The Annals of the World, History 1 · Age of the world 6 (11 of 18)

The Annals of the World · History 1 · Age of the world 6 (11 of 18)

p. 265Musicanus in this interim revolted, and Pithon with an army, was sent against him: who setting upon the cities of his subjection, destroyed some, others he put Garrisons in, and built citadels or Castles, for a yoake upon them. And having taken Musicanus, and brought him alive to Alexander, he caused him forthwith to be crucified in his own kingdom, and as many of the Brachmanes as had put him on to that revolt.

Alexander, coming back to the river Indus, where he had commanded his Navy to attend him, fell down the river again, and came to a City called Harmatelia, belonging to Sambus and the Brachmanes: And when the inhabitants (trusting in their own strength, and situation of their city) shut gates against him, Alexander commanded 500 of his Agrians, to go close under the walls, with their armes; and if the townsmen sallied out upon them, to retreat: Three thousand fell out upon the 500, who according to direction, fled back, as if they had been afraid, and the enemies pursuing them, fell unawares upon other companies, which were laid of purpose for them; and where Alexander himself in person was: there were they forced to fall to a new fight, wherein there were 6 hundred of them slain upon the place, and 1000 taken, the rest fled, and kept them close within the walls: But of the Kings side there were many grievously wounded, and in danger of death therewith: for the Indians had poisoned the heads of their weapons, with a deadly poyson; and whereas among other, Ptolomei the son of Lagus, was in like manner wounded, and was ready instantly to die thereof, it is said that Alexander in his sleepe saw an herbe, which was a present remedy for that kind of poison, and that herbe squeezed into drink and taken, presently recured him: whereupon others also made use of that medicinable herbe, and recovered. It is most likely that some or other, who knew the virtue of the herbe, acquainted Alexander with it; and then flattery made up the rest of the fable, for his honours sake, saith Strabo, [lib. 15. pag. 723.] who yet relates this as done among the Oritae, of whom we shall speak anon.

When as therefore, Alexander now set himself to besiege Harmotelia, being a strong and well fenced city, the inhabitants came all forth to him, and humbly begged his pardon, submitting themselves and their city, and all to his mercy, whereupon he pardoned them.

Moeris King of Pattalena, the next bordering countrey thereunto, coming to Alexander, put himself and kingdome wholy into his hands: whom when Alexander had freely restored to his state again, he gave order withal to have all things necessary provided for his army.

Alexander commanded Craterus to take with him the Regiments of Attalus, and Meleager, and Antigenes, and some of his Archers, and some also of his allies, and Macedons, which were growen unserviceable, and to carry them into Macedon, by the way of Caramania, through the countreys of the Aracotti, and Zarangi, or Drangi; the rest of the army, some were led by Hephaestion, on the one side of the river Indus and the darters on horseback, and the Agrians, by Pithon on the other: who had also in charge, to provide inhabitants, for the cities which he had built, and that if any new commotions were raised in those parts, he should settle matters there, and that done, should come and joyne with the rest of the army at Pattala.

And when Alexander had now sailed down the river three dayes journey, word was brought him, that Moeris, and a great company of the Patalenians with him, had left the city, and were fled to the mountains and woods: whereupon he made all the haste thither, that possibly he could.

Strabo, [lib. 15. pag. 691.] tells us out of Aristobulus, that Alexander came into Pattalene, about the rising of the dog-star; having then spent full ten moneths, in his navigation, for that he set not forth but very few dayes before the rising of the seven stars: so that Alexander arrived in Pattala, about the end of our July, having been in this navigation, ever since the beginning of the tenth monethmonth before, hereby it appears, that going still down the water, along the Hydaspes, Acesines and Indus, he had spent full nine months, as appeareth by the known rising and setting of these stars: whereby we find that Plutarchs account in this point was not very exact, where he tells us, that foreign (i. e.) His passing down the Rivers to the sea took him up seven monethes time.

p. 266Alexander coming to Patala, found the city and country thereabout void of all inhabitants, though he there found great store of flocks and herds of cattle, and corn in great abundance left. But he presently dispatcht away the nimblest souldiers which he had to overtake those, who were fled away; and ever as they took any, they sent them away to overtake the rest, and to perswade them to return; promising them all security, and fruition of their estates in manner as before, both in City and Country.

Then commanded he Hephaestion to build a fort or citadel upon Patala: others he sent into a Region of theirs which was altogether destitute of water, to dig wells, thereby to make it more habitable: but some of the natives fell upon them, and slew many of them; yet having lost many of their own also in the fight, the rest fled all away to the Woods and Mountains: and Alexander, hearing of what had befallen his men, sent more to joyn with the former, and so to go thorough with the work begun.

Alexander dealt with Nearchus, his Ammiral, to chuse some fit season of the year, to set out from the mouth of the River Indus, and to coast along till he came to the Persian gulf, and to the mouth of the river Euphrates and Tigris: as Arrianus in his Indica, reports out of Nearchus his own writings, [pag. 182.] Making, saith Plutarch, Nearchus Ammiral of the Fleet, and Onesicritus chief Pilot of it. Whence it is that Onesicritus himself in his story sayes of himself, that he was Navarchus: (i. e.) Pilot, as Arrianus [lib. 6. pag. 124.] relates him, and Pliny [lib. 6. cap. 22.] renders him, Praefectum classis: (i. e.) Commander of the Fleet. But Strabo. [lib. 15. pag. 721.] more rightly terms him foreign: (i. e.) chief Pilot: See [Arria. lib. 7. pag. 162. and in his Indica. pag. 191.]

At Patala the River Indus parts it self into two great arms; both which keep the name of Indus till they fall into the Sea: making between them an Island of a threesquare figure, or a foreign, which from the city is called Patalene, bigger than Delta in Egypt is. Onesicritus tells us, that every side of this foreign or triangular Island, is 2 thousand furlongs in length. But Aristobulus sayes, that the basis of it: (i. e.) the side next the sea, and where both the Rivers fall into it, and make a marshland on either side of this Island, is not above 1000 furlongs: But Nearchus, and after him Arrianus, saith, 1800. and Pliny saith, that it is 220 miles in length, [Strabo, lib. 15. pag. 701. Plin. lib. 6. cap. 21. Arria. lib. 5. pag. 103. and lib. 6. pag. 135, 137.]

Alexander, purposing to fall down to the sea, by the right hand channel, made choice of the swiftest ships he had, all of two decks high; and all his gallies of 30 oares a piece, and some nimble barques, and such guides as best knew the River, and so set forward; willing Leonatus, with a thousand Horse, and some 8 thousand Foot, to keep along with him, by the bank of the River.

The morrow after that he set forth, there arose a mighty tempest, and the wind and tide coming crosse each to other, raised a huge billow upon the River, so that his ships fell foul each of other; whereby most of them were bilged, and many of the 30 oares a piece were quite split therewith, before ever they could get to an Island, which lieth in the middest of the channel.

There was Alexander forced to stay a long while, both to build him new vessels instead of them that were lost, as also for that those which were taken in, as guides upon the River, were all run away: And when he sent to get others, he could find none; and so they were fain to go and do as well as they could without them. And now they had gone 4 hundred furlongs, when the Pilots all agreed, and told Alexander that they found a sent of the sea; and that therefore certainly the Ocean could not be far off. He thereupon sent some to go a land, and to take up some of the country people; out of whom he thought something might be learned. They searched their cretes and cottages so long, that at last, they found some people in them; whom they asked, how far they were from the sea: and they answered, that they knew not what the sea was, nor ever had heard of any such thing; but, that, if they went on, in three dayes journey they should come to salt water, which marred the fresh.

Arrianus tells us, that certain Macedons, being set a land, lighted upon some Indians, whom Alexander from thence forward used for his guides upon the River. But when they came where the river opened to the breadth of 200 furlongs, (which is the greatest breadth thereof) and the wind blew very strong off the sea, they were fain again to thrust into a creek, and harbour, which his guides directed him to. But Curtius sayes, that when upon the third day he came, as he was foretold he should to brackish water; he there found an other Island in the River, where they observed that the ships went not so fast, as they were wont to do, because the tide met them, and turned back the River upon them.

Whiles they lay there at anchor, and some went a forraging, they fell into a new danger, for there came in upon them a mighty tide (which to this day is usual in Cambay, where this river of Indus emptieth it self into the sea) and overflowed all the Country thereabout, onelyonly the top of some Hillocks, like so many little Isles, appearing above p. 267water: to which, leaving their Boats, they for safeguard betook themselves; and when the sea was gone out again, and the land left dry, as it was before, then their ships, as it fell out, some fell forward upon their noses, others sidelong, from the side of a bank, where they stuck: and when the next tide came in, those ships which stood upright upon their keels, in the mud, floated presently, with the rising of the water, and had no hurt; but such as lighting on hard ground, when the sea was gone out, were fallen all along: those, upon the returne of the tide, were there right driven one against the other, or beaten and broken all together upon the shore.

All which being repaired, as the time and place would permit, Alexander sent away two Barques down the river to view the Island, which the guides had told him, he must touch at, if he would saile out into the Ocean. That Island the natives called Cilluta, Alexander himself, Scillustin, and others Philtucin. And when they brought him back word, that the Island was large, aud had in it, very commodious ports, and store of fresh water, he commanded the whole navy, to make for that Island; himself with some choice vessels, went further, to discover whether at the mouth of the river, there were no bar, but a safe passage out into the open Ocean; and having now gone some two hundred furlongs, he espied yet another Island, lying further out in the open Ocean.

