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 FIRST ORIGI∣nall of the CHALDEANS, first called Arphaxades after the name of Arphaxad the thirde sonne of SEM, which was the first king∣dome of the world: of their continuance, go∣uernment and last destruction by Da∣rius Medius, and Cyrus.

NOw hauing ended the historie of the Hebrewes, the posteritie of Arphaxad the thirde sonne of Sem, I will followe Assur the se∣cond sonne of Sem, who buil∣ded Niniue, from whom and af∣ter whose name the Assyrians are called: whose history I haue now in hand.

In the hundreth thirtie and one yeere after the flood, when people had multiplied in the land of Shinear, olde Noah taught the people to seeke new seates and dwellings, instructed the newe worlde (the first age after the flood,) in the course of the Sunne, the Moone, and the starres, and in all other things wherein Noah was most perfite: hee declared to his people what he knewe and sawe in the first age, and deuided the world into three parts,

Asia, Africke, and Europe, and sent his sonnes to seeke ad∣uentures. * 1.1 Cham he sent to Egypt and to Africke with his com∣pany, Sem to Asia, and Iaphet with his people to Europe: of whom I will speake where their historie is handled.

Now I will begin the historie of the Chaldeans, who after that the people were dispersed at the building of Babel, and had scattered into euery partes of the worlde, were the first that erected vp a kingdome, and was the first place that was inhabited, as both Zenophon and Berosus affirme: for the Calde∣ans knew that before the flood that men liued, and that the continuance of them were before the flood, one thousande sixe hundreth and fiftie yeeres and more, for that then Noah and his sonnes taught the second age, of things done in the former age, and how for sinne God had destroied the world: for the Egyptians and the Phoenicians long after the flood, were taught by the Chaldeans of the flood, and of the former time, and after more perfectly instructed by Abraham, * 1.2 which in the time of famine trauailed from Canaan into E∣gypt, where for a time hee read Arithmeticke to the Egypti∣ans, then rude and ignorant of any great knowledge, that hearing of these things, they beganne very obscurely and darkely to set downe many things which they then not per∣fectly knewe, and yet are vnperfect, for that they were igno∣rant of the Genesis. The goodnesse of God spared Noah for 350. yeres and more, to instruct the second age, & to preach vnto them the wonderfull workes and mercies of God be∣fore the flood, and to warne the world after the flood from sinne, the onely cause of Gods wrath towards man, and to bring them vp in the true religion of God: not as prophane writers affirme, that hee wandered all the countreys of the world by diuers and sundry names, as by the name of Ogyges, * 1.3 Ianus, Coelus, Oenotrius, Geminus pater, and many such fabu∣lous names, of his lawes in euery countrey, of his religion and ceremonies in euery kingdome, of his being in Italy, in Spaine, and in other countreys, cleane contrary to the na∣ture and trueth of the history, which came after the flood vn∣to

the place where he yet liued, with his forefathers, Lamech, Methusalem, Enoch, and so foorth before the flood, the land of Shinear where by the consent and opinion of the best lear∣ned he liued vntil he died. I wil not therefore follow Caldean fables, in the antiquities of their Caldean and Assyrian kings, for that they haue no sound warrant for their historie, but that which Berosus setteth downe, which Manethon an Egyp∣tian priest much commendeth, and maketh many supplies of Berosus lies, and so doeth Io. Annius a priest in Whitenberge, in his Commentaries vpon Berosus, and so doth Diodorus in his bookes of Fabulous antiquitie. But leauing Berosus, Menathon, and Annius to forge their fables, I wil as briefly as I can, runne through this historie, for that I can finde nothing true of them, but that which I reade in the Bible, from the time of Phul assur, vntill Balsaars time, which were but 10. kings, * 1.4 whose names I set here downe.

• 1 Phul assur, named in the Scripture, Tiglat Phul∣assur.
• 2 Salmanassar, which de∣stroyed Samaria, and toke the 10. tribes of Israel vn∣to Niniue captiue.
• 3 Saneherib, who came a∣gainst Ezechias to Hieru∣salem, with an huge ar∣mie, folowing his fathers tyrannie Saneherib.
• 4 Merodach, the first king of Babylon, againe broght Niniue vnder Babylon.
• 5 Berodach, his sonne.
• 6 Nabuchodonosor, which destroied Hierusalem, and tooke the tribe of Iuda captiue into Babylon.
• 7 Euilmerodach, Nabuchodo∣nosors sonne, this restored Iehoakim king of Iuda vn∣to his libertie againe, af∣ter that Nebuchodonosor his father died.
• 8 The last of these Kings was Balsaar: of these ma∣ny kings, in this the hi∣story of the Prophetes make mention, and so much of the historie is true.

I will therefore set downe the continuance, the nombers of their kings, the change and varietie of this Kingdome: for after that Nimrod had drawen people together, he first laide the foundation of the Empire, made lawes, began to builde a great Citie, and named it Babylon, the first Citie after the flood: which Citie though Nimrod began it, his sonne Belus * 1.5 amplified it, and last of al Semiramis finished it in such forme and stately shewe, as he that is desirous to knowe the length, the breadth, the compasse, situation, the strength and beau∣tie of Babylō, let him read Herodotus Solinus, where it is largely * 1.6 described. Though it is thought that Herodotus and others in this do erre: for Iosephus lib. 1. contr App. and Beroaldus 3. Chr. affirme, that the olde writers erred much about the building of Babylon, and of Niniue: for that which Nabuchodonosor clai∣med to be his owne, saying, Nonne haec est Babylon quam ego aedificaui in robore fortitudinis meae? Is not this Babylon which I haue builded? the Grecians and all olde writers attribute to Nimrod, to Belus, and to Semiramis. The like fable is of Nini∣ue, which was builded first by Assur, the sonne of Semi, by writers is attributed to Nynus. Herein both Greeke and La∣taine Historians are ouer seene aswell in the time, as in the persons, in that they were ignorant of the Prophetes histo∣ries: howbeit Babylon was begun by Nimrod and Belus, and somewhat enlarged and beautified by Semiramis: but the dig∣nitie and chiefe soueraigntie of Babylon must be graunted to Nabuchodonosor, vnder whom the Caldeans onely florished ouer all Kingdomes, and enioyed aureum seculum.

So this Countrey florished first before all other Coun∣treis. * 1.7 Babylon the first towne & the first seate of the Empire of the world, being the chiefest palace of the king: for so were they called kings of Babylon, and the first kings in the worlde after the flood, and so continued almost two hundred yeres, vntill the time of Ninus, who after he had builded Niniue, in * 1.8 the plaine of Aturia, a farre greater Towne then Babylon, though before it was begunne by Assur, one of the sonnes of * 1.9 Sem, yet fully by Nynus finished.

This Nynus waxed great and strong, layed siege to Baby∣lon, subdued it, and brought the Empire of Caldea subiect vn∣to Assyria: then both Caldea and Assyria became one Mo∣narchie, * 1.10 and then the kings of Babylon were called kings of Assyria, and then Assyria hauing conquered Babylon, began to be chiefe, and continued from Belus time the first king of As∣syria, vntill Sardanapalus time the last king of Assyria, which as Eusebius writeth, was 12. hundred & fourtie yeeres from the first reigne of Nynus, vntill the last of Sardanapalus: so long the seede of Sem continued kings, and helde the Monarchie of * 1.11 Assyria. As the kingdome of Babylon was translated then from the posteritie of Cham, after the first 200. yeeres, vnto the po∣steritie of Sem: so nowe againe Niniue is made subiect to Ba∣bylon, as it shalbe hereafter shewed, when the historie of the kings of Assyria is handled. Thus Assyria sometime subiect to Chaldea, and Chaldea to Assyria: Niniue to Babylon, and Babylon to Niniue, vntill both were subdued by the Medes, and after by the Persians: so God doth appoint, and God doth disap∣point states and common wealthes, according to the de∣cree of his eternall will, sinne being the onely cause of Gods anger and wrath, his wrath the cause of all calamities, de∣struction, and subuersion of kingdomes, as Sirach saith, Reg∣num à gente in gentem transferetur propter iniustitiam.

Therefore Pompei the great, being a heathen man, and driuen to flight in the the battell at Pharsalia by Iulius Caesar, * 1.12 desirous to know of Cratippus the Philosopher, the euents of the warres betweene Iulius Caesar and himselfe, demaunded of him, an sit prouidentia? whether the decree and purpose of God is vnchangeable? Cratippus answered him, though a hea∣then * 1.13 Philosopher, yet like a true Christian, saying, Fatales esse imperiorum periodos, the prouidence of God is most sure and * 1.14 certeine: for then the Romane Monarchie beganne by Iu∣lius Caesar, the first Emperour of Rome, which Pompei founde true within a while after: and so Chaldea first, and Assyria after, so the Medes, so the Persians, so the Grecians; and last of all the Romanes came to destruction by not confessing God, nei∣ther

acknowledging his prouidence, as you shall reade in their seuerall histories. But nowe to speake of the rest of the kings of Assyria, for that they were at one time, and gouerned together, Belus the sōne of Nimrod, after he had (as you haue heard) laid the fundations of Babylon by his father Nimrod be∣fore appointed, a peaceable prince, quiet, gentle, & curteous vnto his subiects, vntil about the latter end of his reigne hee became to bee ambitious, most cruelly giuen to enlarge the Empire of Babylon, and (as Berosus saith) to bring all Nations * 1.15 vnder the Chaldeans: he went about first to destroy a mightie great king in those dayes, which much hindred Belus purpo∣ses, named Sabatius king of Saga. This Sabatius perceiuing that Belus laid secret snares euery way for him, and seeing that he could by no meanes escape the hads of Belus, he hid himself in a secret place with the Caspiis. Annius saith in the 5. booke * 1.16 vpon Berosus, that this Sabatius was Saturnus. Now Belus being old, hauing reigned 62. yeeres, grew so great and so mightie, that al the nations about honored him as a god: he comman∣ded Nynus his sonne a little before he died, by al meanes pos∣sible to destroy Sabatius Saga; and by the sword to compell all nations and countries, and al people to be vnder the Empire of Babylon, for that it was the first kingdome after the flood. When he had reigned king 62. yeeres, he died, to whom the * 1.17 Assyrians after his death erected his statue or image, & they made so many monumēts to Belus after his death, that there∣by they began to commit idolatry, to put vp images, naming them Baal, & Bel, after the name of Belus. Nynus succeeded his father Belus, the third king of the Assyrians, imitating his fa∣ther both by nature and by cōmandement, lost no time, but streight in armes, & where his father subdued the most part of Assyria and Asia, this king went further, hauing conquered euery where vntill the coasts of Libya, finding the people yet not able to resist him, not acquainted with wars, but seeking meanes to fortifie their kingdomes, being as yet weake and tender, without any great force, not so strong as to resist Ny∣nus being at that time the greatest king in the worlde, which ouercame Aricus king of Arabia, but some say king of Ellasar, * 1.18

and after conquered Barzanes king of Armenia, as Berosus affirmeth. After he returned to Media, where Pharnus king * 1.19 of the Medes, and his seuen sonnes were slaine with their ar∣mie, thence proceeded forward to Bactria, where Zoroastres remained as king, to whom Iustine ascribeth the first obser∣uations of the starres, naming him the first Astrologer of the worlde after the flood: this gaue Nynus a great ouerthrowe in the first battell, putting the enemies to flight after he had slaine 100000. of the Assyrians.

