Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

4. SAMARIA.

SAMARIA is bounded on the East with the River Jordan; on the West, with the Mediterra∣nean Sea; on the North, with Galilee; and on the South, with Iudaea. So called from Samaria, the chief City of it, of which more hereafter.

The Countrey interchangeably composed of fields and mountains, excellent good for tillage, and full of trees, yielding variety of fruits; watered both with the dew of heaven, and many fresh springs which the Earth affordeth it, occasioning thereby abundance of grass, and consequently of Milch∣beasts exceeding plenty. Heretofore very wealthy, and no less populous, but now famed for nei∣ther.

The people for the most part were originally the descendants of those Assyrians whom Salmanassar sent hither to possess the dwellings of the captive Israelites. Gentiles at first, till better instructed by the Lions whom God sent amongst them, and after by the Priests sent hither by the Kings of Assyria, they entertained the five Books of Moses, and out of them learned the manner of the God of the Land, 2 Kin. 17 Further then this they would not go, rejecting all the rest of the sacred Canon; and no strict obser∣vers of this neither. And though at first they so embraced the worship of God, as that they still adhered to the gods of the Nations, where before they dwelt, as Nergal, Ashimah, Nibbar, Tartak, and the rest of that rabble, mentioned 2 Kings 17. yet they were soon taken off from those impieties, and be∣came zealous in the worship of one onely God, erronious cheifly in the place which was destined to it. The wicked policy of Ieroboam the Sonne of Nebat, was as naturall to them, as if they could not have possessed his estates without it: and therefore would not suffer their people to go up to H••rusalem to worship, as the Law required. More pious yet in this than their Pred••cessours, that they erected no Golden Calves in Dan, and Bethel, or any other parts of their Dominions: though to divert the people from the Temple of God, they would have a Temple of their own. Mount Garizim, and the Temple there (of which more anon) as sacred unto them, as that of Solomon to the Iews: Schismaticat enough in this, but not idolatrous and Schismaticall, as the others were; yet so conceited of themselves, and their own perfections, that they imagined themselves defiled by any company but their own. If there∣fore they had visited any of their neighbour nations, at their return they used to sprinkle themselves with u∣rine:

but if by negligence, or the necessitie of business, they had touched any not of their own Sect, they drenched themselves, cloathes and all, in the next fountain. But in this the Iews cryed quittance with them, not so much as eating or drinking with them, nor having with them any kind of commerce or dea∣ling, as appeareth Iohn 4. 9. but loading them, on the other side, with all the bitternesse. of reproach and hatred. There are two manner of people (saith the Sonne of Sirach) which mine heart abhorreth, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the third is no people: they that sit on the Mountains of Samaria; the Philistims, and the foolish people that dwell as Sichem Ec••ius. 50. And this continued to the times of our blessed Saviour; whom when the Jew•• endeavoured to reproch with their heaviest calumnies, they could find out none so great as to say he was a Samaritan, (which they thought came all to one) a man that had converse with Devils and familiar spirits.

Of these there were some Sects also as amongst the Jews, 1. the Dositheans, so called from D••su••eus or Dosth••••, supposed to be the first Priest who was sent thither by the Kings of Assyria: agreeing with the Jews in Circumcision, and the Sabbath, and the doctrine of the Resurrection (in which last they differed from the common Samaritan who was a Saducee in that point) but differing from them in some points of as signal consequence. For they rejected the writings of all the Prophets, as not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, inspired by the Holy Ghost; they eat of nothing that had life, like the Pythagoreans; abstained from mariage, like the Essenes; and in the point of Sabbath-keeping out went the Pharisees: it being re∣solved upon amongst them, that in what posture soever a man was found on the Sabbath-day-morning, in the same he was to continue without alteration the whole day after. 2. The Sebvians, so called from Sebva or Sebviah one of the Companions of that Dosthai: who though they kept all the publick festivals, as the Jews and the other Samaritans did, yet they kept them not at the same time; transferring the P••sseover to August, the Pentecost to Autumn, and the feast of Tabernacles to the time of the Passe∣ov••r; not suffered for that cause to worship in the Temple of Garizim. 3. The Gortheni, who kept the same Festivals, and observed the same times of those Solemnities, as the Law required; but kept onely one of the seven dayes of those great Festivals, and laid by the rest, as dayes of ordinary labour. In other points not differing from the other Samaritans, who though at first possessed of all the land be∣longing to the ten Tribes of Israel, were yet reduced at last to a narrower compass: shut up betwixt Galilee and Judaea, within the antient territories of the Tribe of Ephraim, and the other half Tribe of Manasses on this side of the water.

