The Life and Death of Nebuchadnezzar the Great, Life 2

The Life and Death of Nebuchadnezzar the Great · Life 2

p. 27THE LIFE, & DEATH OF CYRUS the Great, The first Founder of the PERSIAN EMPIRE.

CYRVS was the Son of Cambyses, His Parentage.King of Persia, by Mandanes the daughter of Astyages, King of Media; He was so named by the Prophet Isay almost two hundred years before he was born, Isay 45. 1, 4. Thus saith the Lord unto Cyrus his annointed, &c.

Cyrus his first Education was under his Father Cambyses, His Education.with whom he lived till he was twelve years old, and somewhat more; at which time, he was sent for, together with his Mother Mandanes, by his Gandfather Astyages, into Media.

In Media he served Astyages, first as one of his Halberdiers, and then as one of his Armour-bearers till he p. 28was called home into Persia by his Father Cambyses, when as yet he had one year to spend at School; and when he had spent seventeen years at School amongst Boys, he spent ten years more amongst youths.

When Cyrus was now almost sixteen years old, Evilmerodach the King of Assyria, being about to marry a wife called Nicotris, His first Action in War.made an in-rode, with a great Army of Horse and Foot, into the borders of Media, there to take his pleasure in hunting, and harrassing of the Country: against whom, Astyages, and Cyaxares his Son, and Cyrus his Grand child, who then first began to bear Arms, being but about fifteen or sixteen years old, marched out, met with him, and in a great Battel, overthrew him, and drave him out his borders. Indeed the Death of Nebuchadnezzar, the Father of Evilmerodach, gave courage to those that had found him a troublesome neighbour, to stand upon prouder tearms with the Babylonians, than in his flourishing estate, they durst have used.

But Evilmerodach, being too proud to digest this loss which he had received by the Medes, and their Allies, the Persians under Cyrus, he drew unto his party the Lydians, and all the People of the lesser Asia, with great gifts and strong perswasions, hoping by their assistance to overwhelm his enemies with a strong invasion, whom in vain he had sought to weary out by a lingring War.

The issue of these great preparations made by Evilm…r…ach against the Medes, was such as opened the way to the fulfilling divers Prophesics which were many years before uttered against Babel, by Isay, and Jeremy. For the Babylonians and their Confederates, who, trusting in their numbers, thought to have buried the Medes and Persians under their thick showers of Arrow, and Darts, were encountered with an Army of stout and well trained men, weightily Armed for close fight, by whom they were beaten in a great Battel,Evilmerodach is slain. wherein Evilmerodach was slain. After which that great Empire that was raised and upheld by Nebuchadnezzar, was grievously shaken and enfeibled under his unprosperous Son, and left to be sustained by his p. 29Grand-child Belshazzar: a man more like to have overthrown it when it was greatest and strongest, than to repair it when it was in a way of falling.

Xenophon relates the matter thus, When the Babylonian had enlarged his Empire with many Victories, and was become Lord of all Syria, and many other Countries, he began to hope that if the Medes could be brought under his Subjection,The strength of Media. there would not then be left any Nation adjoyning, able to make head against him. For the King of the Medes was able to bring into the Field sixty thousand Foot, and ten thousand Horse, to which the Forces of Persia being joyned, made an exceeding great Army.

Considering therefore the strength of such a neighbour, he invited Craesus, King of Lydia, a Prince very mighty both in men and Treasure, and with him other Lords of Asia the less to his assistance, alleadging that those Eastern Nations, were very powerfull, and so firmly conjoyned by League, and many Alliances, that it would not be easie, no nor possible for any one Nation to resist them.

With these suggestions, backed with rich Presents, he drew to himself so many adherents, as he compounded an Army of two hundred Thousand Foot, and sixty thousand Horse: Of which ten thousand Horse, and forty thousand Foot were brought by Craesus, who had great cause of enmity against the Medes, for that they had made great Wars against his Father Allyattes. Cyrus made Generall of the Army.Whereupon Cyrus was by his Father Cambyses, and the Council of the Kingdom, made Generall of the Persian Army, and sent away into Media with thirty Thousand Souldiers, and one Thousand Commanders, all of equall Authority under him; and when he came thither, he was also made by his Uncle Cyaxares, who had sent for him, Generall of the Median Forces, and the management of the War against the Babylonian was wholly comitted to him; With this Army he marched against Evilmerodach, He overthrows the Babylonians.and his associates, and in a very bloody Bartell, overthrew them. In which defeat, Evilmerodach, King of Babylon, being slain, so many of his Subjects revolted, that Babylon it self could no longer be secured p. 30but by the help of Mercenaties, waged with great sums of money out of Asia the less, Egypt, and other Countries, which new leavied Forces, were also defeated, and scattered by Cyrus, Cyrus his great victories.who following his advantage, possessed himself of a great part of the lesser Asia. Those Persians which followed Cyrus, and were by him levied, are reckoned to be thirty thousand Foot, of which one thousand were Armed Gentlemen; the rest of the common sort were Archers, and such as used the Dart, or Sling.

