the inhabitants both in their actions and opinions for as the more moderate sort of people especially those that had any correspondency with the Lydians either by extraction or commerce were willing enough to continue the old government and retaine both their lawes and customes they had formerly used so the violenter part of the Natives that had time out of minde contracted a certaine kinde of barbarisme in their manners and dispositions would heare of no agreement but what was prescribed them by a few commanders that were sent from the Aegyptian Warres who seemed onely to comply with the religion of Delphos for their owne ends The people I may affirme with some confidence were so far transported infatuated with this spightfull ambition their governours in the interim supposing they should be made petty Princes in command amongst the more ignorant sort of Natives that they did not onely decline violently all manner of reasonable accords but even were perswaded to hate with an exact spleene and malice all their owne country men friends and kindred that had any manner of correspondency or almost the least communication with those of the Lydian race and interest In the Interim the Senate of Lydia finding this violence and distractions amongst us resolved to put many of the strong Forts of the Country which from the beginning of the troubles they had kept in their possession absolutely into the hands of the Myssians the better to avoid the expence and inconveniency of the Warre in their owne particulars having as they thought enough to doe with their King in in Lydia and the rather for that they knew that as Myssia was most proper to send Souldiers of their owne Nation into the Island of Creet whereby to contend with the inhabitants so was there such an inveterate spleene and hatred between the Natives of both Countreys not onely in regard of their possessions but their religion that no reconciliation was at any time to be feared besides the Myssians with others of Lydia of their faction and interests supposed the old Cretans owed them a secret revenge for having injuriously outed them of their lands and estates in the time of the late King Evarchus father These Transactions I say filled the whole country a new with bloud and slaughters and the more confused it proved and so consequently the more horrid in regard that for the most part we fought dividedly upon the generall score of three interests sometimes two against one then againe each for it selfe as often as any opposition was found which not seldome hapned in regard of the many jealousies and suspitions rising daily out of the variety of apprehensions by reason of frequent accidents so that in a short time almost in every place the Townes were fired the people destroyed and the countrey depopulated being no safety in any place or scarce the least meanes of subsistance out of Armies unlesse it were under the walls and protection of some few garrisons that secured a kind of small circuit for necessary provisions to maintain themselves and the inhabitants of their jurisdiction but the King at last receiving from me and others intelligence of these lamentable proceedings in the Island of Creet as truly in a manner it was past all examples since the intention of all sides was not alone to contend about disputable rights occasioned by some former oppression but even to extirpate not onely whole families but the very remembrance of the Nation it selfe that should have the unhappinesse to be overcome by the other gave order to me if it were possible to reconcile these bloudy differences and horrid contentions with all the speed I could especially amongst those of his own party neither was he determintd to exclude out of this number the old Cretans themselves however depending upon other interests onely in regard they seemed by their declarations formerly in words to stand for his Title and authority against the proceedings of the Myssians though publickly they contended violently with his Forces in the field 'T is true I cannot deny but in some things they had reason enough for their jealousies the King very often being constrained to goe even from his own resolutions to give satisfaction to those Councels that were continually about his person who perswaded him he lost the love of his people in Lydia by seeming in any kind to favour or countenance the Cretans in their demands who as they pretended were enemies to their generall established religion Of the other side the Natives were againe by much too covetous and mistrustfull not onely to desire violently other mens possessions and estates from them but so entirely to doubt the Kings performance of his promises when as they knew he did but endeavour for his better advantage to contract privately with them in most particulars in such matters as appertained to the Temple of Delphos for giving as I said too generall a distast to those of his owne party within the Kingdome of Lydia But to be short it was not very long before the King sent a most intimate councellor of his owne into the Island of Creet as well to informe me particularly of his pleasure by word of mouth as also to joyne himselfe with me and others in commission for the better and speedier effecting of his designes presently as soone as hee arrived we sent out our summons to the whole Countrey in the generall either to meet themselves or to appoint Deputies for each division in the Island to attend the Kings orders and direction upon a certaine day at Pergame not onely