The consent of time disciphering the errors of the Grecians in their Olympiads, the vncertaine computation of the Romanes in their penteterydes and building of Rome, of the Persians in their accompt of Cyrus, and of the vanities of the Gentiles in fables of antiquities, disagreeing with the Hebrewes, and with the sacred histories in consent of time. VVherein is also set downe the beginning, continuance, succession, and ouerthrowes of kings, kingdomes, states, and gouernments. By Lodovvik Lloid Esquire.

OF THE ANTIQVITIE OF Lydia: of the originall of their Kings, and of their common wealth, and gouernment.

THE kingdome of Lydia, being before called (as Herodotus wri∣teth * 1.1) Maeonia, beganne to take name of one Lydus the sonne of Artis: but that seemeth to be fa∣bulous, as Herodotus is in many of his histories. Lydia is named of Lud the fourth sonne of Sem, as Iosephus, Zonaras, and Philo Iu∣daeus * 1.2 affirme. This countrey is situate in this sort: it hath East∣ward Phrigia: on the Southside Caria, and on the Northside Misia, as both Strabo and Plinie affirme. The riuer Meander runneth through Lydia, and compasseth the most part of Ly∣dia. * 1.3 Eusebius in his histories faith, that the kingdome of Lydia beganne in the first Olympiad, and in the beginning of the 14. * 1.4 Iubilee, about which time Romulus the first king and builder of Rome was borne: of whose birth as Dionysius and Plutarch write, many strange things are read.

Lydia was before Rome 24. yeres, and after the destruction of Troy 405 yeeres. When I speake of the Romanes and of their kingdome, you shall haue it fully▪ set downe. The kings of

Lydia, the kings of Rome, and the kings of Media, are almost of * 1.5 one time: for assoone as the Medes began to set vp their king∣dome, the Assyrians which gouerned so long all the East part of the worlde decayed. Likewise the Lacedemonians ended their gouernment, and their kings failed in Alcanes time the ninth king of the Lacedemonians: at which time the Macede∣monians * 1.6 elected their first king called Cranaus: so some coun∣treys, nations, and kingdomes beginne, others ende: some rise, and some fall, as time giueth them licence by Gods ap∣pointment.

But nowe of the kings of Lydia: where I finde in Eusebius * 1.7 their first king to be named Arsidius: this Functius doeth call Ardisus, at what time iudged the Athenians Aesculus the twelft Iudge of Athens, after the kings who had gouerned from Ce∣crops their first king, which began in Moses time, vntill Codrus the last king of Athens, which ended his kingdome in the time of Dauid, where raigned that while 17. kings. When Arsidius raigned in Lydia, Ioathan was king in Iudea, and in Samaria Pe∣cah the 17. king of Israel.

These people of Lydia were first very warlike, stoute, and a couragious nation, but Cyrus brake their backs, and compel∣led * 1.8 them to be caupones & institores (as Iustine saith) & to leaue off armes (for that oftentimes they rebelled against Cyrus) and to vse such trafiques as were of the meanest credit: here∣by, these stoute and strong nations before, came now by Cy∣rus pollicie to be very idle and slouthfull, whereby they in∣uented many vnthriftie games, diuers playes at dice, tenise, and such like, and hauing nothing to doe, neither durst they doe any thing for feare of Cyrus: they fell (as Plinie saith) to exercise Artes ludicras & lenocinia, and so became from a strong and stoute people, the most slouthfull and idle people of the world.

Budaeus thinketh, that this region Lydia is now called Ana∣tolia: * 1.9 after Arsidius had raigned in Lydia 36. yeeres, succeeded him Aliagtes the second king of the Lydians, at the which time * 1.10 grew great warres of twentie yeeres continuance betweene

the Lacedemonians and the Messanians: the cause thereof you * 1.11 shall reade in Orosius. Catina a citie in Sicilia at this time was builded, and Messana one of the chiefest cities of the Messani∣ans was taken then by the Lacedemonians. Now raigned in Rome Romulus the first king, in Phrygia Mydas, in Egypt Sacalion, * 1.12 and in Macedonia Perdicas the fourth king of that countrey, of whom Herodotus doth set forth how he from a meane state became king of the Macedonians.

Titus Liuius writeth, and so doeth Dionysius, that Romulus a∣bout * 1.13 this time did triumph ouer the Sabines, whose warres continued two yeeres, with whom after hee had furnished Rome with the spoyles of the Sabines, and had taken their * 1.14 daughters and virgins by force to the nomber of 683. he suf∣fred Tacius Sabinus at that time king of the Sabines, to gouerne with him in Rome fiue yeeres, at which time the citie of Rome * 1.15 was much increased, and more amplified by adding there∣unto Mount Coelius, and Mount Quirinal. Now ruled in Iudea Ezechias about the 12. Olympiad and the 15. Iubilee.

