was the 30 mansion of the Israelites in the wildernesse being 132 miles from Ierusalem toward the South took the name from the pleasantnesse and fertilitie of the wildernesse being deriued of Iatab Batha A certain good and pleasant wast or wildernesse Of Arbona THis place being very discommodious and no whit profitable the children of Israel were constrained to remoue their tents with great weeping and lamentation for Arbona being deriued from Abar and Naha signifies partly to remoue and partly to weep Of Aezion Gaber THis was a town of the Idumaeans neer the red sea 148 miles from Kades Barnea and 174 miles from Ierusalem towards the South Here the Israelites set vp their tents and here Solomon made his Navy which he sent to Ophir to fetch gold 1 Kings 9. This city no doubt took the name of the strength and multitude of trees whereof these ships were built for they were very faire ships and of excellent workmanship Aezion Gaber signifieth A strong tree beeing deriued of Ez and Gaber that is A Tree of strength Of Zin-Kades THis was a great Wildernesse lying betweene Ezion-Gaber and Kades-Barnea being 184 miles in length abounding with thorns and high mountaines Vpon the North side thereof lay mount Seir and Kades-Barnea and towards the South the red sea It was called Paran and Zin of the aboundance of thorns that grew there for Zin of Zanan signifies a sharp thorne Zinnim full of thorns and Kadesh Sanctity or holinesse Here Moses and Aaron hauing strooke the rocke twice at length it brought forth water but for their murmuring incredulity God would not suffer them to goe into the land of Canaan This lay 120 miles from Ierusalem toward the South Of the mountaine Hor. HOr is a mountain of the Idumaeans 88 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southeast and is deriued of Harar which signifieth a great mountain here Aaron died The King of the Canaanites which dwelt toward the South in a town called Arad vpon the borders of Iudaea and Arabia Petraea hearing that Aaron was dead inuaded the Iews with a great army discomfited them and tooke some of them captiues But after the Israelites to reuenge this iniury tooke and destroyed diuers cities which belonged to the Canaanites and put the citisens to the sword This countrey is called Chormah which signifieth a curse or desolation Of Zalmona THis was a place in the desart of Zin-Kades where the Israelites pitcht their tents being 80 miles from Ierusalem to the Southeast and took the name from shades or little sheds vnder which the Israelites dwelt for Zalmona seems a compound of Zel and Mun which signifies a shady place and seemes to haue affinitie with Manah to distribute here and there Of Phunon THis was a city of the Idumaeans scituated in the wildernes of Arabia Petraea 64 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southeast and takes the name from a faire and flourishing city For Panan in Hebrew signifieth an high pinnacle from whence one might see all parts of the world Here Moses set vp the brasen Serpent Of Oboth THis was the 37 mansion of the Israelites in the wildernesse was 56 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southeast and signifies a serpent called Python Here the Arabians receiued an answer from the Diuell by way of conjuration Of Igim THis was the 38 Mansion of the Israelites so called because of the multitude which were assembled neer to a mountain called Abarim 52 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southeast for Igim signifieth a Congregation Of Dibon Gad. THis was the 39 station of the Israelites in the desart beeing 52 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southeast neere to the floud Zared bordering vpon the Idumaeans and Moabites running from thence into the red sea and as it seemes taketh name from descending into a strong place Of Almon Diblathaim THis place stands beyond the red sea some 40 miles from Ierusalem toward the East and taketh name from a Fraile of dried figs from Alam signifieth he hath hidden and Debeleth A Fraile of dried figs. Here was the 40 mansion of the Israelites and lay close by the riuer Arnon Num. 21. 23. Of the mountaines Abarim THese mountaines lay 32 miles from Ierusalem towards the East and taketh the name from Passing along for Abar is as much to say as He went along Between these mountains and the lake Asphaltites neere to the Easterne riuer of the Dead sea the Moabites inhabited Of Iahza THis was a city of the Levits the sons of Merar in the Tribe of Benjamin 24 miles from Ierusalem Eastward Ios 21. here Moses ouercame the King of the Ammonites and put them to death Num. 21. Of Chezbon THis was the Metropolis of Sehon King of the Ammorites who held the country beyond Iordan and because he would not suffer the children of Israel to passe through his Dominions therefore Moses made warre vpon him put him to death and gaue all his country to the tribes of Reuben and Gad. This was a faire towne and after fell to the Levits Num. 21.33 Deut. 1.2 c. and tooke its name from Cheschebon which signifies An artificiall vnderstanding for Chaschaf is as much as excogitavit that is he hath found out and Cheschaef is An artificiall and ingenious Worke. Of Iaezir IAezir was a city of the Priests in the Tribe of Gad 36 miles from Ierusalem toward the East and in Ieroms time was a smalâ— village and signifies The Lord is my help being deriued of Iah that is The Lord God and Ezaer The helper Of Edrie THis is a city in the countrey of Gilead beyond Iordan and the Galilean sea 32 miles from Ierusalem South-Eastward neere the lake of Gaderin where Og the King of Basan was ouercome by Moses and after fel to the Tribe of Manasses Num. 21. Ios 13. Deut. 13. S. Ierom saith That in his time this towne waâ— called Adar Og signifieth a Cooke or one that baketh bread vpon coles Aedriae signifies an heap of bright clouds being deriueâ— of Adar and Hi that is a cleare heape Of Astoroth THis was a metropolitan City of Basan foure miles distanâ— from Edri and 56 from Ierusalem toward the Southeast Iâ— stood beyond Iordan and belonged to the half tribe of Manasses of which you may reade before in the trauels of Lot Of Pisgah THis was a high mountaine in the plaine of the Moabites against Iericho 240 miles from Ierusalem Eastward It took the name from the cities Pisgah and Nebo and therefore is called somtimes Pisgah somtimes Nebo Here Moses died Nebo signifies a city of the Prophets Pisgah The top of a hill The Trauels of the Prophet Balaam THere are many which thinke that this Prophet Balaam was of the posteritie of Nahor the brother of Abraham and an inhabitant of the city of Charan in Mesopotamia Gen. 11. Iosephus saith he dwelt neere to Euphrates and S. Ierom in a Citie called Phatura of which there is mention Num. 22. and signifies an obscure Prophet or
he went with his army from Babylon to Carchemis a City of Syria scituated neere the riuer Euphrates which was 280 miles Here he ouercame Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt in a great battel Ier. 46. Herod lib. 2. From Carchemis he went to Ierusalem which was 400 miles here he tooke Daniel and his companions captiue and brought them to Babylon After he went with his army to Pelusio being 132 miles which hee tooke conquered all the land of Egypt put to death Pharaoh Necho and made Psammeticus his son King in his place Ieremy the Prophet told of this war cap. 25.26 From Pelusio he returned to Babylon 800 miles Within a while after his father died and he succeeded in the gouernment and reigned 43 yeares In the 11 yeare of Ioachim King of Iudah he went again from Babylon to Ierusalem which was 680 miles and by policy tooke that city and put Ioachim the king thereof to death according to the prophecie of Ieremy cap. 22. 2 Kin. 24. From thence after he had made Iechonias his son King hee returned backe again to Babylon 680 miles About three moneths after he went the third time back to Ierusalem 680 miles for he feared Iechonias would rebell and reuenge the death of his father Ioachim 2 Kin. 24. In the eight yeare of his reign he tooke Iechonias Mardoche and 3000 other Iews of the Nobilitie and caried them captiue to Babylon which was 680 miles 2 Kin. 24. 