1. The half Tribe of MANASSES on this side of Jordan was situate betwixt Issachar on the North, and the Tribe of Ephraim on the South, extending from the Mediterranean to the banks of that River. In which the places of most consequence and consideration, 1. Beth-san, environed almost with the land of Issachar, situate neer the banks of Jordan, where it beginneth again to streighten and be like it self, having been almost lost in the Sea of Galilee: first called Nysa, and so called by Bac∣chus or Liber Pater the founder of it, in memory of his Nurse there buried: but the children of Manasses not being able to expel the natives out of it, as in other places, gave it the name of Beth-san, or the house of an Enemy. Afterwards when the Scythians invaded those parts of Asia, and compelled some of the Jews to serve them against the rest (whom notwithstanding their good service they put all to the sword) they new-built this City: called therefore by the Grecians, Scythopol••s, or the City of Scythians; and by them reckoned as a City of ••oele-Syria. Memorable in the old Testament for the hanging of the dead bo∣dies of Saul and his sonnes on the walls hereof, by the barbarous Philistims; in the time of our Saviour for being the greatest of all the Decapolitan Region; as afterwards in the flourishing times of Christianity, for being the See of an Arch-Bishop: now nothing but a desolate village, or an heap of rubbish, out of which many goodly Pillars, and other peeces of excellent Marble are often digged. 2. Terzah, used by the Kings of Israel for their Regal Seat; till the building of Samaria, and the removal of it thither. 3. A••rabata, the territory whereof called Acrabatena, was after made one of the ten Toparchies of Jude••. 4. Thebes, not far from Samaria, where the Bastard Abimelech was wounded with a stone which a woman threw at him from the wall; and perceiving his death to be drawing on, commanded his Page to slay him, that it might not be said he perished by the hands of a woman. 5. Ephra, or Hophr••, in which Gideon dwelt: neer whereunto there stood an Altar, consecrated to Baal, defaced by Gideon; and not farre off the fatal stone on which Abimelech slew 70 of his Brethren. An heathenish cruelty, and at this day practised by the Turks. 6. Asophon, an ignoble village, made famous only for the great and notable defeat which Ptolomy Lathurus here gave to Alexander the King of the Jews: which vi∣ctory he used with so great barbarity, that he slew all the Women as he passed along, and caused young children to be sod in Caldron••. 7, Bezek, the City of the bloody Tyrant Adon••∣Bezek, whose story (touched upon before) see at large in Judges chap. 1. By Josephus it is called Bala, and seemeth to be the place in which Saul assembled the chief strength of Israel and Ju∣dah, to the number of 330000. men, for the relief of Iabesh Gilead then distressed by the Ammonites. 8. Iezreel, the Royal City of Ahab and the Kings of his race, situate at the foot of the Mountains of Gilboa; So neer unto the Borders of Issachar, that some have placed it in that Tribe. Memorable in sa∣cred story for the stoning of Naboth by the procurement of Iezabel; and the breaking of Iezabels neck by command of Iehu. A City which gave name to the plains adjoyning, called the valley or Plain•• of Ie∣zreel, (but by the name of Campus Magnus in the book of Maccabees; lib. 1. cap. 12.) extending from S••••thopolis to the Mediterranean: famous for the great and many battels which have been fought in it, as namely of Gideon against the M••dianites, of Sa••l against the Philistims, of Ahah against the Sy••••••n, of Jehu against Iehoram, and finally of the Christians against the Saracens. 9. Megiddo, unfortunately observable for the death of the good King Iosiah, slain hereabouts in a battel against Phar••oh Ne••••, King of Egypt; and before that of Ahaziah King of Iudah, who received his death-wound at Gaber, a Town

