to him Baleus Baleus subdued many Nations extending his dominions euen vnto Iudea and was therefore sirnamed Xerxes that is a conquerour and triumpher or warriour Armatrites the ninth Armatrites was altogether giuen ouer to pleasure and idlenesse There is nothing written of Belochus the tenth Belochus but that hee applied himselfe to the studie of soothsaying and diuining Baleus the eleuenth paralleld Semiramis in renown for his prowes and militarie industrie and hath the fame to haue beene highly extolled in sundry learned mens workes Altadas Altadas the twelfth of him it is recorded that he followed his ease and tranquilitie of life accounting it a point of folly to be wearied with multiplicitie of labours and fettered with varietie of cares about inlarging the bounds of his kingdome because it tended not to the weale and commoditie of any men but rather to their endammagement seruitude His successour Mamitus the thirteenth Mamitus stirred vp his subiects on fresh againe to diligence and industry in military affaires and his puisance gaue cause of suspition to the Syrians and Egyptians For Mancaleus the fourteenth Mancaleus his actions afford not argument worth the discourse Spharus Sphaerus the fifteenth is commended for his great vertue and wisedome There is no mention in writing of any memorable act performed by Mamelus the sixteenth Mamelus Sparetus In Sparetus the seuenteenth his raigne histories report that woÌ„drous accidents hapned euery where Ascatades Ascatades the eighteenth brought all Syria vnder his subiection And thus farre the suppos'd Berosus of whose writings almost all men make a doubt thinke them counterfeit but because we haue no other records extant they follow this order o See their names at the end of the Booke Others reckon 20 Kings more together with Sardanapalus making him the eight and thirtieth King of the Assyrians This King as without all compare the most effeminate of men continually sitting amongst harlots spining and carding with them and so totally plunged in voluptuousnesse that he would scarce euer shew himselfe in publike For this cause two of his Rulers Belochus of Babylon Arbaces of the Medes alienating their affection from him after they had emblazon'd his filthinesse and lasciuiousnesse vp and downe amongst the vulgar made warre against him Hee with his womanish troopes hauing scarce ioyn'd battell such was his bad successe fled to his palace and â—here causing a great fire to be made threw himselfe and all his goods into it In this deed only The Monarchy diuided as a certaine writer saith shewing himselfe a man Afterwards these two rulers diuided the Monarchy betwixt them Belochus was made King of Babylon and Arbaces of the Medes After is had stood 1300 years Thus Sardanapalus was the last king in that course when that Monarchy had stood 1300. yeares for almost all their Kings liued exceeding long Belochus the nine thirtieth Belochus 2 King 15. 1 Chron. 5. or if it seeme better the first King of the Assyrians in the new Monarchy compelled Manasses King of Israel to pay him Tribute the Scripture calls him not Belochus but Phul. Phul Assur 2 King 15. 2 Chro. 28. Phul Assur surnamed Tiglath Pileser succeeded him He tooke some certaine Cities in Iudea and caried away the people captiue into Assyria Achas King of Iuda in whose time the Prophet Isaias liued desir'd aid from this Tiglath against the King of Syria Salmanassar and sent him presents After Tiglath followed Salmanassar who after three yeares siege tooke the Citie of Samaria and caried away captiue Hosea King of Israel and his people and allowed them a dwelling place in his owne Dominions euen amongst the Medes as the Scripture saith 2 King 18. whereupon some gather that hee rul'd also ouer the Medes His successor Senacherib kept his Court in the City of Niniuie Senacherib 2 King 18. Hee made Ezekiah King of Iuda tributary to him and soone after besieged Ierusalem with a mighty Army and by his Ambassadors exhorting the people to make a reuolt 2 King 19. and scoffed at their King who hoped for helpe from his God But he escaped not vnpunisht for God by his Angell in one night slew 185000. of his men as a little before he had confirmed it to Ezekias by his Prophet Isaiah Isa 37. After his returne home hee was slaine by his owne sonnes Tob. 1. Till this time the Babylonians after Sardanapalus his ouerthrow were in subiection to the Assyrians Senacherib as we said before hauing receiu'd such a destruction at Ierusalem and not long after slaine by his owne sons there folowed a great change in the State of the Kingdome which was then diuided For the two brothers Adramalech and Sarazar who had committed the parricide fled Notwithstanding they leuied forces and prepared Armes against their brother Assaradon Assaradon 2 King 19. who after his fathers death had seized vpon the Kingdome hauing formerly gouern'd the Common-wealth in his fathers p Isa 37. Merodach absence Merodach Gouernour of Babylon taking hold on this faire occasion 2 Kings 20. 2 Chro. 32. for his own good successe reuolted proclaiming warre and hauing by degrees partly by fauour partly by force drawne in the neighbouring countries round about him to his party and ouercome Assaradon in the 12. year of his raigne annexed the whole Empire of the Assyrians to the Babylonians and raigned q Isai 39. 50. Beâ—â—nerodach Nabuchodonozor 1. forty yeares after Many reckon next after him Benmerodach and Nabuchodonozor the first of that name but seeing the holy Scripture discouers nothing hereabouts nor can we rashly giue credit to others wee le rancke that Nabuchodonozor whom the Scripture makes much mention of Nabuchodonozor the Great next in order after Merodach Hee therefore within few yeeres after his entrance made warre with the r Kings 24. Ierem. 46. Aegyptians and tooke from them the whole Countrey therefrom Euphrates to Å¿ Suidas cals this Peleusiuns the Key of Egypt It is now called Damietta Peleusium made tributary to him t 2 Kâ—n. 24. Ioachim King of Iuda and in the eight yeare of his raigne caried away captiue to Babylon his sonne Iechonias together with his chiefe men and artificers not onely of the City of Ierusalem but also of the whole Countrey In the eighteenth yeare of his raigne he tooke * Kings 15. 2 Chro. 36 Ierusalem after two yeares siege within a while after u Ierem. 52 sackt burnt it broke downe the walls caried away most part of the people putting out king Zedekias his eies and killing his sons and Noblemen Ierem. 25. The Prophet Ieremy had foretold this calamity in the first yeare of Nabuchodonozors raigne and from this time we must reckon the 70. yeares captiuity of Babylon Nabuchodonozor about the foure and twentieth yeare of his raigne hauing ouercome the kings of the x Ier. 46.
his age and raigned 30 yeers being 40. yeeres old at the beginning of his raigne His sonnes name was Cambyses Cambyses whom when hee went from home to the Scythian warre he set ouer his Kingdome He his Father being absent and in imploiments tooke Egypt In warre indeed hee was renowned but otherwise vitious and did not represent his Fathers vertues Among the rest of his filthie and sauage deeds he commanded his own brother to be slain trecherously Plato in his bookes which he writ of the Lawes reports how Cyrus was very much to blame for that he brought vp his sons effiminately amongst women who when they grew into riper yeeres being corrupted by flatterers for the most part abusing their cares did after their Fathers decease Darius the sonne of Histaspis indanger one anothers life Darius the sonne of Hystaspis succeeded Cambyces second King of the Persians who suruiued his Father but a short space And by reason that many of his subiects together with the rest the Babylonians did after Cyrus his death and so great an ouerthrow of his armie reuolt from the kingdome of Persia Hee tooke armes at the first steppe of his raigne and reunited them to his Empire hauing after a long siege taken Babylon also by helpe of a He mangled himselfe cutting off his cares nose and lippes faigning that Darius had so puâ—â—isht him for speaking in the Babylonians behalfe whe eupon they receiued him and by that policie hee got the Citie for Darias Zopyrus Within a while after he made warre against the Athenians who vpon a sodaine mustering vp their forces not expecting any aid from the Lacedemonians did at Marathon with about 10000. men Miltiades being their Leader ouercome his huge b It consisted of 600000. men armie Darius was aminded to renew the warre but death preuented him in his very first attempt whose sonne and successor Xerxes Xerxes in the tenth yeer after the battell at Marathon as Thucidides relates came with an c Some confine it to 1000000 but Justine extends it to 2000000 and Herodotus to more innumerable armie with intent to subdue all Greece Hereupon the chiefe managing of these warres was by common consent committed to the Lacedemonians because they bore greatest sway all ouer Greece but the Athenians followed Themistocles his counsaile quitting their Citie leauing their wiues and children in one place or other betooke themselues to their shippes and ioyning battell with the enemie at Salamina ouercame him That victorie was very commodious to all Greece in generall for Xerxes being also expelled their Country did by an infortunate and a dishonourable flight In a little Fishers boate returne home and the Grecians likewise after his departure But the Athenians hauing a Nauie of 400. saile or thereabouts coasting on further and pursuing their enemies tooke the towne of Sestos vpon Hellespont which the Persians held and there wintring afterwards returned home gathered together their dispersed wiues and children and repaired the walls of their Citie which the enemie burnt when hee tooke it and fortified the Port. This warre of the Persians or as Thucidides calls it of the Medes happened as Cicero writes almost at the very same time with the Volscian warre where the exild Romane Coriolanus was Generall Xerxes his warre An. Mund. 3488 and that was in the 266. yeere after the building of Rome Herodotus before Thucidides writ of this Persian warre Cicero calls him the Father of historie but reports that his writings are stuft with an infinite companie of fables The Lacedemonians were sore offended at this fortification of the Athenians but sith they could not tell how to amend themselues buried all in murmuring silence and both they as also the rest of the Grecians together with the Athenians ioyning forces tooke the I le of Cyprus and the Citie d Now called Constantinople Byzantium which the Persians held Among the rest of the Lacedemonian Captaines in this warre Pausanias was one who being condemned of treason after he was returned home and lay besieged in a certaine Sanctuarie was famished to death with hunger Themistocles also being in like manner accused fled Soone after this Greece was tossed vp and downe with sundry wars and dissentions partly forraigne and partly domesticall which Thucidides pithily relates But at length in the fiftieth yeere after Xerxes departure out of Greece as Cicero reports it after Thucidides that cruell warre sprung out when the whole Country of e Now called Morea