The Annals of the World, History 1 · Age of the world 6 (16 of 18)

The Annals of the World · History 1 · Age of the world 6 (16 of 18)

p. 353Curius in his Consulship triumphed of Pyrrhus; and was the first that brought Elephants (four in number) to be seen in Rome, [Eutrop. lib. 2.] nor did the people behold any thing in that triumph more willingly, than those beasts with turrets on the backs of them, and which they were so much afraid of: which very beasts seemed to have a sense of their captive condition, by holding down their heads, as they followed the victorious horse in the triumph, [Florus, Rer. Rom. lib. 1. cap. 18.] which triumph, was made in the monethmonth of Jan. or Febr. as is gathered out of the Marble fragments of the Records of their Triumphs.

Pyrrhus, getting some of the Galls to joyn with him, made some inroads upon Macedonia, where Antigonus Gonatas then reigned. And having gotten many Cities, and two thousand of Antigonus his souldiers revolting to him, and his hopes still encreasing, he marched directly against Antigonus himself to bid him battle; and put him with all his Forces, Macedons and Galls, to flight, Of which Galls who brought up the reare, and fought that day very manfully, many were cut in pieces, and died in the place; and the Captains of the Elephants, being distressed by the enemy, yeilded themselves and Elephants unto him. The Macedon Foot standing amazed at this overthrow, and hearing Pyrrhus calling upon them all in general, and upon their Captains, and chief Officers by name, to yeild unto him, left Antigonus, and …ell to him; and when Antigonus saved himself by flight, Pyrrhus pursued him to the sea side, [Plut. in Pyrrho. Pausan. in Attic. pag. 11, 12.]

After this victory so gotten, Pyrrhus took the richest and fairest spoiles of the Galls, and hung them up in the Temple of Pallas of Itonia, which is between Phera, & Larissa: and brought all the upper Macedonia and Thessalie into his subjection, [Id. ibid.] and as if this had made him amends for Italy and Sicily, which he reckoned he had lost, sent for his son Helenus from the Castle of Tarentum where he had left him, [Justin, lib. 25. cap. 3.]

When Pyrrhus had spoiled the City Egeas, which was the Royal Seat of the late Kings of Macedon, and where they lay buried, he left there the Galls who had followed him in this war, to keep it, who when they had heard by some, that in the Tombs of the Kings which there lay, there was great store of treasure hid, according to the fashion of old times, they brake down the Tombs themselves, and took away such wealth as was in them; threw their bones about the streets, and basely trampled them under their feet, But Pyrrhus, though finding that by that act of theirs, he himself was ill spoken of among the Macedons, yet blamed he not them therefore openly, knowing what need he had of them in his wars, [Plut. ib. Diodor. lib. 22. in the Excerpt. by Vales. pag. 266.]

Antigonus, with some few Horse that followed him, came to Thessalonica, there to attend the event of things, and what would become of Macedonia, now he had lost it: purposing to put for it again, by the help of such mercenary Galls as he had taken into his pay. But being a second time utterly defeated by young Ptolemei, Pyrrhus his son, with seven onelyonly in his company, he skulkt up and down, seeking no longer now to recover his kingdom, but to save his own skull, [Justin, lib. 25. cap. 3.] And Pyrrhus reproached him, calling him an impudent fellow, for that, notwithstanding the condition he was in, yet he would not get him a cloak to wear, as other Grecians did, but contiued still in his Scarlet Robe, [Plut. ut sup.]

In the year when Caius Fabius Licinius, Year of the World 3731 and Caius Claudius Caninas, The Julian Period. 4441 were Consuls of Rome, Year before Christ 273 Ptolomaeus Philadelphus, hearing of the great overthrow of Pyrrhus by the Romans, and how they began to grow in the world, sent his Ambassadors, with presents from Alexandria to Rome, and made a league and covenant with them, [Eutrop. lib. 2. Liv. lib. 14. Dio. in Excerpt. Legatio. published at Rome by Fulvio Vrsino, and Jo. …onar. Chron. lib. 2.] and the Romans being glad to see that so great a King as he was, thus sought their friendship; sent likewise their Ambassadors to him: to wit, Q. Fabius Gurges, Cn. Fabius Pictor, and Quin. Ogulnius. These, having received rich presents from the King, as soon as they came home, and before they went to yeild an account of their Embassie to the Senate, went and gave up all that ever they had received from him into the Treasury; rightly conceiving, that out of a publick service for the Common-wealth, they ought not to reape any benefit of their well-doing, save onelyonly praise and honour; but all was restored to them again, not onelyonly by a Decree of the Senate, but also by the general vote of the people; and the Questors were commanded, to go and deliver to every of them his own again. So that in this one thing, the bounty and magnificence of Ptolemei, the sincerity of the Ambassadors, the equity of the Senate, and whole people of Rome, had every of them the praise due and belonging to them, [Diod. ut. sup. Valer. Max. lib. 4. cap. 3.]

In the 13 year, Year of the World 3732 according to Dionysius, The Julian Period. 4442 on the 25 day of Egon or Capricornion, Year before Christ 272 in the 52 year from the death of Alexander the Great, or 476 from the beginning of Nabonassars account, on the 20 day of Athyr, (17 of our January) the Planet of Mars p. 354was observed to be in the morning, under the northerly part, of the forehead of the Scorpion. [Cl. Ptol. lib. 10. cap. 9.]

Pyrrhus, having obtained the kingdom of Macedon, began now to look after the sovereignty of all Greece and Asia. [Justin lib. 25. cap. 4.] But before he had quite subdued all Macedon, he was sent unto by Cleonymus of Sparta to come and help him in his wars at Laconia, [Pausan. in Attic. pag. 12.] in the absence of Areus their King, who was then away in Creet, helping the men of Gor…yna there, who were then oppressed with a war. Pyrrhus therefore went, with 25 thousand Foot, and two thousand Horse, and 24 Elephants, which great army put Pyrrhus in mind not to recover Sparta to Cleonymus, but to get all Peloponese for himself. [Plutarch in Pyrrho.]

