The thre bokes of cronicles, whyche Iohn Carion (a man syngularly well sene in the mathematycall sciences) gathered wyth great diligence of the beste authours that haue written in Hebrue, Greke or Latine Whervnto is added an appendix, conteynyng all such notable thynges as be mentyoned in cronicles to haue chaunced in sundry partes of the worlde from the yeare of Christ. 1532. to thys present yeare of. 1550. Gathered by Iohn Funcke of Nurenborough. Whyche was neuer afore prynted in Englysh. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum.

¶ Of the second Mo∣narchye.

WHen the Iewes had bene thre score and ten yeares in exile by the Babylonians, as we haue sayde before, the kyng of Ba∣bylon* 1.1 Balthasar was punyshed of God▪ because he blasphemed the God of Israel, and vsed the vessels that were ordeined for the tempels vse, in his bankettes. For the Medes and Perses were fallen into his kyngdome, and toke the citie of Ba∣bylon, with the kyngdomes of Chaldee and Assy∣rya. Worthely therfore is this to bee called the se∣conde monarchye: For the greatest kyngdomes of the worlde, began now to growe together, too the

whiche all Asianearehande was ioyned afterward by the Persians. Here ought y^• godly mynd before all thynges to consyder these noble benefytes and workes of God, whiche brought agayne all thee worlde in one certayn body and a lawfull empyre, that iustice and honestie myght be mainteined. For it were necessary, that all ciuilitie and good lawes should peryshe amonge men, without God chose and ordeined somtyme myghty monarchyes, and puyssaunt princes, the whiche might defende them, and if they were decayed, to restore them agayne.

This monarchy of the Persians was knowento the Grekes, and for the moste parte are happened in this monarchies tyme, whatsoeuer notable and* 1.2 greate fetes are done in Grece. And thereby com∣meth that the Grekes begyn their histories at the Persians, the whiche it semeth to haue litle know∣ledge, what hath bene done in other kyngdomes, before the Persians tymes.

As for the order of the yeres in histories, I must here aduertyse the reader, that I haue hetherto bo∣rowed the rekenyng of the yeares out of holy scri∣ptures, the whiche shewe by order the counte of the yeares, euen from the creation of the worlde, untyll these seuenty yeares, in the which the Iewes were kept in the Babylonicall bannyshment. Moreouer, in the holy Bibels are conteyned certayne Croni∣cles of the yeares, vntyl the tyme of the Perses: but after that is thee order of the yeres not so wel kept, saue that Daniel saith, that there are four hundreth and seuenty yeares, from that tyme that it was

graunted to the Iewes to repare the citye Ierusa∣lem vntyll Christ was borne. And of so easy a thyn∣ge, some men maketh a great question, of countin∣ge these yeares a ryght, in the which we shall shewe to be no difficultye. For Daniel hath very well ex∣pressed and marked the tyme of Christes cōminge.

The begynnynge of the Monarchye of the Persians.

BUt that the nombers do agre wyth the seuenty yeares aforesayde, we shal reken in the Monarchy of the persyans a hun∣dreth nynety and one yeare. Although the Grekes do reken the nomber of these yeares greater in the Monarchy of the perses. Howbeyt thys is come thereby, that the Grekes, haue not begonne fyrst to reken whan these seuenty yeares were expyred, but that about a twenty yeares be∣fore. And of this wyse must the rekenynge of Philo* 1.3 and other Grecians be made equal. For the Iewes begynne in the yere of Cyrus, after that he had wonne the cytie Babylon. But the Grekes reken those yeares wythal also, the which he had reygned before: but they are not to be referred to the yeares ensuynge. Moreouer that the matter maye the bet¦ter be vnderstande, accordynge to the order of Philo, we shall fyrst rehearce the high priestes, af∣ter that, shall we also adioyne the Persian kynges, as the Grekes do reken them.

But he that vnderstandeth Cyrus kyngdome to beginne after the conquerynge of Babylon, the∣same maye easely laye together the nomber of the

Grekes with these. CxCi. yeares.

• Iesus the high prest. xxxvi.
• Ioakin his sonne in his fathers absence. viii.
• Iesus beynge returned. xx.
• Ioakin agayne. xlviii.
• Eliasib. xxi.
• Ioiada. xxiiii.
• Ioathan. xxiiii.
• Iaddus. x.

Summa of the yeares is. CxCi. Iosephus wytnesseth, that Iaddus lyued whan Alexander wente into Asia.

The Persian kynges as the Grekes do reken them.

• Cyrus xxix.
• Cambises vij. and. v. moneths.
• Darius Hystaspis sonne. xxxvi.
• Xerxes xx.
• Artaxerxes with the longe hande. xl.
• Darius the bastarde. xix.
• Artaxerxes Mnemon. xl.
• Ochus. xxvi.
• Arsames. iij.
• Darius. vi.

The order of the tymes doth for the mooste parte allowe this nombre. For as the historye wryters haue lyued at sundery tymes: euen so hath euery one made mencion of hys kynge, that raygned at* 1.4 hys tyme: euen as Herodotus maketh mencion of xerxes, Theucydides of Artaxerxes with the lon∣ge hande: after these made Xenophon mencion of* 1.5

Darius the bastarde and his yonger sonne Cyrus, he wrote also of Artaxerxes Mnemon: Xenophon went a warrefare also, in those warres, that were vsed at these tymes. Therfore the late wryters do greatly erre of the Iewes, they be very dull asses, which set but four Persian kinges, lesing more thē an hundreth yeares in this euident counting of the worldes yeares: of the whiche do spryng more gre∣ueous errours.

In Daniel and Esdras is mencion made of the Persian kynges, but they varye in some names from the Grekes. As for me, (that all thynges may be knowen more manyfestly) I wyll brefely shewe what my mynde is. Metasthenes is of some reiec∣ted,* 1.6 because he nameth some Persian kynges other wyse, then the Grekes. But for so muche as Es∣dras and Philo do not disceuer from hym, I do not reiect those kynges, whiche Metasthenes reher∣seth. For it is no doubt, but that Esdras was per∣fecte of the kyngdome and state of the Persians, for* 1.7 so muche as it is euident that hee was one of the chefe of the realme and of the kynges counsayll. Metasthenes doth set in this order the Persian kynges, and these be the fyrste wherein they vary: but Philo and Esdras kepe the same order.

• Darius and Cyrus to gether twoo yeres, and after that Cyrus alone xxij.
• Artaxerxes Assuerus xx.
• Darius Artaxerxes with the long hand xxxvij.
• Darius the bastarde xix.
• Artaxerxes Mnemon lv.
• ...

• Ochus xxvi.
• Arsames iiij.
• Darius vi.* 1.8

This variaunce after my mynde may easely bee iudged. Of the fyrst Darius, whiche reigned with Cytus, haue the Grekes no certainte (for so much as saieth Daniel,) he neuer reigned, and therefore was his name all together vnknowen, to men of straunge nacions. And Daniel hath separated this Darius from Cyrus. For he sayeth that Darius of Media was Cyrus of Persia. Now do the Gre∣kes reken only the Persian kynges, nother do they myngle with them the Medians affeirs, whose kyngdome was already translated too the Per∣sians: therfore do the Greke wryters dissent no∣thyng from the holy scriptvres, though they leaue out Darius, seynge they counte onely the Persian kynges. Iosephus wryteth that this Darius were Cyaxares, the sonne of Astyages, of whome Xeno∣phen wryteth, the whyche I wyll not stryue wyth∣all.

The seconde Artaxerxes Assuerus, is Darius* 1.9 Hystaspis sonne, and Cambyses is passed ouer, be∣cause hee reigned hys father yet lyuynge, or not long after his fathers death. For the Persians had this custome, that whan y^e kyng went forth on war, they ordeined another before, which shuld supplie y^e* 1.10 kings rowme being absēt. And by this occasiō was Cambyses ordeined kyng & gouernour of y^• realme

of Cyrus hys father, whan he made warre agaynst the Scythyans, wyth the which he hadde warre syxe yeares: and for this season dyd Cambises raig∣ne, whome the Grekes saye to haue raygned se∣uenyeare, the which must be vnderstande of that ti∣me wherein, the father was yetlyuing. And the hi∣storyes of Assuerus do wytnesse that he was Da∣rius because Philo wryteth that these kyngdomes be recouered of hym agayne by warre, whiche we∣re fallen back and rebelled, whan Cyrus had fough∣ten wyth the Scythes hauing no goodlucke.

The thyrde was called Darius Artaxerxes* 1.11 wyth the longe hande: the same do the Grekes sim∣ply call Artaxerxes wyth the longe hande: and he had the name thereof, that hys ryght hande was longer than the left, whome Metasthenes calleth Darius, Esdras doth call hym Darius and Arta∣xerxes indifferently: for they vsed these names no∣ne otherwyse, than oure Emperours vse the na∣mes of Cesar and Augustus, But that Artaxerxes doth strayght waye folow Darius in order, that is happened for thys cause, that Xerxes forthwyth in the begynnynge of hys raygne wente in to Grece and that in the meane space Artaxer∣xes ruled the kyngdom in the East. And be∣cause Xerxes remayned not at hande in the East, therfore do not the Iewes make mention of hym, but holde Artaxerxes, for the kynge, seynge he beynge made gouernour of the kyng∣dome ruleth so longe as Xerxes was from ho∣me. After thys is ther no varyaunce more, and of thys wyse maye the hystoryes of the

Byble and Grekes be made very well to agre. The disagreynge of the yeres ryseth therof y^• some Kynges gouerned the other yet lyuinge: and ther by is it come, that some other haue gathered the yeares otherwyse.

Of Cyrus.* 1.12

CYrus the fyrst Prince of the Monarch of the parsiansis rekened one amonge the moost doughtyest Kynges & lordes of the worlde. For besyde the manyfold excellent and very princely vertues, had God geuē and endued hym wyth sundery luck and fortune in rulynge, and very excellent vyctoryes of hys ene∣mies: yea he fortuned to be taught and instruct also by Daniel the prophet in godlynes and in the trew worshyp of God as holy scriptures do wytnesse, Such kynde of Princes, beinge so garnyshed wyth* 1.13 the vertues of God, ought we to honoure, as noble gyftes of God, by the whych God wyll helpe the worlde, retayne men in theyr vocacion, haue mo∣destye kept and peace, finally to haue lawes ordey∣ned. And seynge it is so, it is a very vngodlynesse ether to despise or to set nought by suche Princes, as the commune sort of people do. But this Cyrus is worthtely to be counted among such ministers of God and very excellent Princes of the worlde. Nother can the noblenesse of kynred be requyred in hym. For it so pleasyd God, that the worthynesse of gouernaunce be kept and maynteyned and by men auanced wyth moost hyghe vertues, and renow∣me of theyr auncerters. And for so much as God

hath preferred with so high honors, therfore ought they lykewyse to be honored of vs, as a most excellēt gyfte, of God.

The father of Cyrus was a prince, or a gouer∣nour* 1.14 of Persia, borne of the ofsprynge of Sem: his mother was borne of the kynges blude of Medes.

And Herodotus wryteth, that Astyages kynge of the Medes sawe in a dreame, out of hys dough∣ters* 1.15 wombe to grow a vyne, whose sprynge should ouer shadowe whole Asia.

Of this was the coniecture taken, that a moost myghty prince shoulde be borne of her. Therefore whan Cyrus the chylde was now borne, Astyages feared, lest his kyngdome should be remoued from the Medes, to the Persians. For the which cause he commaundeth his vsher Harpagus, to put forth the chyld to be slayne. But whan Harpagus busied to slayne it, he was saued by a wonderfull destiny: So vayne are mens enterpryses and studyes to hynder Gods counsels. The chyide was taken to the shepeherde to beare it vpon a hyll, that thete it myght dye for honger: the shepeherde was also cō∣maunded not to leaue the chyld, vntil it were dead, and to shewe this same to Harpagus, that he might certifye the kynge the truth of the thinges, and to se the chylde buryed accordynge to the dignitie. But what dyd happen? At the same tyme by chaun∣ce, whan the shepeherde bryngeth this chylde: into his house, his wyfe was delyuered of a deade chyl∣de: the which whan she herde of her husbande that thys chyld shoulde be layed abrode to perishe, who∣me besyde the comlynesse of bewty, she perceaued

to declare some kyngly strength and courage, and also because it was borne of the kynges bloude: she counseleth and prayeth her husbande to laye hyr deade chylde in his steade, and to take it her for to brynge vp for hers. She admony sheth hym also to committe no murther with the kynges chylde, che∣fely seinge no daunger can befall or happen to the realine by this chylde, for asmuche as it shalbe brought vp and taken for the shepeherdes chylde.

