The history of Quintus Curcius conteyning the actes of the greate Alexander translated out of Latine into Englishe by Iohn Brende.

The ninth boke of Quintus Curtius of the actes of the great Alexander Kyng of Macedon. (Book 9)

ALexander reioysinge in so notable a victo∣rye, wherby he sawe the confines of y^e O∣rient opened vnto hym, offred vp sacrifice vnto the Sunne, & to cause his souldiours to be more willyng to goo forwardes in finishynge the rest of the warres, assembled thē togethers, & after he had commended their doynges: declared how in that latter battayle, they hadde defeated & broken the force of all the Indians, and shoulde fynde frome thence∣forthe nothynge but a plentifull praye. For (he sayed) that in the countrey wherunto he was goynge, the ri∣ches chiefelye remayned, that was so muche spoken of throughout the whole worlde. In respect wherof, the spoyles of the Percians were but vyle and baggage, and that occasion nowe was geuen theim, not onelye to fill their owne houses, but also all Macedonia and Greace with pearles. wyth precious stones, wyth gold, and wyth Iuorye. The Souldiours beynge desie∣rous bothe of riches and of glorye, because they hadde neuer fownde his wordes vayne, promised him to do whatsoeuer he woulde haue them. Wherupon he dis∣missed them full of good hope, and set theim about the makyng of shyppes, to the intente that hauynge ouer∣runne all Asia▪ he myght visite the Occean Sea, that was in the ende of the worlde.

The Mountaynes nexte at hande were plentifull of Tymber, to make Shippes withall, in cuttynge

downe wherof the Macedons founde Serpentes of such bignes, as they hadde not sene before, & also Rhy∣nocerites,* 1.1 beastes that be seldome founde in any other place, whiche name was geuen to theim by the Gre∣kes, for in the Indian language they be otherwise cal∣led. Alexander builded a Citye vpon either side of the Riuer of Hidaspys, whyche once perfourmed, he gaue to euerye one of his capitaynes a crowne of golde, and a thousand pieces of golde besides, preferryng and re∣wardynge euery other accordynge to their qualitie, de∣gree, and deseruyng. Abyazares whyche had sent Em∣bassadours vnto Alexdnder before the battayle fought wyth Porus, sent then Embassadours to him agayne, offeryng to do all thynges that he woulde appoynt, so that he kepe his bodye at libertye. For he desiered not to lyue, except he myght remayne a kyng, and he thou∣ght hym self vnmete to raygne after he had bene once a captiue. He signified bi them to Abyazares, that if his commyng should be greuous, he woulde not stycke to visite him in parson. Hauyng thus vainquished Po∣rus, and passed the riuer of Hidaspis, he wente forwar∣des into the inwarde partes of India, whyche was a countrey full of great woodes, and high trees, the ayre very holesome & temperate, the shadowe of the trees mitigatynge the heate of the sunne, and the plentye of sprynges kepynge the grounde moyste. There were also manye Serpentes sene, whose scales glistered lyke golde. There was nothynge more daungerous then the poyson that proceaded from theim, for imme∣diatlye vpon the stingynge, Death folowed, tyll suche tyme as the inhabitours of the Countrey shewed a remedye. Frome thence throughe Desertes they came vnto the great Ryuer of Hyraotys,* 1.2 where∣vnto

there ioyned a great wood. Whiche hauing such trees as are not wont to be sene in other places, was also full of wilde pecokes. Alexander remouing his campe from thēce wan a towne by assault, and taking pledges, appointed them to pay tribute. After that he came to a great cytie (after the maner of that coūtrey) which was both wel walled, and also enuyroned about with a marisse. The inhabitaunce came furth against Alexander, and ioyning their cartes together in a frōt (wherin their custome was to fight) thei proffered him the battaill. Some occupied dartes, some speares, and other axes, and with greate agilitie leaped to and fro their cartes, when either they woulde relieue their fellowes that were wery of fighting, or els succour or rescue such as were in distresse. This vnwonted kind of fighting put the Macedons at the first in feare, spe∣cially beyng hurt a farre of by their enemies, and not able to come to hande stripes with thē. But after they had cōsidered their disordred maner, they esteamed not their force, but enclosed their enemies about & thurst thē in with pikes, & the soner to defeate them they cut the bandes wherwith the cartes were tied to seperate them asonder. When they had after that maner lost eight hundred of their men, they fled again into the cy∣tie, whiche the next day the Macedons did wynne by assault: Certayne there were that saued them selues by flieng, whiche seing the cytie lost, swomme ouer the water, and filled al the townes thereabout with feare. They declared of what inuincible force their enemies were of, iudging them in respecte of their power ra∣ther goddes then men. When Alexander had gotten that cytie, he sent Perdicas with a parte of his army to destroy the countrey, and committing another parte to

Emnenes for the subduing of suche as would not be∣come obedient,* 1.3 he with the rest of his power came vn∣to a strong cytie whiche was the refuge of all the coun∣trey thereabout. Notwithstanding that the inhabitaū∣tes sent to Alexander for peace, yet they prepared ne∣uertheles for the warre, by reason of a sedicion which rose amonges them, that made them to be of diuers o∣pinions. Some wold rather haue endured any extre∣mitie then to yelde, and other thought they were not able to make resistaunce, and whiles they differred so in opinions, and made no commen consultacion amō∣ges them. Suche as helde opinion to yelde vp the cy∣tie▪ opened the gates, and receyued in their enemies. And notwithstanding that Alexander had iuste cause of displeasure against the countrey faccion, yet he par∣doned them all, and receyuing their pledges, remoued towardes the next cytie. When the Indians that stoode vpon the walles, sawe the pledges that were brought before the army, whome they perceyued to be of the same nacion, desyred communicacion with thē, who declaring bothe the kynges clemencye, and his force dyd moue them to rendre vp their cytie: whose ensample the rest of the cytie dyd folowe.* 1.4 From thence he came into the cytie of Sophites whiche is a na∣cion (as the Indians thynke) moste excellyng in wis∣dome, best gouerned, and that haue the best customes amonges them. The chyldren that be there gotten, are not norysshed and brought vp, accordyng to the wyll of their parentes, but by the ordre of suche as haue the charge committed vnto them to viewe the state of the infantes. If they perceyue any not apt to be come actiue, or els wantyng any of their lymmes, they cause them streyght wayes to be killed. They

vse to mary without any respect of the kyndred they come of, or the greatnes of pa••entage, makyng no chose, but in the shape of the body, whiche is the shyng that is only estemed amonges them. The kyng hym self was within y^e chief citie of the countrey, against the which Alexander brought his power. The gates were shut, and no man appeared in armes vpon the walles to make any defence, wherefore he stode in doubte a great while, whether the cytie was abandoned, or els that the inhabiters had kepte them selues secrete for some policy. Whiles he remained in that expectacion, sodainly y^e gate was opened, & the king (which in good lines of personage excelled al the rest) came furth with his two sonnes, he ware a garmēt of gold and purple enpaled, that couered the caulf of his legge, & the soles he ware on his feete were set with pricious stones. All his armes were garnyshed with pearles, and had hangyng at his eares two precious stones whiche were excellēt, both for bignes, and brightnes, & there he had a scepter of gold set with precious stones called Berillis, which he after his salutacion made, with hū∣ble submission deliuered vnto Alexander: yelding both him selfe his chyldren, and his kyngdome into hys handes. There were in that countrey very notable dogges for the huntyng of wylde beastes, whiche spe∣cially were geuen to be egre vpon the lyon. The kyng therfore to shewe their force and propertie vnto Alexā∣der, put foure of them vnto a great lyon, which steight wayes caught hym faste. Then one whiche was accustomed to that office, toke one of those dogges by the legge to plucke hym of the lyon, and because he woulde not loose hys holde cut of his legge wi••h a sworde. But when the dogge sticked neuer thelesse

vnto his game, he was cut a sondre in peace meale, till suche tyme as he died: hauing his teath stil fastened in the lyons fleshe. Suche a feruentnes nature had wrought in those beastes, as we vnderstode by the re∣porte. Some tyme I am enforced to write thynges that I can scarsely beleue. For I neither dare affirme the thinges wherof I doubt, nor counceale suche thin∣ges as I haue receiued for truthe. Alexander leuing this kyng within his owne kingdome, came vnto the ryuer of Hipasis,* 1.5 and there ioyned with Ephestion, whiche had subdued the countrey thereabout. One Phegelas was kyng of the next nacion, whiche com∣maunding his subiectes to continue in tilling of the ground as thei were wont to do, mette Alexander with riche presentes, refusing nothing that was commaun∣ded him. When he had taried with him two dayes, and was determined the third daye to haue passed the ryuer, he found therin great difficultie by reason that the streame was so large, and full of great stones. He staied therfore a while, to be more fully aduertised of y^e estate of those coūtreis, & of all suche thinges as were necessary for him to knowe. He vnderstode by Phege∣las howe beyonde that ryuer the••e lay a desert of ten dayes iourney, & next to that desert, the ryuer of Gan∣ges, which was the greatest ryuer in al the Orient. He shewed that beionde Ganges there inhabited two na∣cions called Gangaridans,* 1.6 and Pharrasians, whose kyng was called Agramenes, whiche vsed to come to the field with .xx. thousand horsemē, & .CC. thousand footemen, two thousand armed wagons, and thre .M. Elephantes, whiche were coūted the greatest terrour. Those thinges semed incredible vnto Alexander, and therfore enquired of Porus, if the thinges were true

that had bene told him. He cōfirmed Phegelas reporte concernyng the force of the nacion▪ But he sayde their king was come of no noble bloud, but of the ba∣sest sorte of men, whose father being a Barbour and with great payne getting his daily liuyng, came in fa∣uour with the quene, by reason of his personage, who brought him to haue al the doinges about the king her husband, which was afterwardes s••ayn by their trea∣son, and vnder colour to be come tutor vnto the chyl∣dren, vsurped the kyngdome to him selfe, and puttyng the childrē to death, did beget him that was now king, whiche was in hatred and disgrace of the people folo∣wyng more the maners of his fathers former estate, thē such as did beseme y^e dignitie he was come to. whē Alexander harde Porus affirme this matter he beca∣me in great trouble of minde, not that he regarded the multitude of his enemies, nor the force of their Ele∣phantes. But he feared the greatnes of the riuers and the scituacion of the coūtrey, so difficult, to entre vpō. He thought it a hard enterprise to seke out nacions so farre inhabityng in the vttermoste boundes of the worlde. Yet on the other syde the gredines of glory, & the vnsaciable desire of fame, made no place to s••me to far, nor no aduenture to be ouerharde. He doubted also that the Macedons whiche had passed so many countreys, and were waxed daged with warres, would not be content to folow hym ouer so many ryuers and against so many difficulties of nature lyeng in their way. For he iudged, that since they habounded, & were so laden with spoyle, they would rather seke to enioye suche thynges as they had gotten then to trauaill any further in getting of more. He could not thinke y^e same appetite to be in his souldiers that was in himselfe.

