The Annals of the World, History 1 · Age of the world 6 (9 of 18)

The Annals of the World · History 1 · Age of the world 6 (9 of 18)

p. 229For the re-embursement of those great summes bestowed on the souldiers so dismissed, Alexander was fain, for all his haste made in the pursuite of Darius, to levy a vast quantity of monies in the way as he went: of which Diodorus speaking, saith. That he received of Darius his treasurers, 8 thousand talents, over and above that which they of themselves bestowed among his souldiers, with cups, and other rewards which amounted to 13 thousand talents: and yet that which they either stole, or wrung out of mens hands perforce, was reckoned to a great deale more: so saith Diodorus, [pag. 547. in the Greek and Latin Edition] wherewith that of Curtius very well agreeth, [lib. 6. cap. 2.] where he saith; That in the next spoile which he made, he raised 26 thousand talents: out of which 12 (Justin hath it 13. lib. 12. cap. 1.) talents were spent in one largesse which he bestowed among his souldiers: and his Exchequer-men cousened him of so much more. But we read in Arrianus, [page 67.] That now he gave in charge to Parmenion, that he should take all the monies which were brought him out of Persia, and lay them up in Ecbatane, under the keeping of Harpalus, with a guard of 6000 Macedons, and some Horse of his confederates. Now this money so brought, and laid up in Ecbatane, some reckon to have amounted to 180 thousand talents, [Strabo, lib. 15. pag. 731.] among which Diodorus is one, who saith also, that Parmenion had the charge of all that treasure, [page 552.] Justin also, [lib. 12. cap. 1.] saith, that that treasure amounted to 190 thousand talents, and that Parmenion had the keeping of it: wherein they both speak righter, in making Parmenion the keeper of it, than Arrianus doth in naming Harpalus to that office, whom we shewed before, to have been left at Babylon, to gather up the tribute and other duties of the King in those parts.

But here Arrianus tells us, that Alexander sent away Parmenion with certain Brigadaes of forreigners, and Thracian Horse and others, all, save onelyonly the Troup of his own fellow Cavaleers, to march thorough the country of the Cadusians into Hircania; and that he wrote also to Clitus, Captain of the Kings Troup, that so soon as he came from Susa to Ecbatane, (for he was left behind sick at Susa) he should take such Horse as were there left to guard the monies, and to march away into Parthia, and to meet him there.

Alexander, taking with him the Troup of his fellow Cavaleers, and vant courriers, and mercenaries led by Erigyius, and the Macedonian squadron (saving those which were left at Ecbatane to guard the monies) and the Agrians and archers, went after Darius: And because he made over great haste in his march, it therefore happened that many of his company Men and Horse tired out, and not able to follow, fainted on the way, and perished; Yet Alexander would on, and upon the eleventh day came to Rages, [Arria. lib. 3.] having in those eleven dayes, gone 3300 furlongs. In which long journey, the Horse, though in many places they wanted water, followed him very chearfully; yet so, as that of that company which set out with him from Ecbatane, there came but 60 with him to his journeyes end, [Plut. in Alex.]

p. 230This City of Rages (mentioned Tobit. 1. v. 14. and 4. v. 1.) is but one dayes journey from the Caspian gates, or streights, to a man that would ride Alexanders pace; But Darius was already passed them; and many of those which set out with him were, in his journey slipt away from him, and gone every man to his own home: and many of them also rendred themselves to Alexander upon the way, [Arria. ibid.]

Alexander, growing out of all hopes of overtaking Darius, rested him there right, five dayes; and having refresht his army, made Oxydates a Persian born governour of Media, whom formerly Darius had committed to prison in Susa, purposing to have had his head, [Id. ib. with Curt. lib. 6. cap. 2.]

From hence Alexander went with his army into Parthia: and the first day he encamped near the Caspian gates: but the next day he entered the gates or streits themselves, and passing thorough them, came into places, well inhabited. And when he had given order for provisions to be brought into him, (for he was informed that he was to go thorough countries, where no such provision was to be had) he sent Coenus with the horse and some few companies of foot abroad to forrage, [Arria. ib.]

Mean while Bagisthenes a great man in Babylon, came out of Darius his Camp to him; by whom he understood for certain, that Darius was not yet laid hold on, but was in great danger, either of death or bonds, [Id. Ibid. Curtius lib. 5. cap. 24.]

Alexander hereupon made the more hast after him: and therefore not staying for Coenus his return from forraging, took along with him his felfow Cavaleers, and his vant Couriers, and the Mercenary horse, led by Erigyius, and the Macedon batalion (saving such as were left to guard his treasure) with the Agrians and Archers, and leaving Craterus to command the rest, willed him to come after, by more easie journies. Traveling therefore all that night, and the next day till noon, he rested him for a while; and then travelling all night again, early next morning came to that Camp of Darius, from whence Bagisthenes came unto him: and thence again setting forward, and riding all that night, and the next day till noon, he came to a certain village, where they who had the charge of keeping Darius lay the day before, as Arrianus sayes, or as Curtius hath it, where Bessus laid first hold on him.

Having now rode 500 furlongs, from the place where Bagisthenes first came unto him, he lighted upon one Melon, who was Darius his interpreter. He not able thorough weaknesse to follow Darius any further, and seeing Alexander came on so fast, made as if he had fled over to him from Darius, for fear he should else be taken for an enemy: by him Alexander understood the truth of matters, how they went. But weary his men were, and rest they must: but himself making choice of six thousand horse; he took again out of them 3 hundred Dimachs, (who what they were, you may learn out of Pollux and Hesychius) These ware havy Corselets on their backs, yet rode on horseback: but if need were, alighted, and served on foot, so sayes Curtius: but Arrianus [lib. 3. cap. 68.] thus, when he saw, that the foot could not possibly keep pace with him, running thus on horse-back, he made about 500, of the horse-men alight, and commanded the Captains, and prime men of the foot companies, all armed as they were, to get upon them. To Nicanor, who commanded the Targateers, and Attalus Colonel of the Squadron of Agrians, he gave in charge, to follow on the way, that Bessus was gone with his men, with those, who were lightest armed: and the rest, he commanded to come after in a square batalion.

Whiles Alexander was thus busie in giving orders, Orcillus and Mithracenes came unto him; who in detestation of Bessus his fowle act, fled over to him, and told him that the Persians were not above 500 furlongs off: and that they could bring him to them, a nearer way. Taking them therefore for his guides, he set out with the first of the evening with a select company of horse, and went the way they led him, commanding the Macedonian Phalanx or Squadron to follow him, as fast as possibly they could; and now he had gone 300 furlongs, when one Brocubelus (called by Arrianus pag. 67. Antibelus) the son of Mazeus, sometimes governour of Syria under Darius, met him, and as one flying over to him, informed him, that Bessus was not above 200 furlongs before him, and that his army doubting of no danger near, marched they cared not how, and out of all order, that they were bound, as it seemed, for Hircania, if he made hast, he might fall upon them, all stragling from their colours, [Curt. lib. 5. cap. 24.]

Bessus and his consorts, finding Alexander to be now upon the back of them, went to Darius, where he was in his poor tilted cart, and desired him to get to horse, and save himself by flight: which when he refused to do, Satibarzenes and Barsaentes, threw each of them his dart at him, and having wounded him in sundry parts, left him: they also houghed the horses that drew him, that they might go no further, and killed his two seravnts that still attended on him, [Curt. lib. 5. cap. 25. with Arria. pag. 69. lib. 3.] onelyonly his dog kept with him, [Elia. Histor. animal. lib. 6. cap. 25.]

p. 231This done, Satibarzanes and Barzaentes, with 600 horse, fled away as fast as possibly they could, [Arrian. pag. 69.] And that they might not be pursued upon one and the same track, Nabarzanes fled into Hircania, Bessus into Bactria: The rest, having lost their Captains, dispersed themselves, some here, some there: onelyonly five hundred of the horse, kept in a bodie, uncertain what to doe, fight or flee, [Curtius, ut supra.]

Alexander, seeing in what confusion the enemy was, sent Nicanorto bid them stay: himself followed after; and having slain about 3 thousand of them that would not yeild, drove the rest before him like so many cattle, without hurting them, and gave the word, to kill no more; and hasted forward so speedily, that scantly 3 thousand horse followed him. But all the companies of the enemy that fled, fell into their hands, that came after him; so that the number of prisoners, was greater than of those that took them: and so far had fear bereft them of their senses, that they never perceived or considered, either how many themselves, or how few their enemies were, [Id. Ibid.]

Mean while the horses which drew Darius his cart, having none to drive them, straied out of the rode way: and having gone some 4 furlongs, stood still in a certain valley, fainting, what with the heat of the wether, what with the hurts they had received; There was not far off a fountain of water; which one Polystratus a Macedonian born, having learnt out by the country people, all tired out with heat and wounds as he was, went to quench his thirst at. And as he was taking up water in his head-peece, he spied the darts which stuck in the bodies of the horses, that were in the cart, [Id. Ibid.] and coming nearer, he saw Darius lying in the cart; grievously wounded, but not quite dead: And Darius calling to him for a litle water, and hauing drunk it off, desired him to carry his thanks to Alaxander for the favour which he had shewed, to his mother; and to his wife and children; craving of him, nothing but an honest burial for himself; and as for revenge, it concerned not him, so much as it did Alexander himself, and the common right of Kings; which to neglect, might prove, not onelyonly dishonourable, but also dangerous unto him; the one concerning him in point of justice, the other, of profit and safety to his person: in token whereof, he gave him, he said, his right hand, to carry to Alexander; and so giving his hand to Polystratus, he gave up the ghost, [Just. l. 11. c. 15, with Plut. in Alex.]

