The mirror of fortune, or, The true characters of fate and destiny wherein is treated of the growth and fall of empires, the destruction of famous cities, the misfortunes of kings and other great men and the ill fate of virtuous and handsome ladies : whereunto is added Moral, politick, and natural reflection upon several subjects / written in French by Monsieur Chevreau : and newly translated into English by D. Decoisnon.

CHAP. X. Of those who have been killed by their Allies, Subjects, Soldiers, and Rela∣tions.

I Have shewn hitherto, That Riches, King∣doms, Towns, and Armies, have not been able to resist Fortune, and how she hath raised Enemies to those who seemed to have no cause to fear them; now I must shew that she is of all Parties, that she is born in an Allies Countrey, as well as in the Enemies; that she is concerned in Friendships, as well as in Broils and Hatred.

Agastocles, King of Cicilia, after he had van∣quisht the Carthaginians at Zaphones in Numedia, took a resolution to besiege Carthage; but knowing that his Forces alone would not suf∣fice to execute such a great Enterprize, he desi∣red Ophelas, Prince of Cyrena, to join with him in that War, and to facilize to him the prize of that Town by his assistance. And to oblige him to help him in this occasion, he protested

to him, that he had no other end in it, than to secure his Dominions, and promised him to let him keep all that they should conquer together in Lybia. Ophelas, overjoyed of his demands, and his promises, came to him with 10000 Foot, and 6000 Horse, and besides that got some aid from the Athenians, in the hopes they were in to have their Dominions reach as far as Africa. Agathocles received him with joy, and shewed him the resentment he had for all his toyls, and for the resolution he had taken to help him against barbarous men, who could not live in peace, neither amongst themselves, nor with their Neighbors, and who interrupted all peoples rest, by their deceit, or by their Arms: But this Alliance did not last very long, and this dissembling man was not long before he discover'd his perfidy. As Ophelas had sent part of his Cavalry for Provender, trusting more to his Friends Forces, than to his own, and that he sought only his satisfaction, Agatho∣cles brought up his men together, told them that Ophelas had designed to betray and ruine them, and persuaded them to that imposture, by so many deceits, that these men in a rage fell upon the Cyrenians Camp plundered the rich∣est things, and massacred Ophelas, with all those that made resistance. Thus this Prince was unhappy, because he had been credulous,

and this Traytor, who drew him in his Army; but to find an opportunity to destroy him, made use of the most horrible, because he wanted all others to be rid of him.

When the Carthaginians saw that Attilius Regulus, General of the Roman Forces, had ta∣ken Clypea, which is the first Town that he found upon the Coast of Africa, that he had demolisht above Three hundred of their Ca∣stles, and that he had sent to Rome a Fleet loa∣den with Plunder, and with the ornaments of a Triumph, they dispatcht Ambassadors to the Lacedemonians, to entreat them not to suffer their liberty to be usurped by Tyrants, who did not so much regard the enlargement of their Empire, as the ruine of others; and who shewed less earnestness to increase their repu∣tation, than to practise their cruelty. The La∣cedemonians sent them with the assistance that they demanded, a Captain named Xantichus, and this man employed himself so well for the Carthaginians happiness, that he routed the Romans in the first Battel, took Attilius Regu∣lus, and left his life at the choice of them whom he thought himself Arbitrator of. The Lybians shewing in all appearances to be as much satisfied as they could wish, received at that instant Xantichus, with a thousand Acclamations and Praises, called him many

times their Father and Protector, shed many tears at his departure, and sent him away loa∣den with Presents, yet more worthy of their acknowledgments, than of his courage. What satisfaction did he not receive, to carry himself in his native Countrey, the news of his own Victory? But with what horror was he not seized, when the Carthaginians having brought him part of his way, paid his Generosity with an unparallel'd Ingratitude? These barbarous men, thinking to rob him of the glory which he proposed to himself, thought themselves obliged to rob him of his life, and so they murthered him, to persuade their enemies, that their happiness did not consist in the help of the Lacedemonians: and as if he had not meri∣ted a burying place, nor their compassion, they threw him into the Sea out of jealousie, and did not so much as bestow a Tomb on him that deserved Statues. But which way could he prevent their captious Humors, and their Rage? Was it likely that he should have been the Victim of those whom he had rescued from the Sacaifice? That his Creatures should have been his Murtherers? And that he should have instructed those whose deliverance he had wrought? Reason indeed may prevent many Crosses, but a Traytor surprizeth so, that his first blow is a deaths wound.