to heare what should be propounded in their Princes behalfe for their future peace and advantage but also we our selves would be ready to heare what the people would demand to their further satisfaction whereby their enemies the Myssians might be opposed in their intentions who endeavoured not onely to beat downe all Kingly authority in the Island but to become absolute Lords over all the inhabitants ancient liberties I must tell you whilst we expected a joyfull issue of these purposes we understood another great Lord of Lydia was newly arrived with certaine directions as was pretended from the King independent to that power was granted us whereby as we were informed onely himselfe was impowred underhand to deale more intimately with the inhabitants concerning matters of religion as this something startled our expectation having no such notice from the King so did we resolve to send for the party upon our authority who upon his appearing neither obeying our commands nor giving us the satisfaction was desired we at that very instant restrained his person untill the Kings pleasure in that particular as we said should be publickly knowne but whether these proceedings of ours which however we esteemed for the best or that the Natives in truth were otherwise setled in their resolutions hindred the successe when the day came according to the appointment for this assembly to meet there appeared none at all of
for want of people to mannure them since it is very well knowne they in their owne persons are not any way husbandmen or at all industrious without the Lydian assistance wherefore consequently this course and alteration must bring a generall devastation upon the whole Countrey but put case some would readily yield to these orders and injunctions by reason of quietnesse and possession yet no doubt but the most part would oppose being by birth or extraction either Myssians or Lydians which of necessity would procure confusion enough as also be a meanes that Evarchus enemies would dispossesse all his friends under their jurisdiction in like manner wheresoever they had gained by their swords any thing over the Kings fortunes in Lydia Myssia or Creet Of the other side if we doe but consider the small aide and assistance these people could have afforded their Prince at the best we shall find these concessions upon the matter would have beene wholly lost since they undertooke onely to procure him ten thousand men to be imployed in his Warres without paying them for any considerable time and the gods know perhaps they would not fully have performed those promises being as uncertaine in their undertakings as unreasonable in their demands No no Madam said he these were but meer chymeras broached by some of their eminent commanders for their own ends to render themselves great and potent amongst the people and afterward would have made use of their power as their ancestors did before them to no other purpose but to exercise Tyranny and nourish rebellion And however I say that the messenger sent from Delphos seemed to concurre in these designes yet I will not say he erred so much in will and intention as out of ignorance and want of judgement neverthelesse though he imagined onely perhaps to reduce the inhabitants to their ancient obedience to the Temple of Delphos without prejudicing much others rights yet his complying so much with their rude and barbarous customes in outward shew according to the old Natives humours with his publickly discountenancing all others of a more civill conversation notwithstanding they professed the same religion and worship of the gods gave not onely cause of too much suspition concerning his designes and purposes but occasioned a great deale of confusion and distraction in the generall as well to the overthrow of the Kings â—â—â—â—est as to the hazard of the Natives subsistance in their owne Country in regard of the advantages their enemies the Myssians make of their differences But heare a messenger sent from the Princesse Cloria stopt their further discourse who as he said desired to speake with Roxana so that the old woman onely thanking Dedalus for what was past and promising too meet him often upon the same subject made hast to know her Mistresses pleasure When Roxana came into her Chamber the Princesse told her that she had beene lately troubled with a most untoward and fearefull dreame which however in her thoughts she was not at all superstitious as shee said yet shee could not absolutely free her apprehension from the consideration of it shee imagined her selfe and Narcissus to be upon the Sea together in one Vessell when of a sudden an extreame darknesse seemed to cover the face of the water in so much as they could not perceive any thing at all about them whereupon both of them remaining frighted with a kind of horrour to see so great an unexpected change in the weather from a cleare Sun-shine-day to a time almost as black as night they might at last behold themselves incompassed round about with many ships belonging to the Senate of Lydia that bid them presently yield to that power without resistance unlesse they would hazzard their owne destructions so that instantly conceiving themselves no way able to resist so peremptory a command their persons were presently not onely seized but separated with a great deale of cruelty one from anothâ—â— to their no small griefe and amazement whilst in the interim also shee heard some of the company say that as this designe was put in execution by the authority