The shepeherde foloweth his wyues counsell he sende worde to Harpagus that the chylde is dead.

Who sendeth some to see wheter it were so, and causeth the chylde to be buryed: and all this is she∣weth the kyng for a trueth. In the meane whyle is Cyrus brought vp by the shepeherde: and as he grew vp by processe, forth wyth appeareth in him kynggly towardnesse, and sharpnesse of wyt.

Moreouer amonge the chyldren (as the chyldrē costume is) he ordeyned a kyngdome, and hym that offended, dyd punysh greueously.

But it happened by this chaunce, that whan he had beaten a gentlemans chylde very rygorously for a transgression, he was accused to the chyldes elders, the which made complaynt to the kynge.

The kynge callynge and demaundynge of the chylde, he maruayleth at his great graue constan∣cye and the wysdome in answerynge, than to the chyldes age. Beynge streght waye astonyed in hys mynde, he aduysed hym of the tyme, wherein hys doughter was delyueted, and as he had searched out all the circumstances of hys age the tyme and the bryngynge vp he knewe that it was his cosyn,

his daughters sonne, the which in tyme past he had commaunded to be destroyed. Knowynge hym he kept hym in hys court a certayn space: and whan Astyages dyd now dout no more of hym, by reason of hys syngular towardnesse & honesty, the whych dyd shyne in the chylde, he sent hym into Persia to hys elders. Howbeit the kynge was in the meane whyle greatly wroth wyth Harpagus, for the de∣ceate, because he dyd not accomplyshe the kynges commaundement, in slayeng at that tyme the chyl∣de. He commaundeth Harpagus yongest sonne to be brought to the court: the which whā Harpagus* 1.16 had done, the kynge commaunded to slaye him and seethe him and to set it before Harpagus for to eate wythout hys knowledge: but whan he had now ea∣ten ynough, Astyages commaunded to brynge the heade, fete and handes of the chylde that were he∣wen of, and shewe them to Harpagus, that he my∣ghte se that he had eaten the fleshe of hys owne chylde.

As harpagus sawe the heade, he knew the kynges dede, & also whence the occasion came: but all grefe suppressed, he worshpped the kynge accordynge to hys wonted reuerence and drede, thynkyng in the meane season to be once greatly reuenged of thys tyranny of the Kynge. But Harpagus euer after ceased not to stere vp the chefe of Media & the most* 1.17 puyssant nobles to fal to the Perses, and to make Cyrus Kynge: he sheweth it to Cyrus also, and ex¦horteth him to inuade the kyngdome, nother suffre the tyranny, that the Kynge hath vsed agaynst other of them to be vnreuenged.

And that the enterpryse be secrete, he hydeth a let∣tre in the belly of a holow hare, and taketh him to a trustye messenger to bringe it into Persia to Cy∣rus, and sendeth no worde els by the messenger, but that kynge Cyrus him selfe doo flee the hare. Cyrus fyndynge the letter, and knowynge Harpa¦gus counsell, maketh continently ready an hoost, and goeth agaynst the Medes. Astyages on the o∣ther syde commaundeth hys army to withstande the enemy, of the which he maketh Harpagus chefe captayne: but whan the felde shulde be fouten, he yelded both hym self and hys army wyllyngly to Cyrus. Wherfore Astyages hauyng lost the kyng∣dome of Media, was vanquyshed. Howbeit Cyrus saued and kept hym, and caused hym to be intrea∣ted accordynge to hys royall dignitie. Thys alte∣ration happened in the kyngdome of the Medes, by reason of the kynges tyranny, for the which also the whole empyre was translated to the Perses.

After thys warred the most ryche Cresus v∣pon Cyrus in the fore parte of Asia, whome Cyrus* 1.18 metyng wyth an hoost, ouercame, and toke in the whole kyngdome, and wynnynge the moost stron∣gest citye Sardis, toke Cresus prysoner. But whan by the kynges commaundement, Cresus shulde be burned, and was nowe vpon the pyle of wood, he cryed wyth verye pytefull waylynge: O Solon, Solon. Cyrus woundred at this noyse, and caused to demaunde for what cause he dyd so crye nowe and than, wyth so greate doulfulnes. Than he syghynge from the dep••st of hys harte, sayde: Solon was in tymes past a moost wyse man

among y^• Athenians, whom I dyd somtyme great∣ly worshyp, whan he was with me, and I shewed him all my power and treasures, and finally asked him, whether any misfortune myght euer happen to me, that were so well fortified with ryches and power, against all chaunces of fortune, and against the power of my enemies? But Solō answered to* 1.19 that with a rebuke: That noman is so happyin this lyfe, which before his death can be called happye of euery syde: nether is anye man so mighty or puys∣saunt, whom an vnhappy chaunce can not make fe∣ble and ouerthrowe. But that as than he beynge safe by reason of prosperitye, he sayde he despysed those wordes, nother coulde he drede this notable fall, the which he had now proued: and because that now first he vnderstode Solons sayenge, therfore dyd he now name him before his death, and that he wyshed al men to remembre in prosperity aduersy∣tyes, which may befall, lest they become proude for the presente felicitie, to enterprise or vndertake oughte, that by chaunce myghte bringe mischief to them. Whan Cyrus heard this, he was moued* 1.20 with pitye toward Cresus, sayenge: That hereaf∣ter he woulde not entreate Cresus so cruellye, which had intymes past be a moost myghty kynge: for he knew that he was a man also, and to hym also it myght befall, to haue nede of an other mans helpe and mercye. After thys commaunded he Cresus to be brought to him, and had him in greate reue∣rence, as a great prince, and vsed hys counsel in go¦uernaunce.

Cyrus demaunded of hym also, by what cause he had taken this warre, whether he were moued, by the answer of Apollo, whome he had asked coun¦sell before? To this answered Cresus, sayenge: That Apollo counselled him right well with these wordes, Knowe thy selfe, and all thyng shall pro∣spete. He dyd not refuse thys counsell of Apollo. For whan his hoost had gotten the worsthande in aydinge the Assyrians, he had purposed thence∣forth to lyue in rest and peace, chefely for so muche as he sawe Cresus to haue such prosperitie and po∣wer in bringinge all thinges to passe. But whan he was praysed of the cityes that laye rounde aboute, and of his great princes for his power and conning of warrfaringe, he was agayne deceaued by pryde and vaine glory of him selfe, and was so by the o∣ther princes made capitaine of the warre agaynst Cyrus. And that by these praises he was brought, to take the answer of Apollo otherwyse, and that he thought he was suche a one in dede, as he was praised, namely, that he was no lesse in power, than king Cyrus, and by these meanes had he taken the warres in hande. But hetherto is ynough spoken of Cresus. Hereof maye notable examples be ta∣ken,* 1.21 that princes be oft brought to warre by no con∣straynt of necessytie, and to theyr greate hynde∣raunce, by the counsell and flattery of them, which can falsely persuade and extolle with vaine pray∣ses theyr power and vertues.

In king Cirus is chefely to be considered, that in so great prosperities of all thynges, he vsed great

moderation of minde, and that in so great violence of victories, he swaged tyranny wyth mekenesse.

Cyrus than toke in all the kyngdomes from Persia, vntyll the fyrste borders of Ionia: from thence beynge returned, he besieged the cytye Ba∣bylon, which semed moost strongest against all force* 1.22 of mans power. But Cyrus wanne her, and that by this meanes: The floude Euphrates runneth through the citye by some ryuers: dyggynge tho∣rough hys caucyes, he ledde the course of the wa∣ter another waye, and as the floud was dryed, men myght safely go into the toune on foote. Besyde that had he hys espyals, whych shewed what tyme the Babylonians were at reste, and so broughte he hys army into the cytye in the styll of the nyghte, whan they douted nothyng lesse.

But what nedeth here to prayse and auaunce much the prosperytie of Cyrus? seynge it maye ea∣sely be thought and consydered, that it is Goddes worke, and not of mans wysedome or power, that so many and so stronge tounes and kynges be sub∣iect to hys kyngdome, vnto whome it semeth no mans power nearehande myght wythstande. For those hygh monarchies are ordeined & conserued by an heauenly power, for to preserue the state of a cōmune wealth, agaynst the will of Satan. More∣ouer after that Babylon was wonne, than began that kyngdom of the Perses fyrst to be called a mo¦narchy: For the heade citye or see of the monarchy,* 1.23 was Babylon, and the kyngdomes of Chalde, As∣syria, Medes and Persians be now brought vnder one empyre. The moost parte of Asia was ioyned

thereto also, and other great countries, which bor∣der vpon these kyngdomes. Cyrus gouerned the∣se kyngdomes with great prayse, insomuch that no princes prayses, wherof historyes do make mency∣on, can be compared wyth his commendacions and ••uauncementes.

I suppose that thys monarchy began after that Babylon was wonne in the thre score and tenth yeare after that the Iewes were ledde into capty∣uyte in Babilon. But sence the creation of y^• world, the yere of thre thousand, foure hundreth and thre and forty, and before Christus byrth the fyue hun∣dreth and one yeare. Whereby it maye easely be ga¦thered, that those histories of the Grekes that be∣gynne at Cyrus, be not very olde.

Of the Iewes delyuered out of the Babylonycall captiuite.

HEtherto haue we spoken of the state of the commune wealth and empyre of those tymes: nowe resteth it that we speake also of the spyritual king∣dome of God, and of the churche. After that Cyrus had subdued the Babylonians, he set the Iewes free and at libertye out of all his kyngdomes, and resto∣red them into the kyngdome of Iewry. This ex∣ample* 1.24 wytnesseth howe muche God doeth care for the church or congregacion of the godly, and howe lytle he doth forget them. For that the church my∣ght be released from the seruice & bondage, it was necessary that Babilon the citye shuld be taken and peryshe

〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉For a prince must not be a cowarde, to represse the force of his enemies. Herodotus wryteth also that some do suppose otherwise of Cyrus death: and Xe∣nophon* 1.25 writeth that he dyed in his bedde, and that before his death, he exhorteth his childeren to the feare of God, to vnitie and loue to eche other, and that with a greate relation and manye wordes he admonished them to remembre that mens soules dye not with the bodies, but that they remayne im¦mortall, and that the godlye after thys lyfe enioye* 1.26 an euerlastinge reste wyth God: and that contrary wyse the wicked shalbe greueously punished. And to this is it saied that he shoulde haue added a sub∣stanciall euidence of mans reason, concerning euyll doers, the which in this lyfe haue a great inwarde drede in their minde, for the conscience of theyr wi∣cked dedes: and that therby may be gathered that the soule hath a certayne beynge: and that seynge this feare is beaten in by God, it is euidente that God will be reuenged of all thynge that is vniustly committed. Hetherto is ther ynough saide of thys moost holy kinge Cyrus.

In what tyme the Philosophers were fyrst in Grece.

BEfore haue we shewed that by the Grekes were the Poetes fyrst in high reputation, by reason of ther learning: afterwardes in* 1.27 Cyrus tyme began another kynd of learned men, whiche were called Philosophers, & of them were two sectes at one time: for some were philosophers of Ionia, & some were called philosophers of Ita∣ly.

