and revenge the other 2 And it was God's will when he would impose that long and tedious Journey upon Abraham that the Countreys should be in Peace through which he wandred to which end those Millions of Warriours and Engins perished with Semiramis to make the Recovery of lost Liberty the more easy Lastly Histories report that Arrius who succeeded Ninias recovered Bactria and Caspia and Baleus or Xerxes reduced the rest even to Egypt which argueth their former Revolt § 13. Consent of Writers almost forceth us to think as I have delivered touching the Four Kings yet if we take them rather for Four petty Kings which in that sluggish Reign of Ninias had gathered Colonies out of those Four Countries and Planted themselves elsewhere we shall remove some difficulties For if Chedorlaomer were King of Persia it self beyond Babylon what a Journey were it to come so far and gather such Forces which must pass so great Countries as Assyria Chaldea Mesopotamia Syria and part of Arabia to Conquer five small Cities and leave all the rest of Canaan yea to come in Person and that the second time But the Scripture maketh this Invasion no great matter but as matching four Kings to five as if the five were not so unequally matched though petty Kings as of necessity they had been if these four had been absolute Kings of the Kingdoms whose Names they bear If then the former Conjectures cannot agree to the Text to the Authority whereof all Human Reason must subscribe let the received Opinion stand that Amraphel was Ninias who was become inferiour to Chedorlaomer of Persia. From the Assyrian the History of Abraham leadeth us to the Egyptian Kingdom then also flourishing CHAP. II. Of the Kings of Egypt from Cham to the Delivery of the Israelites THE Kings of Egypt 'till Israel 's Deliverance and the causes of the uncertainty of the History § Cham after Babel's Confusion having known Egypt's Fertility Planted it Anno 191 after the Flood Osiris succeeded Anno 352. Typhon or Hercules Anno 603. Orus 620. Sesostris the Great 735. Sesostris the Blind 786. Busiris or Oris 2 d. Anno 782. Acenchere or Thermutis or Meris 820. Rathoris 832. Chenchrese 841 drowned Augustin a diligent searcher of Antiquities omitted the Succession of Egyptian Kings finding no certainty of them through the Ambition of their Priests who to magnify the Antiquities which they only kept filled the Records with Romances and Names of Kings which never Reigned Other good Authors were over-credulous of what they found so Recorded Published the same in their own Names Of these Annius finding some Fragments and adding what he would is no farther to be Credited than where approved Writers Confirm his Assertion Herein the Old Christian Writers follow Eusebius but the Modern Annius and Prophane Authors follow Diodorus Herodotus c. § 2. C ham began his Reign in Egypt after the Flood Anno 191. § This is gathered from the Dyanasties of Egypt whose 16 th began in the 43 d. year of Ninus The 12 first under their 12 great Gods lasted 84 Years seven a-piece the 13 indured 14 years the 14 lasted 26 the fifteen was 37 which three last were under three younger Gods All the 75 added together make 161 years which being deducted out of 352 the remainder is 191 the beginning of Government there after Cham's arrival The same also is probable from their coming to Babel which being after the Flood Anno 131 and Forty years according to Glicas spent in Building we can allow no less than Twenty years for the slow passing such a Company through such a difficult long way which Sums being added make up 191 years when the first Dynasty began for to begin them sooner were either to plant Egypt as soon as Babel or with Mercator to make them before the Flood which their number exceeding the number of those long-liv'd Fathers will not admit § 3. The Dynasties of Egypt were not absolute Kings but Vice-Roys under Kings § The probability of this will appear by the custom of Kings governing by Great Men as of old the Kings of France by the Master of the Palace the Turk by a Grand Visier the Philistin Kings which came out of Egypt had a Captain as Abimelek had Phicol the Kings of Israel as Saul had Abner David had Ioab And Cham's lend disposition to follow Pleasure might breed the Custom which continued even to the days of Ioseph advanced to the place by Pharaoh from which Example William Arch Bishop of Tyre affirms the same Form of Government continued in Egypt in his days when the Sultans govern'd under the Calif as Lieutenants under a King How these Dynasties succeeded and how long they continued is uncertain § 4. Cham. and Mizraim or Oris § Of C ham the Scripture calls that Country the Land of Ham not for being Peopled by his Sons for so were other Countries which yet are never so called but for that himself planted it Osiris called himself the Eldest Son of Saturn as in Diodorus lib. 1. which Saturn of Egypt was Grand-father of Ninus as in his Monument Of Cham came the Temple of Hammon near Egypt And in Ierom's days the Egyptians called their Country Ham so Ortelius saith out of Plutarch that Egypt was called Chemia That Cham reigned 161 years is not improbable considering Sem his Brother lived 600 years Mizraim or Osiris according to Diodor succeeded of whom the Land also took its Name and by the Natives is yet called Mezre as Reineccius sheweth How long he Reigned is hard to determine but that he began at Abraham's Birth is probable when the Dynastie of the Thebaei began according to Eusebius § 5. Osiris Reign is guessed at by his Son Lebabim or Hercules Lybeus his Warring with Typhon and the Giants his Associates in Revenging his Fathers Death His Egyptian Wars he ended and begun his Italian in the 41 Year of Baleus King of Assyria according to Berosus when he left the Kingdom to his Brother Orus To this Egyptian and many other Wars before his Italian Krentzhemius alloweth but 6 Years which draweth Osiris Death to the 34 th Year of Belus and so makes him Reign 297 Years and so should end 7 Years after Israel came into Egypt This cannot be for the King under whom Israel came out-lived Iacob and had Reigned from before Ioseph's standing before Pharaoh yea we may give 13 Years more of Ioseph's Bondage to him This King then could not be Osiris who lived not so long as Iacob nor Typhon nor Hercules but Orus Son of Osiris advanced by Hercules § 6. Typhon and Hercules their Reigns are not distinctly defined only Orus is placed 7 Years after Osiris by Krentzhemius and whose Reign seemeth to last 115 Years and from whose Death to the Israelites Departure are 122 Years Sesostris or Sesonchosis succeeded according to Scholiast Apollonii He was a great Conquerour in Asia even into India and Europe Whom Iustin erroniously maketh Vexoris saith
and Children It endured many changes Shishak of Egypt Sackt it so did Ioas of Israel but Nebuchadonozor fulfilled all Gods Judgments threatned and made way to Seventy Years Desolation and Captivity of City and People After the restoring by Cyrus Bagòses Lieutenant and Artaxeres spoiled it and after Alexanders Empire was divided Ptolomy the First pretending to Offer Sacrifice then Antiochus Epiphanes and Apollonius his Lieutenant after him spoiled it and Pompey long after took it But after all Repairs that wicked Herod did so Reedifie and Adorn both Temples and Cities that it far exceeded what Solomon did continuing in this state about Forty Years after our Saviour's Death Titus invested it till it was taken and Demolished it in which by Famine Pestilence Sedition and Enemies Sword 1100000 were consumed 65 Years after being in part repaired Elius Adrian for a new Revolt Overthrew all and Built another which he called Elia Capitolia and Decreed that never Iew should dare after to enter or from high place look to behold it Yet after the Christian Religion flourished in Palestine it was Inhabited after by Christians 500 Years and then it was taken by Egyptian Sarazens and held 400 Years and then regained by Godfrey Bouillon and so continued 88 Years when the Souldan of Egypt won it but lastly Selim the Turk took it and called it Cusunbaris § 6. Malicious Reports of the Heathen as Quintilian Diodor Strabo Iustin Tacitus touching the Iews Original answered by Iosephus against Appion and Tertullian in his Apologet. CHAP. IX Memorable things from Joshua to Jeptha and the Destruction of Troy § 1. IVDA by Gods Directions took the Management of the War after Ioshua was Dead Caleb with Phineas and the assistance of Seventy Elders were in Ioshua's time Commanding in Chief Their Achievements we read Iudg. 1. as also of the other Tribes which sought to establish their own Territories What befel them after upon their making Peace with the Canaanites and their affliction 8 Years and how Othniel the Son of Cenas Younger Brother to Caleb delivered them from Chushan a King of Mesopotamia who Oppressed them we read in Scripture How long it was between the Death of Ioshua and Othniel is uncertain though it could not be a short time considering what Wars followed and the Surprize of Laish by the Danites and their Warring with Benjamin are thought to be in this interim which War so weakened them that they could not so strongly resist their Bordering Enemies § 2. Othniel Governed 40 Years in whose 20 th year Pandarius Fifth King of Athens entred and Reigned 40 Years Father of Erictheus and Progne and Philomela in the Fables Cadmus about this time obtained Thebes which Amphion and Zethus Governed after Triptolâ—mus is placed first by Augustine of whom and the rest Authors so disagree that I desire to be excused if I Err with better Judgments whereto I submit For if the first Authors had but a borrowed uncertain light from other Conjectures all our labour in Example to uncover the Sun is for ought I see a more over-shading § 3. Ehud was next who Delivered Israel from Eglon King of Moab after 18 Years Misery Samgar his Successor freed them from the Philistins so from Othoniel's Death 8 Years expired Elimelek went to Moab in Ehud's days and Ruth's Story is referred hither Adoius King of the Molosseans in Epirus had by Ceres his Wife a Fair Daughter called Proserpina a common Name of such whom Peritheus intending to steal drew Theseus into the attempt which being discovered Aidonius surprized them cast Peritheus to Cesarus his Mastive and kept Theseus Prisoner till Hercules delivered him by a strong hand Pindus's Mountains in Epirus of which Oeta is Chief whence Acheron springeth Erictheus was King of Athens whose Daughter Orythia Boreas King of Thrace Forced Tereus King of Phocis in Greece Inhabited by Thracians Married Progne the Daughter of Pandarius and Ravished her Sister Philomela and cut out her Tongue for which Progne killed his Son Itys and made Meat of him for Tyrus and fled to Athens Tros began to Reign in Pardania the 47 th Year of Ehud about which time Tantalus was King of Lydia not Phrygia whose study of Wisdom made him neglect the Pleasure of Riches of which he had great Plenty Others said his covetous Mind made him miserable whereof grew that Fable c. Here the Author is out Taxing the unfolding of Secrets to Vulgars perverting Mar. 4.11 Cecrops 2 d. 7 th King of Athens and Arrisius Thirteenth King of the Argives now Reigned the first 40 Years the other 31 toward the end of the 8 Years Pelops lived of whom Peloponesus took Name Titius Tyrant of Panopea in Phocis slain by Apollo Admetus King of Thessaly Perseus of Peloponesus and Medusa slain by Perseus Souldiers of whose Blood sprang Pegasus Belerophon's Horse with which he slew Chimera a Pyrat of of the Lycians Ion of whom the Athenians are called Iones or rather of Iovan c. § 4. The former 80 Years of Peace and Plenty having bred security it brought forth neglect of Gods Commandments and their ripe Sins called for God's Judgment who raised Iabin King of Hazor who laid an heavy yoke on Israel 20 Years keeping his chief holds even in Naphtalim and reduced them to such a weakness as among Forty Thousand a Weapon was not seen But as Volumes may be gathered of Examples proving all Power is the Lords how impotent soever his means be so now the Lord set it out in delivering Israel two Women Deborah and Iael striking the chief stroke Thus Forty Years were expired under Iabin Deborah and Barac Argos's Kingdom which had continued 544 Years was Translated to Micenae Built by Perseus Son of Danae Daughter of Acrisius King of Argos The King of Argos The King of Argives we find Inachus whose Daughter Io was the Egyptian Isis Phoronius Apis Argus Pirasus Phorbas Triops Crotopus Sthelenus Donaus Lynieus Abas Acrosius Pelops After the Translation to Micenae Perseus Sthenelus Eurystheus Atreus Son of Pelops Agamemon Egypthus Orestes Tisamenus Penthilus and Cometes Midas now King of Phrygia and Ilus who Built Ilium Contemporaries with Debora § 5. Barac was no sooner dead but Israel returned to their impious Idolatry and God raised up the Midianites assisted with the Amalekites to infest them yet his Compassions which never fail raised them up a Deliverer Gideon the Son of Ioash whose story is largely set down in Holy Scripture His severities in the revenge upon Succoth and Penuel his own Sons found shortly after his death For the debts of Cruelty and Mercy were left unsatisfied And because he Converted the Gold into an Ephod a Garment proper to the High-Priest and set it up in his City Ophra as it drew Israel to Idolatry so was it the destruction of his own House Aegeus Son of Pandeon now reigned in Athens Euristheus in Micenae whom Atreus succeeded who killed Thyestes his Brother's Children and feasted
their Father therewith which Cruelty was revenged on him and Agamemnon his Son and all his Linage by a natural Son of Thyestes Minos was now King of Crete whose Wife Pasiphae inamoured of Taurus her Husband's Secretary Dedalus being her Pander had a Child by him and another at the same Birth by Minos of which grew the Tale of the Minotaurs Dedalus upon discovery fled with Icarus in two Boats with Sails unto Cocalus King of Sicily In the flight Icarus was drowned and Minos was slain in persuing Dedalus whom Cocalus defended Sphinx a Woman Robber by Sea and Land upon the Borders of Corinth was overcome by Oedipus Commander of the Corinthian Forces her Swiftness and Cruelty bred the Tale of her Wings and Body of a Lyon Anteus the strong and cunning Wrestler near Hespendes in Mauritania lived about this time § 6. The Argonauts Expedition fell out about Gideon's Eleventh Year Many Fabulous Discourses have been hereof written and mystical Expositions made but Dercilus's Opinion is most probable That Iason with the Harvest-men of Greece went by Ship to rob Colchos enriched by certain steep falling Torrents not far from Caucasus which wash down many Grains of Gold which the Inhabitants get by setting many Fleeces of Wool in those Water-falls The many Rocks Straights Sands and other difficulties in the Passage between Greece and Pontus are Poetically converted into fierce Bulls Armed Men rising out of the Ground Syrens a Dragon cast asleep c. by Orpheus one of them § 7. Abimelech Gideon's natural Son Ambitiously Fought and got what his Father had refused as unlawful without special direction a Ruler over God's peculiar People and for his Establishment in his Usurped Power he slew Seventy Brethren upon one Stone Iotham the youngest only escaped this unheard of Inhumanity Such is Human Ambition a Monster which neither feareth God nor respecteth Nature and forgetteth the All-powerful Hand whose Revenge is without date All other Passions and Affections which torment the Souls of Men are by Contraries oft-times qualified but this darling of Sathan and first-born Sin that ever the World knew more Antient than Human Nature looketh only toward the end which it self sets down forgetting nothing how Inhuman soever that may conduce thereto and remembers nothing that Pity or Religion can offer to the contrary As for the deplorable effects that such attempts have had it ascribes to the Errors or weakness of the Undertakers and rather praiseth the Adventure than fears the like Success The Sechemits in a vain Glory to have a King of their own readily condescended to his Ambitious motion imbrue themselves with him in the Blood of Innocents and fit themselves to partake with him in the Vengeance fore-told by Iotham The Tapithae and Centaurus made War about this time against the Thebanes these were the first in those parts which learned to ride on Horses so that coming from the Mountains of Pindus on Horseback they were thought compounded Creatures Thola of Issachar govern'd after Abimelek 23 Years and Iair 22 years after him Priamus after that sacking of Ilium by Hercules being Ransomed began to Reign having rebuilt Troy and inlarged the Dominion almost over all the lesser Asia Of Fifty Sons he had Seventeen by Cuba Daughter of Gisseus King of Thrace Paris one of them attempting to recover his Aunt Hesione carried into Greece by Hercules took Helena the Wife of Menelaus c. Theseus the Tenth King of Athens in his Father Aegeus's Reign he put himself among the Seven young Men which the Athenians sent for Tribute yearly to Minos King of Crete who gaining Ariadne the King's Daughter's Affection received of her a Bottom of Thread by which to conduct himself out of the Labyrinth after he had slain the Minotaur â—hat is the Son of Taurus begotten of Pasipâ—ae to whom those Youths were committed c. He took Hippolita the Amazon Queen Prisoner and by her had a Son Hyppolitus whom he after sought to kill upon his Step-mother Phaedra's false Accusation whose incestuous Caresses he had rejected In his Escape he had received many dangerous Wounds of which being Cured the Tale of Esculapius grew c. After much good done to the ungrateful multitude they banish'd him They say he stole Helen from Aphidna in the First Year of Iair according to Eusebius which is not probable seeing she should prove Fifty Years old at the fall of Troy Under the two former Judges in Assyria reigned Mitreus and Tautanes after and in Egypt Amenophis Son of Ramses and Anemenes after him In Sicyonia reigned Thyaestus the Twenty second King Eight years Adrastus succeeded Four years then Polyphides the Thirteenth Mueschea succeeded Theseus King of Athens § 8. The Theban War the most antient that ever the Grecian Writers handled hapned in this Age wherein Greece continued but salvage holding and getting all by strong hand Robbing by Sea and Land little using Merchandise and not acquainted with Money and having few walled and but small Towns As some latter idle Chroniclers wanting good Matter fill their Books with Reports of Feasts dry Summers c. So they which write of Greece then tell us of great Floods Metamorphosâ—â— of Men-killing Moâ—â—ters Adulteries of their Gods begetting Mighty Men c. This Theban War the first Grecian Story of Note arose upon the disagreement between Eteocles and Polynices Sons of Oedipus Son of Laius King of Thebes These Brethren having Covenanted to Rule by Course Eteocles beginning was unwilling to lay down a Scepter once taken into hand which forced Polynices to fly to Adrastus King of the Argives who gave him a Wife and raised Forces to re-establish him in Thebes Eteocles withstands the Force and both Armies after great loss desire the Brethren to end the Quarrel by a single Combat in which both lost the day with their Lives and yet another Battel was fought in which the Argives were discomfited and fled and of the Commanders only Adrastus came to Athens At his request the Argives sent Forces under Theseus against Creon Governour of Thebes for denying Burial to the slain Argives who took the City and buried the slain But this contented not the Sons of the Noble Argives who Ten years after levied new Forces and forc'd Laodamas Son of Eteocles to fly and some says he was slain the Town was destroyed but repaired by Thirsander Son of Polynices who reigned after and led the Thebans to the War of Troy shortly after § 9. Iephtha judged Israel Six years and relieved them from the Oppression of the Ammonites which lay heavy upon the Tribes on the East of Iordan along Gilead He defended the Israelites Right against the Ammonites Claim both by Reason and the force of Arms and drove them not only out of all those Plains but also over the Mountains of Arabia to Minneth and Abel of the Vine-yard As for his Vow the Opinion that he did not Sacrifice his Daughter is more probable The Ephramitâ—s quarrell'd with Iephtha
