Antioch to recruit his broken Army whereupon Judas exhorted the People that as an Acknowledgment of God's Favour and Goodness in giving them so many Victories they should go up to Jerusalem purge the Temple and offer Sacrifice which they did with much Devotion giving Praise and Thanks to Almighty God for their Deliverance rebuilding the Altars and repairing the Breaches After this he set upon his Enemies and wasted them round about Jerusalem relieving those Jews that were distressed by their Enemies by his Brother Simeon whom he sent with an Army unto Galliles and other places obtaining these and many other gallant Victories with little Loss of Men which made Antiochus storm and in the End send Bacchides the Great Marshal of his Army with a mighty Force even all the Strength of Syria and Judas having but few in number many being fled for Fear nevertheless contrary to the Mind of his Captains who desired him to retreat till he was better recruited gave Battle and the Jews fought like Lions selling their Lives at a dear Rate yet being over-powered by Numbers and enclosed with the Multitude of their Enemies Judas after he had slain many of the Enemies weary with Killing fainted and fell to the Ground where he was slain But Simeon and Jonathan recovered his Body and buried it VII The Life and famous Actions of Arthur King of the Britains who subdued the Pagan Saxons and drove them out of the Land with many other great Exploits ARthur of famous Renown and Memory the Worthy King of the Britains of whom so many wonderful Stories are related as likewise of his valiant Knights of the Round Table was according to true History passing others over the Son of Vter Pendragon got on the fair Igrene Daughter to the Duke of Cornwal and tho' he was born out of Wedlock yet afterward Vter married his Mother and left him Heir to his Kingdom tho' he had two Sisters one married to the King of the Scots and the other to the King of the Picts which Kings were highly displeased that Arthur who was not Legitimate should succeed to the Crown in bar of their pretended Right and the Saxons who a considerable time before had been called in by Vortegern under the Leading of their two Captains Hihgest and Horsa as Aid against the Picts and Scots who miserably harazed the Britains when the Romans withdrew their Forces to support their tottering Empire having of Servants forcibly possessed themselves of most of the East and Northern Parts of what is now called England Loth the Pictish King who had married the eldest Sister finding he could not by his Ambassadors prevail with the Britains to admit him their King but that they had accepted Arthur they disdaining to submit to a Stranger when they had so Valiant and Worthy a Native to defend them he joyned League with the Saxons soliciting the King of Scots to do the like resolving utterly to exterpate the British Name from off the Face of the Earth The Knowledge of this Confederacy soon rouzed King Arthur when leaving the Pleasures of his Court and having raised an Army of his own Subjects and received some Forces from Armorica or Little Britain in France he marched couragiously against the Eastern Saxons to give them Battle e're the Picts should joyn their Forces and meeting their Army very numerous about ten Miles from London he vanquished them in two bloody Battles and made them become his Tributaries and receive over them such Governours as he appointed with many other hard Conditions After this he took London and held a kind of a Parliament of the British Estates wherein it was agreed to recruit the Army and speedily march Northward against those beyond the River Humber when in Yorkshire he fought the Picts and Saxons who had joyned their Armies and overthrew them with a terrible Slaughter pursuing the flying Saxons to York where he besiged them but Scarcety and Sickness growing in his Army and hearing great Multitudes of Picts and Saxons who had passed the Seas from Germany under Occa their Captain were coming to Relieve them he broke up the Siege and retired into Wales but early in the Spring marched to London and settling Affairs with the Saxons of Kent marched Northward and overthrew Colgern and Occa two Captains that were ravaging the Country and took the City of York sparing the Lives of the Inhabitants and concluded a League with Loth King of Picts wherein it was concluded that Mordred Loth's eldest Son should succeed Arthur in the Kingdom of Britain and in the mean time with Joynt Forces help to expel the Saxons and that Mordred should marry the Daughter of Gawolum a noble Britain and the Children to be brought up by the Grandfather in Britain And in this League was included the King of Scots who at King Arthur's Desire joyned their Forces near Tinmouth where they overthrew the Saxons with a terrible Slaughter