And thus ended Darius his dayes, in the year when Aristophontus, was L. Chancelor in Athens, in the monethmonth Hecatombaeon: when he had lived about 50 years, [Arri. lib. 3. pag. 69.] and had reigned 6 years, in the year from the death of Cyrus, who set up the Persian Empire, 200. in the very beginning of the 3 year of the 112 Olympiade: From whence also Calippus (a man renowned by Aristotle, who was at that time grown famous in his schoole at Athens, lib. 12. of his Metaphisicks,) began his Periodus, or account of 76 years: as we find by divers Astronomical observations of Ptolomei, in his great Syntaxis, thereunto applied; for though Strabo, [lib. 6.] saith, that Darius lost his Empire at the battle of Gaugamela, fought nine years before, and justin, in his eleventh book, affirmes, that then Alexander took the Empire of Asia out of his hand, yet since it appeareth, that Darius being murthered by his kinsfolks, lost both life and kingdom all at once, as Justin in the end of his 10 book speaketh; we can no longer doubt but that Calippus, in memorial of Alexanders Empire, or Monarchy of Asia, made this the terme or Epocha of his Periodus, or calculation of years.

Now to this Monarchie of Alexander, Isidore and Beda out of Eusebius his Chronicle, allow but five years onelyonly; Jul. Africa. six, and the Chronologer, which wrote in the time of Alexander Severus, seven, [Tome 2. Antiquar. Lectio. Hen. Cavisis, p. 600.] Strabo in the end of his 15 book, ten or eleven. Nicephorus Constantinopolitanus in his Chronicle, twelve, and Clemens Alexandrinus, [lib. 1. Stromat.] furthest of all others from the mark, eighteene: since it is most manifest, that from the monethmonth Hecatombaeon, wherein Darius died, when Aristophontes was L. Chancelor at Athens, to the monethmonth Thargelion, wherein Alexander departed this life, as we shall shew anon, and when Hegesias was L. Chanclor there, there passed only six years, and ten moneths, in which small space of time, he did such, so many, and so great feats of armes in the east, that he may well be said to have flowen, rather than to have marched over all those regions; whence it is, that in Daniel [c. 8. v. 1.] he is described under the type and figure of a Goate coming from the west, over the face of the whole earth, and never so much as touching the ground, and [c. 7. v. 6.] to a winged Pard, a beast, as Hierome upon that place noteth, of all others, the swiftest and foreign, (i. e.) impetuous: for as he there addeth, nothing was so soon dispatcht, as that conquest of his, who from the gulph of Venice, and the Adriatic sea, to the very Indian Ocean, and the river ganges, ran through all, not so much with battle, as with victorie: now what he did after the death of Darius, is all delivered by Diodorus, in the second part of his 17 book: by Justin, [lib. 12.] by Curtius, in the five last books of his History: by Plutarch in his life: and by Arrianus in his 3 book, and the foure following: out of p. 232all which I have thought good here to insert the order of his gifts, as followeth.

Darius was no sooner dead, but Alexander taking his horse with him, came to the place where he lay, and seeing the dead body of him, wept to see so unworthy a death befallen so high a person; and took his own coat, and cast it over him, and forthwith sent him to his mother, to be buried in a royal manner, with the kings of Persia: he took also his brother Oxathres into the number of his friends and nobles; using him with all honour belonging to his high place and parentage; and presently set himself to pursue Bessus: but for as much as he was gotten an infinire way before him into Bactria, seeing he could not for the present reach him, he came back again.

Whiles he remained at Hecatompulis which was a City in Parthiene, built in former ages by the Grecians, and had there gotten good store of provisions together; there grew a noise which went thorough all the army, as they lay idle in their quarters, that they should all forthwith return into Greece. Alexander, when he had allayed this rumor, and they all bad him lead them whither he would, and they would follow him; after 3 dayes march thorough the country of Parthiene, came into the borders of Hircania, which Nabarzanes had seized on: and there leaving Craterus with such as he commanded, and, out of Amyntas his Brigade, six hundred Horse, and as many Archers, to keep Parthiene safe from the incursion of the bordering Nations. He commanded Erigyius to look to the carriages, and to follow him thorough the champion country with a considerable company to guard them. Himself, taking with him his …argateers, and the best of the Macedonian squadron, and some archers, and, having with them marched one hundred furlongs, encamped in a plain near to a small river.

He had now refreshed his army there four dayes, when letters came to him from Nabarzanes, who, together with Bessus, had murdered Darius; by which he rendred himself unto him: from hence Alexander removed 20 furlongs onward, thorough an almost impassable way; yet having no enemy to oppose him, he gat thorough: and having proceeded some 30 furlongs further, Phradapharnes Governour of Hercania, and Parthiaboth, met him, and surrendred to him, himself, and all those, who after Darius his death, had fled unto him; all whom he graciously received, and then came to a Town called Arvas. Here Craterus came unto him, who had taken in all the countries which he had passed thorough by fair means or foul. Erigyius also with the carriages, came to him at the same place. He brought with him to his presence Phradates, al. Autophradates, Governour of the country of the Tapurins; and him Alexander restored, and sent him back to his Government again.

When Alexander was now come to the first borders of Hircania, Artabazus the Persian, who was an old guest of Philips, what time he was banished by Ochus, and had ever continued most loyal to Darius, and was now 95 years of age, came unto him with Cophenes, and eight other sons of his, borne all of the same mother, being the sister of Mentor and Memnon; and Alexander received them all most graciously; Ariobarzanes also and Arsames, Governours formerly of Darius his appointment, came in and submitted to him.

Alexander invaded now the country of the Mardians, bordering upon Hircania; which possessing themselves of the passages in the mountains, met him there with an army of 8000 men. These set upon, and slew many of them: took more of them prisoners, and made the rest flee into the craggy mountains. Whereupon, at length they sent him home his horse Bucephalus, which they had taken, and craved his pardon, by 50 Ambassadors which they sent unto him. And Alexander, taking hostages of them, made Autophrodates Governour over them, as he had over the Tapurins.

From thence he returned in five dayes to the place from whence he set forth against the Mardians, and thither came to him Andronicus the son of Agerrus, and Artabazus, and by his command, brought with them, 1500 Greeks, who had been in pay with Darius in his life time, and 90 Ambassadors, which had from sundry nations been sent unto Darius. Alexander committed the four Lacedemonian Ambassadors, and Dropis the Athenian to prison: As for Democrates the other Athenian Ambassador, because he had ever opposed the Macedonian faction, and therefore despaired of all pardon from Alexander, he slew himself. The Ambassadors from Sinope, and Hecraclides, who were sent from Carthage, and other Ambassadors out of Greece, he set all at liberty: he gave the command of such Grecians as stayed in his service unto Andronicus: But Artabazus, having heaped double the honours upon him, of whatever he held under Darius, he sent away to his own home.

Having thus ordered these things, he marched against the greatest City of all Hircania, called Zeudracarta, al. Zadracarta, and there stayed 15 dayes. Here Nabarzanes came unto him, bringing with him infinite presents; among which, one was p. 233Bagoas, an Eunuch of a rare beauty; who was afterward in great esteem, and could do all in all with Alexander himself.

Here Thalestris, al. Minithaea, Queen of the Amazons, lying between the two rivers, Phasis and Themodoon, is said to have come unto him, with 3 hundred Ladies, leaving the rest of her army upon the borders of Hircania, of purpose to be with child by him; and upon that errand, stayed with him 13 dayes. Curtius in this place contrary to the stream of all Geographers, would needs place these Amazons, upon the borders of Hircania, [lib. 6. cap. 10.] whereas Justin sayes, they bordered upon the Albania, [lib. 42. cap. 3.] Clitarchus saith, that Thalestris came from the Caspian Gates, and the river Thermodoon to Alexander: and that she came 25. al. 35. dayes journey to him, thorough I know not how many several nations, [lib. 12. cap. 3.] which way could not be of lesse than 6 thousand furlongs, [Strabo lib. 11.] This coming of hers to Alexander is reported by Polycrates, Onesicritus, Antigenes, Hister, and sundry others. But Aristobulus Chares foreign, (i. e.) the Reporter, Ptolomeus Lagi, Anticlides, Philo Thebanus, Philippus, foreign, (i. e.) the Reporter, Hecateus Eretriensis, Philippus Chalcidensis, and Duris Samius, say all, that it is naught else but a meer fable: to which Alexander himself seems to Agree, who in his Commentaries, writing therein all things exactly to Antigonus, saith indeed, that a certain Scythian offered him his daughter to wife; but of an Amazon not a word. It is reported also, that Onesisieritus, many years after reading his fourth book, to Lysimachus then reigning, mentioned, something of an Amazon, that came to Alexander, whereat he smiled; and I pray Sir, said he, where was I the while? [Plut. in Alex. see Strabo, lib. 11. p, 505. and Arria. lib. 1. pag. 155, 156.]

Alexander, returning into Parthiene, gave over himself there, to all kind of Persian pride and luxury, he commanded also his nobles to take and wear the long Persian robe, of cloth of gold and scarlet, and if any of the common souldiers had a mind to a Persian wench, he suffered him to marry her.

Bessus, wearing now his turbant upright and pointed, and other regal attire, took upon him the title of Artaxerxes, and king of Asia; and gathered into a body all those Persians which were fled into Bactria, and the Bactrians themselves, and his confederates the Scythians, and others inhabiting as far as the bank of the river Tanais, purposing with them to make a war upon Alexander.

Alexander, on the other side, made Amminapes a Parthian born, Governour of Parthia and Hircania under him, for that he with Mazeus, al. Mezaces, had delivered up Egypt formerly into his hands, yet joyned with him, in that charge. Tlepolemus, one of his Nobles, [Arrian. lib. 3. pag. 69,] though Curtius saies, that he made Menatis (for so he shortly calls Amminapes) governour of Hircania, who, being heretofore banished by Ochus, had fled for refuge to his father Philip, [lib. 6. cap. 8.] Justin sayes, that, having subdued Parthia, he made a certain Noble man of Persia, called Andragoras, Governour thereof: from whom the kings of Parthia, that afterward were, lineally came, seeing that his name, who was afterward put down by Arsaces the setter up, and founder of the Parthian kingdom, was also called Andragoras, [Justin. lib. 41. cap. 4.]

