The foreste or Collection of histories no lesse profitable, then pleasant and necessarie, dooen out of Frenche into Englishe, by Thomas Fortescue.

¶ Of the Diuision of the Ages of the Worlde, with a briefe dis∣course of diuerse Notable matters chaunced also in

them, as also in fine, of the beginninge of Realmes and Kingdomes. Chap. 11.

ALthough moste menne haue somme pleasure, and likinge to talke, and discourse of the Ages of the Worlde, to remember perchaunce thinges donne in this, also not to passe what hathe chaunced in that: yet are there a greate many that lesse knowe the true diui∣sion of these times, ne what yéeres eche Age demaun∣deth to his accomplishmente. The Age therefore, or Life of the worlde, euen from the firste, vntill this daye pre∣sente, is diuided by y^e moste parte of approued Authours into sixe onely partes, or Ages: although diuers recken, and accoumpte on seuen, accordinge to the onely compu∣tation of the Hebrewes. But I, herein haue determined to folowe Eusebius, and the common opinion of al Histo∣riographers, arestinge them on the aboue remembred number of sire. In diuision of whiche, there is founde emonge many, sutche greate confusion, and difference in reckeninge, that hardly a man maie herein assure him of a truth. They that deale herein, are diuided into twoo partes: of whiche, the one foloweth the computation of the thréescoare and twelue Interpreters, whiche tran∣slated the Olde Testamente from the Hebrewe, into the Greeke. The other, the Hebrewes, and common texte of the Bible: whose opinions I will, for contentation of all partes, hereafter remember. The firste Age therefore, or parte of the Worlde, accordinge to the common, and general accoumpt of al, was euen from y^e Creation of the same, to the Inundation, or Drowninge of it againe. Whiche was the Infancie, or tenderest Age (as somme tearme it) of the Worlde. Whiche Age was longe, and of greate continuauce. Duringe whiche time, it is to be supposed, that greate, and marueilous matters chanced vnto men, although wee thereof finde no recorde, or Hi∣storie, sauinge that the Scriptures haue, that after God

had created Adam, and Eue, as also before him all other Creatures: ouer whom, he gaue him generall Dominion and Rule, as well ouer the beastes on the Lande, as fi∣shes in the Sea. Adam then begatte twoo Sonnes, Cain, and Abel, whiche afterwarde also begat diuers others: by whome the worlde beganne then to be well peopled. Moyses writeth, that Cain builte him, in the Easte parte of the worlde, a Cittie, whiche after his Sonnes name, be called Honoch. In that time Lameth hauinge buried his wife, hardened him selfe to choose againe the seconde, (beinge the firste Bigamus that euer was in this worlde) on one of the whiche he begat Tubal, who firste founde the meane to Singe, by Arte, the Violles eke, and also the Organs. Cain founde the skill to woorke yron, and ingraue thereon. In this Age, the Worlde had also Gy∣antes: of whiche, sundrye good writers thus mutche re∣porte, that they were of excessiue stature, and force, mar∣ueilous roughe to intreate, and enimies to Mankinde. Finally, by the insupportable burthen of Sinne, the ge∣neral Floudde washed the face of the whole Earthe. By means whereof, all mankinde, Noē onely reserued, and suche as were with him in the Arke, was drowned. And this firste Age of the Worlde, according to the accoumpt of the Hebrewes, Filon, Beda, S. Hierome, and the com∣mon Texte of the Bible, continued a thousand sixe hun∣dred fiftie and sixe yéeres. But as the thréescoare and twelue Interpreters, Eusebius, and other Historiogra∣phers with them saye, it had twoo thousande, twoo hun∣dred, fourty and twoo yéeres. S. Augustine, twoo thou∣sande, twoo hundred, seuentie and twoo. And Alphon∣sus, Kinge of Spayne, twoo thousande, eightehundred, eightie and twoo. The Seconde Age began in Noē, im∣mediately after his comminge out of the Arke, whiche continued vntill the birthe of Abraham, and had accor∣dinge to the opinion of these Interpreters, Eusebius, Isi∣dorus, and moste parte of all Chronicles, nine hundred