Land also indured three Years Famine for Saul's wrong to the Gibeonites which was relieved by the death of Seven of Saul's Issue of which Five were the Sons of Michoâ—'s Sister as by an Elipsis the Hebrew will bear as in the like ver 19. As the Lord by this Execution secured David's House from Competitors so was the Nation strengthened by the valour of many brave Commanders of which Six Colonels under the General had Thirty Captains of Thousands among whom the difference of place and Honour grew by meer consideration of Virtue as we see Abishai Brother of Ioab and the King's Kinsman short in Honour of the first Three David thus Established in ostentation of his Power provoked the Lord to punish his People with Pestilence for his numbring of them and slew Seventy Thousand § 8. David's last Acts. § Abishag in his impotence keepeth him Warm c. Adonijah aspireth which causeth David publickly to declare Solomon his Successor and to set him in his Throne whereupon Adonijah and his Associates were scattered After this David having two especial Cares remaining of which he desired to discharge his Thoughts one concerning Solomon's peaceable holding his Crown the other about building the Temple he called a Parliament of all the Princes c. In this Assembly he signifieth his purpose and the approbation of God chargeth all and Solomon by Name v. 9. and produceth the pattern of the Work according to the Form which God himself had appointed laying down his own preparation whereto the Princes and others added their free-will offering This being done David made a solemn Feast at which time Solomon was again anointed King and received Fealty of the Princes People and the King's Sons After all this David as upon his Death-Bed again with powerful words giveth Solomon the Charge of the Lord his God and then adviseth him concerning Ioab who otherwise tho' of exceeding desert yet for his intolerable Insolence came to such an end by Justice when time served as many worthy Men had done for acts of the like presumption David after Forty Years Reign died being Seventy Years old having been a Man of small Stature exceeding Strength and for internal Gifts and Graces passing all others and putting his Human Frailty apart commended by God himself to be according to his own Heart Being a Prophet as well as a King he fore-told Christ more lightsomly and lively than all the rest and writ many Psalms but whether all the Book is disputed though Chrysostom and Augustin hold it Christ and his Apostles cite him § 9. David and Solomon's Treasures § David's Treasure exceeded as appeareth by what he gave toward the Temple 1 Chron. 22.14 which amounteth to 3333â— Cart loads of Silver or 6000 l. sterling to every Cart-load and 23 Millions and 1000 l. in Gold a matter incredible but for Testimony of Scripture where consider how such a Treasure could be raised by Parcimony Eusebius cites Eupolemus for a Navy which he sent from Melanis or Achanis to the Isle Vpher or Opher by Ortelius then his Husbandry which was great his Presents Tributes Taxations Capitations his Spoils the Riches of the Sanctuary long increasing by large Gifts and the Portion out of all Prizes from Enemies even from Ioshua's days Of Solomon's Treasure see 1 Kings 9.20 and 10.14.29 See Iosephus of the Treasure he hid in David's Sepulcher out of which Hircanus took 3000 Talents and Herod more § 10. David's Contemporaries § Achis a Philistin King of Gath and another in Solomon's days Latinus Sylvius King of Alba. Cedrus the last King of Athens after whom they changed the Government into a Principality for Life without Regal Title This change was made in honour of Codrus voluntarily slain for their sakes in a War with the Dores to disappoint the Oracle Eupalus the Third King of Assyria sate 38 Years Ixion the second King of the Heraclids in Corinth Son of Eurythenes Agis the second King of the Heraclids in Lacedemon he restored the Laconians and made the Citizens of Helos Slaves for refusing Tribute as at length all the Messenians were and thereof called Helons that is Slaves Slave came from Sclavi which were Samaritans now Russians which Conquering Illyria would be called Slaves which with them signifieth glorious but when the warm Clime had thawed their Northern hardness but not ripened their Wits the Italians which made many of them Bond-men used their Name in Reproach calling all Bond-men Slaves Achetratus succeeded Agis in whose time Androchus the Third Son of Codrus assisted by the Iones built Ephesus in Caria and was slain of the Carians He also held Erithrae famous for Sybyls which writ Verses of Iesus Christ Son of God the Saviour reported by Augustine who saw them Vaphres King of Egypt began to Reign when David Besieged Rabba Magnesia on Meander in Asia founded now and Capua Campania CHAP. XIV Of Solomon Anno Mundi 2991. § 1. SOlomon began to Reign in the 2991 st Year of the World and was first Congratulated by Hiram King of Tyre according to the Ancient Custom of Princes Though his Reign were peaceable yet his beginning was with the blood of his Brother Adonijah without warrant either from his Father or the Law of God The occasion was his desire of Abyshag but being his Elder Brother who also had sought the Kingdom it was enough as a word is to the Wise and he which seeth the Claw knows whether it be a Lyon or no. Solomon took the motion as a demonstration of a new Treason such was the jealousie of seeking a King's Widow or Concubines as Absolom's taking his Father's Concubines was a taking possession of a Royalty so it was applied to David by Nathan c. 2 Sam. 12.8 Birth-right pleaded by Adonijah was according to God's Law and of Nations but the Kings of the Iews were more Absolute and not without Example in Iacob for private Inheritance As for what we read of Peoples Elections it was but an acknowledging him whom the Lord chose and not to frustrate the Elder 's Right Solomon also executed Ioab deposed Abiathar and put Shemei to death He Married the Daughter of Vaphres as Eusebius calls him King of Egypt and according to his request to God obtained extraordinary Wisdom especially for Government as appeared in the Example purposely set down of his judging the two Harlots yet did he excell in all other Knowledge § 2. Solomon's Building and Glory § Renewing the League with Hiram of Tyre he had much of his Materials for his Buildings from him Of the Glorious Temple and parts of it many Learned Men have Written as Salmeron Montanus Bibera Barradas Azorius Villalpandus Pineda c. The Letters which passed between Solomon and Hiram Eusebius sets down out of Eupolon which Iosephus also Records in his Antiquities Lib. 8. § 2. Besides the matchless Temple he made many other Magnificent Buildings of which Gerar on the Border of Ephraim taught the Egyptians to
in largeness This number may be thought strange in so small a Territory being far greater than any Muster ever taken of that Country Ioab had found 500000 Rehoboam 180000 Abia 408000 Asa 580000 Amazia found 300000 Uzziah 307000 and surely if Iehosophat had 1160000 Men he would not have feared Moab and Ammon c. I am therefore of Opinion submitting to better Judgments that the numbers spoken of 2 Chron. 17. were not all at one time but that the two first numbers under Adnah and Iehobanan were after Mustred and Commanded by Amasia Eliada and Iehosabad yet this Mighty Prince made a League with Ahab and matched his Son Ioram with his Daughter and assisted him at Ramoth-Gilead for which he was reproved by Iehu the Prophet as he was a second time by the Prophet Eliezer for joyning with Ahab's Son in preparing a Fleet. So he joyned with Iehoram against Moab and had perished by Famine if Elisha had not relieved them from God whose Goodness was ever prone to save the Evil for the sake of the Good but never destroyed the Good for the Evil. Ophratenes now Reigned in Assyria Capetas and Tiberinus at Alba in Italy Atazedes in Athens Agesilaus in Corinth Archilochus in Lacedemon Badesorus in Tyrus Achab Ochozias and Iehoram in Israel CHAP. XVI Of Jehoram and Ahazia JEhoram the Son of Iehosaphat being thirty two Years old began to Reign and Reigned 8 Year of which 4 was in his Father's Life who at his two Journeys with Ahab and Iehoram Kings of Israel left him Viceroy 'till his return The first was in Iehosaphat's 17th Year when also Ahazia Son of Ahab began to Reign whose Brother Iehoram the 2 d year after succeeded K. of Israel in the 2 d year of Iehoram King of Iuda that is of his Reign when his Father Iehosaphat took the sole Government again upon him 'till the Fifth year after when he reassumed his Son Ioram into the Government 2 Kings 8. two years before his death in the fifth year of Iehoram King of Israel So that Iehosaphat Reigning Twenty five years 2 King 22.42 it is evident his Son Iehoram could not be King of Iuda 'till the Eighth year of Iehoram King of Israel The like regard is to be had in accounting the Reigns of other Kings of Iuda and Israel whose years are sometime to be taken compleat current or confounded with other Kings preceding or succeeding as the comparing of their Times together shall require In this History consider that Iehosaphat a Religious King is the first of Rehoboam's Issue that entred a League both Offensive and Defensive with the Kings of Israel with whom his Predecessors had tyred themselves in vain with continual Wars This Confederacy with one which hated the Lord could not long prosper not issuing from the true Root and Fountain of all Wisdom yet as a piece of sound Policy it wanted not fair Pretences of much common good as mutual Fortification of both Kingdoms against Uncircumcised Ancient Enemies For confirmation of such an apparent Good unto Posterity therefore the Bond of Affinity was knit by Marriage of Iehoram with Athalia a Lady of a Masculine Spirit who had learned so much of Iezabel her Brother's Wife that she durst undertake more in Ierusalem than the other in Samaria as a Fire-brand ordained by God to Consume many Nobles in Iuda and perhaps some whose Worldly Wisdom regardless of God's pleasure had brought her in The Syrian Wars at Ramoth-Gilead were the first Fruits of this League undertaken upon equal Adventure but upon the hope of Benefit only to Ahab As godly Princes seldom thrive by matching with Idolaters but rather serve the Turns of those false Friends who being ill-affected towards God cannot be well affected to his Servants At this time also as Ahaziah was designed King by Ahab his Father so was Ioram by Iehosaphat after the others Example without Example in any of their Predecessors § 2. Iehoram's Reign so diversly dated in Scripture argueth that Iehosaphat having taken him into the Government as Ahab had given Example found cause after to recall that Power Probable it is that his Insolent Idolatrous Wife having corrupted him was the cause that the Government both for Religion and Justice grew so far out of order that Iehosaphat was forced to the Reformation we read of and sequestred his Son from the Government 'till it were setled again and so after five years called him to it the second time which bred a new Date as did his Father's death two years after breed a third Many things might move Iehosaphat to Iehoram's second calling to Govern him as to try what Wisdom his restraint had wrought or to prevent his Brethrens Insolency against him if Iehosaphat had at his Death left him in disgrace which might be the cause of great Tumults it may be also Iehoram by dissimulation had won the good Opinion on of his â—ather and Brethren formerly offended it being usual in violent fierce Natures to be as abject and servile in their Adversity as insolent and bloody upon Advantage Howsoever it was this is manifest that his Father at his death doubting his Affection to his Brethren for their better Security besides great Riches gave them the custody of strong Cities and unusual means against unusual Perils § 3. Jehoram 's Reign alone in which Edom and Libna Rebel § Iehosaphat's providence for his younger Sons availed nothing against the determination of an higher Providence for these strong Cities were a weak defence for the young Princes against his Power to whom the Citizens were obedient If they came in upon the King's Summons he had them without difficulty if they refused they were Traytors yet could not hold out when all would fail them for fear of a Potent King However it was all were slain and many great Men with them who had any way offended the Tyrant either formerly or in behalf of his Brethren Iehoram after this made innovation in Religion not only incouraging the People prone to Idolatry of all other sins detested of God but using Compulsion also and was the first we read of that inforced Irreligion Edom in the mean time revolted and made themselves a King having from David's days been Tributaries and govern'd by Vice-Roys Now Isaac's Prophecy began to take effect that Esau should break the Yoke of Iacob for after this Edom was never subject to the Kings of Iuda Yea in process of time Antipater and Herod Elumeans Reigned as Kings in Ierusalem Lybna also a City of the Levites in Iuda rebelled against him because he had forsaken the Lord God of his Fathers In defence of whose Worship these Levites thought themselves bound especially against his inforcement to the contrary Wherein also they might take Incouragement for Iehosaphat's Charge 2 Chron. 29.8 But as Iehoram had left Edom in their defection so he attempted nothing against Libna which seemeth to proceed from a doubtful Mind whether to put Weapons into the Hands of his
moved disdain that they could not agree to submit unto him 'till some principal of them were dead every Man of them in the mean time holding what he could c. This Anarchy lasted about 23 Years from the 11 th Year of Vzziah when Ieroboam died unto the 38 th of the same Vzziah in the which Zechariah entred and sate 6 Months And though some suppose Ieroboam to Reign 11 Years with his Father and to cut off so much of this Inter-regnum yet they leave 12 Years but I prefer the former as best agreeing with the Reign of other Princes and not extend Ieroboam's Reign and Life as this doth Zechariah the Son of Ieroboam the last of Iehu's Line after 6 Months Reign was by Sallum slain fulfilling the 4 Generations following to Iehu yet not warranting Sallum to slay him as Iehu had been against Iehoram Thus Ieroâ—oam's Captains were grown so headstrong that they neither indured his Son nor one another so that in 14 Years their Reigned five Kings Sallum after 1 Month's Reign in Samaria was slain by Menahem Mâ—nahem of Tyrza Reigned 10 Years a Cruel Persecutor of Sallum's Friends In his time came Pull the Assyrian whom he pacified with a Thousand Talents of Silver and so was confirmed in his Kingdom against such as opposed him Pekahiah succeeded his Father 2 Years in the Year of Azariah King of Iudah Peka the Son of Remaliah slew Pekahia and Reigned 20 Years § 2. Vzziah whose Succession had been endangered by the hatred to his Father but by Holy Men brought up and advanced as was Ioash and had his Holy Zechariah under whose direction he prospered as Ioash under good Iehojada But as Ioash after his Tutor's death so Vzziah after his Zechariah forgetting the Law of God which had separated the Priest's Office from the King 's would needs usurp the same for which presumption being reprov'd by Azariah the Priest the Lord seconded the just reprehension and struck the King with Leprosie Thus he which presumed to draw near the Holiest was cast from among common Men. Iosephus enlargeth this History and reports of an Earthquake which some mistake for that in Amâ—s which was in Ieroboam the 2 ds days long before Vzziah § 2. Contemporaries with Vzziah Among the small Prophets Hosea Ioel Amos Obadiah and Ionas lived with Uzziah if Hierom's Rule hold to range a Prophet whose time is not expressed with the next before then Ioel and Obadiah are of this time Ionas seems to me the first that foretelleth Ieroboam's Victory and Prophecied of Christ rather by Sufferings than Writing now extant whereas all the other Prophets have express Promises of the Messias Esaiah also now prophecied writ much with excellency both of Stile and Argument foretelleth the Birth Miracles and Passion of our Saviour with calling of the Gentiles more like an History of things past than a Prophecy of things to come as Hierom saith Bochoris had Reigned in Egypt 10 Years when Vzziah entred Asychis succeeded then Anysis whom Sabacus succeeded 50 Year of which the 10 first were with Vzziah Ariphron's 2 last Years of 20. Thespeus 27. Aganestor's 20. and Aeschylus's 3 first of his 23 in Athens ended with Vzziah so did the 7 last of Sylvius Aventinus's 37. with 23 of Sylvius Procas and the first of Sylvius Amulius 22 in Alba. In Media Arbaces began his new Kingdom with Vzziah and held it 28. and Sosarmus his Son 30 Year § 4. Arbaces having taken Ninive utterly ruined it to transfer the Empire to the Medes as he had promised he also made his Partakers Rulers of Provinces retaining only the Sovereignty yet with such moderation as neither offended the Princes his Assistants nor the generality of the People For calling Belosus into question for Embezling the Treasure he referred his Condemnation to the Captains and then pardoned him and gave him the Province of Babylon with the Treasure He also â—â—eed the Persians and Bactrians as he promised and so weaken'd his Sovereignty so that in time the Assyrian incroached upon some Towns of the Medes and extended it self to Israel but when the Assyrian cast off the Mede's Yoak is uncertain As also when Babylon and Ninive became subject to one The Opinion current 'till of late is according to Metastenus in Annius That â—elosus called also Phut Belosus and in Scripture Pul or Phul Reigning 42 Years in Babylon got part of Assyria into his hand and left it to Tiglaâ— Pileser his Son and his Posterity 'till Merodach prevailed This Tradition though Annius's Authors be suspected is justified by Circumstances in other Authors as Belosus enjoying Babylon Dâ—â—dorus relates and no Authors speak of any special Governour of Assyria neither stood it with Policy to set a particular King in Assyria whâ—n to prevent the riâ—ing again thereof Ninive was ruined and the Inhabitants transplanted Upon the like Considerations Roâ—e destroyed Carthage and Capua being Towns Capable of Empire c. It is not then to be thought that Ninive and the Assyrianâ— could rise in three or four Years by any oâ—her tâ—â—n Beâ—osus so near a Neighbour and of so rich a Province for Hâ—rodotus esteemed it for Richâ—s and Powâ—r as the third part of the Perâ—iâ—â— Empire who aâ—so joyned the Treasure found in the Palace of Ninâ—ve § 5. The Olympian Games were restored by Iphylus in the Fifty fiâ—st of Vzziah The first Founder of them was Hercules and were so called of the City Olympia or Pisa near Elis a City in Peloponesus near the River Aâ—pheus where Iupiter had a Temple reputed one of the Worlds Wonders These Games were exercised after every Four years end which were discontinâ—ed loâ—g until the days of Iphitus when Lycurgus lived and continued in Greece 'till the Reign of Theodosius saith Cedrenus or to Constantine after others Varro held all Grecian Stories Fabulous before these but Pliny esteemeth none true before the Fifty fifth Olympiad when Cyrus began to Reign Many seek to find the Years of the World when they began but can set down no certainty others seek it from Troy's Fall more uncertain than they The certainty of things following the Olympiads teacheth to find their beginning to which use Eratosthenes hath set down the years ensuing unto the death of Alexander from the Olympian Institution Four Hundred fifty three years So for placing their beginning the 51st of Vzziah we have Cyrus's Reign to prove it being the first of the Fifty fifth Olympiad So Alexander's death the First year of the 144 th Olympiad So the Eclipse when Xerxes mustered at Sardis the last of the Sixty fourth Olympiad or the Two Hundred Sixty Seventh year of Nabonassar which leads us back to Xerxes and so to Cyrus whence we have Seventy Years to the destruction of Ierusalem and so through the Reigns of the Kings of Iudah to Vzziah's 51st The Solemnity was such by concourse from all the Greeks their Exercise was all bodily Feats and the Reward a Garland of
vain to be curious about these Kings seeing Diodorus varies from Herodotus and Eusebius from both neither do late Writers know whom to follow The Kings from Chencres or Tuoris or Proteus are agreed upon of which according to Eusebius Acherres was next whom Reyneccius thinks to be Vchoreus in Diodore Founder of Memphis but then Timaus cannot be the great Osymandias as he also judgeth for there were more than Eight Generations between them contrary to Diodorus Touching Osymandais Mercator makes him the Husband of Acencâ—eres Daughter to Orus Second and finds Vchoreus the Eighth from him But I will pass over these inextricable doubts c. § 3. Cherres after Eight years of Acherres succeeded Fifteen years Armeus five years Ramesses Sixty Eight years which two last are the Danaus and Egyptus spoken of by the Greeks who make Danaus expelled Egypt become King of Argos in Greece But Reyneccius believes not Armeus to be Danaus though their time agree but rather thinks he was Meris which made the great Lake Myris 3600 Furlongs compass and Fifty Fadoms deep to receive Nilus over-flowing for store when Water was scarce § 4. Ameraphis succeeded his Father Forty years then Sethosis Fifty years to whom some ascribe improbably the famous Acts of Great Sesostris In him began the Dynastie of the Zarths or Generals which Title Five only held Ramases succeeded Sixty years mistaken for Sesostris the 2d Amenophis succeeded Forty years Andemenes Twenty six years Tâ—uoris the last Zarth Seven years whom some make Proteus whose Son Remphes succeeded but I doubt neitâ—er Father nor Son were Kings § 5. Many other Names of the Egyptian Kings are found scattered as Tonephersobis Senemues or Senepos Banchistis Thulis in Suidas who asking Seraps the Divel who was or should be so mighty as he was answered First God and then the Word and then the Spirit which Three be One and join in One all Three whose Power is endless Get thee hence frail Wight the Man of Life unknown excelling thee Cedreus hath the same and gives this King as great Antiquity as the Indies citing a Book called Little Genesis which word little alone argues Impostor besides the Frierly stuff he cites out of it His List of Old Egyptian Kings here set down are not worth writing out neither the Kings named by others Vaphres and Sesac will lead us into a fair way a while the first was Solomon's Father-in-Law according to Clemens Alexandrinus and Eusebius the second Eusebius calls Smendis with whom he begins the Twenty First Dynastie whose Entrance is found about the Twentieth of Solomon reckoning from Neco's death in the Fourth of Iehojakim King of Iudah upward as from the Fifth of Rehoboam wherein he plunder'd the Sanctuary but injoyed that Sacriledge as did Ioas and Craseus not one Year For the Kings from Sesac to Necho I chose the Greek Historians for Eusebius is out by failing to keep the reckoning between the Kings of Iudah and Israel § 6. Chemmis or Chembis succeeded Sesac Fifty years and built the great Pyramid whose Base was Seven Acres square and Six high which Diodore saw One Thousand Years after in Augustus's days Câ—abreus or Cheops succeeded Fifty years and then Cephrenes Fifty six both Builders of Pyramids for their Sepulchers Mycerinus his Son Six years as the Oracle had threatned for his opening the Idols Temple which his Predecessors had shut It may be Chemmis had learned their Vanity at Ierusalem and thereupon shut the Temple up Reyneccius gives him Fifty years Bochoris or Banchyris by Suidas succeed Forty four years Then Sabacus an Aethiopian But Herodotus omits both and hath Asychis who decreed the Debtors dead Body should be given to the will of the Creditor 'till the Debt were payed Anysis succeeded him and both could be but Six years Then came the former Aethiopian who Reigned Fifty years Scripture calls him Zonaras Sua with whom Hosea King of Israel made a Vain League against Salmanassar They say he left his Kingdom and returned into Aethiopia to avoid his God's Commandment to kill all the Priests of Egypt such was their Zeal to their Priests § 7. Sethom succeeded in the Twelfth of Hezekiaâ— and Fifth of Senacherib when Assur and Egypt contended which should Rule or serve Hezekiah though fixing special Confidence in God held it fit to make a League with Egypt by his People relying more on Egypt than on God Egypt promiseth much but only furnished him with some Treasure sent to hire Arabians which was intercepted Herodotus tells us a Tale of Sethom's Praying to Vulcan his God for Aid against the Assyrians who lay before Pelusium and he sent Mice which gnawed their Bow-strings and Straps of their Armour which made them depart His Reign Functius resolves to be 33 years giving no Reason yet upon search I find it within One Yeâ—r by dividing the years from Rehoboam's 5th to Iehâ—jakims 4th among the Kings of Egypt giving each his set time and the Remainder to Sethom CHAP. XXIII Of Manasses and his Contemporaries § 1. MAnasses Son of Hezekiah succeeded being Twelve Years Old and Reigned Fifty Five Years of whose Idolatry and extraordinary Wickedness see 2 Kings 21. and 2 Chron. 