Nynus hauing this foile returned with greater force, ioy∣ned againe in battel, ouercame the Bactrians, slue their king, & possessed the kingdome by the pollicie of Semiramis, whō * 1.20 afterward he maried: which historie you shall finde in Diodo∣rus Siculus at large. This Nynus excelled his father, augmen∣ting the Empire of Assyria, by the conquestes hee did of all Asia, and of all the East kingdomes vnto the Indians: hee am∣plified the Citie of Niniue, which Assur the sonne of Sem be∣gan * 1.21 to builde, as Iosephus and Philo Iudaeus doe affirme: but Melancthon saith, that Nynus two hundred yeeres after buil∣ded Niniue: after Assur began it that Nynus enlarged it, beau∣tified and made it so great, that it conteined foure hundred furlongs of ground, which is fiftie miles after our accompt: it had a thousand and fiue hundred wonderfull great towres vpon the walles, it had the onely soueraignetie of the worlde, and there Nynus, and all the kings of Assyria kept their Courtes: this was called by Nynus after his owne name Niniue: it was builded in the valley of Aturia, not farre from the riuer Tygris: this Niniue was farre greater then Babylon, as you may reade in Herodotus at large, and was the chiefe seate * 1.22 of the kings of Assyria a thousand and two hundred yeeres: some write one thousand, three hundred and more.

Howe true Berosus writes of the pilgrimage and iourneys of Noah, I referre it to the reader: but hee sayeth, that in the tenth yeere of Nynus the third king of Babylon, after that No∣ah had trauailed many Countries, & had giuen them lawes, he came to Africa, from Africa after that heehad taught the

people for a time he came into Italie, in the nineteenth yeere of Nynus, at what time Noah was eight hundred and three score yeeres olde, and liued after in Italie and in Hetruria 92. yeeres: for so long liued Noah, which was in all 950. Many Monuments and Townes builded by Noah in diuers Coun∣tries, are set written by Berosus lib. 5. and by Annius in his Comentarie: Abraham was 57. when Noah died.

After this Nynus had reigned 52. yeeres, he died, and was buried in his owne Citie of Nynus, where his wife Semiramis * 1.23 buried him so honorably, with such a sumptuous Toumbe, that it was the onely paterne which Artimesia the queene of Caria made for her husbande Mausolus, and counted for the rarenes thereof one of the seuen woonders of the worlde. Wee reade in Zenophon, that Semiramis caused an Epitaph to bee set vpon one of the pillars of this graue with these wordes, Mihipater Belus Iupiter, Auus Saturnus Ba∣bylonicus, * 1.24 proauus Chus Saturnus Ethiops, Abauus Saturnus Aegyp∣tus, atauus Caelus Phoenix Ogiges, repeating the petigree of Ny∣nus to be the sonne of Belus the sonne of Nimrod, the sonne of Chus, the sonne of Cham, the sonne of Noah. Archilogus wri∣teth, that he beganne to reigne a king ouer the Assyrians 250. yeeres after the flood.

In this Nynus time Abraham was borne: Semiramis after her husband was dead, beganne to fortifie the walles of Ba∣bylon, * 1.25 ruled and gouerned most stoutly the Assyrians and the Caldeans 42. yeeres, adding to the Empire more Regions and Countries after her husbands dayes, subdued the Ethiopians, ouercame the Indians and their king Staurobates, which ne∣uer was done, or by any enterprised beside Semiramis, but onely by Alexander the great. Of this queene, and of her do∣ings, her warres and her great workes, you shall reade in Dio∣dorus * 1.26 and Annius, how she became so great, so terrible, and so luckie in any warre she tooke in hand, that she excelled farre all the Assyrian and Caldean kings in victories and triumphs, vntil Nabuchodonosors time, but slaine at last by her sonne cal∣led Nynus, or Nynias, as Melancthon, and Annius, and Ruffinus

writeth the 5. king of the Assyrians, who liued with his mo∣ther, and had no gouernment, for that he was a simple man, and who succeeded his mother, being neither like to his fa∣ther * 1.27 nor to his mother, a king giuen to slouthfulnesse, full of idlenesse, of whom we reade nothing worth the writing, sa∣uing that he repaired & beautified the temples of their idols, * 1.28 and made much of the Chaldean magi which were accomp∣ted wise men, obseruing the turne of Astrologers who began then in those dayes to vse diuination: he reigned 38. yeeres, who a litle before he died, Camesenus being forced to flee frō all the partes of the world, came to Bactria, and there streng∣thened himselfe with the Bactrians, that he prepared a great army to inuade the Assyrians: but he was slaine, and his armie ouerthrowen euen of this king Ninias, as Berosus affirmeth: * 1.29 yet Diodorus, Iustinus, & Orosius say, that this was done by Ny∣nus the father of Ninias. Let the reader beleeue whō hee list: * 1.30 I had rather follow Berosus, (though he is supposed not to be Berosus, yet the best writer vseth him in this historie) for he is best to be beleeued, for that hee knoweth better the Chaldean histories, being a Chaldean borne, then others. This Ninias, or Ramisninias is takē to be that king, which is called Amraphel in Genesis, king of Shinar, which is Babylon: for in the daies of Am∣raphel came Arioch king of Ellasar, who came with the king of Shinar, against the kings of Sodom & Gomorrha, together with two other kings, Chedor king of Elam, and Tidal king of the na∣tions gathered of diuers countries. These foure kings made * 1.31 warre with Bera king of Sodom, with Byrsha king of Gomorrha, with Shemeber king of Seboim, and with the king of Bela, in the * 1.32 vale of Siddim. At this very warre Lot the nephew of Abraham (for hee dwelt then at Sodom) was taken with the king of * 1.33 Sodom & the rest, was rescued by Abraham his vncle, he & all his goods, al his substance, men & women, Abraham recoue∣red frō Amraphel king of Shinar, & his company. By this time Egypt began to florish, and the kings of Egypt beganne to be strong: they were all named Pharaohs, as the Romanes called their Emperors Caesars, names of great dignitie. While this

conflict and these great armies of fiue kings against foure were in the field, you must vnderstand they were but gouer∣nors * 1.34 of cities: for in these daies skant the names of kingdoms were knowen, but a kind of gouernment called Oligarchia, by reason it was within 350. yeres of the flood. At that time A∣braham comming backe with Lot, Melchisedec king of Shalem came to meete him, & blessed him, to whom Abraham gaue tithe of al that he had. This Melchisedec is taken to be Sem the sonne of Noah king of Shalem, afterward called Ierusalem. Af∣ter this Ninias, succeeded his sonne Arius, the sixt king of the Assyrians, as Functius writeth: but Ruffinus the fourth, and yet they vary not, but in this that Functius beginneth from Nim∣rod, which Ruffinus saith began in Babylon, & not in Niniue. A∣gaine, Functius numbreth Semiramis reigne, for that she reig∣ned 40. yeres after her husband Nynus, which Ruffinus omit∣teth, coumpting Nynus reigne for both: for both the gouern∣ment of Semiramis and Ninus, & forward stil of the rest of the kings of Assyria, Ruffinus, omitting these two, Nimrod & Semi∣ramis, maketh Functius to say sixe, and Ruffinus to accoumpt foure, but in this I will follow Functius. This Arius after that * 1.35 his father Ninias was dead, hee gathered a great host of soul∣diers against the Bactrians and the Caspians, with whom his father and his forefathers were enemies alwayes: hee in∣uaded them againe, spoyled their countrey, slue their king, and brought Bactria and Caspia subiect to the Assyrians: in * 1.36 this kings time died Noah, about twelue yeres after Abraham was called from Vr in Chaldea, and came to Haran, where hee staied foure yeres. Thus florished the kingdome of the Assyri∣ans, being still augmented with more Prouinces, Cities, and Countries, by Arius and his predecessors: and when hee had reigned 30. yeeres, he died, and after him succeeded Aralius the seuenth king of the Assyrians a warlike prince, a man of * 1.37 great prowesse, skilfull in militarie discipline, full of martiall exploites, of whom Berosus affirmeth, that it was he that first vsed triumphs and pompes with great honor, dignitie, and rewards to souldiers that deserued praise, & began to be de∣licious in bankets and feastes, and inuented many engins of warres that then were not knowen.

In this kings fathers time, there dwelt in Celtiberia a great wise man, expert in many things, whose name was Druyas: of * 1.38 whom (as Berosus writeth) the auncient priests and wise men were called Druyades: so doth Plinie write, and Caius Iulius Cae∣sar in his booke de bello Gallico.

This Aralius ruled Assyria fourtie yeeres, and died. Then beganne in Niniue the reigne of Baleus, surnamed Xerxes, the eight king of the Assyrians: this surmounted farre his prede∣cessour * 1.39 Aralius: for hee brought vnder the scepter of Assyria twise asmuch people, Nations and Countries, as his prede∣cessour did, and therefore he was called Xerxes, that is, the conquerour, the triumpher, which long after were names of great dignitie among the Persians. This king was both fierce and fortunate, and enlarged the confines of his kingdome with many Nations: he conquered al Countries vnto India, * 1.40 he made the kings to bee feared so much of all kingdomes, that he was named of the Assyrians, Xerxes victor & triumpha∣tor: this reigned (as Berosus doth write) thirtie yeeres. In this Baleus dayes, Inachus the first king of the Argiues, and their * 1.41 first kingdome began.

After Baleus reigned in Assyria, a king named Armatrites the ninth: of him there is no great thing to bee read to his commendation: hee was giuen much to wicked lust and slouthfulnesse, consuming his time in feasting and banquet∣ting, from one pleasure vnto another, more cōuersant with women then with men, and more delicious in apparell then hardie in warres, and more giuen (as Berosus saith) to a lewde life then to vertuous exercise: he reigned 38. yeeres. In these dayes Sem the sonne of Noah died, and the king of Salem be∣ing sixe hundred yeeres olde, for Sem was a hundred yeere olde when the flood began, and hee liued before the flood with three of his olde fathers, with Noah, Methusalem, and Lamech: and after the flood he liued in the second age, vntill Iacobs time, and died in the fiftie yere of Iacobs age, seuen hun∣dred * 1.42 yeeres iust before Dauids birth: hee liued thirtie fiue yeeres after Abrahams dayes.

The tenth king of the Assyrians was Belochus Priscus, and he * 1.43 reigned 35. yeres, a righteous king, of whō writers make no great mention: for most of the kings of Assyria be so ancient, & their histories by Berosus set forth so doubtfull, that autho∣rities sufficient cannot be found to write much, sauing those ten kings which are mentioned in Scripture, in whose time the Assyrians and the Chaldeans florished most: their histo∣ries and their tyrannies done in the Church, is set downe in the Prophetes by the Spirite of God, the touchstone of all trueth, and reserued by the holy Ghost to the vse of his Church and the members thereof, the keyes of all know∣ledge, of whom al prophane histories haue their beginning. Baleus Iunior succeeded to be the eleuenth king of Assyria: hee reigned two and fiftie yeeres, and was amongst the Assyrians of great fame: hee excelled the rest in all his warres: for his predecessors, euenthe best kings, as Baleus Xerxes, Aralius, Ni∣nus or Belus himselfe entred not so farre, conquered not so much as this king did, whom all writers so cōmended, and specially after Semiramis next in fame and greatnes: for shee conquered vnto India, this conquered India, and brought the Indians vnder the gouernment of the Assyrians, paying yerely tribute vnto the kings of Assyria, committing themselues and their countries vnder the tuition of this king Baleus Iunior.