There fell about this time in Athens a thirde alteration of * 1.16 their gouernment after this sort: After their 17. kings go∣uernment, then gouerned in Athens Iudges, to the nomber of 13. After the Iudges there was another state agreed vpō, that euery 10. yeeres there should be a new magistrate in Athens, and they were called Decennales principes: and this gouern∣ment * 1.17 endured 70. yeres, which was the whole time of 7. prin∣ces, and then againe changed vnto a popular state. But let vs returne to the kings of Lydia, the historie that I haue in hande.

After that this Aliagtes had raigned 14. yeeres he died, and * 1.18 Meles succeeded him the thirde king of the Lydians: of whom Herodotus doeth make mention, that he was the first that tri∣umphed ouer the people called Sardei. This Meles had a ba∣stard borne vnto him, a stoute man, a great souldiour, and so great, that he with his posteritie ruled the Sardeans vntil Cyrus time. In this Meles time were the Camerines subdued, hauing once or twise before reuolted against the Romanes, ouer

whom Romulus the second time triumphed, their cities ta∣ken, * 1.19 and their countrey made a prouince to the Romanes.

By this time the people of Vienna mooued warres against Romulus: but being ouerthrowen, Romulus made his third and last triumph of these three triumphes: reade Dionysius. Romu∣lus * 1.20 died, to whom many townes, cities and prouinces, yeel∣ded themselues vnto Romulus, for the fame and report they heard of him: for he was both religious and vertuous. Hippo∣menes the fourth prince or magistrate then gouerned Athens. After that Meles had gouerned the Lydians 12. yeeres, there folowed the fourth king named Cādaules, a foolish and a vaine king, of whom this historie is of Herodotus written. This Can∣daules, * 1.21 whō the Greciās called Mirsilus, had a passing faire wo∣man to his wife, of whom he ioyed much, esteeming her to be the onely woman of the world for beautie: and hauing a deare friend, and one of his owne seruants named Giges from whom he could conceale nothing, he perswaded this Giges to be an eye witnes of his wife, whose perfection in al points he could not with tongue expresse vnto Giges: but willed him to be in some secret place, where and when he had appointed * 1.22 him to behold the rarenesse of her beautie.

Giges after three or foure denials, being vrged thereunto by the king his master, cōsented to the kings request, & secretly came to the place where the king had appointed him, where he saw the queene naked as shewent to bed, to whom Candau∣les when he knew that Giges suffficiently had viewed his wife, he saide, Esto fidelis Giges: at the which wordes the Queene * 1.23 looked backe being amazed of his speach, and saw the backe of Giges by chaunce as he went away, & requesting the king to tell who hee was, after much entreatie he saide it was his seruant Giges.

The Queene dissembling the matter that night, said no∣thing, but in the morning shee did send for certaine of her chiefe friendes, and told the cause, and willed them to be in a place appointed ready against Giges came, whom she sent * 1.24 for, to whom she said these words: Giges thou hast to chuse of

two offers, either to kill the king my husband and to marrie me and become king thy selfe in Lydia, or els to be killed and lose thy life presently: for in that place where he shewed me naked, thou shalt destroy him, there shalt thou haue a dag∣ger ready: which being perfourmed by Giges, he married the Queene, and became the fift king of the Lydians, according to the oracle of Delphos, who had afore told that Cādaules should be the last king of the stocke of Heraclides, and Giges the sonne of Dascilus of the house of Memnades, the fift king of Lydia, * 1.25 which gouerned not long without due reuenge, which fell in the time of Cyrus. Thus the ancient stocke and the long succession of Heraclides, euen from Hercules vntill Candaules * 1.26 the sonne of Mirsus was of fiue hundreth and two yeres con∣tinuance: during which time raigned 22. kings one after an∣other of the line of Hercules: reade Herodotus. Taurentum was builded by Philautus in the time of this Candaules by the Par∣thians: reade Iustinus the thirde booke.