33. Of his putting the Reverend Prophet Isaiah to death with a Wooden Saw being Eighty years old Eusebius Epiphanius Isidore and others confirm His Captivity in Babel his Repenting Prayer Reformation and Death see 2 Chron. 33. Merodach having loved his Father might more easily be perswaded to restore him § 2. Aegypt after Sethom was miserably distracted with Civil dissention two Years then ill reform'd by a Government of 12 Princes of which 11 falling out with the 12 th were by him subdued and the Kingdom Usurped which Anarchy Diodore put after Sabacus omitting Sethom contrary to Herodotus These Twelve for a Monument of their Government made a Labyrinth near the Lake Maris which Heroclus prefers to the Chief Pyramid which excelled Diana's Temple Diodorus reports it the work of Marus or Menides five Generations before Proteus or the Trojan War and Reyneccius takes him to Annemenes as he doth Amenophis to be Amasis and Sethom to be Actisanes But he was deceived for the times we are now in shew us Amasis was Anisis Actisanes Sobacus and Marus one of the 12 Governours which made this Work Whereto serve the 12 great Halls in it c. Psamniticus one of the 12. cast out by the rest upon an Oracle as Herodotus tells the Tale which Diodore believes not hired Power out of Caria and Ionia with which he overthrew his Fellows and Ruled alone 54 Years saith Hierom which Mercator divides 44 alone and 10 before according to Eusebius And to make the reckoning fall even with the years from the 5 th of Rehoboam and the 4 th of Iehojakim we must confound the last of the 15 ascribed to the 12 Governours with the first of Psamnitius He first entertained Amity with the Greeks displeasing his Souldiers â—ith preferring his Mercenaries
Counsellor left by his Uncle Antigonus to incroach upon the Liberties of the Achaeans who finding it opposed by Aratus he contrives to bring him into disgrace with Philip. The King by the grave admonition of Aratus and the example of Amphitamus an Elean Captain discovers Appelles's Malice who failing of his desire designs to be King himself as the Spider made a Web to take the Swallow which drove the Flies out of the Chimney He enters upon a Plot against the King how to check the good Success of his Proceedings and draws Leontius one of the Targenteers and Megale the King 's chief Secretary into the Conspiracy But the Reward of their Treason was their own Ruin After this a Peace is Solicited by several Embassadours to which Philip condescended by persuasion of Demetrius Pharius who also persuaded him to a League with Hannibal § 3. Philip upon the Peace of Greece prepares for Italy to assist Hannibal against the Romans whom Pharius hated for expelling him out of his Kingdom which they had forgiven him § 4. Philip before his Italian Expedition thought fit in Policy to bring the Greeks Associates under a more absolute Form of Subjection as Apelles had formerly advised but Demetrius Pharius could better observe the Kings humours and without Contention supplanted Aratus with the least Appearance which Apelles could never do by more forceable means In a Faction between the Nobles and Commons of the Messenians Philip was intreated to compose the difference of which occasion he was glad designing to assume the Government into his own hands But being discovered he pretended a Sacrifice in the Castle of Ithome and purposed to seize upon it which Demetrius called a Kingly point not to be neglected for so he should hold the Ox by both his Horns meaning that Ithome and Acrocorinthus were the two Horns of Peloponesus Yet Philip asking Aratus his Judgment he was told by him that in taking that Castle he should lose his strongest Castle which was his Credit upon which he gave over his purpose but with secret disgust of Aratus and his Son Next he seized on Oricum a Town of the Epirots his followers and besieged Apolonia and so instead of setling the Country he kindled that Fire which could never be extinguished till it lâ—id hold on his own Palace After that he Invaded the Messenians with open Force but in vain in which Attempt he lost Demetrius and afterwards out of a Tyrannical humour the worse he sped the more angry he grew against those who seemed not to favour his injurious doings as particularly against Old Aratus and his Son whose Poisoning he procured This was the recompence Aratus got for bringing the Macedonians into Peloponesus in spite of Cleomenes his Countryman and a Temperate Prince § 5. The Achaeans upon Aratus's Death chuse Philopoemen Praetor By whom they were persuaded to cut off their Expences in Bravery of Apparel Houshold-stuff and dainty Fare and bestowed it upon Armies As also he altered their Weapons and manner of Fighting and fitted them for Hand-service At this time Machanidas Lycurgus Tyrant of Lacedemon who entred the Country of the Mantinaeans was Courageously received by Philopoemen and slain with his own hand and four Thousand with him and as many taken Prisoners § 6. Philip having made Peace with the Romans and Aetolians prepares to invade Attalus King of Pergamus Son of Attalus the younger Brother of Philetarus the Eunuch the Treasurer of Lysimachus King of Thrace from whom he fled for fear of his Tyranny and seized upon Pergamus and nine Thousand Talents of Lysimachus's and Reigned twenty Years as Eumenes his Brothers Son did after him twenty two Years and Attalus after him an active Prince Bountiful and Valiant He made use of the Gauls then setled in Asia in that part which is called Galatia and Quarrels with Prusias King of Bithynia whose Ancestors began to Reign some Generations before the Great Alexander § 7. Prusias having Married the Daughter of Philip intreated-him to come over into Asia to Conquer Cios for him and not having any cause of Quarrel he besieged the Town took it omitting no Cruelty to the Inhabitants contrary to his promise made to divers Embassadours from the Rhodians and other Estates to whom he became odious Attalus considering to what end Philip's violent Ambition tended joining to the Rhodians fought with him at Sea where he sustained far greater loss than they and in the end was forced Home they pursuing him § 8. Attalus and the Rhodians solicite Rome against Philip So did Aurelius their Agent in Greece but Rome was not in Condition till Hannibal was Vanquished when the River of Styx was dried up that is when the necessity of Peace with Philip was taken away Attalus and the Rhodians meet the Roman Embassadour while Philip winneth Abidos in Asia § 9. Rome hearing the Calamity of Abidos resembling that of Saguntum could not ground a Quarrel thereon but thinking of another Saguntum at Athens a Confederate formerly wronged by Philip and imploring their aid which yet the People denied till P. Sulpicius the Consul told them that Philip's preparation was indeed for Italy if he could win Athens This feigned pretence prevailed and the Consul is sent who took not the way to Macedon but Landed at the River Apsus between Dyrrachium and Apolonia where he began the War and sent C. Claudius with Twenty Gallies and Souldiers to relieve Athens against certain Pyrates or Robbers by Sea and Land § 10. Claudius groweth weary of standing like a Scare-Crow to save all the Athenian Fields from Spoil and understanding that Chalcis in Eubaea was negligently Guarded Sailed thither in the Night and took it by Scalado Plunder'd it and set it on Fire Consuming the Kings Magazines of Corn and other Provision of War Philip hearing the News at Demetrias twenty Miles off marcheth speedily but finding them gone he Posteth to Athens in hope to surprise it in the Night but they had Intelligence of his coming So after a Skirmish before the return of Claudius he departed to Corinth and thence to an Assembly at Argos called against Nabis Tyrant of Lacedemon which had Invaded them after Philopoemen was out of Office and gone to Crete Here Philip by coming would have drawn the Achaeans to break with the Romans but was discover'd and so parting made no other Attempt against Athens having failed except in demolishing some Temples of admirable Workmanship in Attica Sulpicius Encamped near Apsus sent his Lieutenant Apistius to the Borders of Macedon who took Antripatria and put it to the Sword and Fire and other Towns and returned to their Camp by which Success divers of the Neighbours which affected not Philip offered Friendship to the Romans The Aetolian Parliament was at hand whither the Macedonians Romans Athenians c. send to persuade them to their Party The Macedonians set out the true scope of the Romans pretensions of Friendship by their Subjecting of Messana and Syracuse the
performance he had already given his Son Demetrius an Hostage and four Hundred Talents Great was the joy at the conclusion but the Aetolians are dissatisfied and the Baeotians still favour the Macedonians Some also fear the Romans will prove the worse Neighbours not knowing the Romans design against Antiochus But to prevent all bad Rumours Quintius at the Istinian Games Proclaimed freedom from Garrisons and Liberty of their own Laws to the Corinthians Phocians Locrians Eubaeans Achaeans of Pithiotis Magnetians Thessalians and Perrhubians which the Greeks applauded with exceeding Thanks He also sent to Antiochus by his Embassadour then present requiring him to keep from the free Cities of Asia and restore to Ptolomy and Philip what he held of theirs and not to pass into Europe with an Army CHAP. V. Of the Roman Wars with Antiochus and his Adherents § 1. SEleucus Nicanor slain by Ptolomy Cerannus Anno 4. Clymp 124. Antiochus Soter his Son succeeded Nineteen Years to whom Berosus the Chaldaean Dedicated his Assyrian-History which is notoriously falsified by Fryar Annius He neglected revenging his Fathers Death who had so loved him that he gave him Stratonica his own Wife being sick for her Antiochus the God as the flattering Melesians called him for freeing them from Timarchus the Tyrant succeeded Fifteen Year His first Wife was Laodice to whom he took also Bernice the Daughter of Ptolomy Philadelphus King of Egypt and so compounded the War between them but falling into the hatred of Laodice she Poisoned him for it when her Son Seleucus Callinicus was ready to Reign She also murthered Bernice and her Son two or three Years after Ptolomy's Death but the Brother reveng'd it Ptolomy Philodelphus Son of Ptolomy the first King of Egypt after Alexander began to Reign with his Father and continued Forty Years He was first derived from Alexander's Successours which made League with Rome and his Off-spring the last of those Royal Families they rooted out He set at Liberty all the Iews which his Father made Slaves in Egypt and sent rich Gifts to God's Temple in Ierusalem and requested of Eleazer the Books of Holy Scripture and seventy two Learned Hebrews to Translate them into Greek to furnish his Library in Alexandria of which Genebrard thinks Iesus Sirach was one whom Iansenius proveth then living Iosephus Antiq. li. 12. c. 2. reports one Aristaeus writ the History thereof Seleucus Callinicus began his Reign with his Father's Murder which cost his Mothers Life she being slain by Ptolomaeus Evergetes in revenge of his Sister who Invaded Seleucus but was called Home by Domestick Troubles Seleucus perceiving himself not beloved of his Subjects sought not to gain them by merit but by force prepares a great Fleet against them whereon all his hope relyed which God overwhelmed in the Sea and himself hardly escaped His Subjects hoping he would become a new Man in Commiseration offer him their Service which so revived him that he raised an Army against Ptolomy who overthrew him which made him send for aid to his Brother Antiochus Hierax or Hawk for he cared not on whom he Preyed who was but fourteen Years Old and was extream Ambitious Before he came Seleuchus made Peace with Ptolomaeus but had no Peace of his Brother who overthrew him But shortly after overthrown himself by Eumenes King of Pergamus Son of Attalus and forced to flye away was taken up in Capadocia by Artamenes who designed to betray him which made him take his Wings to Egypt where Ptolomy knowing his persidious Nature imprisoned him whence escaping by means of a Harlot he fell into the hands of Thieves who murthered him Seleuchus at this time going to subdue the Bactrians and Parthians was taken Prisoner by Arsaces Founder of the Parthian Kingdom who yet released him but returning Home he broke his Neck by a fall from his Horse after twenty Years Reign Seleuchus Ceraunus succeeded his Father Three Years and was slain by Treason leaving Antiochus his Brother to succeed and Achaeus to Govern the Army § 2. Ptolomaeus Evergetes who suceeded Philadelphus yet Reigned having Married Berenice Daughter of Magas King of Cyrene added it to his Kingdom and as he thought the Countries of Coâ—losyria Palestine c. His and his Successours Wars with the Seleucidae were Prophecied of by Daniel Onias the High Priest had provoked him by detaining covetously twenty Talents Tribute but was pacified by Iosephus a Iew and having Reigned Twenty six Years Dyed in the 139 Olympiad Antiochus scarce Fifteen Years Old when he began his Reign which lasted Thirty six Years in his Minority was wholly Governed by one Hermias an Ambitions Man who incited him unseasonably to War against Ptolomaeus for recovery of Coelosyria c. while Molo the Kings Lieutenant in Media Rebelled Xenaetas is sent with Forces into Media which are overthrown while Antiochus lay in the Valley of Marsyas between Libanus and Antilibanus seeking to pass into Coelosyria Hearing therefore the News of Xenaetas he hastens into Media which he recovered from Molo whose left Wing Revolting to the King Molo with divers of his Friends to shorten the work killed themselves and so prevented the Hangman with their own Swords After this came the joyful News of his Queen's being Deliver'd of a Son Fortune being thus bountiful Antigonus Marches against Artabanes King of the Atropians who being very Old and Timerous yielded to whatever he Propos'd Antiochus in the East thought good to visit his Borders between the Caspian and Euxine Sea in which Journey his Physician informed him against Hermits of whom himself was grown Jealous and therefore consented to his killing About these times Achaeus rebelled in hope the King would perish in his Expedition yet Antiochus more intending the recovery of Coelosyria neglected him till he had gotten Seleucia first called Antigonia founded by Antigonus and after won by Seleuchus and then by Ptolomy Such is the vanity of Men who think to eternize their Names not by works of Vertue but of Greatness which never lasteth long Theodotus the Aetolian Ptolomy's Mercenary which formerlâ— dâ—fended Caelosyria agâ—inst Antiocâ—us now weary of his former Faithfulness Mercenary like sells it to him who took possession of Tirus and Ptolomais with the Aegyptian Fleet there Antiochus herewith emboldned aims at Egypt it self ruled by Agathocles and Sosibius whilst Ptolomy himself minds only his Pleasure These two make secret preparation but openly solicite Peace by themselves and several of their Allies and Antiochus willing to rest this Winter agreeth on a Truce for four Months to Treat of Peace which he designed only to lull his Enemies asleep who watched him better than he did them During the Truce Embassadours from Egypt are heard and both sides plead their right to Coelosyria and propound Covenants but both would have it or nothing The Truce ended Antiochus takes the Field presuming his ordinary Power will serve against his unprovided Enemies but was deceived and well beaten for it at Raphia losing Ten Thousand
of the East Yet were there of them Dwelling in the South they were grown so many that the East could not hold them § 4. Kings of the Ten Tribes from Jeroboam to Achab § Ieroboam flying from Salomon into Aegypt to Shishaâ— whom Eusebius calls Osochores whose Daughter he Marryed as Adad the Edumenian had his predecessor's Wive's Sister and were prepar'd by Shishak to shake the Kingdom of Iudea that he might pillage it as he accordingly did in the fifth year of Rehoboam This Man was exalted to be King of the Ten Tribes preferring the Policies of the World before God's Service and Honour To prevent the â—eoples falling from him by resorting to Ierusalem he erected the two Calves c. Ieroboam reigned at Sichem Twenty two years Nadab his Son succeeded two years and was slain by Baasha who rooted oâ—â— all Ieroboam's Seed and reigned twenty four Years at Thersa and Ela his Son succeeded two years and was slain in his Cups by Zimri who succeeded seven days but Homri in revenge of Ela besieged him and made him burn himself and succeeded transferring the Regal Seat to Samaria and reigned twelve years § 5. Ahab suceeded his Father married the Daughter of the King of Zidon and embraced her Religion as Ieroboam had his Egyptian Wives Ahab was slain after twenty two years Ocharius succeeded his Father and dyed of a Fall in his second year and his Brother Ioram succeeded 12 years who with Aid of Iuda and Edom could not subdue Moab who sacrificed Edom's Son taken in an â—ruption which he made out of the City whereupon the Siege was broken up through Edom's displeasure against Israel for refusing to make Peace with Moab to save his Son Amos 2.1 Iehu slew Ioram and succeeded twenty eight Years whose Son Iehoâ—haz succeeded seventeen years and was molested by Aza Ioas succeeded his Father sixteen years recover'd from Aram what his Father lost and sacked Ierusalem Ieroboam succeeded his Father forty one years râ—â—over'd all from Hamâ—th to the dead Sea and Zacharias his Son succeeded Six Months and was slain by Shallum who succeeded two Months and Menahen slew him and succeeded ten years with much Cruelty Pekahia his Son succeeded two years and Peka slew him and succeeded twenty years In his time Tyglath Pileser King of Assyria Invaded Israel and carried many Captives into Assyria He was drawn in by Achas King of Iuda whom Peka of Israel and Rezin of Damascus wasted and first he surprized the Monarchs of Syria and Damascus and then Israel prepared the way to Iuda Hosea slew Peka and succeeded nine years in whose time Tiglath Pileser carried the rest of the Ten Tribes Captives and re-peopled the Country with Cuthites out of Arabia Deserta the Persians with Calaneans bordering on Syria and Sepharims out of Mesopotamia with the Avims of old inhabited the Philistins Land but now Inhabited Deserta and called Havaei CHAP. VIII The History of the Syrians bordering their Tribes on the East of Jordan DAmascus in this Border most famous for Antiquity Beauty Riches is called the City of Joy and House of Pleasure The Hebrews think it built by Hus Son of Abraham others as Ierom ascribe it to Damascus Son of Eleasar Abraham's Steward but was before Eleasar David subdued it in the overthrow of Adadezar but Rezin Servant to Adadezer escaped with the broken Forces recovered it and was made King Adadezer returned out of Egypt and forced out Rezin and became King of Syria for Nine Descents § 2. Of the first Kings of Damascus and their growing up § That Damascus was of Note in Abraham's days his Steward is an Argument what the Government was then and long after the Reason of Moses's Story led him not to handle The first occasion was in David's Reign who seeking to Establish the command of Israel unto Euphrates as God had promised Invaded Adadezer who was then of the greatest Force in Syria strictly taken containing Damascus Saba Camath or Ituraea and Geshur Adadezer King of Saba called to his assistance the Damascenes who are not ranked under a King but after the overthrow Reson a Commander under Hadadesar gathered the broken Forces surprised Damascus where David had put a Garrison and was made King there as it seemeth after David's death So that as Rehob and his Son Adadezer are the first Kings of Syria Saba and Toi the first Kings of Camath so Rezon is the first King of Damascus which before was commanded by the Kings of Saba whose Power became formidable to the King of Camath The next King is Adad of Edom who coming out of Egypt whether he fled from David and finding his Forces too weak to recover Edom it seemeth he surprised Damascus and became King of Aram. The next King of Aram was Hezion whom his Sons Tabremmon succeeded the Father of Benhadad who assisted Asa King of Iuda against Baasha King of Israel Almost Fifty years after Benhadad was taken Prisoner by Achab and promised to restore what his Father had taken from Israel This was a Second Benhadad who slew Achab and Besieged Samaria the second time and was smothered by Hazael who succeeded him and did much mischief to Lud but brought Israel to a low Ebb 2 Kings 13.7 § 3. Of the later Kings was Benhadad two or rather three who lost what Hazael had gotten three other succeeded of the same Name in one of whose times Ieroboam 2 d. recovered Damascus it self and Chamath to Israel which by David's Conquest had belonged to Iuda Rezin the 10 th after Adad 1 st molesting Achas and was taking Elath is by Achas's Procurement taken and Slain by Tiglath Pileser and the Kingdom of Damascus dissolved § 4. Of lesser Kingdoms in Syria Gessur where Talmai reigned after Ammihur Sophena or Syria Saba or Coelosyria had Rehob and Adadezer after him whose Kingdom translated to Damascus by Rezin ended with the Kingdom of Israel not long after Ninus's Race in Sardanapalus had been ended by PhulBelechus Father of this Tiglath whose Son Salmanassar led Israel Captive as his Father had Damascus Senacharib Son of Salmanasser attempted Ierusalem in vain but 132 years after Israel's Captivity it also went to Babylon § 5. Hierusalem in Ioshua's days had Adonizedek for King and was not inferiour to Hozar the chief of all Canaanites This City of old called Iebus Inhabited of by Iebusites and therefore likeliest to be Builded by Iebusaeus the Son of Canaan and not by Melchisedek for it could not be in Abraham's way returning from his Victories but rather that Salem by Iordan of which we spake in Manasses Though Ioshua slew their King yet they held out 400 Years till David won it Solomon so perfected the Strength Beauty and Riches of it besides the renowned Temple that the World had not the like That Ditch hewn out of the Rock Sixty Foot deep and Two Hundred and Fifty broad with Walls Gates and Pallaces defended One Hundred Fifty Thousand Men besides Women