The philosophers Ionici were in Ionia, they v∣sed greate diligence in naturall thinges, and sear∣chinge out the course of starres. The beginner of* 1.28 them was Thales, which diuided first for the Gre∣kes the yere in thre hundreth and thre score daies. For though they had before twelue monethes, yet were they constrayned to brynge the mouynge of the sonne to the course of the mone. Thales did al∣so shew first of the Eclypse in Grece, and found the poynte whan the daye and nyghte are equall, the which was no small conning. He had learned these thinges of the Egiptians, with whom God had kept this science. These Thales taught also that the soules are ymmortall: and he is the fyrste and true begynner of the philosophers of Grece.

The other parte of the philosophers, whyche* 1.29 are called the Italians, began by Pythagoras: for the same lyued also aboute the tyme of Cyrus, in that vttermost part of Italy, which bendeth to Si¦cilia, and was sometyme Grece. In the tyme of Py¦thagoras raigned at Rome Seruius Tullius: his scole was not occupied in Phisick and Astronomy, as the other, but in Arithmetick, Geometry & Mu¦sick. Pythagoras liued a very solytary lyfe wyth his disciples, and vsed sundry ceremonies, & taught many inconuenient thinges of the soules nature, that mens soules remoue into beastes to be puny∣shed. The Pythagorians taughte their doctrines priuatly amonge themselues: and it was commaun¦ded amonges them that noman shoulde publishe them, lest by reason of a doctryne not accustomed, the commune sort of men mighte be sturred ether

to discorde, or to a despisynge of good maners. But such kynde of phylosophers dured not longe: nother is it now necessary to speake more of the be¦gynnyng of philosophers. I would onely shewe i•• here, lest any man might be ignoraunt, what tyme the connyng of sciences began and encreased: wee shall hereafter in hys due place speake of them, whych haue before all other garnyshed and had in reuerence Philosophye, whereof there is not so great nomber. For very few are ther that be wor∣thy to be called wyth so excellent a name Phyloso∣pher, and therfore shall we not rehearse so many of them.

Of Solon.

THough wee studye to be brefe here, yet wyll not I passeouer Solon vnrehear∣sed:* 1.30 for of hym hath the ciuyll lawe of the Romanes, whych is yet in vse his orygi∣nall begynnynge. Thys Solon lyued about thys tyme, and was very familyar wyth Thales. But whan at Athenes were spronge great debates, be∣cause that the greatest of the citye, had made bonde men of theyr creditours, that were not able to pay them, euen of pryuate wylfulnesse, the whole citye of Athenes dyd agree to Solon, that he shoulde take order and correcte thys wyllynglye of the greatestmen, and the other misvses of the com∣mune wealth. Solon toke thys wyllynglye vpon hym, and set forth manye excellente constitutions and lawes, the whych are yet manyfest.

Now was Draco the law geuer by the Atheni∣ans, before, Solons lawes were not ordered with anye mercye at all, for he ordeyned that all trans∣gressions and trespasses shoulde be punished wyth the swearde: and for thys cause sayde one, that Dracons lawes were wrytten wyth bloude, and* 1.31 not wyth y••••k. So hard and cruell constitucions were in the worlde at the begynnynge. But no∣thyng can be durable, that is to extreme, and is not mitigate with the temperaunce of mercy or iustice. As for Solon made a difference in these thynges or degrees, and ordeined that some synnes shoulde accordynge to reason be punyshed greueously, and other more mercyfullye ordeined also of geuinge trybute, of weyghtes, and of the seasōs of the whole yeare. And specially is this lawe praysed, in the* 1.32 whiche he ordeined, that euery man should certyfy the higher officers once in the yeare how great his substaunce were, and of what maner crafte he were, where with he gat hys lyuynge: and if there were any ydle fellow or vagabounde, too dryue the same out of the cytie.

Of Cambyses.

CAmbyses began to raygne whan hys fa¦ther Cyrus went to warre agaynst the* 1.33 Scythians. He ioyned the kyngdome of the Egiptians, to his fathers domy∣nion. But he was greatly vnlyke his father in ver∣tues. Whan Prexaspes one of hys chefe coun∣selers* 1.34 had admonyshed hym somewhat boldelye, and sayde that the Perses dyd alow hym greatly,

but that the same myslyked them, that he was ge∣uen to dronkennesse. He caused the Peeres of hys realme to be called together, and demaunded whe¦ther he might worthely be blamed in any thynge. But they answered, No, but that he also surmoun¦ted hys father Cyrus in vertue: for by hys actiue∣nesse was Egypte also ioyned to his kyngdome. But Cresus (to whom Cyrus had chefely commen¦ded his sonne Cambyses to be taughte & nortured* 1.35 in honesty) sayd the cōtrary: Cābyses (quod he) can not yet be compared to hys father Cyrus, for he hath not left such a sonne of his begettinge, as Ci∣rus hath left Cambyses. This delectable sayenge pleased Cambises at that tyme. But as the counsel departed, whan none of the princes had blamed ou¦ght in him, he commaunded Prexaspes to be called to him, and bad him bringe his yongest sonne to him: For he woulde declare howe sobre he myghte seme to be, euen whan he were droncken. For he woulde shute wyth a bowe at his chylde, whan he was droncken, and if he coulde hyt his harte with the darte, than he might thynke that in drinkynge he were not besyde the capacite of his reason: but if not▪ than he might worthely be sayde to be geuen to dronkennesse.

But what nedeth many wordes? Whan Camby∣ses* 1.36 had well dronken, he shott at the chylde as at a marke, and as the darte was pearced thoroughe, he caused it to be rypt vp, and shewed to hys fa∣ther Prexaspes, that the harte was shot thorough a ryght, sayenge, that thereby he might haue euy∣dence, that he was not dronken.

So barbarous, cruel and tyrannicall maners brin∣geth dronkennesse into mens mindes, though they* 1.37 be well taught before: euen as no doute was that kynge Cambyses was from hys youth brought vp in moost honest nourture. And though a dronken man can hytt a right in shoutinge, yet in the meane whyle can he not vse the ryght counsels of reason, and wanteth those vertues, whiche communely steare men to modestye and auancement of glory. Such lyke examples ought to be shewed to yonge men, whiche sometyme be enclyned and geuen to dronkennesse: for what ende folowed of these, shall we shewe shortely hereafter. He slew also hys own brother Smerdis, whome he caused priuely to be put to death, lest he shuld raygne at any tyme. He maryed also hys owne syster, where neuerthelesse nature doth abhorre such kynde of maryage.

It fortuned vpon a tyme, that whan kynge Cambyses sat at borde wyth the quene, at y^• meale tyme, set he a lyons whelpe and a strong dogge to∣gether to make a game: and whan the lyon had the ouerhande by reason of hys fearcenesse & strength,* 1.38 another dogge of no lesse fearcenesse brake wyth great strength the bandes y^• he was bounde with∣al, and holpe his brother the dogge, and so was the lyon ouercome. The kyng had great delyte at that game, because of the faythfulnesse of the dogges. But the quene moued wyth the same dede, began to wepe very bytterly, and whan the kynge toke that sorowfully, and asked the cause of her weping, she answered: To my brother happened nothynge lesse, than such faythfulnesse, as I haue sene in these

dogges helping eche other. The kyng taking this* 1.39 answere wrothfully, caused her strayght waye t•• be had out of hys syght, and ••lew her. But such co••¦dicions can not longe prosper. For God sayeth in the scryptures: The bloud thyrsty and deceatfull shall not lyue oute halfe theyr dayes vpon earth. Wherfore God stroke hym not longe after wyth a greueous and heauy vengeaunce. For as he should come out of Egypte into Persia, as he sat vpon his horsse, hys ••wearde fell out of hys sheeth, and woun¦ded hym so sore in the one syde, that he dyed. This example sheweth, that God suffreth tyrauntes not* 1.40 very longe. For he lyued not much more than one yeare after Cyrus, nother left he anye heyre after hym: and of thys wyse is he cleane deade. It is truely a pyteous thynge and greatly to be beway∣led, that in so lytle a space the kingdome of the Per¦ses is taken from the posteritie of Cyrus. The rule of the empyre remayned neuerthelesse wyth Cy∣rus bloude. For Darius had wedded Cyrus dou∣ghter the whyche neuerthelesse was also of Cyrus bloud.

Of the punishment of a wicked iudge.

NO prince is of so desperate hope, which doth not at any tyme some laudable or honest thynge. For God doeth garnishe the offyce of a gouernour or high officer, and maketh that other whyles notable and neces∣sary thynges are done necessarely, for the conser∣uation of publyke administration.

Cambyses is alowed in all historyes for thys one ••ede, for the which he is worthy to be praysed. He* 1.41 had a gouernour in the fore part of Asia, called Si¦••amnes: he heard saye that this iudge iudged vniu¦••••ly, beynge corrupt wyth gyftes of mony: Where∣fore he caused him to be slayne, and the skynne ••lain o•• from his body commaunded he to be fastened v∣pon the iudges seate, and ordeined in steade of the deade iudge his so••••e called Ota••es, and sat hym* 1.42 in the seate ••••diciall vpon this maner and conditi∣on, that by the beholdyng of his fathers skynne he shuld beware, lest he should be punished lykewyse. This example warneth those that are in authory∣tye, to remembre that God will not suffre wycked∣nesse to be vnreuenged.

Of Darius Kyng of the Persians.

WHan Cambyses was gone into Egypte, the Magi rebelled agaynst him at Su∣sa,* 1.43 and one of the Magies toke the name of a kyng vpon him by gyle. Magi are called y^• wyse men & priestes of those contryes. But whan Cambyses made him now ready to returne into the kyngdome, that he might punish worthely those seditious Magies, euen in his yourney by a mischaunce (as we haue sayd before) he dyed. A••ter the death of Cambises the Magies beyng sla••••e, y^• Peers of the realme toke the kingdome to them: selues after that poyntyng a day of assembly, they came to treate of restoringe one into the kinge∣dome Persy for a certayn order.

The peers or Princes were seuen in nomber,

as in the Germ••ne empyre are seuen Electors: those doutlesse were chosen and poynted by greate wysedome and counsell, as the hyghest counsellers of the wh••le empyre of Persia. Whan now these se∣uen prynces were come together, to deuise for the commune health of the realme, there rose contro∣uersy in deuisynge, and of thre thynges specially.

One Othan••s counselled to chose no more kyn∣ges,* 1.44 but that the princes bounde by an aliaunce, shuld rule a lyke, libertye beynge retayned of ether¦syde: for it were euident ynough before and proued by example, that one man lord of so many and great thynges, becommeth lyghtely haut and presump∣teous, and to fall to tyranny, as it was euident that Cambyses had done.

The seconde Megabysus refusynge that coun∣sell sayde, that such lybertye shoulde be worsse than tyranny: for the princes and cityes, yf they want a Lorde, can not but misvse that libertye to priuate wylfulnesse. But lest anye suche do happen, it were good not to choyse one onely kynge, but to orde••••e some princes, by whome shoulde alwaye remayne the full power of a kynge.

The thyrd called Darius refelling the sentence of ether of them, counselled one kyng to be chosen: for though in thys poynt, as in all other thynges of men myght befall great and many inconuenien∣ces, yet is no royalme or dominion more surer than* 1.45 the Monarchy, that is, yf one raygne, in whose po∣wer and handes the chefe poynt of the raygne do consist. For though these thre counsels be a lyke ho∣nest and verye good: yet if they be conferred, toge∣ther,

it is most euident, there can no fayrer or more profytabler thynge be founde, tha•• a Monarchye, namelye, whych goeth nexte to a godly kingdome. Moreouer it can not be that concorde can be kepte longe amonge fre princes, or yf some princes be cho¦sen to gouerne some myghtye realme in steade of a kyng: and that for the diuersytye of moost weighty causes, whych myght some tyme befall in so large a dominion, in the whiche the princes coulde not all∣waye agree together. Besydes thys that there shoulde not want amongest the princes the ende∣uour of souerayntye and gouernaunce aboue the other, ouer the which he shoulde procure to rule, as ouer subiectes or inferiors. These were the cau∣ses which Darius alleged: vnto whom agreed the other foure princes, and ordeyned to choyse a kyng after the costum••ble maner.