Peloponnesus conspired against the Athenians Pericles Anaxagoras his scholler being their Leader in that warre who as Aristophanes reports lightned thundred and set all Greece on fire with his tongue For these in times past were the master-pieces of prowesse and eloquence On the other part Archidamus King of the Lacedemonians had supreame command Thucidides who writ of this warre was both equall to and emulous of Pericles Sophocles the tragicall Poet was as Cicero writes Pericles his collegue in the Generalship Now let vs returne to Xerxes He by reason of such his bad successe being growne into contempt was slain by his own subiects Artaxerxes Long-hand His sonne Artaxerxes Long-hand succeeded him To him fled the exiled Themistocles whom we spake of a little before and there f Poysoned himselfe because he would not goe with Artaxerxes to sight agaiâ—st his owne Country Darius Nothus ended his life was buried at Magnesia After Long-hand Darius Nothus raigned who married his owne sister In the beginning of this Kings raigne happened the aforesaid Peloponnesian warre And the Athenians though they had remora's enough besides yet in the fourth yeere of this warre as Thucidides recites in his third booke they sent a Nauie into Sicilie vnder pretence to aid the Leontinians against the Syracusans but their intent was to bring that Iland vnder their subiection that so they might more conueniently subdue Greece and afterwards when they were returned and fostered their owne factions Hermocrates of Syracusa was the first that moued the Sicilians to liue in peace laying aside all grudges for the Athenians had laid snares of bondage to intrappe the libertie of their whole country his perswasion tooke effect This was in the seuenth yeere of this warre Three yeeres after this the Athenians and Peloponnesians concluded a truce for fifty yeeres but it held not full seauen for euen then many outrages were broached and though the peace were not quite abolished and gappes of offences committed were euer anon stopt vp againe by truces yet in the 17 yeere they burst forth againe into open warre with full forces this second warre continued tenne yeeres Then the Athenians send ouer againe their Nauie most exquisitely furnished into Sicilie The chiefe Commanders whereof among the rest were Alcibiades and Nicias Nicias very earnestly declaiming certaine Orations to that purpose disswaded them from this voiage but Alcibiades perswaded the contrarie The Peloponnesians gaue aid to the Sicilians at
of any Senatour of the house of the Manlies should bee called Marcus After this Camillus was the seuenth time created Tribune of the Soldiers and being very old ended his life in the 389. yeere after the building of Rome the gouernment being a yeere before his death againe reduced to the Consuls The first whereof was a * One of the Commeueltie Plebeian In those times flourisht the most renowned Captaines of warre in that Citie such as were Marcus Valerius Corvinus Titus Manlius Torquatus Caius Martius Rutilius Publius Decius Mus Papirius Cursor Publius Philo Lucius Volumninus and others One of which namely Titus Manlius Torquatus one of the Consuls beheaded his owne sonne for that he contrary to his command and out of his ranke had encountred his enemie in a single combat although hee got the vpperhand Publius Decius Alus the other Consull in the battell against the Latines deuow'd and bequeathed himselfe to death for the Romano Armie when violently rushing into the thickest troopes of his enemies by his death re-established the tottering state of Rome His sonne of his owne name foure times Consull performed the like against the Galli-Senones forty foure yeers after that At the same before-mentioned time in the x Most Authors agree of 10. or 12. yeers before viz. Anno Mundi 3620. or 22. 420. yeere of Rome built Alexander the great founder of the third Monarchie as we haue aboue declared flourished and made his warres Titus Liuius compares Lucius Papyrius Cursor with him and extending his discourse as well for his owne as his Readers recreation shews that he was able to haue resisted Alexander if happily hee had led his forces into Europe after his conquest of Asia and made warre vpon the Romanes This before-recited Papyrius Cursor was indued with the very quintessence of valour for omitting other his valiant acts when Titus Veturius Caluinus and Spurius Posthumius Albinus the two Consuls together with the whole armie at the y Made of speares or iauelings stucke in the ground vnder which the conquered were to passe in dishonour Forks of Caudium were compelled by the Lamnits to goe ignobly vnder the yoke and had made a dishonourable peace with the enemie Hee being created Consull vanquisht the late conquering enemie and put him to flight as also when hee was Dictator made his owne Master of the Cauallery an example to teach what strict obseruance ought to bee had in militarie discipline In this age also and a little vpwards Greece brought forth men of transcendent learning for then flourished Socrates and from him as from a certaine fountaine Aristippus Plato Antisthenes Speusippus Aristotle Diâ—aearchus Xenocrates Heraclides Theophrastus Polemo and Strabo all of them Physiologers and as Cicero cals them Speculators and hunters of Nature Then also flourished most famous Oratours as Gorgias Protagoras Prodicus Hippias Isoerates Lysias Demostenes Hyperides Aeschines Phalerius Demetrius And Historiographers chiefly Xenophon whom Cicero cals a Socratist and Calisthenes Alexander the great his companion In this age liued Dionysius the Spracusan Tirant to whom when Plato came and spoke freely concerning the dutie of a Prince he put him in great danger of his life as Cicero relates This was hee who committed not the guard of his body to his allies but to certaine strangers and sauage and barbarous people hee who taught his daughters how to cut their haire that they should not aduenture their neckes vnder the Barbers hands who suffered them not to vse any manner of edge-toole after they were come to yeeres but made them cindge his head and beard with red-hot Walnut-shels who resorted to his wiues often times by night but first made sure to suruey and prie into all places who not daring to shew himselfe in the common Pulpits was wont to speake to the people out of a Tower who shewed Damocles one of his Parrasites what manner of felicitie that of his was which he had boasted of for as hee sate in the middest of his choisest delicates with abundance and superfluitie of all manner of pleasures he caused a glittering sword hanging by a bristle of a horses vpper lip to be let downe that it might hang ouer his necke About forty two yeeres after Alexanders death Pyrrhus King of the Epirotes came into Italie and made warre with the Romanes In his second yeeres warre he solicited the Senate about concluding of a peace and a league But Appius Claudius both old and blinde who as Cicero writes had beene twice Consull before that came into the Court and disswaded the Senate inclining to peace from making any league with him for euen in that case wherein he then was he had so much courage as not to shrinke from any either priuate or publike seruice The Oration which hee then pronounced concerning Pyrrhus when hee broke off the peace was extant in Ciceroes daies as hee himselfe witnesseth At this time Cains Fabritius Luscinus performed a worthy piece of seruice for the Common-wealth who being solicited by Pyrrhus to reuolt contemned his most ample gifts and large proffers nor onely so but also sent him backe againe a certaine captiued runne-away who had certified that hee could take away the Kings life by poison Cicero compares him with Aristides the Athenian Mannius Curius Dentatus gaue Pyrrhus an vtter ouerthrow at his second inuasion of Italie and triumphed ouer him This Pyrrhus was the first that euer brought Elephants into Lucania And till this time being almost fiue hundred yeeres continuance the Romans were in warres with the inhabitants of Italie onely amongst whom the Latines Veientes Aequies Faliscians Samnites Hetrucians resisted very stoutly sometimes conquered sometimes conquering who being at length subdued and a peace setled that most bloody warre against the Carthaginians sprung vp the z Iosephus writes that it was built within 143 yeeres after Solomons Temple The first Punicke or Carthaginian warre beganne Anno mandi 3697. originall of which Citie is by euident testimonie prooued to be farre more z Iosephus writes that it was built within 143 yeeres after Solomons Temple The first Punicke or Carthaginian warre beganne Anno mandi 3697. ancient then Rome This warre begunne in the foure hundred eighty fift yeere of Rome built In which that noble act which hath report of performance by Marcus Attilius Regulus deserues singular commemoration who being taken prisoner by the Carthaginians and sent by them to Rome to treate of a peace and exchange of prisoners with condition except hee preuailed to returne to his bondage Hee when hee came thither perswaded the Senate the quite contrary way shewed that it was repugnant to the custom of the Common-wealth but yet holding it a point of honour to hold promise with his enemie returned to Carthage where hee was put to death with the most cruell kinde of punishment his eye-lids being cut away and so bound fast in an engine consumed to death by waking This warre proceeding the Romans had their first and
words which hee then vs'd Horace sets them downe in that Ode Horace l. 4. Ode 4. wherein he celebrates the fame of Drusus and his house which being most learned elegant worthily amongst other matters deserues commemoration by all of the yonger sort Thus the Romanes being at peace with the Carthaginians besides those warres wherein they were employed in Italy Istria and Lusitania The Roman warre with Philip King of Macedonia 3770. made sharpe warre against Philip King of Macedonia who infested the Countrey of Greece In this warre Titus Quintus Flaminius was Generall who at length getting the vpper hand of the Enemy did by decree of the Senate restore Greece to its former liberty and amongst other iniunctions prohibited King Philip from making war in any place out of his owne Territories without decree of the Senate The Roman wars with Antiochus King of Syria 3777. To this warre another succeeded against Antiochus King of Syria who passing ouer into Europe was ouerthrowne and expelled Greece by Mannius Glabrio Philip King of Macedon aiding the Romanes in that warre Those before recited Kings of Asia Syria and Macedonia descended from their posterity who as wee haue aboue related diuided the prouinces amongst them after Alexander the Great his death For Carthage being pacified and all Italy brought vnder subiection the Romanes hauing subdued their neighbouring Countries of Europe both by sea and land were now grown to that height that Kings and people farre remote implored their patronage After this manner the Egyptians whose King Ptolomy Epiphanes was a very young Prince and not of ability by reason of his non-age to gouerne them being brought into imminent danger by Antiochus the Great sent ouer their Ambassadors to Rome petitioning the