Alexander, after this, came to Susia, a city of the Arians, and thither came to him Satibarzanes, governour of the Arians, and to him he restored his government to hold it under him; but joyned Anaxippus, one of his own Nobles to hold it with him, giving him 40 javeliners on horse-back to attend him, to dispose of in places where he thought fit to keep the Arians from being plundered or otherwise wronged by the army, as it passed by.

Alexander, being now ready to march against Bessus, when he saw that his army, loaden with the spoile, and furniture of luxury which they had gotten, was scantly able to stir under it, he commanded first his own, then the stuff and carriages, saving onelyonly what was meerly necessary for their present use, to be set on fire.

Nicanor, the son of Parmenion, Captain of the Argyraspides, (i. e.) of the silver shields, or Targateers, died suddenly, and was much lamented by all, especially by the King himself, who would fain have staied to be present at his funeral: but want to provisions in that place would not suffer him; wherefore leaving there his brother Philotas with 2600 men to perform his obsequies, he went on his journey, in pursute of Bessus.

Satibarzanes, to whom Alexander had restored his government over the Arians, as was laid before, having murdered Anaxippus, with his 40 javeliners on horse-back, gathered all the power he could to the chief city of the Arians, called Chortacana, al. Artacoana, and from thence hearing that Alexander came on, he purposed to go and joyn himsef with Bessus, as in a common war against the Macedons.

p. 234Alexander, hearing hereof, brake off his journey into Bactra, and having marched 600 furlongs in two dayes, came to Artacoana; whereupon Satibarzanes with 2000 Horse (for he could make no more at that present) fled away into Bactria to Bessus: the rest gat them away all to the mountains. And the King having pursued Satibarzanes a great while, but not able to overtake him, fell upon those who were got into the mountains and took the craggy rocks, whereinto 13 thousand of the Arians, all armed, had retired themselves, and so returned to Artacoana; which …was in the mean time besieged by Craterus: and he having prepared all things ready for an assault, stayed onelyonly for the return of Alexander: that the honour thereof, as reason was, might be his; as Joab did to David, [2 Sam. c. 12. v. 27, 28.] But the King, when he came and found them ready to implore his mercy, did not onelyonly pardon them, and raise his siege, but also restored to every man his own again: and having within 30 dayes taken in all the places of that country, made Arsaces their Governour, and so departed.

Then came fresh supplies unto him: Zoilus brought him 500 Horse out of Greece, Antipater sent him 3 thousand souldiers out of Illyrium; Philip the son of Menelaus, brought him certain mercenary Horse out of Media, with 130 of those Thessalians, who when they were all dismissed from Ecbatane to return into their own country, would not go, but continued still in the Kings pay. Out of Lydia also, came to him 2600 Foot, with 300 Horse, commanded, as Arrianus seems to say, by one Andromachus.

Having thusencreased his number, he came to the Drangeans (whom Arrianus calls Zarangeans) whose Governour was Barzaentes, one of those, who with Bessus and Nabarzanes, set upon Darius whiles he was in his flight. He, for fear of punishment from Alexanders hand, got him presently away to the Indians on this side the river Indus.

Alexander had now spent 5 dayes in the chief City of the Drangean country, when some of his own people began to conspire his death: One Dimnus, a Macedonian borne, discovered to Nicomachus his bardash, that three dayes hence, Alexander would be murdered, and that he himself was of counsel with sundry noble personages in that action. Nicomachus, though he had sworn secrecy to Dimnus, yet imparted the businesse to his brother Ceballinus, desiring him to acquaint the King therewith. But Ceballinus, because he could not have accesse to the King himself, disclosed it to Philotes first; and then, finding him cold in the businesse, and like enough to be himself of the same plot, went to Metron, a noble young gentleman, and Master of the Artillery, and advised him to acquaint the King with it out of hand. Alexander, hearing thereof, commanded forthwith all to be laid hold on. Dimnus, being taken, knew well enough what the matter was, and therefore presently drew his own sword, and fell upon it. Ceballinus, being questioned, protested, that the very hour wherein he heard of it, he disclosed the matter to Philotas, desiring him to acquaint the King with it. Philotas being charged therewith, said 'twas true; but that, not out of any ill meaning, but onelyonly thorough over-sight and heedlesnesse he comitted it: and that it seemed to him but a trifle; yet, being afterward had to the wrack, he confessed all, and thereupon with the rest of the conspirators in that action, was put to death.

Then was also called in question before a council of Macedons, one Alexander Lyncestes, for an old conspiracy of his, for which he had already laien in prison 3 years: as Diodorus and Curtius say. This is that Alexander Aneropus, who before the battel at Issus, which was now 4 years past, was committed to prison for practising the Kings death: as appears out of Diodorus, Justin, and Arrianus: see before [An. mun. 3671.] and that he had been tampring about the Kings death, more than once before, appears by those words of Alexander to his Council of Macedons, in Curtius, [lib. 8. cap. 16.] where he sayes: Alexander Lyncestes, saith he, twice arrained for two several treasons against my life, I have twice taken out of the hand of Justice; and being a third time convicted, I reprieved him, and kept him in prison these 3 years (for so it should be according to the true Palatine Manuscript, and not two years, as in the ordinary printed books) and till you now desired, that he might be brought to his deserved punishment. For indeed, being upon this occasion drawn again into question, before the Judges, and there faultring in his answers, he was without more adoe, thrust thorough with launces by those which stood about and heard him at the bar.

The body of Lyncestes being carryed out of the place, the King sitting still in judgement, caused Amyntas the son of Andromenes, with Attalus and Symmias his brothers, all most intimate friends of Philotas, to be brought to the bar. For Polemon the youngest of all, when he heard that Philotas was had to the wrack, fled away: but was taken, and brought to judgement too. Yet at last, Alexander acquitted them all, by his own mouth, upon the general intercession of those that then were there present: And then immediately he dispatched away Polydamas, one whom Parmenion loved, no man better, with two Arabians upon Dromedary Camels into Media, that they p. 235might prevent the newes of Philotas his death in those parts, with letters of credence, to Cleander, Sitalces and Menidas, commanders in the army under him, to make him away; being then Governor of Media, and of greatest repute and authority, next the king, in the army. And by them was Parmenion, being now 70 years of age, whiles having read Alexanders letter, he was reading a second letter, written to him in the name of his son Philotas, stabbed and done to death; Cleander sent his head to the king, and would hardly suffer the rest of his body to be buried. Strabo tells us, that this feat was gone about and finished in eleven dayes space; which ordinarily taketh up 30 or 40 dayes journey, in the very going, [lib. 15. p. 724.]

Alexander fearing least the glory and lustre of all his actions, might be blemished and obscured with a spot of cruelty in such proceedings, did, as Gaos formerly (An. mun. 3620, ut sup.) did, (i. e.) he gave it forth, that he was to send some friends of his into Macedonia; and advised all men that would, to write to their friends in those parts; as not like to have the like opportunity in haste again, seeing they were going further eastward: every man therefore wrote; and he took order to have all the pacquets brought to him: whereby finding what every mans opinion of him and his doings was he cast all those, whom he found either weary of the war, or misliking of his actions, into one company, which he termed, foreign, (i. e.) the unruly company; to be led by Leonidas, formerly an intimate friend of Parmenions, and then dividing his fellow Cavaleers into two Regiments, he assigned the one part to be commanded by Hephaestion, and the other by Clitus.

Having settled matters among the Drangians, he marched toward them, which were called of old, Agriaspe, al. Arimaspi, but of later times by Cyrus, for a benefit by him received from them, surnamed Euergetae, (i. e.) Benefactors; and was there lovingly received and entertained by them.

After five dayes stay, made in that country, tidings came to him that Satibarzanes with two thousand horse, sent him by Bessus, had made a fresh inrode upon the Arians, and had drawen them away from his allegeance. Against him therefore, he dispatched away six thousand Grecian foote, and six hundred horse, under the command of Erigyius and Caranus, or as Diodorus sayes, Stasanors command, together with Artabazus the Persian, and Andronicas, and Phrataphernes, the Governour of Parthia.

He himself remained among the Euergetae, and there sacrificed to Apollo, and committed Demetrius, one of the Squires of his body, whom he suspected for a conspirator with Philotas, and put Ptolemei the son of Lagus, into his place. Upon these Euergetae he bestowed a large summe of money, and such lands as they desired to be laid unto them, which was not much: and being in like manner welcomed by the Gedrosians, bordering upon the Euergetae, he rewarded them also, according to their deserts.

Having spent 60 dayes among the Euergetae, Year of the World 3675 he left Amenides, who had been sometime Darius his Secretary, to govern them, as Curtius saies; but as Arrianus, he left them a free state, and Diodorus reports, that he set over the Euergetae and Gedrosians both, Teridates, to govern them.

Then removed Alexander from thence, and marched into Bactria against Bessus, subduing the Drangi and the Dragagi as he went; he subdued also Arachosia: and there he met with that part of his army, which was formerly commanded by Parmenion: they were in all 6 thousand Macedons, and 200 men of Honour among them, and 5 thousand Grecians, with 2 hundred horse, or rather 600: which was, no doubt, the very pith and marrow of all his army; he set Menon to govern the Arachosians, leaving him foure thousand foote, and six hundred horse, to keepe that Country in order.

Then led Alexander his army into the country of the Paropamisadae; which was about the setting of the seven stars, and beginning of winter, as we gather out of Strabo, [l. 15. p. 724.] All the country was then covered over with snow, and an obscure shade, rather than any light of heaven, and a plain darknesse lay upon the earth, so that hardly could a man discerne any thing near hand, yet in this vast wildernesse, did Alexanders army endure and bear out what misery could possibly befall mankind; want, cold, wearinesse, and even despaire it self; many died for cold, many mens feete rotted off from their leggs: at last yet they came into a country of a better temper, and more plenty, and there the army was relieved, and the whole countrey quickly brought into subjection.

