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.

MESOPOTAMIA.

MESOPOTAMIA, is bounded on the East, with the River Tigris, by which parted from Assycia; on the West, with Euphrates, which divideth it from Comagena, a Province of Syria; on the North, with Mount Taurus, by which separated from Armenia Major; and on the South, with Chaldaea, and Arabia Deserta, from which last it is parted by the bendings of Euphrates also.

In the Scripture it is called most commonly by the name of Padan Aram, that is Syria Culta; but that name properly belonging to the North-parts of it: Aram or Syriae, because inhabited originally by the Ara∣mites, whom the Greeks call Syri; and Padan or Culta, from the fruitfulness and riches of it, exceeding plentifully stored both with corn and wine, and furnished with all necessaries for the life of man; in that re∣gard by Strabo called Mesopoamia Felix. The Southern parts hereof being barren and full of Desarts, not having any herbage in them, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, nor any kind of Tree, as we read in Xenophon; amongst some of the antient Writers, had the name of Arabia: partly because so like in nature to Arabia Deserta, and partly because planted with Arabian Colonies. The name which comprehends both parts is sometimes Syria Trans-fluvtalis, or Syria beyond the River (Euphrates,) of which see 2 Sam. 10. 16. But generally in the Hebrew it is called Arom-Naharatjn, which the Greeks render properly by Meso∣potamia, or the Countrey in the middle of Rivers; environed by Tigris on the East, and Enphrates on the West and South; the River Chabaras or Abaras, passing also thorow it. The Latines generally call it by the same name which the Greeks had given it: Priscian only to shew his faculty in Grammar, calling it Medamna, by the Turks now Diarbech.

As is the Countrey, such the People, the most Adjective of any we have met with hitherto; able at no time to stand by themselves, but still requiring the addition of some neighbour Nation to be joyned unto them. Nothing that they can call their own, their Name, their Language, nor their Countrey. Behold∣ing for their Nime in the North, to Syria, in the South, to Arabia; the (haldaeans also putting in for a share, and challenging those parts which lie next Assyria, to belong to them. Their Language antiently the Syriack, at this day the Arabick. Their Countrey successively subjected to the Babylonians, Assy∣rians, Medes and Persians. From them first conquered by the Romans, under the conduct of Pompey; reduced into the form of a Province, by the Emperour Traian; more fully setled and confirmed by Aurelia∣nus. But being recovered by the Persians, they fell together into the power of the Saracens, and are now commanded by the Turks. Never appearing of themselves on the Stage of action, but when once God shewed his mighty power in their many weaknesses, and raised them up to be a Scourge to the house of Israel; of which see Judges chap. 3. v. 8. Hired afterwards by Adaedezer King of Syria Zobah, in his warre against David; by whom most shamefully defeated, 2 Sam. 10. 16, 18. Yet notwithstanding memorable in the Book of God for the birth of Abraham and Rebecca; the long abode of Jacob, and the birth of his Children: in that respect affording an Original to the Hebrew Nation.

The Christian faith was first preached here by Saint Thaddaeus, one of the 70. Disciples, Anno 43. upon this occasion. Agbarus the Toparch, or Prince of Edessa, one of the chief Cities of this Coun∣trey, having been long afflicted with an incurable infirmity, and hearing of the fame of JESVS, be∣seeched him by a special message to come and help him: whereunto our Saviour made this Answer, that he could not visit him in person, the things he was to do, whilest upon the earth, being to be performed onely in the land of Canaan; but that he would take care of his health in convement time. Accordingly, not along after his Ascension, Saint Thomas the Apostle, by immediate revelation from our Saviour, sent Thaddaeus thither; by whom the Prince was cured, and the Gospel preached, and many of the Nation con∣vered to it; the Ats whereof, together with the Copies of the several Letters from Agbarus to CHRIST, and from CHRIST to him, preserved in the Archives of Edessa, were by Eusebius translated out of the Syriack, and inserted into the body of his Ecclesiasticall History, lib. 1. cap. 14. Once planted, it found good increase, continuing in the purity of it till about the yeare 530. at what time one Jacobus Syrus (so called from his birth and abode in Syria) took on him the defence of the Errors of Eutyches, touching the unity of natures in CHRIST our Saviour. Whose followers finding the Patriarchs of Antirch too vigilant over them, removed for the most part further off, seding themselves in Babylonia, and Mesopota∣mia, where they continned in great numbers: Governed by their own Patriarch, to whom the Jacobites in Syria are also subject, who takes unto himself the title of Patriarch of Antioch, and is successively cal∣led