killing Colgern and Childrick two of their chiefest Captains so that the remaining Saxons were so disheartened that most of them left the Kingdom others submitted to live peaceably under such Governours as should be appointed them and turned Christians at least in Shew and such as stayed after Proclamation and refused to be Baptized suffered Death Then the King repaired several Churches the Pagan Saxons had ruinated But the Saxons of the Isle of Wight joyning with those of Kent and Sussex fell surprizingly upon the Britains that inhabited amongst them flew them and made Spoil of their Goods but the King with the Aid of the Picts and Scots marched against them who feignedly sent their Supplications to him to treat about their departing the Land but whilst they were Treating they fell upon the advanced Part of the King's Army and killed many of them and tho' their Commanders sent to excuse it as done rashly by some who were ignorant of the Treaty the King resolved to Punish such Treachery which he did by setting upon them with such Fury that few of their great Army escaped the Slaughter and many urg'd by the devouring Sword behind threw themselves into the River to avoid it and were drowned and so the Land was cleared of all but those who complied to the Terms beforementioned And in this Battle with his Sword called Callibourn some Histories say he slew 800 but this looks something incredible but certain it is he returned Victorious from twelve set Battles besides Skirmishes the 1st at the River Gleyn 2 3 4 and 5 at the River Douglass in Lenox 6 at the River Bassus 7 in the Callidonian Wood 8 near the Castle of Guiven 9 at Carleon 10 near Richwood 11 on a Hill called Agued Cathbergain and 12th at Bath or Bathen Hill Some Authors mention he had several Battles with the Danes and Norwigians and drove those Invaders out of the Land and when Lucius Hiberius the Roman Legate came to demand Tribute for Britain King Arthur stoutly answered That from Constantine the Great Son of
from him so that he sell by the Sword of the Ammonites And David took Barsheba to be his Wife and after the Prophet had reproved him he wept bitterly but that Child dying he begot on her Solomon who after was King of Israel Yet God punished him for this Sin by the Ravishment of his Daughter Tamar the Murther of his Son Amnon and lastly by the Rebellion of his Son Absolom who drove him almost out of his Kingdom and was contrary to the King's Command after a great Defeat slain by Joab as he hung by the Hair of the Head in an Oak whose Death David lamented in a very sorrowful manner till Joab rebuked him and compelled him to speak comfortably to the People whose Sorrow had utterly disheartened them After this Victory won David was carried back with the Consent of all the People to Jerusalem where having pardoned Shimei that cursed him in his Flight angry with Joab he made Amasa Captain of his Host who had headed Absolom's Army but Joab slew him in the way as they were marching in pursuit of Sheba a Captain who had rebelled whom he besiged in Adelda where his Head by the Perswasion of a Woman of that City was cut off and thrown over the Wall upon which Joab raised the Siege Yet David having numbred the People against the Advice of his Councellors to know what Strength he had God was displeased and sent a Pestilence that consumed a great number of them And now David having reigned eleven Years in Peace betook himself to Piety and Devotion writing his Hymns and Psalms in the Praise of God and preparing Materials to build the Temple and when he had reigned forty Years he died in the seventy second Year of his Age appointing his Son Solomon to succeed him in the Throne VI. The Life and valiant Actions of Judas Maccabeus Captain of the Israelites against Atiochus the Persecuting King of Syria AMong other famous Worthies of the World who stood as a Bulwark in the Defence of their Country and by true Valour with small Numbers got almost incredible Victories over the Multitude of their Enemies I must worthily rank Judas Maccabeus the renowed Captain of the Jews In the youthful Days of this valiant Heroe some of the looser sort of the Jews being punished for their Disorders and the Neglect of their Religion fled to Antiochus Epiphanius who reigned over Syria and a great part of Asia being one of those Greek Captains who had parted Alexander's Empire amongst them This cruel King they earnestly solicited to invade Jerusalem who in the Year of the World 3796 sent a great Army to invade the Land of Judea who slaughtered all that fell in their way burning and destroying their Towns and Strong-holds and had Jerusalem betrayed to him by the Factious Party who over-powering the others open'd the Gates and let in the Army where they sacrilegiously robbed the Temple carrying away the Golden