After that Giges had by wicked meanes obteined the king∣dome of Lydia, and had sent to Delphos great presents, and rich rewards to Apollo for the oracles giuen: he went in armes a∣gainst Miletum and Smyrna two cities in Greece, besieged Colo∣phonem, and subdued it. No other action of any importance hath bene written of him: he died when he had raigned 36. yeeres. In Giges time, Bizantium otherwise called Constanti∣nople * 1.27 was builded. About this time the tyrant Phalaris gouer∣ned the Agrigentines. Tullus Hostilius raigned thirde king of Rome, in the last yeeres of Giges. In Iuda raigned Amon. And amongst the Egyptians Psammeticus: this Psammeticus when he had obtained Egypt into his owne handes, being before but * 1.28 one of the twelue that gouerned Egypt, he ioyned with the people of Caria and Ionia, and thereby he much augmented the state of Egypt. From this king vnto Cambyses time, the hi∣storie is set foorth very plaine in Herodotus.

The Grecians about this time first frequented the oracle of * 1.29 Iupiter called Dodonaeū oraculum. Archilocus the historian, Ari∣stoxenes the musition, & Simonides florished in these dayes. In

the seuenth yeere of Giges, the state of Decennales principes en∣ded, * 1.30 and the common wealth of Athens was gouerned after∣terward by a popular state called Democratia. Now Ardis the * 1.31 sixt king of Lydia and sonne to Giges succeeded in the king∣dome, of whom there is litle or nothing mentioned.

In the beginning of this kings raigne, in the 29. Olympiad, and in the 16. Iubilee, Zaleucus king of the Locresians decreed a * 1.32 lawe to his subiects concerning adulterie, that whosoeuer should be found faultie in this offence, should lose both his eyes. His sonne violating this law, was of his owne father the king iudged to loose both his eyes: his nobles and his great men entreated for the yong mans fault, but the king not neg∣lecting to do iustice according to the law by him made, and according to his sentence giuen vpon his sonne by the lawe, he caused his sonne to be brought before him, where in pre∣sence * 1.33 of his subiects the king shewed both mercie and iu∣stice: for hee commaunded first that one of his owne eyes should be put out, and the other eye to be taken from his * 1.34 sonne. A rare example of Iustice and mercie, and the like not to be found in our dayes.

At this time in Rome triumphed Tullus Hostilius ouer the Fi∣denans * 1.35 & the Vients, and entred Rome triumphantly the ninth yere of his raigne. Now raigned in Iudea Iosias a godly king, who purged Ierusalem and all Iewrie from abominations and idolatrie, and brought them to knowe the Lorde againe: in whose time the Prophet Ieremie began to prophecie the de∣struction of Ierusalem and other kingdomes. In Corinth raig∣ned at this time Cipselus, and amongst the Medes gouerned Phaortes their sixt king, whom the Assyrians ouerthrew, as He∣rodotus doeth affirme. In the realme of Pontus there was this * 1.36 time builded a towne called Hystris, and in Asia two other * 1.37 townes called Chautus and Stagera. Terpander an excellent mufition at this time liued, and Thales Milesius a great Phi∣losopher, whom Eusebius affirmeth to haue liued from the 30. Olympiad, vntill the 58. Olympiad.

About this time the Sabines after much slaughter were againe

vanquished by Tullus Hostilius: then the Latins made warre a∣gainst the Romanes, which continued fiue yeres: about which * 1.38 time Tullus Hostilius the thirde king of the Romanes, with all his familie was burned in his owne house. Solinus saith, that * 1.39 he died in the 35, Olympiad. Numa Pompilius a Sabine borne in the city of Cures the second king of Rome, was consecrated by the soothsayers called Augures: in his time bishops, called Pontifices, were created in Rome, holy fire, vestall virgines, and religious men, and priestes of diuers orders, as Salij, Faeciales, and Flamines, which he instituted to serue his gods, for hee was vertuous and good: for when Rome was builded by Ro∣mulus, Numa was borne.

The Cimmerians were now at this time ouerthrowen by the * 1.40 Scythians, the Scythians entred vnto Asia and tooke Sardis the chiefest citie of the Medes, and came conquering countreys and regions as farre as Palestina. About this time Necho king of Egypt, who a little before ouerthrewe the good and godly king Iosias, is now by Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, vanquished by the riuer of Euphrates.

CHAP. II.

Of the rest of the kings of Lydia, from Ardis the sixt king, vntill Craesus the last king of Lydia, and of their destruction by Cy∣rus, and the kingdome brought subiect to Persia.

NOw succeeded Ardis his sonne named * 1.41 Sadaites, the 7. king of the Lydians, who (as Herodot. saith) raigned 12. yeres: but Functius saith, 15. yeres. Of this king no∣thing is mentioned with Historiogra∣phers, * 1.42 but that in his time Ancus Martius * 1.43 the fourth king of Rome brought a huge armie against the Veientines, which be∣ing by Martius ouerthrowen, had his triumph graunted vnto him by the Senators. This Martius made vpon Tiber a hauen called Hostia, foure or fiue leagues from Rome, and a passage frō thence to the sea. The Sabines were ouerthrowen by this king, as before oftentimes by his predecessors.

