Empire of China WE should now according to our Proposal in the beginning of the Second Chapter proceed to the Fourth Great Monarchy which was that of the Romans but upon second Thoughts we judge it convenient to alter that Method how Natural soever at first sight it may seem we shall before we proceed to that give you an Account of those Petty Monarchies which were Contemporary to and conquered one after another by the Three Great Monarchies of the Assyrians Persians and Grecians and were at last all of them swallowed up by the Roman of which they became so many Petty Provinces But because the Chinese Monarchy has of late Days been much discoursed of we shall in this Chapter by way of Digression treat of that Empire thô it has no relation to and was never dependant on the four Great Monarchies as being never conquered by them or any other till of late years they were over-run by the Tartars their Neighbours and therefore we should not in this Treatise have inserted any thing of China were it not that the Learned World is grown extremely Inquisitive into all that concerns this great Empire If the Accounts and Relations we have of the Chinese were exact and true it must be owned that this great Empire is the most ancient and has lasted the longest of any in the World The Chinese Historians maintain as a thing Self-evident the Fohi their first King ascended the Throne 2952 years before Christ. They tell us that this Prince and the seven next who succeeded him and had been Elective Emperors reigned the space of 745 years That after this the Empire of China became Hereditary to several Families who governed it the space of almost 4700 years However Extravagant and Incredible the Chronology of the Chinese may appear yet it may be reconciled to that of the Bible which we follow chiefly We need only suppose that Noah who was born 2894 years before the Birth of Iesus Christ was Fohi the first Emperor of China The Description which the Chinese give us of this Fohi may very well agree with Noah This is no such extraordinary Supposition if we consider that several Nations looked upon Noah as their Head and Founder For is not he that Saturn of whom the Poets speak and whose three Sons Iupiter Neptune and Pluto are Shem Ham and Iaphet the three Sons of Noah After all suppose we cannot reconcile the History of China as to its Chronology with that of the Bible yet there is no Question to be made which of the two ought to be followed whether that whereof the Spirit of God is the Author or the other which has only Human Testimony to support it And would it not be exposing our Holy Religion to the Scorn and Derision of the Prophane and Atheistical if we should prefer Human before Divine Testimony This will appear the more unreasonable if we briefly consider these two Things First that the Chronology of the Chinese is very dubious and uncertain their Annalists cannot agree in their Accounts su-ma-quam one of the most Celebrated among them makes their Empire to begin in the time of Hoamâ—ti 250 years later than Fohi And then in the next place how full of Romantick and Extravagant Fables is the History One Instance may serve for all In the time of Confucius a certain Lausu lived who is said to have been 80 years together in his Mother 's Womb. And now shall we give up the Account in Sacred Writ which is True Certain and Authentick which Men inspired by God himself have given us which has been approved of by the Learned Men of all Ages and confirmed by several General Councils shall we I say give up such an Account so delivered and so authorized to the vain fabulous and uncertain Account of Human Tradition But however that we may not so much as seem to put the least Slight on that which so many Learned Men have in such great Esteem 't is requisite to give you a short Scheme of the History of the Chinese In doing this we shall observe our former Method of reducing the Monarchies to certain set Periods of Time and we shall consider China under XXIII States from the first founding of its Empire to the present year 1698 which lasted about 4596 years Years of the World Years before Christ. 1052. The first State was under eight Elective Emperors and lasted about 728 years 2898 1780. The second State was under the I. Family named Hia which had 17 Emperors and lasted about 448 years 2170 2228. The third State was under the II. Family named Xam which had 28 Emperors and lasted about 632 years 1722 2860. The fourth State was under the III. Family named Cheu which had 35 Emperors and lasted about 853 years 1090 3713. The fifth State was under the IV. Family named Cin which had 4 Emperors and lasted 43 years 237 3756. The sixth State was under the V. Family named Han which had 25 Emperors and lasted about 415 years 194 Years of Christ. The seventh State was under the VI. Family named Heu-han which had 2 Emperors and lasted 44 years 221 The eighth State was under the VII Family named Cin which had 15 Emperors and lasted 155 years 265 The ninth State was under the VIII Family named Sum which had 8 Emperors and lasted 59 years 421 The tenth State was under the IX Family named Ci which had 5 Emperors and lasted about 23 years 480 The eleventh State was under the X. Family named Leam which had 4 Emperors and lasted 55 years 503 The twelfth State was under the XI Family named Chin which had 5 Emperors and lasted about 32 years 557 The thirteenth State was under the XII Family named Sui which had 3 Emperors and lasted 29 years 589 The fourteenth State was under the XIII Family named Tam which had 20 Emperors and lasted 289 years 618 The fifteenth State was under the XIV Family named Heu-Leam which had 2 Emperors and lasted 16 years 907 The sixteenth State was under the XV. Family named Heu-Tam which had 4 Emperors and lasted 13 years 923 The seventeenth State was under the XVI Family named Heu-Cin which had 2 Emperors and lasted 11 years 936 The eighteenth State was under the XVII Family named Heu-Han which had 2 Emperors and lasted 4 years 947 The nineteenth State was under the XVIII Family named Heu-Cheu which had 3 Emperors and lasted 9 years 951 The twentieth State was under the XIX Family named Sum which had 18 Emperors and lasted 319 years 960 Hitherto the Chinese had no Emperors but of their own Country but after the nineteenth Imperial Family named Sum was extinct in the year of the Lord 1279 the Tartars became Masters of that Empire and their Family went under the Name of Iven The twenty first State was under the XX. Family named Iven which had 9 Emperors and lasted 89 years 1279 In the year 1369 the Chinese of the Family of Tai-Minga drove out
the Tartars and ascended the Throne of the Empire of China and established the 21st Family named Mim The twenty second State was under the XXI Family named Mim which had 16 Emperors and lasted 276 years 1369 In the year 1645 Zunchin the last Emperor of the Family of Mim being conquered by the Tartars who invaded his Territories retired into a Garden of his Palace where he hanged himself And Xunchi who had conquered China was the first Founder of the 22d Family named Cim The twenty third State was under the XXII Family named Cim and is that Family which is at present in Possession of the Throne We have had so little to do with China till of late Days that 't is hardly worth our while to set down the Names and the Chronological Succession of all the pretended Chinese Emperors from the time of Noah yet if any Credit be to be given to the Account which Father Martini and Father Couplet two Jesuits have handed down to us about this Matter I believe we could not put too high an Esteem on such a Chronological Series of Kings which reaches to the very first Ages of the World But to be plain in the case We do not think these Collections to be much worth since we are uncertain whether these Fathers were able Criticks or no and upon what Memoirs they founded their Account For thus much we learn from their very Histories That there happened several Distrubances in China which occasioned the Loss of a great many of its ancient Records Mention is therein made of a certain Yven-ti the third Emperor of the tenth Family who about the year of our Lord 552 when he saw himself apprehended and made Prisoner before he would surrender himself broke his Sword and burnt his Library wherein were above 140000 Volumes which he did upon the Consideration that neither his Sword nor his Books would be of any farther use to him In short let the Case be how it will I fancy no body would believe me if I should here say That Hoam-ti the third Elected Emperor 2697 years before Iesus Christ built a Temple to the Supreme Monarch of the Universe That he adorn'd his Head with the Regal Diadem That he made choice of a Yellow-colour'd Habit which none of his Subjects durst wear That he was a great Lover of Musick And that he brought Astronomy and Physick to its Perfection For we are so uncertain upon what Grounds these things are told us that we read all this Account as a perfect Romance However we shall here subjoin some Curiosities which cannot but create a great deal of Pleasure and Satisfaction to them who read it Confucius the Chinese Philosopher IN the year of the World 3233 and 717 years before Iesus Christ was the famous Confucius born the greatest Philosopher that China ever had He drew in his first Breath in the Village of Leu ye hard by the City of Kiofeu in the Province of Xanton on the North of Nankin It was under Kimvam the 24th Emperor of the third Family that he began to signalize himself by the fineness of his Philosophy to the Profession of which he adjoyned a singular Innocence of Manners His Writings are full of very fine Maxims and such as tend wholly to establish Quietness in private Families and Peace in the publick State He was of the Opinion that it is very important for Sovereign Princes that the Fathers should have a Supreme Authority over their Children He would have their Authority be very extensive because in truth the Inclination of a Child receiving a right Ply betimes and being kept to an entire Dependance under a Paternal Authority would be the more easy to submit to the Yoke of Regal Power The Chinese and the adjacent Nations such as the Inhabitants of Tunquin and Iapan stiled Confucius a wise and a holy Man His Writings are in as much Esteem among those Nations as the Gospel is among the Christians There is scarce a City but has a magnificent College dedicated to Confucius and every where may be seen Inscriptions in Golden Letters To the Memory of the Great Master or rather To the Memory of the Illustrious Prince of Learning Never did any Philosopher receive greater Honours from his own Country insomuch that his Posterity was highly honoured not only by Noble Titles but also by great Revenues and particular Marks of Esteem About the year of the World 3728 Xi-hoan-ti the second Emperor of the fourth Family governed with a great deal of Severity and Cruelty This was the Man who caused the famous Wall to be built to cover China from the Incursions of the Tartars About the year of the World 3786 reigned Ven-ti the third Emperor of the fifth Family who was a Prince of extraordinary Temper In his time Paper was first invented in China In the year of Christ 650 Cao-cum caused several Temples to be erected to the true God and favoured the Establishment of Christianity which had been formerly preached in China under his Predecessor In the year of Christ 1064 Ym-cum the fifth Emperor of the nineteenth Family began to reign In his time lived the famous Historiographer Su-ma-quam whose Annals begin with Hoam-ti which most of the Chinese look upon as the first Founder of their Monarchy We hope this short Account of the Chinese thô by way of Digression will not be ungrateful to the Learned World and shall now proceed to give you an Account of those other States and Empires which afterwards being conquered composed successively a great part of the Roman Monarchy beginning with that of Egypt as being one of the most ancient CHAP. VI. Of the Kings of Egypt EGypt anciently called Misraim and the Land of Ham Aeria Potamia Ogygia Melampodus and Osyria derived its present Name from Egyptus the Brother of Danaus It is part of Africa bounded on the North by the Egyptian or rather part of the Mediterranean Sea on the East by Arabia Petrea and Sinus Arabicus on the South by Ethiopia and on the West by Cyrenaica It was formerly divided into the Vpper and Lower Egypt but at present it is divided into four Parts I. Errif or the Lower Egypt containing the old proper Egypt and Augusticana II. Pechria Demisor or Middle Egypt containing the greatest part of old Arcadia III. Sahid or the Vpper Egypt part of old Thebais IV. The Coast of the Red Sea containing part of the ancient Thebais and Arcadia There is in Egypt the famous Istmus of Sues that parts the Red Sea from the Mediterranean which several Princes have in vain attempted to cut so as to joyn those two Seas There is nothing more obscure or uncertain in History than what has commonly been published concerning the Government and Succession of the first Kings of Egypt Here we walk even in Egyptian Darkness it self and cannot set two Steps forward without being misled Historians cannot agree among themselves about the Names the Time the Number nor the Series of these
make up the Breach between the young Queen and King Ptolemy who afterwards took an Occasion to fall out with Cesar. They declared War against each other Cesar was like to have been cut off but at last Ptolemy was conquered and drowned in his flight After this Cesar became Master of all Egypt which he was not then willing to make one of the Roman Provinces For he bestowed this great Kingdom on his Mistress Cleopatra for some private Favours he had received of her and to secure the Government to her married her to the younger Brother of Ptolemy 65 3904. 12. Ptolemy Iunior reigned in conjunction with Cleopatra who had the entire Authority in her own Hands because her young Brother whom she had married was not above 11 years old 46 3909. Mark Anthony charmed with the Beauty of Cleopatra abandoned the War he was engaged in against the Parthians and waited upon that Princess into Egypt where he spent whole Days and Nights in Revellings and Banquetings Pliny makes mention of a Pearl worth 50000 l. which the Queen powder'd and made him drink off to excite him to Venery Whether this be true or no is not so certain as that Anthony married Cleopatra and bestowed upon her Phenicia the Lower Syria the Isle of Cyprus Cilicia Arabia and part of Iudea The Romans were very much offended that he should be so Prodigal of what was none of his own but belonged to them Anthony after he had with great Success conquered Armenia returned back to Egypt where he gave himself up to a thousand Extravagancies He stiled Cleopatra the Queen of Queens and Ptolemy Cesareon her Son he called the King of Kings He never afterwards marched out in any Expedition but took Cleopatra with him 41 3919. Augustus Cesar offended that Anthony had repudiated his Sister Octavia upon his marrying Cleopatra rendred him odious to all the Romans and made Preparations to carry the War into Egypt against that Queen who at Rome was accused of bewitching Anthony The next year a Sea-fight happened at Actium between Anthony and Augustus wherein the former was defeated Soon after they engaged by Land where Anthony's Army was again routed and he forced to fly and was abandoned by his Friends Anthony in despair of Success laid violent Hands upon himself and soon after Cleopatra did the same by applying an Asp to her Wrist as some Authors report By her Death the Kingdom of Egypt was reduced to a Roman Province in the year of the World 3920 before Christ 30 Anno Vrbis Romae Conditae 722. We should now give you an Account of the State of Egypt as it was a Province under LVIII Emperors viz. XLI Roman and XVII Eastern which lasted 667 years to the year of Christ 637 at which time Omar the second Calif and Successor of Mahomet conquered Egypt from Heraclius the Eastern Emperor by Amar one of his Generals But this we shall treat of in the next Volume wherein we shall give you a Succession of the Roman and Eastern Emperors CHAP. VII Of Sicyonia SIcyon was one of the most ancient Cities of the World It was situated in Peloponesus a Peninsula of Greece upon a Hill about two Leagues off the Sea 'T is from this City that Sicyonia a part of Greece derives its Name The Account of this State is the most Ancient of any in Europe but withal the Darkest and most Obscure However to give some Idea of Sicyon we shall consider it under two distinct States which lasted about 966 years Sect. 1. The State of Sicyon under XXVI Kings from Egialeus who began to Reign in the Year of the World 1900 to the 33d Year of the Reign of Zeuxippus in the Year of the World 2833 which lasted 933 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 1900. 1. EGialeus reigned about 40 years 2050 1940. 2. Europs reigned about 35 years 2010 1975. 3. Telchin reigned about 15 years 1975 1990. 4. Apis reigned about 20 years 1960 2010. 5. Thelxion reigned about 40 years 1940 2050. 6. Egirus reigned about 32 years 1900 2082. 7. Thurimachus reigned 45 years 1868 2127. 8. Leucippus reigned about 53 years 1823 2180. 9. Messapus reigned 47 years 1770 2227 10. Peratus reigned 46 years 1723 2273. 11. Plemneus reigned 48 years 1677 2321. 12. Orthopolis reigned 63 years 1629 2384. 13. Melanthus or Marathon reigned 30 years 1566 2414. 14. Marathus reigned 20 years 1536 2434. 15. Echires reigned 55 years 1516 2489. 16. Chorax reigned 30 years 1461 2519. 17. Epopeus reigned 35 years 1481 2554. 18. Laomedon reigned 40 years 1396 2594. 19. Sicyon reigned 45 years from him Sicyonia took its Name which before was called Egialea 1356 2639. 20. Polybus said to be the Son of Mercury by the Daughter of Iupiter reigned 40 years 1311 2679. 21. Inachus or Ianiscus reigned 42 years 1271 2721. 22. Phestus reigned 11 years 1229 2732. 23. Adrastus reigned 4 years 1218 2736. 24. Poliphides reigned 31 years 1214 2767. 25. Pelasgus reigned 33 years 1183 2800. 26. Zeuxippus reigned 33 years 1150 Sect. 2. Years of the World Years before Christ. 2833. THE Second State of Sicyonia was governed by the Priests of Apollo on whom the Administration was devolved after the Death of Zeuxippus This State lasted only 33 years viz. to the year of the World 2866 at which time the Kings of Mycene seized upon this little Kingdom and annexed it to their own Dominions 1117 CHAP. VIII Argos THere were several Places of this Name but the Argos we treat of here was the Capital City of Argia or Argolidis It was situated on the Banks of Planizza which by the Latins was called Inachus Fluvius in Peloponesus Father Coronelli in his Description of the Morea tells us That this City formerly Dared the whole World to shew its Equal for Stateliness and Magnificence We shall consider this Kingdom under two States which lasted about 545 years Sect. 1. The First State of Argos under IX Kings began in the Year of the World 2093 which is 1081 Years before the first Olympiad Years of the World Years before Christ. 2093. 1. INachus reigned 50 years He is reckon'd by the Greeks to be the most Ancient of all the known Kings 1857 2143. 2. Phoroneus reigned 63 years He is said to be the first Law-maker 1807 2206. 3. Apis reigned 35 years He was a great Prince ruled in Egypt and was called Serapis or Osiris as the Greeks report and ruled also in Spain and Italy 1744 2241. 4. Argus reigned 70 years 1709 2311. 5. Criasus by others called Pâ—irasus reigned 54 years 1639 2365. 6. Phorbas reigned 35 years 1585 2400. 7. Triopas reigned 46 years 1550 2446. 8. Crotopus reigned 21 years 1504 2467. 9. Sthenelus reigned 11 years 1483 His Son Gelanor succeeded and was expelled by Danaus Sect. 2. The Second State of Argos under V. Kings called Danaides Years of the World Years before Christ. 2478. 1. DAnaus being driven out of Egypt by his Brother came into Argos and conquered
in his absence but was opposed by Pompey who made two Laws particularly levelled against him after which Cesar's Enemies proposed to recal him from his Government which was violently opposed by Curio who with Anthony and Longinus fled to him disguised like Slaves Upon this the famous Civil War between Pompey and Cesar broke out which lasted two years and ended by Pompey's Death For Caesar leaving his Province without Leave of the Senate passed the Rubicon became Master of Ariminum by Surprize which put Rome into so much Disorder that Pompey with the Consuls and Senate retired to Capua and thence to Brundusium After this Labienus upon some Disgust left Cesar and went over to Pompey's Party Cesar advancing took the Towns of Picenum which lay in his way and became Master of all that Province Then he marched against Lentulus who had possessed himself of Asculum but upon his Arrival retreated from the Place The next Town he invested was Corfinium which after some time and resistance he took Domitius being taken and Lentulus coming out to Caesar begg'd his Pardon After this he marched directly to Brundusium blocked up the Place and took it Pompey retreating with his Forces to Dyrrachium a City in Epirus to which Town the Consuls were already gon Caesar being now Master of all Italy but not in a Capacity to pursue Pompey for want of Shipping went to Rome to settle some sort of Government He there filled up the Senate seized upon the Treasury for the carrying on the War and soon after went to Spain He drave thence Afranius and Petreius two of Pompey's Lieutenants became Master of all Spain and took Marseilles which was held out against him by Domitius Upon his return to Rome he was made Dictator but having made several Laws laid down that Office in 11 days time After this Cesar undertook his Expedition against Pompey rendevouz'd at Brundusium he shipp'd off five of his twelve Legions and sailed to Epirus At last being joined with the rest of his Forces he marched towards Dyrrachium where he besieged Pompey in his Camp forced him to break up came to an Engagement was defeated by him and had been irrecoverably lost had Pompey known how to have made good use of his Success But he giving Caesar time to recover himself the Decisive Battel was fought in the Plains of Pharsalia wherein the two greatest Generals of the World disputed for Universal Empire The Engagement was sharp on both Sides but at last Pompey's Army was defeated himself forced to fly from Place to Place at length to Alexandria where upon his Landing he was treacherously killed by Achillas and Septimius a Roman Tribune Thus fell this great Man and by him fell the second Head of the Triumvirate leaving Caesar to be sole Master of Rome This happened in the 706th year of the City and 46 years before Christ. After the Fight at Pharsalia Cesar followed Pompey into Egypt where he heard of his Death caused a stately Sepulchre to be built by the Place where he had been murder'd with a Temple which he called the Temple of Wrath. He then went to Alexandria espoused Cleopatra's Interest worsted Photinus Administrator of the Government and by firing Ptolemy's Fleet burnt down the famous Alexandrian Library wherein as some report were 700000 Volumes At the beginning of this Expedition the Senate of Rome made him Consul for 5 years together Dictator for a whole year and Tribune for his Life After this he marched from Egypt against Pharnaces King of Bosphorus whom he subdued so soon that in writing to Anicius at Rome he expressed the Celerity of this Expedition in three words Veni Vidi Vici Upon this he embarked for Italy and went to Rome where he was scarce arrived but called away again to subdue the Remains of Pompey's Party who had rallied themselves in Africk under Scipio and Cato and Iuba King of Mauritania Against these he marched and in a Decisive Battel put an end to the Pompeian Faction on that side the Water after which Defeat Cato killed himself at Vtica Iuba and Petreius killed each other in Despair Afranius Sylla and Scipio fell into the Hands of Sitius one of Cesar's Lieutenants and were likewise killed Upon this Cesar returned in great Triumph to Rome which lasted 4 days On the first he triumphed over Gaul on the second over Egypt on the third over Pharnaces in Asia and on the fourth over Iuba After this he paid his Soldiers made large Distributions of Corn and Oyl amongst the People and entertained all Comers at 22000 Tables Upon this he was made Master of Manners committed the Power of Judicature to the Senators and Equites enacted several Laws and regulated the Roman year which Regulation we still follow calling it the Iulian Account and the Old Stile Whilst Cesar was doing this at home he was called away afresh to Spain to subdue the two Sons of Pompey who had raised a great Party against him there He went with the Character of Dictator soon reduced Spain killed Cneius Pompey but his Brother Sextus escaped He returned to Rome and triumphed thô a little ungratefully to some of Pompey's Friends Upon his return he was made Consul for 10 years Perpetual Dictator and Censor during Life stiled Deliverer afterwards Imperator then Father of his Country ☞ From hence the Fall of the Consular State is dated after it had lasted so many years and weather'd out so many Shocks The first Interruption it met with was the Creating of Dictators It was afterwards retrenched by the Tribunes of the People then intermitted by the Decemviri and Military Tribunes After this the Sedition of the Gracchi the Perpetual Dictatorship of Sylla and the Triumvirate of Cesar Pompey and Crassus were so many Steps towards the Ruin of the Consular and setting up of the Imperial State Sect. V. The Fifth State of Rome under Emperors wherein began the Fourth or Roman Monarchy 43 Years before Christ. Of the succeeding Emperors and State of Rome we shall have occasion to treat in another Volume Years of the World Years before Christ. 3907. 1. JVlius Cesar was the first Emperor thô that Title was not fully settled till Augustus's time 43 No sooner was Cesar advanced to this Honour but he made several Alterations in the Government The Praetors he increased to the number of Sixteen the Questors to Forty the Senators to Nine hundred and the Aediles to Six of which two were Patritians called Curules and four Plebeians The next year he entred upon the Consulship with M. Anthony Master of his Horse pardoned all who had been in Arms against him caused Pompey's Statues to be set up again rebuilt Carthage and Corinth sending Colonies to both Cities resolved upon marching against the Parthians to revenge the Death of Crassus and thence to enter through Hircania into Scythia to open himself a way through Germany into Gaul and so return to Rome But a stop was put to these vast Designs by his
CHRONOLOGY Chap. I. Definitions Page 1. Chap. II. The Grounds of Chronology 9. The Testimony of Authors 9. Reasons of the uncertainty of Chronology 13. Certain means of Computing Times as 9. 1. By the Testimony of Authors 18. 2. By Eclipses and Aspects of the Planets 18. 3. Vndisputed Epochas 21. Chap. III. Of the Uncertainty Chronologers are at concerning the Year wherein our Saviour was Born 23. A Catalogue of Authors disagreeing in this point 25. Chap. IV. The Usefulness of Chronological Tables to Beginners Different Divisions of Times in order to help the Memory 34. § 1. First Division of the Times into two Parts 37. § 2. Second Division into three Parts according to Varro 38. § 3. Third Division into four Parts according to the Poets 40. § 4. Fourth Division according to the several Ages of the World 42. § 5. Fifth Division of Times into thirteen Parts 43. Chap. V. A New Division of Times or the 14 Royal Epocha's of Universal Chronology 44. Epocha 1. Adam or the Creation of the World 45. Epocha 2. Noah or the Vniversal Deluge 47. Epocha 3. The Vocation of Abraham 49. Epocha 4. Moses or the Written Law 51. Epocha 5. The Taking of Troy 53. Epocha 6. Solomon or the Temple finished 54. Epocha 7. Romulus or Rome Founded 56. Epocha 8. Cyrus or the Iews restor'd 58. Epocha 9. Scipio or the Carthaginians Conquer'd 62. Epocha 10. The Birth of IESUS CHRIST 65. Epocha 11. Constantine or the Peace of the Church 69. Epocha 12. Charlemaign or the Establishment of the new Empire 74. Epocha 13. Constantinople taken by the Turks and the Christian Empire of the East terminated 83. Epocha 14. King Charles II. Restor'd the ancient Government and Laws of England re-establish'd and Europe in a profound Peace 91. PART II. Introduction to History and a Character of Historians Chap. I. Of the several Benefits of History 97. Chap. II. Rules to be observ'd in Writing History 107. Chap. III. The manner of Studying History Of the Four ancient Monarchies and of the different kinds of Political Government 112. Chap. IV. Divisions of History 121. Art 1. The Authority of the History of the People of God contain'd in the Books of the Old and New Testament 126. The Order of the Books of the Old and New Testament 131. Art 2. Of Civil History 〈…〉 145. Chap. V. The most Celebrated Authors that have written of Church History 150 An Account of the Qualities Lives and Writings of each particular Author 151 c. Chap. VI. Of the most considerable Greek and Latin Authors of Civil Histoâ—y 175. § 1. Greek writers of History Their Qualities Lives and Writings and the Iudgments of Criticks upon them 177 c. § 2. Latin Writers of ancient History an Account of each Author and his Works with the Opinions of Criticks upon them 197 c. PART III. An Account of the Ancient Monarchies which preceeded the Birth of JESUS CHRIST Chap. I. An Account of the Church of God under the Old Testament 225 Sect. 1. The State of the People of God under the 22 Patriarchs 228. A Remark concerning the Origine of Nations 230. A Remark concerning the Heads of Families of the People of God 235. Sect. 2. The State of the People of God under the 22 Iudges or Leaders 236. Sect. 3. The State of the People of God under 22 Kings 239. The Succession of the Kings of Israel 244. Sect. 4. The State of the People of God in the Time of the 22 Ancestors of Iesus Christ 249. Chap. II. An Account of the Assyrian Monarchy 254. The State of the Assyrian Monarchy from Nimrod it's first Founder down to Sardanapalus which is about 1360 years 2â—â— The State of that part of the Assyrian Monarchy which was under the Babylonians from Belochus the first King to the Death of Belshazzar the last King which lasted 271 Years 260 The State of that part of the Assyrian Monarchy which was Govern'd by the Medes from Arbaces their first King to Cyaxares or Darius the Mede 261 Chap. III. Of the Persian Monarchy 262. The Succession from Cyrus to Alexander's Conquest 262 c. Chap. IV. Of the Grecian Monarchy 267. The History of Alexander's Conquests 267. to 279 The Kingdom of the Syrians under the Successors of one of Alexander's Captains 280 The Kingdom of Pergamos or Asia Minor erected by Antigonus one of Alexander's Captains 288 Chap. V. Of the Empire of China 291 Chap. VI. Of the Kings of Egypt 297 Sect. 1. The State of Egypt under 47 Kings surnam'd Pharaohs which lasted 1220. Years till it was conquer'd by Cambyses 299 Sect. 2. The State of Egypt under 11 Kings of Persia which lasted 193 Years viz. to the time it was subjected to Alexander 305 Sect. 3. The State of Egypt under the Greeks viz. Alexander the Great and the 12 Ptolomy's which lasted 301 Years that is till Augustus made Egypt a Roman Province 308 Chap. VII Of Sicyonia The Succession of its Kings c. 314 Chap. VII Argos The Succession of its Kings from Inachus to Perseus 316 Chap. IX Athens 317 Sect. 1. The State of Athens under 17 Kings for 488. Years 319 Sect. 2. The State of Athens under 13 perpetual Archontes which lasted 316 Years 321 Sect. 3. The State of Athens under 8 Decennial Archontes 322 Sect. 4. The State of Athens under annual Archontes which lasted 751 Years 322 Chap. X. Of the Kings of Troy 330 Chap. XI Of the Spartans or Lacedemonians 332 Sect. 1. The State of Lacedemonia under 14 Kings for 397 Years that is from Lelix to the Heraclides 333 Sect. 2. The State of Lacedemon under the Kings called Heraclides 334 Sect. 3. The State of Sparta under the Kings whose Power were restrain'd by the Gerontes 335 Sect. 4. The State of Sparta under the Kings with the five Ephori 336 Chap. XII Of Corinth The Succession of its Kings c. 343 Chap. XIII Of the Kings of Mycene 346 Chap. XIV The Kings of Thebes 348 Chap. XV. Of the Macedonians 352 Sect. 1. The State of Macedon under 20 Kings from Caranus to Philip the Father of Alexander 352 Sect. 2. The State of Macedon under Alexander 355 Sect. 3. The State of Macedon under 17 Kings after Alexander 355 Chap. XVI Of the Kings of Lydia to Croesus 361 Chap. XVII The Kings of Tyre till it was conquer'd by Alexander 363 Chap. XVIII Of the Italians Latins Romans and of the Fourth or Roman Monarchy 367. Sect. 1. The State of Italy under the Janigenae or Siculi which lasted 557 years 368 Sect. 2. The State of Italy under 15 Kings called Aborigines which lasted 577. from Janus to Romulus 369 Sect. 3. The Regal State of Rome which lasted 245 years 371 Sect. 4. The Consular State of Rome from Brutus the first Consul to the perpetual Dictatorship of Julius Caesar which took up the time of 464 Years divided into fifteen Periods 378 Period 1. From the Banishment of Tarquin to the first Dictator 379