Table Candlesticks and Censures with all other Vessels and Things of Value dedicated to the Worship of God raising a cruel Persecution against the believing Jews who refused to fall down and Worship their Idols fleying some alive roasting and broiling others boiling some in Cauldrous and putting the seven Sons of the Maccabes to horrible Torments by broiling them on Grid-irons and frying them in Brass Pans alive c. which Torments they overcame with a admirable Patience Constancy and Courage till Death eased them and gave lasting Joys for short Pain He 〈◊〉 threw the Altars slew the Priests and strangled their Children in the Arms of their weeping Mothers and prophanded the Temple of God with abominable Sacrifices In the time of this Dissolation in the Holy City and others God stired up the Spirit of Matthias Father of Judas Maccabeus to begin the Deliverance of his People from the Cruelties of the Heathen Tyrant This Man was a Priest who with his valiant Sons and other Godly Jews retired to the City of Modin where he was soon summoned to surrender and submit himself and all with him to the Tyrant's Mercy but he refused and calling the People together repeated all the miseries and Cruelties the Nation of the Jews had suffer'd exhorted them to be couragious and trust in God as he and their Fathers had done in the like Distress and revenge them on their Merciless Enemies with other encouraging Words which made them take Heart and resolve to stand in Defence of their Religion and Lives and fight on the Sabbath-day if they were assaulted which before they had refused for fear of breaking it suffering their Throats to be cut without Resistance their Enemies hunting 'em out in Woods and Caves whether they were fled and chusing for that Purpose to fall on them on that Day And whilst they were thus consulting an irreligious Jew to please the King's Commissioners prâ—â—â—â—tly stept forth and slewis Swine on the Altar to do Sacrifice to Jupiter when Matthias in his Zeal slew the Jew and overthrew the Altar and slaying Appolonius the King 's Captain and other Soldiers that resisted he cryed out All you that are affected to the Law of your Fathers and to the Service of God follow me Upon this he assembled a great Company overthrew his Enemies Armies and slaughter ed Multitudes of them putting to Death many of the Apostate Jews but being very aged he recommended to them as their Captain his Son Judas Macchabeus and when he had exhorted them to be Couragious and expect the Divine Assistance he gave up the Ghost Judas after his Father's Death took on him the full Command and overthrew Antiochus his Lieutenant of Samaria and slew him with most of his Army taking great Spoil After this Seron Governour of Coelosyria came upon him with a great Army when Judas encouraging his Men to trust in God who with a small Force could confound the Mighty and to fight like valiant Men he fell like a Tempest on the General and in a bloody Battle slew him and 800 Syrians getting great Spoil of their Tents and Armour These unexpected Defeats so enraged Antiochus that he commanded Lysias Governour of Egypt to march with all the Power of that Country and utterly destroy the Jews or sell them for Slaves to those that would give most and utterly to lay Jerusalem wast Upon this Lysia raised a huge Army and sent them under the leading of Ptolomy Nicanor and Georgias three prime Captains and Men of great Authority with the People whereupon Judas and his Men called on God for Assistance proclaiming a Fast and humbling themselves before him and then fell upon their Enemies with great Fury with only 3000 Men so that he soon put them to the Rout covering the Field with dead Bodies and slew them in the Pursuit to the Plains of Idumea and then returned to the Spoil and soon after overthrew Lysias who invaded Judea with an Army of 60000 Foot and 5000 Horse with a mighty Slaughter so that Lysias returned to
The Famous and Renowned HISTORY OF THE Nine Worthies of the World VIZ. I. Hector Son of Priamus King of Troy II. Alexander the Great who first Conquered the World III. Julius Caesar the first Emperour of Rome IV. Joshua Captain-General of Israel V. David King of Israel VI. Judas Maccabeus a valiant Jewish Commander VII Arthur the famous British King VIII Charles the Great Emperour of Germany IX Godfrey of Bulloigne King of Jerusalem Giving a true Historical Account of their Glorious Lives Victories and Deatâ—â— London Printed by W. O. and are to be sold by the Booksellers of Pye-corner and London by The History of the Nine WORTHIES c. I. The Noble Actions Life and Death of the Famous and Renowned Hector Prince of Troy c. I Suppose there is few who have not heard of the famous Siege of Troy once a renowned City in Asia the Less against which all the Power of Greece fought ten Years