Then went Alexander to the mountain Caucasus, which some call Paropamysus, which mountain he passed in 16 or 17 daies march: and built a city near the foote thereof, at a place where that mountain opens into Media, which after his own name, he called Alexandria, he built also sundry other cities, each of them distant one dayes journey from that of Alexandria; in these he planted 7 thousand of the Nations thereabout; p. 236and three thousand of those, which followed the Camp, and of those who were growen unserviceable in the wars, as many as would, and made governour of all that region Proexes, a Persian born, and left one of his Nobles Niloxenes, to be an foreign, (i. e.) an overseer, or ruler over them.

When the Macedons and Arians were in fight, Satibarzanes, who commanded the enemy, came forth between the two armies, and pulling off his helmet, told who he was, and chalenged any man that durst, to a single fight or duel. Him Erigyius, General of the Macedon army, undertook, and running his spear thorough the very body of him, slew him upon the place. The barbarians, who came thither by compulsion, rather than for any will they had thereto, seeing their Captain dead, took Erigyius his word, and laid down their arms; and submitted themselves unto him.

Bessus accompanied with those Persians, Year of the World b. which joyned with him in seizing on the person of Darius, and about seven thousand Bactrians, and some of the Dahae which dwelt to the East of the river Tanais, forraged the country, bordering upon Caucasus, to the end, that ravaging, and laying wast, all the countries which lay between, Alexander should not dare come forward, for fear of starving his army by the way. Neverthelesse, Alexander went on, not without extreme difficulty, by the too much snow, and too little victual, which he found upon the way, yet on he went.

For winter now drawing to an end, and he having India on the right hand of him, and passed over the mountains into Bactria; not a tree to be seen all the way, unlesse here and there a shrub or turpentine, [Strabo. lib. 15. pag. 724.] they found also by the way some quantity of Indian wheat, out of which the common souldiers, squeezed a kind of juice, which they used for oyl, to chafe their benummed joints. Now this juice was sold for 240 denarios, a pitcher full, and as much of wine, at 300 denarios, but of bread corn, little or none at all appeared, for want whereof the common souldier susteined himself with catching river fish, and such herbs as they could get: but anon they came where there was none of that to be had neither; and then they were bid to kill their draught beasts, and eat them: and by that food they lived, till they came into Bactria, [Curt. lib. 7. cap. 7.] To which Strabo addeth, that they were fain to eat it raw, for want of fire to seeth or rost it with: but to remedy the crudity which might grow thereof in their stomachs, they had store of silphium, or an herb called Benzoine at hand, which helped their digestion.

Bessus grew affrighted at this speedinesse of Alexander, and therefore having first sacrificed to his gods after his country fashion, feasted his friends and Captains: and over their cups, fell to talk and consult of the war in hand, where in losty terms, as one proud of a kingdom which he had so vilanously gotten, and scantly in his right wits, he said, that Darius his cowardize, had enhanced the fame and glory of the enemy; that he was resolved to march with his army into Sogdiana, there to have the river Oxus, as a wall between him and Alexander, till aides might come in from other parts unto him. And when all the rest as high flowen as himself, cryed excellently well said, one Cobares, (as Curtius, or Bagodoras: as Diodoras, calls him), a Median born, and a wizard or foothsaier by his profession, gave him advice, to look to himself, and in time, to submit to Alexander: whereat Bessus grew so enraged, that he drew his sword, and hardly could they hold him, but he would run him through; and Cobares the mean while got out of his sight; and the night following fled away to Alexander.

Upon the fifteenth day after he set out from his new built city, called Alexandria, and his winter quarter, he came to Adrapsa, a city of Bactria, as Strabo saies, [lib. 15. pag. 725.] and removing from Drapsaca, saith Arrianus, after he had there refreshed his army, he marched to Aornos, and Bactra, the two chief cities of all that country of Bactria, And having taken them both at first assault, he put a garrison into the citadel or castle of Aornos, and with them put Archelaus, one of his nobles to keep it.

Bessus had seven or eight thousand Bactrians in his army, who so long as they stood, perswaded that Alexander out of doubt would never follow them, into that cold climate: but rather go on his way to India, held their obedience well enough toward Bessus. But when they perceived that Alexander came onward still upon them, every man slunk away to his own home, and left bessus all alone; so he with a small retinue of his servants and tenants, which stuck close to him, passed the river Oxus by boats; and being over, burnt his boats, that Alexander might not make use of them, and went to a place called Nautaca, in the country of Sogdiana, to raise new forces in those parts. And Spitamenes and Oxyartes followed him, having some certain Sogdian horse, and such Dahae, as had come to him from the bank of Tanais.

Alexander, making Artabanus governour of Bactria, left there his carriages with a guard to keep them, and with the rest of the army setting out in the night season, came into the desert of Sogdiana; and when he had gone some 4 hundred furlongs, p. 237and found no water at all by the way, the next day his whole army was sorely distressed with thirst: and when they came afterward, where water was to be had, many of them died with over drinking, and more indeed by many than ever he lost in any battle.

Toward the evening, he came to the river Oxus, where he took up his quarter for that night in great perplexity, expecting the rest of his army to come up unto him.

But before he passed the river, out of such of his Macedons, as either with age or wounds, were grown unserviceable for fight, and of those Tessalians which followed him as volunteers, he chose some 9 hundred, to every of which, if a horseman, he gave two talents, if a footman, three thousand Denarios, or Drachmaes, and willing them to go home and get children, he there dismissed them; thanking the rest, for that they promised to go on with him in the war.

He also sent Stasanor one of his nobles, to the Arians, to seize on Arsaces their governour, because he seemed to intend no good, and appointed Stasanor himself to be governour in his room.

And because the place afforded no timber to make boats of, therefore growing impatient of delay, he caused the hides which covered the souldiers tents, to be taken down, and lethren bags to be stuffed with straw, and to be sowed or tyed together, and so, in five dayes, ferried over his army in these lethren boats.

Spiramenes, whom Bessus most respected and honoured of all the friends he had, so soon as he heard that Alexander was past the river Oxus, having communicated the matter to Dataphernes, and Catenes, whom Bessus principally confided in, laid hold on Bessus; taking off his regal diademe from his head, and rending the robe, which he ware, taken of from the body of Darius, in pieces.

Alexander having passed the river Oxus, marched presently to the place, where Bessus was. Upon the way a message was brought him from Spitamenes and Dataphernes, that if he would be pleased to send any Captain of his with a sufficient guard, they would deliver Bessus into his hands: he therefore dispatcht away Ptolomei the son of Lagus; attended with three companies of horse, and of the foot, that which was Philotas his regiment, and a thousand of the silver Targateers, and all the squadron of the Agrians, and one half of the Archers: with these Ptolomei, having marched ten ordinary stages or dayes journies in four dayes space, came to the place, where Spitamenes with his army, had campt the day before.

Mean while, Alexander came to a little Town of the Branchid…: these were heretofore taken by Xerxes from Miletum, and planted there, in recompence of their pains taken, for his sake, in pulling down the Temple of Apollo Didymaeus: as I shewed before, An. Mun. 3526. This town, as a receptacle of traitors, was wholly plundered first, and then totally destroyed; and the inhabitants, men, women, and child, put all to the sword: which execution had it been done upon the traitors themselves, might have seemed an act of justice and not of cruelty; but now the children suffered for their forefathers fault, such I say, as never saw Miletum, much lesse could betray it unto Xerxes, [Curt. lib. 7. cap. 12. with Strabo lib. 11. pag. 117, 118.]

As Alexander was upon his march, Bessus was brought unto him; not onelyonly haltred, but stark naked, a sight well pleasing to all sorts of men, both Greeks and Barbarians. All that brought him were rewarded for their pains; and the prisoner himself was committed to the keeping of Oxetras, Darius his brother, whom Alexander had made one of the squires of his body, that he might cause him to be crucified, having his ears and nose cut off; and then shot thorough and thorough with arrows: and that his body should be watcht, that no bird might come to touch it. Then scourging it with whips, he remanded him into Bactra, but deferred his death, to have it executed in the place, where he had murdered Darius.

Alexander, having re-enforced his army, for he had lost many, what in his passage over mount Caucasus, what in his journy to the river Oxus, and his march from thence, went to the river Tanais, not that which dividing Europe from Asia, falls into the Lough of Maeotis, and the Euxine sea, but another Tanais, called also Jaxartes, which Plinie [lib. 6. cap. 16.] is by the Scythians termed Sylis, and by the inhabitants there abouts Orxantes, as Aristobulus writeth.

Here certain of the Macedons went a forraging, not so advisedly as they might have done, and were set upon by certain Natives, which fell upon them out of the mountains, and slew many of them, but took more. These were to the number of 30, or as Curtius sayes 20 thousand men. Against whom Alexander speedily drew out, with such companies as he had readiest at hand. In this fight, he was shot with an arrow in the thigh; and when the shaft was pulled out, the head stuck behind: yet A…rianus tells us, that the hill was taken, and of 30 thousand of them, there escaped not above 8 thousand. But Curtius tells us, that the next day after he was hurt, those Barbarians p. 238voluntarily yielded to him, and sent him home the prisoners which they had taken, and made their peace with him.

Then removing his Camp, himself was carried in an ordinary Lictier, which every man, horse and foot, were forward to put their shouldiers to: from hence in 4 dayes he came to Maracanda, the principal city of all Sogdiana, whose wall is 70 furlongs about: and there leaving a Garrison to keep it, he went and wasted the towns adjoyning and set fire on them. A few dayes after, came Ambassadors to him from the Scythians called Abii; who having lived a free State ever since the death of Cyrus, now rendred themselves to him.