In the 13 year of Ptol. Year of the World 3733 Philadelphus (in some impressions it is falsely, and a half,) in the 476 year of Nabonassar, in the 17 day of the monethmonth Masor, answering the 11 of our October, 12 howers after the setting of the sun, Timochates observed the star of Venus in the morning wholly to have eclipsed and darkned, [Cl. Ptolom. lib. 10. cap. 4.]

While Pyrrhus lay before Sparta, a company of woemen, whose Captainesse was Archidamia, defended it against him till the return of Areus out of Creet, and Acrotatus the son of Areus, valiantly repulsed Ptolemie the son of Pyrrhus, when he made an assault, and would have broken into it, with two thousand Galls, and certain choice companies out of Chaonia: whereupon Pyrrhus, despairing of any good to be done there, drew off, and took the spoile of the Country, purposing there to winter.

Now whiles the war thus lasted in Laconia, Antigonus, having recovered the Cities of Macedonia, marched down with his army into Peloponese, there to encounter again with Pyrrhus, knowing that if he sped well there, he would presently return into Macedonia, to pursue the point of the war there, [Pausan. in Attic. pag. 12.] and when Pyrrhus was upon his way to Argos, Areus the King fell upon the rear of him; and ever now and then cut off some of the Galls and Molossians, which brought it up, and one Orasus a Cretian born, slew Ptolemei the son of Pyrrhus, valiantly fighting on his fathers behalf, [Plutarcb] whose body brought off, when his father beheld, he said, that this death betided him not so soon as he feared it would, or his overmuch rashnesse did deserve, [Justin. lib. 25. cap. 4.]

In the very night that Pyrrhus entered into Argos, it is said, that a scrich-owle came and sate upon the top of his Spear, [Elia. de Histo. Animal, lib. 10. cap. 37.] and the day following, he was kil'd, with a brick-bat, which a poor old woman threw down upon his head; and his head was presently cut off by one Zophyrus, a souldier of Antigonus, and carryed to Alcyoneus, Antigonus his son, who took it, and dasht it on the ground at Antigonus his foot, where he sate, with his Nobles about him; and Antigonus rebuked him very sharply for so lavishly insulting over the fall of so great a person; not considering the casualty of human condition: and taking the head, put his hood over it, which he then ware for an attire, after the manner of the Macedons, and buried his body very honourable. And when his son Helenus was brought prisoner to him, he willed him to take upon him both the habit, and also the spirit of a King, and delivered into his hands the bones of his father, enclosed in a golden Urne, willing him to carry it into Epirus, to his brother Alexander. And as for Pyrrhus his Nobles and friends, for they also, camp and all, fell into his hands, he entreated them with all the fair respect that might be. [Plut. in the end of his Pyrrhus, lib. 25. cap. 5. Val. Max. lib. 5. cap. 1.]

Those of Tarentum, hearing of the death of Pyrrhus, sent to Carthage to crave aid thence, as well against the Romans, as against Milo, who held the City with a strong Garrison of Epirotes: and Milo being reduced to this exigence, and being enclosed on all sides, by the Romans at land, and Carthaginians by sea, delivered up the Castle to Papyrus Curso, the Roman consul, upon this condition, that he and his souldiers, with their monies, and other stuff, might be suffered safely to passe into their own Country. The City thereupon was also surrendred to Papyrius, by the Townsmen thereof: giving up their armes, their ship, themselves, and all into his hands: and this was the end of the war of Tarentum, against the Romans, [Zonaras out of Dionoros. lib. 4. cap. 3. Frontin. Stratag. lib. 3.]

After the death of Strato, Year of the World 3734 who sate master of the school of the Peripaticks The Julian Period. 4444 18 years, Year before Christ 270 Lycon of Troas, the son of Astyanax, succeeded him; a man eloquent of himself, and very fit to instruct and bring up youth, [Laert.]

Attalus the younger, Year of the World 3735 the brother of Philitarus had a son born him, The Julian Period. 4445 whose name also was called attalus, Year before Christ 269 and reigned afterward in Pergamus, and lived 72 years, as we find in Polybius, in Excerpt. Hen. Vales. and Suid. in Attalus, and Liv. lib. 33.]

Jubilaeus 24. Year of the World 3736

p. 355After Mithridates, The Julian Period. 4448 when he had sitten King of Pontus 36 years, Year before Christ 266 succeeded his son Ariobarzanes, Year of the World 3739 [Diod. lib. 30. year 3. Olymp. 119. with Excerpt. Memnon. c. 17. & 25.]

In the year according to Dionys. The Julian Period. 4449 21. in the 22, Year before Christ 265 and 26 day of the monethmonth Scorpion, Year of the World 3740 in the year 484 of Nabonassar, 18 and 22 day of the monethmonth Thoth, and in the 14 and 18 of November, according to the Julian account, there was an observation taken of the planet Mercurie in the morning, [Plau. Ptol. lib. 9. cap. 10, 11.]

Philetaeus the Teian, The Julian Period. 4751 born at Teii in Pontus, Year before Christ 263 when he had ruled in Pergamus 20 years, Year of the World 3741 departed this life at the age of 80 years, after whom came Eumenes the first, his elder brother Eumenes his son, who sate there 22 years, [Strabo lib. 12. pag. 543. & lib. 13. pag. 623, 624. with Lucian, in his Macrobi….]

The first Pu…ic or Sicilian war began this year between the Romans, (who now first set foot out of Italie, and fought their first battle at sea) and the Carthaginians, who had then invaded Sicilie; and this war continued 24 years without intermission. [Polyb. lib. 1.]