to Reign 2 Chron. 23.3 § 2. Iehu had so much business in establishing his own Kingdom that he could not molest Athaliah as he desired she being of Ahab's House Among other things about Religion he destroyed Baal's Priests and though never King of Israel had such a way to overthrow Ieroboam's Idolatry seeing he needed not fear the Peoples return to David's House in appearance quite rooted out and had his Calling by an unexpected Favour of God and for his Zeal against Baal had a special promise for Four Generations yet he wou'd needs piece out God's Providence with his own Circumspection He had no doubt displeased many about Baal and should offend more in taking away Ieroboam's ancient Idolatry yet all these never thought of making him King if God had not done it when more difficulties appeared in getting them now than in keeping them though with their offence whom he sought to retain by forsaking God This Ingratitude of Iehu drew terrible vengeance from God on Israel executed by Hazael according to Elisha's Prophesie 2 Kings 8.12 with 10.32 Thus Israel succeeded under Iehu whose carriage and success was better in murthering his Master that trusted him than in defending his People from Cruel Enemies And thus it commonly falls out that they which can find all difficulties in serving him to whom nothing is difficult instead of finding what they propound by contrary Courses overwhelm themselves with troubles they sought not and are by God whom they first forsook left unto the miserable Labours of their own blind Understanding and Wisdom wherein they reposed all their Confidence § 3. Athaliah's Government by Israel's Calamities stood the safer she having leisure to settle it It is probable also she held Correspondence with Hazael as King Asa had done and had secured her self by Gifts having robbed the House of God for Baalim whose Idolatry she set out with Pomp to recommend it to the People as she sought by want of means to make the Service of the Sanctuary neglected § 4. Ioash's preservation was by means of Iehoshabeth Ahaziah's Sister and Wife unto Iehojada the High-Priest the upholder of God's Service in those unhappy times By her Piety it seemeth she was not Athaliah's Daughter yet had she access to the Court and conveyed the young Child with her Nurse into the Temple where he was secretly brought up that the Tyranness could not discover it and thought it not fit to make much ado about him but rather let it be thought he was dispatched with the rest lest the People hearing of his escape should hearken after Innovation § 5. Athatiah had acted as Queen above 6 Year without molestation when suddenly the Period of her Glory and Reward of her Wickedness met together and the young Princes Age required no longer to be concealed for his better Education to fit him with Courage and Qualities proper for a King and to prevent the over-deep rooting of Impiety by the longer Reign of that Cursed Woman Iehojada wisely considered this and combined with Five Captains of whom he was best assured by whom he drew over other great Men to Ierusalem And because it was difficult to draw open Forces together he gave order to the Levites which waited by course in the Temple that they should not return home 'till they knew his further pleasure Thus admitting new Comers and retaining the old he secretly gathered together a competent number to encounter the Queens Guard and furnished them out of the Armory of the Temple which King David had made with which also he armed the Captains and their Followers c. All things being in readiness they proceed to the Execution and the young King is joyfully Crowned and the Tyranness Usurper coming in desperately without Forces ignorant of the business ended her own Tragedy with a sudden and shameful death Iosephus's Report of her coming with her Power which were repelled c. is not credible though all the Forces she could bring could not frustrate the Council of God yet her Indiscretion made the effect more easie § 6. Athaliah had no doubt considered Iehoram King of Israel's rashness casting himself into the gaping Gulf of danger yet her self is by the like Bait drawn into the same Trap and as she lived like Iezebel so was she rewarded with her These two Queens were in many things alike each Daughter Wife and Mother to a King each over-ruled her Husband was an Idolater Ambitious Murderous each slain by Conspiring Subjects suddenly c. We read not what became of Athaliah's Sons her Sacrilegious Imps which robbed the Temple c. CHAP. XVIII Of Joash Amaziah and their Contemporaries § 1. JOASH about Seven Year Old began to Reign under the protection of Iehojada during his Minority When he came to Age he took two Wives by Iehojada's Advice repairing David's Family almost worn out The first Act he took in hand after he Ruled without a Protector was the reparation of the Temple which had been his Sanctuary which he followed with much Zeal § 2. Iehojada the Priest being 130 Year Old died before his Country could have spared him and was buried among the Kings as he well deserved This Honour seemeth to have come from the People for the King had soon forgot him as one eased of Debt and was easily flattered by the Princes so that he quickly forgot his old well-deserving Counsellor yea God himself Author of all Goodness He which had 30 Years shewed Zeal to restore true Religion and root out Idolatry which had been growing some 16 Years was easily drawn to fall away when he perceived his Princes Inclinations and being once entred that course he ran headlong as one who thought Liberty the only Token of a King no longer to endure the sower Admonitions of Devout Priests Hereby it appears he which had been so long among the Devout as Saul among the Prophets was not of them but like an Actor upon the Stage had counterfeited to express more Zeal and lively Affection than they could do which were truly Religious Iehoahaz Son of Iehu King of Israel Reign'd 17 Years from the 23 d of Ioash King of Iudah § 3. Ioash having broken loose from God is given over to Men not so easily shaken off for Hazael King of Aram returning from Gath set on toward Ierusalem which forc'd Ioash to buy his Peace with all the Treasure he could make Holy or Common yet he never enjoyed Peace with Hazael who sent a small Army after and destroyed his Princes and ravag'd his Country Many might be the Motives to excite Hazael against Iudah he had an experienc'd Army Iudah had assisted Israel at Ramoth and the Journey from Gath to Ierusalem short yet it is probable that the Sons of Athaliah encouraged him with hope of a great Party to be drawn by them of such as favoured them otherwise it is improbable that Hazael would have awaked a sleeping Enemy However it were it was of God who knoweth how to prefer
as Numa in Peace He made breach with the Albans but doubting the Tuscans their common Enemies would make advantage of the Dissention they put it to a Combate of three Brethren on either side Cousin Germans and of equal years and strength but the Horatij of Rome prevail'd against the Curatij and Alba where the Latins submit to Rome and Alba not long after was demolished Hyppomanes had Ruled seven years in Athens in the entrance of Manasses and the three last Governours for ten years were in his time In whose times ◠follow Halicarnasseus who professing care in matching the Grecian years with the Roman Occasions beginneth with Rome's Building the first year of the seventh Olympiad and the first of Cecrops in Athens Midas now Reigned in Phrygia c. The Scythians invaded him Syracuse in Sicily Founded by Archias Miscellus and other Corinthians Nicomedia formerly Astacus in Propontis enlarged by Zipartus's Navy of Thrace Sybilla of Samus now lived according to Pausanias Croton on the Bay of Tarentum built by Miscellus Gela in Sicily Phaselis in Pamphylia Chalcedon in Asia built by the Magerenses The Parthians expelled Lacedemon were Conducted by Phalantus into Italy where they took Tarentum CHAP. XXIV Of Ammon Josiah and the rest to the Destruction of Jerusalem § 1. AMMON Twenty two years old Succeeded two years and was as Wicked as his Father had been his Servants slew him Iosiah Eight years old succeeded Thirty one Years He sought after the God of his Father David and at Twelve years old made a worthy Reformation fulfilling the Prophecy delivered at Bethel to Ieroboam By which History it appears that Bethel and some parts of the Ten Tribes were come under the Power of Iudah either taken in by Hezechiah upon the death of Assurhaddon while the Babylonians who loved him were busie in Assyria or at Manasses's Inlargement The Babylonians not yet fit to deal with the Egyptian so far off to oblige Iudah to them were content with this Inlargement as necessary against the Egyptians This may be the Reason Manasses Fortified himself after his return which was not against the Babylonians but the Egyptians as appeared in Iosiah his opposing Necho with such earnestness as argueth a firm League with the Babylonians That Egypt's Friendship was little worth Iudah had oft found and payed for by the Assyrians and Babylonians displeasure for adhering to Egypt yet had it been a small matter upon his earnest Request to let him pass if Iosiah had not been obliged to the Babylonians by his Ancestors Covenant to Offend and Defend neither had it been Wisdom to Encounter such an Army offering no Violence Whatever moved Iosiah it is likely he forgot as the best do sometimes to ask Counsel of God and depended on the Babylonians too much which could not please God The Conclusion was that God for the Wickedness of the People took away that good King who had stayed his Hand from Revenging himself upon them whose Miseries presently insued his Death so much bewailed of all § 2. Neco Son to Psamniticus following his Fathers designs who had made entrance into Syria being assisted by the extraordinary Valor of the Greeks and knowing how Assyria stood in danger by the Power of the Medes intended with a Powerful Army to visit Euphrates and strengthen the Passages about Carchemish or further to Invade Syria Having therefore over-thrown Iosiah in his way not intending to stay the Conquest of Iudah he proceeded and took Cadytis perhaps Carchemish and became in a manner Lord of all Syria saith Iosephus particularly of the Phoenicians whom he set to Sail from the Arabian Gulf round about Africa by the Cape of good Hope In his return from Euphrates he took Ieboahaz the younger Son of Iosiah whom Ieremy calls Shallum whom the People had made King and put him in Bonds and put Eliakim in his place calling him Iehojakim and layed a Tribute on the Land but forbore the Conquest Iehoahaz was King but three Months Iehojakim the Elder Son of Iosiah Reigned Ten years he was of the Egyptian Faction and of the behaviour of the worst of his Ancestors which had so Infected the Land that the Chief Priests also were defiled therewith Yet the Lord raised up Prophets which reproved him among whom Vriah flying from the Tyrant which sought his Life is from Egypt sent back to death contrary to the Custom of Nations § 3. Of the Kings of Media and Babylon § Merodach Son of Baladan taking advantage of Senacherib's Misadventure and Death with the Assistance of his Sons made himself King of Babylon but kept in Action 'till Assurhaddon's death Eleven years so that he could not intend Syria but was well rewarded then by a great part of Assyria if not by all as some less probably think Yet his little concern with the Assyrian Affairs all his long Reign argues him busied at Home in setling his Purchases there and having Amity with Hezekiah Ben. Mirodacb his Son succeeded Twenty one years whose Governours as I take it captivated Manasses in whose time Psamniticus with his Greek Mercenaries prevailed in Syria which might procure Manasses his release and it may be a part of the Kingdom of Samaria which the Babylonians could not now intend Nabulassar his Son succeeded Thirty five years whose works at home kept him from looking abroad for Phraortes King of the Medes Invaded Assyria and Besieged Ninive which it seems was not yet subject to Babylon for Nabonassar repelled him not but the Scythians Invaded Media and forced him thence Phraortes Son of Deioces King of Media having inlarged his Dominions attempted Ninive which yet remained of her self well enough saith Herodotus Custom of Danger hardened the Un-war-like whom sudden unknown Dangers amaze Ninive had now been long exercised so that Phraortes and his Family perished there Cyaxares his Son a braver Man of War won in Lesler Asia all from Halis Eastward He Besieged Ninive and took it saith Eusebius whom I rather believe than Herodotus saying the Scythians came upon him which is not likely for we cannot think him so improvident but rather hearing they were to guard Media he left the City which about this time was destroyed as we read in Tobit a Book of sufficient Credit for the Story of those Times And sure we are the Prophecy of Nabum was fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar and probable it is that Nabulassar after Cyaxares left it in weak case might seize upon it easily and put a Vice-Roy in it which upon their Rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar were utterly destroyed § 4. The Scythians about this time made a great Expedition into Asia of which Herodotus speaks much and many Fabulous things ill agreeing with the time Their first Eruption must needs be within the Reign of Psamniticus King of Egypt who met with them in Palestine and got them by intreaty and gifts to leave the Country Before this they had wasted Media and molested Assyria Babylonia c. and◠are said to have
a Moment is enough to overthrow what seemeth founded in Adamant Henry VI. overwhelmed with the Storm of his Grandfathers grievous Crimes generally esteemed an innocent Prince yet refused the Daughter of Armaignac of the House of Navarre to whom he was Ally'd and Married a Daughter of Anjou and so lost all that he had in France He also condescended to the unworthy Death of his Vnkle of Glocester the main Pillar of the House of Lancaster Buckingham and Suffolk contrived the Duke's death by the Queen's procurement but the Fruit was answerable to the Plantation and they and their Adherents were destroy'd by York whose Son Edward depriv'd Henry the Father and Edward the Son of Life and Kingdom The Politick Lady the Queen lived to see the miserable End of her Husband Son and all her Adherents her self plunder'd and Father beggar'd to Ransom her Edward IV. hath his turn to Triumph when all the Plants of Lancaster except the Earl of Richmond were extirpated whom he had also bought of the D. of Britain but could not keep him But what stability can Edward's Plantation promise when he had seen and approved Prince Edward's Murder by Glocester Dorset Hastings c. which escaped not the Iudgment of God in the same kind He instructed Glocester to Murder Henry VI. and taught him the Art to kill his own Sons and to Vsurp the Crown Richard III. The greatest Master in Villany of all that went before him who by necessity of his Tragedy being to play more Parts in his own Person than all the rest yet so well fitted every Mans Humour that join'd with him as if each had acted his own Interest Buckingham and Hastings Enemies to the Queen and her Kindred are easily allured to condescend that Rivers and Grey the King 's maternal Vnkle and half Brother should first be separated from him then imprisoned and for avoiding future Inconveniences to lose their Heads Having brought them to the practice of that common Precept which the Devil has written on every Post To depress whom they have injur'd and to destroy whom they have depress'd Then Buckingham has it form'd in his Head That when the King and his Brother shall be of sufficient Age they will take severe Revenge of the Wrong to Rivers and Gray and therefore of necessity the King and his Brother must be made away Hastings being sounded by Catesby and found not fordable by reason of his Fidelity to his Masters Sons after an attempt to kill him sitting in the Council the Hangman must get the Tyrant an Appetite to his Dinner by striking off his Head a greater Iudgment of God than this upon Hastings I never observ'd For the same Hour and in the same lawless manner by his Advice the Execution of Rivers and Gray was performed Buckingham has yet a part to play for Richard in persuading the Londoners to Elect him King and to be rewarded with the Earldom of Hereford But after much vexation of Mind and unfortunate attempts being betrayed by his trustiest Servant he lost his Head at Salisbury without troubling his Peers Richard after other Murders and Mischievous Policies having destroy'd his Nephews and Natural Lords by the great Out-cry of innocent Blood became an infamous spectacle of Shame and Dishonour both to his Friends and Foes Henry VII the Instrument of Gods Iustice in cutting off the Cruel King Succeeded a Politick Prince if ever there was any who by the Engine of his Wisdom beat down as many strong Oppositions both before and after he wore the Crown as ever any King of England did For as his Profits held the Reins of his Affections so he wayed his Vnderstanding by his Abilities leaving no more to hazard than what cannot be denyed in all Human Actions This King never indured Mediation in rewarding Servants and was therein exceeding wise for what himself gave himself received both Thanks and Love Knowing that the Affections of Men purchased no way so ready as by Benefits were Trains which better became Great Kings than Great Subjects On the contrary in whatsoever he grieved his Subjects he wisely put it off to those that he found fit Ministers of such Actions He used not to begin their Processes whom he hated or feared by the Execution as Lewis XI did Yet he somewhat follow'd the Errors of his Ancestors as the Head of Stanley who set the Crown on his and the Death of the young E. of Warwick Son to George D. of Clarence do shew and likewise the Success of his Grand-children of the first Line c. Henry VIII the Pattern of a merciless Prince Succeeded One who precipitately advanced many but for what Virtue no Man could imagine and with change of his Fancy ruined them no Man knowing for what Offence To how many others gave he abundant Flowers from whence to gather Hony and in the end of Harvest burnt them in the Hive How many Wives did he cut off or cast off as his Fancy or Affection changed How many Princes of the Blood with many others of all Degrees did he Execute What causeless cruel Wars did he make upon his own Nephew King James V What Laws and Wills did he invent to establish the Kingdom in his own Family using his sharpest Weapons to cut off the Branches which sprang from the same Root that himself did Yet God took away all his own without increase though for themselves in their several Kinds all Princes of eminent Virtues And that Blood which King Henry affirmed that the cold Air of Scotland froze up in the North God hath diffused by the Sun-shine of his Grace from whence his Majesty now living and long may is Descended Of whom I may say truly that Malice her self cannot charge him justly with any of those foul Spots by which the Consciences of all the forenamed Princes were defiled or the Sword of his Iustice stained with any Drops of that innocent Blood which had stained their Hands and Fame And for the Crown of England it may truly be avowed He received it from the Hand of God neither hastning the Time upon any provocation nor taking Revenge upon any that sought to put him by it And refused Assistance of her Enemies that wore it long with as great Glory as ever Princess did He entred neither by Breach nor Blood but by the ordinary Gate which his own Right had set open and was received in at it by an universal Love and Obedience Thus the Northern parts of Britany infinitely severed from the South in Affection for a long time whereof grew deadly Wars with much Cruelty were at length happily united For which Blessing of God never to be forgotten as we are bound to much Thankfulness so the Fruit of this Concord maketh all petty Grievances to appear but as a Mole-Hill to a Mountain And if the uniting of the Red Rose with the White were the greatest Happiness next Christian Religion that ever the Kingdom received from God to that Day certainly the