It is no wonder when Malefactors receive the punishment that's due to their Crimes, nor that Justice should make them suffer that which their Cruelty makes others suffer; but it is an insupportable thing, that Virtue should be used like Vice; that Innocence should be in danger, where it should be most secure; and that the Insolence of Subjects should climb so high as the Thrones of their Princes. For all that we find, that Kings are in no more safety amongst them, than amongst their Enemies; Rebels at home make them tremble, as well as those abroad; and the Ambition of these is not so dangerous, as the Tumult and Insur∣rection of the other. Diodorus, in his first History of Antiquities, makes it plain enough to us by the example of an Egyptian King, cal∣led Aprius, who having successfully made War by Sea and Land against the Syrians and Phoenicians, forced Sodom to yield to his power, and returned home so glorious, that it seemed that all his desires had attained their period, and that his felicities extended themselves even beyond his hopes. Notwithstanding ha∣ving sent his Army against the Barcians and the Cyrenians, and that it had been for the most part destroyed; those that were left, said openly, That they would respect neither his dig∣nity nor his person; and that they were not obli∣ged

to obey him, who had sacrificed so many men to his ambition, or his quarrel. To appease them, he sent the most Renowned Man of Egypt to them, called Amasis, and did not doubt but his Eloquence, and his Authority, should prove stronger than their Resolution and Ha∣tred. Amasis, far from casting into their hearts an impression of love and obedience, inflamed into them a fire which before began but to kindle, made the most faithful turn Rebels, ac∣cused Aprius of Tyranny, and gained them so well by his dissimulations and flatteries, that they presented him the Sceptre sooner than he required it of them. He made use of this advantage, and of their Arms against Aprius, fights him, and takes him Prisoner; and that he might with the more safety go up the Throne, he made him the horror of his peo∣ple, after he had been their admiration. Hugo, Duke of Pavernia, having not been able to re∣sist his Enemy, was put to the same death by his men. And we read that Hannibal the first of that name, having not been successful in some Sea Combats, was Crucified by the Carthagini∣ans, and that he found no favor with them, ha∣ving not found Victory with others when he sought it. Agis, the last King of the Lacede∣monians, was reduced to the same Misfortune by the sentence of the Ephorites; and as the Exe∣cutioner

led him to the place of Execution, he lamented him, but he with a great deal of con∣stancy comforted him by these words:

Friend, do not mourn for my Sufferings, since I am better than those that have condemned me, my condition is better without doubt; mourn rather for them that survive me: for where a King dyeth innocently, all the people ought to fear.

Miltiades, who was chosen Commander by the Athenians, by the answer that the Oracle gave, as they were in doubt who they should send to Chersones, was no better recompen∣sed for his labour: and here is the manner how he was Prisoner of those whose liberty he assured. When Darius was repassing from Europe into Asia, he was counselled to take Greece into his possession, because that by the Athenians help, the Jodonians had taken Sar∣dis, and put to the Sword all the Garison; and in that resentment he armed a Fleet of Five hundred Gallies. His Lieutenants Ataphernes and Datis, discovered in a short time Eubosea, won Eretrea, entred into the Land of Attikus, and encamped in the Plain of Marrathon, fif∣teen miles from Athens. The Athenians sur∣prized to have Ten thousand Horse against them, and Two hundred thousand Foot, beg∣ged assistance from the Lacedemonians with all speed, and in the mean time chose ten Offi∣cers

to command those Troops they might have, of which Miltiades was judged the most judicious, and the most considerable. He en∣camped in a very advantagious place; he set his Army at the bottom of an Hill which they had in flank, cut down many Trees which he laid in the wayes, to prevent the Enemies Horses from inclosing him, and attacked them so fortunately, that with Ten thousand Greeks, he slew, as some report, above Two hundred thousand Persians which were found upon the place. The Athenians, after this important victory, contented themselves to have his Picture drawn over that little Gate of their City called Pacilus, though since that time they have erected Three hundred Statues to Deme∣trius, when they were become more potent, and let themselves be corrupted by the profu∣sion of those which bought Offices; and thought that it was acknowledgment enough for the obligation they owed him, to let him know that the people should preserve the memory of it. And not to let his experience be unactive, they gave him Threescore and ten Gallies, to punish the Islands unkindness, which had assisted the Persians against them; and his Voyage was so prosperous, that he re∣duced them to their first obedience, either by summoning of them, or by the force of his

Arms. But when he came to Parr, and found there some resistance, he Landed his Men, made Trenches round the Town, to make the Besieged lose the hope of getting any Am∣munition, or Provisions; and by the help of their Bucklers and Targets, got as near the wall as it was possible. When he was ready to assault the Town, by a strange Misfortune the Fire took in a small Wood in the night, so that it was easily discovered by those that were in the Isle; and because the men within and without, apprehended that it was the signal of the Persians coming to the assistance of the Be∣sieged, Miltiades finding himself too weak, failed immediately for Athens, and found it better to raise the Siege without any loss, than to hazard without reason the good and the glory of all Greece; the wounds that he had received, did not permit him to come so far as the Town, to justifie himself of the Ac∣cusation that was laid to his Charge, but his brother Stesagora pleaded his Cause with all his power.

