The Annals of the World, History 1 · Age of the world 6 (14 of 18)

The Annals of the World · History 1 · Age of the world 6 (14 of 18)

p. 318In the 117 Olympiade, Ptolomei overthrew in a main battle near Gaza, Demetrius the son of Antigonus, surnamed afterward, Poliorcetes, (i. e.) the City-taker; as Castor, the Historiographer reporteth, cited by Josephus, [lib. 1. cont. Apion. p. 1048.] the particulars of which fight are related by Diodorus Siculus, in his history of that Olympiade, where he saith that there were taken prisoners of Demetrius his men, to the number of 8000 and upward of 500 slain; but that is to be amended, and made 5000 out of Plutarch. But among the Nobles that were there slain, one was Pithon, who was at that time joyned in commission with Demetrius, and Boeotus, a man who had long lived with Antigonus the father, and was ever privie to all his designes, and partaker of all his counsels.

Ptolomei and Seleucus took Gaza, but Demetrius, by the help of a good pair of spurs came to Azotus: about midnight following, having road 270 furlongs, and from thence sent to beg the bodies of his dead for burial: which Ptolomei and Seleucus not onelyonly at first word granted, but also sent him back his own pavillion, with all the furniture thereunto belonging, free, and without ransom, adding thereunto a generous message, that they fought not for pray, but for honour, and to see who should wear the Garland, [Diodorus, Vt. Sup. Plutarch. in Demetrio, and Justin. lib. 15. cap. 1.]

Demetrius, being no longer able to hold out, in the case he was in, dispacht away a messenger with his letters to his father, who lay then in Phrygia, to pray in aide of him, and to come away speedily to his help; and he himself coming to Tripoli in Phaenicia, sent for the souldiers that were in Cilicia, and elsewhere in Garrisons remote, and far distant from the enemies quarters, to come unto him, [Diodorus.]

But Antigonus, when he heard the news, said that Ptolomei had now gotten the victory, of a company of beardlesse boyes; but that he should fight next time with men: yet that he might not quell the courage of his son, and because he so desired, he gave him leave to fight again with him himself, if he saw cause, [Plutarch. in Demetrio.]

Ptolomei sent the prisoners which he had taken into Egypt, there to be distributed, among the several regiments of his fleet: and when he had honourably enterred his own that were slain, he went forward, and set upon the Cities and strong places of Phaenicia, besieging some, and perswading others of them to yield unto him, and having taken Sidon, he went and encamped before Tyre, and sent to Andronicus, Captain of the Garrison, there to render up the City to him, tendring him large promises both of wealth and honour: but he not onelyonly answered, that he would never betray the trust which Antigonus and his son Demetrius had put him in, but also used many reviling speeches against Ptolomei, but yet a little after, when surprised by a mutiny of his own souldiers, he fell into his hands, Ptolomei forgetting that by-past railing of his, highly rewarded him, and took him into the number of his friends, and honourably prefered him, [Diod.]

Seleucus, taking with him 1000 Foot of Ptolomeis men, (as Appianus hath it: for Diodorus sayes but 800.) and 200 Horse, went with so small a train to recover his Government of the Province of Babylon; and coming with them into Mesopotamia, he there dealt with such Macedons as he found dwelling in Carran, and some of them p. 319by perswasions, some by plain force, he drew to go along with in this journy of his. Now no sooner had he set foot within the territory of Babylon, but the inhabitants came flocking to him; and offered him their service in the recovering of his right. Polyarchus also, who bare some kind of office among them, came unto him to receive his commands, with a full thousand of men compleatly armed. But they who stood for Antigonus, when they perceived the ge…eral, and irresistible inclination of the multitude toward him, fled all to the Castle, which was commanded by Diphilus, and Seleucus, fell presently to besiege it; and having taken it by force, he there delivered such children and friends of his, as Antigonus, when Seleucus for fear fled away into Egypt, had there committed to prison. This done, he then fell to raising of souldiers in the Country, and having bought Horses, distributed them, among those who were fit to ride them. And withal, carrying himself fairly and amiable unto all sorts, made them all ready to run any hazard with him, and so in a trice recovered all his government of Babylon again, [Diod. with Appian. in his Syriaca, pag. 121.]

But then Nicanor, whom Antigonus had made Governour of the province of Media, marcht against him with 10 thousand Foot, and seven thousand Horse, and Seleucus made no tarrying, but went out to meet him, having with him in all little above three thousand Foot, and four hundred Horse, and passing the River Tigris, when he heard that the enemy was not far off, he hid his men in the fennes thereby, purposing to set upon Nicanor at unawares, and Nicanor, when he came to the bank of the Tigris, and found no enemy there; went and encamped near to a post-house of the Kings; little thinking the enemy had been so near. But the night following, when contemning his enemy, he cared not to keep a due watch, after a military manner, Seleucus fell upon him, and raised a great tumult in his army, for when the Persians put themselves forward to fight, Euager their General, with sundry others of their Commanders, happened to be slain: after which broile, the greater part of Nicanors army, what for the present danger they were in, what for the mislike they had of Antigonus his government, left him, and came to the service of Seleucus. Whereupon Nicanor, fearing lest at the next bout, his souldiers would deliver him up to Seleucus, fairly stale away with some few of his friends, and fled thorough the desert home into Media again, [Diodor.]

Selucus, having by this means gotten a potent army about him, and continued his fair carriage to all men as before, easily procured the provinces of Media and Susa, and other countries bordering thereupon, to come under his subjection, and then sent Ptolomei word, how he had sped, having now gotten a full royal power and majesty into his hand, as [Diod. year 1. Olymp. 117.] declareth. From whence it is, that from this year, Eusebius deduceth Selucus his principality or reign: and with all notes, that the Edesseni begin their Epoch, and the story of the Maccabees their account of the Grecian reign. And out of doubt from the Autumne of this very year, that is, from Septemb. or Octob. of the year 4402, according to the Julian Calendar, it is, that the composer of the second book of Maccabees reckons his Grecian years, & the Jews there, aeram Contractium, (i. e.) their account of Contracts, and those of Edessa, and other Syrians, their Epoch of the Seleucian race, and the Arabians, the years of Alexander Dehilkarnain, as they term them, and yet the writer of the first book of Maccabees begins his account of the Grecian year, from the spring precedent to this autumne, and Ptolomei of Alexandria, in his great Syntaxis begins his Chaldean account, from the Spring following.

Ptolomei of Egypt, Year of the World 3693 staying still in Coelosyria, sent one of his Nobles about him, called Cilles, a Macedon born, with a great army against Demetrius, who lay encamped in the upper Syria, willing him to fight with him, and to turn him quite out of all, that is called Syria, or to coup him up, and tread him to dirt, where he lay. Demetrius understanding by his spialls, that Cilles with his army lay at Myus carelessely, without keeping watch or ward, leaving his carriages behind him, marcht away with a company of light-footed lads, which travelled all night; and a little before day fell in upon Cilles his Camp, put all in a confusion, took it, and Cilles himself prisoner, and with him seven thousand souldiers, and a great booty besides: yet because he thought Ptolomei himself was coming after with all his army, he therefore pitcht his Camp in a place where he had a bog on the one hand, and a great Lough on the other to secure him. [Diodor. year. 1. Olymp. 117. and Plut. in Demetrio.]

Demetrius sent news of this his good successe to his father Antigonus, where he lay at Celenae in Phrygia, solliciting him by his letters, either to send an army speedily, or to come himself in person into Syria. Antigonus, having read the letter, was wonderfull joyfull at the news, both because the victory was gotten by his sons own conduct and ordering of matters in the fight, and also for that he had shewed himself a man worthy hereafter, to wear a Crown upon his head. [Diodor.] But Demetrius, with his fathers leave, sent back Cilles and all his friends to Ptolomei again, thereby, not to lie any p. 320longer in his debt, and to cry quittance with him for his former kindnesse in that kind, [Plut.]

Antigonus with his army removed out of Phrygia, and having in few dayes passed the Taur…s, came to his son Demetrius. And Ptolemei, by the advice of his Council, thought fit to leave Syria; but before he went, he laid waste and destroyed the principal Cities which he had there at that time in his possession; as Acon in Sytophoenicia, and Joppa, and Samaria, and Gaza of Syria: and then taking along with him out of the country, whatever he could drive or carry, loaden with wealth he returned into Egypt, [Diodor▪ year 1. Olymp. 117.]

A multitude of men there was, who seeing his good disposition, and clemency of nature, would needs along with him into Egypt; among whom there was one Ezechias foreign: (i. e.) a high Priest (perhaps a secondary one; for the chief High Priest at that time was Onias the first) of the Jews: a man of about 66 years of age, and much respected among his people, very eloquent, and of much experience in the affairs of the world. This and much more of this Ezechias is related by Hecataeus the Historian (who conversed with him in Ptolemeis army) in a peculiar Treatise which he wrote, of the Jews: where he also maketh a large narration of another Jew, which he grew acquainted with, called Mosollamo. al. Meshullamo: as followeth.

When I went, saith he, toward the red Sea, there was one among the rest, of a Troup of Horse of the Jews, which went to convoy us, called Mosollamus, a high-spirited man, and the best archer of all the company, who espied a certain wizard in the company which stood still; and desired all the company to do the like, whiles he observed a certain bird that flew, to divine thereby: and asked him the reason why he stayed: and when the wizard shewed him the bird which he had in his eye, and said withal, that if it were expedient for the company to stay there, that bird would stay where she was: but if she rose, and flew before them, then they should do well to go forward too: but if she flew back, then all the company ought also to return. Then this Mosollamus said nothing, but d…ew his bow, and shot, and killed the bird, and when the wizard and others there present grew angry at it, and cried shame of him for so doing: Why are you so angry, quoth he? and why do you take this unlucky bird into your hands? Could she that knew nothing of what was to betide her self, tell any thing of what would befal us in this our journey? for if she had had any knowledge of things to come, she would never have come hither, here to be shot to death by Mossollamus a Jew.