where they vent pieces of the Ark but he erreth For Adibene whereon Armenia Bordereth is part of Assyria and hath all Media between it and Parthia As for the Reliques of the Ark they make it but a Report by an infamous Historian The Armenian Mountains or Moschici in Ptolomy or Pariedri in Pliny stretch to the upper part of Cappadocia in 43 and 44 Degrees North of the Gordiaeans in the 39 Degree 10 60. From the Northermost the Georgian Christians are called preserved from Infidels which compass them 11. Neither was it necessary the Ark should stay on the highest Mountains seeing Noah came not out till the Vallies were clear'd yet other Mountains are higher than the Armenian as Athos or Olympus between Macedon and Thrace whose shadows are above Thirty Seven Miles now called Lucas saith Castaldus Olympus also in Thessaly over-tops Wind Rain and Clouds Antandrus in Misia seen to Constantinople whence Scamandrus floweth running through Troy Altas in Mauritania no man's Eye can reach the Top Caucasus is inlightned after Mid-night at the first Cock-Crow said Aristotle which I believe not seeing Tenerif in Canaria which is known to be the highest in the World is not Light so soon 12. These Incongruities rise from Ararat in Armenia First Sybil placeth it in Phrygia contrary to Berosus Secondly Baris is not the highest and if it were yet the Ark might rest else where Thirdly Baris signifieth high towards which may be any high Hill especially Caucasus whence Indus riseth Fourthly Authors agree not where Gordia stands Lastly The Truth requireth to find an Ararat East from Shinar and warmer than Armenia in the North. Let us therefore understand that Ararat in Moses is no one Hill but a common Name to many as the Alps and Pireneans so that the long Ridge of Hills which Ptolemy calls Taurus Niphatus Coatras Coronus Sariphi and Pliny call Taurus till they cross Imaus where they are called Ararat or Armenia for that they seem to begin there Thus Ptolomy calls all the Hills between the Caspian and Euxinus by one name Caucasus which Pliny calls Hercanus Armenian Coraxis Caspian Moschian Henochian Scythian Amazon so all the the Ridge of Hills in America from North Granada to the Magelan Straights is called Andes The Mountain Ararat runs East and West as Imaus North and South As for Ptolomy he used the Names fittest to distinguish the Countries with the Hills bounded on the North or South side For all the Asian Mountains have Three general Names Taurus Imaus Caucasus which receive other Titles as they divide particular Regions Taurus in Cilicia is Imaus in Comogena and so to Euphrates on whose East it is sometime Taurus sometime Niphatis which is the only name on the East of Tygris till they part Assyria and Media and are called Coatraes and in the middle of East Media they are Orentes and in the East side Coronus beyond Parthia they are Saraphi on the South of Bactria Paropamisus and lastly Caucasus where Indus springeth with Hydaspis and Zaradrus where Caucasus Encounters the Scythian Imaus in the 140 Degree of Longitude and 35 36 37 of Latitude where properly they are called Caucasus In this part of the World the Mountain and the River Ianus and the Mountain Nisius so called of Bacchus Nisius or Noah are found on which the Ark stayed as Goropius Becanus conceived where also are the best Vines as they are in the same Degree of Latitude through the World as in Iudea Candia parts of Greece Margiana Under the South of these Hills the Clusters of Grapes are two Cubits long saith Strabo like those of Escol And in Margiana Alexander found most delicate Wine saith Curtius To conclude Ararat passeth through Armenia which is sometimes called Ararat but it is a common name to all that Ridge of Hills which runneth East and West from Cilicia to Caucasus as the Alps Pireneans Andes in America which run Three Thousand Miles c. So the Mediterranean Sea is a common Name which yet upon divers Coasts beareth proper Names as do other Seas Let us then appeal to the Word of Truth and take it literally seeing the plain Sense carrieth no inconvenience and let us fancy no strange Exposition from it The Reverend Respect we owe the Holy Scripture every Word having its full weight in Gods Book shews that it is not to be taken otherwise than as we Read as Augustin said of the Gospel Moses words are And as they went from the East they found a plain c. Which prove without Controversie the Ark rested Eastward from Shinar For Moses is every where precise in setting out Coasts and Quarters of Countries as Nod Eastward from Eden Sepher in the East Gen. 4.16 and 10.30 and 12.18 Ezek. 38.6 So Mat. 21. and 12.42 Now Armenia is so far from the East of Babylon that it is West of the North. The Gordian Hills for Latitude are Forty One Babylon Thirty Five for Longitude which makes the difference of East and West the Gordian are Seventy Five and Babylon Seventy Nine and Eighty which makes Five Degrees from the North to the West besides a Quarter of the Compass from East But in Scripture the least difference may not be omitted every Point and Accent being full of Sense The Eastern Parts then from Shinar were first Civiliz'd having Noah himself for their Instructor whose numerous Armies overmatched the Millions of Semiramis and whose Fruitfulness made it fit for Noah's Husbandry as Ish-Adamah a Man exercised in Earth saith Ar. Montanus CHAP. VIII The Planting of Nations Noah's Sons and which was Eldest § 1. SHEM in Augustin's Judgment was Eldest but the Septuagint Iunius c. prefer Iaphet from Gen. 10.21 The Hebrews putting the word Elder after Iaphet which the Latin sets before Gods Blessings are not tyed to Elder in Blood but Piety Otherwise Iaphet was 2 Years older than Shem being begotten in Noah's 500 th Year when Shem in Noahs 600 th Year was but 98. Compare Gen. 5.32 with 10.10 9.24 Namely C ham the Youngest § 2. In this Plantation it is to be presumed 1. So far as the Scriptures Treat of the Story of Nations Profane Authors want Authority in point of Antiquity whose Records have been borrowed from thence only For Moses is found more Ancient than Homer Hesiod or any Greek saith Eusebius Prooem in Chron. 2. We are to consider that Noah who knew the World so long before sent not his Sons at Adventure as Discoverers but allotted them the Quarters of their Habitation This could not be suddenly Considering what Woods Thickets Pools Lakes Marishes Fenns and Boggs 130 Years Desolation had bred in those fruitful parts This made difficult and slow Journeys and Marches both from the East and Shinar till Increase of Issue forced them on further § 3. Iaphet with whom Moses beginneth Planted the Isles of the Gentiles Europe and the Isles about it besides a Portion in Asia Gomer his Eldest Son is without Reason placed in Italy by
as is generally held and was Iaphet's Seventh Son § 8. Ascanez Son of Gomer Eusebius makes Father of the Gothians Pliny finds Ascania and the River of Ascanius and the Lake of Ascanez between Prusia and Nice in Phrygia Iunius takes them for Inhabitants of Pontus and Bythinia in which Ptolomy hath such a Lake Strabo finds a City River and Lake in Mesia near Gio as Pliny But Ier. 51.27 determins it North of Asia near Ararat and Minni Mountains of Armenia Riphat Gomer's Son Father of Riphcior Paphlagone Famous in the North of Sarmatia after called Henites of whom Polonia Russia and Lithuania were Peopled Melancton thinks they spread from the Baltick to the Adriatick Sea and findeth a Venetian Gulf in Russia called Heneti the same with Veneti § 9. Elisa eldest Son of Iavan was Father of the Nicolians from whence the Grecians were called Helens saith Montanus and Ezek. 27.7 mentions the Isles of Elesa that is of Grece Tharsis his Second Son Planted Cilicia where is the City Tharsis This word is often put for the Sea because the greatest Ships were there and they were called Seamen and the first Iones Montanus and Cal. Paraphrase mistake it for Carthage Cittim his Third Son Father of the Macedonians not Italians Esa. 23. with 1 Mac. 1. Yet it may be he first Planted Cyprus where Iosephus found the City which remained in Ierom's days saith Pintus but this Isle proving too narrow they sent out and Peopled Macedon whose Plantation Melancton ascribes to him Dodanim his Fourth Son settled at Rhodes Dodanim and Rhodanim being easily confounded He also sent Colonies to Epirus where was the City Dodana § 10. Chush Eldest Son of Cham with his Associates Peopled Babylonia Chaldea and all the Arabias Ethiopia was not his as Iosephus the Septuagint and others misled by them judged First From Numb â—2 2 Moses's Wife was a Chushite not an Ethiopian as Iosephus Reports who tells us that Moses leading an Egyptian Army against the Ethiopians the Kings Daughter fell in Love with and betrayed the City Sheba to him after called Meros On the contrary Strabo and all Geographers place Sheba in Arabia whence the Queen came to visit Solomon Damianus and Goes tell us that the Prester Iohns of the Aybssinians came of that Queen by Solomon But without Scripture or Probability seeing her supposed Bastard assisted not his Brother Rehoboam against Shishack King of Egypt But Moses cleareth his Wives Kindred against Iosephus making her a Midian not far from Horeb. So Iethro's coming to Moses c. Chrisamensis also proveth Midia cannot be Ethiopia Thirdly So Ezek. 29.10 Nebuchadonosor's Conquest of Egypt is set out by the Bounds Seveneth which is next Ethiopia and the Chushits ill Translated Black Moors for Arabians the other next Neighbours whereas the Moors were beyond Seveneth or Syene as Scotland is beyond Barwick Fourthly So Ezek. 30.9 Chush cannot be Ethiopia but Arabia Whereto Nebuchadonosor having Conquered Egypt even the Tower Syene in Thebaida bordering on Ethiopia sent Ships over the Red-Sea which to the Ethiopians joyning to Syene he needed not to have done neither would the fall of Nilus suffer nor was his invading that part of Arabia so fit by Land all the length of Egypt being between and all the tedious Desarts of Paran Lastly This placing a Family of Chush from all the rest to go and come through Misraim would make a confusion in the Plantation Besides there was never any thing between Iews and Ethiopians as between them and Chushits Fourthly So Esa. 18.1 turning Chush to Ethiopia for Arabia puts one Kingdom for another confounding the Story For what Kingdom beyond the River of Ethiopia can be found which Assur was to waste as an Enemy to the Iews who were never injured by the Ethiopians much less by any beyond them But I acknowledge that here Egypt which threatned Israel is threatned and Arabia with it Esa. 19.20 The like Errour is committed in 1 Kings 19.9 Making Tirhaka an Ethiopian for a Chushite or Arabian as in Zerah 2 Chron. 14.9 For how should he bring such an Army through such a Kingdom as Egypt § 11. Mizarim Cham's Second Son took into Egypt along Nilus unto Syene bordering on Ethiopia to the South from the Mediterranean Sea which was his North Border Phut the Third Son travell'd to the West beyond him along the Sea Inhabiting Mauritania Egypt was known to Moses and the Prophets by the Name of Mizraim but was called Egypt by a King of that Name otherwise called Rameses the Son of Belus who chased his Brother Danaeus into Greece where he setled in Morea after the Flood 877. Many are the Fancies of the Egyptian Antiquity of Three Hundred and Thirty Kings before Amasis Contemporary with Cyrus and of their Story of 13000 Years c. And Mercator pleads their Antiquity from their Dynasties of which the Sixteenth began with the Flood so that the first must reach the Creation But Eusebius begins the Sixteenth with Abraham 292 Years after the Flood Annius begins the first Dynasty 131 Years after the Flood forgetting that he had said that Nimrod came but that Year to Shinar so that the Dynasty could not begin till after the Confusion But where Pererius holds it impossible that Egypt could be Peopled 200 Years after Adam and supposing it not replenished at all before the Flood I find no force in the assertion For we have no reason to give less Increase to the Sons of Adam than Noah the Age of the one being double and after a while treble to the other which Argueth strength to beget many a long time This appeared in Cham who replenished Five Cities with his own Issue Nimrod's Troops at Shinar were great no doubt yet it is probable all came not thither as may be gathered by the Multitudes which Encountered Semiramis in the East Indian Wars As for Egypt being an Established Kingdom in the Days of Abraham it argues 't was Inhabited long before And contrary to Pererius we may rather wonder how the World could contain the Issue of those long living heathful Fathers than doubt the Peopling of it For if our short Lives wherein scarce one in Ten Liveth to 50 Years the World wants no People And if Wars and Pestilence did not cut them off by Thousands the World could not contain them What would it do if none dyed before 50 or 100 Years Then Conceive the Millions when Men Lived 8 or 900 Years c. Pererius is likewise deceived in the occasion of their dispersing at Babel For had not that occasion happened their Increase would in short time have forc'd them to seek new Habitations c. That therefore the World was all over Peopled with offenders it appeareth by the Universality of the Flood As for Egypt's Antiquity it is probable that Mizaraim's Sons found some Monuments in Pillars Altars or other Stones or Metals touching former Government there which the Egyptians added to the Lives of the Kings
expulsion of Natives and that every Man began to desire a distinct place and disliked to live in Common Phaleg Son of Heber in whose time fell the division of Tongues which the Hebrews refer to his Death Anno 340 after the Flood for at his Birth Anno 101 there could be no multitude to divide They say farther that Heber gave Phaleg his name by Prophesy foreseeing the division to come But Heber might without Prophecy foresee the division of Families would grow upon the encrease of the World besides Phaleg might change his Name upon that occasion as Iacob into Israel long before he died For his death fell in Ninus's days but 12 Years before Abraham whereas the division had been long before and the Multitudes were infinite in Ninus's days Ioctan Heber's other Son had thirteen Sons all inhabiting from Copuz or Coas a Branch of Indus into the East saith Ierom but their particular places are uncertain Sheba or Seba one of them may be he of whom Dionysius Apher writing of East India saith The Sabaei and Taxili do dwell in the midst of them As for the Sabeans which sprang of Chush we found them in Arabia and many will place Shaba Abraham's Grand-Child there in Arabia Deserta where Ptolomy places a City of his Name whose Inhabitants pillag'd Iob. Iob 1.15 Opher another of Ioctan's Sons Ierom placeth in an Island of East India and indeed Opher is found among the Molucks Ar. Montanus and Diessis seek it in Peru of America and Iunius taketh Barbatia in Characene a Province in Susiana to be it corrupted from Parvaim to Barbatia As for Peru Iucatan c. in America they are late mistaken Names Havilah another of Ioctan's Sons is thought to Inhabit the Continent of East-India watred by the River Ganges as the Country of Havilah the Son of Chush was watred by Pison West of Tygris or rather to Shur But if the common Opinion of Ierom be true Ioctan and his Posterity setled about Mesech or the Hill Masius between Cilicia and Mesopotamia And that these Three Sons or their Issue went afterwards into East-India As for Sepher a Mountain of the East as Ierom looks for it in East-India so Montanus in the West maketh it Andes in America But for Moses Sepher we find Sipphora placed by Ptolomy on the East side of Masius neither is it strange to say Mesopotamia is in the East Numb 23.7 This Order of Plantation which I have followed doth best agree with the Scripture Reason and Probalities which Guides I follow little esteeming Mens private Opinions CHAP. IX Of the Beginning and Establishment of Government § 1. GOvernment hitherto in the World was only Paternity and Eldership from which the word Elder was used as well for Governours as the Aged to shew that the Wisdom of Years should be in Governours the first Government being from the Father to the Elder Son Hence grew Segnour and Segnourie for Lordship and Dominion which is Puissance in Property and Power Power having command of Subjects as Property hath Mastership of Servants Caesar hath Power to Command whatever a Man possesseth but Property only in his own When Paternal persuasion grew too weak to resist Inclination to Evil and to Correct it when it grew Habitual Necessity which bindeth all Mortals made both the Wise and Foolish at once to perceive that the Estate of Men would prove more miserable than that of Beasts if a general Obedience to Order and Dominion did not prevent it and that licentious Disorder promising Liberty upon Tryal would prove no less dangerous to all than an intolerable Bondage Necessity propounds and Reason confirms this Argument All Nations were persuaded to submit to a Master or Magistrate in some degree which Change was pleasing when compared with former Mischiefs in want of Government Yet Time brought out therein some Inconveniences which Necessity also sought to avoid and thereupon thought upon some equal Rules to limit Dominion which before was lawless Laws being then set for Government acquired the Title of Regal Power or Government and want thereof was known to be Tyrannical the one Ordained by God for his People's good the other permitted to afflict them In this Infancy of Regal Authority Princes Iust and Religious were esteemed Gods said Fabius Pictor And though Necessity and Reason seem Authors of Government yet God kindled this Light in the Minds of Men and set them a Pattern in the Law of Nature wherein they see Bees Cranes Deer c. to follow a Leader and God in his Word taketh it upon him to appoint Government Prov. 8.15 Dan. 2.21 and 5.21 Iohn 19.21 § 2. What was the Government before the Flood more than Paternal is uncertain or from what better kind of publick Government the Tyranny of that Age did grow After the Flood Three sorts of Government are found approved 1st The Government by one Ruling by Just Laws called Monarchy opposed to Tyranny 2 dly The Government by divers principal Persons Established by Order and Ruling by Laws call'd Aristocracy opposed by Oligarchy in Usurpation of a few 3. The Government of the People called Democracy opposed to Ochlocracy which is a tumultuous Will of a confused Multitude without Law The Eldest of every Family at the first set Order to his Issue and upon increase planted them about him in one Field of which grew Villages then followed Society by divers Villages called Pagus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is a Fountain for that all these Villages drank of the same Fountain like our Hundreds And when Malice Pride and Emulation set one Race against another Men joined divers Villages which had Banks and Ditches for defence calling it Oppidum as opposed to their Enemies Vrbs ab Orbe a Circuit first made with a Plough said Varro which word was first used for the Walls and Buildings as Civitas for the Inhabitants but were after confounded yet every Inhabitant is not properly a Citizen but he which hath the Freedom and Priviledges of it and is capable of bearing Rule in it And as Cities grew by Association of Villages so did Common-Weals by Association of Cities § 3. The First Age after the Flood was called Golden while Ambition and Avarice c. were in the Blade Men being more plain simple and contented yet in respect of Government they were as the following Ages in which as good Kings made Golden times so the contrary yea Princes Beginnings are commonly Golden in which their Game is commonly smoothly plaid but Time shrinks their Hearts and small Errors at first breed greater as it is also in every Man's Life his Youth is Golden which when Time hath eaten up and bred such alteration we praise what is past It is the Vice of our Malignity to extol the past and loath the present such inquire not wisely said Ecclesiasticus Our Ancestors have we and our Children will make the same Complaints and what is new shall be old saith Arnobius The Virtue of Kings