This same year also, when Diognetus was L. Chancelor at Athens, the Chronologer of Paros, made his Canon or order of times; which the learned Mr. Selden, lately published in his Marmora Arundeliana.

In the 23 year, Year of the World 3742 according to Dionysius, The Julian Period. 4452 in the 29 (it should be the 19 or 20, Year before Christ 262 according to the point of the sun assigned) of Hydron or Aquarion, in the 486 year of Nabonassar in the monethmonth Choeac, and 17 day thereof, (upon the 11 of our February) in the morning; and fourth of the monethmonth Tauron, or first of Phamenoth the Egyptian monethmonth, (for in Cl. Ptolem. we must here write A for foreign) that is, upon the 26 of our April, in the evening, and first hour of the night, and in the same year of Nabonassar; but the 24 of the Dionysian account, on the 24 of Leonion, or 30 of Paynus, answering to the 23 of our August, in the evening, Dionysius the Astronomer, took the observations, of the Planet of Mercurie, which Cl. Ptolomaeus, relateth out of Hipparchus, [lib. 9. cap. 7.] of his book called his Great Work.

Nicomedes King of Bithynia, enlarging the City Astacus, called it after his own name, Nicomedia, [Euseb. Chron. with Pausan. in his Eliac. lib. 2. pag. 159. Trebel. Pollio. in Gallienis. and Ammia. Marcel. lib. 22.] though Memnon, Excerpt. cap. 21. saith, that he built Nicomedia over against the City Astacus, as indeed Strabo and Plinie both, make them two distinct Cities.

Eumenes, 1. having gotten many Cities, and places near about Pergamus, into his hands, fought a pitcht field, with Antiochus the son of Seleucus, near unto Sardes, and overthrew him in it, [Strabo lib. 13. pag. 624.]

Antiochus of Syria, The Julian Period. 4453 having kil'd one of his sons, Year before Christ 261 and declared the other his successor, died, Year of the World 3743 Prolog. of Trog. Pompeius, [lib. 26.] who in his life time, for the great defeat which he gave the Galls, who came over out of Europe into Asia, was surnamed Soter, (i.e.) their deliverer, [Appia. in Syriac. pag. 130.] concerning which victory of his over the Galls, we may read more in Lucian, in his book, foreign, (i.e.) of failing in mens speech, and in his Zeuxis, al, Antiochus. As for his son and successor Antiochus, whom he had by Stratonice, the Milesians, the Milesians were the first, who surnamed him foreign, or God, because he rid them of their Tyrant, Timarchus, [Appian, ut sup.] and Tatianus the Assyrian, in his oration against the Gentiles, intimates, that Berosus, who was a Priest of Belus in Babylon, dedicated his three books of the Chaldean History unto this Antiochus, by whom also, [Plinie l. 17. cap. 56.] were published the observations of the Celestial Motions, among the Babylonians, for 480 years, which number of years, if we deduce from the head or Epoch of Nabonassars account, as other learned men do, we shall find it to end but six years before the beginning of this Antiochus. But Porphyrie, Eusebius, Severus Sulpitius, Johannes Malela of Antioch, and all agree in this, that he reigned 15 years.

This man gave the Jews living in Ionia, equal rights and priviledges with the Gentiles, and yet suffered them to live according to their own religion and customs of their nation. [Josephus lib. 12. cap. 3.] he made sundry times war upon Ptol. Philadelphus, and fought with him, with all the forces he could raise from out of Babylon, and all the oriental parts. Wherefore Ptolemei, desirous to put an end to this bloudy war, gave him his daughter Bernice two wife, while his former wife Laodice was yet living; by whom yet he had borne him two sons, Seleucus Callinicus, and Antiochus Hierax, (i.e.) the Hawk. And Ptolemei accompanied his daughter as far as Pelusium, and there gave him an infinite masse of gold and silver, in dowrie with her, whence he was called foreign (i.e.) the dowrie giver, [Ierom upon Daniel, c. 11.] and took great care to his no smal cost besides, that water out of the river Nile, might be carried to her, where ever she was, to the end she might never drink of any other water but that, as Atheneus, [lib. 2. c. 2.] reporteth out of Polybies. And Appianus is mightily overseen, where he saith, that Bernice and Laodice were both daughters to this Ptolemei, [in Syria. pag. 130.]

p. 356Josephus, Year of the World 3745 [l. 12. c. 3.] writeth that after Eleazar the son of Onias, The Julian Period. 4455 (i.e.) his Uncle Manasses, Year before Christ 259 the son of Jaddus, succeeded him in the Priesthood at Jerusalem, and sate High Priest there 26 years, by the reckoning of [Scaliger, in Graec. Eusebia. page 50.]

Laodice bare unto Antiochus Theos, Year of the World 3746 a son called Antiochus, The Julian Period. 4456 who, Year before Christ 258 as I said before, was called Hierax. See hereafter, [An. Mun. 1760.]

In the year 28, Year of the World 3747 according to Dionysius his account, The Julian Period. 4457 the 7 day of the monethmonth Didymon, Year before Christ 257 in the 491 of Nabonassar, day 5 of the monethmonth Parmuth, the 28 of our July, the Planet of Mercury was seen near to the sign of Gemini, in the evening, toward the south head thereof, [Cl. Ptol. lib. 9. cap. 7.]