Then returned he to the former Island lying in the mouth of the River, and coming on shoare, at a certain foreland thereof, he there offered sacrifice, to certain gods, such as, said he, Jupiter Ammon commanded me to sacrifice unto. And the next day he sailed to another Island, lying out in the same Ocean, and there offered other sacrifices, and to other gods, and in another form and fashion, than formerly he had done; saying still, that what he did, was by the direction and command of Jupiter Ammon, and so sailed quite and quite out of the mouth of the river Indus, into the vast Ocean, and there having sacrificed certain Oxen, on shipboard to Neptune, threw them over board into the sea: whereunto he addeth also, a drink offering, and having powred that first into the sea, he threw a golden vial, and sundry golden goblets after it, with thanksgiving, into the Ocean; and praying that, whereas he had a purpose to send Nearchus into the gulf of Persia, he might safely there arrive, [Arrianus lib. 6. pag. 136.]

Justin [lib. 12. cap. 10.] reports, that having returned with a faire side, to the mouth of the River Indus, he there, in memory thereof, built a new City called Barce; and erected certain Altars upon the place, and Curtius [lib. 9. cap. 16.] saith, that at midnight, he put forth with a small company of ships, with the first of the Eb, and went quite out of the mouth of the River Indus, four hundred furlongs into the open Ocean; and, so having done there what he intended, and sacrificed to the gods of those seas, and land adjoyning, returned to the rest of his Navy: and Diodorus Siculus, that he went with some of his familiar friends, out into the main Ocean; and lighting upon two little Ilets, offered there a magnificent sacrifice to the gods: and that withall, he cast a multitude of golden cups, and of a great price, with drink offerings into the sea: and in the end, having there erected certain altars, in honour of Tethys, and Oceanus, supposing that now he had finished his intended voyage into the East, returned with his navy up the River, and that in his returne, he came to a goodly and famous City, called Hyala, whose government was much alike to, or rather, all one, with that of Lacedaemon.

For there were in it, two Kings of two several families, succeeding alwayes in a line and had the administration of the wars, but the chief ordering of civil affairs, was in the senate, and supreme council of state.

Alexander returning to the Patala against the stream, found there the Castle, or Citadel, ready built, according to his directions given; and Pithon returned with his army, having done all, that he went about: and whereas he purposed to leave a part of his navy, at Patala, (which city retaines the same name, among the Indians of Cambais, to this very day) where the River Indus severs it self into two channels, he gave Hephaestion, the charge of making there the ports, and docks fit to receive it.

Mean while he made another journey to the Ocean, by the channel on the left hand of the same River, to try which of the two channels, was the best, and easiest to passe into the Ocean by, and to return again: and when he was now allmost come to the very outlet of this second channel, he found a certain lough in it, which is made either by this River diffusing it self, into a larger space, or by waters which fall in there, from other parts, and make the River more spacious there, than in other parts; and to look like an arme of the sea: there he left Leonatus with most of his army, and with all his lesser sort of ships; and himself went forward, with his ships of 30 oares a piece, and of two tire of oares: and having gotten quite out of the River on that side also, sailed again out into the vast Ocean, and found by experience, that that was the more commodious p. 268channel of the two, to drive a trade by, to Patala. And then going a shoar with certain Horse, he made three dayes journey along the sea coast, and having considered of the coast all along, where he had sailed, he caused wells to be digged in sundry places, for fresh water for his Navy, if need should be, [Arria. lib. 6. pag. 137.]

The next day after his return out of the Ocean, Curtius sayes, that he came up the River, to a certain lough of salt water: which put sundry of them to a great inconveniency, whiles they went into it, not knowing the nature of it; for it drew a scab upon them, and the same infectious also unto others; yet they quickly found an oyl, which cured it: which if it were the same lough, which I mentioned before out of Arrianus, then is all this History to be referred to Alexanders latter return from the Ocean, which no author mentions, save onelyonly Arrianus.

Alexander at his second return to Patala, sent a part of his army to dig those wells by the sea side: charging them withal, as soon as they had done, to return to Patala; and he sailing again into the lough, made there new Ports, and other Docks for his shipping: and leaving a Garrison there, laid up likewise provision of corn for four moneths, and other necessaries for the use of navigation, [Arria. ut sup.] Now it seems, that at this lake it was, that he built the City called Potana; to the end he might have a fit Port for his shipping, in that part of the Ocean: as we gather out of Diodorus, [Ib. 3. pag. 181.] in the Greek and Latin edition, compared with Agatharchides, his Excerptions in Photius, [Cod. 250. cap. 51.] and with this place in Arrianus.

Curtius [lib. 9. cap. 16. & 17.] writes, that Alexander with his army, stayed in the Island of Patasena, expecting the coming on of the Spring; and that during that time, he built many cities there, and that the Winter quarter drawing now to an end, he set fire on his ships which were grown unserviceable, and marched away by land: and [Strabo, lib. 15. pag. 721.] signifies, that towards the Summer season, (which after their account, begins ever with the Spring) he left India: which I conceive, he would not have said, had he better considered, of what he himself a little after affirmeth out of Nearchus, who was Ammiral in it, concerning this voyage; where he saith, That when the King was now upon his way, he himself began his voyage in Autumne when the Pleiades or seven Stars began to appear in the evening.

Wherefore plain it is, that Alexander in September, having sent Leonatus before him, to cause wells to be digged in convenient places for the use of the army in their march overland, thorough a dry and thirsty country, and set fire on his ships, which were leaky; removed from Patala, and came with all his army, to the bank of the River Arbis or Arabius: which River parts the Arbites, or the Arabites, (whom Dionysius Periegetes, calls Aribes, and others call Abrite,) and with them India it self from the Orites. For the Arbites inhabit along the sea shoar of India, which lieth between the River Indus, and the River Arbis, by the space of a thousand furlongs in length, as Nearchus saith, [in Strabo, lib. 15. pag. 720. and Arrianus in his Indica, pag. 185. in si.] and these are the utmost people of the Indians westward, as appears out of [Arrianus in his Indica, pag. 184.] and out of [Plin. lib. 7. cap. 2.] and next to the Oritans, as saith [Pliny, lib. 6. cap. 23. and Arrianus in his Indica, pag. 185.] and which speak in a language of their own, and not that of the Indians.

These Arbites or Arabites, being a free State, or people, living under their own laws, neither strong enough to withstand Alexander, nor willing to submit unto him, so soon as they heard of his coming, fled away to the Woods, and Wildernesses.

Alexander, delivering the rest of his army into Hephaestions hands, took with him one half of his silver Targateers, and a part of his archers, and some certain Regiments of those who were called Asseteri, and a Troup of his fellow Cavaleers; and out of every Regiment of Horse one Troup, and all his archers on horseback, and turned his course on the left hand toward the Ocean; and commanded a multitude of wells to be digged along the sea side, to relieve his Navy with fresh water, as they passed by, on their way to the Gulf of Persia.

No sooner hand Alexander his back turned, but the Patalenians, taking fresh courage, and desirous of liberty, set upon Nearchus, with the army that was left with him, and sent him packing with his Fleet, when he had yet no wind to carry him: as Strabo reports out of Nearchus himself, [lib. 15. pag. 721.] for before the beginning of Winter, which began, together with the setting of the Pleiades in the monethmonth of our November, in those parts, was no time fit for Navigation, [Arria. lib. 6. pag. 137.]

So soon, Year of the World 3679 therefore, as the Ctesian, or trade winds, (which blowing all summer long from the sea to land-ward, put a stop upon all navigation in that coast) were ended, Nearchus having sacrificed to Jove the deliverer, and having performed certain Gymic games, set saile from thence, in the eleventh year of Alexanders reign, when Cephisodorus was L. Chancelor of Athens, the 20 day of the monethmonth Boedromion, or the first of October, according to the Julian Calendar, as I have already shewed in my discourse p. 269of the Solar year among the Macedons, [cap. 2.] out of Arrianus his Indicae. Now we meet with the name of this Cephisidorus, not onelyonly 40 years before this, viz. year 3. of the 103 Olympiade, but also 3 years after this, to wit, year 2. of the 114 Olympiade, which was the next year after Alexanders death, as we find in the Rowls or Tables, of the Chancelors of Athens: so that if this name be rightly set down by Arrianus in this place, and there be no scruple to be made of two Cephisidori, by reason of the vicinity of the times, then there will fall out in the 4 years of 113 Olympiade, this difference ensuing in the ordering of the Chancelors of Athens, between Diodor. Sic. Dionysi. Halic. and Arrianus, as followeth.

Pliny tells us, that Alexander built a City, at the place; from whence Nearchus and Onesicratus set forth upon their intended voyage; and that is the same which we find called, Xulinopolis. [lib. 6. cap. 23.] of which yet it is a wonder, that in the same place he should add, That no man can tell, where, or upon what River it was built: For where should it be, but in the Isle of Patalene, where they were left by Alexander, to attend the season fit to begin their voyage: or upon what River, but upon the Indus, where the Navy rode, and along which that fleet passed, when it fell down into the Ocean, as Arrianus teacheth us, out of Nearchus himself, in his Indica, pag. 183.]

The first day after they set forth from the port of Xulinopolis, to go down the River Indus, they came to a wonderfull deep channel, called Stura, distant from the port, one hundred furlongs; and there lay at anchor, two dayes.

The third day, they removed; and came to another channel, 30 furlongs lower; where they found the water a little brackish, for the tide coming up so far, and there mingling with the fresh water, leaves a tast of salt in the place, even at low water: and when the tide is gone out, and that place was called Caumana.

From thence they parted, and came to a place lower upon the river, 20 furlongs, called Coreatis.

And then weighing again, they had not gone far, but they kenned a Rock, just at the place where the Indus opens and falls into the sea, and beats upon the shoare, which was of it self very rocky: but where it began to be soft ground, and better bedding for ships, there they put in with the tide, and drew a ditch of five furlongs long, before them.

And falling down again, 150 furlongs farther, they came to a sandy Island called Crocala, and stayed there one other day, near to which, upon the main land inhabited, an Indian nation, called the Arabii, from the River Arabius, which divides them, as was said before, from the Oritans.