adjoining, when pursued by Iehu. 11. Dora, or Dor, as the Scriptures call it, on the Moditerrani∣an, not far from the Castle of Pilgrims in the tribe of Issachar; a very strong and powerfull City, and therefore chose by Try hon for his City of Refuge, who having first treacher••sly taken, and barbarously murdered Ionathan the Maccabaean, after he had received 200 talents for his ransome, and no less vi••la∣nously slain Antiochus the sixt of Syria, his Lord and Master, whom he succeeded in his throne; was by Antiochus the seventh, with an Army of 120000 foot, and 8000 horse, besieged in this City, and most deservedly put to death. 12. Caesarea, antiently called the Tower of Siraton, from Stra•••••• a King of the Zidonians, new built by Herod, and by him not only beautified with a large Theatre and Amp••••∣theatre, both of polished Marble, but with a fair and capacious haven, which with incredible charge and pains he forced out of the Sea. And having in twelve years brought it to perfection, in honour of Drusus Caesar, Sonne-in-Law of Augustus, he caused one of the chief Towers thereof to be called D••••∣sus, the City it self to be called Caesarea Palestinae. In this City was Cornelius baptized by St. Peter; here did St. Paul plead in defence of Christianity, before Festus then the Roman President; and finally, here Herod Agrippa was smitten by an Angell, and devoured by worms, after his Rhetorical Oration, which his Parasites called the voyce of God and not of man. The Metropolis of all Palestine, when one Province only; as afterwards of Palestina Prima, when by Constantine, or some of his Successors, can∣toned into three: the first Bishop hereof being said to be that Cornelius whom Saint Peter here initiated in the faith of CHRIST. 13. Antipatris, another City of Herods building, in the place where Kapharsalama, mentioned 1 Maccab. 7. 31. had sometimes stood; who in honour of his Father An∣tipater gave it this new name. Neer hereunto did Iudas Maccabaeus overthrew a part of Nicanors Ar∣my; and not far off the Mountain where Abdia, the Steward of Ahab, hid the hundred Prophets, whom he preserved against the fury of Iezabel: finally to this City it was that S. Paul was conveyed by the command of Lysias, to save him from the Iews who lay in wait to destroy him.

2. The Tribe of EPHRAIM was so called from Ephraim the second and youngest sonne of Joseph; of whom were mustered in the Desarts 45000 fighting men, and 32500 in the Land of Canaan: where their lot fell betwixt this half Tribe of Manasses, on the North; and the Tribes of Dan and Benjamin, upon the South; extending from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean.

Places of most consideration, 1. S••r••n, on the Mediterranean, to the South of Antipuris, menti∣oned Acts 9. 35. and giving name unto that fruitfull valley, which reacheth from Caesarea Palestinae, as far as Joppa. 2. Lydda, upon the same shores, where Saint Peter (virtute Christi non sua) cured Aeneas of the Palsey. By the Gentiles it was called D••ospolis, or the City of Jupiter; but by the Chri∣stians in the time of the holy wars, it had the name of the St. Georges: partly from a Magnificent Temple which the Emperour Justinian there errected to the honour of that blessed M••rtyr; but principally from an opinion which they had amongst them, that he suffered martyrdome in that place. An opinion founded on mistakes, first of a Ceno••aphium, or an empty Monument, errected in this City to preserve his memory, for the grave in which he was interred; the other, in taking the word Passio, used in the Mar••••yrologies, for the place of his suffering, which is meant onely of the story or celebration. But howsoever they intitu∣led it by the name of Saint Georges, as was said before, and made it on that accompt also an Episcopall See. 3. Ramatha, or A••amathea, a City of the Levites, supposed to be the dwelling of Joseph, who begged of Pilate the bodie of CHRIST. 4. Helon or A••alon, a City of the Levites also. 5. Themnath-Chares, given by the Israelites to Iosuah, who enlarged the same, and made it a strong and goodly City; honoured with the sepulchre of that brave Commander, one of the nine Worthies of the World; and afterwards made one of the Prefectures of Judaea, by the name of Thamnitica. 6. Ada∣sa, or Adars••, where Iudas Maccabaeus with 3000 Iews overthrew the Army of Nicanor. 7. Ie∣••eti called otherwise Pelethi, which gave name and birth unto the P••lethites, part of Davids guard, under the governance of Benaiah. 8. Silo, situate on the top of a lofty mountain; the receptacle of the Ark, till taken and carryed thence by the Philistims. 9. Michmas, the habitation of Jonathan one of the Maccabaean Brethren, situate in the middle way from Samaria to Hierusalem, now called Byra. 10. N••••oth, where Saul prophesied. 11. Bethoron, a City of the Levites, beautified by Solomon, but made more famous by the great and notable overthrow which Judas Maccabaeus here gave to Lysi∣as. 12. Pirhatlon, on the Mountain Amale••, the City of Abdon the Judge of Israel. 13. Si••he••. called also Sichor, the habitation in the old times of Sichem the father of that Hamor who de••l••ured D••∣na the daughter of Jacob; the City for that cause destroyed by Simeon and Levi, repaired again, and afterward by Abimelech levelled with the ground; a third time re-edified by Ieroboam the Sonne of N••ba••, and a third time ruined by the Kings of Damascus; yet notwithstanding these blowes it was of good e∣steem in the time of our Saviour, who abode in it two daies, and converted many. Memorable for Iacobs Well which was very neer it, more for its neighbourhood to Mount Garizam, where the blessings were to be read to the people (of which see Deut. 11. 27. and Ios. 8. 23.) and where afterwards was built a magnificent Temple for the use of the Samaritan Nation; at the cost and charge of S••••b•••••• a great Prince amongst them. Who having marryed his Daughter to Manasses, brother of Iaddus the Priest of the Iews; and fearing he would put her away, to avoid the sentence of excommunication, which he was involved in for that match, promised him, that if he would retain her, he would build a Tample answerable unto that of Hierusalem, and make him the Hi••••h Priest thereof, which was do••e accord∣ingly. But this Temple had not stood above 200 hundred years, when destroyed by Hyro•••••••• the M••∣cabae••n: the place remaining notwithstanding a place of worship, as appeareth Ioh. 4. 20 As for the City of Sichem or Sichor, it was by the Grecians called Ne••••olis, afterwards made a Colony by the Emperour Vespasian, who caused it to be called Fl•••••••• Caesarea; of which Colony was that renowned