This year the second Periode of Calippus began. Year of the World 3750

Aratus of Sicyone, Year of the World 3753 at the age of 20 years, delivering his native country from the tyranny and oppression of Nicocles, joyned it to the body of the State or Common-wealth of Achaia, [Polyb. lib. 2. pag. 130.] and then sent to Ptolemei Philadelphus in Egypt, and gat of him 150 talents, which he bestowed among his poor country-men; especially in redeeming such as had been taken prisoners. And because those that had been turned out of their Country, and were now restored, would never let them be quiet, who upon what title soever, were now possessed of their lands and estates; therefore he made a journey himself to Ptolemei, and desired more money of him, to make all even among his country-men, and to take away all suites of law and differences between them. In which journey, thorough violence of tempest, and contrary winds, he was driven upon the coast of Caria, in Asia; and from thence, having made along voyage of it, came at last into Egypt: where he obtained a boone of 150 talents more for his countries good; of which he took 40 talents presently along with him, and returned into Peloponese, [Plut. in Arato.]

This year, Year of the World 3754 when Manlius Vulso, The Julian Period. 4454 and Attilius Regulus were Consuls in Rome, Year before Christ 250 which, as Polybius noteth, was the 14 year of this first Carthaginian war, the Parthians, under their Captain Arsaces, shoke off the Macedonian yoke, and revolted from them, [Trog. Pomp. lib. 41.] This Arsaces, the later Persian Writers call Aski, al. Askam: and Mircondus Chapur, who, as he saith, began his reign there, in the 72 year, after the death of Alexander the Great; which is one year before the Consulship of Manlius and Attilius in Rome, and 3 years before Olymp. 133. in which Eusebius in his Chron. noteth; that this Arsaces and his Parthians fell off, and reeblled against Antiochus Theos; neverthelesse, because the Parthians keep the day, whereon Arsaces fought with Seleucus Callinicus, the son and successor of Antiochus, and overcame him, and took Callinicus himself prisoner, holiday, and make a great festival of it, as the very birthday of their liberty; as Justin relateth out of [Trogus, lib. 41. cap. 4.] therefore both [Iustin, and Appian, in Syriac. pag. 130.] thought that the Parthians began their revolt, under Seleucus, and not under Antiochus his father. And the Parthians moreover, did this Arsaces that honour, as to call all their Race of Kings after him, by the names of Arsaces, [Iustin, lib. 41. cap. 5. Strabo, lib. 15. pag. 702.]

Now that the Parthians, together with the Persians, which the later Persian Writers confound, and make one people with the Parthians, (of which we may see more in [Schikard, Tarich. pag. 101. and 102.] and our third note upon the Acts of Ignatius) fell off from the Persian Empire, Arrianus, in Persicis, sheweth, as we find him in [Photius, his Bibliotheca, cod. 58.] Where he also sheweth the cause of this their revolt from the Persian Empire, to have been this Arsaces and Tyridates, the sons of Phriapites, al. Priapasius, the son of Arsaces, first had slain one Pherecles (al. Agathocles, as we find him stiled by Geor. Syncellus) the Governour of that Country, appointed by Antiochus Theos; for that he offered to abuse the body of the said Tirdates in a sodomitical way, having five others in the plot with him. And then turning the Macedons out, took the Sovereignty to themselves: whose successors afterward stood it out also, against the Romans, and contended with them for the Empire of the World. See [Strabo, lib. 11. pag. 515.]

At the same time also, Theodotus, who had under him 1000 Cities of the Bactrians, fell off, and revolted from the Macedons; and the whole East, following their example, did the like, [Iustin. lib. 41. cap. 4. out of Trogus.] Others say, that the two Kings of Syria and Media, falling out, one Euthydemus perswaded the Grecians, which inhabited Bactria, to revolt from the Macedons, and to cast off their yoke; and that thereupon Arsaces, seeing Diotus, al. Theodotus, grow into such power among the Bactrians, drew the Parthians to a revolt likewise from the Macedons; Apollodorus also, in his books of the Parthian affairs, tells us; that those Greeks, which dwelt in the Bactria, growing strong, invaded India, and went so far therein, that, passing the River Hypanis, Eastward, went as far as the Isamus, and out-went Alexander in the conquest of India, [Strabo. lib. 11. pag. 515, 516. and lib. 15. pag. 686.]

p. 357Seleucus King of Syria, Year of the World 3758 overcome with love, The Julian Period. 4468 sent for his former wife Laodice, Year before Christ 246 and her children, to Court again; and she shortly after, fearing the fickleneke of his mind, and least his affections might happily return again to Bernice, his second wife, poisoned him, [Ierom upon Daniel, cap. 11. Appia. in Syriac. pag. 130.] and to cover this sluttery of hers, she caused one Artemon, who was very like him, to lie in his bed, as if he himself had lain there sick: and so, what with his face, what with his counterfeit speech, cousened all that came to see and visit him in his sicknesse; and by this means, concealed the death of the true King, till she had taken order for one to succeed him in the kingdom, whom she thought fit, [Valer. Max. lib. 9. cap. 14. Plinie, lib. 7. cap. 11. Solin. cap. 1.] and by this means, Seleucus, the eldest son of Seleucus by Laodice, came to succeed him in the kingdom, who from the many victories, which he got, (and they were none, that I know of) was surnamed Callinicus, and from his great beard, Pogon, (i.e.) whick signifies a beard, as in Polyb. [lib. 2. pag. 155.] and he sate King 20 years. [Euseb. Chron.]

Likewise in Egypt, Ptol. Philadelphus, who, living luxuriously, doubted not to say, that he should live ever, and that he onelyonly had found out the way to immortality, as Athenaeus; [lib. 12. cap. 17. reporteth out of Philarchus his History, lib. 22.] in the 40 year after the decease of Ptolemei the first his father, dyed; and after him succeeded Ptolemei, surnamed Euergetes, his son, begotten of Arsinoe, the daughter of Lysimachus, and reigned 25 years, as [Cl. Ptolom. in Canone, Clemens Alex and, in Strom. lib. 1. and Jerom upon cap. 9. of Daniel.] tells us; and in his time it is said, that there appeared a Phaenix, which came to Heliopolis, drawing with her a huge flock of other birds, all wondring at her beauty, [Tacit. Annal. lib. 6.]