In this Baleus Iuniors time, Osiris being very aged, returning * 1.44 from all the Countries where hee had traueiled, into Egypt, erected vp a triumphant pillar, with this inscription set vp∣on it, I am King Osiris, the sonne of Saturnus, that taught in all partes of the world the vse of those things which I Osiris first found out. This Trophe was kept a long time by the Priestes of E∣gypt * 1.45 in memorie of Osiris.

About this time Iacob and his children went to Egypt, 215. * 1.46 yeeres after Abrahams being in Egypt: and they continued so long after Abraham, 215. yeeres, which was the whole time of the children of Israels bondage in Egypt: for from Abra∣hams being first in Egypt, where he left to dwell in Egypt some * 1.47 Hebrewes after his departing, vntill the comming of Moses, is 430. yeeres.

After this reigned Altad•…•…s the 12. king of the Assyrians: this aboue the rest became epicureall, applying his whole * 1.48 studie to seeke out vaine men that could well instruct him to degenerate from his predecessours: for hee sawe so much wealth in Niniue, where the treasures of the kings of Assyria were, that he could by no meanes know how to spend them: hee gaue himselfe to all kind of vices, and to followe young councel: and moreouer he thought it a most miserable thing to toile, to traueile himselfe with continuall warres, hauing so much substance that hee coulde not foresee howe to con∣sume them: but by a decree of his young councelours so it was deuised, that the huge treasure & great substance which his predecessours by their conquestes had obteined, should be with most ease and lesse danger consumed: for this was Altades opinion, hee thought it most fit to liue in pleasure, and to enioy the benefites of his predecessours, noting the miserie to bee such of his elders, as coulde not spende them selues, but spare them to others: and therfore suum institutum * 1.49 fuit (saith the historie) to feede delicately, to vse insolent at∣tires, to followe riotous company, to frequent all kinde of pleasures, and to liue viciously while he liued. In this time li∣ued Prometheus, of whom the Poets make mention much, as * 1.50 Ruffinus in his comentarie doth note.

This Altades reigned 32. yeeres: Berosus writeth, that one Hercules king of Celtiberia, in the 19. of Altades, brought his sonne named Thuscus vnto Italie, where hee was created king. After this, Hercules returned backe from Italie vnto Celtiberia, where hee died being very olde: hee was honoured with sta∣tues and images after his death as a demie god: this was be∣fore Hercules Amphitrion 500. yeeres: this reigned in the yere of the world 2275. When Altades had ended his riotous life, * 1.51 one succeeded him named Mamitus the 13. king of Assyria, a man of a cleane contrary disposition to Altades.

This king againe, assoone as he came to his kingdom, ex∣ercised himselfe with care & diligence to foresee the state of his kingdome, lothing & detesting idlenes, bent himselfe to warres, kept garisons, had diuers armies abroad, & himselfe

ready to performe in persō that, which Altades his predeces∣sor * 1.52 had neglected. This king grewe so great & so strong, that Egypt & al Syria stood in awe of him, which Syria (as Sabellicus affirmeth) was once the largest kingdom of the world, hauing within it self Palestina, Arabia, Iudea, Phoenicia, & Coelosyria: for the Syrians are people very anciēt: for so Plinie saith, that they were before the Assyrians. Strabo would haue Syria to be al one as Assyria is: for so the Grecians called them. This king Mamitus reigned 30. yeres, & was the first king of the Assyrians that be∣gan this warre in Syria & Egypt: for in his dayes Syria & Egypt florished. There is mention made of the Syrians in Genesis, where Moses saith, that the Syrians descended from Charmel the sonne of Nahor Abrahās brother, called also by the kings of Aram. Nowe after Mamitus succeeded Mancaleus, the 14. * 1.53 king of the Assyrians: this king did nothing worth the memo∣rie, for we reade of no warre in his time: for the kings of Assy∣ria being the first nations which had kings in the world, grew frō time to time so great & so mighty, that they held the Mo∣narchie of Assyria from Nimrod to Sardanapalus 1240. yeeres and more: during which time, fewe kings or none coulde hurt them or stand in field against them: for in the East part no king of any puissance was able to encounter with the As∣syrian kings: for then the Assyrians onely ruled: other coun∣tries * 1.54 were not as yet populous, sauing Egypt, who began to be likewise strong: in processe of time, none coulde resist the strength of the Assyrians but the Egyptians. When Egypt grew strong, these two kingdomes began to warre one with ano∣ther, and therefore vntill the time of Phul, Belochus, Salmanas∣ser, Senaherib and Nabuchodonosor, mentioned in the Ecclesia∣sticall history, no great histories are written of the Assyrian kings, and then it was called new Assyria, therefore nothing may be read of the first kings of Assyria, for they helde their kingdome all this while without any great dangers, for yet the engins of war•…•…es were •…•…ot knowen: for as Berosus began to * 1.55 write his histories from the going of Noah out of the arke: so he continueth his histor•…•… vn•…•… the childrē of Israel going out of Egypt: few could writ•…•… •…•…erteinly of this time being of

such antiquitie: for from Ninus the third king of the Assyrians vntill Spherus, the fifteenth king which nowe I haue in hand, as Archilochus doth gather, there is 451. yeeres. This Spherus after 20. yeeres gouernment died: the 16. king called of Be∣rosus Mameius, reigned 30. yeeres, and hee likewise died with∣out any great mention made of his name. Then folowed in * 1.56 the kingdome of Assyria one named Sparetus, vnder whom the Chaldeans warred vpon the Phoenicians, as Eusebius and Be∣rosus sayth, and brought the Syrians & the Phoenicians subiect to Sparetus. At this time happened such a terrible earthquake (as Berosus doth write) throughout al Assyria and Chaldea, that Babylon & Niniue were much thereby frighted: this Sparetus reigned 40. yeeres. Next folowed Ascatades, the 18. king of Assyria, of whom Berosus writeth, that in the eight yere of this * 1.57 kings reigne, reigned Centres king of Egypt, who with all his host were drowned in the red sea. This is that Pharao that re∣sisted Moses and plagued Israel, of whom I haue written in the stories of the Iewes. In his time he and all his peeres & nobles of Egypt were drowned in the red sea, at what time the He∣brewes had such a triumph ouer their long enemies, as nei∣ther the Persians had ouer the Assyrians, nor the Macedonians ouer the Persians, neither yet the proude Romanes ouer the Macedonians, as the Hebrewes had ouer the Egyptians, and therefore I will set downe the names of the kings of Assy∣ria in this sort from the first king vntill Moses.

• Nimrod. 56. yeeres.
• Belus. 62.
• Nynus. 52.
• Semiramis. 42.
• Zamhisninias. 38.
• Arius. 30.
• Aralius. 40.
• Baleus Xerxes. 30.
• Armatrites. 38.
• Bellochus Priscus. 35.
• Baleus Iunior. 52.
• Altades. 32.
• Mamitus. 30.
• Mancaleus. 30.
• Spherus. 20.
• Macaleus. 2. called of Bero∣sus Mameius. 30. yeeres.
• Sparetus. 40.
• Ascatades. 40.

Of the rest of the Kings of Assyria from Ascatades the eigh∣teenth King vnto Sardanapalus the sixe and thirtith, and the last King of the Assyrians, which is since the Israelites left Egypt, vntill the first Olympiad, at what time Iotham reigned in Iudea.

CHAP. II.

IN the last yeere of Ascatades, began Dar∣danus to gouerne the Troianes, himselfe being the first king and first builder of Dardania, then Ilion, and the third time called Troy, after the flood eight hundred and thirtie yeeres: for Berosus in the last yeeres of Ascatades the eighteenth king of the Assyrians, ended his historie, and went into Athens, and read the Grecians Astronomy, instructed them in the Chalde∣ans knowledge, concerning the first age before the flood: se∣condly, the genealogie of Adam, and the rest vnto the flood: thirdly, of the flood and of Noah, by the name of Ianus, of his long continuance, of his traueile, lawes, and monu∣ments in all Countries: fourthly, •…•…ee taught the antiquitie to the Athenians, of all Kingdomes & Nations, for the which the Athenians caused his statue to be made with a tongue gil∣ded in his head, and to bee put vp in the open schoole at Athens: thus was Berosus in Athens honored with a statue. I thinke it best therefore after that Berosus ended his historie of the kings of Assyria, briefely to passe them ouer, onely set∣ting their names, the time of their gouernment, and the con∣tinuance of the same, vntil their kingdome and Empire was taken away by the Chaldeans. I haue already from Nimrod the first king, vntil Ascatades the eighteenth king, set downe their names: & now from Ascatades vnto Sardanapalus the last king, I will likewise passe them ouer briefely.

18 Ascatades the eighteenth king of Assyria, reigned fourtie yeeres: in his time Dardanus builded Dardania, af∣terwarde called Troy, whose building was after the flood eight hundred and thirtie yeeres.

19 Amintes succeeded Ascatades, and reigned king of Assyria 45. yeeres: in this kings time Moses died in the land of Moab on mount Nebo, after he had brought the Israelites out of Egypt 40. yeeres.

20 After Amintes folowed Belochus Iunior, which reigned 25. yeeres in Assyria: he had a daughter named Ac∣tosa, otherwise called Semiramis, who gouerned with her fa∣ther 7. yeeres. The first Iubilee began in the fourth yeere of this king Bellochus after Moses: for from Moses death vnto the birth of Christ are 29. Iubilees.

21 Bellopares reigned 30. yeeres, in whose time the Is∣raelites serued Eglon king of Moab 18. yeeres, vntill Ehud the sonne of Gera slue Eglon, by whose death Israel had rest 18. yeeres.

22 Lamprides the 22. king of Assyria, reigned 32. yeres, in whose time Shamgar •…•…dged Israel, who slue 600. Phili∣stims with an Oxe goade, so God still raised either Priest, Prophet, Iudge, or a king to defend his people.

About this time was the Leuites wife abused at Gibeah to death: for the which cause the Leuite cutteth her in 12. pie∣ces, and sendeth her to the 12. tribes of Israel: for the which * 1.58 villanie all the tribe of Beniamin were well nigh destroyed.

After Lamprides had reigned 32. yeeres, hee had after him a king called Sosares, in whose time (as Cassiod. doth write) the flying horse Pegasus was inuented, and so called for his swiftnesse. Debora and Barac ruled Israel foure yeeres, at what * 1.59 time they fought with Iabin. Iael slue Sisera the chiefe cap∣taine of Iabin king of Chanaan, and his whole armie were ouerthrowen by Barac and Debora. The historie of Ruth was likewise about this time: some suppose that Obed the sonne of Boas was borne when Sosares had reigned twentie yeeres. Lampares succeeded him, and he continued thirtie yeeres. In the fifth yeere of Lampares sell the third Iubilee after Moses * 1.60 amongst the Iewes.