next after God produc'd their Crowns and the Peoples Love so purchas'd kept them on their Heads § 4. From this beginning of Regality grew Nobility Princes chusing by the same Rule of Virtue Men to assist them which Honour succeeded not by Blood but Virtue which is true Nobility the note of one Excelling another in Virtue and should bind Nobility not to degenerate As for Riches Power Glory c. they do no more define Nobility than bare Life defines a Man Honour is the Witness of Virtue and well-doing and true Nobility is the continuance of it in a Family so that where Virtue is extinguished they are like painted Images worshipped by the Ignorant for Christ our Lady and other Saints Flowers not manured turn to Weeds and the purest Fountain running through a filthy Soil is soon Corrupted Race and Linage is but the Matter Virtue and well deserving of a Common-wealth is the Form of true Nobility which being found in Posterity over-weigheth our proper Honour acquired by our own Virtue but if Virtue be wanting to Nobility by discent then Personal acquired Nobility is to be preferred without comparison for that by Descent may be in a very Villain There is a third Nobility which is in Parchment purchased by Silver or Favour being Badges of Affection which when Princes change they could wish they were blotted out But if we had as much Sense in our denegeration in Worthiness as we have of Vanity in deriving our selves from such Parents we shou'd perceive such Nobility to be our Shame CHAP. X. Of Nimrod Belus and Ninus § 1. NIMROD the Sovereign after the Flood was generally held a Tyrant But Melancton and Onomasticum Theologicum judge otherwise And it seemeth that his leading this Troop to Shinar was rather given him than Usurped seeing it is not Recorded that Noah or any of the Sons of his Body came with him or were in that presumptuous Action Some Ancients conceive Suphne and Ioctan were also Leaders but joyned not in that unbelieving Attempt and therefore lost not their Language § 2. Nimrod Belus and Ninus were different Persons though Eusebius and Ierom confound the two first and Augustine makes Belus King of Babylon which Argueth him to be Nimrod Mercator with less probability confounds Nimrod and Ninus out of Clemens Diodorus Siculus Reports that Ninus subdued Babylon which perhaps had Rebelled upon setling the Empire at Ninive which was also in Shinar § 3. Nimrod not Assur Built Ninive as Iunius hath rendered Moses's Text agreeable to Reason and Sense though Writers differ That Assur Built it greeth not with Moses's Order who especially intending the Story of the Hebrews first handleth the Birth of Noah's other Sons beginning with Iaphet proceeding with Cham and lastly with Shem not intermingling one with the other till he had set down a brief of all Three In the Narration of Cham he makes a distinct Discourse of Nimrod and his Brethren being to speak after at large of Babels Confusion by it self to shew us the Founder of the place and of the Empire which first over-ruled all the rest As for the Assyrian Kingdom it arose from the Babylonian according to Iunius So Calvin before followeth Epiphanius Ierom Cyril Methodius and P. Comestor with Cedrenus took Assur Gen. 10.11 to be Nimrod's Son as doth Torniellus of late But Rab. Maurus understood it as Iunius Yet Calvin contrary to Iunius and himself objecting Esay 23.13 than which no place more difficult to prove Assur founded the Chaldean much more the Assyrian Empire But the City of the Chaldeans founded and after destroyed by the Assyrians may with good probability be understood of Vr called Vrcta by Ptolomy Chaldeopolis by the Greeks and Cameria by Hecateus This Vr stood upon the chief stream of Euphrates by which it passed into the Persian Gulf though now it is stopped and runneth into Tigris of which stoppage Niger and Pliny speak This City then had Trade with Tyrus and was a Port Town By which the Sabeans sent Commodities to Babylon and so to Tyre This Vr founded by Shem's Son Assur was afterwards destroyed by the Assyrians which God fore-seeing sent away Abraham from thence That the Founder differs from Assur the destroyer is agreeable to the Truth and circumstances For thus Seth's Posterity which followed Assur being Planted at Vr were separated from the Idolatrous Chushits And if Sem's Son Assur founded Ninive how left he it to Ninus Son of Belus and Husband of Semiramis § 4. Nimrod called Saturn by Iulian Africanus established the Babylonian Monarchy which he inlarged into Assyria Where he Founded Ninive and other Cities which his Son Belus finished who after Nimrods 114 Years Reign succeeded and spent much time in draining the Marshes of Babel and began with Sabbatius in Armenia and Scythia Saga which Ninus finished § 5. Ninus's days might well afford many Kingdoms if we consider the order of their departing from Babel according to their Kindred every Family following the chief thereof whom Nature and Necessity taught the rest to submit unto and who took opportunity from Time and Nimrod's examples to exercise legal Authority Belus who succeeded Nimrod found Sabatius King of Armenia and Scythia able to resist him whom I take to be Tanais in Iustine As for his Vexoris Reineccius hath judiciously taken to be Sesostris the Great some Ages after Ninus Belus in common accompt Reigned 65 Years § 6. Belus I judge to be a Name rather given by Ninus for Honour to his Father than taken by him Cyrill calls him Arbelus and saith he was the first that would be called God Bel say the Learned signifying the Sun in Chalde and there Worshipped for God And many words in Scripture grew from it Bel Baal Belzebub Baalim which Name was given to God till upon abuse he forbad it The first Idolatry grew from hence c. The Old the most Ancient of every Family and Kings which Founded Cities were called Saturns their Sons Iupiters and Valiant Nephews Hercules § 7. Image-Worship began from Belus in Babel c. Schoolmen shift off this fearful Custom strangely For seeing the very Workman-ship is forbidden how can the heart of a wise Christian satisfie it self with the distinction of Douleia and Latrua and Hyperdouleia which can imply but a difference of Worship and it is most strange that Learned Men do strain their Wits to defend what Scripture oftentimes expresly forbids and Curses the practicers And where they say the Prophets condemn Heathen Idols only it is manifest Moses spake of the Living God saying You saw no Image when the Lord spake to you in Horeb. Basil forbids us to imagine any Form of God lest we limit him in our Minds what Presumption then is it to put him under the Greasy Pensil of a Painter or the rusty Tool of a Carver Rome for 170 Years by Numa's Law held it impiety till Tarquin Priscas and Varro condemned it as Augustin shews So Seneca Sybil
Sophocles And though Papists say that Heathen Images are instead of Letters yet as Heathen Pictures proved notorious Idols so those Stocks Stones c. called Pictures of Christ our Lady c. were by the Ignorant not only Worshipped but thought to live It is safest then for Christians to believe Gods Commandments directly against Images and that which the Prophets and St. Paul speak plainly and convincingly § 8. Ninus the first Idolater an Invader of others and publick Adulterer Of whom nothing is certain which is written for Berosus who chiefly followed him in the Assyrian Succession from Nimrod to Ascalodius in the days of Ioshua is disproved by many Ctesias who lived with Cyrus the Younger a gross flatterer of Princes speaks of incredible numbers in Ninus and Semiramis's Wars He with the help of Aricus King of Arabia subdued Syria Barzanes of Armenia and Zoroaster of Bactria at his second Expedition by the Valour of Semiramis whom he took from Menon her Husband who for Grief drowned himself CHAP. XI Of Ninus Semiramis and Belus § 1. NINVS finished Ninive as Semiramis did Babel began by Nimrod Ninive Four Hundred Forty Furlongs in Circuit the Wall an Hundred Foot high and had One Thousand Five Hundred Towers yet Semiramis exceeded him in Babylon § 2. Ninus Dyed after 52 Years Reign Anno Mundi 2019. Plutarch Reports he gave Semiramis one days absolute Rule as she desired in which she commanded his Death She saith Iustin was so like Ninias her Son as that she took upon her to Personate him but it is highly improbable considering she Reigned 42 Years and used her own Name § 3. Semiramis as to her Parentage and Education is variously Reported but not determined by any Author § 4. Her Indian Expedition if Ctesias were worthy of Credit would yet burthen any Mans faith to believe she had Three Millions of Foot One of Horse Two Hundred Thousand Charets and Camels Mounted All which Power perished with her by the hand of Stenobates § 5. Belus's Temple Built by her Four Square a Mile high by Eight Ascents each a Furlong high and of lesser Circuits on whose top the Chaldean Priests observed the Stars Many take the Ruins of it made by Xerxes for Nimrod's Tower c. See Pyramids of Egypt THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD BOOK II. Part I. FROM Abraham's Birth to the Destruction of Solomon's Temple which was 1525 Years CHAP. I. Of the time of Abraham's Birth and Order of the Assyrian Empire NINEAS or Zameis succeeded Semiramis in the Empire altogether Effeminate and unlike to Conquer Bactria as Berosus reports contrary to Diodorus Iustinus Orosius and all others He changed Governours Yearly out of Jealousie of them Arrius succeeded whom Suidas calls Tâ—uras He only reduced the Revolted Bactrians Aralius succeeded sumptuous in Jewels and the Inventer of some Warlike Engines Baleus Xerxes succeeded The Date and Term of these Assyrian Kings Reigns are best found out by the times of Abraham and his Posterity set down by Scriptures which are only void of Errors whereto all other Writings are subject No marvel then if in the Ancient Affairs History want assurance said Plutarch Abraham's Birth Year is therefore forc't to be ascertained all agree it was in the 43 d of Ninus but the Disagreement between Chronologers is about the Year after the Flood in which he was Born Archilochus de Temporibus in Annius maketh but 250 Years from the Flood to Ninus whereto add 43 which make 293 Years at Abraham's Birth Others do accompt 352 from the Flood to Abraham In this Labyrinth and unresolved Question I chuse rather the scandal of Novelty than sluggishly to proceed in that easie way of Ancient mistaking seeing to be Learned in many Errours or to be ignorant in all things hath little advantage of each other § 2. Arguments for the First Date of 293. § First they Argue from Scripture Secondly from Authority of Iosephus Augustine Beda Isidore and others First The Scripture is Gen. 11.26 when Abraham is first Named the Worthiest and Son of the Promise therefore First-born Secondly Moses respected the History of Abraham not Nahor Thirdly If Abraham were not the First-born his Birth is uncertain Fourthly Unprobable Terah had a Child at 130 Years of Age. § 3. Answer to the Objections § Leaving what Divines have Answered to scan this Question we are to consider whether Abraham made two Journies from Charran unto Canaan the former before the latter after his Fathers Death as some conceive upon what is said Heb. 11.3 Against this fancy Martyr Stephen Witnesseth that God brought him into the Land after his Father was Dead This can be no other than that of which Moses writ Gen. 12. as Beza proveth on Act. 7.2 c. For as Stephen had none of whom to Learn the Story of Abraham's Life but Moses so he would not give so great a scandal to the Iews therein to disagree with Moses Secondly Consider the Journey from Charran to Canaan distant Three Hundred English Miles unknown to him and tedious over Mountains and Desarts which he must pass three times in two Journies and so make Nine Hundred Miles besides his Travel from Vr to Charran as much more And consider the Train Abraham had with him Gen. 12.5 which shew no inclinations of returning to Dwell at Charran till his Fathers Death as 't is plain Act. 7.4 when also by their account Abraham must be about 135 Years Old and Isaac also must be about 35 When he might well have Married him and not send 5 Years after thereabout on such a Journey Neither can this Opinion agree with that which Abraham's Servant Reported to Laban touching his Master which he could not be ignorant of if he had been so lately there Moses hath carefully set down all Abraham's Journies most of them of less importance than this neither can any reason be given why Abraham did return this second time to Charran but only to support their Opinions § 4. To the Objection of Terah's Age unâ—it for a Child as Abraham was at One Hundred Gen. 18 11. it is hardly worth answering but if they consider Sarah's the wonder was in her own disability not Abraham's who had divers Sons 37 Years after yea many Ages after that Boaz Obed and Iesse Begat Sons at 200 Years or there about § 5. To the Objection of making Abraham's Age uncertain and so the succeeding Times I Answer Abraham's Age is as certain as any other from his Father's death as if his Birth had been dated For as St. Stephen tells us his departure followed his Father's death so Moses recordeth his Age to be 75 Years and his Father's 205 at his Death To the Objection that Moses respected not Nahor and Haran to set out their Age as he did Abraham's I Answer There were great Reasons to respect them also considering the Church of God was to spring out of them by Abraham Isaac and Iacob's Marrying with them And though they had Worshipped
Reineccius some Ages after Ninus This Sesostris some think is Besak but it is not so as divers differences in setting out their Wars do manifest Whereas after Orus Menas is Reported by Herodotus and Diodorus Reineccius noteth that Osiris was so called by way of Dignity Krentzhemius probably gathers that Menas was Mercurius Ter-maximus Conquerour Philosopher and Benefactor to Mankind giving good Laws and teaching profitable Arts to his Conquered People After 33 Years he fell Blind as did Pherones his Son whom 14 Years after Orus the Second or Busiris succeeded 75 Years before Israel's Departure out of Egypt § 7. Busiris or Orus the Second whom Reineccius judgeth to have been a new Family though according to all Mens computation he began 5 Years after Moses's Birth yet might he be first Author of the Israelites Misery Ruling as Vice-Roy under the blind King whom he might easily draw to that Oppression of Strangers so to ease the Subjects and to win their Favour to promote his Off-spring to the Crown which he attained and held 30 Years according to Eusebius After him Thermutis Pharaob's Daughter which took Moses out of the Water succeeded Eusebius calls her Acencris but placeth Amenophis next before Busiris Herodotus and Diodorus call Sesostris Son Pheron so it may be she was his Daughter who Marrying Busiris Reigned after him 12 Years § 8. Rathoris or Athoris succeeded his Sister 9 Years and after him Chencris who perished in the Red Sea and Achencris succeeded 8 Years and Cherres 15 in whose 15 Years Epaphus Son of Teligonus Rathoris Brother Reigneth in the lower Egypt and Built Memphis Epaphus had Lybia which had Agenor Belus and Busiris Belus had Ameus or Danaeus who Reigned 4 Years after Cherres and then by Egyptus or Ramesses his Brother expelled who Reigning 68 Years he had Fifty Sons Danaeus had Fifty Daughters He began the Kingdom of Argos in Greece CHAP. III. Of Israels Delivery out of Egypt § 1. OF Israel's Captivty and Moses Birth § L. Vives on Augustin cites divers Opinions of Moses Birth but to me it is most Probable that he was Born while Saphrus called Spherus and Ipberus Govern'd Assyria Orthopolis Cicyonia and Criasus the Argives and Sesostris 2 d. the Egyptians For according to Augustin he led Israel out of Egypt about the end of Cecrops King of the Athenians which falls about the 9 th Year of Ascatades of Assyria who Ruled 41. Sparetus his Predecessor 40. Mamelus before him 30. And Saphrus 20 before So that from the 19 th of Saphrus to the 9 th of Ascatades which was the 46 th of Cecrops are 80 Years which was Moses Age when he brought Israel out of Egypt There being then 64 Years between Iosephs ' Death and Moses's Birth the Israelites Oppression seemeth to begin some 8 or 9 Years before Ioseph Dyed Anno Mundi 2370. Moses 80 th Year of Age was 2514. § 2. Of the Cities of Egypt mentioned in Scripture § Zoan Num. 13.23 called Taphnus Ier. 2.43 c. Ezek. 30. The Septuagint calls it Tanis c. This was near Gosen and chief City of the lower Egypt On or Heliopolis in the South of the lower Egypt Gen. 41.45 after Iunius Here Onias Built a Temple for the Jews under Ptolomy Philopater which stood till Vespasian's time Noph the City Esa. 19.13 Hos. 9.6 is called Mopb or Memphis by the Septuagint Pelusium which the Septuagint calls Sois. Montanus Lebna Iunius Sin Belbeis after now the Septuagint calls Diospolis and was afterwards called Alexandrina by Ierom. Moses 's Preservation and Education § Pharaoâ— having by Oppression discontented the Israelites and then doubting what a Poor Oppressed Multitude might be provoked to by suggestion of the Devil resolved the Slaughter of the Male Children in their Birth giving Order to all their Midwives by Two of the Chief of them But being by their Piety disappointed he Commanded all his People to perform his Bloody Decree which yet his Beloved Daughter finding Moses in an Ark of Reeds in Nilus was so far from Executing that she took him out of the Water and gave him Princely Education as her own Whose Excellent Learning testified by Pâ—ilo and Iosephus Martyr Stephen Confirmeth Leaving Iosephus's Fancy of Moses Besieging Saba of Ethiopia which he won by the means of the Kings Daughter whom he Married c. Moses in Rescuing an Israelite having slain an Egyptian fled into Arabia Petrea in whose Mountainous Desarts apart from the Glory of the World the Glory of God covered him over being from an Honourable Adopted Son of a Kings Daughter turned into the Condition of an humbe Shepherd In this Country lying between Iudea and Egypt he lived 40 Years skilful in the ways of the Wilderness through which he was to lead Israel and by exercise in a Pastoral Life he was prepared to Principality and perfected his Learning gotten in Egypt by Meditation in the Wilderness From Government of gentle Cattel Kings are called Shepherds to teach them to rule Men. Moses being called back into Egypt is Taught a Name by which he Describes God to the Hebrews setting out his ever only Being there being nothing â— that hath being of it self but that Eternal One of whose being all other things are but shadows Of all the Ten Plagues the last only brought that Tyrant Pharaoh to an absolute submission when he began to fear his own Life The Paschal Lamb was a Sacrament of our spotless Saviour § 3. Pharaoh seeing the Israelites departure with the Spoil also of the Egyptians bethought himself and pursuing them with all his Power Exod. 14.7 over-took them after Three Days March And though Moses knew he went out with the mighty Hand of God yet he neglected nothing becoming a Wise Man and a Valiant Conductor So he removed from Ramases in Goshen whither the dispersed Hebrews were gathered as to their Rendezvous and Marched Eastward toward Etham and Encamped at Succoth the Fifteenth Day of Abib which thenceforth was accounted the first Month of their Year for Religious Occasions leaving another for Politick which they distinguish from Sacred in Recording things Transacted § 4. Israel passing from Succoth kept Mountainous rough Ground on his left-hand to Etham that Pharaoh's Chariots should not compass him From Etham the next day he Marched South Eight Miles and on the Third day he came to Pihachoroth between the Mountains of Etham on the North and Baalzephon on the South and Encamped upon the wash of the Sea § 5. Moses who feared nothing but God himself comforting the fearful Multitude Exod. 14.13 called on God and putting in practice his Direction safely passed over the Foord which the Lord had made and left their stupified Enemies to the merciless Waves which returned upon them This Sea called Chencrese in which Pharaoh Perished the 16 th Year of his Reign is commonly called the Red Sea though of the Colour of other Waters It seemeth to me that Name grew from the Clifts Sands Islands and
he may be thought a grave wise Man and that by the Fear in which the Oppressed live he may be thought a Reverence to the Oppressed at least it will dazel the Eyes of Underlings keeping them from prying into the weakness of their Governours Thus the time in which by well using it Men might attain to be such as they ought they do usually mispend it in seeking to appear such as they are not so procure more Indignation than was feared instead of the Respect that was hoped which is of dangerous Consequence in an unable Spirit in high Authority too passionate in Execution of an Office and cannot be checked but by violence If Amaziah thought by extreme rigour to uphold his Reputation what did he but make the People think he hated them who easily believed he did not love them He had indeed provided for his own security by revenging on his Father but who shall take Vengeance or on whom of a Murther in which every one hath a part Surely God himself who hath not given Leave to the People to shed the blood of his Anointed Yet as he was careless of God and was carried head-long with his own Affection so his Subjects by his Example not enquiring what was their Duty rose up against him with a precipitant Fury which yet he could not avoid by flying to Lachish as a choice Town for Strengh and Affection where yet he found no other Favour but that they would not kill him with their own Hands but abandon'd him to the Conspirators sent after him who dispatched him with little Opposition § 11. Amaziah being Slain the Throne of Iudah was vacant Eleven Years for as he out-lived Ioash King of Israel 15 Years which Ieroboam held and must dye the 15 th of Ieroboam so it is expresly said Vâ—ziah his Son began to Reign in the 27 th of Ieroboam being 16 Years old and Reigned 52 Years which argueth 11 Years Inter-regnâ—m Others to avoid this Inter-regnum have made divers Conjectures as G. Mercator c. But I know not why it may not be admitted in Iudah seeing the like necessity hath inforced it in the Kingdom of Israel as between the death of Ieroboam 2. and his Son Zecharias and between Peka and Hosea Such suspence of the Crown of Iudah is more probable considering how things stood at the death of Amaziah although the computation were not so apparent For the Publick Fury which extended so far against the King's Person was not like to be appeased 'till order was taken to redress the Matters which caused that eruption We need not then wonder that they who involv'd themselves in the former Treason against the Father would stay the Crown 'till things were set in order the Prince being so young and to be under protection c. To make Ieroboam's Reign to begin the 11th with his Father were the best but only for swallowing up so much of Ioash's Reign extending the Years of the Kings of Israel and contracting the Years of the Princes of other Nations § 12. Contemporaries with Amaziah and Eleven Years after were Ioash and Ieroboam in Israel Cephreras and Mycerinus in Egypt Sylvius Alladius and Sylvius Aventinus in Alba Agamemnon in Corinth Diognetus Pheredus and Ariphron in Athens Thelectus in Lacedemon when the Spartans won Towns from the Achaians Sardanapalus in the 21 st Year of Amaziah succeeded Acrozapes his Father in Assyria 21 Years and was slain the Year before Azariah entred and ended Ninus's Line after 1240 Years Empire This unhappy voluptuous Prince was so base he durst let no Man see him 'till at length Arbaces Governour of Media got a sight of that beastly Spectacle of a Man in Woman's Attire counterfeiting an Harlot which moved him to such indignation that he brake with Belosus a Chaldean about casting off the Yoke of so unworthy a Creature Belosus pleased him too well to tell him he should enjoy the Kingdom who promised him thereupon the Kingdom of Babylon Being thus agreed the one stirr'd up the Medes and Persians the other the Babylonians and Arabians and so drew together 40000 Men against Sardanapalus who contrary to his former course of Life became a Man gathered his Forces and encounter'd the Rebels and foil'd them in three Battles and had not Belosus promised unexpected Succors Arbaces had broken up the Camp About that time an Army out of Bactria was coming to assist the King but Arbaces encountring it upon promise of Liberty drew them to joyn with him In the mean time the King supposing Arbaces to be fled Feasted his Army Triumphing before Victory The Rebels strengthned with new Supplies came upon him by Night forced his Camp unprepared for resistance and made the King retire into the City Ninive leaving Salaminus his Wives Brother to keep the Field 'till new Succours came Arbaces overthrew the King's Army slew Salaminus and lay two whole Years before the City in hope to win it by Famine for force it hâ— could not the Wall being an hundred Foot high and so thick that three Chariots might pass in the Front upon the Rampire But what he could not now do the River Tygris did the third Year for in a swelling after a Rain it cast down 20 Furlongs and made a fair Breach for Arbaces to enter Sardanapalus either terrified with accomplishment of the old Oracle that Ninive should never be taken 'till the River became an Enemy to it or seeing no means of resistance he at last consumed himself and Family with fire in his Palace CHAP. XI X Of Uzziah and his Contemporaries in Israel and elsewhere of his two Successors § 1. UZziah or Aaria being Sixteen Years of Age succeeded his Father Amaziah in the Twenty Seventh Year of Ieroboam and Reigned Forty Two Years he served the God of his Fathers and prosper'd His Victories and Atchievments were far beyond any since the time of David and his Wealth exceeded any since Solomon's days Ieroboam also King of Israel prospered in the North and won Damascus and Hamath not for his Piety being an Idolater It was only the Lord's compassion on Israel so extreamly afflicted by Aram. Yet as God's goodness to Iehu his Grandfather could not win him from Ieroboam's politick Idolatry of the Calves no more could it make Ieroboam his Son render the Honour due to the only giver of Victory so that the Promise made to Iehu for Four Generations grew to an accomplishment to be a fair warning to his Son to expect a Change except himself or his Son would change his Idolatry But as Ieroboam ended his days in his Idolatry so his Son Zachary who should have succeeded presently was held out many years without apparent reason but only the two Calves at Dan and Bethel yet Secondary Causes were like not to be wanting Probable it is that as Ieroboam's Reign had bred many brave Captains so they saw so little in Zechary to respect him for or perhaps found something which