Laodice put Berenice with her young son, which she had by Ptolemie, into the hands of Icadion, and Geuneus, (al. Coeneus) two chief men of Antioch, to be murdered. [Jerom upon Daniel, cap. 11. and Appia. in Syriac. pag. 130.] Berenice, when she heard that they were coming to murder her, shut her self up in Daphne, a Castle or Suburb of Antioch, of which I spake, before. Where, when the Cities of Asia heard that she with her young son were besieged, they in remembrance and reverence of her high calling, and progenitors, out of meer compassion, sent her in aides from all parts. Her brother also Ptolemei surnamed Euergetes, fearing the danger his sister was in, left his kingdom, and sped him thither, with all the forces which he could make, [Iustin lib. 27. cap. 1.] but before any aides could come, the young son, by such devises as Laodice used, was taken and carried away; whereof Berince the mother hearing, armed her self, and got into a Chariot, and pursued after Caenous, the butcherly minister of that cruel act; and overtaking him, when she could do nothing on him with her spear, took a stone, and with that, laid him all along: and forcing her Chariot over the very body of the knave, brake thorough the midst of the companies, and went directly to the house, where she heard say, they had laid the body of her son, whom they had already murdered. [Val. Max. lib. 9. cap. 10,]

The murderers of the child, took another child very like him, and brought him forth, and shewed him to the people, with a roial guard about him, as if it had been the child indeed, But they set a strong guard of mercenarie Galls upon Bernice, and delivered up to her the strongest part of the place or Castle at Antioch, and gave her their oath to be true unto her, and entered into a covenant with her; for she gave ear to Aristarchus her Physician, who perswaded her to make a league and covenant of friendship with them, but they using their oath for nought else but a stratageme, to wit, to get within her, presently fell to cutting of her throat. The women about her, stood to defend her, as well as they could, and many of them there dyed in the quarrel: but three of them, to wit, Panariste, and Mania, and Gethosyne, took her body, and laid it in her bed, as if she had been wounded onelyonly, and not quite dead; giving it forth, that she might recover, and held the people on in that amusement, till the coming of Ptolemei. [Polyanus Stratag. lib. 1.]

Now all the Cities of Asia, which were revolted from Seleucus, set ships to sea, and joyned with Ptolemei, either for the defence of Berenice, if she were alive, or to revenge her murder, if she were dead, [Iustin lib. 27. cap. 1.] and Ptolemei indeed, when he came, slew Laodice, and entering Syria, marched on as far as Babylon, [Appian. in Syria…. pag. 130.] possessing himself of Coelosyria, with Seleucia, [Polyb. lib. 5. pag. 402, 403.] Syria also and Cilicia, and the upper provinces beyond the Euphrates, and almost all Asia fell unto him, [Ierom upon Daniel, cap. 11.] even from Taurus unto India, without one battle fought, or strok striken for it; if we may believe Polyenus, in the place above cited, with which we may also compare, what we find in the monument of Euergetes, called monumentum Adulitanum, published at Rome, in the year 1631. by Leo Allatius, to wit, Having received, saith he, the soveraignty of Egypt, Lybia, Syria Phaenicia, Cyprus, Lycia, Caria, and the Cycladian Isles, from his father, he gathered an army of Horse and Foot, with a fleet of ships, and Elephants out of Trogloditica, and Ethiopia, part p. 356duplicate page p. 357duplicate page p. 358of which Elephants had been there taken by his father, and the rest by himself, and brought from thence into Egypt, and there trained up to the war, all excellently well furnished, & with them sailed into Asia; and conquering all the land on this side the Euphrates, Cilicia, Pamphylia, Ionia, Hellespont, and Thracia, together with all their Forces, and other Elephants out of India, and all the Kings of the Nations, in his companie; he put over the Euphrates, and there conquered Mesopotamia, Babylonia, Susia, Persia, Media, and all the country as far as Bactria.

This Euergetes, having conquered all Syria, came down to Jerusalem, and there offered many sacrifices of thanksgiving unto God, and dedicated to him gifts worthy of so great a Victory; as Josephus speaketh, [lib. 2. cont. Apion. pag. 1064.]

Euergetes, Year of the World 3759 being called back by a sedition of his own people in Egypt, The Julian Period. 4469 held Syria in his own hands, Year before Christ 245 but trusted Cilicia in the hands of one of his Nobles, named Antiochus; and the Provinces beyond the Euphrates, in the hands of Xanthippus for the Government of them: and spoiling and wasting all the kingdom of Seleucus, carried from thence 40 thousand talents of silver, and all the rich vessels that was therein; and 2500 Images of their gods, among which, he carried away also, those Images which Cambyses heretofore, had taken out of Egypt, at his being there, and carried into Persia: and from thence it was, that the Egyptians, when they saw their gods come home again by his means, gave him the surname of Euergetes, [Jerom. upon Daniel, cap. 11.] of whom, in that Monument aforementioned, called Monumentum Adulitanum, we find it thus written. Ptolemei, having there received those gods which the Persians had taken and carried out of Egypt in former times, with other treasure, there laid up; sent up his army, by ditches new cut, to let in the water for that purpose.

After the departure of Ptolemei out of Syria, Seleucus, having fitted up a vast Fleet to go against such Cities as had revolted from him: by a sudden tempest arising at sea, lost all his Fleet: whereupon the Cities and Countries which for very hatred of his person had turned to Ptolemeis side; now in very commiseration of this his so great a calamity at sea, returned all to his obedience again, [Justin, lib. 27. cap. 2.]