World during the space of 240 Years that is from the beginning of Cyrus's Empire to that of Xerxes being the time when our Historian wrote The Bishop of Meaux in his Universal History terms Herodotus the Great Historian Vossius de Historicis Graecis Lib. 1. Cap. 3. says That Herodotus design'd to have written the History of the Assyrians wherein he was to treat of the Kings of Babylon but that he believ'd that Work was never Publish'd because Herodotus was prevented finishing it by his Death Yet we may read Lib. 8. Hist. Animal Cap. 18. that Aristotle accus'd Herodotus of advancing an Untruth against Natural History when he affirm'd that an Eagle drank at the Siege of Nineveh for it is certain that those Birds which have hook'd Claws never drink Now this Passage which Aristotle reproaches Herodotus for is not to be found in his Work of the Nine Muses and therefore must have been in his History of the Assyrians Nineveh having been the Capital City of Assyria which may give a reasonable conjecture that he had written that History yet nevertheless the Ancients have made no manner of mention of it Vossius does not believe that the Life of Homer found at the end of Herodotus's History belong'd to him as some would have it and the Reason he gives seems to carry Authority along with it For says he Herodotus in his Euterpe places the Birth of Homer above 200 Years more backward than the Author of his Life has done Herodotus dy'd at Thuries whither he had voluntarily banish'd himself to be the more intent on his Studies and the Composing of his History II Thucydides was of illustrious Parentage It is reported That his Grand-father Marry'd the Daughter of a King of Thrace but what is more certain is That he himself was a Citizen of Athens He was a young Student in one of the most famous Colleges of Greece at the same time that Herodotus read his History With this Work he was infinitely Charm'd and could not help shewing so much Jealousie of the Author as if he had despair'd of ever performing the like which Heredotus perceiving immediately Prophesied that he would be a great Man and moreover told his Father That he was happy to have a Son at this Age who had so great a Sense of Fame and Glory His History was design'd to have contain'd all the Peloponesian War being that between the States of Athens and Sparta which lasted full 27 Years but he dy'd while he was about the 21st Year of it Theopompus supply'd the 6 other Years This History of Thucydides is divided into VIII Books Cicero professes a great esteem for Thucydides his manner of Writing when he Styles him Authorem subtilem Acutum Brevem Sententiis magis quam verbis abundantem Lib. 2. de Oratoria Father Rapin likewise in his Instructions for History affords this Author great Commendation for he says the same thing of his Style as Cicero had done before him The Style of Thucydides says he is more Noble and Lofty than that of Herodotus yet at the same time it fails of being so Natural and Easie. In some places it has those harshnesses which render it Obscure and it is every where more Luxuriant than the Style of Herodotus Thucydides says the same Author in another Place has Fire Force and Grandeur every thing in his Writings keeps up its self and nothing Languishes and Grovels It is in this that he excells Herodotus who frequently loses himself and grows too diffusive where he gives too great a loose to his Genius Longinus observes that Thucydides sometimes confounds the most regular Methods the better to surprize by a disorder and to change his Narration the oftner He also sometimes relates Things past as if they had been present and this to have the advantage of describing an Action which moves a Reader more as likewise renders him more Attentive Lucian finds fault with this Author's description of the Plague of Athens in the second Book of his History and this perhaps with reason enough for however Prudent he may be allow'd in other places yet there he has run out a little too much Lucian says also that Thucydides has succeeded better than other Historians in his Harangues for what he puts in the Mouths of the principal Actors in his History viz. Pericles Nicias Alcibiades Archidamus sometimes a whole Nation together are admâ—rable Instructions for Orators and to which Demosthenes was not a little beholden who became so great a Master in that Art Vossius says after Lucian that Demosthenes copy'd Thucydides's History eight times with his own Hand and likewise that the Emperor Charles V. always carry'd a French Translation of him about him where-ever he went Monsieur Rapin says farther That Thucydidâ—s and Livy are both sufficient to acquaint a Man what Genius History requires for that Antiquity has nothing to boast of more perfect than their Works There is nothing almost to be desir'd more in either of them unless it be that the former were more Natural and the latter more Sincere Thucydides has establish'd his Reputation with so pure Ideas that he deserves to be Credited in all Ages It is hard to meet with one of this Author 's excellent Temper who tho' he had been extreamly wrong'd by the Tyrant Pericles yet he always prais'd him as often as he found occasion and did frequent Justice to the Athenians tho' they had Banish'd him their Common-wealth He was a Man not at all guided by Passion and who propos'd only in what he writ to content the Judgment of Posterity by always speaking the Truth In a word Thucydides was exact in all that he writ and faithful and disinteressed in all he said and tho' he sometimes seems Austere and Suâ—ly yet is it ever what consists with Grandeur Photius says that as Herodotus is to be imitated by those that have a mind â—o be perfect in the Ionick Dialect so is Thucydides by such as would excel in the Attick Monsieur Le Vayer says that Thucydides had the Honour to be the first that gave a Soul to History by the several Harangues he made use of in all the three kinds 〈…〉 Whâ—â— before him it was but either a 〈…〉 or dead Body He flourish'd about the 〈…〉 before Christ A. M. 3490. 〈◊〉 Xenophon the Son of Gallus a Native of Athens was all at once a great Philosopher a great General and a great Historian Diogenes Laertius reports one thing of him which sufficiently demonstrates his Honesty He says that the Works of Thucydides having been lost and one Copy remaining only in Xenophon's Hands whereby that Author might have publish'd them for his own he nevertheless gave them to the Publick under the Name of their great Compiler Notwithstanding this the Athenians having afterwards suspected him of adhering to the Lacedemonians their Enemies banish'd him their Country He flourish'd about the Year of the World 3560. He is the first Philosoper that apply'd himself
consequent thereupon All Mankind make up one sinful Mass of Perdition out of which God makes choice of a small number of Persons to compose the Heavenly Ierusalem These Elect are mix'd on Earth in the Church among the Men of this World whom God looks upon as Vessels of Wrath and abandons to his Justice These Carnal and Fleshly-minded Men together with the Infidels make up the Church of the Reprobate which in Scripture Language is called Babylon All that happens here on Earth is for the Sanctification of the Elect whose Assembly composes Ierusalem which is actuated by no other Principle than Charity whereas Babylon a Slave to its Lusts and Passions is under the Dominion of Concupiscence So that the Church the Object of our Lord's Mercy is the only thing which lasts in the World for ever All Things pass away all Things perish the most puissant Monarchies fall to decay The Church alone remains thô God sometimes seems to abandon it in order to purifie correct and prove it This is what may easily be collected from the whole Sequel of this Chronology where we shall find that all Empires have an End whilst the Church lasts always and Iesus Christ brings within the Pale of his visible Church all Nations of the Earth by virtue of the Cross. This made St. Augustine to say that Iesus Christ became Lord of the Universe not with the Sword in his Hand but on the contrary by having his Hands nailed to the Cross. His Words are Quid fortius manu hâc quae mundum vicit non ferro armata sed ferro transfixa Forasmuch as Christians cannot have any greater Interest than to be acquainted with the History of that Church whereof they are Members Their Curiosity methinks might induce them to enquire how the Church of God still subsists even when every thing else decays and submits to the Stroke of Fate or Time We can discover the Duration of Monarchies trace their Beginning Progress and End But the Church Militant here on Earth is what began and will end with the World What an amazing Sight is this Can any thing more excite the Curiosity of a Man of Genius than to know how this Church a Stranger here on Earth surrounded by so many Enemies and which so many Kings and Emperors attempted to destroy has still subsisted spight of all the Fury and Malice of Hell The Church of God under the Old Testament begins with the World and ends at Iesus Christ who is the Corner-Stone which under the Gospel reunites all Nations in his Church and which takes away that middle Wall of Partition which stood formerly between the Iews and the Gentiles It s Duration is according to some about 3950 according to others 4000 Years But since 't is difficult to trace the Succession of so many Years together without being bewilder'd we have assigned several Epochas which may serve as so many Points of Sight to direct us farther or as so many Breathing Places to rest in before we proceed We shall therefore consider the Iews to the Coming of Christ under four kinds of Governments The first is Patriarchal under 22 Patriarchs The second is Iudicial under 22 Iudges The third is Regal under 22 Kings The fourth is Sacerdotal under 22 Ancestors of Iesus Christ. Sect. 1. The State of the People of God under the 22 Patriarchs This State lasts 2453 Years that is from Adam the first of Men and the first of Patriarchs down to Moses the first Governor or Iudge of the Jews Years of the World Years before Christ. 1. 1. ADAM is created by God and lived 930 Years 3950 130. 2. SETH is born he lived 912 Years 3820 235. 3. Enos is born he lived 905 Years 3715 325. 4. Cainan is born he lived 910 Years 3625 395. 5. Malaleel is born he lived 895 Years 3555 460. 6. Iared is born he lived 962 Years 3490 622. 7. Enoch born he lived 365 Years and is Translated 3328 687. 8. Methusalah is born he lived 969 Years 3263 874. 9. Lamech is born he lived 777 Years 3076 1056. 10. Noah is born he lived 950 Years 2894 1558. 11. Shem is born he lived 600 Years 2392 1656. 12. The Deluge wherein all that had Life perished except Noah and his Family and the Creatures which he took with him into the Ark. 2294 1658. 12. Arphaxad is born he lived 438 Years 2292 1693. 13. Salah is born he lived 433 Years 2257 1723. 14. Eber is born he lived 464 Years 2227 1757. 15. Peleg is born he lived 239 Years 2193 1781. The Chaldeans the first Observers of the Stars 2169 1787. 16. Reu is born he lived 239 Years 2163 1819. 17. Serug is born he lived 230 Years 2131 1849. 18. Nahor is born he lived 148 Years 2101 1878. 19. Terah is born he lived 205 Years 2072 1948. 20. Abraham is born he lived 175 Years 2002 It is here to be observed That there are some who place the Birth of Abraham 60 Years later viz. in the Year of the World 2008 because as they gather from Gen. 12.4 he was but 75 Years old when he departed out of Haran which happened after Terah's Death who died in Haran in the 205th Year of his Age. This Opinion seems to have very probable Reasons on its side which inclined Archbishop Vsher and others to embrace it But let the Case be how it will â—e thought fit to make this Remark and to inform the Reader that notwithstanding this we chose to follow the Vulgar and more known Account that so our Chronology may be all of a Piece and the Thread of it be the better continued 2023. Much about the time it was that the Nations of the Earth being notoriously given up to Idolatry and the Worship of false Gods God thought fit to separate to himself a Chosen People from the rest of the Corrupted World Abraham was the Person made choice of to be the Head and Father of all the Faithful He always led a Plain and Pastoral but withal a Noble and Magnificent Life From his Loins proceeded the Saviour of the World Iesus Christ and he was the first Man whom God honoured with his Alliance stiling him his Friend 1927 2048. 21. Isaac is born he lived 180 Years 1902 2108. 22. Iacob is born he lived 147 Years 1842 2238. About this time Iacob understanding that his Son Ioseph whom he thought to have been dead was living and preferred to great Honour in Egypt went down thither as well to have the Comfort of seeing him before he died as to get a Subsistance for himself and Family because the Famine raged in all that Country except in Egypt The Scriptures inform us that Iacob's Family who went down into Egypt was in all 70 Souls 1712 2453. The Children of Israel remained in Egypt the space of 215 Years where they multiplied so exceedingly even amidst the Pressures of a very severe Bondage which they endured after the Death of Ioseph that they went thence
whom proceeded the Paphlagonians 3. Togarmath of whom came the Phrygians Iavan had four Sons 1. Elishah of whom came the Italians or the Inhabitants of the Fortunate Islands which were called Elisiae 2. Tarshish of whom proceeded the Cilicians the Capital City whereof is Tarsus 3. Kittim from whom descended the Cyprians of which the Capital City is called Cytinium The Hebrews give the Name of Chittim to all the Cities and Provinces which are upon the Sea-Coast for which Reason 't is said of Alexander the Great that he comes from the Land of Chittim and the same Name in Scripture is applied to Italy 4. Dodonim from whom came the Rhodians or rather the Dodoneans in Epirus These are the Families of the Sons of Noah after their Generations in their Nations and by these were the Nations divided in tho Earth after the Flood Gen. X. 32. And now after all this Account does it not appear that the World is but of a short Date We here find Laws first Enacted the Manners polished Empires founded and Arts invented The Earth we find peopled by little and little Experience improved and Mankind by degrees awaking out of the Slumber of Ignorance Husbandry then began to be in Use wild Beasts were caught and tamed for the Service of Mankind Abundance of Inventions and Sciences began then to appear and Nimrod the first Warrior and other of the first Heroes began to Signalize themselves Should we look beyond this Account which Moses has given us of the Origine of the World we shall meet with nothing but Darkness Obscurity and Chaos and no Wonder if Fables and Fictions be the Product of such Beginnings Whereas if we fix here we find Truth and Light and Certainty whereon to build some Assurance and to which we may give our free Assent and Consent A REMARK Concerning the Heads of the Families of the People of God JACOB had twelve Sons who were the twelve Heads from whence the twelve Tribes of the People of God proceeded By his Wife Leah he had six Sons 1. Reuben 2. Simeon 3. Levi. 4. Iudah 5. Issachar 6. Zabulon By his Wife Zilpah he had two Sons 1. Gad. 2. Aser By his Wife Rachel he had two Sons 1. Ioseph 2. Benjamin By his Wife Bilhah he had two Sons 1. Dan. 2. Nephthali Iacob who had a great deal of Esteem and Affection for Rachel continued the same Respect for her after her Death Therefore having only two Sons by her Ioseph and Benjamin he adopts the two Sons of Ioseph Ephraim and Manasses that so by placing these among the rest of his Sons he might give himself some Comfort for the small number of Children which he had by her 'T is upon this account that Iacob blessed Ephraim and Manasses as well as his own Children which he did after a strange and surprising manner Manasses was the eldest and therefore Iacob's Right Hand should have been laid upon him and his Left on Ephraim But the quite contrary happen'd which made Ioseph inform his Father of the Mistake supposing it had been through the Dimness of his Sight But Iacob tells him I know it my Son I know it Manasses shall become the Head of many People and he shall be great but his Brother Ephraim shall be greater than he and his Seed shall become a Multitude of Nations Gen. 48.19 These are the Heads of the Twelve Tribes of Israel and this is it that their Father spake to them and blessed them every one according to his Blessing he blessed them Gen. 49.28 Sect. 2. The State of the People of God under the 22 Iudges or Leaders This State lasts 426 Years that is from Moses the first Leader of the People of God to Saul the first of their Kings Among these there are six of the Leaders who were not Hebrews but Tyrants to whom God delivered his People to punish them for their Sins Years of the World Years before Christ. 2453. 1. MOSES begins to govern the People of God and leads them for the space of Forty Years 1497 2493. 2. IOSHVA governs the Iews and within six years about the year of the World 2499 setled them in the Promised Land 1457 2510. Ioshua dies having governed the People of God about 17 years after the Death of Moses 1440 The Elders govern the Iews who are obedient to God for the space of 15 years 2525. There is an Interregnum among the Iews for the space of six years during which time the People lived according as they thought fit They became corrupted in their Manners fell into downright Idolatry and provoked God to give them up to the Cruelty of their Enemies 1425 2531. I. The First Servitude which lasted Eight years 1419 3. Chushan-rishathaim King of Mesopotamia oppresses the People of God 2539. 4. Othniel frees the People of God from their Servitude 1411 2551. II. The Second Servitude which lasted Eighteen years 1399 5. Eglon the King of Moab oppresses the People of God 2570. 6. Ehud delivers the People of God He was a valiant Man and as the Scripture tells us was Left-handed 1380 2631. III. The Third Servitude which lasted Twenty years 1319 7. Iabin the King of Canaan oppresses the People of God 2651 8. Deborah who judged the Iews together with Barak defeats Sisera Iabin's General and delivers the People of God Iael Heber's Wife fastens Sisera's Head while he was asleep with a Nail to the Ground 1299 2671. IV. The Fourth Servitude which lasted Seven years 9. The Midianites oppress the Iews 2679. 10. Gideon defeats the Midianites and delivers the Iews from their Servitude 1271 After the Death of Gideon the Iews fall into Idolatry 2711. 11. Abimilech the Son of Gideon desiring to be made King kills his seventy Brethren and governs the Iews three years 1239 2714. 12. Tolah judges the Iews the space of three and twenty years 1236 2737. Iair governs the Iews the space of two and twenty years 1213 2741. V. The Fifth Servitude which lasted Eighteen years 1209 14. The Philistines and Ammonites afflict the People of God in the time of Iair's Government 2759. 15. Iephtha succeeds Iair delivers the Israelites from the Servitude of the Philistines and the Ammonites and governs the Iews six years The Scriptures take notice that this Man made a rash Vow to sacrifice the first who should give him the Meeting upon his Return from the Conquest who happen'd to be his own Daughter 1191 2765. 16. Ibzan succeeds Iephtha and judges Israel seven years 1185 2772. 17. Elon judges the Iews the space of ten years 1178 2782. 18. Abdon governs Israel the space of eight years 1168 2767. VI. The Sixth Servitude which lasted almost Forty years 1183 19. The Philistines afflict the People of God 2789. 20. Sampson when he was about Nineteen years old being inspired by God undertakes to defend the Israelites whom he judges for the space of twenty years and as far as he was able delivered from the Tyranny of the Philistines of
whom he killed great Numbers At last by the Allurements of a Woman he was made Prisoner by the Philistines had his Eyes put out and in Revenge pulled down an House upon himself and three thousand People of the Philistines 1161 2810. 21. Eli governs the Iews the space of forty years who was so remiss in the Government of his loose and disorderly Sons that he provoked God to Anger against him and upon hearing the News of his Sons Deaths and of the taking of the Ark he fell backwards from his Seat and brake his Neck by the fall 1140 2849. 22. Samuel succeeds Eli and governs the Iews the space of one and twenty years 1101 2879. The Israelites require Samuel to give them a King He gives them Saul who was about forty years old when he began to Reign 1071 Sect. 3. The State of the People of God under the 22 Kings This State lasted 481 Years from the beginning of the Reign of Saul the first King of the Jews to the end of the Reign of Zedekiah who was their last King Years of the World Years before Christ. 2879. 1. SAVL is anointed King by Samuel and reigns over Israel ten years Saul contrary to the Order of God spares Agag the King of the Amalakites at which God is offended and sends Samuel to acquaint him of his Displeasure who makes Amends for the Fault of Saul by causing Agag to be put to Death 1071 2889. The Army of Saul is defeated by the Phililistines his three Sons slain in Battel and he being very much wounded laid violent hands on himself 1061 2. DAVID having consulted the Oracle of God returned into Iudea where the Tribe of Iudah anointed him for their King being then about thirty years old Abner Saul's General takes his Son Ishbosheth to be King over the other ten Tribes But at last Abner being killed by Ioab and Ishbosheth after he had reigned five years being murdered by two barbarous Assassins Rechab and Baanah David became King of all Israel 2901. About this time it was that David fetched the Ark home and Vzzias who laid hold on the Ark to keep it from falling was struck dead 1049 2926. At this time David out of a Motive of Vain-glory caused Ioab to number the People for which Offence God sent the Plague among them which in three days time destroyed seventy thousand Men. 1024 2929. David at the Instance of Bathsheba and the Prophet Nathan makes his Son Solomon King the one being about seventy and the other about eighteen years old 1021 2930. David dies after he had reigned above forty years viz. seven and an half at Hebron and three and thirty years at Ierusalem 1020 2931. 3. SOLOMON when he first began his Reign married the Daughter of Pharoah and prays God to give him Wisdom 1019 2934. Solomon builds the Temple which David had designed to do but was prevented from it by reason of the Wars wherein he was engaged This temple began to be built the fourth year of his Reign 480 years after the coming out of Egypt and it was finished the beginning of the year of the World 2940 just 1010 years before the coming of Christ. 1016 2969. Solomon dies after he had reigned about forty years 981 4. Rehoboam succeeds his Father Solomon But this young King following the Counsel of the young Men and not that of the old Men who advised him to use his People mildly and with moderation in the beginning of his Reign returned a rough Answer to the Deputies of his People and by this imprudent Act lost the Kingdom of Israel For all Israel that is the Ten Tribes revolted from Rehoboam and took Ieroboam the Son of Nabat to make him their King Here began that fatal Division between the Kings of Judah and Israel which lasted for so many years after We will at present continue the Succession of the Kings of Iudah without intermixing any thing of the Kings of Israel that so we may avoid Confusion But after we have done with the Account of their Succession we think it proper to subjoin the Series of the Kings of Israel adding what happened most Remarkable in each of their Reigns 2986. Rehoboam dies after he had reigned seventeen years 964 5. Abijam a wicked King succeeds his Father and reigned three years 2989. 6. Asa a good King succeeds his Father and reigns one and forty years 961 3030. 7. Iehoshaphat a good King succeeds his Father and reigns five and twenty years 920 Elias the Man of God in a time of Dearth is fed by two Ravens by the Brook Cherith In this King's Reign Elias was taken up into Heaven and Elisha inherited a double Portion of the Spirit which rested on that Prophet and the Children who mocked Elisha were torn in pieces by two Bears 3055. 8. Iehoram a wicked King succeeded his Father and reigned eight years 895 3063. 9. Ahazias a wicked King succeeded his Father and reigned one year 887 3064. Athalia usurped the Throne of Iudah which she held the space of six years 886 In her time a dead Man who by chance was thrown into the Sepulcher of Elisha was raised to Life again by touching the Prophet's Bones 3070. 10. Ioash at seven years old was shewn to the People by the High Priest Iehoiada He was anointed King and reigned over Iudah the space of forty years During the Life-time of Iehoiada Ioash behaved himself regularly and governed well but after that Priest's Death he soon degenerated 880 Zacharias the High Priest was stoned to Death between the Temple and the Altar by the express Order of King Ioash whom he had reproved for his Misdemeanours 3110. 11. Amaziah a good King succeeded his Father and reigned nine and twenty years 840 3139. 12. Vzziah or Azarias after his Father was killed began to reign and his Reign lasted two and fifty years 811 In his Reign Isaiah began to Prophesy He prophecied for above the space of one hundred years Hosea prophecied in the time of Vzziah Iotham Ahaz and Hezekiah during the space of a whole Century Ioel prophecied about the same time Amos. 3191. 13. Iotham a good King succeeded his Father Vziah and reigned sixteen years 759 About this time Obadiah prophecied in Israel when Isaiah prophecied in Iudah Micah prophecied for the space of fifty years and upwards Ionah seems to have been sent much about this time to Nineveh 3207. 14. Ahaz a wicked King succeeded his Father Iotham and reigned sixteen years 743 This impious Prince renewed all the Abominations of Idolatry in Ierusalem which provoked the Lord to deliver him up into the hands of his Enemies 3223. 15. Hezekiah a good King succeeded his Father Ahaz and reigned nine and twenty years 727 In his Reign Sennacherib King of Assyria invaded Iudah sent Rabshokah to Ierusalem to threaten Hezekiah and the Iews But blaspheming the God oâ— Israel he sent a destroying Angel among the Assyrian Army who cut off in one night an
hundred fourscore and five thousand Men. In his time likewise the King of Babylon sent Ambassadors to Hezekiah who out of Civility shewed them the House of his precious Things and all his Treasury which gave an occasion to Isaiah of prophesying concerning the future Babylonish Captivity Nahum prophecied and comforted the Ten Captive Tribes The Angel Raphael was sent by God to attend young Tobias in the Journey he was to take 3252. 16. Manasses a wicked King succeeded his Father Hezekiah at the age of twelve years and reigned five and fifty years 698 3274. Manasses was taken and carried to Babylon in the two and twentieth year of his Reign But his Affliction made him reflect and humble himself in the sight of God upon which he was brought immediately back to Ierusalem where he reigned three and thirty years more 676 At this time happened the History of Iudith who cut off the Head of Holofernes and delivered the City of Betâ—uliah 3307. 17. Amon a wicked King succeeded his Father Manasses and reigned two years after him and was killed treacherously by some of his own Court 643 3309. 18. Iosias a good King at the age of eight years succeeded his Father Amon and reign'd one and thirty years He re-established the Worship of God throughout his Kingdom and exceeded in Virtue all the Kings who had went before him 641 3321. Iosias in the twelfth year of his Reign purged Iudah and Ierusalem from their Idolatry 629 Ieremiah began to prophecy and continued it for the space of near five and forty years Zephaniah Baruch Habakkuk and other Prophets belong to this time 3338. Iosias inconsiderately waged War with Pharaoh Neko King of Egypt wherein he was killed and all the Joy of Iudah was turned into Mourning 612 19. Iehoahaz or Shallum succeeded his Father and reigned three months Neko King of Egypt returning from Assyria deposed Iehoahaz and made his elder Brother Eliakim King in his stead turning his Name into Iehoiakim and carried Iehoahaz along with him Captive to Egypt where he died 3339. 20. Iehoiakim succeeded his Brother and reigned over Iudah eleven years 611 3344. This year Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon took Iehoiakim Captive with an intention to carry him to Babylon afterwards having released him upon very hard Terms he left him at Ierusalem where he remained as his Vassal This Nebuchadnezzar carried away with him part of the Vessels of the Temple with several Children of the Blood Royal and several Persons of Quality among whom was Daniel and his Companions 'T is here we must begin to reckon the Seventy Years of Captivity 606 Daniel begins to prophesy being then very young 3350. Iehoiakim was kill'd by the Babylonians and cast out to be devoured by the Fowls of the Air and the Beasts of the Field 600 21. Iechonias or Iehoiachin succeeded his Brother Iehoiakim and reigned in Ierusalem the space of three months But Nebuchadnezzar carried him away to Babylon with his Mother and the principal Men of his Court among whom were Ezekiel and Mordecai the Uncle of Esther with all the Treasures of Iudah and all the Vessels of the Temple which remained He made his Uncle Mattaniah King and changed his Name to Zedekiah 3350. 22. Zedekiah the last King of Iudah reigned at Ierusalem the space of eleven years 600 Ezekiel began to prophecy the fifth year of his Captivity at Babylon and prophecied to the seven and twentieth year He was descended from the Race of the Priests 3360. In the eleventh year of Zedekiah Ierusalem was besieged taken and plunder'd by the Babylonians Zedekiah was taken in his flight His Children killed before his face his Eyes put out himself bound with Fetters of Brass and carried away to Babylon His Palace was burnt the Temple destroyed the Walls of Ierusalem thrown down and all the People of Iudah led Captive to Babylon where they remained till the year of the World 3419 before Christ 531. 590 Here follows the Succession of the Kings of Israel The State of the Ten Tribes under the Government of Nineteen Kings from the beginning of the Reign of Jeroboam to the end of the Reign of Hosea in whose time they were carried into Captivity by Shalmaneser This State lasted 258 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2969. 1. JEroboam the Son of Nobat was made King and reigned over Israel two and twenty years He to strengthen himself and to keep the People from revolting to Rehoboam set up two Golden Calves the one at Dan and the other at Bethel and by this means made Israel to sin 981 In his Reign a Man of God was sent out of Iudah who prophesied against the Altar at Bethel foretold the Ruin of it by Iosiah restored Ieroboam's wither'd Hand and was slain by a Lion for disobeying the Command of God in eating contrary to the Divine Prohibition at the old Prophet's House 2991. 2. Nadab a wicked King succeeded his Father Ieroboam and reigned two years He and all Ieroboam's Family were cut off by Baasha according as Ahijah the Shilonite had foretold 959 2993. 3. Baasha a wicked King succeeded Nadab and reigned over Israel four and twenty years He was engaged in a War with Asa King of Iuda walked in the Sin of Ieroboam and was threatned by Iehu the Prophet the Son of Hanani 957 3016. 4. Elah a wicked King succeeded his Father Baasha and reigned over Israel two years He was killed by Zimri as he was drinking himself drunk in Tirzab 934 3018. 5 Zimri succeeded Elah but was outed by Omri within seven days 932 6. Omri succeeded Zimri killed Tibni who opposed him translated the Royal Palace from Tirzah to Samaria and reigned over Israel twelve years 3029. 7. Ahab a wicked and idolatrous King succeeded his Father Omri and reigned over Israel two and twenty years He married Iezebel the Daughter of Ethbaal King of the Zidonians was a Worshipper of Baal killed the Prophets of the Lord was besieged by Benhadad King of Syria whom he overcame and sent away with Honour Caused Naboth the Iezreelite to be stoned to Death and unlawfully seized on his Vineyard and at last was seduced by false Prophets to go to Ramoth Gilead to Battel where he was slain according to the Word of the Lord spoken by Micaiah the Prophet 921 In this Kings Reign Hiel the Bethelite built Iericho He laid the Foundation thereof in Abiram his First-born and set up the Gates thereof in his youngest Son Segub according to the Word of the Lord which he spake by Ioshua the Son of Nun. 1 King 16.34 3050. 8. Ahaziah a wicked King succeeded his Father Ahab and reigned over Israel two years He was hurt by a fall sent Messengers to Baalzebub the God of Ekron to enquire whether he should recover or no Elijah meets and stops the Messengers denounces the Death of the King and brings Fire from Heaven upon his Messengers 900 3051. 9. Iehoram a wicked King succeeded his Brother Ahaziah and reigned over