2 Chr. 36. Est 2. Nine yeares after he came the fourth time to Ierusalem being 680 miles and besieged the City because of the impietie and rebellion of Zedekiah King thereof During this siege he tooke diuers towns but chiefly Lachis and Aseka Ier. 34. But when hee vnderstood that Pharaoh was comming with an army out of Egypt to rescue Zedekiah he raised his Campe and went about 80 miles into the countrey of Egypt which Pharaoh hearing was abashed and turned backe againe In the absence of this Emperor Ieremy the Prophet being then within the city hauing foretold the destruction therof would haue fled thence for his better safety into the tribe of Benjamin but by the way hee was taken in the gate of Benjamin and cast into prison Ier. 7. Within a while after according to the prophecie of Ieremy Nebuchadnezar returned out of the desart of Sur whither he went to meet the Egyptians being 80 miles and vtterly destroyed the city of Ierusalem carrying thence the vessels and ornaments of the Temple to Babylon 2 Kin. 25. 2 Chr. 36. From Ierusalem hee went to Riblah in the tribe of Nepthaly 80 miles where hee put out Zedekiahs eies and kild his children 2 Kin. 25. From Riblah he carried Zedekiah to Babylon which was 600 miles where he died miserably in prison 2 Kin. 25. Afterward Nebuchadnesar went with his army from Babylon to Tyrus which hee won and pittifully wasted with fire and sword according to the prophecie of Ezekiel cap. 26. being 600 miles From Tyrus he went to Egypt and passed 480 miles through that kingdome conquering all the countries and prouinces as he went a long euen the Ammonits the Moabits Philistins Idumaeans and Egypt it selfe all which countries hee made tributarie to him Isa 15 16 19. Ier. 46 47 48 49. Ez. 25.29 From Egypt he returned to Babell 960 miles From that time till his death hee was Emperour of all those kingdoms In the second yeare of his Empire Daniel expounded vnto him his wonderfull dream vnder the similitude of an image setting forth the condition of the four monarchies of the world Dan. 2. Not long after he caused Sidrack Misack and Abednego to be cast into a fiery furnace because they refused to worship the golden image which he had set vp Dan. 3. Also this Nebuchadnesar for his great pride and arrogancie was by God strucken mad and into a deepe melancholy in which disease hee continued for the space of seuen yeares tyed in bonds and chaines running vp and downe like a beast and feeding vpon grasse and roots vntill he came to vnderstand That God the Gouernour of Heauen and earth had the disposing of Kingdoms and Gouernments giuing them to whom he list and againe taking them away At the end of which time he was restored to his vnderstanding and Empire and after beautified the city of Babylon with many goodly buildings faire orchards and pleasant places as Iosep lib. Ant. 10 saith And when hee had reigned 43 yeares died and was buried by his father in Babylon An. mundi 3387. and before Christ 581. So all the trauels of Nebuchadonesar or Nebuchadnesar were 7892 miles ¶ The Description of the Cities and places that haue not as yet been mentioned Of Carchemis THis was a city in the country of Syria neere Euphrates 400 miles from Ierusalem Northward and signifies A sacrificed Lambe being deriued of Car which signifies a Ram or Lambe and Mosch He hath cut in pieces It may also be taken in the third Conjugation for a Lambe sacrificed to the idol Chemosch or Chamos the god of meetings or nightly salutations Of Pelusio THis City Pelusio was built by Peleus the father of Achilles from whence it tooke the name It stands in Egypt some 172 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward neere to the gate of Nilus called Pelusiachus where it falleth into the Mediterranian sea Not far from this city in the mountain Casius vpon the borders of Arabia Petraea where the Temple of Iupiter Casius stood is to be seen the tomb of Pompey the great beautified and adorned by Adrianus Caesar as Capitolinus saith At this day this city is called by the name of Damiata You may read of it Ezek. cap. 30. Of Tyrus or Zor TYrus signifieth Cheese or to congeale together as Cheese doth milk somthing alluding to the Hebrew word Zor signifying to make straight or a rocke hauing a straight and sharpe edge It was the metropolitan city of Phoenicia now the hauen or passage of Sur but in antient time it was called Sarra Aul. Gel. lib. 14. cap. 6. It was scituated vpon a very high rocke compassed about with the Mediterranean sea 100 miles from Ierusalem Northward and a famous mart towne for all the Holy land By the description of Ezekiel it seemes to haue bin like vnto Venice both in scituation and dignitie Ez. 72.28 Ierem. Esay 27.28 and many other Prophets prophecied against this town saying Out of the land of Kithim that is from Macedonia the destroyer of Tyrus should come As after hapned for Alexander the Great King of Macedon besieged that town and in the 7 moneth after tooke it for the obtaining whereof he was constrained to fill vp the sea which compassed it about containing 700 paces and made it firm land for his army to passe vpon to the wals of the city In this country that famous Civilian Vlpian was borne as he writeth lib. 1. ff de Censibus And vpon the borders of Tyrus and Sidon Christ cured the daughter of a Canaanitish woman of a
Ioppa and Silicia to the Streights betweene Spain and Mauritania Into this Sea Ionas was cast when the Whale deuoured him In like manner the Red sea and all others that are ocean seas are called Tharsis as appeareth in the 72 Psalme where it is said The Kings of Tharsis and of the Isles shall bring Presents Here the Kings whose Empires extend themselues alongst the sea coast are vnderstood But the city Tharsis the countrey of the Apostle Paul is not a kingdome neither euer had a King much lesse many Kings So Solomon sent his shippes by Tharsin that is by sea towards the Southeast into the Red sea and Eastern Ocean that they might bring gold pretious stones and sweet gummes from Arabia But the ships could not saile by the Red sea vnto the town of Tharsis vnlesse they would haue sailed ouer the land which is vnpossible because Tharsis lieth into the land from the Red sea as all Cosmographers agree So also the Psalmist saith Thou breakest with thy strong windes the ships of Tharsis that is of the sea beside many such like speeches From whence S. Ierom concludes that Tharsis may better signifie the sea than the city Tharsis Of the Euxine sea THe Euxine Ocean is that great and troublesome sea which beginning not farre from Constantinople runneth from Bosphorus and Thrace towards the East and North containing to the Longitude eight hundred miles but to the Latitude two hundred and eighty Towards the South it toucheth vpon Asia the lesse towards the East vpon Calcos towards the West Thracia and Valachia but towards the North it is ioyned to the poole of Maeotides This sea in times past was called Pontus Axenus that is the inhospitable country because as Strabo lib. 1. of his Cosmography saith The inhabitants neere about the sea-shore did vsually sacrifice those strangers they got or else cast their bodies vnto dogs to he deuoured making drinking cups of their skuls But after when the Ionians had built certain townes vpon the sea coast and had restrained the incursions of certaine Scythian theeues which vsually preyed vpon Merchants that resorted thither at the command of Pontus their King who had obtained a large and spatious kingdom in that country they called it Pontus Euxinus which is as much to say as the hospitable country Ovid testifieth almost the same concerning the originall of the name of this sea after this manner Frigida me cohibent Euxini littora Ponti Dictus ab antiquis Axinus ille fuit The chilly shores of th' Euxine sea constraines me to abide In antient time call'd Axinus as it along did glide Of Ninus or Nineveh NInus or Nineveh was a city of Assyria where the Emperours of that country vsed to keep their courts It was first built by Ninus that great Emperour of the first Monarchy 300 yeares after the floud and 2000 before Christ about the time when the Patriarch Abraham was borne It continued in great glory for the space almost of 1500 yeares and was distant from Ierusalem toward the Northeast 684 miles vpon the East side ioyning to the riuer Tygris on the North to the Caspian sea It takes the name from the beauty of it being deriued of Navah which signifieth A comely place spatious and pleasant There are many that are of opinion that in many things it exceeded Babylon as for the sumptuousnesse of the buildings the strength of the Walls and the extent The walls were so thicke that three Chariots might haue met vpon them without any danger and beautified with an hundred and fifty towers Ionas being sent of God to this city was three daies going through it that is as Luther expounds it through euery street of it in which time he conuerted a hundred and twenty thousand to repentance Arbaces who was also called Arphaxad was then Emperor This Arbaces Iustine lib. 2. calleth Arbactus he was a Captaine of the Medes who