were made often to no purpose but that which put the greatest stop to the Treaty was the comprehending of Achaeus in the League The answer of Ptolomy's Commissioners and the Treaty ends without effect which Ptolomy stickled hard for and the other as impatiently heard crying out of the unworthinesse of the thing that he should protect or make any mention of Rebels Winter being thus spun out with these discourses and Spring drawing on Antiochus intending to set upon the Enemy both by Land Sea drew together his Forces to the taking in of what remained unconquered of Syria and Nicolaus on the other part as the Egyptian General with Perigerâ—â— the Admiral made all possible provision for resistance 17. Antiochus going to Marathus there entered into Confederacy with the Aradians then entring Syria through Theu-prosopos came to Berytus in his passage taking in Botris Hostility thereupon in Spring is renewed whereby Antiochus getteth much and burning Trieres and Calamus The Mountain Libanus straightning much the passage betwixt it and the Sea and almost making it impassible Nicolaus with a party also placed himself in the straights not doubting but to stop Antiochus there but he dividing his Forces and having his Fleet constantly near him caused it first to ingage with the Egyptian in which fight both sides came off on equal terms but Theodotus beating back the Enemy upon the Mountain got over and then cleared the passage below for the King He after this came near Sidon with his Army but judging it to no purpose to set upon the Town very strong with men and full of Provisions he gave order to Diognetus his Admiral to go with the Fleet to Tyre and marched to Philoteria situate upon the Sea of Tiberias which he took together with * Called by Josephus Bethsan in the Tribe of Manasses through whose grounds Jordan flows Scythopolis Now he conceived great hopes of the perfecting his work being come into a Countrey plentifull of Provisions so that placing Garrisons in these two Cities he took in Atabyrium by a Stratagem making as if he fled before the Inhabitants but having men lying in wait who arose against them and then the whole Army with such violence as put them into a great fear and they yielded up the place After this Karaeus one of Ptolomies Chiefest of Officers revolted to him Hippolochus the Thessalian brought over with him 400 horse and the Arabians moved by his successe joyned themselves to him Shortly after he took in Galatis and Gadara beyond expectation because of the strength thereof but the Inhabitants terrified at his preparations yielded themselves then hearing that a great number of Enemies had met at Rabath-ben Amon or Rabatana a Citie in Arabia and thence made incursions into the Territories of his friends he marched thither and striving by force in vain to be Master of the place at length he effected it by stopping the course of water for want of which it was then surrendred Then leaving a strong Garrison here and sending Hippolochus and Karaeus to Govern the Coasts of Samaria he went to Ptolemais and there took up his Winter quarters Ptolomy in the Spring following taketh the field 18. Ptolomy to give him a stop prepared against the Spring a great Army and then marched from Alexandria with 70000 foot 5000 horse and 73 Elephants and came to Pelusium Antiochus hearing this gathered his Forces together amounting to 72000 foot 6000 horse and 102 Elephants Ptolomy proceeding on his journey came to Gaza and thence near to Ruphia the first Citie of Syria except Rhinocerus as one cometh from Egypt and Antiochus passing by that place shortly after pitched his Tents at first within ten furlongs of the Enemy and the next day partly for the commodiousnesse of the ground and partly to embolden his Soldiers approached within five furlongs of them Being so near several skirmishes fell out amongst those which on both sides issued forth for provisions and Theodotus the Aetolian after a most bold adventure taking but two in his Company for that he had been in Ptolomy's Court and knew his manner of life went out in the dusk of the evening and not being known got into the Kings Tent where he used to give audience and though he missed of him being in a more obscure place yet wounded he two which waited there and killing outright Andreas his principal Physician escaped back in safety to his own Camp having onely failed of his purpose for want of informing himself when the King was wont to take his rest For five dayes continued these two Princes in this posture and then both resolved to try the matter in a set battel A pitch't battel 19. Ptolomy first drew out his men and then presently Antiochus ranged his in battel aray against him Each of the Armies had two wings wherein the two Kings met each other guarded with Elephants betwixt which the fight was begun after Antiochus had caused the charge to be sounded their manner being first with their Trunks to thrust each other and strive for the ground and then after that for the one by force to remove the other's Trunk and to fall upon him like a Bull The manner of the fighting of Elephants and gore his sides Few of Ptolomies beasts would fight at all for that being Africans they could neither endure the smell nor noise of those of India so that the ranks being disordered by them his left Wing was quite broken by the charge of the Enemy and put to flight Echecrates who commanded in the right stayed first for the ingagement of the former then seeing that his Elephants would not fight gave order to Phinidas Commander of the Mercenary Greeks to invade his opposites and he himself also wheeling about to be out of the danger of the beasts fell upon the Flanks and Rear of the Enemie's horse so that both together they made them all being Arabians and Medes to give ground and put all the Wing to flight thus being even with Antiochus
long strugled with various Fortune as afterwards will be seen gave place to his Son Astyages Cyaxares Astyages Father to Mandane the Mother of Cyrus 15. Belesis obtained Babylon as was said but how long he held it or who succeeded him immediately is not known About 71 years after Belesis his successors Nabonasar or Nabonassar obtained the Kingdom there from the beginning of whose reign that famous Aera or Epoche known by the name of Aera Nabonasari Nabanasar is derived It is counted from the first day of that Egyptian month Thoth Febr. 26. which fell out 746 Julian years and 310 dayes before the Aera of Christ as Cappellus and others reckon 424 years before the death of Alexander the Great according to Ptolomy (b) Magn. Syntax lib. 3. c. 8. the Prince of Mathematicians Ptolomie's Catalogue of Kings in the 8th Olympiad This Author hath preserved the names of such as succeeded Nabonasar in his Catalogue of Kings He reigned 14 years after him Nadius 2 then Chezirus or Porus 5 Jugaeus or Hulaeus 5 and then Mardocempadus 26. In his time happened the (c) Idem lib. 4. cap. 6 7. three most antient Eclipses of the Moon observed by the Babylonians The first of them in the first of his reign and the 28th of the month Thoth the 27th year of Nabonasar The second in his 2 nd year on the 18th of Thoth And 176 dayes 20 hours and an halfe after this the third Eclipse fell out on the 15th day of the month Phamenoth Scaliger and others think this Mardokempad to be the same with him who in the (d) 2 Kings 20.12 Scripture is called Merodach-Baladan the Son of Baladan But Cappellus conjectureth there were two Merodach's Sons of Baladan and Nephews of Nabonasar whereof the one was called Merodac-Kempad and the other Merodac-Baladan 16. Mardokempadus having reigned 12 years was succeded by Arkianus who ruled 5. Then followed an Inter-regnum for two years after which Belibus obtained the Kingdom for 3 then Apronadius 6 Rigibelus one Mesessimordak 4 after whom another Inter-regnum insued for 8 years he being also written Mesessi carduc Now the Royall Race seemeth to (e) Usserius in Annal. Vet. Testament ad A. M. 3323. one to have failed and Esarchaddon the King of Assyria to have again subjected the Balylonians to his Kingdom and his reason is for that he who followed at the end of this Inter-regnum is by Ptolomy called Assaradinus which he thinketh to differ onely from Esarchaddon in the sound of severall Languages If so this is he who brought out of the East Country Strangers to inhabite Samaria whence Salmanesser had 40 or more years before transported the Ephramites He is also by the posterity of this new Colonie called the great and noble Asnapper But how this Assyrian Kingdom had sprung up again during these two Principalities of the Babylonians and Medes is to be considered The arising anew of the Assyrian Kingdom How when and by whom 17. It is not probable that the vast Empire of Sardanapalus was all nor perhaps the greatest part subject to Media and Babylon but that although Arbaces left not the Medes to their liberty yet severall people he did for want of power to keep them under Hence in some time the people beyond Euphrates wearie of that anarchie and confusion under which they laboured might be willing to admit of a Prince again though not of the old stock of Belus whose successors having far excelled in power and dominion the Greeks accounted Sardanapalus the last King of the Assyrians Who this new Prince should be remaineth very obscure One (f) Jacobus Cappellus ad A. M. 3236. thinketh him that same Phul Phul. who made an incursion into the Land of Israel in the time of Menachem fixing the beginning of his reign in the 4th Olympiad 17 years before that of Nabonasar Another (g) Usserius ad A. M. 3257. Hist Anim. lib. 12. c. 21. will have Tiglah-Pileser or Thilgath-Pilneser or Theglath-Phalassar to be the man in Aelian he saith called Thilganus whom also he accounteth the same with Ninus Junior mentioned by Eusebius (h) In Chron. ex Cestore Rhodio having assumed the name of the first founder of the Assyrian Empire This Tiglath-Pilesar Tiglath-Pilesar at the invitation of Judah went up against Rezen (i) 2 Kings 15.16 King of Damascus and killing him transported his Subjects into Kir a place as Josephus will have it of upper Media He died when he had reigned 19 years and was succeeded by Salmanasser Salmanasser to whom (k) 17. Hosea King of Israel refused to pay tribute entring into confederacie with So King of Aegypt against him But Salmanasser besieged him in Samaria and at the end of three years taking the City carried the Israelites into captivity into Chelach Cheber and Nehar-gesan A. M. 3273. Cities of Media where he as well as his predecessor might have power if Deioces as yet not having obtain'd the Kingdom that Country was still subject to a popular Government or rather in a confused Anarchie 18. After the subversion of the Kingdom of Israel he overran all Phoenicia and Syria He sent an Army against the Tyrians at such time as Elulaeus their King made War upon the Cittaeans which had rebelled but a peace was presently made and he drew back his Forces Not long after Sidon Arce Palaetyrus and other Towns revolted from the Tyrians to him so that they alone standing out he returned and having a supplie of 60 ships from the Phoenicians ingaged with them in a Sea-fight but they having but 12 yet overthrew his Fleet and thereby obtained great credit At his return he set guards upon the River and water-courses and there kept them five years together which constrained them to make a shift with Wells and Pits as Menander (l) Apud Iosephum Antiq. lib. 9. cap. 14. related out of the Tyrian Annals translated into the Greek tongue wherein the name of Salmanasar was recorded Salmanasar dying Senacherib his Son succeeded him Senacherib A. M. 3287. called also Sargon in (m) Isa 20.1 Berosus apud Iosephum Antiq. lib. 10. c. 1. Scripture as some think He infested all Asia and Aegypt with War into the later of which as he descended in his retreat he sore (n) 2 Kings 18. distressed Hezekiah King of Judah who making his application unto his God obtained deliverance to the confusion of the Assyrian and his Army Herodotus telleth a story How when he came to Pelusium (o) Lib. 2. c. 141. Sethes the Priest of Vulcan then King of Aegypt by his prayer to his god procured all the habilaments of War to be eaten with Mice so that being rendred unable to fight he was forced to draw back his Army Esay 18. But the Prophecies against Egypt ascertain us that this expedition proved very dysastrous to it and that many Captives were thence led away