fourtie and twoo yéeres. But the Hebrewes recken many lesse, as onely twoo hundred, nintie & twoo. With whom Filon, and Iosephus accorde. S Augustine to that Age attributeth a thousande seuentie and twoo yéeres. Little certaintie finde wée of any thinge donne, or chaunced in this time: for no particulare Historie at all remaineth. In generall, concerninge the beginninge of Realmes, and Kingedomes, somewhat is founde, as also touching the firste Inhabitantes of Countries, and Prouinces. Noë issuinge out of his Arke, planted to him selfe, with busie paine, a vineyarde: where, what chaunced vnto him, eche man wel knoweth. He, and his children begat many others, so that the worlde began well againe to be peopled. Cam, the second sonne of Noë, begat to him Cus: of whome are descended the Aethiopians. He also had Mesrain, of whom are descended in sorte semblable, the Aegyptians. And laste of all, Canaan, from whom issued the Cananites. His other Sonne Iapheth, ingendred Gomer, and Magog, of which other Nations descended, too longe here to remember. In this time was the To∣wer of Babel builte: by meane of which, also then chaun∣ced the confusion of tongues. Whence, as Iosephus re∣cordeth in the second Booke of his Antiquities: Men sun∣dred to inhabite Countries, and Iles by them selues, sutch, and such togeather as were skilled of a language. Duringe whiche Age, Tubal, Sonne of Iapheth came to inhabite Spayne, framinge there to him selfe a Realme, or Kingedome. Other somme saie, that he indifferently was called either Subal, or Tubal, the Sonne of Falech, and Nephewe to Heber. In this time the Raigne of the Scithians beganne in the Northe, whiche euermore pre∣tended Antiquitie aboue other Countries: as well no∣teth Trogus Pompeius, and Iustin. By meane whereof, greate enmitie still grewe betwixte them, and the Ae∣gyptians. The Arte Magike, and Incantations began then by Cam, surnamed otherwise, Zoroastes. Aboute

the ende of this Age, somethinge before the byrth of A∣braham, according to the accompte of Eusebius, and Be∣da, the most famous and puissant raigne of the Assyrians began, hauing for their first Prince or King, Belus, which diuers supposed to be the God Iupiter: some the seconde Ninus, which (during whose time was borne Abraham) conquered and subdued sundry townes and prouinces. Besides this an other kinde of raigne was there in Ae∣gipte, called Dinastia, where the firste that was of su∣preme, and highest authoritie, had to name Vexor, or otherwise Vezor, as hath Eusebius: who about the ende of this seconde Age, instituted the Raigne or Kingdome of the Sicionians, in Peloponesus, nowe called Morea, where Agis is supposed to haue bene the firste King. In this time began now Idolatrie & Gentilitie. This much confusely haue wee gathered of this Age: in the ende of which also the moste worthie, & most renoumed Citie of Niniue, was buylded of marueilous and incredible big∣nesse: which as we finde in holy write, was in compasse no lesse than three dayes iourneyes. Incontinent after this, began the thirde Age, euen in the byrth of Abra∣ham, vntill the Prophete Dauid, which without all con∣tradiction, or gaynesaying of any, continued nine hun∣dred, fortie, and two yeares, vnto which onely Isidorus addeth two: which Age we may cal y^e Adolescencie of the world, for that, in that time all things were maruelously augmented, and increased. In the beginning of this Age Semiramis the wife of Ninus, not onely attempted, but ended also, and perfected, sundry renoumed, and va∣liaunt exploites, hauing taken on her mans apparel, and faining her self to be the yong Prince Ninus, after which sorte she liued and raygned long time, conquering with the sworde many Landes, and Countryes, she reedified, & walled the famous Citie of Babylon. About this time happened the Peregrination of Abraham by the open and expresse commaundement of God. Then also obtay∣ned