For he cōpassed in his mynd how to get the Empire of the hole worlde, into which matter he had but made his entre: where as they weried with trauail and thinking to haue past all perill, loked now to enioy with spede, y^e frute of all their labour: yet for all that, his assertion o∣uercame reason. For he assembled his army together & spake vnto them after this maner.* 1.7

I am not ignorant (my souldiers) howe y^t there be now many rumores so∣wed amonges you by the Indians, of purpose to put you in feare. But the vanitie of their lieng is not so newe a thing, that it is able nowe to decei••e you. The Perciās after that maner would haue made both the streytes of Cili••ia, and the plaines of Mesopotamy ter¦rible vnto you, yea & put you in feare of the ryuers of Tigre & Euphrates, & yet we wadyd ouer thone of thē, and passed the other by a brydge. The fame neuer re∣porte thinges truly, but maketh al thinges greater thē thei be in dede. Euen our glory, though it be growen to certain perfectiō, yet it is more in fame, then in effect. Whiche of you of late did thinke, that you should haue bene able to endure the Elephātes, shewing afarre of like castels. Who thought I could haue passed the ry∣uer of Hydaspis, when I hard it reported to be muche greather then it was? We should long ago (my souldi∣ers) haue fled out of Asia, if tales could haue caused vs to turne our backes. Thinke you that the nōbre of the Elephantes be greater, then you haue sene herdes of beastes in other places? seing thei be so rare in y^e world and being hard to be taken, are muche harder to be ta∣med. Thesame vanitie that hath reported them to you to be of suche nombre, haue nombred also their horse∣men and their footemen. Concernyng the ryuers, the more broder they be, the more gently they must runne.

For suche as be narowe and of smalle brede, runne al∣wayes with moste vehement streme. Where as con∣trariwise the brode ryuer passe their course more mild∣ly. But you will peraduenture saye that all the perill is at the shore, where youre enemies shall wayte for your arriuall. Whatsoeuer the ryuer be the hasard is all one at the landing. But ymagen that al those thinges were true. Whether is it the greatnes of the beastes, or the multitude of the men that put you in feare? As concerning the Elephantes we haue had experiēce of them of late, howe muche more vigorously the rage a∣gainst their owne party then against vs. What should we esteme thē, but only abate the greatnes of their bo∣dies, with suche weapons as we haue prepared for the purpose. What matter is it whether they be of the like nōbre that Porus had, or whether thei be .iii.M. seing that we perceiue, that when two or thre be once woun∣ded, the rest bende them selues to ••le away? And foras∣muche as thei cannot well be gouerned when they be but fewe, when there be so many thousandes together they must then nedes be an impedimēt one to another, and brede a confusion amonges them selues, they be so vnweldy by reason of their huge bodies, that they be neither apt to passe forwardes, nor yet to fle. I haue al∣wayes so litle estemed thē, that when I haue had plēty of y^t kynd, I wold neuer vse thē: knowing very well y^t they be more daūgerous to such as occupie thē, thē thei be to their enemies. But peraduenture it is y^e multi∣tude of their horsemē & fotemē that do moue you? haue you bene accustomed to fight, against smalle nombres, or is it the first tyme that you haue encountred with disordred multitudes? The ryuers of Granick is a witnes howe inuincible the power of the Macedons

is against any multitude. And so is Cilicia y^e flowed with the Percians bloud, and Arbella whose play∣nes be strewed with their bones. It is ouer late to counte the nombre of your enemies, after that with your victory ye haue made Asia desert. When ye passed ouer Hellespont, you should then haue considered your smalle nombre. Nowe the Scythians do folowe vs, we haue ayde at hande from the Bactrians, & we sup∣ply our power with the Sogdians. Yet for all that it is not in them I put my confidence. I haue a regarde vnto your force, I reserue your manhode about me, as a pledge and assuraunce of my actes and doinges. So long as I may stande in the field amonges you, I wil neither way my self nor myne enemies. Doe you but shewe an apparaunce that there is hope in you & che∣refulnes. We are not nowe newly entred into our tra¦uailes, but haue passed all our labours, being come to the rising of the sonne, and to the Occean sea, except our owne slougthe be our impediment. From thence hauing subdued the worlde, we shall returne as victo∣rers into our countrey. Doe not you as these negligēt husbandmen, that lose their frute after it is once rype. The rewardes of our iourney be greater then our pe∣rill. The countrey that we go vnto, is ryche and of no force, thether I purpose to bryng you bothe to wynne glory, & to get you spoile, for worthy you are to cary such riches in to your coūtrey, whiche be so plentifull there, that the sea doth cast them vp against the shore. You be men of that vertue, that ye ought to leaue not ••yng vnproued, nor nothing vndone for feare. I desire and praye you by the glory ye haue gotten in whiche ye ex∣cede the state of men, and by all that I haue deserued of you, and you of me, wherewith ye remaine as inuin∣cible:

that ye wil not forsake me, purposing to visite the end of the worlde, me I say, that haue bene brought vp as a chyld amonges you, I will make no menciō howe I am your kyng: In the rest of thinges I haue com∣maunded you, let me nowe entreate you in this one point. It is I that make this request vnto you, whiche neuer commaunded you any thing, but I put my selfe formost in thaduenture & daunger, and the which oftē times in mine own persone, haue bene the formoste in defence of the battaill, take not the victory out of my handes, with the whiche (if enuy be not the let) I shall become equal in glory, both to Hercules and Bacchus. Geue your assent to myne intercession, and at length breake your obstinate silence. Where is your show∣ting become that was wont to be a declaratiō of your cherefulnes? Where be the countenaunces of my coū∣trey men? I know you not my souldiers, and it semeth that I am not knowen of you? Me thinkes I crye to your defe eares in vayne, and go about in waste to sturre vp your vnwilling and vnmoueable myndes. Notwithstanding all these wordes, they hong downe their heades towardes the earth, and perseuered stil in silence. Then he proceded: I know not (quod he) wher∣in I haue vnwitting offended you, that you will not once vouchesaue to loke me in the face. I seme to be solitary and in a desert. Is there none of you that I speake vnto will aunswere me? Is there none at the lest wayes will deny my requeste? What is the thyng that I require? euen your owne glory, and your owne greatnes. Where be they nowe, whome I sawe not long ago contending, who should first take their kyng when he was wounded, and nowe ye leaue me alone▪ ye forsake me, ye betraye me to myne enemies. But I

will not leaue mine enterprise though I go alone. Put me forwardes to those ryuers, to those beastes, & to those nacions, the very names of whome ye feare so muche. The Scythians and Bactrians shall go with me, whiche of late were myne enemies, and now be my souldiers. I had rather dye then be a king, to be ruled, and at other mens appointment. Departe you home, go I say, and triumphe of the habandoninge of your kyng. For I will either obteine here the victory, wherof you haue dispayred, or els dye a death that shal be honorable. Notwithstanding all that he had sayde, there was not one souldier that would open his mouth to speake, but stode wayting that some of the princes, and great capitaynes, shoulde declare vnto the kynge their estates, and howe that there remayned not in them any obstinat refusall of the warres, but that they were so exhausted with woundes, and weried with continuall trauaill that they were not able to endure any lenger.

As they stode thus astonied and afrayed, keping silence and lookyng vpon the grounde, there beganne firste a whisperyng and a rumor, and after∣wardes a lamentacion amonges them, and by lyttle and little thei beganne more manifestly to shewe their dolour, the teares fallyng frō their eyes. The kynges anger was then so turned into compassion, that he was not able to keape hym selfe from weapyng. At length the whole assemble brast out into an excessiue wepyng. And when all the rest were at a stay to speake Cenus toke vpon hym to presse forwarde towardes the iudgement seate where Alexander stoode, signi∣fieng that he had somewhat to saye. When the soul∣diers sawe he pulled his helmet from his head (for so it was the custome to speake vnto the kyng) they began

to require hym that he woulde vtter the cause of the whole army. Then Cenus beganne in this wyse▪* 1.8 The Goddes defende our myndes from all wicked thoughtes (as I doubt not but they wyll) there is none of your souldiers but be of the same mynde towardes you that they haue bene in tymes past. Whether it be your pleasure to commaunde them to go forwardes, to fyght, to hasarde them selues, or with their bloud commend your name vnto the posteritie. And if you will nedes perseuer in your opinion, though we be vnarmed, naked, and without bloud, we will either come after you, or go before, as you shall thynke expe∣dient. But if you wyll be content to heare the griefes and complayntes of your souldiers that be not fay∣ned, but expressed by force of very necessitie, I hum∣blie beseche you then that ye woulde vouchesaue fa∣uourably to heare them, that constantly haue folowed your authoritie and fortune, and are yet redy to folow wheresoeuer you wil appoynte. O Alexander with the greatnes of your actes, ye haue not ouercome only your enemies, but also your owne souldiers. Whatsoeuer mans mortalitie is able to fulfyll, that is perfourmed by vs, hauing passed ouer so manye Seas, and countreys, better knowen to vs then to the very inhabiters, nowe remayning in maner in the vttermoste ende of the worlde. And yet for all this, your purpose is to passe into an other worlde and seke out an Inde vnknowen to the Indians. Ye couet to plucke out the wilde beastes, and serpentes out of their dennes & lurking places, minding to serche further with your victory, then the sonne hath visited w^t her beames, which truly is an imaginaciō mete for