through the prayer of the Prophet Elijah it rained not upon the Land for three years but at the end thereof he prayed again and the Heavens gave rain He took occasion to shew the vanity of the Idoll Baal and then slew his Priests for which being threatned by Jezebel he fled into the desart to Mount Horeb. Chap. 19. Against Ahab came up twice Benhadad King of Syria once with 32 petty Kings and both times with great forces but still was overthrown Chap. 20. and at the latter time yielded himself Ahab honourably received him and making a league with him let him go in safety for which he was sharply rebuked by a Prophet and told that his life should go for the life of Benhadad and his own people for his people but there followed a peace betwixt Israel and Syria for three years In this space Ahab fell sick for Naboth's Vineyard who being by Jezebels procurement accused of blasphemy was stoned to death and so Ahab injoyed the Vineyard by way of confiscation For this so wicked a fact severe judgement was pronounced against him and Jezebel by Elijah the execution whereof by a temporary repentance they caused to be be prorogued But the three years of the peace being expired he renewed the War with Syria for that Benhadad having ingaged to restore such Cities as he had taken refused to surrender Ramoth-Gilead Four hundred false Prophets perswaded him to undertake the Expedition onely Micajah sent from God disswaded him from it With him joyned Iehosaphat King of Iudah whose Son Iehoram had maried Athaliah his daughter But going down both together Ahab received a wound by an arrow and thereof died that day in the 22th year of his reign A. M. 3103. Jehosaphati 18. Ahaziah 6. Ahaziah his Son succeeded him whom he had formerly made his Associate in the Kingdom and reigned 2 years in all being said to have begun his reign in the seventeenth year of Iehosaphat King of Iudah because his Father then dyed having reigned 21 years and some part of another After Ahab's death Moab fell off from Israel 2 King 1. to which it had been subject ever since the dayes of David Ahaziah falling sick of a fall which he had through a lattise in his upper Chamber sent to consult Baal-zebub the god of Ekron about his recovery but the Lord commanded Elisah to meet the Messengers and denounce death to him for this his sin Hereat Ahaziah being angry sent two Captains with their fifties one after another to fetch him to him but he called for fire down from Heaven which consumed them then being intreated by the third he went with him to the King where denouncing the same to his face Joram Ahaziah accordingly died not long after Him his Brother Ioram followed in the 18th year of Iehosaphat King of Iudah ending who wrought evil in the sight of the Lord Chap. 3. but not like his Father and Brother for he put away the Image of Baal erected by his Father yet cleaved to the sin of Ieroboam the Son of Nebat who made Israel to sin because of his carnall interest all the Kings of Israel accounting it an especiall piece of policy to busie the people in the worship of the golden Calves 7. Joram made War upon the Moabites which had revolted in conjunction with Jehosaphat King of Judah and the King of Edom his Tributary Elisha the Prophet miraculoussy providing the Armies of water and promising them Victory When the Sun arose and shone upon the Pits full of water it appeared to the Moabites blood so that they concluding their Enemies to have fallen one upon another came out to take the plunder of the field but finding other entertainment were repelled with great consternation and losse The Israelites then falling upon the Countrey made havock of all things and besieged Mesha King of the Moabites in Kir-hazereth who being streightened attempted with 700 Men to break through to the King of Edom but could not whereupon taking his Son his own some think others the King of Edom's which should have reigned in his stead he offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall This spectacle seemed so horrible as raised indignation against Israel and such pity towards the Man driven by extreme necessity as Josephus telleth it that being mindfull of the mutability of humane affairs they raised the Siege and departed 8. Benhadad King of Syria made severall attempts upon Israel and besieging Samaria reduced it unto extreme necessity by Famine Him Hazael his Servant slew and possessed himself of his Kingdom but having received together with it the succession of the War Jehoram went up against him Chap. 8. and was accompanied by Ahaziah King of Judah to Ramoth-Gilead Here receiving a wound he returned to Iezreel to be cured but the Army was left under severall Captains amongst which was Jehu the Son of Jehosaphat to whom Elisha sent one of the Sons of the Prophets Jehu annointed King to annoint him King He was presently received as such by the Army and returning to Jezreel Chap. 9. slew Joram A. M. 3117 Athaliae 1. Chap. 10. and gave Ahaziah his death's wound after he had reigned twelve years Destroyeth the family of Ahab He caused Iesabel to be thrown down out of a window where her carkeise was eaten by the Dogs after which writing Letters to Samaria he procured Seventy Sons of Ahab to be slain and their heads sent to him Then going thither he slew 42 persons in his way of the kindred of Ahaziah King of Iudah who were going to visite Iehoram and Iesabel at Samaria he put to death all the Priests of Baal and burnt the Temple with the Images Yet took he no heed to walk in the Law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart departing not from the sin of Ieroboam For his executing of justice upon the house of Ahab the Lord promised that his seed of the fourth generation should sit upon his Throne Yet because of the rottennesse of his heart he began to cut Israel short in his dayes by the means of Hazael who now subdued not onely the Gileadites but also whatsoever the Israelites possessed beyond Iordan raging with cruelty againg Man Woman and Child as Elisha had foretold him Iehu coming to the Kingdom at the same time as Aâ—haliah began her usurpation in Iudab reigned full 28 years and then died Jehoahaz 9. Iehoahaz his Son succeeded him in the 23th year of Ioash the Son of Ahaziah King of Iudah who did evil in the sight of the Lord Chap. 13. in the sin of Ieroboam a grove being also in Samaria Hazael mightily oppressed Israel also in his dayes so that to him were left but 50 Horse-men A. M. 3145. Joasi 23. 10 Chariots and 10000 Foot-men Yet the Lord was intreated by him and sent Israel a Deliverer notwithstanding which yet Prince and People remained incorrigible After he had
perswade the Athenians from returning home notwithstanding for what had hapned to Sardis Darius was exceedingly incensed against them insomuch that he commanded one of his servants where ever he sate at meat thrice to sound these words in his eas Sir remember the Athenians Cyprus revolteth 18. At this time all Cyprus revolted from the Persians except the Amathusians whom also the rebels besieged Yet Darius blinded by the specious pretences of Histiaeus let him go Capp 103. c. thinking indeed that being present he might do him especial service in extinguishing the Rebellion Though the Ionians were forsaken by their friends of Atheens yet they proceeded and crossing the Hellespont took Byzantium with the Towns adjacent and thence went into Caria a great part whereof they drew into society with them in the War But the scene of affairs was presently altered Capp 108. c. Artybius the Persian with a numerous Army was sent against Cyprus and the Ionians followed with a Flee to the aid of Onesilus who first procured the revolt and now lay before Amathusia Both parties being well appointed by Sea and Land they ingaged with their Fleets and land Armies The Ionians had the better by Sea but on Land the Cypriots were betrayed by Stesanor Tyrant of the Carienses and by the Salaminians so that being utterly routed Onesilus was slain and Aristo-Cyprus Prince of the Solians and son to that Philo-Cyprus whom Solon commended in his Verses above other Tyrants or Reguli The Ionians receiving intelligence of this overthrow and how all the Cities in the Island were besieged except Salamis which the inhabitants had already given up to Gorgus their antient Prince hasted away Of all Towns Soli stood longest out And is recovered but in the fifth moneth was taken by the Persians who undermined the Walls and thus Cyprus was reduced into its former bondage a year after it had cast off the yoak 19. The Persian Lieutenants or Satrapa viz Daurises Hymees and Otanes who had married the daughters of Darius Capp 124. c. after they had driven the Ionians to their ships parted the revolted Cities which each of them should fall on The two former reduced many upon the Hellespont and Propontis and the later by the assistance of Artaphernes took Clazomenae in Ionia and Cumae in Aeolia after which Aristagoras was utterly discouraged and thought of nothing but flight Hecataeus the Historian who had formerly disswaded him from Rebellion now advised him to build a Fort in the Island Lerus where he might continue for some time till it were convenient for him to return to Miletus but his resolution being bent for Myrcinus Town built by Histiaeus in Thrace upon the River Strymon and amongst the Edones thither he soon after departed with as many Volunteers as would follow him leaving the Government of Miletus to Pythagoras a man of the most approved fidelity amongst the Towns-men Aristagoras slain He obtained the Countrey thereabout without much trouble but besieging the Town was cut off by the Thracians with all his Forces 20. Histiaeus being dismissed by Darius upon that account formerly mentioned was ere this come to Sardis Herodotus l. 6. adinitium Artaphernes demanding of him what should have moved the Ionians to Rebell he answered that he knew not but at wondred at the thing whereto the other replied telling him plainly that he had made that shooe which Aristagoras had put on Fearing therefore to stay with him whom he perceived sufficiently to understand the matter he fled the night after and conveyed himself into the Island Chius where the inhabitants supposing that be came to promote the affairs of Darius cast him into prison but upon farther advice restored him to liberty Then sent he to some Persians lying at Sardis who were partakers of his conspiracy willing them to rise but Artaphernes having timely notice thereof prevented it by putting them to death This device failing he procured the Chians to convey him to Miletus but there he could not be received the inhabitants rejoycing that they were rid both of him and Aristagoras so that endeavouring to get in by night he was wounded in the Thigh and forced to retire himself again to Chius Here now not being able to procure any ships by all his intreaties he went over to Mitylene where he perswaded the Lesbians to furnish him with 8 Vessels with