Ignatius, as if the undoubted Successor of that Saint and Martyr; superior in that regard to the Patriarch of Hierusalem who is also a Jacobite. The Patriarchal See, fixt in the Monastery of Saphran, neer the City of Merdin; but the Residence of the Patriarch for the most part at Caramit: the number of Chri∣stians under his obedience, computed formerly at 160000 Families, reduced since unto 50000. That which they hold as Jacobites, distinct from all other Christians, is 1. The acknowledgement but of one nature, one will, and one operation (as there is but one person) in Christ our Saviour. 2. In signing their Children before Baptism, in the Face or Arm, with the sign of the Cross, imprinted with a burning iron. 3. Retaining Circumcision, and using it in both Sexes. 4. Affirming the Angels to consist of two substances, Fire, and Light; and 5. Honouring the memory of Dioseurias (of Alexandria) and Jacobus Syrus, condemned by the antient Councils. The points wherein they differ from the Church of Rome,

1. Not enjoining on the People the necessity of Confession to a Priest, before they admit them to com∣municate.

2. Not admitting Purgatory, nor Prayers for the Dead.

3. Administring the Sacrament of the Eucharist in both kinds.

4. Allowing the marriage of Priests; And

5. Teaching that the souls of men deceased, are not admitted presently to the Vision of God, but re∣main somewhere in the Earth, to expect Christs coming. In which last, (letting aside the determination of the place) as they have many of the Fathers concurring with them; so to the first (touching the unity of nature in our Saviour Christ) they have of late added such qualifications, as possibly may make it capable of an Orthodox sense.

Chief Rivers of this Countrey, (besides Tigris and Euphrates, of which more hereafter,) 1. Chabi∣ras, which rising in Mount Masius, passing directly South, falleth into Euphrates; as also doth, 2. Syngarus, by Pliny, called Masca, arising out of the Mountain Syngarus, which is but the more We∣stern part of the said Mount Masius. Which names of Masea, Masius, and the Masicni (being the name of a People dwelling thereabouts) shew plainly that they go upon very good grounds who place Mesch, or Mesich, one of the sonnes of Aram in these parts of the Countrey.

It was divided antiently into, 1. Anthemasia, 2. Chalcitis. 3. Gaulinitis. 4. Accabene. 5. Ancorabitis, and 6. Ingine: each part containing several Cities or Towns of name. These six when con∣quered by the Romans reduced unto two Provinces onely, viz. 1. Mesopotamia, lying on the South of Mount Masius, or the head of Chaboras; and 2. Osrloene on the North: this last so named from one Osrhoes, the Prince or Governout of these parts in the time of the Persians, as Procopius telleth us.

Chief places of the whole, 1. Edessa, the Metropolis of Osrhoene, situate on the River Scirtas, which runneth thorow the middest of it, not far from the fall thereof into Euphrates. Memorable for the Story of Agbarus before related, amongst Church-Historians: and in the Roman Histories, for the death of the Empe∣ror Caracalla, slain here by the appointment of Macrinus, Captain of his guard. The occasion this. The Emperour conscious to himself of his own unworthiness, employed one Maternianus to enquire a∣mongst the Magicians in the Empire, who was most likely to succeed him: by whom accordingly advertised that Macrinus was to be the man. The letters being brought unto Caracalla, as he was in his Chariot, were by him delivered with the rest of the Packets, to the hands of Macri∣nus, (who by his Office was to be attendant on the Emperiours person) that he might open them, and signifie unto him the contents thereof at his better leisure. Finding by this the danger in which he stood, he resolved to strike the first blow; and to that end entrusted Martialis, one of his Centurions, with the execution; by whom the Emperour was here killed as he withdrew himself, Levandae ve∣sicae gratia, as my Author hath it. So impossible a thing it is to avoid ones Destiny; so vain a thing for any Prince to think of destroying his Successor: and therefore very well said to Nero in the times of his tyranny, Omnes licet occider is, Successorem tunm occidere non potes, that though he cau∣sed all the men of eminence to be forthwith murdered; yet his Successor would survive him, and escape the blow. But to return unto Edessa, in following times it was made one of the four Tetrar∣chies of the Western Christians when they first conquered Syria, and the Holy Land; the two first Gover∣nors or Tetrarchs, successively succeding Godfrey of Bouillon in the Kingdome of Hierusalem. But in the year 1142. it was again recovered by Sanguin the Turk, Father of Noradin Sultan of Damascus, and by the loss thereof no fewer than three Arch-Bishopricks withdrawn from the obedience of the See of Antioch.