Craesus, notwithstanding the men lost, and the Treasure spent in the quarrell of the Babylonians, Craesus his Victories.yet did he Conquer Aeolis, Doris, and Jonia, Provinces possessed by the Greeks in Asia the less, adjoyning to his Kingdom of Lydia. He gave Laws also to the Phrygians, Bithynians, Carians, Mysians, Paephlagonians, and other Nations. He also enforced the Ephesians to acknowledge him for their Lord; He also obtained a signall Victory against the Sacaeans, a Nation of the Scythians; All which he performed in fourteen years.

And being now confident by reason of his good successes, and withall, envious at Cyrus his Fame, and prosperity; doubting also that his great Victories might in the end grow perilous to himself, he consulted with the Oracle of Apollo, whom he presented with marvellous rich Gifts, what success he might hope for in his undertakings against Cyrus; from whom he received this ambiguous answer, Craesus Halym penetrans, The Devils subtilty.magnam pervertes opum vim: Craesus passing over the River Halys, shall dissolve a great Dominion: For the Devil being doubtfull of his success, gave him this Riddle, which might be construed either way, to the ruine of Persia, or of his own Lydia.

Hereupon Craesus (interpreting it as he most desired) resolved to stop the course of Cyrus his progress, and therefore despised all the Arguments used by Sandanes to the contrary,Good Counsel neglected. who desired him to consider afore-hand, that he provoked a Nation inhabiting a barren, & Mountanous Region; a People not covered with the soft silk of Worms, but with the hard skins of Beasts; not fed with p. 31meat to their Fansies, but content with what they found; Drinkers of Water, and not of Wine; and in a word, a Nation Warlike, Patient, Valiant, and Porsperous, over whom if he became Victorious, he could thereby enrich himself in nothing but Fame, in which he already excelled: and if by them he should be beaten, and subdued, so great would his loss appear of all things, which the world makes account of, that the same could neither be hastily recounted, nor easily conceived.

Notwithstanding this solid,Craesus marches against Cyrus. and seasonable Counsel, Craesus having prepared a powerfull Army, advanced with the same toward Media: but in his passage he was retarded at Pterium, a City in Cappadocia of great strength; which whilst he attempted both by power and policy to take, and Conquer, Cyrus came on, and found the Lydians encamped before it. Neither of these Champions were inferior to other, either in strength, or opinion. For out of doubt, Craesus, as he excelled any Prince of that age in Riches, and ability, so was he not inferior unto any in Territories and Fame, that then lived. But Kingdoms and Commonwealths have their increase, and Periods from Divine Ordinance. This time was the Winter of Craesus his prosperity, the leaves of his flourishing estate being ready to fall; and that of Cyrus but in the first Spring and Flower; the God of all Power, had given a date to the one, and a beginning of Glory to the other.

When these two Armies were in view each of other, after divers skirmishes had passed between them, the Persians, A great Battel.and Lydians began to joyn together, and to encounter each other in grose Bodies; and as either of them began to retreat, fresh supplies were sent in from both their Kings. And as the Persians had somewhat the better of the Day, so when the dark vail of night had hidden each Army from the others view, Craesus doubting what success the rising Sun might bring with it, quitted the Field to Cyrus, Craesus retreats.and withall speed possible, retreated towards his own Country, and taking the next way thither, he recovered Sardis, the first City of Lydia, and his Regal Seat, p. 32without any pursuit made by Cyrus to retard him; where, being arrived, and nothing suspecting Cyrus his approach, or any other War for that Winter, he dismised his Army, and sent the Troops of his sundry Nations to their own Provinces, appointing them to re-assemble at the end of five Moneths, acquainting his Commanders with his intent of renewing the War at the time appointed.

The morning being come, Cyrus finding that the Lydians were departed, put his Army in order to pursue after them,Cyrus pursues him. yet not so hastily, and at their heels, as to be discovered. But getting good intelligence of Craesus his proceedings, he so ordered the matter, that he presented not himself before Sardis, till such time as Craesus had disposed of his Army, and sent them to their Winter Quarters. His coming being altogether unlooked for, and unfeared,And beseiges him in Sardis. he had opportunity enough to surround Sardis with his Army, wherein Craesus had no other Companies than the Citizens, and his ordinary Guards, insomuch as after fourteen days Seige,Sardis taken. Cyrus took the City by Storm, and put all to the Sword that made resistance.

Craesus now having neither Arms to Fight, nor Wings to fly, in this common calamity, he throst himself into the heap, and multitude of his miserable Subjects, and had undergone the same lot with the rest of the vanquished persons, had not a Son of his, who had been dumb all his Life before (by the extremity of Passion and Fear) cryed out to a common Souldier,Craesus preserved who was with a drawn Sword pursuing his Father, that he should not kill Craesus. Hereupon he was taken and imprisoned, and despoiled of all things, but onelyonly the expectation of Death.