which he sayled to Byzantium and at this Port he intercepted all such ships of the Ionians as coming from Pontus refused to obey him 21. The Persian Generals having much weakened the power of the Carians and subdued all the Ionians that lived upon the Hellespont were now ready to go against Miletus both by Sea and Land The Ionian Idem ibid. Capp 6. c. Deputies assembling in Pavionium the place of their publick Councils resolved to levie no Land Army against them Miletus besieged but withstand their violence from the walls of Miletus and make as great and strong a Fleet as possible They ranged in order of battel near Laeda a little Island lying over against Miletus The wing that looked towards the East the Milesians themselves made up with 80 Sail to them joyned the Prienians with twelve and the Miusians with three By them stood the Teians with seventeen and by them the Chians with 100 Vessels Beyond these were placed the Erythraeans with eight ships and the Phocaeans with three Next to them stood the Lesbians with Seventy and in the last place were seen the Samians making up the Western wing with Sixty ships the whole consisting of 353 Gallies with three ranks or Oars But the Persian Navie contained 600 of Phoenicians Cyprians Aegyptians and Cilicians 22. Though the Persian Fleet almost doubled the other in number of Vessels yet the Captains feard both the skill and valour of the Ionians and therefore betook themselves to politick Councils They sent for the several Reguli or Tyrants of the Cities whom Aristagoras had deposed at the beginning of the War and desired that every one would endeavour to draw off his own Citizens While they were using their utmost indeavour herein Dionysius the Phocian Captain and General of the whole Ionian Navie exercising his men continually for the fight they being unaccustomed to such discipline were after seven dayes weary of it and pitching their tents in the Island therein shaded themselves and could not be got to their ships The Samians doubting whitherto their sluggishnesse might tend though it wisdom to hearken to the propositions made from the Persians by Aeaces the son of Syloson their Prince who advised them by a timely repentance to save their estates rather than expose themselves to the anger of the Persian who though he were beaten at present was able to bring another Fleet five times as big so that their labour and danger would know no end Their Captains therefore took occasion at the disorder of the Ionians to deny any further obedience
Captains whether they should stand to the hazard of a battel Those that were for the Negative had carried it but that Miltiades who was all for fighting drew over Callimachus one of the Polemarchi to his party The major part of the votes then passing on his side each Captain assigned his day to him who had formerly been Prince of the Chersonesus and thence was expelled by the Persians committing the management of the fight to his discretion 26. Miltiades accepted of the charge yet thought good not to fight till his one day which was the tenth should be arrived Then set he the Army in order and being at a miles distance from the Enemy led very fast upon him which the Persians attributed to madnesse seeing the other so few in comparison of themselves and badly provided both of Horse and Arms. The fight continued long wherein in the middle battel the Persians put the other to flight but in both the wings the Graecians prevailed and turning themselves upon those that worsted their fellows Are overthrown at Marathon made great slaughter of them as far as the Sea side where they also seized upon seven of their ships Concerning the number of the slain Writers do not agree Herodotus writeth of 6400 of the Barbarians and 192 of the Graecians On the one side fell Hippias as Justin hath recorded out of Trogus Lib. 2. c. 9. and Callimachus on the other What year the battel was fought is not certainly known but in the second or third of the 72 Olympiad and four or five before the death of Darius 27. Datis and Artaphernes returning into Persia carried the Eretrians captive along with them to Susa where they presented them before Darius Herod l. 6. c. 119 c. though Ctesias wrote that Datis was slain in the battel of Marathon and that his body was denied to be restored Darius placed the Eretrians in Anderica in Cissia a Country so called at 210 furlongs distance from Susa the possession whereof their posterity held a long time together with their own language Notwithstanding the defeat at Marathon he left not off thoughts of conquering Greece making all possible provision for another invasion But in the fourth year after more work fell into his hands for though Diodorus telleth that the Aegyptians much honoured him as one of their Law-givers Idem lib. 7. c. 1 c. they now rebelled The year following he was provided for both Expeditions and was about to undertake them when the custom of the Country first required that he should name his Successor He had three children before he was King by the daughter of Gobryas whereof the eldest Artobazanes by others called Artemenes and Ariamenes challenged the Kingdom by virtue of his birth-right Darius declareth his Successor But it was judged due to Xerxes his eldest son by Mossa Cyrus his daughter who was founder of the Empire Vide Justin l. 2. c. 10. Plutarch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apotheg in Artaxerxe and he accordingly was declared at this time although some make this civil and loving contest betwixt the two brothers to have happened after their Father's death and been judged by Artaphernes their Uncle But as Darius was about setting forwards for Greece he was prevented by death the first year after the rebellion of Aegypt ending Dieth after he had reigned 36 years compleat in the third year of the 73 Olympiad ending before the Aera of Christ 485. A. M. 3519. 28. Xerxes succeeded his Father in the third year of the third Olympiad Herodot lib. 7. ad initium being the fourth King of Persia the right to the Empire whereof he fetched from Cyrus his Grand-father by the Mother's side He was scarce setled in the Throne Xerxes when Mardonius his kinsman stirred him up with earnestnesse not to give over the War which he had begun with Greece promising to himself great command upon the conquest of Europe which he made Xerxes believe would be as readily performed as spoken He though ambitious enough was not at first of himself very forward but as it concerned him thought first of recovering Egypt for which all things were left in readinesse by his father and in the year next after his death turned his forces thither with present successe Recovereth Egypt For he reduced that Countrey under the yoak which he laid heavier upon it than formerly and committed the Government thereof to his brother Achaemenes who was after many years slain by Inarus the Libyan 29. Egypt being thus fortunately recovered he was therewith much elevated and now had resolved to follow on the War with Greece but to hear what his Captains would say he called them together to advise about it to whom with vanity enough he opened his mind and was seconded by an indiscreet flattering speech of Mardonius who seemed with words to be able to blast the present condition of Greece Consulteth about renewing the War with Greece His Uncle Artabanus a grave and long experienced man strongly urged the contrary shewing how vain humane confidence was how britle and instable the fortune of Princes and others which appeared sufficiently in his fathers expedition against the Scythians first and since that against the Athenians that the Greeks were not so weak a Nation he proved by the battel at Marathon that the thing which he attempted was most dangerous to be thought on again and again that without mature deliberation the attempt would be rash however the successe should happen that God many times pulls down the highest things and humbleth the haughty that trust in their own strength by making them to fall into sudden calamities and as for Mardonius he chastised his youthfull and ambitious heat with a sharp reprehension foretelling him what would be the reward of his rashnesse But this wise Counsel could not be heard from a grave man the ears of Xerxes being stopped by the suggestions of one more agreeable to his head-strong and youthfull humour so that he imputed to his Uncle basenesse of mind and cowardise inflicting this punishment upon him for it that staying at home he should not partake of so glorious an expedition To this enterprize he was also stirred up by the Aleuadae or Princes of Thessaly who grudged at the liberties of the Greeks by the son of Pisistratus also banished Athens who living in his Court abused his credulity by the help of a Wizard or Fortune-Teller 30. Yet not long after considering what Artabanus had said he changed his purpose and calling his Council together again after he had commended his Uncles opinion signified the same unto them at which all the wiser sort much rejoyced but the thing running much in his mind so that he was disturbed in his sleep he returned to his former resolution and resolved on the expedition In the preparation for it three years Herodotus saith four were taken up all Asia being concerned therein so far as to
departed with his men towards Ionia another way The Carducians a warlike Nation and at Enmity with the King and much exercised in slinging of great and massie stones Xenoph. lib. 4 Diorus much disturbed the Graecians in their passage of their Country and in the passing the Mountains thereof were spent seven dayes With great difficulty and danger having passed it they went over the River Centritis into Armenia of which Artabazus being then Governour entred into league with them and suffered them quietly to passe but in travelling thorow the Mountains they were near all being overwhelmed in the snow the discerning of wayes being taken away thereby The whole Army had perished also by extream cold had they not light upon some Villages near hand wherein being furnished with plenty of necessaries they refreshed themselves The houses stood within the ground into which the Men descended by stairs and their Cattel by desents made for that purpose Having here stayed eight dayes they journyed thence to the River Phasis 46. Having continued four dayes at this River they marched through the Country of the Tacchi and Phasiani by whom being opposed they fought and made great slaughter of them and then seized upon their Villages which were plentifully furnished with such things as they wanted they there rested fifteen dayes Thence marching through the Territories of the Chalcidensians in seven encampings they came to the River Harpasus and thence coming into the Plains of the Tascutin they there refreshed themselves three dayes and proceeding in four encampings they arrived at a great City called Gymnasia The Prince of this Country entring into a League with them furnished them with Guides to the Sea of which after fifteen dayes being got up to the hill Chenius they got a sight afar of at which the Front shouted so for joy that those in the Rear thinking they had been set upon by some Enemy prepared themselves for a Fight and there laid they a great heap of stones as a Monument to Posterity of the spoils obtained from the Barbarians and the immortal memory of their Expedition 47. Then came they into the Country of the Macri with whom they made a League by taking and receiving a Spear according to the custom of these Barbarians Having got over their Mountains they came into the Territories of the Coleti where a great multitude opposing them they made no small slaughter of the Inhabitants and made