2. Cologenbar, another strong peece adjoining, besieged on the taking of Edessa, by the same Sanguin, who was here stabbed in a drunken quarrell by one of his familiar friends; and the Fort saved for that time.

3. Nisibis, situate somewhat to the East of Mount Masius, called also Antiochia Mygdo∣nia; from the River Mygdonius, which runneth thorow it; and afterwards Constantia, from Constantius the Sonne of Constantine. A City of great note in those elder times, a Roman Colony, and the Metropolis of the Province of Mesopotamia, properly and specially so called: which being besieged by Supores the King of Persia, (Constantius ruling in the East) and in no small danger to be lost, was gallantly defended by James the then Bishop of it, whom Theodoret calls not onely, Episcopum Civitatis, sed Principem & Ducem, not the Bishop only of the City, but the Prince and Captain of it, libr. 2 cap 31. So little inconsistencie was there found in those early daies be∣twixt the Episcop all function and civill businesses, that the Bishops were not interdicted from the Acts of war, when the necessities of the State did invite them to it. The City not long after most unworthily delivered to the said Sapores by the Emperour Jovinian; which drew along with it in short time the loss of the Pro∣vince.

4. Vr, seated on the East of Nisibis, betwixt it and Tigris; and so placed by Ammianus who had travelled this Countrey. Conceived to be the Birth-place of Abraham, and called Vr of the Chaldees, Gen. 11. 28. either because the Chaldees were in those daies possessed of the place; or because the name of Chaldaea did comprehend also those parts of this Countrey which lay towards Tigris, as was shewn be∣fore. For that the place from which Terah the Father of Abraham did return to Haran in Mesopot amia, was rather situate in this coast where Vr is placed by Ammianus, than betwixt the Lakes of Chaldaea and the Persiau Golf, where most Writers place it, may appear probable for these reasons.

1. Because it is said by Josuah, chap. 24. ver. 12. That Terah the Father of Abraham and the Fa∣ther of Nachor dwelt on the other side of the Flood; that is to say on the further side of the River Emphra∣tes, and that too 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as the Septuagim; ab initio, as the Vulgar Latine; in the first beginning. Which cannot be understood of any Vr, placed on or neer the Lakes of Chaldaea, those being on this side of that River. 2. Because all the rest of Abrahams Ancestors from Phaleg downwards, were seated in the Northern parts of Assyria and Mesopotamia: and it were strange that Terah should be planted so far from the rest of his kindred. 3. Because from Vr in Mesopotamia neer the banks of Tigris, the way to Canaan, (to which Terah did intend to go) was directly by Haran: whereas if he had dwelt (as some say he did) by the Lakes of Chaldaea, his way had been directly West thorow Arabia Deserta, and not to have travelled, with his family, so far North as Haran; and then to have fallen back as much South∣ward, as he had gone Northward, crossing Euphrates twice with his herds and Cattel. 5. Haran, the place to which Terah did remove when he went from Vr, and from which Abraham did remove when he went towards Canaan, so named in memory of Haran the sonne of Terah: but called afterwards by the name of Carrae, and by that name well known to the Roman Writers for the death of Crassus, that wealthy Roman, whose estate, (besides the tenth which he offered to Hercules, and three moneths corn distribut∣ed amongst the poor) amounted to 7100. Talents, which comes in our money to one Million, 331250. l. But all his wealth could not preserve him from the slaughter, slain neer this City, with the routing of his Army al∣so by Horodes King of Parthia; of which briefly Lncan,

—miscrando funere Crassus Assyrias Latio maculavit sanguine Carras.

Which may be Englished to this purpose,

By a defeat lamented Crassus stains With Roman blood the Assyrian Carras Plai.