e're they could subdue and utterly destroy it But being now to write of the glorious Actions of the Nine Worthies of the World whose famous Valour has made Men stand amazed and transmitted their Names and worthy Deeds to Posterity I must however say something of that War which has employed so many Pens Antient and Modern to set forth the Life and noble Atchivements of the Every-renowned and Valiant Hector the eldest Son of Priamus King of Troy This famous City commanding once so many Realms in Asia stood on the Coast of the Aegean-Sea on the Asian side near the Helespont called now the Streight of Constantinople over-against the Chersonesus of Thrace water'd by the famous Rivers Scamander and Simois after changing his Name till at length it was called Illium and Troy and was twice subdued by Hercules and Priamus Son to King Laomedon and Hesione his Daughter were carried Captives into Greece the first of them was ransom'd but the latter being very beautiful King Telamon Father to Ajax kept her for his Pleasure and would by no Entreaty consent to restore her though Priamus after the Death of his Father Laomedon coming to the Crown sent Antenor one of his chief Nobles to Telamon's Court to solicite her Delivery by whom and other Princes of the Greeks he was dismissed with Scorn and terrible Threats But Priamus concluding himself now strong enough to be revenged on the Greeks for the Injury and Affront done to him in the detaining his Sister called his Sons and Nobles to Councel laying the matter before them and requiring Advice All the Nobles approved of the Design but Hector and Helenus two of his Sons perswaded him from it as an Attempt full of Danger as likewise did Cassandra his Daughter who was a Prophetess and ever spoke Truth but never could have any Credit to be believed However the King being stedfastly bent on the matter ordered his Son Paris at whose Conception Queen Hecuba his Mother dreamed she brought forth a Fire-brand that set all Troy in a Flame was with his Brother Diophebus sent to Sparta with many Ships and armed Men where King Manelaus reigned and there being entertained as Guest they in his Absence stole away his Queen the fair Hellena Daughter to Ledea with many of her Ladies and laying the City wast brought with them great Riches to Troy where Paris was married as Venus had promised him to Hellena the most beautiful Lady in the World King Menelaus no sooner heard of this great Injury done him but he consulted with King Agamemnon his Brother and other Princes of Greece who looking upon it as an insufferable Affront done to all the Estates resolved upon a War vowing once more to level the Walls of Troy appointing Agamemnon General over all the Forces So with a thousand Ships passed from Europe to Asia and took Tenedos after a stout Resistance made by the Trojans who garisoned the strong Castle then coming near the City they Landed but not without great Effusion of Blood on both sides so that the Sea became red for Hector who by his Father 's Appointment was General of the Trojans advancing to Succour his Men that fainted with a mighty two-handed Sword levelled all in his way killing King Protesilaus as he came with a huge force to stop his Fury and soon after King Patarocleus who came upon him with two thousand Men whose rich Armour he coveted to take but was hindred by King Menon with a great Power which King after the Slaughter of Multitudes of his Men he slew in Revenge of that Disappointment driving many of the Greeks into the Sea but at last the strong Achilles Menelaus Agamennon Ajax Diomed Vlysses Idumeus and other valiant Princes and Captains getting on Shore so encouraged their Men that the Fight continued exceeding bloody till Night parted them and then the Trojans retired to the City Early the next Morning the Trojans took the Field and found the Greeks encamped not far from the City when the Trumpets sounding to Battle the two Armies joyned more furiously than before and Hector fell on like an impetuous Storm making whole Lanes of Dead before him at every stroke giving Death making Heads and Limbs to fly about the Plain till he came where King Humerus fought successfully him he encountered and soon overthrew with the slaughter of most of his Men and pressing forward came where Achilles and his Mirmydons made great Destruction overthrowing that strong Champion and slaying his Horse and had surely slain Achilles had not his Men rushed violently to his Succour and lost many of their Lives to save him and so pressing on he threw flaming Brands on the Grecian Fleet and set part of it on Fire and this Day he had gained assured Victory had he not met Ajax in the fierce Encounter and knowing him spared his Life and by him was perswaded to a Sessation of Arms for that time and making a Truce so that the Retreat