Senate to vndertake the tuition of their young King Hereupon the Senate enioyned Antiochus to forbeare Egypt Hee hereat incensed but more especially when Hannibal who was fled to him and remained his guest very earnestly perswaded him to the warre strucke ouer with a Nauie into Greece and there as wee reported before was put to flight Whereupon the Romans setting forth with an Armado pursue him and striking ouer into Asia ouerthrew in a maine battell and beat him backe beyond the Mountaine Taurus Cicero relates how after this ouerthrow he was wont to say that the Romans had done him a very good turne for now being freed from too exceeding great gouernment hee would conteine himselfe within the moderate bounds of a Kingdome Lucius Cornelius Scipio Publius Scipio Africanus his brother was Captaine Generall in this warre thereupon surnamed Asiaticus After this Marcus Fuluius Nobilior vanquished the l A certaine people of Greece Aetolians and triumphed ouer them And Publius Scipio Africanus after his returne home out of Asia whither he was sent in Ambassage to his brother in time of this warre being crost by the m Officers appointed for protection of the Commons against the Nobles Tribunes of the Commons withdrew himselfe into his village of Liternum and there this man of transcendent worth ended his life being as many write 52. yeares old of the same age with Marcus Portius Cato In that Dialogue Sleidan as Meibomius notes mistakes Africanus for Quintus Fabius Cunctator whom Cicero speaks of which Cicero writ of old age hee brings in Cato speaking very affectionately and honorably both of his age and studies but most especially extolling his magnanimity howbeit Liuie writes that Cato was his enemy and was wont much to disquiet himselfe with the odious enuie that he bore against him for his fortitude Cicero commends him for his dexterous celeritie in dispatch of businesse At this time flourisht those Poets Ennius Plautus and Neuius After Antiochur his ouerthrow Hannibal fled to Prusias King of Bythinia and when the Romanes desired to haue him deliuered into their hand by a draught of poison finished his life Hannibal poisoneth himselfe An. 3786. To Antiochus his sonne Antiochus Epiphanes succeeded who likewise practised by treachery to haue seized vpon the Kingdome of Egypt for that he was vncle to Ptolomie Philometer King of Egypt who succeeded after his fathers death hereupon professing himselfe to be the yong Kings Tutor purposed to dispatch him and so transferre the sway of gouernement into his own hands but his plot being discouered the Romans whom the Egyptians had againe solicited for aide sent ouer to him in Ambassage Caius Popilius Laenas who comming to conference with Antiochus commanded him in the name of the Romans to depart from Alexandria which hee then besieged who desiring time to deliberate vpon it Laenas with a little rod drew a circle round about him in the place where hee stood and in flat termes charged him to giue his answer what he would doe before hee stirred out of that Ring Hee hereat dismaid and not being ignorant of the puisance of the Romans promised peace Those passages are onely for this purpose mentioned that it may appeare how the Romans from these small beginnings gathered ground step by step and climbed vp to the highest branch of gouernment For now their puissance hauing outstript the bounds of Italy made an impression into seuerall Quarters of the world but a great part of their labour yet remained towards the keeping in together the ponderous burthen of this their Empire whose circuit contained the chiefest part of the whole world as hereafter though briefly I le declare in order Philip King of Macedon he whom I formerly spoke of taking it very hainously that the Romanes had put him to such a straight was aminded to renew the warre but being preuented by death his sonne and successor Perseus hauing beene long before that incensed against the Romanes vndertooke this warre as it were a part of his inheritage but Lucius Aemilius Paulus the second time Consull Perseus K. of Macedonia with his wife mother Children led in triumph at Rome by Aemilius Paulus 3802. at length ouerthrew him in battell tooke him together with his wife mother and Children and led them in triumph for this cause surnamed Macedonicus and from that time Macedonia became one of the Prouinces of the Romanes The yeare next before this dyed Ennius aged 70. yeares as Cicero hath it Within a few yeares following Publius Cornelius Nasica subdued Dalmatia and not long after the third Punicke or Carthaginian warre begunne The third Punick or Carthiginian warre 3819. For the Carthaginians being impatient of peace and ease offer violence and hostility to the rest of their neighbours but more especially to Massinissa King of Numidia a confederate and friend of the Romanes The Romans being requested for their aid decreed to make warre in the 604. yeere of Rome built but herein they differed in their opinions whether it were better to raze the Citie or preserue it safe some were of opinion that it should not bee destroyed for that said they Carthage being taken away they should fall into ciuill warres and dissentions
amongst themselues but Marcus Portius Cato vrging the contrarie shewed what danger might hang ouer the Common-wealth of Rome by reason of that Citie vnlesse it were quite destroyed and this his opinion carried it he himselfe departing his life in the time of this deliberation hauing attained to the eighty fift yeere of his age Cicero rankes him amongst the ancient Orators and places him next after Marcus Cornelius Cethegus whom Ennius as he reports extolled Hee also further relates that there were a hundred and fifty of Catoes Orations extant stuft with excellent words and matter and reprehends those of his time for their too much nicenesse in not diligently perusing them He compares him with Lysias the Athenian Writer In this third Punicke warre Publius Scipio Aemilianus Publius Macedonicus his sonne and Publius Scipio Aphricanus his nephew by adoption was at length made Captaine Generall He in the fourth yeere of his warre begunne by others after a sharpe siege continuing for certaine daies tooke the Citie of Carthage sackt it burnt it and laid it leuell with the ground Carthage destroyed 3822. thereupon gaining his sirname likewise stiled Aphricanus as hee was that ouerthrew Hannibal as aforesaid And this was the period of this most puissant Citie which by originall was more ancient then Rome and for worthinesse of Captaines scarce inferiour to it hauing borne rule farre and wide Cicero writes that Publius Scipio after hee had taken Carthage restored to the Sicilians those Ensignes ornaments which the Carthaginians had taken from them some yeers before as also to the Agrigentines that famous brazen Bull which is reported to bee Phalaris the Tyrants wherein hee was wont for punishment to inclose men aliue and then to set it on fire This Phalaris lost not his life by trechery as many other Tyrants did but the whole multitude of the Agrigentines fell vpon him Cicero calls Affrica the tower of all Prouinces Much about this time the Romans made warre with the Achaians a certaine people of Greece for offring iniurie to their Ambassadours Lucius Mummius Consul was Captaine Generall in this warre who getting the vpperhand in battell forced all Achaia to be yeelded vp to him and by decree of the Senate set fire on Corinth the chiefe Citie and vtterly subuerted it lest at any time hereafter being repaired it might arise and lift vp head againe Mummius hereupon was sirnamed Achaicus About this time also one Viriathus who from a Shepheard grew to be a Hunter from a Hunter to a Highway-thiefe and afterward leader of a strong Armie kept the Country of n Now Portugal in Spaine Lusitania in possession who for some certaine yeeres holding play with the Romans and very oft putting them to the foile was at length trecherously slaine and soone after Decius Iunius Brutus subdued all Lusitania euen to the Ocean In the mean time the Romans receiued a great ouerthrow from the Numantines a people of Spaine for refusing to accept of the peace made by Mummius the Consull in regard it was dishonourable of a new create Publius Scipio Aemilianus Aphricanus Consull contrarie to the ordinarie course and to him commit the charge of the warre who marching forth with an armie hauing recalled the soldiers growne more effiminate and impatient of labour to obseruance of strict militarie discipline after hee had besieged the citie of Numantia some certaine daies Numantia destroied 3832. tooke and subuerted it in the fourteenth yeere after the subuersion of Carthage and of Rome built sixe hundred and twenty Cicero cals Carthage and Numantia the two terrours of the Roman Empire At this time there arose an vproare of the bond-slaues in Sicilie who hauing gathered together great forces were at length with much adoe repressed by Caius Fuluius the Consull After this the Romans had warre with Aristomius in Asia for Attalus King of Pergamos had by his testament made the Romanes his heires but Aristomius being allied to him seized vpon that part of Asia and defrauded the Romans of the benefit of his Testament Him Marcus Peperua Consull vanquished and at length tooke prisoner The yeere following which was the 625. yeere of Rome built Scipio Aphricanus murthered 3837. Scipio Aphricanus lying at his owne house was in the night-time murthered by his owne kinsfolkes as it was supposed Cicero makes relation of his most fluent eloquence his fidelitie and integritie and writes that albeit the whole Citie was plunged in depth of sorrow for his death yet no man opened his mouth about the cause therof He reports also that in this yeere the sunne was twice doubled Thus this most renowned Commander ended his daies aged 56. yeers which as Cicero in a most sweet fictitious inuention faignes Aphricanus the elder had forewarned him of In this age liued Lucilius Terence Pacuuius Accius Licinius Caecilius Afranius Caius Laelius one most intimate with Aphricanus calls this Pacuuius his friend but Terence his familiar consort After this Fabius Maximus Consul in a maine battell ouerthrew the n Of Sauoy Allobroges o About the Riuer Lâ—ire Aruerni and p About Rhodes Ruteni people of Gallia At the same time Caius Gracebus Tribune of the soldiers an eloquent man and defender of the Agrarian law was slaine at Rome his brother Tiberius Gracchus hauing twelue yeers before lost his life for the like cause Cicero giues both of them commendations for their eloquence and writes that Tiberius his Orations were not very beautifully set forth in words but were acute and full of wisedome and Caius his brothers were fittest to be perused by those of the yonger sort as seruing not onely to whet on but also to nourish the wit and hee stiles him the most wittie and most eloquent of all the Romans Gracchus dream't that he heard his brother Tiberius telling him that hee should die of the same death wherof he did and as Cicero reports he told it to many before hee was created Tribune of the Commons Their lawes are extant about prouision of corne replantation of Colonies The warre with Jugurth King of Numidia begunneâ—â— Anno Mundi 3857. soldiers rewards for their seruice gouernement of the Prouince the peopls suffrages about election of Magistrates and of letting to farme King Attalus his lands and the country of Asia After these Tribunician dissentions followed that war which the Romans had with Iugurtha King of Numidia It was begunne by Lucius Calphurnius Bestia Consull continued by Quintus Coecilius Metellus Ended 3859. and ended by Caius Marius the Consull who serued in the warres with Publius Scipio For Bacchus King of Mauritania Iugurtha's confederate not willing any longer to vndergoe the hazard of warre deliuered vp Iugurtha bound into Sylla's hands who was sent ouer to him for that purpose by Marius And at this very time which was in the sixe hundred forty seuenth yeere of Rome built was Marcus Tullius Cicero borne Cicero borne 38. being eight yeeres after the birth of