your harte, but farre exceding our capacitie and power. Your manhode and courage is alwayes an encrease, but our force groweth in declinacion. Behold our bo∣dies destitute of bloud perced with so many woundes, and rotted with so many scarres. Our weapons nowe be dulled, and our armour is wasted & consumed, we weare our apparell after the Perciās maner, because our countrey garmentes do faill vs. We are degene∣rate out of our own fasshion, & growen into a straūge habite. What is he that hath his corselet, or horse parti∣culer to himselfe? Cause it to be enquired how many ser¦uaūtes, do folowe their maisters, and what remaineth to euery mā of the spoyle. Being the victorers of al mē, of all men we are the poorest. It is not hadoundaunce or excesse that trouble vs, but the very warre it selfe. Our municion is consumed, and yet your will put furth this goodly army of yours naked vnto those beastes. The multitude of whom though the Indians purposely do encrease, yet of their lieng we maye per∣ceyue the nombre to be greate. But if ye be vtterly determined to passe yet further into Inde, the coūtrey that lyeth southward is not so desert, whiche beyng subdued you may passe to that Sea, whiche nature hath appointed to bound in the worlde. Why doe you seke that glory afarre of, whiche remayneth to you re∣dy at your hande? Here the Occean sea doth mete vs, and except your mynde be to wonder, we are come to a place whether your fortune hath brought vs.

I had rather speake these thynges before you, then behynde your backe, for I seke not to wynne fa∣uour amonges the men of warre that stande here a∣bout me, but desire you should rather heare their min∣des expressed in playne woordes, then to heare their

grief and their grudge, vttered in muttering & in mur¦mour. When Cenus had made an ende of his tale, thē rose a crie, and a lamentacion, whiche with confused voyces euery where called Alexandre their king, their father, and their lord. Then the other captaines & spe∣cially thelders, whiche by reason of their age had the more honest excuse, and greater aucthoritie, made the like request. So that the king was not able to chastise them being in that obstinacie, nor mitigate them being so moued. Therfore vncertayne what to do, he lept frō the iudgement place, and commaunding his lodging to be shut in, admitted no man but suche as were accu∣stomed about his persone. Two dayes he consumed in his anger, and the third he came furth amonges his men, causing .xii. aulters of square stone there to be set vp as a monument of his expedicion, & willed the tren∣ches of his campe to be made greater, and the places of mens lieng, to be enlarged bigger, then serued for their bodies. For he thought by the encreasyng, of the fourme and shape of thynges to leaue a disceitful wō∣dre vnto his posteritie. From thence he returned again by the way he had passed before, & encamped vpon the riuer of Acesines. Cenus chaunsed there to die, whose death the king lamented, but yet he said: that for a few daies he had made a long oracion, as though he alone shuld haue returned into Macedon. By that time the nauy of shippes which he had apoīted to be made, stode in redines aflote. Memnō in y^e meane season brought him out of Thrace a supply of .vi.M. horsemen,* 1.9 & besi∣des from Harpalas .vii.M. fotemen, with .xxv.M. ar∣mours that were wrought with siluer & gold, which he distributed amonges his men, & cōmaunded the olde to be burned, purposing to passe vnto y^e Occeā sea w^t .M.

ships. But before his departure he recōciled together by affinitie Porus & Taxiles, betwixt whō there was a new discord risen, vpō the old hatreds that had bene betwixt thē. He had of thē great aide both in y^e making and furnishing of his nauy. During the tyme he was about that busines, he builded there two cyties wherof he called thone Nycea,* 1.10 & the other Buchephalon, dedi∣cating the latter by the name of his horse y^t was dead. He gaue order that his Elephantes and cariage shuld passe by lande, and he sayled downe the ryuer, proce∣dyng euery daye about .xl. furlonges, so that he might euer land his power in suche places as he thought con∣ueniēt. At length he came into a coūtrey where as the ryuer of Hidaspis and Acesynes do ioyne togethers & ronne from thence into the boundes of a nacion called Sobyons.* 1.11 They declared that their predecessours came of Hercules army, whiche beyng left there sicke, did inhabite the countrey. They were clothed in bea∣stes skinnes, vsyng clubbes for their weapons, and though they had left the customes of the Grekes, yet there appeared many thinges amonges them, that de∣clared from whence they were descended. Here the kyng landed and merched .CCx. furlonges within the countrey, whiche he wasted, and toke the chiefest cytie in the same. There were .xl.M. men that stode in de∣fence against hym vpon a ryuer syde, but he passed the water, puttyng them to flyght, and after they fledde into the cytie, he wanne it by force. The chyldren were slayne, and the rest solde as slaues. He assaulted an o∣ther cytie where he was repulced, with the great force of the defendauntes, and lost many of his men. But when the inhabitauntes sawe, that he continued still the siege, dispayring of their saulfeguarde, they set fire

on their houses, & burned them selues, their wifes and their children. Which fire when the Macedons quen∣ched, they kyndled agayne, it seamed a straunge contencion. The Cytesins destroyed their owne cytie, their enemies laboured to saue it: the warres so con∣trariously chaunged the lawes wrought in man by na∣ture. The castle was saued, wherin a guarrison was left. Alexander went about this castle by water which was inuironed with thre of the greatest ryuers in all India, Ganges except. Indus passing vpon the north syde, and Acesynes ronnyng into Hidaspis vpon the south. Where these ryuers met, the waues rose, lyke as they do in the sea. They be full of mudde and ••oes, whiche by the course of the water dryuen vnto the sy∣des, for all that the ryuers he broade, yet the chanelles be but narowe the shyppes must passe in. The waues dyd ryse so hygh and thicke breaking somtyme vpon the puppes of the shippes, and somtime vpō the sydes, that the shipmen beganne to vale their sayles. But they were so troubled through feare, and the violent swiftnes of the streame, that they could not ordre their tackling, so that two of their greatest shyppes were drowned within syght. And the smaller vessels which they were as vnable to gouerne, were driuen vpon the shore without any harme. The kyng chaunsed vpon the place where the waues went hyghest, wherwith his shyppe was so tossed and trauersed, that the helme could not direct his course. Wherfore the kyng doub∣tyng of drownyng, pulled of his garment redy to caste hym selfe into the water, and his frendes dyd swymme nere there about redy to receyue hym. It ap∣pearīg to him doubtful, which peril was greatest, either to swimme, or to cōtinew still aborde. But y^e mariners

laboured wōderfully with their ••ers, adding all y^e force that lay in mans power, to cut through the waues. By whose importunate trauaill, the water semed to deuide a sondre, and to geue place. So that at length they ha∣led out of the surges, and yet not able to bring the ship to the shore, dashed vpon the next flat, it appearyng that the shyppes, and the streame had fought a battaill togethers. Alexander hauing escaped this perill, sette vp to euery ryuer an aultar, whereupon he offred due sacrifice, and that done, past forwardes thirty furlon∣ges. From thence he came into the countrey of the Sudrychans and Mallians,* 1.12 whiche accustomed to be at warre amonges them selues, then for their owne defence ioyned in societie. They assembled in armes to the nombre of .ix. thousand footemē .x.M. horsemē, and .ix.C. armed wagons. Wherof when the Mace∣dons were aduertised, whiche beleued that they had passed all perils, seing a freshe warre arise, with a new fierse nacion, were amased with a sodayne feare, and began agayne with sedicious wordes to reproue their kyng.* 1.13 They alledged that he would lately haue com∣pelled them to passe the ryuer of Ganges, for to make warre vpon those nacions lyeng beyonde the same. Which enterpryse though it were left, they had not for all y^t ended the warre neuer the more, but rather made an exchaunge of a newe labour, beyng put furthe a∣monges these wylde nacions, to make the Occean sea open to hym with their bloud and to be drawen be∣yonde the sonne and sterres. They were compelled (they sayde) to vysite those places whiche nature coue∣ted to remoue from mans knowledge. They grudged that to their newe armour, th•••• were nowe enemies raysed vp, whom if they should van••••ishe and put to

flyght, they coulde not see what benefite they shoulde receiue therby, but onely darkenes and obscuritie of the ayre, whiche alwayes couered the depe sea, whyche sea was replenished wyth multitude of monsters, wal∣lowynge in those immoueable waters, where as Na∣ture decayinge, fayled of her force. The kynge little moued in his owne respecte, was greatly troubled with those passions of his souldiours.* 1.14 Wherfore he assem∣bled theim altogether, declaring of howe feable a force those nacions were, whom they feared so muche, which only remayned, and were impediment vnto them (ha∣uyng passed ouer so manye countreys) to atteine both to the ende of their trauayle, & to the ende of the world. He shewed howe that in respect of their former feare, he had lefte his enterprice ouer Ganges, with the con∣quest of the Nacions, inhabitynge beyonde the same, and had directed his iourney this waye, where as their glorye should be as great, and their peryll muche lesse, and wherin they had not farre to trauayle, seynge the Occean was in maner within sighte, the ayre wherof he felt blowyng in his face. He required them ther∣fore that they woulde not enuye the glorye that he sought, by passyng the boundes of Hercules, and Bac∣chus, seyng that with so little payne they myght geue vnto their kynge perpetuall fame and immortalitye. In doynge wherof they shoulde departe out of Indi∣a as victorers, where as otherwise they shoulde seme to flye from thence. It is the propertye of euerye mul∣titude, and specially of men of warre, to be drawen w^t euery lyttle mocion, amonges whom, as sedition dothe sone rise, so it is sone pacefied. There was neuer a more cherefull crye made of any armye before, thē the Souldiours then made vnto Alexander, whiche willed