he his happy victorie agaynst the foure Kinges, re∣déeming Loth, whom they caried away prysoner. Nowe also began the first Raigne of the Amazones. The Pha∣raoes, Kings of Egypte now also began to florish. Sodome and Gomorra were destroyed in these dayes. In the time of Isaac, began the Empyre of the Argiues in Thessalie, & while his sonnes liued, Iacob and Esau, the Kinges of Costa began also their raigne, of whom the firste had to name Acre. A litle after this was Ioseph solde to the E∣gyptians, in suche sorte as hath the Historie, as also how his Father, his brethren, & their children wente also in∣to Aegypt, where such Israelites as descended of them, li∣ued, as accompteth Beda, foure hundred & thirty yéeres: with whom accordeth S. Augustine in his booke, De ciui∣tate Dei. Duringe this Age Hercules of Libya, came into Spayne, where he raigned▪ & after him Iuer, Brigus, Taga, Beto, Gerian, & others, of whom Berosus, with other good authors remembereth vs. In this time was also firste founded the Cittie of Siuile, which is accompted for one among the others of moste antiquitie in the worlde, as well recordeth Berosus, with others. First this Citie had to name Ispalis of Ispal y^e sonne, or Nephewe of Hercu∣les, who long raigned, or ruled there: who also, as some say, layde the first foundations thereof, or buylte it, al∣though Isidorus affirme that it was named Ispalis, for that it was seated in a place watry, or in a marish, where they were compelled for better assuraunce of their foun∣dation to beate into the grounde great stakes, beames, or trées, which how so euer it was, this Cittie of Ispalis, was after called Spayne, as writeth Trogus Pompeius, Iustine, and others. And after this agayne Iulius Caesar called it Siuile, inriching and amplyfiing it in such large sort and manner, that it after was the seate there, or re∣sting place of the Romaynes, beyng also before that ve∣ry noble and honorable. But to returne to our purpose, after this agayne was Moyses borne, vnder whose con∣ducte

the Hebrewes, came out of Aegypte, in whiche time also liued Iob, the iuste. And after this came that general Inundation on Thessalie, when great Kingdomes grew then in diuers Landes, & Contryes. In Aethiopia then first raigned Ethiopus, in Sicilia, Siculus: in Boecia, Boe∣cius. So that Countryes then receiued their denomina∣tion of Princes, as of Sardus, Sardina also, the first King or Prince there. In these dayes flourished the famous Troye: then also was Iason busied in conqueringe the Fliece of Goulde, whence in like manner procéedeth the knowen Historie of Medea. Nowe were the Amazones of greater power, then in any other time, and now be∣gan the Kingdome of the Latines in Italie. About this time Paris also rauished Helena, the onely cause of the longe warre, and destruction of Troye, of the comming of Aeneas into Italie, as also of other things innumera∣ble, which in few may not bée spaken. Then ended this thirde Age, and the fourth began, euen in the beginning of the raigne of Dauid, seconde Kinge of the Hebrewes: whiche continued vntill the transmigration of the Iewes into Babylon, foure hundred, foure score and fiue yéeres: but Beda rekeneth fewer, foure hundred seuentie, and foure onely. This Age might well bée termed the lustie Age of the world: during which, infinite matters happe∣ned, whereof all Histories are full. Now that good King Dauid obtayned sundry victories, as well agaynst the Philistians, as also agaynst the Ammonites, reuenging him self, for the iniurie done to his Ambassadours: he did also to die the Capitayne of the Assyrians. After him, in that place succéeded the wise King Salomon, who buylte that ritch, & famous Temple of Hierusalem, after whose death the Kingdome was deuided, Ieroboam succéeding in ten families, & Roboam his sonne in twoo. After this the Empyre of the Assyrians, whiche then had continued twelue hundred yéeres, by the death of Sardonapalus, was vtterly subuerted, he was one of the richest & grea∣test