The Barbarians dwelling near the River, took such Macedonian souldiers as were there left in garrison, and slew them, and fell to fortifying of their Cities: Many of the Sogdians joyned with them, being induced thereto by those who had taken Bessus his part, and they drew some of the Bactrians to them also. The Susians and Bactrians together, made 7 thousand horse, and these drew on the rest; and when Spitamenes and Catenes, who had delivered Bessus into his hands, were sent by him to represse them, they proved the principal ring-leaders of all that misorder; giving out, that Alexander had sent for all the Bactrian Horse, of purpose to murder them.

Alexander, hearing thereof, himself set upon the city Gaza, and sent Craterus against Cyropolis: having taken Gaza, he slew all that were of age therein, the women and children, were sold away for slaves, and the city it self destroyed, that others might take example by them. Thus and four other cities in those parts, within two days thus taken and served, he marched away to Cyropolis; whereinto 18 thousand men had put themselves, as a place of greatest strength, and surest refuge; In that siege he both lost the forwardest and prime men of his army, and himself also ran a most extreme danger. For he took such a blow in the neck with a stone, that his eyes dazeled therewith, and he fell all along, and lost his senses for the present. But, being of an invincible courage against such casualties as use to dant other men, though his wound was not yet thoroughly cured, he fell to assault it more fiercely than before, anger whetting on his natural inclination that way, and so at the first taking of the city, there were slain of the enemy, to the number of 8 thousand, the rest fled into the Castle, whom when Alexander had besieged but one day, they rendred themselves for want of water.

Cyropolis, being, by his command, laid level with the ground, of 7 Cities which the natives had fortified for themselves, there remained now but one to take; and that he took at the very first assault: or as Ptolemei sayes, it was given up unto him. But Aristobulus saith, that it was taken by assault, and all that therein were, put to the sword. Ptolemei saith, that the men therein taken, were distributed in the army, and there kept bound, till Alexander left that country, that none might be left behind, which had a hand in that revolt.

Mean while the Scythians of Asia came with a great army to the bank of the river Tanais; as having heard that the nations on the other side were up in armes against Alexander; purposing, if they were up in any considerable number, then to joyn with them against him, and to fall upon the Macedons.

But Spitamenes, keeping himself within the walls of Maracanda besieged the Garrison of Macedons, who were in the Castle there. Against him therefore Alexander sent Menedemus, Andromachus, and Caranus, and with them 60 of his fellow Cavaleers and 800 of his Mercenaries, led by Caranus: and 1500 Foot of Mercenaries; or as Curtius, 3 thousand, giving them Pharnuches for an interpreter, because he spake the Barbarians language, and could therefore best serve to treat with them.

Alexander came back to the bank of the river Tanais, and drew a wall round about his Camp, and made a City of it of 60 furlongs in compasse; which he also called after his own name, Alexandria: a work so speedily dispatched, that within 17 dayes after the walls were up, it was filled with houses also: so Curtius, [lib. 7. cap. 17.] But Justin sayes, that in 17 dayes space, he drew a wall about it, six miles round, [lib. 12. cap. 5.] and Arrianus, that in 20 dayes space, the City was closed round with a wall. That City he assigned to his Mercenary Greeks to inhabit, with such of the natives thereabouts as would, and certain of his Macedons also who were grown unserviceable for the war. He also put some of his captive prisoners to fill up this new built City; paying their several Masters their ransom, and so made them freemen and citizens of the place; also he removed the inhabitants of three Cities which Cyrus had built, and planted them there.

The King of the Scythians, whose Realm lay beyond the Tanais, conceiving that City to have been built of purpose to lie as a yoak upon his neck, sent his brother Carcasis by name, to take and demolish it, and to put off those Macedons from the river side. These rode up and down in Alexanders sight, and let fly both their arrows, and their railing speeches, at him and his Macedons, from the other side of the river after p. 239their rude manner. Alexander was not yet well recovered of his hurt; his voice failed him, nor could he stand alone, not sit on horseback, nor in any sort give order for what he would have done.

Spitamenes, taking with him, besides his owne men, some six hundred Dahae, and wild Scythian horse, fell upon a part of the army that was sent by Alexander, to relieve them, who were besieged in the castle at Maracanda, and slew them. Aristobulus sayes, that when the Macedons were in fight, there suddenly arose out of the gardens adjoyning, such a number of Scythians, that they slew the Macedons down right, so that there escaped of them scantly 40 horse, and 300 foote. Curtius mentions only 2000 foote to have been lost in that defeate, yet that Alexander, to cover the greatnesse of that losse, charged those who returned into his camp, upon pain of death, not to speak a word of it.

Alexnder putting his corseleteers, into such boats as he could make, and causing the rest to swim over upon lethren baggs stuffed with straw, as well as they could, passed the river Tanais, with an incredible courage, do the Scythians on the other side what they could to the contrary: and having put them to flight, weak though he was, yet followed he the chase of them 80 furlongs. In this fight there fell of the Macedon horse, to the number of sixty: of the foot, almost one hundred, and a thousand hurt.

Not long after, there came embassadors to him from the Scythians, to excuse what they had done. That this war was not made upon him by the general consent of the Nation, but by such onelyonly, as among them used to live by robbery and spoile, but that the more civil sort of them, would be at his dispose. To these he made a faire answer; and released all such as he had taken prisoners, ransome free; that they being a warlike nation, might see that his contention with them, was out of a desire of honour, not of revenge.

The Sacae seeing this, sent their Embassadors to him, with like tender of their service; and he as graciously dealt with them, and caused Excipinus, a young gentleman, whom he loved very dearly, and was to him, as it were another Hephaestion, to keepe them company, and to entertain them.

Alexander taking the one half of his fellow Cavaleers, all his Targateers, Archers, and Agrians, and the readiest of all the Macedonian Squadron; marched to Maracanda, whither he was informed that Spitamenes was returned, to besiege them afresh, which kept the castle there; having therefore marcht 1500 furlongs in three dayes space, he came early the next day to the City. Spitamenes, hearing of his approach, raised his siege and fled, and Alexander pursued him with all the speed he could, and in his way came to the place, where the Scythians had slain his Macedons: whose bones he caused to be gathered together and buried; with obsequies, done according to their country manner: and then followed the enemy till he came into the desert.

And by this time Craterus, marching by easie journeys, as he was bidden, came up to him with the greatest part of the army; and therefore now to lay load upon all alike, that had revolted from him; he divided his army into two parts, and gave order not to spare any place from burning, nor any male of age, from killing; and in this manner ran he over all that region which the river called Polytimetus runneth thorow: for from thence forward, and where that river looseth it self, and runneth under ground, all the country is nothing but a Desert, void of culture and inhatants.

Having slain of the Sogdians, as Diodorus guesseth, [part 2. lib. 1.] 120 thousand persons, there were brought unto him, 30 of the most noble of them, all men of excessive strength of body; whose undaunted courage against death, Alexander wondered at, and gave them their lives, upon their promise to be from thence forward true unto him: nor proved they worse than their words; for returning home, they kept every man his people in due subjection to him, foure of them he took to be Squires of the body to himselfe, nor could any Macedon prove more faithful to him, than they were.

Leaving Pencolaus there with a Garrison of 3 thousand foote (for there needed no more) he came into Bactria; where calling together all that ever were, he commanded Bessus to be brought forth: and there reproaching him with his vile perfidiousnesse to Darius, caused his nose, and crops of his ears to be cut off; and so sent him to Ecbatane, that he might there be put to death in the sight of the Medes and Persians. Plutarch sayes, that by Alexanders command, his foure quarters were tied to two trees, bowed downe, and so they being let go again, tare him in pieces, as they returned to their natural posture: and Diodorus writeth, that the brother of Darius, and other his kinsfolks, having spent all manner of railing and reproachful speeches on him, cut his whole body into gobbits, and then put them into slings, and scattered them abroad.

p. 240About the same time came unto him Phrataphernes the Governour of Parthia, and Stasanor, who was sent into Aria to apprehend Arsaces; and brought him bound in chains to Alexander, with Barzanes, whom Bessus had made governour under him of Persia, and other consorts of Bessus in his revolt.

From the sea coast in Asia also came Epocillus, and Melanidas, and Ptolomei, commander of the Thracians, which had conveyed the monies sent by Menetes, and those old Souldiers whom he had dismissed to go into their countries. Ptolomei and Menidas brought with them three thousand fresh foot, and one thousand horse, to serve for pay, and one Alexander with the like number of foot, and five hundred horse, aud Bessus Governer of Syria, and Asclepidorus, a Commander at sea, with as many more; and Antipater sent him eight thousand mercenary Greeks, and with them, five hundred horse, under the command of Asander and Nearchus.

His army thus encreased, he proceeded to set in order, what had been disturbed by that general revolt which was made from him: for many, especially of the Sogdians, had put themselves into walled towns and cities, and stood upon their guards, nor would submit to the Governour which he had set over them: wherefore leaving Polysperchon, and Attalus, and Gorgius, and Meleager, in Bactria, to hold them in awe, that they might not rise again, and to take in those that yet stood out against him, himself after four dayes march came to the bank of the river Oxus. This river, because it runs all along upon a mud, is very filthy and unwholsom to drink; wherefore the souldiers fel to digging of pits and wells for water, but found none: when at last they perceived a sprin rising up in the kings own pavilion, which because they observed not at first, therefore they gave it out, that it suddenly there arose, [Curt. lib. 7. cap. 25.] Plutarch reports, that one Proxenus a Macedon, and master of the Kings wardrobe, whiles he dig'd a place to pitch the Kings pavillion in, near the river Oxus, found a spring of a fatty, and uliginous, or oily liquor, and that Alexander, in his letters to Antipater, relates it for one of the greatest miracles that God had shewen him. Arrianus goeth further, and saith, that he found there two fountains, one of water, and another of oyl, newly sprung up, near to the place where his tent stood: whereof, when Ptolomei brought him word, he presently (as he was directed by his soothsaiers) offered sacrifice to his gods: and Aristander told him, that the fountain of oyl, portended him the great labour and travel that he was to endure, but the end should be crowned with victory,

Afterward, having passed to the two rivers, Ochus and Oxus, he came to the river Marginia, al. Magriana about which he chose a place to build 6 towns in, two to the southward, and 4 other upon the eastern quarter of it, not far distant the one from the other: that if need were, they might be the readier at hand to help each other, [Curt. ut supra,] Strabo tells us, that he built eight towns, in Bactria and Sogdiana, [lib. 11. pag. 717.] Justin mentions twelve, [lib. 12. cap. 5.] where he noteth, that he distributed such, as he observed to be mutinous and seditious in his army, and so rid his hands of them.