great spoil where they found a kind of Honey of which whosoever did eat became according to the quantity eaten drunken mad or as dead but the next day at the same hour returned to their right Senses and after three or four dayes arose as having received some Medicine Thence in two encampings they come to Trapezond a Graecian City well inhabited They came to Trapezond upon the Euxine Sea situate upon the Euxine Sea being a Colony of the Sinopeans placed in the Colchian Country Here Jason with his Companions are reported to have arrived with their ship Argos They sacrifized to Hercules and Jupiter and celebrated Games of Exercise Exped Cyri l. 5. and hence was Cherisophus sent to Byzantium to provide ships for the transportation of them home and for him here they staied thirty dayes but after that term he returning not their provisions growing scarce Diodorus ut suprà though they had made excursions both by Sea and Land they put on shipboard having obtained a little shipping of the Trapezuntans the sick all those above forty years of age with the women and children and passed in three dayes to Cerasunt a Graecian City situate upon the Sea being also a Colony of the Sinopeans in the Colchian Country Here they remained ten dayes and taking a muster found 8600 remaining of those that ascended with Cyrus into Persia the rest being consumed by the Enemies hand or Snow or sicknesse Here also they divided the money that arose out of the sale of Captives the tenth part of which the Officers took into their hands being severed as an offering to be made to Apollo and Diana of Ephesus every one keeping and preserving a share for his gods 48. From Cerasunt they came into the Country of the Mesynecans the veriest Barbarians they had met with in the whole journy which they passed by force in eight encampings and in three more that of the Tibarenes through which they came to Cotyora a Graecian Colony also of the Sinopaeans Thus far the Army marched on foot the whole length of the retreat from the place of the battel in the Babylonian Territories hither being 122 encampings 620 parasangs 10820 furlongs 1352 miles and something more At Cotyora they continued 50 dayes making encursions upon the neighbouring people of Paphlagonia Then the Heracleans and Synopeans a Colony of the Milesians in Paphlagonia furnished hem with shipping into which they put themselves and their baggage and sailed away Xenoph. lib. 6. Diodorus Cherisophus meeting them with a few Vessels Holding on their course they sailed by Jason's shore where the Ship Argo is said to have anchored and by the mouths of the Rivers Thermodon Halys Parthenius by which after they had passed they arrived at Heraclea a Graecian City and Colony of the Megaraeans situate in the Territory of the Maryandens and came to anchor near the Cherronnesus or Peninsula of Acherousia where Hercules is said to have fetcht the Dog Cerberus out of Hell the marks being there shewn of his descent and the depth of the place being more than two furlongs 49. Here the Soldiers through the perswasion of Lycen an Achaian making unreasonable demands of money from the Heracleans they shut their gates upon them They part asunder at Heraclea and provided for their own defence which bred a sedition in the Army so that they parted asunder The Arcadians and Achaeans being more than 4500 all heavy armed sailed away first having got shipping of the Heracleans that falling sodainly upon the Bithynians they might prevent the rest and make the greatest prey Cherisophus a little before chosen General having 1300 armed and 700 Peltasts who were the Thracians that followed Clearchus marched on foot from Heraclea and as soon as he entred Thrace led along by the Sea-coast being now sick and presently dead of a Medicine he took in an Ague Xenophon with 1700 Armed 300 Peltasts and 40 Horse taking shipping landed in the confines of Thrace and marched through the midst of the Land With great difficulty passed they through the Country on foot the Thracians of Asia and the Bithynians grievously afflicting them till meeting together again they resolved no more to part and decreed it should be death for any one to move such a thing Then came they safe though with great difficulty to Chrysopolis a City in Chalcedonia whence without much trouble some returned home Xenoph. l. 7. Diodorus others were employed by Seuthes the King of Thrace and after that Thymbro joyning them to the rest
fined him but one Philistus a wealthy man who afterwards wrote his History bade him proceed promising to pay his fine though it were a whole day together Animated hereby he proceeded urging that the Captains had been corrupted to betray the interest of Sicilie and accusing others of the better sort of Citizens as affecting Oligarchy He therefore moved that new Officers might be created such as were not eminent for power but good will towards the People for that the other usurping dominion despised the common sort and made their own markets out of the publick whereas those being of lower fortunes by a consciousnesse of their own weaknesse could not attempt such a matter 25. Having discoursed these things fitly to the humour of the multitude and his own design he made no small impression in the minds of the Vulgar who having had the fidelity of the Captains in question before gave credence to these slanders and deposing them made new amongst which was Dionysius having got much credit for his valour against the Carthaginians The foundation thus laid he beat his head all manner of waies how to accomplish his device and resolved if possible to get his Colleagues removed For this purpose he never would meet in council with them giving out they hatched clandestine designs against the State and seeing the Citizens much affrighted at an approaching War procured the Exiles to be called home hoping that they being obnoxious to him and desirous of innovation would be fit for his purpose taking great delight in seeing their Enemies killed and their goods sold their own Estates being restored to them At this time it happened that a Sedition falling out in Gela he had an opportunity to lead thither 2000 Foot and 400 Horse where procuring their principal men to be put to death and their Estates confiscated he thereby much ingratiated himself with the multitude and Soldiers At his return he found the People just departing from the shows of the Theatre which asking him news he said he knew none but that their Governours were greater Enemies to the State than the Carthaginians by whose flatteries they now kept holy day and who fleecing the Commonwealth cheated the Soldiers of their wages Now was an innumerable Army hovering upon the borders and ready to invade which they not at all regarded This he understood a little before but now fully having received a message from Imilco that desired his connivance Wherefore for his part he would lay down his Office not induring that others making merchandise of the Commonwealth he alone should together with the Citizens bear the burthen and undergo the danger and yet also be accounted as treacherous as the rest For this night every man in great fear went home to his house The next day he called them together and loading his Colleagues with great invectives The misery of People destitute of rightful and hereditary Princes so stirred the multitude that some beginning to cry out he was to be made Dictator for that they had formerly had experience how convenient the conduct of a single Person was by the example of Gelon his Victory over Amilcar the multitude out of hand created him General with full power Then to bind fast the Soldiers to him he procured a Decree for double pay alleging it would make them more valiant in that time of danger and bidding the People take no thought about raising money 26. The wiser sort had all along sufficiently understood whither these actions tended but the multitude stopped their ears against all accusations as proceeding from the malice of the great ones But now upon further consideration they began to suspect him and repent they had put the power out of their own hands which he being aware of lest the discontent should so seize upon the generality as thereby to procure him any let or hindrance in the full compleating his design he drew out the Army to Leontium which now was used as a Fortresse or Garrison and there shutting himself close up pretended a great conspiracy against his life The day followng he called the multitude together and alleging many probable reasons to perswade them of the danger obtained to have 600 men as a guard for his person which he should chuse out where he pleased This number he increased to 1000 picked out and consisting of such as were desperate in fortune and thereupon backed with stomach and resolution He called the Mercenaries and ingaged them to him with good words then new modelling the Army gave such commands therein as he knew would best serve his own turn he gave free admission to all Exiles and malefactors knowing such would be effectual to all his purposes Having thus in imitation of Pisistratus got him a guard and made himself Tyrant at his return to Syracuse he openly shewed himself such placing his Tent in the Arcenal The People murmured in vain being beset with strangers and mercenaries at home and in continual fear of a War hanging over them from abroad To establish himself he took to wise the daughter of Hermocrates who did such service against the Athenians and was slain in attempting to seize on the City he also gave his own Sister in marriage to his wives Brother thinking it his interest to be allied to so great a Family Then assembling the People by his devices he procured Daphneus and Demarchus the most potent of his Adversaries to be put to death A. M. 3599. Ol. 93. an 3. V.C. 348. Darii Nothi 18. and so from a Scribe and a man of mean condition he became Master of the greatest Greek Citie continuing such for 38 years unto his end 27. Imilcar having wintred in Agrigentum at Spring-time razed the City and then fell upon Gela. The Inhabitants betook themselves to Dionysius for help but his indeavours not well succeeding they were forced to quit the Town and leave it also to the disposal of the Enemy Idem ad an 4. Dionysius made the Citizens of Camarina to do the same possessing them with a fear of the Carthaginians so that departing thence in haste some with their Gold and Silver others with their wives and children onely and the wayes being full of both sexes and ages who miserably shunned servitude by exile the Syracusian Horse-men pitied them exceedingly and accounting this but a fetch of their Tyrant A conspiracy against him to make himself Master of the place conspired how they might kill him in the way and the rather because they had observed how remisse or rather industriously treacherous he had been in the relief of Gela. He keeping the Mercenaries close to him they could not execute this design but rode fast to Syracuse where being easily admitted they rifled his Palace and used his wife very harshly that she died Being secure of him as at a great distance from them he conjectured the same and in post-haste comeing to Syracuse set fire on one of gates and so got in Then slaughtered