was sounded much against the Will of the Conquering Trojans which Over-sight cost him his Life and the Destruction of his Family with the Ruin of the City The Greeks having gained a Truce recruited with fresh Forces secured their Fleet with Trenches and after this and some other dreadful Battles they plainly perceived unless Hector was slain all their Hopes of winning Troy was in Vain and that they should rather perish with their whole Army they then held a Consult how to bring it to pass by any means and in the Conclusion that Task was imposed on Achilles the Fiercest and Strongest of all the Greeks who watched many Opportunities but was as often worsted and wounded in all the fair Encounters and most of his Mirmydons the valiantest of the Soldiers slain till one Day contrary to the Intreaty of his Wife Andromache who dreamed if he went that Day to the Field he would be slain as also the King and the Tears of his Mother and Sisters hearing Margetton his natural Brother was slain and the Trojans in Rout he armed and
desperately rushing on slew a Multitude with his own Hand and restored the Battle but having taken a King in rich Armour Prisoner as he cast his Shield behind him to lead him out of the Ranks his Breast being Defenceless Achilles suddenly came upon him inclosed him with his Men and run his Spear into his Body so that he fell down dead and with him dyed all the Hopes of Troy for though Achilles was soon after slain by Paris Phyrrus his Son no less in Strength and Courage arriving in the Camp Paris and Tragilus King Priamus's Sons being slain and the Palladium which was the Safe-gaurd of Troy stole by Vlysses and Diomede who slew the Warders of the Tower who kept it the City was soon after taken by the means of a mighty Wooden-Horse the Greeks dedicated to Pallas to attone as they feigned for the Theft of the Palladium which upon the supposed Departure of the Enemy was by the Perswasion of one Sinon a crafty Greek drawn into the Gity and the Walls broke down to give it entrance when in the Night he let out the armed Men in the Belly of it who seized the Gate called in their Companions slew the King laid the City in Ashes and carried the Queen her Daughters and most that escaped the Sword Captives to Greece II. The Life Actions and Death of Alexander the Great King of Macedon who conquered the World c. ALexander from his many glorious Exploits and amazing Victories Sir-named The Great was the Son of Philip King of Macedon by Olympius his Queen this Philip before his Death brought all Greece under his Subjection and intended to war on the Persian Monarchy then flourishing in Asia and Part of Africa of vast Extent governed by King Darius but being slain before he put his Intendments in Execution his Son Alexander assembled the Grecian States at Corinth and was by them chosen General of their Armies in his Father's stead but soon after by the Perswasion of Demosthenes the Orator corrupted with the Gold of Persia the Lacedemonians Athenians and Thebans revolted from him and made an Alliance with Darius but Alexander soon reduced them to Obedience levelling the City of Thebes to the Ground and selling the Citizens for Slaves Thus having settled his Affairs in Greece and put to Death all those he suspected could disturd its Quiet in his Absence distributing his Treasure amongst his Commanders and Soldiers reserving nothing but Hope of the World's Empire for himself he passed into Asia with an Army of 30000 Foot and 4500 Horse mostly of Soldiers who had served his Father which small Number Darius so much despised that he sent to his Lieutenant in the Lesser Asia to fall upon and destroy them but to take Alexander alive to scourge him and send him bound in Chains to Babylon where he resided But it fell out much otherwise than he expected for with his handful of Men he overthrew several Armies commanded by the Persian Lieutenants with almost incredible Slaughter taking most of the strong Places in the Way as he marched which rouzed King Darius from his Ease and Luxury of his Court to raise the whole Strength of his Kingdom in hopes to drive out an Enemy now grown so formidable to him and a mighty Battle was fought between the Plains of Abrastum where he overthrew an Army 600000 Persians with the Loss only of 9 Foot-men and 100 Horse-men and taking exceeding rich Plunder having buried the Dead and erected several Monuments in Token of his Victory upon which a great Part of Asia submitted to him After this Battle he marched to the City of Gordium where in the Temple of Jupiter he cut the Gordian Knot in two with his Sword of which there went a Prophesie That whoever could unfold it should be King of that Country and having garrisoned that City marched on but fearing to be entangled in the narrow Passages of the huge Mountain Taurus he