Their journey forward, is at large described by Arrianus out of Nearchus himself, as he witnesseth, [lib. 6. pag. 143.] and after him by Jo. Ramusius, in his Navigations, [vol. 1. fol. 169.] a breif of which voyage, is also delivered by Pliny [lib. 6. cap. 23.] gathered out of Onesicritus by King Juba: as those words in him shew right well, where he saith, It is fit I should here set down, what Onesicritus delivers, of this navigation, wherein himself was by the command of Alexander, out of India, into the very mediterranean parts, of Persia, and out of him agaia related by King Juba: out of which we may also gather the meaning of those other words of Pliny next following, (i. e.) That voyage of Nearchus and Onesicritus, hath neither names of places, where they touched by the way, nor distances from one place to another; to wit, as it is described by Juba, or Onesicritus himself, for that both were delivered by Nearchus, appears by Arrianus, who out of him, hath delivered both the one and the other, particularly.

But that we may returne to Alexander, he having put over the river Arbis or Arabius, and having the very night following marched thorough a great part of the sandy Country, came the next morning into places well inhabited and cultured. Then he leaving the foot to follow in good array, took the Horse with himself, cast into several Troups, and squadrons, in very good order, but so wide spread, that they might take up and drive all the Country before them, and so set upon the Oritans, of which a great part, which took up arms, were slain, and many were taken prisoners, and then coming to a smal river side; he there encamped.

p. 270Then dividing his company into three brigades, he gave one to Ptolomei, to lead along by the coast; the second to Leonatus, to passe through the midst of the countrey, and champain part thereof; and the third he took to himself; and with it marched into the hill country of that region, and mountanous parts thereof, with the places adjoyning, and spoiled and wasted all that came in his way, whence the souldiers enriched themselves, and slew many a ten thousand of men withall.

But when Hephaestion, who had the greater part of the whole army under his command, was come up unto him; Alexander went forward to Rambacia, which was the principal division of all that countrey, where, when he found a place by the sea side, safe from all wind and weather, he presently gave order to Hephaestion, to build a city there, which being finished, and called by the name of Alexandria, he made there a plantation of the Arachosians, to dwell therein.

And then again, taking with him one half of his silver Targateers and Agrians, and a squadron of horse, and Archers on horseback, marched away to the borders of the Oritans and Gedrosians, where he was told there was a narrow passage, which parted the two countreys: and that both nations with their several armies were encamped there, to keep that passage against him: But no sooner came the news unto them of his approach, but the most part of them abondoned the place and fled: whereupon the chief of the Oritans, went unto him, and submitted themselves and their whole country to him: and the onelyonly charge which he laid upon them was, to call home their countrey men, every one to his own place, assuring them, that in so doing, all should be well with them; and they receive no harme.

Then made the Apollophanes Governor of the Oritans, joyning Leonatus, a Squire of the body with him: with whom he left all his Agrians, and some of his Archers, and Horse, and other companies of his foot, and mercinaries out of Greece, in the country of the Oritans, giving them in charge to attend the coming of the fleet into those parts; and in the mean time to go in hand with the building of a new city, and to order all matters there for the benefit of the people.

Then set he forward with a great part of his army (for now was Hephaestion again come up unto him) and marcht into the countrey of the Gedrosians, which was for the most part abondoned by the Inhabitants. In which desert, as Aristobulus saies, the Phaenicians which followed the army, to buy what was there to be sold, loaded their camels with mirrh, and spikenard, for of such spicery and Apothecary ware, there was infinite store growing in those parts: so as the whole army used it for coverings, and beds to lie upon: and of the spikenard which they trode under their feet, a most sweet smell diffused it self far off, [Arrian. lib. 6. pag. 138. and Strabo, lib. 15. pag. 721.]

He sent Craterus before him with a part of the army, into the mid-land countreys, both to subdue Arimania (under which name, all the Regions to the west of India, properly so called, even as far as Carmania, go) and so to go from thence forward into those places, which himself purposed to come unto; But Craterus marching through the countreys of the Aracotti, and the Drangae, subdued by force the countrey of Choarina, which refused to submit themselves, [Strabo, ut supra, pag. 721. 725.] And whereas Ozines (whom Arianus calls Ordones) and Tariaspes two noble men of Persia, endeavoured a revolt in Persia, he subdued them by force, and laid them in irons, [Curt. l. 9. c. 18.]

Himself with another part of the army, going through the country of Gedrosia, some 500 furlongs distant from the sea, and yet sometimes quartering near to the sea it self, marched through a barren, craggy, dry, and desolate countrey: for his desire was to visit the sea coast, all along, that he might discover, what places there were in those parts fit to make ports of; and there to make provision for his fleet, which was to come that way by his appointment, and for that purpose, to cause wells to be digged, and markets to be kept, and ports to be made, fit to receive them when they came, [Strabo, ut su. p. 721. and Arria. l. 6. p. 139.]

To this purpose, he sent before him one Thoantes, with a competent company of Horse, to scout about the sea coast; and to see wether there were any fit place for landing there, or fresh water near the shore; or other fitting provisions for them: who returning brought him word, that he found there certain poor fishermen: and that they had to dwell in, a kind of little cottages, built up and covered with shells of fishes, and the back-bones of them serving for rafters; and that the men used litle water, and that it self, such as they digged out of the sand; and that not very sweet neither.

Alexander, coming at length into a countrey of the Gedrosians, where was store of corne, he seised it all into his own hand, and sealing up the sacks, wherein it was, with his own signet, and laying it upon carriages, sent it all away to the sea side. But whiles he went to the next ports, the souldiers, for all the seals, brake up the sacks, and took p. 271out the corn, and spent it, for very hunger; in which action, they were the formost, who were principally trusted with the keeping of it: and Alexander, understanding that what was done, was for pure hunger, winked at it. And sent about all the country over to take up more corn, and sent that away by one Cretheus, to the sea side, to relieve the Fleet, with the army in it, which at that very time came to land in those parts: commanding also the natives, to go farther up into the country, & from thence to bring as much corn ready ground, and dates, and cattel, as possibly they could, and carry it to be sold at the sea side, to the army; and withal, dispatcht away Telephus one of his Nobles, to make further provision of corne ready ground, whereof he found some quantity, though not much; and carried it to another Port; according to directions.

Mean while some of the Oritans, dwelling in the mountains set upon Leonatus his Brigade, and slew a great number of them, and then retired into their fastnesse again: as Diodorus saith: and then the whole nation of the Oritans, joyning with other neighbouring countries, made a body of some 8000 Foot, and 400 Horse, and made a general revolt. But Leonatus meeting with them, cut off 6 thousand of their Foot, and all their Leaders: and lost of his own men, but 15 Horse, and some few Foot; but withal, there died in that fight, Apollophanes, Governour, as was said before, appointed by Alexander, of that whole country, [Cur. lib. 9. cap. 18. Arria. lib. 7. pag. 149. and in his Indica, pag. 184.]

Nearchus, coming a shoar at this place with his Fleet, took in provision of corn, provided by Alexander, to serve his army aboard for ten dayes: repaired his ships, that were any wayes leaky, and left such of his Mariners as he found not fit for sea, with Leonatus to serve at land, and took others in their room, out of his companies, [Arria, in his Indica, pag. 185.]

Philippus, whom Alexander had made Governour over the Oxydracans and Mallians, was set upon by his own mercenary companies, and by them murdered; and the murderers presently were set upon by the Macedons which were of his guard; and either then present, or immediately after, taken and hewed in pieces for their pains

It is said, that Alexander endured many a hard brunt, and suffered more losses, in the country of the Gedrosians, than in all Asia besides; so that of all that army, which he carried with him into India, he brought scantly a fourth part out of Gedrosia; what with greivous diseases, ill diet, burning heats, deep sands, want of water, and famine, which he suffered in those parts. But Nearchus sayes, that Alexander, though he were not ignorant of the incommodities of this way, yet out of a selfwill'd ambition, which reigned, or rather raged in him, he would need force his way thorough it forsooth; because some had told him that Semiramis, and Cyrus both, had gone that way into India; and therefore he would needs return the same way out of it: though it was told him withal, that she was fain to save her self by flight from thence, with 20 men onelyonly in her company; and Cyrus with seven, thinking it would prove a great glory for him, if, when they suffered so much there, he should be able to come off with his army safe and sound: wherefore partly out of this ambition, partly to favour and relieve his Navy, which he had appointed to meet him in those parts, it was, that Nearchus sayes, he would needs return homeward thorough that country. When his guides, missing their way thorough those vast sands, by reason the wind had confounded and covered all the tracks, which lead thorough them; Alexander guessing out of his own mother wit, that the way must needs lie on the left hand, took a small company of Horse with him, and went to see whether he could recover the sea shoar or no: but their horses being all spent to five, with the length and torridnesse of the way, lay behind, and he with those five onelyonly in his company, came at length to the sea side, where digging a while, and finding fresh water to drink, he presently sent back for his whole army to come thither to him: and when they were come, he marched forward seven dayes journey, along the sea coast, and found plenty of fresh water all the way; and then his guides having found the way again, led him up into the midland countries, as he desired, [Strabo, ibid. pag. 722. Arria. pag. 142.]

At two moneths end therefore, after he parted from the country of the Oritans aforesaid, he came to the chief city of the Gedrosians, called Pura, and there he rested his army; and refreshed them with feastings, as was very fitting, and high time for him to do, [Strabo, ut sup. pag. 723. Arria. pag. 140. and 142. and Plut. in Alexan.]