But lest any debate myght aryse amonge the princes of the royalme they determyned to com∣mitte the lot of the kynges eleccion to God. They agreed that the princes shoulde come together ve∣ry early on horses into a certayn place, and whose horsse shuld neye fyrst, the same should be kyng. Da¦rius beynge come home, shewed thys cou••sell to the controller of hys court, whych sayde he would easely brynge it to passe. For before the euenyng of the appointed daye he dyd lead Darius horsse and a mare into the place appoynted, and there letteth he go the horsse to the mare▪ that in the mornynge the horsse comminge to the place, myghte neye for the mare beyng absent.

And as the princes came together in the ap∣pointed

a place at y^• set houre, Darius horsse neyen fyrst: & lest they might dout whether it were Gods will that Darius should be their kinge, sodenly at y^• same very tyme whan the horsse neyed, was ther a lightening in an open and cleare ayer with thon∣deringe. Forthwith the other princes lyghtynge from their horses, dyd to Darius dew reuerence.* 1.46 And by this occasion was Darius set vp in the hygh dignitie of the Persian empyre, the which he gouerned after that with great praise. He restored with great power the countries that were rebel∣led whan Cyrus dyed in Scythia, to the empyre. Babilon the citie also, refusynge now the dominion of the Perses, he recouered after longesiege, and that by this meanes:

One zopyrus the sonne of Megabysus, one of* 1.47 the seuen lordes or princes, caused willinglye hys nose, eares and lyppes to be cutt of, maketh the kinge priuy of his counsell, and falleth to the Babi∣lonians as one that were fled: he complayneth of the kinges cruelnesse, whiche caused him to be of this wyse dismayde and toren, because he gaue him counsell to forsake the cytie: nother fayned he hym¦selfe otherwyse, than to be the kynges enemy, and that he were fled to the Babilonians for cause of counsel taking. The Babilonians did frely receaue him, and as he was made capitaine of them, he slew some of Darius souldiours: for so was he agreed with Darius, that therby he might at the first aug¦ment the confidence of the Babilonians in him. Af∣terward y^e Babilonians trusted him with the whole army, the which he betrayed to Darius: and made

also that he recouered the whole citye, the whiche he had nowe besieged syxe monethes and a whole yeare. As for Darius gaue hygh thankes to thys zopyrus for hys faithfulnesse, for he set hym after∣warde before all the princes of his kyngdome. And as a pomgranate was geuen hym, he sayde: He* 1.48 woulde wysh him no better thinge in this lyfe. than that if he might get so many zopyries, as there are graines in this apple. For therby would he signifie that a kynge can haue no worthier treasure, nor no stronger fortresses, than faythful frendes and coun¦sellers.

Of Darius Warres in Grece.

THE Persians assayed to drawe by* 1.49 claime to them the kingdomes of Ma¦cedony and Grece, because they bor∣dered vpon Persia. But because God hath prefixed euerye royalme as it were certayne boundes, the whyche it can not passe: therfore coulde the Persian kinges subdue nor make subiectes to theyr empyre, nother the Macedonians nor the Grekes. Wherfore hap∣pened about that tyme in Grece many and greate chaunces: the which as they are many, euen so to rehearse them all ordely, were to longe: but I shall rehearse them all ordely, were to longe: but I shall rehearse some of them, howbeit none saue the very best, and that brefely.

The Persians sendinge Ambassadours to* 1.50 Amyntas kynge of Macedouy, desyred that he woulde yelde hymselfe to them.

Amintas being afrayd because of the Persians, po∣wer, graunted willingly to do their request in a ma¦ner prostrate, & treated messengers very courteou¦sly. And whan a royall banket was ordeined for y^• Ambassadours after their wil, they desired to haue brought to them noble women and ladyes, for to garnyshe the banket. Amyntas which durst denye them nothynge, commaunded to brynge them.

Whan the Persians were now droncken, they da∣lyed wyth the gentle women vncourteously, inso∣much that theyr vnmanerelynesse yrked and disple¦sed kyng Amyntas, and his sonne Alexander the* 1.51 yonge king: and by reason of the shamefulnesse and reuerence of age, desyred Alexander his father the kynge Amintas, that departing out of the com¦pany, he would go to bed, & he wold remayne with the gestes. As the father went now away, Alexan∣der faynyng myrth, he suffred the Persians to da∣ly and playe more frelier wyth the women: at the last he prayed them all to ryse, and suffre the lady∣es to go a lytle apart, for they should strayght way* 1.52 returne better trymmed. The nobles of the Per∣sians suffred that wyllingly. In the meane season caused Alexander the fayrest yongmen apparelled wyth womens garmentes to returne into the ban¦ket, and hyde sweardes vnder theyr garmentes, wherewyth in daylienge they should slaye the Per¦ses, the which was done. For the Persyans were kylled of euery one of these yonge men, and thus was theyr vnshamefulnesse greueouslye punished. This Alexander is rehearsed amonge the greate grauntfathers of Alexander. After this rebelled the Grekes also, which were vnder Darius in the

forepart of Asia, and taking the citye Sardis, bur∣ned* 1.53 it, and to this dyd the Athenians ayde them.* 1.54 For one Histieus a noble prince sente a seruaunt to their captayne, and lest the matter should be disclo∣sed, polyng his seruauntes heade, he prynted vpon hys heade letters conteynynge this sentence, that they should disceuer and rebell to the kynge: after∣ward as the heare was growen agayne, he sent no letters, but this seruaunt to the capitaine wyth this message only, that he should klyppe of his hea∣re, and loke vpon his heade: the whiche whan the capitaine had done, straight waye fell he from Da∣rius. But thys traytour was kylled, and Histieus was hanged, and the commotion beynge swaged wyth these remedies, went no farther.

This and other lyke gaue Darius occasion to* 1.55 gather a great hoost, namely a hundreth thousand footemen, and ten thousand horsemen, and to sende them into Grece to be reuenged of the Athenians for the sedition and vproure. They pytched their tentes two myle from Athenes. Whan nowe some counseled not to wythstande the enemies, but yf they besieged the citye, to defende it manly, onely Miltiades counsellinge the contrary, shewed that the syege should be heauy and verye intolerable for the communalty: but with a sodayn inuasyon my∣ght the enemyes be lyghtely vanquyshed. They* 1.56 folowed Miltiades counsell, whom also they made captayne of the warre: the Athenians made an ar∣my agaynst the enemies of ten thousande, nother had they any succourse out of the other cyties, saue of one thousand men that the city Platea had made* 1.57

out. And wyth thys small army, was that greate and chosen company of the Persyans discomfyted* 1.58 and layed doun: and thys battayll deserued a very great prayse, for it deliuered all Grece from a great and incredible feare, where wyth she was no lesse taken at that tyme, than yf at oure tyme the turke shulde inuade Germany.

We must not ouerpasse here, what recompense the Athenians haue made finallye to Miltiades, and how they haue requyted hym, for thys good dede. For besyde this victory, had he done other great actes for the commune welth. Wyth chy∣ualry had he added other cities and yles, where∣wyth he augmented the empire and dominion of the Athenians. But because greate vertues can not want the enuy and detractions of euell men, it was procured by the people and broughte to passe,* 1.59 that M••ltiades was cast into the commun preson, vntyll he payed to the communalty thre hundreth thousande crownes. But whan he was not able to paye that summe, and beganne nowe to be sycke of the longe presonment and stenche, his sonne Cy∣mon* 1.60 went into preson to delyuer the father: at the last whan the father was deade, a very ryche city∣sin maryed Myltiades doughter, and disbursynge out the summe of money, he delyuered Cymon out of preson. Can not good men be duely rewarded of the communaltye on thys wyse?

Of Kyng Xerxes.

DArius had two sonnes: the elder was be¦gotten ear he had the kingdome offred, but the yonger called Xerxes was in y••* 1.61

tyme of the kyngdome of hys mother Atossa that was Cyrus doughter. The same by reason he was of both parentes of the kynges bloude▪ he succeded his father beyng dead in the royalm, that the king∣dome myght remayne by the yssue of Cyrus. The elder brother suffred this wyth a great modesty of mynde, stryuynge in no manere wyth his brother Xerxes. As now the hoost of y^• Persians was ouer throwen in Grece, Darius assembled a new army, but in thys appoyntynge dyed he. Wherfore Xerx∣es straight before hys raygne accomplished the pre¦paration that hys father had begonne, and entred into Grece with a moost puyssaunt army, insomuch that some haue writtē, that neuer was so great an* 1.62 army assembled before at one tyme, as was kynge Xerxes armie. Iustine sayeth, that of his own king¦domes were seuen hundreth thousand men in ar∣moure, and of the other that were confederat with hym, thre hundreth thousand men. Though it se∣meth not wel to be beleued, that ther haue ben such a multitude, yet beare histories wytnesse ynough, and also sunderye battails that were had at that tyme, that Xerxes hoost was very great. And now at this present time do we proue sufficiently, wyth howe great an hoost, howbeit lyght armoure, the Turkes and other nations of the Easte do make theyr warre.

Daniel also wytnesseth, that a kynge shall come oute of Persia againste the Grekes wyth a very great hoost of souldiours. It is red also, that whan thys great multitude was now gathe∣red in one felde, Xerxes weping, sayd with an h••••y

harte. The cause of mans life is very miserable: for of so many thousand men, can not one lyue ouer* 1.63 a hundreth yeare. It is also sayde that whan Xerxes nowe ouerlayed the strayghtes of the see wyth brydges, as there rose a tempeste, he com∣maunded to beate the see.

To thys belongeth it also, that it is not vnwor∣thely sayd, that in goynge forth, hys hooste dryed vp floudes wyth drynkynge.

Wonders were also sene, the which admonished* 1.64 the kyng to desyst of his enterpryse, because of the myshappe to come. For a ••a•••• brought forth an hare in the hoost, where by was signifyed flyght. Ther appeared also a comet, called Ceratias, the which is bowed lyke a horne. Ther was also an Eclipse of the sonne. And as hystoryes make men∣cion, suche signes are not sene wythoute some vn∣happynesse or hurt, namely by the which God thre∣ateneth hys wrath: and therfore oughte they not to be despysed, but rather a pryck or s••ynge for vs that we do feare God: for here maye be sene what alteracions of commune welthes and all estates of the worlde are ensued.

Xerxes wolde fyrste set vpon the Grekes wyth* 1.65 battayll by lande. As for Grece is closed rounde about, and ther is no entry into it saue by see, or by some strayghtes of the mountaynes, wher certayn thousands of the Grekes were set to kepe the ene∣myes from entrynge in, of the whyche the greatest parte fled contynently as the Perses would entre: only foure hundreth Lacedemonians abode which* 1.66 vsed greate force to resist the enemies: and though

they were farre lesse in nombre and weaker, than that they could dryue back so great force of the ene¦mies, yet declared they such strength in fyghtynge, that they slew about twenty thousande of the Per¦ses.

For beynge ayded wyth the oportunite of the strayghtnesse of the mountaynes, they were safe of the inuasion and oppression of the multitude of the enemies, nother coulde they be enuyrouned by waytes layenge. In the skyrmisse dyed Xerxes two bretheren, but on the other syde died the foure hundreth Lacedemonyans, wyth theyr kynge Leonides. The acte is greatly praysed by reason of the courage and strength to defende the coun∣try, because that they beynge so fewe in nombre, were not afrayed to set them selues agaynste so great a multitude: and though they had not the vi∣ctory, yet was the power of the enemies greately abated with thys ••yght, and theyr hardenesse my∣nyshed.

Whan the Perses had the victory in thys bat¦tayll, wounder it is, how greatly all Grece was a∣frayed, and in that parte of Grece did some cities yelde them selues frely to Xerxes. At Athenes al∣so one Cyrsylus, or as sayeth Herodotus, Lycidas* 1.67 counselled, that the Athenians also shoulde geue themselues vnder Xerxes power: for in no maner are they able to wythstande so myghty an enemy. Themistocles contrary wyse counseled to defende* 1.68 the lyberty of the contrary. For if the Perses for∣tune to haue dominion in Grece, all honesty of ma∣ners shall be in daunger, all lawe, all good vertues

shall peryshe. The Perses shall vse all wyllfulnesse agaynst their wyues and chylderen, as it were eui∣dente they haue done agaynst them, whiche were now subiect to them: therfore were it more honeste to dye in the libertye, than willinglye to admitte such lordes.