Iustin Martyr. 14. Samaria, the Metropolis of the Kingdome of Israel, founded by Omri one of the Kings thereof, on the top of the Mountain Samrom, (which overlooketh all the bottom as far as the Se-coast) whence it had the name. A stately and magnificent City, conjectured by Brochardus, who had traced the antient ruins of it, to be bigger than Hierusalem. Destroyed by the Assyrians when they car∣ryed away the Ten Tribes, but afterwards repaired again, and again, beaten to the ground by the Sonnes of Hyranus above-mentioned. But Herod the Great, who was pleased with the situation of it, did a∣again re-edifie it, in more stately manner than before, as appeareth by the great store of goodly Marble pillars, and other carved stones, in great abundance found amongst the rubbish: and having rebuilt it to has mind, inclosed it with a strong wall, and beautifyed it with a goodly Temple; in honour of Augustus Caesar, whom the Greeks call Sebastos, he caused it to be called Sebaste. Memorable after this new erection for the Sepulchre of Iohn Baptist, and being made the Metropolis of Palestin; Secund••, (by consequence an Arch-Bihops See), now nothing but a few Cottages filled with Grecian Monkes.

Nor were the Samaritans themselves (so called from this their principall City) less subject to the vicissi∣tudes and change of fortune, than the City was. Descended for the most part from the Assyians, and such other Nations, as were sent thither to fill up the empty places of the Captive Tribes: but called Cu••••••∣ans by the Jewes, either because most of them were of Cuth, a Region of Persia, as Josephus telleth us, which is now called Chuzestan: or else by way of scorn, for Chusites, as being of the posterity of the ac∣cursed Cham, by Chus his sonne. Having imbraced the Law of Moses, they began to think better of the Jews than the other Nations, but fitted their affections to the change of times: it being the observation of the said Iosephus, that as often as the Iews were in any prosperity, then they called them Cousins, and would be of the same Nation with them; but when their fortunes were on the declining hand, then they were stran∣gers which came thither out of forrain Nations, and no kin at all. Nor doth he wrong them in that Chara∣cter. For when Alexander the Great had granted the Iews a release of the seventh years tribute, and the Samaritans desiring the like exemption, pleaded for themselves 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. that they indeed were very Hebrews, though it pleased the Sidonians to call them Sichemites. But when Antiochus raged against them with fire and sword, the Samaritans sent letters to him disclaming all relation to those of Iudah, and challenging their descent from the Medes and Persians. Nor were they content onely to disclame all kindred with the Iews in the times of trouble, when any persecution. rose against them for the Law of God; but did them also all ill offices, and joyned with their Enemies to their destruction: especially after the Iews had refused to admit of their assistance, in the re-building of the Temple; which after that they hindred with great malice, and no less perversness. But the fortune of the Iews did at last prevail, the whole Nation being subdued by Hyrcanus the Maccabaean, who destroyed their Schismaticall temple also, and levelled Samaria it self to the very ground. After this subject to the Iews, who possessed themselves of most of their Cities, and contracted them into a narrower compass than they were in formerly: but still so hated and contemned, that nothing was able to appease that inveterate malice, which they had conceived, till both Nations were extirpated in the time of Adrian, and made to seek their dwellings in other Countries. Made afterwards a Province of the Roman Empire, by the name of Palestina Secunda: successively subject with the rest to the Persians, Saracens, and Turks, who doe now possess it.