From thence he dispatched away the swiftest courriers that possible he could finde, to Phrataphernes, whom he had left Governour of Parthia, and to the two Presidents of the Provinces of Drangia and Aria, lying at the foot of the mount Taurus, with commands to them, that they should forthwith get together as many Camels, Dromedaries, and others, with all sorts of beasts of draught or carriage, as possibly they could, and load them all with victuals, of all sorts, and send them in all haste to meet him at p. 272his first entry into the countrey of Carmania; These letters speedily carried, and duly executed on all hands, caused, that when he came into Carmania, he found there all kind of provisions necessary, ready to receive him and his army, at the place appointed.

Menon, the Governor of the Arachosians, being lately dead, Alexander made one Sibyrtius, Governor of Arachosia and Gedrosia, both.

As Alexander was upon his march towards Carmania, news was brought him of the death of Philippus, Governour of the Oxydracans and Mallians: whereupon he presently wrate away to Eudemus and Taxilas, and by his letters, commended the charge and care of those two Provinces unto them, untill he should send a Governor to succeed in Philips roome.

So soon as he set foot in Carmania, Astaspes the Satrape of that province, met him, of whom there was a suspition that he would have revolted from him, whiles he was in India. Alexander concealing the grudge which thereupon he bare him, received him very graciously, and used him according to his ranke and quality, whiles in the mean time, he sought by all means possible to find out whether the suspition that was raised of him were true or false.

Here Craterus came unto him, with the rest of the army, and the Elephants, and bringing with him Ordones, al. Ozines, and Zariaspes, whom he had taken into custody, for having endeavoured a revolt in Persia. And thither came also Stasanor, Governor of the Provinces of Parthia and Hircania; and with them, the Captains and Commanders of all those forces which he had formerly left with Parmenion, in the Province of Media, to wit, Cleander and Sitalces, and Heracon and Agetho, which brought him 5 thousand foot, with a thousand horse.

Now the several Governors and Presidents in the parts of India, sent him in here, an infinite number of horses and other beasts of draught and carriage, some for pack-saddles, and some for panniards, out of every countrey of his dominions in India, some. Stasanor also, and Phrataphernes, brought him a huge number of drought Horses, and Camels. And Alexander presently distributed them all among those that wanted them to carry their goods upon, some he bestowed upon particular Captains, the rest he distributed among the soldiers, by troups and companies, as he saw cause; He also new armed his soldiers with as much bravery as ever: for why? they now drew near unto Persia, a country full, not onelyonly of peace, but also of all manner of plenty and wealth.

Here Alexander (as Arrianus report out of Aristobulus) offered a sacrifice of thanksgiving to his gods for his victory over the Indians, and for the safe coming of his army out of Gedrosia: and withal, entertained his armies with sports of musick and wrestlings, and such like: and moreover took Pencestes, who covered him with his target in the countrey of the Mallians, to be the chief Squire of his body, an honour, which at that time, seven only men had borne; Leonatus, Hephaestion, Lysimachus, Aristonus (all born in Pella) Perdicas of the countrey of Macedonia; Ptolomei the son of Lagus, and Pithon, and the 8 was Pencestes, for his brave behaviour in saving the King from the Mallians. Others, and among them, Diodore, and Curtius, and Plutarch, say, that Alexander, whether in imitation or emulation of Bacchus, but in a drunken manner, spent seven days with his army, in his passage through Carmania, [Diodor. and Plutarch in the life of Alexander, and in the book of his good fortune; and Curtius, lib. 9. c. 18. with lib. 3. ib. c. 24. & lib. 8. c. 19.] which Arrianus therefore holds for very improbable, because that neither Ptolomeus, Aristobulus, nor any other credible Author in this kind, make any mention of it.

Aspastes the Governour of Carmania, was put to death, and Tlepolemus made Governor in his room, [Curt. lib. 9. cap. ult. Arria. lib. 6. pag. 142. and again in his Indica, pag. 193.]

Cleander and Sitalces, who slew Parmenion, by Alexanders command, were accused to him for many vilanies (which I mentioned before) by them committed both by the Provincials, and also by the army it self: not could that slaughter by them committed, how acceptable soever it was to the King, expiate in his mind such a multitude of vilanies and grosse misbehaviours, as were laid to their charge: wherefore he put them forthwith in chains, to be done to death when he thought fit: but seven hundred private soldiers, whom they had used as executioners of their vilanies, he caused there presently to be executed, and at the same time also was execution done upon Ozines and Zariaspes, whom Craterus had brought prisoners, for endeavouring a rebellon in Persia as was said before.

Mean while Nearchus, having sailed along the coast of the Arabii, the Oritans, the Gedrosians, and the Icthyophagians (so called because they lived onelyonly upon fish) arrived in the Gulf of Persia, and came to Harmozia, al. Armusia (which is now called Ormus, or Ormusa) and there drew up his ships, and went over land with a small retinue p. 273to Alexander, who as he heard by a Grecian, which came from the army, was not above five dayes journey off, and found him in a certain sea Town, called Salmuntes, busie in making stage-plaies there, and sitting himself on the open theatre.

Alexander also offered sacrifice there, to Jupiter, by the name of a deliverer, and to Hercules and Apollo, by the name of Apollo, foreign, (i. e,) the deliverer from evil, and Neptune for bringing his army safe out of the Ocean. He also made sports and games of Musick, and other Gymnick exercises; and made a pageant, which was led in by Nearchus, all the army setting themselves on work, to get flowers and garlands to strow upon him.

Alexander, having fully heard the relation which he made of his whole voyage, sent him back to the fleet, with a smal army to convoy him, because the whole country, which he was to passe, was, as he thought, friend, and willed him to saile up as far as the very mouths of the Euphrates, and to be in a readinesse from thence to row up to Babylon, when order should be given.

Tlepolemus was scantly warm in his Strapie or Government of Carmania, when the natives all rose, and possessed themselves of the principal and strongest places, of that country: these also set upon Nearchus in his return, in sundry places, so that he was often put to it, and forced to fight twice or thrice in a day: yet with much ado, he came at length safe to the sea side, where he sacrificed to Jupiter his deliverer, and made games of dancing, running, wrestling, and the like: then loosing from Ormuse, he kept along by the shoare of the Persian gulf; and by such stages, as Arrianus in his Indica, out of Nearchus himself, delivereth, came to the mouth of the River Euphrates.

Alexander, understanding by letters from Potus and Taxiles, that Abisarus was dead, gave his kingdom to his son. He sent away also Eudemon, al. Eudemus, who was commander of the Thracians, to succeed Philip, slain, as a foresaid, in the government of the Oxydracans and Mallians.

He sent Hephaestion with the greater part of the army, and with the carriages and Elephants, to go out of Carmania into Persia by sea for that the Persian sea in the winter season it alwayes calm, and there was great store of provision in those parts.

Stasanor being sent back to his Government, Alexander himself, with the choicest of his Foot, and with the Horse of his confederates, and a part of his Archers, marched to Pasargadas in Persia, where he gave money among the women, as the fashion of the Persian Kings was, when ever they came into Persia, to give unto every woman there, a piece of gold.

At his very entrance into Persia Orsines, al. Orxines met him: He it was, who after the death of Phrasaortes the Governour there, (Alexander being then a far off in India) by his authority kept the Persians in their due subjection and allegance to him, till he gave order for another Governour to succeed in the deceased room. He was descended from one of the seven Princes of Persia, and deduced his pedigree from Cyrus himself, and now came, and met Alexander, and presented not him alone, but all his nobles also, with rich gifts, onelyonly he gave nothing to Bagoas the Eunuch, and the Kings bardaschy; which proved afterward the cause of his destruction, [Curtius lib. 4. cap. 27. and lib. 10. cap. 3. Arrianus lib. 6.]

Whiles he was at Pasargadas there came unto him Atropates, the Governor of Media, bringing with him prisoner Baryaxes a Median, who had worn his Turbant upright, and called himself king of Medes and Persians; him therefore he brought prisoner to the King; and all those, who had been partakers with him in that action. All which Alexander caused forthwith to be put to death.

But he was most of all offended at that vilany committed upon Cyrus, his monument, which he found all broken down and spoiled, and the pretious things which he had formerly seen there, all save a lictier, and a golden urn, wherein his body was put, purloined, and that also was broken, and the covering of the urne taken off, and his very body tumbled out of it by those sacrilegious theeves, and they had also gone about to hew in pieces, and batter the urne or coffin it self, the better to carry it away, by pieces, if it might have been; which because they could not, therefore they left it behind them. But Alexander presently gave order to Aristobulus, to rebuild his sepulchre in such form as it was before, and for those parts of his body which were left, to put them into the urne again, and to make a new cover for it; and to reform what was defaced, and to embellish it in all points, as formerly it was: and moreover, to mute up the dore, which led into the Chappel, where the body lay, with lime and stone, and to put the impression of the Kings seal upon it. All this Strabo reports, out of Aristobulus himself, [lib. 5. pag. 173.] And Arrianu, at the end of his 6 book.

p. 274After this, Alexander commanded the Magi or Priests, which had the keeping of the Sepulchre, to be taken and had to the rack, to make them confesse the authors of this sacrilege, who yet could never be drawn to confesse any thing, either against themselves, or any other person, and thereupon were discharged: yet Plutarch sayes, that Polymachus, though no mean person, and a Pellaean borne, was put to death by Alexander, onelyonly for opening and looking into the Sepulchre.

From Pasargada, Alexander marcht to Persepolis, the Royal Seat of the Kings of Persia, which he himself had set on fire, and burnt to the very ground; but now at his return thither, he blamed himself for so doing. Here were many foul matters laid to Orxines his charge: as, That he had spoiled and robbed the Kings houses, and sepulchres of the dead, and done many of the Nobility of Persia to death. But in particular, Bagoas the Eunuch put it into the Kings head, that perhaps it was he, that had robbed the sepulchre of Cyrus too: wherein, said he, I have heard Darius say, there were 3000 talents layed up; and wrought so far with the King, that he forthwith caused the Noblest person of all the Persian Nation, and to him a most affectionate servant, to be crucified.