the name of Consul But he should rather have said that then the name of Judex crept in for it appeareth out of Livie that they were called Judices next after Praetors before the name of Consuls came in The Historian in his third Book speaking of such things as happened in the first year after the writing of the twelve Tables addeth In these times it was the custom not to call the Consul by the name of Judex but Praetor (f) De Ling. Latina lib. 5. Varro out of antient Commentaries confirmeth this and (g) De Legib. lib. 3. Cicero giveth the Etymology of all these Offices thus à praeeundo judicando consulendo Praetores Judices Consules appellantur Some upon good grounds coniecture that after the creation of Praetors who were peculiar Judges the name of Judex was left and that of Consul succeeded which continued to the last Their power 2. The power of Consuls was at first the same with that of Kings allayed onely by plurality of persons and shortnesse of time so that Cicero calleth it Regium Imperium and Regia potestas and the Greeks chose to call them Hypatoi which signifieth those that are most excellent or chief as Dionysius telleth us In the beginning they might imprison and sentence at their pleasure having the power of life and death over the Citizens though scarce the authority to make peace and vvar as Lipsius affirmeth By degrees this great power was diminished and that especially by two things viz. Appeal and Interposing called Provocatio and Intercessio The former was presently brought in after the banishment of the Kings by Valerius Poplicola who preferred a Law for taking away animadversion upon Citizens from the Consuls and giving liberty of Appeal to the People as the higher Judge But by the Interposition of the Tribunes of the people who were afterwards created all actions of the Consuls whatsoever might be obstructed as by the voyce of the people it self whose power and dignity thenceforth dayly increased and took authority over all Magistrates Hereby was that of the Consuls much diminished Yet not quite broken and dissolved as long as the Commonwealth continued their Offices being both many and large For first they were the head of the State all ordinary Magistrates being subject and obnoxious to them except the Tribunes in whose actions they might interpose Secondly they had the chief Command in the War over Citizens and Associates as also over Provinces and Subjects whom they might punish and Authority to appoint Officers in the Army as appeareth out of Cicero and Polybius in several places Thirdly they assembled the people consulted with it preferred Laws also which if enacted bore their names Fourthly they received Letters from Governours of Provinces from Nations and Cities gave audience to Ambassadors and what was to be done either by Senate or people passed through their hands as chief Ministers of State Fifthly as the Senate handled and executed all things in peace and vvar so did they govern it in some sence they assembled and dismissed it therein they asked the Members their opinions counted and divided them and in conclusion they steered the ship of the Commonwealth This was their power while the free State continued but after it was subjected to the power of one person their authority was again much impaired few of all these privileges remaining to them for that the Prince assumed the rights of all Magistrates but especially those of the Consuls and Tribunes Under the Emperours they were employed in consulting the Senate administring Justice assigning Tutors or Guardians manumitting Slaves letting out to farm the Customs which Office formerly belonged to the Censors and managing publick Games besides they had the honour of having the year Characterized by their names as formerly These things will be sufficiently evinced at least most of them in the sequel of this History concerning Roman affairs Certain Rites concerning them 3. There were observed certain Consular Rites which it will rather behove us in this place to relate than scatteredly hereafter to give an account of them First of all the time wherein the Consuls assumed their Office was not set or constant but various till the year of the Citie 532. when both they and other Magistrates entred on the Calends of January having before as * Ad A.M. 3676. Simpson and others observe Commenced on the Calends of Quintilis called July as well as at other times The first day was an high day and very creditable to them the Senate and people meeting at their houses saluting and accompanying them to the Capitol where they took their Oaths and Sacrifized Thence they went to the Senate house where they were ordered by a Senatus Consultum to give thanks to the Prince of the Senate then sent they gifts to their friends and threw money to the people which later expense was afterwards taken away by the Emperours and appropriated to the repairing of aquaeducts They twice swore to govern according to the Laws as all other Magistrates did none being to keep his Office above five dayes except publickly sworn when first they entred once in the Capitol and then again in the Rostra in their hands to whom they succeeded and at the laying down of their Office again at the years end they swore in like manner that wittingly and willingly they had done nothing contrary to the said Laws Another Rite there was as Lipsius termeth it about their power which thereby was so increased as to become as absolute as the Kingly was This was onely upon an extraordinary occasion or in extream necessity when all lay at the stake and the Citie was in danger Then a Decree of the Senate passed in this form Viderint Consules nequid Resp detrimenti accipiat or Dent operam Consules nequid Resp detrimenti Capiat as * De bello Catalin◠Sallust hath it who addeth that this greatest power was given by the Senate to these Magistrates to raise forces make War all manner of wayes to punish Citizens and associates to have both at home and abroad in War absolute command and judiciary power Otherwise without the command of the people no Consul could do any of these things In a word by this Decree was restored to them that power or rather more given which was taken away by the Appeal and other Laws 4. What the Ornaments and Ensigns of the Consuls were we have formerly observed out of Dionysius to which shall be added upon occasion what may be thought requisite The age capable of this Office As for the age wherin a man was capable of this Office (a) Annal. lib. 11. Tacitus observeth that of old it was lawfull at any age to sue for the Consulship and the supream power of Dictator But afterwards being taught otherwise by experience in the 573th year of the Citie the Romans thought fit to set bounds to juvenile heat and ambition This was as (b) Lib. 10. Livy
their safety under the conduct of Aminander into their own Country This year the Roman Navy joyning to that of Attalus and the Rhodians took the Island Andrus and Oreus the City we have often spoken of in Euboea 41. Philip taking all care possible for the managing of his affaires Livius l. 32. the next Spring sent down his Auxiliaries and others through Epirus into Chaonia to seize upon the Straights near Antigonia and he himself following after with the strength of his Army fortified the Vallie betwixt the Mountains through which the River Aons runneth Athenagoras his Lieutenant he commanded to look to the Mountain Asnaus and he himself pitched his Tents upon the hill Aeropus Tappulus the Consul doth nothing To Sulpicius the Consul succeeded P. Villius Tappulus who coming late did nothing at all for leading towards the Enemy he with a few went to view the Moors through which his nearest way lay to him and consulting many dayes whether he should passe that way or take the same Sulpicius went into Macedonia before he could determine news came to him that his Successor was already come to Corcyra This was T. Quintius Flamininus created Consul ere he was thirty years old who falling this Province came sooner than usual bringing over with him 8000 Foot and 800 Horse Being arrived at the Camp after some consultation he determined to set upon Philip's Army in the place where it yet lay Flamininus succeedeth but how to do it was hard to be resolved and forty dayes were spent in this deliberation which time Philip was content to make an opportunity to look after Peace With whom Philip hath a fruitlesse treaty and attempt the procurement of it through the Epirotes They met at the River Aous or Apsus but the Consul demanded things seeming so hard to the other that he asked him if he would impose more hard conditions upon one conquered and so withdrew himself from the conference 42. The next day followed some light Skirmishes neither part receiving either much good or dammage but as they continued in this condition came a certain Shepherd sent by Charops Prince of the Epirotes undertaking to lead the Romans through the Mountains an easie way and bring them upon the Enemies back The Consul glad of this opportunity sent a party with him And is beaten by him and then gave an Alarm with the whole Army to the Camp which the Macedonians received willingly enough and both Armies being greedy of fighting they marched out of their Trenches to receive the battel but then those on their backs setting up a shout struck them with such terror that some of them ran away others by reason of the difficulty of the place for fight were compassed in and 2000 slain The King fled amain till he came five miles off and then rallying his men upon an hill with a great Company went into Thessaly Where wasting divers Towns to deprive the Enemy of Provisions he thence passed into Macedonia The Consul following him into Thessaly laboured to get the good will of the Epiroâ—es and called to him Aminander King of the Athamanians to conduct him on his way then took he Phaleria where were in Garrison 2000 Macedonians which he plundred and burnt at which also others being affrighted yielded themselves and Philip not daring to oppose but keeping within Tempe sent relief upon occasion to such places as wanted The Consul taketh in several places in Thessaly At Rhaga the Consul found such opposition as he raised his siege but thence departing took in divers Cities of Phocis and besieged Elatea during which things the Navy under the conduct of L. Quintius his brother in Conjunction with Attalus and the Rhodians took two of the most considerable Towns of Euboea and then prepared to venture for Corinth but by the Consul's advice they first sent to the Achaeans to see if they might draw them from Philip to their own party 43. Aristaenus or Aristinetus as he is called by Polybius their Praetor laboured to perswade them by all means to imbrace the society of the Romans at which the Dymaeans and Megalopolitans out of distaste went out of the Council as unwilling thus to betray Philip and the rest unanimously entered into Alliance with Attalus and the Rhodians The Achaeans joyn with the Roman party and for that they could not do as much with the Romans without consent of the People at Rome put it off onely till they might send their Ambassadors thither and Decreed at the present to dispatch away three to Lucius Quintius and their Army also to Corinth before which he now lay The Town was stoutly defended by the Inhabitants and Androsthenes the Governour for the King till such time as Phiâ—ocles came with 1500 fresh men to their relief after which it seemed best both to Attalus and Quintius to raise their siege and then Philocles had Argos betrayed to him The Consul in this mean time got Elatea and then taking up his Winter quarters news came that the Opuntians were at odds amongst themselves some calling the Aetolians and some the Romans desirous to give up their Citie to them The stronger and richer part called the Consul but the Castle was still held by the Macedonians who could not be got out by any fair words or foul and when it should have been stormed came an Herauld from Philip desiring a time and place might be set for a meeting to treat again of peace which being granted they met in the Bay near Nice at the day appointed where Philip would not come ashore for fear as he pretended of the Aetolians Another Treaty Much talk there was on both sides Polybius except è lib. 17. the treaty being put off from one day to another but it being required of the King to quit all Greece he refused to do it having a great desire to keep Corinth Chalcis and Demetrias and then at his request he had leave given him to send Ambassadors to the Senate and a Truce was made for two moneths He sendeth Ambassadors to Rome 44. The Greeks sent their Ambassadors also and all came to Rome when the debate was about the Provinces of the new Consuls whether one of them should have Macedonia according to the custom or both stay and carry on the War against the Gaules then depending for the Tribunes of the people opposed the custom alleging that the reason was why Wars were so lengthned because there was every year a new General according to the succession of the Consuls This being referred to the Senate it was thought fit to continue the Command to Quintius and then had all the Ambassadors audience The Greeks inveighed sore against Philip and earnestly laboured that he should not be allowed to hold Chalcis Corinth and Demetrias for otherwise Greece could have no thoughts of liberty They alleged it to his own saying that these three were the Foâ—ters of Greece and that not without reason