Many things besides there are, which [Josephus in his book, contra. Apion.] recites, out of the same book concerning the Jews. As namely, that at that time, there were to the number of 1500 Priests, which received tithes, and governed all things belonging to the common wealth: and Demetrius Phalareus, in his Epistle to Ptolomaeus Philadelphus, (found in Aristeas his book of the 70 Interpreters, and in the same Josephus, lib. 12. Antiquit. cap. 2.) out of the same Author, yeilds the reason why no heathen Poet, or Historian, makes mention, either of those sacred books, or of those men who lived according to the rule delivered in them: to wit, for that they contain a sacred and a venerable rule, which was not to be taken into, or uttered by unhallowed mouths.

Antigonus, The Julian Period. 4403 when he had without stroke striking recovered all Syria, Year before Christ 311 and Phoenicia, into his hands; took a journey into the country of the Arabians, called the Nabathaeans: for, conceiving that they never much favoured his proceedings, he appointed one of his Nobles called Athenaeus, with 4 thousand Foot, and 600 light-Horse, to fall in upon them, and to bring away what spoile he could get out of their Country. And now the time grew near when all bordering Nations used to come thither as to a common Mart, to sell off to them their commodities, and to buy from them the merchandise of their Country. To this Mart therefore the Nabathaeans now went according as they were wont, leaving their wealth, and old men with their wives and children, upon the top of a rock; Athenaens, watching this opportunity, marched speedily to this rock, and having marched out of the Province of Edom, the length of 2200 furlongs, in three dayes and three nights space, late in the night, the Arabians knowing nothing of his coming, possessed himself of it. The souldiers which he there found, he partly put to the sword, and partly made prisoners of them, and such as were wounded, he there left behind him; and carried from thence the greatest part of their mirrh and frankincense, with 500 talents of silver, and staying there not past three hours, for fear of the countries coming in upon him, returned presently again: and now, he with his souldiers having gone 200 furlongs, could go no further for very wearinesse, and therefore rested them there, keeping neither watch nor ward; as presuming that the country people could not reach thither in two or three dayes after, [Diodorus, year 1. Olympiade 117.]

The Arabians, being acertained of what had fallen out, by those which had seen the army of the enemy: left the Mart, where they were met, and returned to the rock, and being there more fully informed by the wounded persons which were left, what way p. 321they were gone, incontinently followed after them: and because Athenaeus his men kept no watch, and after their long journey lay weary and fast asleep, some of their prisoners stole away from them: from whom when their country men, whom they met, had learnt how the enemies Camp lay, they hasted to the place, and coming upon them at three of the clock in the morning, fell into their trenches, to the number of 8 thousand of them, and cut the throats of some snorting in their cabins; others that made resistance, they slew: to make short, they utterly destroyed all their Foot, onelyonly 50 of their Horse got away, and they wounded too, for the most part; and so the Nabathaeans, having recovered their goods again, returned to the Rock: and by a letter of theirs written to Antigonus in Syriac characters, complained of Athenaeus, and his wrong doing, and excused themselves; to whom Antigonus wrote back again cunningly, telling them, that Athenaeus was well enough served by them: blaming him for doing what he had done, and assuring them, that he had given him no such order, [Id. ibid.]

But Antigonus, having for a time made fair weather with these poor Nabathaeans, shortly after, chose out of all his army, 4 thousand Foot, light-armed, and the swiftest of foot that he could find, and to them added 4 thousand Horse, willing them to take in their knapsacks, as many dayes victuals as they could well carry, and such as needed no cooking; and assigning Demetrius, his son, to command them: he sent them away in the first of the night, with this charge, that he should by all means be revenged of them. He therefore travelled 3 dayes journey thorough the Desert, hasting to fall upon them at unawares: but their scouts perceiving the first approach of the enemy toward their borders, made fires, and by them gave notice of their coming to the Country: whereupon they presently gat them to their Rock, to the top whereof there was but one way up, and that made by hand too; and there leaving their baggage, left withal, a sufficient guard to keep it; and the rest went and drave away their cattle, some to one place, some to another in the Desert. Demetrius, when he came to the Rock, and saw all the cattle driven away, presently went to besiege the Rock; but when they that were in it manfully defended it, and by the advantage of the place, had all the day long the better of it, Demetrius at last was fain to draw off: and seeing he could do no good upon them, made a peace with them, upon hostages given him, and such gifts as were agreed upon between them, and so removing with his army 300 furlongs off, encamped near to the Lake Asphaltis, or Dead Sea, [Id. ibid.] but Plutarch sayes, that he went thence, with a huge booty, and 7 hundred Camels.

Antigonus at his return to him, having heard the relation of his voyage, blamed him for his making a peace with the Nabathaeans; saying, that those barbarous people, having so escaped, would thereupon grow more insolent than before: yet commended him for discoveing the Lake Asphaltis, seeing that from thence he might raise some yearly revenue to himself: and made Hieronymus Cardianus the Historian, his Treasurer for that revenue; whom [Josephus, lib. 1. cont. Apion.] noteth to have been made President of Syria by Antigonus: and very deservedly blameth him, for that in his History he maketh no mention of the Jews, considering that he lived near unto, and almost among them; this Hieronymus was commanded to build ships, and to gather together in one place all the bitumen, or liquid brimstone that could be gotten out of that Lake: But the Arabians coming together to the number of 6 thousand men, set upon them as they were in their ships gathering this brimstone, and shot them almost all to death with their arrows; whereby Antigonus lost all hope of making any standing revenue that way, [Diod.]

Antigonus, understanding by letters from Nicanor the Governour of Media, and others, how Seleucus prospered in those parts, sent his son Demetrius with 5 thousand Macedon Foot, and 10 thousand mercenaries, and 4 thousand Horse; with charge, that he should march to the very walls of Babylon; and having recovered that Province, should from thence march down to the Sea: and he, parting from Damascus in Syria, went vigorously on to fulfil his fathers commands. But Patrocles, whom Seleucus had left President of Babylon, so soon as he heard that Demetrius was falling into Mesopotamia, not daring to stay his coming, because he had but a small power about him; commanded the rest to leave the City, and that passing the Euphrates, they should flee, some into the Desert, others over the Tigris, into the Province of Susa, and to the Persian sea: and himself with a company which he had about him, trusting in the bars of the Rivers, and dikes of the Country thereabouts, instead of so many Fortresses and Bulwarkes for his defence, kept himself still within the bounds of his own government, and cast about, how to entrap his enemy; sending ever and anon tidings to Seleucus in Media how things went with him, and desiring aid to be speedily sent unto him, [Id.]

Demetrius, when he came to Babylon, and found the City it self void of inhabitants, fell presently to besiege the Forts and Castles that were therein: and having taken one of them, gave the spoile thereof to the souldier; and turning out Seleucus his men, put p. 322therein a Garrison of his own, consisting of seven thousand souldiers; but not being able to take the other, in hast, after some few dayes siege, departed, leaving Archelaus, one of his trusty friends, to maintain the siege about it, with five thousand Foot, and 1000 Horse: and himself seeing the time run out, which his father had appointed him, to finish his work in, bad his souldiers rap and rend what ever they could light on in all that province, and take it to themselves: and then took his journey back into Asia; whereby, he left Seleucus more grounded, and better setled in his government than before. For why, said men, should Demetreus wast and spoil the Country, if he took it for his own? [Id. with Plut. in Demetrio.] Whereupon the Chaldeans reckon the Epocha, or beginning of the Seleucian regin in Babylon, from this time▪ rather than from the former.

Demetreus returning into Asia, quickly raised the siege, which Ptolomei had laid to Halicarnas…us, [Plut. in Demetrio.]

And now Cassander, Ptolomeus and Lysimachus, made peace with Antigonus, upon such articles, as follow, to wit, That Cassander should command all in Europe, untill Alexander the son of Roxane, came to age. That Lysimachus should hold Thrace; and Ptolomei Egypt, with the bordering Countries of Lybia and Arabia: And Antigonus should have the command of all Asia to himself: but this campact between them held not long, for every one took one occasion or other, to encroach upon more than his part came to, [Diod. year. 2. Olymp. 117.]

Cassander, seeing Alexander the son of Roxane to grow up, and hearing a bruit cast abroad among the Macedons, that it was high time, that the young King should now be freed from his prison, and take the rule of the kingdom into his own hands, took a fright hereat, and gave order to Glaucia the keeper, to murder Roxane, and the King her son; and burying their carcases, in some secret place, should by all means possible conceal their deaths. [Id. Ib.]

Parysades the King of Bosphorus Ci…erius dying, after that he had reigned 38 years, left his kingdom to his eldest son Satyrus, which he held nine years onelyonly, [Id. year. 3. Olymp. 117.]

In Pelopones…s, Year of the World 3694 Ptolomei, a Captain of Antigonus, falling off from him to Cassanders side, sent souldiers to a most trusty friend of his, called Phaenix, and one to whom he had committed the managing of the government of Hellespont; advising him withall to man his Forts and Cities, and to stand upon his guard; and no longer to be at Antigonus his command, [Diod. year 3. Olymp. 117.]

On the other side, Ptolomei of Egypt cried out upon Antigonus, for that he, contrary to agreement, had put Garrisons of his own, into sundry Cities of the Greeks in Asia side: and thereupon sent Leonides, a Captain of his own, into Cilicia Asp…ra, and there possessed himself of certain Cities and places belonging to Antigonus; and moreover sent his agent to some Cities appertaining to Cassander and Lysimachus, that they would follow his advise, and not suffer Antigonus, to grow too fast in power. [Id. Ibid.]

Antigonus sent his younger son Philippus, to make war upon Phoenix, and others who had revolted from him in Hellespont, but his so Demetrius, he sent into Cilicia against Ptolomei of Egypt, who going in hand with the errand he was sent in, routed the Captains of Ptolomei, that there were, and recovered the Cities which he had taken. [Ibid.]

Polyspercon in Peloponesus cryed out in like manner upon Cassander, and affecting the government of Macedon, sent for Hercules, a son of Alexander the Great, begotten upon Barsine, and now of the age of 17 years; and sent about to those, who were enemies to Cassander, to help to set this young man in his fathers kingdom, [Ib.]