Many of the Assyrian kings might haue beene omitted for any memorie they left behinde, sauing that by the time of their gouernment, we know how euery kingdome and when euery nation began to florish: for truely they were more an∣cient then the rest, and were the first kings of the worlde, and were idle without any great warre, therfore is little written of them vntill Phul Belochus time: for Herodotus, Ctesias, and Dio∣dorus Siculus, wrote more liberally of the Assyrians, then ei∣ther * 1.61 authoritie or reason warranted them therein. The grea∣test bragge that Saneherib, called Sargon in some histories, could make of his predecessours the kings of Assyria, at what time he laide siege to Ierusalem, hee boasted to Ezechia king of Iuda, the victories and conquestes of the kings of Assyria in these wordes, Tu audisti O Ezechia, omnia quae fecerunt reges Assyriorum? &c. Hast thou not heard (O Ezechias) what my predecessours the kings of Assyria haue done? haue they not * 1.62 conquered Gozan, Haran, and Reseph? haue they not subdued the sonnes of Eden, which dwelt in Thalassar? what is be∣come of king Emath, and of king Arphad? where be the kings Sepharuaim, Hena and Iuah? are not these subdued and con∣quered * 1.63 by the kings of Assyria? all these kings dwelt in Syria. All this bragge of Saneherib, who was in the most florishing time of the Assyrians Empire, their kingdome, their victo∣ries, their glorie, and all these repetitions of Saneherib, ex∣tended not yet as farre as Mount Taurus: and therefore Dio∣nysius Halicar nassaeus, is in this to bee both beleeued and pre∣ferred before either Herodotus, or Ctesias, or Diodorus and others, who wrote more largely then truely of the Assyrian kings: for hee saith, that the olde Assyrian Empire possessed * 1.64 but a litle part of Assyria, Modicam quandam Assyriae partem obti∣nuit, as Dionysius affirmeth: for during the time and gouern∣ment of the first kings of Assyria, euen from Nynus the first king, vntill Sardanapalus their last king, was fabulosum tempus: the trueth of their historie and the glory of their Empire ap∣peared from the time of Phul Belochus, which was father to Phul Assur, and in the sacred Scripture named Tiglat Assur.

This Phul Assur was father to Salmanasser, and Salmanasser was father to Senaherib. At this time it was called newe Assy∣ria, whose Empire was againe after the death of Saneherib by Merodach brought into Babylon: for in Babylon the first Empire began, after translated from Babylon to Niniue, and now from Niniue to Babylon againe, where it ended in Balsaar, as it shall be shewed when the historie commeth to it.

In this kings time the Midianites preuailed much against the children of Israel for seuen yeres, and they were sore op∣pressed, vntill Gedeon was sent to be their deliuerer, and to be their iudge. Then Pannias, or otherwise Pannas, was the 25. * 1.65 king of Assyria, in whose time the kings of Argiues ended their kingdome, & their Empire was translated into Mycena, after they had gouerned as kings 540. yeeres. In this time reigned * 1.66 in Athens Pandion, and Mydas gouerned in Phrygia.

About which time Abimelech the tyrant vsurpeth the king∣dome of Israel, and putteth seuentie of his brethren to death: Habuit mercedem: for at Thebes as Abimelech was besieging a * 1.67 high strong Towre, a woman did cast a piece of a milstone vpon his head, and brake his braine panne, after he had bene a iudge in Israel three yeeres. In the 24. of Pannias happened the fourth Iubilee after Moses. In this kings time likewise ru∣led * 1.68 in Israel Thola, a iudge of the tribe of Isachar, and gouerned the people of Israel 23. yeres. After this reigned Sosarmus 19. yeeres in Assyria. It is written that Orpheus the Thracian, the * 1.69 most famous and most auncient musitian liued at this time. Iair the Gileadite gouerned Israel 22. yeeres: this iudge had thirtie sōnes that rode on 30. asse coltes, men of great autho∣ritie: for they had thirtie Cities in the land of Gilead, and they kept the land in peace 22. yeeres. Now Faunius Iunior gouer∣ned Italie, to whom Euander came from Arcadia, and had gi∣uen him certaine lands in Italie, which Euander called after∣ward Palatinum. Manethon writeth, that Hercules, Amphitrions sonne was borne about this time, of whom the Poets faine, that he was the sonne of Iupiter: of this man more shalbe spo∣ken amongst the Grecians, when I speake of their histories.

But againe to the Assyrians, who had after Sosarmus a king called Mytreus the 27. king, and raigned 27. yeeres: in the latter ende of this kings raigne Hercules killed Cacus the great * 1.70 giant, in mount Auentine, after Hercules ouerthrew Troy, and killed the king called Laomedon, and made Priamus his sonne king of the Troyans: who againe repaired and builded vp Troy to be one of the strongest townes of the worlde. This Hercules came to Italie fiftie and fiue yeeres before AEneas comming, and gaue to the Italians lawes. Reade of this more in Halicarn. lib. 1.

In Israel after Iudge Iair died, it was 18. yeres interregnum, without a Iudge, and they wrought wickednes in the sight of * 1.71 the Lord againe, and serued Baalim and Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, and the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and God was angrie with them, and deliuered them to the handes of their ene∣mies, who vexed and oppressed them 18. yeeres, vntill the time they put away the strange gods, and serued the true God with great repentance. Ishai the father of the Prophet * 1.72 Dauid was borne about this time, three hundreth yeere after the Israelites going out of Egypt.

Nowe with the Assyrians, Tautanes the 28. king beginneth to rule, about which time Hercules appointed the games of * 1.73 Olympia, where all the Grecians came to exercise feates of armes, running and wrastling, with all other kinde of exer∣cise, 430. yeeres before the Olympiads began. This time hap∣pened * 1.74 in Egypt in the Isle of Pharao a great deluge called Dilu∣uium Pharaonicum, which did ouerflowe the whole countrey, which was seldome seene in Egypt, for that they haue no raine but onely the ouerflowing of Nilus which once a yeere hap∣peneth vnto them.

By this time Iephtah was made Iudge in Israel, a valiant man: but for that hee was a bastard, sedition grewe in Israel * 1.75 against Iephtha by the Ephraimites, his brethren thrusted him out, and Iephtha fled to the land of Tob: but hee was made afterward captaine ouer Israel, and hee subdued the Ammo∣nites

from Aroer to Abel, 20. cities, and slew 42. thousand of the Ephraimites, and for the victorie here of he sacrificed his daughter vnto the Lord according to his vow, though it was rash & vnlawful. In this Tautanes time raigned 4. Iudges, Ieph∣tha 6. yeres, Ibzan gouerned 7. yeres: some thought this to be * 1.76 Boas the husband of Ruth, the grandfather of Dauid: this had 30. sonnes and 30. daughters. After him Elon of the tribe of Zabulon, iudged Israel 10. yeeres: and after Elon ruled Abdon: this Iudge had 40. sonnes, and thirtie sonnes sonnes that rode on 70. assecolts, and he gouerned Israel 10. yeres and died.

About this time Theseus rauished Helen the wife of Mene∣laus, * 1.77 which being by Adoneus king of the Molosseans taken, was rescued by his felow and alwayes his companion Hercules. In the kingdome of Assyria succeeded Tautanes, who raigned 40. yeres: of which we reade nothing worth the writing. At this * 1.78 time Samson the sonne of Manoah of the tribe of Dan, gouer∣ned Israel 20. yeeres: he plagued the Philistims who had kept Israel vnder hand for their sinnes & wickednes: for God was angrie with them: for notwithstanding all his goodnes, his mercy towardes them, and his miracles amongst them, yet they still rebelled, and moued the Lord to wrath: this Samson was the last Iudge of Israel. Then the state of the Israelites go∣uernment * 1.79 was altered, and they were vnder Ely the priest.

At this time raigned a king that gouerned the Thuscanes named Ocnus Beanor, this builded Mantua the coūtrey where Virgil was borne, which the Romans called after Hethruscanes. * 1.80 Now that the race of the Iudges of Israel is ended which con∣tinued from Moses death, vntil Samuel 357. yeres, God suffred kings to gouerne his people, and appointed his Prophets to direct his kings: this came to passe in Samuels time, who an∣oynted Saul king ouer Israel, and they both together raigned 40. yeeres. By this time Tyneus the 30. king of the Assyrians raigned in Niniue 30. yeres, and in the 13. of his raigne the 7. Iubilee of the Iewes began. The kingdome of Hispane before * 1.81 called Iberia, & before that time Celtiberia, is in this time de∣uided into prouinces, into seueral gouernmēts of cities and

countreis, hauing 24. kings by succession, which continued vntil 75. yeeres after the destruction of Troy, & continued so vntil the Carthaginians began to flourish, whom the Romanes afterward cōquered. At this time one Pypinus gouerned the Thuscanes, and raigned, as Manethon writes, 56. yeres. In the last yeres of this king Tyneus, the Prophet Dauid was borne, * 1.82 407. yeres after the children of Israels going out of Egypt, and in the 7. Iubile after Moses: then began to raigne in Assyria Der∣cillus, * 1.83 he raigned 40. yeres. In his dayes began the kingdome of Lacedemonia, 83. yeres after Troys destruction: the first king of Lacedemonia was called Euristenes, who raigned 42. yeeres: * 1.84 of him came lineally 2. noble and valiant captains, Cleomenes and Leonidas, who in their time were most famous, for they inuaded the Persians, and ouerthrew them at Thermophila.

About the same yere the Corinthians began likewise to esta∣blish * 1.85 a kingdome: for the Lacedemonians and the Corinthians began at one time to raigne: the first king of Corinth was Ale∣thes, and he raigned 35. yeres. In the 10. yere of king Dercillus the Arke of the Lord was taken by the Philistines, and caried vnto Ashdod, one of their fiue principal cities, & they kept the * 1.86 Arke 7. moneths. For when the Israelites were ouercome by the Philistines, and the arke taken away, Ely the priest hearing that the Israelites were ouerthrowen, the arke taken, and his two sonnes slaine, fel down frō his stoole & brake his necke: for so the Lord told Samuel before what should become vpō Ely & his house. Israel stil offended God, & now not conten∣ted with the gouernmēt which God appointed them, but cri∣ed * 1.87 out for a king, God cōmanded Samuel to anoint Saul their king. About this time great warres grew betwene the Pelopo∣nesians and the Athenians. Codrus at that time liued, & was the last king of Athens: for after Codrus there was no king there, but gouernours called Metontidae. Codrus sonne called Medon was the first Iudge in Athens after the kings. Codrus according to the Oracle giuen, that the Athenians should haue no victo∣ries * 1.88 vnlesse their king were slaine in the battell, he disguised himselfe like a common souldier, rushed into the midst

of the battaile purposely to be slaine, that his countrey might haue victorie, being the last of the 17. kings, hauing ruled Athens 21. yeeres, ended his life and his kingdome.

About this time Samuel was commanded to anoint Dauid king ouer Israel, and many learned men would haue Homer a∣bout * 1.89 this time to be borne: some controuersie is of Homers time: Eratosthenes thought it within 100. yeeres after the de∣struction of Troy, and so saith Aristarchus, and Cornelius Ne∣pos, both affirme that Homer flourished 100. yeeres before the first Olympiad. Budaeus saith, that Homer liued in the latter yeres * 1.90 of king Dauid, so they square about 80. yeres of Homers birth. During this time raigned ouer the Latines, AEneas Siluius their fourth king.

