his Mother a Mede of whom this very Nebuchadnezzar at the hour of his Death uttered this Prophesie There shall come a Persian Mule who shall make use of your Devils as his Fellow-Souldiers to bring you into Bondage He calls Cyrus a Mule because he was to be born of a Father and Mother of two divers Nations THE LIFE and DEATH OF CYRUS THE GREAT The First Founder of the PERSIAN EMPIRE CYRUS was the Son of Cambyses King of Persia by Mandanes the Daughter of Astyages King of Media He was so named by the Prophet Isay almost two hundred years before he was born Isa. 45. 1 4. Thus saith the Lord unto Cyrus his anointed c. Cyrus his first Education was under his Father Cambyses with whom he lived till he was twelve years old and somewhat more at which time he was sent for together with his Mother Mandanes by his Grandfather Astyages into Media In Media he served Astyages first as one of his Halberdiers and then as one of his Armour-bearers till he was called home into Persia by his Father Cambyses when as yet he had one year to spend at School and when he had spent seventeen years at School amongst Boyes he spent ten years more amongst youths When Cyrus was now almost sixteen years old Evilmerodach the King of Assyria being about to marry a Wife called Nicotris made an in-rode with a great Army of Horse and Foot into the borders of Media there to take his pleasure in hunting and harrassing of the Countrey against whom Astyages and Cyaxares his Son and Cyrus his Grand-child who then first began to bear Arms being but about fifteen or sixteen years old marched out met with him and in a great Battel overthrew him and drave him out of his borders Indeed the Death of Nebuchadnezzar the Father of Evilmerodach gave courage to those that had found him a troublesome Neighbour to stand upon prouder terms with the Babylonians than in his flourishing estate they durst have used But Evilmerodach being too proud to digest this loss which he had received by the Medes and their Allies the Persians under Cyrus he drew unto his party the Lydians and all the people of the lesser Asia with great gifts and strong perswasions hoping by their assistance to overwhelm his enemies with a strong invasion whom in vain he had sought to weary out by a lingring War The issue of these great preparations made by Evilmerodach against the Medes was such as opened the way to the fulfilling divers Prophesies which were many years before uttered against Babel by Isay and Jeremy For the Babylonians and their Confederates who trusting in their numbers thought to have buried the Medes and Persians under their thick showers of Arrows and Darts were encountred with an Army of stout and well trained men weightily Armed for close fight by whom they were beaten in a great Battel wherein Evilmerodach was slain After which that great Empire that was raised and upheld by Nebuchadnezzar was grievously shaken and enfeibled under his unprosperous Son and left to be sustained by his Grand-child Belshazzar a man more like to have overthrown it when it was greatest and strongest than to repair it when it was in a way of falling Xenophon relates the matter thus When the Babylonian had enlarged his Empire with many Victories and was become Lord of all Syria and many other Countreys he began to hope that if the Medes could be brought under his Subjection there would not then be left any Nation adjoyning able to make head against him For the King of the Medes was able to bring into the Field sixty thousand Foot and ten thousand Horse to which the Forces of Persia being joyned made an exceeding great Army Considering therefore the strength of such a neighbour he invited Croesus King of Lydia a Prince very mighty both in men and Treasure and with him other Lords of Asia the less to his assistance alledging that those Eastern Nations were very powerfull and so firmly conjoyned by League and many Alliances that it would not be easie no nor possible for any one Nation to resist them With these suggestions backed with rich Presents he drew to himself so many adherents as he compounded an Army of two hundred Thousand Foot and sixty thousand Horse Of which ten thousand Horse and forty thousand Foot were brought by Croesus who had great cause of enmity against the Medes for that they had made great Wars against his Father Allyattes Whereupon Cyrus was by his Father Cambyses and the Council of the Kingdom made General of the Persian Army and sent away into Media with thirty thousand Souldiers and one thousand Commanders all of equal Authority under him and when he came thither he was also made by his Uncle Cyaxares who had sent for him General of the Median Forces and the management of the War against the Babylonian was wholly committed to him With this Army he marched against Evilmerodach and his associates and in a very bloody Battel overthrew them In which defeat Evilmerodach King of Babylon being slain so many of his Subjects revolted that Babylon it self could no longer be secured but by the help of Mercenaries waged with great sums of money out of Asia the less Egypt and other Countries which new levied Forces were also defeated and scattered by Cyrus who following his advantage possessed himself of a great part of the lesser Asia Those Persians which followed Cyrus and were by him levied are reckoned to be thirty thousand Foot of which one thousand were Armed Gentlemen the rest of the common sort were Archers and such as used the Dart or Sling Croesus notwithstanding the men lost and the Treasure spent in the quarrel of the Babylonians yet did he Conquer Aeolis Doris and Ionia Provinces possessed by the Greeks in Asia the less adjoyning to his Kingdom of Lydia He gave Laws also to the Phrygians Bithynians Carians Mysians Paphlagonians and other Nations He also enforced the Ephesians to acknowledge him for their Lord He also obtained a signal Victory against the Sacaeans a Nation of the Scythians All which he performed in fourteen years And being now confident by reason of his good successes and withall envious at Cyrus his Fame and Prosperity doubting also that his great Victories might in the end grow perillous to himself he consulted with the Oracle of Apollo whom he presented with marvellous rich gifts what success he might hope for in his undertakings against Cyrus from whom he received this ambiguous answer Croesus Halym penetrans magnam pervertet opum vim Croesus passing over the River Halys shall dissolve a great Dominion For the Devil being doubtful of his success gave him this Riddle which might be construed either way to the ruine of Persia or of his own Lydia Hereupon Croesus interpreting it as he most desired resolved to stop the course of Cyrus his progress
twenty Moneths the Chaldean Army lay before Ierusalem and held it exceeding straitly besieged For they built Forts against it round about 2 King 25. 1. or they surrounded the City with Woodden Towers so as the Besieged could neither sally out nor receive into the City any supplies of men or Victuals Iosephus saith that they over-topped the Walls with their high Towers which they erected upon Mounts from which with their Engines they did so beat upon the walls that the Defendants were forced to forsake their stations And though the Besieged also raised Counter-buildings like unto these yet the Great Nebuchadnezzar who Commanded all the Regions thereabouts and had the Woods and Rivers at his command found out means to disappoint and overthrow all the Citizens endeavours and to beat down their Towers as fast as they raised them For his own works were guarded by the Walls of Ierusalem whereas theirs within lay open to his Batteries Besides both Famine and Pestilence which commonly accompany men straitly besieged grew fast upon them whereby when the number strength and courage of the Iews failed the Chaldeans made a breach and forcing an entry their Princes did seat themselves as Lords of the Town in the middle Gate 2 King 26. 2 3 4. Ier. 39. 2 3. and 52 5 c. Zedechias beholding this uncomfortable sight and finding no other means to escape the present danger lost both his Courage and his Hope at once and shifted himself together with his Wives Children Princes and principal Servants out of the City by a way under-ground leaving his amazed and now headless Subjects to the merciless Swords of their enraged enemies Thus he who when the Prophet Ieremy perswaded him to render himself despised both the Counsel of God and the Army and force of Nebuchadnezzar used now the remedy which one calls A woful shameful and unfortunate shift By this secret subterranean Vault Zedechias stole away and by the help of the dark night recovered the plains or desarts of Iericho But by reason of the train that followed him and his every one leading with him those whom he loved best he was easily traced and pursued How great soever the company was that attended him yet certain it is that they on whose fidelity he most relied no sooner beheld the Chaldeans to draw near but they all abandoned his defence and shifted for themselves in the Desarts as they could For whom God had forsaken no man regarded And thus Zedechias was taken by the Ministers of Gods vengeance and being made a Prisoner together with his Children and Princes he was carried to Riblah in the Tribe of Nephthalim where Nebuchadnezzar then lay as a place indifferent between Ierusalem and Tyre with both which places he had at one time to do Now when Nebuchadnezzar had laid before Zedechias the many Graces and Favours which he had conferred upon him together with the notable falshood and perjury wherewith he had requited him he commanded his Children Princes and Friends to be slain before his face This being done to the end that so lamentable a spectacle should be the last that ever he should behold in this world he caused his eyes to be put out and so carried him like a Slave to Babylon where he consumed the rest of his life in perpetual imprisonment Herein was that marvellous Prophesie of Ezekiel fulfilled I will bring him to Babylon and he shall not see it Ezek. 12. 13. Thus in the eleventh and last year of Zedechias which was the eighteenth of Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldeans entred into Ierusalem by force where sparing neither Sex nor Age they put all to the Sword that they found therein In the next year following Nebuzaradan the General of the Babylonish Army burnt the Kings Palace and the whole City of Ierusalem and after the fire had lasted from the seventh to the tenth day he also burnt the Temple of God to the ground the richest and most Magnificent place that ever the Sun saw when it had stood four hundred thirty and one years After this upon a second search Nebuzaradan not yet satiated with blood commanded seventy and two others to be slain which had hidden themselves from the first fury to wit the chief and the second Priest two Commanders of Zedechias his men of war five of his houshould Servants and some others carrying away to Babylon the ablest of the People through all Iudaea and leaving the poorest labouring people with some that followed the party of Nebuchadnezzar to till the Ground over whom he placed Gedaliah the Nephew of that Saphan whom Iosias had formerly imployed in the Reformation of Religion This Gedaliah a Iew by Nation left Zedechias as it seemeth in the beginning of the War and by Ieremies desire to live with him it 's probable that had embraced the same advice which the Prophet gave to Zedechias which was to submit himself to the Babylonian King who being ordained of God for them as an instrument of his Justice was therefore irresistable The Prophet Ieremy being left to his own choice to live where he pleased made choice to go to Gedaliah to whom he was commended by Nebuzaradan and he not only entertained him kindly but comforted him and all the other Iews that were left under his charge promising them favour and liberty so long as they remained obedient Subjects to Nebuchadnezzar by whom he was established Provincial Governour over his own Nation But e're the year was expired a Prince of the late Kings Family who during the Siege of Ierusalem had sheltred himself from the storm with Baalis King of the Ammonites being attended by ten other chosen men whilst Gedaliah feasted them in Mitspah the City of his residence they trayterously slew him together with divers Chaldeans and Iews that accompanied him This done they escaped and in their way encountring with eighty persons repairing toward Gedaliah with presents they slew most of them and onely spared some who promised to discover to them some Treasures that were hidden in the Fields during the War They took with them also a Daughter of Zedechias committed to the care of Gedaliah by Nebuchadnezzar This treachery of Ismael had been formerly discovered to Gedaliah by Iohanan one of the Captains of the few remaining Iews but he would not believe it Iudea being now without a Governour for Ismael durst not take it upon him but fled as fast as he could to the Ammonites the residue of the Iews fearing the revenge of the Chaldeans resolved to fly into Egypt and besought Ieremy to ask counsel of God for them who returned answer that if they remained in Iudea God would provide for them and shew them mercy but if they sought to save themselves in Egypt they should then undoubtedly perish Notwithstanding which advice the Iews held their determination and despised the Oracle of God and constraining Ieremy
in providing for the Assyrian War but much of it in setling the Estates which he had already purchased Ctesias also tells us that during this time Cyrus invaded Scythia and being victorious over that Nation he took Amorges their King Prisoner But being in a second Battel overthrown by Sparetha the Wife of Amorges himself was taken Prisoner and so one King was released for the other Gobrias about this time a Nobleman whose only Son the King of Babylon in his Fathers life time had in a hunting match villainously slain together with his Friends revolted to Cyrus It s very probable also that no small part of those troubles which sprang up in the lower Asia grew soon after Cyrus his departure with his Victorious Army before the Conquest was fully established For after Cyrus was returned out of Asia the less many Nations which were formerly conquered by Croesus and now by Cyrus revolted from him Against whom he imployed Pactias and then Harpagus who first reduced the Phocians under their former Obedience and then the rest of the Greeks that inhabited Asia the less as the Jonians Carians Aeolians and Lycians who very resolutely according to the strength they had defended themselves But in the attempt upon Babylon it self it s not to be questioned but Cyrus imployed all his Forces having taken order beforehand that nothing should be able to divert him or to raise that Siege or to frustrate that work upon which he did set all his rest And great reason there was that he should improve all his Policy and strength unto the taking of that City which besides the Fame and reputation that it held as being the Head of an Empire which depended thereupon was so strongly fortified with a trebble Wall of great heigth and surrounded with the waters of Euphrates that were unfordable and so plentifully Victualled for many years that the Inhabitants were not only free from fear and doubt of their estate but through their confidence they derided and despised all the Projects and power of their Besiegers For not long before Nicotris the Mother of Belshazzar a witty and active Woman foreseeing the storm that was ready to fall upon Babylon from the Medes to hinder their passing the River by Boats into Babylon She turned the River Euphrates which before ran with a strait and swift course drawing it through many winding Channels which she had cut for that purpose whereby she made it to run more slowly than formerly it did and then she raised a huge Dam upon each side of the River and up the River from the City-ward she digged a vast Pond which was every way three or four hundred Furlongs wide into which she turned the River thereby leaving the old Channel of the River dry which done she fell to work and fenced the Banke within the City with Brick-walls and raised the Water-Gates answerable in every point to the rest of the Walls which were made on the farther side of the Channel round about the City She built also a stately and Magnificent Bridge of Stone in the midst of the City which joyned to the Kings Houses that stood on each side the River and having finished all her Works and Fortifications she turned the River out of the Pond into its right Channel again And now came Cyrus to invade the Country of Babylon and appeared before the Walls of the City and there challenged the King to a Duel or single Combat but he refused it At this time Gadatas a Noble man of Babylon whom Belshazzar had gelt upon a jealousie that he had of him with his Wife fell over to Cyrus in revenge whereof the Babylonians sallied out and fell upon his Lands but Cyrus set upon them and routed them At which time the Cadusii whom Cyrus had appointed to bring up the rear of his Army unknown to Cyrus set upon a Country lying neer to the City but the King of Babylon falling out upon them cut them all off Yet Cyrus quickly revenged the Death of his men and then came to an agreement with Belshazzar to hold truce with the Plough-men on both sides and the War to go on between the Souldiers only After which passing beyond the City he took in three of their Forts and so returned into the confines of Assyria and Media and thither upon his invitation came his Uncle Cyaxares and was by him honourably received and entertained in a Pavilion that had been the King of Assyrias and Winter now approaching they entred into consultation to provide things necessary to maintain the Siege The only hope of Cyrus with his Medes and Persians who despaired of carrying by assault a City so well and strongly fortified and manned was in cutting off all supplies of victuals and other necessaries Whereof though the Town was said to be stored sufficiently for more than twenty years yet might it well be imagined that amongst such a World of People as dwelt within those Walls one great want or other would soon appear amongst them and vanquish the resolution of that unwarlike multitude Yet in expecting that success of this course the Besiegers were likely to endure much hardship and travel and that all in valn if they did not keep strict watch and sure guards upon all the Avenues and Quarters of it Which that he might the better do he caused presently a vast trench both for bredth and depth to be cast round about the Walls of the City casting the earth ever towards his own Army and made store of Bulworks all along upon it for his Guards to be upon and then dividing his whole Army into twelve parts he ordered that each of them should watch his Moneth by turn And yet this was a very hard work considering the vast circuit of those Walls which they were to gird in having neither men enough nor yet sufficiently assured to their Commander the consideration whereof Ministred unto the Babylonians matter of good Pastime when they saw Lydians Phrygians Cappadocians and others quartered about their City to keep them in who having been their Ancient Friends and Allies were more like to joyn with them if occasion were offered than to use much diligence on the behalf of Cyrus who had as it were but yesterday laid upon their necks the galling Yoke of servitude Whilst the Besieged were thus pleasing themselves with this foolish-fansie and vain mirth the ordinary forerunners of sudden calamity Cyrus who by God that set him on work was made strong valiant constant and inventive devised and by the labour of his men digged so many Channels as were capable of receiving the Waters of Euphrates and so to draw the same from the Walls of Babylon that thereby he might make his approaches the more facile and assured which when by the labour of many hands he had performed he waited for a fit time wherein to put in execution what he had designed For he had left in each of the