Ptolemei of Egypt, having all Cyprus under his command, and finding that Nicocles the King of Paphos, negotiated under hand with Antigonus, sent two confidents of his own, Argaus and Callicrates, with instructions, to make away Nicocles; wherefore passing into Cyprus, and taking with them a certain number of souldiers from Menalaus, who commanded the army there: they beset the house of Nicocles, and then telling him, what Ptolemeis pleasure was, advised him, to dispose of himself for another world. And he at first went to clear himself of what was laid to his charge, but when he saw that no man hearkened to what he said, drew his sword and slew himself. Axiothea his wife, hearing of her husbands death, took her daughters, who were all young, and virgins, and slew them, and was earnest with the wives of Nicocles his brothers, to accompany her in her own death. Whereas yet Ptolomei had given no order concerning any of them, save onelyonly to preserve them. The brothers also of Nicocles, shut every man his own doors upon him, and set fire thereon, and slew themselves, and so the whole race of the Kings of Phaphos, came to a tragick and lamentable end. [Diod. ib. and Polyae, Stratag. lib. 8.]

p. 323Agathocles King of Sicilia, sai…ing about this time into Afric, there to make war upon the Carthaginians, there fell so great an Eclips of the Sun▪ that the stars appeared every where in the firmament, and the day was turned into night, [Diod. year 3. Olympiade, 117. Justin. lib. 22. cap. 6.] which dreadfull Eclips of the Sun; the Astronomicall tables shew to have fallen upon the 15 day of our Angust, i… this year.

Epicurus, being now 32 years of age, read publickly both in Mitylene and Lampsac…s five years together, [Diog. La…rtius, in the Life of Epicurus.]

In Bosphorus Cimmerius, Eumelus, younger brother to Satyrus, compacting with some of the natives adjoyning; laid claim to the kingdom against his elder brother, whereof Satyrus being informed, went against him with a great army, and passing the river Thapsus, when he came near his quarters, fortified his Camp, with his Carts and Waggons, wherein he had brought an infinite quantity of provisions: and ranging afterward his army in the field. Himself, as the manner of the Scythian Kings was, led the main battle, in his Army, he had not above two thousand Greeks, al. one thousand, and as many Thracians, all the rest were Scythians, which came to assist him, to the number of 20 thousand, and no lesse than ten thousand Horse. Eumelus was borne up, by Ariopharnes King of Thracia, with 20000 Horse, and 22000 Foot, Satyrus encountred first with Ariopharnes, in a skirmish of Horse, and routed him; and then overthrew his brother Eumelus with his Foot, and forced all to retreat into the Kings palace, which was enviromed with a river, and steep rocks, and thick woods about, [Diod.]

Satyrus at first went and wasted the enemies Country, and set fire on their vilages, and drew from thence a huge spoil, and then making away thorough their fen country, came to their wooden Castles, and took them, and crossing a river, felled a vast wood, thorough which he must needs passe, that would come to the Kings palace, in which work the whole army, spent three dayes, and so came to the walls of the Castle, There Meniscus, wo led the mercenary companies, having gotten in at a passage, though he fought very manfully, was neverthelesse, being overlaid with the multitude within, forced to retreat: and Satyrus coming to his relief, was wounded in the arme with a spear; which was so sore, that it forced him to retire to his Camp, and the next night, died thereof. And Meniscus breaking up the siege, drew off the army, to a City called Gargaza, and from thence carried the Kings body down the river, to a City called Panticapaeum to his brother Prytanis: who having magnificently buried it, and laid up the reliques, in the Kings sepulchre, went presently to Gargaza, and there took into his hands the army, and the kingdom withall. [Ibid.]

Then came the Agents of Eumelus to him, to treat concerning a partage of the kingdom between them two; which he would not hearken to: wherefore leaving a strong Garrison at Gargaza, he returned to Pantacapaeum, there to settle the affairs of his kingdom. But a while after, Eumelus, by the help of some Barbarians, possessed himself of Gargaza, and of sundry other Towns and Castles: and after that, overthrew Prytanis in a battle, and having shut him up in a neck of land, near the lough of Maeotis, forced him to render himself upon conditions, which were, to give up all his army, and to depart the kingdom. Neverthelesse, when Prytanis returned to Pantacapaeum, which is the place where the Kings of Bosphorus keep their standing Court, he there endeavoured again to have recovered his kingdom: but being foild there again, he fled to a place there called the Gardens, and was there slain, and his brother Eumelus reigned in his stead, five years and five moneths, [Ibid.] Year of the World 3695

Eumelus, The Julian Period. 4405 to establish his kingdom, Year before Christ 309 put to death all the friends, and wives and children, of both his brothers, Satyrus and Pritanis, onelyonly Parysades, Satyrus his son, being but a very youth, escaped his hands: for, by the benefit of a swift Horse, he got away to Agarus King of the Scythians. But when Eumelus saw that the people repined at the losse of their friends which he had murdered, he called them all together, and there excused himseself, and restored to them their ancient form of government; and restored moreover to the Citizens of Pantacupaeum, their former immunities, and promised to discharge them of all kind of tributes, sparing for no fair words, which might reconcile the hearts of the people to him: whereby having gotten all their good wills again, he held a just and moderate hand over them, and grew afterward into no small admiration for all kind of vertue among them, [Ibid.]

Ptolemei of Egypt, hearing that he had lost all again in Cilicia, put over with his fleet to Phaselis, and took that City by force; and from thence passing into Lycia, took Xanthus by assault, and the Garrison of Antigonus that was therein; then sailing to Caunus, took the City upon surrender, and then set upon the citadels and forts that were in it, and took them by assault, as for Heracleum, he utterly destroyed it, and the City Persicum came into his hands by the surrender of the souldiers that were there put to keep it, [Diod. year 4. Olymp. 117.]

p. 324Then sailing to Coos, he sent for Captain Ptolomei to come unto him: that same was Antigonus his brothers son, as was said before; and had an army committed to him by Antigonus: but now, forsaking his Uncle, he clave to Ptolemei, in all his ways. Parting therefore from Chalcis, and arriving at Coos, Ptolemei at first received him in all courteous manner; yet after a while, when he saw the insolency of his carriage, and how he went to allure the officers by gifts, and secret meetings with them, fearing the worst, he clapt him up in prison, and there poisoned him with a draught of hemlock▪ as for the souldiers that came with him, he made them his own by large promises which he used towards them, and distributed them, by small parcels among the rest of his army, [Id. ibid.]

Cassander, fearing least the Macedons would fall over to Hercues, the son of Alexander the Great, who was then fourteen (as Justin, or rather seventeen, as Diodorus hath it) years of age, struck in with Poly…percon, and by his means procured both him and his mother Barsine to be privily murdered, and their bodies to be hid deep enough in the ground, least by their solemne Funerals the truth might happily come to light. And how that Alexanders two sons were both rid out of the way, and dead, and no heir of his body left to succeed him▪ every Governour made himself a King of the Province which he held, nor more, nor lesse, than if he had won it by the sword, and right of war, [Id. ibid. and Justin, lib. 15. cap. 2.]

Ptolemei, Year of the World 3696 sailing from Myndus along the Islands which lay in his way, The Julian Period. 4406 came to Andros, Year before Christ 308 and putting out the Garrison that there was; restored it to her former liberty, [Diodorus, Olymp. 118. year 1.]

Cleopatra, the Daughter of Philip, and Sister to Alexander the Great, being incensed against Antigonus, of her own accord, inclined to Ptolemei and left Sardes, to go unto him▪ but the Governour there, to whom Antigonus had given in charge not to hurt her▪ stopt neverthelesse her going, and afterward by his command, and the help of s…me of …er women about her, privily got her to be murdered: But Antigonus, who would no wayes be thought guilty of her death, put some of those women to death for having a hand in her murder: and buried her with all the magnificence that might be, [Id. ibid.]

Ophellas, who had thrust out Thimbro, and reduced the Cyrenians under the obei… sance of Ptolomei, challenged now, Cyrene it self, with the Cities and Regions thereunto adjoyning, as his own: and not therewith content, began to look after greater matters, and to have higher projects in his braines: and whiles he was casting these maginations in his mind, one Ortho of Syracusa, came to him in a message from Agathocles, solliciting him to joyn in armes with him against the Carthagi…ans; telling him withal, that if he subdued them▪ he would make him Sovereign of all Afric. This therefore coming in the way, so heightened him in his former hopes, that he readily hearkened to him, and sent his Agent to Athens, from whence he had married his wife Euridice, the Daughter of Miltiades, to pray their aid and association in this war, [Id. ibid.]

Many there were of the Athenians, Year of the World 3697 and other Grecians, The Julian Period. 4407 which willingly hearkened to this motion, Year before Christ 307 hoping thereby to have the sharing of the richest pieces of all Afric, with all the wealth of Carthage amongst themselves. And now Ophellas, being fully provided of all necessaries for such a voyage, drew out his army, consisting of 1… thousand Foot, and six or seven hundred Horse, and one hundred Chariots, with above 300 mendrivers; and souldiers to manage them: besides extraordinaries and followers of the Camp, to the number of 10 thousand more; many of which, drew their wives and children with their stuff and baggage along with them: so that they looked more like a Colony going to be planted, than an army marching against an enemy. Having therefore marched 18 dayes journey, and in them gone 3 thousand furlongs, they came to a City called Automulus, in the westerne border of Cyrenaica, and there they encamped, and rested themselves: then removing again, they travelled thorough a dry and thirsty Country, and full of noisome Serpents, and came at last, after two moneths miserable travel, with much adoe, to Agathocles his Camp, where they pitcht their Camps at a small distance each from the other, [Id. ibid.]

Agathocles, hearing of his approach, went to meet him, and advised him by all means to have a care of his army after so tedious and hard a journey, and to see them well refreshed, and having often supped together, at last Ophellas adopted Agathocles for his son: but he, when upon a time the greater part of Ophellas his army was gone a forraging into the Country, suddenly called an assembly of his own army, and before them accused Ophellas, for that being called for an assistant in this war, he went about to betray him; and having incensed the multitude, drew out his whole army in battalion against him and his Cyrenians: Ophellas growing amazed at this unexpected alteration, put neverthelesse himself, and the men he had with him into a posture of defence; but the enemy being too quick for him, and he too weak for them, he was p. 315there slain upon the place, and Agathocles, when he was dead, perswaded the rest that were left, to lay down their arms, and then telling them what great things he would do for them, perswaded them to take his pay, and so rid himself of Ophellas, and got all his army to himself: but such of the… as he found not fit and serviceable for th… war, those he sent away to Sy…acusae, of which few yet arrived there, being for the most part cast away in a fierce tempest, that fell upon them a… sea, [Id. Ib. with Justin, lib, 22. cap. 2.]