Called the Assyrian Carrae by Poeticall Licence, because the Assyrians formerly had been Lords thereof. And no less memorable was it in the times foregoing, for a famous Temple of the Moon, worshipped here (but in no place else) under both Sexes: some honouring it as female Deity, then called Dea Luna; and others in the shape and dress of a man, and called Deus Lunus. But with this fortune and success, as faith Spartianus, qut Lunam foemineo nomine putabat nuncupandam, is mulieribus semper inserviat; that they who worshipped it in the form of a Woman, should be alwaies subject to their Wives (I trow there were but few of that Religion) qui vero Marem deum crederet, is uxori dominetur; but he that worshipped it as a man, should preserve the masterie. 6. Amida, neer the River Tigris, the Metropolis of Mesopo∣tamia when one Province only, and before it fell into the hands of the Romans: much beautified by Constantius the Sonne of Constantine, by whom named Constantias. But that new name dying with him, the old revived: of great strength, as a strontire Town against the Persians, and by them much ai∣med at. Honoured of late times with the Residence of the Patriatch of the Jacobite Christians, as the chief City of this Province: for this cause also made the dwelling of the Pseudo-Patriarch of the Nesto∣rians (or Nostranes) of the Popes erection; and the chief Seat also of the Bassa or other Officer, govern∣ing this Countrey for the Turks; by whom called Caramit, or Kara Amida, that is to say, Amidae the black, because it was walled with black stone. 7. Phalga, or Phaliga, at the meeting of Chabe∣ras with Euphrates not far from Carrae, mentioned by Stephanus, and Arrianus, and by Ptolomy mistakingly called Pharga; the seat or first plantation of Phaleg, one of Abrahams Ancestors: Serug, another of them giving name to 8. Sarug, about a daies journey off from Haran, spoken of by some later writers. 9. Singara, on the River so named, a well fortified City in the time of Ammianus, by whom mentioned, lib. 20. 10. Berabde, mentioned by the same Author, by whom said to have been a very strong Fort, seated on a pretty high hill, and bending towards the banks of Tigris; before whose times it had antiently bin called Phoenicha. 11. Virta, supposed to have been the work of Alexander the Great, circled with walls, environed with half-moones and Bulwarks, and made unaccessible: in vain besieged by Sapores the Persian King after the taking of Bezabde. The same perhaps with the Birtha of Ptolomy. 12. Merdin, not far from which in the Monastery of Saphran, is the Patriarchall See of the Jacobite Sectaries.

The first Inhabitants of these Countries, though united from the first begining under the same Princes, and form of Government; came from severall Families: all the three sonnes of Noah concurring as it were in this plantation. From Nimrod, Havilah, and others of the posterity of Chus, the sonne of Ham, came the Babylonians: with whom Chesed the Sonne of Nachor, of the house of Sem, intermingling fa∣milies; or being the Author of their language, or of some other signall benefit; gave to them the name

of Chaldim, whence came that of Chaldaeans. From Assur, Arphaxad, and those of Ar∣phaxads posterity, intermingled with the Sonnes of Mash, the sonne of Aram, came the Me∣sopotamians, and Assyrians. And that Japhet also and his Children may put in for a part, the neighbourhood of the Medes, and Albanese, descended from him, makes it somewhat proba∣ble.

But, whatsoever parents they descended from, Nimrod the Sonne of Chus made so bold with them, as to bring them under his command: planting in Chaldaea, the Cities of Babylon, and Calne; in Assyria, Ninive, Rhesem, and Calach; and finally Rehoboth (if that were Birtha, as some think it was) in Mesopotamia. By these strong Forts he curbed the natives, and assured his power; being the first that altered the Paternall form of Government, and drew unto himself the government of severall Nations, not having any dependance upon one another. The foundation thus laid by him, his Succes∣sors soon raised the building to a wondrous height; advancing the Assyrian Empire, from the Mediter∣ranean Sea, to the River Indus; and that too in a shorter time than could be imagined, but that the world was then divided into petit States, not cemented together with the ligaments of power and po∣licy: for though there be litle found of Belus the Sonne of Nimrod, but that he spent most of his time in draining the marishes, and making firm ground of those vast fennes which lay neer to Babylon, which were works of peace: yet by those and the like works of peace he so setled his affairs at home, that he gave his Sonne Ninus the better opportunity to look abroad; who mightily improved his Empire, and was the greatest and most powerfull of all that line; extending his dominions from the River Indus, to the Mediterranean; and from the Caspian Sea, to the Southern Ocean. His Successors we shall find in the following Cata∣logue of

The Assyrian Monarchs.