Trenches towards the River certain Banks or Heads uncut till he saw his opportunity Now Belshazzar finding neither any want or weakness within the City nor any possibility for his enemies without to approach the Walls by reason of the great River that surrounded them he prepared an exceeding sumptuous Feast Publick Plays and other Pastimes and thereto invited a Thousand of his Princes or Nobles besides his Wives Courtezans and others of that Trade This he did either to let the Besiegers know that his Provisions were sufficient not only for all needful uses but even for superfluity and excess Or because he hoped that his enemies by this time were discouraged and even broken under their manifold disasters Or else he made this Feast in honour of Bell his most adored Idol Or lastly because it was his Birth or Coronation Day Or for many or most of these respects Yea he was not contented to use and shew such Magnificence as no Prince else could Equal but he lifted up himself against the God of Heaven Dan. 5. 23. For he his Princes his Wives and his Concubines made carousing Cups of the Golden and Silver Vessels which his Grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the Temple which was at Jerusalem and in contempt of the Lord of Heaven he praised his own Puppets made of Gold and Silver and Brass and Iron and Wood and Stone Whilst Belshazzar was thus triumphing and had his brains well filled with vapours he beheld a hand which by Divine power wrote upon the Wall that was opposite to him certain Words which he understood not wherewith so great a fear and amazement seized upon him that the joynts of his loins were loosed and his knees smote one against another Which Passion when he had in some measure recovered he cryed aloud to bring in the Astrologers the Chaldeans and the Southsayers promising them great rewards and the third place of Honour in his Kingdom to him that could read and expound the Writing But it exceeded their Art and Skill In this disturbance and astonishment the Queen hearing what had passed came in and observing what distraction the King was in after Reverence done She used this Speech O King live for ever Let not thy thoughts trouble thee nor let thy countenance be changed there is a man in thy Kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the holy Gods and in the Days of thy Father light and understanding and Wisdome like the Wisdom of the Gods was found in him whom the King Nebuchadnezzar thy Father the King I say thy Father made Master of the Magicians the Astrologers the Chaldeans and the Southsayers for as much as an excellent Spirit and knowledg and understanding in interpreting Dreams and shewing of hard Sentences and dissolving doubts were found in the same Daniel whom the King named Belteshazzar Now let Daniel be called and he will shew the Interpretation This Queen was either the Grandmother or the Mother of Belshazzar For it appears that She was not any of the Kings Wives because She was absent from the Feast and in regard of her age past banquetting and dancing Yet upon the report of the Miracle She came in to comfort and cheer up the King and whereas Daniel was forgotten and neglected by others of younger years and latter times this old Queen remembred well what Daniel had done in the days of Nebuchadnezzar Grandfather to this Belshazzar and kept in mind both his Religion and Divine gifts When Daniel was brought into the Kings presence he said unto him Art thou that Daniel which art of the Children of the Captivity of Judah whom the King my Father brought out of Jewry I have heard of thee that the Spirit of the Gods is in thee and that light and understanding and excellent Wisdom is found in thee and now the Wise men and the Astrologers have been brought in before me that they should read this Writing and make known to me the Interpretation thereof but they could not do it And I have heard of thee that thou canst make Interpretations and dissolve doubts Now if thou canst read the Writing and make known to me the Interpretation thereof thou shalt be clothed with Scarlet and have a chain of Gold about thy neck and shalt be the third Ruler in the Kingdom But Daniel made answer in a far differing stile from that which he had used to his Grandfather For the evil which he had foretold to Nebuchadnezzar he wished that it might befal his enemies But to this King whose contempt of God and vicious life he hated he answered in these Words Let thy gifts be to thy self and give thy rewards to another Yet I will read the writing to the King and make known to him the Interpretation which yet before he did he shewed him the cause of Gods Judgments against him and the reason of this terrible sentence whereof the King and all his Wise men were utterly Ignorant the substance whereof is this That Belshazzar forgetting Gods goodness to his Father whom all Nations feared and obeyed and yet for his Pride and neglect of those benefits as he had deprived him of his Estate and Understanding so upon the acknowledgement of Gods infinite power he restored him to both again And thou his Son said he O BelshazZar hast not humbled thy heart though thou knowest all this But hast lifted up thy self against the Lord of Heaven and they have brought thee Vessels of his House before thee and thou and thy Lords thy Wives and thy Concubines have drunk Wine in them and thou hast praised the Gods of silver and Gold c. and the God in whose hand thy â—reath is and whose are all thy wayes hast thou not Glorified Then was the part of the band sent from him and this writing was written Mene Mene Tekel Upharâ—in Whereof this is the Interpretation Mene God hath numbred thy Kingdom and finished it Tekel Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting Peres Thy Kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians The very Evening or Night of this Day wherein Belshazzar thus Feasted and wherein these things were done Cyrus either by his Espcials or being inspired by God himself whose Ensign he followed in these Wars finding the time and opportunity fit for him even whilst the Kings Head and and the Heads of his Nobility were no less distempered with the Vapours of Wine than their hearts were with the fear of Gods Judgments he caused all the Banks and Heads of his Trenches to be opened and cut down with all speed and diligence whereby that great River Euphrates was quickly drawn dry and himself with his Army passing through the Channel which was now dry without any opposition they easily made their entrance into the City finding none to disturb them Invadunt urbem somno Vinoque sepultam All the Town lay buried in Wine and Sleep and such as came in
with his Army marched towards Caria and Pisidia still giving it out that some Persons in those parts were grown unruly He had in his Army a great number of his own besides thirteen thousand Grecians when news of his approach was brought to the Court all was strait in an uproar Many accused the Queen-Mother as having a hand in it and all her Servants were vehemently suspected But that which troubled Parysatis most was Queen Statyra her Daughter in Law who stormed exceedingly when she saw this War begun against her Husband and cryed out on the Queen-Mother for it Parysatis hereupon being a cruel and malicious Woman so hated her hence forwards that she sought her Death by all means Cyrus in the mean time came on without resistance even to the City of Babylon And whereas Artaxerxes had determined to retire into the farthest parts of Persia Tiribazus was the first that durst tell him that he should not shun the fight lerving to his enemies the Kingdomes of Media Babylon and Susa considering that he had a greater Army than Cyrus and far more skilful Captains which words made the King to alter his mind and to resolve to give Battel so soon as he could Cyrus coming with his Army to the River Cayster received money from Epiaxa Wife to Syenesis the King of Cilicia wherewith he paid his Army full four months Wages and by her perswasion her Husband Syenesis gave him also a vast summ of money towards the maintenance of his Army and like a wise man at the same time he supplied Artaxerxes with necessaries for the War and having two Sons he sent one of them to Cyrus with a competent number of men for his service and the other he sent privily away to Artaxerxes to let him know that having such an Army come upon him he durst not but keep fair with Cyrus nevertheless that he continued a true Servant in heart to Artaxerxes and would fall to him so soon as he had opportunity At Tarsus the Grecians who were eleven thousand Corselets and two thousand Targateers told Cyrus plainly that they would march no farther but by the wisdom of Clearchus they were perswaded to go on and so they came to Issus the utmost City of Cilicia where Cyrus's Fleet met him bringing great supplies to him and the Straights of Syria being abandoned Cyrus marched without any stop to the place where the fight shortly after was Cyrus besides the Grecians before mentioned had in his Army one hundred thousand fighting men and two hundred hooked Chariots Of Artaxerxes his part there were four hundred thousand men and fifteen hundred hooked Chariots The place where the fight was was called Cyanaxa five hundred furlongs from Babylon Cyrus his men were marvelously astonished when they saw the Army of Artaxerxes in such excellent good order whereas themselves were dispersed here and there stragling without any order and ill armed trusting too much to themselves and dispising their enemies So that Cyrus had much ado to set his men in Battel array and yet was it with great noise and tumult But of all others the Grecians wondred most when they saw the Kings Army march in so good order of Battel without any noise for they thought to have seen them in great disorder and confusion and supposed that they would have made such a noise as one could not have heard another whereas Artaxerxes had marshalled his Army excellent well He had placed before his Battel his best Chariots armed with Sithes and drawn by the strongest and biggest Horses he had hoping by their fierceness and fury to disorder the ranks of his enemies Before the Battel began Clearchus General of the Grecians advised Cyrus to keep behind his Squadron and not to hazard his Person amongst his own men To whom Cyrus answered What saist thou Clearchus What wouldst thou have me who strive to be a King to shew my self unworthy to be a King But Clearchus himself committed as great if not a worse fault whenas he would not order his men directly against the Battel of the enemy where Artaxerxes was but pent them up by the Rivers side for fear least they should be compassed in behind whereas if the Grecians had been set in opposition to the King he had never been able to endure their charge but had either been slain or forced to fly wherefore if Artaxerxes would have chosen or wished a place where the Grecians might have done him less hurt he could not have devised a fitter place that was so far from him and from whence the Grecians could neither see nor hear what was done in the place where he was as afterwards appeared Cyrus being mounted upon an hot and hard mouthed Horse the Governour of the Province of the Caducians spyed him afar off and clapping spurs to his Horse he came with a full career to him crying out O Traytor and most unfaithful man Thou dishonourest the name of Cyrus for that thou hast brought such valiant Grecians upon so wicked an enterprise to spoil the Persians Goods and to destroy thy Soveraign Lord and only Brother who hath an infinite number of Slaves and Servants that are honester men than thy self and that thou shalt presently know by experience for thou shalt die before thou seest the Kings face and therewithall he threw his Dart at him with all his force But the Armour of Cyrus was so good that it pierced not yet the blow made him stagger on his Horse back Artagerses having given him this blow presently wheeled about But Cyrus threw a Dart at him so happily that he slew him the head of his Dart passing quite through his Neck Cyrus hereupon presently slew upon those that were neerest to the Kings Person and came so near the King that he flew his Horse under him But Tiribazus presently mounted the King upon another Horse and Cyrus clapping spurs to his Horse threw another Dart at the King and hit him But at the third charge Artaxerxes told them about him that he could not abide this and that he had rather die than suffer it and thereupon he spurred his Horse to charge Cyrus who also came fiercely against him and threw his Dart at him as also did all those that were about the King and so was Cyrus slain in this conflict Now after Cyrus was dead Artasyras one of the Kings Eunuchs passing by found his dead Body whereupon he gallopped apace to the King and with a smiling countenance told him the news Artaxerxes was so joyful that he would needs go to the place to see it But he was advised not to go in Person for fear of the Grecians who carried all before them and were killing those that had fled before them Upon this advice the King stayed and sent thirty men with Torches in their hands to seek him out The King was very ill both by reason of the great thirst he suffered as also by reason of a wound that he had received
he had quieted marched on with his Army into Gabaza where it suffered so much Hunger Cold Lightning Thunder and such Storms that in one of them he lost a thousand men From hence he invaded the Sacans and destroyed their Country Then came he into the Territories of Cohortanes who submitted himself to him and presented him with thirty beautiful Virgins amongst whom Roxane afterwards his Wife was one which although all the Macedonians stomached yet none of them durst use any freedome of speech after the death of Clytus From hence he directed his course towards India having so increased his numbers as amounted to one hundred and twenty thousand Armed men In the mean while he would needs be honoured as a God whereunto that he might allure his Macedonians he implyed two of his Parasites Hagis and Cleo whom Calisthenes opposed For amongst many other honest Arguments which he used in the Assembly he told Cleo that he thought that Alexander would disdain the Title of a God from his Vassals That the opinion of Sanctity though it did sometimes follow the Death of those who in their Life-time had done the greatest things yet it never accompanied any one as yet living in the world He said that neither Hercules nor Bacchus were Deified at a Banquet and upon drink for this matter was propounded by Cleo at a carousing Feast but for the more than manly acts performed by them in their Life-time for which they were in succeeding Ages numbred amongst the Gods Alexander stood behind a partition and heard all that was spoken waiting but for an opportunity to be revenged on Calisthenes who being free of speech Honest Learned and a Lover of the Kings Honour was yet shortly after tormented to Death For upon occasion of a Conspiracy made against the King by one Hermelaus and others who confessed it he caused Calisthenes without confession accusation or tryal to be torn asunder upon the Rack This deed unworthy of a King is thus censured by Seneca Thus saith he is the eternal crime of Alexander which no Virtue or felicity of his in War shall ever be able to blot out For as often as any man shall say He slew many thousands of Persians it will be replied He did so and he slew Calisthenes too When it shall be said that he won all as far as to the very Ocean whereon also he adventured with unusual Navies and extended his Empire from a corner of Thrace to the utmost bounds of the East it shall be said withall But he killed Calisthenes Let him have out-gone all the ancient Examples of Captains and Kings none of all his Acts make so much to his Glory as the Death of Calisthenes to his reproach With the Army before mentioned of one hundred and twenty thousand Foot and Horse Alexander entred into the borders of India where such of the Princes as submitted themselves to him he entertained lovingly the others he enforced killing man woman and child where they resisted He then came before Nisa built by Bacchus which after a â—ew dayes was rendred to him From thence he removed to a Hill at hand which on the top had goodly Gardens filled with delicate fruits and Vines dedicated to Bacchus to whom he made Feasts for ten dayes together And when he had drank his fill went on to Dedula and from thence to Acadera Countries spoiled and abandoned by the Inhabitants by reason whereof Victuals failing he divided his Army Ptolomy led one part Cenon another and himself the rest These took in many Towns whereof that of greatest fame was Muzage which had in it three hundred thousand men but after some resistance it was yielded to him by Cleophe the Queen to whom he again restored it At the Siege of this City he received a wound in the leg After this Nola was taken by Polisperchon and a Rock of great strength by Alexander himself He won also a passage from one Eryx who was slain by his own men and his Head presented to Alexander This was the sum of his Actions in those parts before he came to the great River Indus And when he came thither he found there Ephestion who being sent before had prepared Boats for the transportation of his Army and before Alexanders arrival had prevailed with Omphis King of that part of the Country to submit himself to this great Conquerour And hereupon soon after Alexanders coming Omphis presented himself with all the strength of his Country and fifty six Elephants unto him offering him his service and assistance He told Alexander also that he was an enemy to the two next great Kings of that part of India named Abiasares and Porus wherewith Alexander was not a little pleased hoping by this their disunion to make his own Victory be the far more easie This Omphis also presented Alexander with a Crown of Gold the like did the rest of his Commanders and withall he gave him eight Talents of Silver coined which Alexander not only refused but to shew that he coveted Glory not Gold he gave Omphis a thousand Talents of his own Treasure besides other Persian rarities Abiasares being informed that Alexander had received his enemy Omphis into his protection he resolved to make his own peace also For knowing that his own strength did but equal that of Omphis he thought it but an ill match when Alexander who had already subdued all the greatest Princes of Asia should make himself a party and head of the quarrell So then now Alexander had none to stand in his way but Porus to whom he sent a command that he should attend him at the Borders of his Kingdom there to do him Homage But the gallant Porus returned him this manly answer That he would satisfie him in the first demand which was to attend him on his Borders and that well accompanied but for any other acknowledgment he was resolved to take counsel of his Sword To be short Alexander resolved to pass over the River of Hydaspes and to find out Porus at his own home But Porus saved him that labour attending him on the farther bank with thirty thousand Foot ninety Elephants and three hundred armed Chariots and a great Troop of Horse The River was half a mile broad and withal deep and swift It had in it many Islands amongst which there was one much overgrown with Wood and of good capacity Alexander sent Ptolomy with a good part of the Army up the River shrowding the rest from the sight of Porus under this Island by this devise Porus being drawn from the place of his first encamping set himself down opposite to Ptolomy supposing that the whole Army of Alexander was there intending to force their passage But in the mean while Alexander with his men recovered the the farther shore without resistance and ordering his Troops he advanced towards Porus who at first imagined them to be Abiasares his confederate come over Hydaspis to assist him