This time was Dirachium builded, and Perosina. Aulus Gelius * 1.44 an ancient writer, reporteth an historie of one Arion a Lesbian borne, a man of great skil in musicke, a deare friend of Perian∣der * 1.45 king of Corinth, trauailing Sicilia and Italy: he grew in great fauour with all men in all countreys, and hauing in time hea∣ped great wealth by his arte, longed againe to be with Peri∣ander * 1.46 in Corinth. Now being shipped and well forward to∣ward Greece, the mariners vnderstanding that he had much money, spoyled and robbed him of his money, and after be∣ing ready to kill him, he befought them with teares to spare him so much time, vntil he had attired himselfe in his best ap∣parell, and to licence him to play vpon his lute, and to sing * 1.47 two or three songs before he died to the Muses: which being graunted, he prepared to play and sing very loude, and in the midst of his song he leapt as farre as he could into the sea, where the great Dolphine, a fish (as histories record) very * 1.48 much entised with musicke, & greatly delighted with mans voyce, caried him cleane vpon his backe from the water, and * 1.49 brought him vnto an hauen of Lacedemonia called Tenarum, from whence he trauailed to Corinth, and opened to Periander the king, the whole course of his fortune.

About this time Tarquinius Priscus the fift king of Rome be∣gan his gouernment in the 41. Olympiad, as Dionysius writeth: * 1.50 in the which Olympiad, Cleonides a captaine of Thebes got the victorie in the games of Olympia. After Sadaites folowed Ha∣liates the 8: king of Lydia: he raigned 49. yeeres, in whose time though he himselfe did nothing worth the writing, yet the most part of the kings of the worlde were busie: the king of Assyria was in warie with the king of Egypt.

This time raigned in Babylon Nabuchodonosor, to whose go∣uernment not only Assyria, but al the East kings were broght vnder his becke. Likewise about this time a great band of the Scythians were driuen to flee to the Medes, where they * 1.51 were kindly harboured, much made of, and well intertained, vntil such time as by some cōspiracie they were found rebel∣lious vnto the king of the Medes: then they fled from thence

vnto Lydia to this king Haliates, and being by him there suc∣coured, great warres grew thereof betweene the king of Me∣dia and the king of Lydia, and continued vntil Astiages maried * 1.52 the daughter of Haliates, vpon the which, peace and great af∣finitie began to be betweene the Medes and the Lydians. He∣rodotus who writeth this historie, is thought of Functius and others to erre in the time.

In Egypt there raigned Apries, whom Ieremie calleth Hophra, * 1.53 whose name he ought to knowe for by this king Ieremie was put to death in Egypt. In the 7. yeere of this king Haliates, this Apries king of Egypt in the middest of his tyrannie, God gaue him into the hands of his enemies: so the Lord said, I wil giue * 1.54 Pharao Hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemies, as I gaue Zedechias king of Iuda. And in another place the Lord saith, I will giue the land of Egypt vnto Nabuchodonosort king of Baby∣lon, and Egypt shalbe the wages for his armie to spoyle her spoyle, and * 1.55 to take her praye. For to Egypt flead Iuda for succour, where they were put to the sword, and not one escaped.

Now againe in Rome beganne Tarquinius Priscus the fift king of the Romanes: he on the other side beganne to lay on about him with the Latins, and with the Sabines, that after he had brought the Latines with long warre to seeke fauour at * 1.56 his hande, and being driuen out of the countrey by Tarqui∣nius, were forced to intreate for peace, and to craue the Ro∣manes friendship, who by this time waxed so strong, that all the West part of the world began to heare of the Romanes.

Now after that the Latins were vanquished, the Sabines againe, being olde auncient enemies of Rome, a very warlicke * 1.57 nation, with all force came against Tarquinius: at what time their bridge was burned, their tentes taken, and themselues slaine, and forced to intreat for truce for six yeres. After the Sabines, the Hetruscanes armed them against Tarquinius, whose * 1.58 warre continued 9. yeres. About this time the seuen sages of Greece florished, whose names I thought good to put downe * 1.59 together, for that they liued at one time: Solon of Athens, Tha∣les of Milesia, Pitacus of Mitilena, Periander of Corinth, Bias

of Prienna, Chilo of Sparta, and Cleobulus of Lindia. These singu∣lar wise men were in those dayes esteemed the rarest men of the world. In this time the kingdome of Corinth failed in Pe∣riander * 1.60 the last king, or rather the last tyrant, and the gouern∣ment was altered to a popular estate.