At the same time also, Phradates, who had formerly been Governour of the Hircanaius, and Mardians, and Tapyrians, being now drawn into suspition of making himself a King, was put to death, [Curt. lib. 8. cap. 8. and lib. 10. cap. 4.]

Alexander now made Pencestes, (of whose worth in all kinds he had had so good proof, especially in that danger of his among the Mallians) Governour of Persia. And he presently, and onelyonly of all the Macedons, put himself into the Median attire, and fell a learning of the Persian tongue: and began withal to order matters all after the Persian garb; for which Alexander much commended him, and the Persians were glad at heart, to see him use the Persian, rather than the Macedon attire.

And now a toy took Alexander again in the head; and he would needs fall down the Euphrates, and Tigris, and go see the Persian sea, and how those Rivers fell into the Ocean there, as formerly he had done, at the River Indus, and the sea which that falls into. Also, he had a purpose to sail round the coast of Arabia first, and then of all Africa; and so to return into the Mediterran Sea, and to Macedon by the way of Hercules his pillars, [Arria. lib. 7.] And being in this mood, he gave order to the Governours of Mesopotamia, to fell timber in Lebanon, and to carry it to Thapsacus a City in Syria, and to make keeles for huge ships to be built thereon; not all of seven tire high, as Curtius hath it; but some of one size, some of another, as we shall see anon out of Aristobulus, and all to be brought overland to Babylon: and order was given to the Kings of Cyprus to provide, brasse, and towe, and sailes, for this Fleet, [Curt. lib. 10. cap. 2.]

Nearchus, and Obesicritus, coming with the Fleet to the mouth of the Euphrates, anchored at Diridotis, which is the chief Mart Town of the whole Province of Babylon; and where the Merchants of Arabia, with their frankincense and spicery, use to discharge; And there hearing that Alexander would go to Susa, they fell back, and went to the mouth of the River Pasitigris; and rowing up that River, they came to a country well inhabited, and plentifully stored with all provisions; and having rowed 150 furlongs, they there came to an anchor again; attending the return of them whom Nearchus had sent to bring him word where the King was. Mean while Nearchus there again sacrificed to the gods his deliverers, and made Games; so that the whole Sea-army, gave themselves wholy to pastime and merriment, [Arria. in his Indica.]

Calanus an Indian borne, and a Gymnosophista, or of the sect of Philosophers, which went naked in those parts, having now attained the 73 year of his age, and had never in all that time felt ach in his bones, or other sicknesse or distemper in his body; happened now to fall into his first sicknesse at Pasargadas; wherefore finding some feeblenesse in his parts, and them to grow weaker every day more than other, when he came to the borders of the territory of Susa, (for there it was that this fell out, as Diodorus saith; and not in a suburbe of the City of Babylon, as Elian. lib. 5. Varia. Histor. cap. 6. will have it) he petitioned Alexander, that he would cause a great pile of wood to be made, and that when he was got up upon it, he would cause some of his servants to put fire to it. The King at first endeavoured to disswade him from his purpose; but when he could not, and the man told him, that if not that, he would die some other way: Alexander commanded a pile of wood to be dressed as he desired, and bad Ptolemei the son of Lagus, to take care for it, [Diodor. lib. 17. Strabo, lib. 15. pag. 686. & 717. & Arria. lib. 7.] But as he was going to the Pile of wood, he saluted and kissed the hands, and bad farewell to all the rest, of his friends: but Alexanders hand he would not kisse; saying, that he should meet with him time enough at Babylon, to kisse it there; meaning, that he should die there, [Arria. lib. 7. pag. 160. Plut. in Alex. Cic. lib. 1. De divinat. Valer. Max. lib. 1. cap. 8.]

p. 275Now Nearchus tells us, that so soon as the fire was put to the p…e of wood, the trumpets sounded, for so Alexander had appointed; and the whole army there present, gave a shout, as if they had been ready to joyn in a battle: the Elephants also at the same time made a noise, such as they use when they enter fight in the field; as if all had conspired to honour the funeral of Calanus. [Arrianus.]

Chares of Mitylene, addeth further, that Alexander, to honour his funeral, caused a prize of Musicians and Wrestlers to be proclaimed: and that, desirous herein to gratifie the Indian Nation, he made one match of drinking, a thing usual among them; and that he appointed a talent for him that could drink most, and 30 pounds for the second, and ten for the third: and when he had called many of his Nobles and Captains to that feast, he that drank most, was one Promachus, who drank off fower gallons and one pottle, and having received his talent for his prize, lived three days after, and then died; of the rest, 35 finding a starke chillinesse coming on them by the surfeit which they took instantly, and six others of them, shortly after, were found dead in their tents, [Athenaeus, lib. 10. cap. 12. Plutarch in Alexander. Elian. Vaira. Histor. lib. 2. c. p. 42.]

Nearchus, and Onesicritus, with their Navale army; continuing their course up the river Pasitigris came to a bridge newly made, over which Alexander with his army was to passe, to come to Susa; and there they anchored, [Arria, in his Indica, pag. 197. Pliny, [lib. 6. cap. 23.] saith, they found him at Susa, keeping holiday seven months after he left them at Patala, and in the 3 monethmonth after they set saile from thence: or rather in the sixth month, seeing we have already made it appear that they set out from Patalene, the very next monethmonth after he parted from them at the City Patala.

Now when both armies both of land and sea, were come together, Alexander offered sacrifice yet again, for his Navy and Army both, so preserved, and made playes and games for it: and whereever Nearchus went through the spaces of the camp, every man strowed flowers, and cast garlands on him, [Arria. ut sup.]

Alexander, having sent away Atropates to his Government, marcht to susa: where when Abulites; who had made no provision at all for his entertainment, onelyonly presented him with 3 thousand talents of silver, he bade him lay it before his horses, and when they would none of it; for what purpose then, said he, is this mony: Plutarch saith that Alexander laid Abulites in irons, and struck his son Oxathres al. Oxyartes through with a javelin: Arrianus saith, that he put both the father and son to death, for their ill behaviour, in their government at Susa.

Many of the Nations, which he had conquered, came in and complained of their Governors who little dreaming of Alexanders ever returning out of India, committed many and monstrous outrages, both upon the temples of their gods, and upon the sepulchres of the dead, and also upon the persons and fortunes of the subject: all which Alexander commanded to be executed in the view of those who came to complain against them, without all respect of nobility, favour or service, which otherwise they might have done; and now also Cleander and Sitalees, whom he had condemned whiles he was yet in Carmania, he caused to be executed for company, as guilty of the like disorders. Heracon also, who hitherto had scaped scot free, but was now accused by the men of Susa, for robbing and ransacking their temple, and thereof convicted, suffered according to his deserts. And now Alexander grew ready to hearken to every slight accusation, upon trivial matters, and to punish with death and torment, every small offence, conceiving with himself, that they who acted small matters, intended greater in their minds.

And when the fame of such his severity against his officers in their several places flew abroad, many, considering what themselves had done, began to fear what might come thereof: some of which packing up what moneys they had gotten, fled away into unknown parts, others who commanded over mercinary companies, openly revolted from him: whereupon letters were presently dispatcht away to all the Governors and Presidents of countreys throughout all Asia, to disband and send away all mercenary companies, [Diodor. yer 2. Olym. 113.]

No sooner then, was this order put in execution; but forthwith many strangers, finding themselves cashiered, went straggling over all Asia, and for want of pay, lived upon the spoile of the countrey, till at length they all came into one body, at Tenarus in Laconia: and so likewise all the Commanders and Governors of the Persians which were left, gathering together what men and moneys they could make, came all to Tenarus, and there joyned their forces together, [Id. year 3. Olymp. 113. and year 2. Olymp. 114.]

Alexander now took to wife, Statira, the eldest daughter of Darius, and besides her another, as Aristobulus tells us, called Parysatis, the youngest daughter of Ochus; and gave Drypates the youngest daughter of Darius, and his own wives sister in marriage p. 276to Hephaestion. To Craterus, he gave Amestris, the daughter of Oxyarta, al. Oxathra, a daughter of Oxathres the brother of Darius. Perdiccas married the daughter of Atropates the governour of Media. Nearchus had given him to wife the daughter of Spitamenes the Bactrian; to Ptolemeus the son of Lagus, the squire of his body, and to Eumenes, were given the two daughters of Artabazus, and sisters unto Barsina, by whom, though not in lawfull wedlock: Alexander himself had a son, called Hercules. Ptolomei his wife, was called Artacama, al. Apama; but she whom Eumenes married, Artonis: where we must note by the way, that the name of Barsine in Arrianus, [lib. 7. pag. 148.] is put for Statira: But in Plutarch, in the beginning of the Life of Eumenes, where he nameth his wife, it is, I know not how, crept in for Artonis.

Upon all the rest of his Nobles likewise, Alexander bestowed wives, of the most illustrious families that were of the Medes and Persians, in all to the number of 80, as Arrianus, or 90, as Elian, 92 as Chares, 100 as Plutarch, in his discourse of the Fortune of Alexander affirmeth. Now these marriages of Alexander and his Nobles were all made and solemnised, at one and the self same time, the King bestowing a dowry with every one of them; and for five dayes together, celebrated these marriages, with that pomp and magnificence of feasting, and Mascarades, as is set down by Elian, [lib. 8. cap. 7. Var. Hist. and by Atheneus, Deipnosoph. lib. 12. cap. 18. out of Chares of Mytylene, lib. 10. of his History of Alexander.] To every one of the guests, who amounted in all to the number of nine thousand; it is said, that he gave a golden vial to sacrifice a drink offering withall. To the rest of the Macedons, who had formerly married wives out of Asia, which amounted to above ten thousand men, he gave them every man wedding gifts.

