A righte noble and pleasant history of the successors of Alexander surnamed the Great, taken out of Diodorus Siculus: and some of their lives written by the wise Plutarch. Translated out of French into Englysh. by Thomas Stocker

¶ Eumenes passeth the riuer of Tygre, and maugre Se∣leuke and Python, marcheth into Susiane, and after cō∣maundeth the Satrapes of the higher Asie, with their whole power to mete him.

The .iij. Chapter.

AFter al these matters, it is méet we somwhat speak of the things that tyme done in Asie. Eumenes who had then in his companie the Macedonians Argiraspides and Antigene their captaine, wintred in the Prouince of Babylon, in the chief townes of the marches, and from thence sente his ambassadors towards Seleuke and Py∣thon, praying and exhorting them, that they with hym would ayde the Kings against the rebell Antigone, by∣cause that in the seconde distribution of the prouinces made at Triparadis, was giuen to the sayde Seleuke the Satrapie of Babylon, and to Python, Mede. Whom they then aunswered, that to serue the Kyngs they were at commaundement, but to obey Eumenes, by the Macedo∣nians adiudged an enimie and condempned man, that woulde they neuer do. And after they had with the sayd Embassadors at large debated the matter, they sente a counter ambassade to Eumenes and the Argiraspide•• , to

persuade them that of right they ought to depose Eume∣nes from his authoritie: which thyng they denied: wher∣fore he gaue them heartie thankes, and great commen∣dations. From thence departed he with his armie, and encamped on the riuer Tygre, being thrée hundred fur∣longs from the Citie of Babylon, to the intent to come to Susie, and get the fauours of the Satrapes of the hyer countreys, and helpe hym selfe with the treasure of the Kings as he thought néedefull. Notwithstanding in the ende he must néedes passe the riuer, bicause on that side where he remained, were no victuals left, and on the o∣ther side store. And as he had gotten a numbre of ships, to put ouer hymselfe and his armie, Seleuke and Python therof aduertised, rowed down the riuer in two galeys of thrée tire of oares, and many brigantines and other pinnaces, whiche had bene there builte and lefte in the countrey, and remained from the time of Alexander his being in that quarter of Babilon. And as soone as they were come thither, they nowe a freshe practized and suborned the Argiraspides, willing them to expulse Eu∣menes his authoritie, saying he was a straunger, & had caused many Macedonians to be slaine. But when they sée that they coulde not compasse them to execute the same, the Seleucians rowed downe the riuer vnto an old ditche, and opened the mouth therof, which of long time had bene stopped vp: wherevpon the water in shorte space had so broken and runne out, that it couered and ouerflowed the campe of the Macedonians, and all the countrey rounde about, who being therewith in greate dāger, & not knowing all the day how to remedie it, ar∣med them with pacience vntil the next day in the mor∣ning that they had gotten together their pinnaces and barkes, to the numbre of .CCC. or therabouts, in the whiche without stoppe they put ouer the greater parte of the armie, bicause Seleuke had on the other side none but horsse, and fewer in numbre than the Macedonians.

But when Eumenes sée nyght drawe on, and the greate difficultie and hardenesse to put ouer the baggage, hée caused those that were already passed, to returne. And by the aduise and counsell of certaine peasantes, he hol∣lowed and clensed a place of the ryuer, through whiche the water myght runne and voyde, to ouerthrowe the countrey next adioynyng. Whiche thing the Seleucians seing, and desirous to discharge them their countreye, incontinent sent messangers towardes them, by whom they agréed to graūt passage and truce for certain days. They sent also ambassadours with all diligence towar∣des Antigone in Mesopotamie, requiring hym to come in all spede with his whole power, before the other Sa∣trapes of the hier Regions came downe to ioyne wyth Eumenes and the Argiraspides. After Eumenes had pas∣sed the Riuer, and come into the countrey of Susiane, he deuided hys armie into thrée partes, bycause victuals there were very deare. For they neither had wheate or barley, but of other graine, as rice, and the fruict of pal∣mes growyng in that cuntrey great abundance, which he by measure deuided amongs hys souldiers. And al∣though he had by his first Ambassadors sente to the go∣uernours of the higher countreys, the letters patents of the Kings, by vertue of whiche all the gouernoures and Captains were commaunded to obey him, yet sent he after his posts, requiring them with all their power & force to mete him in Susiane, at which tyme the rulers had leuied an armie royall, for the exploiting of other great affaires, whiche shall out of hande be declared.