Shortly after he was bound with Fetters, and Placed upon a large and high pile of Wood, to be burnt to ashes thereon.He should have been Burnt, but is saved. To which, when Fire was set, and kindled, Craesus remembring the discourse which long before he had with Solon, the Athenian Lawgiver, he thrice cryed out, O Solon, Solon, Solon, and being demanded what he meant by the invocation of Solon, he at first used silence: p. 33But being urged again, he told them that now he found that true, which wise Solon had long since told him; That many men in the race and course of their lives might well be accounted Fortunate, but no man could discern himself to be happy indeed till his end.

Of this his answer, Cyrus being speedily informed, and thereby being put in mind of the mutability of Fortune, and of his own mortality, he commanded his Ministers of Justice, speedily to withdraw the Fire, and to save Craesus, and bring him to his presence; which being done, Cyrus demanded of him, who it was that had perswaded him? or what reason had instigated him to invade his Territories, and to make him, of a Friend, an Enemy. To which Craesus thus answered: It was thy prosperous, and my unprosperous destiny (the Grecian Gods with all, flattering my Ambition) that were the inventers, and conducters of Craesus War against Cyrus.

Cyrus being much affected w^th this answer of Craesus, Cyrus makes him his friend.and bewailing his estate, though he was victorious over him, did not only spare his life, but intertained him ever after as a King, and his companion; Thus Heroditus relates it. But Xenophon saith, that Cyrus did entertain Craesus friendly at the first sight, and makes no mention of any such cruell intent of burning him alive; and this may seem the more probable, because Craesus was his Grandmothers Brother, and its very likely that neerness of Alliance might withhold Cyrus (if he had been vicious, which he was not) from so cruell a purpose as to have burnt him alive.

When Cyrus afterwards passed with his Army over Araves into Seythia, Cyrus invades Scythia.he left Craesus to be a companion, and counseller to his Son Cambyses, whom he made Governour over his Empire in his absence, with whom he lived all-the Reign of Cyrus, and did afterwards accompany Cambyses in his Expedition into Egypt, where he hardly escaped his Tyrannous hands. At this time the Races of three of the greatest Kings in that part of the World came to an end; to wit, of the Babylonians, Medians, p. 34and Lydians, in Balthasar, Xiaxares, or Darius Medus, and Craesus.

After this Lydian War ensued the great Conquest of Babylon, which gave unto Cyrus an Empire so large, and mighty, that he was justly reputed the greatest Monarch then living upon the Earth. How long time the preparations for this great action took up, is uncertain, onelyonly it seems that ten whole years did pass between his taking of those two Cities of Sardis and Babylon; which time was not wholly spent in providing for the Assyrian War, but much of it in setling the Estates which he had already purchased; Ctesias also tells us, that during this time Cyrus invaded Scythia, and being victorious over that Nation, he took Amorges their King Prisoner; But being in a second Battel overthrown by Sparetha, the Wife of Amorges, himself was taken Prisoner, and so one King was released for the other.His danger. Gobrias about this time (a Nobleman, whose onelyonly Son, the King of Babylon, in his Fathers life time, had in a hunting match, villainously slain) together with his Friends, revolted to Cyrus.

Its very probable also, that no small part of those troubles which sprang up in the lower Asia, grew soon after Cyrus his departure with his Victorious Army, before the Conquest was fully established. For after Cyrus was returned out of Asia the less, many Nations which were formerly Conquered by Craesus, and now by Cyrus, revolted from him; Against whom he imployed Pactias, and then Harpagus, who first reduced the Phocians under their former Obedience; and then the rest of the Greeks that inhabited Asia the less, as the Jonians, Carians, Aeolians, and Lycians, who, very resolutely (according to the strength they had) defended themselyes; But in the attempt upon Babylon it self, its not to be questioned but Cyrus imployed all his Forces, having taken order beforehand, that nothing should be able to divert him, or to raise that Seige, or to frustrate that work upon which he did set all his rest.

p. 35And great reason there was,The strength of Babylon. that he should improve all his Policy and strength unto the taking of that City, which, besides the Fame and reputation that it held, as being the Head of an Empire, which depended thereupon, was so strongly fortified with a trebble Wall of great heigth, and surrounded with the waters of Euphrates, that were unfordable, and so plentifully Victualled for many years, that the Inhabitants were not only free from fear, and doubt of their estate, but through their Confidence, they derided, and despised all the Projects and power of their Besiegers.

For not long before,Babylon fortified by Nicotris. Nicotris, the Mother of Belshazzar, a witty, and active Woman, foreseeing the storm that was ready to fall upon Babylon from the Medes, to hinder their passing the River by Boats into Babylon, She turned the River Euphrates, which before ran with a strait, and swift course, drawing it through many winding Channels, which she had cut for that purpose, whereby she made it to run more slowly than formerly it did: and then she raised a huge Dam upon each side of the River; and up the River from the City-ward, she digged a vast Pond, which was every way three or four hundred Furlongs wide, into which she turned the River, thereby leaving the old Channel of the River dry; which done, she fell to work, and fenced the Banks within the City with Brick-walls, and raised the Water-Gates, answerable in every point to the rest of the Walls, which were made on the farther side of the Channel, round about the City. She built also a stately, and Magnificent Bridge of Stone in the midst of the City, which joyned to the Kings Houses, that stood on each side the River: and having finished all her Works, and Fortifications, she turned the River out of the Pond into its right Channell again.