• A. M.
• 1798 1. Nimrod, called by some Saturnus Babylonius, the Sonne of Chus, and Nephew of Cham, was the first who altered the Paternal government, and usurped dominion over others; mak∣ing Babylon his Imperiall City. 47.
• 1845. 2. Belus, or Jupiter Babylonicus, the Sonne of Nimrod, whose Image was worshipped by the old Idolaters under the names of Bel and Baal. 62.
• 1907. 3. Ninus, the Sonne of Belus, conquered Armenia, Syria, Media, Bactria, and the Persian Provinces, and removed the Imperiall Seat to Ninive, by him much beautified and inlarged. 52.
• 1959 4. Semiramis, the wife of Ninus, subdued the Arabians; but invading the Indians also, she was vanquished and slain by their King Staurobates. Of this great Lady it is said, she was born in Ascalon, a Town of Syria, and exposed to the fury of wilde beasts. But being born not to die so ingloriously, she was brought up by shepherds, and at full age presented to the Syrian Vice-roy, who gave her in mariage to his onely Sonne. Going with him to the warres, she fell in acquaintance with Ninus, who liking her person and spirit, took her to his bed. This bred in him a greater affection towards her, so that he granted her at her request, the command of the Empire for five daies; making a Decree that her will in all things should be punctually performed: which boon being gotten, she put on the Royall Robes, and (as some Writers doe report) commanded the King to be slain. Having thus gotten the Empire, she exceedingly enlarged it, leading with her an Army consisting of one hundred thousand Chariots of warre, three millions of Foot, and half a million of Horse. A woman in whom there was nothing not to be honoured or applauded, but her insatiable lusts: in which if the Greek writers say true (as we have no reason to believe it of so gallant a woman) she was very guilty.
• 2001 5. Ninus II. the Son of Ninus and Se∣miramis.
• 2039 6. Arias 30.
• 2069 7. Arabius 40.
• 2109 8. Belus II. 30.
• 2139 9. Armamatrites.
• 2177 10. Belochus Prisc. 35.
• 2212 11. Belochus Jun. Balaeus 52.
• 2264 12. Altades 32.
• 2296 13. Mamitns 30.
• 2326 14. Mancaleus 30.
• 2356 15. Spherus 20.
• 2376 16. Mancaleus II. 30.
• 2406 17. Sparetus 40.
• 2446 18. Ascatades 40.
• 2486 19. Amintes 45.
• 2511 20. Belochus Jun. 45.
• 2556 21. Bellopares 30.
• 2586 22. Lamprides 22.
• 2618 23. Sasares 20.
• 2638 24. Lampares 20.
• 2668 25. Panmas 45.
• 2713 26. S••ramas 19.
• 2732 27. Mitreus 27.
• 2759 28. Tatanes 32.
• 2791 29. Tautes 40.
• 2831 30. Tineus 30.
• 2861 31. Dercillus 40.
• 2901 32. Eupales 38.
• 2939 33. Loastines 45.
• 2984 34. Pyrithiades 30.
• 3014 35. Ophrateus 20.
• 3034 36. Ophraganeus 50.
• 3084 37. Ascrasapes 24.
• 3126 38. Sardanapalus, by Eusebius called Tonosconcolos, the last King of this Race. Of which

• being 38. in all, there is scarce any thing remaining but the very names: registred in this order by Berosus, or rather by Frier Annius a Monk of Viturbum in Tuscany, who hath thrust upon the world, the fancies of his own brain, under the name of that antient Historian. The chief Kings of note after Semiramis, were,

1. Ninus, or Zameis her Sonne; who by his Deputies and Lieutenants subdued the Arrians, Bac∣trians, and Caspians, but was otherwise a man of effeminate and unkingly carriage. And therefore is conceived to be the elder Bacchus, so much celebrated amongst the Grecians.

2. Belus the second, who recovered that Countrey which afterwards was called Judaea, to the Assy∣rian Empire, from which it had revolted in the time of his Predecessor, (on the defeat of Amraphel, one of his Lieutenants, by the sword of Abraham,) and subdued many other nations.

3. Belochus Prise. the tenth King, who by some writers is said to be the Author of Divination by the flying of Birds, called Auspicium. For of Sooth-saying there were in all four kinds.