six thousand Foot and five hundred Horse The Athenians having intelligence hereof sent their Army under the conduct of Chabrias who marched directly to Corinth where he met with a good supply of Souldiers from the Megarians Pallenians and Corinthians so that now he had a Brigade of ten thousand men These intended to fortifie and stop all the passages and entrances into the Country of Peloponnesus The Lacedemonians and their Allies joyning also with them made up an Army of twenty thousand men And accordingly beginning at the City of Cencrees unto the Haven of Lecheum they blocked all the ways from one Sea to another with mighty great pieces of Timber laid across and with a marvellous deep Diteh and this great work was followed with such speed both by reason of the great multitude of labourers as also through the frowardness of them that prosecuted it with such earnestness that they had quite finished it before the Boeotians could arrive there Epaminondas when he came thither viewing this fortification perceiving that the easiest place to storm it was that which the Lacedemonians themselves guarded he sent to give them defiance though they were thrice as many in number as he was yet for all this they durst not come out but kept close under their fortification Notwithstanding he assaulted them in it and at last drave them out In the heat of the fight every one doing his best some assailing others defending Epaminondas chose out the valiantest men in all his Army and bravely charging the Lacedemonians he forced them to give back and in dispite of them he entered into Peloponnesus which of all other his Noble exploits was the most wonderful and memorable action From thence he marched to the Cities of Epidaure and Trozen and so pillaged all the Country But he stayed not to take any of the Towns because they had strong Garrisons in them Yet he put Sicyone Phuente and some other Towns into such fear that they yielded themselves to him This being done he went to Corinth and overcame the Corinthians in a set Battel and beat them home even to the Gates of their City Yea some of his men were so unadvised trusting to their own Valour that they entered the Gates of their City pel mel with those that fled which put the Corinthians into such a terrible fear that they ran with all speed possible to shelter themselves in their Houses But Chabrias making head beat them out again and slew some whereupon he caused a token of Triumph to be set up as if he had given the Thebans an overthrow for which Epaminondas laughed him to scorn The Boeotians brought their Army as neer unto Corinth as they could and Chabrias with his Army encamped without the Walls in a very strong Place of advantage and there were many Skirmishes betwixt them in which Chabrias behaved himself with such Valour that he gained great reputation even of Epaminondas himself who upon a time being asked whom he thought to be the greatest Captain himself Chabrias or Iphecrates It s hard said he to judg whilst we are all alive News was brought to him that the Athenians had again sent an Army into Peloponnesus furnished with new Armor Indeed this Army consisted of ten thousand Spaniards and Gauls whom Dyonisius the Tyrant sent out of Sicily to aid the Lacedemonians having paid them for five months they did some reasonable service in this War and at the end of Summer returned home again It fell out in these last encounters that Epaminondas having forced the Lacedemonians that guarded the fortification before mentioned had many of them in his power to have slain them but he contented himself only with this Glory that in dispite of them he had entered into Peloponnesus seeking to do them no more hurt which gave occasion to those that envied his Glory to blame him and to accuse him of Treason as having willingly spared the enemies because they should in particular thank him only But here it will not be improper to take notice how he behaved himself amongst his Citizens and how wisely he defended his own Integrity Amongst all those that envied his Glory and Virtue there was one Meneclides an Orator and an eloquent man but withall most wicked and very malicious He finding that Eâ—aminondas won so much honour by the Wars never left perswading the Thebans to embrace Peace and prefer it before War and that because hereby they should not always live under the obedience and command of one man But Epaminondas one day told him in the open Counsel Thou wilt said he deceive the Thebans whilst thou advisest them to leave the Wars and highly commended ease and Peace thou goest about to put iron bolts upon their Feet For War begets Peace which yet cannot hold long but amongst them that know how to maintain it with the Sword Then turning himself to the Citizens he said If you will have the Principality and command of all Greece you must shroud your selves in your Tents and lie in your Pavillions in the open Fields and not follow Sports and Pastimes here at home For he knew well enough that the Boeotians undid themselves by ease and Idleness which made him endeavour continually to keep them in exercise and War Upon a time when the Thebans were to choose Captains they went about to choose Epaminondas one of the six Counsellours whereupon he said to them My Masters pray you consider of it now you are at leasure before you choose me For I tell you plainly If I be chosen your Captain you must to the Wars He used to call the Country of Boeotia which was a plain and Champion Country the Stage of War saying that it was impossible to keep it unless the Inhabitants had their Targets on their Arms and their Swords in their hands and this was not because he did not love Peace and privacy to study Philosophy or that he was not more careful of them that were under his charge than he was of himself using always to watch and forbear his meat when the Thebans were at their Banquets and Feasts giving themselves over to their pleasures but because he knew them well enough and was never more careful of any thing than to keep his Army from Idleness Upon a time the Arcadians desired him that some of his Companions might come into one of their Towns to lie dry and warm there all the Winter but he would by no means yield to it For said he to his Souldiers now they see you exercising your selves in Arms they wonder at you as brave and valiant men but if they should see you at the Fire side parching of Beans they would esteem no better of you than of themselves Neither could he endure Covetuousness for if at sometimes he gave his men leave to go a free booting his meaning was that whatsoever they got should be bestowed in furnishing them with good Arms and if any went about to
though he fought with great disadvantage considering the places wherein he was yea he continued fighting courageously till the Army of the Lacedemonians came on and till the Night approached whereupon he sounded a retreat Then being informed that the Mantineans came on also with their Forces he withdrew his Atmy somewhat father off from the Town and there Camped After which he caused his men to refresh themselves with Victuals and leaving certain Horsemen in the Camp he commanded them to make fires in the moring and in the mean time himfelf with the rest of his men went to surprize Mantinea before any should discover that he was departed Yet herein also he failed of his purpose the prosperity of the Thebans being come to its height and the course of Epaminondas his Life drawing neer to an end whereby Greece was deprived of this Noble and Famous Captain from whom was taken a most notable Victory and that twice by strange accidents For at the second time when he was come neer to Mantinea that was left without guard and defence just then on the other side of the Town there arrived six thousand Athenians conducted by their Captain Hegelecus who having put sufficient force into the Town ordered the rest of his Army in Battel array without the Walls and immediately also came the Mantineans and Lacedemonians together who prepared to put all to the hazard of a Battel and therefore sent for their Allies from all parts and when they were come together they were in all twenty five thousand Foot and two thousand Horse The Arcadians Boeotians and their partakers were thirty thousand Foot and three thousand Horse When they came to the Battel first the Horse charged with great Fury and the Horsemen of the Athenians encountering with the Thebans proved too weak for them not because they were less valiant or hardy than the other but because they had not so good Chieftains and had few Archers amongst their Troops The Thebans on the other side were all excellently well appointed and had Thessalians amongst them men very skilful in their Bows who so plied the Athenians that they wholly brake them and put them to the rout yet in their flight they did not run amongst their Foot-men which made them somewhat recover their Honour which they had lost by running away On the contrary part as they fled they met with some Companies of Negropont whom the Arcadians had sent to take in certain Hills hard by the plain where the Battel was fought whom they put all to the Sword The men at Arms of the Thebans seeing them turn their backs did not pursue them at all but presently gave charge upon a great Battalion of Foot-men forcing them all they could to break and run through them So the fight was very cruel and sharp yet in the end the Athenians were forced to quit the place whereupon a Collonel of Horsemen of the Elians who stood as a reserve to guard the Rere defended them and encountering with the Boeotians he resisted them and made them give back which reinforced the fault of the left point of their Army But in the right point after the Horse-men had charged one another the fight was soon determined For by reason of the great number of men at Armes of the Thebans and Thessalians the Mantineans and their partakers were soon put to rout and having lost a great number of their men they sheltered themselves under the Battalion of their Foot-men and this was the issue of the fight between the Horse-men As for the infantry after they came once to the Sword it was a marvellous bloody and cruel fight For never before that time was there so many Greeks in the Field one against another nor so great and expert Captains nor such Valiant Souldiers as were now The two Nations that at that time bare the Name to be the bravest Footmen in all the World to wit the Thebans and Lacedemonians were now set in Front one against the other and they began to charge neither sparing Life nor Limb. The first charge they gave was with their Pikes which being soon broken with the huge blows they gave each other then they came to it with their Swords and lustily laying about them Body to Body Death raged in every place and there was a mighty carnage made for neither part shrunk back or gave over with weariness but stood to it like undaunted men And so continued this dangerous Fight for a long time by reason of the valiantness of either party the Victory stood doubtful for a great while and it could not be judged which side was like to have the upper hand For every one that fought had this resolution in his heart not to fear Death whatsoever befel them But rather desiring to make proof of their utmost Valour they willingly parted with their lives to lye in the Bed of Honour By reason whereof though the fight was sharp and cruel yet the event remained for a long space so uncertain that it could not be discerned to which side the Victory should fall But at last Epaminondas seeing no other remedy but that the issue of this doubtful Fight depended upon his own Virtue and Valour he resolved with himself to adventure his life upon it and presenty gathering about him all the best and choisest men of his Army and of them having compounded a Company of stout and resolute Blades he ran with great fury into the thickest and greatest press of all his enemies marching himsels the foremost man in all his Troop with a Spear in his hand with the which at the first blow he gave he slew the Captain of the Lacedemonians and straightway the rest of his Company began to assail their enemies But Epaminondas laying about him like a lion slew so many in the place where he stood with his own hands that at last he opened the Battel of the Lacedemonians whom he pursued and laid on them so lustily that they being unable any longer to defend themselves against the irresistable fury of himself and his followers were enforced to give back and leave the place to the Boeotians who yet followed them at their heels beating them down so eagerly that in a short space the whole Field was covered with dead Bodies lying on heaps one upon another But in the end the Lacedomonians seeing that they could no way save themselves gathered courage out of despair and a Company of them joyning together all set upon Epaminondas throwing an infinte number of Darts at him of which some he avoided others he received upon his Target but yet there were many that stuck in his Body which he pulled out and fought with the same Weapons against those that had thrown them at him At last when he had done more than a man and beyond all humane strength thereby to win Honour to his Country by gaining them the Victory a certain Laconian called Anticrates thrust him into the Breast
slain Antigonus being in a rage caused the dead body of Joseph to be whipped though Pheroras his Brother offered fifty Talents to have redeemed it After this loss the Galileans revolting from their Governours drowned those that were of Herods party in the Lake In Idumaea also there were many innovations Anthony having made peace with his enemy commanded Caius Sosius to assist Herod against Antigonus with two Cohorts When Herod came to Daphne the Suburbs of Antioch he heard of his Brother Josephs deah which caused him to hasten his journey and coming to Mount Libanus he took thence with him eight hundred men and one Cohort of the Romans and so came to Ptolemais from whence in the night he passed with his Army through Galilee Here his enemies met him whom he overcame in fight and forced them into the Castle from whence they had issued the day before Them he assaulted but was compelled to desist by reason of the extremity of the weather and to retreat into some neighbouring Villages but upon the coming of another Cohort from Anthony they in the Castle were so affrighted that they forsook the same by night Herod then hastned to Jericho purposing to revenge his Brothers death and being come thither he feasted his Nobles and the feast being ended and his guests dismissed he retired into his chamber and presently the room wherein they had supped being now empty of company fell down without hurting any which made many to think that surely Herod was beloved of God who had so miraculously preserved him The next day six thousand of the enemies came down from the Mountains to fight with him and their forlorn-hope with darts and stones so terrified the Romans and some of Herods Souldiers that they fled and Herod himself received a wound in his side Antigonus desiring to have his strength seem greater than it was sent one of his Captains named Pappus with some forces into Samaria whilst himself went against Machaeras In the mean time Herod took in five Towns and therein put two thousand of the Garrison Souldiers to the sword and setting the Towns on fire he went against Pappus and was strengthened by many that came to him out of Jericho and Judea yet was the enemy so confident that he would joyn battel with him but in fight Herod overcame them and being inflamed with a desire to revenge his Brothers death he pursued them that fled slew many of them and followed them into a Village and there slew many more of them who retreated into houses the rest fled After which Victory Herod had presently gone to Jerusalem and put an end to the war had not the sharpness of the Winter hindred him for now Antigonus bethought himself to leave the City and fly elsewhere for safety Herod in the evening when he had dismissed his Friends to refresh themselves as yet hot in his Armour went into a chamber attended with one only servant to wash himself wherein some of his enemies armed whom fear had forced thither were hidden and whilst he was naked and washing himself first one and then a second and a third ran out armed with naked swords in their hands so astonished that they were glad to save themselves without profering the least hurt to the King The next day Herod amongst others cut off Pappus his head and sent it by way of revenge for his Brothers death to his Brother Pheroras for it was Pappus that with his own hand had slain Joseph Herod in the beginning of the third year after he had been declared King at Rome coming with an Army to Jerusalem encamped near the City and from thence removing to that place where the Walls were fittest to be assaulted he pitched his Tents before the Temple intending to attempt them as Pompey had done in times past and having encompassed the place with three Bulworks by the help of many workmen he raised his batteries fetching materials from all places thereabouts and appointing fit men to oversee the work and then himself went to Samaria to solemnize his Marriage with Mariamne the Daughter of Alexander the Son of Aristobulus who was formerly betrothed to him The Marriage ceremony being over Sosius came with an Army of Horse and Foot being sent by Anthony to the aid of Herod and Herod also took a great party with him from Samaria to Jerusalem so that the whole Army being come together consisted of eleven Legions of Foot and six thousand Horse besides the Syrian Auxiliaries which were very many and so they pitched on the North-side of the City Over this great Army were two Generals Sosius and Herod who purposed to displace Antigonus as an enemy to the people of Rome and to establish Herod in the Kingdom according to the Decree of the Senate The Jews being gathered together out of the whole Countrey and shut up within the Walls made a valiant resistance boasting much of the Temple of the Lord and saying that the Lord would not forsake his people in the time of danger By secret sallies also they burnt up and spoiled all provision without the City both for Man and Horse whereby the Besiegers began to be pinched but Herod provided against their excursions by placing ambushments in convenient places and sending parties to fetch in provision from afar off so that in a short time the Army was well furnished with all necessaries By reason of the multitude of Workmen the three bulworks were soon finished it being Summer time so that no untemperateness of weather hindred them and with his Engines Herod often battered the Walls and left nothing unassayed but the besieged fought valiantly and were every way as active and subtile to make void his endeavours often sallying forth and firing their Works both those that were finished and others that were but begun and coming to handistrokes with the Romans they were nothing inferiour to them but only in Martial skill The Sabbatical year now coming brought a Famine upon the besieged Jews notwithstanding which they built a new Wall within that which was beaten down by the battering Rams and so countermined the Enemies mines that many times they came to Handystrokes under ground and making use of despair instead of courage they held it out unto the last though Pollio the Pharisee and Samias his Disciple advised them to receive Herod into the City saying that they could not avoid his being their King by reason of their sins They held out the siege for five moneths space though there was so great an Army before the City but at length twenty of Herods choicest Souldiers got upon the Wall and after them the Centurions of Sosius So that the first Wall was taken on the forti'th day and the second on the fiftieth and some Galleries about the Temple were burnt down which Herod charged though falsly upon Antigonus thereby to bring him into hatred with the people When the outward part of