Arimazes of Sogdiana, Year of the World 3676. a. with an army of 30 thousand men, got into the top of a high Rock, which Strabo calleth by the name of Oxi; having laid in there provision enough of all sorts, for three years siege. This Rock was 30 furlongs high, and 150 furlongs about. There were 300 gallant young lads, who, drawen on with the large promises, which Alexander made, with the help of cramp-irons, which, where need was, they strook into the Rock, to hold fast by, gat by little and little to the top of this Rock; of which yet 32 perished in getting up, by the sliping of a foot, or brickleness of the Rock, on which they caught hold, and so came tumbling down, and brake all in pieces: these Sogdians astonished, as at a miracle, to see men gotten up there; supposing they had been more in number, and better armed than indeed they were, presently rendred themselves: and Arimazes, more afraid than hurt, with the chief men of the country, came down to the King in his Camp, all which Alexander having first caused them to be well whipt, commaned afterward to be crucified at the foot of the hill, the rest he distributed for slaves among the new cities, which he had built with the monies taken with them. And Artabazus was left to keep that fort, and the country adjoying in subjection, [Curtius lib. 7. cap. ult. see also Polyaenus Stratag. lib. 5. in Alexander nu. 29.]

Alexander, having taken in the Rock in Sogdiana, seeing his enemies up in divers parts, divided his whole army likewise into five brigadaes, whereof Hephaestion commanded three, Caenus and Artabazus the fourth: and the fifth he took to himself, and with it, marched the next way toward Maracanda: the rest ranged here and there, as their feet led them, and by the way, if they found any fled to Castles or places of strength, there they fell on, and took them by assault, where they yielded, there they took them to mercy. But when all these five Brigadaes having taken in the greater part of all Sogdiana, came together at Maracanda, he then sent Hephaestion, to make p. 241plantations in sundry parts thereof; but Coenus and Artabazus, he sent to Scythia, for that it was said, that Spitomenes was gone thither. And himself with the rest of the army going into Sogdiana, easily re-possessed himself of such places as the Rebels were fled unto; and such as yeelded without fighting, he removed and planted in those townes which he subdued by force, and caused their lands to be divided among these new inhabitants.

Whiles these things passed, Spitamenes, and the Banditoes of Bactria, with a company of Sogdians, who were fled from thence into Scythia, and some 6 or 8 hundred Massagetan Horse which came unto him, went to a certain Castle which was built and manned against the Bactrians; and there falling suddenly upon the Garrison, slew them every man, and committed the Governour to prison; and growing proud of what they had done, shortly after went with a purpose to take the City of Zariaspes, but failing thereof, brought away yet a great booty out of the country thereabout.

To suppresse this rabble, Attinas Governour of the country, led out some 300 Horse, little thinking of the ambushment that lay for him. And with them went also certain Horse of the Kings Troup; which having formerly been left sick at Zariaspes, were recovered, and well able to travel again: and Pitho, the son of Sosicles who commanded them, and Aristonicas, a Musitian; for these having gotten together some 80 mercenary Horse of those who were left in garrison at Zariaspes, and some of the …ings fellow Cavaleers, would needs for company, go with Attinas into the country of the Massagetae: But Spitamenes and his company, rising out of the thickets, and woods, fell suddenly upon them: Of the Kings fellow Cavaleers Troup, he slew seven, of other Mercenaries, to the number of 60, and Aristonicus the Musician, who in that fight behaved himself more like a souldier than a fidler. But to be short, in this encounter, he slew Attinas with his whole Troup; Pithon was wounded, and had quarter given him: news of all which came quickly to Craterus, who falling on presently will all his Horse, put the Massagetae to flight, and pursued them till they came to the Wildernesse of that country, where they fought: and after a sharp dispute, the Macedons had the better of it, and the Massagetae, seeing 150 of their Horse slain, fled and easily saved themselves, in that wild country; but there fell of the Dahae, no lesse than a thousand men, which thoroughly quieted the rebellion in those parts.

Alexander, having now a second time quieted all Sodiana, returned to Maracanda; & there came to him an Ambassador from the King of Scythians, dwelling in the Europaean side, above Bosphorus, and brought him a present, and offered him his daughter in marriage; whereof Alexander himself in his letter to Antipater maketh mention, as I said before: But, if he scorned the offer for himself, his second motion was, that he would suffer his Nobles of Macedon, to match with the principal Houses of the Scythians: offering, if he pleased, to come himself in person, and to receive his commands from him.

At the same time also, Phrataphernes, al. Pharoemenes, who commanded the Chorasmians, bordering upon the countries of the Massagetae and Dahae, sent his Messengers to let them know, he was ready to receive his commands: And he having graciously heard both their errands, stayed there right in expectance of Hephaestions, and Craterus, their return unto him.

So soon therefore as they were come, he with his army fell into the country of Bazaria, al. Bazistis, where was a Forest which had not felt the stroke of a hatchet, in four whole ages before. In this Forest, when a Lyon of a vast bignesse set upon the King by chance, Lysimachus, who was afterward King of Thracia, offered to interpose with his hunting Spear; but the King put him by, and bad him be gone: and when the Lyon came on, he not onelyonly stood him, but slew him out-right, at one blow; and after that, having slain some 4 thousand wild beasts, he with all his army fell a feasting in the wood.

Then came he back to Maracanda, and quitting Artabazus of his government of Bactria, by reason of his age, he gave the command thereof to an old souldier of his fathers, called Clitus, the son of Dropidas of Macedon, the brother of Hellanica, al. Lanica, Alexanders Nurse; a woman whom he ever respected and loved as his own mother that bare him. But in a dream, he happened to see him all in mourning, and sitting among Parmenions sons, who were then dead.

The third day after this dream, fell out to be a holiday to Bacchus, wherein Alexander was wont yearly to offer a sacrifice to him. Now some or other had at that time brought him certain apples as far as from out of Greece; and he wondering at the fresh colour and fairnesse of them, sent for Clitus, to shew him them, and to bestow some of them upon him. Clitus left the sacrifice which he was about, and as he was going in all haste to the King, was followed by three sheep which were ready prepared to be offered, having meale and salt upon their heads. The King, hearing thereof, p. 242asked his two principal soothsaiers, Aristander and Cleomenes the Spartan, what the meaning thereof might be, They told him; it was an abominable signe, and Alexander calling presently his dream to minde, bad them go quickly and offer a sacrifice for him: But Clitus himself came to the feast which the King made, after he had done sacrificing to Castor and Pollux, where when Alexander had well drunk, being otherwise an over-valewer of himselfe, he began to speak immoderately of his owne doings, and to undervalue the acts of his father Philip; wherein the greater part of those which sate at table, applauded him: But Clitus on the other side, upheld the gests of Philip, speaking honourably of his atchieuements, and slighting the present times, not sticking sometimes to let fall some disgraceful speeches of Alexander himself. And when Alexander rose from his place, all enraged, to kill him, he (as Aristobulus reports) when he was shifted out of the way at a back doore, and was gotten quite out of the trenches, into the fort, to Ptolomei the son of Lagus, his lodging, would needs come back again to the feast, where he sate before; and lighting upon Alexander, as he was calling out for Clitus, here is Clitus said he, what will you with him; whereupon Alexander ran him through with his spear, and slew him.

Alexander, afterward considering with himself, the foulnesse of this fact, grew as mad against himself, as formerly he had done against Clytus, and resolved to make himself away upon it: and therefore shutting himself up three whole dayes, refrained both meat and drink, nor took any care at all, what became of him.

When he had now continued fasting to the fourth day, the Squires of his body, brake in upon him; and were along time before they could perswade him to take meat; and his sooth-sayers telling him, that this was befallen him for omitting his sacrifice to Bacchu…, he went presently, and sacrificed to him: glad he was to hear that this proceeded from the anger of the gods, rather than from the malice of his heart: and Aristander putting him in mind of his own dream, and of the sheep, told him that what was done, was done by fate, and could not be avoided. Calisthenes the Philosopher, and his school-fellow, sometimes, under Aristotle, and his great familiar, prevailed much with him in this case; but much more did the shamelesse flattery and soothing of Anaxarchus of Abdera, a subtile Sophister; who from an old saying, that Justice alwayes sits at Jupiters elbow, would needs conclude, that what ever Kings did, was to be taken for right and just. And to take him off from the moode he was in, all the Macedons, with a general voice, concluded and declared, that Clitus was well enough served, and justly put to death, and would have forbidden him burial, if the king himself, had not command it to be done.

Having spent ten Dayes in quieting his mind hereupon, he then sent Hephaestion with a part of his army into Bactria, there to make, and bring in provision for his winter quarter, and gave the Government of Bactria, to which Clitus was designed, to Amyntas, the son of Nicolaus. And leaving there Caenus, with his own and Meleagers brigade; and 400 of his fellow Cavaleers, and Darters on horseback, with the Bactrians and Sogdians, which were under Amyntas his command, he commanded all to obey Caenus, and to spend that winter in Sogdiana: partly to keep that countrey in order, partly, if it were possible, to lay hold of Spitamenes, if he happened to come for his winter provision, into those parts, [Arria. lib. 4.]