Israel twelve years He overcame the Moabites by Elisha's Miracle was besieged by the Syrians and afterwards slain by Iehu 899 In his time the Shunamite's Son was raised to Life by Elisha Naaman was cleansed of his Leprosy the Army of the Syrians was struck with Blindness a great Famine happened in Samaria the Syrians raised the Siege in haste and leave a great Plenty of Provisions behind them and the incredulous Lord who would not believe the Prophet Elisha who foretold this Plenty having the Charge of the Gate was trodden to death by the Croud 3063. 10. Iehu the Son of Nimshi was anointed King by a Prophet at Ramoth-Gilead Killed Iehoram and his Mother Iezebel and Ahaziah the King of Iudah and reigned over Israel eight and twenty years He killed all the Sons of Ahab destroyed the Worshippers of Baal but follows the Sin of Ieroboam and worshiped the Golden Calves 887 3091. 11. Iehoahaz a wicked King succeeded his Father Iehu and reigned over Israel seventeen years He was greatly oppressed by Hazael King of Syria but was reliev'd by Prayer 859 3107. 12. Iehoash or Ioash a wicked King succeeded his Father Iehoahaz and reigned over Israel sixteen years He obtained three Victories over Banadad King of Syria according to the Propheâ—y of Elisha who died in his Reign 843 3123. 13. Ieroboam a wicked King succeeded his Father Ioash and reigned over Israel one and forty years He recovered Hamath and Damascus from the Syrians but departed not from the Idolatry of Ieroboam the Son of Nabat who made Israel to sin 827 3164. Here happened an Interregnum which lasted Twelve Years after which 786 3175. 14. Zachariah a wicked King succeeded his Father Ieroboam and reigned over Israel six months He was the last of Iehu's Race and killed by Shallum 775 3175. 15. Shallum succeeds Zachariah and reigns only one month and is killed by Menahem 775 3176. 16. Menahem succeeded Shallum and reigned over Israel ten years He was invaded by Pul King of Assyria to whom he gave Money to settle him in the Kingdom 774 3187. 17. Pekahiah a wicked King succeeded his Father Menahem and reigned over Israel two years He was killed by Pekah 763 3189. 18. Pekah a wicked King succeeded Pekahiah and reigned over Israel twenty years and was killed by Hoshea 761 In his time Tiglath Pileser King of Assyria carried the People of Gilead and Galilee and the Land of Naphthali into Captivity 3210. 19. Hoshea the Son of Elah a wicked King succeeds Pekah and reigned 17 years He became Tributary to Shalmaneser but rebelling against him was carried away Captive with all the Ten Tribes in the year of the World 3227 before Christ 723. This Shalmaneser transplanted several strange People into the Country of Israel who worshipped Idols and afterwards being plagued made a mixture of Religions partly Heathen and partly Jewish 740 And now to this short View which has been given of the State and Condition of the People of God under the Government of their Kings it will not be amiss to add one or two Remarks REMARK I. IN the first place it may be observed from God's Dealings with his own People the Iews in this whole Period of Time how and after what manner he generally deals with Publick Communities and Societies of Men. So long as the Kings and their Subjects were Obedient to his Laws and served him with an upright Heart so long did he give them Peace and Prosperity at home and Success and Conquest abroad But when at any time they deviated from their Duty and set up an Idolatrous Worship instead of worshipping the only true God then he gave them over to the Will of their Enemies and made them who hated them to be Lords over them This is apparent in the whole Series of this History and what Samuel foretold and threatned upon the Establishment of their first King was abundantly verified upon them at last viz. That if they did wickedly God would destroy both them and their King For when the Measure of their Iniquity was filled and they had arrived to the highest Perfection of Impiety Human Nature was capable of then were they carried into Captivity their Temple and City defaced and themselves made Slaves to the Heathens whose Gods they had worshipped I need not Instance in any more Particulars since all the World knows and our own Nation has experienced that Publick Communities considered as such receive according to their Deserts their Rewards or Punishments even in this World REMARK II. IN the next Place it may be observed from the Revolt of the Ten Tribes how Dangerous and Prejudicial and of what ill Consequence Faction is in the State as well as Schism in the Church From Ieroboam down to Hoshea we find not so much as one good King who reigned in Israel The first King established his Usurpation by wicked and unlawful Methods and the rest continued it by as bad or worse They were all Idolaters and corrupted the People so far that at last they provoked God to throw them out of his Embraces to permit them to be led away into Captivity by Shalmaneser and to cut off the very Memory oâ— them from the Face of the Earth And if God as the Apostle speaks upon the like Occasion dealt thus with the Natural Branches his own peculiar People the Iews let not us then who by Nature were Branches of the Wild Olive Tree and were grafted contrary to Nature into the Good Olive Tree let not us I say be high-minded but fear For Faction in the State as well as Schism in the Church do in their own Nature tend to the Ruin and Destruction of both Sect. 4 The State of the People of God in the Time of the 22 Ancestors of Jesus Christ. This State lasted 590 Years that is from the end of the Reign of Zedekiah to the Birth of Jesus Christ who is that Corner Stone which united the two Covenant or Testaments This Genealogy is according to St. Luke's Account in the Third Chapter of his Gospel IT must here be observed That thô we are very well assured that these two and twenty Ancestors of Iesus Christ did live between the end of the Reign of Zedekiah and the Birth of the Messiah that is before the year of the World 3950 yet we are ignorant how many years each of them lived for History gives us no Light in the Case Nay 't is very probable that we should not have come to the knowledge of their Names had not St. Luke recorded them for us in the Third Chapter of his Gospel Potest fieri says St. Ambrose ut alii longaevam transegerint vitam alterius verò generationis viri immaturâ aetate decesserint i. e. 'T is probable that some of them were long-lived and others cut off by an untimely Death in the very Flower of their Age. 'T is upon this Account that we range these two and twenty Ancestors within the compass of
till the year of Christ 70 or according to the vulgar Account 67 at which time Vespasian laid Iudea waste but upon Intelligence of the Death of Nero he left Iudea and went to Rome Within a while after he sent his Son Titus who besieged and took Ierusalem The Famine was so great in that City towards the end of the Siege that a Woman was forced to kill her own Child to eat The Temple was burnt and Titus gave his Soldiers leave to riffe and burn the City At this time was fulfilled the Saying of our Saviour who foretold of Ierusalem that killed her Prophets That she should be destroyed and not one stone left upon another Phanias was High-Priest when Ierusalem was taken A. D. 70 and forty years after the Death of Iesus Christ. CHAP. II. An Account of the Assyrian Monarchy HAving in the preceding Chapter given you a short but exact Account of the State and Condition of the People of God from the Creation down to our Saviours time We shall now proceed to Prophane History where we must not expect to meet with that Accuracy and Exactness of Chronology which Moses and others of the Inspired Writers have observed in their Accounts In this and the three next Chapters we will Treat briefly of the Four Great Monarchies viz. The Assyrian Persian Grecian and Roman And afterwards we shall give you a short Account of the other Monarchies and Republicks which were Contemporary to them The Monarchy of the Assyrians is the first of the four but before we treat of it we think it not amiss to give you a short Description of that Country Assyria properly so called was a Country of a large Extent situated in Asia Major Bounded on the North by Armenia the Greater on the East by Media on the South by Susiana and Babylonia and on the West by the River Tigris which parts it from Mesopotamia which at present is called Diarbech But the Empire of the Assyrians or which is called Assyria Major was of a greater Extent for it took in Syria Mesopotamia Babylonia Persia in a word all Asia except the Indies This was the State of the Assyrians under Semiramis It has been observed that nothing is more intricate and difficult than to trace the first Beginnings of Monarchies which are commonly dark and obscure and full of Fables This is apparently true with respect to that of the Assyrian the first Rise of which is very hard to find out Authors are divided in their Opinions about it and as they differ very much in the Account they give us of its first Founder and of its Duration so they dissent as much in the Number and in the Names of the Kings who reigned over it Those who follow Herodotus as Vsher c. make Ninus to be the first Founder of it affirming the Chaldeans and the Arabs to have reigned in Assyria before his time They place the beginning of this Monarchy about the year of the World 2737 before Christ 1213. So that its Duration from that time to Belshazzar the last of the Assyrian Monarchs takes up 656 years Others who follow Diodorus Siculus such as Sethus Calvisius Petavius Helvicus c. make Nimrod to be the first Founder of the Assyrian Monarchy and place the beginning thereof in the year of the World 1788 before Christ 2162 so that the Duration of this Monarchy according to those Authors is about 1647 years Now thô the former Account seems most Authentick and carries the greatest Face of Truth yet we shall choose to follow the latter likewise in compliance to the generality of Historians and herein we shall first lay down the Succession of the Kings from Nimrod to Sardanapalus as they are copied from Theodorus Zuingerus by Gutberleth in whose time the Monarchy was divided into that of the Medes and Babylonians After which we will briefly relate the State and Condition of the Divided Monarchy under its separate Kings whose Names we will likewise give you from the same Author 1. The State of the Assyrian Monarchy from Nimrod its first Founder down to Sardanapalus which lasted about 1360 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 1788. 1. NImrod the Son of Cush built the Tower of Babel laid the Foundation of the Assyrian Monarchy and reigned 56 years 2162 1844. 2. Belus reckoned by some the same with Nimrod reigned 65 years 2106 1909. 3. Ninus he built Nineveh which was founded by Ashur conquered Zoroaster King of the Bactrians and reigned 52 years 2041 1961. 4. Semiramis the famous Assyrian Heroine built Walls round about Babylon enlarged her Territories reigned 42 years and was killed by her Son Ninias 1989 2003. 5. Ninias or Ninus succeeded his Mother and reigned 37 years 1947 2040. 6. Arius reigned 30 years 1910 2070. 7. Aratius reigned 40 years 1880 2110. 8. Baleus or Balaneus reigned 30 years 1840 2140. 9. Armatrites reigned 37 years 1810 2177. 10. Belocus Priscus reigned 36 years 1773 2213. 11. Baleus Iunior he reigned 52 years 1737 2265. 12. Altades reigned 32 years 1685 2297. 13. Mamitus reigned 30 years 1653 2327. 14. Mancaleus reigned 30 years 1623 2357. 15. Sphaerus reigned 20 years 1593 2377. 16. Mamelus reigned 30 years 1573 2407. 17. Spartus reigned 40 years 1543 2447 18. Ascatades reigned 40 years 1503 2487. 19. Amyntas reigned 45 years 1463 2532. 20. Belochus junior reigned 25 years 1418 2557. 21. Belopares reigned 30 years 1393 2587. 22. Lamprides reigned 32 years 1363 2619. 23. Sosares reigned 20 years 1331 2639. 24. Lampares reigned 30 years 1311 2669. 25. Pannias reigned 45 years 1281 2714. 26. Sosarmus reigned 19 years 1236 2733. 27. Mitreus reigned 27 years 1217 2760. 28. Tautanes reigned 32 years 1190 2792. 29. Teuteus reigned 40 years 1158 2832. 30. Thyneus reigned 30 years 1118 2862. 31. Dercylus reigned 40 years 1088 2902. 32. Eupales reigned 38 years 1048 2940. 33. Laosthenes reigned 45 years 1010 2985. 34. Pyriciades reigned 30 years 965 3015. 35. Ophrateus reigned 20 years 935 3035. 36. Ophraganeus reigned 50 years 915 3085. 37. Ascarzapes reigned 42 years 865 3127. 38. Sardanapalus reigned 20 years He led a soft and effeminate Life and at last in the year of the World 3148 before Christ 802 Arbaces conspir'd against him besieg'd Nineveh and took it Sardanapalus to avoid the Shame of being taken by his Enemies burnt himself with all his Concubines and Riches in his own Royal Palace Upon his Death the Monarchy was divided 823 ☞ Our Countryman Mr. Tallents in his Chronological Tables takes notice that Iustin in his History saith This Empire lasted from the time of Ninyas or Ninus to Sardanapalus about 1300 Years which comes pretty near the Truth but makes no mention of the Kings who succeeded Ninus who grew Effeminate and Inglorious But the Names Tallents sets down out of Berosus Africanus transcribed by Eusebius which we think proper here to insert thereby to shew the Variety of Authors Opinions about the Names of these Kings
After Ninus he places 1. Arius Both the same with those in the former Catalogue 2. Aralius Both the same with those in the former Catalogue 3. Mamylus 4. Sparthaeus 5. Ascatades His Name is likewise mentioned in the former List. 6. Amyntas All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 7. Belochus All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 8. Balatores All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 9. Lamprides All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 10. Sosares All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 11. Lampraes All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 12. Panyâ—s All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 13. Sosarmus All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 14. Mithraeos All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 15. Teutamos All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 16. Teutaeus All these with a little Variation of a Letter or two are the same with those in the former Catalogue 17. Arabelus These are not in the List of Zuingerus 18. Chalaos These are not in the List of Zuingerus 19. Anabos These are not in the List of Zuingerus 20. Babios These are not in the List of Zuingerus 21. Thinaeos These four the same with those in the former List only Eupacmes here is there called Eupales 22. Dercylus These four the same with those in the former List only Eupacmes here is there called Eupales 23. Eupacmes These four the same with those in the former List only Eupacmes here is there called Eupales 24. Laosthenes These four the same with those in the former List only Eupacmes here is there called Eupales 25. Pyritiades 26. Ophrateus 27. Ephacheres 28. Acracarnes 29. Sardanapalus Notwithstanding the Darkness and Obscurity of these Times and the various Opinions of Authors about the first Founder and about the Names and Number of the succeeding Kings of the Assyrian Monarchy yet they afford us so much Light as to give us occasion to make these following Reflections REMARK I. THO' the Title of Monarchy belongs equally to all States that are under the Government of one single Prince who is stiled the Monarch of that State so govern'd yet in History it more peculiarly relates to the four great Monarchies of the World who succeeded each other and in their Turn conquered and gave Law to the other Petty Monarchies of the Earth REMARK II. THE first of these Monarchies was according to the joint Testimony of all Writers the Assyrian which by Historians both Sacred and Prophane is promiscuously stiled the Babylonian the Chaldean and the Assyrian Monarchy It was called the Babylonian Monarchy because of the Tower of Babel which Nimrod the first Founder of this Monarchy built and because a great many of its Monarchs held their Court at Babylon It was stiled the Chaldean Monarchy because Babylon was in Chaldea and several of its Kings were Chaldeans Lastly it is called the Assyrian Monarchy because Ninus after he had built Nineveh the Capital City of Assyria translated the Seat of the Empire thither REMARK III. FRom the Beginning Growth and Decay of the Assyrian Monarchy and of the other three we may once for all observe that the Providence of God thô unseen and unregarded had the greatest Share in advancing them from so small a Beginning to so great a Grandeur as to be at last the Terror and Scourge of the rest of the Inhabitants and Kingdoms of the Earth That the Designs and the Glory of this Supreme Being were all along carried on and promoted by these Humane Instruments even whilst they only thought of advancing their own private Interests and of enlarging their own Territories That when the Designs of this great King of Kings and Lord of Lords were once brought about and his Glory sufficiently signalized then he discarded those Instruments took the Empire away from them and bestowed it on another People This is so visible from the whole Series even of Prophane History that it needs no other Proof than the Considerate Perusal of what Historians have delivered to us about the various Changes and Revolutions that have happened in the several great Monarchies of the World Those who were the Greatest arrived by degrees to their Height from very small Beginnings and when they were there there they stopp'd some invisible Power giving a Check to their growing Greatness Afterwards we find that in the midst of all their Glory they have either dwindled away as they rose or else lost all they had been conquering for several Ages together within the compass of a few years or days And does not all this sufficiently prove an over-ruling Providence which takes care of all Human Affairs and disposes of Kings and Kingdoms as he thinks fit Having made these short and we hope useful Reflections we shall now proceed to give you an Account of the State of the Assyrian Monarchy as it was divided into that of the Medes and Babylonians Sardanapalus was conspired against by two of his Generals Arbaces and Belochus the former was made King of the Medes and latter King of the Babylonians The State of that part of the Assyrian Monarchy which was under the Babylonians from Belochus the first King to the Death of Belshazzar the last King which State lasts 271 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3148. 1. PHul Belochus after Sardanapalus reigned 48 years over the Assyrians 802 3196. 2. Tiglath Pileser reign'd 23 years His Name is mentioned in the Scriptures 754 3219. 3. Salmanasar succeeded reign'd 10 years 731 3229. 4. Sennacherib reign'd 7 years This was that King of Assyria mentioned in the Scriptures who brought an Army into Iudea besieged Ierusalem had his Army destroyed by an Angel retired in Confusion to Nineveh and was killed by his two Sons Adrammelech and Sharrizer who fled afterwards into Armenia 721 3236. 5. Assarhaddon succeeded his Father and reign'd 10 years 714 3246. 6. Merodach conquer'd Assarhaddon and reign'd 40 years 704 3286. 7. Ben. Merodach reigned 21 years 664 2307. 8. Nebuchadnezzar I. reign'd 35 years He in the 12th year of his Reign defeated Arphaxad King of the Medes by some called Dejoces who built the City of Echatane The next year he sent General Holofernes into the Land of Iudea who laid Siege to Bethulia and was beheaded by Iudith in his Tent. 643 3342.
by the Syrians reigned over them 23 years But Antiochus Asiaticus and his Brother both of them the Sons of King Antiochus the Pious reigned over part of Syria of which Tigranes could not make himself Master They went to Rome to Petition for the Kingdom of Egypt which belonged to Setene their Mother and themselves too and continued their Suit for two years together Tigranes put Setene Sirnamed Cleopatra to Death in Prison and by this means the Title which Antiochus Asiaticus had to the Kingdom of Egypt and to part of Syria fell to the Ground In several Engagements Tigranes was defeated by Lucullus the Roman Consul who was Governor of the Province of Cilicia After this Pompey marched to Tigranes who was so much terrified at the very sight of him that he quitted his Diadem and with a great deal of Submission and Respect yielded himself to Pompey But he mov'd with Compassion put the Diadem again upon his Head re-established him in his Kingdom of Armenia upon certain Articles and made Syria a Roman Province This happened in the year of the World 3885 before Christ 64. Anno Vrbis Romae Conditae 688. 87 Having thus given you a short Account of the Kings of Syria from Seleucus the immediate Successor of Alexander the Great in that part of his Conquests down to Tigranes we shall in the next place give you a List of the Kings which reigned in Asia Minor who possessed another part of Alexander's Conquests Sect. 3. The Kings of Asia Minor or Pergamos PErgamos a City of Mysia situated on the River Caica in Asia Minor was the Capital City of a great State called The Kingdom of Pergamos which began about the year of the World 3634 before Christ 316 years It had eight Kings and lasted the space of 188 years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3634. 1. Antigonus one of Alexander's Captains who had Asia Minor for his Share marched against Eumenes routed and killed him being betrayed by his Veteranâ— Soldiers At last Antigonus was routed and slain by Seleucus King of Syria and Casander King of Macedonia He reigned 15 years 316 3649. 2. Demetrius his Son succeeded his Father Antigonus and reigned 15 years He was expelled Asia won Macedon but was expelled thence taken by Seleucus and within 3 years after died 301 3666. 3. Next after him succeeded Philaterus Intendant of the Finances of Lâ—simachus King of Thrace against whom he rebelled and became King of Pergamos in the 16th year of his Age over which he reigned 20 years 282 3688. 4. Eumenes succeeded his Brother Philaterus and reigned about 21 years He subdued several small Places round about Pergamos and defeated the Army of Antiochus the Son of Seleuchus near Sardes At last he died by immoderate Drinking 262 3709. 5. Attalus Nephew to Philaterus succeeded Eumenes and reigned 44 years 'T is said that he governed with so much Prudence and managed his Treasures so thriftily that his Subjects freely conferred on him the Title of King which his Predecessors presumed not to take up thô they did hold the Quality and Grandeur of One. He defeated the Gauls contrary to all Expectation At last he fell sick at Thebes and was removed thence to Pergamos where he died in a good old Age being about 72 years old 241 3753. 6. Eumenes II. the eldest Son of Attalus succeeded him and reigned 40 years His three Brothers Attalus Phileterus and Atheneus bore so much Respect as well as Love to the King their Brother that they becames his Life-Guards 197 3793. 7. Attalus II. Sirnamed Philadelphus succeeded his Brother Eumenes and reigned about 21 years He drove Orophernes and Demetrius Soter out of Cappadâ—cia and fully re-established Ariarathes in his Kingdom He was conquered by Prusias King of Bithynia who entred Pergamos robbed the Staâ—ues of the Gods and rifled the Temples Upon this Attaâ—us sent his Brother Atheneus to Rome to complain thereof to the Senate who ordered Prusias to forbear warring against Attalus Pâ—usias slighted the Orders of the Senate burnt the Temples made great Havock in the Neighbouring Countries and defied Attalus who had shut himself up in Pergamos The Senate sent a third time Ambassadors to make up a Peace between him and Attalus which at last was effected This Attalus was a great Friend to the Romans and a constant Favourer of Learned Men at length Peace and Idleness corrupted and spoiled this good Man who left his Kingdom to Attalus Philometor his Nephew 157 3813. 8. Attalus III. Sirnamed Philometor the last King of Pergamos succeeded his Uncle and reigned only 5 years He was a very cruel Prince put his nearest Relations and dearest Friends to Death not so much as sparing his Mother or his Wife In the Second Year of his Reign he retired into the inmost Parts of his Palace where he dressed himself in a very mean Habit let his Beard and Hair grow without cutting never appeared in Publick led a Life exempt from all manner of Pleasures and seemed to inflict a Punishment upon himself for the Crimes he had been guilty of Having thus quitted the Administration of the Government he dug in his Garden sowed Seeds and by an extravagant sort of Humour laid out his greatest Care in cultivating Venemous Plants such as Henbane Hellebore Hemlock Aconite c. He extracted the Juice and Liquor and gathered the Seeds of them of which he made a great many dangerous Presents to his Friends He became so skilful in the Art of Botany especially in whatever related to the Manuring of Plants that he composed a very curious Book upon that Subject wherein as Varro relates he set down the Season of Sowing and of Gathering the Seeds of Plants He applied himself to Founding of Metals became a great Master in that Art cast several Figures and made use of them in raising a Mausoleum to the Memory of his Mother At last being too eagerly set upon these sort of Exercises which exposed him continually to the Heat of the Sun or the Furnace he was seized with a violent Feaver and died on the seventh day of his Illness 137 Eudemius of Pergamus carried the Last Will and Testament of Attalus to Rome and gave the Diadem of the Kingdom and the Royal Robe to Tiberius Gracchus Tribune of the People By this Will Attalus made the People of Rome his Heir Populus Romanus bonorum haeres esto The Romans finding by their Common Law that his Kingdom was a part of his Demeans seiz'd thereon by virtue of these Words Let the People of Rome be the Heirs of my Demeans There was some Fault found with the Romans for putting such a Construction on his Will but having the Power in their own Hands they made it to be a good Title In this City it was that they first dressed Sheep-skins and of them made Parchment whereon they wrote before the Invention of Paper and hence came the Name of Parchment called in Latin Charta Pergamena CHAP. V. Of the
Kings No body knows whether these Dynasties which some look upon as Successive and which they range one after another be not most of them Collateral and of the same time or no. Diodorus Siculus says upon his Honour that for all the Care and Pains he took in consulting the Priests of Egypt about their Antiquities yet he could find nothing in them but what was very dubious and uncertain and that whatever has been published of Egypt before the taking of Troy might very well be reckoned as Fabulous What Credit then can we give to what the Greek Historians have related from the Egyptian Priests with whom it was very common to extol the Grandeur and Antiquity of their Nation by Romantick and surprizing Relations Shall we believe them when they confidently tell us that the Gods and Demi-Gods reigned in Egypt 34201 years before any Kings reigned there With such Stories as these did the Egyptian Priests amuse Diodorus Siculus when he consulted them about the Antiquity of their Kings In one word it seems very likely that the Egyptian Priests invented those Fabulous Reigns that they might not yield the Glory of their Antiquity to the Chaldeans or Babylonians who assigned several Myriads of Years to their Monarchy There was a kind of Emulation upon this Point between these two Nations which inclined their Historians to invent several Successions of Imaginary Kings This Emulation is what is very real the Signs whereof are very visible in the Writings of the Ancients Wherefore all that can be said of the first Government of Egypt with any certainty is that C ham the Son of Noah having planted it govern'd this Land for about 160 years and was succeeded by Mizraim otherwise called Osiris after whom a great number of Kings are named but with such a mixture of Fable that we shall not trouble our selves or the World with a frivolous Account to their Dynasties which Manetho would have us believe were 17 before Thetmosis or Amasis their first known King We shall omit likewise to speak of their State under their unknown Kings or under those who were stiled The Shepherd Kings and will begin our Account of Egypt with Thetmosis or Amasis who began to reign in the year of the World 2207 from whom we shall continue the Succession down to Cleopatra's Death when it became a Roman Province which happened about the year 3920. This takes up the space of 1713 years which being too large to consider all together we shall treat of under three distinct States viz. 1. Under 47 Kings who all were Sirnamed Pharaoh 2. Under 11 Kings of Persia. 3. Under the Greeks namely Alexander the Great and the 12 Ptolemy's his Successors Sect. 1. The State of Egypt under 47 Kings Sirnamed Pharaohs which lasted 1220 Years till the Year of the World 3427 when it was conquered by Cambyses King of the Persians Years of the World Years before Christ. 2207. 1. THetmosis or Amasis he drove the Shepherd Kings out of Lower Egypt who retired into Phenicia He had been before King of Thebais or Vpper Egypt and reigned about 25 years 1743 2232. 2. Chebron reigned about 13 years 1718 2245. 3. Amenophis reigned 20 years and 7 months 1705 2266. 4. Amesses the Sister of Amenophis reigned 21 years and 9 months 1684 2288. 5. Mephres reigned 12 years and 9 months 1662 2300. 6. Maphramuthosis reigned 25 years and 10 months 1650 2326. 7. Themosis reigned about 10 years 1624 2336. 8. Amenophis II. reigned 30 years and 10 months 1614 2367. 9. Orus reigned about 5 years He built the Pyramids of Egypt 1583 2373. 10. Thermutis or Acenchres reigned about 43 years 'T is said that this is that new King who knew not Ioseph and who oppressed the Israelites He gave order to the Midwives to kill the Sons of the Hebrew Women but this not being executed he injoined his Subjects to drown them In his Reign Moses was born laid in the River found and saved by Pharaoh's Daughter who brought him up as her own Child and by a signal Instance of Providence committed him to be nursed by his own Mother In this King's Reign Cecrops the Egyptian transplanted a Colony of the Saites into Attica and there laid the Foundation of the Republick of Athens 1577 2416. 11. Rathotis the Brother of Acenchres succeeded and reigned about 9 years 1534 2424. 12. Acencheres I. succeeded his Father Rathotis and reigned about 12 years 1526 2436. 13. Acencheres II. succeeded and reigned 13 years 1514 2449. 14. Armais succeeded and reigned about 4 years This was that Pharaoh to whom Moses and Aaron were sent by God to prevail upon him to let the Children of Israel go In his time Moses brought the ten Plagues upon the Egyptians and thô Pharaoh was harden'd by the nine first yet he was forced by the last to yield to their Request and the Egyptians pressed the Israelites to be gone However Pharaoh pursued the Israelites with a great Army but he and all his Men perished in the Red Sea whilst the Children of Israel passed over it as upon dry Ground 1501 2453. 15. Armesis or Ramesses succeeded and reigned one year 1497 2454. 16. Amesis or Ramesses Miamun succeeded and reigned about 21 years 1496 2475. 17. Armais succeeded and reigned about 45 years This is Danaus who being expelled the Kingdom by his Brother Egyptus went into Greece and laid the first Foundation of the Kingdom of Argos 1475 2520. 18. Amenophis III. succeeded and reigned in Egypt about 19 years 1430 2539. 19. Egyptus or rather Sethosis succeeded and reigned about 51 years He deposed Danaus but was so molested by him that his Daughters killed 49 of his Sons In his time Phenix and Cadmus came from Thebes to Egypt and thence went to Syria where they reigned over Tyre and Sidon 1411 2590. 20. Rampes or Rhampsaces succeeded and reigned about 61 years 1360 2651. 21. Amenophis IV. succeeded and reigned about 40 years 1299 2691. 22. Ammeneremes or Ammenepthes succeeded and reigned about 26 years 1259 2717. 23. Thuoris reigned about 7 years 1233 2724. Here happened a Dynasty of the Diospolites whose Kings are unknown and which lasted the space of 143 years 1226 2867. 24. Smendes reigned about 26 years 1083 2893. 25. Pseusenses reigned about 50 years 1057 2943. 26. Vaphres succeeded and reigned about 20 years He is by some called Mephercheres This is that Pharaoh who married his Daughter to King Solomon and gave her for her Portion Gezer a City belonging to the Tribe of Ephraim which he had taken from the Canaanites after he had put them all to Death 1007 2963. 27. Amenophis V. reigned 9 years 987 2972. 28. Sesonchis or Shishak succeeded and reigned 6 years It was this King to whom Ieroboam fled and with whom he tarried till the Death of K. Solomon After this Shishak marched from Egypt to Ierusalem rifled the Temple and carried away all the Treasures which were in the Royal Palace of Rehoboam the Son of
Solomon 978 2978. 29. Spinaces reigned about 9 years 972 2987. 30. Persusennes reigned about 55 years 963 3042. 31. Sesonchis reigned 21 years 908 3063. 32. Osorthon reigned 15 years 887 3078. 33. Tachelotis reigned 13 years 872 3091. 34. Petubastes reigned about 30 years 859 3121. 35. Sebacon reigned about 12 years 829 3133. 36. Osorchon or the Egyptian Hercules reigned about 12 years 817 3145. 37. Tarak reigned 19 years 805 3164. 38. Psammis I. reigned about 19 years 786 3183. 39. Bocchoris Sirnamed Saites reigned in Egypt the space of 44 years 767 3227. 40. Sabacon or So the Ethiopian began to reign and having taken Bocchoris Prisoner of War caused him to be burnt alive and reigned in his stead 8 years This was that So mentioned 2 King 17.4 to whom Hoshea King of Israel sent Ambassadors to perswade him to pay no Tribute to the King of Assyria Upon which Sennacherib King of Assyria clap'd Hoshea into Prison and laid Egypt waste 723 3236. 41. Sevechus the same with Tirhakah mentioned by Isaiah the Son of Sabacon succeeded his Father and reigned about 28 years 714 3264. About this time there happened great Disturbances in Egypt the Regal Power was laid aside and the Kingdom governed by an Aristocracy of 12 Men for the space of 15 years 686 3279. 42. Psammeticus one of the 12 assisted by the Grecian Soldiers became sole King of Egypt and reigned 54 years In his time the Scythians having conquered Asia marched directly towards Egypt But when they were advanced as far as Palestine Psammeticus met them and by his Intreaties and Presents diverted them from their Design 671 3333. 43. Pharaoh Neco succeeded his Father Psammeticus and reigned 16 years He attempted to cut a River from the Nile to the Sinus Arabicus but failed in his Design and 120000 Egyptians perished in the Undertaking Herodotus tells us that he sent a Fleet out of Sinus Arabicus which lanching out into the South Sea sailed quite round Africa They entred the Mediterranean by Hercules Pillars called at present the Straits of Gibraltar from whence they sailed in a direct Course to Egypt where they arrived in the 3d year of their Voyage This was that King of Egypt who defeated Iosiah King of Iudah and killed him in Battel He was afterwards entirely defeated by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon who was very near conquering all Egypt Nebuchadnezzar pushed on his Conquests took from Neco all his Dominions which lay between the Nile and Euphrates and forced him to keep within the Limits of his own Territories 617 3350. 44. Psammis II. succeeded his Father Neco and reigned about 6 years But he died soon after his return from his Expedition into Ethiopia 600 3356. 45. Apries succeeded his Father Psammis and reigned about 25 years He was a great Warriour took Sidon by Storm and put all Phenicia into a very great Consternation At last he was absolutely defeated by the Cyrenians against whom he had waged War Upon this the Egyptians were for deposing Apries who sent Amasis to pacify them But instead of that they set up Amasis for their King Apries dispatched Patarbem to bring back Amasis but he succeeded not whereupon he had his Nose and Ears cut off as a Punishment of his Default by the Orders of King Apries Those Egyptians who hitherto had continued Loyal to the Interests of Apries were so offended at this barbarous Proceeding that they deserted him and went over to Amasis The two Kings had an Engagement near the Walls of Memphis in which Apries was defeated put to flight taken Prisoner confined in Said and afterwards strangled 594 Nebuchadnezzar laid hold on this Juncture of Affairs and whilst these Commotions and Disturbances were flaming in Egypt marched directly thither and conquered the whole Country He made a great slaughter among the Egyptians and put a vast number of them into Irons The Iews who were fled into Egypt to avoid the Fury of the Assyrians fell at the same time into the Hands of Nebuchadnezzar and shared the same Fate with the Egyptians 3381. 46. Amasis ascended the Throne and reigned 44 years In his time Cambyses King of Persia resolv'd upon the Conquest of Egypt and made Preparations for it 569 3426. 47. Psammenitus succeeded his Father Amasis but he reigned only 6 months being conquered by Cambyses King of Persia. 524 A REMARK Here we would desire our Reader to take notice that in the Names and Succession of these Egyptian Kings we have all along followed Petavius Helvicus and after him our Countryman Mr. Tallents 'T is true they differ in some Points from other great Authors but if they in the Account they give us or we in following them do Err it may be the more excusable since scarce two Authors agree exactly in the Names and Succession of these Kings so obscure is the History of these Times We after them have made Thermutis or Acenchres to be that Cruel Pharaoh who oppressed the Hebrews and killed their Male-Children and Armais to be that Pharaoh who reigned when Moses brought the ten Plagues upon Egypt and who pursued the Israelites into the Red Sea where he and his Army were drowned But others have made Ramesses Miamun to be the One and his immediate Successor Amonophis III. to be the Other Pharaoh Which of the two Accounts is most Authentick is very uncertain and perhaps neither of them is true For 't is probable that one and the same Pharaoh oppressed the Hebrews and pepished in the Red Sea The Scriptures determine nothing in the case but only tell us in general that it was Pharaoh who did this or that and Prophane History affords us but little Light to distinguish whether one or two or more Pharaoh's were concerned in the Business We determine nothing but leave the Reader to judge as he thinks fit only we thought it very proper to add this Remark to justifie our following Helvicus and Tallents in the Account we have given of the Names Succession and Chronology of these Egyptian Kings Sect. 2. The State of Egypt under XI Kings of Persia which lasted 193 Years viz. to the Year of the World 3619 at which time it was subjected to Alexander the Great Years of the World Years before Christ. 3426. 1. CAmbyses reigned after he had absolutely defeated Psammenitus who fled to Memphis where he was besieged The City was taken and Cambyses by way of Contempt ordered him to take up his Quarters in the Suburbs Psammenitus as an Addition to his Misfortunes often beheld the Princess his Daughter with several other Ladies of Quality in the Habit of Slaves who were forced to go and draw Water for the Persians She never went by him but she burst into Tears and made dreadful Exclamations This unhappy Prince likewise saw his Son with 2000 Egyptians of the same Age with him going to be executed with Ropes about their Necks and a Bridle in their Mouths At last he was removed to Susa where he endeavoured by several