him to leade them whether soeuer he would, and make him selfe equall in glorye to them, whose actes he dyd counterfeite. Alexander reioysinge in the willyng∣nes that appeared in them, remoued straightwayes to∣wardes hys enemyes that were the stowtest people of all the Indians. They prepared theim selues boldely for the warres, and chose for their capitayne one of the Oxidracans that was of an approued manhode, who encamped at the fote of a mountayne, made fiers all abroade, to cause his numbre appeare the greater, and wente aboute in vayne to feare the Macedons when they were at reste, by makynge of ala••oms, with their cryes and maner of howlynge. When the daye appea∣red, Alexander hauynge an assured truste to winne the victorye, commaunded the Souldiours to put on their armoure, & cherefully to fall in order of battayle. But the Indians whether it were for feare, or by rea∣son of some sedition risen amonges them, sodainelye fledde into the deserte mountaynes, whom Alexander folowed in vaine, and not able to ouertake them, toke their cariage. After this he came vnto a citye of the Oxidracans wherunto great numbre were fled,* 1.15 aswell in trust of the strength of the place, as of their owne power. As Alexander was about to make the approch, Demophon his deuiner admonished him,* 1.16 y^t he should eiher deferre the matter, or els not meddle with it at all, for y^t there appered signes that his life should be in perill. When Alexander had hearde his wordes, he be∣helde him and saide. If any man should interrupt the, when thou art busie about thy science, or consideryng of the intrailes, shoulde not he seme vnto the trou∣blous, and his cōmyng vngratefull? Yes truely quod

he. So art thou nowe vnto me (quod Alexander.) For hauynge so greate matters in hande, whiche passe the intrailes of Beastes, I fynde no greater impedi∣mente, then a supersticious diuiner.

And as sone as he hadde spoken the worde, he cau∣sed them to rere, vp ladders, and whiles other menne sticked and stayed at the matter, he mounted vp the walle. The same was verye narrowe in the toppe, not deuided wyth lopes (as is communely vsed,) but enclo∣sed with one whole and continuall battilment rounde aboute, which caused it to be the more hard to scale.

Alexander therfore hauyng no conuenient rowme to stande at his defence, stayed vpon the walle, recey∣uyng vpon his target the dartes whyche were caste at him from all partes. His souldiours could not get vn∣to him, they were so beaten from the walles by castyng of Dartes, and multitude of shotte that came from a∣boue. Yet at length when by their stayinge thei sawe their kyng geuen vp into their enemies hands, shame ouercame their immaculate daunger. But their ouer∣muche haste was ouer great a lette, and the cause why they coulde not come to the rescue of their king. For whyles euery manne coueted vp the ladders, they were so sore laden that they brake asunder, and suche as were mounted vpon theim fell downe agayne, de∣ceyuynge Alexander of hys onelye hope. So that in the syght of all the armye, he stode destitute as in a de∣serte wythout anye ayde or succoure, and hadde weri∣ed hys lefte arme (wyth the whyche he helde his Tar∣get) in receiuynge the blowes. His frendes cried vnto hym that he shoulde leape downe vnto theim, who stode in readines to receyue hym. But he geuynge no eare vnto theim, vndertoke an incredible enterprice,

and such one as hath not bene hearde of before, deser∣uynge rather fame of rashenes, then of any commen∣dation that might sounde to his glorye. For with a ful leape he did caste him selfe into the citye that was full of his enemies, wheras he coulde s••arselye haue anye hope to fyght for his life, or in diynge to be reuenged vpon his enemyes. For before he coulde recouer hys fete agayne, it was likelye either he shoulde haue bene slayne, or taken aliue. But he by chaunce so conueied his bodye, that he fell vpon his fete, and standinge, en∣countred with such as came againste him, Fortune so prouidyng y^t he coulde not be enclosed about by reasō of an olde tree, which (as it had bene of purpose) stode neare vnto the wall, whose broade boughes full of lea∣ues couered him from aboue, and the greatnes of the stocke kept his enemies from comming on his backe, and vpon the fore front he receiued the dartes y^t were cast against him with his target. For though there were neuer so many that contented with him a farre of, yet durst there no man come neare vnto him, and the bou∣ghes kept of the arrowes and the dartes so well as his target did. In this extremitie the greatnes of Alexan∣ders fame chiefly fought for him, and next desperatiō, a great encouragement for a man to dye honestlye. At length through the multitude of his enemies that con∣tinually flocked about him, both his target was laden with shotte, his helmet was broken wyth stones, and his legges fainted and fayled vnder him, by reason of his continuall trauaile. Whiche thing when his ene∣mies perceiued, they toke lesse regarde to them selues, and drue more neare him, of whome he receiued two with his swerde in such sort, that thei fell downe dead at his fete. And from that time forwardes none was

so bolde to approche againe so neare him, but threwe dartes and shotte arowes at him a farre of. He laye o∣pen to euery mans blowe, and yet though it were with great payne defended him selfe vpon his knees, vntil suche time as an Indian shotte an arowe at hym that was two cubites long, whyche a little aboue his right thighe passed throughe his corselet. By reason of that wounde he shedde so muche bloude, that he lette his swerde fall, as one at the pointe of death, and therwith so faynte, that he hadde not strengthe to plucke oute the arrowe. Then the Indian whiche hadde hurte him, came with great ioye to spoyle hys bodye. But when Alexander felte his enemies hande vpon hym (moued as it is to be thought) with despite, to receyue an infamie to that extremitie, called againe his sprites that were passynge awaye, and with his swerde thrust his enemye (beynge vnarmed) throughe the bodye. When he had thus slayne two of his enemies whyche laye dead before him, all the reste stode amased a farre of. Then Alexander desieryng before his last breathe shoulde fayle hym, to be kylled fightyng, began to raise vp his bodye vpon his target, but his strength woulde not serue him therunto, & therfore reiched at a bough that honge ouer his heade, couetynge therby to haue raysed vp hym selfe, but his strength not suffisynge therunto, he fell downe agayne vpon his knees, and by a signe made with his hande, chalenged his enemi∣es, if any of them durste come and matche with him. At the last Pencestes repulcinge his enemies vpon an other parte of the citye, gotte into the towne,* 1.17 and coa∣styng along the walles, came vnto the place where the kynge was. When Alexander espied hym, thoughe he had no hope to liue, yet he toke his comming for a com∣forte

to hys deathe, and for all his feablenes beganne to reare vp him selfe.* 1.18 Then came Timeus, and with∣in a while Leonatus▪ and after them Aristanus. When it was once published amonges the Indians, that A∣lexander was entred within the walles, they left their defence in other places, and came flockynge thither, where as they fiercely assailed such as stode in defence of the Kynges person. Tymeus after that he hadde fought notablye, and receiued manye woundes, was there slayne. Pencestes also notwithstandynge that he was stricken and wounded wyth their Dartes, yet with his Target he defended the kynges person, with∣out anie reguarde of him selfe. And Leonatus whiles he resisted the Indians, that egerlye pressed vpon A∣lexander, receyued so sore a stripe vpon the necke, that he fell downe in a swowne at the kinges fete. By that time Pencestes became so feable of his woundes, that he was not able to defende him anye more. The laste hope and refuge remayned in Aristonus, who also was so greuouslye wounded, that he coulde not endure a∣nye lenger the force of the Indians.

In the meane season the fame was spredde amon∣ges the Macedons, that their kynge was slayne, whi∣che beinge a matter that shoulde haue putte others in feare, sturred vp their ha••res, and made theim the har∣dier. For from that time forwardes, there was none that hadde respect of his owne peryll, but aduentured to the wall, and breakynge downe the same with pike∣axes, entred at the breache makinge slaughter of their enemies, of whom fewe stode at defence, but fledde a∣waye. There was neuer man nor woman spared, olde nor yonge. For they mette none but they iudged him to be the person that hadde hurte their kynge, and so at

length with the murder of the multitude, their iuste ire was satisfied.* 1.19 Clitarchus and Tymagenes do write that Ptolomeus whiche afterwardes became king of Egipte was presente in this encountre. But he him selfe that vsed not to denye any thynge that stode with his owne glorye, did put in memorie howe that he was then absent, and sent about an other enterprice. Such a negligence was in theim that did write the antiqui∣ties of thinges, or elles an ouermuche credulitie, whi∣che is a faulte, no lesse then the other. When Alexan∣der was brought into his lodgyng, the Surgians cut of the stale of that shaft in suche wise, that they moued not the heade that was wythin the fleshe. And when they sawe the wounde bare, they perceaued hokes to be within the arrowe heade, so that wythoute the de∣struction of his bodye it could not be pulled out, except by incision they made the wounde greater. And yet in that poynte they feared, least aboundaunce of bloud shoulde be impediment vnto them. For the heade was verye great, and it seamed to be entered farre wythin his bodye.