In the year 67. Year of the World 3760 according to the Chaldaeans, on the 5 day of the monethmonth Apelleus, and in the year 504 of Nabonasar, 27 of the monethmonth Thoth, the 18 of our November, the Planet of Mercury was observed in the morning to have been to the northward of the uppermost Star in the head of Scorpio, [Cl. Ptol. lib. 9. cap. 7.]

Seleucus Callinicus, beginning to make war upon Ptolemei Euergetes, was utterly routed in the field, and thereupon fled to Antioch, and from thence wrote to his brother Antiochus, and craved his help, offering him for his pains, all Asia on this side the Taurus: but Antiochus, beeing at this time, not above 14 years of age, yet immoderately greedy of a kingdom, laid hold on the occasion, not with so brotherly a minde as he should have done: but like a very Laron, sought to strip his brother of all that he had, in his necessity; and though a child, yet put he on more than a man-like impious resolution: from whence it was, that even then, he gat the surname of Hierax; (i.e.) a greedy Hawke; or Harpye rather, because more like a Hawke than a man, he was ever ready to fall upon every mans estate, [Justin, lib. 17. cap. 2. with Strabo, lib. 16. pag. 754.]

At this time, Year of the World 3761 the people of Smyrna and Magnesia, The Julian Period. 4471 in the monethmonth Lenaeon, Year before Christ 243 entered a league between themselves to maintaine the honour and greatnesse of this Seleucus: which league and decree of theirs, we find preserved to this very day, transcribed out of those Marmora Arundeliana; (i.e.) those Marble stones which the Earle of Arundel caused to be brought out of those parts, and published in print by Mr. J. Selden, as before.

Ptolemei, when he saw that this young Antiochus took part with Seleucus; least he should be forced to have them both his enemies, at once, struck up a truce with Seleucus, for ten years, [Iustin, lib. 27. cap. 2.] In which long time of peace, he sent for Eratosthenes Cyrenaeus, from Athens, and made him keeper of his Library at Alexandria, [Suidas. in Eratosthenes, and in the word, Apollonius.] For this Ptolemei Euergetes, followed his father Philadelphus his steps, in promoting the magnificence of this Library, and with it, of all kind of learning besides; for he himself was a schollar of Aristarchus the Philosopher, and wrote certain Historical Commentaries with his own hand, [Athenae. lib. 2. cap. 33.] And of his care in getting into his Library the works of ancient Writers, Galen, upon the 3 book of Hippocrates, [of Epidemical diseases,] saith, He gave order for all the books of them which came into Egypt, to be brought to him, and took out copies of them: and then gave the transcripts of them to the owners which brought them, but put the originals in his own Library, with this inscription, foreign: (i.e.) from out of ships; that it might appear, they came out of such ships as there arrived. And having gotten from Athens the works of Sophocles, Eurypides and Escylus, onelyonly to transcribe them, and left them 15 talents in pawne, till he restored the originals, which he had borrowed; he caused them to be written out most exquisitely in fair parchment, and then p. 359retaining the originals, sent those so fair transcribed copies, back to them again; desiring them to keep his pawn of 15 talents, and to suffer the originals to remain with him.

Antigonus Gonatas, when he had reigned in M…cedon 34 years, and in Greece 44. and had lived in all, Year of the World 3762 80 years, as Medius and other Writers affirm, or as Porphyrie saith 83, died, [Lucian, in Macrobus, Porphyr. …n Graec. Eusebianis, Scalig. pag. 229.]

After him, succeeded his son Demetrius; who reigned 10 yeares, [Porphyrie, ibid, Polyb. lib. 2. page 131.] in which time he made himselfe Master of Cyrene, and all Lybia, [Porphyrie, ibid.] Now Olympias, the daughter of Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, after the death of Alexander her husband and own brother, gave her daughter Pthias to this Demetrius, who had at that time to wife, the sister of Antiochus, King of Syria: whereupon she, as one turned off by her husband, went away to her brother Antiochus, and stirred up him, to begin a war upon her husband, for the injury by him done to her, [Iustin, lib. 28. cap. 1.] Now in all this time there was no other Antiochus that was a King, save onelyonly this Antiochus Hierax, who would have wrested the whole kingdom out of Seleucus his elder brothers hand; for Justin out of Trogus, [lib. 441. cap. 4.] calleth both these brothers, by the name of Kings; and the same [Trogus, lib. 27. in the Prologue to it, and Polyae. lib. Stratag. 4. in Antio. Hierax] shew, that Antiochus went into Mesopotamia; where, as the Fasti Seculi have it, Seleucus had built a City, called Callimicopolis: though at that time, neither Antiochus nor Seleucus, had Syria in their possession, but Ptolemei Euergetes King of Egypt.

Now at this time, The Julian Period. 4472 Antiochus, Year before Christ 242 seeking to wrest all Asia, properly so called, out of his brother Seleucus his hand, raised an army of the Galls for his money against him: and coming to a fight near to the City Ancyra, Seleucus there, by the extraordinary prowesse of those Galls, lost the field; whereupon, these Galls supposing that Seleucus had been slain in the battle, turned their armes forthwith upon Antiochus, who had hired them for himself, which he perceiving, bought himself out of theirs, as out of so many theeves hands, with money, and was fain to enter a league, and to make an association of armes with his mercenaries: but Eumenes with a fresh army of his own, set upon Antiochus and his Galls, all bleeding and sore as they were of their late-gotten victory, and routed them; and thereby gat the greater part of Asia into his possession, [Justin, lib. 27. cap. 2. & 3. with the Prologue of Trogus, ib.]