of young Philos Philostros nephew so was it his pleasure to have her selfe carried prisoner into her fathers Kingdome of Lydia as he was resolved to dispose of the person of Narcissus according to his owne will and intentions in the Kingdome of Syria presently upon the apprehension of the dreame as shee said shee wakened with some kinde of seeming trouble more then ordinary as the people about her had informed her her Roxana finding her Mistresse notwithstanding her professions to be something discomposed either by reason of the distempers of her sicknesse or in regard of the distraction of her apprehension having belike before shee went to sleep filled her imagination with some unprofitable thoughts proceeding from the discourse of former actions or conceptions told her that as it was the greatest folly in the world if not a most supreame impiety to put any manner of confidence or beliefe in dreames unpleasant that were ingendred onely in the fancy by meere accidents meeting with the indisposition of the body so if the gods at any time had a will we should be instructed in things to come necessary to be known they would certainly send us for true information to Oracles that are not to be held fallible in any kind of the contrary the motions that proceed from our selves are for the most part governed by passions and so consequently not to be relyed upon although sometimes I cannot deny said shee but they happen accordingly though no otherwise then like as a person should cast a stone over a house and by meere fortune might kill a bird of the other side for though the stone had but that one place to light in to doe the thing yet by meere fortune it might as well light there as any where else but however this short discourse reasonably well quieted the Princesses thoughts for the present yet both shee and Roxana fell upon a resolution with all possible speed to haste their journey towards the Island of Cyprus as well for that they doubted not but to meet Narcissus to their extraordinary content and satisfaction there as of the other side not conceiving Greet to be a place of sufficient security any long time in regard of those many factions and disturbances in the country depending upon severall interests according to the relations of Dedalus the governour for besides the inconstant natures of the people with the small authority the King seemed to have by way of jurisdiction over the very actions and affaires of his own party as they were informed could they be very confident of the fidelity of the City of Pergame where they for the present remained in regard the Senate of Lydia by occasion of Trade seemed to have a kinde of hidden influence in the thoughts and affections of most of the inhabitants neverthelesse although Cloria and her governesse might have these passionate desires of
other side I must desire you to remember that Prince Cassianus was alwaies entertained cherished by King Euarchus with all humanity and bounty when his regall power was not diminished Wherefore in my opinion you have no reason to side with that faction that strives to pluck the Diadem from the browes of him and his posterity in which number I have or ought to have a confiderable interest Cassianus after he had received this bitter reply with a certain pale if not guilty look rested for some time as it were frozen in a kind of despaire not being able to utter one syllable in defence of himselfe against such desperate language as he thought delivered by a heavenly Oracle yet at last lest he might seem altogether conquered by the force of her reasons when it was impossible her sweet words could wound but with the darts of Cupid he fearfully returned this answer which reached her eares but not her beliefe Madam said he for the differences in Religion between your father and his Senate I esteem them no way essentiall consisting onely in matter of ceremony which with a little labour may easily be reconciled to both their advantages And for that bloud of yours that so much honoured my birth I could wish to have an occasion to let it out from nourishing my heart whereby to doe you the least service though your release cannot fall within the capacity of my power since it is the command of the whole Kingdome that restraines your liberty neverthelesse without any thought of injury intended to your person for if I believed the Senate had any determination to diminish much lesse to deprive your Royall father of those flowers which belong justly to his glorious Crown I should be so farre from countenancing of their endeavours that I would contend with all difficulties to teare the remembrance of their intentions from the face of the earth however I cannot deny but I meerly subsist by their extraordinary bounty since I have lost the possession of mine own Countrey that should maintain my condition At which words the Princesse with a disdainfull smile gave him a dissembled thankes accompanied by so sweet and becomming a scorn that Cassianus seemed more bitter at her silence then by the dispute though Roxana could not chuse but take her Mistresses part and consequently made this choloricke answer to that little he had said in his owne defence My Lord said she I cannot but wonder if the points in Religion be of no greater difference then you speak of that the Senate should disturbe the quiet State of Lydia with so much bloud and slaughter to compell Euarchus to change the government when it is evident he desires but to maintaine the profession of his Father without