before the Original of Hiera were first seen amongst the Cyclades Claudius animadverteth upon his wife Messalina 16. Two or three years after this Claudius being certified that his wife Messalina the most unchast of all women had openly married C. Silius Lege Tacit. Annal. l. 11. c. 26. c. he animadverted upon her and her minions About the same time Herod the King of Chalcis dying he bestowed that Kingdom upon Herods Nephew Agrippa the younger for Judaea his father's Kingdom was still governed by Deputies Tiberius Alexander who succeeded Fadus Josephus Antiquit lib. 2. Capp 3 4. Orosius lib. 7. cap. 6. Sueton ut suprà cap. 25. Tacitus Annal. l. 12. c. 1. c. now gave place to Cumanus under whom the Jews being affronted at the Passeover by impudent and sawcy Soldiers mutined but now as ever came to the worst and not long after their Countrey-men that dwelt at Rome were expelled thence by Claudius and under their name as many think the Christians also In the nineteenth year of his reign he married Agrippina his own Neice by his brother Germanicus Marrieth Agrippina his Niece through the perswasion of Pallas his Freedman which woman presently as soon as she perceived her strength procured his daughter Octavia to be given in marriage to Domitius Nero her son by her former husband Cn. Domitius Aenobarbus The maid was formerly contracted to L. Silanus an eminent young man but he accused by Vitellius was put out of his Praetorship and the match was broken betwixt him and the Princesse whereupon he shortly after killed himself And a year after was Claudius perswaded by Pallas to adopt Nero his wive's son though he had a son of his own by name Britanicus but two years younger Pallas was so high flown in favour Felix sent Governour into Samaria that he procured his brother Felix to be sent Governour into Samaria and afterwards got his power extended to Judaea Galile and Peraea where he acted the part of a Tyrant and having married several great Ladies obtained also Drusilla sister to Agrippa The Parthians now again at variance amongst themselves and wearied with the Tyranny of Gatarzes asked a Prince from Rome Claudius sent them Meherdates the son of Vonones Stirs in Parthia and Grandson of Phraates but he was presently betrayed into the hands of Gotarzes At this time also the Britains rebelled 17. Now was P. Ostorius Propraetor there Tacitus Annal. lib. 12. Capp 31 32. c. upon whose first coming the Britains grew confident The Britains rebel as contemning him for his want of experience The Winter being begun they made excursions into the Territories of the Allies of Rome He knowing that the first event would either incourage or amate them set upon and scattered them then went about to disarm all such as he had reason to suspect but the Iceni inhabiting those parts now called Suffolk Norfolk Cambridgshire and Huntingtonshire a strong Nation refusing to submit drew others in to them and pitching upon a very convenient ground gave battel to the Romans who by reason that they despaired of pardon had much ado to overcome them By this foil of the Iceni others before unsetled were contained in obedience and Ostorius led his Army against the Cansi a people living towards the Irish Sea and wasting their grounds had passed on well nigh to the Irish Sea when he was recalled by the discord of the Brigantes people inhabiting the North part of that now called England the Ring-leaders of whom when he had taken off the rebellion was extinguished But the Silures inhabiting Southwales would by no means be either allured or discouraged from waging War trusting to the strength of Caractacus the greatest Prince amongst the Britains who excelling as well in policy as the knowledge of the Countrey transferred the War into the Territories of the Ordovices now north-Northwales as more convenient for him by reason of the Mountains and Rocks Here he made a speech to his Officers putting them in mind how their Ancestors had repulsed Caesar the Dictator and willing them to behave themselves at this time as the beginning of their liberty or eternal slavery Are reduced Till they came to strokes the Romans had the worst of it but afterwards breaking into the Rampires they easily routed the Britains and got a great victory wherein the wife and daughter of Caractacus being taken his brethren yielded themselves 18. Caractacus committing himself into the hands of Cartismunda Idem ibid. cap. 36. c. Queen of the Brigantes Caractacus betrayed is carried to Rome was treacherously bound and delivered up to the Conquerours in the ninth year of the War wherein he had got himself an exceeding great name Being carried to Rome the people was called together as to some famous show and the Praetorian bands were placed along for the reception of him The prayers of the rest were by reason of fear base and nothing savouring of Nobility but Caractacus neither hanging down his head nor craving any mercy when he stood before the Emperour's Tribunal spake to this purpose If my moderation in prosperity had been as great as my Nobility and Fortune I had come rather as a friend into this Citie than a Captive neither would you have disdained to receive me with Covenants of peace being a Prince descended of Noble Progenitors and a Commander over many Nations His speech to the Emperour My present state is as to me dishonourable so to you magnificent I have had horses men armour and wealth What marvel if against my will I have lost them all For if you will rule over all men it followeth that all men must abide servitude If presently I had yielded and been delivered into your hands neither had my Fortune nor your glory been very remarkable and oblivion would have followed my punishment But if you save me alive I shall be an example of your clemency for ever He is pardoned 19. Upon those words Caesar pardoned him his wife and brethren And they being all unbound did their reverence likewise unto Agrippina who sat aloft not far off in an high seat to be seen giving her the like praises and in the same degrees of stile as they did the Emperour himself Surely a strange precedent without any example saith the Historian that a woman should sit and command the Roman Ensigns But she carried her self as a fellow and associate in the Empire gotten by her Progenitors After this the Senate was called together and the Fathers made long and glorious discourses as touching the Captivity of Caractacus Neither was this lesse honourable as they affirmed than when Pub. Scipio shewed Siphax L. Paulus Perses or whosoever else exhibited Conquered Kings to the view of the People As for Ostorius it was decreed he should be honoured with triumphal Ornaments But his Fortune soon changed either for that he grew secure upon the Captivity of so considerable a
was skinned over After two years Idem ibid. c. 25. Nero began to discover what his Nature prompted him to Beginneth to discover himself Disguising himself in a servile habit he ran about the City by night to Taverns and Stews accompanied with such as himself where taking away things by force as also cutting and slashing such as they met he himself came into danger of life 26. A little before those things Josephus Antiquit l. 20. c. 7. he sent Porcius Festus into Judaea to succeed Felix who being out of his office was accused at Rome by such Jews as dwelt at Casarea Nero pardoned him through the intercession of his brother Pallas Festus succeedeth Felix who was as yet in favour About the same time hapned a great dissention betwixt the Jews of Casarea and the Syrians which there inhabited with them about the right and privilege of the City They pretended that Herod the founder of it was a Jew and those answered that ere he named it Caesarea it was called the Tower of Straton at what time none of the Jews inhabited it and the Syrians by a great sum of money procured Beryllus who had been Nero's School-master to get them the Emperours letters whereby was abrogated that Privilege which the Jews had formerly enjoyed with the Syrians Herewith the Jews incensed were still seditious till the beginning of the Warre Great motions at this time fell out in the East The Parthians had set upon Armenia Tacitus ut supra c. 34 c. having driven away Rhadamistus nephew to Mithridates whom Claudius had set over that Kingdom and who was killed by the other that he might succeed him Nero sent to preserve that Country Domitius Corbulo who for two or three years had little to do because the Parthians deferred the War But now Tiridates brother to Vologesus the Parthian being resoled to fight for the Diadem the Armenians also inclining to him Corbulo prospereth in the East Corbulo took several Forts and besieged Artaxata the Metropolis which though the Inhabitants opened the gates and for this were spared yet because it could not be held for the greatnesse of it was burnt and razed Nero for these things was saluted Imperator passing great honours were decreed to him and a far greater stir was made by the flattering Fathers than was convenient 27. The same year that these things were done by Corbulo being the fifth of his reign Nero fell in love with Poppaea Sabina the daughter of P. Ollius though she named her self after her Grand-father by the mother's side because more eminent Now falleth in love with Poppaea which incenseth him against his mother He came first acquainted with her by the commendations of Otho her husband who also had been too familiar with her in the dayes of her first husband Rufus Crispinus She incensed him more against his mother because she feared that as long as she lived he would not dismisse Octavia and marry her self Sometimes she laid at him by divers criminations as otherwhiles jeered him as a Pupil who not not onely wanted command and authority but also liberty Some have suspected Tacitus Annal. l. 14. c. 1 2 c. that Agrippina sought to commit incest with her son How true soever this was he now began to be absolutely weary of her to shun her company and within a while resolved to make her away though solicitous how to do it Sueton in Nerone c. 34. At length Anicetus his Freed-man and General of the Fleet at Misenum acquainted him that a ship might be so framed as to break into pieces and let her fall into the Sea This ship was thus made and she brought into it by her son under colour of doing her honour but the upper part of the ship falling chanced to misse her