Eumenes, Year of the World 3763 the son of Eumenes the elder, The Julian Period. 4473 who was the son of Philetaerus, Year before Christ 241 drank himself stark drunk, and died, as [Athenaeus, lib. 10. cap. 16. out of Ctesicles, lib. 3. de Temporibus,] reporteth: and after him succeeded Attalus, that Attalus his son, which was younger brother to Philetaeus, begotten of Antiochis, the daughter of Achaeus. This Attalus, using his great wealth warily and magnificently withal, bred an opinion in himself, and then in other men also, that he deserved to bear the name and title of a King: and therefore having upon a time overcome the Galls in a fight, he presently took the name and port of a King upon him: and so used the matter by his care and providence, that it continued in his house to the third generation, [Polyb. lib. 18. in the Excerpt. of him, pulished by Vales. pag. 102.] concerning which points, Suidas reports an Oracle which was given him by the prophetesse at Delphos; in these words.

foreign, &c. (i.e.)

Go on Ta…rocerus, thou a Crown shalt wear,

And thy sons sons: and there an end shall be.

Now it is supposed, that this Eumenes, was therefore surnamed Taurocerus, because there were a pair of Bulls hornes added some where, to the head of his picture, or other statue of him: as also in that Oracle uttered by P…aennes, concerning the slaughter, which he should one day make of the Galls, he is called, Tauri filius, (i.e.) the son of a Bull, mentioned by [Pausan. in Phocicis, pag. 334.] in these words,

foreign, &c. (i.e.)

For Jove shall quickly them a Saviour send;

Son of a Bull, and by Jove nurtured,

Which on the Galls shall bring a dismal day.

Concerning which battle fought between Attalus and the Galls, Livie speaketh, [lib 38.] The first in Asia, saith he, that refused to pay contribution to the Galls, was Attalus; and fortune here, beyond all expectation of men, favoured this bold attempt of his: and upon a battle fought he had the better of them. But Polyaenus, [lib. 4. Stratag. in Attalo] tells us, of a devise, which one Sudi…es, a C…aldaean Soothsayer, used to animate the souldiers to this fight, when they had otherwise quite lost their courage: which Sudines, was none other, but that Babylonian Mathematician, whom we find mentioned by [Strabo, lib. 16. pag. 739.] whose Astronomical tables, one Vettius Valens of Antioch p. 360professeth that he made use of, in finding out the motions of the Moon.

In the year 45, according to Dionysius his Era upon the 10 day of the monethmonth Parthenion, al. Virginion, 83 years from the death of Alexander, the 17 day of the monethmonth Epiphus, (the third day of our Septemb.) the planet of Jupiter was observed to have quite eclipsed the Southern star of the constellation of the Asellus, (i.e.) the little Asse. [Cl. Ptolem. lib. 11. cap. 3.]

Lacides Cyrenaeus, Year of the World 3764 Rector of the new Academie, The Julian Period. 4474 succeding Arcesilaus of Pitane in Eolia, Year before Christ 20 kept his Academy in a certain Garden which Attalus the King had there provided for that purpose, and there he began to read, year 4. of the 134 Olymp. [Laert. in Laces.]

In the 75 year, Year of the World 3768 according to the Chaldeans, The Julian Period. 4477 in the 14 day of the monethmonth Dios, Year before Christ 237 and the 512 year of Nabonassar, the ninth of the monethmonth Thoth, (the 29 of our July,) the planet of Mercurie, in the morning, was seen, near to the beam star in the signe of Libra. [Cl. Ptol. lib, 9. cap. 7.]

Onias 2. son of Simon the Just, Year of the World 3771 after that Eleasarus had first executed the office of the High Priest at Jerusalem, The Julian Period. 4481 (because Onias himself was then but a little one) and after him Manasses, Year before Christ 233 because the same Onias, when he came to age, proved foreign, as Josephus speaketh, (i.e.) but a bird-witted, man, came at last, and in his old age, to be Prince and High Priest among the Jews, in which office, he carried himself very unworthily, and basely, setting his mind to nothing but mony. [Iosephus Antiq. lib. 12. cap. 3. in Graec. Euseb. pag. 50.] It is said, that he sate Priest 14 years.

In his dayes, the Samaritans grievously vexed the Jews, spoiling the Country, and carrying away the people captives: and when Onias, for very covetousnesse refused to pay the 20 talents of silver, imposed by the Kings upon the land, which sum, his predecessors had ever used to pay out of their own store, for the ease of the people, Ptol. Euergetes in a rage, sent a messenger to Jerusalem, and threatned Onias, that if he did not speedily send him in his arreers of tribute, he would forthwith give away all the land among his souldiers, and plant new colonies of his own there. But there was at that time one Josephus, the son of Tobias, though a young man, yet of singular repute among all men, for his prudence, justice, and other virtues appearing in him. He living in the Country at a place called Phicola, where he was born; was advertised by his mother, who was the daughter of Simon the Just, and sister to this Onias the priest, of the coming of these messengers or Ambassadors to Jerusalem: whereupon he came to Jerusalem, and undertook to go along in an Embassie to Euergetes, about this matter; and being there, he so far insinuated himself, into the good liking and favour of the King, and Cleopatra the Queen; that he not onelyonly blew over this storm, which so threatned to fall upon his Country, but also obtained a company of two thousand souldiers to levie the tributes and other due profits to the King out of Coelosyria, Phaenicia, Samaria and Judaea, in which office he continued by the space of 22 years; and in that time doubled the Kings revenues; and brought them from 8000, which they were before, to 16 thousand talents by the year, and brought into the kings exchequer, all the goods of felons, and other confiscations which formerly the exchequer men swallowed up, and shared among themselves, [Iosephus 16. cap. 3. & 4.]

In Macedonia the King Demetrius, Year of the World 3772 died, leaving his son Philip, a very little one, and one Antigonus was made his Protector, or Guardian, but he, (who from his great and extraordinary promises which he ma…e to all sort of men, was called Doson, (i.e.) one that was ever full of promises, and of no performance) marrying the mother of his ward, took the kingdom it self, into his own possession, [Iustin lib. 28. cap. 3.] and reigned 12 years. [Dexippus, Porphy. and Euseb.]