There was one Critobolus that was verye cun∣nynge and moste excellente amonges all the Phisiti∣ons and surgions,* 1.20 and yet in so daungerous a matter as this, he was fearful and in doubte to set to his han∣des, least if any thing shoulde chaunce to the kynge o∣therwise then well, whiles he remayned in hys cure, the blame myght lyght vpon his heade. Therfore whē Alexander perceiued by his weping the fea•• he was in, and that through trouble of mynd he loked pale in the face, sayde vnto hym: What is it that thou lokest for, or whye doest thou staye in riddyng me quickelye

out of this payne, at the leaste wayes by death, if thou canst not otherwise bringe it to passe? For seinge my wounde is vncurable, why doest thou feare that anye thing shoulde be laied vnto thy charge. When Crito∣bolus hearde his wordes, he either ceassed, or dissimu∣led his feare, and exhorted Alexander that he woulde suffer him selfe to be holden whiles they pulled out the arrowes heade that was within his fleshe, for the least mocion (he saied) might be hurtefull vnto him. The kynge woulde not be holden, but helde his bodye at a staye without mouyng in such sorte as they appoynted him. When they had cut the wounde wider, and pul∣led out the heade, there issued suche aboundaunce of bloude, that the kinge fell in a sownde, & dimnes came ouer his sight, he stretching out him selfe as one in the pointe of death. Then they wrought all the meanes they coulde to staunche the bloulde, but when they per∣ceiued it would not auaile, his frendes beganne to cry out and lamente, thinkyng verely that there had bene no waye but death. Notwithstanding at length he cea∣sed his bleadynge, and recouering againe his spirites, began to knowe theim that stode about him. All that daye and the nyght ensuynge, the men of warre stode in armes aboute the kinges lodgynge, confessing that al their liues depended vpon his breath and would not remoue from thence, before they vnderstode that he toke some rest. But when they knewe that he was fal∣len a sleape, they returned into the campe, bringynge vnto the rest more certayne hope of his recouerye. A∣lexander about the curynge of his wounde, remayned there seuen dayes, and vnderstandynge that a con∣stante fame of his death was spreade abroade amon∣ges the Indians, he caused two Shyppes to be faste∣ned

togither, and a lodgynge to be made for him in the middes. So that remayninge vpon the water, he myght be sene from bothe sides of the lande, of theim that thought he hadde bene deade. When the coun∣trey menne by the viewe of hym, perceiued he was on liue they toke awaye the hope that some hadde concei∣ued vpon the false reporte. Frō thence he passed downe the streame, leauynge a distaunce betwene his shippe, and the reste of the nauye, to the entente that wyth the beatynge of the oores, they shoulde not disturbe hym of his reste, whiche was necessarye for his weake bo∣dye. The fourth daye after his enbarkynge, he came into a countrey habandoned of the inhabitours, but yet plentifull bothe of corne and cattell, in which place he thought expediente bothe to reste him selfe and hys souldiours. It was a custome amonges the Mace∣dons, that when their Kynge was diseased, the chiefe Princes, and the greate men, watched aboute his lod∣gynge. Whiche maner beynge then obserued, they en∣tred all together into the chamber where Alexander laye, at whose sodoine comminge he was some what a∣mased, speciallye bicause they came all together. He thought thei had brought him some straunge tidinges and enquered of them if they vnderstode of any new assemble of his enemies. Then Craterus which was appoynted to speake in the behalfe of them all, sayed to him after this maner.

Do you thynke that the commynge of any enemies coulde make vs so carefull,* 1.21 thoughe they were entered within your campe, as we be of your health and saufe∣guarde, for all that it is a thinge whiche you reguarde least. Though all nacions conspire: againste vs wyth their power, thoughe the whole worlde were filled full

of men of warre, the Seas ouerspreade with shippes and neuer so manye straunge beastes brought against vs, it confisteth in the moment of your person to make vs victorers. But howe can anye God promise that you whiche be lyght and starre of Macedon, can be of anye continuaunce▪ seynge that you be so desierous to put your persone in suche manifest peryls, not re∣membrynge that with your death you drawe wyth you into ruine, the liues of so many of your countreymen? What is he that either can or dothe desire to lyue af∣ter you? We are come so farre forthe folowynge your fortune and aucthoritye, that without you, none of vs is able toreturne home againe.

If ye were yet contendynge with Darius for the kingdome of Perce, thoughe we all woulde wishe that you woulde not aduenture your person so per••louslye yet in that case we coulde not maruayle so muche of your prompt audaritie. For where the daunger and the benefite that ensueth therof is equall, then the fru∣ite is the greater when the matter succeadeth wel, and the comforte is the more, when the thinge chaunseth euill. There is no man, not onelye of vs that be your souldiours, but euen of suche as were your enemyes, hauynge anye vnderstandinge of your greatnes, that can suffer so base a towne and of so little fame, be bou∣ght with the price of your life, my harte shrinkes at the remembraunce of the thinge, whiche we but late did see wyth our eyes. I am amased to rehearse howe those vile handes were in readines to haue caried the spoyles of your inuincible person, if Fortune of her mercye hadde not preserued and deliuered you from their crueltye. So manye of vs as were notable to folowe you, were all traytours and forsakers of

our Prince, and though it were a matter that laye not in our power, yet if it please you to note vs all with re∣proche, there is none that will refuse anye punishment in the purgation of the matter. Notwithstandyng we woulde require that you woulde space vs for some o∣ther purpose▪ We will gladly go whether soeuer ye will haue vs, we require warre be it neuer so obscure, and couet the battaile, thoughe our fightynge shall wante fame. So that you will reserue your selfe to those ha∣sardes whiche be mete for the greatnes of your estate. Howe sone doth glorye vanishe awaye, and become of no prayse, amonges suche enemies as be of no reputa∣tion? And what thing is there more vnworthye, then to consume the glorie ye haue gotten els where amon∣ges them, where as your glorye can not appeare. Whē Craterus hadde tolde his tale, Ptolome and the other spake to hym in like effecte. And required him all at once with weapynge eyes, that he woulde not frome thence forth be any more so thirsty to winne prayse, but seynge he hadde gotte sufficient all readye, he shoulde content him selfe therwithall, and regarde his health and safegarde wherupon their vniuersall estate did de∣pende. The kynge toke so gratefullye their louynge affection, that he familiarlye embraced euerye one of them, and after he had wylled them to sitte, repetynge more depelye their former communicasion, he saied thus vnto them.

My faiethfull louinge frendes and countreymen,* 1.22 I geue and render to you my hartye thankes, not one∣ly for that ye prefer my safegard before your owne, but also for that sence the beginnyng of y^e warres, ye haue not pretermitted any thinge, wherin your loue & bene∣uolence might be shewed towardes me. So y^t I must

confesse that my lyfe was neuer so ••eare as it is now, because I desire longe to enioye you. You be desie∣rous to offer your selues to death in my quarell, be∣cause you iudge that I haue deserued that beneuolēce at your handes. But your imagination and myne is not after one sorte. You peraduenture do ••oue•• conti∣nuallye to enioye me, & to take of me continuall fruite. And I measure not my selfe by the cōtinuaūce of my time, but by the greatnes of my glorye. I myght haue bene contente wyth the riches my father lefte me, and with rest of my bodye haue loked for with the boundes of Macedon, an age obscure and without any fame. And yet I can not see that they whiche liue in slougth and idlenes can assure them selfe of their owne deste∣nye. For euen suche as esteme felicitie in long life, be oftentimes preuented with bitter death. But I whi∣che number not my yeres but my victories, haue liued longe, if I will weye the giftes of Fortune. For begin∣nynge mine Empire in Macedonia, I haue Greace in mine owne handes, I haue subdued Thrace and the Illirians, I raigne ouer the Triballes and the Me∣deans, possessynge an Asia that lye betwixt Hellespont and the redde Sea, and nowe am not farre from the ende of the worlde, the whiche I determined to visite, and to make open to men a newe nature, and a newe worlde. I passed out of Asia into Europe in the mo∣ment of an houre, and beynge but .xxviii. yeres olde, & hauyng raigned but nine, am become victorer of both regions.

Do you thinke it then mete y^t I should nowe ceasse from winning of that glorye, wherunto I haue onelye addict my selfe? No I wil neuer ceasse, but whersoeuer

I shall haue occasion to fyght, I shall thinke my selfe to be in the Theatre, where the whole worlde dothe beholde me. I will geue nobilitye and fame to places that be obscure. And will laye open to all Nacions those countreys, that nature hath remoued furdest frō them. In doynge wherof it shall be gratefull for me to ende my lyfe, if Fortune will haue it so. I am come of that stocke that I ought to desire many thinges be∣fore longe lyfe. I praye you to remembre that we be come into those countreys where the name of a wo∣man is muche celebrated for hir vertues. What cityes did Semiramis builde? what nacions did she subdue? and what great workes did she accomplishe? We are not yet become equal to a woman in glory, and yet you woulde haue me to be satisfied of laude.. The Gods be fauourable vnto our purpose, for there remaine for vs yet greater thinges to do. And it is the next way to make those countreys we haue not yet touched to be∣come ours, if we esteme nothing to be of small valure, where as there is anye occasion to winne glorye. Let it be your care onelye to preserue me from ciuill con∣spiracie and treason of mine owne people, & then there be no aduentures of the warre shall put me in feare, Philippe was more sure in the front of the battaile a∣broade, then in quiet tarians at home. He oftentimes auoyded the force of his enemies, but he coulde not es∣chue the violēce of his owne subiectes. And if you cō∣sider the ende of other Kynges, you shall count more that haue bene slayne by their owne menne, then by anye forayne power. But bicause there is an occasion nowe offered me to vtter the thing I haue longe con∣ceaued in my minde. It shall be the greatest fruite I can receyue of my actes, and of my trauayles, if my

trauailes, if my Mother Olympiades when she de∣parteth this lyfe, might be consecrated to immortalitie. If she departe in my tyme, I wil do the thing my selfe. But if I shall be preuented by Death, remember you to perfourme that I haue determined. And therupon he dismissed his frendes from him, and continued ma∣nye dayes in the same place. Whiles these thinges were a doynge in India, the Greake souldiours that hadde lande and habitacion appoynted them at Cata∣bactra, throughe a sedicion that chaunsed amonges them,* 1.23 rebelled againste Alexander. Notsomuche for anye hatred they bare hym, as for feare of punishe∣mente. For they kylled diuers of their chiefe rulers, and assemblynge in force togethers, toke the castle of Bactria, that was negligentlye kepte, and procured the Bactrians to rebell with them.