effeminate than before About this time Hannibal sent his Brother Mago to Carthage vvith the joyful nevvs of this great Victory He told the Carthaginian Senate vvith hovv many Roman Generals his Brother had fought hovv many Consuls he had chased vvounded or slain Hovv the Romans vvho never used to shun a Battel vvere novv grown so cold that they thought their Dictator Fabius the only good Captain That not vvithout reason their spirits were thus abated since Hannibal had slain above two hundred and six thousand of them and taken above fifty thousand Prisoners He told them how many States in Italy followed the Fortune of those great Victories He told them that the War was even at an end if they vvould follovv it close and give the Romans no time of breathing He wished them to consider that the War was carried into an enemies Country that so many Battels had diminished his Brothers Army that the Souldiers that had deserved so well ought to be well rewarded and that it was not good to burden their new Italian Friends with exactions of Mony Corn c. But that these must be sent from Carthage Lastly he caused the Gold Rings taken from the Fingers of the Roman Knights that were slain to be powred out before them which being measured filled three Bushels This errand of Mago for the present found extraordinary good welcome And large supplies vvere voted to be sent to him But his old enemy Hanno obstructed them and the too much Parsimony of the Citizens was the cause that there was very little done and that which was done came too late However Mago brings the news of the great supply which was decreed to be sent which much rejoyced Hannibal and his new confederates The Spring drew on vvhen the supply was expected but there came no more than a few Elephants and Hannibal was forced to rest contented with them Then did he take the Field and sought to make himself Master of some good Haven Town that might serve to intertain the Carthaginian Fleet when it should arrive with the supplies For this end he sent Himilco who by the help of his good Friends the Brusians won Petilia he won also Concentia and Crotan and the City of Locri and many other places only the Town of Rhegium over against Sicily held out against him The Romans at this time were in such a case that Hannibal vvith a little help from Carthage might have reduced them to great extremity But his own Citizens suffered him to languish with expectation of their promised supplies which being still deferred from year to year caused as great opportunities to be lost as a Conqueror could have desired But whatsoever Hannibal thought he was faign to apply himself to his Italian Friends and to feed them with Hopes and to trifle way his time about Nola Naples Cumae c. being loath to weaken his Army by a hard Siege that was to be reserved for a vvork of more importance Many offers he made upon Nola but always vvith bad success Once Mercellus fought a Battel with him there under the Walls of the City having the Citizens to assist him vvherein Hannibal lost a thousand men which was no great marvail his forces being then divided and imployed in sundry parts of Italy at once At this time T. Sempronius Gracchus and Q. Fabius Maximus the late famous Dictator were chosen Consuls But Fabius was detained at Rome about matters of Religion or Superstition rather vvherewith the City vvas commonly especially in the times of danger very much troubled so Gracchus alone vvith a Consular Army waited upon Hannibal amongst the Campanes not able to meet him in the Field yet attentive to all occasions that should be presented The Slaves that lately had been Armed were a great part of his followers These and the rest of his men Gracchus continnally trained and had not a greater care to make his Army skilful in the exercises of War than in keeping it from quarrels that might arise by their upbrading one another vvith their base condition Gracchus at this time had a bickering vvith the Capuans upon whom he came at unawares and slew above two thousand of them and took their Camp but staid not long to rifâ—le it for fear of Hannibal that lay not far off By this his Providence he escaped a greater loss than he brought upon the Capuans For vvhen Hannibal heard hovv things vvent he presently marched thither hoping to find these young Souldiers and Slaves busied in loading themselves vvith the Booty But they were all gotten safe into Cumae which so angred Hannibal that at the earnest request of the Capuans he assailed it the next day Much labour and vvith ill success he spent about this Town He raised a Woodden Tower brought it close to the Walls thereby to assault it but they vvithin built a higher Tower vvhence they made resistance and found means to set Hannibals Tower on fire and vvhilst the Carthaginians were busie in quenching the fire they issued out charged them valiantly and drove them to their Trenches The Consul vvisely sounded a retreat in time or Hannibal had requited them The day following Hannibal presented Battel to them but Gracchus refused it Seeing therefore no likelyhood to prevail he raised his Siege and departed About this time Fabius the other Consul took the Field and recovered some small Towns that Hannibal had taken and punished the Inhabitants severely for their revolt the Carthaginians Army vvas too small to Garrison all the Towns that had yielded to them and withall to abide as it must do strong in the Field Wherefore Hannibal attending the supply from Carthage that would enable him to strike at Rome it self vvas driven in the mean time to alter his course of War and instead of making as he had formerly done a general invasion upon the vvhole Country he vvas faign to vvait upon occasions that grevv daily more commodious to the Enemy than to him When Hannibal vvas gone to Winter into Apulia Marcellus vvasted the Country of the Hirpines and Samnites the like did Fabius in Campania The People of Rome vvere very intentive upon the Work they had in hand they continued Fabius in his Consulship and joyned vvith him Cladius Marcellus Of these two Fabius vvas called the Shield and Marcellus the Roman Sword The great Name of these Consuls and the great preparations which they made put the Campans in fear that Capua it self should be besieged wherefore at their earnest request Hannibal came from Arpi and having comforted his Friends on a sudden he fell upon Puteoli a Sea-town of Campania about vvhich he spent three days in vain there being six thousand in Garrison vvherefore he left it and marched to Tarentum vvherein he had great intelligence In the mean time Hanno made a journy against Beneventum where T. Gracchus met him Hanno had vvith him about seventeen thousand Foot Brutians and Lucans
vvhich time he admired Hannibal as a Wise Man yea as a Prophet who long before had foreseen and foretold him vvhat novv vvas come to pass and vvhen it vvas too late wished that he had followed his Counsel To be brief Antiochus vvas forced by the Romans to sue for Peace which at last the Romans yielded to Provided amongst other things that Hannibal might be delivered into their hands Hannibal getting an incling of this fled to Gortina in Creet vvhere he lived a long time very quietly but at length he fell into the envy of many by reason of his great wealth vvhereupon he filled certain great Chests vvith Lead and deposited them in the Temple of Diana there as if he kept the Treasure for a dead lift and thereupon the People having such a Pledg as that of him looked less after him But he in the mean time stole avvay to Prusias King of Bythinia having first molten his Gold and povvered it into some hollovv Statues of Brass vvhich he carried avvay vvith him Shortly after there fell a War betvveen Prusias and Eumenes King of Pergamus Prusias being encouraged to break his League and to make War upon him by his considence in Hannibal whom he had their to manage his War for him The War therefore grew hot betwixt them both by Land and Sea But Eumenes by the assistance of the Romans overpowred Prusias in both And whereas Prusias was but weak of himself Hannibal procured him the assistance of some other Kings and States and those of very Warlike Nations and amongst them the aid of Philip King of Macedonia who sent him Philocles his General with a very considerable Army to help him When Prusias had received an overthrow from Eumenes by Land he sought to try his Fortune by Sea wherein yet he was too weak for him wherefore Hannibal advised him to try whether he could not do that by Policy which by plain force he was not able to effect He put therefore a multitude of all sorts of Serpents into Earthen Pitchers to be hurled aboard the Enemies Ships when they were in sight giving order to the Souldiers and Sea-men to set all upon the Ship wherein Eumenes himself was and to defend themselves from the rest as vvell as they could and that he might the more certainly know in vvhich Ship Eumenes was he sent an Herauld beforehand with a Letter containing nothing but a meer flout to Eumenes and full of abuses to his Person Whenas therefore Prusâ—â—is his men came to it they fought neither against great nor small but only against the Ship wherein Eumenes was whereupon he was faign to seek his safety by flight yet had he perished had he not trust in upon the next shore where he had placed for a relief upon all occasions a company of his men As for Eumenes his other Ships when they pressed hard upon the Enemy they let flie amongst them their Earthern Pitchers full of Snakes which at first Seâ—med to them a ridiculous thing but when the Pitchers falling upon the Deeks brake in pieces out flew the Snakes so that they could stir no where in the Ships by reason of the Serpents whereby they found themselves no less annoied by their stings than with the Arrows of their Enemies which caused them to give over fighting and to flie to their Camp which was upon the Shoar Thus Hannibal by this trick got the better of Eumenes in that fight Nor then only but also in sundry other encounters and by one Stratagem or other he ever put Eumenes to the worst And once when he advised Prusias to fight and he durst not because the entrails of the Beast said he forbid me What said Hannibal will you rely more upon a little piece of flesh in a Calf than upon the Judgment of an old experienced Captain in the Field Now as soon as news of these things came to the Senate at Rome they sent T. Quintius Flaminius Ambassador to Prusias not so much to withdraw him from prosecuting the War against Eumenes as to intreat him to deliver to them Hannibal the most spiteful Enemy they had in all the World Prusias to gratifie the Romans resolved either to kill Hannibal or to deliver him alive into the hands of Flaminius for which end he sent a Troop of Souldiers to inviron the lodging where Hannibal lay But Hannibal having before found cause to suspect the faith of Prusias had made some secret sallies under ground to save himself from any Treasonable or sudden assault But finding now that all passages were shut up against him he had recourse to his last remedy which he was constrained to put in practice as well to frustrate his Enemies from their Triumphing over him as to save himself from their torture and merciless hands who as he well knew would neither respect his famous enterprises his Honour nor his Age. When therefore he saw no other way of escaping he took the Poyson which he always had in readiness for such an exigent and being ready to swallow it down he uttered these Words I will now said he deliver the Romans from that fear which hath so long possessed them that fear which makes them impatient of attending the Death of an Old Man This Victory of Flaminius over me which am disarmed and betrayed into his hands shall never be numbred in the rest of his Heroical deeds No it shall make it manifest to all the Nations of the World how far the Antient Roman Virtue is degenerated and corrupted For such was the Nobleness of their Fore-fathers as when King Pyrrhus invaded them in Italy and was ready to give them Battel at their own Doors they gave him intelligence of the Treason intended against him by Poyson whenas these of a latter race have imployed Flaminius a Man who heretofore had been one of their Consuls to practice with Prusias contrary to the honour of a King contrary to his Faith given for my safety and contrary to the Laws of Hospitality to slay or deliver up his own Guest Then drank he off that Poyson and died P. Scipio Africanus in a discourse which he had with Hannibal asked him which of all the famous Captains that ever lived he judged most Worthy Hannibal gave to Alexander the Great the first place to Pyrrhus the second and the third he challenged to himself But Scipio who thought his own Title better than that it ought to be forgotten asked yet further What then wouldest thou have said Hannibal if thou hadst vanquished me The Carthaginian replied Then would I not have given the first place to Alexander but have claimed it as due unto my self When the conditions of Peace granted by the Romdns to the Carthaginians were reported to the Citizens they were very unpleasing whereupon one Gesco stood up to speak against them perswading the People not to yield to such intollerable demands But Hannibal observing what favourable audience was given to this vain
a Boy that came from School but the other day must now in hast be a Captain the rest of the Citizens were so incensed against him that they ran upon him and slew him Thus Pompey being but twenty three years old not tarrying for Commission from any man took upon himself Authority and causing a Tribunal to be set up in the midst of the Market place of Auximum a great and populous City he commanded the two Brethren called the Ventidians the chiefest men of the City but his Enemies presently to avoid the City Then began he to leavy men to constitute Captains Lieutenants Sergeants and such other Officers as appertain to an Army And from thence he went to the other neighbouring Cities where he did the like so that in a short space he had gotten three compleat Legions together as also Ammunition Carts and all other necessaries for them In this sort did Pompey advance towards Sylla not in hast as a man that was afraid to be met with by the way but by small Journeys lodging still where he might have the best advantage against an Enemy causing the Cities wheresoever he came to declare against Carbo and for Sylla Yet three Captains who adhered to Carbo Carinna Caelius and Brutus did in three several places compass him in on every side thinking to have destroyed him Pompey was nothing amazed hereat but marshalling his Army he first set upon Brutus having placed his Horsemen amongst whom himself was in Person before the Battel of his Footmen and when the Men at Arms of his Enemy who were Gauls came to charge upon him he singled out the chiefest amongst them and ran him through with his Spear and slew him The other Gauls seeing their Champion slain turned their backs and in their flight over ran their own Footmen so that at last they all fled for their lives Then the Cities round about being terrified with this overthrow came in and yielded themselves to Pompey Afterwards Scipio also the Consul coming against Pompey to fight him when the Battels were ready to joyn before they threw their Darts Scipio's Souldiers saluted Pompey and went over to his side whereupon Scipio was faign to fly And lastly Carbo himself sending divers Troops of Horse against him by the Riuer Arsis Pompey charged them so furiously and drave them into such a place of disadvantage that being neither able to fight nor fly they delivered up themselves with their Horses Arms and all to his mercy Sylla all this while heard nothing of these overthrows which Pompey had given to his Enemies but understanding his danger being environed with so many Arms fearing lest he should miscarry he made hast and marched to his relief Pompey being informed of Sylla's approach commanded his Captains to Arm themselves and to set their Army in good array that their General Sylla might see how bravely they were appointed For he expected that Sylla would do him great honour as indeed he did even beyond his expectation For when Sylla saw him afar off coming towards him and his Army marshelled in such good order of Battel and his men so bravely advancing themselves being elated with their late Victories he allighted from his Horse and when Pompey came to do his duty to him and called him Emperour or Soveraign Prince Sylla resaluted him with the same Title which made all that were present to wonder that he would give so honourable a name to so young a man as Pompey was who as yet was not made a Senator Considering also