Thys counsell of Themistocles was accep∣ted of euerye man wyth a commune consent, that they shoulde defende themselues manlye agaynst the enemies. The Athenians beynge wroth wyth Cyrsylus for hys wycked counsell, commaunded* 1.69 to stone hym: and the women lykewyse stoned hys wyfe, because her husband had put forth such coun∣sell, the whyche if they had folowed, they shoulde haue broughte all theyr chylderen to dishonesty.

Thys dede is praysed for the vertue, and is worthy of remembraunce, that they woulde ra∣ther dye for the lybertye of the contry, than they shoulde yelde themselues to a straunge nacyon, to ouerthrowe the state of theyr citye and all policye and honesty.

As the Athenians asked counsell at the aun∣swere* 1.70 of Apollo at Delphas, it was aunswered them: that they should haue victory with walles of wood: the whiche Themistocles expounded of the defence of shyppes, and he exhorted that leauynge the citye, they should lead their wiues and children into the shyppes: for their citie should at length not be able to wythstande the power and so great mul∣titude of the Persians, besyde that also be not the Perses very well appointed by see.

Thys counsell was alowed, and the residue

of the cities haue folowed it. Sparta and Corin∣thus, the whiche with a furnyshed nauye helde by force the straightes of the sea, by the yle Salami∣na, lest they mighte be compassed by the multitude of the shyppes that Xerxes had.

Whan Xerxes hearde that the Grekes had made a nauy, and vnderstode that greate daunger shoulde come to hym, yf the Grekes vsed the sea frely, and as they had oportunitie, should falle into the kyngdome: it was counselled Xerxes, that contrarywise he shoulde combre the Grekes wyth warre vpon the sea. The same was done. But as the Grekes had the victory, the mooste part of the Perses was discomfyted, and many shyppes were drouned.

This victory restored a courage to all Grece, and made Xerxes feble. The kynge him selfe was not in the battaill, but remaininge with a fewe shyppes vpon the coast, he dyd onelye beholde it. All the Grecians rendred the renoume of the battaill to Themistocles onelye, because that the victory beynge gotten by his counsell, all Grece was saued.

Amonge the reste of the traynes, whyche Themistocles vsed in thys warre, I thoughte to* 1.71 rehearse thys one suttyll deuyse. Whan Xer∣xes was abashed after the battayll, he thought the kynge mighte easelye be broughte thereto, that leauinge Grece, he shoulde returne for alltoge∣ther into Persia wyth the reste of hys armye.

Therfore faynynge hym selfe humbly prostrate▪ as wyllinge to procure fauoure by the kynge, he

caused to shew hym by the messenger, that the Gre¦kes deuised to breake the bridge, the whyche he had caused to be layde before vpon the sea: Where∣fore to haue hym strayght waye oute of Grece, be∣fore the occasyon of flyenge were taken him, wyth∣out he woulde cast him selfe in great daunger. As he hearde thys tydynge, he made him strayghte waye readye to flye. But whan in flyenge he fande the bridge broken by the tempeste, he passed ouer wyth a lytle boate, euen wyth vtter daunger of his lyfe, because the sea was troubled wyth the vehe∣mency of the floudes. Of thys wyse dyd God turne the fortune of the dice, and punyshed the* 1.72 pryde. Great princes haue here an example sett be∣fore them, whereby they must learne not to truste in their puyssaunce, but that in the feare of God and trust to God must great thynges be taken in hande. That he had thys shamefull ende, for be∣cause this expedicion made euery man amased, and also for because Xerxes dyd brynge on to Grece such a great multitude and power none otherwise than in oure tyme the Turke was constrayned to forsake the city of Vienne with great shame, which came into Germany with an hoost of two hundreth thousande men.

Howbeit Xerxes departynge out of Grece, left Mardonius the capytayne there wyth thre* 1.73 thousande souldyours: and that for thys cause, because the kynge persuaded by Mardonius coun¦sell wente into Grece, agaynste the mynde and wyll of the other Lordes.

And because it happened not as Mardonius promysed, therefore dredinge lest beynge retur∣ned home he might lose hys heade, because of the mischaunce of the warre, he desyred that he might be left in Grece wyth that army, to assaye all fortu¦nes of warre, yf by chaunce he coulde make feble the affayres of the Grekes. Xerxes than suffred that, and betoke hym to hys fortune.

Fyrst beganne Mardonius frendely to entreate the Grekes, that hauing layde before them tolera∣ble condicions of peace, they woulde willingly yeld themselues. But the Grekes beynge become more couragious, by reason of the victory, refused vtter∣ly all dominion of the Perses, and denyenge the leage, asked that he shoulde defende hym selfe with force and fyghtynge hande. Than toke Mardoni∣us and burnt the citye of Athenes, and wente tho∣rough vntyll Thebe: for they of Thebe were fallen to the Perses. The Athenians and Lacedemoni∣ans makyng than agayn a fresh army by land of an hundreth thousand men, met at sundry times with Mardonius in battayll: at the laste Mardonius constrayned for faut of vytayls, made an ende. A∣lexander* 1.74 kyng of Macedony was wyth the Per∣ses, of whom we made mencion before: the same she∣wed the Grekes before the euenynge, that they should make them ready in armes on the next day, for Mardonius was determined to pyche hys last felde, and that was so done, but the Perses beyng ouercome, lost the felde, Mardonius beyng slayne also, whiche thynge the other counsellers of kyng

Xerxes tolde him before the warre began. But this was the ende of so great a settyng forth to warre: and whan this warre was ended, the cities of Gre∣ce began too encreace in power and enlargynge of their dominion subduyng many yles of the Perses, whiche they adioyned to their dominion. Moreo∣uer the Grekes beyng become puyssaūt, waxed also haut and presumtuous, and for desyre of dominion, they procured also inwarde sedicion & warre with in themselues: and beyng ouercome with mutuall damages that eche had done to the other, they were constrayned fynally to yeld themselues to straunge princes, quenchynge and destroyeng all the estate of their common wealth and the vertues, whereby they floryshed before. But of this shall we treate a lytle hereafter.

It is necessarye to knowe Themistocles exam∣ple* 1.75 before any thyng, the whiche for so muche as he was the man, by whose prouisse and counsail whole Grece was saued, for the whiche thynge also hys prayses are auaunced, more then of any valeaunt captaine, whiche Grece had: yet was he euel rewar¦ded of his citesens: for they droue him out of y^• citie. This thanke geueth the commō people for the most worthye vertues: yea the deuell hymselfe blyndeth men, that they do not acknowledge so hygh gyftes of God. Wherfore it behoueth the best and excel∣le••t men to haue pacience before all thynges: for it can not bee, but they must haue grefes and all vn∣thankfulnesse in that state of lyfe. After that fled* 1.76 Themistocles to Artaxerxes, by whome he was had in greate honor, in all thynges equall to the

princes and peeres of his royalme. It is wrytten also, that Artaxerxes should haue sayde: he coulde wyshe his enemies no more euyll, but that they blin¦ded with such madnesse, dyd put awaye wyse men from them.

Of Artaxerxes with the longe hande.

AS Xerxes was deade, raigned his sonne* 1.77 Artaxerxes: whose right hande was lon∣ger than the left, whereof he gat the surr¦name, wyth the long hand. Thys kynge is chefely praysed for his syngular wysedome and gentlenesse of maners and endeuour of peace. Therefore do I rehearse his historye here nomore at length, that wee maye finallye returne to the Iewysh hystories, lest we be ignoraunce what state was in the church and spyrytuall kyngdome.

Of Zorobabel the Iewysh capitayne.

WE haue shewed before that in the Bible is one of the Persian kynges called Assuerus: but the same was* 1.78 Darius Histaspis, and as I suppose, thys Darius is Assuerus, which had* 1.79 quene Hester. Herodotus doth also make mencion of Artistona, the whiche Darius had besyde quene* 1.80 Atossa, and sayeth that the same Artistona was ve∣ry well beloued of Darius: and it appeareth that thys same was Hester. Philo writeth also that the history of Iudith happened in the tyme of this Da¦rius: and that Arphaxad, whereof the history of Iu¦dith maketh mention, was captayn of y^• Assyrians,

after that they were now fallen from Cyrus, wh•• was ouercome of the Scythyes. I do not disalow thys meanynge of Philo: but verely as I do sup∣pose, the history of Iudith was now already fulfil∣led, before that Iuda was led into bondage: and al∣so before the Persians monarchy.

For Arbaces kynge of the Medes was be∣fore* 1.81 the monarchy of the Perses: and Ninius was destroyed in the tyme of the Persians kyngdome: and whan the Perses had the monarchy, nether Ninius, nor the Medes had theyr kynge. How∣beit I graunt here euery man to defende hys mea∣nynge.

After Darius Histaspis setteth Philo Artaxer∣xes wyth the longe hande, passynge ouer king Xer∣xes, but doutlesse for none other cause, saue as is shewed before namely, than whā Xerxes was gone into Grece, Darius wyth the long hand gouerned the royalme in the East in the meane season. And this is that Darius with the longe hande, whiche* 1.82 gaue the Iewes leaue the seconde tyme to buylde agayne the temple. For though Cyrus had permit¦ted the Iewes to returne to Ierusalem, for to tyll theyr lande, and to restore the kingdome & the wor¦ship of God: neuerthelesse in the meane season after Cyrus death▪ were they letted by the borderers, y^• the building could not goo forewarde, vntill the se∣conde yere of Artaxerxes with the long hand, whō Philo calleth Darius with the longe hande. The∣same commaunded in the second yeare of his king∣〈…〉〈…〉 by a commune proclamation & commaunde∣ment, that Ieru••al•• & the temple shuld be repared.

This was the occasion, by the whiche the Iewysh natiōs was restored to his libertie, instituted again the gouernaunce of the royalme, with the Gods seruice, and builded agayne the temple and cities. And though Iuda had not hetherto his kynges, yet had they princes of Dauids posterite, vntil that tyme, that the Machabees began to reigne. Firste reigned zorobabel, whose posteritie what fortune they had, and how finally the whole kyngdome is translated from Dauids posteritie, shall we shewe hereafter. For so was it prophecied afore by the prophetes, that Christe should be borne about that* 1.83 tyme of Dauids bloude, that foren princes shoulde vsurpe to them the kyngdome of the Iewes, that was now already alienated.

The rekenynge of the seuenty we∣kes out of Daniel.

IT was shewed Daniel by heauenly reue∣lacion of Christus commynge, and howe long the Iewysh people should last. Ther is a notable wytnesse in this prophecy, to confirme the certaynte of our faith against the Ie∣wes, whiche striue and contende that Christ is not yet come, and wayte yet for another Messias.

Verely the rekenyng of the tyme appointed by Daniel, is easy, and specially it is pleasaunt to know thereby, that Christe was surely come about that tyme, the whiche Daniel hath prescribed. For though other do count diuersly, yet if ye go not frō the order of the histories, there shall bee found no great dissention, wherfore ye could doubt. For the diligent rekening of the tyme, is requisite to repete

out of Ptolome these Eclipses, that are happened, and to gather out of them ordely euery yeare: but that were not one mans laboure. And diligently ought Byshops to occupie them in these thynges, with doyng costes, that the vnderstandynge of so notable prophecies, myght bee clerely had in the churche. I truely wyll gather here out of the best histories the nombre of the yeares, and endeuoure to make the rekenyng there of very playne.

Daniel sayeth: Seuenty wekes are concluded* 1.84 vpon this people, and specially accordynge to the commaundement of buyldyng agayne Ierusalem, shalbe syxty and nyne wekes, vntill Christes kyng∣dome, and than shall Christ be put to death.