perceiuing the effeminat disposition of Sardanapalus the then Emperour taking aduantage of the times and this mans weaknesse conspired with some of his companions to vsurp vpon his gouernment and that he might make them hate and loath his loosenesse brought them into a room where the might see him sitting amongst his harlots tyred in womans apparell and carding wooll This sight greatly displeasing them and before being encouraged by Arbactus they seised vpon the city and besieged Sardanapalus in his palace But to preuent the miserie of a shameful death after he had gathered all his riches together he set fire on his palace where he his companions and treasure perished This fire continued 15 daies and hapned 823 yeares before Christ about which time Arbactus succeeded Sardanapalus began to reign and continued his gouernment 28 yeres But the Medes held not the Assyrian Empire long for Phul Belochus who at this time reigned in Babylon and his successour Tiglath Philasser are called Kings of Assyria betweene whom there hapned many great Warres 2 Kings 15.26 From whence may be gathered That after the death of Arbactus these Emperours dwelt in Niniveh and succeeded in the Empire Thus was this city greatly defaced with continuall euills the Lord before hand giuing them many admonitions and gentle corrections if it had bin in them to haue conceiued it to winne them to repentance but they continued still in their sins therefore according to their former prophecies Cyaxares King of the Medes besieging this towne tooke it and destroyed it euen vnto the ground as Eusebius saith This desolation hapned 13 yeares before the destruction of Ierusalem in the 11 yeare of Sadyattis King of the Lyddians who was grandfather to Croesus An. mundi 3349 before Christ 619. After this destruction it lay a long time desolat but at length some part of it was restored though with much trouble then when it was at the best estate constrained to suffer many changes and at length vtterly destroied by Tamerlane the Great the second time An. mun 3390. After this the inhabitants of that countrey vpon the East side of the riuer Tygris began the third time to build it But whether this third restoring of this City was at the command of some Prince that had the gouernment of the Country thereabouts or because of the scituation or for priuat profit it is not set down neuerthelesse it is again repaired standing on the borders of Armenia beautified with goodly buildings with faire and spatious streets compassed about as other cities of the East are with walls and ditches sufficiently strengthned to oppose the Enemy But in respect of the former Niniveh it seemes a small village It hath a bridge built of ships lying vpon the East side of it ouer the riuer Tygris and vpon that side of the Riuer there stand many faire gardens and orchards and the land there also is very fertil and pleasant But vpon the West of Tygris the soile is nothing so fruitfull At this day it is called by the name of Mossel so that although
all his wealth and returned into their citie with great joy But Ionathan and Simon tooke this injurie very heauily and much bewailed the death of their brother wherefore that they might bee reuenged of the inhabitants of Medaba they went thence twenty eight miles and hid themselues among the mountaines just in the way that led ftom Medaba to Canaan for they had heard that the sonnes of Iambri and the inhabitants of Medaba were gone forth with great jollitie to fetch home a Bride which was a Princes daughter of the land of Canaan Now as they were merrie vpon the way Ionathan and Simon his brother with their army went out from among the Mountaines and put a great number of them to the sword taking away a mighty spoyle From Medaba they went to the riuer Iordan which was three miles where vpon the East side of the riuer they pitched their Tents here he was constrained to fight a cruell battell with Bacchides vpon the Sabboth day but as he was in the fight hee met Bacchides and lift vp his hand to strike at him but he seeing the danger retyred Neuerthelesse he put to the sword 1000 of his men and after he and his followers leapt into the riuer and swam ouer so they all escaped without danger In the 56 yeare of the Graecians gouernment in Syria which was the fifth yere of the principalitie of Ionathan Bacchides returned againe with his army into Iudaea and besieged Ionathan and Simon in Bethbesan otherwise called Bethgalam some three miles distant from Iordan Here Ionathan leauing his brother Simon in the citie stole out by a posterne and went to all the villages neere adjoyning from whence he gathered an army of chosen men and set vpon Bacchides Simon also broke out of the city and set vpon him so that they greatly oppressed him and burned his Tents 1 Macchab. 9. Wherefore when Bacchides vnderstood that Ionathan and Simon had fortified that citie and that the Iewes were readie to defend it hee concluded a peace with Ionathan the captiues of either part were redeliuered and the Iewes liued in peace a good while after 1 Macchab. 9. From Bethbesan Ionathan went to Michmas which was six miles here he dwelt for a while and judged the people of Israel cherishing the good and rooting out the euill from amongst them 1 Macch. 9. From Michmas he went to Ierusalem which was ten miles Hither Alexander King of Syria and sonne of Antiochus Epiphanes sent him a purple robe and a golden crowne and ordained him high Priest of the Iewes Wherefore Ionathan on the day of the feast of the Tabernacles which was in the yere before Christ 150 tooke vpon him the office to be high Priest 1 Macchab. 10. The next yeare after which was the tenth of Ionathans rule after the death of Demetrius king of Syria who was slaine in the warres against Alexander there appeared a Comet of an extraordinarie greatnesse which was of such an exceeding brightnesse that it tooke away the darknesse of the night and the writers of those times affirme it to equall the Sunne in greatnesse After this Prodigi the Romans began the third Punick warre against the Carthaginians vide Camerar lib. 2. de ostent Ionathan in the eleuenth yeare of his raigne went from Ierusalem to Ptolemais which was 76 miles to the marriage of Alexander King of Syria and Cleopatra the daughter of Ptolomeus Philometor King of Aegypt where he was entertained very honourably 1 Mac. 10. From thence hee returned to Ierusalem which was 76 miles 1 Mac. 10. From Ierusalem he went to Ioppa and woon the towne which was 20 miles From Ioppa he went to Asdod which was 12 miles there he burnt the Temple of Dagon and all that were in it From thence he went with his armie to Ascalon which was 12 miles this towne willingly yeelded vnto him From Ascalon he returned to Ierusalem which was 38 miles 1 Mac. 10. In the 15 yeare of his gouernment hee went to Ioppa which was 20 miles to meet Ptolomeus Philometer King of Aegypt and stayed there all that night 1 Mac. 11. The next day he went with the King of Aegypt to the riuer of Eleutherius which was 200 miles From thence he returned backe again to Ierusalem which was 200 miles Heere he besieged the tower of Acropolis because there were many wicked men got into it In the sixteenth yeare of his gouernement he went from Ierusalem to Ptolomais to Demetrius Nicanor King of Syria which was 76 miles From Ptolomais he returned backe to Ierusalem which was 76 miles From Ierusalem in the seuenteenth yeare of his gouernment he went beyond the riuer Euphrates which was accounted 400 miles and there gathered an army in ayd of Antiochus the younger the sonne of Alexander and went against Demetrius Nicanor King of Syria From thence he returned to Ierusalem which was 400 miles From Ierusalem hee went with his army to Ascalon which was 30 miles From thence he came to Gaza which was 18 miles this towne he besieged and after a sharpe battell woon it From Gaza he went to Damascus in Syria which was about 200 miles From thence he returned to the lake of Genesereth which was 104 miles Here hee opposed the Army of Demetrius Nicanor King of Syria From thence before day he remoued his campe to Chazor which was 32 miles where when part of his armie was put to flight by a stratagem he tore his garments put dust vpon his head and praied earnestly vnto the Lord for ayd and assistance so hauing recouered his strength and former courage hee returned with those few that hee had left him to the war where he put the army of King Demetrius to flight and slew three thousand of his men with the sword His enemies being thus dispersed hee pursued them to their Tents neere Cades in Galile which was 6 miles From thence he returned to Ierusalem with a glorious victorie which was about some 92 miles Here he made a league with the Romans and Spartans 1 Mac. 11.12 From Ierusalem he went with his armie into the countrey of Hemath that is Syria to the riuer Eleutherius which was 200 miles here he put his enemies to flight after they had burnt and consumed their Tents From thence he went to Nabathia in Arabia which was 120 miles Here he conquered the Arabians and Zabadians and spoiled their land From thence he went through all that country and wasted it till he came within eighty miles of Damascus From thence he returned home to Ierusalem which was 160 miles In the 18 and last yeare of his raigne he caused the wals of Ierusalem to be built and began to fortifie many places in Iudea 1 Macch. 12. Also the same yeare which was the 160 yeare of the gouernment of the Graecians in Syria the second booke of Macchabees was written as appeareth cap. 1. After from Ierusalem hee went to Bethsan to meet Tryphon which was 44 miles here being deceiued by the faire