And now came Cyrus to invade the Country of Babylon, Cyrus invades Babylon.and appeared before the Walls of the City, and there challenged the King to a Duell, or single Combat, but he refused it. At this time Gadatas, a Noble man of Babylon, p. 36whom Belshazzar had gelt, upon a jealousie that he had of him with his Wife, fell over to Cyrus, in revenge whereof the Babylonians sallied out, and fell upon his Lands; but Cyrus set upon them, and routed them; At which time the Cadusii whom Cyrus had appointed to bring up the rear of his Army, unknown to Cyrus, set upon a Country lying neer to the City; but the King of Babylon falling out upon them, cut them all off. Yet Cyrus, quickly revenged the Death of his men; and then came to an agreement with Belshazzar, to hold truce with the Ploughmen on both sides, and the War to go on between the Souldiers onelyonly. After which, passing beyond the City, he took in three of their Forts, and so returned into the confines of Assyria, and Media; and thither, upon his invitation, came his uncle Cyaxares, and was by him honourably received; and intertained in a Pavilion, that had been the King of Assyrias: and Winter now approaching, they entred into consulatation to provide things necessary to maintain the Siege.

The only hope of Cyrus with his Medes, Cyrus besieges it.and Persians (who despaired of carrying by assault a City so well, and strongly fortified, and manned) was in cuting off all supplies of victuals, and others necessaries; Whereof, though the Town was said to be stored sufficiently for more than twenty years, yet might it well be imagined, that amongst such a World of People as dwelt within those Walls, one great want or other would soon appear amongst them, and vanquish the resolution of that unwarlike multitude. Yet in expecting that success of this course, the Besiegers were likely to endure much hardship, and travel, and that all in vain, if they did not keep strict watch, and sure guards upon all the Avenues, and Quarters of it.

Which that he might the better do, he caused presently a vast trench, both for breadth and depth to be cast round about the Walls of the City, casting the earth ever towards his own Army, and made store of Bulworks all along upon it, for his Guards to be upon: and then, dividing p. 37his whole Army into twelve parts, he ordered that each of them should Watch his MonethMonth, by turn.

And yet this was a very hard work,The Babylonlans vain Hopes. considering the vast circuit of those Walls which they were to gird in, having neither men enough, nor yet sufficiently assured to their Commander; the consideration whereof Ministred unto the Babylonians matter of good Pastime, when they saw the Lydians, Phrygians, Cappadocians, and others, quartered about their City to keep them in, who, having been their Ancient Friends, and Allies, were more like to joyn with them, if occasion were offered, than to use much diligence on the behalf of Cyrus, who had, as it were but yesterday, laid upon their necks the galling Yoke of servitude.

Whilst the Besieged were thus pleasing themselves with this foolish fansie, and vain mirth (the ordinary forerunners of sudden calamity) Cyrus, who by God that set him on work,Cyrus's stratagem. was made strong, valiant, constant, and inventive, devised, and by the labour of his men, digged so many Channels as were capable of receiving the Waters of Euphrates, and so to draw the same from the Walls of Babylon, that thereby he might make his approaches the more facile, and assured, which, when by the labour of many hands he had performed, he waited for a fi… time wherein to put in execution, what he had designed. For he had left in each of the Trenches towards the River, certain Banks, or Heads uncut till he saw his opportunity.

Now Belshazzar finding neither any want or weakness within the City,Belshazzars Feast. nor any possibility for his enemies without, to approach the Walls by reason of the great River that surrounded them, he prepared an exceeding sumptuous Feast, Publick Plays, and other Pastimes, and thereto invited a Thousand of his Princes, or Nobles, besides his Wives, Courtezans, and others of that Trade. This he did, either to let the Besiegers know that his Provisions were sufficient, not onelyonly for all needfull uses, but even for superfluity, and excess; Or p. 38because he hoped that his enemies by this time were discouraged, and even broken under their manifold disasters: Or else he made this Feast in Honour of Bell, his most adored Idol: or lastly, because it was his Birth, or Coronation Day: Or for many, or most of these respects.

Yea, he was not contented to use, and shew such Magnificence as no Prince else could Equall, but he listed up himself against the God of Heaven, Dan. 5. 23. For he, his Princes, his Wives, and his Concubines, made Carousing Cups of the Golden, and Silver Vessels which his Grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the Temple which was at Jerusalem; His Blasphemy.and in contempt of the Lord of Heaven, he praised his own Puppets made of Gold, and Silver, and Brass, and Iron, and Wood, and Stone; Whilst Belshazzar was thus tryumphing, and had his brains well filled with vapours, he beheld a hand, which by Divine power wrote upon the Wall that was opposite to him,The Writing on the Wall. certain Words which he understood not, wherewith, so great a fear, and amazement seized upon him, that the joynts of his loins were loosed,The Kings distraction and his knees smote one against another; Which Passion when he had in some measure recovered, he cryed aloud to bring in the Astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the Southsayers, promising them great rewards, and the third place of Honour in his Kingdom, to him that could read, and expound the writing: But it exceeded their Art, and Skill.