being sleighted off by the Senate he marches to e Marsiles in France Massilia where the gates were shut against him hereupon rigging his Nauie he besieges it both by sea and land and there leauing his Deputies sets forward into Spaine where at length hee compels Petreius and Africanius two of Pompeyes Captaines together with the whole Armie to yeeld Then he returns to Massilia which City despairing of all ayde presently yeelds to his power and after he was made Dictator in his absence by Marcus Lepidus the Praetor repaires to Rome calls an assemblie and is created Consull together with Publius Seruilius Isauricus soone after hauing setled the affaires of the City hee strikes ouer into Greece and at length ouerthrew Pompey in Thessaly in a maine battell Pompey ouerthrowne 3921. and disbanded him though his Army farre exceeded Caesars Pompey thus put to flight arriues in Egypt Ptolomy Dionysius Ptolomy Auletes son being then King thereof which Auletes when he was expelled his Kingdome Pompey had restored by Aulus Gabinius as aforesaid In regard of which benefit hee expected aid and protection from that Countrey but the King being a child his Nobles either despising Pompeyes fortune or else fearing some troubles treacherously kill him And slaine Caesar pursuing Pompey arriues at Alexandria with 3200 men and there first of all had notice of Pompeyes death Cicero passing his censure vpon both of theÌ„ If in the last war saith he Pompey had abated somewhat from his austere grauity and and Caesar much from his ambition wee should haue had both a firme peace and some Common wealth left vs. The King of Aegypt was then in warres with his sister Cleopatra Hereupon Caesar being at Alexandria would haue their controuersies rather decided by course of law before himselfe then by ciuill warres amongst themselues because hee was Consull of Rome and some yeares before there was a coÌ„federacy agreed vpon with Ptolomy the Kings father by decree and consent of the Senate But the States tooke this most hainously complaining that their Kings Royall Maiesty was ecclipsed in calling him to sit in iudgement vpon their controuersies Thus incensed in minde they prepare to make warre against Caesar but he after much danger getting the vpper hand did not reduce it into the forme of a Prouince but tollerated Cleopatra and her yonger brother the King being slaine to hold the Kingdome From thence marching into Syria and afterwards into Pontus hee put to flight King Pharnaces Mithridates his sonne and setled peace in Cappadocia Armenia Gallo-Greece Pontus and Bythinia Forthwith returning into I talie and so to Rome about the middle of Winter at the Winter * Solstitium Sun-sted he strikes ouer from f A towne and promontory in Sicilie Lilybeum into Africa though warned by a chiefe Soothsayer not to take his voyage before the end of Winter Scipio and Cato Marcus Portius Catoes Nephewes sonnes were fled thither from the battell at g Where Pompey was ouerâ—hrowne Pharsalia and hauing gathered together a great Army drew King h King of â—â—aâ—â—itâ—nia Iuba into confederacy with them Cesar marching thither ouerthrew and destroied them all but Cato lest hee should fall into his hands killed himselfe at i Now called Biserta in Barbarie Vtica which fact Cicero defends and saith that it was better for him whom nature had indued with incredible grauitie so to doe then to behold the face of a Tyrant This Cato was of the sect of the Stoickes and would oftentimes maintaine strange opinions in the Senate as though he were versed in Platoes politickes as Cicero saith and not in the refuse off-spring of Romulus Afterward Cesar repaires to Rome and hauing triumphed ouer Gallia Egypt Pontus and Affrica set forward to Spaine where he warred against and subdued Sextus Pompeius Thus hauing vanquished all his aduersaries and setled a peace in many Nations farre and wide in the fift yeere after the beginning of his ciuill warres The fourth Monarchie begun by Caius Cesar An. 3925. being 300. yeeres and odde after Alexander the Great he returns to Rome where after hee had triumphed ouer Hispaine hee assumed the offred title and authoritie of perpetuall Dictator and swaied the Senate according to his owne will hee in a manner hauing the sole bestowing of all honours and publike offices conferring them vpon whom he pleased thereby incurring many mens ill-will And now the state of the Common-wealth being altered and the supreame gouernment thereof reduced to one mans principalitie those conspiracies then in brewing against him were at length broached For in the fift moneth after his returne to Rome Caius Cesar slaine hee was slaine in Pompeys * Curia Court-house on the Ides of March and by those very men whom by his late shewed kindnesse hee had obliged to him as also pardoned them for seruing against him in the Pompeian warre Those were Marcus and Decius Brutus Caius Cassius Cneius Domitius Caius Trebonius Quintus Tullius Cimber two of the Sernilioes Casea Hala and many more Marcus Antonius the Consull Cesars Collegue indicted Cicero also before the Senate as guilty of the murther for that Marcus Brutus presently after Cesar was slain holding vp his dagger on high shouted aloud and nominated him congratulating him for recouerie of their libertie Many report that Caius Cesar spake to Marcus Brutus in Greeke as hee rushed vpon him and called him sonne how they take it I know not but it is euident out of Cicero that Brutus was fifteene yeers yonger then he Caius Cesar made diuers lawes some whereof when he was Consull and other some when he was Dictator which after his name were called the Iulian lawes as about distribution of lands concerning violence Maiestie extortion Priest-ships vsurie Others lawes there were which goe vnder his name but were made by Octauius All commend him for his clemency and Cicero giues him praise for his wit quicknesse reason memorie learning prouidence diligence but hee stormed grieuously at his authoritie yet secretly and in an Epistle to Atticus Thou shalt perceiue saith he that this kingdome can scarce hold halfe a yeere together But in al those proceedings Cicero carried himselfe very wauering and inconstantly for during the warre he followed Pompeyes partie and his camp although hee reprehended his discouragement of minde and cowardise and in his Epistles to his friends hee cals Cesar a war-waging Tyrant and monster But after Pompey was put to flight and slaine and Cesar had pardoned many of his aduersaries he changes his stile and in three set Orations extolled him with praises to the very heauens Further when Cesar heard that there was treason plotted against him and would often say that hee had liued long enough he beseeches and requests him to reiect that opinion for although hee was full fraught with glory and in that regard for himselfe had liued long enough yet hee had not liued long enough for the Common-wealth which could not be
the Bishops of the East are yet extant in which he often presses it that to Him alone as Bishop saith he of the chiefe See by a certaine singular priuiledge and diuine ordinance belongeth the right of conuocating Generall Councells But it may seeme wonderfull with what face hee could write thus or they so boast of it when as before him Constantinâ— had cal'd the Councell of Nice and after him a hundred yeares full Martianus the Emperor called the Councell of Chalcedon To Him also alone as Primate of that City saith hee appertaines the cognizance of Episcopall causes and other matters of that kinde of more weighty importance This his arrogancy the Bishops could not endure But assembling at Antiech boldly reply That it was not fit that the sentence by them passed should bee repealed by him for that they were possessed of the same degree of dignity whereof hee was and the doctrine of Christ came from their Countries to Rome * Tandem at the second hand by the paines and ministery of the Apostles Wherefore in case he should proceed and make new decrees they would not obey them neither haue communion with him but would take such a course as the matter it selfe should require And in another Councell in the same City of greater concourse then the former amongst other decrees They limit the office of a Bishop as also of a Metropolitane about discussing matters of more weighty importance For they decreed that in case the Bishops concurre not the Metropalitane of the next adioyning prouince shall delegate certaine Iudges to determine the cause But if any Bishop bee condemned for an offence by common decree of the rest of the Bishops they ordaine that their sentence shall stand firme and not bee repealed by another They further establish that the Bishop shall faithfully dispence the * Bona sacra goods of the Church and distribute them to the vse of the poore and that hee himselfe if need require may take from thence as much as shall bee necessary for naturall sustentation For St. Paul saith 1 Tim. 6.8 We ought to bee content with food and â—raiment Which goods if the Bishop say they shall perchance conuert into his owne or his friends priuate commodity or commit the administration thereof to his kindred he is to be restrained by a Councell At length Ioninianus the enemy being at his backe concluded a dishonourable peace redeliuering those fiue Prouinces beyond Tigris wonne by Galerius as aboue mentioned as also part of Mesopotamia and afterwards couenanted that the Romanes should lend no ayde to the King of Armenia their friend and confederate Marching forth with his Army as hee was returning home dyed vpon the borders of Bythinia The soldiers forthwith create Valentinianus Emperour who soone after his comming to Constantinople Valentinianus 364. An. 11. m. 8. d. 32. together with his brother Valens tooke his brother Valens to be his Collegue in the Empire and commending those m Of the East Countries to his care marched into Germanie where hee subdued the Saxons bordering vpon the Ocean and soone after he had beene in Gallia n In Pannonia falling into a feuer by an excessiue straining of his voice in an angry reply against some offenders dyed as it is written vpon a vehement passion of anger By this time his brother Valens was arriued in Asia to represse the Parthians forraging the Country of Armenia and the King of Persia who breaking the league was falne into open hostility