About that time Polymnestor a very yong man, and (as the historie hath termed him) a boy, being a feeding his fathers * 1.61 goats, a hare by chance rūning by, the boy folowed, & ranne so swiftly, that he ouertooke the hare, and brought her home to his father, declaring the race & the running betweene him and the hare to his father. The matter being spread abroad, the yong man was brought to the games Olympical, where he * 1.62 wanne the victory in running, and had a garland on his head, * 1.63 as Solinus doth write. Ciaxeres sōne vnto Astiages, some say his father as Zonoras in his first booke, but Zenophon likewise affir∣meth with Iosephus, that this Ciaxeres, was Astiages sōne called by the name of Darius Medus of Daniel, and of Iosephus: but the * 1.64 Grecians named him Ciaxares Cyrus vncle: for when Astiages died, he left behind him as his heire Ciaxares, and a daughter named Mādanes which was maried to Cambyses. I wil not mo∣lest * 1.65 the reader with variety of auctorities, sometime disagree∣ing in computation of time, or varying of the place, or of the person: but howsoeuer it is, this Ciaxares became a great and a strong king: for after he had conquered many countreis, he went in armes against the Assyrians, besieged Niniue, & tooke the spoyle thereof by ayde of Cyrus, who afterward shortly * 1.66 sub dued it, and became cōquerour of al Assyria, and brought them subiect to the Medes.

About this time Solon made lawes to the Athenians, and Mi∣lo Crotoniensis a Romane of a wōderful strength, is reported by Solinus, that he could cary vpon his backe an oxe, & that with * 1.67 a stroake of his bare hand he killed that oxe. This Ciaxares, at what time Harpagus layed siege to a towne in Phocea called Io∣nia, the extremitie of his warre being such that they were for∣ced to flee forsaking their towne and countrey towarde the West part, where they builded a towne which they named

Massilia, of whom Eusebius in his chronicles maketh mention, * 1.68 and in Iustine you shal reade the whole historie. Diuers write of this Towne, as Melancthon, Strabo, and Budeus, that in Mas∣silia Frenchmen, in whose border this Towne was builded, by frequenting the Towne, and by exercising of the Grecians societie in the Towne, grew in time to vnderstād the Greeke tongue, the traffique, their order, their lawes and gouern∣ment, which in these dayes excelled in vertue and maners, where of a long time the Greekes tongue florished, the aunci∣ent customes and maners of Ionia were kept.

Nowe Tarquinius Priscus after he had triumphed ouer the * 1.69 Latines or Albans, ouer the Sabins, & ouer the Hetruscans, three seuerall triumphes, hee was conspired and laide in waite for by Ancus Martius children his predecessors in Rome three yeeres before he was slaine, after he had reigned thirtie eight yeeres, and in the fourtie one Olympiad hee died. Then followed by succession after Aliactes Croesus, the ninth and * 1.70 last king of Lydia, being thirtie fiue yeeres of age, and being before hand growen vnto great force & power, and hauing heaped a great abundance of treasure, began to warre vpon these Grecians which dwelt in Asia, vpon the Ionians & Aeoliās, and the people called Doreans: hee receiueth the Lacedemoni∣ans, because they were stoute and a warlike nation, into his societie.

Croesus thus following in pompe and pride of fortune, hea∣ring * 1.71 that Cyrus king of Persia had laid siege to Babylon, and that Balthasar then king of Babylon had endured two or three ouer∣throwes, and most like to lose his kingdome, vnlesse with some speede hee were ayded: Croesus hasted to Babylon with more haste then good speede. After his best done, Balthasar * 1.72 was slaine, Babylon taken, and the Monarchie thereof caried vnto Persia by Cyrus. Croesus being ouerthrowen and narowly escaping, fled from whence he came to Lydia againe, where after that Cyrus had layd all things in order, and had dispo∣sed the victorie to his minde, hee returned after Croesus vnto * 1.73 Lydia, layde siege vnto Sardis the chiefe Citie and palace of

the king, where Croesus after his flight hearing of Cyrus com∣ming, * 1.74 and hauing felt his force before at Babylon, he was not a little troubled, but abiding the brunt thereof, vntill Cyrus tooke the towne, vanquished his power, and brought the kingdome of Lydia subiect vnto the Persians: thus was Croesus twise ouercome by Cyrus.