* 1.24Athenodorus was the chiefe amonges theim, who toke vpon hym the name of a kynge, not so muche for the desire of the kyngdome, as by aucthoritye to make him selfe of power to conueye hym selfe and others home into his countrey.* 1.25 But one Bycon of his owne nacion became his enemye, and conspirynge agaynste him, did bidde hym to a banquet, where he was slayne by one Boxus Macerianus. The nexte daye folow∣ynge Bicon assembled the Greakes together, perswa∣dinge theim that he slewe Athenodorus but in hys owne defence, whose purpose was to haue destroyed him. But there were some that perceiued his policye, and suspicion was spreade amonges the rest. So that the Greakes fell to armes of purpose to slea Bycon. But suche as were chiefe mitigated the wrathe of the multitude, and contrary to his expectation was deli∣uered from that presente peryll. Yet he coulde not be

so contented, but wythin a while after, conspired a∣gainste them that saued his lyfe. whose falsehode kno∣wen, they toke bothe hym and Boxus, determinynge that Boxus shoulde be put to death out of hande, and that Bycon shoulde ende hys lyfe by tormentes. As they were tormentinge of him, the Greake souldiours sodainelye in a furye (for what cause it is vncertayne) ranne to Armes, the noyse of whom beynge hearde wyth them that had the charge of Bycon, did let him at libertye, fearynge that the rumoure hadde bene made for his deliuerye. He as he was naked came runninge amonges the Grekes, where as they were assembled, whose miserable estate so sodainelye chaunged their minds, y^t thei willed him immediatly to be set at liberty.

By thys meanes Bicon beynge twise deliuered from death, returned into his countrey with the Gre∣kes, leauynge the Colonye wherunto he was appoin∣ted by Alexander. These thinges were done in the cō∣fynes of Bactria and Scythia. In the meane season the kynge of the two nacions whyche we spake of be∣fore, sent an hundred Embassadours vnto Alexander, whiche beynge men of goodly personages, ridde in wa∣gons semely appaireled, hauing garmentes of linnen clothe embroydred with golde, and empaled with pur∣ple. They declared that the cause of their commynge was to yeld them selues, their citye, their countrey, and their libertye, whiche thei had kepte inuiolatelye by so many ages to his wil & appointmēt. Of which their sub¦mission the Gods (thei said) were aucthours, & not any fear, for thei were cōtēted to yeld thē selues, before thei had proued their power with him.

The kynge called a counsayle, & receiued thē vnder his protection, appointing to thē to pay such tribute as they before paied to the Arachosiās. And besides to sēd

two thousand fiue hundred horsemen to serue hym in his warres, all whiche thinges they perfourmed obe∣dientlye. This done he made a great feast, wherunto he inuited those Embassadours and his Lordes. He vsed therin sumptuous preparation, ordeinynge .C. beddes of golde to eate vpon, which beyng set a small distaunce one from another, were drawen about with curteynes garnished with golde and purple. In that feast there was shewed and sette forthe all the excesse and voluptuousnes, which either by long custome was vsed among the Perciās, or by corruption of their old vsages taken vp amonges the Macedons, the vyces of both those nacions beynge there mingled & myxed togethers.* 1.26 There was at that feast one Dioxippus of Athens, a notable champion, by reason of his excellent force well knowen vnto the Kynge, whome certayne enuiousse and malicious Persones betwyxte earnest and pastyme dyd reproue that he was geuen to farre hys bodye as an vnprofitable beaste. And when other went to the battaile, he would anoynt his body w^t oyle, and prepare him selfe to eate. Emonges other that v∣sed wordes of despyte agaynste hym, there was at the same feast,* 1.27 one Horratus a Macedon who in his dron∣kennes chalenged Dio••ippus, that if he were a man he shoulde fight the campe with him the nexte daye v∣pon llife and death,* 1.28 where as the kynge shoulde iudge either him to be to rashe, or the other to much a dastar••. Dioxippus then laughyng to scorne the pride and arro∣gancie of the souldiour, accepted his profer. The next day they were more earnest to go to the combate, then they were before in makynge of the chalenge, ther∣fore when the kyng sawe them so bente, and that they would not leaue their purpose, he cōsented to their will.

There were greate nombre of men assembled at the combate, amonges whom there were many Grecians whiche fauoured Dioxippus parte. The Macedon came into the Lystes armed at all peaces, holdyng in his left hande an yron buckler and a speare, and in his right hande a casting launce, hauing his sworde besy∣des girte to his syde, was furnysshed as though he should haue fought with many men at once. Dioxip∣pus came furth anoynted with oyle, with a garlande vpon his head, and hauing a read cloke wrapt about his left arme, held in his right hande a great knottiye cudgell. The diuersitie of their furnishement brought euery man in a wonderfull expectaciō. For they could not thinke it only a rashenes but a madnes, for Diox∣ippus that was naked, to matche with the other that was armed: The Macedon thinking to kil his aduer∣sary before they should come to hand strippes, threwe at him his launce, whiche Dioxippus auoided with bē∣ding of his body, & before that he could charge his pike, he leaped to him and with his cudgell brake thesame a∣sondre. When the Macedon had lost both his weapōs, he beganne to drawe his sworde, but Dioxippus pre∣uented him wit a close, and taking both his feete from vnder him▪ threwe him to the earth and there plucking his sworde from him, set his foote vpon his necke, and held vp his cudgell to haue striken out his braynes, if the kyng had not caused him to staye his hand. This triumphe ended with displeasure both vnto the Ma∣cedons, and vnto vnto Alexāder himselfe, specially be∣cause this thing was done in the Indians presence. he feared lest the valiauntnes of the Macedōs famed so muche in the worlde, might therby come into contēpt. Hereupon Alexāder grudging at Dioxippus bare his

eares open to the accusacion of the enuyous. They within a fewe dayes after had caused a golden cuppe to be purposely conueyed out of the waye, whiche the ministers hauing imbesealed them selues, made com∣playnt vnto Alexander of the losse thereof. Oftymes men shewe lesse constauncy, then in the offence it selfe. For in their complaynt Dioxip∣pus perceyued by their lokes that they noted hym as the thefe, whiche he coulde not endure, but partyng out of the feaste after he had wrytten a letter to the kyng, he kylled hymselfe. Alexander was very sory for his death whiche he tooke for no token of repen∣taunce, but rather of indignacion. For afterwardes it appeared through the ouermuche reioysing of hys enemies, that he had bene falsely accused. The Em∣bassadours of the Indians that were dismissed home, within a fewe dayes after returned agayne, presen∣ting vnto Alexander thre .C. horses .M. and .xxx. wa∣gons euery one drawen with foure horses, certain ve∣stures of linnen cloth .M. Indian targetes, & an hun∣dred talentes of white Iren, both lyons of a rare byg∣nes, and Tigres that were made ••ame, the skinnes of great Lyzardes, and the shelles of certain fisshes. The kyng then commaunded Craterus to conduct his ar∣my along the ryuer wherupon he sayled, and he enbar∣king suche as were wont to accompany him, with the streame passed into the boundes of the Mallians, and from thence came vnto the Sabracans,* 1.29 whiche was a nacion of great power, not ruled by kynges, but by a gouernement of the people. They had gathered toge∣ther .vi.M. footemen and .vi.M. horsemen, and .v.C. armed wagons, and had chosen thre capitaines that were approued men of warre. But when suche as in∣habited

next vnto the ryuer (the bankes being full of villages) sawe all the ryuer so farre as they coulde view strowed with shippes, and the armour glistering of so many men of warre, they were amased with the straungenes of the sight, and thought that some army of the Goddes, or els Bacchus (whose name was fa∣mous amonges those nacions) had become amonges them. The crye of the men of warre with the classing of the oers, and the straunge noyse of the mariners exhortyng one another, fylled full their fearefull eares. They ranne therfore amonges their countrey men whiche had assembled their force, declaring their mad∣nes if they woulde contende with Goddes. For they sayde the shippes coulde not be nombred, that caried those inuicible people. With whiche wordes they put suche feare amonges the men of warre of their owne nacion, that they sent immediatly Embassa∣dours to yelde them selues. When he had receyued assuraunce of them, he came the fourth day into an other nacion, whiche durste no more withstande then the reste dyd, and there he buylded a cytie whiche he named Alexandria, and from thence entred into a coū∣trey the inhabiters whereof be called Musycans.* 1.30 There he vnderstode by the accusacion of the Cara∣misidans that Destirioldes (whom Alexander had ap∣pointed lieutenant amōges them) had ruled in exces∣siue pride and couetousnes, & therfore cōmaunded him to be put to death. And Oxarres lieutenaūt of the Bac¦trians being also accused, was not only acquited, but also had a greater rule cōmitted vnto him. Whē he had subdued y^e vtter partes of the Musicās he put a guar∣rison in their cytie,* 1.31 and went from thence to another nacion of the Indians called Prestians of whome

Porticanus was kyng whiche with a great powre got him selfe into a strong citie whiche Alexander wanne the thirde daye after he beganne his siege. Vpon the taking of the towne Porticanus fled into the castle and sent Embassadours to treate of peace. But before they were come to Alexanders presence, twoo towres of the Castle fell with a greate crashe, by the ruynes wherof the Macedons got into the castle, where Por∣ticanus whiche with a fewe standing at defence, was slayne. The castle being rased and all that were with in sould as slaues, Alexander came into the boundes of Saba,* 1.32 where besydes many cyties that yelded vnto hym, he toke the strongest cytie of that countrey by force of a myne. It semed a monstrous thyng vnto the Indians, being ignoraunt of suche policies of warre, for armed men to come furthe of the grounde in the myddes of their cytie, there appearyng before, no signe of any way vnder the earth. Clitar••us doth write that there were foure score thousand Indians slayne in that countrey, besydes many prisoners solde as slaues. The Musicanes in the meane tyme rebel∣led,* 1.33 for the oppression of whome Python was sent the∣ther, who toke the prince of the nacion prisoner, and brought hym to Alexander, whom he caused to be han∣ged on a crosse as the aucthour of the reuolt, and that done returned agayne to the ryuer where as he had willed his nauy to tary for hym. The fourth daye af∣ter passing downe the streme, he came to a towne at the entrey of the kyngdome of Samus.* 1.34 The kynge whereof had newely yelded hymselfe, but the cytezens dyd shutte their gates, and woulde not be at com∣maundement. Whose smalle nombre Alexander re∣garded