by the name of Terassa beeing neither so famous nor so faire a citie as in the time when the Roman Empire flourished for then because of the extraordinary vertue of the citizens it was indowed with the libertie and freedome of Rome Of Damascus THis was a metropolitan towne in Syria distant from Ierusalem 160 miles towards the Northeast being an ancient and faire citie and before such time as Antiochia was built the head of all that kingdome It was scituated in a faire and fruitfull place close by the mountaine Libanus which bringeth forth Frankincense Ceders Cypresse and many odoriferous and sweet smelling floures There were many Kings that kept their court in it as Hadad Benhadad the first Benhadad the second Hasael and others who grieuously opposed the Kings of Israel in many sharpe and cruell warres as you may reade before The land round about it aboundeth with white and red Roses Pomegranats Almonds Figges and other sweet and pleasant fruits In that place the Alablaster stone is found very faire and cleere The aire pleasant and healthfull The riuer called Chrysorrus runneth close by it in which there is found golden veines which yeelded perfect gold The houses without are not very curious but within all of polished Marble and Alablaster guilt with resplendent gold so artificially that it dazleth the beholders eies There was a certaine Florentine who reuolted from the Christian faith and obtained to be chiefe gouernour of this towne in which he erected a strong and beautifull castle which stood for the defence of it No man can sufficiently expresse the beautie and glory of this citie there is great traffique and much resort of people to it but especially of Turkes Saracens Mamalucks and other kinds of Pagan people who are preferred before the Christians in that gouernment and although there are many Christians in that place yet they are constrained to indure great injurie by those Barbarians because they are hated euen to the death and if any of them chance to die they are buried in that place where Paul was conuerted The inhabitants shew the place where Saint Paul was let downe ouer the wall in a basket also the house of Ananias who cured the blindnesse of Paul besides many other things that are memorable in that citie of which you may reade in Sebestian Munster Sebastian Frankus Plin. lib. 5. and many other authors Of Arabia MAny things are already spoken concerning this Countrey as the diuision of the place one called Petraea the other Deserta and the third Foelix Arabia Petraea is so called from the Metropolitan citie thereof called Petra which is scituated forty miles from Ierusalem towards the South and bordereth vpon Aegypt and India It is also called Arabia Nabathea as you may reade before Paran and Sur are a part of it compassing towards the East the land of Iudaea and so extendeth to Damascus This countrey is very full of rockes and stones the chiefe citie Petra being scituated vpon a rocke of which it taketh the name Here standeth the mountaines Horeb and Sinai here the children of Israel trauelled when they went out of Aegypt here is the Sardonix stone found and the people of this countrey in times past were great Prophets and Astrologians here also S. Paul taught the Gospell a little after his conuersion Gal. 1. at which time Aretas was King thereof whose sister was married to Herod the Tetrarch of Galile and Petraea but he cast her off and married Herodias his brother Philips wife vpon which there began a bloudy warre betweene Aretas and Herod and a sharpe battell was fought neere to Gamala a citie beyond Iordan And although the two Kings were not at this battell yet by the treason and flight of the soldiers out of Tracones who without all question would haue reuenged the contempt done vnto their Lord Philip the Arabian armie carried away a notable victory as Iosephus witnesseth lib. antiq 18. cap. 9. Aretas signifieth An excellent man which was a common name to the Kings of Arabia It is to be thought that Damascus and all the Countrey round about was vnder the jurisdiction of this King and that he ordained a Lieutenant or Generall in those parts who would haue taken Paul and put him to death Acts 9. 2 Col. 12. The other part of Arabia is called by Ptolomie Deserta but Strabo calls it Scenilis because the inhabitants thereof are without buildings or Tents and liue like vagrants vp and downe the woods This is compast in vpon the South with certaine mountaines of Arabia Foelix towards the North it borders vpon Mesopotamia and towards the West vpon Petraea The third is called Arabia Foelix because of the fertilitie therof for they haue there euery yeare two haruests as they haue in India as Strabo obserueth See Plin. lib. 6. cap. 28. Of Antiochia YOu may reade of this Towne before It is said that Luke the Euangelist was borne here This man was by profession a Physition Colos 4. and an inseparable companion to Paul in all his Trauels he was of the number of the seuentie Disciples as Epiphanius obserueth Tertullian saith in his fourth booke against Marcion that Luke receiued his Gospell from the mouth of Paul he liued till he was 84 yeares old and then died and lies buried at Constantinople as S. Ierom saith for his bones were remoued out or Achaia thither The second Trauels of the Apostle Paul in the company of Barnabas IN the eleuenth yeare after the natiuitie of Christ and in the foure and fortieth yeare of Paul he and Barnabas was sent by the holy spirit from Antiochia in Syria to Seleucia which was foure and twenty miles From Seleucia they sailed to Salamais in Cyprus which was 94 miles Acts 13. From thence they went to Paphos which is in the same Isle where Sergius Paulus was conuerted and Elymas the Magitian who professing himselfe to bee the Messias and Sonne of God was strucke with blindnesse Act. 13. this journey was 100 miles They loosing from Paphos went by sea and land the same yeare to Pergamus a city of Pamphilia scituated in Asia minor which was 148 miles In the 45 yeare after the Natiuitie of Christ they went from Pergamus to Antiochia in Pisidia which was 132 miles From thence they went to Iconia which was 96 miles here they staied some time and conuerted many Act. 13. 14. In the 46 yere after the natiuitie of Christ there being a great tumult raised in that countrey lest the inhabitants should haue stoned them they fled thence to Lystra a city of Lyaconia where Paul healed the lame man which was 28 miles The inhabitants seeing this miracle worshipped them for gods and called Barnabas Iupiter and Paul Mercurius because he wrought the miracle But not long after certaine Iewes comming from Antiochia and Iconia arriued in Listra by whose perswasion the people stoned Paul and supposing him to be dead carried him out of the citie but when his Disciptes came vnto him
