The suruey of popery vvherein the reader may cleerely behold, not onely the originall and daily incrementes of papistrie, with an euident confutation of the same; but also a succinct and profitable enarration of the state of Gods Church from Adam vntill Christs ascension, contained in the first and second part thereof: and throughout the third part poperie is turned vp-side downe.

CHAP. III. Of the continuance of the monarchie.

Darius Ochus was a tyrannicall and bloudthirstie king; he murdered his two brethren, that so he might enioy the king∣dome. Hee made warre with the Egyptians, and by that meanes cruelly vexed the Iewes. By this prince, and vntil the time of Alexander the great, the church was euer in great mi∣serie and affliction: All the priuiledges graunted by Cyrus and Darius, were vtterly taken away; but God (who neuer wil forsake his church, though hee suffer it to be tossed and turmoi∣led for a time) in the end brought solace and true ioy vnto the Iewes.* 1.1 For shortly Darius Ochus was slaine of Bagoses, by whom also Arsames was murdered: and Darius Arbelas the last king of the Persians, was ouercome and slaine of A∣lexander the Great. So that the monarchie of the Persians en∣dured 249. yeares, and eight moneths: after the supputation of others, 191. whereof more at large hereafter. The resistance was so great, that the Iewes were enforced to builde with one hand, and to holde their weapons in the other. Nehe. 4. verse 17.

The Monarchie of the Persians reached from India, euen to Ethiopia ouer an hundred and seuen and twentie prouinces, Est. cap. 1. verse 1.

Darius Assuerus king of the Medes, Persians, and Chal∣deans, to shewe the riches and glorie of his kingdome, and the honour of his maiestie, made a feast to all his princes and ser∣uauntes, and to all captaines and gouernours of his prouinces, for the space of an hundred and fourescore dayes. And when these daies were expired, the king made another feast, to all the people of Susan the chiefe citie, both vnto the great and small,* 1.2 none excepted. This he did for the space of seuen daies, in the court of the kinges pallace, vnder an hanging of white, greene, and blew clothes, fastened with cordes of fine linnen,

and purple, in siluer ringes, and pillers of marble. The beds were of golde and of siluer vppon a pauement of porphirie and marble and alabaster, and blew colour. They gaue them drink in vessels of gold, and chaunged vessell after vessell, and royall wine in aboundance, according to the power of the king, and none was compelled to drinke more then as best pleased him, Est. cap. 1. v. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

The difficultie.

In Ester the Prouinces are reckoned to be 127. but in Dan. cap. 6. verse 1. reckoning is made onely of sixe score: seuen wan∣ting of the number in Ester.

The answere.

I answere that the vsual maner and course of the holy scrip∣ture is this, to recite the perfect number, and to omit the odde and vnperfect. Euen so Daniel expressing the perfect number, was carelesse for the odde.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ••he Persian mo∣••••rchie endured ••49. yeares, and ••••ght monethes.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 very magnifi∣••••all feast, and be∣••••ming so migh∣••••e a prince.