so little that he sent fyue hundred Agrians vnto their gates to proffer them the skirmyshe, to the intent by retiryng little and little they myght drawe them out of their strength, whiche were thought would folowe in the chase, when they should see their enemies flyeng. The Agrians did as it was appoyn∣ted them, for when they had once prouoked their ene∣mies, they turned their backes, and the Indians fo∣lowed them, till they came to the embushement where the kyng lay. Then the Agrians turned and the fight was renued agayne, so that of thre thousand Indians there were fyue hundred slaine and a thousand taken, the rest recouered agayne the cytie. But the ende of the victory was not so pleasaunt as it appeared in the begynnyng, for the Indians had so inuenemed their swordes, that suche as were hurte dyed of their woun∣des. And the Phisicio••s could not deuyse the cause of so straunge a death, for euen the very lyght hurtes were vncurable. The Indians trusted that Alexan∣der through his rashenes myght haue come within that daunger, whiche by chaunse fyghting amonges the thyckest, escaped vnhurte.* 1.35 Ptolomeus was fyght∣ly wounded vpon his lefte shoulder, who beyng in greater daunger, then the greatnes of his wounde shewed, caused the kynge to be carefull of hym. For he was nere of his kynne, and as some thought Phi∣lippe was his father. But it is certayne that his mo∣ther was Philippes concubyne, he was one that had the charge of the kynges persone, a valiaunt man of warre, and yet more famous in the faculties of peace. He was moderate both in his apparell and lyuing, ly∣berall, easye to be spoken to, and without any suche

height of mynde, as is wont to be in men discended of bloud royall, by reason of whiche qualities it is vncer∣taine whether he was better beloued with the kyng, or with the rest of men. That was the first occasion he had to proue how the mindes of men were affectionat towardes him, for euen in that daunger he was in, the Macedons beganne to deuyne of his fortune, wher∣unto afterwardes he ascended. They had no lesse care of Ptolomeus, then of the kyng him selfe, who vsed hym so familierly that when he was weried either with trauayll, or care of mynde, woulde sit for his so∣lace with Ptolomeus, and at that time caused his bedd to be brought into his owne chambre. When Pto∣lomeus was layde there, he fell sodeinly into a pro∣founde sleape, in the whiche it appeared vnto hym that a dragonne offred to hym a herbe out of his mouthe of the healing of his wounde, and takyng a∣way of the venyme. When he awaked he declared his dreame and shewed both the colour and fashion of the herbe, affirmyng that he coulde knowe it, if any man could fynde it out. The same was sought by so many, that at length it was founde, and being put vpon the wounde, the paine streight wayes cessed, and the skarre within short space was closed. When the Indians were disappointed of the hope they had conceyued that waye, they yelded them selues and their Cytie. From thence Alexander went into the next countrey called Pathalia,* 1.36 the kyng wherof called Meres lefte the Cytie and fledde into the Mountaynes, so that Alexander toke the same and destroyed all the coun∣trey, fyndyng bothe a wonderfull praye of Sheape, of Cattell, and of Corne.

There he toke Pilotes that knewe that Ryuer, and

came vnto an Iland whiche stode in the middes of the streame, he was compelled to remayne there the lenger, because the Pilotes beyng negligentlye keapt were escaped awaye▪ ••e sent therfore to seke out o∣ther, but when he coulde fynde none, there entred a vehement desyre into his head to visite the Occean Sea, and the ende of the worlde without any guyde, and so committed his owne lyfe, and the lyues of so many thousandes, to a ryuer that none of them dyd knowe. They sayled as men ignoraunt of all the pla∣ces they came vnto, either howe farre the Sea was distaunt frō what nacions did inhabite the coun∣treys there aboutes, whether the mouthe of the ryuer were nauigable for Galeis or no.

In all these thynges they were ledde by a blynde and doubtfull imaginacion, hauyng no comfort in their rasshe enterprise, but only their continuall feli∣citie. When they had gone forwardes foure hundred furlonges, the shyppemaisters tolde the kynge that they felt the ayre of the Sea, wherby they knewe that the Occean was at hande. Thereat he reioysed greatly and exhorted the mariners, that they woulde in all that they myght make waye with the ••ers to bryng hym to the syght of the ende of the worlde, which he had so long desired. Nowe (quod he) our glory is perfite, when our manhode is suche that nothyng can geue impediment vnto vs, nowe the worlde is come into our hādes without any further hasard of warre, or sheding of bloud. Nowe since the b••undes that na∣ture hath wrought be so nere at hande, we shall shortly se thinges vnknowē sauing to the immortal gods. Yet notwithstanding he set certain a land to take foure of

the countrey men, by whome he trusted to haue kno∣wen more certaintie of the truthe. When they ser∣ched out their cotagies at length founde out some that were hydden. Whiche beyng demaunded howe farre the sea was from them, they made aunswere that they neuer harde it named, but they sayde that within thre dayes saylyng they shoulde come vnto a place, where as a brakishe water did corrupt the freshe. By whiche wordes the mariners vnderstode that they ment the Sea, of the nature whereof the people were ignoraunt. Then the mariners rowed cherefully, their desire gro∣wing euer the greater as they approched nere vnto the place, whiche they hoped to be the ende of their tra∣uaill. The third daye they came where the sea and the ryuer ioyned together, mixing with a smale floud, their waters that were of a contrary nature. Then because the tyde was somwhat againste them, they haled to∣wardes an other Iland standing in the myddes of the ryuer, whiche beyng an easy place to lande at, the Ma∣cedons, ran about to seke vit••lles, in suretie (as they thought) being ignoraunt of the chaunce that came vpon them. The thirde houre accordyng to the ordina∣ry course the floud came from the Sea, and with his force, did dryue the streame backeward, whiche at the first beyng but stayed, was afterwardes so vehe∣mently repulced, that it caused the water to returne backwarde with greater fury then any swifte streame is wont to ronne. The commen sort that knewe not the nature of the Occeā,* 1.37 thought the s••••me to be a wō∣derfull matter and that it had bene a token sent to them of the goddes wrath, and whiles they were in that imaginacion, the Sea swellyng more and more, ouerflowed the lande whiche they sawe before drye,

and as the water rosse the shipps mounted, and al the nauy was disperkled here and there. Such as were vpō land were amased with the sodeinnes of the thing and ran frō al partes in great feare vnto their ships. But in a tumulte haste doth hurte, & gyue the impedi∣ment. Some there were that went about to set ther shipes forwardes, other forbad rowyng and remoued not at all. Other whiles they made haste awaye, and would not tary to take in ther companye, moued vn∣aptly, and could make no waie. Some when they sawe them presse a shipbord in such thronges, for feare of ta∣kyng into many, woulde receyue none at all. So that both multitude and smal numbre, was a let vnto y^e hast they made. The crye that some made in bidding men tary, and the noise that other made willing them to go forwardes, and there voyses that differed, and agred not in one effect, toke away the vse both of their sight and hearing. The mariners could not help the matter, whose wordes in the tumult coulde not be harde, nor their commaundementes obserued amonges men in feare and out of order. The shyppes therfore dashed one agaynst an other, the Ores crasshed a sonder, and euery shippe either thurst forwards, or put backe an o∣ther. No man would haue iudged it to be one nauye but rather two sondrey fighting a battell togither vp∣on the Sea. The poores did strycke agaynst the pup∣pes, such as went before troubled them that came af∣ter, and the wordes of men in their wrath, came vnto strypes.

By that tyme the fludde had ouer flowne al the play∣nes there about, so that nothyng appeared aboue the water sauinge the hilles whyche seamed lyke lyttle

Ilands, wherunto many did swyme and left ther ship∣pes for feare. Whyles the nauye thus disperkled a∣brode, partlye stode a flote when they hapned in anye valey, and pacte stycked vpon the grounde if they dyd hit vpon the flattes, according as the ground was that the water couered: sodeinly there came an other terror greatter then the first. For when then the Sea began to ebbe, the water fell backe agayne into hys wonted course with so greate violence as it came forwardes, and restored and sight of the lande, whiche before was drowned as in a depe Sea.

The shippes then forsaken of the water fel vpon their sides, and the feldes were strowen with broken bordes and wyth peares of Ores. The souldiers durst not go furth to land, and yet were in feare to tarye a shipbord lokynge euer for some greater mischiefe to come, then that they sawe present or paste.

They could scarsly beleue that they sawe and suf∣fred, which was shipwarck vpon the land, and the Sea within a riuer. And they thought no eand could come of hys myschiefe. For they knewe not that the fludde should shortly returne agayne and set their shippes a∣flote. And therefore they Imagyned to them selfes fa∣myne and all extremities. The monsters also of the Sea that after the water was paste were left on drye land put them in great feare.

The nyght approached, and despayre brought the kynge into a great agonye.

Yet no care could ouercome his hart that was inuin∣cible, but that he watched all night, and sent horsemen to the mouth of the riuer, to bryng him word when the tyde came. He caused the shippes that were broken to

be amended, and suche as were ouerwhelmed to be hoised vp agayne, warning al men to laye awayte and be in redines agaynst the water should rise. When he had consumed all that night in watchinge and gy∣uing exhortacion to his men, streightwaies the horse∣men returned amayne gallop, and the fludde folowed them, which mildly encreasing begane to raise againe their shyppes, and when it had ones ouerflowne the bankes the holle nauye beganne to moue. Then al the coost rebounded with the vnmeasurable reio••sing that the souldiers and mariners made for there saulfgarde whereof they were before in despaire. When they sawe the daungier pas••e they enquered with wonder one of an other, by what reason y^e sea could so sone after that maner go and come, and debated the nature of that element, whych one while disagred, and an otherwhile was obedient and subiect to the time. The kyng con∣iecturing by the signes he had sene before, that after y^e sonne risyng the tyde would serue hys purpose, to pre∣uent the matier, at midnight wyth a fewe shippes he fleted downe the streame, and passing out at the mouth of the riuer, entred foure hūdred furlongs into the sea where attayning the thing that he desired, made sacri∣fice to the goddes of the Sea which were worshipped in those countreyes, and returned agayne into hys nauye.