In this disturbance, The Queen comforts him.and astonishment, the Queen, hearing what had passed, came in, and observing what distraction the King was in, after Reverence done, She used this Speech; O King live for ever; Let not thy thoughts trouble thee, non let thy countenance be changed; there is a man in thy Kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the holy Gods, and in the Days of thy Father light, and understanding, and Wisdom like the Wisdom of the Gods was found in him, whom the King Nobuchadnezzar thy Father, the King I say, thy Father made Master of the Magicians, p. 39the Astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the Southsayers; For as much as an Excellent Spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, in interpreting Dreams, and shewing of hard Sentences, and dissolving of doubts were found in the same Daniel, whom the King named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the Interpretation.

This Queen was either the Grandmother, or the Mother of Belshazzar; For it appears that She was not any of the Kings Wives, because She was absent from the Feast, and in regard of her age, past-banquetting, and dancing; Yet upon the report of the Miracle, She came in to comfort, and cheer up the King; and whereas Daniel was forgotten, and neglected by others, of younger years, and latter times, this old Queen remembred well, what Daniel had done in the days of Nebuchadnezzar; Grandfather to this Belshazzar, and kept in mind, both his Religion, and Divine gifts.

When Daniel was brought into the Kings presence, Daniel brought in.he said unto him: Art thou that Daniel, which art of the Children of the Captivity of Judah; whom the King my Father brought out of Jewry? The Kings Speech to him.I have heard of thee that the Spirit of the Gods is in thee, and that light, and understanding, and excellent Wisdom is found in thee; and now the Wise men and the Astrologers have been brought in before me, that they should read, this writing, and make known to me the Interpretation thereof, but they could not do it: And I have heard of thee that thou canst make Interpretations, and dissolve doubts: Now if thou canst read the Writing, and make known to me the Interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with Scarlet, and have a chain of Godl aboue thy neck, and shalt be the third Ruler in the Kingdom.

But Daniel made answer in a far differing stile from that which he had used to his Grandfather; Daniels answer.For the evill which he had foretold to Nebuchadnezzar he wished that it might befal his enemies: But to this King (whose contempt of God and vicious life he hated, he answered in these Words; Let thy gifts be to thy self, and give thy rewards p. 40to another: Yet I will read the writing to the King, and make known to him the Interpretation: which yet before he did, he shewed him the cause of Gods judgements against him, and the reason of this terrible sentence, whereof the King and all his Wise men were utterly Ignorant, the substance whereof is this, That Belshazzar forgetting Gods goodness to his Father, whom all Nations feared, and obeyed, and yet for his Pride, and neglect of those benefits, as he had deprived him of his Estate, and understanding; so upon the acknowledgement of Gods infinite power, he restored him to both again; And thou his Son (said he) O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thy heart, though thou knewest all this, But hast lifted up thy self against the Lord of Heaven, and they have brought the Vessels of his House before thee, and thou and thy Lords, thy Wives and thy Concubines have drunk Wine in them, and thou hast praised the gods of Silver, and Gold, &c. and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not Glorified: Then was the part of the hand sent from him, and this writing was written,He reads, and Interprets the writing. Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin, Whereof this is the Interpretation: Mene, God hath numbred thy Kingdom, and finished it: Tekel, Thou art weighted in the ballanees, and art found wanting: Peres, Thy Kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes, and Persians.

The very evening or Night of this Day, wherein Belshazzar thus Feasted, and wherein these things were done, Cyrus, either by his Espeials, or being inspired by God himself, whose Ensign he followed in these Wars, finding the time, and opportunity fit for him, even whilst the Kings Head,Cyrus drains Euphrates. and the Heads of his Nobility, were no less distempered with the vapours of Wine, than their hearts were with the fear of Gods Judgements, he caused all the Banks, and Heads of his Trenches, to be opened, and cut down with all speed, and diligence, whereby that great River Euphrates was quickly drawn dry, and himself with his Army passing through the Channell which was p. 41now dry, without any opposition, they easily made their entrance into the City, finding none to disturb them; Invadunt urbem somno, Vino que sepultam: All the Town lay buried in Wine and Sleep;Babylon taken. and such as came in the Persians way, were put to the Sword unless they saved themselves by flight, as some did, who ran away crying, and filled the Streets with an uncertain tumult.