that Sylla himself did now contend for that Title and Dignity with Marius and Scipio The intertainment also that Sylla gave him afterwards was every way answerable to the first kindness that he shewed him For when Pompey at any time came to him he would rise up and put off his Cap to him which he did not to any other Noble Man that was about him Yet was not Pompey puffed up with all this nor the prouder for it Shortly after Sylla would have sent Pompey into Gaul now France because that Metellus the Roman General there was thought to have done no exploit worthy of so great an Army as he had with him But Pompey answered that there was no reason to displace an ancient Captain that was of greater fame and experience then himself Yet said he if Metellus himself be contented and will desire it of me I will willingingly go and help him to end this War Metellus being informed hereof wrote for him to come Pâ—mpey then entering Gaul did of himself wonderful exploits and so revived the courage and valour of old Metellus that the War prospered exceedingly in their Hands But these were but Pompey's first beginnings and were wholly obscured by the luster of those many Wars and great Battels which he fought afterwards When Sylla had overcome all Italy and was proclaimed Dictator he rewarded all the great Captains and Lieutenants that had taken his part and advanced them to honourable places and Dignities in the Commonwealth freely granting whatsoever they requested of him But for Pompey highly esteeming him for his Valour and thinking that he would be a great support to him in all his Wars he sought by some means to ally him to himself Metella his Wife being also of the same opinion they both perswaded him to put away his Wife Antistia and to marry Aemilia who was Daughter to Metella by a former Husband though she was married to another and now with child by him These marriages were wicked and Tyrannical fitter for Sylla's time than agreeable to Pompey's nature and condition And truly it was a shameful thing for Pompey to forsake his Wife Antistia who for his sake a little before had lost her Father that was murthered in the very Senate House upon suspition that he took part with Sylla for his Son Pompey's sake and to take Aemilia from her lawful Husband by whom she was great vvith child and to vvhom she had been married not long before vvhich also caused the Mother of Antistia to lay violent hands upon her self seeing her Daughter to receive such open and notorious wrong But God who hates such injustice and cruelty followed Pompey vvith this Judgment that his Wife Aemilia died miserably presently after in childbirth in his House About this time news was brought to Sylla that Perpenna was gotten into Sicily and had brought all that Island into subjection to him where he might safely intertain all Sylla's Enemies That Carbo also kept the Seas thereabouts with a certain number of Ships That Domitius was gone into Africk to whom resorted many other Noblemen who were escaped from the proscriptions and outlaries of Sylla Against all these was Pompey sent by his Father in Law with a great Army who no sooner was arrived in Sicily but Perpenna fled and left the Island to him Then did Pompey deal friendly and favourably with all the Citizens vvhich before
a time having a mind to see Theogenes a learned Astronomer he calculated his Nativity and promised him great matters which made Octavius conceive great hopes of himself and in memory thereof he caused certain Medals to be coined and would often boast of what Theogenes had told him Octavius in the sixth month after he went to Apollonia having intelligence from his Mother of the Death of his Uncle Julius Caesar he hasted out of Epirus to Brundusium where he was received by the Army that went to meet him as the adopted Son of Caesar and without any further delay he assumed the name of Caesar and took upon him to be his Heir and that so much the rather because he had brought with him good store of mony and great forces that were sent him by his Uncle and so at Brundusium adopting himself into the Julian Family he called himself Caius Julius Caesar Octavius To this very Name as though he had been his true Son there came great store of partly of his Friends partly of freed-men slaves and Souldiers by whom being more strengthened and imboldned by the multitude of them that flocked to him and by the authority of the Caesarian name which with the common People was in great reputation he took his journey towards Rome with a great train which daily increased like a Floud On the fourteenth Kalends of May he entered into Naples where he gave Cicero a visit From thence as he was going to Rome there met him a vast company of his Friends and as he entered the City the Globe of the Sun seemed to compass his Head round like unto a Bow as it were putting a Crown upon his Head who afterward was to be so great a man and at night calling together his Friends he commanded them to be ready the next morning with good store of followers to meet him in the Market-place which was done accordingly and he going to Caius the City Praetor and Brother to Anthony he told him that he did accept of the Adoption For it was the Roman custom in Adoptions to interpose the authority of the Praetor which acceptance being Registred by the Scribes from thence he presently went to Mark Anthony the Consul who behaved himself proudly towards him and scarcely admitting him into Pompeys Gardens gave him time to speak with him Octavianus had a great mind to revege the Death of Julius Caesar but by his Mother and Philip his Father in Law he was advised to conceal his purpose for a time both because the Senate had approved his Death and because Mark Anthony who was principally to assist him therein did not shew himself very friendly to him Octavianus understanding that Mark Anthony had in his custody all the Treasure that was left by Julius Caesar he desired him to command it to be delivered to him therewith to pay his debts and to distribute it as Caesar had appointed in his Will But Anthony with greater Pride than Octavianus could well bear not only refused what he demanded but reproved him for desiring it whereupon discords presently arose betwixt them and Octavianus strengthened himself with the Counsel of Cicero a great Enemy to Anthony and one whose authority at that time by reason of his Wisdom and Eloquence was very great Anthony being Overseer of those things which Caesar had commanded to be done what by corrupting the Notes and changing them at his pleasure did what himself listed as if it had been the appointment of Caesar by this means gratifying Cities and Governours and heaping vast sums of money to himself selling not only Fields and Tributes but freedoms and immunities even of the City of Rome and that not only to particular Persons but to whole Provinces and of these things there were Tables hung up all over the Capitol Octavianus being nineteen years old at his own charges gathered an Army and sought the favour of the People and prepared Forces against Anthony for his own and the Commonwealths safety He allo stirred up the old Souldiers who by Julius Caesar had been planted in Colonies so that Anthony being afraid of him by the mediation of Friends had a conference with him in the Capitol and they were for the present reconciled but within a few days through the whisperings of some their enmity brake out again and Anthony not thinking himself strong enough and knowing that the Legions of Macedonia were the best Souldiers and six in number with whom also were many Archers light harnessed men and Horsemen these he sought to draw to himself who because of their neerness might presently be brought into Italy and thereupon he caused a rumour to be spread that the Getae wasted Macedonia by their inrodes and upon that occasion he demanded an Army of the Senate saying that the Macedonian Army was raised by Caesar against the Getae before he intended the Parthian War whereupon he was chosen General of those Forces and he obtained a Law for the change of Provinces whereby his Brother Caius Anthony challenged Macedonia which before by lot fell to Marcus Brutus On the seventh of the Ides of October Anthony went to Brundusium there to meet four of the Macedonian Legions whom he thought to draw to himself by money Thither also Octavianus sent his Friends with money to hire these Souldiers for himself and himself posted into Campania to engage those Souldiers which were in Colonies to take his part and first he drew to him the old Souldiers of Galatia then those of Casilinum on both sides of Capua giving to each man five hundred pence by which means he gat together about ten thousand men who marched with him under one Ensign as a guard In the mean while the four Legions of Macedonia accusing Anthony for his delays in revenging Caesars Death without any acclamations conducted him to the Tribunal as it were to hear an account of this matter and there continued silent Anthony taking this ill upbraded them with their Ingratitude and complained that they had not brought to him some disturbers of the Peace who were sent from that malapert young man for so he called Octavian and to ingratiate himself with them he promised an hundred pence to each of them which niggardly promise was intertained with laughter which he took so ill that being returned to his Quarters in the presence of his most covetous and most cruel Wife Fulvia he put to death some Centurions out of the Martian Legion When those of Caesars party that were sent to corrupt the Souldiers saw that they were more exasperated by this deed they scattered Libels about the Army wherein they disgraced Anthony and extolled the liberality of Caesar And when some sided with Octavian and others with Anthony the Army as if it had been set to sale at an outcry addicted themselves to him that would give most And because that Decius Brutus who commanded Gallia Cisalpirea now Lombardy opposed Anthony he went to
himself following with the other Fleet did the like About this time Octavian divorced himself from Scribonia though he had a Daughter by her called Livia and then he married Livia Drusilla Wife to Tiberius Nero by whom she had a Son called also Tiberius hereupon Tiberius was forced to leave her to please Octavian though at this time she was with Child of a Son This Livia he loved dearly and continued with her till his Death Agrippa assaulted and took in some places in Sicily which Pompey hearing of departed from Messina with one hundred and seventy five Gallies to relieve them and Agrippa being advertised of his coming prepared to meet him his Gallies being almost equal in number and so they joyned Battel which for a time seemed to be equal but at last Agrippa prevailed and Pompey retreated in time his Gallies and Foists withdrawing themselves into some Rivers near at hand whither Agrippa with his bigger Vessels could not follow them In this fight Pompey lost thirty of his Gallies Agrippa the next day went to a City called Tindaria thinking to surprise it by reason of intelligence which he had with the Citizens and Pompey in the Night gave secret order to his whole Fleet to retire to Messina Octavian in the mean time imbarked a great part of his Army which he landed in Sicily and set them on shore under the command of Cornificius little thinking that Pompey had been so near who if he had taken this opportunity might have defeated Octavian But loosing it Octavian imbarking again intended to determine the quarrel by a Battel at Sea leaving Cornificius with his men fortified on the Land Then did Pompey sail out of Messina with his whole Fleet and neither Parties refusing it they came to a Battel in which Octavian was overcome and all his great Fleet scattered and lost and himself driven to flie into Italy in a Brigandine where through many dangers he at last came to the Army whereof Mesalla was General and being nothing discouraged with this loss he presently took order for all that was needful To Rome he sent his intire Friend Mecenas to take order that this news should breed no alteration there and then presently sent to Agrippa the Admiral of his other Fleet that he should with all speed succour Cornificius and his Army in Sicily and to Lepidus he sent to desire him to make his present repair to the Isle of Lippari which is between Sicily and Calabria His diligence and good order about these affairs was such that in a short time by the help of Lepidus and Agrippa in dispite of Pompey he landed all his Forces in Sicily and joyning with Lepidus he encamped near to Messina where began a most cruel War both by Sea and Land wherein the power and sufficiency of Pompey did wonderfully appear in that he was able to grapple with so potent adversaries Yet seeing himself oppressed he sent a challenge to Octavian that to avoid the further effusion of blood he would try it out with him in a Naval fight so many Ships and Gallies against so many Octavian delayed him at the first but afterwards they agreed that with three hundred Ships and Galleys on either side they would meet in such a place and there fight it out and accordingly they prepared for the Battel Octavian leaving Lepidus with his Land Army embarked himself in his Fleet and Pompey did the like and so they joyned Battel which was one of the cruellest that ever was considering the Commanders and the strength on either side where Pompey after he had performed all the Offices of a good and Valiant Captain and after the slaughter of multitudes on both sides was overcome by Octavian and all his Fleet was burnt and sunk or taken saving sixteen sail which escaped by flight and he in one of them and these entered into the Haven of Messina And though the City was sufficiently fortified and Pompey knew that Plinius his General was coming to his rescue yet in a dark night he imbarked and with those sixteen Ships which had escaped he fled into the East to Mark Anthony hoping to find relief from him But after much toil and many accidents which happened to him he was slain by one Titius at the command of Mark Anthony and in him failed the House and memory of his Father Pompey the Great In this War Octavian escaped many dangers For having transported part of his Army into Sicily and sailing back to fetch the rest he was suddenly surprised by Demochares and Apolaphanes two of Pompeys Captains from whom he escaped with much difficulty with one only Ship Then travelling by Land to Rhegium he saw some of Pompeys Gallies near to the Shore and supposing them to be his own he went down to the Sea side where he had like to have been taken by them and then seeking to escape by unknown passages he met with a slave of Aemilius Paulus who remembring that he had proscribed his Master Paulus Father to this Aemilius he attempted to kill him Octavian having obtained this great Victory aforesaid though with very great loss he went to Land with the remainder of his Ships and Army commanding Agrippa to joyn with Lepidus and to go to Messina whither Pliny Pompeys General had retired himself But not thinking good to stand upon his defence now that his Master was fled he yielded himself to Lepidus with all his Legions This made Lepidus so proud that affecting to have Sicily to himself he contended with Octavian about it and entering into the City of Messina he placed a Garrison in it to hold it for his own use The like he did in many other places of the Island and when Octavian came he desired to speak with him greatly complaining of his proceedings But in Rule and Dominion equallity is intollerable whilst either of them coveted this Isle for himself they fell at variance and Octavian made his Navy to draw neer to the shore So that both Armies began to stand upon their guard the one against the other and many messages passed between them yet could they not agree But Octavian was far better beloved and esteemed by the men of War for his many vertues and Nobility and for his Name-sake Julius Caesar then the other and the Souldiers began to lay all the fault upon Lepidus Octavian understanding this laboured secretly to corrupt Lepidus his Souldiers to draw them to himself and one day with a great Troop of Horse he rode neer to Lepidus his Camp and parlying with his Souldiers justified himself and laid all the fault upon Lepidus insomuch that many of them began to come over to his side Lepidus being informed hereof caused an Alarm to be given and commanded his men to sally out against Octavian but when they came forth most of them joyned with him so that Lepidus seeing himself in danger of being forsaken of his whole Army