Fyrst must it be knowen what that the wekes do yearly signifye, so that euery weke make seuen yeares, the whiche maye easely be proued. Where∣fore the seuenty wekes make foure hundreth and nynety yeares.

Secondly sayeth Daniel: Christe shalbe put to death after thre score and nyne wekes: but so that he teache the half weke, and afterward bee put to death. The tyme and office of Christ is notable ex∣pressed of this maner.

Thyrdly must the nyne and seuenty wekes bee rekened from the seconde yeare of Darius Longi∣manus, that is, wyth the long hande: For then dyd God sende Zachary and Aggeus the prophetes, that they shoulde comforte and certaynely assure the people of repairyng Ierusalem hereafter with∣out any hynderaunce. And of this worde, that is, of this reuelacion are the aungels wordes to be vn∣derstande:

Because then was made the sure pro∣myse to the people, of the furtheraunce of the tem∣ples repayryng.

Besyde that commaunded Longimanus that self same yeare by an open commaundement, that ••he Iewes shoulde not be hyndered of their purpo∣••••d worke of buyldynge the citie and temple, as it was done before. But all this is to be red in the bo∣dies of Eldras.

And surely to this same delaye of tyme in repai∣ryng of the temple had saint Ihon respect in the se∣conde chapter of his gospell, where the Iewes said, that in buyldyng of the temple, were spent syx and fourty yeares: for that is the nombre of the yeares, from the seconde yeare of Cyrus, vntyll the syxte yeare of Longimanus, wherein the worke of the temple was accomplyshed.

But now is it gathered out of the booke of the Machabees, and out of Iosephus, that from the be¦gynnyng of Alexander, after the death of the last Darius vntyll Christe was borne, to be thre hun∣dreth and ten yeares.

From Christes byrth vntyll hys baptyme thyr∣ty yeares.

Summa, from the begynnynge of Alexander vntyll the baptyme of Christe, thre hundreth and fourty yeares.

To these put the tyme from the seconde yeare of Longimanus, vntyll Alexander after the death of the laste Darius, and as Metasthenes coun∣teth there shall be a hundreth and fyue and four∣ty yeares.

Summa, from the second yere of Longimanus vntill, the baptisme of Christe are foure hundreth, foure score and fyue yeare.

And therfore thre score and nyne yearly wekes make euen foure hundreth and foure score and two wekes. Whereby it is manifest, that when Christe was baptysed, were fulfylled three score and nyne yearly wekes, and in the weke folowynge taught Christ, & in the same half weke was he put to death: For Christe was put to death the fourth yeare af∣ter that he was baptised. Wherfore when this we∣ke that foloweth is added to the thre score and nine, there shalbe seuenty wekes: and this is the maner to count the tyme appoynted by Daniel. For after Christes death are the Iewes nomore Gods peo∣ple, and their temple was afterward an abomina∣cion, the whiche Daniel witnessed playnly.

Besyde this are other notable doctrines, and consolacions of troubled cōsciences in this prophe∣cy, of Christes office and kyngdome, that he came to preache forgeuenesse of synnes: but to expounde all this maketh to no purpose here, nother is it here taken in hande.

I haue truely sought out with so great diligēte as I could, the maner of countyng the seuenty we∣kes of Daniel: nother do I fynde that it can great∣ly varye, if ye wyll folowe the fourme of histories. For though ye wyll not folowe Metasthenes, yet doth the rekenyng of the Grekes agre very well here with. For after the countyng of the Grekes are betwene the death of Alexander, and the begin∣nyng of Augustus twoo hundreth and foure score

yeares, the whiche I can proue with very stronge reasons. If ye do now take the yeares of the Per∣sians, after thee seconde yeare of Longimanus by the Grekes, ye shall fynde the same also.

After Alexander vntyll Christes byrth, are thre hundreth and two and twenty yeares.

After Christes birth vntyl hys baptysme thyr∣ty yeares.

Put therto the nomber of the Persians from the second yeare of Longimanus an hundreth and two and thyrty yeares after the Grekes.

Summa of this is foure hundreth, foure score and foure yeares.

So perfectly do the hystories of the Grekes agre with the tyme that is founde in Iosephus and Philo, that ye maye openly perceaue, the tyme of Christes commynge to be moste fyttly appoynted by Daniel. And truely I doubte not, but wyse and learned men will alowe and testifye, that both these rekenynges that we haue set here, maye bee very well proued by wytnesses of hystoryes. And without it were to longe, I coulde brynge yet o∣ther more rekenynges, whyche shoulde agre with these also: So that it is no doubte, but that Daniel hath moste ryghtely hytt thee tyme of Christes commynge. It hath also no small pyth of consola∣cion or comfort, (though the maner of the tyme do not agre so iustly with euery minute,) that we may be certyfyed, that the tyme prophecyed of Daniel be longe sence past. Wherfore are the Iewes in ma∣nifest erroure, whiche can by no reasons proue, that the same tyme is not yet past, though they wyll vn∣derstande

the wekes of dayes or yeares. But her of is ynough.

The table of the yeares of the worlde, whiche sheweth the tyme poynted by Daniel.

• M De. lvi vntyll the floude.
• C C xciii. vntyll Abraham was borne.
• C C C C xxiij. vntyll Moses was borne.
• L xxx. vntyll the goyng out of Egipt.
• C C C C lxxx. vntyll Salomons temple was buylded.
• C C xxxviii. vntyll kyng Ioas.
• C C xci. vntil Ieconias was caried into Babylō.
• Xi. vntyll the wastyng of Ierusalem by Nabu∣chodonosor.
• L xx. dured the captiuite of Babylon.
• C xci. dured the monarchy of the Perses after the captiuitie of Babylon.
• Vii. was Alexander after Darius.
• C xlvi. dured the rule of the Grekes vntyll Iu∣has Machabeus.
• C xxvij. dured the kyngdom of the Machabees as wryteth Iosephus.
• XXX. Herodes.
• In the thyrtyeth yeare of Herode was Christe borne.
• M. D. xxxii. sence Christe our lorde and Sa∣uiour was borne.
• Our of this table is easely gathered the reason and maner of the yeares in Daniels wrytynge.
• But I fynde by the Grekes the tyme after Alexan∣ders

• death of this wyse: In the .cxiiii. Olympias dyed Alexander.
• Clxxxiiii. Olympias began the rule of Augustus after the death of Iulius.
• The xlii. yeares of Augustus was Christ borne.
• These yeares together sence the death of Alexā∣der make about cccxx. yeares.
• This nomber doth not so greatly disagre wyth the other aboue rehersed, and can easely be made to gre of learned men.

Of Esdras.

A Certayne space after the cōmaundement publyshed dyd kynge Artaxerxes let Es∣dras the scribe returne to Ierusalem. And duely not without a cause ought mē∣tion to be made of this man in the histories: for the* 1.85 bookes of the holy scripture, that were now scatte∣red and strowed, dyd he gather agayne and set in order. For this worke was worthy to be the duety of a true byshop. Because that without holy scrip∣ture, cannot be maynteined the true religion and worshyp of God.

In the tyme of this Artarerxes Longimanus began the great warre of Peloponnesus, whiche* 1.86 the Grekes had amonge themselues, in the whiche the citie of Athens at the last was vtterly destro∣yed. This warre lasted neare hande vntyl the ende of the Persian monarchy: and therfore I wyl first brefely reherse in their order the Persian kyng. s. suche as are yet behynde.

Of Darius the bastarde.

DArius the bastarde reigned after Longi∣manus, and of truth he was not the sonne of Lōgimanus, but had his sister to wife and was his brother in lawe. He had two sonnes, At taxerxes whom they cal Mnemon, and Cyrus the yonger. Artaxerxes succeded his father* 1.87 in the empire. Cyrus was made most puissaunt in Ionia.

Of Artaxerxes Mnemon.

AS Darius was deade, Cyrus began to take falsly to hym the kyngdome: for be∣syde that he ruled in a most puissaunt du∣chy, he was apte also for all manner of thing, and delited chefely in warre, and therfore ar∣med he hymself with great power against his bro∣ther.* 1.88 Beside this had his mother more affection to hym, than to his brother, whiche had a modest and gentle mother wit. But God did not prosper this wicked enterprise of Cyrus: for in a battaill, where he tought against his brother, was he slaine. Arta∣xerxes declared hymselfe not without courage in this battaill: for he was greueously wonded of Cy∣rus, and lept vpon another horse, that he shoulde knowe, that the victory came to hym afterwarde by God only.

Of Ochus.

OChus the sonne of Artaxerxes was moste gredy of mans bloud: for beside the great tyranny that he vsed, he slew also his own brothern. He buylded the citie Sidon, and brought Egypt againe to the Persian monarchy:

but they kept the loyalte of their yeldyng not very longe. At the last was he slayn of one of his gouer∣nours.

Of Arsames.

ARsames was the sōne of Ochus: the same was made kyng being yet yonge, by the capitain of the host, which flew his father Ochus. But when Arsames began now to wax great, the capitain of the hoost fearyng, by reason of the wycked dede that he had done, he slew by a disceat this Arsames also. Afterward makyng a league with Codomanus prince of Armenia, he toke to hym the kyngdome also, and called hym, Darius. Thus was the kynred of the noble prince* 1.89 Cyrus quenshed, and the kyngdome of the Per∣sians beyng translated from Cyrus posterite, came to a foren prince. Nether is that onely to be lamen∣ted, that suche power and honour, and so hygh gyf∣tes of God, were deleyed and put out of remem∣braunce within so few yeares: but muche rather, that Cyrus folowers beyng strayght waye vnlyke hym, dyd declare their father to haue no maner of vertue, the whiche appeareth in Ochus, whose fea∣tes of tyranny gaue occasion that the whole kynred of Cyrus was abolyshed.

Of the last Darius.

The same was straunge from Cyrus but he* 1.90 was made prince of Armenia by kyng O∣chus for his noble actes of chyuairy, for the whiche actes also he was chosen kyng by them, that had slayne Arsames, left he should be

reuenged of Ochus, that had done hym good. But* 1.91 being blynded by this occasion, and with the hope of the kyngdome that was offered hym, he forgat all the benefites, that he had receaued of Ochus, and hauyng the kyngdome, he called hymselfe Da∣rius, that nothyng should be wanting to the royall dignitie. But he was greuously punished for his vn¦kynonesse and disloyaltie. For when he was van∣quyshed of Alexander, losynge all his landes and kyngdome, he lost also his lyfe & the whole monar∣chie of Persia. But we shall treate more largely he∣reof in the begynning of the third monarchie, and when we shall speake of Alexander.

The Warres of the cities of Grece.

WE haue touched before how the Grekes waxed welthy and presumptuous when the Perses were driuen out of their lan∣des: for pride and presumption do com∣monly folow after great prosperitie. Wherfore du∣ryng this monarchie, they had great and durable warres among themselues, by the whiche whole Grece went finally to naught: insomuche, that after ward it was open for euery man to breake in. And also for the most honest gouernaūce & lawes, which they vsed in their cōmon welth, succeded filthinesse and most corrup maner of behaueour. And whome would it not greatly pitie to reade, that so many & great commodities or yuels, and so durable and wic¦ked* 1.92 warres are raysed of so lyght causes. They be examples herely not onely to be wondered at, but also most worthyest to be marked, for they may ad∣monyshe

men, that they take no warre in hand ligh∣tely and for euery lyght cause, but only constrayned by great necessitie: seing the warre raised amonge the Grekes for a small occasion, could be in no ma∣ner nor meanes be swaged and layed downe, tyll finally straunge people fallyng into Grece, oppres∣sed both partes.

It is not my mynde here to describe this whole warre: for Theucidides, Xenophon, and afterward other haue written therof whole bokes. But I wil reherse one thyng among all other, namely what fall the citie of Athens hath had in this warre, and what misery she hath suffered, when she was taken in. And agayne how she was at the last restored againe by the vertues, moderation and pacience of some good men. For as hautnesse, hardinesse & pre∣sumption brought the state of the citie in decay, euen so dyd pacience and mekenesse of maners restore the same agayne.