After Ophellas his death, Cyrene, and all Lybia returned to Ptolomei's obeissance again. [Suid. in foreign.]

Demetrius Poliorc…tos, Year of the World 3698 or, The Julian Period 4408 as Pliny renders it, Year before Christ 306 Expugnator Urb…um, (i. e.) the City taker, being furnished with two strong armies, one by land, and another by sea, and provided of weapons, and all other necessaries for the war, set forth from Ephesus, to set the Grecian Cities at liberty, [Diod. year. 2. Olympiade 118.] and carrying with him five thousand talents of silver, came to Pyrae…m, the port of Athens, with 250 saile of ships, upon the 26 day of Thargelion, (i. e.) about the 31 day of our May, as Plutarch in the Life of Demetrius, …aith. And having been received into Athens, took the City of Megara, and because Cassander had put a Garrison into Munichium, which was the Fort or Castle of Athens, under the command of one Dionysus, therefore he rased it to the ground.

In the year when Anaxicrates was L. Chancelor in Athens, as among others▪ Philochorus hath it, who lived at this very time, in his Attic. History, [lib. 8. cited by Dionysius Halicarnassus, in his Dinarchus] reporteth, to w…, toward the end of his Chancellor-ship, and withal, [year. 2. Olymp. 118.]

When Euridice, the relict of Opheltas, al. Ophellas, Prince of Cyrene, who was slain the year before, returned to Athens. Demetrius the son of Antigonus married her; which marriage, the Athenians took as a great honour done to them: and thereupon they began, and were the first that honoured Demetrius and Antigonus, with the title of Kings; who otherwise refused that title, as the onelyonly mark of regality, which hitherto remained entire and untouch…, to the stock and linage of Phllip and Alexander his son, [Plut. in Demetrius.]

Demetrius, being re-called out of Greece by his father Antigonus, to make war upon the Captains of Ptolemei, in the Isle of Cyprus, put over first into Caria, and from thence went into Cilicia, and furnishing himself there with shipping and men, sailed thence into Cyprus, with 15 thousand Foot, and four hundred Horse, and a fleet consisting of 110 ships, of three tire of Oares a piece, of singular swiftnesse, and 53 not so swift, as the other, yet men of war, as the other were, besides ships of burden of all sorts, answerable to so great a multitude of Men and Horses, as were in them to be wa…ted over.

Being landed, he first encamped near the shoar, not far from Carpasia, and drawing up his ships to land, fenced them there with a deep trench, and ramparts, and then went, and by force took Urania and Carpasia, and leaving a sufficient guard to defend his trenches about the fleet, marched forthwith to Salamis. [Diodor. year 2. Olympiade 118.]

Menelaus, the brother of Ptolemei, and chief Commander of the Isle, being then in Salamis, and seeing the enemy, within 40 furlongs of the City, drew out of the Garrisons adjoyng, to the number of 12000 Foot, and 800 Horse, and went to meet him; but not able to endure the i…ssion of the enemy, fled, and Demetrius, following him hard at heels▪ to the very gate… of the city, took to the number of three thousand of his men, and slew one thousand more upon the place: the prisoners he distributed among his own companies to serve him: but finding that they were ever ready to fly over again to Menel…us, because their wealth was in Ptolomeis hands in Egypt, he shipt them all away to Antigonus his father. [Id. Ibid.]

Antigonus at that time was building a City in the upper Syria upon the river Orontes, called after his own name, Antigonia, laying out great sums of money upon it, and taking in within the walls 70 furlongs of ground: for the place it self was very oppertune, to lie as a yoak, both upon Babylon, and the upper provinces, and also upon the nether, as far down as Egypt. [Ibid.]

Menelaus, flying back to Salamis, resolved there to endure a siege, and dispatcht away a messenger to Ptolemei, for more help, telling him what danger he was in. And Demetrius fell presently to work, dressing his Engins of battery, to take it by force: among others he had one special Engine, which he called Helepolis, (i. e.) one that would not faile him in taking any City, which it was bent against, besides sundry other great rams and galleries for them. But they within, in the night time threw fire-works upon them, and consumed the principall of them, with the greatest part of the men that kept them: yet Deme…rius would not off, but pr…ssing the siege both by sea and land, thought in time he should not fail but have it, [Ibid.]

p. 326Ptolemei, hearing of the losse of his men, took presently shipping with an army well furnished for sea and land, and arriving at Paphos in Cyprus, took boats from the Cities adjoyning, and went to Citium, distant from Salamis 200 furlongs: his whole Fleet consisted of 140, or, as Plutarch hath it, 150 sail; the biggest whereof was of five tire of oares, the least of four: and these were attended with 200 ships of burden, containing no lesse than 10 thousand souldiers; and sent word to Menelaus, that when he saw them in heat of fight, he should then set out of the Port of Salamis, with 60 sail of ships, and fall in upon the rere of the enemy, and disorder them, all that possible he could. But Demetrius foreseeing what might be; as he left a part of his army to maintain the siege by land, so he gave order to Antisthenes his Ammiral, with ten ships of 5 tire of oares a piece, to lie at the mouth of the Haven of Salamis, and to keep in the Fleet that there was, so that they should not be able to come out: and having first ranged his land army upon the shoar and forelands looking into the sea; took ship himself, and with a Fleet of 108. or as Plutarch hath it, of 180 ships, the greater sort whereof were of 7 tire of oares, the least of four, put out to sea, [Diod. and Plutarch.]

Ptolemei, in the wing where himself was, utterly routed the enemy, sinking some of their ships, and taking others with the men in them; and then returning thought to have done the like with the rest: but when he came, he found his left wing wholy routed by Demetrius, and him in hot pursuite of them; wherefore he made back to Citium. But Demetrius committing his men of War to Neon and Burichus, to pursue the enemy withal, and to take up such as they found swimming for their lives, returned to his own Port whence he set out, [Diodor.]

Mean while, Menelaus sent out his 60 ships as he was commanded, under the command of Menaetius, and he entring a fight with those ten ships that were set to keep him in, Year of the World 3690 brake thorough them, and they fled for safety, to the army that was at land; and Maenetius his men seeing they came too late, to act according to their instructions, returned again to Salamis, [Id.]

Ptolemei, seeing no good to be done in Cyprus, returned with eight ships onelyonly into Egypt, [Id. with Justin, lib. 15. cap. 2. and Plut.] and Menelaus hereupon gave up both the city, and also all his Forces both by land and sea to Demetrius: his Forces were 1200 Horse, and 12 thousand Foot, all Corseleteers. [Plut.] And Demetrius having in a short time taken in all the rest of the Cities and Forts of the Island, distributed the Garrison souldiers, among his own companies, to the number of 16 thousand Foot, and 6 hundred Horse, [Diodor.]

He took 100 ships of lading, wherein there were almost 8 thousand souldiers. Of ships of War he took 40 with the men in them; and of those which were bilged in the fight, about 80. all which, leaky as they were, and full of water in the hold, they drew to land, under their Camp, near the City. Demetrius had twenty of his own ships sorely hurt in this fight, which yet being recured, and rigged up again, proved serviceable as before, [so saith Diodor.] But Plutarch thus; Of Ptolemeis ships there were 70 taken, with the men in them…, Souldiers and Mariners; but of the rabble, and hang-bies which were in the ships of burden, and slaves, and friends, and women-kind; with arms, and monies to pay the souldier, and engins, nothing escaped, Demetrius took all, and carried it to his Camp: Among the rest, there was one Lamia, renowned at first for her excellent skill in playing upon the Recorder, and afterward a famous harlot, and though she were then past her prime, yet Demetrius, younger a great deal than she, fell in love with her; and she so far caugh… …nd enamoured him, with the pretines of her discourse and behaviour, that he grew a… fare in love with her, as other women were with him, [Plut.]

Demetrius buried the bodies of the enemy, that were slain, very honourably; and dismissed such as he had taken prisoners, and gave the Athenians armes enough to furnish 1200 men, [Plut. in Demetr.] He sent home Leontiscus, Ptolemeis son, and Menelaus his brother, and his other friends, with fitting provision for their journey by the way; not forgetting what Ptolemei had formerly done to him in the same kind: using these enterchangeable and reciprocal offices of love and kindnesse, in the very heat of war, that it might evidently appear, their contention was for honour, and not for hatreds sake, it being the fashion, it should seem, in those dayes, to wage war more religiously, than now men use to observe the laws of friendship in time of peace, [Justin, lib. 15. cap. 2.]

Demetrius dispatcht away Aristodemus the Milesian, with the news of this victory to his father; which Aristodemus was reckoned the prime flatterer in all the Court: and coming to Antigonus, stood still a while, and held him in suspence, what the news might be; till at length he burst out with these termes, God save the King Antigonus, we have overthrown King Ptolemei at sea; Cyprus is ours, we have in our hand 16 thousand 8 hundred of his men prisoners: to whom Antigonus answered; and God save thee too: neverthelesse, because thou heldest me so long in suspence before p. 327thou toldest me thy good news, thou shalt in some sort be punisht too; for thou shalt stay a while, before thou receive thy reward for thy good news, [Plut.]

Antigonus, p…ed up with pride upon this victory, assumed to himself a Crown, or Diadem, and the Title of King ever after; and thereupon Ptolemei also, least he should any ways seem to hang the head upon this late ill success, or be the less regarded among his subjects, took the Crown and Title of a King to himself likewise: and in all his letters from that time forward, wrote himself King: And by their example, other Governours of Provinces did the like; as Seleucus, who had lately subdued the upper Provinces to himself, and Lys…machus, and Cassander, seeing there was neither mother, nor brother, nor son, of Alexander the Great now left alive, [Diodor. and Justin. lib. 15. cap. 2. Plut. in Demet. and Appian…, in his Syriaca. pag. 122.]