1. This Auspicium, quasi Avispicium, taken from the flight of birds, either on the right hard, or on the left; (and hence the Proverb commeth, avi sinistra, good luck, because in giving, the right hand is opposite to the receivers left;) or from the number of the birds, whence R••mulus had promised to him the Em∣pire, before his Brother, because he had seen the double number of Vultures: or lastly, from the nature of them, whence the same Romulus, seeing the Vultures, was (saith Florus) spei plenus urbem bellatriem fore, ta illi sauguini, & praedae assuetae aves pollicebantur.

2. Aruspicium, ab inspiciendo, in which the Sooth-sayers observed whether the Beast to be sacrifised came to the Altars willingly, or not: whether the entrails were of a naturall colour, exulcerate, &c or whether any part were wanting. All Histories afford variety of Examples in this kind; I need give no particular instance. A kind of Divination said to be practised first by the Tuscans, or Hetrurians; instructed in the knowledge thereof by one called Tages, who appearing to certain Ploughmen out of a Furrow, caught them this mystery, and so vanished.

3. Tripudium, so called quasi Terripudium, and Terripavium, from the trembling or shaking of the Earth, was a conjecture of future successes, by the rebounding of crums cast unto Chichens. We have an instance of this in the life of Tiberius Gracchus, who being seditiously busie in promoting the Law A∣graria, was fore-warned by the keeper of his Chickens to desist from that enterprise, because when he had thrown the crums to the Coop, there came out but one of the Chickens only, and the same without eat∣ing went back again, which was taken for a sign of ill luck, as the greedy devouring of them had been of good. But Tiberius slighting the advertisement, and pursuing his design, was the same day slain.

4. Augurium, so called ab avium garritu, was a prediction from the chirping or chattering of birds; as also from the sounds and voices heard they knew not whence, nor on what occasion. In which later kind the death of Caesar was divined from the clattering of Armour in his house, and the poisoning of Ger∣manicus by the sounding of a Trumpet of its own accord: in the former, an Owl screeching in the Se∣••ate-house was deemed ominous to Augustus; and a company of Crowes following Setanus to his house with great noise and clamor, was judged to be fatall to that great Favorite; and so it prov∣ed.

4. Manitus, the thirteenth King; who revived again the antient Discipline, corrupted by the sloathfulness and effeminacie of his Predecessors; and by the terrour of his name awed the Aegypti∣ans.

5. Ascatades, the eighteenth King, more absolute in Syria, and the Western-parts, than any of the Kings before him.

6. Sardanapalus, the last King of this Race, who being wondrous effeminate, and utterly unable to govern so great an Empire, gave opportunity to Arbaces his Lieutenant in Media to conspire against him. By whom, associated with Belochus Governour of Babylon, he was besieged in his City of Ninive: and there reduced unto such extremities, that gathering his treasures all together, he burnt himself and them in one funerall Pile, eo solum facto virum imitatus, as is said by Justine. The treasure which he is said to have burnt with him amounted to one hundred Millions of Talents of Gold, and a thousand Millions of Talents of Silver: which in our English money comes to twenty thousand and five hundred Millions of pounds. A mass of money, which as it must be long in gathering, so probably it had not seen the Sun in many years, and therefore grown rusty, desired a fire to purge it. This Sardanapalus afforded it, it may be to end his life with that, in which he placed his Summum Bonum: It may be in spight unto his enemies; and it is possible it might be in policy, that so great a treasure not falling to the possession of his foes, might so much the more disable them from making resistance against, or detaining the Empire from his next right∣full Successors. For it is of all things the most foolish, both to lose our Treasure, and with it to enrich our Adversaries. On which consideration the Spaniards fired their Indian Fleet at Gades, and the Geno∣ese theirs at Tripolis; that their lading might not come into the Possession of their enemies, the English and Mahometans. After the death of this Sardanapalus, Arbaces took Media and Persia with the confining Provinces: Belochus strengthened himself in Assyria, Chaldaea, and the adjacent Regions, his Kingdome being called the Kingdome of Assyria.

The new Kings of Assyria and Chaldaea.