After this raigned in Assyria Eupales 38. yeeres, in whose time the Peloponesians againe mooued warres against the A∣thenians. Now about this time the promise is made to Dauid that the continuance of his kingdome should for euer en∣dure, but with crosses and afflictions: for Absalon killed his brother Amnon a litle after, and fled vnto the king of Gessur, * 1.91 and taried there three yeere. By this time Salomon was borne of Bethsaba the wife of Vrias: Nathan and Gad were in those dayes Prophets of the Lord.

Now raigned in Athens Medon the first Iudge, the sonne of Codrus the last king of Athens: in Lacedemonia Argis the second * 1.92 king raigned one yeere, Arcestratus succeeded the third king of Lacedemonia, and gouerned the Lacedemonians 35. yeeres: in Corinth likewise Ixon the second king raigned 37. yeeres: for both these kingdomes had one beginning, and therefore their kingdome is accordingly to be handled: for in the last yeres of the kings of Assyrians histories, the Grecians began: for this vnderstand, that the Caldeans, Assyrians, Egyptians, and all the East part of the world, which were first inhabited af∣ter * 1.93 the flood, were euen consumed with sworde and fire, before the Grecians or the Romanes were acquainted with the world, and therefore the lesse to be spoken of these olde aun∣cient people for want of authorities: and had not the holy

Ghost lightened prophane histories with true records of the Scripture, all antiquities had almost bene put to obliuion: * 1.94 for all that are in trueth learned in histories, take their light from Moses: he is the grand scholemaster of all writers.

About this time Nicius Fesulanus gouerned the Thuscanes * 1.95 47. yeres: he expelled the people called Phocenses out of Cor∣sica, and Nicius builded a towne, and named it Nicea after his owne name. By this time Salomon grewe great in Gods fa∣uour, * 1.96 began to make the temple in Ierusalem, excelled all the princes of the world in wisdome & gouernment. Hiram king of Tyrus at that time sendeth to Salomon, and Salomon to him, purposing to builde the house of God: which temple began to be builded the fourth yeere of Salomons raigne, and the 12. of Hiram king of Tyre Salomons friend, who procured worke∣men to worke in Libanon, and after the going of Israel out of Egypt 480. yeeres.

Some thinke that Carthage was builded by Charcedon at * 1.97 that time: some thinke of Dido: others say otherwise, both of the building of Carthage, and of the time of building, as in the building of Troy, and in the building of Rome the like contro∣uersie * 1.98 is, that sub iudice lis est. Laosthenes the 33. king of the Assyrians is the next king after Eupales, and is now in hand to * 1.99 be spoken of, in whose time Alba Siluius gouerned the Latines the sixt king: for the sirnames of the Latin kings were called Siluij, as the kings of Alexandria were called Ptolomei, as before * 1.100 I told you of the Caesars of Rome and Pharaos of Egypt.

About this time the kingdome of Israel for the idolatrie of Salomon was deuided, and the ten tribes caried from Rehobo∣am * 1.101 the sonne of Salomon king of Iuda, vnto Ieroboam king of Is∣rael, who inuented many wicked things in Israel, idolatrie, new religion, contempt of the true God, putting vp for their god the golden calfe: thus he and his posterities continued * 1.102 from the fourth yeere of Rehoboam, vntil the 19. yeere of Na∣buchodonosor, which was 390. yeeres, at what time the last de∣struction of Ierusalem, and the captiuitie of Iuda was Archippus the third Iudge atthis time ruled Athens, where he gouerned

19. yeeres: vnder whom flourished Sextus Homerus a citizen of Athens: this man gaue new lawes to the Athenians. The Thracians were strong by this time, and became great on land and seas, & Smendes king of Egypt to whom Ieroboam fled, and with whome he staied vntil Salomon died: this Smendes is na∣med * 1.103 in Scripture Sesac: this came vp against Ierusalem the fift * 1.104 yere of Rehoboam, destroyed the citie, spoiled the temple; and tooke all the treasures of the kings house away. Thus was * 1.105 Iuda punished for sinne by Sesac king of Egypt a heathen man.

At Corinth gouerned Pryminas the fourth king: he raigned thirtie and fiue yeeres at Corinth. In Assyria after Laosthenes raigned Pyrithides 30. yeeres, in the 10. yeere of the tenth Iu∣bilee, * 1.106 which Iubilee was in the yeere of the worlde, two thou∣sand nine hundreth ninetie and three. Abia the sonne of Re∣hoboam raigned three yeres king of Iuda: after whom succee∣ded Asa. In Tyrus raigned now a king called Ascartus, who af∣ter he had raigned 12. yeeres in Tyrus, his brother Astarimus succeeded him, and gouerned Tyrus 9. yeeres, and hee was slaine by his brother called Phelletes: he raigned 8. moneths, and was likewise slaine by Ichobalus a priest of the goddesse Astarthes, of whome mention is made in the thirde booke of * 1.107 the kings and the 11. chapter. This goddesse Salomon honou∣red much: and in Egypt ruled Pseusenses. There rose against Asa king of Iuda, Sera king of AEthiopia about this time, and * 1.108 thought to inuade Iewrie: but he was not by Asa, but by God put to flight, and his armie scattered and slaine.

Elias and Elizeus were borne this time, men singularly be∣loued * 1.109 of God in the middle age of the worlde: for so it is set downe (as Melancthon saith) by Elias himselfe, accompting * 1.110 the age of the world, 2000. without the Lawe, 2000. by the Law, and 2000. by grace, which are the dayes of Messias, but for sinne shortened, and by that rule to be looked for before 6000. yeere. Nadab at this time was the second king of Is∣rael, * 1.111 and began to raigne after Ieroboam, whom Baasha slew in the third yeere of Asa king of Iuda. Baasha the third king of Is∣rael builded Rama, that it might bee a cause that they of the

kingdome of Iuda might not come within the territorie of Israel, neither they of Israel might trouble Iuda, for the which Asa king of Iuda for feare of Baasha king of Israel, maketh * 1.112 couenant with Benhadad king of Aram, and therefore is re∣proued by the Prophet, for that he trusted in the king of A∣ram, and not in God who had giuen him victorie before ouer the AEthiopians and Lubins. At this time Achia and Sameas prophecied in Israel: and Septimus Siluius was king ouer the Latins, after whome succeeded Capis Siluius the eight king of the Latins, and raigned 28. yeeres: by this Capis was Capua * 1.113 builded. In Lacedemonia gouerned the sixt king named Age∣silaus, and ouer the Corinthians Bacis the fifth king, of whome * 1.114 the kings of Corinth were afterward named Bacidae: the names of these kings for the most part are seldome found amongst writers, for they did nothing worth the memorie.

Now in Assyria raigned Ophrateus 20. yeres, he was the 35. king in whose dayes Zambri or Zimbri the seruant of Ela con∣spired * 1.115 against the king, killed him, and destroyed al the house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord to Iehu, & after∣ward Zambri went to the kings house and burned the pallace of the kings, and himselfe with fire: then the people of Israel * 1.116 were deuided, some folowed Tobni to make him king, others folowed Omri, and so Omri became the sixt king of Israel. He * 1.117 builded first Samaria, 200. yeres before Romulus builded Rome. At this time raigned Nepher king in Egypt foure yeeres: and after him succeeded Amenophis, he raigned 9. yeres king in E∣gypt, of whom I wil speake among the kings of Egypt.

Now died Asa king of Iuda after he had raigned 41. yeeres: then folowed in Israel after Omri, Achab the 7. king worse then * 1.118 all the other kings before him, a great idolater, and a tyrant: in the fourth yere of this king Achabs raigne, began Iosaphat to raigne in Iuda. In Achabs time Elias beganne to prophecie, whose history beginneth from the 17. of the first of the kings, vntill the 3. of the 2. of the kings, where he prophecied of the famine that was at hand to come, 800. yeres after the famine * 1.119 in Iaacobs time. In these daies Hiel the Bethelite builded Iericho.

Amongst the Latins raigned a king called Tiberinus Siluius of whome the riuer Tiber is nowe named after Tiberinus name, for Tiber was called before Albula. Then was in Co∣rinth * 1.120 Agelas, and Archelaus gouerned the Lacedemonians: Eu∣sebius in his histories affirmeth, that in this time flourished Licurgus a lawmaker, and a great wise man amongst the Lace∣demonians. * 1.121 After this raigned Ophraganeus Ascrasapes, and Sar∣danapalus, in whom ended the historie of the Assyrians.

And now hauing ended the whole time of 36. kings raig∣ning in Assyria, from Belus time vnto Sardanapalus, and after him from Bellochus vnto Merodach, the raigne of sixe kings, du∣ring * 1.122 which time it was called the newe kingdome of Assy∣ria, and from Merodach vnto Balsasar, fiue kings gouernment, which was translated from the Assyrians vnto the Chaldeans, as you shall reade more: being of two gouernements, and yet one Monarchie, sometime vnder the Chaldeans in Babylon, sometime in Niniue vnder the Assyrians, vntill both Chaldea and Assyria became subiect, first vnto the Medes and after to the Persians.

Of the Kings of Babylon againe called newe Assyria, from Sar∣danapalus, which the Greekes call Tonoscon coleros, vn∣till Balsaar the last king of Babylon.

CHAP. III.

SArdanapalus being giuen to all filthie pleasures, feasting, banqueting, a most riotous glutton, a great drunkard, dis∣guising him selfe amongst women in womens apparell, wading from one vice vnto another, so much subiect to beastly abuse, that his slouthfull life gaue great oportunitie to Arbaces a valiant captaine of the Medes, a man of such magnanimi∣tie, being generall of all Media, consulting with Belochus the lieutenant of Babylon, a man of great experience, that both

Arbaces and Belochus agreed, seeing such occasions offered, to ioyne both their forces together against Sardanapalus: which being done, after two great ouerthrowes giuen to * 1.123 them, and Arbaces almost slaine, and his people scattered and fled, Sardanapalus was yet too strong for them both: but the thirde time hee was found with his Assyrians so full of wine, and his armie so sleepie after drunkennesse, (according to their wonted maners) that Arbaces againe by night with all his force entred vnto their tentes, found them in their beds full of surphets, slewe them in such heapes, that Sardanapa∣lus fled to his citie of Niniue, and his lieutenant was slaine: hee was then besieged in Niniue, his people forsooke him, and went to his enemies. Then he perceiuing his great dan∣ger, sent his three sonnes and his two daughters to Paphlago∣nia to his friend Cottus with great treasures, to auoyd the pre∣sent perill he was in: being full of all desperations, he made his owne graue so gorgeous and so sumptuous, of such high * 1.124 building, that hee brought 150. beds made of pure golde, so many tables likewise of golde, and after much feasting and banqueting with his Queenes and concubines, and with ma∣ny of his deare friends, being in the midest of their pleasures, he commaunded fire to be put to his pallace (I meane that pile of wood which he made for his graue) and so ended his life and the Empire together in fire, to escape his enemies: thus ended the monarchie of Assyria, after one thousand two hundreth and fourtie yeeres continuance.