Seleucus wrote himself King, Year of the World 3699 not onelyonly of Babylon, The Julian Period. 4409 but also of Media, Year before Christ 305 having with his own hand slain Nicator, al. Nicanor, whom Antigonus had placed Governour there, [Appia. ib.] taking to himself also the surname of Nicator, al. Nicanor (for so we find him also stamped in his coins,) not from Nicator, or Nicanor, whom he so slew; but from the many and great victories which he gat, [Appia. ibid. pag. 124. and Ammia. Marcell…nus, lib. 23. Histor.] for having subdued the Bactrians, he proceeded and took in all the rest of the countries which Alexander had formerly subdued, as far as the River Indus, and added them to his own Dominion, [Justin, lib. 15. cap. 4. Appia. in his Syriaca. pag. 123.]

King Antigonus, (for so hereafter we must terme him) his youngest son coming to decease, buried him, in a kingly manner; and calling home Demetrius out of Cyprus, commanded his whole army to meet at his new City of Antigonia; for he was purposed to march from thence into Egypt: wherefore leading the Foot himself, he went thorough Coelosyria, having in his land army 80 thousand Foot, and about 10 thousand Horse: and he made Demetrius Ammiral of his Fleet, giving him order to keep close to the shoar, in sight of the land army, having in all 150 fighting ships; and 100 more of burden, wherein was an infinite store of armes of all sorts: and when the Pilots told him, that now was the time that the seven Stars were ready to set, and would set the 8 day from thence, (to wit, in the beginning of April, he told them they were too timorous to make good sea-men of, [Diod. year 3. Olymp. 118.]

Antigonus, coming with his army to Gaza, and purposing to fall upon Ptolemei before he was provided for him, commanded his souldiers to take with them 10 dayes victual, and getting together Camels out of Arabia, he loaded on them 130 thousand bushels of wheat, and infinite store of hay upon other beasts of carriage, and carrying his munition in carts, went thorough the Desert, not without some trouble to the army; for that they met with sundry fenny and dirty places by the way, especially about the place called Barathra, [Id. ibid.]

Demetrius, with his ships loosing from Gaza, in the dead of the night, was for many dayes together becalmed, so that the lighter ships were fain to towe the ships of burden after with ropes▪ but after this, and so soon as the seven Stars were set, a northerly wind rose, and fell upon them, with which, many of the ships of 4 tire of oares a piece, were driven on shoat, near to the City Raphia, where was no commodious landing for them: but of those which carried the artillery, some of them were sunk, and the rest recovered Gaza again: yet some of the best of them bare up, and came under the promontory of Cas…s. That Foreland is not far distant from the River N…le; but is no place fit for shipping, especially if any tempest be, there is no coming near it: wherefore every ship dropping two anchors a piece, two furlongs off from land, were …ain to ride it out, in a huge sea, and in the middest of a thousand dangers, and were driven to that extremity, that had the tempest lasted but one day longer, having spent their fresh water, they must all necessarily have perished for very thirst. But in this great extremity of theirs, the storme ceased; and Antigonus with his army coming to the place, there encamped, and the weather-beaten men came ashoar and refreshed themselves in the Camp: neverthelesse in this tempest, there were lost, three ships o… 5 tire of oares a piece, out of which, yet some men escaped alive to land, [Ibid.]

From hence Antigonus removed and sate down with his army 2 furlongs off from the River Nile: But Ptolemei having man…ed all the bank of the River with strong Garrisons, sent some in River-boats, that going as near the further bank as safely they might; they should there proclaim, that if any of Antigonus his army would come to him, he would give him, if a common souldier two pounds, if a Captain, a whole talent for his pains. No sooner was this proclaimation made, but a multitude of Antigonus his men which served him for pay, grew very desirous to be gone: yea, and some of his Captains also, for that, and some other reasons, had a mind to be going too. But when Antigonus perceived that a multitude of his men were flying away from him, he disposed archers, and s…ingers, and other engins of War, to keep them from flying over the water in boats, and if any were lighted on that went, he put them to death with horrible torments, [Ibid.]

p. 328Antigonus, gathering together his ships which came, though late, to him; went to a place called Pseudostomon, thinking there to have landed some of his men: but found a strong Garrison of the enemy there, and was beaten off from thence with bows and slings, and other Engins of war; and therefore the night drawing on, he went his way, giving order to the masters of every ship to follow the lanthorn of the Ammiral, and so come to the mouth of the river Nile, which is called Phagneticum, but the next morning, finding that a many of his ships had lost their way, and were gone he knew not whither, he was fain to come to anchor there right, and to send away the swiftest ships he had, all the sea over, to look out, and bring in the rest unto him. Mean while, time ran on, and Ptolemei, being advertised of the approach of the enemy, went forthwith to the relief of his men, and ranged his army all along the shoar, in the enemies sight. Then Demetrius, finding no possibility of landing here neither; and being informed, that if he should land, yet the Country adjoyning was naturally fenced and fortified with fens, and moorish grounds, set sail, and returned, [Ibid.]

But, as he was going, the wind struck up to the North, and with a mighty tempest, drave three of his ships, of four tire of oares, and some others of his men of war, upon the shoar, all which came into Ptolemeis hand; the rest, with much adoe, recovered Antigonus his Camp. Now Ptolomei had placed strong Garrisons, at every one of the mouthes of the river Nile, and had an infinite number of river boats every where ready, and stored with darts and slings, and men which knew right well how to use them; which troubled Antigonus very sorely, for the mouth of the river at Pelusium, being strongly guarded by Ptolemei, he could make no use of his ships at all: and for his land force…, the river Nile, which beginneth alwayes at the coming of the sun into Cancer to swell, but at his entring into Leo, overfloweth all his banks, was now grown to that height, that they could do little, and, which was worse, with his long lying both food for men, and fodder for cattle, began to fail, [Ib.]

Wherefore Antigonus, seeing his army to hang the head, called them all together, and before them all, propounded it to the Captains, whether of the two were best, to stay and fight it out now, or to return into Syria for the present; and to return again better provided the next year, and when the waters should be lower. And when every mans voice was to be gone; he bad his souldiers truss up their trinkets, and his Navy keeping still along the shoar by them, he returned into Syria, [Ibid.] Which fruitlesse issue of this journy, Medius one of his Nobles, is said to have fore-seen in a dream: for it seemed to him, that he saw Antigonus with all his army to contend in a race at Olympus, called Diaulus, (i. e.) a double course, wherein at the first setting out, they seemed to run exceeding well, but after a while, to grow somewhat wearish: and when they came to the race-post, and were to turn about it, and return to the barriers whence they set out, (for that was the manner of this double course) they grew so out of breath, that they could go no further, [Put. in Demet.]

Ptolemei, growing glad at heart, that the enemy was thus gone, offered sacrifice to his gods, for this great benefit bestowed upon him; and made withall, a magnificent feast for his Nobles: and wrote away letters to Seleucus, Lysimachus and Cassander, of his prosperous successe; not forgitting to tell them what a company of Antigonus his men, had fled over to him. And now having rescued, as it were, Egypt, a second time, and gotten it by his sword; he thought he might lawfully reckon it his own, and returned in triumph to Alexandria. [Diodor.] Whence it is that Cl. Ptolemaeus, in his Reg. Cano, counts the beginning of his reign over Egypt, from this time, reckoning from the death of Alexander the Great to this time, full 19 years: for the 19 year from the death of Alexander the Great ends just, according to his account, with the sixth day of this present November, which we are now upon, of the year 4409, according to the Julian account.

Whiles these things thus passed in Egypt, Dionysius the Tyrant of Heraclea in Pontus, (as Diodorus writes) dyed; having then reigned 33 years, as Athenaeus [lib, 12. cap. 26.] recordeth: though Memnon saith, that he reigned but 30, and Diodorus but 32. years: of whose incredible fatnesse, besides Memnon, Nymphis, Heracleotes, in his book of the City Heraclea, cited by Athenaeus in the place aforesaid, maketh mention: and so doth Elia. [Var. Histor. lib. 9. cap. 13.] To him were born two sons by Amastris, al. Amestris, the daughter of Oxethras, brother to Darius the last of Persia, which was at first given in marriage to Craterus, by Alexander: the eldest of these sons was called Clearchus, the younger Oxathras; and by Diodor. Zathras: Dionysius, therefore by his last will, left the government of his kingdom, and charge of his two children, who were yet very young, to his wife, joyning some other in commission with her. [Memnon in Excerpt. Photii. cap. 5. with Diodorus, year. 3. Olympiade 118. and 119. year 3.]

Menedemus going from Patara in Lycia, Year of the World 3700 Commander of three ships, The Julian Period. 4410 each of them between two and three tire of oares apiece, Year before Christ 304 took a ship of four tire of oares, coming out p. 329of Cilicia, wherein were found letters from Phila, together with rich and royal apparel, and other furniture most curiously and costly wrought, sent to Demetrius Poliorcetes: all which Menedemus sent to Ptolemei in Egypt. This affront envenomed Demetrius against the Rhodians, as he then lay in siege before their City to take it: yet after a years time spent about it, by the mediation of the Athenians, they came to this agreement, That the Rhodiaus should assist Antigonus and Demetrius, in their wars against any, save onelyonly Ptolemei: and so the siege brake up, [Diod. Olymp. 119. year 1. and Plut. in Demetr.]

The Rhodians, so soon as the war was ended, sent some of their Priests to consult the Oracle of Ammon, whether they should worship Ptolemei as a god or no; and being answered, yeas, they presently consecrated to him a foursquare Grove in their City; building on every side thereof, a gallery of a furlong in length, and called it Ptolomeum, or Ptolemeis gallery: and then was also the surname or title of foreign: (i. e.) Saviour, first given him by them: to wit, for that he had saved them from the force and violence of Antigonus and Demetrius, and not by the souldiers, for, his saving of Alexander in the City of the Oxydracans, (of which before) as some have imagined, [Arria. lib. 6. pag. 131. and Steph. in the word Oxydras. Diodorus, ut supra.]