• A. M.
• 3146. 1. Phul Belochus, the beginner of this new Monarchy.
• 3194. 2. Phul Assur, destroyed Galilee, and subdued the Kingdome or Damascus, the same who

• is called Tiglah Ph••lassar in the holy Scriptures.
• 3217. 3. Salmanassar, who destroyed Samaria, and ruined the Kingdome of Israel, and carried the 10 Tribes to perpetual Captivity. This is the Nabonassar of the Chr••nologers.
• 3227. 4. Sennacherib, whose blasphemous hoast was vanquished by Angels from heaven, and he himself murdred by his two sonnes Adramelech and Sharezer. 7.
• 3233. 5. Asserhaddon, who revenging his Fathers death on his brothers, was deposed by his Deputy of Chaldaea, and the seat Royal transferred from Ninive to Babylon. 10.
• 3243. 6. Merodach Baladan, governour of Babylon, succeeded his Master in the Throne, conceived by some to be the Mardocempades of Ptolomy, by others to be also the fame King who by his Captain Holofernes did so plague Judaea.
• 3283. 7. Ben Merodach 30th sonne of Merodach Baladan. 21.
• 3304. 8. Nabopullassar, who vanquished Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt. 25.
• 3339. 9. Nabuchodonosor the Great, by some called the Hercules of the East: who conquered Egypt in the life of his Father, with whom he reigned for a time, and mightily enlarged the City of Babylon, he joyned also with Astyages King of Medes, in subverting the pround City of Ninive; and in the 18th. year of his reign destroyed Hierusalem, and carried the People captive unto Babylon. But in the last seven years of his reign he was so distracted, that he lived not much unlike the Beasts of the Field; according to the word of God spoken by Daniel, chap. 4. during which time his sonne Evilmerodach, his daughter Nicocris with Niglissat her husband, and Laborasaradach their sonne, governed his Empires as Protectors; and there∣fore are by some reckoned as Kings. Finally Nabuchadnezzar having recovered his senses, was again restored unto the Throne, and died, when he had reigned in all 44. years.
• 3583. 10. Evilmerodach; the sonne of Nabuchadnezzar, slain by Astyages, King of the Medes. 26.
• 3409. 11. Balthassar, sonne of Evilmerodach (the Nabonidus of Berosus, a Prince of a dissolute and cruel nature, was in the later end of his reign assailed by Cyaxares the Sonne of Astyages, (whom the Scriptures call Darius Medus,) and by Cyrus the Persian; by whom he was slain in the 17th. year of his reign, and the Empire of the Babylonians was transferred to the Medes and Persians. A. M. 3426.

That this was the end of Balthassar, is the common opinion. But Josephus Scaliger in his learned and industrious work, De emendatione temporum, maketh him to be slain in a tumult by his own people: who elected into the Empire a Noble man of the Medes, called in prophane stories, Nabonidus; in divine, Darius Medus; who after a 17 years reign was slain by Cyrus King of the Persians. But by the leave of so worthy a man, this cannot hold good. For the Lord by his Prophet Jeremy, had pronounced, (Chap. 27.) That all Nations should serve Nabuchadnezzar, and his sonne, and his sonnes sonne, whereas Nabonidus was a Prince of strange blood, and so the Nations were not to serve him; and in Balthassar, the sonnes sonne of Nabuchadnezzar, was this word accomplished. But let us examine his arguments, and withall the scoffes, which very prodigally he bestoweth on such as maintain the contrary opinion: Natio Chrono∣logorum, the whole rout of Chronologers; boni & diligentes viri, good simple meaning men; & addunt alta nihil veriora, are his first complements; Vt igitur, quod Chronologorum est, omnesresiptscant, &c. therefore that they may repent their ever being Chronologers, he bringeth in Berosus, Cited by Jose∣phus, in his first book against Appion. But Berosus there maketh Nabonidus (to whom he saith the Kingdome of Balthassar was by the people delivered) to be a Babylonian, and not as Scaliger would have him say, a noble man of the Medes: neither can the authority of Berosus countervail that of Daniel, who in his 6 Chapter telleth Balthassar, that his Kingdome should be divided among the Medes and Persians. His second argument is drawn from the nature of the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as it is in the same Chapter, and Darius the Mede took the Empire: by which word took is implyed (saith he) not a forcible in vasion, but a willing acceptance of the Empire offered. To this we answer, that Dari∣us indeed took the Empire quietly and willingly, being offered unto him by Cyrus, and his army consisting of Medes and Persians: who according to the word of God, had taken it from Balthassar, Darius being then absent. Quid si probavero (saith he) eum cognominatum fuisse Medum? he hath yet one trick more than all these; and Medus must not be the national name, but the surname of Darius, which he proveth out of a fragment of Megasthenes, cited by Eusebius, in his work de praeparatione Evange∣lica, where he is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. an argument of all others the most slight and tri∣vial. For besides that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 may there as well be the name of his Nation, as of his Family; and besides that it thwarteth the places of Jeremy and Daniel already quoted; it is diametrally opposite to another place of the same Daniel, in his ninth chapter; where he is called Darius, of the seed of the Medes. Of this Darius more anon when we come into Media. As for Nabonidus, questionless he was the same with Balthassar. For besides that Josephus, and Berosus, attribute to either of them the reign of 17. years, the same Josephus (who might best know the truth in this case) telleth us that Balthassar was by the Babyloni∣ans called Naboandel; a name not so great a stranger to Nabonidus, as Scaligers Darius, or Herodotus his Labonitus. But in this we must pardon Joseph. Scorn and contradiction was a part of his essence. For had he not been in some things singular, in all, peremptory; he had neither been a Saliger, nor the sonne of Julius.