When Cyrus had brought these great kingdoms vnder the scepter of Persia, he tooke an order with Croesus, that he being depriued of his crowne, and spoyled of his substance, should yet haue a towne in his possession, where hee might liue not * 1.75 (as before) a riche king, but as a poore man. In Croesus time reigned in Rome Seruius Tullus, the sixt king of Rome, in the 51. Olympiad, and foure yeeres before the 18. Iubilee. This king did adorne Rome and the common wealth thereof much, and (as Dyonisius Halicar reporteth of him) he brought within 20. * 1.76 yeres space the Hetruscans to his becke, he tamed al the coun∣tries about Rome, and excelled in gouernment.

By this time Cyrus had subdued the Medes, after Astyages * 1.77 was conuicted, and the Medes made subiect to the Persians: Ciaxerxes, whose sonne (as you heard before) was called of some Darius Medus, who reigned ioyntly with Cyrus 2. yeeres as Astyages here for a time. The temple of Apollo at Delphus, was now the second time set on fire: the Lacedemonians with * 1.78 the Argiues were in armes about this time, who were setled on eyther side, with all the power they could make, to make of one partie a conquest: but before they ioyned in battell, being better aduised by some councell, they agreed to auoid the destruction of so many men, that 300. chosen men of the Lacedemonians, and likewise 300. chosen men of the Argiues, should make an ende of the battell, and they which shoulde * 1.79 haue the victory of these chosen men, should be cōquerors, and the others to yeeld where the victorie happened: which being fought out, the victorie fell to the Lacedemonians, ha∣uing but three of their 300. left aliue, all the rest on both sides stood to it vnto the last man, as Herodot doth write.

In Croesus time happened in Athens a great sedition be∣tweene * 1.80

the Citizens about vsurie, the crueltie whereof grew to be such, as the vsurers claimed free mens sonnes & daugh∣ters to be solde, or otherwise as captiues or slaues to serue them, vntill paiment were made. This was one of Dracos * 1.81 lawes, which (as Demades sayth) was written with blood. To mitigate this crueltie, Solon by consent of the whole Citie was chosen an vmpire, whose Edict was, that free mens chil∣dren should not be sould or brought vnto any bondage for vsurie: and further he decreed, that all creditours should for∣giue * 1.82 their debt vntill that time. And Solon himselfe which made the lawe, first performed the lawe therein: for hee forgaue fiue talents himselfe, which amounted to 2400. crownes: for euery talent is sixe hundred crownes. He added to the twelfth moneth called Lunaris annus, the Epact, * 1.83 which is eleuen dayes, to make an equall number of dayes with the yeere of the sunne. He gathered all the writings of Homer being 300. yeeres before vnto one volume: hee made many good lawes in Athens. So likewise at that time did Tha∣les in Miletum, a great Philosopher, who did to many Cities * 1.84 in Greece, as Solon did in Athens: for they were in Croesus time.

In this time florished Pythagoras, borne in Samos, brought vp in Egypt, and taught philosophie in Tarentum: he was the first among the Italians that read philosophie, whose sect af∣ter him were called Pythagoreans, who farre differed from o∣thers * 1.85 in his doctrine. It is written that Croesus bragging much of his substance, and so preferring thereby himselfe to be the most fortunate & happy king of the world, sitting on his re∣gall throne in his princely attire, beset with precious stones of seueral names & colours in most gorgeous & sumptuous sight, seemed to himselfe to be the goodliest creature of the world: he asked of Solon whether he had euer seene so faire a * 1.86 sight, or so goodly colours in a creature: Solon answered, the Pecock, & the Popiniay do farre excel Croesus in naturall co∣lours & beauty: whereat Croesus being angry said, Solon was a foole: but afterward Croesus being vanquished by Cyrus, remē∣bred * 1.87 Solons words: but now againe to Lydia, which had reuol∣ted against Cyrus & fel to rebellion.

By this time Cyrus was busie in other warres, and hearing of these newes, returned and made of them the last conquest, in the thirtie foure yeere of Seruius Tullus reigne the sixt king of Rome, and in the two hundred and ninth yeere after the building of Rome. Thus Lydia being brought by Cyrus a ser∣uile Prouince to Persia, afterward the reliques of the Lydians * 1.88 became from stout souldiers to slouthfull slaues, and from men became women, accompanying themselues with an idle life, giuen to inuent many vnthriftie exercises, as before is written. And the maides of Lydia went a whoring for their dowrie, offering themselues a pray for money, and the wic∣ked gaines of their bodily vse was the dowrie of their mari∣age, who before Cyrus time, during the time of nine kings, esteemed neither Chaldeans, nor Assyrians: their fortune so flowed, that it became a cōmon prouerbe, As rich as Croesus. * 1.89

But nowe Croesus hauing experience of Solons speach, be∣came now as wise as he was before rich: for the which cause * 1.90 Cyrus esteemed him so, that he would take nothing in hand without Croesus councell: for Cyrus in all his warres, which at that time Cyrus had with so many Nations, hauing already conquered the Assyrians, the Chaldeans, the Lydians, and other kingdomes, hauing like mind to conquere all the world as Alexander the great had, insomuch that Croesus wondred at his fortunate successe in al his actions, his singular wisdome, his great pollicie, and his princely liberalitie to be such, as Croesus did often say, It was no shame for Croesus to be con∣quered by Cyrus.