Monarches in the world, who not withstanding by Arbactus slayne, the Empyre came into the handes or possession of the Medes. About this time the Princes of Macedonie began to frame their Empyre, as the Greekes in manner semblable now vsed to accompte their yéeres by Olympiades, which were certaine feastes and practi∣ses of agilitie, whiche they continually vsed euery fiue yéeres, with Prises appointed for such as beste deserued them. Dido now builte the renoumed Citie of Carthage, as Rome also by Romulus, & Remus then began, where the Romaine Kinges continually aboade & arested them. In this time the greate Citie of Bizance waxed mightie and honorable, whiche afterwardes loste her name, and was called Constantinople. After this, wearye warres grew in most places, and inpacable dissensions, with al∣teration and chaunge of great Segnories and Empires. Whereof the Histories of that Age, are each where full and abundant. In the ende of this Age Nabuchodono∣sor, King of the Medes and of Babilon, besieged Hierusa∣lem, which he sackte, and subuerted, as also the Temple, whence he brought the people of Iudea prysoners with him: & thence is that, that we now remember, the trans∣migration of Babylon. When, or at whiche time began the fifte Age of the Worlde, which continued vntill the Byrth, & Natiuitie of our Sauiour and redéemer Iesus Christe, both God and Man, fiue hundred, foure scoare, and nine yéeres, by common accompte of all men. In these dayes were many valiaunt and puissante Princes riche, and politike common Weales and Contryes, in such sorte, that it greate maruaile is to reade, & consider the straunge and miserable subuertions, immutations, and chaunge of estates, the rare raysing and gathering of huge Armies, and troupes of men, such were they, so terrible, and so common withall, that better it is there∣of nothing to speake, then to speake in few. Not long af∣ter this, began that famous Monarchie of the Persians,

(whiche aswell by meane of other victories that Cyrus echewhere obtained, as also that he vanquished and sub∣dued Cresus Kinge of Lidia) waxed of all others moste riche, and renowmed: notwithstandinge Cyrus, after he had raigned fully thirty yéeres, was him selfe discomfi∣ted, and beheaded by Tameris Quéene of Scithia. Three scoare and tenne yéeres of this Age accomplished, the Hebrewes were deliuered out of bondage and captiuitie, and the Temple was reedified by Salomon at Hierusa∣lem. The Romaines now altered their state of gouern∣ment, they deposed their Kinges & choase to them Con∣suls, of whiche the firste was L. Brutus, and after him L. Colatinus. In Greece nowe florished good Letters, and Chiualry, so that thence issued, no lesse famous Philoso∣phers, then Capitaynes excellent. Thither came Xerxes to haue Conquered it, with a multitude incredible, but was forced to retire againe with equall shame and de∣triment. After this began Philippe his raigne in Ma∣cedonie, whiche subdued Greece, the Mother of Learning & Chiualrie, whiche in that time fostered Demosthenes, Themistocles, Epaminondas, Agesilaus, Zeno, Plato, Ari∣stotle, with many sutche others. Philippe deade, his Sonne Alexandre dwelte not still in Greece, but wente thence into Asia, which in shorte time he conquered, sub∣uertinge the Empire of Persia, and by meanes of the vi∣ctorie obtained againste Darius, he remained euer after∣warde the onely Emperour, and sole Monarke of all the whole worlde. But after his death, diuision was made to his Capitaynes, of all and euery his Segneuries, by meane whereof mutch enmitie, and discorde grewe, and thence also warres generally throughout all Asia, as al∣so through a greate parte of Europa withall. Nowe be∣ganne the Romaines, and the people of Carthage to grow great & mightie, eche of them labouringe to be the onely Lordes and Princes of the worlde. Longe warres then continued betwixte these twoo Citties, in sutche sorte,