alteration nay rather me thinks it would have beene greater markes of their piety to have given way to the Kings humour in so small a thing of consequence then to have bought the alteration at so deare and dangerous a price And for the latter part of your discourse I shall onely put you in minde that as your Uncles love and bounty never failed you when he was in a flourishing prosperity so you may doe nobly to pay his actions past and his necessities present with testimonies of gratitude and duty Cassianus although he vowed to the uttermost of his power he did and would render him his best endeavours yet he quickly changed the subject of the discourse pretending that love at the present was more sutable to his disposition then hate and therefore began againe to court the Princesse with fresh complements however when he found with a neglectfull silence she onely seemed to heare his words without a will to understand the matter as if she were lesse pleased with those smiles then with the Senates frownes he abruptly quitted the roome with a kinde of a darke clowde in his lookes within two dayes after this encounter the old Flamine was brought before the great Senate to receive his tryall not onely for having been in his court imployments a disturber of the State as 't was pretended by his ill councell to Euarchus but at the present for being an instrument to convey the Princesse out of the Senates protection and conceale her person in his house whereby to marry her to some forraigne power that might indanger the prosperity of Lydia Which accusations were so spightfully alleadged against him with such prejudicate resolutions for his ruine that the old man had not force enough to sustaine the waight of the prosecution though he exprest a competent courage in his defence and so was condemned publikely to lose his head upon a Scaffold in the view of all the people who at leastwise appeared contented if not pleased at the novelty But Cloria when she heard of this sudden and as she conceived horrid determination was possessed with a noble compassion not onely considering the old man to have been a most faithfull servant to her Father but unfortunate by this intended Tragedy onely for entertaining her at his house as a testimony of his loyalty to the royall Family which wrought in her gentle soule divers perturbations First she considered that if he suffered it would be some staine to her honour since he appeared rather to be a Martyr for her then for himselfe which obligation she was unwilling to undergoe without some testimonies of a supreame gratitude yet then when she reflected upon that submission she must use to beg his life of the Senate she thought the sacrifice of an old Flamine who e're long could not chuse but be an offering to the earth would not prejudice his owne happinesse much lesse taxe her of ill nature And therefore became halfe perswaded to let him runne his last period with glory rather then become a supplyant to her Fathers Subjects for mercy yet after much contestation with her selfe the vertuous Princesse fell upon this apprehension that she in a manner became the author of ill by omitting that good she had power to doe and by that meanes should deserve the worlds censure so that pitty gratitude and religion seemed to contend with courage honour and disdaine till at last she flew to this resolution to send for Cassianus and conjure him by the hopes of his desired love to be so farre an intercessor in the poore Flamins behalfe as to preserve him from destraction by his power or interest though againe when she entered into consideration what a jealous scruple the request might raise in Narcissus thoughts if ever he should come to know of the action it almost destroyed the piousnesse of her intention neverthelesse she called Roxana and wisht her in her name to fetch Cassianus to speake with her since her resolutions were not long to be protracted if she had a will they should prove effectuall yet as the old woman was going out of the doore to performe her message she suddenly commanded her backe againe labouring as it were in her inconstant
I say this admirable Princesse had a base brother also named Leonatus who wanted not ambition enough to desire the Crowne of Mysia though he were not furnished with sufficient vertues to merit such a dignity and to this purpose left nothing unattempted that might either advance his own esteem or deprave his sisters actions and to that end insinnated himself by all meanes possible not only into the good opinion of the Lords but much more into the favour of the common people in which interim the young Princesse being furnished with youth and beauty was perswaded by the chiefe nobility to thinke of a noble husband that might accompany her in her conversation and give the Kingdome a hope of posterity two essentiall parts as they pretended of her own happinesse in prosecution of this desire there was presented unto her view a handsome Lord of this our Countrey of Lydia in conclusion the nuptials were quickly solemnized to the appearing content of both parties and the rather for that the then Queene of Lydia was well satisfied with the choyce not doubting to maintaine by this meanes a continual and strong interest in the Kingdome of Mysia since she had married to the Princesse one of her own Subjects But now Leonatus began to play his part for finding this conjunction proved a bar to his pretention for succession he thought it his best way to establish himselfe notwithstanding a certain