For all that, the Athenians fined him thir∣ty thousand pounds, and caused him to ex∣pire in publick Prisons, with as little mercy, as if he had employed to the ruine of his Country, those Arms which he had employ∣ed to its preservation; not that he was guil∣ty

of the Treason wherewith he was accused, not that he had been gained by Money, as they would have perswaded him, nor that he had not kept in these Wars, the fidelity that he shewed in all others, but because Pisitratus had disturbed all their affairs some time be∣fore, that they suspected all those who were in power, and that Miltiades was of the num∣ber, they thought it was better to destroy, then to fear him, and considered no otherways the mischief he might do, then by the good he had done them. Athleta, King of Ephesus, having been restored to his Kingdom by that peace he made with Cassander, was killed by his Subject, with two of his Children; and as Hieronimus King of the Siracuse, after the death of Hiero his Father, did expect to suc∣ceed him, he was massacred by those that would not obey him, and by an unheard cru∣elty, his Daughter Demaratha, was tore limb from limb in a Temple, when they did neither respect her youth, her beauty, the gods, nor her innocence. The King of Pouillia, Mem∣phray, had no better fortune than all these, though he was neither more Politick, nor more Tyrant, and that his people had rendred him till that time, all the marks of love and obe∣dience; and the last King of Acles, by the sedition of his, left his Head upon a Scaffold,

for no other cause, but to have given a box on the ear to a Bishop.

Of all the examples that we have of Prin∣ces, that have been killed by their Souldiers, I do not find any more remarkable, nor more strange, then that which Leon of Asirica re∣lates. Joseph, King of Fez, saith he, of the Race of Monsor, raised a potent Army, to be∣siege the Town of Telusin, and grew so obstinate, that he staid seven years before it, whatsoever in∣vention he could use to surprise it, or to force it; at last the Besieged, seeing themselves reduced to all extremities, they petitioned their King Abut∣tesim, who was in that Town, that they had done and endured all they could, to shew him their obe∣dience, and that their constancy was firm still in their misfortune; but that Famine which oppres∣sed them, took away from them all possibility of serving of him any longer, and that their fide∣lity could not be termed, but a virtuous possibility. Abuttessim, shewing that he had suffered as much as them, without murmuring, protested. That he would expose to them his body; if it would satis∣fie the hunger of the least of his Citizens, and begged of them with so much earnestness, to fight for their liberty, That they resolved all to dye under his conduct. As they purposed to make a Sally the next day, they heard at the same time, that Joseph had been slain by one of his domes∣tick

servants, because he had not taken Abutel∣lim sooner; this news gave them so much cou∣rage, that they fell immediately upon their Ene∣mies, over which they got a great Victory.

Amilcar, the Carthaginians General, was killed in the night by a Gaulish man, though Plutarch maketh him expire, in a Combat against the Vetheons in Spaine. Aurclian re∣ceived the same usage in the Olerians Wares. Galerius and Valerius were slain by their Cap∣tains; Galba, Aeliogabalus, Macrin, and Seve∣rus, by their Souldiers; and Pertinax by his Guards. Onochus, King of the Anianians, was stoned to death by his Men: L. Siccius was killed in the Sabians Wars, by his Souldiers. Amon, Manasses Son, and Joas, Kings of Juda, perished by the rage of her Subjects; and that valiant Timothey, who had subdued the Olinthi∣ans, and the Bizantins, and Domitian, by that of their Domesticks. Virakus, King of the Lusitanians, was poisoned by one of his Sub∣jects; Julius Maximinus, the twenty sixth Em∣peror of the Romans, was killed by his Soul∣diers, with his Son, who was but a Child; their bodies were cast into the River, and the youth of the one, nor the old age of the other, could not preserve them from the insolence of those Traitors. Many others who have been