Artifices to raise an Insurrection among the Egyptians for which he was condemned by the King of Persia to drink Bull 's Blood of which he died 524 The next year Cambyses likewise subdued Ethiopia but carrying his Conquests too far it happened that his whole Army being then in a sandy hot and barren Country had like to have perished for want of Provision The Soldiers cast Lots among themselves and did eat every tenth Man upon whom the Lot fell The King of Persia being advertised of this horrible Disaster immediately broke up his Camp and quitted his Design At his return to Babylon he died but upon his going from Egypt he left a Governor over it named Ariandes By this means Egypt remained under the Dominion of the Kings of Persia. 3429. 2. Darius King of Persia reigned over Egypt 36 years 521 3464. 3. Xerxes King of Persia succeeded his Father Darius and possessed his Territories 22 years 486 3486. 4. Artaxerxes succeeded his Father Xerxes In his time Inarus King of Lybia and Son to Psammenitus caused the greatest part of Egypt to revolt and freed himself from the Tyranny of Artaxerxes He was made King by the Egyptians and called in the Athenians to his Assistance who were at that time before the Isle of Cyprus with a Fleet of 200 Sail. Artaxerxes upon notice of the Egyptians Revolt sent against them Achemenes or Achemenides with an Army of 400000 Foot and a Fleet of 80 Sail. But Inarus with the Assistance of the Athenians beat the Persians both by Sea and Land making great Havock of them and among the rest Achemenes himself was killed Artaxerxes upon the News of his Army's Defeat in Egypt sent fresh Forces thither under the command of Artabasus and Megabizus They were near 300000 strong defeated the Army of Inarus whom Megabizus wounded in the Thigh Inarus was put to flight and threw himself with the remainder of his Forces into Byblus a very strong City of Prosopis which is an Island in Delta form'd by two Arms of the River Nile very near its disemboguing it self into the Mediterranean By this Defeat Megabizus became Master of all Egypt except Byblus Within a year or two after the Persians turned the Stream of the River which formed that Island another way laid Siege to Byblus which surrender'd to them and all Egypt was again reduced and brought under the Subjection of Artaxerxeâ— There was still at that time another King named Amyrtes said to be the Son of Psammenitus He reigned in the Fens and Morasses where the Persians durst not set upon him His Forces were inur'd to Hardships and resolved to stand by him to the last Artaxerxes at the importunate Requests of his Mother yielded up Inarus to her Will and Pleasure who caused him to be hanged and 50 Grecians beside 464 3525. 5. Xerxes II. 6. Sogdianus both of them Kings of Persia did not reign one whole year 425 3526. 7. Ochus or Darius Nothus succeeded them In his time Amyrtes Saites freed almost all Egypt from the Tyranny of the Persians to whom he was an inveterate Enemy and reigned 6 years He was succeeded by Nepherites a King of a New Dynasty 424 3545. 8. Artaxerxes II. King of Persia. In his Reign Achoris King of the Egyptians raised Forces from all Parts to drive the Persians out of Egypt Achoris was succeeded by Psammuthis who reigned one year and he again was succeeded by Nepheretes the last King of the Dynasty of the Saites who reigned no more than 4 months Nectanebis the first King of the Dynasty of the Sabennites reigned 12 years Artaxerxes at last made a Peace with the Greeks intending to joyn theirs with his Forces for the Reduction of Egypt But the Misunderstanding which happened between Pharnabazus General of the Persians and Iphicrates Commander of the Athenian Forces occasioned the Designs of Artaxerxes to miscarry 405 Much about this time Eudoxus a Native of Cnidos a City of Caria in Asia Minor being then in great Repute obtained Letters of Recommendation from Agesilaus to Nectanabis King of Egypt desiring Leave to converse with the Egyptian Priests The King recommended him to Iconuphis Priest of Heliopolis and among these Priests it was that he wrote his Octaeteride 3581. Teos succeeded Nectanabis and reigned 2 years but sending his Son Nectanebos with an Army against Syria this treacherous Son by fair Promises and Presents won the Army over to his side and caused them to proclaim him King of Egypt Teos fled to the King of Persia who received him kindly and gave him the Command of an Army for the Reduction of Egypt by the help whereof he was re-established upon the Throne but having learned in Persia to live Luxuriously he lost his Life amidst his Debaucheries 369 3583. Nectanebos was scarce Master of Egypt but another as Ambitious as himself was proclaimed King at the Head of an Army of 100000 Men which he had raised But this Nectanebos notwithstanding remained in possession of the Throne being assisted by Chabrias who commanded the Army of the Athenians and by Agesilaus General of the Lacedemonians and reigned 12 years 367 3588. 9. Artaxerxes III. or Ochus King of Persia was the Person that opposed Nectanebos He sent a puissant Army into Egypt against him who in the end conquered and forced him to fly to Memphis where seeing he should be taken if he tarried long he changed his Habit and went for Sanctuary into Ethiopia Others say that he went in Disguise through Pelusium and came to Pella a City of Macedon And thus was all Egypt again reduced by the Persians This was that Artaxerxes mentioned ch 3. p. 266. who rifled Egypt of its Treasures and Libraries and affronted the Egyptian's God Apis as has been already related 362 3611. 10. Arses King of Persia. 3614. 11. Darius Codomannus the last King of Persia who was conquered by Alexander the Great Sect. 3. The State of Egypt under the Greeks viz. Alexander the Great and the XII Ptolemy's which lasted 301 Years that is to the Year of the World 3920 when Augustus after the Death of Cleopatra made Egypt a Province of the Roman Empire Years of the World Years before Christ. 3619. ALexander the Great marched into Egypt where he found the People disposed to put themselves under his Protection For the Persians were grown so intolerable by their Tyranny Avarice and Sacrileges that the Egyptians upon Alexander's Arrival soon shook off the Persian Yoke waited upon him at Pelusium and submitted to his Government Mazagases Lieutenant to Darius Codomannus and Governor of Memphis delivering up that City to Alexander In this Expedition Alexander visited the Temple of Iupiter Ammon where the Priests corrupted by his Gifts prepared the Oracle to declare him the Son of that God as has been already mentioned Whilst he was in Egypt he built Alexandria giving it his own Name and making it the Metropolis of the whole Country This was in the Fifth Year of his Reign and the
it To revenge the Injury his Brother Egyptus had offered him he married his 50 Daughters to his Brother's 50 Sons and perswaded his Daughters each to kill her Husband They all obeyed his Orders except she who married Lynceus Hence arose the Fable of the Greek Poets who feigned That 49 of the Daughters of Danaus were condemned in Hell to an Endless Labour of filling Pails or Sieves that were full of Holes with Water which ran out as fast as they poured it in This Danaus reigned about 50 years 1472 2528. 2. Lynceus succeeded his Uncle Danaus and reigned 40 years 1422 2568. 3. Abas succeeded his Father Lynceus and reigned 23 years 1382 2591. 4. Pretus succeeded his Father Abas and reign'd 19 years 1359 2610. 5. Acrisius succeeded his Father and reigned 31 years 1340 2641. Perseus put his Grandfather Acrisius to Death and removed the Regal Power from Argos to Mycene From this time it became a Republick but had a Share in all the Wars of Greece 1309 CHAP. IX Athens AThens the Capital City of Attica was seated on the River Cephissus in the very Heart of that Province which was looked upon as the most eminent Province of all Greece This City was consecrated to Minerva whom the Greeks called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and has been esteemed one of the most magnificent and flourishing Cities of the World Cicero says that the Athenians were perfect Masters of Politicks Religion and Husbandry that they were the first Founders of Law and Equity and that they transmitted these Things to the rest of Mankind Nor was Athens only the Publick School of Arts and Sciences but it was likewise the Seat of Magnanimity and Valour and as famous for great Commanders as it was for Men of Polite Parts and Learning It 's Areopagus Liceum Academy Portico and the vast Number of its stately Temples have been very much celebrated and talked of in the World The Areopagus was properly the Senate-House of Athens the Place where a certain Number of Magistrates determined the Causes of Private Persons It was to this Place that St. Paul was brought to give an Account of his Doctrine and where he made that excellent Discourse the Subject of which he occasionally took from an Altar which he had seen in that City dedicated ΘΕΩ ΑΓÎΩΣΤΩ TO THE VNKNOWN GOD. Dionysius one of the Areopagites and a Woman of Quality named Damaris embraced the Christian Religion and were converted by Paul's Preaching The Liceum was a College where Aristotle taught his Philosophy for which Reason it was called the Lycéan Philosophy The Academy was a fine House with Gardens and Fountains where Plato taught his Philosophy This Name of Academy came from one Academus an Athenian who gave that House to Plato and hence those who were his Disciples were called Academicks Arcesilaus who came after Plato being willing to reform some Points of his Doctrine founded that which was called the Second Academy of which Pericles the Disciple of Arcesilaus was the Head Arcesilaus taught That we cannot come to the perfect knowledge of any thing and that therefore we ought to suspend our Judgment in all things without being positive in the determining any thing about them There was a Third Academy founded by Carneades of Cyrene who taught That there was some Things probable and others true and false but that the Mind of Man could not tell how to distinguish them The Portico which was called Pecilé because of the Variety of admirable Pictures with which Polignotus had enrich'd it was the Place where Zeno the Cynick held his Lectures of Philosophy whose Followers were called Stoicks In the History of Athens we meet with Four different States under which it appeared to the World from the year of the World 2394 in which it was founded down to the present Times For there are 10 this day some Remains of old Athens which soem call Seâ—ines and the Turks Athina Sect. 1. The First State of Athens under XVII Kings lasted 488 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2394. 1. CEcrops I. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 came out of Egypt brought in their Gods and was the first that called God by the Name of Zeus or Iupiter He founded the Kingdom of Athens and reigned about 50 years Pausanias tells us that in his time the Areopagus was founded and that Mars pleaded there first But others place it in Demophoon's Reign about 380 years later In Cecrops's Reign Deucalion King of Thessaly lived of whose Flood the Poets make such large Descriptions 1556 2444. 2. Cranaus reigned 9 years and was expelled by Amphictyon 1506 2453. 3. Amphictyon the Son of Deucalion succeeded Cranaus set up the Council of Greece and reigned 10 years 1497 2463. 4. Ericthonius the Son of Vulcan expelled Amphictyon succeeded and reigned 50 years He invented Chariots to ride in to hide his Feet 1487 2513. 5. Pandion I. the Son of Ericthonius succeeded his Father and reigned 40 years He was the Father of Philomela and Progne the one as Ovid relates was transformed into a Nightingale and the other into a Swallow 1437 2554. 6. Erecthâ—us the Son of Pandion succeeded his Father and reigned 50 years In his time the Isthmian Games were instituted by Glaucus the Father of Bellerophon Eumolphus King of Thrace aided the Elâ—usians in in their War against the Athenians 1396 2603. 7. Cecrops II. succeeded his Brother Erectheus and reigned 40 years 1347 2643. 8. Pandion II. the Son of Erectheus succeeded his Uncle Cecrops and reigned 25 years In his time the Olympick Games were instituted by Pelops who reigned in Peloponesus which Country derived its Name from him 1307 2668. 9. Egeus the Son of Pandion succeeded his Father and reigned 48 years In his Reign the Athenians had a cruel War with Minos King of Crete and being conquered by him were obliged to send 7 Children yearly to be devoured by the Minotaur In his time likewise Iason with his Argonauts went in quest of the Golden Flcece And Hercules renewed the Olympick Games 1282 2716. 10. Theseus succeeded his Father Egeus and reigned 30 years He emulated Hercules destroyed the Robbers killed the Minotaur assembled all the People of Attica in Athens setled the Government routed the Amazons assisted the Lapithae against the Centaurs and took Helena Castor and Pollux by way of Revenge took Athens but used it kindly 1234 2746. 11. Mnestheus who was descended from Erectheus expelled Theseus and reigned in his stead 29 years In his time Troy after a Siege of 10 years was taken by the Greeks 1204 2775. 12. Demophoon the Son of Theseus succeeded his Father and reigned 27 years 1175 2802. 13. Oxynthes succeeded his Father Demophoon are reigned 12 years 1148 2814. 14. Aphidas succeeded and reigned only one year 1136 2815. 15. Thymetes succeeded and reigned only 8 years He killed his Father and was afterwards killed himself by his Successor 1135 2823. 16. Melanthius the Son of Andropompus who reigned 37 years 1127 2860.
17. Codrus succeeded his Father Melanthius and reigned 21 years He for the safety of his People lost his own Life and by his Death gave them the Victory for the Oracle having predicted that the Party which lost their King should gain the Victory he disguised himself and secretly got into the Enemy's Camp where he purposely provoked them and received his Death for his Country's sake His two Sons Medon and Nileus contested the Kingdom which was the reason why the Athenians fearing that they should never have such another King as Codrus put an end to the Regal Power declared that Iupiter was the only King of the People of Athens and established Perpetual Archontes that is Governors or Magistrates who should have the Administration of the State during their whole Life and were only different from the Kings in Name and were accountable to the People 1090 Sect. 2. The Second State of Athens under XIII Perpetual Archontes which lasted the space of 316 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2882. 1. MEdon the Son of Codrus govern'd Athens 20 years 1068 2902. 2. Acastus governed 36 years In his time happened the famous Ionian Expedition For the Ionians being driven out of Peloponnesus by the Heraclidae and the Dorians under the Conduct of Neleus and Androclus Sons of Codrus took Ephesus and other Places in Asia Minor and called that part of it Ionia 1048 2939. 3. Archippus governed 17 years 1011 2956. 4. Thersippus governed 42 years 994 2998. 5. Phorbas governed 31 years 952 3029. 6. Megacles governed 30 years 921 3059. 7. Diognetus governed 28 years 891 3087. 8. Phoreclus governed 19 years 863 3106. 9. Ariphron governed 20 years 844 3126 10. Thespieus governed 27 years 824 3154. 11. Agamestor governed 11 years 796 3173. 12. Aeschylus governed 23 years 777 3174. At this time being 407 years after the taking of Troy 12 years before the building of Rome and 777 years before Christ the Olympiads began each containing the space of four years The first Olympiad was very famous for the Prize which Corebus the Cook won in a Race at the Olympick Games Here ended the time which Varro calls Fabulous because all that preceded the first Olympiad was mixed with a great many Fables And here began the Historical Time because some Rays of Truth began then to shine forth in History 3196. 13. Alcmeon governed 2 years and after his Death the Government of Athens was committed to Archontes or Governors who ruled only 10 years 754 Sect. 3. The Third State of Athens under VII Decennial Archontes which lasted 70 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3198. 1. CHarops the Son of Aeschylus governed 10 years 752 3208. 2. Esimedes governed 10 years 742 3218. 3. Clidicus governed 10 years 732 3228. 4. â—lippomanes governed 10 years 'T is said that he tore his Daughter's Adulterer into pieces with wild Horses for which he was Deposed He accoâ—ding to Suidas was the last of the Race of Codruâ— 722 3238. 5. Leocrates governed 10 years 712 3248. 6. Apsandrus governed 10 years 702 3258. 7. Eâ—yxias governed 10 years He was the last of the Decennial Archontes So that the whole space of Time from Cecrops the first King of Athens down to the end of the Government of Eryxius takes up 874 years After his Government was expired Democracy was established in Athens and the State was to be governed by Annual Archontes 692 Sect. 4. The Fourth State of Athens under Annual Archontes which lasted about the space of 751 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3268. CReon was the first 682 3269. Next to him succeeded Tlesias 681 Instead of giving you an Account of the Succession and Names of these Annual Archontes which would be both a tedious and an useless Undertaking it will be more proper to set down those particular Events which contributed to the Happiness or Misery of Athens and these we will bring under their proper Centuries without affixing the Time to every particular Event but only to such as are most remarkable Years of the World Years before Christ. 3300. In this Century flourished the Seven Wise Men of Greece viz. Solon Bias Thales Pittacus Periander Chilon and Cleobolus Besides these flourished Anaximander the Son of Praxidamus who was born in Ionia Pherecydes Bion Proconessus Epimenides Anaximenes and several others The Photians a People of Ionia set out a Fleet and went and built Marseilles Within a while after Pittacus of Mytelene one of the seven Wise Men of Greece was sent by his Countrymen into Troas to fight Phrino the Commander of the Athenians but was conquered Soon after Periander another of the seven Wise Men of Greece made a Peace between the Athenians and the Mytelenians Within this Century Cylon attempted to make himself King but failing of his Aim fled with his Accomplices to the Altar who contrary to Promise were all killed by Megacles the Archon of that Year which caused great Disturbances and Factions to arise Epimedides to free the City from the Plague erected that famous Altar mentioned in the Acts to the VNKNOWN GOD. A second War happened with the Megarenses wherein Salamis was recovered 650 3384. Pisistratus descended from Codrus became a Tyrant of his Country He won the Poorer sort and by their means made himself King He was expelled by Megacles and Lycurgus afterwards sent a counterfeit Minerva in a Chariot to admonish the People of Athens to restore him He married the Daughter of Megacles was restored ruled well for some time honoured Solon collected Homer's Verses and put them in Order built the first Library in Athens which Xerxes afterwards carried away He repudiated the Daughter of Megacles was again expelled by him but returned and was kindly received by the People 566 In the 4th Year of the 39th Olympiad Anno M. 3330 Draco was Archon and made such severe Laws that they were said to be written in Blood and 22 years after Solon ruled who repealed these Laws and made many excellent Alterations in the Athenian Government In this Century Thales of Miletum died and Anaximander his Disciple was the first who discovered the Obliquity of the Zodiack which his Master could never find out 3400. After Pisistratus his Son Hipparchus succeeded and after him his other Son Hippias Hipparchus was a great Favourer of Learned Men but Harmodius and Aristogiton killed him who were also killed themselves Leaena the Harlot bit off her Tongue that she might not discover the Accomplices Hippias became at last very Cruel for which he was banished Athens Upon this he fled to Darius and set him upon the Thoughts of conquering Greece Darius was so incensed against the Athenians that every time he supp'd he ordered one of his Servants to cry out Here Mâ—mento Atheniensium Pray Sir don't forget the Athenians By the Instigation of Hippias the Persians did invade Greece but were beaten at Marathon by Miltiades where Hippias was killed And when Xerxes the Son
Laomedon succeeded and reigned about 44 years He built the Walls of Troy and the Treasuries of Neptune and Apollo and at last was killed by Hercules 1280 2714. 7. Priam succeeded and reigned about 53 years His Son Paris went into Greece and brought thence by force the beautiful Helena Wife of Menelaus Upon this Agamemnon Brother to Menelaus excited the Greeks to a Confederacy to revenge this Affront The Grecians having made him their General marched against Troy which after a ten years Siege they took in the year of the World 2767 before Christ 1183 before the first Olympiad 407 before the building of Rome 431. 1183 It is here to be observed that the Account which the Poets give us of the famous Siege of Troy is full of Fabulous Relations so that all they tell us of the chief Hero's of this War such as Achilles Ajax Vlysses Hector Eneas c. is not to be credited but the greatest part is to be looked upon as Romance and Poetical Fiction and not as true History CHAP. XI Of the Spartans or Lacedemonians SParta or Lacedemonia was the Capital City of Laconia and one of the most considerable Republicks of Peloponnesus seated on the River Eurotus It was the strongest City in all Greece thô it had no Fortifications and defended its self without Walls for the space of 800 years against all its Enemies Authors are not agreed about the Time or the Founder of Sparta Some say Spartus the Son of Amilcas others that Sparta the Wife of King Lacedemon founded it Some assert that Spartus the Son of Phoroneus King of Argos and others that Lelex was the Founder of it from whom it was called Lelegia it not receiving the Title of Lacedemonia till in Lacedemon's time who was its fourth King And there are others which affirm that Cecrops the Founder of Athens was likewise the Founder of Sparta It is by all acknowledged that there was never any People in the whole World more skill'd in Politicks than the Lacedemonians We have one famous Instance of this and which seems to be almost a Prodigy viz. That one and the same Government should be under two Kings at the same time and so united to each other in their Interests as to last above 800 years together under that Form And 't is manifest that after this Government of two Kings ceased both the Glory and Grandeur of the Lacedemonians began to decline As Authors agree not about the Founder of this Commonwealth so neither do they agree about the Time wherein it was founded nor about the Number of their first Kings All things were so obscurely handed down to us before the first Olympiad that Chronology and History too must needs be very imperfect The famous Vsher passes by in his Chronology all the first Kings as well as those called the Heraclides thinking it more proper to be silent than to advance any thing on Matters so uncertain yet since Dr. Howell and others have given us the Names of these Kings without mentioning the precise number of the years of their particular Reigns we shall consider Lacedemonia under Four distinct States Sect. I. The First State of Lacedemonia under XIV Kings not much known lasted about 397 Years that is from Lelex their first King to the Heraclides But forasmuch as 't is uncertain how long each King lived or reigned we shall only set down their Names Years of the World Years before Christ. 2450. 1500 1. Lelex 2. Myles 3. Eurotas 4. Lacedemon who married Sparte the Daughter of Eurotas 5. Amyclas 6. Argalus 7. Cynortas 8. Oebalus 9. Hippocoon expelled by 10. Tyndareus 11. Castor and Pollux 12. Menelaus who married Helena the Sister of the two former 2775. 13. Orestes He killed his Mother and Aegystus King of Argos ruled over both the Kingdoms 70 years 1175 2845. 14. Tisamenus reigned only two years 1105 Sect. II. The Second State of Lacedemonia under the Kings called Heraclides till such time as their Power was moderated by the Gerontes or Senators Years of the World Years before Christ. 2847. 1103. They were called Heraclides as descending from Hercules For Aristodemus one of his Descendants had two Sons namely Eurysthenes and Procles both which the Spartans chose for their Kings from whom descended the two Royal Families called Eurysthenides and Proclides who jointly governed Lacedemonia for the space of 249 years The Kings called Eurysthenides 1. Eurysthenes reigned 42 years 2. Agis the Son of Eurysthenes succeeded From him the Royal Family was called Agidae and that of Eurysthenes was extinct He reigned only one year 3. Echestratus succeeded his Father and reigned 35 years 4. Labotas succeeded his Father and reigned 37 years 5. Dorâ—ssus succeeded his Father and reigned about 30 years 6. Agesilaus succeeded his Father Doryssus and reigned about 44 years 7. Archelaus succeeded his Father Agesilaus and reigned 60 years The Kings called Proclides 1. Procles 2. Soos the Adopted Son of Procles 3. Eurypon the Son of Soos from whom the following Kings were called Eurypontides which put an end to the Name of Proclides 4. Prytanis succeeded his Father Eurypon 5. Eunomus succeeded his Father Prytanis 6. Polydectes succeeded his Father Eunomus 7. Charilaus succeeded his Father Polydectes He was the Posthumous Son of Polydectes and reigned under the Tuition of Lycurgus the famous Legislator of the Lacedemonians Lycurgus was Son to Eunomus the Brother of Polydectes and Uncle to Charilaus About this time it was that he made Laws for the Lacedemonians Sect. III. The Third State of Lacedemonia under such Kings whose Power was restrained by 28 Gerontes or Senators whom Lycurgus instituted Years of the World Years before Christ. 3096. 854. This State lasted 130 years to the year of the World 3198 at which time the Epheri were set up 8. Teleclus the Son of Archelaus reigned about 40 years He was killed by the Messenians in the Temple of Diana 9. Alcamenes succeeded his Father Teleclus and reigned 37 years 10. Polydorus succeeded and was killed by Polemarchus In his time the Ephori were set up to Bridle the Kings and Senate Five of them were yearly made and thô the first was only named and the others stiled Eponymous yet they were all five of equal Power 8. Nicander succeeded his Father Charilaus and reigned 39 years 9. Theopompus The years of his Reign and the rest who succeeded are unlimited till the year of the World 3447. Sect. IV. The Fourth State of Lacedemonia under the Kings with the Five Ephori or Inspectors instituted by Theopompus 130 Years after Lycurgus Years of the World Years before Christ. 3198. 752. This State lasted about 532 years viz. down to such time as Cleomenes was defeated by Antigonus King of Macedon 11. Eurycrates I. the Son of Polydorus 12. Anaxander the Son of Eurycrates 13. Eurycrates II. the Son of Anaxander 10. Zeuxidamus Grandson to Theopompus 11. Anaxidamus his Son 12. Archidamus the Son of Anaxidamus Before we proceed to
among the Canonical Writings of the New Testament This City was at first called Ephyra afterwards Heliopolis i. e. The City of the Sun It was famous for its Painters Architects and Carvers and was built by Sisâ—phus Corinth in the several Risques of Fortune which it has run has appeared to the World under VI. distinct States Sect. I. The First State of Corinth under the Race of Sisyphus of which there were X. Kings which lasted 269 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2543. 1. Sisyphus The same with him who as the Poets tell us was condemned to the endless Labour or rouling a Stone up a Hill which no sooner was at the top but rouled down again to the bottom and so renewed his Labour 2. Glaucus the first Instituter of the Ishmian Games 3. Bellerophon He being guilty of Homicide fled to Argos where he was kindly received by King Pretus But it seems Sthenobea the Queen of Argos falling in Love with Bellerophon tempted him to lie with her but upon his Refusal accused him of tempting to violate her Chastity which by the way is much the same with the Story of Ioseph and his Egyptian Mistress Upon this Pretus was offended sent him into Lycia to his Father-in-Law Iolas with Orders to put him to Death But Iolas after several Trials of his Valour so admired him that he not only spared his Life but married him to his Daughter Philonoe 4. Orynthion 5. Phocus 6. Thoas 7. Demophâ—on 8. Propodas 9. Doridas Both Sons of Propodas and 10. Hyanthidas Both Sons of Propodas Under these two last Kings the Heraclides fell into Peloponnesus and became Masters of Corinth 'T is to be observed that History is so obscure about these first Kings that the exact Time and Duration of each Reign cannot be set down Sect. II. The Second State of Corinth under IV. Kings called Heraclides which lasted 144 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2812. 1. Aletes the Son of Hippotaâ— the Son of Antiochus who was Nephew to Hercules He reigned 38 years 1138 2850. 2. Ixion reigned 34 years 1100 2884. 3. Agelaus reigned 37 years 1066 2921. 4. Prymnis reigned 35 years 1029 Sect. III. The Third State of Corinth under VIII Kings called Bacchides which lasted 215 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2956. 1. Bacchis reigned 35 years 994 2991. 2. Agelaus reigned 30 years 959 3021. 3. Eudemus reigned 25 years 929 3046. 4. Aristodemus reigned 35 years 904 3081. 5. Agemon reigned 16 years 869 3098. 6. Alexander reigned 39 years 852 3137. 7. Telstes reigned 34 years 813 3171. 8. Aristomenes or Automenes reigned only one year 779 Sect. IV. Years of the World Years before Christ. 3172. The Fourth State of Corinth was under Annual Magistrates which lasted 121 Years viz. From the Year of the World 3172 to the Year 3293. At this time the Government was changed into Aristocracy For 200 of the Bacchides ruled in Common and only created a Prytanis every Year from among themselves till at last it fell under the Tyranny of Cypselus and Periander who reigned about 73 Years 778 Sect. V. Years of the World Years before Christ. 3245. The Fifth State of Corinth was that of the Re-establishment of their Liberty By this means it became a Free Republick and had a great Share in the Wars carried on by the Grecians against the Persians and in the Wars between the Athenians and Lacedemonians as has been already observed This State lasted about 439 Years Sect. VI. The Sixth State of Corinth was under the Romans of which we shall have occasion to speak when we come to the Roman Monarchy CHAP. XIII Of the Mycenians MYcene was a City of Peloponesus situated between Argos and Corinth It was founded by Lacedemon the Son of Semelé But the Kingdom of Mycene was founded by Perseus the Son of Danae after he had killed by an Accident his Grandfather Acrisius King of Argos So that this State is to be looked upon only as a Continuation of the Kingdom of Argos the Regal Authority being translated thence by Perseus to Mycene about the year of the World 2641 before Christ 1309. This Kingdom or State lasted 218 Years under VII Kings Years of the World Years before Christ. 2641. 1. Perseus reigned about 57 years Before he was King he did many great Exploits among the rest overcame the Gorgons three Sea-Monsters 1309 2708. 2. Sthenelus succeeded his Father and reigned 8 years 1242 2716. 3. Eurystheus succeeded his Father Sthenelus and reigned 43 years In his time lived Hercules said to be the Son of Iupiter and Alcmena who by Eurystheus was injoined to destroy divers Monsters in hopes that he would have been killed by them But he always returned home Conqueror which gave an occasion to the Story of the twelve Labours of Hercules Eurystheus jealous of the growing Greatness of this Hero made War against the Heracâ—idae wherein he and all his Sons was killed 1234 2759. 4. Atreus and Thyestes the Sons of Pelops and Grandsons of Tantalus reigned conjunctly the space of 8 years They had another Brother named Plisthenes who died whilst young and committed the Care of his two Sons Agamemnon and Menelaus to his Brother Atreus He married Aerope the Mother of these Children and Daughter to Minos with whom Thyestes was caught in the Act of Adultery Atreus was so enraged that he first banished his Brother then recalled him within a while after and having killed his Sons dress'd them and served them up to him to be eaten Hence arose the Proverb of Thyestes's Supper 1191 Atreus after the Death of Eurystheus became Master of all Peloponnesus and put the Heraclidae to flight 2767. 5. Agamemnon reigned 15 years He declared War against the Trojans in the Behalf of his Brother Menelaus After Troy was taken he returned home but was there immediately killed by Aegysthus and his own Wife Clytemnestra who lived in Adultery with Aegysthus 1183 2782. 6. Aegysthus the Son of Thyestes born in Incest after the Death of Agamemnon succeeded and reigned 7 years 1168 2789. 7. Orestes the Son of Agamemnon revenged his Father's Death upon Aegysthus and his own Mother Clytemnestra whom he slew After which he ran mad but was restored to his Senses at the Altar of Diana in Taurica He reigned 70 years over Lacedemonia and Mycene 1161 2859. Orestes left two Sons behind him viz. Tisamenes and Penthilus who were Dethroned by the Heraclidae as they were returning to Peloponnesus 1091 CHAP. XIV Of the Thebans BOEOTIA one of the States of Greece was bounded on the West by Phocis on the East by the Eubean Sea on the North by Locris and on the South by Attica and Megaris The Metropolis of this Country was Thebes but who built it is uncertain Calydnus is said to have reigned first in that Place after him Ogyges but last Cadmus But since the Account of the Thebans before the Reign of Cadmus is very obscure we shall pass that