Such of the Assyrian Lords as had formerly revolted from Belshazzar to Cyrus, did now conduct a Selected company to the Kings Pallace, which being easily forced by them, they rushed strait into the Chamber where the King and his Princes were Banquetting, Belshazzar slain.and there slew both him and them without mercy, who strove in vain to keep those lives, which God had newly threatened to take away. Now was that prophesie fulfilled, Jer. 51. 30, 31, 32. The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight;Prophesies fulfilled. they have remained in their Holds; their might hath failed; they became as women; they have burnt their dwelling places; Her barrs are broken. One Post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the King of Babylon that his City is taken at one end. And that the passages are stopped (viz. of the River Euphrates) and the Reeds they have burnt with fire, and the men of War are affrighted; The Prophet Isay also, two hundred years before this subversion of Babylon, in his forty seventh Chapter, and elsewhere, describeth this destruction so feelingly, and lively, as if he had been present, both at the terrible slaughter there committed, and had seen the great and unseared change, and calamity of this great Empire; Yea, and had also heard the sorrows and bewallings of every surviving Soul, thereunto subject; which Prophesie he begins with these words; Come down and sit in the dust, O Virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the Ground; there is no Throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: For thou shalt no more be called tender, and delicate, &c. And though it cannot be p. 42doubted that God used Nebuchadnezzar, and the Chaldeans as his Instruments to punish the Idolatry, and wickedness of the Jews, yet did he not forget that in the Execution of Gods Judgements, they had used much rigour, and extremity; as we see Isay 47. 6. I was wroth with my People; I have polluted mine Inheritance, and given them into thine hand; Thou didst shew them no mercy; VponUpon the Ancient hast thou very heavily laid the Yoke; and again, I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of Hosts, and will cut off from Babel the Name, and the remnant, and the Son, and the Nephew: Meaning Evilmerodach, and Belshazzar. And again, Isay 13. 15, &c. Every one that is found shall be thrust thorow; and every one that is joyned to them shall be slain with the Sword; their Children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes, their Houses shall be spoiled, and their Wives ravished. Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard Silver, and as for Gold, they shall not delight in it; their Bowes also shall d…sh the young men to pieces, and they shall have no pitty on the fruit of the Womb; their eye shall not spare children. And Babylon, the Glory of Kingdoms, and beauty of the Chaldees excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom, and Gomorrah, &c. Read also Chapter fourteenth. No Historian that was either present at this Victory of Cyrus, or that received the report from others truly as it was, could better describe, and leave the same to posterity after it was acted, than Isay hath done in many parts of his Prophesie, which were written two hundred years before any of these things were attempted.

The Greatness,The greatness of Babylon. and Magnificence of Babylon, were it not by divers grave Authours recorded, might seem altogether Fabulous; For it is reported for truth, that one part of the City knew not that the other was taken three days after; which is not impossible if we consider the vast Circumference of it. Diodorus Siculus saith, that it was in compass three hundred, and sixty Furlongs, which make forty five Miles. The Walls were so thick that p. 43six Chariots might pass in front thereon, and they were three hundred sixty and five Foot high, and were adorned, and beautified with one hundred and fifty Towers. Strabo gives a greater circuit, adding twenty five Forlongs more to the former compass, reckoning it at three hundred eighty five Furlongs, which makes forty eight Miles and one Furlong. Herodotus finds the compass yet to be greater, namely four hundred and eightty Furlongs in circuit; the thickness of the Wall he measures at fifty Cubits, and the height at two hundred of the same Regall Cubits. For entrance, it had a hundred Gates of Brass, with Posts, and Hooks to hang them on of the same Mettall; and therefore did the Prophet Isay rightly intitle Babylon, The Princess, and Glory of Kingdoms, Isay 47. 5. & 13. 19.

But when Cyrus had won her, he stript her out of her Princely Robes,Babylons miserable Captivity. and made her a slave, dividing, not onelyonly her goodly Houses, and her whole Territory, with all the Riches therein contained, amongst his Souldiers; but also bestowed the Inhabitants themselves as Bondslaves, upon those that had taken possession of their goods.

Cyrus having obtained this great, and Signall Victory, the glory of which was a reward for his service done for him who was the Authour of it, and of all goodness, and thereby translated the Empire of the Chaldeans to himself,Cyrus releases the Jews. according to the Prophesies which went afore of him; in this first year of his Empire, he made a Decree that the Captive Jews should return again into their own Country of Judea, and that they should build again the House of God in Jerusalem, having now endured, and finished the seventy years Captivity foretold by the Prophet Jeremy. The tenour of which Decree was thus,

Thus saith Cyrus King of Persin; His Decree for it.The Lord God of Heaven hath given me all the Kingdoms of the Earth, and hath charged me to build him an House at Jerusalem which is p. 44in Judah, Who is there among you of all his People? Let his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the House of the Lord God of Israel (He is God) which is at Jerusalem: And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with Silver, and with Gold, and with goods, and with Beasts, besides the free-will Offering for the House of God that is in Jerusalem, Ezra 1, 2, 3, 4. He also brought forth and restored the Vessels of the House of the Lord which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of the Temple at Jerusalem, and had put them into the House of his gods; These were brought forth and numbred unto Sheshbazzar the Prince of Judah;Or Zorobabel. and this is the number of them; Thirty Charges of Gold, a thousand Chargers of Silver, He restores the vessels of the Temple.nine and twenty Knives, thirty Basins of Gold, Silver Basins of a second sort four hundred and ten, and of other vessels a thousand; All the vessels of Gold and Silver were five thousand and four hundred.

The number of Jews that then returned out of Chaldea, The Jews come to Jerusalem.under their Leader Zorobabel, the Son of Salathiel, and Nephew to King Jeconias, and Joshua the Son of Josedech, the High Priest, were about fifty thousand: And as soon as they arrived at Jerusalem, they built an Altar to the living God, and sacrificed thereon according to their Law, and afterwards bethought themselves how to prepare materials for the building of the Temple.