yielded himself unto Caesar and putting off his Generals Robe he went to his Tent and submitted to him Octavian received him as if he had never offended very courteously and honourably but restored him neither to his State nor power and sent him with a good company to Rome without any Office but the High Priesthood which he had held ever since the Death of Julius Caesar and so this difference was ended without bloodshed Octavian now retaining Sicily to himself and having devested Lepidus of the Triumvirat he appropriated to himself the Province of Africk and remained General of the three Armies to wit of Lepidus of Pompey and of his own wherein were forty five Legions of Footmen and twenty five thousand Horse all well armed besides many other Numidians He had also upon the Sea six hundred Gallies and many Ships and Brigandines And now waited only for an opportunity to fall out with Mark Anthony that he might make himself Lord of all Yet for the present he paid his Souldiers as well as he could and gave Coronets Honours and Arms to those who had deserved well in these Wars He then dispersed his Armies sending them to their own homes loaden with many fair promises He also left and sent Praetors and Governours into Sicily and Africk and so hasted towards Rome where he was received with Ovation which was little less than a Triumph with incredible joy and honour and was so exceedingly beloved that in many places they erected Temples and Altars to him as to their Gods and he reformed such things as by reason of the Wars were grown out of order At this time Mark Anthony who was in the East though he had no great success in his Parthian War yet was he still of great power very Rich and well obeyed in the Provinces of Greece Asia and Aegypt and in the rest of his Governments But he was so besotted with the love and company of Cleopatra the Queen of Aegypt that he thought of nothing but how to saitsfie her humour in the mean time neglecting and forgetting his Wife Octavia the Sister of Octavian who in beauty and Wisdom was nothing inferiour to Cleopatra and in virtue and goodness did far excel her The Monarchy of the World being thus divided between these two the one in the East the other in the West yet as though each of them had not enough they studied each of them to supplant and destroy the other Chiefly Octavian who seeing that Anthony neglected his Sister and did not send for her he continually advised and urged her to go to her Husband that he might have a fair occasion to fall out with him if she were not well intertained But she not well understanding his design that she might prevent all controversies between her Brother and her Husband departed from Rome carrying with her many Jewels and Presents which she had gotten together therewith to present Mark Anthony But he having fixed his heart upon Cleopatra wrote to her by the way that she should go into Greece and stay at Athens till he returned from the Parthian War yet did he never go against them Cleopatra hindering him Notwithstanding Octavia sent all those things which she had brought to her Husband and all this not prevailing to procure her acceptance she went full of grief to Rome Then did Octavian begin openly to complain of Mark Anthony and to declare himself his Enemy and Mark Anthony entered into a League with the King of the Medes the better to strengthen himself causing Cleopatra besides the Title of Aegypt to be called Queen of Syria Lybia and Cyprus and joyntly with her a Son of hers called Caesarion of whom Julius Caesar left her with Child when he was in Aegypt and to two Sons which himself had by her called Ptolomy and Alexander he gave the Title of Kings to Alexander of Armenia and Parthia and to Ptolomy of Cilicia and Phoenicia hereupon the enmity between Octavian and him greatly encreased yet was the War deferred because of other Wars which Octavian had in Illyricum and Dalmatia The People of these Countries seeing the Romans engaged in Civil Wars rebelled together with those of Austria Hungary and Bavaria who joyned with them This War Octavian undertook in his own Person which was very cruel and dangerous wherein he was twice wounded and gave great proof both of his Wisdom and Valour yet in the end he not only subdued and tamed Illyricum but both the Panonnia's and all the neighbouring Nations with had joyned with them Then did Octavian return Victorious to Rome and though a Triumph was granted him yet would he not Triumph as then so great was his desire to make War against Mark Anthony who was no better affected towards him For he levied Souldiers procured Friends and Armies against him and promised Cleopatra to bring her Triumphing into Rome Yea she requested of him the Rule and Empire of Rome and he promised it her Matters standing upon these tearms Mark Anthony sent his Wife Octavia a Bill of Divorce according to the custom of those times commanding her to go out of his House wherein she dwelt in Rome This and other indignities Octavian imparted to the Senate complaining against Anthony and in his Orations to the People he accused him for that the second five years of his Triumvirat and League being expired yet came he not to Rome neither respecting the authority of the Senate nor of the People but held his place and kept possession of the East and of Greece and by such suggestions he incensed the People against him Mark Anthony on the other side by Letters and Messengers complained that Octavian had often broken the Peace and had cast Sextus Pmpey out of Sicily retaining that and other places which he held to himself and that therein he had no respect of him nor had given him any part thereof and that he detained the Gallies which he had lent him for that War As also that he had deprived Lepidus of his Government and kept all those Provinces and all the Legions which were his without imparting any share thereof to him and that he had divided all the Lands in Italy to his own Souldiers not assigning any part thereof to his Thus the one accused the othet either pretending that they were forced to undertake the War whereas the truth is it was their Ambition and insatiable desire to Rule that pricked them forward to it Hereupon they called divers Nations to their aid so as the whole World in a manner either of one side or other was in Arms. Those in the West for Octavian and those in the East for Anthony at least the best and choisest men of them all Anthony was first in the Field and came with a great Army to the famous City of Ephesus in Jonia a Province of Asia the less whither he had sent for his Navy to transport him into Europe And he had in readiness
according to his Uncles promise and his own right was proclaimed Heir apparent of that great Empire Thus was Tamerlane made Great being ever after this marriage by the old Emperour his Uncle and now his Father in Law so long as he lived notably supported and after his death he succeeded him in that so vast and mighty an Empire Before his marriage Tamerlane would needs be crowned to the intent that none should think that the Crown came to him by the right of his Wife but by his own right and during his abode in the City of Quavicai where the old Emperour was he was entertained with all kind of Triumphs wherein he always carried away the Bell whether in shooting in the Bow in changing of Horses in the middest of their courses in Tiltings and in all other exercises which required agility or strength and so after two Months he returned with his Wife to Samercand in which City he delighted exceedingly to remain because the situation thereof was fair and being watered with a great River was a place of great Traffick whereby it was made richer than any other in that Country And whensoever be received intelligence from the Emperour his Uncle he still imparted the same to Odmar whom he used at his right hand in all his great affairs There was also in his Court a Christian whom he loved much and every one greatly respected called Axalla a Genovois by Birth brought up from his youth about his Person for he countenanced all that worshipped one only God that was the Creator of all things And about this time the old Emperour sent to him to stir him up to War against the great King of China who stiled himself Lord of the World and Son of the Sun who had exceeded his bounds and incroached upon the Tartarian Empire This was no small enterprise and therefore before he would begin the same he sent Ambassadours to the King of China to demand restitution of his Lands and the passages of a River called Tachii which were within the Tartarian Border and on this side that stupendious Wall builded on purpose by the Kings of China for the defence of their Country against the incursions of the Tartars and whilst he attended for the return of his Ambassadours expecting a Negative answer he caused his forces to be assembled together from all parts appointing their rendezvous to be in the Horda of Baschir The old Emperour also assembled for his aid two hundred thousand fighting men wherein were all the brave men of his Court that were accustomed to the Wars For this Emperour had greatly encreased his limits and conquered a great Country so as all these men were well trained up in the Wars and had been accustomed to travel and pains These were to joyn with Tamerlanes Army in the Desarts of Ergimul at a certain day In the mean time Ambassadours which were sent return and inform the Prince that this proud King of China wondering how any durst denounce War against him making this lofty answer That Tamerlane should content himself with that which he had left him which also he might have taken from him c. This answer being heard our Prince marched directly to his Army gave orders for conveiance of Victuals from all parts sent to hasten forwards his Confederates imparted the answer to the old Emperour caused the insolence of the King of China to be published that all the world might know the justness of his cause yet before his departure he went to take leave of his own Father who endued with a singular and Fatherly affection kissed him a thousand times made solemn Prayers for his prosperity drew off his Imperial Ring and gave it him telling him that he should never see him again for that he was hasting to his last rest and calling Odmar bad him farewel requiring his faithfulness to his Son The Prince having performed this duty returned to Samercand where the Empress his Wife remained whom he took along with him in this journey as the manner of that Country is and so presently departed committing the charge and care of his Kingdom in his absence to one Samay a man well practised in State affairs who also had had the charge of our Prince in his youth These things being dispatched he marched forwards in the middest of his Army which consisted of fifty thousand Horse and a hundred thousand Footmen relying principally on the Forces of the great Cham his Uncle yet he left order that the rest of his Forces should be ready to advance upon the first command as soon as he should be joyned with his Uncles Army In his march he was stayed by the way in regard some distemper of his body contracted by reason of his change of the air yet the Forces which Catiles Captain of the Army of the great Cham conducted went daily forwards Now the news of his distemperature was bruted abroad in all places yet did he not neglect ot send to the great Cham and often to advertise him of the state of his health to the end that the same should not cause any alteration which might arise in that great Empire whereunto he was lately advanced For he was very suspicious of a great Lord named Calix who was discontented with his advancement and had not yet acknowledged him as all other his Subjects had and indeed it was not without cause that he suspected him for Calix being informed that the Forces of the great Cham were advanced beyond the Mountains having passed the River of Meau and were encamped at Bouprou and that Tamerlane was sick he thought it a fit time for his enterprize and thereupon assembling the greatest part of his most faithful followers he told them that now was the time for them to shake off the yoak of the Parthians who otherwise would enslave them and seeing that now their Prince was so badly minded as to translate the Empire to Tamerlane of his own mind without calling them to Council which had interest in the election that this was the only means to assure their liberty which otherwise was like to be lost He caused also a remour to be spread that Tamerlane was very sick the Emperour old and crazy and that his Forces were far separated from him yet like cunning Traytors they dispatched away a Messenger to the great Cham to assure him that they bended not their Forces against him but were his faithful and obedient Subjects and they only armed themselves because they would not be governed by the Parthians their ancient Enemies As soon as our Prince was advertised of the pretences of Calix he marched one days journey forward to the end that he might approach unto Calibes who what face soever he set on the matter yet hearkened what would become of Calix that he might likewise make some commotion This Calibes was by Tamerlane made Commander of his Avantguard
Samercand to confer with him about the setting forward of his Army For although he was still accompanied with renowned Princes and famous Captains yet were they no body in comparison of Axalla whose sound Judgment and Counsel had won him such credit with his Lord and Master as by his advice he did all things and without him nothing which his so great Authority and Favour with his Prince wanted not the envy of the Court but that his great Vertues and rare-found Courtesie in so great fortune together with so many great services as he had done supported him against the malice of the same He upon this command from Tamerlane leaving the charge of the Army at Ozara with the Prince of Thanais came to Samercand and there discoursed with him at large concerning the estate and order of his Army and so shortly after they all departed to Ozara where a new consultation was held by which way he should conduct his Army as whether it was better to lead them by the coast of the Muscovite directly towards Capha or on the other side of the Calpian Sea by the skirts of Persia and after much discourse and sundry opinions with their reasons delivered it was resolved although the way were the longer to pass by the Muscovite so to come to the Georgians and to Trepizond and from thence to enter into the Ottamans Kingdom This being resolved on they marched forward till at length they came to Maranis where he stayed three dayes looking for the China Forces whereof they received news There also Tamerlane mustered and paid his Army He had also news of fifteen thousand Horsemen sent him by the Muscovite with a sum of money with leave for him to pass through so much of his Territories as should be necessary being glad that he set upon others rather than on himself and that such great preparations should fall upon them whose greatness was as dreadful and dangerous to him as any other Tamerlane caused a great quantity of Victuals and most part of the furniture of his Army to be sent along the Caspian Sea which was a great case and commodity to his men which marching by Land was of necessity to pass some twenty Leagues through places destitute both of Victuals and Water Himself all the way coasting along the Sea-shore passed his time in Hunting and Hawking to make the journey less tedious his Army not coming near him by ten Leagues which was so great that it extended it self full twenty Leagues Coming to the River Edel he stayed at Zarazich whilst his Army passed the River at Mechet and over two other Bridges that he had caused to be made of boats for that purpose Now the Circassians and Georgians hearing of the approach of Tamerlane with his huge Army by their Ambassadors offered him all the help and assistance they could afford him in his Journey as he passed that way These Georgians were and yet are Christians a great and Warlike people of long time tributaries to the Greek Emperours and afterwards sometime tributaries and sometimes confederates to the Persians but alvvayes enemies to the Turks and therefore glad they were of Tamerlanes coming against them Of these Warlike people Axalla drew great numbers to the service of his Prince who not a little esteemed of them being all tall men very beautiful of great strength and courage and withall most expert souldiers as having many times resisted the power of the Ottoman Kings by reason of the advantage of their Country which was rough mountainous and hard to come to These people every where kindly entertained Tamerlane and plentifully relieved his Army with all necessaries In passing through which and other Countries he took such order with his Souldiers that none of the people by whom they passed were any whit injured by them insomuch that if a souldier had taken but an Apple or any other trifle he died for it And one of his souldiers having taken a little milk from a Countrey-woman and she thereof complaining he caused him presently to be hanged and his stomack to be ript where the milk that he had lately drank being found he payed the woman for it who had otherwise without mercy died for her false accusation Which his great severity was indeed the preservation of his Army being so great as that it was thought impossible to provide it with Victuals whereof yet there was no want nor of any other thing necessary for the relief of man his Camp being still as a most populous and well-governed City stored with all manner of things whereunto both Artificers and Merchants resorted from far Countries with their Commodities as to some famous Mart and the Country people from every place without fear brought in their Country-commodities for which they received present money and so departed in peace So marching on he at length came to Bachichich where he stayed to refresh his Army eight dayes and there again took a general muster of them finding as some write four hundred thousand Horse and six hundred thousand Foot but others that were present with him say three hundred thousand Horse and five hundred thousand Footmen of all Nations There also he generally payed them and as his manner was made an oration to them informing them of such Orders as he would have observed with much other Military Discipline whereof he was very curious with his Captains In the mean time Bajazet would not believe that Tamerlane durst once look towards him yea so exceeding barbarous was he that he would not so much as suffer any man to speak of him or his Army to him by reason of his pride He also strictly forbad all the bordering people to make any Vows or Prayers for Tamerlanes prosperity But he was soon after awakened out of this Lethargy as we shall presently hear Indeed Tamerlane could hardly be perswaded that Bajazet having subdued the greatest part of Grecia and much distressed the Greek Emperour and having so great means to recover whatsoever he should lose in Asia would be so adventurous as to come over the streights out of Europe to try the fortune of a battel with him but rather warily to protract the time to weary him with wants that in a strange Country drew such a world of people after him wherein yet he found himself much deceived for when he had passed the Georgian Country and was come to Buisabuich Axalla whom he had not seen in eight dayes before because he commanded the Avantguard of the Army came to him with such news as he knew would be most grateful to him Which was that Bajazet had raised his siege before Constantinople to come and defend his new Conquests in Asia and that he was certainly resolved to come to a pitched Battel with him not so much trusting to the multitude of his men as to the experience and valour of his souldiers being long trained up in the Wars At which unexpected news