by and begin our Account with him Years of the World Years before Christ. 2525. The State of the Thebans under XIV Kings which lasted 295 Years 1425 1. CAdmus was the first King of the Thebans The Grecians tell us that he was the Son of Agenor who sent him and his other two Brothers in quest of their Sister Europa whom Iupiter had ravished forbidding them to return unless they brought their Sister with them That Cadmus at last after many fruitless Journeys came into Boeotia where despairing of ever meeting with his Sister being admonished by the Oracle he built or as 't is most probable repaired Thebes and added a Fort to it which from him was called the Cadmean Fort That he married Harmonia the Daughter of Mars and Venus of whom he had one Son named Polydorus and four Daughters Semele Ino Autonoe and Agaâ—e That he at last warred against the Illyrians conquered and reigned over them leaving the Kingdom of Thebes to be governed by his Son Polydorus This is the Account which the Grecians give us of Cadmus But thô they in Honour to him say he was a King's Son yet the Sidonians his Countrymen deny it and affirm that this Cadmus was only the King's Cook and that he ran away with a certain Musick-Girl called Harmonia His coming into Greece was about the same time that Ioshua governed Israel so that it may be very justly supposed that he carried a Colony of the Canaanites whom Ioshua had expelled into Greece Whether this or the other Account be truest we shall not here stand to determine thô upon very weighty Reasons the latter seems to be most probable However most agree that this was the Man who first brought Letters into Greece from Phenicia 2. Polydorus succeedded his Father married the Daughter of Nycteus by whom he had one Son Labdacus whom at his Death he left to the Care of his Father-in-Law 3. Labdacus succeeded In his time Epopeus the King of Sicyonia ravished Antiope the other Daughter of Nycteus upon which a War broke out between them wherein they both died of their Wounds which they received Upon the Death of Nycteus his Brother Lycus was made Labdacus's Governor who administred the Government so faithfully that Labdacus upon his Death committed his Infant Son Laius to his Care 4. Laiùs succeeded his Father In his Reign his Governor Lycus having punished Antiope according as Nycteus had ordered him was at War with her two Sons Amphion and Zethus and was killed by them in an Engagement Thebes was taken by them and the young Child Laius very narrowly escaped 5. Amphion and Zethus reigned over Thebes Amphion built Walls round Thebes married Niobe the Daughter of Tantalus and Sister of Pelops who having a great many Children boasted that she was a better Breeder than Latona her self which occasioned her to lose them all For Apollo was commanded to kill all the Males and Diana all the Females upon which Niobe was so stupified that the Poets feign she was turned into a Stone Thô this Account is rather Romance than true History yet we thought it would not be amiss to insert it that so our young Reader may have some Light even in the Fictions of the Poets which he may meet with A while after Amphion and his whole Family were cut off by the Plague Zethus pin'd away upon the Death of his Son whom his Wife had unfortunately killed and these Brothers being thus removed the Thebans restored Laius again to the Throne Laius married Iocasta the Daughter of Meneceus by whom he had a Son but the Oracle advising him to beware of him he bound his Feet and exposed him in order to make him away The infant was according to his Order exposed but found by a Shepherd and brought to Polybus King of Corinth He took care of the Child brought him up as his own and cured him of the Swelling which he had in his Feet from whence he was called Oedipus A long time after Laius uncertain what was become of his Son and Oedipus ignorant who were his Parents both went to make their Enquiries at the Oracle In Phocis they met by chance where Laius very roughly commanding him to give the way was killed by his Son whose hot Blood it seems could not brook such rude Provocation 6. Upon the Death of Laius Creon the Brother of Iocasta usurped the Throne till such time as Oedipus did explain the Riddle of the Monster Sphinx For all Travellers who passed by where she sate had the Riddle proposed to them upon these Terms That in case they could not explain it they should be put to Death but whoever did should marry Iocasta and be King of Thebes Oedipus unriddled the Riddle and married his own Mother Iocasta after he had killed his Father Both which he did ignorantly At last a full Discovery was made both of the Murder and the Incest of Oedipus upon which Iocasta hanged her self and he was kept Prisoner by his Sons sent to Athens and there died with King Theseus 7. Eteocles and Polynices the two Sons of Oedipus agreed to reign alternately but Eteocles being once upon the Throne would not let his Brother have his Turn in the Government Upon this Polynices made his Aplication to Adrastus King of Sicyon his Father-in-Law Adrastus to revenge the Affront marched at the Head of an Army and sat down before Thebes After many dubious Skirmishes it was agreed That the two Brothers should determine the Quarrel by fighting a single Duel They accordingly fought and killed each other but did not put an end to the Contest for a sharp Engagement followed wherein the Soldiers of Adrastus were cut off and himself rid away full speed for his Life 8. Laodamas the Son of Eteocles succeeded but being in his Minority Creon the Brother of Iocasta was his Governor Within ten years after the Sons of those who were cut off in the last Battel to revenge themselves upon the Thebans raised another War wherein Thebes and Laodamas were taken 9. Thersander the Son of Polynices set up by the Victors who leading the Beotians against Troy was slain by Telephus in Mysia 10. Pencleus made King by the Beotians but engaging with Euryphilus the Son of Telephus was slain in the Battel 11. Tisamenus the Son of Thersander succeeded 12. Damasicthon the Son of Opheta and Nephew to Pencleus 13. Ptolemeus succeeded 14. Xanthus the last King of Thebes was killed in a Duel by Melanthus the Messenian With him ended the Kingdom of Thebes which was turnâ—d into a Common-wealth in the year of the World 2820 before Christ 1130. But still the Thebans had a great Share both in the Intestine and Foreign Wars with which Greece was engaged as appears in the Accounts we have given of Athens and Lacedemonia CHAP. XV. Of the Macedonians THE Kingdom of Macedonia or Macedon so called from Macedon the Son of Osiris or as some say from Iupiter and Aethra was bounded on the West
by the Adriatick Sea on the East by the Egean Sea on the North by the Vpper Moesia and on the South by Epirus Achaia and Thessaly This Kingdom began in the year of the World 3137 under Caranus the Heraclide and lasted 645 years till it became at last a Roman Province We may consider this Kingdom under three distinct States Sect. 1. The First State of Macedon under XX. Kings of which Philip the Father of Alexander the Great was the last which lasted 477 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3137. 1. CAranus the Heraclide founded this Monarchy and reigned 28 years 813 3165. 2. Cenus succeeded and reigned 12 years 785 3177. 3. Thurimos succeeded his Father and reigned 38 years 773 3215. 4. Perdiccas I. succeeded his Father and reigned 51 years It seems he shewed the Place where he and his Successors should be buried 735 3266. 5. Argeus the Son of Perdiccas succeeded and reigned 38 years 684 3304. 6. Philip I. succeeded his Father Argeus and reigned 38 years 646 3342. 7. Aeropus the Son of Philip reigned 26 years He was carried in his Cradle against the Illyrians who thereupon were routed 608 3368. 8. Alcetas succeeded his Father Aeropus and reigned 29 years 582 3397. 9. Amyntas I. the Son of Alcetas succeeded and reigned 50 years 553 3447. 10. Alexander I. Sirnamed the Rich succeeded his Father Amyntas and reigned 43 years He slew the Persian Ambassadors who would have abused the Macedonian Ladies sent two Images of massy Gold to Delphos and Elis and would not be corrupted by the Persians but discovered all their Plots against Greece 503 3490. 11. Perdiceas II. the Son of Alexander succeeded and reigned 28 years 460 3518. 12. Perdiceas III. succeeded but reigned a short time being killed by 432 13. Archelans his Bastard Brother who succeeded and reigned 24 years 3542. 14. Orestes the Son of Archelans succeeded was committed to the Tutelage of Eropus who killed him and succeeded 408 15. Eropus the Governor of Orestes reigned about 6 years 3548. 16. Pausanias the Son of Eropus reigned only one year being put to Death by 402 3549. 17. Amyntas II. the Husband of Eurydice who ascended the Throne and reigned 24 years but had a troublesom time on 't 401 3573. 18. Alexander II. succeeded his Father Amyntas and reigned only one year He sued for Peace from the Illyrians and sent them his Brother Philip as an Hostage who was by them sent to the Thebans 377 3574. Ptolemy Alorites usurped the Throne but was killed by Perdiccas after he had reigned 3 years 376 3577. 19. Perdiccas IV. governed Macedon 5 years He was slain in a Battel fought against the Illyrians left his Son very young whereupon the Macedonians made his Brother Philip II. King within a short time after his Death 373 3588. 20. Philip II. ascended the Throne with a great many good Qualifications He was Courageous and Prudent and when he was Hostage at Thebes he dwelt with Epaminondas a great Philosopher as well as a great General His Conversation with so great a Man was of extraordinary use to him as appeared afterwards in the whole Sequel of his Life And it may be very justly affirmed that the Grandeur of the Kingdom of Macedon the Greatness of Alexander and perhaps the Grecian Monarchy was owing to the Instructions which Philip learnt from Epaminondas He reigned 26 years 362 This King made his Peace with the strongest but subdued the weakest Countries such as the Athenians Pannonians and Illyrians He set all Greece into Flames and took an opportunity from their Divisions of becoming their Master 3595. This year Alexander was born at the City Pella Some Authors tell us that on this very Day Philip received these three extraordinary Pieces of News 1. That Parmenio had defeated the Illyrians 2. That he had won the Prize at the Olympick Games And 3. That he had a Son brought into the World But the Learned Criticks have discovered that these Events were not at the same time What is most certain is that on the Birth-Day of Alexander the Temple of Diana at Ephesus was burnt by a Villanous Incendiary who was willing by this Act to render his Name famous or rather infamous to Posterity Great Care has been taken to smother his Name but Theopompus in his History tells us he was called Erostratus 355 3605. This year Philip besieged Perinthus a Town in Thrace but the King of Persia jealous of the growing Greatness of King Philip succoured the Perinthians which gave occasion to Philip to think of carrying on a War against the Persians Within a while after he set upon the Athenians and defeated them in the Battel of Cheronea where his Son Alexander about 18 years old signalized himself At last having made Preparations for the War against Persia he was slain at his Daughter's Wedding by Pausanias a young Macedonian to whom he had refused Justice 345 Sect. 2. The Second State of Macedon under Alexander the Great lasted only 13 Years Years of the World Years before Christ 3614. ALexander the Great raised Macedon to the highest Pitch of Grandeur for at last this mighty Conqueror within 12 or 13 years extended the Bounds of his Kingdom so far into Europe Asia and Africa that Macedon might then very justly have been stiled The Mistress of the Vniverse The Danube and the Black Sea bounded his Conquests Northward the River Hydaspes the Indian Sea the Gulphs of Persia and Arabia bounded them on the East and Cyrene the Capital City of Cyreniacum or Pentapolis in Africa bounded them Southward All this large Tract of Country was under his Dominions But having already treated of the Progress of his Conquests in speaking to the Grecian Monarchy chap. 4. we shall not trouble our selves or our Reader with any Repetitions 336 After Alexander's Death at Babylon there happened a long Contest between the Commanders about the Election of a Successor at last they agreed to salute Arideus King This Arideus was Alexander's base Brother whom King Philip had by a Comedian named Philinna Sect. 3. The Third State of Macedon under XVII Kings lasted 155 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3627. 1. ARideus was only a Titular King all his Authority being in the Hands of four Governors or Tutors viz. Perdiccas Python Antipater and Polysperchon When he ascended the Throne he took the Name of Philip Arideus and reigned only 6 years and 4 months for he was put to Death with his Wife Eurydice by the Order of Olympias Alexander's Mother upon her return into Macedon 323 3633. 2. Cassaneder succeeded him and reigned 19 years He returning at the Head of an Army from Peloponnesus besieged the Queen Olympias in Pydna forced her to surrender and put her to Death Afterwards he married Thessalonice the Daughter of Philip and made young Alexander the Posthumous Son of Alexander the Great with his Mother Roxana Prisoners in the Fort of Amphipolis Within a while after a League
Man from the course of a few years but by the close of his Life Cresus derided the Philosophical Severity of Solon but soon found by a sad and fatal Experience that what he said was too true Within a while after Cresus made Preparations for a War against Cyrus but was defeated by the Army of the Medes 556 3408. This year Cresus after the gaining several Victories in Cappadocia supposing Cyrus had no great mind to fall upon him disbanded his Army and retired to Sardes where he thought to have spent the Winter very quietly He was scarce got thither but Cyrus came and sat down before it with his Army and after 14 days Siege the City was taken and Cresus condemned to be burnt This unfortunate King considering he was now drawing to his End remember'd what Solon had said to him about the Happiness of Mankind and thrice invoked the Name of that great Philosopher Cyrus moved with Compassion towards him set him at Liberty and afterwards asked his Advice upon all Occasions 542 Thus with Cresus ended the Kingdom of the Lydians after it had lasted 675 years For afterwards it was subject to the Persians Greeks and Romans and at present to the Turks CHAP. XVII Of Tyre TYRE was a Sea-Port Town built upon a Rock and the Capital City of Phenicia If what Archbishop Vsher says be true it must be acknowledged that this City was more Ancient than Troy and Corinth For he tells us it was founded in the year of the World 2499 by Agenor the Father of Phenix and Cadmus who came from Thebes in Egypt into Syria to fortifie Tyre and Sidon But Iosephus assures us that it was not built till about the year of the World 2733. It is likewise to be observed that the most ancient King of the Tyrians which we can meet with in History was Abibal the Father of Hiram the Friend of David and Solomon 'T is certain that the Tyrians were very Powerful by Sea but whether they were the first Inventers of Letters as some assert is not so certain To give you some Idea of such a confused History as is that of Tyre we shall consider this Kingdom under Four distinct States Sect. I. The First State of Tyre under XII Kings which lasted 213 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2886. 1. A Bibalus reigned 35 years 1064 2921. 2. Hiram succeeded his Father and reigned 34 years This was that King of Tyre who sent King David Cedar-Trees Carpenters and Masons to build his Royal Palace 1029 2955. 3. Baltazar or Baleastartus reigned 7 years 995 2962. 4. Abdastratus succeeded and reigned 9 years 988 2971. 5. ..... the Son of the Nurse of Abdastratus reigned 12 years 979 2983. 6. Astartus reigned 12 years 967 2995. 7. Aserim or Astarimus his Brother succeeded and reigned 9 years 955 8. Pholes or Pheletes reigned 8 months 3006. 9. Ithobaal the Priest of Astartus reigned 31 years 944 3037. 10. Badesorus reigned 6 years 913 3043. 11. Matgon or Mettinus reigned 9 years 907 3052. 12. Pygmalion reigned 47 years After him we have no Account of the Affairs of the Tyrians for 250 years together 898 Sect. II. Years of the World Years before Christ. 3099. The Second State of Tyre which is very obscure and unknown lasted 250 Years For in History we meet with no mention of any of their Kings except Eluleus of whom very little is said 8â—1 ELuleus reduced the Gitteans who had revolted In his time God humbled the Tyrians who were grown very Insolent by the Greatness of their Riches and that long Prosperity which they had enjoyed Isaiah in the 23d Chapter of his Prophecy foretells the Miseries which were to fall upon Tyre as a Punishment of its Pride and Cruelty especially towards their Neighbours the Israelites It seems as if Isaiah in his Chapter acted the part of an Historian rather than that of a Prophet every thing being there so naturally described The Riches Vanity and Luxurious Way of these Wealthy Merchants living who were the principal Inhabitants of Tyre are therein so lively represented Sect. III. The Third State of Tyre under X. Kings which lasted only 64 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3349. 1. IThobaal reigned 24 years In his time Nebuchadnezzar laid Siege to Tyre which after 13 years he took and instead of Ithobaal set up Baal for King 601 3373. 2. Baal reigned 10 years After his Death the King of Babylon set up Judges to govern Tyre 577 3383. 3. Eeni-Baal the I. Judge governed 2 months 567 4. Chelbes the Son of Abdeus governed 10 months 3384. 5. Abbarus governed Tyre the space of 3 months 566 6. Mitgon and the two Sons of Abdelin governed the space of 4 years 7. Gerestrapus the two Sons of Abdelin governed the space of 4 years 3388. 8. Balatorus governed the space of one year 562 3389. 9. Merbaal was sent from Babylon to Tyre to preside there in the room of his Brother Balatorus deceased He governed 4 years 561 3393. 10. Hiromus came from Babylon to Tyre to reign instead of his Brother Merbaal deceased He governed 20 years Here we meet with another Chasm in the History of Tyre which lasted about 205 years whereof we have no Account 557 Sect. IV. Years of the World Years before Christ. 3413. The Fourth State of Tyre which is very dark for 205 Years for History is silent about it till such time as it was besieged by Alexander the Great which happened in the Year of the World 3618 before Christ 332. 537 3618. THis year the Inhabitants of Tyre sent a large Crown of Gold to Alexander as a Compliment to him for his Conquests He told their Ambassadors That he would come himself to Tyre to pay the Vows which he had made to Hercules The Ambassadors replied That he needed not to come so far as Tyre to do that since the Temple of Iupiter stood without the City in the Place where old Tyre stood Alexander took this as an Affront and as if they seemed to deny him Entrance into their City whereupon he threatned to lay it in Ashes Accordingly he besieged it and after 7 months with the loss of a great many Men took it by Storm put all the Tyrians to the Sword and burnt their City In this general Calamity Strato and his Son were spared to whom and their Posterity Alexander gave the Kingdom of Tyre 332 Quintus Curtius tells us That Tyre rose out of its Ashes was rebuilt in a short time and so strongly fortified that it held out 15 months against Antigonus King of Asia Thus have we given you a summary Account of the Empire of China the Kingdoms of Egypt Sicyon Athens and the other States of Greece of Lydia Tyre c. We are sensible there were other Petty Kingdoms such as Cyprus Sicily Crete c. but forasmuch as they did not then make any great Figure in the World and since History does not say much about them
we did not think it proper to insert the Account of them in this our System CHAP. XVIII Of the Italians Latins Romans and of the Fourth or Roman Monarchy OUR Reader must not expect in this short System of Vniversal History that we should give an accurate and particular Account of all the Roman Affairs since many of the Ancients such as Diodorus Siculus Dionysius Halicarnasseus Livy and others who have only given us an Account of part of them have filled whole Volumes with that Account And since our Countryman the ingenious industrious and indefatigable Mr. ECHARD has favoured the World with a large Book even of his Abridgment of the Roman History 'T is enough that we give only a Taste of the most eminent Transactions which contributed towards the making Rome so famous to future Ages that by this means the Reader may be the better prepared and the more excited to look into more Voluminous Tracts which treat of these Matters It must be likewise acknowledged that all the Account we have of Italy before Romulus is very Fabulous and Precarious and such as no Historian can rely upon However we shall give you a short Account of what passed in Italy before those Times thô we shall not vouch to the Truth of all that is contained therein nor do we desire to impose any thing upon the Reader but leave him to be a Free Thinker and his own Judge in the Case Having by way of Preface said thus much we shall divide this Chapter into V. Sections In the First we shall consider the Italians under the Government of the Ianigenae or Siculi In the Second we shall consider them under the Government of the Aborigines In the Third we shall consider them under the Seven Kings The Fourth Section shall give you an Account of the Consular State of Rome And the Fifth shall treat of the Fourth or Roman Monarchy Sect. I. The First State of Italy under the Janigenae or Siculi which lasted 557 Years 'T IS said that Gomer the Son of Iaphet first planted Colonies in Italy But we have no certain Account of this only that the first Inhabitants were called Ianigenae or Siculi It must not be expected that we should give an exact Chronology of these dark Times we shall therefore only give you a Catalogue of the Principal Men whether Kings or only Petty Governors is very uncertain who lived within this time Years of the World Years before Christ. 2044. 1. Aurunus It seems he built a Temple to Ianus 1906 2. Malotages 3. Sicanus the Husband of Ceres who taught the People Tillage 4. Several Tyrants 5. Osiris drove them out and was chosen King 6. Neptune 7. Lestrigo 8. Hercules Libycus 9. Tuscus 10. Alteus 11. Kittim or Atlas or Italus out of Spain ruled the Ianigenae 12. Iasius 13. Dardanus He killed Iasius and afterwards fled into Thrace 14. Tyrrhenus He came out of India and his Subjects after him were called Tyrrhenians We have no Account after him of any King or Governor for above 100 years together Sect. II. The Second State of Italy under XV. Kings called Aborigines which lasted 577 Years from Janus down to Romulus Years of the World Years before Christ. 2621. 1. JAnus the Son of Erectheus King of Athens came into Italy was received by the Aborigines and built Ianiculum He reigned 10 years 1329 2631. 2. Saturn expelled Crete by his Son Iupiter fled into Italy civiliz'd the People taught them Tillage coin'd Money c. He reigned 19 years 1319 2650. 3. Picus the Son of Saturn succeeded and reigned 41 years 1300 2691. 4. Faunus succeeded his Father and reigned 42 years 1259 In his time Evander and Carmenta his Mother came out of Arcadia and taught them Letters and Hercules living with Evander killed Cacus 2733. 5. Latinus reigned 36 years He had a Daughter named Lavinia whom Aeneas married 1217 2769. 6. Aeneas after the taking of Troy came into Italy where he built Lavinium killed Turnus King of the Rutuli married Lavinia was drowned and afterwards Deified He reigned 5 years 1181 2774. 7. Ascanius or Iulus the Son of Aeneas by Creusa succeeded his Father and reigned 38 years He resigned Lavinium to Lavinia and Sylvius her Son built Alba and left the Kingdom to Sylvius 1176 2812. 8. Sylvius the Son of Aeneas by Lavinia succeeded and reigned at Alba 29 years 1138 2841. 9. Eneas Sylvius succeeded his Father and reigned 30 years 1109 2871. 10. Latinus II. reigned 51 years From him the People were called Latines 1079 2922. 11. Alba Sylvius succeeded his Father and reigned 39 years 1028 2961. 12. Capetus I. called by Ovid Epitus succeeded and reigned 26 years 989 2987. 13. Capys succeeded and reign'd 28 years He built Capua 963 3015. 14. Capetus II. succeeded and reigned 12 years 935 3027. 15. Tyberinus succeeded and reigned 8 years He was drowned in the River Tyber which has its Name from him 923 3035. 16. Agrippa Sylvius succeeded and reigned 41 years 915 3076. 17. Alladius or Aremulus succeeded and reigned 19 years He imitated Thunder and was swallowed up with his Palace 874 3095. 18. Aventinus succeeded and reigned 37 years The Aventine Hill derived its Name from him 855 3132. 19. Procas succeeded and reigned 23 years When he died he left his Sons to rule by turns yearly 818 3155. 20. Amulius expelled his elder Brother Numitor and reigned 25 years He killed Numitor's Son Lausus made Rhea Numitor's Daughter a Vestal Virgin ravished her afterward in the likeness of Mars by whom he had two Sons Romulus and Remus killed her and exposed them 795 3180. 21. Numitor is restored by his Grandsons Romulus and Remus to the Throne and reigned 18 years 770 Thus have we given the Reader some glimmering sort of Light into the State of the Italian Affairs even in these dark Times We shall now proceed to what History gives us a clearer Insight into and by what follows we may perceive from what small Beginnings and by what Steps and Degrees the Romans rose to that Grandeur as to be at last the Masters of the greatest part of the then known World Sect. III. The Third State under VII Kings called the Regal State lasted 245 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3198. 1. ROmulus was 18 years of Age when he laid the Foundations of the City of Rome upon the River Tyber near the Place where he and his Brother Remus were brought up At first he took in only Mount Palatine on which he built about 1000 Houses but within a while the Inhabitants increased to such a Number that they were forced to take in six Hills more so that Rome from hence was called The City with 7 Heads At first there was only a Colony of 300 Horse and 3000 Foot but to increase the Number he set up an Asylum which was a Sanctuary to all Malefactors and Discontented Persons 752 Romulus upon founding the City killed his Brother Remus for some Affront he had
the People made a Speech to them recounting all the Tyrannical Acts of Tarquin and prevailed upon them to take up Arms for the maintaining their Liberty The King hearing of these Things rid with his Sons and some Friends to Rome where they found the City-Gates shut against them Thereupon they spurred back again to Ardea but Brutus being got thither before them prevailed upon the Army to do as their Friends in the City had done before them By this means Tarquin was forced to fly where he could find a Retreat and with his Banishment ended the Regal Power at Rome which was turned into a Consular State This Change happened 245 years after the Building of the City in the first year of the 68th Olympiad in the year of the World 3443 31 years after the Ruin of the Assyrian Monarchy and setting up of the Persian 175 before the beginning of the Macedonian 507 years before Christ. Sect. IV. Years of the World Years before Christ. 3443. The Consular State of Rome from Brutus the first Consul to Julius Cesar ' s being made Perpetual Dictator lasted 464 Years 507 ☞ IN treating of the Consular State since the proposed Brevity will not allow us to give you a List of the several Consuls or of the particular Actions which happened in their Times and since to consider so great a space of Time all together would confound our Reader we shall therefore reduce the Whole under several of the most remarkable Periods to render the Idea of the Roman Affairs the more clear and conceivable In our assigning these Periods we beg leave to follow the Method of our Friend Mr. Echard which seems to us the most Easie Natural and Intelligible of any we have hitherto met with and we freely own that in this part of our System we shall borrow a great many Things out of his excellent Abridgment and hope none will be offended with us for it I. Period from the Banishment of Tarquin to the First Dictator which lasted 10 years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3443. Tarquin being banished the Romans resolved upon choosing no more Kings but to elect two Consuls yearly out of the Patritians These Consuls were elected by the People in a General Assembly called Comitia Centuriata The first Consuls were L. Iunius Brutus and L. Tarquinius Collatinus In their time Tarquin sent Ambassadors from Hetruria to Rome but their Proposals being rejected they had recourse to underhand Practices by which they won over to Tarquin's Interest several young Noblemen and among the rest two of the Sons of Brutus who conspired against the Consuls and were beheaded Collatinus resigned and Valerius Poplicola was chosen Consul in his stead About this time Tarquin brought an Army against Rome engaged the Romans was defeated but Brutus the Consul was slain by Aruns the Son of Tarquin as he alternately fell by the Hand of Brutus Valerius made a great many good Laws and among the rest one whereby two Quaestors or Publick Treasurers were created After the Death of Brutus he was suspected by the People of aiming at the Regal Power but he soon removed their Jealousie by holding an Assembly for the Election of another Consul wherein Lucretius was chosen but he dying a few days after M. Horatius succeeded in whose time the Capitol was finished and dedicated Valerius was chosen a second time with Lucretiùs Tricipitinus Before this year was out Porsenna King of Clusium espousing Tarquin's Interest marched against Rome besieged it and was very near taking it but being at first repulsed by Horatius Cocles and afterwards struck with Admiration at the Bravery and Undauntedness of Mutius Scaevola and at the Courage of Clelia a Roman Virago he made Peace with the Romans These three noble Acts are too Heroick to be passed over in Silence and therefore we cannot omit to mention them thô our designed Brevity will admit of but a very short Relation when Porsenna attack'd the City his Onset was so vigorous that the two Consuls were wounded which so dishearten'd the Romans that retiring in Disorder to the City the Enemy had entred with them if the Courage of Horatius Cocles who alone defended the Passage of the Bridge had not hindred them and given an Opportunity to those that were got over to break down the Bridge which being effected the valiant Hero leap'd into the River and thô wounded got safe over Mutius's Action was equally Brave for the City being extremely straightned by Porsenna's Siege and other Reliefs failing he got into the Enemy's Camp in Disguise resolving to Assassinate the King but by mistake he stabb'd his Secretary and being examined boldly declared his Intention and with invincible Courage thrust the Hand that committed the Mistake into the Fire in Punishment for the ill Service it did its Master Porsenna surprized at the Roman Courage not only pardoned Mutius but also concluded a Peace for ratifying of which Hostages were delivered and among them ten Roman Virgins But it seems even the Women among the Romans scorn'd to be Prisoners for under the Conduct of Clelia one of their number these ten Virgins got from their Keepers swam over the Tyber and in spight of the Enemy's Darts got safe home Within a year or two the Sabines began to be very troublesom to the Romans making Incursions into their Territories but were defeated by them in several Battels In the heat of this War came Actius Clausus with 5000 Sabines to Rome and became the Head of the Claudian Family Tarquin still restless and dissatisfied had his last Recourse to the Latines whom he excited to declare War against the Romans and at the same time fomented the Differences which were then at Rome between the richer and the poorer sort To obviate the Mischiefs which might arise from an Enemy abroad and Foes at home a particular Magistrate named the Dictator was created who for a set time should have the sole Administration of Affairs in his own Hand This Dictator was never made but upon extraordinary and emergent Occasions II. Period from the First Dictator to the Tribunes of the People lasted 5 years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3453. Largius Flavius one of the Consuls was the first Dictator who chose Sp. Cassius for Magister Equitum the Master of the Horse He had 24 Axes and Rods carried before him and by these Ensigns of Royalty aw'd the People and quieted the Tumults of the City He began the Census after the Pattern of Servius Tullus wherein 150700 Persons of full Age gave in their Names but he made a Truce with the Latines for one year When the Truce was expired both Parties prepared to take the Field The Romans perceiving the Latines were very strong thought fit to create a second Dictator The Choice fell upon Posthumius who chose Ebutius Elva for his Master of the Horse He hastened his Levies marched against the Latines engaged and defeated them near the Lake Regillus Upon this the