But leaving Joseph to the singularity of his own conceits; we find nothing done by the Assyrians or Chal∣aeans after this subjection, which might denote them to have been once the Lords of so great an Empire. Successively inslaved by the Medes, Persians, and Macedonians; then by the Persians again, after∣wards by the Saracens, next by the Turks, a third time by the Persians, once again by the Turks of the

Ottoman Family, unto whom now subject: never endeavouring to assert in the way of war, or oppositi∣on, either their antient reputation, or their native liberties; but suffering themselves to be won, lost, fought for, and again recovered by their quarrelsome Masters, as if they had no title to their own Countrey, but were born to follow the fortunes of all pretenders. The reason of which is principally to be as∣cribed to the form of Government used amongst the Persians, which was so Despoticall and absolute, if not tyrannicall, that they held all the people conquered by them in the nature of slaves; not suffering any to grow great in a state of inheritance, or to enjoy any place of power and profit under them in the conquer∣ed Provinces, but at the pleasure of the Prince: as it is now used amongst the Turks of the Ottoman Em∣pire. By means whereof, the great men having no alliances amongst themselves, and as few de∣pendants amongst the people; were never able to take head against the Conqueror; but in the fall of the present Prince fell together with him: it being a good rule of Machiavet, that where the antient Nobility is in good regard linked in alliances with themselves, and well respected by the common and inferiour peo∣ple, there it is difficult for the Invader, though a Conqueror, to win a Countrey, and harder to keep it being conquered. But on the other side, where Nobility is quite worn out, & the Prince doth hold his Subjects in the nature of slaves, there both the Conquest will be easie, and soon assured. For to what purpose should the Subjects resist the Conqueror, or stand any longer to their King, than he stands to himself, when they are sure the Conqueror can lay upon them no heavyer burdens, than they were accustomed to before; and have withal a flattering hope that their new Masters may be gentler to them, than their former were? It fares with them no otherwise than with Aesops Ass, which refused to make the opportunity of an escape from the hands of the enemie, by which he was taken, because he knew it was not possible they should lay more load up∣on his back, than his old Master made him bear. To which condition the Chaldeans and Assyrians being brought by the Persians, and never accustomed to the tast of a better fortune: have followed the same successes as the Persians did; falling together with them from one hand to another; the particular accompt of whose estate we shall find in Persia: taking this onely for the close, that when Solyman the Magnificent had discomfited Tamas King of Persia, and taken the great City of Bagdat; Ca∣ramit, Merdin, and the rest both in Assyria, Chaldaea, and Mesopotamia, submitted to him with∣out any resistance, and received his Garrisons. And for a confirmation of his estate he received at the hand of the Caliph of Babylon, who by an old Prerogative had the nomination or confirmation at the least of the Kings of Assyria, and the Sultans of Aegypt, the Royall Ornaments and Ensignes, Anno 1534. in∣corporating by that means those Regions into his estates, and making them Provinces of his Empire; in which he left a Beglerbeg at Bagdat to command in chief; and divers Sanziacks in their severall and respe∣ctive Provinces. And though the Persian Kings have since taken, and are still possessed of some places of importance in them; yet I account them in regard of the said investiture, and the long possession following on it, for Provinces of the Turkish Empire: as I do Media of the Persian, though Tauris and some other peeces of it be possessed by the Turks.