Tamerlane greatly rejoyced yet without insolency and vaunting but rather with the countenance of such an one as judged the event of Battels to be alwayes doubtful saying sometimes That a small number well conducted did carry away the victory from the confused multitude Three dayes after he stayed at Buisabuich causing his souldiers continually to march forward who at two places passed over the River Euphrates which he did the rather to maintain his Army upon the spoil of the Enemies countrey chusing rather there to attend Bajazets coming then amongst his friends and allies All the Cities that yielded to him in the way as he marched he favourably received the other that refused to submit themselves to his obedience he used with all extremity especially the great and strong City of Sebastia where certain of the forerunners of his Army were by the Turks that kept Garrison in it cut off and slain and to despite him the more the City gates were set open in contempt of him Whereupon being justly offended he sent out certain Tartarian Horsemen charging them upon pain of his displeasure so to behave themselves against their Enemies that at his coming up to them he might find either the City taken or at least the Gates shut up against him And he had his men at so great command that no danger was unto them more dreadful than his displeasure neither did he punish any thing so severely as cowardize Now the Turks in Sebastia seeing these Tartarian Horsemen marching towards the City making little account of them because their number was not great issued out to meet them where they were so furiously charged by these few Horsemen that they were glad to retire and for hast to shut the Gates against some of their own men lest the Enemy should have entered pell mell with them which Turks were there slain at the Gates of the City Shortly after came Tamerlane with all the rest of his Army and sat down before the City where he lay still seven days not making any shew of violence at all The defendants because the City was of great strength thought that his purpose was by a long Siege to distress the same But about the eighth day the Towers and Walls being undermined in sundry places suddenly fell down leaving large breaches for the Enemy to enter wherewith the Turks being dismayed surrendred the City to Tamerlane in hope so to have saved their lives but he caused them all to be buried quick and the City utterly to be razed and then calling the Governour whose life he had spared for that end he bade him go and tell his Master what had happened to his strong City of Sebastia and what himself had seen there of which Tragical action when the Governour had made report to Bajazet he demanded of him whether of the two Armies he thought bigger or stronger for he had now assembled a mighty Army of three hundred thousand Horse and two hundred thousand Footmen whereunto the Governour having first craved pardon answered That it could not be in reason but that Tamerlane had the greater Army for that he commanded over far greater Countries wherewith proud Bajazet being offended replied in great Choller Out of doubt the sight of the Tartarian hath so affrighted this coward that he thinks every Enemy to be two As Bajazet marched forward he heard a Country Shepherd merrily pleasing himself with his homely Pipe as he sate on the side of a Mountain feeding his small flock whereupon he stood still and listned to him to the admiration of many and at last brake forth into these words O happy Shepherd which hadst no Sebastia to lose bewraying therein his own discontentment and yet withal shewing that worldly bliss consisted not so much in possessing of much subject unto danger as in enjoying content in a little devoid of fears The rest of the Cities as Tamerlane marched forwards warned by the destruction of Sebastia yielded to him the Citizens whereof he used courteously especially the Christians whom he set at liberty for the Greek Emperours sake whom he sought therein to gratifie But Tamerlane had not gone far into the Turks dominions before he was certainly informed that Bajazet was coming against him with a mighty Army and was now within thirty Leagues of him which caused him from thence forward to march with his Army more close together Axalla leading the Van sent forth Chianson Prince of Ciarchan with four thousand Parthian Horsemen to get knowledg of the Turkish Army and where Bajazet lay as also what manner of Countrey it was beyond Sennas and if he could learn any thing thereof to make relation of it to him This Prince of Ciarchan was Tamerlanes near Kinsman a man of great reputation and next to Axalla in whose absence he had the command of the Avantguard who also sent before him another Parthian Captain with five hundred Horsemen who having advanced about ten Leagues and surprized Sennas was certainly informed there of the state of Bajazets Army which was now at Tataeia and so marching forward which Tamerlane being informed of commanded him not to retire from that place till he saw the arrival of the enemy and thereof to give him advertisement every hour resolving himself to pass on no further being encamped in a fair large plain which was very advantageous for him his Army being bigger then Bajazets which made him make choise of those large plains His Army also being compounded of sundry Nations he considered that he was not to fight against the Chinois a soft effeminate people as of late but against the Turks a most warlike Nation and well acquainted with all manner of fights and warlike stratagems and therefore he judged it necessary to proceed warily against them Upon this consideration he presently sent for Axalla with him to view the said place and to have his opinion whether it would be advantageous for him to stay there or no Axalla not misliking his choice of the place yet withal advised him to keep Sennas as long as possible he could and accordingly he sent word to them at Sennas that when they could keep the place no longer they should set fire on it and so retreat and this he did that the Enemy should have no desire to encamp there but to march forward to those plains where Tamerlane desired to fight the rather because he was stronger in Horse than Bajazet Accordingly the Prince of Ciarchan sent out a hundred Horse toward the Turks then divided he the rest of his Forces into two parts commanding the former that as soon as they perceived the Enemy to pursue the hundred Horse whom he had commanded to fly disorderly before them that they should receive them into their Squadrons and so retire altogether He in the mean time with the other part stood close in a Valley near unto a Wood-side wholly unseen where having suffered two thousand
him in the battel and therefore they never interceeded for him Whereupon Tamerlane one day passing by him said I marvel that none of thy sons nor friends either come to see thee or to intreat for thee it must needs be that thou hast evil deserved of them as thou hast of others But what thinkest thou if I should set thee at liberty would they receive thee again as their Lord and Sovereign or not To whom Bajazet stoutly answered Were I at liberty thou shouldest quickly see that I want neither courage nor means to revenge all my wrongs and to make the disobedient to know their duties better This proud answer made Tamerlane to keep a stricter hand over him In this great War the Sultan of Egypt as we said before had aided Bajazet which Tamerlane took in so evil part that he resolved revenge For as to his Friends he was most kind and courteous so to his Enemies most terrible and dreadful Yet before his departure he restored to the poor Mahometan Princes that had fled to him for refuge all their ancient Inheritances with something more out of bounty as also he did divers Cities and Countreys of Natolia to the Greek Emperour for the yearly Tribute of four hundred thousand Ducats of Gold and eight hundred thousand Franks of Silver And thus having enriched his Army with the spoils of the Ottoman Empire he turned his Forces against the Egyptian Sultan and so passing through Caramania he entred into Syria then part of the Sultans Kingdom where near unto Aleppo before yielded to him there was fought between them a great and mortal battel the Sultan having in his Army a hundred thousand Foot and seventy four thousand Horse whereof there were thirty thousand Mamelukes accounted the best Horsemen in the World In which Battel Axalla with the Avantguard of Tamerlane's Army was hardly distressed and Axalla himself taken but presently rescued by Tamerlane who had he not by his coming on with fresh Forces speedily restored the battel that day was like enough to have put a period to his Fortunes But Victory after a long and cruel fight wherein were eighty thousand of both sides slain inclining to Tamerlane the Sultan fled Tamerlane pursuing him for the space of three Leagues After this Victory Tamerlane dividing his Army sent Axalla with forty thousand Horse and fifty thousand Foot to pursue the Sultan along the Sea-coast of Arabia The Sultan made divers Alts with four thousand Horse to have stopped Axalla who having the smallest Forces followed him the nearest whilst Tamerlane with sixty thousand Horse and two hundred thousand Foot marched along those Coasts having all the Cities as he went surrendred to him only the strong City of Damasco refused to receive him whereinto the Sultan had put the Prince Zamudzen with a strong Garrison who did what might be done to defend the same but all in vain For Tamerlane having by battery overthrown a great part of the Wall took the City by storm only the Castle yet remained which was accounted impregnable but at the taking of the City such a multitude pressed into it as that it was not possible for them long to subsist therefore within a short time being pinched with hunger and many already dead the rest upon promise of their lives offered to yield But Tamerlane would not receive them to mercy to make them sensible what it was to hold out against him So that most of them dying of famine the rest yielded at pleasure and were most of them put to the Sword for their obstinacy which severity of his caused all the Cities within the space of thirty Leagues to bring their Keyes to him in token of their submission whom he no way molested otherwise than in contributing to the charge of his Army From thence he turned directly towards Jerusalem at which time they of the City had turned out the Sultans Garrison as had almost all they of Judea submitting themselves unto Tamerlane at Chorazin was a Garrison of six thousand who at first pretended to defend the place but when they perceived that Tamerlane was resolved to have it they submitted and found mercy There Tamerlane left a Garrison of his own to repress the Mamelukes who with frequent incursions troubled his Army Himself with some of his Horsemen rode to Jerusalem to visit the Sepulchre so much reverenced of all Nations By the Inhabitants he was joyfully received and having sought out all the antiquities of that ancient City he would be conducted to all the places where Christ had preached and coming to the Sepulchre he gave there many rich gifts to the great content of all only the Jews much blamed him for so doing but he regarded them not calling them the accursed of God There had he news that the Sultan having gathered together all his Forces was fortifying his Cities in Egypt especially Alexandria and the Grand Caier whereupon Tamerlane commanded his Army to march towards Egypt to Damietta which strong City he thought not good to leave behind him though by some he was perswaded so to do for that it was thought impregnable both by reason of the strong Castle and great Garrison placed therein by the Sultan But he whose Fortune nothing could hinder would needs go thither And having commanded Axalla to attempt it followed himself after with the rest of his Army Now Axalla having summoned the City declared to the Inhabitants who were most of them Christians the mildness and courtesie of Tamerlane as also who himself and of what Religion he was causing many of his Greek Captains to speak to them and to tell them what misery they endured under the Moors and Mameluks which so far prevailed with them that they resolved to adventure their lives to put the Mameluks out of the City and the night after taking Arms made themselves Masters of one quarter of the City opening one of the Gates to Axalla whereby he entring put all the Mameluks to the Sword or took them prisoners and so became Master of that strong City Whereof Tamerlane hearing hoped by so prosperous a beginning to find an happy end of his Wars in Egypt For he knew that the Haven of Damietta might furnish him with Victuals out of all parts of Greece as the Emperour Emmanuel had promised him and wherein he nothing failed him Then did Tamerlane enter the City leaving therein a Garrison of two thousand of the Emperour of Greece his Souldiers with a Governour of whom he took an Oath for their obedience And having staid a while at Damietta he caused his Avantguard to march towards Alexandria and having passed over the River he suddenly turned directly towards Grand Caire to the great astonishment of the Sultan who provided for the defence of Alexandria as nearest to the Enemy But understanding this news used such diligence that he entred into Caire with forty thousand Horse and sixty thousand Foot even
learned man to instruct him in the Greek and Latin Tongues and one Aymon to read to him Philosophy and the Mathematicks Himself also trained him up in Feates of Arms and Warlike exercises But above all and as the ground of all virtues he was careful to have him trained up and well instructed in Religion which all his life after he loved and honoured with great Reverence the Church and Pastors thereof He called the study of Humane Sciences his Pastimes and the companions of his Sword and did sometimes recreate himself therein He loved Learning and learned men by Nature He delighted in Poesy as some of his Writings do shew but especially in History wherein he was exceeding well read Charity Temperance Equity care of Justice to relieve his Subjects to keep his Faith and promise both to Friend and Foe and to use a Victory modestly were the notable effects of his excellent knowledg as remarkable in him as in any Prince that ever lived The Universities of Paris and Pisa either Founded or endowed by him witness the great love and honour that he did bear to learning During the Life of his Father Pepin he shewed how much he had profited in Arms under so good a Schoolmaster having great Commands under him which he discharged with notable reputation and the improvement of his skill and ability after he came to his Kingdom shew plainly that there was never any Souldier that carried Sword with more valour nor great Captain that commanded with more obedience or that performed Noble Actions with greater success or that used his Victories with more mildness and judgment Neither did ever King or Prince rule with more authority nor was more reverently obeyed by this Subjects and Souldiers than our Charles who therefore well deserved the name of Charlemagne or Charles the Great by reason of his great virtues He was of a lively disposition quick active and vehement Quicquid egit valdè egit Yet modesty and wisdom did so season and moderate his vivacity and vehemency as gave a great lustre to both and kept them within their due bounds And this mixture of divers humours so tempered with moderation made him as admirable for his Judgment as venerable in his Person and countenance There appeared in him a grave sweet Majesty in a goodly Personage His Body was large and strong He was very patient of labour Had a quick spirit was cleer and sound both in apprehension memory and judgment Resolution never failed him in difficulties nor a Reply in Discourses Terrible he was to some Amiable to others according to the Cause Persons and Occurrents which virtues purchased him such great esteem as that he was beloved respected and reverenced of all men which effects the story of his raign will shew For having received a great Kingdom from his Father he enlarged it with wonderful success God having raised him up to be a Bulwork to Christians against the inundation and rage of Barbarous Nations in the decay and ruin of the Empire And in prosecuting the Narrative hereof I shall first set down his actions during the Life of his Brother Caroloman then what he did from the the time of his death till he was made Emperour and lastly what his Deportment was from thence to his Death Caroloman being Crowned King at Soissons as Charles was at Wormes began to be extream jealous of his Brothers greatness whom with grief he saw to be beloved honoured and obeyed by all the French and that deservedly for his singular virtues and endowments both of Body and mind This jealousie too ordinary a concomitant of Princes made him seek by all means to undermine and overthrow the affairs of Charlemagne whose Eyes were fixed upon Italy as the fittest and most glorious Theatre wherein to exercise his valour and to maintain his authority and power amongst Christians and Caroloman did all that possibly he could to cross his designs therein But before I bring him upon that stage give me leave to shew you what at this time was the State of Italy and Rome Rome sometimes the Head of the World was of late become the Chios of all confusion the Randevouz of all Barbarous Nations as if they had vowed the ruin thereof by turns having already sackt it three times For under the Empire of Honorious Anno Christi 414. The Goths under their King Alaricus after two years siege took it and sackt it but did not dismantle it Forty five years after during the Empire of Martian Anno Christi 459. the Vandales under the conduct of Genserick their King took it again sackt it spoiled and disgraced it leading the Widow of the Emperour Valentinian the third away in Triumph And in the time of Justinian the Emperour the Goths under the command of Totila having weakned it by a long siege took it sackt and dismantled it Thus Rome was no more Rome but a spectacle of horrid confusion after so many devastations retaining nothing of her antient beauty but only the traces of her old buildings and the punishment of her Idolatry and Tyranny Afterwards the Longobards or Lombards held Italy for the space of two hundred years till by our Charlemagne they were subdued and expelled Presently after the Death of Pepin the Church of Rome fell into great confusions by the pactices of Didier King of Lombardy who having corrupted some of the Clergy caused Constantine Brother to Toton Duke of Nepezo to be chosen Pope which he persecuted with such violence that he procured Philippicus who ws already Canonically chosen to be deposed But the better party seeing themselves contemned by the Lombards assembled together and by common consent chose Steven the third a Sicilian by birth Pope who being conscious to his own weakness resolved to call in the King of France and to oppose him against his too-powerful enemies Charles being thus sollicited by the Pope sent twelve Prelates speedily to Rome that he might strengthen the Popes party against the other intending in a greater need to apply a greater remedy and the matter succeeded according to his desire For a Counsel being assembled at Lateran they confirmed Steven lawfully chosen and deposed Constantine who was set up by disorder and violence But Didier would not rest satisfied with this affront and seeing that force had succeeded no better he rosolved to try Policy intending to undermine Steven with fair pretences For which end he sent to congratulate his Election purged himself in reference to the Anti-Pope Constantine now degraded accused both him and his Brother Toton of ambition and protested to live with Steven in amity and to manifest this his good meaning he desired him to be pleased with his repair to Rome that there he might confer with him in private The Pope who never seeks to the French but in case of necessity was easily perswaded by Didier who came to Rome confered with the Pope and made great Protestations of his Obedience