Moreover, he thought it fitting at this time, to pay every one of the souldiers debts out of his own store: and when he had given order that every one should give in a ticket of what he owed, that thereupon they might receive every man his money, at the first very few gave in their tickets, fearing that this was but a devise of the Kings to find out who they were, that could not live of their pay, by reason of their riotous expenses. But among those, who did give in their names, there was one Antigenes, with one eye, and who had lost the other under Philip, at the siege of Perinthus, with the hurt of a dart from the wall. He feigning himself to be more in debt then indeed he was, brought one to the pay-master; who affirmed to him, that he had lent the said Antigenes so much money: whereupon Antigenes received it. But the King being afterward informed of this abuse of his, grew worth thereat, and forbad him ever after to come within his court, and took from him an office, which he had; which brand of ignominy, he took so to heart, that he thought thereupon to kill himself; which Alexander perceiving, remitted his displeasure, and suffered him to enjoy his money.

But when he heard that many, who were truely in debt, would not yet give in their names, but would keep their own counsel, and would not be know what they ought, he then openly blamed them for being so distrustful of him, saying, that a King should be no other than true to his subjects, nor the subjects have other opinion of their King, but that he would be in all things true unto them. And then he caused tables to be set out in sundry places of the Camp, with monies on them; and whoever brought in his ticket of what he owed, received presently his money, without being asked so much as what his name was, and then they began to believe that Alexander was Alexander, and a man of his word, indeed.

The largesse of his among his souldiers, amounted, as Justin and Arrianus report, to upward of 20 thousand talents, whereas Diodorus more probably saith, that it came to little lesse than ten thousand, for Curtius and Plutarch say, that of 10 thousand talents brought forth, there were, 130 left all paid, with this lennoy over and above of Curtius, So that, saith he, that army, conqueror of so many nations, brought yet more honour and glory, then spoil and riches out of Asia.

Sundry other gifts did Alexander at that time bestow upon several men in the army, either according to degree and quality, or in regard of some memorable services which they had done, and upon those which excelled in this kind, he bestowed over and above Crowns of gold to wear: as first, upon Pencestes, who covered him with his Target against the Mallians, and next him upon Leonatus, who at the same time also fought most manfully in his defence, and had upon sundry occasions behaved himself bravely in the country of the Oritans, and thirdly upon Nearchus, who had brought his Navy and army, therein safe out of Indie thorough the Ocean into those parts: and in the fourth place One…critus, the Pilote of the Kings ships, and then Hephaestion, and other squires of his body.

Mean while, there came unto him the Governours of sundry Cities, which he had built, and divers Provinces, by him subdued, bringing with them to Susa 30 thousand souldiers out of Persia and other Nations (of which I spake formerly in the year of the World 3676.) all young men, and of an age, goodly persons all, to look on, and of p. 277great performance. These being thus selected by the Kings command, and trained and marshalled after the Macedonian manner and discipline in feates of armes, and all gloriously armed, encamped before the walls of Susa; where when they had given a proof of their readinesse and good addresse in Marshal Discipline before the King, the King highly rewarded them every man, and gave them the name of Epigoni; that is, of an after brood, growing up in their room, who in feates of Chivalry, and Conquering the World, had gone before them.

Alexander, Year of the World d. having delivered over the greater part of his land army to Hephaestion, to be led to the coast of the Persian Gulf, and given order for his Navy to come to the country of Susa; took shipping there with his silver Targateers and his Phalaux or Main Squadron, and part of his fellow Cavalleers, and fell down by the River Ulay, into the Gulf of Persia. But before he came at it, left many of his ships, which were any wayes bilged and leaky, and with the rest went forward and came about from the mouth of that River by sea, to the River Tigris: the rest he sent up the channel or cut, by which the Tigris is drawn into the Ulay, and so they also came into the River it self of Tigris.

Alexander, compassing about all the shoar of the Persian Gulf, which lieth between the two mouths, that of the River Ulay, and that other of Tigris, came to his Camp; where Hephaestion with the army attended his coming. Then returned he again to Opis, a City seated upon the bank of the Tigris; and as he went on, caused all the dams, locks, and sluces, which the Persians had made upon that River, to hinder the accesse of any enemy by sea to Babylon, to be taken away; saying, That they were but shifts and devises of those, who were of little worth in themselves, [Arria. lib. 7. with Strabo, lib. 16. pag. 740.]

But so soon as he came to Opis, he called all his army together, and declared to them that his purpose was, to discharge all such, as through age, or otherwise, found themselves grown unserviceable for the war, and to give them free leave to return every man to his own home: but for such as were able and would stay, he promised to make their condition such, and to bestow such largesse upon them, as should make their eyes ake, that lay idleing at home; and should encourage the rest of the Macedons to come and share with them in their fortunes.

This he did with a purpose to gratifie the Macedons: But they took it, as if thereby he went about to disgrace them, and held them for no better than a company of uselesse men for his wars; and champing upon this bit, called to mind all other grievances, and occasions of discontent by him formerly given them in any kind: as that he went attired in a Median Robe; and that all those goodly marriages that he made, were all solemnized forsooth, after the Persian fashion: that Pencestes his Governour of Persia, was turned altogether Persian, both in attire and language, and that Alexander himself delighted, but too much, in these new fangles, and outlandish fashions. That the Bactrians, Sogdians, Arachosians, Zarangians, Arians, Parthians, and those Persian Horse, which were called Euacae, were mixed with, and reckoned among his fellow Cavaleers. That now there was a fifth Brigade of Horse set up; not altogether indeed consisting of forreign nations; but yet that encreasing the number of his Horse, there were taken into them, Cophes the son of Artabazus, Hydarves, and Artiboles, the two sons of Mazaeus, Itanes the son of Oxyartes, and brother to Roxane, Alexanders wife, Aegobares, and his brother Mithrobaeus; and that he had made Hydaspes a Bactrian by birth, Commander over that Regiment: and that instead of the Macedonian Spear, they used a Javelin, after the manner of forreign nations. That he had erected a new company of young forreigners, calling them Epigoni, and armed them after the Macedonian manner. And lastly, that in all things he despised and scorned the Macedonian Discipline and Customs, and the Macedons themselves: wherefore one and all cryed out, and desired to be discharged, and to serve no longer in the wars: bidding him and his father Hammon, go fight hereafter if they would, seeing he grew weary of, and cared no more for his own souldiers, who had hitherto fought for him.

In this combustion, Alexander enraged as he was, leapt off the place, where he stood speaking to them, and with such Captains as were about him, and flew in among them, and took thirteen of the principal mutineers, and which stirred up this sedition among the rest; and delivered them to the Serjeants, to be bound hand and foot and thrown into the Tigris: so great was either the dread of the King upon them in making them take their death so patiently as they did, or the resolution of the King himself, in doing them to death, according to Marshal Discipline: and then attended onelyonly with his Nobles and Squires of his body, he went to his lodging; and there neither eat nor slept, nor suffered any man to have accesse to his presence all that day, no nor yet the next.

Upon the third day, he called his forreign souldiers together, commanding the p. 278Macedons, not to bugde out of their Tents; and when they came, he spake to them by an interpreter, and commanded their perpetual loialty to himself, and to their former Kings, and withal reckoned up, and put them in mind of the many favours and honours, which he had conferred upon them, how he had never used them as conquered persons, but as fellow souldiers and partakers, of all his conquests, and had mingled the conquered with the conquerors, by mutual affinities & entermarryings, the one with the other: Wherefore, saith he, reckon not your selves, as made, but born, my souldiers: The kingdoms of Asia and Europe are become all one; what was novelty before, is now growen natural by long use and custom, and you are no lesse my country men, then you are my souldiers.

And presently he chose out of them a thousand tall young men, and appointed them for a guard of his person, the chief commands of the army, he bestowed among the Persians, and called the severall Troups and Companies, by Macedonian names, and these he also called his Cousins and Nobles, and gave them onelyonly the priviledge, to be admitted to kisse his hand, [see Polyanus Stratag. 4. in Alexandernu 7.]

When the Macedons saw the King come abroad guarded onelyonly with Persians, and that out of them, all Serjeants, and other attendants were taken, and they promoted to all places of dignity and honour, about his person, and themselves cast off, with scorn and infamie; their courage abated, and conferting a while among themselves, ran all together to the Kings lodging, and casting off all their cloths to their very wast-coats, threw down their armes at the Court gates; and standing themselves without, lift up a pitifull cry, and desired to be admitted, offering to give up every author of that mutiny, and desired the King to satiate himself with their deaths, rather than their disgraces. But he, though his choler were down, yet would not admit them: and they on the contrary would not away, but continued there crying and howling two whole dayes and nights, and calling upon him, by the name of their Lord and master, protesting never to leave his gate, untill he had mercy on them: wherefore upon the third day he came forth unto them, and seeing their humiliation, and dejection before him, with their unfeigned sorrow, and hearing their pittiful complaint and lamentation which they made, was moved to compassion of them; and wept a long time over them: and when he stood a good while, as if he would speak unto them, but could not; and they continued all that time upon their knees before him.

Then one Callines by name, a man venerable for his age, and of no mean esteem in the regiment of his fellow Cavaleers, spake thus unto him. This is that, saith he, O king, which grieves thy Macedons, that now thou hast made some of the Persians, thy Cousins, and these thou hast received to kisse thy hand, and hast deprived thy Macedons of this honour, and when he would have proceeded, Alexander interrupted him, and said, I now make you all my Cousins, and from henceforward, will call you by that name. This said, Callines stept out, and went and kissed his hand, and so did as many else, as had a mind to it, and then taking every man up his arms again, they all returned with joy and triumph into the Camp.