of God that euen on the same day and in the very same place where but eight and thirtie yeares before our Sauiour Christ suffered the authors of such crueltie suffered a most just and seuere reuenge Now as the army of the Romans lay vpon the North of the Citie Titus drew out a band of six hundred horse to ride about to behold and view the walls of the Towne but as he was in this manner wondring at the sumptuousnesse of the Citie the Iewes in great multitudes slipt out at a posterne gate and set vpon him so fiercely that they endangered his person being without armour and had he not with great difficultie broke through them and recouered the Tower of the Romans hee had beene there slaine But presently vpon this seeing the danger hee besieged the Citie in three parts himselfe as the Emperour of the armie built a castle about some two furlongs from the Citie iust against the Tower Psephina Thc other part of the army was intrenched right against the Tower Hippicus not farre from the Garden of the resurrection And the third part had their Castle in the Mount of Oliues some fiue furlongs or thereabouts from the Citie Then did hee build Bulwarkes make Engines and wonderfull deuises for the battering of the Walls and combining himselfe with some of the Iewes vpon the seuenth day of the second moneth which answereth to the moneth of May with great difficultie and much labour entred the first Wall which lay vpon the North and woon Mount Bezitha and Neapolie Vpon the twelfth of the same moneth which was the Sabboth day hee entred the second wall which diuided the suburbs but this was againe the same day recouered by the vertue of the Iewes so that the Iewes were constrained to fight vpon the Sabboth day according to the prophecie of our Sauiour Christ Matt. 24. But after vpon the sixteenth of this moneth of May the Romans againe recouered this wall and kept it in their owne custody Within a while after in the month of Iune about this time the famine growing intollerable within the towne Titus in the space of three daies compassed in the whole citie of Ierusalem with a Wall and vpon that set Towers and Castles lest any of the Iewes should flye to saue themselues Thus was the prophecie of our Sauiour Christ fulfilled Thy enemies shall compasse thee about and hem thee in on euery side Iosephus was now in the Citie and walking vpon the Walls earnestly intreated the Iewes to desist and no longer to oppose the Romans but this was so hatefull a speech to many that they began to fling darts at him And although at this time the extremitie of the famine was so sore that many dyed for want of sustenance yet all perswasions were in vaine and such was the calamitie that as well those as went out as those that continued in the Citie were in like danger of their liues for they were either slaine by the enemy or els by the pestilence and famine common injuries and vnmercifull outrages still attending vpon warre Their misery did rather increase then at all lesson it selfe for the jealousie of treason the hope of riches and the madnes of the seditious distracted the mindes of the Citizens with continuall feares and filled the streets full of murther and daily spectacles of lamentable tragedies The markets were vnfrequented with Corne the victuals with violence consumed and taken from the true owners And if it chanced that some one had more than would serue his turne though he dwelt in a faire and stately building yet the remotest roome and most vnfrequented he made his tabernacle and that little which was left with great parcimonie he consumed together with his life till both were ended Those that were Fathers and Senats of the people though before serued and attended with reuerenced and great state in this consusion was glad of a small morsell though with much contention The wife was not ashamed to take away the meate from her husband nor the children from their parents nor the mothers from their infants And if it hapned that in any house the seditious seemed to smell food with violence they tooke it ransackt the roomes round about whiles the master therof was made a laughing stocke and mournfull spectator of those mischiefes But according to the condition of souldiers whose naturall disposition is to be violent without any regard either of sex or kindred committed daily outrages So that here you might haue seene the mothers weeping ouer their dying infants whiles their husbands were massacred in the streets by the seditious The increase of daies were the increase of torments and the daily want of such as were in power being vnaccustomed to such euils caused them to inuent new meanes to satisfie their desire and practise vnusuall torments for no other purpose but to finde out sustenance yea such was their insatiable thirst of bloud that they spared not him whom but now gaue them all hee had and least he should liue to cumber the city either hang him vp by the heeles till he died or else pulled out his entrailes with a sharpe yron Those that went out in the night time when the Romans were asleepe to gather herbes the seditious would meet and with violence take what they had got from them and though with teares and lamentations and prayers vpon their knees they intreated but for one part a small moitie of that which a little before they had got with danger of their liues yet they would not giue it them and scap't fairely if they went away with life These insolencies were committed by the common souldiers vpon such as were of the meaner sort of people But for the rest that were either honorable or rich they became a prey to the Captains and Commanders some accused as traitors and that they would haue betraied the Citie to the Romans others as fugitiues that they would forsake the Citie most vnder pretence of one crime or other dispoiled of that they had And they whom Iohn had thus oppressed were entertained of Simon and whom Simon had injuried they were entertained by Iohn both drunke the bloud of the miserable Citizens like water So that the desire of rule was the cause of their dissention the concord of their euill and cruell actions There was an infinite number that perished in this citie by famine insomuch as houses were filled with the bodies of infants and children The Angle gate was thrust full of dead corpes The young men that remained walked vp and downe the Citie like Images of death The old men were destroyed by the pestilence the contagion of which disease taking away their senses they became madde And of such as died among the seditious their wiues or kindred had not roome nor time to bury them but as they were putting them into the graue they also dyed Yet for all this amongst this miserable societie there was no weeping no complaining no deploring
downe the walls destroied the Temple which the Emperor Constantine had built and made havock of al things Presently vpon this the Turkes that came out of Scythia by the Caspian mountains won the city draue thence the Saracens Thus we may see that the Saracens and Turks though they were both of one religion yet for the country of the Iewes fought one against another and compelled the Christians to pay them Tribute for the fourth part of the city wherein the Sepulchre of our Lord stood being againe restored by the Emperor Constantine after the destruction of Caliphas The Christians being weary of this tribute and of the oppression of the Infidels became sutors to Pope Vrban the second of that name for their deliuery who in the yeare 1094 assembled a Councel at Clearemont in France and by the instigation of one Peter the hermit stirred vp the hearts of diuers Christian princes and great Lords to make a croysado so that 10000 braue well mounted souldiers went into the Holy land and for a token of their war bore red crosses vpon their armes In the same yeare there was a great blasing starre seene in the West and after that followed a great plague for the space of two yeares through the world this neuerthelesse hindred them not in their designes but that they went their intended journy won the City of Aelia from the Saracens deliuered the Christians from their bondage and tax and chose Godfrey of Lorrain Earle of Bullion King thereof whom they anointed in the Temple of the holy Sepulchre but hee refused to be crowned with a Crowne of gold saying That it ill beseemed him to be called King of Ierusalem the true King whereof was Christ or to sit crowned with gold in the place where he was crowned with thorns that was the Son of the euer-liuing God and then chose Arnolphus of Rhodes Patriarch In the moneth of October the same yeare a blasing Starre of maruellous bignesse appeared towards the South it seemed to be like a wauing sword foreshewing no doubt the destruction of all those that went about to re-establish this earthly Ierusalem Immediatly after the Feast of the Natiuitie of Christ all the Christians of the East countries vpon Candlemas day came out of Syria but especially out of Antiochia to Ierusalem in the Temple of the holy Sepulchre consecrated their Bishops and Chorasters and with one consent sung Illuminare Ierusalem They tooke also all the Cities Castles and Villages and ouer them set Bishops created foure Principalities one at Ierusalem another at Antiochia a third at Edissa a fourth at Tripoly Also certain Earledomes and Baronies as at Brito Zidon Caesarea Galilee Ioppa and Ascalon All these were appointed to pay tribute to the King of Ierusalem All this was done in the yere