From thence the next day he returned backwardes agaynst the streame, and arriued at a salt lake, the na∣ture wherof beynge vnknowne disceyued many that rashely entered into the water, for ther bodies by and by became ful of scabbes, which discease takē by some, the contagyon therof infected many other. But they

founde that oyle was a remedye for the same. Alexan∣der lyeng still wyth hys armye waiting for the spring time of y^e yeare, sent Leonatus before by y^e land which waie he thought to passe, for to digge welles bicause the countrey was verye drye and destitute of water. In the meane season he builded many Cytyes, and com∣maunded Nearchus and Onesicritus,* 1.38 that were most expert of naual thinges, with his strongest shippes to passe into the Occeane and to go so farre forwards as they myght w^t suretye for to vnderstand the nature of the sea, and willed them at theyr returne to land either w^t that riuer, or ells within Euphrates. When the win∣ter was well passed, he burned those shyppes whych he occupied not, and conueyed hys armye by land. After ix. encampinges he came into the coūtrey of y^e Arabi∣tans,* 1.39 and from thence in nine dayes came amonges the Gedrosians, which being a fre nacion by a general counseill had amonges them, yealded them selfes, of whom their was not any thynge demaunded sauinge only vittelles.

* 1.40The fift day he came vnto a riuer whych the coūtrey men cal Arabon beyond the which there laye a barein countrey greatly destitute of water through the which he passed, and entred amonges the Horitans.* 1.41 There he betoke the greater parte of hys armye to Emphestion and parted hys souldiers that were light armed wyth Ptolomeus and Leonatus and so wasted the countrey w^t thre armies at once & toke great praies Ptolomeus burned towardes the Sea, Leonatus vpon the other hand, and Alexander him self in the mides. In that countrey he builded also a cytie, and brought men out of Arrachosia to enhabite the same. From thence he came amonges the Indians, which lieng vpō the Sea

coost do inhabite a great countrey, that is wast and de∣sert. They vse no traffick, enter course▪ nor cōuersaciō with any of their neighboures, but y^e desertnes of their countrey haue made them sauage, being wild of there owne nature. They ware long nailes that be neuer cut, and longe here that is neuer clipped. They make there howses of the Shelles of fisshes, and of other thinges that the Sea caste vp. And being clad wyth the skynnes of wilde beastes, eate fishe dryed with the Sonne, and feade vpon such monsters as the Sea cast vp on the lande.* 1.42 Heare the Macedons consumed ther vitelles & first endured scarscitie, and afterwards extreame honger, serching out in euery place the roo∣tes of palmes whiche is the only tree that groweth in that countrey. But when that kind of norishemente sayled them, they killed there cariage beastes, and ab∣stained not from there horses: whereby lacked beastes to beare there bagage, they were enforced to consume with fire, the spoyles of there enemyes, whyche had caused them to trauayll into the vttermoste boundes of the Orient. After their famine folowed a pestilence, for the vnaccustumed norishmente of the vnholsome meates they did eate with the trauayle of ther Iorney and the care of mynd, spreade diseases amōges them, in such sort that they could neither continue in a place nor yet go forwardes without great distruction.

Honger oppressed them when they taried, and the pestilence was more vehement euer as they went for∣wardes. The fildes therefore were strowen ful of mē that were half dead, and half aliue. And such as were but smally sick, where not hable to folowe tharmye, it marched wyth such speade. For euery man thought to further so much his owne saufguard, as by makynge

hast he could get before his felowes. Such as fainted and could not folowe, desired both such as they knewe and knewe not, to helpe them forwardes. But they had no beastes wherupō to set them, and the souldiers could scarsly bare their owne armour, which had the imminent myschiefe that fell vpon other men, repre∣sented before there own eies. Wherfore whē they were often called vpon, they would not vouchsaue ones to loke backe, feare had so taken awaye all compassion from them.

Then they which were lefte behind, cryed vpon the goddes, and their king for helpe, alledgyng their rely∣gion that was in comen to them, with such as had for∣saken them. But when they had cried long in vayne vnto their deaf eares through desperation they began to rage, and wisshed the like eand to ther frendes and companions, that they thē selfes had. The king troub∣led bothe with sorowe & w^t shame, did write to Phratap hernes ruler of the Parthinyans to send to hym vpon Camelles, vittelles in redines to be eaten, and certi∣fyed the prynces of the countres therabout of hys ne∣cessitye, whych did not slack the tyme, but made proui∣sion according to hys wyll. Thus hys army deliuered only from famyne was brought wythin the boundes of the Godrosyans.* 1.43 And forasmuch as y^e same was a countrey fertyl of all thynges, he thought good to stay there awhyle, wyth rest to recouer agayne hys feble souldiers.

Ther he receyued letteres frō Leonatus howe he had wonne the victorye of the Horitans, which encountred him with .viii. thousand fotemen and .v. .C. horse∣men,* 1.44 and was aduertised also from Craterus howe he had taken and put in hold Ozynes and zariaspes

noble men of Per••e that went about to rebell. Alexan∣der also vnderstandynge that Memnon was deade, gaue the charge of the countrey wherof he had the rule vnto Sibur••ius and afterwardes went into Carma∣nia.* 1.45 * 1.46 Astaspes was gouernour of that nacion, who being suspected of innouacion whiles Alexander was in India, met•• hym on hys waye, who dissimulynge his Ire enterteined him gentlie, and did to him his ac∣custumed honor, tyll such tyme as he had better proufe of the matter that was layed agaynst him.

When the princes of India had according to hys a∣pointment, sent out of al countreis vnder his Impire great plentye of horse and other beastes, bothe of cari∣age and of draught, he gaue cariage againe to all men that wanted, and restored there armour to the former beutyfulnes, and excellency.

For they were come into a countrey ioyning vpon Perce, whych bothe was haboundant of all thynges, and also brought quietly vnder hys subieccion. He thought it then a tyme to counterfeit Bacchus in hys glorye and fame, whych the gotte amonges those na∣cions. Whither it were a trumphe y^t Bacchus first in∣stituted, or a pastyme of him vsed in dronkennes, Alex∣ander was determyned to counterfeit it, hauynge hys mynde puffed vp aboue mans estate.

He commaunded therefore all the villagies,* 1.47 throughe the which he should passe to be strowne with flowres and garlandes, and cuppes wyth other great vesselles to be set full of wyne at the entreye of euerye house.

He caused Wagons also to be made of suche la••∣genes, that they might be hable to cary manisouldiers, atons and decking the same with precious furnim••ees

The kynge went fyrste in order wyth hys frendes, and next to them the kings guard, wearyng vpon ther heddes garlādes of flowers, some plaing vpon flutes and some vpon harpes. Euery one generally throughe tharmy decked his Chariot according to hys habilitye and substaunce, where as they geuen to bankettynge, did hang ther riche armour about them. Alexander with such as he called to hys companye, was caried in a Chariot laden wyth Cuppes of gold and other goldē vessell. He wyth his dronken armye, marched after this maner .vii. daies togither in ostentacion of the praye they had gotten. Wherein they shewed such disso∣lutenes, that if one thousand of the subdued people, durst duringe the space of those .vii. daies haue geuen them the onset, they might haue taken them prisoners and led them away in triumphe. But fortune whiche hath apoynted both fame and estymacion to thinges, turned all this disordre of warre vnto his glorye. For both the age that was then, and the posterity that came after, meruailed and toke it for a wonder▪ that he durst go so dissolutely amonges those nacions, not yet esta∣blisshed vnder hys Impire, the harberous people reputing hys rashenes, for an assured confi∣dnce. But sheding of blood ensued after this tryumphe. For prince Aspastes (that hath bene spoken of before) was commaun∣ded to be put to death so that his excesse in voluptuousnes was no let vnto his cruel∣tye, nor o••ueltye im∣pediment to his vo∣luptuousnes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rinocerites
• * 1.2

  Hyraotys.
• * 1.3

  Emnenes.
• * 1.4

  Sophytes.
• * 1.5

  Hyspasis. kyng Phe∣gelas.
• * 1.6

  Gangari∣dans. Pharrasiās Agramenes
• * 1.7

  Alexanders Oracion to his soul∣diers.
• * 1.8

  Cenus wor¦des in the name of the whole army▪
• * 1.9

  Wemnon.
• * 1.10

  Nycea. Bucephalō.
• * 1.11

  The Sobi∣ans.
• * 1.12

  ••••drichāe ••allians.
• * 1.13

  The ••uty ••••s words of the soul∣diers.
• * 1.14

  Alexander perswaded his souldi∣ours.
• * 1.15

  The Oxidra¦cans.
• * 1.16

  Demophon.
• * 1.17

  Pencestes
• * 1.18

  Timeus. Leonatus. Aristonus.
• * 1.19

  Clitarchus Timagenes
• * 1.20

  Crytobol••.
• * 1.21

  Craterus wordes to Alexander.
• * 1.22

  Alexander vnto his frendes.
• * 1.23

  A rebellion of the Gre∣kes whiche Alexander had planted at Cataba∣ct••s.
• * 1.24

  Athenod••∣rus.
• * 1.25

  Bycon.
• * 1.26

  Dioxippus,
• * 1.27

  ••••rratus.
• * 1.28

  A combate.
• * 1.29

  Sabracans.
• * 1.30

  Musycans. Caracanusi∣dans.
• * 1.31

  Porticanus kyng of the Prestyans.
• * 1.32

  Python.
• * 1.33

  Saba.
• * 1.34

  Samus
• * 1.35

  Ptolomeus
• * 1.36

  Meres king of Pathalia
• * 1.37

  The nature of the occeā was vnkno∣wen to the Macedons.
• * 1.38

  Nearchus. Onesicritus
• * 1.39

  Arabytans. Gedrosians.
• * 1.40

  Arabon.
• * 1.41

  Horitans.
• * 1.42

  The famine that fell a∣monges the Macedons.
• * 1.43

  Godorsyans
• * 1.44

  Ozynes. Zariaspes.
• * 1.45

  Syburcius.
• * 1.46

  Carmania. Astaspes.
• * 1.47

  The Try∣umphe that Alexander made in hys retor••e o••t of Inde.