Behold the euents of the kingdoms of the world▪ how God gaue them alwayes vp to the enemies, when they flourished most in glory, and were most in force & power. Euen so was Chaldea and Assyria the only empires of the world, which farre excelled all other kingdomes, when it was ouerthrowen by Cyrus, insomuch that the great and mightie king Nabuchodo∣nosor the onely Hercules (by Megasthenes so named) of the East * 1.125 kingdomes, who aduanced himselfe vp vnto the heauens, who was compared for his great magnificence and glorious pompe of his huge empire, for the pride of his minde, and

insolencie of his state, to the starre Lucifer, & for the bright∣nes, beautie and glorie of his Empire: his greatnes was such, that hee had diuine honours done vnto him: but his pride and pompe was layde in the pitte. For in the time of Nabu∣chodonosor, * 1.126 the Chaldeans and Assyrians flourished: for they were kings of the Arabians, of the Egyptians, of all Syria: and for the glorie and greatnes of their kingdome, it passed all others farre: and being the first kingdome of the world, was called the golden kingdome, aureum seculum: the other three Monarchies were called Argenteum seculum: the siluer age, beganne in Cyrus time in Persia: the brasen age in Ma∣cedonia in the time of Alexander: and last, the Iron age a∣mong the Romanes beganne in Iulius Caesars time, described in Daniel by the foure beastes. For all Nabuchodonosors power, strength, states and kingdomes, lost all within threescore and tenne yeeres of this his great possession and power. Euen so the kings of Egypt which flourished in like strength, and clai∣med the like maiestie, lost their kingdome in the midest of their glory, and were ouerthrowen by Cambyses.

To bee short, because God would bee knowen vnto his people, whom the wicked neuer confessed to bee the God of victorie, he deliuered Pharao and all Egypt into the handes of Nabuchodonosor: and for his pompe and pride herein, thin∣king that it was his owne strength, his owne force and power, hee deliuered Nabuchodonosor and his posterities, with all the Empire of Assyria and Chaldea, into the handes of Cyrus, whose kingdome flourished much aboue the rest, vn∣til Darius sirnamed Codomanus, whose wealth, force and king∣domes were such, that he made nothing of all the world be∣side, God gaue him ouer into the handes of Alexander the great, whose greatnesse continued not long, for the like vnthankefulnesse to God, for his kingdome passed to the Romanes.

Thus God appointed the weakest sometime to vanquish the strongest, and raised vp the meanest to ouercome the mightiest. Thus was Egypt subdued by the Chaldeans, the Chal∣deans

by the Persians, the Persians by the Macedonians, the Ma∣cedonians by the Romanes, and the long empire of the Romans, their pompe and their glorie taken away by the Germanes, and the Germanes rather prouinces to be called then an Em∣pire: so wickednesse preuailed, that Turkes, Canes, Sophies, with such infidels of long time flourished.

Then Arbaces and Phul Belochus deuided these Empires: * 1.127 Phul Belochus helde Babylon and Niniue, Arbaces possessed Me∣dia and Persia for his part. But to write of Chaldea: first this Phul Belochus though he dwelt in Babylon, and raigned asking there eight and fourtie yeeres, yet the name of the Monar∣chie continued still in Assyria, for that the most part of the other Kings had their mansion in Niniue, and therefore after Sardanapalus time, called the newe kingdome of Assyria.

Nowe Belochus being settled king in Babylon, called also * 1.128 the king of Assur, hee came against the lande of Israel, and mooued warres against Manahem then king: but being pa∣cified with a thousand talents of siluer, he returned to Baby∣lon without any harme done, and there died, when he had raigned eight and fourtie yeeres.

After him succeeded his sonne Phul Assur, named in Scripture Tyglat Phul Assur: this infidel God stirred vp a∣gainst * 1.129 Israel for their sinnes: hee tooke all these Cities and coastes, Aron, Abel, Bethmecha, Asor, Gilead, and Galilee, and all * 1.130 the land of Nepthali, and caried them vnto Assyria: this king raigned three and twentie yeeres, as both Functius and Me∣lancthon write, yet Metasthenes would haue him to raigne twentie and fiue yeeres.

After this succeeded Salmanasser the thirde king of newe * 1.131 Assyria: hee likewise was by God appointed a scourge for the sin•…•…s of Israel, and the idolatrie of Samaria: hee came from Niniue vnto Samaria, besieged it three yeeres and tooke it, and caried all Israel captiue vnto Assyria, and put them in Halah, and in Habor, cities of the Medes: for at that time the Medes and the Persians, were subiect vnto the Assyrians.

Thus were the 10. tribes caried captiue away from Samaria * 1.132 vnto Assyria, in the ninth yeere of Hosea king of Israel, after the building of Samaria 210. yeres: the whole kingdome of Israel was destroyed, when it had continued from the first yeere of * 1.133 Roboam the sonne of Salomon, to the last yeere of king Hosea, two hundreth fiftie and three yeeres, as Functius affirmeth. Then Salmanassar filled al the cities of Samaria with men from Babylon, and from Hamath, in stead of the children of Israel: * 1.134 for the kings of Samaria enuied so much the kings of Iuda, the state of Ierusalem, the pompe of the high priest, and the mag∣nificence of Salomons temple, that the kings of Samaria buil∣ded temples, erected two idolatrous altars in Dan and Bethel, where they sacrificed vnto the golden calfe, and honoured idols of Baal: yet God raised good men, as Elias and Elizeus, Amos and Osea, by whom the Church of God in this wicked kingdome was still preserued.

This king Salmanasser brought the Medes and Persians sub∣iect vnto Assyria, and destroyed the Moabites, as the Pro∣phet Esay afore tolde: there is mention made of this king * 1.135 in the tenth chapter of Osea, where the Prophet sayeth, As Salmanasser destroyed Betharbell in the day of battaile, the mo∣ther with the children was dashed in pieces: so shall Bethel doe vn∣to * 1.136 you. Vnder this king Salmanasser was Israel scattered like sheepe, for the Lyons dispersed them: first the king of Ashur that was Salmanasser, hath deuoured him, and last Nabucho∣donosor hath taken his bones: the one caried the tenne tribes of Israel, the other caried the two tribes of Iuda prisoners vnto Babylon. This Salmanasser is named of Ptolome Nabonas∣ser: * 1.137 he raigned in the eight Olympiad, when Romulus was king * 1.138 in Rome. Ezechias was king in Iuda, and Osea king in Israel, be∣fore the captiuitie of Iuda, one hundreth thirtie and three yeeres: so long was betweene the destruction of Ierusalem and Samaria: for Salmanasser did raigne seuen yeeres king in Assyria before hee had besieged Samaria, which is to bee noted, to auoyde errours in accompt. From the first yeere of Salmanasser, vntill the first yeere of Nabuchodonosors raigne,

is 115. yeeres: hee raigned but tenne yeere in the whole, and then he died.

And after him succeeded Saneherib who dwelt in Niniue, * 1.139 who following his fathers steppes in all tyrannie, and see∣king meanes to destroy the rest of Gods people, came with * 1.140 a mightie huge armie to besiege Hierusalem against king Ezechias, with most horrible blasphemies against God, pre∣ferring his owne force and power (being the arme of flesh,) before the Lord of heauen: but the prayer of Ezechias the king, and of the Prophete Esay was heard of God, and God sent his Angels to defend his saincts, and to destroy the ene∣mies of his Church. All the bragges of Sanneherib, and all his horrible blasphemies, the Lord at a moment with one blast blewe away: his force, his strength, and his huge ar∣mies, * 1.141 being one hundreth fourscore and fiue thousand, were slaine by the Angell of the Lorde, and Sanneherib fled to Ni∣niue, where his owne sonnes Adramelech and Sharazer, slew him in the temple worshipping his god Nisroch, euen before * 1.142 that Idole whome hee preferred before the liuing God: the iust iudgement of God for blasphemie, to bee slaine of his owne sonnes before the face of his god. For this periured king Sanneherib sware vnto the Embassadours of Ezechias, if hee might haue three hundreth talents of siluer, and thirtie talents of golde, hee would peaceably depart without offe∣ring of any iniurie to the Iewes: this Ezechias by perswasions satisfied his demaunde, but Sanneherib perfourmed not his promise, but contrary to his othe, returning from Egypt, where hee layde siege to Pelusium in vaine, fearing Tharsicos king of AEthiopia, that with great power came to ayde the * 1.143 king of Egypt, hee came (as you heard) and layde siege to Ie∣rusalem: but he had his reward. Herodotus saith, that in Egypt in one of the temples, there was a statue made for Sannehe∣rib, with this sentence written in Greeke, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. * 1.144 This sentence is of some referred to Sethon king of Egypt. And thus this wicked king, after much mischiefe and harme done to the Church of God, in the seuenth yeere of his

raigne, and in the 12. Olympiad died: he and his father Salma∣nasser raigned in Assyria, when Romulus and Rhemus raigned in Rome: he had the ende you heard of: you shall reade more of him in the second booke of Herodotus. * 1.145

All this while Chaldea had their gouernours, their lawes, and all thinges free, fit for the common wealth: yet they payed tribute to the kings of Assyria. Hitherto newe Assyria raigned as the chiefe seate of the Empire, and held Babylon as subiect to their Scepter. Now while this Sannehorib had in hand to conquere Iudea, and thought thence to passe vnto Egypt as hee did, imagining fully to subdue all those regions which his father Salmanasser thought to haue done: when newes came to Babylon that all his armie was slaine at Ieru∣salem, * 1.146 and himselfe killed at Niniue by his sonnes, the Chal∣deans being hereof aduertised, tooke present occasions to set in for the Empire of Assyria, Merodach being then gouernour of Babylon, considering that both his two sonnes fled to Armenia, after the murther of their father, (as Functius saith) for feare of their elder brother Asserhaddon, but Iosephus saith, * 1.147 the yonger brother.

Nowe Asserhaddon one of the three sonnes of Sanne∣herib, in whose time Manasses king of Iuda was borne, * 1.148 when his father was slaine and his brethren fled, he entred to his fathers seate, and gouerned the Assyrians tenne yeres: But Merodach the sonne of Baladan the gouernour of Baby∣lon, a discreete man, looking vnto the gouernment of Asser∣haddon, being full of contention betweene the brethren: the other two which fled before after they killed their father, returne with a great armie against the king Asserhaddon their brother, and helde ciuill warres within themselues so long, that the Monarchie of Assyria became so weake, that Mero∣dach translated the kingdome of Assyria vnto Chaldea, and brought Niniue againe subiect vnto Babylon.

Nowe when Merodach had raigned twelue yeeres in Baby∣lon, * 1.149 and after hauing the full dignitie and supremacie ouer the Assyrians and Chaldeans, hee was named the first king of

Babylon againe, and raigned fourtie yeres in Babylon. Of this Merodach there is mention made in Ieremie Capta est Babel, * 1.150 confusus est Bel, victus est Merodach, which shalbe more spoken of, when the kingdome of Iudea is in hand. Ptolomey doth call this Merodach, Mardocempadus: for in the Egyptian histories He∣rodotus differeth frō Eusebius & others in the names of kings: men must reade with great diligence & with much care, and * 1.151 weigh the computation of time, as here betweene Metasthe∣nes and Functius some controuersie riseth from the time of Belochus vnto Merodach. But Functius following the best au∣thoritie, is best to be beleeued: for he reproueth by prophe∣ticall histories, the errour of Metasthenes, which goeth about without warrant of Scripture to prooue histories of the Bi∣ble, as these partly be for the most part, both of Assyrian and Chaldean histories: for after Sardanapalus time, they do cōcurre with the time of the Prophets. Esay doeth make mention of * 1.152 Merodach the sonne of Baladan, who sent Ambassadours with * 1.153 letters vnto Ezechias, with great presents to intreat of friend∣ship, and to be in league one with another, where they were with all solemnitie receiued, shewing vnto them all the trea∣sures and pleasures of Ierusalem, and returning to Babylon * 1.154 with rewards.