of our Lord 1099. No sooner were these newes published to the world but there was an vniuersall croysado through all Christendom for the conquering and winning of the rest of the holy land but before they could get thither they were either slaine by the Grecians and other nations or els died through famin thirst so that in them was fulfilled the prophecie of Zacharias cap. 12.3 where it is said It shall happen that I will make Ierusalem an heauy stone for all people all they that lift it vp shal be torn though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it And verse 9 And in that day I will seeke to destroy all the nations that come against Ierusalem This yeare 1100 died Godfrey King of Ierusalem of a feuer vpon the â—8 day of Iuly when he had reigned scarce a yere and was buried in the temple of mount Calvarie After him succeeded his brother Baldovin the first of that name second King of Ierusalem This man reigned 18 years in Ierusalem and being ouercome by Caliphas Sultan of Egypt after the losse of thirteene thousand Christians he had much adoe to escape with life Within a short time after hee died without issue Baldwin the second succeeded his vncle and was the third king of Ierusalem He began his reign Anno 1118. This man ouercame the Turks and the King of Damascus had issue only one daughter named Milesent whom he maried to the Earle of Angiers and gaue with her the kingdom of Ierusalem and died without heire male in the yeare 1131. Fulco in right of his wife succeeded his father in law was the fourth King of Ierusalem This Fulco was brother to the King of England he reigned 13 years fought many worthy battels against the Turkes put 3000 of their men to the sword tooke many of them prisoners and caried them to Ierusalem After that as hee was hunting the Hare by Acon riding speedily hee fell from his horse and was sorely brused whereof he died and left two sonnes called Baldwin and Almerick Baldwin the third was the fifth King of Ierusalem and succeeded his father He won the city of Ascalon he rebuilt the towne of Boza which had beene destroyed placed there certaine Knights Templers he lost the City of Edissa to the Saracens where many Christians were cruelly slain And hauing reigned 19 yeares he died without issue After him succeeded his brother Almerick as was the sixt king of Ierusalem In the time of this king the Sultan of Egypt gaue a great ouerthrow to the Knights Templers which he seeking to reuenge inuaded Egypt with a great army besieged the great city of Alcaire but to small purpose wherefore returning back to Ierusalem he shortly after died when he had reigned 12 years he left behinde him three children a sonne called Baldwin and two daughters Sibilla and Isabella Baldwin the fourth succeeded his father and was the seuenth king of Ierusalem who abusing his gouernment was struck with leprosie with the contagion of which disease he died miserably in the 25 yere of his age hauing reigned 13 years Baldwin the fift of that name the onely begotten son of his sister Sibil by his consent was chosen his successor a youth of 9 yeares old his fathers name was William Mountferrat earle of March who dying his mother married one Guy Earle of Lusignan to whom Baldwin committed the protection of the kingdome and of his yong kinsman till he came to mans estate But this yong man within 7 years after the death of his vncle died sitting at his table not without suspition of poison Guy his protector by the persuasion of his wife and at the instigation of the Ierosolimits took vpon him the gouernment but Raimond Earle of Tripoli was his great aduersary for that Baldwin 4. for his exceeding pride at the instigation of that Guy had displaced him of all his Offices and titles in the commonwealth These two striuing for the kingdom it hapned that Guy was charged with his kinsmans death vnder which pretence Raimond made war against him During these troubles Saladine Sultan of Egypt taking aduantage of this opportunitie made war vpon them
fetch gold from Tharshish and other places in India he displeased the Lord for which cause there arose a great tempest which brake down the workes and destroyed the Navy From Ierusalem he went with Iehoram King of Israel to war against the Moabites and with them went the King of Idumaea so passing through the desarts of Edom they came to Mount Seir and so went to Petra the chiefe city of the King of the Moabits distant from Ierusalem 72 miles 2 Reg. 3. From Petra Iehosaphat returned to Ierusalem 72 miles where he died and was buried 2 Reg. 22. 2 Chr. 21. So all the trauels of Iehosaphat King of Iuda were 372 miles The Typicall signification of IEHOSAPHAT AS Iehosaphat by prayer and the sound of trumpets and other instruments of musick ouercame dispersed his enemies without drawing his sword so Christ also by the sound of his Word and doctrine without drawing weapon ouercame the enemies of the Church The Trauels of IORAM King of Iudah IOram signifies The Exalted of the Lord. He was crowned king his father yet liuing at such time as he made his expedition against Mesa King of the Moabites which hapned about the fift yere of Iehoram King of Israel An. mundi 3055 before Christ 913. He reigned with his father Iehosaphat 2 yeares and after his decease six So Ioram reigned 8 yeares ouer Iudah and when hee was forty yeares old died miserably 2 Reg. 8. 9. About the beginning of the second yeare of this Kings reign which was the sixt of Iehoram King of Israel Elias the Prophet was taken vp into heauen About the beginning of his reigne he went from Ierusalem to Mount Seir which was 28 miles Southward where he vsed such extreme cruelty toward the Edomites which at this time were his subiects that of a sudden they fell from him and chose them a King of their own 2 Reg. 8. From the Mountain of Seir he returned to Ierusalem which is 28 miles and there cruelly put to death his owne brothers But God stirred vp against him the Philistines and Arabians who broke into Iuda and destroyed it with fire and sword They also went to Ierusalem and tooke thence all his substance and riches put his children to the sword all but Ioachas which also called Ahaziah or Ochorias caried away his wiues captiue into Arabia Foelix which is neer vnto Ethiopia 1200 miles Then the Lord strooke him with an extreme paine in his bowels of which after two yeares he died and was buried without any funerall pomp or honorable respect neere to the Kings tower A man vnworthy to be buried in the sepulchre of the rest of the Kings because hee so much degenerated from Dauid his predecessor 2 Reg. 8. 2 Chr. 28. So all the trauels of Ioram were 56 miles The Trauels of AHAZIAH King of Iudah AHaziah which also was called Iehoachas succeeded his Father Ioram in the gouernment of Iudah began his reign in the 12 yeare of Iehoram King of Israel Ann. mundi 3062. and before Christ 906 and reigned one yeare 1 Reg. 8. He went from Ierusalem to Ramoth in Gilead which is accounted 48 miles There he went to battell with Iehoram King of Israel against the Syrians 2 Reg. 8. 2 Chr. 22. From Ramoth in Gilead he returned to Ierusalem forty eight miles Within a while after he went backe again to visit his kinsman Iehoram King of Israel to Iesreel for hee was wounded in the battell against Hasael and lay there to be cured which was forty and eight miles With Iehoram he went to meet Iehu the Captaine of the Host who shot an Arrow and wounded Iehoram that hee died in the field of Naboth the Iesreelite Wherefore Ahaziah to saue his life fled with all possible speed taking his way to the Kings garden that stood close by the vineyard of Naboth the Iesreelite not farre from the City and Tower of Iezreel But Iehu followed him so close that he wounded him as he ascended vp vnto a place called GVR which signifieth A Lions Whelpe neere vnto the Towne which is called Iiblea Wherefore Ahaziah feeling himselfe hurt he went to Megiddo foure miles from Iesreel and neere to Apheck vpon the West There as Iosephus saith Lib. Antiq. 9. hee caused his wounds to be searched and bound vp This citie of Megiddo is 48 miles from Ierusalem Northward From Megiddo hee went to Samaria which was 14 miles there he lay hid for a while flying from one place to another to saue himselfe 2 Chron. 22. But being found out he was carried backe to the citie of Megiddo which was 14 miles and at the commandement of Iehu was there slaine 1 Reg. 8. From Megiddo his carkasse was carried to Ierusalem which was 48 miles and there buried 2 Reg. 8. 2 Chron. 