The history of the world

§. I. A briefe of the names and times of the first Kings of Aegypt: with a note of the causes of difficulty in resoluing of the trueth in these points. [unspec 10]

SOone after the confusion at Babel (as it seemes) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with many of his issue and followers (hauing doubt∣lesse knowne the fertilitie of Aegypt before the Floud) came thither and tooke possession of the Countrie: in which they built many Cities: and beganne the kingdome one hundred ninetie one yeeres after the [unspec 20] deluge. The ancient Gouernours of this Kingdome till such time as Israel departed Aegypt, are shewne in the Table following.

An. Mundi	An. dil.
1847.	191.	Cham.
2008.	352.	Osiris.
2269.	613.	Typhon
Hercules. [unspec 30]
2276.	620.	Orus.
2391.	735.	Sesostris the great.
2424.	768.	Sesostris the blinde.
2438.	782.	Busiris or Oris the second.
2476.	820.	Acenchere or Thermutis or Meris.
2488.	832.	Rathoris or Athoris.
2497.	841.	Chencres drowned in the red Sea.

The Table and especially the Chronologie, is to be confirmed by probabilities and [unspec 40] coniectures, because in such obscurity manifest and restlesse truth cannot be found. For S. Augustine, a man of exceeding great iudgement, and incomparable diligence, who had sought into all antiquities, and had read the bookes of Varro, which now are lost, yet omitted the succession of the Aegyptian Kings: which he would not haue done, if they had not been more vncertaine then the Sicyonians, whom he remem∣breth, then whom doubtlesse they were more glorious. One great occasion of this obscurity in the Aegyptian Storie, was the ambition of the Priests: who to magnifie their Antiquities, filled the Records (which were in their hands) with many lea∣sings, and recounted vnto strangers, the names of many Kings that neuer reigned. [unspec 50] What ground they had for these reports of supposed Kings, it shall appeare anon. Sure it is that the magnificent workes and royall buildings in Aegypt, such as are ne∣uer found but in States that haue greatly flourished, witnesse that their Princes were of marueilous greatnesse: and that the reports of the Priests were not altoge∣ther

salse. A second cause of our ignorance in the Aegyptian History, was the too much credulitie of some good Authors, who beleeeuing the manifold and contrary reports of sundry Aegyptians, & publishing in their own name, such as pleased them best; haue confirmed them, and as it were inforced them vpon vs, by their authori∣tie. A third and generall cause of more than Aegyptian darkenesse in all ancient Hi∣stories, is the edition of many Authors by Iohn Annius, of whom (if to the censures of sundry very learned I may adde mine) I thinke thus; That Annius hauing seene some fragments of those writers, and added vnto them what he would, may be cre∣dited, as an auoucher of true Histories, where approued writers confirme him: but otherwise is to be deemed fabulous. Hereupon it commeth to passe that the account [unspec 10] of Authours, either in the Chronologie or Genealogie of the Aegyptian Kings, runs three altogether different wayes. The Christian writers, such as are ancient, for the most part follow Eusebius: Many late writers follow the edition of Annius his Authors: The prophane Histories follow Herodotus, Diodorus, and such others.