marched speedily over it his Foot marching five hundred Furlongs without Respite and so he came to Tursus where being taken with the pleasant River Cydnus he plunged into it to cool and refresh himself when hot which caused an Ague-fit and when Philip his Physician presented him a Portion he took it boldly though he had a Letter sent him that Philip was bribed by Darius to poison him which Letter he delivered to Philip whilst he was drinking the Potion who read it undauntedly and soon after Alexander recovered And now Darius approached with a recruited Army of 300000 Foot 100000 Horse when Alexander encouraging his Soldiers and extolling their Valour who had broke through so many Nations and been ever victorious he caused the Charge to be sounded and the two Armies rushed together with great Fury and Violence but after a bloody Encounter in which both Kings were wounded the Persians gave way after 30000 Foot and 10000 Horse were slain and 4000 taken Prisoners with the Loss of no more than 130 Foot and 150 Horse of the Macedonians and all Darius's Treasure of Gold Silver Jewels c. fell into the Hands of the Victors and among the Captive were the Mother Wife and two Daughters of Darius who fell on their Knees with piteous Cries before Alexander expecting no less than Death or worse Treatment but he kindly raised and comforted them causing them to be honouaably attended and well-used and falling into Love with the beauteous Barsione one of the captive Ladies he got a Son on her whom he named Hercules and after that married Statira the eldest Daughter to Darius giving Parisatis to his dear Friend Haephston and seizing on the Persian Fleet marched unto Syria where many of the Eastern Kings who had been tributary to Darius came and layed their Crowns at his Feet most of them receiving them again as his Bounty to be tributary under him Then he passed from Syria into Egypt taking all the Cities in his Way and having been reputed to be the Son of Jupiter Ammon and not of King Philip who had put away his Mother upon her confessing Jupiter came in the Shape of a Dragon and got him in the Absence of Philip he enquired of that and other Events at the the Temple of Ammon where the flattering Priests declared him to be the Son of Jupiter Ammon and that both Victories in all Wars and the Possession of all Lands were granted to him charging his Followers to adore him as a God which puffed him up with such Pride which together with the Luxury of Asia utterly debauched his Virtues for complaining of which Parmenio one of his greatest Captains was by his Command flead alive and his Son Philotes slain After this he built a City on the Sea-coast of Egypt calling it Alexandria from his own Name and settled a Colony of Macedonians in it And here Darius writ to him to part his Empire with him and that he should freely enjoy his Part with his Daughter also he offered him a vast Sum to redeem
Senate fled with the greater Part of the Inhabitants whereupon he 〈…〉 without Resistance and was received by his Friends with joyful Acclamations then he seiz'd on the vast Treasure sent by all Nations as Tribute in the Temple of Saturn enriching his Soldiers and having settled Affairs and hearing Pompey was gathering forces in Greece and other Easter Countries he hasted after him with Part of his Army leaving Mark Anthony with the rest in Calabria who lingering behind Caesar impatient of Delay in a stormy Night stole from his Army and in a little Fisher-boat passed the Seas to fetch them a Danger the meanest of his Soldiers would not have ventured And then having his full Army after some Skirmishes and taking of Towns and drawing a Bullwark about Pompey's Army of fifteen Miles in Circuit both Armies upon the Plains of Thessaly joyned in a dreadful Battle where Crastinus an old Soldier crying out O Caesar I shall so behave my self this Day praise me alive or dead threw the first Pile and was himself slain being run through the Mouth with a Sword In this Battle Caesar as in all others was victorious most of the Senators and noble Romans with 40000 others being slain and Pompey fled to Egypt for Succour from King Ptolomy and being invited on Shore with great Promises of Kindness was treacherously slain e're he landed by Achilles and Septinus and his Head cut off and that Embalmed for Caesar's fight but he coming into Egypt not only detested the base Murther but wept over the Head causing it with the Body honourably to be buried But soon Phatinus and others of the Court conspired to take his Head but by his Courage and Fortune were prevented by his firing the Ship-house and swimming to his own Fleet after which he conquered all Egypt and the King in his Flight being drown'd in the River Nilus he made Cleopatra his Sister Queen and begot on her a Son named Cesaria afterwards