Then went the King and sacrificed to the gods, as he was wont to do, and made a general feast for all the army; sitting down himself, first with his Macedons, and then the Persians, and after them, the rest, according to their several ranks and qualities in the Army. Then took Alexander a bol…, and drank, and so it went round among the Macedons. The Grecian Prophets, and Persian Priests; powring forth their prayers, and among all other prosperities, and favours from their gods, desired of them, to grant a concord and unity of Empire between the Macedons and Persians, and both kingdoms. It is said, that there were nine thousand guests, which sate at this feast, and that they all pledged this health, and sang the same Pae…na, or Song of joy and gladnesse unto Apollo, as they used to do, when they returned from a victory into their Camp.

Alexander, passing over the Tigris, encamped in a country, called Cares, and then having passed the region called Sitacene in four dayes march, he came to Sambana; where he camped seven dayes: and then after three dayes journy, he arrived at Celovae, where Xerxes heretofore had made a plantation, of those, which he brought out of Baeotia, and then turning a little out of the right way, leading to Babylon, he went to see Bagisthenes, a country, abounding with fruit, and all other commodities, belonging either to the pleasure or profit of mans life.

Mean while, Harpalus a Macedon born, chief Baron and Tresurer, of all the Kings monies in Babylon, and revenues of that whole province, being privy to himself of his wastfulnesse, and other ill behaviour there, and knowing what Alexander had done, to many other Governours, upon complaints made of them, by the provincialls, got together five thousand talents of silver, and six thousand hired souldiers, and fled quite out of all Asia, and coming with them to Taenarus in Laconia, left them there, (whither, others also, which could not well stay in Asia, had already retired themselves, as I p. 279said before) and came himself to Athens, in suppliant wise: But when Antipater and Olympias demanded him out of their hands, he so dealt with the people of Athens, by feeing Demosthenes, and other Orators there, that he escaped, and returned safe to his company at Tenarus, [Diodor. year 2. Olymp. 113. Pausanias in his Attica, Plutarch in the lives of Demosthenes and Phocyon,] In Arrianus there is a blank left, [lib. 7. pag. 155.] in which place this flight of Harpalus from Babylon, should have been joyned to that journey of Alexanders thitherward, [as appears by Photius in his Biblioth, cap. 91.] and that there was an action brought against this Harpalus, foreign, (i. e.) of bribes received by him, Dionysius Halicarnassaeus, in the end of his Epistle to Ammaeus concerning Demosthens, when Anticles was L. Chancellor at Athens, which was, as I said before, in this 4 year of the 113 Olympiade, according to his account, plainly sheweth.

A contention falling between Hephaestion and Eumenes, concerning a certain gift, whatever it was, and wherein many foul words passed between them, Alexander composed the difference and made them friends, much against Hephaestions will, and not without some threatning speeches used by Alexander to him; but much to the content of Eumenes, [Plut. in Eumenes. Arria. l. 7. p. 155.]

Alexander from hence came into a country, Year of the World 3680. a. where great heards of the kings of Persias horses fed, for in this place, called the Nicaean Countrey, there were wont to be kept 150 or 160 thousand horses of the kings, though Alexander at his coming thither found not, as Arrianus saith, above fifty thousand, or at most sixty, as Diodorus hath it.

When Alexander had encamped here 30 dayes, he set forward again, and upon the 7 day after, came to Ecbatane, the chief city of all Media: the circumference whereof was said to be 250 furlongs, where, as his manner was, after any good successe, he offered sacrifices, and made games of musick, and gymnic sports, and exercises in honour of his gods; and feasted himself with his nobles; and then having ordered all matters in that kind, he returned again to see his stage-plaiers, and Anticks act their parts, and moreover, instituted certain set feasts and clubbings, because there were newly come unto him out of Greece, 3 thousand Cooks, and other ministers, and artificers of that kind.

Apollodorus of Amphipolis, a noble man about Alexander, and whom he had made General of that army, which he had left with Mazaeus, when he made him Governour of the City and province of Babylon, hearing what course he took with such Governors or chief officers as he had set over the several regions of his dominions, took a fright, as his fellow Harpalus had done before him, and having a brother called Pythagoras, who was a kind of a soothsayer, consulted him by his letters, to know what was like to become of him: And Pythagoras by his letters back again to him, desired to kow for fear of whom it was that he would have his fortune told? and he answered, it was for fear of Alexander and Hephaestion: whereupon he first looked into the entrailes of a beast for Hephaestion, and when he found that the liver of it had no filets, he wrate back again to his brother from Babylon to Ecbaton, and bade him never fear Hephaestion, for that he should shortly depart this life himself; which letter, Aristobulus reports, was written the very day before Hephaestion died, [Arria. l. 7. with Apian, toward the end of his second book De Bell. Civi.]

For Hephaestion being overmuch given to wine, sell thereby into a fever: and being a young man and a souldier, would keep no diet, which was prescribed him, but whiles his Phisition Glaucus, al. Glaucias, was a little away, fell to his dinner as at other times, and eating of a roasted dunghil cock, & taking a huge draught of frigifacted wine after it, felt himself presently not well, and upon the seventh day after, died of it.

Upon the same day there were certain gimnic games, exercised before the King, by the boyes, or pages of the Court, from which he suddenly arose, and went to see Hephaestion, but when he came, found him dead, whereupon he refrained all eating for 3 dayes space; nor took any care of himself; but lay all that while, either sullenly silent, or impatiently lamenting the losse of his Hephaestion: Afterward he changed his attire, and caused not only himself and his souldiers, but even very horses and mules, to be all shorne: and caused the pinnacles of Ecbatane, and all other cities and towns thereabouts, to be taken down from their walls, to the end that they looking in a worse, and more deformed fashion than they did before, might seem in a sort, to lament and bewail his death; and withal crucified his poor Physition that could not help it: commanded there should no found of pipe or flute be heard in all the camp, gave order for a general mourning among all Nations to be made for him, [Diodorus, year 3. Olymp. 113. Plut. in his Alex. and Peloprdas. Arria. l. 7. and upon Epistetus, l. 2. c. 22. Elian Var. Hist. l. 7. c. 8.]

He gave his body to Perdiccas, to be carried to Babylon; for that there he intended to p. 280bestow on him a most magnificent funeral, and had often speach with the principall architects about him, of making a most sumptuous monument for him, especially, with Stasicrates, who made profession of new and rare inventions, in devising and erecting vast and excessive buildings.

Now Eumenes, fearing lest Alexander might conceive that he was glad of Hephaestions death, put him on the more upon this project, and suggested to him new devises, as perteining much to the honour of Hephaestion, devoting both himselfe and his armes to Hephaestion, and sundry other of the Nobles, following Eumenes his example, did the like. [Plutarch in the Life of Eumenes, and Arrianus lib. 7.]

And moreover, whereas Hephaestion was Colonel of the Regiment of the Kings fellow Cavaleers, he put none to succeed him in that place, lest happily the name of Hephaestion should be forgotten among them, but caused that Regiment to go by the name of Hephaestions Regiment. And the Cornet which he gave to be born still before them, when ever they went to fight.

At last, Year of the World b. to put himself out of this melancholly fit, he would needs go and make a needlesse war, and parting his army with Ptolomei, went a hunting of men, and to drive the country as he would drive a forest for wild beasts; and fell upon the Cossaeans, a people bordering upon the Uxians, and inhabiting the mountainous parts of Media: which all the Persian Monarchie could never bring under their subjection; nor were in all these wars ever daunted in courage, or thought the Macedons such bugbears, as to be afraid of them. But he first took the passages leading thorough the mountains into their country, and wasted their borders: and going further on, routed them in sundry conflicts, and destroyed them wherever he came without mercy, and called that, Hephaestions funeral feast. Now as well Nearchus, as Arrianus, tells us, that he thus set upon these Cossaeans in the depth of Winter, when they little dreamt of any enemy to come upon them, [Strabo, lib. 11. pag. 524. Arria. lib. 7. pag. 157. and in his Indica, pag. 196. See also Polyaenus, Stratag. lib. 4. in Alexan. nu. 31.]

The Cossaeans, seeing they had ever the worst of it, and grieved to see what multitudes of them were taken prisoners, were fain at length to redeem their fellows lives, with their own slavery; and giving themselves up wholy to Alexanders will and pleasure, had peace granted them, upon these terms, That they should be obedient in all things, to the King, and do whatever he commanded. So Alexander having subdued all that nation within 40 dayes space, and built sundry Cities upon the most difficult passages of the country, returned with his army.

Alexander sent one Heraclides, with certain Shipwrights into Hircania, to fell timber there, for the building of ships, all men of War, some with decks some without, after the Grecian manner; for he had a great desire to be acquainted also with the Caspian sea, and to know to whom it belonged.

When he had passed with his army over the Tigris, Year of the World c. then marched he strait forward to Babylon; yet so as he made divers encampings by the way, and rested his army in sundry places to refresh them; and when he removed at any time, made easie marches. And now he was come within 300 furlongs of Babylon, when the Chaldean Priests, and Prophets, sent unto him, by one of their own company, called Bellephantes, advising him by no means to come to Babylon; for that if he did, it would prove fatal to him.

Alexander, when he had understood by Nearchus, (for himself durst not have speech with Bellephantes) what these Chaldeans errand was, he sent many of his Nobles thither; but himself turned aside from it, and would not go into it, but encamped some 200 furlongs off from it, at a place called Bursia, which perhaps is the same which Prolomei calls Bersita, a City long since destroyed and there stayed.

There was he perswaded by Anaxarchus, and other Grecians, and their philosophical reasons, not to regard those predictions of the Priests and Magicians, but rather to reject and despise them, as vain and false. Whereupon he brake out with that Iambick Verse of Euripides,

foreign: (i. e.)

Who best can guesse, he the best Prophet is.