After Merodach died, when hee had raigned fourtie yeeres in Babylon, leauing behinde him his sonne Bemerodach, who raigned one and twentie yeeres, of whome litle or nothing we reade of: After whom succeeded Nabuchodonosor the first, father of the great Nabuchodonosor: this king tooke warre in hand against Necho king of Egypt, and went from Niniue to * 1.155 the riuer Perath, which is likewise Euphrates, where Necho came in person to fight against a citie of the Assyrians named Carchemish. Iosias fearing Necho, lest he passing through Iudea * 1.156 would haue taken his kingdome, he not consulting with the Lord, fighting with Necho was slaine in the valley of Megiddo, or Magiddo, as Herodotus and Functius affirme.

But to come to Nabuchodonosor. To auoyde tediousnes, I will ioyne him with his father, letting the reader to the

second of Herodotus, where hee shall reade of this first Nabu∣chodonosor and his warres: and for that hee ioyntly raigned two yeeres with his sonne, as Functius doeth write, the sonne being of greater fame and better knowen farre, then the rest of the kings of Chaldea or of Assyria: In the Ecclesiasticall historie, I wil set downe his actions, his warres, his greatnes, and his victories. After his father had raigned 25. yeres, this his sonne Nabuchodonosor the great, who in the eight yeere of his raigne subdued all Syria, Iudea onely excepted, conquered from Euphrates vnto Pelusium, and brought in subiection, euen from the riuer of Egypt vnto the riuer Perath, and all that pertained to the king of Egypt, so that the king of Egypt came no more out of his lande (as it is written) against the * 1.157 king of Babylon: hee layde siege to Tire, and wasted all the re∣gions * 1.158 there about: he brought vnder the king of Babylon, all Libya, the most part of Asia, vnto the land of Armenia. This * 1.159 king grewe so great, that Philostratus doeth so set him in his histories, that he passed Hercules in force and power. Strabo * 1.160 saith, that the Chaldeans esteemed more of Nabuchodonosor, then the Grecians did of Hercules. Nabuchodonosor made king∣domes to shake, the earth to tremble, and the whole worlde a forest, and left almost no where vnconquered but Iudea: where after all his other warres and conquests, hee sendeth his deputie Nabuzaradan generall of his armie: he commeth with a huge armie of the Chaldeans, a great band of Aramites, of Moabites, of Ammonites: for Nabuchodonosor had heard that Iehoiakim had rebelled after hee had payed tribute for * 1.161 three yeeres. This was the cause of the destruction of Iehoia∣kim, after he had raigned three yeres: he was deceiued much, trusting to haue ayde by Necho king of Egypt, and so lost both the kingdome and himselfe.

This was the iudgement of God for the sinnes of Manas∣ses, and the idolatrie of Iuda, not weighing the crying out of Ieremie, though night and day he perswaded them to yeelde vp the Citie, and to followethe Lorde: for Ierusalem was full of innocent blood, and therefore God vsed these wicked ty∣rants

to execute his commandement. After this Iehoiakin the sonne of Iehoiakim, when he had reigned three moneths, be∣ing 18. yeeres of age, Nabuchodonosor fearing least he shoulde become false, and so reuenge his fathers death, came against him: he and his mother, his princes, and his seruants yeelded to Nabuchodonosor by the councell of Ieremie. And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah king in stead of his nephewe Ie∣hoiakin, and changed his name to Zedechia, who likewise of∣fended * 1.162 the Lord, and would not be councelled by Ieremie, but hee and his people mocked the messengers of God, des∣pised his word, and misused his Prophets so long, that Nabu∣chodonosor came and slue their young men with the sworde, kild all, and spared none. But for the rest of Nabuchodonosors tyranny, his crueltie and slaughter, specially of Iewes, they are read in the fourth booke of Kings Chap. 24. and 25. in in Esai, in Ieremie: This king is euery where mentioned with * 1.163 the Prophets and in Ecclesiasticall histories. Likewise Iose∣phus orderly setteth downe his seuerall warres against Ierusa∣lem, first in the eleuenth yere of Iechonias, he came with great force and slue the most part in Ierusalem, killed the king, and buried him in sepulchro asini, threw him dead vnburied out of the Citie, according to the prophecie of Ieremie saying, Ieho∣iakim shalbe buried as an asse is buried, euen drawne and cast foorth without the gates of Ierusalem like a carrion, neither shall any lament him, neither mourne for him: he tooke also the chiefe men of the Citie, euen 3000. and carried them vn∣to Babylon, amongst whom Ezechiel being yet a very young man was lead likewise captiue. This was before tolde of by Ieremie the Prophet, but not beleeued. The second time hee came against Iehoiakin, whom Nabuchodonosor aduaunced vn∣to his fathers seate: but fearing hee would reuoult by being mindfull of his fathers death, hee tooke him, his mother, his familie, his nobles, and others to the number of tenne thou∣sand * 1.164 eight hundred thirtie and two, and carried them vnto Chaldea: yet Nabuchodonosor sware to the king & to his coun∣sell, that he would spare them vpon their submission, to the

which the king by the perswasions of the Prophet Ieremie yelded: but the tyrant kept no promise. With this king, Da∣niel, * 1.165 Anania, Azaria, and Misael, being of the kings stocke, were taken prisoners, and commaunded by the king that they shoulde bee brought vp in the Chaldean tongue, to serue the king afterward. The third and last comming of Nabucho∣donosor was against Zedechia the last king of Iuda: hee layde * 1.166 siege to Ierusalem eighteene moneths: during which time, great famine and plague, with manifolde miseries more be∣fell them, and at last the destruction of the Citie: men, wo∣men, and children slaine before the King, his Princes and Nobles put to the sworde, the wealth and treasure of the Citie caried to Babylon, the Temple burned, the King him∣selfe * 1.167 taken, his children killed before the kings face, & then his eyes put out, and caried in chaines to Babylon, where hee died most miserably in prison.

Thus God did put his sworde in Nabuchodonosors hand as an instrument of his wrath, to punish sinne. Of this matter more is spoken of in the historie of the Iewes, otherwayes called the Hebrewes. When Nabuchodonosor had reigned fourtie three yeeres, (Metasthenes saith fourtie fiue yeeres:) the Chaldean historie reporteth, that hee prophecied the de∣struction of Babylon, being by Daniel taught, and by God cal∣led to bee one of his chiefe instruments in his Church. In a little before hee died, hee confessed the glory and maiestie of God, saying, I giue thankes vnto the most High, I prayse and honour him that liueth for euer, who restored vnto me my kingdome, my honour, and my vnderstanding, whose works * 1.168 are all trueth, and his wayes iudgements: for nowe I confesse * 1.169 that he is able to abase those that walke in pride: he liued in Tarquinius Priscus time, the fift king of Rome, and in the eigh∣teene * 1.170 Iubilee of the Iewes, and in the fourtie nine Olympiads. In the time of Nabuchodonosors father, Dracos lawes was writ∣ten in Athens. Solon, Thales Milesius florished, & the seuen Sa∣ges of Greece liued this time: the Prophet Ezechiel beganne to prophecie in Babylon, the fift yeere of the captiuitie.

For as you shall reade of the Medes and Persians, and of the * 1.171 Romanes, that they were made by God executours, instru∣ments and hammers: for so the Lord spake of them, saying, Thou art my hammer and weapons of warre: for with thee will I breake the nations, and with thee will I destroy king∣domes, * 1.172 by thee will I breake man and woman, and by thee will I breake young & olde: you shall finde this phrase often rehearsed by God in the mouthes of the Prophets: so God calles Nabuchodonosor his seruant & saith, I wil put my sword in Nabuchodonosors hand: so Senaherib, so Salmanasser, and so Satan himselfe is Gods seruant to worke his will, to obey his commandement, and to execute his iudgements. After this * 1.173 Nabuchodonosor succeeded his sōne Euilmerodach, he reigned 30. yeres, he reigned one yere together with his father: it see∣meth that this Euilmerodach was instructed by Daniel to feare God: for after that Nabuchodonosor had turned to the Lord, & began to be a benefactor to the Church, & to the mēbers thereof, this his sonne likewise when he became king of Baby∣lon after his father, in the first yere of his reigne brought Ieho∣iakin king of Iuda out of prison, hee restored him to libertie, and aduanced him to honor, he gaue him princely apparel, * 1.174 & did set his throne aboue the throne of the kings that were then in Babel, he had allowance in the Court for his diet, he had rest & quietnes, & continued in fauour with the king all the daies of his life. Thus by Gods great prouidēce the seede * 1.175 of Dauid, which in king Zedechias was extinguished, yet in Iehoiakin was reserued euen vnto Christ: for after 37. yeeres imprisonment (so long was Iehoiakin, his wife & his children in Babylon) by the councell of the Prophet Ieremie he was of king Euilmerodach so esteemed, that hauing a sonne named * 1.176 Mesezabel surnamed Salathiel, who likewise had a sōne borne in Babylon, his name (as Philo Iudaeus saith) was Mesezebel: this Salathiel had a sonne called afterward Barachias or Zorobabel * 1.177 a great man of authoritie amongst the Iewes, beloued of God, and by whom God brought his people againe to ree∣difie his temple.

This Euilmerodach is called in Herodot, Labynitus, where you * 1.178 shall reade that his wife Nitochris, being a discreete wise wo∣man, and of such commendations for her diligence, policie and wonderful great workes & buildings in Babylon, that she was coūted another Semiramis, & did much aduance her hus∣bands fame for her great actions that she did in Babylon, farre * 1.179 otherwayes then Zenophon, Zonaras, or Iosephus writes: reade the first of Herodot. There reigned after this Euilmerodach the last king of Assyria, a great Idolater named Balthasar: this con∣temned God, despised his commandements, disdained the instructions of Daniel, though hee sawe the workes of God * 1.180 dayly, and heard by Daniel, of the wonders hee shewed vpon Nabuchodonosor: yet he feasted, he banqueted, and commaun∣ded to bring him the golden and siluer vessels, which his graundfather Nabuchodonosor had brought from the Temple in Ierusalem, that hee, his wiues and his concubines might drinke therein. This Balthasar did in great contempt of God, * 1.181 commit all euill and all idolatrie, which for his ingratitude and forgetfulnesse, Daniel tolde him what should become of his kingdome, repeating the great goodnesse of God vnto Nabuchodonosor, the maiestie, honour, glory, and many king∣domes which God gaue him: yea all people, nations, and languages trembled and feared Nabuchodonosor, vntill he puft vp himselfe in pride, and hardened his heart against God: then his glory fell, his honor forsooke him, his kingdomes lost, himselfe made like a beast, and his dwelling was with wilde asses. All this did Balthasar knowe, and yet he hum∣bled not himselfe to God, for the which Gods iudgement * 1.182 fell vpon him, and vpon his kingdome: for he was slaine, and his kingdome had Cyrus king of Persia, for that was the full ef∣fect of this sentence, Mene, Thekel, Phares, written vpon the plaister of the wall of the kings palace by the finger of God, the last destruction of the Chaldeans, and the end of the seuentie yeeres captiuitie before told of Daniel, and prophe∣cied by the rest of the Prophets: here Nabuchodonosor and his posteritie ended, and the kingdome of Chaldea translated first vnto the Medes, and afterward to the Persians.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cham to E∣gypt. Sem to Asia. Iaphet to Eu∣rope.
• * 1.2