Cyrus having set all things in order at Babylon, returned, through Media, into Persia, to his Father Cambyses, and his Mother Mandanes, who were yet living; and from thence returning again into Media, His Marriage.he married the only Daughter and Heir of Cyaxares, and for Dowry, had the whole Kingdom of Media given him with her; And when the Marriage was finished, he presently went his way, and took her with him; and coming to Babylon, from thence he sent Governours into all his Dominions;His Governours. Into Arabia he sent Megabyzus; into Phrygia the greater, Artacaman; into Lydia, and Jonia, Chrysantas; into Caria, Adusius; into p. 45Phrygia Helle spontiaca, or the less, Pharmichas; But into Cilicia, & Cyprus, & Paphlagonia, he sent no Persians to Govern them, because they voluntarily, and of their own accord took his part against the King of Babylon; yet he caused, even them also to pay him Tribute.

Cyrus having spent one whole year with his Wife in Babylon, His great Army, & Victories.gathered thither his whole Army, consisting of one hundred and twenty Thousand Horse, and two Thousand Iron Chariots, and six hundred Thousand Footmen, and having furnished himself with all necessary provisions, he undertook that journey wherein he subdued all the Nations inhabiting from Syria to the Red Sea.

The time that Cyrus enjoyed in rest and pleasure after these great Victories,Cyrus his Civil Government. and the attainment of his Empire, is generally agreed upon by all Chronologers to have lasted only seven years; In which time he made such Laws and Constitutions as differ little from the Ordinances of all wife Kings that are desirous to establish a Royal power to themselves and their Posterity, which are recorded by Xenophon.

The last War,His last Wars. and the end of this Great King Cyrus is diversly written by Historians: Herodotus, and Justine say: That after these Conquests, Cyrus invaded the Massagets, a very Warlike Nation of the Scythians, Governed by Tomyris, their Queen: and that in an encounter between the Persians, and these Northern Nomades, Tomyris lost her Army, together with her Son Spa…gapises that was the Generall of it. In revenge whereof this Queen making new levies of men of War, and prosecuting the War against Cyrus, in a second sore Battel, the Persians were beaten, and Cyrus was taken Prisoner, and that Tomyris cut off his Head from his Body, and threw it into a Bowle of blood, using these words, Thou that hast all thy time thirsted for blood, now drink thy fill, and satiate thy self with it. This War which Metasthenes calls Tomyrique, lasted about six years.

p. 46But more probably this Scythian War was that which is mentioned before, which Cyrus made against the Scythians after the Conquest of Lydia, according to Ctesias, who calleth Tomyris, Sparetha, and makes the end of it otherwise, as you may see before.

The same Ctesias also recordeth, that the last War which Cyrus made was against Amarhaus, King of the Derbitians, another Nation of the Scythians, whom, though he overcame in Battel, yet there he received a wound whereof he died three days after.His Death.

Strabo also affirmeth, that he was buried in his own City of Pasagardes, which himself had built, and where his Epitaph was to be read in Strabo's time; which he saith was this,

O, His Epitaph.vir, quicun que es, & undecun que advenis, ne que enim te adventurum ignoravi: Ego sum Cyrus, qui Persis Imperium constitui; pusillum hoc Terrae, quo meum tegitur Corpus, mihi ne invideas. O thou man, whosoever thou art, and whensoever thou comest, for I was not ignorant that thou shouldst come: I am Cyrus that founded the Persian Empire: Do not envy unto me this little Earth with which my Body is covered.

When Alexander the Great returned from his Indian Conquests, he visited Pasagardes, and caused this Tomb of Cyrus to be opened,Alexander opens his Sepulchre And honours his Tomb. either upon hope of great Treasure, supposed to have been buried with him, or upon a desire to honour his dead Body with certain Ceremonies; when the Sepulchre was opened, there was found nothing in it, save an old rotten Target, two Scythian Bows, and a Sword. The Coffin wherein his Body lay, Alexander caused to be covered with his own Garment, and a Crown of Gold to be set upon it.

Cyrus finding in himself that he could not long enjoy the World, he called unto him his Nobility, with his two Sons,Cyrus his last words. Cambyses, and Smerdis, and after a long Oration, wherein he assured himself, and taught others, about the immortality of the Soul, and of the p. 47punishments and rewards following the ill, and good deservings of every man in this life; He exhorted his Sons, by the strongest Arguments he had, to a perpetuall Concord and agreement. Many other things he uttered, which makes it probable, that he received the knowledge of the true God from Daniel, whilst he Governed Susa in Persia; and that Cyrus himself had read the Prophesie of Isay, wherein he was expresly named, and by God preordained for the delivery of his People out of Captivity; which act of delivering the Jews, and of restoring of the holy Temple, and the City of Jerusalem, was in true consideration the Noblest-work that ever Cyrus performed. For in other actions he was an Instrument of Gods Power, used for the chastising of many Nations, and the establishing of a Government in those parts of the world, which yet was not to continue long: But herein he had the favour to be an Instrument of Gods goodness, and a willing advancer of his Kingdom upon earth, which must last for ever.