Then the Chaldaeans desired him, that if he would needs enter that City, yet at least he would not enter it with his face toward the West: but take the pains to go about, and come into it, looking toward the East. And Aristobulus tells us, that he was content to hearken to them in that point; and therefore the first day he marched as far as to the River Euphrates: but the next day, having the River on his right hand, he marched along the bank thereof, as desirous to passe by that part of the City which looked toward the West, that so he might come in looking toward the East: but p. 281when he found that way slabby, and full of slowes and fens, and cumbersome for his army to passe, he neglected that very point of their counsel also, and entered it, with his face toward the West, [See Appian. toward the end of his second book, De Bello Civi. and Seneca, Suasor. 4.]

When he came to the walls of the City, he lookt and beheld a flock of Crows, fighting and killing one another: whereof some fell down dead hard by him. And when Apollodorus told him, that he had a brother in that Citiy called Pythagoras, who was versed in the skill of soothsaying, by looking into the bowels of beasts offered in sacrifice, and that he had already consulted the gods that way concerning him; he forthwith sent for him, and asked him what he found concerning him: Sir, said he, I found the liver of the beast without strings or filets: without strings? (quoth Alexander) what means that? The meaning, Sir, is, quoth Pythagorus, that some great mischief hangs over your head: or as Appian, that you shall shortly die; for which so far was it off, that Alexander, grew offended with him, that from thence forward, he made the more of him; because of his free and clear dealing with him in the way of his profession: And thus much Aristobulus relates, that he learnt from Pythagoras himself.

When the Babylonians had entertained his army in all courteous manner, as at his former being there, they did, all betook themselves to ease and luxury, for that there was no want of any thing that the heart of man could wish in that place, [Diodor.]

While Alexander resided at Babylon, there came in Ambassadors to him from all the parts and nations of the world; for besides those that came out of Asia, from Cities, and Princes and Countries there, there came also sundry others, out of Europe and Affric: out of Affric, from the Ethiopians dwelling about the Temple of Hammon, and from the Carthaginians, and other Punick nations, bordering all along the sea coast, as far as Hercules his pillars, and the western sea, out of Europe, from the several Cities of Greece, and out of Macedon it self; as also from the Thraciants, Illyrians, Scythians, and out of Italy, from the Brutians, Lucanians, and Hetrurians, with the Islands of Sicily, and Sardinia, and from Spain and France, whose very names and habits, the Macedons never knew nor had heard of before.

Alexander, calling for a list of them, appointed, which of them should have audience first, and so forward, till he should have heard them all; and he resolved to give audience first of all to such as came about any matter concerning religion: and in the second place, to such as came to him with presents, in the third, to them, who came about differences, or wars, which they had with their neighbouring nations. In the fourth, to them which came about their particular and private interests. And in the last place, those, who came to shew cause, why they did not restore any Grecians, whom they had banished out of their cities or countries, to their homes and estates again; for the hearing of all which, he caused a throne of gold to be set up in the garden there, and seats for his nobles, all born up with feet or frames of silver; whereon taking his place with his Nobles, he purposed to give them audience, as Athenaeus [lib. 12. cap. 18.] reports out of one Ephippius Olynthius: wherein his chief purpose and care was, upon hearing of the cause, to give such answers, as might give all content, and send every man away satisfied and well pleased therewith.

The first which he gave audience to, were they, which came from the City Eli…, then to those, which came from the Temple and City of Ammon, from Delphos, from Corinth, Epidaurus and others, hearing of every of them in order, according to the dignity and same of the Temples, rather than of the cities from whence they came.

When he had heard the Ambassadors from Epidaurus, and granted their suit, he sent moreover a present and oblation by them to their God Esculapius; but with these words added, That Esculapius had dealt but untowardly with him, in taking lately away from him, a friend, whom he loved as his own life: and then look what Statues soever of illustrious persons, or Images of the gods, or any other consecrated thing Xerxes had heretofore taken and brought out of Greece, and set them up, or otherwise bestowed them in Babylon, Susa, Pasargada, or elsewhere in all Asia, those he gave order to the Ambassadors of Greece, to take and carry them home again with them, and among the rest, he now caused the brazen statues of Harmodius and Aristogeiton, to be returned to Athens, with the Image of Diana Cercaea.

But as concerning the restitution of the banditoes of Greece, he sent this short Epistle, by Nicanor, a native of the city Stagyra, to be read and proclaimed, at the next Olympian games to be held, in this wise. foreign, &c. (i.) King Alexander, to the Banditoes of Greece, sendeth greeting. We were not in fault that you were banished, but we will take care, to see you restored to your former estates, all save such as are banished for outragious crimes, of which things we have written to Antipater, requiring him to proceed by p. 282way of force, against all such as shall oppose your restitution, [Diod. lib. 17. year 2. Olymp. 113. and lib. 18. year 2. Olymp. 114.]

Having dispatched this matter of Embassies, he set himself to take care of Hephaestions funeral, commanding the Cities thereabouts to contribute what they possibly could, to the adornment thereof. And moreover sent an expresse command to all the Cities and nations of Asia to put out the fire, which among the Persians, is called Holy fire, till the exequies of this Funeral were fully finished, as was wont to be done, in the Funerals of the Kings of Persia: which was taken for an ill bode to the king himself, and as a portender of his death.

Whereupon all his chief Commanders and Nobles, set themselves, for the Kings pleasure, to make Medailes, or Portraictures of Hephaestion, graven in Ivory, or cast in gold, or other costly mettal: Himself called together the most exquisite workmen, that were to be had, and a great number of them, and brake down the wall of Babylon, ten furlongs long; and took the brick of it, and first levelling the place, built thereon a four square pile, each square taking up a furlong in length, and 130 cubits high, whereon the body was to be burnt. This work of his Diodorus describeth at large, summing up the particulars, of the cost of this sumptuous Funeral; because the Mourners, the Souldiers, Ambassadors, and Natives of the Country, strove a vie, who should give most toward the charge thereof, amounting in all to above 12 thousand talents: which very summe, Justin also hath, [lib. 12. cap. 12.] Though Plutarch and Arrianus, have but 10 thousand.

Alexander, throwing his armes first into the fire, threw in also gold and silver to be burned with him; with a Robe, of a great value and esteem among the Persians, [Elia. Var. Histor. lib. 7. cap. 8.] and besides he made Gymnick Games, and of musick, far beyond all that ever he had made before; both for number of the Prizers, and value of the Prizes themselves, to those, which wan them; for it is said, that there were no lesse than three thousand, which put in for the Prizes in all kinds, [Arria. lib. 7.]

And then also it so fell out, that Philip, one of the Kings Nobles, returned to him from the Temple of Hammon, whither he had been sent, and brought word from the Oracle there, that Hephaestion might well be sacrificed to, as to a demy god: whereat Alexander was infinitely glad; and first of all offered to him upon that stile: and then sacrificing to the number of 10 thousand beasts of all kinds, he made a Magnificent Feast to all the multitude, [Diod. year 1. Olymp. 114. compared with Arria. lib. 7. pag. 157. 164.] He gave in charge also to Cleomenes the Governour of Egypt (as we have noted formerly in the year of the World 3673. a.) a lewd man, to erect Templs to his name; and generally no contract in writing to be good or valid, if Hephaestions name were not subscribed to it: adding this also in the letter which he wrote unto him about this matter: foreign, &c. (i. e.) For if I shall find, that thou shalt have duly erected Temples to Hephaestion in Egypt as to a demy god; I will not onelyonly pardon thee all thy past offences which in thy government thou hast committed; but whatever thou shalt hereafter commit in any kind, shall never be laid to thy charge by me. Whereupon many Cities presently fell in hand with building of Temples and Chappels, to Hephaestion, erecting altars, offering sacrifices, and enjoyning Holidayes, to be kept in his name: and the most religious oath that a man could make, was if he sware by Hephaestion, it is true or false: And death it was for any man to faulter or faile in his devotion unto him: many dreames were said to have been of him, and that his ghost appeared to many; and of words which his ghost should utter, and answeres which it made. To conclude, sacrifices were offered to him, as to a tutelar god, and a Revenger of all evil. Wherefore Alexander at the very first was wonderfully pleased with such phancies in other men; but after a while, he began to believe them himself; and spared not to brag and boast, that he was not onelyonly himself Joves son, but also that he could make gods of other men. At which time also, one Agathocles a Samian borne, and one of Alexanders prime Captains, was in extreme danger of his life, for being accused, that passing by Hephaestions Tombe, he was seen to weep; and had undoubtedly died for it, had not Perdiccas holpen him out by a lye of his own making, & swore it too, by Hephaestion himself, that Hephaestion appeared to him as he was a hunting, and told him, that Agathocles, did weep for him indeed, but not as for one that was dead, and now vainly called upon, and worshipped as a god; but wept onelyonly in a due remembrance of the former intimacy and familiarity that was between them two: but for which tale, Agathocles a great Souldier, and ever well deserving of the King, had without peradventure lost his life, for being so kind to his deceased friend, [Lucian. in his book foreign: (i. e.) of false accusing.]

The 114. Olympiade was celebrated at Elis, in which year all agree. that Alexander died: as [Josephus sayes, lib. 1. cont. Apio.] when Hagesias, al. Hegesias, was L. Chancelor at Athens: as [Diodor. lib. 17. sayes,] and Arrianus in [his 7 book] of the p. 283Gests of Alexander, confirmes, to wit, toward the end of his year of Chancelorship and in this very Olympic year, as shall eftsoones appear by the monethmonth wherein h… dyed.

In that general assembly of all Greece, at the Olympic games, was that letter of Alexander, for the restoring of all band…toes, or ou…lawed persons, to their homes and estates again, read openly by him whose office it was to p…oclaim him that had won the prize in any kind of those games: neverthelesse, the Athenians and E…o…ans protested against it, [Diodorus, year 2. Olymp. 1. 3. Justin, lib. 13. c. 5.]