Eumelus, the King of Bosphorus Cimmerius, having now reigned there 6 years, came to his end by a mischance: for, making haste homeward out of Scythia to a certain solemne sacrifice that was then to be offered, and was in a Coach running upon four wheeles, and drawn with four horses, and covered over with a Canopie, coming to his Palace, the horses took a fright, and ran away with him: and when the coach-man could not hold them, Eumelus for fear least they would run down some precipice or other, leapt out of the Coach; but his sword hanging in the wheele, he was whirled away with it, and so killed; after whom, succeeded Spartacus his son, who reigned 20 years, [Id. year 3. Olymp. 117. and year 1. Olymp. 119.]

Seleucus, The Julian Period. 4411 crossing the River Indus, Year before Christ 303 made war upon Sandrocottus, al. Androcottus; for that he, Year of the World 3701 at the same time when Seleucus laid the foundation of his greatnesse in the East, had murdred all the Governours, which Alexander had set there, and took all India into his own possession, [Justin, lib. 15. cap. 4. Appia. in his Syriaca. page 122. 123.]

Now as he was going to make this war, a wild Elephant of a vast bignesse came to him upon the way, and as if he had been tame, and brought up to it, suffered him to get up, and proved a prime and singular Elephant for the war. [Justin, ibid.] Whereupon, traversing all India over, with 600 thousand men, brought it entirely into his own subjection, [Plu. in Alexan.] and then making himself King over them, freed them from a yoak of strangers, to bring them under another of his own, [Justin, ut sup.]

Megasthenes, in his Indica, writes, that he oftentimes repaired to him, whiles he remained with Sibyrtius Government of the Arachosians; as [Arria. lib. 5. cites him] and withal sayes, that he had seen in his army 400 thousand souldiers, [Strabo, lib. 16. page 709.]

Cassander, Year of the World 3702 King of Macedon, The Julian Period. 4412 sending his Ambassadors to Antigonus, Year before Christ 302 desired him to make a peace with him. But when he would not, unlesse Cassander would absolutely stand to his mercy: then, upon conference with Lysimachus King of Thrace, they both agreed to send their Ambassadors to Ptolemei, King of Egypt, and to Seleucus, King of the upper Provinces of Asia, crying out upon the pride and surquedry of Antigonus, expressed in his answers, and remonstrating to them, how far this war concerned them both, [Diodor. year 3. Olymp. 119.] Wherefore perceiving that Antigonus his purpose was to take them to task one after another, whiles they never cared to make it a common cause; they heartened each other by their m…ssives first, and then appointed a place where all were to meet; and resolved to contribute their several stocks to the maintenance of this war: but because Cassander himself could not be there, by reason he had an enemy so nigh at hand, therefore he sent Lysimachus, with all the power which he was able to make, and infinite provisions for them, [Iustin, lib. 15. cap. 2.]

Seleucus, having made affinity with Sandrocottus, King of India, gave him all those Regions lying upon the bank of Indus, which Alexander had taken from the Arians, and made them Colonies of his own, setting Governours over them, and received of him for a present 500 Elephants, [Stra. lib. 15. pag. 724. Plut. in Alex. and Appia. in Syria. pag. 123.] And so having made all peace in the East, prepared himself for the war against Antigonus, with his consorts, according to agreement in the West, [Justin, lib. 15. cap. 4.]

Lysimachus, putting over into Asia side with his own army, came before Lampsacus and Paros, and, because they submitted readily to him, he restored them to their ancient liberty; but having taken Sigaeum by force, he put into it a strong Garrison of his p. 330own, and then committing six thousand Foot, and 1000 Horse, to the charge of Prepelaus, sent him to take in the Cities of Ionia and Eolia, and himself went before Abydus, carrying all manner of Engins of battery, and other necessaries with him. Neverthelesse, when an army sent from Demetrius for the defence of that place arrived, he gave off that siege; and having taken in Hellespont and Phrygia, he went on and besieged the City Synada, where the king Antigonus his Magazin lay, and the same time drave over Docimus, a Commander of Antigonus his party, to stand for the common cause, and by his help, took both Synada and other Forts and places belonging to Antigonus; and where his treasures were laid up. [Diodorus, year 3. Olympiade 119.]

Mean while, Prepelaus, who was sent to make war upon Ionia and Eolia, by the way, took Adramittium, and besieged Ephesus, and so terrified the inhabitants, that they submitted to him, and finding there the hostages which the Rhodians had given, he sent them all home again to their friends: nor did he any hurt at all to the Ephesians themselves in their persons; onelyonly set on fire all the ships which he found in their harbour; because the enemy commanded, as yet, all at sea: and for that, the issue of the war was hitherto uncertain: after this he joyned to him, and the common cause, the Teians, and Colophonians; but as for Erythrae, and Clazomenae, they had succor sent into them by sea; and therefore he could not take them: but having wasted their territories, he departed, and went for Sardes, and there he drew over by fair words, two of Antigonus his Captains, Phaenix and Docimus; and took the City it self, all save the Castle, into his protection; as for the Castle, Philippus, a friend of Antigonus, kept it, and would not betray the trust which he had reposed in him. [Id. Ibid.]

Antigonus was at that time, Year of the World 3703 wholy taken up in making sports and feasts, at his new City of Antigonia; and had proclaimed great prizes for such as would put in for them, and huge wages to all cunning artificers, that could be gotten. But when he heard how Lysimachus was come into Asia, and by what multitudes his souldiers revolted to him, he brake off his sports, and yet disbursed among the wrestlers, and artificers that were allready thither come, to the sum of 200 talents; and then taking his army with him, he marched away, and by long journies, hastened to meet the enemy; and so soon as he came to Tarsus in Cilicia, he there out of the monies, which he took with him out of the City Quindi, he gave his army three moneths pay before hand: and besides this, brought three thousand talents along with him from Antigonia, to the end he might not be to seek for money, if need should be; then passing the Taurus, he hasted into Cappadocia, and reduced such as in the upper Phrygia and Lycaonia, had revolted from him, to serve him in the wars, as they did before. [Ibid.]

Then Lysimachus, hearing of the enemies approach, fell to consult with his council, in this imminent danger, what were fittest to be done: and their advise was, by no means to hazard a battle, till Seleucus came down out of the upper provinces; but to possesse himself of the surest places, and to intrench himself, in the strongest manner that possibly he could, with ramparts, and palisladoes and stakes: and there expect the coming of the enemie. Lysimachus having heard this advice, put it seriously in execution, and Antigonus on the other side, so soon as he came in sight of his Camp, drew out in batalion, and provoked Lysimachus to a fight, but seeing he would not, he went and kept all the passages, by which any victual might come unto the Camp, whereupon Lysimachus, fearing least, food failing, he might happily … alive into Antigonus his hand, removed by night, and having marched 400 furlongs, came to Dorylaeum, and there encamped: for that in those parts, there was store of corn, and other provisions in abundance, having a river at the back of him: wherefore, having there raised a work, and enclosed it with an exceeding deep trench, and three rows of stakes upon the top of it, he made all as sure as art could make it. But Antigonus, finding the enemy gone, pursued after him with all speed, and coming near the place where he lay entrenched, and seeing no disposition in him to fight, he presently fell to work, and drew another trench round about his Camp to besiege him there, and to that purpose caused all kind of instruments of a siege, as darts, arrows and Catapults thither to be brought, and though many skirmishes were made about the trenches, because Lysimachus his men fought from their works, to hinder the enemy in making theirs, yet it so fell out, that Antigonus his party had still the better of it, [Ibid.]

But in processe of time, Antigonus his works came to be almost finished round about, and Lysimachus his provision began to fail; wherefore Lysimachus, taking the advantage of a tempestuous night, gat him away with his army, and thorough mountainous countries, came to his winter quarters. But when Antigonus the next morning saw that the enemy was gone, he also marched after him thorough the champion country. But by reason there fell great store of rain, and the wayes were foul, and full of sloughs, he lost many of his carriages, and some of his men also in that journey: and the whole p. 331army was distressed therewith: wherefore, both to spare his army, and because the Winter quarter came on, he gave off the pursuite of him, for that time; and casting about for the fittest places to winter in, distributed his army into them, [ib.]

And Lysimachus, in like manner, sent his army to be quartered in the country of Salmonia, having made large provision for them out of Heraclea: for that he had made an alliance with them of that City; by marrying Amestris, the widow, as was said before of Dionysius, and tutrix of his two young children; and Governesse for the present of that City, [Id. ibid. with Memnon, in Photius, cap. 5.]

At this time Demetrius, being sent for by his father out of Greece, made peace with Cassander; and, steering a streight course thorough the Islands of the Egaean Sea, came to Ephesus: and there landing his army, encamped before it, and reduced it to their former obedience; and suffered the Garrison which Prepelaus had put therein, to depart with safety. And putting a strong Garrison of his own into the Castle there, marched away with the rest of his army as far as Hellespont, and reduced the Lampsacenians and Parians to his subjection. And from thence going to the mouth of Pontus, encamped near to a place called the Temple of the Chalcedonians, and there fortified: which done, he left there 3 thousand Foot, and 30 sail of good ships to keep it; and sent the rest of his army to quarter for that Winter, in sundry places thereabouts, [Diodor. year 3. Olymp. 119.]