After that Croesus was long enterteined with Cyrus, hauing good experience of his fidelitie and seruice, he commended Croesus vnto his sonne Cambyses, charging him so to esteeme of Croesus, as he would be directed in all great causes by him.

Nowe Cambyses farre vnlike vnto his father, both in nature and in fortune much inferiour, a cruell king, yea a tyrant: for in his voyage to Egypt, with whom Croesus was in compa∣nie according to his fathers commaundement, Cambyses kil∣ling * 1.91 and murthering his owne souldiers being Persians, like a

hungrie lion foming in blood without any respect of per∣son, Croesus began reuerently to warne Cambyses of his fathers councel, & of the trust that his father Cyrus had in him to ad∣monish Cambyses to lenitie, perswading him to vse more cle∣mencie, * 1.92 & to shew good coūtenance to his souldiers, saying, that the strength of a king was his people, and that mercie in a king was the anchor of his scepter. Cambyses moued with these words, thought to stabbe him: but Croesus by flight esca∣ped, and Cambyses for anger that he had so escaped, comman∣sded them to the sword that ayded Croesus to flee from Camby∣es sight at that time: of this at large doth Herodot write. * 1.93

Thus endeth the kingdome of Lydia in the 14. yeere of Croesus, which continued from the beginning, vntill the last ouerthrow of Croesus 230. yeeres: but Functius saith, 205: o∣thers say not 200. and some 130. yeres, beginning in the first Olympiad, & ending in the 51. Olympiad: for as the kings of Ly∣dia * 1.94 began but 24. yeeres before Rome, so it ended in the eight yeere of Tarquinius Superbus the last king of Rome, & after the first building of Rome 180. yeeres, and was translated to be a prouince of the Persians.

• Ardisus the 1. king of Lydia, reigned 36. yeeres.
• Aliagtes the 2. king of Lydia, reigned 14. yeeres.
• Meles the 3. king of Lydia, reigned 14. yeeres.
• Candaules 4. king of Lydia, reigned 17. yeeres.
• Giges the 5. king of Lydia, reigned 36. yeeres.
• Ardis the 6. king of Lydia, reigned 37. yeeres.
• Sadaites the 7. king of Lydia, reigned 15. yeeres.
• Haliactes the 8. king of Lydia, reigned 49. yeres.
• Croesus the 9, and last king, reigned 14. yeeres.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Herodot. lib. 1. cap. 7.
• * 1.2

  Iosephus. lib. 1. 14. antiq. Zonaras lib. 7.
• * 1.3

  Strabo lib. 13. Plini lib. 5. na•…•…. histor.
• * 1.4

  Dionysius lib 2. Pl•…•…t, in Romule.
• * 1.5

  The Lydians, the Romanes, and the Medes beganne to raigne toge∣ther.
• * 1.6

  The Lacedemo∣nians ended their kingdom now.
• * 1.7

  Arsidius the first king of Lydia.
• * 1.8

  Lydians be∣came idle and slouthfull.
• * 1.9

  Budaeus de asse. lib. 3.
• * 1.10

  Aliagtes the se∣cond king of lydia.
• * 1.11

  Warres be∣twene the La∣cedemonians and the Messa∣nians.
• * 1.12

  Orosius lib. 1. cap. 21. Herodot. lib. 8. in fine.
• * 1.13

  Liuius lib. 1. Dionysius 2.
• * 1.14

  The first tri∣umph of Ro∣mulus.
• * 1.15

  Dionysius lib. 1.
• * 1.16

  The thirde al∣teration in the gouernment of Athens.
• * 1.17

  Decennales principes.
• * 1.18

  Meles the third king of Lydia.
• * 1.19

  The second triumph of Romulus.
• * 1.20

  The third tri umph of Ro∣mulus. Dionysius lib. 2.
• * 1.21

  Candaules the fourth king of Lydia.
• * 1.22

  To bragge of beautie is dangerous.
• * 1.23

  The foolish∣nes of Can∣daules.
• * 1.24

  Two offers vnto Giges.
• * 1.25

  Giges the fift king of Lydia.
• * 1.26

  Heraclides stocke ended in Candaules the 4. king, and cōtinued 502. yeeres. he•…•…odot. lib. 1. Iustinus lib. 3.
• * 1.27