Latines earnestly sued for a Peace which was granted them Thus ended all the Wars made upon Tarquin's Account who being abandoned by all his Friends fled to Aristodemus the Prince of Cuma where he soon after died in the 90th year of his Age. 497 Upon the finishing of this War Posthumius laid down his Office and Appius Claudius and Servilius Priscus were made Consuls And now the Differences between the Plebeians and Patritians broke out afresh and were carried so high that neither the leading them to fight against the Vosci Aequi and Sabines nor all the Proposals of the Senate could reconcile and bring the meaner sort back from Mons Sacer whither they were retired till such time as they granted that they might choose Annual Officers of their own among themselves to protect them from the Injuries and Insolencies of the Patritians The Senate was forced to comply with their Demands and they made choice of L. Iunius Brutus Sicinius Bellulus C. and P. Licinius and Icilius Ruga for their Officers who were called Tribunes of the People They were at first only Five but at last their Number increased to Ten who in time grew so Exorbitant that by some Authors they were stiled Pestes Reipublicae This remarkable Change of the Roman State from Aristocracy to Democracy or rather to a mixture of both happened in the 260th year of the City 46th after the beginning of the Persian Monarchy and in the 3d year of the 71st Olympiad III. Period from the Creation of the Tribunes to the Decemviri lasted 42 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3458. The Office of Tribunes being ratified by the Senate the Commons obtained farther that they might choose Two out of their own Body yearly to assist these Officers which Assistants were afterwards called Aediles Upon these Grants made the Commons readily Listed themselves to march against the Volsci under the Command of Posthumius the Consul He took Longula and Polustia from them and invested their Metropolis Corioli which was taken by Storm through the Bravery of a valiant Patritian named Caius Marcius who from thence was Sirnamed Coriolanus Upon this and the Defeat of the Antiates who came to the Relief of Corioli the Volsci were forced to make Peace Within a short time Coriolanus was accused by the Tribunes of aiming at Sovereignty and Tyranny and condemned to Perpetual Banishment He retired to Antium excited the Volsci against the Romans being made their General marched against his own Countrymen took several Cities from them and at last sat down before Rome it self This struck such Terror into the Romans that both Senate and People unanimously agreed to send him Ambassadors with Proposals of Restoration He rejected all but at last being conquered by the Intreaties of his Mother his Wife and Children drew the Volsci from Rome and was afterwards cut in Pieces by them 492 After this the Romans were engaged in several Wars abroad with the Volsci Hernici Aequi Veientes Hetrurians and Sabines we shall not relate the Particulars of each but only in General take notice that in some Engagements the Romans were worsted in most came off Conquerors and forced their Enemies to make Peace At home there happened great Disturbances within this Period of Time the most Remarkable of which with some other considerable Things we think fit briefly to relate The first Disturbance arose from the Lex Agraria the Law for dividing the Conquered Lands among the Meaner sort which was the occasion of many Disorders and Mischiefs for many years together It was at first proposed by Cassius thrice Consul who aimed at the Sovereignty and promised to be put into Execution by the Senate who waved the doing it for a great many years But at last Cassius when out of his Consulship was called to an Account for his Ambition and was condemned to be thrown down the Tarpeian Rock which was accordingly done The next great Disturbance happened upon the account of one Volero a turbulent Man who when made Tribune to revenge an Affront offered him by the Consuls who would some time before have listed him for a Common Soldier was a great Instrument of passing a Law for the Establishing the Comitia Tributa Within this time the whole Family of the Fabii who undertook to defend the Roman Frontiers and had posted themselves in a Castle called Cremera were all cut off by the Enemy Quintius Cincinnatus was taken from the Plow first made Consul and within a year made Dictator in both which Posts he behaved himself with a great deal of Prudence Conduct and Courage Within the same compass of time happened first a Famine and then a Plague at Rome which cut off a great many of the Inhabitants At last they sent Ambassadors to Greece to bring such Laws from thence as were most Excellent and most Conducive to the Good of the Commonwealth Upon their Return the Decemviri were created who were ten Men to be Elected yearly out of the Chief of the Senate Upon this the Consuls elect resigned and were made two of the Decemvirate and the Tribunes Aediles Questors c. were divested of all their Authority This notable Change of the Roman State happened in the 302d year of the City in the 2d year of the 82d Olympiad 88 years after the beginning of the Persian Monarchy and 450 years before Christ. IV. Period from the Decemviri to the Military Tribunes lasted only 8 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3500. The Decemviri were elected annually by the Comiâ—ia Centuriata as the Consuls were but governed one at a time by turns the rest differing little from private Persons only they had a Beadle going constantly before them At first they governed with so much Justice Moderation and Equity that the People were charmed with their Conduct and Administration but they soon degenerated to Tyranny and Oppression which occasioned the short Duration of their Power The first Set of these Decemviri reduced the Laws brought from Greece with some Additions of their own Customs into ten Tables and the next Decemviri added two Tables more from whence they were called The Laws of the Twelve Tables so much talked of by the Roman Authors 450 The Decemvirate regarded neither Senate nor People but cut off the most considerable Citizens of both sorts Among the rest Siccius Dentatus the Roman Achilles was killed traiterously by a Party of 100 Horse which he headed against the Sabines At last Appius one of the Decemvirate attempting to abuse the Daughter of Virginius hasten'd the Downfal of that Form of Government which ended in less than 3 years time and returned to its former State of being governed by Consuls Valerius and Horatius were made Consuls for the remaining part of the year After which the Tribunes thought fit to call the Decemviri to an Account Appius was committed to Prison and before his Trial was found dead Oppius the next to him in Guilt was accused condemned and killed
in the East And whilst he was thus employed Octavius with the Assistance of Lepidus routed Pompey by Sea and outed him of all Sicily Sardinia and Corsica having before revolted to Octavius But Lepidus aiming to get all Sicily under his Command was turned out thence and banished by Octavius to Cyrceum Thus fell one Head of the second Triumvirate and Pompey soon after who had fled for Sanctuary to Anthony was slain by his Order in Phrygia Upon the Banishment of Lepidus Rome began to take Breath and Octavius was received into the City with a general Joy The first thing he did was the clearing Italy and Rome of the Robbers who of late had been very troublesome to both Among Pompey's Papers were several Letters aâ—â— Memoirs of the Chief Senators enough to have occasioned new Disturbances which Octavius generously brought into the Forum and publickly burnt them protesting that with them he sacrificed all his Private Resentments for the Publick Good This Generous Act endear'd the People so far to him that they made him Tribune for Life Having disposed of the Government of the Provinces he marched against the Illyrians And now Anthony by his Debaucheries with and his Prodigal Liberality to Cleopatra began to grow Odious to the Romans He marched against the Parthians but with such ill Success that he was forced with the loss of the fourth part of his Troops and all his Baggage to save himself in Armenia Another thing which gave Disgust to the Romans was his leading Artabazus King of Armenia in Triumph into Alexandria which they looked upon as a notorious Affront offered by a Roman General to Rome which for so many years had enjoyed that Honour peculiar to her self alone These Miscarriages Octavius took advantage of to raise his own and to lessen the Esteem of Anthony but had no fair opportunity of declaring War against him till he was justly excited by the Affront which he offered to his Wife Octavia Caesar's Sister whom by the Insinuations of Cleopatra he sent back again to Rome without so much as seeing her thô in Person he waited on Cleopatra to Alexandria This Affront so provoked Octavius that he thought of nothing but Revenge and after he had ended his Wars with the Illyrians he made Preparations for his Expedition against Anthony and proclaimed War against him At last Anthony marched as far as Actium a Town on the Coasts of Epirus and Cesar embarked at Brundusium crossed the Seas and surprized Toryne a City near Actium After this they had an Engagement by Sea wherein Anthony's Fleet was conquered which Victory was followed by the total Revolt of all his Land-Forces who submitted to Cesar and were all spared by him except some few who had been his professed Enemies Upon this Defeat Anthony declined in his Fortune shut himself up in Alexandria and at last by the Desertion of his own Troops and the Success of Caesar he grew so desperate as to lay violent Hands upon himself Thus fell the second Head of the Triumvirate leaving Octavius Caesar the sole Master of all the Roman State which happened in the 724th year of the City the 3d of the 187th Olympiad and 28th before Christ. Upon the death of Anthony Cesar sent to Cleopatra to assure her of his Kindness and Generosity but she denied Proculus his Messenger admittance into the Place where she had lock'd her self up with her two Maids Afterwards being surprized and taken by Proculus Caesar gave her a Visit but she understanding by Dolabella that he intended within three Days time to send her and her Children to Rome to grace his Triumph killed her self by applying an Asp to her Wrist Before she did this she sent a Letter to Octavius desiring she might be interred in the same Tomb with Anthony which was accordingly done By her Death Egypt was reduced to a Roman Province and Caesario the Son she had by Iulius Cesar was soon after put to Death by the Order of Octavius Upon his Return to Rome he Triumphed three Days for Illyricum for the Battel of Actium and for the Conquest of Egypt After this by his Clemency and Policy he so far won the Hearts of the Romans that at last they desired that he alone would take upon him the Administration of the Government and afterwards conferred upon him the Venerable Name of Augustus Here begins the Fourth or the Roman Monarchy Years of the World Years before Christ. 3925. 2. Augustus Cesar the second Emperor being fully established in the Government did many great Things for Rome It was he who by his extraordinary Conduct and Prudence restored the Tottering State to its former Splendor and Tranquillity enlarged its Grandeur and raised its Glory to the highest Pitch To him were sent Ambassadors from the farthest part of the Indies and from the Scythians to desire Alliance 25 After this he subdued the Pyreneans Cantabrians and Asturians who had revolted and the Parthians at length submitted to him In his time Learning began to flourish and Learned Men to be encouraged among those of greatest Note were Virgil Horace Ovid and Livy Caesar himself being a great Favourer of Learned Men. He exchanged the Name of the Month Sextilis calling it after his own Name Augustus He was not addicted to Vice nor could be justly charged with any Act of Cruelty or Tyranny except what he did in Conjunction with the other two Heads of the Triumvirate at Rome by the bloody Proscription and at Philippi after the Victory obtained over Brutus and Cassius He issued forth a Decree ordering all within the Roman Empire to be Taxed shut the Temple of Ianus by an Universal Peace about which time it was that Iesus Christ the Prince of Peace and Saviour of the World was born in the Flesh. The remaining part of Cesar's Reign together with his Successors will be Treated of in the Second Volume wherein we shall give you an Account of the Monarchies since our Saviour's Birth And thus have we with all the convenient Brevity given the Reader a Tast of the Roman History and none ought to be surprized that we have given it a larger Space in our System than has been allowed to any of the former since it ought to be considered that the Actions of the Romans have been more greater and more clearly transmitted to us than any of the former It must be likewise observed that this Last or Fourth Monarchy is of a larger Extent than either that of Assyria Persia or Greece since in Europe it took in Italy both the Gauls Spain Greece Illyricum Dacia Pannonia with part of Britain and Germany In Asia all the Provinces which go under the Name of Asia Minor Armenia Syria Iudea with part of Mesopotamia and Media And in Africa Aegypt Africk Numidia Mauritania and Lybia FINIS THE INDEX A. ABdon judges Israel p. 53 238 Abel 46 Abijam K. of Iudah 24 Abimelech 237 Aborigines in Italy their Kings 369 Abraham 49 229 Actium the Battel of
every Beast of the Field and Fowl of the Air which by Divine Direction Noah collected into an Ark or Ship of vast extent which according to the Commands of God he built and after 120 Years Labour having finish'd it the Flood-gates of Heaven were open'd and the Fountains of the Deep were broken up and in 40 Days time the Waters overwhelm'd the Face of the whole Earth so that all Creatures were destroy'd except Noah and what were with him in the Ark. But the executing Element having perform'd the Commands of Heaven it again return'd to its ancient Habitation part into the Bowels of the Earth and the rest exhal'd into Clouds leaving the Earth dry and again in a condition to be Cultivated Accordingly Noah and his Sons immediately set to work and in a few Ages the Land became fill'd with Inhabitants and Colonies were Transplanted to remoter Parts 1657. A Year after the beginning of the Flood Noah goes out of the Ark seeing the whole Face of the Earth dry and after a positive Order from God Shem Ham and Iapheth the Sons of Noah begin to Till the Ground The Life of Men shortened by one half 1723. Heber is born From him came the Hebrews and the Hebrew Language 1757. Phaleg is born His Name signifies Division because 't was in his time that Noah divided the Earth among his three Sons Iaphet had the West of Asia from the Mountains Taurus and Aman and all Europe Ham had Syria Arabia and all Africa Shem had all the Eastern Asia The Age of Men decreases very sensibly being at this time not above the fourth part of that of the Ante-diluvian Patriarchs 1800. About this time they began to build the Tower of Babel in the Plains of Sennaar 1816. A sort of Royal Authority has its first Rise in Egypt where some more violent than the rest take upon them to Domineer At this Time happen'd the Confusion of Languages which were divided into 72. The Hebrew Tongue remain'd in the Posterity of Heber This Confusion stop'd the Building of the Tower of Babel which those impious People were carrying on 1900. Nimrod the Grandson of Ham began the Babylonian or Assyrian Monarchy 2950. 1920. The King's Shepherds who came out of Arabia settle in Egypt and form a Government 1005. Ninus the Assyrian Monarch began to Reign 43 Years before the Birth of Abraham Semiramis his Wife the famous Assyrian Heroine succeeded him 1948. Abraham is born in the City of Vr in Chaldea a place famous for the Mathematicians that lived there 2002. Zoroaster King of the Bactrians is supposed to have invented Magick about this time 2023. Abraham comes out of Vr by God's Command to go and live at Charan a Town of Mesopotamia Hunting and Fowling were then invented 'T was about 300 Years before this time that the Chaldeans began to observe the Stars and the Motions of the Planets and practise Astronomy EPOCHA III. 2023. The Vocation of Abraham 1917. This Epocha reaches as far as the written Law and lasts 430 Years HEre God begins to make a People Elect and for that purpose he chuses Abraham to be the Stock and the Father of all the Faithful and declares to him That he will establish his Worship and his People which is to be this Holy Patriarch's Posterity in the Land of Canaan Besides the Promise he makes him of giving him a Son he adds that of Blessing all the Nations of the Earth in JESUS CHRIST born from his Posterity The Mark of this first Alliance of God with Men is the Circumcision 2024. Abraham press'd by the Famine goes down into Egypt where Apophis then reigned He is the same with Pharaoh mentioned in the Scripture who having taken away Sarah Abraham's Wife return'd her untouch'd to her Husband 2031. Berah King of Sodom with the other petty Kings of the Neighbouring Cities rebel against Codorlahomor King of Elam who had subjected them to his Domination 30 Years before 2047. Sodom Gomorrah Adamah and Seboim four abominable Towns are burnt by Fire from Heaven because of their infamous and detestable Crimes 1903. Circumcision instituted for a Token of the Alliance God made with Men in the Person of Abraham 2048. Isaac is born his Father Abraham being 100 Years old and his Mother Sarah 90. 2093. The Kingdom of Argos in the Peloponesus begins in Inachus the first known King of the Grecians 1080 Years before the First Olympiad 2207. Thethmosis or Amosis having expelled the Shepherds Kings reigns in Egypt 2154. The Deluge of Ogyges in Attica 1020 Years before the First Olympiad Varro places it 300 Years higher 2185. Iacob through his Mother Rebecca's Counsel and Assistance steals his Father Isaac's Benediction to the Prejudice of his Brother Esau. Towards this time began some of the Four Dynasties or Principalities of Egypt Thebes Thin Memphis Tanis the Capital of the lower Egypt 2229. Ioseph imprison'd upon the false Accusation of Potiphar's Wife is set at Liberty at three Years end having interpreted the Dreams of Pharaoh who raises him to the highest Dignities of the State 1721. 2238. Iacob press'd by the Famine descends into Egypt with all his Family The Israelites dwell there 215 Years 2255. Iacob dies in Egypt after he had adopted Manasses and Ephraim Ioseph's Sons He blesses them preferring the younger to the other 2309. Ioseph dies in Egypt having administred the Kingdom under several Kings Here ends the Book of Genesis 2360. The Kings of Egypt oppress the Israelites and put them to very laborious and painful Works 2373. Moses Son of Amram is born of his Mother Iocebeda Being 3 Months old he is expos'd on the Nile where the King's Daughter takes him up and through a miraculous Providence puts him out to Nurse to his Mother Iocebeda At 40 Years of Age he flies from Egypt into Arabia 2453. Moses tending the Flocks of Iethro his Father-in-Law is commanded by God to return into Egypt and demand of the King the Liberty of the Israelites who groan'd under a severe Bondage The King refuses the Liberty of the Israelites demanded by Moses God visits the Egyptians with ten Plagues At last upon a Tuesday the 5th Day of May towards Midnight Pharaoh lets the People of God go out of Egypt to the number of six hundred Men on Foot not including Children Pharaoh pursues the Israelites with an Army Moses opens a Passage in the Red Sea through which the Israelites go dry-foot and where Pharaoh is drowned with all his Army EPOCHA IV. 2453. Moses or the Written Law 1497. This Epocha reaches as far as the Taking of Troy and lasts 305 Years THree Months after the Deliverance of his People from Pharaoh's Tyranny God gave his Law to Moses on Mount Sinai There was heard from the Top of that Mountain a great noise of Thunder the Sky round about it was bright with Lightnings and the whole Mount seem'd to be a great Fire out of which arose a Flame like that of a burning Furnace 'T was
France to Ireland with French Officers and Forces Besieges London-derry which had declar'd for King William Apr. 1689. Ireland standing out for King Iames an Army is sent over under the Command of Duke Schomberg The Castle of Edinburgh which had stood out for King Iames surrender'd Iun. 13. 1689. William Duke of Glocester Son to their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Denmark was born Iuly 24. 1689. London-derry reliev'd and the Siege raised Iuly 22. 1689. King William goes over into Ireland with many Noblemen and large Supplies of Men and Ammunition Iune 16. 1690. The Battle of the Boyne wherein King William obtains a very signal and entire Victory over K. Iames and his Army Iuly 11. 1690. Drogheda taken Iuly 1690. King William marches into Dublin Iuly 16. 1690. King Iames flies back to France 1690. The first Siege of Limerick Aug. 1690. The King returns to England after having reduc'd the greatest part of Ireland Sept. 10. 1690. The King passes over to Holland wherein endeavouring to land in his Barge is sorrounded with Ice and detain'd 22 Hours Ian. 20. 1690 1. The Electors of Bavaria and Brandenburg the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel and many Foreign Ministers assemble in Congress at the Hague and conclude a firm Confederacy against France Feb. 1690 1. Mons taken by the French Apr. 8. 1691. The King returns to England Apr 10. 1691. The King goes to the Army in Flanders May 1691. Athlone in Ireland taken by the English Iuly 21. 1691. The Battle of Agrim wherein St. Ruth the French General for King Iames is killed and his Army totally routed Iuly 13. 1691. Innocent XII the present Pope Elected Iuly 12. 1691. Limerick surrendred and Ireland totally reduc'd Octob. 3. 1691. The English Fleet obtains a great Victory over the French and burn above 20 of their largest and best Ships at la Hogue May 1692. An Earthquake at Iamaica which almost totally destroy'd Port Royal Iune 7. 1692. Namur taken by the French Iuly 3. 1692. The Battle at Steenkirk Iuly 24. 1692. A small Shock of an Earthquake felt in England Holland Flanders and France Sept. 8. 1692. The French take and barbarously destroy Heidelberg Spire Manheim Frankendal and other Places in the Palatinate 1693. The Battle at Neer-Helpen near Landen Iuly 28. 1693. Charleroy taken by the French Oct. 11. 1693. Frederick Augustus Elector of Saxony succeeds his Brother Iohn George May 7. 1694. The English Fleet by Bombs thrown in burn Haâ—re de Grace and Diep two considerable Maritime Townâ— in France Iuly 1694. The Queen taken ill of the Small Pox Dec. 27. 1694. and on the 29th Her Majesty of ever blessed Memory departed this Life Casal taken from the French by the Duke of Savoy Iuly 9. 1695. Namur Invested by the K. and his Army Iuly 9. 1695. and on Sept. 5. the Castle was surrender'd by the French to the Confederates Granville Calais and other Sea-Towns of France Bombarded by the English Fleet this Summer A Plot against His Majesty's Life discovered Feb. 21. 169â— Iohn King of Poland departed this Life Iun. 17. 1696. Aeth taken by the French 1697. Barcelona taken by the French 1697. Treaty of Peace at the Palace at Reswick in Holland where on the 10th of September O. S. a Peace is concluded and the Articles signed by the Plenipotentiaries of England France and Holland 1697. A Short SYSTEM OF Universal History PART II. Introduction to History and a Character of Historians Written in French by M. P. L. L. de Vallemont And Englished by Mr. Boyer and Mr. Savage CHAP. I. Of the several Benefits of History IT is altogether unnecessary to say any thing in Commendation of History since it is sufficiently known how great Advantages that Study has always brought to such as have been destin'd to great Employments But at the same time I think my self obliged to set forth some of the Benefits thereof and to lay down a few Rules to be observed by those that would make a right use of it I. History informs us of Things past which otherwise we should know no more of than we do of those to come 'T is true Prophecy dives into Matters before they are parted from their Causes and which perhaps are not effected till after a long space of Years yet however strong Men's Inclinations may run that way it must still be own'd that we are not able to give any tolerable Account of Futurity and that it is God alone who has formed the Chain of Causes that can know what Effects they will produce Moreover what Prophecy commonly teaches us is so very obscure that it seems not to care to be understood till the Things it treats of are come to pass When on the contrary History may be easily comprehended by us as containing Matters handled down from our Fore-fathers to Posterity and which we are commanded by the Law of God to make Search into Enquire of your Father and he 'll inform you Consult your Ancestors and they 'll instruct you Deut. 32.7 Also we could never have the least Insight into Times past were it not for Historians who have all along recorded the most memorable Actions happening in their Time and preserv'd the most precious Thoughts of our Ancestors which would otherwise have been devour'd by Time that never makes any difference betwixt what is past and what to come Wherefore Cicero very indiciously terms History The Record of Time The Evidence of Truth The Life of Memory The Mistress of Life and The Courier of Antiquity In a Word History gives a Being and Existence to what without it would be stifled in the Birth nay it communicates a kind of Immortality to all famous Men whose Actions made 'em to be so much valued while they liv'd II. History is the most excellent and most entertaining Diversion that a Man can possibly have since it may be said particularly thereof what was spoken in general by a very learned Man of all sorts of Books viz. That they were easy and disinteressed Masters which might be consulted at all Times and on all Occasions without Fear either of Raillery Anger or Satyr Hi sunt Magistri qui nos Instruunt sine Virgis Ferula sine Verbis Cholera sine Pannis Pecunia Si Accedas non Dormiunt Si Inquirens Interrâ—gas non se abscondunt Non remurmurant si Oberres Cacbynnos nesciunt si Ignores Rich. Bury Anglor Regi Cancell in suo Philobiblio III. Those that are defign'd for great Employs have more need of History than any others for they thereby lay a Foundation in their Youth which proves afterwards very serviceable to them however they are preferr'd either in Church or State and which otherwise could not be effected but by a great number of Years It was this Consideration that mov'd the Emperor Basilius to recommend so earnestly the reading of History to his Son and Successor Leo the Philosopher when he says Neglect nothing Son to make the History
XLIII Malachi Prophesied after the re-edifying of the Temple He reproves the several Abuses which were crept into the Iewish Discipline As he is the last of the Prophets and that no more was to be expected till the coming of Iesus Christ he exhorts the People to stick to the Law of Moses till the Messiah should appear in the World XLIV The I. Book of Maccabees XLV The II. Book of Maccabees These two Books contain the State of the Church under the Third Monarchy which was that of the Greeks continuing Forty Years from the Death of Alexander the Great to that of Demetrius Soter The Second Book is an Abridgment of the Book of Iason who was one of the Iews of Cirena The Author of the First Book is not the Author of the Second as it appears to the Learned both from the difference of Style and different manner of counting the Years Secondly The New Testament contains 27 Books I. The Gospel according to St. Matthew was writ about 6 Years after the Death of Christ at the request of those Iews who had imbrac'd the Christian Faith St. Matthew from a Publican became an Apostle He has undertaken in his Gospel to relate the Royal Race of our Saviour and to represent him according to the Life he led in the Flesh wherefore he speaks chieflly as St. Austin remarks of those Actions and Instructions in which the Son of God has in a manner temper'd his Wisdom with his Divine Majesty that he might render the Example of his Life the more Imitable and Agreeable to our Weakness II. The Gospel according to St. Mark was written in the 3d Year of Claudius or the 43d of Christ according to the ordinary way of Reckoning that is 10 Years after our Saviour's Death This Gospel St. Mark writ at Rome at the request of the Christians of that Church and according to the Instructions he had receiv'd from St. Peter whose Disciple he had been He has follow'd St. Matthew in a many Things and in some places only abridg'd him nevertheless there are many Passages he has dwelt longer upon and observ'd many considerable Circumstances which St. Matthew omitted III. The Gospel according to St. Luke was writ by him 23 Years after Christs Ascension This St. Luke was a Physician and as he was very well acquainâ—ed with the Greek Tongue he has writ more elegantly than either St. Mark or St. Iohn He was not of the number of Apostles as was St. Matthew and St. Iohn but one of their Disciples in like manner as Saint Mark. IV. The Gospel according to St. Iohn the Son of Zebedee and Brother of St. Iames sirnam'd Major was written at Ephesus about the Year of Christ 96. and 63 Years after his Passion upon occasion of the Heresy of Cerinthus and Ebion both which maintain'd That Iesus Christ was but a Man whereupon all the Bishops of Asia and several others entreated St. Iohn to treat more largely on the Matter than the Three Apostles his Predecessors had done and to establish Christ's Divinity beyond Contradiction It was hereupon that Saint Austin observ'd That the other Three Evangelists had only trac'd Christ upon the Earth and as it were walk'd along with him in recounting the Actions of his mortal Life but that St. Iohn had soar'd like an Eagle above human Pitch and discover'd the Word even in the Bosom of God without being dazled with the Lustre of his Glory V. The Acts of the Apostles are properly the Birth and Establishment of the Church which was about the time of the Death of Jesus and the Accomplishment of all his Mysteries St. Paul is particularly celebrated in this History it having been writ by St. Luke who was his Disciple This Book contains the History of 29 or 30 Years from the death of Christ to the time St. Paul was carry'd Prisoner to Rome the first time which was in the Year 63. Which makes some believe that St. Luke wrote this Book at Rome at the same time The Epistles of St. Paul VI. His Epistle to the Romans is plac'd first not that it was writ first but according to the Dignity of the Place and the Church where it was writ The Subject of it is to abate the excessive Pride of the Iews and Gentiles and to unite under Jesus Christ as the Corner-stone by the Bonds of Grace and a Spirit of Humility This Epistle was writ from Corinth in the Year of Christ 57. and 24 Years after his Passion VII His First Epistle to the Corinthians he writ from Ephesus about the Year of Christ 57. and 24 Years after Christ's death Therein St. Paul lessens the Pagan Eloquence and Philosophy which the Corinthians so greatly admir'd He teaches 'em moreover how to prepare for the Communion c. VIII His Second Epistle to the Corinthians writ from Macedon near the same time with the First and sent them by Titus and St. Luke St. Paul therein chiefly admonishes the Corinthians to beware of false Apostles whom he attacks severely naming them Deceitful Workers and Ministers of the Devil IX His Epistle to the Galatians was writ to these People from Lesser Asia a little while after they had been converted by him upon account of false Teachers who had seduced them by persuading them that the Gospel would not be sufficient to save them unless they continu'd to Circumcise their Children and to submit to other Ceremonies of the Law He brings many Books out of Scripture to dissuade the Galatians from this Error and to convince them that they ought no longer to be Slaves under the Old Law but to enjoy the Freedom of the New This Epistle was writ from Ephesus in the Year of Christ 56. and 23 Years after his Passion X. His Epistle to the Ephesians writ from Rome when St. Paul was in Bonds there about the Year of Christ 62. and 29 Years after his Passion This great Apostle therein admonishes the Inhabitants of this Metropolis of Asia Minor not to give Ear to the Preachers of Iudaism who would not only have the Law join'd to the Gospel but also intermixt many other Fables with this Error XI His Epistle to the Philippians writ to the Christians of Philippi in Macedonia from Rome where St. Paul was then Prisoner Here this Holy Apostle professes a more than ordinary Affection for that People which he had Converted and who sent him thither considerable Subsistence when he was in want He exhorts them to continue always stedfast in their Faith to decline Disputes to love Prayer to be humble and charitable to each other to be unshaken in Adversity and to be always replenished with Peace and Joy XII His Epistle to the Colossians writ from Rome while he was Prisoner there in the Year of Christ 62. This People being of Phrygia not far from Laodicea having receiv'd the Faith they were afterwards not a little pester'd with ignorant Seducers who would needs intermix Iudaism and Philosophy with the Gospel St.