But after the Hunnes or Tartars and Scythians had ouer-runne Pannonia Epirus and Thessaly he returnes into Europe where in pitcht battell being ouerthrowne and as he fled wounded and carried into a little cottage which the Enemy setting on fire hee there dyed That Edict of Valentinianus the Emperor and of Valens is yet extant wherein it is prouided That those who betake themselues to a monasticall life and solitarinesse and in that regard escape warfare and publike impositions shall bee drawne out of their cells and either serue for their Country or else forfeit all those benefits afterwards conferred vpon them that vndergoe both paines and perill for the Common-wealth The Enemies not long after appeased by the Emperours gift and mony departed from Constantinople which they then besiged Saxony being at peace Valentinian the Emperour chose his sonne Gratianus for his Collegue Gratian 375. an 7. m. 9. d 9. With his son Valenâ—iâ—tan the Iâ— who after his father and vncle Valens their decease succeeded them both both But he the Common-wealth being tossed with diuers billowes of troubles assumed Theodosius a worthy Commander in warre and sent him into the Easterne Countries There at Constantinople he vaÌ„quished the Huns and Gothes and chased them out of the Coasts of Thrace After this Gratianus was treacherously slaine in Gallia by Maximus one of his Coronels who affected the Empire Ausonius of Burdeaux certaine of whose Poems are yetextaÌ„t was his Tutor for literature whom afterwards he aduanced to the dignity of a Consull His son Valentinianus also died in manner of the same death by the treachery of his familiar friend Arbogastus But the murtherers escapt not scot-free for both of them were slaine by Theodosius the Emperour Maximus was taken and put to death at Aquileia and the other acted that part himselfe Those Tyrants thus cut off Theodosius 378. an 16. d. 12. Theodosius possest of the Empire ordaines his two sons Honorius and Arcadius his Collegues to whom by reason of their nonage hee appointed Protectors or as it were Gouernors to Arcadius he assigned Ruffinus and to Honorius Siilico sand not long after departed hi life The second Councell of Constantinople An. 381. By his command a Councell was held at Constantinople wherein the heresie of Macedonius who derogated from the Diuinity of the holy Ghost was condemned The Fathers there assembled being as it is recorded 150 in number ordained Bishops both there as also at Antiochia which they stile the elder and truely Catholike Church at Ierusalem which they call the Mother of all Churches They transmitted those their proceedings to Darsasus Bishop of Rome who endeauoured to call them to Rome Saint Hierom when he was yong was familiar with this Damasus Hee was the Author of that memorable saying Wheresoeuer the Bishop is be it at Rome EngubiuÌ„ Constantinople Rhegium or Alexandria he is of the same demerit and Priesthood Theodosius hath the fame for a very godly Prince who being reprehended by St. Ambrose Bishop of Millane and prohibited entrance into the church tooke it patiently Arcadius gouerned in the East at Constantinople Arcad us 395 aâ— 13. m. 3 d. 15. Together with Honorius who raigned about 15. yeares after the death of Arcadius and Honorius at Rome But Ruffinus with intent to translate the Empire to himself vnderhand incited the King of the Gothes to make warre against Arcadius whose treachery being disclosed he was slaine by the souldiers
Rhyne and entred the Gallia's there to seat themselues in regard of the goodnesse of the soile For the Teuthons broke into the Prouince of Gallia and were put to flight by Caius Marius the Consull Afterwards the Aruernes and Heduies quarrelling about principality the Germanes hired with pay from the Aruernes and Sequans marched thither at first indeed but with indifferent forces but increasing by degrees in Arcouistus their Kings raigne possessed a good part of the country but them Caius Caesar ouerthrew it battell and some yeeres after when he made warre against the k Inhabiting Lâ—ke beâ—ond Brabant Eburons a people of Gallia Belgica the Germanes againe march ouer the Rhyne with intent to beat backe the Roman Armie but were by him discomfiâ—ed at the meeting of the Riâ—er Maze and the Rhyne Many yeers following they contained themselues within their owne bounds because the Roman Emperours held them in play by warres yet as oft as they could lay hold on fitting opportunity slackt not their owne commoditie but continually wasted Gallia After this manner Gallienus being Emperour one no lesse carelesse then voluptuous they made an inroade and by little and little sprung vp to that potencie that the Emperour Probus had much adoe to repell them Iulianus also Constantius his Lieutenant made warre against them Afterwards when Honorius was Emperour the Gothes broke into Gallia to whom the Emperour detained by sundry warres granted the Country of Aquitania to inhabite On the other side the l Of Frankenlandt then Franconia in Germany French-Germanes making their way through m Holland Belgia vanquishing the n In and about Triers Treuires o Of Iuliers or Gulicke Menapians Eburons p Part in Flanders part in Picardie Morines q Of Turnay Neruians r of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Amtians Å¿ of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Bellouacans t of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Soissons seated themselues in that part of Gallia which retaines their name and is called France in which Country Paris is the chiefe Citie and not farre from thence stands San-Denis afterwards consecrated for the Sepulture of the Kings of France to this day After this manner inlarged hauing formerly possession of a good part of Germany euen all the Country betwixt the Riuer Maine and the Rhyne they easily repelled not onely offred hostilitie but also made warre vpon others Besides the Roman Empire in Asia and Affrica daily more and more sliding away and the Lombards wasting Italy they almost extended their dominions quite through Gallia and after many of their Kings had raigned there in successiue course at length the Crowne came to Pipin also and to his sonne Charles Charles Martel Pipins Father who was not king himselfe but onely one of the Nobles and Gouernour of the Pallace or as they are commonly called Majors of the house vanquished the Bauarians and Sueuians For as the writers of the French Annals deliuer it the Kings there for some yeers together had nothing at all besides their title the principalitie of gouernement belonging to the Gouernour of the Kings house For those Kings degenerated from the worth of their Predecessors and gaue themselues ouer to pleasure reiecting the care of the Common-wealth whereupon the Gouernour of the Pallace bore all sway and by how much greater the kings negligence was so much more hee augmented his authoritie At length vpon this occasion Pipin who was Gouernour in Childrickes raigne when the cause as they say came to canuasing before Pope Zacharie got the Kingdome Hereof is mention made in that decree which they name Gratians to wit that it is lawfull for the Pope to depriue Kings of their principalitie but the title and inscription of that place is false seeing there were two Anastatio'â— Emperours and it cannot be referred to either of them for the former raigned about 200. and the other 37. yeeres before this happened as also there was no Pope Gelasius in the later Emperors time I thought good to adde this for the Readers aduertizement that they may wisely and warily peruse the Papall records for it is not one place alone which discouers this to be their prime practice so to fasten an opinion of antiquitie vpon their lawes that they may carry the more weight and authority Pipin besides his repression of the Lombards in Italie at the Popes request as before mentioned commenced war also against the Saxons and afterwards against the Aquitanians whose Chieferaine he tooke and put to death not long after departing his life they forthwith rebelled and King Charles his sonne with much difficultie and infinite toile at length made an end of that double warre For he was in armes against the Saxons full thirty three yeeres during which warre hee made other also Bauaria likewise with their Chiefetaine Tassilo hee brought vnder his subiection and in two expeditions against the Lombards marching into Campania subdued all Italie and setled it with lawes and reduced into subiection those Cities of Gallia lying vpon the Ocean which Caius Caesar cals Armorica but now goe vnder the name of little Brittaine which refused any longer to pay yeerely tribute to the Kings of France In Hispaine also whither hee made an expedition with an Armie against the Saracens victorie attended him but in his returne vpon the Pyrene Mountaines by a stratagem receiued a fore ouerthrow from the u Of Gascoigne Vascones a people of Aquitane notwithstanding at last after eight yeeres warre hee ouerthrew the Hunnes then in possession of Pannonia and likewise by his Lieutenants composed Bohemia And his last warre was against the Danes or * For the Normans originally inhabited Norway Normans then with a great Nauie forraging the maritime coasts of Germanie and France By the atchieuement of those so famous exploits he gained his sirname the Great For whereas before him the French Kings onely held that part of Germanie lying betwixt Saxonie and the Riuer Danow and betwixt the Rhyne and the Riuer Sala to this he added Sueuia and Baâ—arta all Saxonie afterwards both the Pannonia's Dacia Istria Ireland and the midland Country of Dalmatia whereas also the French Kings had onely that part of Gallia lying betwixt the Rhyne and the Riuer Loire betwixt the Ocean and the x Against the Ilands oâ— Maiorqâ—e and Minuerque Balearique Sea hee added all Aquitania all the top of the Pyrene mountaines to the Riuer Iber and which should haue beene named first all Italie from the Alpes to the furthest part of Calabria And this done hee sets forward to Rome the fourth time where hee was proclaimed Emperour Augustus by Leo the Third and all the people after he had raigned thirty three yeeres Thus the Romane Empire in the West rent almost into peece-meales especially from that time when the Emperours made choice of Constantinople for their Court