  Constantinople builded.
• * 1.28

  Herodot. lib. 2.
• * 1.29

  Dodoneum ora∣culum at this time.
• * 1.30

  The state of Athens againe.
• * 1.31

  Ardis the sixt king of Lydia.
• * 1.32

  Zaleucus lawe for adulterie.
• * 1.33

  A iust king.
• * 1.34

  A rare exam∣ple of iustice.
• * 1.35

  Tullus Hostilius triumphed o∣uer the Fide∣nans and the vients.
• * 1.36

  Herodotus lib. 1.
• * 1.37

  Terpander a fa∣mous musi∣tion. Thales a great Philosopher liued long.
• * 1.38

  Dionysus Hali∣ca. lib. 3.
• * 1.39

  Solinus cap. 2.
• * 1.40

  The Cimmeri∣ans subdued by the Scythians.
• * 1.41

  Sadaites the 7. king of Lydia.
• * 1.42

  Herodotus lib. 1.
• * 1.43

  Ancus Martius the 4. king of Rome.
• * 1.44

  Dirachium builded.
• * 1.45

  The history of Arion the mu∣sition.
• * 1.46

  Aulus Gell•…•…us lib. 16. cap. 19.
• * 1.47

  Orthium car∣me•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Arion.
• * 1.48

  Herod. lib. 1.
• * 1.49

  Arion caried by a Dolphine in the sea.
• * 1.50

  Cleonidas The∣b•…•…s in Olym∣pi•…•… rict•…•…s.
• * 1.51

  The Scythians caused warre betweene the Medes and the Lydians.
• * 1.52

  Astiages ma∣ried Haliates daughter.
• * 1.53

  Heredot. lib. 1.
• * 1.54

  Ieremie cap. 44.
• * 1.55

  Ez•…•…chiel cap. 19.
• * 1.56

  The Latins vanquished by the Romans.
• * 1.57

  The Sabines ouerthrowen.
• * 1.58

  Hetruscans.
• * 1.59

  The 7. Sages.
• * 1.60

  Alteration in the gouern∣ment of Co∣rinth.
• * 1.61

  Polimnestor Millesimus as swift as a hare.
• * 1.62

  Solinus cap. 6.
• * 1.63

  Zenophon lib. 8. pediae. Ioseph. lib. 10. cap. 12.
• * 1.64

  Some contro∣uersie of Ciaxe∣res.
• * 1.65

  An error in Herodotus.
• * 1.66

  Niniue taken by Ciaxares.
• * 1.67

  Solinus t p. 4.
• * 1.68

  Massilia buil∣ded. Iustine lib 43. Budae, de asse. lib. 1. Strabo de mo•…•…i∣bus Gallorum.
• * 1.69

  Tarquinius Priscus slaine.
• * 1.70

  Cressus the 9. king of Lydia.
• * 1.71

  Babylon besie∣ged by Cyrus.
• * 1.72

  Babylon taken by Cyrus. Balthasar slaine.
• * 1.73

  Cressus fled.
• * 1.74

  Heredot. lib. 1. Sardis taken, and Cr. the se∣cond time conu•…•…cted.
• * 1.75

  Errors in the Olympiads.
• * 1.76

  Dyonis. lib. 4.
• * 1.77

  Media at this time was made subiect to Persia by Cyrus.
• * 1.78

  Lacedemonians and the Ar∣giues.
• * 1.79

  A braue com∣bat.
• * 1.80

  Herodot. lib. 1.
• * 1.81

  Dracos lawes mitigated by Solon.
• * 1.82

  Solons lawes of vsurie.
• * 1.83

  Melancthon 2. Chron.
• * 1.84

  Thales in Mi∣letum.
• * 1.85

  Pithagoras taught in Italie.
• * 1.86

  Croesus to Solō.
• * 1.87

  Lydia did re∣bell against Cyrus.
• * 1.88

  The first con∣quest of Lydia.
• * 1.89

  Croesus fauour with Cyrus.
• * 1.90

  The good opi∣nion of Cyrus toward Croesus.
• * 1.91

  Cambyses tyran nie to his soul∣diers.
• * 1.92

  Croesus coun∣cell to Cam∣byses.
• * 1.93

  Herodo. lib. 3.
• * 1.94

  Lydia is made a prouince of Persia by con∣quest.