Paralipomena prophetica containing several supplements and defences of Dr Henry More his expositions of the Prophet Daniel and the apocalypse, whereby the impregnable firmness and solidity of the said expositions is further evidenced to the world. Whereunto is also added phililicrines upon R.B. his notes on the revelation of S. John.

CHAP. III. A just Encomium of Thomas Lydiat. His fixing the beginning of the real Reign of Artaxerxes in the se∣cond year of the 77. Olympiad, with the consequences thereof. The proof of the above-mentioned Epocha from the time of Themistocles flight into Asia, which was in that year. That he got to the Persian Court in a very short time, proved out of Plutarch. Of the confounding of the Names of Xerxes and Artaxerxes. And that Themistocles came to the Persian Court about the time of the Exitus of the one, and Succes∣sion of the other.

AND this is that which I am well assured in my self, that that excellent Person Thomas Lydiat (a man of a free and stout Spirit, of a quick Sagacity, clear and firm Judgment, great reading and indu∣stry,

and singular Piety, and as it were a Martyr in the late times (as you may see in that elegant Preface prefixt to his Posthumous Works, for his Loyalty to the King, and Faithfulness to the Church of Eng∣land, of which he was a worthy Minister, and exi∣mious Ornament) has solidly and irrefutably perfor∣med. He has, I say, laying aside all fine conceits and groundless surmises, with a down-right stroke fixt the beginning of Artaxerxes his Reign, proper∣ly so called, namely the succeeding his Father after his death, in the second year of the 77. Olympiad. Whence it will follow, that the true twentieth year of his Reign will be the first year of the 82. Olympiad, or the 4262. year of the Julian Period. And, which will be the consequent upon this, the 70 Weeks of Daniel will expire in the 4751. year of the Julian Period, or the second year of the Reign of Caius Ca∣ligula, according to Helvicus, Funccius, and Seth Cal∣visius, and the Crucifixion of Christ fall out in the 22^d year of Tiberius his Reign, which is the middle of the last week, according to the mind of Thomas Lydiat. In which summ of years betwixt the twen∣tieth of Artaxerxes, and second of Caligula, he and other Chronologers are agreed. How particular parcels of time in the Reign of some Kings will be adjusted, will be discerned in the procedure of the business.

In the mean time we are to note, That this fixing of the beginning of the Reign of Artaxerxes Longi∣manus in the second year of the 77. Olympiad, which is at least six years higher than other Chronologers place it, is no fictitious or arbitrarious thing, but a thing necessary, and firmly made out by most Au∣thentick History. For first, the flight of Themistocles

into Asia to get to the King of Persia, Tho. Lydiat has made out with undeniable clearness out of Diodo∣rus Siculus, that it was the second year of the 77. Olympiad, and Petavius himself acknowledges the truth thereof. Now when he was upon his journey, that he made no delay, but got thither in a short time that very year, appears from what Plutarch writes in his Life, That when he had arrived to Cu∣ma, a Town near the Sea, he made no stay there for fear of the Overseers of Sea-affairs, especially Ergo∣teles and Pythodorus, but betook himself presently to Aegae, a Town in the same Country of Aeolia, where he was entertained by his Friend, to whom alone he was there known, one Nicogenes (a Person of great Quality and much Riches, and befriended much by the Nobles of the Persian Court) with whom having stayed but a few days, after Supper upon a certain Sacrifice, Nicogenes Childrens School∣master Olbius, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, being in a Divine rapture, cried out in these words, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Which words, as it seems, implied, Night would prove Ora∣cular to Themistocles, and suggest such counsel to him as would prove very successful. After this therefore Themistocles falling asleep, dreamed he saw a Dragon winding about his belly, and creeping up to his neck; but assoon as it touched his face, that it was changed into an Eagle, which spreading his wings, took him up, and carried him a long way, and set him firmly upon a Caduceum or Heralds staff made of Gold, freeing him thus from immense fear and con∣sternation of mind. Wherefore upon this, Nicogenes presently sent him away to the Persian Court in such a close Coach as their Women use to be carried in.

And the less stay then in his journey, certainly it was the better. It is plain therefore, that this very year Themistocles came to the Persian Court.

But whether to Xerxes or Artaxerxes his Son, is a Question amongst Chronologers from the different Reports of Historians. And some also make a Que∣stion, Whether Xerxes and Artaxerxes be not Names or Titles promiscuously used for a King of Persia; Artaxerxes signifying no more than great Xerxes, as if one should say one while the Mogul, another while the great Mogul. Cornelius à Lapide is expresly for this conceit upon the Weeks of Daniel: Historici, saith he, subinde confundunt nomina haec Xerxes & Arta∣xerxes. Xerxes enim Persicè significat Bellatorem, Ar∣taxerxes magnum Bellatorem. But I think it is alrea∣dy without Controversie, That Themistocles came to the Persian Court the very same year he set out in, and as shall be made out, that Xerxes died, and Ar∣taxerxes began to reign in, and in all likelihood very near the time, not many months distance from the exitus of the one, and succession of the other. For the Right of the Kingdom devolved immediately upon Artaxerxes so soon as he was next Heir to the Crown. Wherefore Themistocles coming to the Per∣sian Court in such a nick of time, I mean so near to the contermination of the Exitus of Xerxes, and the succeeding of Artaxerxes, it is the less to be wondred at, that some Historians say, he came to Xerxes, others to Artaxerxes.