power in the government and to that purpose strived by all meanes his malicious will could instruct to gaine the good opinion of the young King whereby to set him at difference with the Queen who began to be a little distasted to see his wife take upon her so absolute authority he only bearing the name of a Prince which at last grew to such a height by the underhand provocation of wicked Leonatus that one day when the Queene being great with child was retired into her private chamber to conferre with a certain Secretary of State most imployed in the Kingdomes affaires her husband of a sudden rusht into her presence with his sword drawne and there before her amazed eyes slaughtered her poore servant However this was an act of some horrour to the great bellied Queen and so consequently might be thought sufficient motives of her lasting indignation to see her selfe and authority so affronted by one she had lately raised from being a Subject to be her husband yet religion and good nature proved so powerfull in her noble disposition that upon the Kings sorrow and submission she was content both to forgive the injury and forget the dishonour by a perfect reconciliation But Leonatus not weary yet of his own wickednesse though despairing of his further ability to retain his interest with the young King since the Queen as he thought had so absolutely circumvented him in that project of a sudden stroake into friendship with certaine factious Priests that had newly brought in a religion into Mysia that taught this dangerous Doctrine That Princes deserved no longer to governe then whilst they contented the People Which opinion you may very well imagine took feelingly with the multitude in so much as in a short time the Queen had imployment enough to defend her person from reproaches as her Kingdome from civill warre This exceedingly tormented her thoughts untill the birth of her young sonne againe revived her spirits however Leonatus still prosecuting his horrid designes to supplant the Queen in her just right whereby to bring the government of the Kingdome under his own jurisdiction one night secretly caused not only the young King to be cruelly murthered in his bed in execution of his revenge because he had quitted his party but also laid the bloudy slaughter by way of private aspersions upon the innocent and religious Queen the more to bring her in hatred with the common people who seemed already sufficiently poysoned by the late pernicious doctrine brought into the Countrey by the turbulent Priests Although these crafty practises had not as yet power to shake or rather absolutely to destroy her grounded authority which had been cast upon her by so rightfull a succession yet by little and little they so wounded her reputation that they made her desire to have a faithfull companion to assist her in her government which politick Leonatus perceiving judging it a love passion in the Queen put on some of the nobility underhand to perswade her not only presently to marry but to take for her husband a valiant Gentleman his intimate friend who a long time had pretended unto her love however he was not without some suspition that he had been an actor in the Kings death with these baites I say Leonatus so farre intangled the Queenes innocency that she was wonne by perswasion to make this election being councelled thereunto by the chiefe nobility set upon her to that purpose though she first caused a decree to be past by the unanimous consent of all that this Lord had been no way guilty of the false aspersion his enemies had cast upon him concerning the Kings murther No sooner were these nuptials solemnized which was the thing Leonatus desired but secretly he admonished the new King to flye assuring him as his friend that either he would be suddenly slaine by many that had conspired his death or publickly be apprehended and brought to his Tryall by the consent of the whole Kingdome so that he whether knowing himselfe faulty indeed or fearing the power and injustice of his enemies since emulation amongst his equalls had procured him a world of envy quickly followed his advice and privately without the Queenes privity quitted his Country and Fortunes Leonatus conceiving now he had compassed the hardest part of his projects sent secretly into Lydia to possesse the Queen there with an assurance of Minerva's guilt since she had married the murtherer of her first husband too apparently as he pretended discovered by his strange flight at the same time also by the help of his factious priests he raised tumults against her in her own kingdome whereby she became imprisoned because she would not quit her government This you may believe gave the poore Queen sufficient imployment insomuch as being wearied by continuall troubles and invited to the Court of Lydia by her kinswomans promises for her better and quiet protection she was content to resigne the Crown to her sonne and accept of those offers she esteemed reall But alas no sooner was she arrived within the bounds of this kingdome of Lydia but contrary to her expectation wherefore amazed in the execution instead of being admitted into the Queens presence with love and honour she was commanded as a prisoner to a Castle not farre off whilst in the mean time her young sonne was committed to the tuition of Leonatus her worst enemy however with this pretention that as soon as she could cleare her selfe of those aspersions and accusations that her subjects brought against her she should enjoy those respects