Palm or Olive so that the choice Orators Poets and Musicians resorted thither to shew their skill in setting out his Praise that won the Garland with such Vanity said Tully as if it had been a Conquest of a Province The time of the year was the Fifteenth of Hecatobaeon our Iune whereto they brought the Full Moon § 6. Iotham Twenty Five years old succeeded his Father Vzziah in his life time and reigned 26 years happy in all things as he was Devout and Virtuous 2 King 15.33 Contemporaries Aucomenus succeeded Pelesteus in Corinth whom Annual Magisteus succeeded contrary to Pausan. Aesculus in Athens Accamenes in Sparta Tiglath Pileser in Assyria Twenty five years and Two with his Son Twenty Seven in all Nahum the Prophet now fore-told the destruction of Ninive One Hundred and Fifty years beforehand Sosarmus and Medidus succeeded Arbaces in Media the Second and Third Kings there § 7. Achas succeeded in Iudah one year with Iotham in the Seventeenth year of Peka he was Twentâ— years old and Reigned Sixteen years an exceeding Idolater Sacrificing his Sons to Moloch or Saturn after the manner of the Heathens used of old Levit. 18. Deut. 12. by many Nations and at this day by the Americans as Acosta witnesseth c. God raised â—im Enemies on all sides so that when he saw his dead Gods failed him yet neglecting the living God he sought Aid of Tiglath Pileser who embraced the Advantage to go through with what his Father entred but had no leisure to finish it He therefore invaded Syria and won Damascus all Israel made Iudah Tributary though Achaz had hired him Contemporaries the Ephori in Lacedemon 130 years after Lycurgus opposed to Kings as the Tribunes in Rome against Consuls Alcamenon in Athens the last Governour for Life after which followed a Magistrate for Ten years Sylvii of Aeneas's Race ended after Three Hundred Years Romulus now built Rome the Eighth of Achaz the First of the Seventh Olympiad CHAP. XX. Of Italy and Rome's Foundation in Ahaz's time § 1. ITALY before the Fall of Troy was known to the Greeks by the names of Hesperia Ausonia Oenotria of a Colony of Arcadians and Italy of Italus Reyneccius derives the Name rather from a Colony of Aetolians which Inhabited Brundusium from whose Names with small Change that part was called Italia which in time grew the common name saith Pliny Such change in the Aeolic Dialect is Familiar as to call an Island Peopled by Aetholians Aethalia The Original of Greeks and Latins was from Iavan who sailing over the Ionian Sea between Aetolia and the Western Ocean planted Greece and Italy Reyneccius makes Atlai Italus one which Berosus calls Cethim Italus but is deceived for Atlas is esteemed more Antient than Moses and if he were Cethim or Kithim Noah's Grand-Son his Antiquity exceeds that of Italy which Name Virgil confesseth later and from a Captain But seeing Hercules a little before Troy's Fall left a Colony of Eleans or Aetoleans it may be under the command of one called Aitolus a Name famous among Aetolians Italy might take Name of him § 2. Aborigines that is the Natives of the place Inhabited Latium whom Halycarnassus Varro and Reyneccius think to have been Arcadians who used to vaunt of their Antiquity having more constantly kept their Country in Peloponesus than other Greeks yet being fruitful sent Colonies to other Countries as when Evander was sent into the same parts of Italy Pelasgi an Antient Nation after gave Name to all Greece but such of them as came into Italy lost the Name of their Tribe in a short time Sicani Ausones Aurunci Rutili in after Ages disturbed Latium whiâ—h Satâ—rn had brought to some Civility and taught to dung the Ground That Latium took the name of Saturn's lurking there from Iupiter is far fetched and questionless a Fable yet many Fables were occasioned from some Antient Truths It may be then that Saturn hiding himself was some allusion to the old Opinion of the Wise Heathen that the true God was an unknown God to whom Paul found an Altar dedicated It cannot be in vain that the word Saturnus should also signify hidden coming of the Hebrew Satar to hide as some think c. Reyneccius proceedeth in deriving Latium from the Posterity of Iavan Inhabiting a Territory in lesser Asia called Elaitia who after the Trojan War went into Italy whence might grow Elaitinus and so Latinus c. § 3. The Latin Kings 'till Aeneas were Saturnus Picus Faunus Latinus Whether Saturnus were he whom the Greeks called Cronos e. the time of the Aborigines will admit but his Names of Stercus or Sterculius do argue him another so called of the Dungs he taught them to lay upon their ground Ezechiel often cals Idâ—ls Deos Stercoreos as Belzebul is Dominus Stercoreus c. § 4. Aeneas a Trojan of the Blood-Royal came to Latium with some 1200 Trojans and Married Laviana King Latinus's Daughter He had a Son before by his Wife Creusa Daughter of Priamus called Ascanius and Sirnamed Iulus After Aeneas's death Lavinia was great with Child by him and fearing Ascanius fled into a Wood where being Delivered the Child was called Sylvius Posthumus Bâ—t upon the Peoples disapproving of Lavinia's flight Ascanius called her home used her like a Queen and Educated her Son Ascanius to avoid dissention left the City Lavinium to Laviana and Founded Alba-Longa where he Reign'd about 30 Year and left his Son Iulus who upon contention with Sylvius whom the People favoured left the Kingdom and took the Priesthood for him and his Posterity Sylvius Posthumus Reigned 29. Sylvius Aeneas 31. Sylvius Latinus 10. Sylvius Alba 39. Sylvius Atis 36. Sylvius Capijs 28. Sylvius Capelus 13. Sylvius Tiberinus 8. Sylvius Agrippa 41. Sylvius Alladyus 19. Sylvius Aventinus 37. Sylvius Procas 23. Sylvius Amulius 44. He expelled his Elder Brother Sylvius Numitor slew his Son Aegestius and made his Daughter Ilia a Vestal-Virgin Numitor who yet either by her Uncle or some Warlike-Man conceived 2 Sons Romulus and Reineccius who in time slew Amulius and all his Family and restored Numitor in whom the Kingdom of Alba ended and received Magistrates Yet it contended with Rome 'till her Three Curiatij were vanquished by the Three Horatij Champions for Rome After this Metius the Alban Dictator following Tullus Hostilius in his War upon Tullus's disadvantage withdrew his Companies to distress Tullus for which he was torn in pieces at two Chariots and Alba Reigned but the Citizens were made free Denisons and her Nobles Patricians of Rome among whom was a Family of Iulij which hath since risen in Iulius Caesar c. § 5. Rome which devoured the Alban Kingdom and brake all the Kingdoms from Euphrates to the Western Ocean as that Alban the IV th a Beast with Iron-Teeth forespoken of cometh now to be handled only touching her Original which some seek to derive from Ianus others from the Greeks Plâ—tarch in the Life of Romulus
be attended with more than one Woman abroad except they were drunken which Dispensations Women were ashamed to claim § 6. Ierusalem in the third year of Iehojakim is Besieged by Nebuchadnezzar the second year of his Reign with his Father and notwithstanding the assistance of Neco King of Egypt forced Iehojakim to become his Vassal and took Daniel and his Fellows Hostages but hasted home not intending there to stay Neco coming with such disadvantage so far from home in a Country which loved him not Besides his Father's death called him to possess his own before he sought other Mens But the next year which was Nebuchadnezzar's first and Neco's last they fought on the Bank of Euphrates where Neco Fought his last and Nebuchadnezzar recover'd all Syria Pausanius succeeded Neco but inferiour in Valour he thought to restore Iehoahaz his Prisoner and cast out Iehojakim but the Lord said to the contrary Iehojakim also rely'd on the Egyptians 'till Nebuchadnezzar forced a Tribute on him so he submitted quietly three years in his fourth year it seemeth that Ieremiah was first Imprisoned Tyrus holding out against Nebuchadnezzar was in his seventh year Besieged and in his fourteenth year taken for her Captivity was limited to seventy years and her Siege was thirteen It was divided from the Main by a deep broad Channel excelled in store of Ships which Nebuchadnezzar wanted and every Wind brought supply from Foreign Parts so that it feared neither Force nor Famine But God that had threatned Tyre sent a King impatient of resistance to undertake such a piece of work to stop a vast Channel in the Sea using thereto the Wood of Libanus not far off and the Ruins of old Tyre with the toilsom labour of many thousands of Men wherewith he prevailed at length But the wealthy Citizens fled by Sea to Creet and left little Wealth for Booty therefore the Lord promised them Egypt see Ezek. 29.18 19. Iehojakim upon what occasion is uncertain whether Mutiny among the Souldiers or Rumour of the Egyptians coming against Nebuchadnezzar renounced his Subjection but was presently subdued by Nebuchadnezzar and slain and his Son Iehojakim or Ieconias put in his place and after three Months removed to Babylon and Mattanias his Uncle established in his stead and called Zedekiah who took an Oath of subjection In his fourth year he went to Babel about some business wherein it seems he was not satisfied for upon his return he began to practice with the Neighbouring Princes of Moab c. what year Iohanan the False Prophet opposed Ieremy Nebuchadnezzar hearing of Zedekiah's practice came in the dead of Winter and Besieged Ierusalem and though the year following he raised his Siege to meet Hophra yet upon the Egyptians abandoning his Enterprize he returned and gave the City no rest 'till he brake it up Zedekiah escaping in the Night through a Vault under the Earth is yet overtaken c. and his Eyes being put out he was carried into Babel but saw it not as Ezekiel foretold Ch. 12.13 This was the eleventh year of Zedekiah and eighteenth of Nebuchadnezzar the year after the Temple was burnt the four hundred thirty first year after the Building What followed is written 2 Kings 25. Ier. 39. 52. THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD BOOK III. Part I. FROM The Destruction of Ierusalem unto Philip of Macedon CHAP. I. The time from the Destruction of Jerusalem to the Assyrian Fall § 1. THE Connexion of Sacred and Profane History § Before the Grecian Olympiads and the Eastern Date from Nabonassar the Course of Time had no beaten Path as after it had more certain Marks yet from Ierusalem's Destruction the former with the succeeding Ages are more clearly discern'd in their Connection The harm which some have found in the years of the overgrown Monarchies doth preserve their Names which otherwise might have been forgotten but cannot shew the Year of such a King in which any thing expressed in Scripture was done Neither could any certainty be gathered from the late Kings of the Assyrians c. if Nebuchadnezzar's Reign had not been precisely applied to the years of Iehojakim and Zedekiah Hence have we the first light to discover how to connect Sacred and Profane Histories for Iudah's Seventy years Captivity begin under Nebuchadnezzar and ending the first of Cyrus directs us backward and forward This first year of Cyrus is joyned with the first of the fifty fifth Olympiad And that he Reigned twenty three year before his Monarchy and seven after is apparent and giving them four hundred and eight year between Troy's Fall and Iphetus's restoring the Olympiads we may arrive to the knowledge of the true Grecian Antiquities For other Nations let St. Augustine be trusted § 2. The Seventy Years of Babylonian Captivity being our chief mark of direction we are to inform our selves truly therein Some begin from Ieconias's Captivity eleven year before Zedekiah citing Ezek. 40.1 Beraldus judgeth that it began the first of Nebuchadnezzar and fourth of Ioakim citing 2 Chron. 36. and Dan. 1. Matth. 1.11 but cannot thus make it good Wretched Porphyrie scoffeth at St. Matth. 1.11 not knowing Iosias's Sons had divers Names as Epiphanius shewed The Wretch affirmeth the Book of Daniel was written long after his death at or near the time of Antiochus Epiphanes whom Eusebius Apollonius c. have answered And the Seventy Interpreters Translated it out of Hebrew one hundred year before that Iaddus the High-Priest also shewed the Book to the Great Alexander c. True it is the Iews ascribe it to Esdras and equal it not to the Prophet but put it among the Hagiographs or Holy Books which are Daniel Psalms Iob Proverbs Canticles Ruth Lamentations Ecclesiastes Hester Nehemiah and Chronicles Our Christian Councils and Fathers acknowledge it Canonical and our Saviour who cited no Apocrypha cited it as a proof exceeding all § 3. That the Seventy Years Captivity began at Ierusalem's destruction not Ieconias's Captivity is clear Ieremiah himself explained himself and Daniel cited by some to the contrary Compare Chap. 25.9 11 12. with Chap. 29.10 where in the first place he expresly beginneth the Captivity of Seventy years at Ierusalem's Destruction and thereof certifies the Captivity in the second place So also it is understood by themselves 2 Chron. 36.19 20 21. So Dan. 9.2 the Seventy years referred to Ierusalem's Desolation § 4. Touching the King's Reigning in Babylon those seventy Years and the time of each help us a little to the times before or after neither it seems were most of their Acts worth Recording For as Nebuchadnezzar's latter times were either in delights or madness so his Posterity grew slothful as Sons whose Fathers have purchased enough to their hands yet let us consider of Men's Opinions therein and judge as we see cause The surest Opinion is theirs which follow the Scripture which Name only Nebuchadnezzar Evilmerodach and Balthasar and Ieremy which seemeth to limit the Dominion of Babel to Father Son
and Grandson To qualifie this I see no necessity except Profane Authors were constant and probable in more Successions which they are not Iosephus reckons five citing Berosus but far otherwise than doth Ierom c. Anius Metasthenes nameth five of which the three last were Brethren but neither he nor the rest can qualifie Ieremiah § 5. Scaliger's Opinion is here handled and disproved beginning the seventieth year from Iechonias's transportation and giving Evilmerodach but two years Balthasar one of which he maketh four spent in his protection and maketh him a Son of Nebuchadnezzar's Daughter But as Ieremiah's speech of Evilmerodach's raising up Ieconias argueth longer time so his speaking expresly of Nebuchadnezzar's Sons in the Succession So Daniel employ'd in so high a Place by the King and after falling to a private Life could not have been forgotten of him in two year or less Scaliger also finds one Nabonidus after Balthasar and giveth him seventeen years and maketh him Darius Medus whom others make the same with Balthasar to make good Berosus whom Scaliger his chief Patron herein forsaketh His grounds are one out of Daniel 5.31 where Darius is not said to win but receive the Kingdom makes no strong conclusion c. His other is out of Megasthenes in Eusebius calling Nabonidus a Mede but I find it not and if I did I would little regard it considering his other improbable Reports with it Besides the Opinion agreeth hardly with Scripture which saith the Kingdom should be divided between the Medes and Persians So that either Darius was not Nabonidus or else bethink us what Persian shared with him Nay both the Nations made the Empire as Daniel's Ram sheweth and the Greeks call the Wars made by Xerxes the Wars of the Medes So that the Notion of the Chronologers holding Darius Partner in Cyrus's Victories was not well condemn'd § 6. Lyra and others who hold those only named in Scripture to have reigned in Babylon during those Seventy years I esteem more comformable to Reason For the years of their Reign it is clear that Evilmerodach began to Reign 2 Kings 25.27 Ier. 52.31 in the Thirty Seventh year of Iechonias's Captivity from which deduct Zedekiah's Eleventh year when the City was taken there remained Twenty Six of the Seventy How to distribute the other Forty four to the succeeding Kings is not so needful as long as the total Sum is certain Yet I will be bold to conjecture as others have done giving to Belthasar Seventeen years with Iosephus so there remain Twenty Seven of which one may be taken away for the First of Darius so Twenty six remain for Evilmerodach Besides Iosephus all that confound Balthasar and Nabonidus give him Seventeen Years and Daniel's being grown out of Balthasar's Knowledge who yet had served him his Third year argueth some long time between That Evilmerodach Reigned some good time is probable by Iechonias's favour under him and some of great judgment have given him Twenty three years and more might be given as well as that § 7. Touching the actions of these Kings Nebuchadnezzar's former years were Victorious In his Nineteenth year he won Ierusalem and proud Tyrus Esa. 23.15 The same year Egypt was next aimed at as the fairest Mark but the petty Nations about Iudah who desired the Ruin thereof were to be made sure for fear of incommoding his Return from Egypt if he succeeded not All these ill Neighbours which imagined to gain by Iudah's fall as Tyrus had and had followed the Camp as Ravens were suddenly opposed by Nebuchadnezzar as the Lord had threatned and brought into the Condition Iudah was in Esa. 16.14 § 8. Nebuchadnezzar having freed the Coast behind him through Syria and Arabia leaving neither Friend to Egypt nor Foe to himself able to give impediment to his Proceeding or Retreat he presently took it in hand and according to our Three great Prophets had a Victorious Conquest of Egypt although some good Authors following Herodotus and Diodore extenuate it to a Ravage without Conquest and that Apries or Hophra their King was slain after in an Insurrection of his Subjects and Amasis chosen to succeed But Herodotus and Diodorus are herein contradicted by such Authority as Force our Belief as Esa. 20.4 5 6. Ier. 43.10 and 44 and 46.25 26. So Ezek. 29.20.30 and 32.31 So that Iunius who in one place took Hophra's Enemies to be Amasis and his Fellows yet on Ier. 44.30 he Confessed the Egyptian Priests had abused Herodotus Iosephus also herein is rather to be believed reporting Egypt's Conquests and slaying of the King by Nebuchadnezzar who appointed another in his stead all which is consonant to the Prophets § 9. Nebuchadnezzar's Victories after the Conquest of Syria more enlarged his Dominions than his former for besides the Conquest of Egypt we are bound to believe he Conquered Phut and Lud and other Nations as it seemeth even to Mauritania Hitherto Egypt had flourished Fifteen hundred Eighty years but from henceforth Forty years under a Vice-Roy and was long after in recovering strength but never to her Antient Glory Esa. 19.11 Ezek. 29.13 c. § 10. Nebuchadnezzar's Actions are diversly dated some from the beginning of his Reign whose first year ran with part of Iehojakim's Third when Daniel was carried Captive Another date was from the beginning of his Empire which was after the Conquest of Egypt as his Dream Dan. 2.1 which could not be the Second years Reign considering the third then being up of Daniel before he stood before the King as also that Nebuchadnezzar was yet no such King as he was when Daniel declared the Dream c. After the Conquest of Egypt Ninive which Rebelled was destroyed by him as Nahum foretold whose Prophecy went between the destruction of Egypt and Ninive § 11. Nebuchadnezzar's last Times are found only in Daniel as his Buildings in Babel cap. 4.27 wherein he glorified so much and no marvel if Iosephus's report out of Berosus be true of an Orchard supported by Arches as high as Mountains reared in Fifteen days But his over-valuing his own Greatness abased him as low and the Lord for his presuming to erect an Image to be worshipped to his dishonour whom he had before acknowledged cast such contempt upon him as never befel such a Man For after the Lord had convinced him by the miraculous cooling of his Furnace and by a second Dream warned him and given him one year respite he had Human Sense taken from him c. Upon his restoring Augustine and others held him saved § 12. Evilmerodach succeeded in whose Nineteenth year ended the Fortieth year of Egypt's Desolation and now brake the Babylonian Yoak under Amasis their King This fell out while Astyages the Mede Grand-Father to Cyrus held War with Evilmerodach and had the better which emboldened Egypt Astyages died in the Ninth year of Evilmerodach and left the Medes and Persians in Arms against Evilmerodach whom also they slew § 13. A conjecture how it might be