wiser for they did not allow every Body to compile their Histories The Pontiffs who had the care of Divine Worship and the Ceremonial part of their Religion had likewise the Charge of making their Annals wherein they were to take notice of the most famous Occurrences in their State from Year to Year This Cicero acquaints us with when he says Erat Historia nihil aliud nisi Annalium confectio cui rei Memoriae Publicae causa ab initio rerum humanarum usque ad Publ. Mutium Pontificem Maximum res omnes singulorum Annorum mandabat literis Pontifex Maximus Lib. 2. de Orat. These Annals also were very plain They contain'd no more than a Summary Account of Matters without entring into many Particulars It was the Genius of the antient Romans to affect Plainness They were more intent upon deserving Praise than hearing it and they never complimented one Man with what was only due to the whole Place A Glimpse of this primitive Simplicity may appear in their Fasti Consulares which was scarce any more than a downright Catalogue of the Roman Consuls These Reasons which we have given to doubt of the Truth of History ought not nevertheless to extinguish in us all sort of Belief for what Historians have written There are Rules before prescrib'd to direct us in antient History which are the very Quintescence of Criticism that is whatever good Sense or a sound Judgment could invent to precaution a heedless Reader against either the Ignorance Negligence or Insincerity of a Writer Into how many Errors would a Man fall if he had not some sort of regard to these Rules But since it is absolutely necessary for every body to be acquainted with the worth of an Historian before they read him I shall proceed to draw some faint Sketches of those that have been most famous in the World since it is my Intention here to be exact but not tedious CHAP. V. The most Celebrated Authors that have written of Church-History THE History of the Church under the Law is contain'd among the sacred Writers which we are never to question as we have said before yet whatever Esteem we may have for these Historians we are by no means forbid to make use of our Reason when we read 'em but are allow'd to Condemn or Approve 'em as we think fit Over and above the Books of the Bible which treat of the old Iewish Church we have also the Writings of Philo and Iosephus both which we shall say something of by reason of the excellency of their Works 1. Philo was a Iew of Alexandria who liv'd under the reign of Caius Caligula and who was Head of an Embassy which the Iews dispatch'd to that Emperor Amongst other Things he writ the life of Moses and Ioseph as also a Relation of his Embassy to Rome wherein he did not succeed Caligula being extreamly offended that the Iews had refus'd to have his Statue in their Synagogue This Author is altogether Platonick for he imitates so exactly Plato's Style that he has been term'd by some The Iewish Plato 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aut Plato Philonem aut Philo Platonem imitatur In his Book he explains the Bible allegorically He is Eloquent and very Diffusive and his Moral comes very near that of the Christians 2. Iosephus surnam'd Flavius on account of the Emperor Vespatian was a Iew of the sacerdotal Race of the Asmonians He was born in the 37th Year of our Saviour and dy'd in the 93d He has written the History of the Iews from the Creation of the World to the twelfth Year of them This Work he entitles The Iewish Antiquities He has also written an Account of the Iewish Wars with the Romans and of the Sacking of Ierusalem He has likewise written his own life two excellent Tracts against Appion a Pagan and one concerning the Martyrdom of the Maccabees Photius says that Iosephus writ Nicely that he knew how to charm his Readers and that he has all along judiciously embelish'd his History with florid Descriptions and eloquent Harangues St. Ierom calls him the Titus Livius of the Greeks and Erasmus says That his History of the Death of the Maccabees is a Masterpiece of Eloquence Authors of the Church-History I. Hegesippus was a Iew that embrac'd Christianity He came to Rome in the Pontificat of Pope Anicetus and continu'd there till the time of Elutherius that is from the Year of Christ 165 to 180. He is the first Author which has compos'd a Body of Church-History which he divided into V Books and in which he relates the most remarkable Occurrences in the Church from our Saviour's Passion to the time wherein he wrote We have only some Fragments of this Work now remaining which Eusebius has Collected and inserted into his History Under the Name of Hegesippus goes an History of the Iewish Wars and of the Destruction of Ierusalem divided into V Books But says Du Pin it is certain that this Work does not belong to Hegesippus but to an Author who liv'd since Constantin Some attribute this History to St. Ambrose because of a Manuscript of it which the famous Father Mabillon found in the Library given by that Saint at Milan and which was therefore suppos'd to have been a Translation of his II. Iulius Africanus was born in Palestine He was deputed by the Emperor Alexander Son of Mammeus to settle the City of Emmaus which was afterwards call'd Nicopolis He wrote a Chronicle from the beginning of the World to the 3d Year of the Emperor Heliogabalus which he divided into V Books and wherein he briefly relates all the memorable Occurrences down to his Time This Work we have not at present under the Name of Africanus but Eusebius has got it almost all in his Chronicle with some few Additions and Corrections III. Eusebius of Caesarea was born in Iudea towards the end of the Empire of Galienus He was chosen Bishop of Caesarea in the Year of our Lord 313 or 314. He has compos'd several learned Treatises but we shall mention none but those which relate to History 1. His Chronicle which is an Abridgment of Universal History from the Creation of the World to the time when he liv'd which was about the 20th Year of the Reign of the Emperor Constantin This Work contains a great deal of Learning and had no doubt a prodigious deal of Pains and Study bestow'd upon it St. Ierom translated it through tho' we have his first Part but very imperfect 2. His Ecclesiastical History divided into X Books is the chief of all his Works He has there taken notice of all the most memorable Things that have hapned in the Church from the time of our Saviour down to when he wrote He there gives you an exact Account of the several successions of the Bishops in the chieâ—est Cities of the World as likewise of the best Church-Authors and their Books He also reckons up all the Heresies that have crept
9. Nebuchadnezzar II. stiled the Great succeeded his Father Nabopolassar This man besieged and took Ierusalem carried away Zodekiah and all his Nobles into Captivity rifled the Temple of its Vessels brought them to Babylon and placed them in the Temple of his God Bell. He dreamed a Dream of the Four Monarchies which Daniel explained erected an Image in Susa cast the Three Children into the burning fiery Furnace was puffed up with Pride at the Greatness of his Conquests and the Magnificence of his Buildings was deprived of his Reason and turned out to feed with Beasts was restored after 7 years and died after he had reigned 43 years 608 3386. 10. Evilmerodach succeeded his Father Nebuchadnezzar and reigned a little more than 2 years 564 3388. 11. Nerigloosser kill'd Evilmerodach and reign'd with his Son Laborosoarchod about 4 years The former was defeated by Cyrus and killed in Battel and the latter was slain for his Irregularities 562 3392. 12. Belshazzar Son to Evilmerodach and Grandson to Nebuchadnezzar succeeded In a Prophane Feast which he made he saw an Hand writing upon the Wall which Daniel explained and according to his Prophecy he was deposed and killed by his Soldiers and Cyaxares or Darius the Mede seiz'd upon the Throne Thus ended the Assyrian Monarchy which was translated to the Persians 558 The State of that part of the Assyrian Monarchy which was governed by the Medes from Arbaces their first King to Cyaxares or Darius their last Years of the World Years before Christ. 3148. 1. ARbaces having defeated Sardanapalus and taken Nineveh reigned over the Medes 28 years 802 3176. 2. Sosarmus reigned 30 years 774 3206. 3. Medidus reigned 40 years 744 3246. 4. Cardiceas reigned 13 years 704 3259. 5. Dejoces or Arphaxad reigned 53 years 691 3312. 6. Phraortes or Artynes succeeded his Father Dejoces conquered the Persians and reigned 22 years 638 3334. 7. Cyaxeres I. succeeded his Father was more Warlike than his Predecessors but was subdued by the Scythianss who ruled 18 years afterwards were made drunk by him and were killed He reigned 40 years 616 3374. 8. Astyages succeeded his Father and reigned 35 years This King sent his Son Cyaxeres and his Grandson Evil-Merodach who with a great Army of Horse and Foot made Incursions on the Frontiers of Media The Assyrians were beaten and forced to retire 576 3409. 9. Cyaxeres II. or Darius the Mede succeeded his Father and reigned 30 years This was he who conquered Belshazzar and began to lay the Foundation of the Persian Empire being during his Life called the Empire of the Medes and Persians but after his Death united by Cyrus 541 CHAP. III. Of the Persian Monarchy THE second of the four great Monarchies was the Persian which lasted from Cyrus the first Monarch to Darius Codomannus the last 206 years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3419. 1. Cyrus obtain'd the Kingdom of Persia by the Death of his Father Cambyses and the Kingdom of the Medes by the Death of his Uncle Cyaxeres and by this means founded the Persian Monarchy Cyrus died in the 70th year of his Age. But some say that being defeated by Tomiris Queen of the Scythians he had the Misfortune to fall under her just Vengeance who cut off his Head threw it into a Vessel full of Blood and insulted over him in these Terms Satia te sanguine Cyre i. e. Now Tyrant take thy fill of Human Blood 531 3421. 2. Cambyses succeeded his Father Cyrus and reigned over Persia 7 years and 7 months He was a cruel King killed his own Brother Smerdis crucified Polycrates and killed himself at last by his own Sword 529 3429. Oropastes the Magician usurps the Throne under the false Name of Smerdis but within a few months after was killed by seven great Lords who conspired against him Their Names we learn from Herodotus to be Otanes Hidarnes Megabizus Gobrias Aspatines Intaphernes and Darius 521 3430. 3. Darius I. Sirnamed Hystaspes one of the seven Lords who had killed Oropastes is acknowledged King by all the rest which he brought about by this Stratagem These Lords could not very well agree among themselves what Form of Government they had best have Otanes was for a Democracy Megabizus maintained that an Oligarchical Government would be most advantageous But Darius preferred a Monarchical State before either of the former and his Opinion met with the greatest Applause The Question then rose who should be their King since the Heirs-Male of Cyrus were extinct At last they agreed unanimously That the next morning by Sun-rising they should all mount on Horseback and the Man whose Horse neigh'd first should be acknowledged King Oebor Darius's Groom had the Art of making a Horse neigh when he pleased which Skill he then made use of in favour of his Master So that no sooner was Darius mounted but his Horse neigh'd the other Lords alighted did Obeisance to him and owned him for their King He reigned 36 years 520 In the beginning of his Reign he married Atossa the Daughter of Cyrus Widow of Cambyses and of a certain Grandee to whom she had been afterwards married This he did out of Policy to support himself in the Throne thereby insinuating that the Kingdom was not translated to a Stranger but to one of Cyrus's Family Within a while after Darius being returned from Hunting sprained his Foot as he alighted off his Horse There were a great many Egyptian Physicians then at Court who used their utmost Skill to ease the King but all to no purpose for he neither slept nor was his Pain abated for 7 days together At last Democedes a Greek Physician was called for who managing the Distemper according to the Grecian Method gave the Prince something to make him sleep and healed him in a few days The same Democedes was likewise Fortunate in curing the Queen Atossa of an Ulcer in her Breast Among other Favours which that Princess urg'd him to demand of her he intreated her to inspire the King with a Resolution of conquering Greece He had his Desire granted for Darius ordered fifteen of his chief Nobles to attend Democedes that they might take a View of the Cities of Greece which he intended to conquer Accordingly they departed from Susa the Capital City of Susiana in the Kingdom of Persia and passing through Phenicia to Sidon they furnished themselves with Provisions and embarked for Greece They took a View of the Sea-Ports drew Charts of the Coasts omitted nothing that might be of Use to their Design went as far as Italy and visited Tarentum At last Democedes being arriv'd at the Place he desir'd very cunningly gave his magnificent Attendants the slip who in the whole Expedition followed his Orders and by this means got to Crotona where his House was leaving the others to get home as well as they could Other Authors tell us that it was Hippias who instigated Darius against the Greeks But whâ—ther one or either of them occasion'd it 't
is certain that he sent a great Army against Greece which was defeated by Miltiades at the Battel of Marathon where 110000 Persians were cut off Darius likewise engaged in a War against the Scythians but was routed by them But he subdued the Rebelling Babylonians by the barbarous Policy of Zopyrus who was a great Favourite of Darius and to serve his Master was content to cut off his own Nose and Lips and so mangled fled to Babylon pretending his cruel Master had thus Rewarded all his Services which gaining him Credit with the Babylonians he found an opportunity of betraying them and their City to Darius 3465. 4. Xerxes I. succeeded his Father Darius and reigned 21 years Upon his first Accession to the Throne he was stirred up by Mardonius to engage in a War against Greece The Preparations for this War took up 10 years time after which he led so vast an Army against the Grecians that all Greece could scarce contain them He attack'd it both by Sea and Land His Land-Forces according to Herodotus were above Two millions three hundred thousand Men and his Naval Strength as Cornelius Nepos informs us consisted of a Fleet of Twelve hundred Long-Ships and Two thousand Ships of Burden All or most of this great Army was lost in this Expedition The first Defeat Xerxes met with was at Thermopylae where Leonidas and Three hundred Spartans killed Twenty thousand Persians After this he was routed at Sea near Salamis by Themistocles and forced to make his Escape in a Fisher-boat Mardonius his General burnt Athens and was shortly after routed and killed at Platea by Pausanias The same day Forty thousand Persians were killed at Mycale in Asia by Leotychidas and Xerxes himself at last was killed in his Bed by Artabanus Captain of his Guards Iosephus makes him to be the same with Ahasuerus who married Esther the Iew but others pretend Darius Histaspes was the Man 485 3486. 5. Artaxerxes I. succeeded his Father Xerxes and reigned 40 years He was famous for the Sweetness of his Temper and for the Greatness of his Courage He was Sirnamed Longomanus because his Right Hand was longer than the other He killed his Brother Darius supposing him by the false Accusation of Artabanus to have killed Xerxes and that Captain attempting to kill Artaxerxes was killed by him 464 3525. 6. Xerxes II. succeeded his Father Artaxerxes and reigned only two months For being made drunk at a Feast his Brother Sogdianus killed him as he slept in his Palace 425 7. Sogdianus succeeded and reigned only 7 months He was deserted by his Friends deceived by Oaths and Promises came to Darius Nothus and was killed by him 3526. 8. Ochus or Darius Nothus succeeded Sogdianus and reigned about 20 years 424 3545. 9. Artaxerxes II. Sirnamed Mnemon succeeded his Father Darius and reigned 43 years Cyrus Governor of Lydia rebell'd against his Brother Artaxerxes and being aided by the Spartans and other Greeks offered him Battel at Cunaxa where he was defeated and killed After the Fight was over the King ordered the Body of Cyrus to be looked out caused his Head and his Right Hand with which he had been wounded in the Engagement to be cut off 405 This Artaxerxes in imitation of Cambises caused such Judges as received Bribes to be flea'd alive and cover'd the Tribunals where they sate with their Skins that so the Judges might have constantly in view the Punishment prepared for all such Delinquents He had a Son named Arsames by one of his Concubines but Ochus his lawful Heir perceiving him to be very much in favour with the King killed him and soon after the King himself died with Grief at the loss of that Darling 3588. 10. Ochus who took upon him the Name of Artaxerxes III. succeeded his Father and reigned 23 years He being assisted by Mentor the Rhodian subdued and wasted Egypt rifled the Temples and carried away from them all the Books of Learning and History which Bagoas afterwards redeemed at a great Price Artaxerxes derided the Egyptian Gods and to revenge an Affront caused an Ox under which Figure their chief God Apis was worshipped to be sacrificed to an Ass. This King aided the Perinthians against Philip King of Macedon and at last falling sick was poisoned by Bagoas who being an Egyptian could not forgive the Affront put upon his adored Apis. This Bagoas bore a great Sway both in the Army and in the State and was the Person that placed Arses the youngest Son of Artaxerxes upon the Throne putting all the rest to Death 362 3611. 11. Arses succeeded and reigned two years and a few months But Bagoas understanding that this King intended to punish him for the Crimes he had committed prevented his Design by poisoning him in the third Year of his Reign 339 3641. 12. Darius Codomannus the Son of Arsamas was set up by Bagoas whom he poisoned upon suspicion that he designed to serve him as he had done his Predecessors He reign'd about 6 years 336 This was the Darius whom 3616. Alexander gave Battel to and defeated at the Granicum a River of Phrygia In this Engagement Alexander was in great danger of his Life his Helmet being cleft asunder by the stroak of a Scymeter but Clytus came in to his Defence and cut off the Hands of him who was going to repeat the Blow 334 The next year Darius offered Battel to Alexander near Issus a City of Cilicia seated upon the Mediterranean wherein he was defeated lost 50000 Men with his Baggage his Mother Sisigambis his Wife Statira his two Daughters and his Son Ochus who was not then above 6 years old Two years after this viz. 3619. Alexander gave Battel to Darius near Arbela a City of Assyria wherein 90000 Persians were cut off and Darius put to flight This was the last stroke Darius gave for the Maintenance of the Persian Monarchy He afterwards threw himself into the Hands of Bessus Governor of Bactria who traiterously imprison'd and murder'd him by which the Persian Monarchy terminated and that Empire became subject to Alexander who erected the Third or Grecian Monarchy whereof we are next to Treat 331 CHAP. IV. Of the Grecian Monarchy BEfore we shew you this mighty Monarch in his Grandeur it may not be amiss to speak a little of the Birth Character and Actions of Alexander before his Persian Expedition together with his surprizing Progress in the Conquest of the Eastern World 'T was in the year of the World 3595 before Christ 355 that Alexander the Son of Philip King of Macedon was born at Pella a City in Macedon His Mother Olympias while she was with Child of him dream'd That her Bowels were extended over all Asia which was verified in the Conquests made by the Son she at that time bore in her Womb. He was born with all the Endowments of an Heroick Spirit had a great and aspiring Soul a Temper full of Fire a lively Genius and thô impatient of Restraint was
and made all its Inhabitants Slaves not excepting the Women and Children At the Siege of this City he was wounded on the Shoulder with an Arrow and his Leg bruis'd by the fall of a Stone He went up to Ierusalem with a Design to besiege it but the High-Priest Iaddus meeting him in his Sacerdotal Ornaments prevented his Intention for Alexander was so struck at the sight of him that he alighted off his Horse and did him Obeisance crying out That God appeared to him in the same Shape and commanded him to go and conquer Asia This High-Priest read to him the Chapter in Daniel wherein it is foretold That a Greek should conquer the Persians Which he was very well pleased at and sacrificed in the Temple offered great Oblations and gave the Iews full Toleration to live according to their Laws and Religion The next year Alexander marched with his Army into Egypt where Pelusium surrender'd to him From thence he went to Memphis where he found 800 Talents and several precious Stones belonging to the Crown From thence he marched along the Nile to the very utmost Parts of Egypt went into the Province of Cyrene and visited the Temple of Iupiter Ammon where the Oracle declared him to be the Son of Iupiter which was what Alexander's Ambition aimed at And this Extravagance sufficiently shews how far the Excess of Prosperity transports Men. After this he went in search of Darius who on his part rallied his Forces raised more and omitted nothing that might put him in a Posture for another Engagement As Alexander made his Approaches so Darius ordered his Army to march from Babylon to Nineveh the River Tigris on the Right hand and Euphrates on the Left 3619. Alexander intercepted Letters from Darius wherein he sollicited the Greeks to Assassinate their King which made him when Darius overcome by the Civility and Gentleness which Alexander shewed to his Captives the Queens of Persia sent fresh Ambassadors to him to mediate a Peace offering to give him part of his Dominions and his Daughter in Marriage return for Answer That as for what he offered him they were already his by Conquest and that he did not think it safe to make a Peace with that Man who every day sought an Opportunity of Assassinating him 331 Upon this each Army prepared for the Engagement which happened at Gangamela that lies on the River Bumela But forasmuch as Gangamela is only a small Village Historians call it the Battel of Arbela which was a considerable City and pretty near the place of the Engagement There was a dreadful Slaughter made of the Persians and thô Darius behaved himself very gallantly in this Fight yet he was forced to fly Alexander according to Quintus Curtius lost no more than 300 Men but of the Persians according to the most modest Account there were 90000 killed upon the spot and a greater Number taken Prisoners Darius fled to Arbela and was pursued by Alexander But he got thence before his arrival Alexander found wherewith to satisfy himself for his Journey thither for the most precious Jewels of the Crown to the Value of about 600000 Pounds Darius had left behind him This Battel put an end to the Monarchy of the Persians and laid the Foundation of that of the Grecian The Grecian Monarchy begins here which lasted only during Alexander's Reign 6 Years and some Months It was afterwards divided into four Kingdoms and lasted in that State till Julius Cesar was made Perpetual Dictator 280 Years more Years of the World Years before Christ. 3619. Alexander proclaimed King of Asia offered great and costly Sacrifices to his Gods and distributed his Treasures his Cities and his Provinces among his Friends The Air growing infectious by the great number of the Slain obliged him to break up from Arbela He marched to Babylon the Governor whereof opened the Gates to him and this great Conqueror made a Publick Entrance into that City where they extolled his Valor and praised his Fortune 331 Calisthenes the Philosopher who attended Alexander in this Expedition found in Babylon Astronomical Observations for 1903 years past which he sent into Greece to Aristotle By which it is proved that the Chaldeans began their Observations in Astronomy since the year of the World 1716. When Alexander perceived his Army to grow insensibly Effeminate by the Luxuries they met with in Babylon he ordered them to decamp and marched to Susa where he was received with loud Acclamations of Joy the twentieth day after he left Babylon In Susa he found several Dromedaries twelve Elephants and Money to the Value of about Seven millions Five hundred thousand Pounds with a great many Pieces of Purple 3620. Alexander engaged in several Battels which he won and had by that means a way open to Persepolis where was the most magnificent and beautiful Palace of all the East This Place he took and by the Instigation of Thais a Courtesan burnt it when he was drunk He found therein 120 Talents and so vast a Treasure as loaded 20000 Mules and 5000 Horses 330 After this he marched in pursuit of Darius who was retreated to Ecâ—atane in Media where he had raised more Forces for another Battel But Bessus who commanded the greatest part of these Forces assassinated him and afterwards fled away Darius being stabb'd was thrown into a Cart which a Macedonian happened to meet with The dying King prayed him to help him to a little Water drank of it and immediately expired Alexander hearing of it ran thither found Darius dead wept over his Body bewailed his Misfortunes covered him with his Mantle ordered him to be embalmed and sent him to Sisygambis to bury him in the Sepulcher of his Ancestors Then he distributed among his Soldiers the one half of the Booty which he took in this last Expedition which amounted to Three milions eight hundred and fifty thousand Pounds Alexander made Incursions into the Country of the Parthians stayed some time at Hecatompolis and at last arrived upon the Frontiers of Hircania He conquered where e'er he came by his Valour storming those Towns he could not win by Treaty After this he entred into Zadracarta the chief City of Hircania where he stayed 15 days Nabarzanes who had a hand in the Murder of Darius came thither to wait upon Alexander and brought him Presents to gain his Favour which was granted him It was at this place where Thalestris or Minothea the Queen of the Amazons whose Country according to Q Curtius was situated between the River Phasis and the Mountain of Caucasus came to visit him upon a Business no way redounding to the Honour of that Princess But some pretend that this whole Matter of Fact as related by Curtius is false 'T is said that Onesicritus reading the Fourth Book of his History wherein he treats of the Adventure of this Queen to Lysimachus who had constantly attended Alexander in all his Expeditions this Lysimachus being then King said to him smiling And where
and told Seleucus that his Son's Distemper was Incurable How so said the King Because reply'd the Physician he is in love with my Wife Ah! said Seleucus to him I know you are more my Friend than to let my Son die and to hinder him from marrying your Wife Pray Sir replied Erasistratus were it your Case would you let him have yours Ay Ay said the King and all my Dominions to boot if his Life could not be saved without it Upon this the Physician unravelled the whole Mystery to him and told him in plain terms that Stratonice was the Person whom he so passionately lov'd Seleucus was as good as his Word called the People together and made a very pathetical Speech to them that they might not be surprized at such an unusual kind of Marriage For thô he had already a Son by his dear Stratonice yet he made no scruple to marry her to Antiochus his eldest Son and not a Man opposed it Thô this Complaisance was very irregular yet none can deny but Seleucus was a very great Prince He was killed by Ptolemy after he had reigned about 35 years 3668. 2. Antiochus Soter succeeded his Father and reigned about 12 years 282 3680. 3. Antiochus Theos the Son of Antiochus Soter and Stratonice reigned about 24 years His Sirname of Theos was given him by the Milesians because he had freed them from the Tyranny of Timarchus He was poisoned by Laodicea one of his Wives whom he had put away and afterwards recalled to Court 270 3704. 4. Seleucus Callinicus or Poron succeeded his Father and reigned about 20 years He died with a fall off his Horse This King aided by the Gauls engaged in a long War against Antiochus Hierax 246 3723. 5. Seleucus Seraunus succeeded his Father and reigned 3 years He was poisoned in Phrygia by his Lieutenant-Generals as he was marching to make War against Attalus 227 3726. 6. Antiochus the Great succeeded his Brother Seleucus being sent for from Babylon by the Aâ—my which was then encamped in Syria that so he might take Possession of the Kingdom He reigned about 36 years He was engaged in a War against several Nations First he waged War against Ptolemy Philopator King of Egypt was beat by him and sued for a Peace which Ptolemy very generously granted him Afterwards he carried on a War against the Romans by whom he was always worsted so that at last he was obliged to sue for a Peace This King likewise routed Malon received Hannibal invaded Greece and was defeated by Glabrio At last having his Treasures drained by these unsuccessful Wars to fill them up again he resolved upon rifling the Temple of Iupiter in Elimais but he was killed in the Attempt by the People of the Place Before his Death he nominated his Son Seleucus Philopator for his Successor 224 3763. 7. Seleucus Philopator succeeded his Father and reigned about 12 years He did little because the ill Successes of his Father against the Romans had exhausted his Kingdom This is that Seleucus mentioned in the Second Book of Maccabees where 't is said of him that because of the Respect which he bore to the High-Priest Onias he supplied the Temple with its necessary Sacrifices every year However Daniel stiles him Vilissimus indignus Decore Regio i. e. The basest and the worst of Men not worthy of the Royal Diadem 187 About the end of his Reign he was prevailed upon to send Heliodorus to rifle the Treasures belonging to the Temple of Ierusalem and it may be very well affirmed that his Weakness was the cause of those Troubles and Seditions which afterwards happened both in Church and State He was at last killed by Heliodorus 3775. 8. Antiochus Epiphanes or the Illustrious who had been carried to Rome as an Hostage after the Defeat of his Father Antiochus the Great made his Escape thence at the end of 3 years and Demetrius the Son of Seleucus was sent thither in his stead As soon as Antiochus was returned into Syria Heliodorus who would fain have been King killed Seleucus But Eumenes and Attalus outed Heliodorus and left Antiochus the Illustrious in quiet Possession of the Kingdom of Syria who reigned over it about 12 years He took away the High-Priesthood from Onias who was a Man of excellent Piety and bestowed it on the Impious Iason his Brother and the next year he took it again from Iason and bestowed it on his Brother Menalaus who gave more Money than the former for it Two years after this a Rumour being spread that Antiochus died in his Expedition against Egypt Iason raised great Disturbances in Ierusalem which caused Antiochus after he had defeated the Egyptians to exercise unheard-of Cruelties in Iudea and to carry away all their Treasures Afterwards Antiochus sent Apollonius into Iudea who one Sabbath-day killed a whole Congregation who were got together to offer Sacrifice Some say that he sent Lysias Gorgian Timotheus and other Commanders against the Iews who were all routed by Iudas Maccabeus Much about this time it was that this Iudas retired into the Wilderness choosing to live upon Herbs rather than defile himself with those prophane Meats which in all Parts were then sacrificed But at last Antiochus hastening out of Persia to Ierusalem with a Design to cut off all the Iews of that Place fell out of his Chariot bruised his whole Body and died of a loathsome Disease 175 3786. 9. Antiochus Eupator succeeded his Father and reigned about 2 years Lysias according to some but Philip according to others governed his Kingdom made a Peace with Iudas Maccabeus which was soon after violated About this time it was that Eleazar having assaulted an Elephant upon which he supposed the King was killed the Beast and was crushed to Death by the fall of him 164 Antiochus having taken Bethsura went against Ierusalem and made a Peace with the Iews but it being broke he caused the Walls to be demolished led away Menalaus along with him whom he put to Death as the Cause of all the War and put Alcimus into his Place 3788. 10. Demetrius Soter the Son of Seleucus Philopator having made his Escape from Rome came to Antioch put Antiochus and Lysias to Death and when he was King sent Bacchides into Iudea with Alcimus to whom he promised the High-Priesthood He afterwards sent thither Nicanor who made a League with Iudas Maccabeus but he having broke it was soon after killed by Nicanor This Demetrius reigned about 11 years 162 The People of Antioch rebelling against Demetrius took a young Man named Alexander who was said to be the Son of Antiochus the Illustrious and being assisted by the Neighbouring Kings set him upon the Throne 3799. 11. Alexander Epiphanes or Balas becoming Master of Ptolemais sent to Ionathan to make a League with him and settled him in the High-Priesthood which had been vacant 7 years and a half by the Death of Alcimus This Ionathan was the first High-Priest of the Race of
by Lysander the Admiral of the Lacedemonians of which 10 Galleys with much ado escaped This Engagement which happened near Egos-Potamos in the Straits of the Hellespont gave Lysander an opportunity of blocking up Athens both by Sea and Land which he besieged so straitly that he obliged it to surrender to him And then he set up 30 Tyrants to rule there and granted the Athenians Peace upon Condition that they would demolish their Walls within 10 days Whilst these Tyrants had the Government in their hands they committed many and great Outrages Several of the Citizens were banished and their Estates confiscated by them Among the banished Citizens was Thrasybulus who fighting in his Country's Cause with the Assistance of only 30 Men first of all took the Fort Phylon in Attica afterwards his Force increasing he seized upon the Pyreum drove out the 30 Tyrants out of Athens notwithstanding Lysander came to their Relief restored the City to its former Constitution and caused an Amnesty to be made 'T is said these Tyrants in their short Reign put 1400 Citizens to Death among whom the Philosopher Socrates is reckon'd and banished above 5000 all for little or no Cause Canon and Athenian who was General for the Persians defeated Agesilaus who had a while before routed the Confederated Army of the Athenians Corinthians and Thebans near Cnidus in a Sea-Fight and with the Spoils he took fortified Athens The Athenians perceiving that the Lacedemonians were still Powerful by Sea sent Thrasybulus with 40 Sail of Ships against them He scoured the Seas took a great many Prizes and raised great Contributions wherever he came At last in a City of Asia Minor he permitted his Army to live so Licentiously that the Inhabitants were so far provoked as to kill a great number of them by Surprize in the night and beheaded Thâ—asybulus himself Iphicrates who succeeded him as Admiral of the Navy surprized Anaxibius the General of the Lacedemonians cut a great many of his Forces to pieces and Anaxibius himself fell in the Engagement In this Century Epaminondas the General of the Thebans routed the Spartans twice at Leuctra and was at last killed himself at Mantinea About the end of this Century Philip of Macedon engaged in a War against the Athenians from whom he took Amphipolis and Potidea and within a few years after Demosthenes made his first Oration against Philip. The Learned Men of most Note who flourished in this Century in Greece were Herodotus Thucydides and Xenophon Historians Euripides and Sophocles Tragedians Aristophanes the Comedian Socrates Plato and Aristoâ—le Philosophers Demosthenes the Athenian Orator Eudoxus the Astronomer and Diogenes the Cynick Years of the World Years before Christ. 3600. Just before the beginning of this Century began the Phocian or Sacred War which lasted 10 years This War was wag'd against the Photians who had â—obb'd Apollo's Temple and the Photians had for their Generals first Philomelus and after him Onomarchus Philip of Macedon having defeated the Athenians at Olynthus granted them Peace within two years after he aided the Thebans and routed the Phocians whereby he put an end to the Sacred War After he had conquered the Athenians Thebans and Phocians at Cheronea he was chosen General of the Grecians against the Persians but was killed before that Expedition After his Death Alexander brought an Army into Greece where there happened some Disturbances but being perswaded by Demades the Orator he pardoned the Athenians who had conspired with Attalus against him In this Century flourished Epicurus who at 32 years of Age taught his Philosophy at first at Mytelene and afterwards at Lampsacus 350 3650. About this time Demetrius Poliorcetes raised a great Army by Land and fitted out 250 Sail of Ships to Sea and parted from Ephesus with a Design to restore all the Cities of Greece to their ancient Liberty He retook Athens and set it at Liberty and reduced the greatest part of Greece under his Sovereignty Some time after the Athenians revolted from him and sided with Pyrrhus upon which he besieged Athens but broke up from before it being perswaded thereunto by Crates the Philosopher 300 In this Century flourished Aeschines Lycurgus Theophrastus Euclid Strato Lamsocenus Callimachus Zeno Citticus the Stoick Manetho Theocritus Berosus and several others 3700. In this Century there happened with respect to the Athenians but little of Moment They sent Ambassadors to crave Help of the Romans against Philip King of Macedon who warred against them 'T is said they sent another time three Ambassadors to the Senate and People of Rome to get off the Fine of 500 Talents imposed upon them for having pillaged Oropus Those Ambassadors were three Philosophers who flourished in this Century viz. Carneades of Cyrene the Academick Diogenes of Babylon the Stoick and Critolaus the Peripatetick It was observed that each of these Philososophers had a quite different Talent in Oratory Carneades expressed himself imperiously vehemently and rapidly Critolaus made a coherent even and methodized Speech And Diogenes in his Harangue seemed reserved modest and afraid to say too much This Air of Philosophy being a new Thing there was very dazling in the Eyes of the Romans and the Youth being charmed with the Conversation of those Philosophers were all for studying that Science But Cato the Censor who was of Opinion That Philosophy would soften the Temper of the Romans and make them less fit for War to which he designed to Discipline them dispatched these Philosophical Ambassadors from Rome and banished all Philosophers out of that City 250 In this Century beside the fore-mentioned Philosophers there flourished in Greece Aratus Archimedes the famous-Mathematician Theophanes Lesbius and others 3800. And now we shall conclude what we have to say on the State of Athens since in this Century it ended and began to be govern'd by the Romans of whose Government we shall have occasion to treat more largely hereafter 150 CHAP. X. Of the Kings of Troy TROY so famous for ten years Siege and so much celebrated by Homer and other Poets upon that account was a City of Asia Minor in Pbrygia seated on the River Xanthus about a League from the Egean Sea founded as some say by Dardanus as others by Tros It had no more than VII Kings under the last of which it was taken and burnt by the Grecians 317 years after its first founding Years of the World Years before Christ. 2450. 1. About this time Teucer reigned over the Trojans being their first King and reigned 21 years 1500 2471. 2. Dardanus the Son of Iupiter and Electra Teucer's Son-in-Law succeeded and reigned 31 years 1479 2502. 3. Ericthonius reigned about 65 years 1448 2567. 4. Tros the Son of Ericthonius and Astyoche succeeded his Father and built Troy which he called Troja after his own Name and Ilium after his Son Ilus's Name He warred with Tantalus and reigned about 63 years 1383 2630. 5. Ilus succeeded his Father and reigned about 40 years 1320 2670. 6.