22. So all the Trauels of Ahaziah King of Iudah were 224 miles Of that Idolatrous and wicked Queene Athalia AThalia was sister to Ahab and daughter to Omri married to Ioram sonne of that good King Iehosaphat when he was but 17 yeares of age and after the death of Azahiah who was slaine about the 23 yeres of age she vsurped vpon the kingdome of Israel anno mundi 3063 before Christ 905 and raigned with great tyranny almost 7 yeares So soone as she had obtained the gouernment she cruelly and miserably put to death all the children of Ahaziah and all those that were next heire to the Kingdome onely Ioas who was saued by the policie of Iehoshabeath sister to Ahasiah that stole him from among the rest of the Kings sonnes and put him to nourse in her bed-chamber and hee was with them in the house of God six yeares all which time Athalia raigned ouer the land And in the seuenth yeare Iehoiada waxed bold and proclamed Ioas King as being next heire to the crowne and annointed him in the temple who after Athalia was slaine succeeded in the gouernment 2 Reg. 11. 4. 2 Chron. 22. Of Ioas King of Iudah IOas began th raigne ouer Iudah when he was almost 7 yeres of age and about the middle of the seuenth yeare of Iehu King of Israel anno mundi 3069 and before Christ 899 and raigned ouer Iudah 40 yeres He did that which was acceptable in the sight of the Lord all the daies of Iehoiada the Priest who crowned him king but after his death he fell into euil courses and caused that good Priest Zachariah the sonne of Iehoiada who was the author of all his preferment to be stoned to death in the vpper court of the Temple which act argued that he was very vnthankefull and tyrannicall But the Lord displeased with his crueltie within a yeare after the death of Zachariah stirred vp the Syrians who inuaded Iudaea and spoiled the citie of Ierusalem in which warre all those that stirred vp the king to Idolatrie were cruelly slaine To conclude within a while after some of his courtiers conspired against him and as he lay sicke of a grieuous disease in his
16. So all his trauels were 176 miles Concerning the towns and places mentioned in these trauels you may reade before ¶ Of the Kings of Syria that succeeded Antiochus Epiphanes and made war vpon the MACHABEES And first of the Trauels of Antiochus Eupator THis Antiochus the yonger succeeded his father Antiochus Epiphanes in the 149 yere of the Grecians gouernment in Syria which was the 161 yere before Christ and he continued King of Asia and Syria 3 yeares Lysias the Kings Substitute for Syria called this man by the name of Eupator that is a good Father because Kings ought to be Fathers of their countries This Antiochus Eupator in the second yeare of his reign came with a great army from Antiochia to the town of Modin which was 380 miles From Modin he went to the Hold at Bethsura this he sharply besieged being 12 miles From Bethsura he went to Bethsachara almost a mile to meet wrth Iudas Machabeus who put him to flight and kild 600 of his men 1 Mac. 6. From Bethsachara hee returned to the Hold of Bethsura and won it which was almost a mile From Bethsura he came to Ierusalem which was halfe a mile From Ierusalem he went with his Army to Ptolomais beeing 76 miles From Ptolomais hee returned to Antiochia 204 miles and a halfe Concerning the townes and places mentioned in his Trauels you may reade before The Trauels of Demetrius Soter the brother of Antiochus Epiphanes IN An. mundi 3809. before Christ 159. Demetrius Soter the son of Seleucus Philopater who was sent to Rome brought a Navy from thence through the Mediterranian sea and came to Tripolis in Syria which journy was 2680 miles and vsurped vpon the gouernment of Syria against young Antiochus the son of Epiphanes 1 Mac. 7. From Tripolis he went to Antiochia where the King kept his court 88 miles Here he caused yong Antiochus and Lysias to be slain and after reigned in Syria 10 yeares At length he was slain in a great battel by Alexander the son of Epiphanes 1 Mac. 7. So all his trauels were 1760 miles Of Tripolis THis city was scituated in Phoenicia a prouince of Syria on the shore of the Mediterranian sea 170 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and was so called because there dwelt in it three sorts of people viz. Tyrians Sydonians and Arabians It is a very famous City euen to this day the Ocean sea comming into euery street and principall place of it and full as populous as Tyrus For there inhabit Grecians Latines Armenians Maronites Nestorians and people of many other nations of diuers conditions and customes in manner of liuing It aboundeth also with great aboundance of costly Tapestrie which is made so curiously and with such cost that it is very delightfull to such as looke vpon it It is credibly reported That there are found within the city of Tripolis 4000 men that do little els but weaue and make Tapestry and such like costly hangings The country round about where it standeth is very pleasant because of the great aboundance of Vines Olives Figgs and other fruits and floures which yeeld a comfortable smell and is profitable for the maintenance of life it is called Paradice There is a field before the City some two miles in length and one in bredth in which there are to be seene very curious gardens and artificially contriued About six miles from the city standeth mount Libanus at the foot whereof riseth a goodly fountain which with great violence runneth thence but suddenly falling into the vallies it ioyns with other waters and becomes a faire and pleasant riuer watering all the gardens of the plain between Tripolis and Libanus but especially the mountains of the Leopards which is not far off In the Canticles cap. 4. there is mention of this hill Come with mee my Spouse from the dennes of the Lions and the mountains of the Leopards The water of this Spring is very cleare pleasant cold and healthfull vpon the banks of it there stand many churches religious houses It is called the Fountaine of the gardens and is diuided into three riuers or principal streams besides many other small brooks which run thence and fall into the sea so that the sentence Est 9. is verified of this A small fountaine shall increase to a great Riuer and shall be poured out against many waters The Trauels of King Alexander son of Epiphanes and brother to Antiochus Eupator OF this Alexander Iustin writes lib. 35. where he sheweth That he was not son to Antiochus Epiphanes as was supposed but had to name Prompalus being a man of the meaner sort of people but the Antiochians for the great tyranny of Demetrius falling into rebellion gaue vnto him the name of Alexander and withal caused it to be published abroad that he was the son of Epiphanes which by reason of his youth was easily beleeued And at this time Demetrius because of his crueltie being much hated of all sorts of people it came to passe that most and those of the greatest also combined with this yong man supposing him indeed to be of noble descent and the son of a King Wherefore Alexander or Prompatus being thus encouraged tooke vpon him to bee the brother of Antiochus Eupator and called himselfe the lawful heire and successor to the crowne of Syria going from thence to Ptolomais where he kept a royall court and in the yere of the world 3818 before Christ 150 by the help of the Antiochians other the inhabitants of Syria hee tooke vpon him the gouernment of that country and reigned fiue yeares This man suffered many varieties and changes of fortune at first was put to flight by Demetrius after hee put Demetrius to flight and at length put him to death and vsurpt vpon his gouernment In the third yere of his reign he maried Cleopatra the daughter of Ptolomeus Philometor King of Egypt by whom he had his son Antiochus To this marriage Ionathan was inuited In the last yeare of his gouernment hee went from Ptolomais to Antiochia which was 200 miles where hee opposed himselfe against Demetrius Nicanor the sonne of Demetrius Soter 1 Machab. cap. 10. From Antiochia he went to Cilicia which was 120 miles to suppresse the rebellion of his subiects but when hee heard that Ptolomeus Philometor his father in law had taken vp armes against him conquered Syria and giuen his wife to Demetrius Nicanor which had been maried vnto him two yeares before hee gathered all his forces hee could and with all expedition made good the war against Ptolomeus but hee was ouercome and fled into that part of Arabia which bordereth vpon the mountaine Amanus for refuge where Zabdiel the gouernor of that countrey fearing lest he should fall into the displeasure of Ptolomeus caused his seruants to cut off his head and sent it to him into Syria Within three daies after which sight he died being mortally wounded in the former battell Ios li. Ant. 13. c. 17.