Alexander himself came through to Xenippa: which borders upon Scythia, whither the Bactrians who had revolted from him, had retired: But, so soon as it was known that Alexander was coming, the natives bade them be gone: whereupon they gathered into a body of 2200 horse: these falling suddenly upon Amyntas, a Commander of Alexanders, had a hot, and a long skirmish with him: but at length having lost 7 hundred of their company, whereof 300 were taken prisoners, they fled: nevertheless in the fight, they had slain 80 Macedons, and wounded 350 more: yet upon submission, they obtained pardon again.

This done, he went with his army to a place called Naura, al. Nautacae: Governor whereof was Sisimithres, who had two sons, gotten upon his own mother: for with them it was lawfull for children to couple with their parents. This Sisimithres had taken the gates or streits which open through the mountains into his own countrey, with a strong party, and had well fortified the passage; which was naturally, and of it self well defended by a most swift and violent river, running under it, and had a huge Rock at the back of it, [Curt. lib. 8. cap. 6.] Arrianus saith, that this Rock, was at Parataca, being 20 furlongs high, and almost 60 in compasse, and calls the name, as well of the rock it self, as of him that kept it, Chorienes. But Strabo, together with Curtius and Plutarch, calls it Sisimithres his Rock, and placeth it in Bactria, giving it 15 furlongs in heighth, and 80 in compasse, with a large plain on the top of it, all good land, and well able to find 500 men; and saies, that in it (not in that other rock in Sogdiana) one Oxyartes, had his daughter Roxane, whom afterward Alexander made his wife, [Strabo lib. 11. p. 517.]

p. 243Alexander, though he saw this passage to be by nature strong, and well manned besides, yet bending his Rams of battery against the works which they had made, quickly made a breach, and with his archers and slingers, easily drave them off which defended the breach when it was made; and having gotten within those out-works, he presently made his approach to the Rock it self: but at the foot of it there was a vast bog, caused by the rain which fell from the Rock, and had no passage out; and how to fill it up, upon the sudden he knew not. Meane while, he caused store of beech, which grew in great plenty thereabouts, to be felled, and of them made long ladders, by which his army might at least go down into the bog: And all the day long himself was present, and set forward the work; but Perdiccas and Leonatus, and Ptolomaeus Lagi, principal Squires of his body, dividing the rest of the army into 3 parts, took care of the work by night; nor could they go on more then 20 cubits in a day, and somewhat lesse by night, though all the army incessantly wrought at it: so craggy was the rock, so difficult was the work.

There was at that time with Alexander, one Oxyartes a great man of that country, and a Prince of himself, and the father of Roxane, who being demanded by Alexander, what spirit and courage Sisimithres was of, told him, that he was the most cowardly man that breathed: then replyed Alexander; Surely you have said enough to teach me that the body of this rock is possible to be taken, since you tell me that the head of it is so weak.

And presently he sent the same Oxyartes to him, to command him forthwith to give up himself, his mother, and children, and all that was dear unto him, into his hands: which Sisimithres forthwith did, and then Alexander himself taking with him 5 hundred of his silvered Targateers, went up into the rock to view the situation and strength thereof: and having offered sacrifices to Minerva and Victoria, left Ssimithres Governour of that Fort, and Country thereabouts, as he found him: giving him hope of a greater Dominion, if he carried himself well and faithfully in this; and upon the fathers request, took along with him his two so as to serve him in the wars.

Then leaving his Macedonian squadron, to take in other places which had revolted from him; himself went forward with his Horses: a steep and a rocky way it was that he went; nor had he gone far, but his Horse all grew foundred and tired with he way, and could no further follow him: and his company grew every day thinner than other. Also the young Gallants which were never wont to be from him, lay behind, all save Philip, the brother of Lysimachus; for he, wearing his corselet and other armes (a thing incredible) yet all on foot as he was, kept company with the King, though he rode, and often changed his horse, by the space of 500 furlongs: and coming into a Wood, where the enemy set upon the Kings person stept between, and rescued him out of that danger: and when those Barbarians were routed, and the Wood cleared of them, and they gone; then Philip having over-laboured himself swoned, and falling down between the Kings own hands, there died. Upon the back of this, fell another no small dolor, upon the King; Erigyius, was one of his greatest Captains, of vvhose death he had tidings before he returned into his Camp. He caused both their Funerals to be celebrated, and exequies to be performed, vvith all the honour that might be.

Spitamenes vvith a crue of three thousand vvild Scythians that follovved him, came to Gabae, a strong tovvn of the Sogdians, standing in the middest betvveen the Sogdians and the Massagetae: vvhom he easily persvvaded to joyn vvith him, and to fall in upon the country of the Sogdians. And Coenus hearing of his coming, drevv out vvith his army to meet him: and upon an encounter, slevv 800 of them upon the place, and therein lost onelyonly 25 of his Horse, and 12 of his Foot; vvhereupon the Sogdians vvho escaped, vvith some Bactrians, left him upon the vvay, and came into Coenus.

The Massagetaean Scythians, seeing things fare so ill, pillaged all the carriages of the Bactrians and Sogdians, and accompanied Spitamenes into the Deserts of Scythia: But hearing that Alexander came after, with a purpose to follow them into those very Deserts, they took off Spitamenes his head, and sent it to Alexander, hoping hereby to make him desist from any further pursuance after them, [Arria. lib. 4.] But Curtius, [lib. 8. cap. 8.] writes, that when Alexander was not far off, Spitamenes his own wife met him, with her husbands head in her hand; which he seeing, abhorred the sight, and caused her to be turned out of the Camp, least the foedity of such an act, remaining in the Grecians eyes, might happily work some barbarous effect also in their hearts, and efferate their minds more than they were before.

The Dahae, hearing what was become of Spitamenes, took Dataphernes the principal author of that revolt, and delivered him up bound to Alexander, and withal submitted themselves to him; and Coenus and Craterus, with Phrataphernes, Governour of the Parthians, and Stasanor, President of the Arians, having fully executed p. 244what Alexander had set them about, returned to him, where he was at Nautaca.

Alexander resting his army at Nautaca, Year of the World b. because it was now in the heart of winter, which Arrianus expresseth, by foreign, (i. e.) in the strength of winter, The Julian Period. 4386 set his minde to revenge the souldiers wrongs, Year before Christ 328 which they had suffered through the pride and avarice of their officers, or commanders, and thereupon he gave in charge to Phrataphernes to look to Hircania, and the countries of the Mardi and Tapuri, and willed him to send him Phradates the Governor there (who had been oft sent for upon complaints made of him, but never would come) under a sufficient guard.

He removed Arsanes from the government of the Drangi, and put Stasanor in his roome, Arsace, as Curtius, Atropates, as Arianus calls him, was sent Governor into Media, to take Oxidates from thence, because, as the King thought, he stood not well affected to him. The province of Babylon, upon the death of Mazaeus, was committed to Deditamenes, or, as Arrianus calls him, to Stamines. But Sopolis and Epocillus and Menedas, were dispatcht away into Macedonia, to bring him a fresh supply of souldiers from thence.

These things thus ordered, after three moneths, he drew into the field, to march into a country called Gabaza. But the third day after, as he was upon the way, there fell such a hideous and dreadfull tempest upon him, with such an extremity of cold, that his whole army was in danger to have perished in it. Curtius in his history, [lib. 8. cap. 9, describes it to the life, both the direfullnesse of the tempest it self; and withall, the Kings constancy, in bearing it in his own person, with his wisdom and humanity, in keeping the army together, and comforting the poor weather-beaten souldiers, in that extremity: which notwithstanding he tells us, that what of the poorer sort of souldiers, what of the scullery and hangers on of the army, there perished no lesse than a thousand persons, where he addeth further, that which is remembred also by Valerius Maximus, [lib. 5. cap. 1. and by Julius Frontinus, lib. 4. Stratag. cap. 6.] that whiles Alexander was warming himself at a fire, a common souldier of the Macedons, half starved with codd, and benummed in his wits, no lesse than in his limbs, came thrusting to his fire; Alexander took him and set him down in his own chair; telling him that that should be to his good, which in Persia heretofore would have cost a man his life; to wit, to have sate down in the Kings chair.

The next day, calling his Nobles and Captains together, he caused proclamation to be made, that what ever any man had lost in that tempest, he would make it good again unto him: and he performed it to a hair, for example, Sisimithres had brought alongwith him many beasts of burden and draught, and two thousand Camels, and whole flocks of sheep and heards of beasts, which, being distributed among the army, both repaired their losse susteined, and saved them from the famine, which at that instant lay upon them, whereupon the King, declaring openly how much he was for that curtesie beholding to Sisimithres; bad every souldier take eight dayes victual with him; and then went to take in the Sacae, who had revolted from him; and having taken all the spoile of that country, gave Sisimithres out of the spoile, thirty thousand head of cattle.

Alexander then took to wife Roxane, the daughter of Oxyartes; which Strabo reports to have been done, Year of the World c. in the Rock or Fort of Sisimithres, when it was first surrendred to him, [lib. 15.] and this example of his, moved many of his Macedon Nobles to take them wives also out of the more illustious families, of forraign nations, as Diodorus in several chapters, of his 17 book at large declareth.

And now bending his thoughts wholly to a war upon India, to the end he might leave all safe and quiet behind him, he caused out of every province some to be listed for his service, so many as to make up in all 30 thousand men, whom he purposed to carry with him into India, there to serve him both for souldiers against the enemy, and also for pledges of their fidelity whom he left behind him: then moving into Bactria, he sent Craterus with 600 of his fellow Cavaleers, and his own foot companies, as also the regiments under Polysperchon, Attalus and Alcaetas, to pursue Anstanes Catanes, who onelyonly remained of the Rebels of Paratacene, between whom and Craterus, there was a great battle fought, wherein Catanes was slain, and Austaces taken prisoner, and brought alive to Alexander, and of their men were slain 150 horses, & about 1500 foot: which done, Craterus went into Bactria, and Polysperchon reduced the country of Bubacene to the kings obedience.