slain by the Command of Octavius Augustus Having settled Affairs in Egypt he overthrew Pharnaces who had rebelled in Asia and in the Field of Thapsus in Africa in a bloody Battle overthrew Cipio the Roman General and Juba King of Mauritania who joyned his Forces with him Then coming to Rome had all the Honours he could wish heaped on him But Pompey's Son raising a War in Spain drew him thither where in the fatal Battle of Munday he overthrew them Then returning to Rome was decreed by the Senate Perpetual Dictator ever Augustus and Father of his Country had Temples and Statues erected to his Honour and without Controul whatever he pleased But attempting to be made a King that he might overcome the Parthians Brutus and Cassius with other Senators conspired against him and though several unlucky Dreams and Omens fore-run his Death as his Dreaming he was taken up into the Clouds and shook Hands with Jupiter his Wife 's dreaming the Night before he was slain she found him stabbed and bloody in her Arms a little Wren flying with a Laurel-branch to Pompey's Theatre was pulled to pieces by other Birds and all the Sacrifices appearing unlucky yet undaunted he went to the Senate-house and pocketed by the way a Scrole presented him unread that revealed the whole Conspiracy but no sooner had he taken his Seat but Cimber rudely took him by the Shoulders and the rest stabbed him with twenty three Wounds he in vain resisting such a Multitude And thus this Worthy never overcome but always fortunate in Wars fell a Sacrifice to the inraged Gown-men but his Death was severely revenged on them IV. The famous Life and Renowned Acts Joshua Captain General of the Israelites who subdued thirty Kings with the whole Land of Canaan AFter Moses by the mighty Hand of God with many Signs and Wonders had brought the Children of Israel out of their Egyptian Bondage fed and instructed them forty Years in the Wilderness he having Notice to prepare for his Death by the Appointment of God chose Joshua the Son of Nun to succeed him as Captain General of the People and utterly to subdue the Canaanites on the other side Jordan as he had done on this side When going up into Mount Abarim Moses died and was buried by God in a Valley least the Israelites who had a great Veneration for him knowing the Place of his Burial should have builded an Alter there and committed Idolatry in Worshipping him Upon Notice that Moses was dead Joshua encamped two Days before the River Jordan and on the third the Priests entered with the Ark of God when immediately the Waters retreated and stood like a Wall on either Hand so that the whole Army whilst the Priests stood in the middle passed over on dry Ground and then they took twelve Stones according to the Tribes and raised as a Monument to succeeding Ages And no sooner were the Priests come out of the River but the Waters returned to their full Forces before And the Princes of the Tribe of Gad and Rhuben and the Half Tribe of Manasses to whom the Land of the Amorites being the seventh Part of Canaan fell as a Lot of Inheritance having sent 50000 fighting Men to assist their Brethren in conquering the rest Joshua sent Spies to Jerico to view that strong fenced City who had been destroyed upon Notice of their coming had not Rahab the Harlot hid them under Bundles of Linnen till the Search was over and then let them down by the Wall in a Basket so they escaped to Joshua by which good Office she saved herself and her Houshold when the City was utterly destroyed for Joshua immediately went against it and by the command of God the Priests encompassed it six Days blowing Trumpets of Rams-horns and on the seventh Day seven times when by the mighty Power of God the Walls fell flat to the Ground and the whole Army marching into the City destroy'd all the People Rahab and her Houshold accepted and burnt it with Fire laying up the rich Spoil as the First-fruits of their Victory as a Dedication to God Almighty except a Wedge of Gold and a rich Babilonian's Garment which Achan with-held and hid in his Tent but going against Aii a strong fenced City and the Men of Israel being there discomfitted and thirty of them slain this Fraud was discovered to be the Cause of it and Achan stoned to Death after which they took Aii and put all to the Sword except the King who taken alive was hanged on a Tree as the like also they did by the City of Bethel and the rich Spoil was divided amongst the People The Gibeonites who dwelt in a Town near Jerusalem hearing how Joshua destroyed all before him dealt craftily sending Ambassadours pretendedly from a far Country wearing old Shooes and Cloaths with rent Bottles and mouldy Bread to make a League which they did but for this Deceit they were nevertheless punished by being made Slaves to hew Wood and draw Water for the Camp And