Citie of Burdeaux Many of the prime Nobilitie were slaine in that battell The Annall-Writers record that the English were not aboue 7000. when the French made against them with many forces about 60000 strong This was in the yeere 1356. the XII of the Kalends of October The King was carried prisoner into England and died the feuenth yeere after Wencestaus being as historie speakes of him both by nature and course of life Wenceslaus 1379 an 2. m. 5. d. 28. very vicious quite neglected the Common-wealth Hee for a summe of money created Iohn Galeas of the house of the Viscounts a man both couetous and cruell Duke of Millaine and Lombardie In his raigne Iagello Duke of Lithuania or Luten was after King Lewis his death created King of Polonia by consent of the Nobles This King was great Grandfather to Sigismund the moderne King there and was the first that receiued Baptisme changing his name to Vladislaus Sigismund King of Hungarie was ouerthrowne in battell at Nieopolis by Baiazet Emperour of the Turkes the third of the kalends of October Charls the VI. K. of France sent a goodly troope of horse for aid into Hungarie vnder conduct of Iohn sonne of Philip the bold Duke of Burgundie which Iohn was taken in that battell and carried prisoner to the Turke where he stood at the next doore to death but yet escaped which as the French Writers relate happened thus There was a certaine Physiognomer one of that packe that professe to know the dispositions and natures of men by their body eyes countenance and face familiar with Baiazet who viewing the prisoner willed and perswaded the Emperour to dismisse him in safetie For hee should bee the man that after his returne home should kindle a most violent combustion which should set a good part either of Europe or of the Christian world on fire Vpon this perswasion the Turke dismisses him and the rest of the Nobilitie that were prisoners after they had paid 20000. crownes for their ransome After his returne into France hee began to quarrell with Lewis Duke of Orleans the Kings brother For he by reason of the Kings sicknesse which was in a manner desperate desired to gouerne the Common-wealth being nearest of kindred to the king But the Duke of Burgundie for that he was cousin-germane to the King and elder then the other challenged the gouernment his Father Philip being dead rather to belong to him This sore euery day more and more festering at length the Duke of Orleans was murthered in Paris in the night time as hee was going home from supper The murtherers were sent priuily by the Duke of Burgundie who was so farre from denying the fact that he maintained it This was in the yeere 1407. the ninth of the kalends of December The XII yeare following the Duke of Burgundy comming to a place appointed about a pacification in this cause was entrapped by treachery and murthered by certaine of the Duke of Orleans his friends that had sworne his death Charles the Dolphin the Kings sonne who was iudge in that controuersie being present at the fact This is the head-spring of the warre betwixt those two houses which hath so often broke forth euer since that time till within our memory Wenceslaus by reason of his negligence growne into contempt Robert 14â—0 an 9 m 8. d. 22. the Princes depriue him of the gouernment and elect Robert Duke of Bauaria Count Palatine He presently applied himselfe about reformation of Wenceslaus his misgouernment and would not ratifie the grant made by him to Iohn Galeas but contriued a new how to reduce Lombardy into the Imperiall dominions for which and other such like causes marching downe into Italy the said Galeas hindered and repelled him The State of Italy was in those times very troublesome cheifly by the Emperour Charles and Wenceslaus their default being too indulgent ouer that Nation For ouer and besides Galeas lately made Duke of Millaine The Venetians Florentines Genowaies made war vpon their neighbours and all right was swayed by the sword and violence Furthermore by reason of the Popes continuall absence nothing but factions and those dangerous ones swarmed at Rome Then also Galeas D. of Millaine made warre vpon the Florentines who to worke their owne reuenge solicite the Emperor by large proffers to march downe againe into Italy but when the Emperor was come to Padua Hee at request of the Venetians who likewise hated Galâ—â—a and withall perceiuing that their prouision was not answerable to their great promises retires into Germanie casting off all care of Italy whose estate afterwards grew more weake by its owne ciuill broyles To the Emperour Robert Sigismund 14â—â— an 26. m. 8. Sigismund the Emperour Wencestâ—us his brother King of Hungary succeeds At this time there were three Popes Iohn the XXXIII Gregory the XII and Benedict the XIII insomuch as by their factions almost all the Prouinces of Europe were at oddes For there was not one publike Councel at any time since Innocent the III. as their bookes testifie being 200. yeares and the state of the Clergie was most corrupt a kinde of bottomlesse sincke of vices and maladies hauing made an inundation which in a manner scorned to be stopped For Boniface the VIII was Pope in the interim who tooke vpon him both the Papall and Imperiall authority Then the next after him Clement the V. of Burdeaux at Philip the Faire the French Kings request forsaking Rome remoued his Court into France and after his death the Cardinalls falling into sharpe dissentions amongst themselues made a vacancie for some yeares but at length Iohn the XXII of Aquitaine was created Pope at Lyons The fifth Pope after him which was Gregory the XI when the Popes had kept their Court in France then for 71. yeares together returnes to Rome but after his death Vrbane the VI. a Neapolitan and Clement the VI. a Sauoysin contended for the Papacy The first whereof vpheld himselfe by the Italian partie and liued at Rome the other by the French and liued at Auinion After those two were dead the other there before mentioned were by seuerall factions chosen in their places the Papall Monster hauing then three heads At what time many worthy men both Italians and French deplored the State of the Church inueighing bitterly enough against the corruptions and vices of those times as farre as they could see in those dayes of darknesse Amongst the rest Petrarch was one who when the Popes and Cardinals lay at Auinion called that City the whore of Babylon Whereupon to determine that Controuersie a Councell was assembled at Constance in Germanie by order whereof those Three were deposed and Martin the V. elected At this Councell Iohn Hâ—â— and Hierome of Prague were burnt for heresie though they came thither vnder safe conduct from the Emperour Sigismund the Emperour is much commended for that He to benefit the Common-wealth went almost to all the Kings in Christendome to exhort them to
haue a care of the common good After the affaires were setled in Germany hee goes downe into Italy at what time the Venetians and Florentines were vp in Armes both by sea land against Philip Maria Iohn Galeas his son Duke of Millaine and so forward to Rome being there consecrated by Eugenius the IIII. and returned by Basil where then there was another Councell held Albertus Archduke of Austria Albertus II. 1437. an 1. m. 9. d. 27. King of Hungary and Bohemia was his successour whom the ciuill warres at home and forraigne abroad held backe from Italy About this time those wits were rouzed vp againe which beganne to polish the liberall sciences language and good letters the Italians indeed gaue the onset who were furthered by helpe of the Graecians and then after followed the Germanes French and other Nations and further when the inuention of u Printing wâ—s inuented in Germany in the yeare 1440 So Pollydor Virgill and others affirme Printing came to light so immense was the profit thereof that it is incredible what a happy and ioyfull progresse ensued For now this course of studie hauing beene constantly continued euer since that time It is aduanced so high that this our age may enter into comparison with the most learned ages in time past and in this regard is blessed aboue all the rest in that it hath pleased God to illuminate this knowledge of the best Arts and languages with the true knowledge of Him Whereas those Ancients furnished onely with the helpe of learning though men most eloquent yet they were plunged in depth of darknes and searcht in vaine after that quintessence of goodnesse whereof they writ so much To Albertus Frederick III. 1440. an 53. m. 7. d. 19. Fredericke the III. Archduke of Austria succeeded hee passed quietly to Rome and receiued consecration from Pope Nicholas the V. so returning home without drawing a sword in Italy In the fourth yeare of his raigne Vladislaus Vladislaus his sonne King of Polonia and Hungary hauing by Pope Eugenius the III. his instigation broke the Truce was ouerthrowne in battell and slaine at Varna or Dionysiopolis the XI of Nouember by Amurath the II. Emperour of the Turkes The IX yeare after this Mahomet Amuraths sonne Constantinople taken by Amurath the II. 1453. The Turkish Army at the siege thereof consisted of 400000. men tooke the City of Constantinople by force of Armes which his successors haue now held this * From 1453. when it was taken till 1556. when Sleidan writ this booke Maximilian 1493. an 25 m. 4. d. 25. The Moors chased cut of Granado in Spaine 1487. Charles the V. 1519. an 38. m. 6. d. 27. 103. yeares keeping their Imperiall Court there Casimiâ— Vladislaus his brother succeeded him in the Kingdome of Polonia and Ladislaus the Emperor Albert the II. his posthume sonne in Hungary To Fredericke the Emperor his son Maximilian succeeded A little before the death of this Emperour Fredericke Ferdinando King of Spaine chasing out the Moores annexed Betica commonly called the Kingdome of Granado to his owne Crowne Maximilian as he did many more made warre also vpon the Venetians Him the most puissant Emperor Charles being his grandchild by his son * Archd. of Austria Philip succeeded who now swayes the Scepter Thus out of that which we haue mentioned it clearly appeares after what manner the Romane Empire then which none euer was or will be more potent is now in a manner crusht in peeces For throughout Asia we haue not so much as a foot or a nailes breadth as the prouerbe is The Turkes Scythians and other Enemies of our Religon hold all there Wee haue lost all Africa but what hath beene recouered of late yeares by Charles the V. when hee wonne Tunis from Aenobarbe the Turkish Lieutenant archieuing a glorious victory and made the King there tributary to him as also the fifteenth yeare following besieged and tooke the Town of Aphricke Portugal Spaine France Britaine Denmarke Sarmatia Pannonia Illyricum all Greece with the adiacent Countries are torne away as also the Ilands of Sicilie Sardinia Corsica Maiorique and Minorique and Sauoy which Prouinces haue their peculiar Lords who hold full power in all matters and are not at a penny charge about any affaires of the Empire Now let vs looke vpon Italy the old ancient and first patrimony of the Romane Empire but wherein doth it participate with vs The Kings of Spaine by ancient succession hold Calabria Apulia Campania and Naples The Popes keepe in their hands the City of Rome formerly the Emperours Palace and Court Imperiâ—ll together with Marca de Ancona Romandiola and part of Tuscane who are so farre from acknowledging subiection to the Emperour that they hold the Emperours and their Deputies to bee bound to them Those Cities there of any strength either haue their proper Lords or else are swayed by factions and hauing nothing at all to doe with vs. Now for the Venetians what a company hold they not onely of goodly Cities and freeburrowes but also Prouinces they themselues in the interim being an absolute free-state and quite separated from the Romane Empire As for Insubria commonly called Lombardy that indeed belongs somewhat nearer to vs but it totters too neither receiue wee any certaine profit from thence For after that our Emperours had as abouesaid first constituted Viscounts there as they call them and afterwards Dukes how miserably was it rent to peeces and euer since that time how little did it benefit vs For our Emperours neglecting it in time of the warres there the house of the Sfortia's dispossessing the Vicounts seized vpon it whom afterwards Lewis the XII and Francis the I. Kings of France excluded the latter whereof held it for sixe yeeres till the Emperour Charles the V. recouered it Thus you see no reuenues come from any part of Italie for they neither repaire to our Diets nor contribute any thing at all to any publike vse or necessitie but what they doe voluntarily or in fauour to the Emperour onely Germanie remaines which alwaies repugned the Romane Empire scarce euer free from rebellion as before appears till at length it was gathered together by the Emperour Charles the Great and reduced into one body after which time when the power of electing the Emperours was committed to the seuen Electors as we haue formerly shewed it became the Emperours Court and Mansion place And here too wee must consider with what difficultie this little diminitiue body of the Empire congealed in Germanie could incorporate it self for when were we euer free from iarres and ciuill broiles So now whatsoeuer goes vnder the name of the Empire is incuded within the bounds of Germany for all forraigne places and those without the compasse thereof are fallen away Howbeit we see there are many euen within those small compast limits that flie backe and as much as they can withdraw themselues and their countries forth of the iurisdiction of the