About this time, Mithridates who was subject to Antigonus, being suspected of favouring Cassanders party, was slain at Cius, in the country of Mysia, where, as also at Arthinas, he had continued Prince 35 years, [Id. ibid.] Of whom divers Authors speak diversly. For this Mithridates, is that son of Ariobarzanes, a man of the Royal blood of Persia, and descended from one of those seven which destroyed the Magi there: as we may gather out of [Polybius, lib. 5. pag. 388. and Florus, lib. 3. cap. 5. and Sext. Aurelius, Victor. de Vir. Illustr. cap. 76.] surnamed foreign: (i. e.) the Builder; and lost the succession of the kingdom of Pontus after him down to Eupator, al. that Mithradates, who maintained so long a war against the Romans: as Strabo tells us, [lib. 12. pag. 562.] whence it is also that Tertullian, [lib. de Anima.] I learn (saith he) out of Strabo, that Mithridates got the kingdom of Pontus by a dream: the Story is this; Antigonus in a dream, thought that he had a field full of a golden harvest; and that Mithridates came and cut it, and carried it away into Pontus: whereupon he purposed to apprehend and kill him; whereof Mithridates being advertised by Demetrius, fled away with six horse onelyonly in his company, and fortified a certain Town in Cappadocia, where many men joyned with him: and so he obtained to himself, both Cappadocia, and also many other Countries of Pontus, and left them to the eighth generation after him; and then it was extinguisht by the Romans, [Plut. in Demetr. and Appian. in his Mithridatica, pag. 176.] Lucian, [in his book of Long-lived men, pag. 176.] out of Hieronymus Cardianus, and other Writers reporteth, that he lived, to the age of 84 years; and that his son, called also Mithridates, succeeding him in his Principality, added to his Dominions Cappadocia, and Paphlagonia, and held them 36 years, [Diodor. ut sup.]

Cassander sent one Pleistarchus into Asia, with an army of 12000 Foot, and 500 Horse, to assist Lysimachus; and he, coming to the mouth of Pontus, found that streite kept by the enemy: and thereupon despairing of any passage that way, went to Odessus, which lies between Apollonia and Galatia, over against Heraclea, where a part of Lysimachus his men lay: but finding no ships there, for his transportation, he divided his army into three parts; and the first part that set out, landed safely at Heraclea; the second miscarried by the enemy, which were set to keep that streite of Pontus. The third, wherein Pleistarchus himself was, was so overset with a violent tempest, that the greatest part of the ships, and men in them, perished; and the ship wherein himself was, being a goodly ship of six tire of oares, was cast away likewise: and of all the men in her, which could not be lesse than 500. onelyonly 33 escaped, of which Pleistarchus himself was one, who getting upon a plank of the ship when it split, was cast on shoar half dead: yet being a little recovered, was carried to Heraclea, and there growing strong again, went to Lysimachus in his winter quarter, having lost the greater part of his army by the way, [Id. ibid.]

About the same time Ptolemei, coming with an exellently well appointed army out of Egypt, reduced all the Cities of Coelosyria, to his obedience, but when he lay in siege before Sidon, there came a false rumour to his ear, that a battle had been fought, wher…n Seleucus and Lysimachus were beaten, and fled to Heraclea, and that Antigonus thereupon was hasting into Syria with his victorious army. Ptolemei, giving over-light credit to this report, made a Truce with the Sidonians for five moneths; and putting Garrisons into the other Cities which he had taken in those parts, returned into Egypt, [Ibid.]

Whiles these things thus passed, 2800 of Lysimachus his chief souldiers fled over to p. 332Antigonus, and Antigonus entertained them very curtously, and furnishing them with such pay as they said Lysimachus ought them, gave them also for a reward of their so doing, large monies over and above, [Ibid.]

At the same time also, Seleucus with a great army came down out of the upper provinces into Cappadocia, and wintered his army in tents, which he brought ready made for them. His army consisted of 20 thousand Foot, and 12 thousand horse, (reckoning in with them his archers on horseback) and 480 Elephants, and iron Chariots one hundred, thus these Kings forces came together, purposing the next sommer to try for the mastery between them.

Pythagoras the soothsayer, as formerly for Alexander the Great, and for Perdiccas, so now for Antigonus, fell to his divinations by the bowels of beasts offered in sacrifice; and finding the strings or fillets wanting in the liver of them, told Antigonus that his death was thereby portended. [Arrian. lib. 7. pag. 160.]

Alexander the Great also appeared to Demetrius in his sleep, all gloriously armed, and asked him, what was the word which he and his fathe purposed to give; and he answered, Jove and victory, then replied Alexander, Therefore will I go over to thy enemies, for they will take me for theirs. [Plut. in Demetrio.]

Antigonus, hearing that there were so many Kings gotten together against him, vantingly said, that he would scatter them all like so many birds out of a bush, yet the enemies approaching, he was observed to be more lumpish and silent then he used to be, and shewing his son to his army, told them, that this was the man, that must be his successor. And, which they marvelled at, more than all at the rest, had speech with him in his tent often times all alone, whereas formerly, he would never impart any secret at all unto him. And when his army was all ready ranged in batalio, and he going out of his pavilion to them, he stumbled, and fell all along upon his face, and being sorely troubled thereat, and got up again, he begged of the gods to send him either a victory that day, or a death void of pain, [Plut. Ib.]

This fight, between these so many Kings, was fought at Ipsus, a Town in Phrygia, [Arria. lib. 7. Plutarch in Pyrrho, Appian. in Syriacis, pag. 122. Diod. and Porphy year 4. Olymp. 119.] to wit in the beginning of that year. In which battle Antigonus and Demetr…us between them had above 70 thousand Foot, 10 thousand Horse, 75 Elephants, and 120 Chariots, and Demetrius with the best part of his Horse, charged upon Antiochus the son of Seleucus, and his successor afterward in his kingdom, and having most valliantly routed him, but over rashly pursuing him, and too far, was the cause of the losse of that victory to his father; yet in that pursuit, Pyrrhus made his brave valour and worth, conspicuously to appear, who being then but 17 years of age, and thrust out of his kingdom by the Epirotes his subjects, joyned himself with Demetrius, who had married his sister Deidamia, who was intended for Alexander, the son of Alexander the Great, by Roxane, [Id. in Pyrrho.]

Seleucs, seeing Antigonus his batalion destitute of all help from their Horse, made as if he would have fallen upon them, but withall, very advisedly invited them rather to fall over unto him: whereupon a great part of them did so, and the rest fled; and turning upon Antigonus, one of them cryed out, saying, These come upon thee, O King: and he aswered, But Demetrius will come and help us: and whiles he stood looking still for Demetrius his return to rescue him, the enemy came on, and powred on their darts, as thick as hail upon him, and in that storm, he fell: whereupon all forsook him, and shifted for themselves, onelyonly one Thorax of Lari…a staid by the body of him, [Id. in. Demetr.] His body was afterward taken up, and buried in a royal manner, [Diod lib. 21.] Plutarch tells us, that when Antigonus was upon his late voyage into Egypt, he was then little lesse than 80 years of age; Appianus, that when he came upon this journey, he was upward of fourscore years old. But the whole term of his life, was 86 years, as Porphyrie affirms, cited by Scaliger in his Greek fragments of Eusebius, [lib. Ult.] But Hieronymus Cardianus the Historiographer, and one who lived with him (as Lacianus, in his book of Long-Lived men, voucheth him) affirmeth, that he lived 81 years, and no more.

Demetrius, seeing all lost, with five thousand Foot, and four thousand horse, fled away with all possible speed to Ephesus; where, when all men began to fear, lest for want of monies, he would fall a plundring of the Temple of Diana, and he himself thought he should not be able to hol… his souldiers hands from it, he hasted thence with all speed, [Plut. in Demetr.] and taking his mother Stratonice, and all his treasure with him, sailed to Salamis, in the Isle of Cyprus, which was at that time under his command, [Diod. lib. 2.]

The Kings that had gotten this great victory, fell presently a sharing this great kingdom of Antigonus and Demetrius, among themselves, and laid every man his share, to the dominions which he formerly possessed. [Plut. in Demetr. Appia. in Syriac. pag. 122. with Polyb. lib. 5. pag. 410.]

p. 333But when they could not agree about the partage of the spoile, they fell again into two sides between themselves; for Seleucus joyned presently with Demetrius, and Ptolemei with Lysimachus, [Iustin, lib. 15. cap. 4.] for Seleucus and Ptolemei, were, without compare, the two mightiest of them all; and therefore the contention between them was propagated, and continued to their posterities, under the names of the Seleucians, Kings of the North, and the Ptolemeis Kings of the South; as we find foretold [in the 11 chapter of the prophesie of Daniel.]

After Onias, his son, Simon, succeeded him in the Priesthood at Hierusalem: surnamed the Just; because of his great zeal and fervency in the worship of God, and the exceeding love, which he ever expressed to his country-men the Jews, [Josephus, lib. 2. cap. 2.] of whom in the book of Ecclesiasticus, [cap. 50. v. 1.] we find this testimony given; Simon, saith he, the High-Priest, the son of Onias, who in his life time repaired the House again, and in his dayes fortified the Temple; and by him was built from the foundation the double heigth (or curtaine) the high fortresse of the wall about the Temple. In his dayes the cisterne to receive water, being in compasse as the sea, was covered with plates of brasse. He took care of the Temple that it should not fall, and fortified the City against besieging. How was he honoured in the midst of the people at his coming out of the Sanctuary? [See Salian. his Annals, To. 5. year of the World, 3675. and Scaliger, in his Animadversions, upon Euseb. an. 1785.] This man is said to have sate High Priest there 9 years by [Scalig. in Graec. Euseb. pag. 50.]

Seleucus, Year of the World 3704 upon the 23 day of our April, The Julian Period. 4414 offering sacrifice to Jupiter in the mount Casius, Year before Christ 300 consulted him also concerning a place, where to build a City in; when presently an Eagle came and caught away a piece of flesh from the alter, which she is said to have let fall, in a place near the sea, below Palaeopolis, (a little city built in former times by Syrus, the son of Agenor, on a hill thereby) in a sea town of Pieria: Whereupon, Seleucus fell presently to lay the foundation of a great City, which he built there, and called it after his own name, Seleucia, [Johan. Malela, in his Chron. not printed.] wherein yet, others say, that he followed not that act of the Eagle, but the flash of some lightening that appeared to him, and that thereupon the lightening was ever after in that place celebrated with set hymns and praises, as if it were a god it self, [Appia. in Syriac. pag. 125.]