though it killed one of her attendants One of her maides knowing nothing of the design cried out that she was Agrippina hoping thereby to save her self and was thereupom killed by the Oars but she her self being silent escaped them and swom to Land Her escape struck Nero with great consternation who called up Burrhus and Seneca to give their advice Whether they knew of the thing before or no is uncertain Some say Seneca asking Burrhus whether the Soldiers should not be commanded to kill her he answered they would do no such thing to the daughter of Germanicus and that Anicetus rather should perform his promise of dispatching her This he readily undertaking accompanied with two others went to the Village where she lay One of them first bruised her head with a club another drawing his sword she stretched out her belly and bad him strike that and so died of many wounds He causeth his mother be made away Some report that her son viewed her dead body exactly and passed his judgement upon every part A. D. 60. V. C. 8â—2 She had been a very lewd and ambitious woman and now reaped the fruit thereof according her own desire For consulting on a time about the fortune of this her son the Chaldaeans told her that He should reign but kill his mother to which she answered Occidat modo imperet Let him kill me so he but reign After this wicked fact he was continually tormented in his Conscience confessing often that he was haunted by the Furies which did beat him with fire-brands 28. He excused himself to the Senate laying great loads of heavy accusations upon her But the Fathers not onely excused but commended the deed nay to such sordidnesse of spirit was both Senate and People degenerated The Senate and People flatter him Tacitus ut suprà c. 12 13. that returning to the Citie they met him with as great Pomp as if he had come from some notable victory for the several Tribes and the Senate received him their Wives and Children being placed according to their Sex and Age. Hereupon he grew excessive proud as Lord over so many slaves and presently unmasking himself without any care of his actions fell into such disorders as he appeared rather a Devil incarnate than a man He became a Stage-player learning that art and exercising himself therein in publick continually His enormities He ordained Games to be solemnized at Rome every fifth year in imitation of the Greeks and called them Neronia persons of all sorts and degrees being constrained to be actors These being continued night and day most horrid things were committed Prince Senate and People either through affection or fear not onely giving way but compelling to such filthinesse Corbulo prospereth in Armenia Corbulo at this time prospering in Armenia had Tigranocerta yielded to him and then placed in that Kingdom Tigranes Grand-son to Archelaus King of Cappadocia with whom having left a Guard and settled matters he departed into Syria to succeed Vinidius the Governour The year following being the 814 of the Citie wherein Caesonius Paetus and Petronius Turpilianus were Consuls the Romans
ex Dione that a golden neck and head was grown up on his shoulders and that he was fully assured Golden dayes after Domitian that after him were thereby portended golden dayes to the Commonwealth This truly came to passe through the abstinence moderation and excellent government of the six succeeding Princes during the reign of whom the Roman Empire for temporal respects enjoyed more happinesse than ever before or after Strangers affording that which the Natives of Italy would not contribute to their own Country 2. Cocceius Nerva an old man and born in Crete say some Aurelius Victor though others make him a native of Narnia in Italy after the death of Domitian had the Empire put upon him Nerva succeedeth him by the Legions which then quartered amongst the Sequani in Gall. After his assuming the Government a strong rumour went abroad that Domitian was yet living which somewhat perplexed him till by Parthenius and Petronius Captains of the guards he was put out of doubt and afterwards his election was confirmed by the Senate He took down the golden and silver Statues erected to Domitian whereof was raised a great sum of money and forbad any to be set up to himself Euseb Eccles Hist l. 3. c. 21. He recalled such as his predecessors banished and amongst others the Christians so that St. John the Apostle returned out of Pathmos unto Ephesus Calpurnius Crassus by vast promises attempted to draw the Soldiers from him but being happily discovered he onely banished him to Tarentum He eased the Commonwealth of the grievous impositions laid upon it and having conjoyned these two things in the times of some of his Predecessors insociable viz. Soverainty and Liberty although he had kindred of his own yet he adopted M. Ulpius Trajanus a Spaniard born who then ruled Germany Tacitus in Agricola preferring herein the publick good before private respects Adopteth Trajan and dieth He lived with him but three moneths For falling out with one Regulus a Senator he was in so great a passion that it drove his natural heat into a Feaver whereof he died on the sixth before the Calends of February having lived 65 years and reigned one year four moneths and nine dayes in the 851 year of the City A. D. 98 he himself the fourth and Trajanus Caesar the second time being Consuls 3. Trajan succeeded him Orosius l. 7. c. 12. and took the Ensigns of the Empire at Agrippina a Colony in Gall. He presently reduced all Germany beyond the Rhine into it's wonted condition Trajan succeedeth him brought under also several Nations beyond the River Danubius But Diurpanes or Diurpanis Decebalus or Decibalus for he hath several names King of the Daci A. D. 98. V. C. 851. Trajani 1. who had formerly forced Domitian to pay tribute held him stifly to it for the space of five years with the expence of so much blood that there wanted linnen to bind up the wounds of the Soldiers His Wars and the Emperour tare his own robe to supply the defect thereof But at length he brought them under and planted Colonies in that Country He reduced Armenia having killed him that seized on it conquered Parthia whence he was called Parthicus and passing over Tigris and Euphrates invaded Persia and Assyria and got into his hands Seleucia Ctesiphon and Babylon Considering Trajan as an Heathen Prince in excellency of Government he was second to none He extended the Empire further than any of his predecessors so that now it reached from the Irish Ocean beyond the River Tigris from the Atlantick Sea to the Persian Gulf He extendeth the Empire further than ever from the Mount Atlas to the Calidonian Forrest as also as far as the River Albis and beyond Danubius He had in his intention to invade India with a Fleet which he ordered to be provided in the Red Sea He was saluted Optimus by the Senate His moderation was exceeding great being backed with such a confidence of his own innocence that giving a dagger to Saburanus according to the custom when he made him Captain of his Guard A moderate person in civil matters he bade him use it in his behalf if he did well but imploy it against him if he found him to transgresse the bounds of Law and equity for as much as he that ought to look to others should most of all look to himself He so used his Subjects as he himself he said would desire his Prince should use him were he a private person Though he was not learned himself yet he much favoured humane and secular Learning conversing very familiarly and often with the Professors thereof whom he also preferred to publick Offices 4. Humane and Secular Learning he favoured and that onely For he raised the third persecution against the Heavenly Doctrin and the Church of Christ But persecuteth the Church to which cruelty the worldly wise men seem most of all to have contributed Being puffed up with the Victory he had obtained over the Daci and Thracians after the ending of the second Dacian War in the ninth year of his reign Decebalus having killed himself as he was maching against Osroes or Chosdroes the Parthian King and the Armenians having commanded all that would not worship his false gods to be put to death Jgnatius the Scholar of St. John the Apostle and Bishop now of Antioch was brought before him whilst he lay in his passage in this City Ignatius standing in his presence he said who art thou Devil Cacodaemon who makest haste to transgresse our Commands His discourse with Ignatius Bishop of Antioch and perswadest others to destroy themselves Ignatius answered No body calleth Theophorus a Cacodaemon for Devils flie from the Servants of God But I know thou so callest me because I molest them For I confesse I have Christ the heavenly King and dissolve their councils Trajan demanded who is Theophorus Ignatius replyed He who hath Christ in his breast Trajan said Dost not thou think we have the Gods in our breast which assist us against our Enemies Ignatius answered In that thou esteemest the Devils of the Gentiles to be gods thou errest For there is one God who made Heaven and Earth and Sea with all that are in them and he hath one onely begotten Sonne Jesus Christ whose friendship I have obtained Trajan then said Thou speakest of him that was crucified by Pontius Pilate Ignatius replyed Of him who crucified sin and the inventor of it and who approveth not of him that serveth Idols but who in his heart wisely understandeth this Trajan added Dost thou they carry Christ in thy self Ignatius said Yea for it is written I will dwell and walk in them Trajan concluded thus I award that Ignatius who saith he beareth in himself the Crucified be conveyed in bonds by Soldiers to the great City Rome there to be devoured of beasts for a show to the People This was accordingly executed upon the
two bodies being tumbled up and down the streets were at length cast into Tiber. He thus died having lived 18 years and reigned five A. V. C. 975. A. D. 222. Alexander 38. Alexander then was received as Emperour Olymp. 