Britaine in his iourney through Illyricum towards his intended warre against the Persians was trecherously slaine by his owne soldiers At this time the Common-wealth flourished peace being setled in all nations on euery side farre and neere in so much as Probus would sometimes say that the world would come to that passe shortly that there would be no need of Legions and garrisons but the souldiers offended at this his speech thought it best to cut him off After him followed Carus Carus 282. An. 1. and some moneths together with his sonnes Corinus Numerianus hee subdued the Sarneatians who now after Probus his death were growne more insolent and menaced euen Italie it selfe then making an expedition against the Persians tooke Mesopotamia and marching on further died His yonger sonne Numerianus serued in the warres with him his other sonne Carinus hee had set ouer the Gallia's Numerianus was slaine by his t Arius Aper Diocletian 284. an 20. wiues father and in his place came Diocletian with whom Carinus had diuers conflicts about obtaining the Empire but was ouerthrowne and slaine Diocletian in regard of the troubles and seditions in many places kindling tooke to him for his Collegue Maximianus He quiered the country of Gallia then in commotion as also Affrica and Diocletian Egypt putting the Authors of these broiles to death He recouered Britaina also in the tenth yeer after the reuolt and to the end that the state of the Common-wealth might be more firme and to auoid new commotions about succession hee adopted Galerius and Maximianus Constantius Chlorius Galerius being sent by Diocletian against Narses King of the Parthians had ill fortune in that warre losing the major part of his armie but afterwards commanded to renew the warre he ouerthrew the enemie in maine battell and marching on further in those places then any other Emperour except Trajan tooke Ctesiphon subdued all Assyria and recouered the fiue Prouinces lying beyond the riuer u Running through Armenia Tigris which had reuolted in Trajan the Emperours time Diocletian hauing setled the affaires of Asia returned into Europe where the Scythians Sarmatians * Almaines lying betwixt the Alpes and Ments as Carion supposes Alans x People of Sarmatia Bastarnans y â—welling about the Riuer Carpis in Scythia Constantius Galerius 304. an 2 m 3. an 7. m. 5. Carpies Chatties and Quadies were then all in peace Afterwards both hee as also Maximianus resigning their Soueraigntie inuest their Collegues before mentioned with the title of Emperours Constantius of the Gallia's Britaine the Hispaines Italie and Affrica and Galerius of Illyricum Greece and Asia Marcellus was then Bishop of Rome whose decree is extant prohibiting Bishops from calling a Synode without the authority of the Sea of Rome as also to condemne any Bishop who should appeale to Rome But Maxentius the Emperour persecuting him his estate as others before him was both meane and miserable Whereupon it may easily bee coniectured whether or no he in those perplexities and lurking corners could take so much vpon him as to establish such manner of decrees At length Constantius dying at Yorke Galerius adopted Severus and Maximianus In the meane space the Preterian souldiers at Rome elect Maxentius their Emperour After Seuerus was slaine Maximianus made choice of Licinius for his Collegue in the Empire Among those arose great troubles whereupon the Nobles of Rome call home Constantine Constantius his sonne then imploied in the Gallia's to rescue their Citie from the tyranny of Maxentius Constantine the Great 306. an 30. m. 9. d. 27. Hee marching forward into Italie with part of his armie in pitcht field got the victorie and afterwards quite defeated Maxentius his forces at the Citie of Rome After this hee fought against Licinius who being ouerthrowne in battell and almost growne into hatred with all men was at length slaine by his own souldiers Many write that the cause of this warre was for that Licinius did bitterly persecute the professors of Christianitie although he had been very often intreated and admonished to the contrary by Constantine For from the time of the resurrection of Christ vntill this age almost three hundred yeeres the professors of Christ were diuersly punished omitting those whereof the Scripture makes mention as of z Acts 7. Stephen a Acts 11. Iames the brother of Iohn b Acts 9. Peters imprisonment and inlargement by the Angel passing ouer in silence Paul likewise who grieuously persecuted the Church of God but after his conuersion escaped no kinde of punishment for Christs cause the Roman Emperours also as Nero Domitian Trajan Septimius Seuerus Decius Valerian Aurelian Diocletian and Maximian committed most horrible and outragious masfacres But Constantine comming to the Empire and imbracing the true Religion affoorded harbour and refuge to the Christians Then first of all beganne the Bishops of Rome to liue in safeâ—ie for till then almost all of them who from Peter whom they will haue to be their first are reckoned to thirty three were tormented with persecutions Their decrees are inserted in the bookes of the Councels but the greatest part of them are so sleight triuiall quite different from the sacred Scriptures as makes it credible that they were a long time after forged by some others But if they bee true and proceeded from them then indeed that which Paul by prophesie foretold 2 Thes 2. seemes most rightly to bee applied to this place that then that sonne of perdition and man of sinne beganne to worke the mysterie of iniquity That decree yet extant goes vnder Anacletus his name the fourth from Peter as they reckon wherein he ordaineth the Church of Rome to be by Christs command and institution the head of other Churches To Alexander the next after him is that decree attributed where he commands that the water should be consecrated with salt to purge the people and to auoid the snares of the Deuill But iudge I pray you how far those differ from that Maiestie of the Apostles how farre from the writings of S. c S. Ierom writes that he dyed in the 68 yere after the passion Suidas says that he liued 120 yeares Iohn the Euangelist who almost liued till this very time I haue onely set downe these two decrees that by them wee may iudge of the rest for they are almost of the same molde and cary open colour of ambition and not onely the speech wants the grace but also the matter it selfe hath no salt in it Colos 4. both which Paul requires in the Ministers of the Church And to this place also appertaines that decree of Constantine the Emperor which they haue inserted into their books for the foundation and bulwarke of their power For the cause and occasion of his excessiue d In conferring as they imagine the City of Rome the Empire of the West c. vpon he Popes liberality which is there set downe may out of history be disproued
and conuicted of falshood Further bee it granted that the Emperor was thus most exceedingly profuse perhaps for himselfe onely hee might herein abate of his own right but could not doe it for his successors authorized with coequal power and Protectors of the Common-wealth For hee who damnifies the freedome and liberties of his Empire ought not to haue the title of Father of his Countrey nor can he ordaine another to share with him in equality of authority or preiudice the same By Constantine the Emperors appointment The first Councell of Nice held in An. 325. continued 3. yeares a most populous Counsell was called and assembled at Nice a City in Bythinia wherein the heresie of Arrius denying Christ to be coequall in substance with his father was condemned It s recorded that many Bishops not onely out of Europe and Asia but also out of Egypt and Lybia met together there Amongst other one decree was that through Egypt Lybia and Pontapolis the ancient custome should be maintained that is all the Bishops there should remaine vnder superiority of the Bishop of Alexandria notwithstanding the vsurpation and withholding therof by the Bishop of Rome as also that the Church of Antioch and other Prouinces and Churches should each one entirely retaine their peculiar priuiledges After this Councell certaine Iewd opinions were vented one Eustathius being Author about shunning of mariage e In monasticall manner and some women artired in mens habite about a new and vnusuall kind of habit about forbearance to eate flesh and forsaking propriety of possessions And hereupon many husbands procuring a diuorce and seruants leauing their masters betaking themselues to this new and religious habite as they call it women likewise taking the same course forsaking their husbands and those who fed vpon flesh as also the Ministers of the Church that were maried being publikely contemned as persons impure and vnacceptable to God a Counsell was assembled at Gangra a town in Paphlagonia wherein those were condemned who either taught or held that opinion Constantine for reestablishing a peace in the Common-wealth being with most generall acclamation confumed both by the Senate and people of Rome turned himselfe wholy to forraine warres and after many battels ouerthrew the Gâ—thes and Sarmatians then forraging the Countrey of Thracia afterwards being strucken in yeares he proclaimed warre against the Persians who wasted the Country of Mesopotamia and in Asia where he was arriued with his Army after receipt of a medicine for recouery of his health breathed his last not without suspition of poison This is he by surname stiled the Great who named Byzantium a City of Thrace after his owne f His desire was to haue it called New Rome but vse preuailed and altered