twenty seven days after with lamentable effect § 9. The Athenians after this loss had also their Subjects abroad rebellious and which recovered their long lost Liberty At home also the principal Citizens wearied with the Peoples Insolency changed the Government procuring the Captains abroad to set up an Aristocracy in the Towns of their Confederacy as four hundred usurped it at home But the Army at Samos disliked that usurpation and Alcibiades who was fâ—ed from the Lacedemonians who had honour'd him much till his Virtue had bred him Envy and was with Tissaphernes the Persian Vice-Roy with whom he was grown into such Favour as he persuaded him to stay his Favour to the Lacedemonians Yet his Revocation was not confirmed at Athens 'till the four hundred wearied with the Troubles of the Times and not prevailing with Sparta for Peace resigned their Authority to Five thousand which had been their Assistants who presently agreed to the revocation of him and his Companions § 10. After this Alcibiades joining with the Athenian Fleet after an Overthrow of the Lacedemonian Fleet commanded by Mindarus took Cyzicus Perinthus Chalcedon Bizantium and with this Honour returned to Athens where he was made High-Admiral But upon a loss of a great part of his Fleet by his Lieutenant in his Absence fighting contrary to his Commandment he was again forced to banish himself to a greater loss to Athens than before § 11. After this also the Athenians Ships in a discomfiture were forced into the Haven of Mytelene where they were beset so that Athens were compelled to Man all their Vessels to relieve them at Argamusae yet the ten Captains which had the Victory of the Lacedemonians were condemned at Athens unjustly as after appeared § 12. Lysander with the Peloponesian Fleet Besieged Lapsacus the Athenian Fleet of an hundred Eighty Sail came too late to relieve it and then put in at Sestos and after at Aeges-Potamos from whence they daily braved Lysander not a League off and return to Ages Potamos from whence the Men used to go by Land to Sestos leaving the Ships Alcibiades lived near and saw their negligent endangering the Ships and gave them warning which they regarded not so Lysander came suddainly on them and overthrew them went to Athens with Pausanias and Agis the Two Kings of Sparta and Summoned the City which refused 'till Famin Forced which fell on them by the Lacedemonians taking the Islands from them which used to relieve them So all her Subject Cities are freed the Wall to the Port cast down her Government restrained to her own Territories and she to use but Twelve Ships and to follow Sparta in all Wars And so ended the Peloponesian War after twenty seven years Her only hope of Recovery was in Alcibiades whose death the Lacedemonians procured Lacedemon abusing this good Success grew Odious so that many Cities of Greece combined against her and Thebes under the leading of Epaminondas who trained up Philip of Macedonia gave her a great Foil CHAP. IX Matters concurring with this War and a while after § 1. PERSIA after had Artaxerxes Xerxes the Second and after him Sogdianus his Brother who seem to be the Sons of Hester but one year whom Darius Notbus succeeded who slew Sogdianus as he had his Brother Xerxes He reigned Nineteen years Amyrtaeus an Egyptian Allyed himself with Greece overthrew the Persian Garrisons in Egypt and Reigned while Darius assisting the Lacedemonians with Money by the Overthrow of Athens recover'd what had been lost in Asia the lesser over which he made Cyrus his younger Son Lieutenant but upon some dislike intended to have dealt sharply with him had not Death prevented § 2. Athens after her Overthrow had Thirty Governours called Tyrants chosen to execute the Law with supreme Authority These contriving to retain that Power put certain Seditious Fellows to death without Law which all Men approved considering their Lewdness but not that it might prove their own case if their Governours please to call them Seditious as it fell out For their Thirty sent to Lacedemon to desire a Garrison pretending to cut off the Seditious but by entertaining the Captain to his liking they grew bold with the Chief Citizens and shed much Blood Theramenes one of them shewing his dislike after they had chosen Three thousand Citizens of their liking to assist in the Government with priviledge in question of Death to be tryed by Law and not at Commandment of the Thirty they call Theramenes in question as without the priviledge and put him to death § 3. After this the Tyrants Out-rage made many good Citizens fly to Thebes where Thrasybulus and about Seventy more resolve to free Athens of the Tyrants and take Phyla a strong place in the Territory of Athens which the Tyrants in vain sought to recover their strength encreasing to a Thousand with which they got Pyraeus the Suburbs of Athens on the Port and slew Seventy of the Three Thousand which came to expect them and Critias the chief Tyrant The Tyrants send for Aid to Sparta and Lysander is sent with Forces and Pausanias followed not to overthrow Thrasybulus but after some shew to work Peace which he did sending the Thirty and others that were the cause of the Tumult to Sparta CHAP. X. Cyrus the Younger his Expedition into Persia. § 1. ARtaxerxes Mnemon or the mindful succeeded in Persia Established by his Father who also at his Mother Parasali's earnest intreaty pardoned his Brother Cyrus's aspiring and Established him Vice-Roy in Lydia and those parts § 2. Cyrus after such Disgrace from his Brother who spared his Life only for his Mothers importunity of whose Favour he presumed knowing also the Affections of his People and presuming upon the Lacedemonians formerly aided by him thought his Interest to the Crown worth prosecuting He sends to Sparta which commands their Admiral to be at his command he seized on some Towns subject to Tissaphernes furnished the Grecian Captains with Money to List Souldiers to be at his Command then making a shew of Besieging Miletus he calls over his Grecian Forces and suddainly set forward toward Persia. § 3. Tissaphernes posting to the Court his News caus'd great Exclamations and Fear in which the King gathered his Army of Nine hundred Thousand with which yet he durst not venture the Tryal The Greeks which follow Cyrus are with difficulty allured over Euphrates c. but being over resolved to find out Artaxerxes who was retiring to the utmost Border of his Kingdom had not Teribazus one of his Captains dissuaded him § 4. Cyrus with his Army of One hundred thousand drawing toward his Brother who had Intrenched Forty Miles in Length Thirty Foot broad and Eighteen deep and yet left it at length when he thought he had been fled was forced suddenly to Arm. The Greeks not used to incounter such Multitudes began to distrust their own Courage yet upon the On-set found they had to do with so many contemptible Cowards
Cynea who replied He might do so if he could be content with his own Pyrrhus carrieth an Army of almost Thirty Thousand choice Souldiers to the Tarentines who were nothing forward in provision for War which while he was employ'd about Levinus the Roman Consul drew near wasting the Lucans so that Pyrrhus was forc'd with his own and some weak assistance of the Tarentines to try the Roman Valour But seeing them come on so bravely he offered to arbitrate a Peace between them and the Tarentines but was answered They neither chose him their Iudge nor feared him their Enemy Pyrrhus upon view of their Camp perceiving he had to deal with Men well-trained set a strong Corps du Guard upon the passage of the River which when he saw them force he thought it time to bring on his whole Forces before all the Army was come over and all little enough while Spear and Sword were used But when his Elephants came in the Roman Horse quickly turned head and the Foot at the sight and first impression of those strange Beasts fled with such consternation that they left their Camp to the Enemy Yet Pyrrhus by this trial finding the Romans could better endure many such Losses than he such Victories sent Cyneas to persuade an Agreement with the Romans which they refused as long as he was in Italy This Answer inflam'd Pyrrhus with desire to enter into League with that gallant City which refused to treat of Peace except he first left Italy They come therefore to a second Battel which he obtain'd by his Elephants but with such loss of the Flower of his Army that he desired any occasion to be gone with Honour § 4. Pyrrhus waiting an opportunity to leave Italy hath two occasions offered and first from Madecon where Ptolomy Ceraunus who had murthered Seleucus his Protector was slain by the Gauls who came out of the Country with those who took Rome and passing through many Countries and making long abode in Pannonia at length came to Macedon under one Belgius after whom came Brennus another Captain with One Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Foot and Fifteen Thousand Horse which Sosthenes with the Macedonians avoided by shutting up the Cities At the same time also the Cicilians sent to Pyrrhus for aid against the Carthaginians which occasion he took and with Thirty Thousand Foot and Two Thousand Five Hundred Horse entred Sicily expell'd the Carthaginians won Erex the strong City and in Syracusa began to play the Tyrant But being again called into Italy by the Tarentines against the Romans he was beaten by the Carthaginians Gallies and after that forced out of Italy to Epirus by M. Curius the Roman § 5. Antigonus Son of Demetrius Poliorcetes with an Army Navy and Treasure came into Macedon while Brennus with most of his Gauls was gone to plunder the Temple of Delpâ—os leaving Fifteen Thousand Foot and Three Thousand Horse These went to Antigonus requiring him to buy his Peace to whose Embassadors he shewed his Riches Navy Camp and Camels This being reported at their return inflamed the Gauls to hasten thither of whose coming Antigonus having intelligence left his Camp and put himself and all his Men into a Wood so the Gauls finding him gone hasted to the Sea-side supposing him fled Part of Antigonus's Army having recovered their Ships espying the Gauls presumptuous disorder taking their time suddenly went on shoar and set upon them with such Resolution that after the slaughter of many the rest yielded to Antigonus This Success bred in the Barbarians a great reputation of Antigonus but his own Men had no better opinion of him than of one who crept into Woods at sight of the Enemy This appeared shortly after when Pyrrhus being returned to Epirus with a small Army of Eight Thousand Foot and Five Hundred Horse came to make Devastations in Macedon in hope to force Antigonus to compound with him for his Peace At his entrance Two Thousand of Antigonus's Souldiers Revolted to him and many Cities yielded by which good beginning he took Courage to attempt Antigonus and his Army for the Kingdom Antigonus had no inclination to fight with him but to weary him with protracting time but Pyrrhus so forced a Streight in which he overtook him that he slew most of the Gauls Antigonus not taking any care to relieve them which the Captains of the Elephants fearing to be their own case yielded Then Pyrrhus went to the Phalanx which could not be Charged but in Front which was very dangerous but perceiving they had no desire to fight he drew near to them in Person persuading them to yield which they presently did so Antigonus with a few Horse fled to Thessalonica but is forced by Ptolomy Son of Pyrrhus who pursued him to fly to Peloponesus § 6. Pyrrhus having gotten the Kingdom of Macedon beaten Antigonus and the Gauls he thought himself without match in any of the Kingdoms of Alexander's Conquests He therefore raised an Army of Twenty Five Thousand Foot Two Thousand Horse and Twenty Four Elephants as against Antigonus in Peloponesus to free such Cities as he held there but indeed to restore King Cleonymus to Lacedemon but made shew of all Friendship to them This dissimulation the Lacedemonians had used 'till none would trust them and yet now they were not hurt by Pyrrhus's use of it by reason of his deferring the assaults 'till they had fortified the Town which was never done before He assailed the Town three days together and had won it the second day but for a Fall his wounded Horse gave him and the third day relief came unto them so that despairing to carry it he was content to go to Argos whither one Faction of the City called him promising to render it as the other Faction called Antigonus but both sides repented it when they were come and desired their departure which Antigonus assured them by Hostages Pyrrhus promised but design'd it not for by Night his Complices opened him a Gate at which his Army entred 'till the Elephants came which stop'd up the Gates from whence grew the Alarum the Citizens arm and put the Souldiers in the dark to great confusion they being ignorant of the Streets yet Pyrrhus gain'd the Market-place Antigonus came to their rescue and Pyrrhus is slain by a Slate cast from an House by a Woman whose Son was fighting with him THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD BOOK V. Part I. From the setled Rule of Alexander's Successors 'till the Romans Conquer'd Asia and Macedon CHAP. I. Of the First Punick War § 1. CArthage had stood above Six Hundred Years when she contended with Rome for Sicily it surpass'd Rome in Antiquity One Hundred and Fifty Years as well as in Dominion which extended from the West part of Cyrene to Hercules's Streights Fifteen Hundred Miles wherein stood Three Hundred Cities It commanded Spain and all the Islands in the Mediterranean South-West from Sicily it had Flourished about Seven Hundred and Thirty Years when
unprosperous than that of Generals besides the Rapes Slaughters Devastations c. which are so hateful to God That were not the Mercies of God infinite as Monluc Marshal of France confessed it were in vain for those of his profession to hope for any portion thereof such Cruelties being permitted or committed by them And true it is that as the Victories obtained by so many of the greatest Commanders are commonly ascribed either to Fortune or to their Followers or Cowardize of the vanquished so the most whose Virtues have raised them above all Envy have in the end been rewarded either with Disgrace Banishment or Death as Examples both of the Romans and Grecians Witness § 3. Philip well perceiving the Romans aimed at his Kingdom repented himself of his Obsequiousness to them Yet was in ill Condition to help himself having been beaten by them his People unwilling to deal with them and no Friends to assist him Yeâ— Necessity the Mother of Invention made him resolved to remove the Inhabitants of his Maritime Towns to Emathia and people them with Thracians that feared not the Romans He also designed to draw the Bacternae an hardy Nation beyond Danubius into Dardania and to root out the Dardanians always troublesome to Macedon But this device took slow effect and was hindred divers ways His Subjects removed against their Will broke into words which his cruel Nature seeking to repress by putting many unto Death increased to exclamation which inflamed him barbarously to Massacre their Children After this the Furies enter his own House and Vengeance was poured upon him from Heaven in his own Children as was thought by the jealousie he had of Demetrius his Younger Son and the fear Prusius had of him for his Interest in the Romans Affections Wicked Instruments are not wanting who counterfeit a Letter from Quintius to Philip intreating for Demetrius with an intimation of his ambitious Desire against his Brother Prusius One Didas also to whom he was committed by Philip pretending Friendship to him sounded him and told the King that he meant to flye to the Romans who would not fail him So the Father without any examination commanded his unhappy Son to be Murdered and after upon his Cousin Antigonus his searching found out the Contrivance too late Hereupon he intended to confer the Kingdom upon Antigonus but Death prevented it § 4. Perseus succeeded his Father who had Reigned Forty two Years he thought it not expedient to imbroil himself so soon with the Roman War but to settle his Dominions and therefore to prevent danger slew Antigonus Then to get his Subjects Affections he sate in Judgment and made them many publick Shows and to win the Romans he sent and renewed the League Masanissa had heretofore taken the Country of Emporia from Carthage and about this time he took other Land from them by force about Seventy Towns and Castles of which when the Carthaginians complained by their Embassadours prostrate with Tears before the Senate desiring Right or Liberty to defend themselves against him or at least to know how far Masanissa should be allowed to proceed And if none of these would be granted that then the Senate it self would inflict upon them what they thought meet rather than to keep them in continual fear of this Numidian Hangman See the fruits of their Envy against that valiant Family of the Barchines and of the Roman Peace desired by Hanno which hath made them Slaves to the Servants of the Numidian whose Fathers they had used to sell over Africk and Greece Their Answer was gentle but without effect and Masanissa hath a mild rebuke Perseus is not yet brought into such a Yoke but must be for he is questioned for taking up Arms without their leave though to subdue his own Rebels After the same manner they dealt with Greece And of all others with the Achaeans who presumed most on their Favour So that all saw that the Roman Patronage tended to nothing but the bondage of Greece This gave Perseus hopes to find a Party there as indeed he did though it little availed him § 5. Eumenes King of Pergamus hated Perseus exceedingly not only for an Hereditary quarrel with Macedon but for that he perceived the Greeks began to favour him more than himself whom they seemed to neglect for being over serviceable to Rome For Redress hereof he thought it not hard to induce the Romans utterly to overthrow the Macedonian Kingdom which the Greeks now adored to which end he took a second Journey to Rome where he laboured to provoke the Fathers against Perseus which needed not though yet they heard him willingly that their Pretence of War might have the fairer shew as proceeding from the information of such a King come on purpose so far as out of Asia The Rhodians also were there with the Macedonian Embassadours to answer with matter of recrimination that Eumenes had provoked the Lycians to Rebel against the Rhodians Careless Audience was given to the Rhodians for their Friendly Office in conveying Laodice the Daughter of Antiochus to Perseus and their Answer is that the Lycians were assigned to Rhodes not as Vassals but Associates Thus their Subjects are become their Fellows Masanissa and the Aetolians whose Subjects were not increased by the Romans or by the Cities and Peo +ple bestowed upon them after Antiochus's Overthrow but their Friends had cause to resent this Decree The Macedonian Embassadours were heard not so carelesly as angerly being glad that Harpatus the chief Embassadour had by violent Speeches given them cause of anger And though Perseus his faint Heart was not sit to threaten Yet now he might think to get more by a little Bravery than submission seeing the Eyes of all Greece were set upon him for a Delivery from the Roman Servitude And it seems Perseus was not very cautious of offending them when he hired three or four Ruâ—â—ians to Murder Eumenes in his return from Worshiping at Delphos whom they had left for Dead though he recovered The Report of his Death made Attalus his Brother to take upon him as King and would have taken Stratonica his Wife as a matter of State had not Eumenes's coming home put a stop to it All which Eumenes only checked with wishing him not to Marry with the Queen till he was sure the King was Dead who then bequeathed her to him The Senate upon these occasions Decree War and send Embassadours to require satisfaction or to denounce it which Perseus slights calling the Romans greedy and insolent commanding them to depart This present heat was too much he wanting constant resolution which he neglected in hope of Peace § 6. Rome had now fair occasion of War with Macedon which though it had been long sought yet the preparation for War was to seek and the want of it helped to sound the disposition of Greece which they solicite by Embassadours with better terms than Threatnings though they durst not but promise aid to them