taken on both sides should be restored 20. Pausanias the Son of Plistoanax succeeded his Father and reigned 14 years and then was banished 18. Agis the Son of Archidamus succeeded his Father and reigned 25 years It was he who broke the Truce with the Athenians Of this Peloponnesian War there has been already sufficient said both in this Place and in the Chapter which treats of the Athenians It was there mentioned that Mindarus was defeated that the Lacedemonians sued for a Peace which was refused them and that at last Lysander the Lacedemonian worsted the Athenians took Athens and placed his Governors there so that we shall not here add any thing farther about it Years of the World Years before Christ. 3555. 21. Agesipolis the Son of Pausanias succeeded and reigned 13 years Aristodemus was his Governor 395 Years of the World Years before Christ. 3547. 19. Agesilaus the Son of Archidamus was set up by Lysander and reign'd 41 years 403 During the Reign of these Kings the Lacedemonians sent their Ambassadors to Nepheretes King of Egypt for a Supply He granted them 100 Galleys and a great deal of Corn. Agesilaus one of the Lacedemonian Kings surprized Tissaphernes the General of the Persians fell upon and defeated him near Sardes After this he took a great many Towns and struck such a Terror into the Persians that they thought their Empire was then tottering But to divert the Storm by their Gold they corrupted several of the Grecian States to declare War against the Lacedemonians among the rest were Thebes and Attica Upon this Agesilaus was recalled and at his return defeated the Confederated Army of Boeotians Athenians Argives Corinthians c. near Cheronâ—a But the Athenians were at first Masters by Sea Câ—non the Athenian Admiral defeating the Lacedemonian Fleet under the Command of Pysander near Cnidus The Lacedemonians seeing they were not strong enough at Sea dispatched Teleutias with a Squadron of 12 Ships more Teleutias making Rhodes took 10 Ships from the Athenians commanded by Philocrates by which means the Lacedemonians began again to be formidable by Sea Years of the World Years before Christ. 3568. 22. Cleombrotus the Brother of Agesipolis succeeded and reigned 9 years 382  About this time the Lacedemonians thought it Adviseable to strike up a Peace with Athens The Peace was no sooner concluded but they set upon Chastizing their Allies which had in the late War associated with their Enemies They forced the Mantineans to demolish the Walls of their City and to retire into the Villages and the Philiasians to receive those whom they had banish'd home again Artaxerxes King of Persia thinking the Grecians might be serviceable to him in his intended Expedition against the Egyptians offered Peace to them Which thô at first was refused by some yet at length was accepted by all the States except the Thebans who were looked upon as Enemies of the common Welfare of Greece Upon this Cleombrotus the King of Sparta invaded Beotia but was defeated and killed at the Battel of Leuctra by the Thebans under the Command of Epaminondas This Battel happened in the second year of the 102 d Olympiad in the year of the World 3579 before Christ 371. Ariobarzanes the General of Artaxerxes sent Philiscus into Greece to make up a Peace between the Thebans and Lacedemonians Their Deputies met at Delphos but no Accommodation could be made between them because the Thebans would not consent that Messina should be under the Power of the Lacedemonians Upon this Philiscus declared himself in favour of the latter and granted them Supplies Within a while after under the Reign of Cleomenes II. they had another Engagement at Mantinea wherein Epaminondas was mortally wounded but yet defeated the Spartans Years of the World Years before Christ. 3579. 23. Agesipolis II. the Son of Cleombrotus succeeded and reigned only 2 years 371 3581. 24. Cleomenes II. how long he reigned is uncertain 369 25. Acrotatus I. 3611. 26. Aretas the Son of Acrotatus reigned 44 years 339 3655. 27. Acrotatus II. the Son of Aretas succeeded and reigned 15 years 295 3670. 28. Leonidas II. succeeded and reigned 17 years 280 Years of the World Years before Christ. 3588. 20. Archidamus II. the Son of Agesilaus reigned 23 years 362 3611. 21. Agis the Son of Archidamus reigned about 9 years 339 3620. 22. Eudamidas I. Son of Archidamus and Brother to Agis succeeded 330 23. Archidamus III. the Son of Eudamidas succeeded his Father 24. Eudamides II. the Son of Archidamus 25. Agis III. succeeded and reigned ... years Leonidas within a while got the sole Power into his Hands For Agis being desirous to reform the State and restore the Laws of Lyâ—urgus was strangled by the Ephori 3687. 29. Cleombrotus Son-in-Law to Leonidas succeeded and reigned 25 years 263 3712. 30. Cleomenes III. succeeded and reigned about 18 years He poisoned Euridamas and put up in his stead Epiclidas a Descendant of Eurysthenes 238 26. Eurydamus the Son of Agis was poisoned by Cleomenes 27. Epiclidas the Son of Leonidas set up by Cleomenes This Cleomenes destroyed the Ephori put an End to their Power and restored the Discipline instituted by Lycurgus He afterwards warred against the Acheans took from them Argos and the greatest part of Peloponnesus Afterwards he was routed by Antigonus King of Macedon and fled into Egypt where he was very honourably received by Ptolemy Euergetes but barbarously killed by Ptolemy Philopator And thus with him ended the Grandeur of Lacedemonia after it had lasted so many years and was the Envy as well as Glory of all Greece Three Tyrants afterwards ruled but came all to untimely Deaths After them History is silent as to the Affairs of Lacedemonia but certain it is that at last it became with the rest of Greece part of the Roman Monarcby of which we shall hereafter treat at large CHAP. XII Of Corinth COrinth was one of the finest richest and most powerful Cities of all Greece It was situated almost in the middle of the Isthmus where the Egean and Ionian Seas meet lying about 40 Leagues from Patâ—as 25 from Athens 40 from Lacedemonia and 12 or 13 from Argos It was Commanded by the Fort called Acro Corinthos which was raised on the top of a very high Hill where was very even Ground and which was encompassed by very strong Walls Within this Fort were a great many Fountains of fresh and fair Water among the rest the Pyrenian Fountain celebrated by Homer in his Odysseis The Siâ—uation of this Fort was so Advantageous that Cicero stâ—led it Greciae Oculus i. e. The Eye of Greece He withal adds that Corinth composes the Beauty and Lustre thereof aâ—d that it was one of the three Cities which the Romans would acknowledge to be capable of bearing the weight of a great Empire In this City St. Paul sojourned 18 months in which time he preached the Gospel wiâ—h good Success and afterwards wrote to them two excellent Epistles which are
People that they made him King 242 3718. 15. Antigonus Doson the Governor of Philip reigned 12 years After the Death of Demetrius the Cities of Greece shook off the Yoke of Tyranny and joined themselves to the Republick of the Acheans Aratus the Sicyonian was a great Promoter of the Interests of the Acheans and freed Athens from the Dominion of the Macedonians The Etolians envying their Success joined in a War with Cleomenes King of Sparta against them upon which the Acheans finding themselves unable to resist so great a Power implored the Assistance of Antigonus Doson who repelled Cleomenes and gave him so great a Defeat that he was forced to fly from Sparta to Alexandria Antigonus used the Spartans extreme kindly and permitted them to enjoy their ancient Laws and Privileges but in the midst of all his Glory he was forced to march back to the Defence of Macedon which the Illyrians had invaded He defeated and put them to flight but straining his Voice too much in the Battel he burst a Vein and soon after died of a Consumption 232 3730. 16. Philip IV. the Son of Demetrius at the Age of 16 took the Government upon him which devolv'd to him by the Death of his Governor and Father-in-Law Antigonus and reigned 42 years 220 This King was a very Martial Prince warred against the Etolians and defeated them several times He was so far puffed up by the Success he met with that he aimed at nothing less than the becoming Universal Monarch of the whole World and was for pushing his Conquests to the very Walls of Rome Hence arose the War between the Romans and the Macedonians of which we shall have occasion to speak more particularly when we come to treat of the Roman Affairs which belong to this time 'T is enough at present to acquaint our Reader that Philip failed in his Design was beat several times by the Romans forced to make a Peace with them and was the Cause of hastening the Downfal of the Macedonian State In his time several Prodigies happened in Asia among the rest a great Earthquake which overthrew several Cities and swallowed up others From hence the Soothsayers prognosticated That the Roman Empire then in its Rise should swallow up the Empire of the Greeks At last Philip died of Grief and deputed Antigonus his Kinsman to be his Successor But his Son Perseus being certified of his Father's approaching Death by his Physician secured the Kingdom to himself 3772. 17. Perseus succeeded his Father Philip and reigned 10 years and 8 months 178 3782. This year Perseus having given the Romans great Provocations they engaged in a War against him and he prepared to oppose them He entred into an Alliance with Gentius King of the Illyrians and did all the Mischief he could to the Romans The day before that Battel wherein Perseus was entirely defeated Sulpitius Gallus Tribune of the Soldiers by the Permission of Paulus Emilius the Roman Consul made a Speech to the Army wherein he advised them not to be terrified if they saw the Moon in a total Eclipse that night from two a clock to four in the morning since it was no more than happened at other times according to the Calculations of Astronomy That very night the Eclipse did really happen which caused the whole Army to admire the profound Skill of Gallus and was a great Encouragement to them as it was the contrary to the Macedonians The next day they came to an Engagement wherein Perseus was defeated put to flight taken and carried to Rome to grace the Roman Triumphs and thereby ended the Kingdom of Macedon which became a Roman Province after it had lasted 645 years from Caranus the first King This happened 168 years before Christ in the first year of the 153d Olympiad Anno Romae Conditae 585. CHAP. XVI Of the Lydians LYDIA is a Country in Asia Minor of which Sardes was the City of greatest Account and where the Kings of the Lydians usually kept their Court. It was situated upon the Banks of Pactolus near the Mountain of Tivoli and was one of the most ancient Cities in the World Thô Lydia has been a State exposed to various Turns of Fortune yet History affords us but little Light therein The Kingdom of Lydia had XXII Kings who reigned the space of 505 years But of these we have no Account except of the first and the four last after them till Cresus the last of their Kings were five more Years of the World Years before Christ. 2733. 1. Argon or Agron the Son of Ninus or according to others the Son of Alceus reigned first at Sardes but of XVII of his Descendants we have no knowledge 1217 3150. 19. Adrysus reigned 45 years He was of the Line of Hercules 800 3395. 20. Alyattes I. reigned 14 years 755 3209. 21. Meles reigned 12 years 741 3221. 22. Candaules or Mirsilus the Son of Mirsus the last of the Line of Hercules reigned 17 years He was killed by Gyges with whom he saw his Wife too familiar 729 3238. 23. Gyges having usurped the Throne sent large Presents to Delphos attack'd Miletum and Smyrna and took the City of Colophon by Storm By this means the Kingdom of Lydia was translated from the Family of the Heraclidae to the Mermnades in whose Family it lasted the space of 170 years of which Gyges reigned 38. This Gyges was at first a Slave and kept the King's Herds from whence he rose up at last to be King 712 3276. 24. Ardis the Son of Gyges reigned 49 years In his time the Cymmerians a People of that Country which at present is called Lesser Tartary were driven from their Habitations by the Scythians marched out of Europe into Asia keeping still along the Sea-Coast and took Sardes the Capital City of Lydia 674 3325. 25. Sadiattes the Son of Ardis succeeded and reigned 12 years 625 3337. 26. Alyattes II. succeeded his Father Sadiattes and reigned 57 years He was the youngest Brother The Inhabitants of Sardes had recourse to the Clemency of Alyattes for Cyaxeres King of the Medes would have had them submit to him but Alyattes refused it from whence arose a War of 8 years between the Lydians and the Medes This King had by his Wife Carica a Son named 613 3394. 27. Cresus who reigned 14 years after the Death of his Father He was one of the richest and most potent Princes of the World made the Greeks his Tributaries conquered the Phrygians Mysians Thrasians c. 'T is said Esop so famous for his Fables lived in his time in Phrygia that Cresus sent for him to Sardes where he treated him with a great deal of Respect and that going from Sardes to Delphos he was by the Inhabitants of that Place thrown off a high Rock Cresus puffed up with his Prosperity asked Solon who gave him a Visit what he thought of his Glory and Grandeur Solon replied That no Iudgment could be passed upon the Happiness of
World Years before Christ. 3806. Now Rome began to enlarge its Dominions abroad but grew Corrupt and Degenerate at home This year Corinth one of the noblest Cities of Greece was taken by Mummius one of the Consuls and suffered the same Fate with Carthage and with it the Republick of the Acheans perished In Spain several Places revolted but were reduced by Scipio Africanus to their former Obedience after he had taken Numantia a City in Gallicia and demolished it In Sicily a Servile War broke out but the Slaves who began the War were in a short time broken and dispersed After this there happened some Risings at Athens and Delos which were with some trouble suppressed At last the Romans had great Wars with Aristonicus about the Kingdom of Pergamos or Asia Attalus the last King had made the People of Rome his Heirs upon which they entred into Possession of that Kingdom but Aristonicus the Bastard-Brother of Attalus seized upon it as his own Right and Inheritance This was the occasion of the War which ended within a year or two Aristonicus being taken Prisoner led in Triumph and afterwards strangled in Prison by order of the Senate 144 Thô the Romans were thus Successful abroad yet at home their Glory was sullied by many inglorious Factions Jealousies Seditions and Contentions The chief Fomenter of these was Tiberius Gracchus a Man of a restless and turbulent Temper He being made Tribune preferred a Law forbidding any Man to possess above 500 Acres of the Publick Lands and ordering the Overplus to be divided amongst the Poor This Law he carried and three Men called Triumviri were yearly appointed to be Judges what Lands were Publick and what Private This so much disgusted the Senate that under the Conduct of Scipio Nasica they set upon Gracchus in the Capitol and killed him and 300 more of his Faction His Death did not put an end to the Dissentions for his younger Brother Caius being first made one of the Triumviri and afterwards Tribune gave the Senate great Disturbance till being at last much persecuted by them he caused his Servant to kill him Within this Period flourished Lucilius the famous Satyrift and the third Order among the Romans called the Equestrian was set up to be the Judges of corrupt Officers XIII Period from the end of the Seditions of the Gracchi to the end of the First Civil War in Italy which takes up the space of 41 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3829. During the late Troubles the Sardinians rebelled and were reduced by Aurelius and the Fregellans were punished with the loss of their City by the Praetor Opimius About this time was carried on the War with the Allobroges who together with the Arverni and Ruteni were defeated by Fabius Maximus and Gallia Narbonnensis was reduced into a Province The Scordisci a People of Gaulish Extraction inhabiting Thrace were defeated by Didius the Praetor and the Consuls Drusus and Minutius gained a Triumph over them 121 Some time after this happened the Iugurthine War The occasion of this War was that Iugurtha Grandson to Massanissa King of Numidia having killed his Brethren seized upon that Kingdom whereupon the Romans declared War against him They were several times diverted from prosecuting it by the rich Presents which Iugurtha made but at last he was defeated first by Metellus and afterwards by Marius who subdued him notwithstanding the Assistance of his Father-in-Law Bocchus King of Mauritania took him Prisoner and led him and his two Sons in Triumph to Rome About the same time the Romans warred with the Cimbri who were defâ—ated by Marius together with the Teutones and Ambrones In Sicily a second Servile War was ended by Aquilius Nepos the Collegue of Marius At home there happened some Disturbance occasioned by Saturninus one of Marius Friends at first he was favoured by Mâ—rius but at last his Fortune declining Marius forsook him too and he was cut in Pâ—eces by the Equites in the Fâ—râ—â—n About this time flourished Lucretius the famous Poet. After this there happened a Quarrel between the Senâ—torâ—â—â— and Equestrian Order which Drusus the Tribune accomolâ—ted but this Man afterwards proposing the Agrarian Law was stabbed in the Court of his own House But these Troubles did not end with the Death of Drusus for several of the Italians who thought themselves injured joined in a Confederacy against the Romans viz. the Lucanians Apulians Marsi Paligni and Samnites with many others Against them the two Consuls with Marius and Sylla were sent who were worsted in several Engagements but at last within 3 years became Conquerors No sooner was the Social War finished but two others broke out One was with Mithridates King of Pontus against whom Sylla one of the Consuls for that year was sent Marius opposed the sending Sylla on that Expedition whereupon Sylla returning to Rome forced Marius and Sulpicius the Tribune his Friend to fly for it and declared them with 10 more Enemies to their Country Upon this Marius fled into Affrick and Sylla departed on his Expedition against Mithridates Whilst he was gone Cinna and Octavius were made Consuls the former of which proposed the recalling Marius but the latter opposed it and so hot was the Contention that Cinna was forced to leave the City and being joined with Marius raised an Army went and sat down before Rome entred it and committed great Outrages therein In the mean time Sylla was engaged against Mithridates in Greece first routed his General Archelaus and at last forced the King himself to a Peace Upon this he returned to Italy to revenge himself on Marius Cinna and all their Adherents Marius died and Cinna was killed by the fury of the Soldiers before his Landing At length Sylla came defeated all that opposed him entred Rome committed many and great Cruelties there was the first who published Tables of Proscription and procured himself to be made Perpetual Dictator which was a great Step towards the Downfal of the Consular State and which happened in the 672d year of the City in the 4th year of the 174th Olympiad and 80 years before Christ. Within this Period of Time the Capitol was burnt but by whom or what means is uncertain XIV Period from the Perpetual Dictatorship of Sylla to the first Triumvirate which was 22 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 3870. Whilst Sylla was Dictator a second War broke out with Mithridates which was ended in two years In the third year of his Dictatorship he laid down his Office retired into the Country and there died After this a dangerous War broke out in Spain against Sertorius one of Cinna's Faction Pompey was sent against Sertorius who was killed treacherously by Perpenna one of his Commanders who himself was afterwards overthrown taken and killed by Pompey 80 The year before this a third War broke out with Mithridates against whom Lucinius Lucullus one of the then Consuls was sent He did many great and
Great Mogol descended from him Wenceslaus the Emperor depos'd 1399. Rupert of Bavaria succeeds 1400. By reason of the many Civil Wars Italy throws of the German Yoke and several Governors of Cities make themselves absolute as the Scaligers in Verona thâ— House of Est at Ferrara the Gonzagues at Mantua c. Sigismond K. of Hungary chosen Emperor 1410 He erected Savoy into a Dutchy in favour 〈◊〉 Armedeus 141â— Henry V. King of England 141â— He is victorious in France wins the famous Battle at Agincourt 1415. The Government of that Kingdom is resign'd to him by the King Charles VI. 142â— Iohn VII Paleologus Emperor at Constantinople 1417. Henry VI. a Child King of England 142â— Loses what his Father had gain'd in France Richard Duke of York claims the Crown 144â— The Rebellion of Iack Cade suppress'd 1450. The King is worsted by the Yorkists and finally depos'd 1â—60 Albert of Austria chosen Emperor 143â— Frederick of Austria his Brother succeeds 144â— The Art of Printing invented 144â— Iohn Huniades Emperor of Constantinople 144â— Is victorious against the Turks Scanderbeg Prince of Epirus famous for his Victorâ—â—â— over the Turks 144â— Constantine XIII Paleologus the last Christian Emperor of Constantinople famous for his Valour 1443. Mahomet II. call'd the Great Sultan of Turks 1451. Takes Constantinople Constantine being slain puts an end to that Empire 1453. EPOCHA XIII Constantinople taken by the Turks and the Christian Empire of the East terminated 1453. This Epocha is continued as far as the Year 1660. wherein King Charles being Restor'd the ancient Lawful Government of England was re-establish'd IT must be confess'd that this Epocha begins not so happily as those that have gone before it for whereas almost every one of them commenc'd from some great Action whereby the Almighty bestow'd some benefit upon his People this alas begins with a deplorable state of the Christian World and shews us the expulsion of the true Religion out of Greece and its Neighbouring Provinces by the entrance of the Mahometan Cruelty into Europe after it had ravag'd almost all Asia and Africa But it must be acknowledg'd that the Divine Providence was just in this Punishment of those unworthy Christians who by intruding Heresies first caused Schisms and continual Feuds in the Church and afterwards by Superstition profain'd their most Holy Religion and yet by bitter Persecution destroy'd the Holy Professors of true Christianity that in those Ages oppos'd themselves to the innovated Idolatry and Superstition We might justly enough call the last Epocha Dark and Illitarate as we must Name this that follows the Enlightned and Learned Age of Christianity for the Northern Barbarians that over-run Europe in the Fourth and Fifth Centuries had so effectually swept away all sâ—â—ts of Learning that tho' themselves afterwards beâ—ame Christians and somewhat Polite yet it requir'd Ages of Time to revive that Learning which they had destroy'd and in effect what thro' the Wars that happen'd and thro' the absolute Power the Clergy exercis'd which gave them an opportunity of living Lazily in Convents all the Sciences and even Arts too were in a very low Estate till in this Century the discovery of the Art of Printing put Books into the Hands of the Laity the which being follow'd in the next Age with the appearance of those great Literati Picus Mirandula Desider Erasmus Mars Ficinus c. Learning began to Revive and by the continued zealous prosecution of the Work that those great Men begun we may now venture to say We have almost arriv'd to the Perfection of those Ages wherein the Greeks and Romans made themselves immortal by their great Erudition and Ingenuity That wonderfully useful Instrument the Marinerâ— Compass had been found out in the beginning of the Fourteenth Century by the help whereof the Portugueze had ventur'd to Navigate on the Coasts of Africa and by degrees advancing we find them at length towards the end of this Age got as far as India from whence they brought by Sea vast quantities of the rich Commodities of those Parts which before that time came but sparingly hither because brought over an immense Tract of Land to Alexandria before we could receive 'em This was follow'd by a discovery of a new World which Christopher Colombus with great Hazard as well as Skill and Pains found out and thereby gave the Spanish Monarch an opportunity of encreasing his Dominions to an almost infinite extent and of enriching Europe to an inexpressible degree out of the inexhaustible Mines of Mexico and Peru. The following Epocha shews us moreover the Church reform'd and the Christian Religion restor'd to its ancient Purity a Blessing of inestimable value and which we ought all to praise God for and continually pray that he lets not again Superstition to prevail or which is worse Atheism and Irreligion to Profane our Piety Years of Jes. Chr. The Turks having taken Constantinople proceed in their Conquests and gain the Peloponnesus now call'd Morea 1459. Edward IV. Son to Richard Duke of York who had been slain in his Wars against Henry VI. gains the Crown of England 1460. Marries the Lady Gray which disgusts his great Friend the Earl of Warwick 1465. Warwick raises Wars against him and in the end forces him to fly the Kingdom 1470. Henry plac'd on the Throne again after 9 Years Imprisonment but Edward soon expells him 1471. He dies leaving his Crown to his young Son Edward V. 1483. Maximilian of Austria Son to the Emperor Frederick Marries Mary Heiress of Burgundy 1477. They had Issue Philip who Married Ioan the Daughter of Ferdinand King of Spain by which all the Netherlands became afterwards united to that Kingdom Maximilian chosen Emperor 1493. Richard Duke of Glocester usurps the Throne and Murders his Nephews 1483. Richard III. a Tyrant slain at Bosworth by Henry VII who was of the Lancastrian Family and Marry'd the Daughter of Edward IV. declar'd King 1485. Is oppos'd by two Impostors Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck 1486 1499. In the Year 1454. the Portugueze discover'd the Cape of Good Hope and prosecuting their Voyaging they at length got as far as the East-Indies which was discover'd by Vasq. de Gama who was sent by the King of Portugal to that purpose and arriv'd before Calicurt May the 20th 1498. Ferdinand King of Arragon and Isabella Queen of Castille by Marriage unite those Kingdoms and erect the Monarchy of Spain 1474. Ferdinand expels the Moors out of Spain and erects the Inquisition against them which gains him the Title of Catholick 1496. Christopher Columbus a Native of Genoa having partly by his own Study in Geography and partly by Information of some Seamen who had been driven on some far Western Coast conceiv'd an Opinion That there was a large Country Westward of us yet unknown apply'd himself zealously for the Discovery of it to which purpose he first desir'd Assistance of the State of Genoa afterwards of our King Henry VII and of Emanuel King
of Portugal by all whom being refus'd he at length obtain'd it of Ferdinand and Isabella King and Queen of Spain who in the Year 1492. gave him Three Ships with Men and Provisions with these he set out and happily effected his Intention discovering Cuba and Hispaniola and return'd to Spain 1493. Afterwards Americus Vespusius being set forth by Emanuel King of Portugal discover'd the Southern Continent of America which Name he had the Honour to give to all that vast Country 149â— Maximilian Emperor an excellent Prince 1493. Henry VIII King of England 1509. he married Katharin of Spain the Widow of his Brother Arthur 1509. Charles V. Son of Philip who was the Son of Maximilian and Mary of Burgundy which Philip married Ioan the Heiress of Spain by which means Charles succeeded in both these Estates 1516. and was chosen Emperor on the Death of Maximilian 1519. Fr. Picus Count of Mirandola in Italy and D. Erasmus Native of Rotterdam flourished Martin Luther begins to Preach in Germany against Indulgences and other Errors of the Church of Rome 1517. Solyman styl'd The Magnificent began to Reign 1520. The Island and City of Rhodes after a vigorous Defence taken by the Turks 1523. Belgrade was taken and Vienna besieg'd by Solyman King Henry of England Wars successfully with France 1510. writes against Luther and obtains the Title of Defender of the Faith 1521. Is divorc'd from Queen Katharin and marries Anne Bollen 1533. Beheads her and marries Iane Seymour 1536. Marries Anne of Cleeve and Katharin Howard 1540. Marries again the Lady Katharin Parr 1543. he advanc'd Cardinal Wolsey to the highest pitch of Greatness who having displeas'd him is pull'd down and Cromwel advanc'd 1531. Cromwel also disgrac'd and beheaded 1540. This King suppress'd Monasteries and made way for the Reformation which follow'd in the Reigns of his Son and Daughters The Straights of Magellanica in America discover'd and nam'd by Ferdinand Magellan 1520. Mexico and Peru conquer'd by the Spaniards about this time The Name of Protestant first began on occasion of a Protestation the Lutherans made against a Decree of the Chamber of Spire against them 1529. The Smalcaldan League or agreement between the Protestants of Germany for their mutual Defence made at Smalcald 1540. The Council of TRENT began 1540. Edward VI. Son of Henry VIII by his Wife Iane Seymour succeeds his Father at 9 Years of Age 1547. a wonderfully wise and pious Prince he reforms Religion and expels the Superstition and false Doctrin of the Romish Church his Uncle Edward Seymour the Protector beheaded 1551. Mary his Sister succeeds him 1553. she restores Popery marries Philip the Son of the Emperor Charles V. afterwards King of Spain 1554. loses Callice which had been held by the English ever since King Edward IIId's time 1557. Elizabeth her Sister Queen of England 1558. restores the Reformation and reigns with great Wisdom and Reputation 44 Years The Emperor Charles V. Resigns all his Kingdoms 1557. Ferdinand his Brother chosen Emperor 1558. Philip II. his Son succeeds him in Spain 1558. Charles IX King of France 1560. The Civil War for Religion began there 1562. The Massacre of the Protestants at Paris 1572. Maximilian II. Emperor 1564. The Wars in the Low-Countries against the Inquisition c. began 1565. King Philip sends Duke d' Alva to suppress it 1567. William Prince of Orange heads the Protestants in the Low-Countries 1572. Under whose Protection Holland throws off the Spanish Yoke and soon after Six more of the Provinces joyn with them and altogether conclude a solemn Union at Vâ—recht 1579. Queen Elizabeth being at this time at War with Spain gives them assistance The famous Sea Fight at Lepanto wherein the Venetians kill 20000 Turks and sink 200 Galleys 1572. Henry III. King of France 1574. The Holy League in France began 1576. Rodolphus II. Emperor 1576. Sir Francis Drake Sails through the Magallonnie Streights thence over to the Phillipine Islands and the East-Indies and having encompass'd the whole Globe of the Earth returns to England 1580. Pope Gregory XIII Corrects the Calander 1582. William Prince of Orange Assassinated at Delft 1584. Succeeded by his Brother Maurice who for many Years maintain'd the War against the Spaniards The Spaniards with a mighty Armado attempt to invade England but are totally routed by the English 1588. Mary Queen of Scots beheaded in England 1587. Henry III. King of France is stab'd by Ia. Clement a Friar 1589. Henry IV. King of Navarre succeeds him 1589. Turns Roman Catholick restores the Peace of the Nation Years of Jes. Chr. Makes an Edict at Nants in favour of the Protestants 1598. Is stab'd by Ravillac 1610. Iames King of Scotland succeeds Queen Elizabeth in the Throne of England 1602. The Gun-powder Plot 1605. Philip III. King of Spain 1598. Peace made between Spain and Holland whereby the united Provinces are declar'd a free State 1609. Lewis XIII King of France 1610. Gustavus Adolphus the famous King of Sweden began to Reign 1611. Matthias King of Hungary and Bohemia elected Emperor 1612. Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine Marries the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to King Iames of England 1612. Frederick II. chosen Emperor 1619. The Elector Palatine being chosen King of Bohemia is oppos'd by the Emperor and defeated in the Battle of Prague 1620. Philip IV. King of Spain 1621. The Elector Palatine outed of all his Dignity given to the Duke of Bavaria 1624. Great Wars in Germany ensued King Charles I. King of England succeeds his Father 1625. Henry Frederick Prince of Orange succeeds Maurice 1625. Cardinal Richelieu chief Minister in France He labours to ruine the Protestant Party and finally takes the City Rochel their chief Strength after a long Siege and vigorous Defence 1628. The renown'd Gustavus Adolphus after many victorious Acts in Germany Italy c. is slain at the Battle of Lutzen in Germany November 6 1632. Christina his Daughter succeeds him 1632. Count Tilly the Emperor's General famous for his Conquests in Bohemia Denmark and Germany died 1632. Portugal throws off the Spanish Yoke and receives Iohn Braganza of the ancient Royal Family for their King 1640. Ferdinand III. chosen Emperor 1637. The Rebellion and Massacre in Ireland 1641. King Charles by reason of the Factious disorders in London retires into the North is denied entrance into Hull 1642. Sets up his Standard at Nottingham Aug. 2. 1642. Lewis XIV the present King of France began to Reign being then but Five years old 1643. William II. Prince of Orange Father of his present Majesty of Great Britain succeeded his Father in all his Honours 1647. Peace among the Germans c. concluded at Munster in Westphalia 1648. The Civil War rages in England King Charles I. Martyr'd 164â— The famous Rebellion at Naples on occasion of the grievous Excises headed by Thomas Aniello commonly call'd Massanello 1647. Oliver Cromwel usurps the Government of England under the Name of Protector 1651. The Prince of Orange dyes October 8. 1650.