it to Constantinople name and thither translated the Imperiall Seat He began his g At Rome but hee raigned 6. yeares before in Brittaine and elsewhere raigne about the three hundred and twelfth yeare after the birth of Christ It is written that Comets of wonderfull greatnesse were seene before his death Hee left three sonnes Constantine Constantius and Constans amongst those was the body of the Empire diuided to Constantine part of the Alpes Gallia Hispaine Brittaine h The Iland of Orkney lying neer and belonging to Scotland the Orcades Ireland and i Now called Island lying beyond Scotland as some say others Hitland Constantine 337. An. 3. Constantius 337. An. 24 Conslaus 337. An. 1â— Thyle were allotted to Constans Italy Africa with the Islands Illyricum Macedonia Achaia Peloponnesus and Greece to Constantius Asia and Thrace Constantine not satisfied with this diuision made warre vpon his brother Constans and at Aquileia whither he was then come ioyning battell with Constans his forces lost both his Army and his life Constans who in the meane time was vp in Armes against the k The same who were afterwards called Gothes Carion Getes and Sarmatians in Dacia returnes into Italie and hauing gotten the Alpes inuaded Gallia and in two yeares space won all his deceased brothers dominions but was slaine within a while after by the treachery and crafty dealing of Magnentius Him the souldiers before hand allured and inueigled with rewards elected Emperour Constantius the onely suruiuing brother of the three vpon notice hereof deputing Gallus his vncles sonne and sisters husband his Vice-gerent ouer Asia marches with a strong Army into Italy and so into Gallia where in maine battell he ouerthrew the Enemy But Magnentius escaping sends his Ambassadors to sue for peace Whose suit the Conqueror rejecting he on a fresh wages battell again but with ill successe thereupon flying to Lyons where perceiuing his owne friends to conspire his destruction and not hauing any corner where to hide himselfe became his owne executioner Afterwards Constantius commanded Gallus his Cosin germane and Vicegerent for Asia as abouesaid who abused his authority and power to bee put to death when he could not otherwise remedy it After this he returnes into Asia with intent to prosecute the warre in Persia which by reason of Magnentius his faction aboue-mentioned he had broken off And in regard the Germanes about this time making an inroad into Gallia forraged the Countrey there hee adopted his other Cosin germane Iulianus Gallus his brother and to him committed the protection of Gallia Iulianus hauing had prosperous successe in his designes and in many battel 's gotten the vpper hand beat backe the Enemy beyond the Rhyne tooke many prisoners and rescued many Roman souldiers out of prison and at l Strasburg in Germany Argentine almost quite cut off the Enemies whole Army Hereupon the souldiers proclaime him not onely Caesar but also Augustus and set a Diadem vpon his head but against his will as hee pretended For in his letters to Constantius he indeauoured to remoue the envie of the fact froÌ„ himselfe But Constantius hereat greiuously offended ceasing his warre in Persia and liberally and kindly entreating the neighbouring nations that they might continue their allegiance sets forward on his iourney to reduce Iulianus to his duty but on the way whilst hee was yet in Asia being taken with a feuer ended his life first ordaining Iulianus his successor During Iulianus his raigne the enemies contained themselues within their owne bounds not raising any commotion in any place Julianus 361. an 1. m. 7. d. 23. He himselfe went out against the Persians and forraging Assyria hauing put the Enemies forces to flight marched forwards as farre as Ctesiphon At length returning home with his forces the enemy set vpon him in the rere where fighting in the midst of his souldiers in the maine battalia hee receiued a wound whereof within a while after he died an enemy to the name of Christ The souldiers hauing thus lost their Leader Iouinianus 363. m. 7. d. 22. being plunged in great distresse create Iouinianus Emperor at what time Iulius the first of that name was Bishop of Rome certaine of whose Epistles to
was afterward by his consent confirmed Then dispatching his Legates into Germanie to certaine Bishops willed them to assemble in Councell but they refused it alledging that it was contrary to the custome and priuiledge of their Nation This designe miscarying He in some certaine Councels held in Italy decrees That Massing Priests shall haue no wiues but shall dismisse them or else leaue their places sending this his decree to the Bishops in Germanie vrges earnestly vnder a penalty denounced to haue it established but the Clergy as they call them and whole streame of Massing-Priests stiffely reclaime calling him an heritike that propounds such doctrine sithence Christs words are That all should not receiue this word Mat. 20. And Paul saith They that cannot containe let them marrie 1 Cor. 7. But this Pope not regarding Christs word and contemning Pauls authority would constraine men to reiect the vse of mariage which is lawfull and ordained by God and to burne in most filthy flames of lust and rush into manifest lewdnesse but they would rather leaue their Ministery then matrimony He neuerthelesse as before sending his agents pressing it on and standing stiffely vpon it the Archbishop of Mentz began to hearken to him who at first gently admonishes those in his inrisdiction and afterwards assembling a Councell at Erphord would flatly inioyne them but an vproare arising he escaped death very narrowly The Emperour in the mean time to reuenge the ignominie receiâ—ed the precedent yeare when besieged by the Saxons hee wrought out his safety by flight in the night time makes readie for warre and violating the league which he had made the yeere before musters vp all the forces hee could possibly make and in the moneth of Iuly setting vpon the Saxons who by their frequent Ambassadours had but in vaine solicited him for peace discomfits them in many battels not without great lâ—sse of his owne men no small number of the prime Nobilitie being then slaine Pursuing his victorie hee harrazes their country faire and wide and by his Ambassadors exhorts them to yeeld willing them to hope for all fauour from his benignitie but that failed though a certaine few obeied Bucco Bishop of Halberstadt and Otho Duke of Bauaria banished by the Emperour had the chiefe mannaging of this warre The Archbishop of Mentz againe solicited by Gregory the VII assembles another Councell and makes a new proposall about the Clergies not marrying but was entertained in like manner as before and stood in great hazard of his life whereupon he thought it his best course vtterly to lay off this designe The Saxons thus put to flight the Emperour dismisses his forces and the auxiliarie Princes but vpon condition that they should againe present themselues in armes before him on the two and twentieth day of October following When that day came a great many appeared and amongst them many Bishops but not so many in number as before There againe the Saxons send their Ambassadours for peace in camping themselues at Northausen The Emperour sends them answer that one way to peace was to yeeld themselues so they though seeming rather to doe any thing then this yet certaine Princes which were sent as Intercessors and Ambassadors from the Emperour promising them very largely that they should not thereby incurre any indammagement either of liberty or goods at length assented and the Bishop of Maidenburgh and Halberstadt Otho Duke of Bauaria Magnus Duke of Saxony and Fredericke Count Palatine yeelded themselues into his hands and likewise soone after many of the rest of the Nobilitie The Emperour at first commits them to custodie not without fauour but afterwards flying from his promise caused them to be carried into seuerall places how bee it not long after hee set Duke Otho not onely at liberty but also intreated him very familiarly but for the rest both kept them prisoners and gaue their goods for a prey to others Then raising new Castles and Forts wholly bends himselfe against the safetie and libertie of the Saxons and in his absence committed the whole charge of gouernement to Otho Duke of Bauaria by parentage descended from the Saxons After this hee conftituted a Bishop at Bambergh as also at Cullen and an Abbot at Fulden Now a little before this hee was accused to the Pope and most especially for selling Ecclesiasticall promotions Whereupon the Pope by his Legate cites him to make his appearance at Rome within a certaine time and to giue his answer in the cause But he cals a Synod of Bishops and Abbots at Wormbs there it is decreed that the Pope for that he came to the Papacie by sinister meanes should bee depriued of his place forthwith publishes this at Rome by his Ambassadors Henry the IIII. excommunicated by Gregory the VII alias Hildebrand an 1076. But the Pope not a whit moued hereat both excommunicates him and also more especially the Bishops of Mentz Vtrecht and Bambergh hauing formerly excommunicated certaine of his familiar friends by whose counsell hee supposed him to haue beene drawne on to this practise Furthermore the Princes of Germany decpely offended at the Emperours demeanour and disposition especially for that contrary to his promise hee persecuted the Saxons with so obstinate hatred conspire against him and so much the rather because he was interdicted the Church Whereupon they dismisse the surrendred prisoners the custodie whereof was committed to them by the Emperour iudging them not to bee tied to him in any bond of allegiance At the same time certaine Nobles in Saxonie stirring vp and drawing on others into their partie surprise those Castles euery where raised some by force and command other some by dedition and dismisse the Garisons in safetie first binding them by oath neuer after to beare Armes against Saxonie The Emperour vpon notice hereof in subtle policie sets at libertie the rest of the imprisoned Princes to the end that they returning into Saxonie might doe him faithfull seruice in punishing the Rebels for hee saw there was no other meanes to bring about his wished successe with more facilitie then by kindling factions amongst them and renting one from another but the euent was not correspondent for they after their returne home well acquainted with his qualities with ioynt mindes might resolued to fight for the common liehrtie and Duke Otho also forsaking him did the like yet the Emperour was full fraught with good hope hauing broken through Bohemia into the Country of Campania aided with Bohemian forces but when he was certified of the Saxons coniunction and their Armie in readinesse despairing victory retires Then at length the Princes of Germanie appointing the day met together in great abundance thither also repaires the Popes Legate who vnfolding the causes of the Emperours excommunication exhorted them to create another which otherwise they were about to doe of their owne accord for making a rehearsall of his life euen from his tender yeeres they pronounced him to be the blemish dishonour and