Cyrus had Issue two Sons,His Issue. Cambyses, and Smerdis, and three Daughters, Atossa, Meroe, and Artistoua. At his Death he bequeathed his Empire to his Eldest Son Cambyses, appointing Smerdis, his younger Son, to be Satrapa, or Leiutenant of Media, Armenia, and Cadusia. He reigned about one and thirty years, and died aged.

The Greek Historians wholly ascribe the Conquest of Babylon to Cyrus, because that he commanded the Army in Chief; yet the Scriptures attribute it to Darius, King of the Medes, whose General Cyrus was: For when Babylon was taken, and Belshazzar slain; Its said, Dan. 5. 31. that Darius the Median took the Kingdom, being about sixty two years old. It was Darius also that placed Officers over the severall Provinces thereof, as we read, Dan. 6. 1, 2. It pleased Darius to set over the Kingdom a hundred and twenty Princes, which should be over the whole Kingdom, and over these, three Presidents, of whom Daniel was the first, &c. And thus p. 48was it Prophesied by Isay long before; Behold! I will stir up the Medes against them, &c. and by the Prophet Jeremy; The Lord hath raised up the Spirit of the King of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, &c. Jer. 55. 11. And again, verse 28. Prepare against her the Nations, with the Kings of the Medes, the Captains thereof, and all the Rulers thereof, and all the Land of his Dominion.

But certain it is that the Honour of that great Victory over Babylon was wholly given to Cyrus, who was the Instrument preordained, and forenamed by God himself: not onelyonly for this Action; but also for the delivery of his Church: Yet Daniel makes it plain, that himself: not onelyonly lived a great Officer under King Darius, but that he continued in that estate to the first year of Cyrus, which was not long after, which also was the year of Daniels Death.

As for the age of Cyrus we are beholding to Tully for it; who in his first Book de Divinatione, Cites it out of one Dionysius, a Persian Writer, in this manner. The Sun (saith Dionysius) appeared unto Cyrus in his sleep, standing at his feet, which, when Cyrus thrice endeavoured to take in his hands, the Sun still turned aside, and went away: and the Magi, who were the most learned men amongst the Persians, said that by his thrice offering to take hold of the Sun, was portended to him that he should raign thirty years;His Age. which came to pass accordingly: For he lived to the Age of seventy years, and began not to raign till he was forty.

In the first year of Belshazzar, Some usefull Observations.Daniel had the Vision shewed him of the four Beasts, signifying the four Monarchies; and of God delivering over all power, and Sovereignty to the Son of man, Dan. 7.

In the third year of Belshazzar, the Vision of the Ram, and Goat, foreshewing the destruction of the Persian Monarchy by Alexander the Great, and the great misery which Antiochus should bring upon the People of God was shewed to Daniel, living then at p. 49Susa, in the Province of Elam, upon the bank of the River Vlai, which environed the Castle of Susa, and parted the Provinces of Susa, and Elemais, Dan. 8. whence we may collect, that at that time the Province of Susa was not in the hands of the Medes and Persians, but of the Babylonians, under whom Daniel then lived.

Darius the Mede, son of Cyaxares, or Ahasuerus the Son of Adyages, took upon him the Kingdom, which was delivered over to him by Cyrus, the Conquerer, Dan. 5. 31. & 9. 1. The Angel, in this first year of his Raign, is said to have confirmed, and strengthened him in his Kingdom, Dan. 11. 1. After which he raigned two years.

Towards the end of the first year of Darius the Mede, the seventy years of the Babylonish Captivity expired, which began under Jehoiakim, in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar, at which time God promised that they should return into their own Country, Jer. 29. 10. Thus saith the Lord, that after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good Word towards you, in causing you to return to this place. Upon consideration of which very time, now so neer approaching, it was, that Daniel powred out that most fervent Prayer for the Remission of his own sins, and of his Peoples; and for that promised deliverance out of their Captivity: Whereupon the Angel Gabriel brought him an answer, not onelyonly concerning this, but also for the spiritual deliverance of the Church to be wrought at last by the Death of the Messias, uttering that most famous, and memorable Prophesie of the seventy Weeks, Dan. 9. 12, &c.

The Samaritans, by the means of some Courtiers about Cyrus, whom they had bribed for that purpose, distributed the Jews in their building of the Temple, Ezra 4. 5. Whence proceeded that three weeks mourning of the Prophet Daniel, which Fast he begun about the third Day of the first MonethMonth, in the third year of Cyrus, p. 50Dan. 10. 1. 4. After which, upon the four and twentieth Day of the first MonethMonth, that vision of the Kings of Persia; of Alexander the Great, and his Successours, and their Kingdoms, was shewed and revealed unto Daniel, as he stood upon the bank of Hiddikel, or Tygris; All which is contained in the three last Chapters of Daniel; which (as may be collected out of the close thereof) was the last Vision that ever he had, and that but a little before his Death.

FINIS.