used after the same manner, amongst the Greeks, and the Romans, discovereth enough, That the dangers whereunto great Men are lyable, are hid most commonly in thir own Forces; and that Seneca had reason to say, That whosoe∣ver despiseth his own life, doth command that of a Prince. But as if Fortune had thought it but a small matter, to cause Rebellions of Subjects against Kings, of Servants against their Ma∣sters, and of Souldiers against their Comman∣ders; it hath besides, made use of Brothers against Brothers, and of Fathers against Chil∣dren; insomuch, that life seems as much to be in danger, by those who bestowed it, as by those who are bound to defend it. When Ja∣sius, Son to Camblobascon, and to Electa, Daugh∣ter to Atlas, was created Patriarck of Tosca∣ny, and that he had succeeded to Belgius the Fourteenth King of Gaules, being his nearest Kinsman, he Married Iphitis, and his weding, according to Diodorus, was the first that was celebrated upon earth. After his Fathers death, he became King of Italy, and grew so potent, that it was enough to be considered by him, to become so too; his glory for all that, rai∣sed him Enemies in his own Dominions, his Brother Dardanis troubled his rest by Civil Wars, that were long and cruel; and because he could not disposess him by his Arms, he

strived to destroy him by Treason; after he had long spied an occasion, he found him a Bathing near Viterba, and slew him, not consi∣dering that he was his Brother and his King, and retired instantly in his Ships, that he had pre∣pared for his flight, tainted with Blood; and all in amase of his Crime, every Man knows that Romulus served Remus his Brother so, that Tiphon stained his Arms with the blood of Osi∣tis, and that long since the Ottomans Reign, over their Brothers Tomb. A King of Persia was poisoned by his own Sister; and the great Admiral of Cicilia Major, was Murthered by his Father in Law. Euridice, Mother to A∣lexander, Philip of Macedonias Brother, Impri∣soned her Son, and made him away by such a secret death, and so hidden, that it hath not been in the power of the most inquisitive to discover it. Herod slew his Children; Man∣lius Torquatus having forbidden his Son to fight with the Lattins, for all he worsted them, he caused him to be put to death, because he had preferred Victory to Obedience. Brutus have∣ing summoned twice his two Sons, Titus and Valerius, to their own defence, from those who accused them, to have taken the Tarquins party, and having no answer from them, com∣manded the Hangman to pull off their Robes from them, and whip them bloodily, and then

to cut off their Heads in his presence; in which action, it is unpossible to blame, or to praise him too much, saith Plutarch, because upon that occasion, he acted either by an excess of Cruelty, or by an excess of Vertue. Nero caused Britanicus to be poisoned, killed his Wife with a kick; caused Agripine to be stabed, who at first had preferred his greatness to her own life, and without being touched with the hor∣ror of that action, only said, seeing her, That he did not think he had so beautiful a Mother. An∣thonia was poisoned by Caligula her grand∣son; one of the Horaces run his Sword into his Sisters brest, because she had not high thoughts enough of her Countrey; and Com∣modus put his to death, after he had exi∣led her; Medea cut her Son in pieces; Autho∣nia killed his Brother Geta, in his Mothers Arms; Livia was suspected with reason, to have poisoned the Emperor Augustus her Hus∣band; and Claudius found some satisfaction in his shame, to have murthered his Wife; Au∣dius having met with his Son, suspected to have been concerned in Catalins Conspirati∣on, ran him through with his Sword, with these words: I have not begot thee for Catalina, thou wicked wretch, but for thy City; and Histo∣ry will have it, That Philip the Second, King of Spain, slew his Son, rather to clear himself of his doubts, then to exercise his justice. Ninus,

killed his Mother Seminamis; and that jealous Antipater, Massacred his, because she shew∣ed less love for him, then for Alexander; He∣rodus King of the Parthians, was murthered by his Son Praartes; Timophanus, a Chorian Cap∣tain, by his Brother Timolean; Xantius, Prince of the Licians, by his Son Lucipus; Ismael King of Persia, by his Wife; Ʋrialus, by his Brother Ʋlice; and Moninus, Queen of Pontus, by the command of her Husband Mithridatus. If we look in the Scriptures, we shall find there Abel slain by his Brother Cain. Adramelech, and Sarracher, cutting Senacherib, their Fa∣thers Throat, King of the Assirians; Absalon, who makes his Brother Ammon expire, by his servants Sword, to revenge the Incest com∣mitted upon his Sister Thamar; Abimelech, who butchered his threescore and ten Brothers; and many others, who are notable but by their paricides; but it is to insist too much upon a shameful subject, we will look upon the tears that Princes have shed with less horror, then the blood they have spilt; and we will have more satisfaction to describe their Misfortunes, then their Crimes.