Seleucus himself proceeding, came to Iopolis, a City built in the hill Country of Silphium; and there the third day after his coming, falling upon the first of Artemisium; (i. e.) of our May, offered sacrifice to Jove the Thunderer, in a certain Chappel, said to have been anciently there built by Perseus the son of Danae: And afterward coming to Antigonia, and there offering sacrifice to Jove, upon the alters newly then built by Antigonus, he together with Amphion the Priest, prayed that Jupiter would shew him by some sign, whether he should inhabite Antigonia it self, calling it by some other name, or whether he should go and build a new City in another place: and then again it is said, that an Eagle came and caught away a piece of flesh from the alter, and let it fall near the hill of Siliphum. Whereupon it was, that over against that Hill and Iopolis therein built, near the River Orontes, where was a Town called Botzia, he laid the foundation of h…s wall, upon the 22 day of the monethmonth Artemisium at the rsing of the sun: which City he called after the name of his son Antiochus; and therein eftsoones erected a Temple to Jupiter Botzius. These and many more like things, doth Johannes Malela an Antiochian borne, deliver concerning the origine of this City; which Eusebius also in his Chron. affirmeth to have been built by Seleucus in the 12 year of his reign. Now this Metropolis of Syria, was afterward made a Tetrapolis; (i. e.) a fourfold City, being divided into four Regions, making, as it were, so many Cities: for that every one of them, had a proper wall built about it self, and one common one, which enclosed them all: of which, the first onelyonly was built by this Seleucus Nicator. The second was the work of the Inhabitants themselves. The third was finished by Seleucus Callinicus: And the fourth, by Antiochus Epiphanes, [Strabo, lib. 16. pag. 750.]

Now that Seleucus called this City after the name of his son Antiochus, besides Malcla and Cedremus, Julian also the Apostata, in his Misopogon teacheth us: whereas yet Strabo, and Appianus and Trogus Pompeius, tells us, that he called it Antiochia, after the name of his father Antiochus, [and Iustin, out of Trogus Pompeius, lib. 15. cap. 4.] saith, that herein he consecrated the memorial of a twofold beginning; for, saith he, he called the City after the name of his father Antiochus, and consecrated the fields about it, to Apollo; because forsooth, his mother Laodice, would needs make him believe, that he was begotten on her by Apollo: and therefore Daphne, a suburb of Antioch, a place much renowned for the Grove of Lawrel trees that there was, and no lesse than 80 furlongs in compasse, was consecrated to Apollo: whence as this day it is called foreign: (i. e.) Daphne near unto Antioch, [2 Maccabees chapter 4. verse 33.] So the City it selfe of Antioch, is p. 334called foreign (i. e.) Antioch near unto Daphne, by other Writers.

Seleucus, utterly demolishing Antigonia, conveighed the materials down the river Orontes, unto Antioch; and transplanted from thence, to the number of 5300 Macedons and Athenians, which Antigonus had there planted, unto his new city, [Jo. Malela,] though Diodore saies indeed, that Seleucus did destroy Antigonia, but adds that he transported the inhabitants thereof, to his new city Seleucia, [l. 20. year. 2. Olym. 118.] But Strabo also maketh mention of the inhabitants of Antigonia, removed to Antiochia, [l. 16. p. 750.] where he also adds, that some of the race and off-spring of Triptolemus, and Argivians, which were long ago sent with him to seek out Io, were there planted by Seleucus; which yet were none other than those Grecians out of Peloponese, which Stephanus Byzantius saith, were placed to dwel in Antioch, foreign, (i. e.) in Antioch by Daphne. To which purpose also is that saying of Jo. Malela, foreign, &c. (i. e.) Seleucus himself besought some of the Grecians of Ionia, and translated those Grecians which dwelt in Iopolis, to make them inhabitants of Antioch, and whom he made Citizens there, as men of a more sacred and generous kind, than the rest: compare this here with Scaligers notes, upon the 1713. number of the Euseb. Chron.]

Lysimachus the King of Thrace took to wife Arsinoe, the daughter of Ptolomei, not Ptolemei Philadelphus, as in Memnon, [cap. 5.] but of Ptolomei the first, the son of Lagus, surnamed the deliverer, as we learn out of Plutarch in Demetr. and Justin, [lib. 17. cap. 2. and lib. 24. cap. 2.] and even out of Memnon himself, in Excerpt. [cap. 9.] of Ptolemei the first, I say, and Euridice, as we find in Pausan his Attic. [pag. 8.] whereat his former wife Amestris, the relict of Dionysius, the King perforce, or tyrant, or a usurper of Heraclea, grew so offended, that he left him, and returned to Heraclea, and there built a City near the Euxian sea, which he called after his own name Amastris, and sent for men out of Sesamus, Cytrous, Cromnus and Teios, and other places to inhabit it. [Memnon. Excerpt. cap. 5. with Strabo lib. 12. pag. 544.]

Seleucus, Year of the World 3705 following the example of Lysimachus, The Julian Period. 4415 sent his Ambassadors, Year before Christ 299 and by them desired to have Stratonice, the daughter of Demetrius, surnamed Poliorcetes, and Phila, for his wife. Whereupon, Demetrius, taking his daughter along with him, took shipping, and with his whole fleet which attended him at Athens, set saile for Syria. But by the way touched in Cilicia, which Plistarchus, the brother of Cassander, then held, as allotted to him by a general consent of the Kings, after the battle wherein Antigonus, his Grandfather was slain. This Plistarchus conceiving himself wronged by Demetrius his setting foot upon his land, went and complained thereof to Seleucus, and expostulated the matter with him; for that without the consent of the other Kings, Ptolemei and Lysimachus, he had entered into a league and affinitie with Demetrius, a common enemy to them all. Hereupon Demetrius in a rage went from thence to Quinda, where when he found yet remaing of the old treasure of Alexanders, 1200 talents, he took them all away with hm, and weighed anchor, and to sea, as fast as he could high him, [Plut. in Demet.]

Seleucus came to meet Demetrius, and his wife Phila, at a place called Orossus, and first invited them to dine with him at his pavilion in his Camp: after which Demetrius invited him aborad his ship of 13 tire of oares high, after which they spent whole dayes in familiar discourse together, without arms or guard about them, till at length Seleucus married Stratonice, and with her returned in great pomp and magnificence to Antioch.

Demetrius, having possessed himself of Cilicia, dispatcht away his wife Phila to her brother Cassander, to excuse such matters as Plistarchus, might happily have laid unto his charge, and whiles she was away, his other wife Deidamia came to him to Athens, where after a short while, she died. [Ibid.]

Seleucus desired Demetrius to let him have Cilicia for a certain sum of money, Year of the World 3706 which when he would not grant, The Julian Period. 4416 Seleucus in a cholerick way, Year before Christ 298 demanded to have Sidon and Tyre out of his hands, and this seemed an injurious act of his, that having made himself Lord, and possessing all from India, to the Syrian sea, yet he was of so poor a spirit, as to trouble his father in law, being otherwise under a cloud of adverse fortune, for two such poor Cities, as Tyre and Sidon were. Wherefore Demetrius stoutly answered, that if he were a thousand times overcome, yet he would never buy a son in law at so dear a rate; and thereupon fell presently a fortifying of those two Cities, which were such sores in Seleucus his eyes, [Ibid.]

Cassander, Year of the World 3707 having had the rule and government of things in Macedonia 19 years, dyed, leaving three sons, Philip, Antipater, and Alexander, begotten on the body of Thessalonice, the sister of Alexander the Great, all which reigned after their father three years and six moneths onelyonly, [Dexippus and Porphyrius, in Scaligers Greek Eusebians, pag. 48. 228.]

p. 335Philip the elder of the three, coming shortly after his fathers death to fall away and die of a consumption, his two younger brothers, Antipater and Alexander, fell together by the ears about the kingdom, [Justin lib. 16. cap. 1. Pausa, in his Baeot. pag. 287. and Plut. in Pyrrho & Alexan.]

This Antipater, Dexippus, and Euseb. in Chron. call by the name of Antigonus: nor could Hermippus understand any other, where he saith, that Demetrius Phalereus, after the death of Cassander, for the dread he had of Antigonus, fled to Ptolemei, surnamed the Deliverer, [Diog. Laertius, in Demet. Phal.]

Pyrrhus also, at the same time, remained with Ptolemei, as a hostage in Egypt: where he married Antigone the Daughter of Berenice the Queen, by Philip her former husband, [Plut. in Pyrrho. Pausan. in Attic. pag. 10.]

Pyrrhus, The Julian Period. 4417 by the help of Antigone his wife, Year before Christ 297 having obtained both a Fleet of ships, and store of money withal, from Ptolemei; set sail for his old kingdom Epirus; and there came to a composition with Neoptolemus, who had usurped his kingdom, upon termes, to hold it joyntly with him, [Id. ibid.]

Eupolemus, the Historian, deduceth his Chronologue from Adam, and the coming of the children of Israel out of Egypt, down to the fifth year of this Demetrius, reckoned from the death of his father Antigonus, and to the 12 year of Ptolemei, reckoned from the utter extinction of Alexander the Great, his Race, of which I spake toward the end of the year of the World, 3695, in his book of the Kings of Juda; as we find in the [1 book of Strom. of Clemen. Alexan.]

Demetrius, Year of the World 3708 Poliorcetes, The Julian Period. 4418 (i. e.) the City sieger, Year before Christ 296 wasted the City of Samaria, which Perdiccas had formerly new rebuilt, [Euseb. Chron.]

Velleius Paterculus, Year of the World 3709 in the first book of his History, The Julian Period. 4419 tell us, Year before Christ 295 that Pyrrhus began his reign, when Fabius Max. and Q. Decius Mus, were each of them, the fifth time Consul of Rome; to wit, when Neoptolemus being slain, Pyrrhus took the sole possession of Epirus into his hands: and then, remembring how much he had been beholding to Berenice and Ptolemei, by whose favour it was, that he had thus recovered his kingdom; he called his son, which Antigone now bare unto him, by the name of Ptolemei; and having built a new City in a neck of land in Epirus, he called it after the name of his wives mother, Berenice, [Plut in Pyrrho.]

In the 36 year of the Periode or account of Calippus, Year of the World 3710 the 25 day of the monethmonth Possideon, in the year 454. of Nabonassar, the 16 day of Paophus, 3 hours after midnight, the 21 day of our Decemb. Timochares observed at Alexandria in Egypt, that the Moon rising to her utmost height northward, touched upon the most northerly Star of those which are in the head of Scorpio, [Ptol. in his great Syntax. lib. 7. cap. 3.]