The begynnyng of the warre was aforen cause,* 1.93 the whiche the Athenians myght easely haue es∣thued. For the Corinthians were enemies to the citie Corcyra, the which required ayde of the Athe∣nians: and optained it the easier, because that the A∣thenians, which were already strong on the see, ho∣ped that through the league and confederation of thē of Corcyra, which had also great puissaūce vpon the see, they should become lordes of whole Grece. On the other syde y^• Corinthiās required assistaūce of the Lacedemonians, and of this wyse was Grece diuided. The Lacedemonians did ioyne them selfs with the Perses, of whome they were assisted with

mony and victuals: howbeit the Perses vsed in the meane season disloyalte or falshode, lest the Lacede∣moniās should become to mighty. And this warre dured (as sayth Xenophon) eight & twenty yere, frō the tyme of Longimanus, vntil Axtarerxes Mne∣mon, and many cities peryshed myserably in thys warre. Also may be sene a wonderfull alteration of fortune in the examples of this warre. For when Alcibiades was captayne of the Athenians, were the Lacedemonians greately put to the worse and slayn, and that in the foure and fyue and twentieth yeare: so that they despayred euer to come to their former abilitie. Howbeit shortely after, in the nexte* 1.94 yere was the worlde turned. For when Alcibiades was driuen out of the citie, though the en••••e of some malepart or euel men, were the Athenians slayen of* 1.95 Lysander by the citie Egos of Potanus, where had happened a straunge wonder in the begyn∣nynge* 1.96 of this warre. For in the ayre was sene a great fyre the space of thre score and fyftene dayes. Afterward fell a great stone from aboue into the ci∣cie. After this battaill was the citie of Athens enui∣roned with a heuy syege. Many died of hunger. Being demaūded to yelde them, vpō this cōdicion* 1.97 that they should breake downe the towres & fortres¦ses of the citie: they refused malepartly the cōdictōs of peace, & remained by their purpose: geuing also a common commaundement, that who so should coū∣saill to make a league of agremēt with the enemies, shold be put to death. As lately is happened with y^• Florentines about .ii. yeres past. But after fyue mo¦nethes were the Athenians cōstrained with hūger

to sende Ambassadours into the hoostes tentes too demaunde peace. Wherevpon when they had taken deliberacion in the counsaill of thoos that had con∣••ederated themselues the Corinthians and Theba∣nes did constantly counsail, that the citie of Athens should be ouerthrowen euen out from the founda∣cion, and that of all their dominion should be made commune pastures. But the Lacedemonians re∣proued that, supposyng to be not honest to quenche and cast it away at once of suche wyse and to forgett the remembraunce of suche benefites, wherewyth this citie had holpen whole Greke against the Me∣des and Perses. Moreouer could not also so excel∣lent a state of this citie be ouerthrowē, without the incredible hurte of all the Grecians. For they sayd: that Grece seyeth with two eyes, whereof the one* 1.98 was Sparta, the other Athenes: Wherfore hede must be taken, lest Grece haue but one eye. Where∣vpon it was concluded finally that Athenes beyng saued, onely the towres and walles shoulde bee cast downe, and a certaine gouernaunce should bee pre∣scribed the Athemans, after the whiche they should lyue, and so should peace be made on both parties.* 1.99 The Athenians yelded themselues frely vpon these condicions, and the walles were cast downe with great triumphe: for with minstrelsy dyd they daūse also. Part of their nauy was brent, and part caried they with them. This happened about the seuen & twentyeth yeare when this warre had lasted. Ne∣uerthelesse were the Lacedemonians alrayd of one Alcibiades, whiche was sled to the Perses when he was driuen out of Athenes. Wherfore the Lacede∣monians

required of the Perses, that they would* 1.100 slayn Alcibiades, whiche the Perses did by a trap though the Perses had receaued Alcibiades accor∣ding to the office of hospitalitie, and that he had put all his trust in the faith of the Perses. But it chaū∣seth so with men, that were fortune doth incline her self, that waye doth mans fauour loue also. There∣fore ought he chefely to be ware, euen of the vnfaith fulnesse offrendes, whiche is out of prosperitie, and he whom men do enuie and yrke, for hatred of hys vertues. This Alcibiades was hyghly furnished* 1.101 with feates of warre or chiualry, but of an vnquiet minde, & he was cause of the breche of the peace that was many yeares before concluded betwene the Lacedemonians and Athenians: He had vsed in all Grece so many wyles and so sundry craftes, that it was euen commonly sayde: If there had happened to be borne two Alcibiades in Grece, it must nedes haue gone wholy to naught. Howbeit suche ende∣uoure can not prosper, therfore died Alcibiades fy∣nally of this sorte. And though the warres of the cities were now synyshed, yet began now fyrst the destruccion of men at Athenes. For seyng the citie of Athens was full of rebellions, there were ordey∣ned of the Lacedemonians thirty men, whom they* 1.102 called Tiranny, to whom was committed auctho∣ritie, that they should punishe the sedicious rebelles without law or iudgement: and lest any man should withstande this aucthoritie with any sedicion, they layed a great garnison of souldiours in the castell.

Of the restoryng of Athens after the destruction of it.

THe Lacedemonians vsed this sharpnesse, to punish the common commotions, and hygh necessitie constrayned them to do that. The thirty men vsed their auctho∣rite at the first against no man, saue the sedicious: af¦terward did the olde hatred of some of them bruste out against y^e best of the citie, but good men did they put to death: semblable examples of y^e like we haue* 1.103 knowen in oure dayes. And whan this displeased one of them, named Theramenes, a doughty man and iust, they slew him also, to cause other to be afra∣yed: and that more is, thei parted the goodes of thē that were put to death, among their compainions. The best of the citesens fled to Thebe and Argos, where for pitie of so vnworthy mysery, the were re∣ceaued, euen agaynst the commaundement of the Lacedemonians, whiche was that no man shoulde receaue the Athenians that fled or were banyshed. Amonge these bannyshed men was one that was doughty and valiaunt in the common wealth, cal∣led Thrasybulus: the same ioynynge with hym the* 1.104 residue of the bannyshed men, and a preuy ayde or subsydy of them of Thebe, taketh in the castell by Athens, and afterwarde goyng to Athens, and py∣chyng a felde, vanquisheth the thyrty Tyrannos▪ and recouereth the citie. The citesens that were fled were restored by this Thrasybulus: and as cō∣cernyng gouernaunce of policy, iudgementes and lawes, the state of the whole common wealth was chaunged, after the olde custome. Thrasybulus de∣serued* 1.105 chefely a greate prayse for his moderation of the mynde, that after so notable a victory,

wherein he had also taken many of the enemies pri∣souers, he woulde rather spare them, then by good ryght to slaye them. And when he considered that there should be no ende of puttyng to death, yf thee goodes of the citesens that were taken away should be restored to euery man agayne or to the true hey∣res, namely, that were already come to the third or* 1.106 fourth possessor: he bande them euery one with such a bande amonge themselues, that no man shoulde thenceforth remembre any vengeaunce or iniury done, but that euery man should kepe that he had, & kepyng the common peace, euery man to be content with his portion or lot. By this meanes and mode∣ration was a quietnesse set in the common wealth. And this is a noble example, that with beneuolēce* 1.107 and forgenyng is procured a more durable concord in suche cinyll commotion, then that euery man wyl go forth with rigour and force.

Afterward were the Lacedemonians become proude and haut also with this lucky chaunce: For they would dryue Perses out of Asia, whiche had* 1.108 succoured them. But the Perses for that tyme ma∣de Codon capitaine of their hoost, whiche was fled from Athens in the ciuill commotion: of hym were the Lacedemonians discomfyted. The Lacedemo∣nians takyng greueously their misfortune, layde al the fault vpon them of Thebe, because they had en∣tertained the bannyshed Athenians: wherfore they* 1.109 fell into their contryes of the whiche rose a new oc∣casion of warre, in the whiche the Lacedemonians beyng ouercome, were wholy vndone, & the The∣bane power encreased.

Whan this warre was finished, the Thebanes* 1.110 toke another warre againste the Phocians, the whiche were wholye abolyshed, and the residue were bannished. Finally dyd Philippe kyng of Ma¦cedony* 1.111 discomfite and tame them of Thebe. And thus were fyrst Athens, after that Sparta, finally Thebe destroyed, and al that power of the Grekes came to naught. Howbeit whan the Athenians and Thebanes dyd not kepe the conditions and ap¦pointementes of peace made with kinge Philippe, he was cōstrained to inuade for to take in al Grece.

This is ynough spoken in brefe maner of the dolefull warres of Grece, the whiche were an hun∣dreth and thyrtye yeares after Xerxes, durynge which space was lytel peace. These warres are at large written by Thucidides and Xenophon, and some other. We haue thought it therfore sufficient, yf we had opened and declared the example of the Athenians, y^• which is the principal in that history.

Of the Philosophers.

IN the meane tyme that thys befell, dyd learnynge also florysh. Hippocrates the* 1.112 Phisicion lyued from the tyme of Lon∣gimanus, vntill Ochus, an hundreth and foure yeares. And besyde that all Grece had hym in greate estimacion, he was also muche made of by the kinges of Macedony, by the which also he spent great part of his lyfe. Soranus wryteth that Hip∣pocrates* 1.113 was sent for by kynge Perdicas, because many iudged that the kynge was fallen into a con∣sumption, and was forsaken of other Phisitions.

But whan Hippocrates was come, he perceaued that the kynge was not sycke for feblenesse of bode∣ly strength, but that he pined for loue and inwarde sorowe. For he loued out of measure the handemay¦den of his father, & as oft as he sawe her, chaunged both the mynde and colour in the kynge. Of thys* 1.114 wyse perceaued Hyppocrates the cause of the syck∣nesse, and gaue remedy to dryue it awaye. Besyde this, whan the pestilence raigned, he caused a great* 1.115 woode to be sett on fyre agaynste the infect ayer, whence the infection of the ayer came: and of thys wyse kept he the whole contry Thessalia safe from the pestilence. He was also renoumed of naturall miracles. Vpon his graue were bees a greate sea∣son, with whose hony were sycke chylderen healed, that were anoynted therewyth.

About the tyme of Artaxerxes Mnemon, was Socrates, whych by the enuy of hys aduersaryes* 1.116 was poysoned and dyed in the preson. He was ac∣cused to be a brynger vp of a newe learninge in the citye. But by the prouidence of God, were the ad∣uersaries not longe after punished worthelye, for they were put to death also.

Of Plato, Eudoxus, Aristoteles.

AFter these were Plato and Eudoxus a* 1.117 very connynge Astrologian, whych also brought this science oute of Egypte into Grece. After thys man was Aristoteles, I suppose these to be the chefe amonge the Philoso¦phers, and after my iudgement are the chefe of thē Eudoxus & Aristoteles, namely because they were

not only garnished with pleasaunt wordes or rea∣sons, but studious of the very thynges. For they accustomed that kynde of learning, as is most pro∣fytable, partely to knowe the propertie of naturall thynges, and partly to learne what waye men may lyue honestly. It is a moost pleasaunt thyng to be∣holde, howe God hath sett all kynde of vertues in oure owne nature. Aristotele was borne of paren∣tes* 1.118 not of the bafest or lowest condicion. His father was Nicomachus, a man of very great authoritye by Amyntas kynge of Macedony: for he was hys Phisicion. Hys ofspring was of Hippocrates kyn∣red, & for thys cause had kynge Philippe that was sonne to Amintas, Aristotele in suchreputacion, af∣terwarde he gaue vnto him Alexander hys sonne to be taught of him his discipline: and was taught of Aristotle the learninge of Philosophie, that he might become more ready and wyser to make a re∣lacion and to geue counsell. Hetherto haue we spo∣ken ynough of the Grekes affeares, which happe∣ned about the tyme of thys monarchy.

Of Rome.