the War justly and ended it happily ruined the Kingdom of the Lombards in Italy carrying Didier Prisoner with him to Lions or to Leeg for Authors agree not of the certain place This was Anno Christi 776. A notable date to present the Tragical end of so great a Kingdom which had continued in Italy for the space of two hundred and four years under Princes of divers dispositions But Pride Injustice and Tyranny had provoked the wrath of God against them so as whilst they thought to take from another they lost their own To usurp the liberties of others they fell into ignominious slavery themselves and their Subtily proved the occasion and hastener of their ruin An excellent Pattern for Princes and great States not to attempt an unjust and unnecessary War nor to usurp upon any other mans right thinking to prevail over a good cause by Craft and Policy Charlemagne as was said before used his Victory with great moderation towards the conquered Nation which gave great content to all the Italians who held it a gain to have lost their old Master and to be rightly made free by being subject to so wise a Lord. For he left unto them their ancient liberties and to particular Princes such as were Vassals to Didier their Signiories To Aragise Son in Law to Didier he left the Marquisat of Beneventum He placed French Governours in conquered Lombardy whom he ordered to treat these his new Subjects with the like mildness as he shewed to those of his antient Patrimony left unto him by his Predecessors During the siege of Pavia Pope Adrian held a Councel at Rome in favour to Charlemagne to give him honours answerable to his merits of the Church wherein it was declared that the right to give all Benefices throughout all Christendom did belong to him No sooner was Charlemagne returned into France but Aldegise the Son of Didier sought to disquiet Italy being assisted by Constantine the Emperour of Constantinople and the practices of Rogand to whom Charlemagne had given Friul who now revolted from his Obedience But the vigilancy and care of the Governours whom Charlemagne had set over his new-conquered Subjects soon put an end to these Rebellions and Rogand being taken suffered according to his demerits being beheaded by the Kings commandment Thus Italy remaining quiet to him and his as conquered by a just War it was afterwards incorporated into the French Monarchy in his posterity being given in Partage to the Children of France whilst the good Government of the French Kings maintained the dignity of the Crown But the end of this War proved the beginning of another in Germany whereof the Saxons were the chief promoters drawing other People of Germany into their assistance This War continued the space of thirty yesrs yet not without some intermissions The Saxons having still a mind to oppose and Cross Charlemagne in his proceedings especially when he was busied in other affairs of great consequence These Saxons were subject to the Crown of France especially under Martel and Pepin his Son The motives of this War were divers The impatiency of a People desiring their antient liberty and not able to bear subjection to a forreigner the hatred and jealousie of a Potent Neighbour threatning them with servitude A controversie about the limits and bounds of their Lands But the greatest and most important cause was the diversity of Religion For the Saxons were obstinate in retaining and cleaving to their Pagan superstition which they had received from their Forefathers and Charlemagne urged them to forsake their Paganism and Idolatry and to make open profession of the Christian Faith being moved with Zeal to the general advancement of the Truth and the private Duty of a Prince to his Subjects to provide for their souls Health Upon this controversie about Religion the Saxons fought eight times with Charlemagne especially taking advantage when they found him busied elsewhere watching their opportunities either to cross him in his designs or to frustrate his attempts At such time as he was in Italy against Didier they played Rex not only in rejecting the French command but also in making War against those Cities in Germany which obeyed Charlemagne They had taken Eresbourg from the Crown of France even upon his return and besieged Sigisbourg robbing and spoiling all the Country round about Charlemagne who would never undertake any weighty matter without good advise assembled a Parliament at Wormes and by their Counsel and assistance levied a great Army to charge the Saxons in divers places at once This resolution succeeded happily For having vanquished the Saxons twice in one month in a pitched Field he soon reduced them to their ancient obedience Using his Victories with much modesty and discretion desiring rather to shew them the power of his authority then the rigour of his Force The chief amongst the Saxons was Widichind and as Religion was the chief motive of their frequent Rebellions so Charlemagne seeking the establishment of the Christian Religion in Saxony with great Zeal after much reluctance happily effected it For having vanquished this widichind by reason and humanity he brought him to the knowledg of the Truth and by his grave and prudent conversation he perswaded him without any Violence to leave and forsake his Pagan Superstition which force of Armes could never have effected in him nor in the Saxons For mens souls are not to be compelled with force of Arms but with reason And by the means and endeavours of this widichine the greatest part of the Saxons were brought to the knowledg of the true God and the obedience of the French Monarch And the most obstinate were forced either to submit or to abandon their Country And indeed great numbers of Saxons retired themselves into divers strange Countrys Thus the War with the Saxons was happily ended which had been long and dangerous and the Conquered by the Truth were the true Conquerours by attaining to the knowledg of the true God Charlemagne was very careful to have them well instructed in the Truth For which end he appointed godly and learned men in all places and gave them honourable maintenance whereby he shewed that his Piety was not inferiour to his Valour and happy success and for a president to Princes to make Religion the Soveraign end of their Arms and Authorities This Widichine was very eminent both for Wisdom Valour and Authority in his Country and from him are descended many famous Families as the two Henries the one called the Fowler and the other of Bamberg and the two Othos all of them Emperours as also the Dukes of Saxony the Marquesses of Misnia the Dukes of Savoy and the famous race of Hugh Capet in France From this War of Saxony did spring up many others in the Northern parts of which we shall hear afterwards but because in the Interim their fell out great Wars in Spain against the Sarazins which
Fathers virtues and Valour leaving behind them Lewis their Brother with large Territories and few vertues to Govern so great an Estate After the Death of these two great Princes many enemies rose up against old Charlemagne who seemed as it were to have lost his two Arms as the Sarazins in Spain the Sclavonians and the Normans in the Northern Regions But he vanquished them all and brought them into his obedience and subjection old and broken as he was Charlemagne all his Life time held the Church in great reverence and had imployed his Authority to beautify it and bountifully bestowed his Treasure to enrich it But this great plenty joyned with so long and happy a Peace made the Church-men to live losely Charlemagne being himself well instructed in Religion knowing of what great importance it was to have such as should instruct others to be sound in the Faith and holy and exemplary in their lives he at sundry times called five Councels in sundry Places of his Dominions For as yet the Popes had not challenged that power to belong to them for the Reformation and good Government of the Church As at Mentz at Rheimes at Tours at Chaalons and at Arles and by the advise of these Ecclesiastical Assemblies he made and published many Orders for the good of the Church which were gathered together in a Book called Capitula Caroli Magni A worthy President for Princes who seek true Honour by virtue whereof the care of Piety is the chiefest Foundation In the Preface to this Book he thus saith that he had appointed these constitutions with the Advice of his Presbyters and Counsellers and that herein he had followed the Example of King Josias who endeavoured to bring the Kingdom which God had given him to the worship of the true God Some of his constitutions are these He commanded to look to and to try the learning and conversation of such as were admitted into the Ministry He forbad private Masses Also the confusion of Diocesses requiring that no Bishop should meddle in anothers Diocess He forbad that any Books should be read publickly but such as were approved by the Councel of Calcedon He forbad the worshipping of Saints He commanded Bishops not to suffer Presbyters to teach the People other things then what are contained in or according to the holy Scriptures And lib. 2. ch 3. he saith Although the Authority of the Ecclesiastical Ministry may seem to stand in our Person Yet by the Authority of God and Ordinance of man it s known to be so divided that every one of you in his own place and order hath his own power and Ministry Hence its manifest that I should admonish you all and you all should further and help us He admonished Bishops especially to teach both by Life and Doctrine both by themselves and the Ministers that were under them as they would answer the contrary in their accounts at the Great Day He Ordained that the Bishop of the first See should not be called the Prince of Priests or the highest Priest or have any such Title but only should be called The Bishop of the first See That none can lay another foundation then that which is laid which is Christ Jesus and that they which lay Christ for their foundation it s to be hoped that they will be careful to shew their Faith by bringing forth good Works He held also a great Councel in the City of Frankfort of the Bishops of France Germany and Italy which himself honoured with his own presence where by general consent the false Synod of the Greeks they are the words of the Original untruly called the seventh was condemned and rejected by all the Bishops who subscribed to the condemnation of it This was that Counsel spoken of before called by Irene at Nice wherein the bringing of Images into Churches for devotion was established In a Word if Charlemagnes medling with Italy and his advancing the Pope for confirming that which he had taken could be excused he was unto all Princes a pattern of magnificence of Zeal in Religion of learning eloquence temperance prudence moderation c. Alcwin saith of him Charles was a Catholick in his Faith a King in power a High Priest in preaching a Judg in his equity a Philosopher in liberal Studies famous in manners and excellent in all honesty He was so temperate that notwithstanding his great revenues he was never served at the Table with above four Dishes at a Meal and those of such Meat as best pleased his taste which he used to the same end for which God created them which was for sustenance and to support his Body not for shew and pomp His ordinary exercise was hunting when he was at leisure in time of War and in times of Peace he attended to such as read Histories to him and sometimes he heard Musick with which he was much delighted having good skill therein himself He was very charitable and a bountiful Alms-giver and so careful to provide for the poor Cristians that in Syria in Africa and in Aegypt and in other Provinces of the Infidels where Christians lived he found means to have Almes-houses and Hospitals erected and endowed for those thar were Poor But there fell out a new accident which drew out Great Charles again to Arms in his old Age and that was this Alphonso King of Navarr surnamed the Chast by reason of his singular and signal temperance in that kind did inform and advertise him that there was now a very fit opportunity and means offered for him utterly to subdue the Sarazins in Spain Charlemagne who infinitely desired to finish this work which he had so often attempted with no great success gave ear to the information and advice whereupon he raises an Army and marches into Spain relying on the Spaniards favour and assistance they being Christians Indeed Alphonso meant plainly and sincerely but so did not his Courtiers and Nobles nor Associates who feared Charles his forces no less than they did the Sarazins and if Charles prevailed the most confident of Alphonso's Servants and Officers doubted to be dispossessed of their places and Governments by a new Master and therefore they laboured to cross Alphonso and to countermand Charles but the Lot was cast his Army was in the Field and he was resolved to pass on But when he was entred into Spain he encountered with so many difficulties that being discouraged he returned back into France and so concluded and put a period to all his Warly enterprises embracing again the care of the Church and of Religion as a fit subject for the remainder of his days Charlemagne was threescore and eight years old when he left the Wars after which he spent three whole years in his study to prepare himself for Death in which time he read much in the Bible and read over also St. Augustines Works whom he loved and preferred before all the
other Doctors of the Church He resided also at Paris that he might have opportunity of conferring with learned men There he erected a goodly University which he furnished with as learned men as those times could afford and endowed it with great priviledges For he had an exceeding great care to make it a Nurcery for the holy Ministry that from thence the Church might be supplied with able Teachers whence also grew so many Colleges of Cannons with sufficient revenues annexed thereunto Thus Charlemagne spent three years happily in the only care of his Soul leaving an illustrious example to all Princes to moderate and ennoble their greatness with Piety and so to enjoy their Temporal estates as in the mean time not to neglect their eternal concernments and to think of their departure out of this Life in time Foreseeing his Death whereunto he prepared himself by these exercises he made his last Will and Testament leaving his Son Lewis the sole Heir unto his great Kingdoms and bequeathed to the Church much Treasure But all things and Persons in this World have an end His Testament was but the Harbinger to his Death for presently after he was taken with a pain in his side or Plurisie and lay sick but eight days and so yielded up his Spirit unto God that gave it Anno Christi 814. and of his Age seventy one and of his Reign forty seven including fifteen years of his Empire His Body was interred in a sumptuous Church which he had caused to be built in the City of Aquisgrave or Aix la Capelle where he was born and his memory was honoured with a goodly Epitaph He was one of the greatest Princes that ever lived His virtues are a pattern to other Monarchs and his great successes the subject of their wishes The greatness of his Monarchy indeed was admirable For he quietly enjoyed all France Germany the greatest part of Hungary all Italy and a good part of Spain At the time of his Death he was in peace with the other Kings of Spain as also with the Kings of England Denmark Bulgary with the Emperour Leo of Constantinople and with all the Princes of that time This Noble Prince was endued with so many excellent Virtues that we read of very few in antient Histories that excelled him so that he may be justly compared with the best of them For in Martial Discipline in Valour in Dexterity in Feats of Arms there are none that exceeded him He obtained as many Victories fought as many Battels and subdued as many fierce and Warlike Nations as any one we read of and that both before and after that he was Emperour He was tall of Stature very well proportioned in all his members passing strong of a fair and grave countenance valiant mild merciful a lover of Justice liberal very affable pleasant well read in History a great Friend of Arts and Sciences and sufficiently seen into them and a man who above all loved and rewarded Learned men He was very charitable in his Kingdoms yea in his very Court he harboured and relieved many Strangers and Pilgrims In matters of Faith and Religion he was very zealous and most of the Wars which he made were to propagate and enlarge the Christian Faith He being mis-led by the darkness of the times wherein he lived superstitiously honoured and obeyed the Church of Rome and the Pope that was Bishop thereof together with other Bishops and Prelates commanding his Subjects also to do the like He was also very devout and spent much of his time in Prayer Hearing and Reading In his Diet he was very temperate and a great enemy to riot and excess and though he was Rich and Mighty yet fed he his Body with what was necessary and wholesome not rare costly and strange And yet his Virtues were not without their blemishes as the greatest commonly are not without some notable Vices For in his younger dayes he was much given to Women adding Concubines to his lawful Wives by whom he had divers children but this was in the time of his Youth For afterwards he contented himself with his Wife and for a remedy of this imperfection though he was three or four times a Widower yet he ever married again the Daughter of some great Prince or other To conclude all he was an excellent Emperour that loved and feared God and died when he was very Old and full of Honour leaving Lewis the weakest of his Sons the sole heir of his great Empire but not of his Virtues So that this great building soon declined in his posterity He had engraven upon his Sword Pro Deo Religione For God and Religion He used to set his Crown upon the Bible as our Canutus sometime put his Crown upon the Rood both of them thereby intimating that as all honour was due to God so true Religion was the best Basis of Government and that Piety was the best Policy The Epitaph which I spake of was this Sub hoc conditorio situm est Corpus Caroli Magni atque Orthodoxi Imperatorisqui Regnum Francorum nobiliter ampliavit per annos Quadraginta septem foeliciter tenuit Decessit Septuagenarius Anno Domini 814. Indicti one 7. Quinto Calend. Febr. Under this Tomb lieth the Body of Charles the Great and Catholick Emperour who most Nobly enlarged the Kingdom of the French and most happily ruled it for the space of forty and seven years He died in the seventy and one year of his Age In the year of our Lord eight hundred and fourteen the seventh Indiction on the fifth Calend of February He had five Wives the first was called Galcena the Daughter of the King of Galistria by whom he had no Children The second was Theodora the Sister or as others say the Daughter of Didier King of Lombardy whom he kept not long but repudiated her for sundry reasons The third was Hildebranda Daughter of the Duke of Suevia whom he loved exceedingly and had by her three Sons viz. Charles his Eldest whom he made King of the greatest and best part of France and Germany Pepin his Second whom he made King of Italy Bavaria c. Lewis his Youngest to whom he left the Empire intire his Brothers being both dead in their Fathers Life time This Lewis was sirnamed Debonaire or the Courteous He had also three Daughters the Eldest was called Rothruda the Second Birtha and the Youngest Giselia who would never marry His fourth Wife he had out of Germany called Fastrada And his fifth and last was also a German Lady called Luithgranda of the Suevian Race by whom he had no Children He shewed his love to Religion by having one during his Meal-times that either read to him some part of the Holy Scriptures or else some part of Saint Augustines Books especially that De Civitate Dei or some History He was also a great Friend to Learning and therefore erected three