And now began Alexander to act, what he had of long time agitated in his mind, which was, to affirm to himself divine honours; and would no longer be called, onelyonly, but also believed to be, Joves son: as if he had the soveraintie over mens hearts, as well as over their tongues, and therefore refused now to be saluted and reverenced, after the manner of the Macedons, but would be adored with prostration after the fashion of the Persian Kings: nor wanted he court flatterers, to set this wheel a going; flatterers, I say, that pest of all kings, and by whose tongues, more Kings have perished, than by the sword of their enemies, [Curt. lib. 8. cap. 12.] chief of which about him, were Agis p. 245of Argos, the worst Versifier that ever was, next to Charilus, and Cleo of Sicilia, and Anaxarchus, a Sophister: and of them, which opposed him herein, was Calisthenes, a true Philosopher, and a Scholar of Aristotles, which cost him his life, and that which hastened it, was this.

Hermolaus, a gallant youth, and one of the Kings company of Pages, and instructed in the rudiments of Philosophy, by Calisthenes, being upon a time a hunting with the King, slew a Boare, which the King himself had aimed at; whereupon the King commanded him to be had away and wipt: which he taking to heart, fell into a conspiracy, first with Sopater, the son of Amyntas, a youth like himself, and of his own rank and quality, and them with Antipater, the son of Asclepiodotus, Governour of Syria, and others of the same company of Pages, to kill Alexander: which conspiracy coming to light by the discovery of one Epimenes, one of the conspirators, they were all presently put to death. Alexander in his letters to Craterus, Alcetas, and Attalus, written at that instant, signified, that they had confessed that the conspiracy grew of themselves alone; without the setting on, or privity of any other. But in another letter, written afterward to Calisthenes, he charges him as the author of it: yea, and he glanceth, that Aristotle himself, whose Cousin Germane was mother to Calisthenes, in this manner, foreign, &c. (i. e.) The youths indeed, saith he, were stoned to death by the Macedons: but that Sophister I my self will punish, and those which sent him, and such also as received them that conspire against me, into their towns.

When he had seized on Calisthenes his person, he kept him in irons seven moneths, to have him judged and condemned in a Court of Justice, when Aristotle himself should be present. Now Chares the Mitilenian tells us, that at what time, Alexander was in the country of the Mallians and Oxydracans in India, and lay there of a wound received in a fight, (between which time, and the conspiracy of the Pages, there had passed upward of 17 moneths) Calisthenes being a fat man, fell there sick of the Pthiriasis, or lowsie disease, and died of it. But Aristobulus and Ptolomei, say and affirm, that the Pages confessed upon the rack, that Calisthenes had put them upon it, by his perswasions: and again, the same Ptolomei sayes that he was first racked, and afterward hanged, but Aristobulus, that he was carried about with the army in chains, and so dyed: and so we see that these great Authors, and who were themselves present in the army, and attending upon Alexander at the very time when these things were acted, yet cannot agree about a matter, whereof there could be no doubt at all, at the time when it was done.

Amyntas being left in Bactria with 3500 horse, and 10 thousand foot, Alexander, toward the middest of the spring, as Arrianus tells us, removed with his army from thence toward India; to make the Ocean and utmost border of the east the boundary of his Empire. And to make his whole army in their very accoustrements suitable to so great a designe, he made all their targets to be covered over with silver plates, and their horse bridles, to be made all of beaten gold; and their very corselets, he caused to be enricht, some with gold, some with silver, and the number of men, which so armed, followed him to this Indian war, amounted to one hundred and twenty thousand men.

Alexander having passed the Caucasus in ten days, came to his city of Alexandria, which he had built in Paropanisus; and put out the Governour there, for his ill behaviour in the place, and then peopled his new city with more inhabitants, out of the neighbouring countries, and such of his own Macedons as were grown unserviceable for the war, and made Nicanor, one of his, Governour of the place, but made Tyriaspes Commander of the whole region of Paropamisus, and of all that territory, or Province, as far as the river Cophene.

From thence he went to the city of Nicaea, and there offered sacrifice to Minerva, and then marched to the river of Cophene, and sending an herald, commanded Taxiles, and the rest of the Satrapes or Governours of the countries, lying between Cophene, and the river Indus, which is improperly called India, to come unto him.

Taxiles, Year of the World d. and other petty Kings, under his government, came forth and met him, and received his commands, telling him, that he was now the third son of Jove, that had come into those parts. That as for father Bacchus and Hercules, they had onelyonly heard of them, but that their happinesse was to see him now personally present among them, they therefore brought him large presents, promising him withall, to send him 25 Elephants, and he entertained them very graciously, and bad them attend him, purposing to use their help in his passages thorough the country.

But when he saw that the rest came not, he divided his army, and sent Hephaestion and Perdiccas, into the country called Pencelaotis toward the river Indus; with the armies led by Gorgias, Clitus, and Meleager, and half the company of his fellow Cavaleers, and all the mercenary horse; commanding them, to take in by fair means or p. 246soul, all the towns which they found in their way: and that when they came to the bank of the river Indus, they should there fall to building of ships, whereby to passe over, into further countries, and with them was sent Taxiles, and other Commanders of those parts.

After, the Governour of the country of Peucelaitis offering to revolt, lost both himself and the city which he put himself into: for Hephaestion came and besieged it, and after a moneths time, took and sackt it, and killing him, made one Sangaeus Governour of it, who a little before, forsaking Astes, had fled over to Taxiles, which made Alexander the more confiding in him ever after.

Alexander, with his Troup of silver Targateers, and the horse of his fellow Cavaleers, Hephaestion, and the Troup of those who were called Assateri, and his Archers, and Agrians, and Lances, marched into the country of the Aspians and Thyraeans, and Arasocans; and going on his way to the river Choes (which way was, for the most part, all mountanous and rockie) and having at last passed that river, he commanded Craterus to come after him fair and softly with the Foot. And himself taking with him the whole body of his horse, and eight hundred Macedons, Targateers on horseback, marcht away a great pace, because he heard, that the people of that country were fled, some to the mountains, others to fenced cities, and all to make head against him.

Those which came fourth to oppose him, he easily routed, and beat back into the Town, upon the way wence they came out; and the townesmen, which stood all in array before their walls, he easily likewise vanquished, and made them take sanctuary within their walls again. And now was Craterus come up with the Foot: and therefore to strike the greater terrour into the minds of a nation, which knew not yet, what manner of men the Macedons were, he gave order, to spare no flesh, setting fire on the out-works which they had made; yet as he rode about the walls, an arrow came off, and shot him thorough his armor, into the shoulder, but made there no great wound; Ptolomei also, and Leonatas, were both wounded at the same time: then Alexander, spying a place where the wall was weakest, pitched his Camp just against it, and the next day early in the morning, took the vawmure, which was of no great strength, with no great adoe; at the inner wall, the inhabitants made some resistance: But when the Macedons had once scaled the walls and the townesmen felt the arrows showring down about their ears, the souldiers within, brake out of the gates, and ran every man his way to the mountains, which were not far off, and thither many of them escaped, and saved themselves there; but the Macedons following after, overtook and slew the greater part of them: but the Townesmen that were left behind, were slain every man of them, and the city it self, laid levell with the ground.

Then, having subdued another poor base nation, he went forward, and came to the city Nisa, situate at the foot of a hill called Meros, and built in old times, as was said by Bacchus; but at the entreaty of Acuphis, the chief man of the place, who was sent unto him, with 30 other prime men, he spared the inhabitants of Nisa, and they were onelyonly commanded to furnish him with 300 horse: which done, he restored them to their natural freedom, and suffered them to live after their own laws, and made Acuphis himself, taking along with him his son and grandchild for hostages, governour of the city it self, with all the whole province of Nisa; moreover he sacrificed there to Bacchus by the name of Dionysius, and made merry, and feasted his Nobles, and all his Macedons, and wearing garlands of Ivy on their heads, sang praise to Dionysius, with all his titles and appellations, Bacchumque vocant, &c.

Calling him Bacchus, Bromius, and Lyaeus,

Born of the fire, Twice born, and not like others:

But the onelyonly one that ever had two mothers.

As Ovid speaks of him, upon the like, though a different, occasion, 4 Metamorph. see also Philostratus in Vita Apollonii, [lib. 2. cap. 4.] to the same purpose.

From whence he went to a country called Dadala, but all the inhabitans were gone and fled to the woods and mountains, wherefore he passed over Acadera, a country deserted by the inhabitants as the other was.

The city Ardacena being taken in upon surrender, he left Craterus there, with other Commanders of the Foot, to force such places, as voluntarily would not submit, and to order matters there, as he saw fittest for the present.

Himself, with his silver Targateers, and his Squadron of Agrians, and Caenus and Attalus their Brigadaes, and the body of his own Horse, and at most four companies of his fellow Cavaleers, and the one half of his Archers on horseback, went to the river of Euaspla, where the Governour of the Aspians lay, and, upon a great journey taken, the second day he came with his army to a city called Arigaeum. But the inhabitants, p. 247so soon as they heard he was coming, set their city on fire, and fled to the mountains; but the Macedons followed after, and slew a vast number of them; and Ptolomei slew the Captain of them, hand to hand, and brought of his armour with him.

And now Alexander was come up with his Foot, which rode on horse-back, and they allighting, set upon the natives, and with much adoe, made them at last, flee for refuge to the mountains: and then came Craterus to him with the main body of the army; having done the errend which he was sent on, to the full: Him Alexander commanded to see Arigaeum, which the inhabitants themselves had burnt, repaired: and to repeople it, with the inhabitants, of places near adjoyning, such as would, & with such Macedons, as were grown unserviceable for his wars. But himself went on, to the place whither he heard the natives were fled, and coming to the foot of a mountain, he there pitcht his Camp.