  Abraham read in Egypt.
• * 1.3

  Of Noah▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 after the flood.
• * 1.4

  Thul assur. Tiglat Phul∣•…•…ssar.
• * 1.5

  Melancthon lib. 1.
• * 1.6

  Herodot. lib. 1.
• * 1.7

  Herodotus lib. 1.
• * 1.8

  Iosephus.
• * 1.9

  Strab. lib. 16.
• * 1.10

  Herodot. lib. 1
• * 1.11

  Melancth. lib. 1.
• * 1.12

  Chap. 10.
• * 1.13

  Melancth. lib. 2.
• * 1.14

  Chron.
• * 1.15

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 5. in Belo.
• * 1.16

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.17

  Belus the 2. king was the first cause of idolatrie.
• * 1.18

  2. Gene. 15.
• * 1.19

  Berosus lib. 5 in Nyno. Pharnus king of the Medes slaine. Iustine lib. 1.
• * 1.20

  Zoroastres king of Ba∣ctria slaine by Nynus.
• * 1.21

  Lib. 3. de Fabu. antiquo. gestis.
• * 1.22

  The king∣doms of the Assyrians continued 1240.
• * 1.23

  Nynus 3 king died.
• * 1.24

  Functius. Nynus Epi∣taph.
• * 1.25

  Semiramis.
• * 1.26

  Diodo. lib. 2.
• * 1.27

  Beros. Lib. 3.
• * 1.28

  Ani•…•…us in Bero∣so de Semira mide.
• * 1.29

  Berosus lib. 5.
• * 1.30

  Many of the best writers vse Berosus, though he is had in con∣tempt.
• * 1.31

  Genesis 14.
• * 1.32

  Bela is Zoar.
• * 1.33

  Abraham res∣cued his ne∣phewe Lot.
• * 1.34

  The ouer∣throw of the 5. kings of So∣dome, Gomor∣rha, and Se∣boim. The first kind of common weale. Melchisedec blesseth Abra∣ham.
• * 1.35

  Arius the sixt king of the Assyrians.
• * 1.36

  Caspians and Bactriās made subiect to the Assyrians.
• * 1.37

  Aralius the 7. king of Assy∣ria.
• * 1.38

  Lib. 16. cap. 44.
• * 1.39

  Baleus the 8. king of Assy∣ria.
• * 1.40

  Functi•…•…s in fa∣bula Assyrio•…•…ū.
• * 1.41

  The kingdom of Argos be∣gan in these dayes. Armatrites 9. king of the As∣syrians.
• * 1.42

  Sem dieth.
• * 1.43

  Belochus Priscus 10. king of Assyria.
• * 1.44

  Baleus 11. king of Assyria.
• * 1.45

  Diodo. lib. 1.
• * 1.46

  Iacob and his children re∣moued to E∣gypt.
• * 1.47

  The misery of the Israelites in Egypt 430. yeeres.
• * 1.48

  Altades 12. king of Assy∣ria.
• * 1.49

  Functius. Beros. lib. 5.
• * 1.50

  Eusebius in Chron.
• * 1.51

  Functius. Mamitus th•…•… 13. king of As∣syria.
• * 1.52

  Sabel. lib 4. E•…•…eadum. Plinie lib. 5. cap. 12. Strab. lib. 16.
• * 1.53

  Genes. 22. Mancaleus 14. king of Assy∣ria.
• * 1.54

  Nothing worth the wri∣ting of the old kings of Assy∣ria.
• * 1.55

  The begin∣ning of Bero∣sus historie, and the end of the same.
• * 1.56

  Sparetus 17. king of Assy∣ria. Eusebius in
• * 1.57

  Ascatades 18. king of Assy∣ria.
• * 1.58

  Lamprides 22. king of Assy∣ria. Iudg. 19.
• * 1.59

  Sosares the 23. king of Assy∣ria. Iudg. 4.
• * 1.60

  Lampares 14. king of Assy∣ria. 3. Iubilee.
• * 1.61

  More written of the kings of Assyria then can be pro∣ued.
• * 1.62

  2. Reg. cap. 19.
• * 1.63

  Beroaldus lib. 4. cap. 6.
• * 1.64

  Dionys. Halic. lib. 1.
• * 1.65

  Iudg. 6. 7. Pannias 25. king of Assy∣ria.
• * 1.66

  Here endeth the kingdome of Assyria.
• * 1.67

  Iudg. 9.
• * 1.68

  The fourth Iubilee.
• * 1.69

  Sosarmus 26. king of Assy∣ria.
• * 1.70

  Hercules killeth Cacus.
• * 1.71

  The Lord pu∣nisheth Israel for sinne.
• * 1.72

  Ishai borne.
• * 1.73

  Tautanes the 28. king of Assyria.
• * 1.74

  Hercules gamesat O∣lympia.
• * 1.75

  Iudg. 12
• * 1.76

  Abesan the 10. Iudge.
• * 1.77

  The first ra∣uishment of Helen by The∣seus.
• * 1.78

  Tautanes the 29. king of Assyria.
• * 1.79

  Sams•…•… the last Iudge of Is∣rael.
• * 1.80

  Ocn•…•… Bianor builded Man∣tua.
• * 1.81

  The 7. Iubilee. Hispane deui∣ded into pro∣uinces.
• * 1.82

  The birth of Dauid.
• * 1.83

  Dercillus the 31. king of As∣syria.
• * 1.84

  The kingdom of Lacedemonia at this time beginneth.
• * 1.85

  The begin∣ning of the kingdome of Corinth.
• * 1.86

  The Arke is taken away from Israel by the Phi∣listines.
• * 1.87

  Saul the first king of Israel:
• * 1.88

  Codrus the last king of Athens.
• * 1.89

  Ruffin, in Com.
• * 1.90

  Euphoreus lib. 4. de asse.
• * 1.91

  2. Sam. cap. 7.
• * 1.92

  Ruff. in Com. Medon the first iudge of A∣thens. Arcestratus the third king of Lacedemonia.
• * 1.93

  The antiqui∣tie of the Chal∣deans and As∣syrians.
• * 1.94

  Moses the first Historiogra∣pher of the world.
• * 1.95

  Di•…•…lor. lib. 6.
• * 1.96

  3. King. cap. 6.
• * 1.97

  Carthage buil∣ded.
• * 1.98

  Ioseph. contra Appionem lib. 1.
• * 1.99

  Laosthenes the 33. king of Assyria.
• * 1.100

  The 9. Iubilee.
• * 1.101

  The kingdom of Israel deui∣ded.
• * 1.102

  Here the kings of Iudae beginne.
• * 1.103

  1. King. 11. 14.
• * 1.104

  Functius.
• * 1.105

  The first de∣struction of Ierusalem.
• * 1.106

  Pyrithides the 34. king of Assyria.
• * 1.107

  3. King. 11.
• * 1.108

  Se•…•…a king of AEthiopia.
• * 1.109

  Elias and Eli∣zeus borne.
• * 1.110

  The middle age of the world.
• * 1.111

  Nadab the se∣cond king of Israel. Baasha the third king of Israel.
• * 1.112

  Asa the fifth king of Iuda.
• * 1.113

  Capua builded.
• * 1.114

  Eutropius lib. 1. The kings of Corinth after Bacis, were cal∣led Bacidae.
• * 1.115

  Zambri killed Ela king of Is∣rael.
• * 1.116

  Zambri bur∣ned himselfe.
• * 1.117

  Omri the sixt king of Israel builded Sama∣ria. Nepher king of Egypt.
• * 1.118

  Achab the se∣uenth king of Israel.
• * 1.119

  Famine.
• * 1.120

  T•…•…ber before called Albula.
• * 1.121

  •…•…iuius lib. 1.
• * 1.122

  The first king∣dome of Assy∣ria ended vn∣der Sardanapa∣lus, which cō∣tinued 1350. yeeres.
• * 1.123

  The last ouer∣throw of the Assyrians by Arbaces.
• * 1.124

  The maner of Sardapalus death.
• * 1.125

  Nabuchodono∣sor named Hercules.
• * 1.126

  Isai. 14.
• * 1.127

  Arbaces king of the Medes and Persians.
• * 1.128

  Belochus king of Babylon.
• * 1.129

  4 Reg. cap. 15.
• * 1.130

  4. Reg. cap. 13.
• * 1.131

  Salmanasser the third king of Assyria.
• * 1.132

  4. king. cap. 17.
• * 1.133

  The kingdom of Israel de∣stroyed by Sal∣manasser.
• * 1.134

  262. by Buchol∣cerus.
• * 1.135

  Chap. 16.
• * 1.136

  Osea cap. 10.
• * 1.137

  Iere. cap. 50.
• * 1.138

  Melancthon lib. 2.
• * 1.139

  Saneherib.
• * 1.140

  2. King. 18.
• * 1.141

  2. King. cap. 19.
• * 1.142

  Sannaherib slaine by his sonnes.
• * 1.143

  Ioseph. lib. 10. cap. 1.
• * 1.144

  Herodot. lib. 2.
• * 1.145

  The Chaldeans.
• * 1.146

  Functius lib. 1. Comment.
• * 1.147

  Lib. 10. cap. 2.
• * 1.148

  Asserhaddon succeeded his father Sanne∣herib.
• * 1.149

  Merodach.
• * 1.150

  Ieremie cap. 50.
• * 1.151

  Eusebius from Herodotus doeth differ.
• * 1.152

  Isai 39.
• * 1.153

  Merodach sen∣deth vnto Eze∣ch•…•…as Ambassa∣dors.
• * 1.154

  I•…•…seph. lib. 10. cap. 3.
• * 1.155

  2. Chron. 35.
• * 1.156

  Melancton lib. 2.
• * 1.157

  2. King. 24.
• * 1.158

  Functius.
• * 1.159

  Ruffinus.
• * 1.160

  Strabo lib. 15. Nabuchodonosor greater then Hercules.
• * 1.161

  The greatnes of Nabuchodo∣nosor.
• * 1.162

  2. Chron. 36.
• * 1.163

  The first com∣ming of Nabu. vnto Ierusalem. Ieremie 22.
• * 1.164

  The 2. com∣ming of Na∣buchod. vnto Ierusalem. Ioseph. lib. 10, cap. 9.
• * 1.165

  Ios•…•…ph. lib. 10. cap. 9.
• * 1.166

  The third and last comming of Nabuchodo.
• * 1.167

  Ioseph lib. 10. cap 10. 11.
• * 1.168

  Daniel 4.
• * 1.169

  Bucholcerus.
• * 1.170

  Ruffinus.
• * 1.171

  Ieremie 51.
• * 1.172

  All creatures obey God.
• * 1.173

  Melancthon lib. 2. Chron.
• * 1.174

  Ieremie cap. 52.
• * 1.175

  2. Reg. cap. 25.
• * 1.176

  Funct. Lib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. comment.
• * 1.177

  Barachias. surnamed Zorababel.
• * 1.178

  Euilmerodach.
• * 1.179

  Herod•…•…t. lib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.180

  Daniel liued this time and sawe the de∣struction of Babylon.
• * 1.181

  Daniel 5.
• * 1.182

  Balthasar the last king of Babylon.