vpon the East side of the riuer they pitcht their tents 12 miles Here they fought with Bacchides After they went thence to Bethbesan 3 miles From thence they went to Ierusalem 12 miles Ios Ant. li. 18. cap. 1. From Ierusalem they went to Ioppa 20 miles and wonne the towne Ios lib. Ant. 13. ca. 6. From Ioppa they went to Asdod 12 miles and in the way they put the enemy to flight From Asdod they went to Ascalon which was 12 miles 1 Mac. cap. 10. From Ascalon they returned to Ierusalem which was 30 miles 1 Mac. 10. From thence he went to Bethsura halfe a mile this towne he won and placed a garrison in it 1 Mac. 11. Also in the absence of his brother Ionathan Simon went with his army to Ascalon which was 30 miles from Ierusalem 1 Mac. cap. 12. From thence he went to Ioppa which was twenty miles This towne the second time hee tooke and placed a Garrison therein ◠Mac. 12. From Ioppa hee returned againe to Ierusalem which was twenty miles Ios antiq lib. 13. cap. 8. From Ierusalem in the last yeare of his brother Ionathans gouernment he went to the plain of Sephala about 14 miles where he built the Hold of Abida 1 Mac. 12. From thence he returned to Ierusalem 14 miles There after the captiuitie of his brother Ionathan whom Tryphon by cunning had betrayed as is before said hee was chosen by the people of the Iewes into the principalitie From thence hee went to Addus to meet Tryphon 16 miles where he would haue ransomed his brother Ionathan 1 Machab. cap. 13. From Addus he went to a city of the Idumaeans called Ador or Adaram 48 miles From Ador he returned into Iudaea with his army 40 miles that he might oppose the inuasion of Tryphon and his souldiers lest they should haue destroyed the country and got Ierusalem in his absence Tryphon hauing put to death his brother Ionathan which was in the yeare before Christ 140 Simon entered vpon the office of high priest the same yere and continued in the gouernment eight yeares In the first yeare of his gouernment he went from Ierusalem to Modin 14 miles Here he buried the body of his brother Ionathan in his fathers sepulchre very honorably and richly beautified it From Modin he returned to Ierusalem 14 miles where he executed his priestly function diligently repaired the holds and decaied towns of Iudea compassing them about with stone wals and fortifying them with towers and bulwarks From thence he went to Gaza 44 miles from Ierusalem South-westward This town he tooke From thence he returned to Ierusalem which was foure and forty miles There he repaired the tower of Acropolis wherin he dwelt From Ierusalem he went to Ioppa and won the towne which was 20 miles From Ioppa he returned to Ierusalem which was twenty miles where for a time hee liued very honourably and kept a princely port 1 Mac. 14. Lastly he went with his two sons Iudas and Mattathias and his wife to visit his father in law Ptolomeus the son of Abodus to the castle of Doch which was neere to Iericho some ten miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast Here he was slain by his father in law at a banquet in the yeare before Christ 132 in the 11 moneth which answereth to our February 1 Mac. 16. So all his trauels were 799 miles ¶ The description of the places mentioned in his Trauels Of Arabath ARrabath or Araba was a city neere to the lake or riuer Merom not farre from Dothan 44 miles from Ierusalem toward the North. It seemes to take the name from Locusts wherof there are many kinds 1 Mac. 5. for there are Locusts that liue vpon herbs and flours others that fly in great swarms in the aire and some also that liue in the waters not much vnlike Crabs or Crayfishes their tailes only excepted Plin. lib. 9. cap. 12. reckons vp another kinde of Locusts whereof Iohn Baptist did feed and it was lawfull for the Iewes to eat of them hee describes them to haue foure feet and wings so that they can either fly or leap vpon the earth They can be resembled to nothing more fitly than to grashoppers These the Hebrewes call Rabae Levit. 11. Mat. 3. because of the aboundance of them being deriued of the verbe Rabah He hath multiplied or increased because these kinds of Locusts come in mighty great swarmes and multitudes into the East part of the world Of these kindes of Locusts Arabath took the name but they are not known to vs neuerthelesse such there are and as it appeareth in Levit. cap. 11. were permitted to be eaten among the Iewes From whence may be concluded that Iohn Baptist liued vpon these kinde of Locusts and not vpon Crabs or Cray-fishes or any such kinde of Locusts Mat. 3. Of Sephela SEphela is a plain compassed about with mountaines neere the riuer Sorecke It lieth 14 miles from Ierusalem Westward Here Simon built the castle Adida and fortified it very strongly Afterward there was a city built neere to this tower called Eleutheropolis It was a free city in the tribe of Iudah halfe way between Ierusalem and Ascalon of which Ierome speaketh li. de Locis Hebr. Of Doch THis was a strong tower the ruins wherof may be seen to this day It was scituated neere Iericho in the field of Hiericuntis ten miles from Ierusalem Northeastward where Ptolomeus the son of Abodus perfidiously put to death his son in law Simon high Priest of the Iewes From this tower you might haue seen all the country of the Giliadites the two tribes of Gad and Reuben and the halfe tribe of Manasses with the mountains of the Moabites Nebo Pisga and Abarim vid. 1 Mac. ca. vlt. The Trauels of Iohn Hyrcanus IOhn Hyrcanus was made Captaine ouer all the men of War by his father Simon and went from Ierusalem to Gaza 44 miles where he dwelt 1 Mac. 13. From thence he returned to Ierusalem 44 miles in the 5 yeare of his fathers gouernment to let him vnderstand how Cendebius had inuaded the holy land 1 Mac. 16. From Ierusalem he and his brother Iudas went with their army to Modin 14 miles where they stayed all night The next morning before day they gaue battell to Cendebius not far from Modin ouercame him and put him to flight So he pursued the chase till he came to the fortresse of Cedron which stood in the field of Azotus euen 8 miles From the field of Azotus he and his brother Iudas returned to Ierusalem being 22 miles 1 Mac. 16. From Ierusalem he returned to Gaza which is 44 miles Now when Sorius Ptolomeus the son of Abodus who a little before had treacherously slaine his sonne in law Simon at a banquet heard of Iohns comming into the towne he sent forth certain traitors and homicides to put him to death also but Hyrcanus hauing certain intelligence of the matter preuented the mischief and put these traitors to the sword 1 Mac.