250. ann 2. V. C. 975. A. D. 222. Consule Heredian ubi supra Lamprid. in Alexand. Eutropium l. 8. Euseb Eccles Hist l 6. c. 28. Orosium lib. 7. cap. 18. and ruled with great moderation and clemency being kept from ill company by Mammaea his mother and otherwise of his own inclination abhorring bloud so that in all his time not any one was put to death innocent and unheard He carried himself with great courtesie towards all nay Camillus attempting new matters he onely thanked that he was willing to receive that burthen which good men refused His saying was Quod tibi fieri non vis alteri ne feceris What thou wouldest not have done to thy self do not to another Although the peace which Macrinus had made with the Parthian was disgracefull to the Roman Empire yet it pleased not the Parthians who thought the perfidiousnesse of Bassianus deserved much greater punishment Thence arose dissatisfaction contempt and hatred amongst the subjects of Artabanus the issue whereof was that Artaxares or Artaxerxes stirred up the Persians to the recovery of their antient honour and translated the Kingdom from Artabanus and the Parthians upon himself in the fourth year of this Alexander 538 years after Alexander the Great or rather in the 538 year of the Seleucidae Not content herewith he sent to Alexander to demand whatsoever the Romans had taken from the Persians and having a great ambition to recover what ever had belonged to that Empire invaded Mesopotamia giving out he would reduce all Asia unto his power Alexander was constrained to march against him and so repelled and weakned him though with great losse of his own men that for divers years no more was heard of him By his Lieutenants he prospered in the Wars of Mauritiana Illyricum and Armenia but being called for against the Germans who wasted Gall either because he was despised for want of successe in this expedition for his severity or rather for that the Soldiers loved to fish in troubled waters he was traiterously murdered together with his mother and Maximinus was set up in his stead Mammaea his mother was first instructed in Christian Religion by Origen whom she called to her at Antioch but afterwards learnt of the Gnosticks 1. Openly to deny what she privately owned and 2. to keep and worship images of Christ She instructed her son in the same Doctrine who would have made a Temple for Christ but was prohibited saith Lampridius that is would have made one if he could have done it with the good will of the Romans Ulpian the great Lawyer was his chief Justice and was slain by the Soldiers Paulus also Pomponius and Modestinus flourished in his time which abounded with able men of this profession Alexander was slain in Gall near Moguntiacum on the fourth before the Nones of October having lived 29 years and reigned 13. A. V. C. 988. A. D. 235. L. Catilius Severus and L. Ragonius Quintianus being Consuls Maximinus made Emperour by the Soldiers 39. Maximinus by whose procurement Alexander was murdred was born in Thrace his father being a Goth and his mother an Alane Being at first an Herds-man he was for the vastnesse of his body made a Soldier and by degrees was preferred in the Army He had been set over the new raised Soldiers to train and exercise them and by his great valour Herod lib. 7 8. and enduring all labour and toil together with them procured their favour and hereby his own rise As he was a man of stupendous bulk and proportionable diet Capitolinus Eutropius lib. 9. Orosius lib. 7. cap. 19. so also of avarice and cruelty to the later whereof he was the more provoked by a conspiracy or two which were discovered ere they took effect He overthrew the Germans and wasted their Countrey threatning also to subdue all the Northern Nations as far as the Ocean and had his other carriage been answerable to his valour he might have enjoyed time and opportunity for the performance of much This occasion of revolt from him was first given in Africk by his Officer at Carthage whose rapacity so far incensed certain young men that they killed him Gordianus and compelled Gordianus the Proconsul to take upon him the Purple who being of the age of 80 years was joyfully owned both by Senate and People But he going about to revenge private injuries destroyed himself by constraining Capellianus who governed Mauritiana to come upon him with an Army wherewith being worsted he hanged himself his son having perished in the fight at the age of 46. They scarcely enjoyed the title 36 dayes 40. The Senate that they might have some to oppose against Maximinus Maximus and Balbinus chose two Emperors Maximus and Balbinus but the people not being satisfied therewith and being desirous to have a Prince out of the stock of Gordianus they gave the title of Caesar to Gordianus his Grandson by his daughter a boy of 13 years of age A little after it hapned that two old Soldiers vvho had belonged to Maximinus going to the Senate-house to hearken for news vvere slain by two Senators vvhich thing raising a great tumult the Soldiers in Town set the Citie on fire vvhereby a great part of it vvas burnt down and got them to their Camp Balbinus vvas appointed to take care of Rome and Maximus vvent into Italy to raise forces against Maximinus vvho now marched fast for Rome Finding no resistance at the Alpes he accounted himself most sure of victory but found so much at Aquileia as stopped his journey for the Inhabitants furnished by the commodiousnesse of the place vvith all sorts of Provisions most stoutly defended themselves They threw dovvn so much scalding Pitch and Sulphur upon his Soldiers that they vvere not able to continue the storms and the vvomen 't is said cut the hair from their heads to make Provision for bovv-strings This unexpected opposition drove him to such a rage that having no povver to torment the Enemy he exercised his fury upon divers of his Captains vvhom he put to death as if through their lazinesse and neglect the Tovvn stood out This cruelty together vvith the scarcity of Victuals in the Camp for the besiegers vvere so besieged that all Provisions vvere cut off from them induced such of the Soldiers Maximinus killed by his own men as had their Wives and Children at Rome to conspire against him Together vvith him fell his son such an one as himself vvhom he had named Caesar the Soldiers crying out that of an ill Litter not a Whelp was to be preserved He also persecuted the Church by the sixth persecution commanding that Governours onely and the principal Ministers of our Saviour's Doctrine should be put to
the eighteenth before the Calends of October and Lucius succeeded him who shortly after was banished In the second of Gallienus was he beheaded and after a vacancy of 35 dayes Stephen succeeded on the ninth of April the first feria who interceding for Basilides condemned by the Spaniards they defended their right against him and condemned his usurpation against the Africans as appeareth from Cyprian's Epistles as also that the boldnesse of the Roman Sea was now checked by all the Provinces After three years Stephen was beheaded by the command of Valerian and Sixtus succeeded him who being beheaded when Laurence the Deacon was fried to death by the command of Valerian Dionysius succeeded After him came Felix and then Eutychianus who being martyred in the first of Carus after nine dayes Caius succeeded December 16. Caius was crowned with Martyrdom in the twelfth of Diocletian and after eleven dayes Marcellinus succeeded who through fear offering incense to Idols when he denied it was overborn by the testimony of a multitude of witnesses confessed his fault and afterwards redeemed his credit by suffering Martyrdom Marcellus succeeded him After Marcellus succeeded Eusebius and then Miltiades then Sylvester who was Bishop at the time of the Council of Nice in the twentieth year of Constantine 19. After Alexander Mazabanes was Bishop of Jerusalem untill the reign of Gallus and Volusianus after him Hymeneus till the time of Aurelian Then followed Zambdas and Hermon according to (a) Lib. 7. c. 19. Eusebius who writeth that the Sea of Jerusalem was alwaies honoured and the succession continued unto his own dayes After Hermon Macarius was Bishop Socrat. Scholast l. 1. cap. 9 13. and was present at the Council of Nice In the Church of Antioch after Philetus succeeded Zebinus and then Babylas who died in prison in the persecution under Decius Him followed Fabius him Demetrianus and him Paulus Samosatenus the heretick who denying the Divinity of the Son of God was excommunicated and deprived by the second Synod held against him at Antioch in the dayes of (c) Euseb l. 7. c. 29 30. Aurelianus And when he would neither depart the Church nor avoid the house the Emperour was besought the first application to the Prince in this nature by the Christians to interpose and command by edict that such should have the house as agreed in doctrine with the followers of the Bishop of Rome and Italy Domnus was by the Synod appointed to succeed him after whom followed Timeus Cyrillus Dorotheus Tyrannus Vitalis Philogonus a Martyr and (d) Socrat. l. 1. c. 9 23. Eustathius who was at the Council of Nice He fell into the Heresie of Sabellius who being the Scholar of Noetus taught that the three Persons of the Trinity were but one but they differed in that Sabellius said not the Father to have suffered He was deposed by a Council held at Antioch Eusebius Pamphilius Bishop of Caesarea confuted him After his deposition the Sea was vacant eight years In the Sea of Alexandria after Heraclas Dionysius the Scholar of Origen was Bishop in the third year of Philip. He reporteth in (e) Quem vid. l. 6 7. passim Eusebius the peril he stood in and the persecution he suffered under Decius He wrote of the Alexandrian Martyrs to Fabius Bishop of Antioch and to Novatus the Heretick who being a Priest of Rome fell from his order and calling his Sect Cathari would not admit unto the Church such as fell after repentance and he abhorred second mariage Dionysius also wrote to Hermanion to Steven and Xistus Bishops of Rome unto Philemon a Minister of Rome and unto Dionysius Bishop of Rome He confuted the Book of Nepos the Chiliast and confounded in open disputation Coracion his disciple Hitherto this error of the Millenaries propagated by Papias had many of the Fathers that adhered to it who yet held that Christ when he came was to do his own work without any prejudice to Earthly Princes in the mean time Some observe that Dionysius striking at this error traduceth the Apocalypse as also defending the distinction of Persons against Sabellius seemeth to make three Essences Many betook themselves to Dionysius Bishop of Rome that he would reclaim him and obtained it After he had governed the Church seventeen years he died and Maximinus succeeded him whom followed Theonas and him Peter who was martyred under Diocletian Him succeeded Achillas and then came Alexander who was at the Council of Nice Hee by preaching of the Trinity somewhat curiously gave occasion to Arius one of his Clergy to fall from the Faith as * L. 1. c. 5. Socrates informeth us 20. In the fifth year of Philip whilst Fabianus was Bishop of Rome Donatus the Bishop of Carthage died and Cyprian succeeded him by consent of all men except Felicissimus who whilest the Heathens invaded his patrimony endeavoured to deprive him of his Bishoprick Felicissimus was ordained Bishop by Novatus Vita epistolae Cypriani who also ordained Novatianus against Cornelius Bishop of Rome Yet Cornelius favoured Felicissimus against Cyprian and would have taken Cognisance of their businesse whereupon Cyprian vehemently rebuketh him and denies that any one beyond the Sea hath right to passe judgement upon any matters concerning Africk And a little after the pride of the Roman Sea was reprehended by all those of the Provinces an occasion being given about Basilides who being censured in Spain complained to Stephen the Bishop of Rome Cyprian was several times driven into exile (a) Lib. 7. c. 3. Eusebius maketh him to have erred in rebaptizing Hereticks In the fourth of Valerian died Origen seventy years old Origen a man of admirable parts most austere life indefatigable industry and stupendious learning but of impure Doctrine Jerome sheweth how full of portentous errours his book 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is (b) Quem consule de Civitate Dei l. 21. c. 17. Augustin saith he held the Devil at length should be delivered from Hell and associated with the holy Angels and for this and other things especially for holding alternate or successive blessednesse and misery for ever the Church did reject him Pamphilus wrote an Apology for him But his works are to be read with especial care and especially his Commentaries upon the Scripture concerning some of which Theodore (c) In Rom. cap. 3. vers 20. Beza passeth this censure Certe hoc ausim dicere si haec sunt Origenis cujus titulum praeferunt hunc hominem fuisse selectum Diaboli organum Apostolicae Doctrinae evertendae destinatum for he evaporateth the solid and substantial Doctrine of the Gospel into Allegorical and aery Notions 21. But God having exercised his people by many a fiery trial was pleased to preserve the bush unburned and at length to grant them Peace by Constantine who proved a nursing father to the Church taking away all penal Laws against them and enacting new ones not onely for their preservation but convenience and