WHan the kynges were dryuen out of the* 1.119 citie, the state of the common welth was chaunged. The Counsuls beganne to beare rule, and yearly were two chosen, whose authoritie in that office was one yeare.

This chaunge of the commune welth happened in the tyme of Cyrus the fyrste monarche of the Perses, the yeare after the worldes foundacyon thre thousande, foure hundreth and fyftye, and

the seuenth yeare after that Babylon was wonne by Cyrus.

But besyde other great and innumerable affei∣res, that befell at Rome, were also horrible sedity∣ons and chaunges in the commune wealth: in the whych are examples geuen vnto vs, that great ci∣cyties and commune wealthes do endure seldome without great alterations. Howbeit in this ma∣ner, y^t two Counsules wer chefe rulers, lasted per∣petually, vntyll the tyme of Iulius, which vsurped the monarchye. There were betwene the begin∣nyng of the Counsels rulyng vntyl Iulius raigne, foure hundreth and thre score and fyue yeares.

It were to long to rehearse here the Romane histories. I will only recite the tyme of two nota∣ble chaunces, that were befallen at Rome in the tyme of thys Monarchye.

In the hundreth and second yeare after that the citye was builded, that is, not longe after Xerx∣es warre, aboute the beginninge of Longimanus raigne, rose controuersy and dissension by the Ro∣manes.* 1.120 For seynge they vsed not yet a certayne iu∣styce or lawes, men were oft vniustlye wronged in and out of iudgemente: for noman knewe yet per∣fectly what was ryght. And whan the multitude dyd for this cause murmure, it was ordeined, that a certayne lawe should be written. Wounder it is of what importaunce be written lawes, to enter∣tayne commune peace and concord in the commun welath, the which this example doth witnesse ma∣nifestly.* 1.121 For this thing were ten men chosen, whiche beinge sente into Grece searched oute and

espyed the maners and lawes of the greatest cities, and in gathering together the beste lawes dyd vse the counsell of Hermodorus of Ephesus and other Philosophers. Twelue tables were written, the* 1.122 which were hanged vp openlye before the court of Rome. This is the begynning of the written lawe of the Romanes, the which they haue fyrst borow∣ed of the Grekes.

The Ten men ruled thre yeare: for it behoued that the lawes were euery daye declared. But Ap∣pius* 1.123 one of the Ten men dyd abuse hys power, which caused one Virginius a cite sins doughter to be demed for another mans bondewoman, that by that cloke of lawe he might drawe her to hym and destore her: The whiche as the father perceaued, and sawe that by reason of Appius power his dou∣ghter coulde not be delyuered, he slewe her himself in the iudgement, lest his stocke shoulde be stayned with such a reproche. Afterward gathering an ar∣my, he made ready an ayde against Appius the ty∣raunt.* 1.124 Than deposynge the Ten men from their office, a new dignitie was ordeined. Appius beyng taken and cast into pryson, slew him selfe. Thys ex∣ample sheweth that tyranny and iniustice remayne not vnreuenged.

The thre hundreth and thre score yere after the* 1.125 foundacion of the citye, fell into Italy an army ga∣thered of the Frenchmen and Germanes, whyche brent Rome. But Camillus, whom the commune people had before dryuen out of the citye, played y^• part of an honest man: for coloring wholy the iniu∣ry, the which he had suffred vnworthely, gathering

an army out of the next contryes, he oppressed the Frenche men and Germanes wythin the citye, ke∣pyng the castel from besyegynge, and the residue of the citesins that were escaped. The dammage had the citye in the tyme of Artaxerxes Mnemon, and about that tyme nearehande was Athenes taken and spoiled.

In this hystory is the first mencion made* 1.126 of the Germanes, and this was not who¦ly four hundreth yeares before Chri∣stes byrth. Of these Ger∣manes was Milane and other cityes in Italy buylded.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Balthasar kyng of Ba∣bylon.
• * 1.2

  The histories of the Gre∣kes begynne at thee Per∣sians.
• * 1.3

  The rekenin∣ge of the Gre¦•••••••• Philo.
• * 1.4

  Herodotus Theusidides
• * 1.5

  Xenophon.
• * 1.6

  Metasthenes
• * 1.7

  Esdras was s••••••••ed and ••••••••gh•• in the Persian mat¦t••••s.
• * 1.8

  Darius reig¦nynge wyth Cyrus.
• * 1.9

  Artaxerxes, Assuerus.
• * 1.10

  Cambyses.
• * 1.11

  Wherfore Darius Artaxerxes was called with the long hande.
• * 1.12

  Cyrus.
• * 1.13

  How great men ought to be folo∣wed.
• * 1.14

  The father of Cyrus.
• * 1.15

  Astyag••s 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.16

  The notable crueltye of Astyages
• * 1.17

  The dede of Harpagus ••••••pu••t Ast••yes tyranny.
• * 1.18

  Cresus king o•• Asia▪
• * 1.19

  The graue •••• ••••••ighty 〈…〉〈…〉▪
• * 1.20

  •••• trample o•• pitye.
• * 1.21

  Example that princes do oft, warre constrayned by no neces∣sytye. What is to be consyde∣red in kyng Cyrus.
• * 1.22

  How Cyrus •••••• Babylō. Euphrates.
• * 1.23

  Babylon is the h••••de ci∣tye of the mo¦narchye.
• * 1.24

  How muche God careth for his churche or congregatiō.
• * 1.25

  What Xeno∣phon writeth of Cyrus.
• * 1.26

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.27

  The Philo∣sophers were ••p••st •••• Cy∣rus tyme. The Philo∣sophers of Ionia and Italy.
• * 1.28

  Thales be∣gynner of philoso∣phers i•• Grece.
• * 1.29

  Pythagoras begynner of philoso∣phers of Italy.
• * 1.30

  Solon 〈…〉〈…〉 and be∣g〈…〉〈…〉 of the Romane lawes Thales and Solon at one 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.31

  Dracons lawes.
• * 1.32

  Solons law concernynge vagabondes
• * 1.33

  Cambyses▪
• * 1.34

  Prexaspes.
• * 1.35

  The 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.36

  The 〈…〉〈…〉 of Cam¦byses.
• * 1.37

  Dronken∣nesse bryn∣geth in most wycked ma∣ners.
• * 1.38

  The fayth∣fulnesse of dogges.
• * 1.39

  The cruel∣nesse of Cam¦b••ses toward ••is ••••••ster the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.40

  〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.41

  Si••amnes a wicked iud∣ge.
• * 1.42

  Ota••es.
• * 1.43

  An example of a notable inte••p••••āce. Who were called Magi
• * 1.44

  •••••• ••••lib••∣•••••••••• o•• se∣•••••• ••••••••ces •••• P••r•••• of •••••• ••••••••∣〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.45

  ••••••••rchy •••• ••he be••t •••••••• •••• of •••• ••••py•••• •• ••••••••l••e.
• * 1.46

  Darius is made kyng of Persia.
• * 1.47

  The notable ••••••thfulnesse •••• Zopyrus 〈…〉〈…〉 Da∣rius.
• * 1.48

  A graue say∣enge of Da∣rius.
• * 1.49

  Empyres haue theyr boundes.
• * 1.50

  Amyntas kyng of Ma¦cedony.
• * 1.51

  Alexander 〈…〉〈…〉 A∣myntas.
• * 1.52

  〈…〉〈…〉 of Alexander
• * 1.53

  Sardis.
• * 1.54

  The sutteltye of Histieus in makinge an vproure.
• * 1.55

  How great settinge forth to warre vpō Grece Da∣rius made.
• * 1.56

  The counsell of Miltia∣des.
• * 1.57

  Platea.
• * 1.58

  The re••ow∣〈…〉〈…〉d victory •••• Miltiades
• * 1.59

  〈…〉〈…〉 the 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.60

  〈…〉〈…〉 sonne •••• M••ltiades
• * 1.61

  Xerxes.
• * 1.62

  How great Xerxes army was agaynst the Grekes.
• * 1.63

  The graue ••••yenge of Xerxes.
• * 1.64

  〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.65

  〈…〉〈…〉 the Grekes is 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.66

  The of the Lacede∣monians.
• * 1.67

  Cyrsylus.
• * 1.68

  Themisto∣cles a defen∣der of the li∣berty of the countrye.
• * 1.69

  〈…〉〈…〉▪
• * 1.70

  〈…〉〈…〉▪
• * 1.71

  Themisto∣cles suttyll deuyse.
• * 1.72

  〈…〉〈…〉mple 〈…〉〈…〉▪
• * 1.73

  〈…〉〈…〉ni∣〈…〉〈…〉▪
• * 1.74

  Alexander.
• * 1.75

  Themisto∣〈…〉〈…〉rded for 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.76

  Themisto∣cles fl••••th too Artaxerxes.
• * 1.77

  Lōgimanus▪ that is with the lōg hand.
• * 1.78

  Assuerus.
• * 1.79

  Hester.
• * 1.80

  Artistona▪ Atossa.
• * 1.81

  Arbaces.
• * 1.82

  〈…〉〈…〉 is, 〈…〉〈…〉 long hand.
• * 1.83

  Christes cō∣myng.
• * 1.84

  The place in Daniel of the seuenty we∣kes.
• * 1.85

  Esdras gathe¦red together the bookes of the Bible.
• * 1.86

  The warre of Pelopon∣nesus.
• * 1.87

  Artaxerxes Mnemon, Cyrus.
• * 1.88

  The warre of Cyrus agaist •••••• brother.
• * 1.89

  Cyrus kyn∣red was quē∣shed.
• * 1.90

  Darius the last.
• * 1.91

  An example of vnkynd∣nesse.
• * 1.92

  Most great warres ray∣sed very lyght causes.
• * 1.93

  The occasiōs of the ware of Peloponne∣suswere light and how lōg they lasted.
• * 1.94

  Alcibiades.
• * 1.95

  Lysander.
• * 1.96

  A wōder sene in the tyme of the Greciās warre.
• * 1.97

  The obstma∣•••• and male∣partnesse of y^t Athenians in time of warre confirmed al¦so with a de∣are.
• * 1.98

  Sparta and Athens are two eyes of Grece.
• * 1.99

  The yeldyng of the Athe∣nians.
• * 1.100

  Alcibiades Ayeng to the Perses is slayn. The Perses are an exam∣ple of dislo∣pal••••.
• * 1.101

  Alcibiades ••as ••••oble in ••ea••es of war but restlesse & ••••s••.
• * 1.102

  〈…〉〈…〉yraū 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were or∣deyned at Athens.
• * 1.103

  Theramenes is put to de∣ath.
• * 1.104

  Thrasibulus
• * 1.105

  The prayse of Thrasibu∣lus.
• * 1.106

  ••••orget••ul∣nesse of i••••u∣ries is ordei∣ned.
• * 1.107

  A notable ex∣āple to main∣••ame v〈…〉〈…〉e.
• * 1.108

  ••odon capi∣tayn of the Perses.
• * 1.109

  The Lacede∣moniās ••ight with y^e The∣banes, and a∣•••• di••con••••••ed
• * 1.110

  The Theba∣nes destroye the Phociās.
• * 1.111

  Philippe de∣stroyed the Thebanes.
• * 1.112

  Hippocrates
• * 1.113

  Soranus wrote the life of Hippocra∣tes.
• * 1.114

  Perdicas was healed of Hippocra∣tes.
• * 1.115

  ☞
• * 1.116

  Socrates.
• * 1.117

  Plato, Eu∣doxus, Aristo¦teles.
• * 1.118

  Aristotles el∣ders. Nicomachus▪
• * 1.119

  Whan the counsels of Rome began
• * 1.120

  The occasi∣on of the Ro∣mane lawes.
• * 1.121

  The Ten mē were sent in∣to Grece.
• * 1.122

  Twelue ta∣bles.
• * 1.123

  Appius.
• * 1.124

  The Ten mē were depo∣sed. An example of vengeaūce
• * 1.125

  Rome was brent of the Frenchemen and Germa∣nes. Camillus.
• * 1.126

  The firste 〈…〉〈…〉ion of the Germa∣nes in histo∣ryes.