that eche noursed for their defence moste honorable and valiant Capitaines. As Carthage, Asdrubal, Hannon, Hannibal: Rome, the Fabians, the Scipioes, the Marcels, the Emiles, and sutche others. But in fine after longe warres, and mutche blouddeshedde, Rome remained vi∣ctorious: Carthage spoyled and sackte, and Aphrike be∣came tributorie. This victory obtained, the Romaines prowde, & enuious of the prosperitie of Greece, sought by all meanes possible, warre also against them, by occasion whereof Greece also became tributorie as the other. Not content with these, Auarice yet forste them to stretche their foote farther, and so passinge into Asia, vanquished Antiochus, and after him Mithridates, titlinge them selues Lordes of all Asia the lesse, as also of Siria, Pale∣stina, and Egypte: and on this side, of al Fraunce, Spaine, Englande, with the greater parte of Almayne. In which Conquestes their chiefe Capitaines were, Metellus, Syl∣la, Marius, Lucullus, Pompeius, and Caesar, with many o∣thers. Nowe came it to passe, enuious ambition infla∣minge their hartes, that ciuile warres, and commotions burste out emongst them, eche séekinge preeminencye & authoritie ouer other: but in fine the Empire remayned onely to Caesar: vnto whom, after many good happes in this life, his Nephewe, or Sonne adoptiue, succéeded Octauian, who hauinge once broken the force, and cour∣rage of his enemies, enioyed the Crowne in quiet peace, and tranquilitie, so that liuinge in concorde, and a∣mitie with all Princes, he caused to be shutte vp the gates, or doores of his God Ianus, which in warres were neuer at any time opened. The accomplishment of time nowe comminge, this fifte Age here ended: at whiche time was borne, the redéemer of mankinde Iesus Christ the iuste, in the yéere from the Creation of the worlde, accordinge to the Hebrewes, thrée thousande, niene hun∣dred, fiftie and twoo yéeres, and accordinge to the thrée scoare and tenne Interpreters: Eusebius, and the moste

parte of Historiographers, fiue thousande, one hundred, foure scoare and ninetiene: but accomptinge after Oro∣sus, fiue thousande and twentie yéeres: after Isidorus one yéere lesse: but accordinge to Alphonsus, sixe thousande, niene hundred, foure scoare and foure, whiche are many more then any others accompte of. In the Birthe then of our Sauiour beganne the sixte Age, whiche hath con∣tinued vntill this daie, and shall doo vntill the laste, and dissolution of the Worlde. Duringe whiche time, a great parte of Christiantie, hath benne gouerned onely by the Emperours of Rome. Whiche from time to time suc∣cessiuely, by the space of certaine yéeres, liued in greate pompe, wealthe, and prosperitie. But shortly after the Gothes, as also somme others. And laste, that false and accursed Prophete Mahomet, did in sutche sorte shake, & weaken this Empire, that it became lesse, and lesse able, then in a fewe yéeres before, so that in sundry partes of the saide Empire, were instituted newe Kingdomes and Segnories: by whiche insued continuall discordes, and slidinges from the Faithe. The enimies of Christ, and of his Crosse, takyng now good occasion to moleste the poore Christians, robbinge, and spoilinge them of their landes and reuenewes. The computation of these Ages, which I haue here remēbred, are onely taken of these Authours aboue remembred, to wete, of S. Augustine, Isidorus, Be∣da, Eusebius, Filon, Orosus, men all of singuler authori∣tie and learninge: Vincentius also: and of our time Pe∣trus de Aliaque: and aboue all the others, Iohannes Drio∣donus, a faithefull commenter on the sacred Scriptures. The Portes haue reckened of this worlde, foure Ages, and nomore: the firste of Golde, whiche they called Gol∣den: the seconde of Siluer, whiche they termed the Sil∣uer Age: the thirde of Brasse, or Stéele: the fourthe of Yron, whiche as before they called the Stéely, and Yron Ages, geuinge foorth by the same, that as the malice of Man beganne eche where to growe, so did the excellency

of these mettalles in manner semblable diminishe: vnto which it pleased them to compare these aboue said partes of time. And in this manner hathe Ouid in his Meta∣morphoses diuided them.

Notes

• The firste Age.
• The firste cittie of the world.
• The contrarie∣tie of opinions concerning the first Age.
• The second Age.
• Cam.
• The beginning of the Assyri∣ans.
• The Thirde Age.
• Pharao, in the Aegyptian tongue, signifi∣eth Kinge.
• Ispalis.
• The Inundatiō of Thessalye.
• The Fourthe Age.
• Mundi Iuuen•…•…
• Olympiades.
• The Fifte Age.
• Tameris.
• The Sixte Age.
• S. August. in. 15 16. & 17. De Ciuitate Dei. Beda. Eusebius. Filon.