Lycon of Troas dyed: Year of the World 3774 when he had sate Rector of the schoole of the Peripateticks 42 years, The Julian Period. 4484 after the death of Strato Lapsacenus, Year before Christ 230 who sate next before him, and lived in all 74 years.

In the year 82, Year of the World 3775 according to the Chaldean account, The Julian Period. 4485 the fifth day of the monethmonth Xanthicus, Year before Christ 229 year 519 of Nabonassar, the 14 day of the monethmonth Tybi, (the first of our March) in the evening, Saturn was observed to be two fingers breadth under the southern shoulder of Virgo. [Cl. Ptol. lib. 11. cap. 7.]

Antiochus Hierax being distressed, Year of the World 3778 fled to Ptol, The Julian Period. 4487 Euergetes in Egypt, Year before Christ 227 and was by him clapt up in a fast prison, out of which he escaped, by the means of a certain harlot, which used to resort unto him, but being upon the way, he fell into the hands of certain theevs, who slew him, [Justin lib. 17. cap. 3.]

And Seleucus Callinicus his elder brother, much about the same time, his horse falling with him, brake his neck, and died, [Id. Ib.] but he left two sons behind him; of which Seleucus the elder, surnamed Ceraunus, being weak in body and purse, could not keep his army in order; and the younger called Antiochus, and surnamed afterward, the Great, after the death of his father, went into the upper Asia, [Polyb, lib. 4. aag. 315. p. 361and lib. 5. pag. 386. with Appian. in Syriac. pag. 86. and 131.] and Seleucus Ceraunus reigned onelyonly 3 years, [Porphy. Euseb. Severus Sulpitius.]

Seleucus Ceraunus, Year of the World 3781 marching against Attalus, The Julian Period. 4490 who had now gotten all Asia on this side the Taurus into his possession, Year before Christ 224 leaving his kingdom to the care of one Hermias a Carian born, passed the Mount Taurus with a great army, [Polyb. ut supra.]

Seleucus was poisoned in Phrygia, by the meanes of two of his Nobles that were about him, Apatarias, and Nicanor, [Polyb. ib. Appianus, in Syriac. pag. 131. Jerom, upon Dan. cap. 11. Iustin, lib. 29. cap. 1.] and there was at that time in his army, one Achaeu…, the son of Andronicus, brother to Laodice Seleucus his wife, but a prisoner with Ptolemei in Egypt. This Achaeus, as a procheinami and kinsman to Seleucus, set himself presently to revenge his death, upon the two authors of it, and slew them both: and then ordered all matters in the army with a singular dexterity, wisdom, and magnanimity. And, having now a fair opportunity of setting the Crown upon his own head, seeing that all men sollicited and importuned him to do it, yet would he not be brought unto it; but kept it for Antiochus, the young son of Seleucus Callinicus, and, marching with the army from place to place, thoroughout Asia, recovered all that ever his father had lost, on this side the Taurus, [Polyb. lib. 4. page 315. and 317.]

But the army, that was in Syria, sent to Antiochus, that was in Babylon, to come and take the kingdom upon him, [Ierom, upon Dan. cap. 11.] which he did, being then under 14 years of age, as [Iustin, lib. 29. cap. 1.] and foreign: (i.e.) very young, as [Polyb. lib. 4. pag. 271.] saith: and reigned 36 years; as we find in [Porphyrie, and Eusebius.]

This Antiochus, committing the whole rule and government of all Asia, on this side Taurus, to Achaeus, made Molon governour of Media, and Alexander, Molons brother, President of Persia; but in Court Hermias the Carian swayed all; who, being of a fierce and cruel nature, punished some very grievously for small offences, and making them seem greater by aggravating words than they were indeed; and casting false calumnies upon sundry persons, was ever a mercilesse and inexorable Judge against them, [Polyb. lib. 5. pag. 386.]

Cleomenes, the King of Lacedemon, being vanquished in the field by Antigonus Doson, King of Macedon, near to Sellasia, and thrust out of his kingdom, took ship at Gythium, which he had there laid ready for what chance soever might fall, and taking some of his Nobles along with him, he sailed into Egypt, to Ptolemei Euergetes (to whom he had formerly sent his children, and his mother Cratesiclea, for pledges, when he first promised him his aid;) and was, when he came, honourably entertained by him, [Polyb. lib. 2. pag. 154. Iustin, lib. 28. cap. 4. Pausan. in Corinth. page 52. Plut. in Cleome.]

The two brothers, Year of the World 3782 Molon, The Julian Period. 4492 the Governour of Media, Year before Christ 222 and Alexander, the President of Persia, despising the youth of Antiochus their King (and the rather, for that they thought that Achaeus would easily be drawn to joyn with them; but above all, fearing the power of Hermias in Court, and his malice and cruelty withal) conspired together with their Provinces to revolt from Antiochus, [Polyb. lib. 5. pag. 386.]

In the parts of Caria, and the Isle of Rhodes, there happened at this time a fearful Earthquake, which overturned every where their houses; and among the rest, that huge Colossus, (or Image of Jupiter) at Rhodes, [Euseb. Chron. Oros. lib. 4. cap. 13.]

Ptolemei Euergetes gave Cleomenes (who by his sweet behaviour, grew every day more inward with him than other) some hopes that he would send him back into Greece with a Navy well furnished, and restore him again into his kingdom; mean while he allowed him 24 talents yearly for his entertainment; wherewith, living fruggally, he maintained himself and such as were about him, [Plut. in Cleom.]

But Ptolemei died, Year of the World 3783 before he could perform with Cleomenes, The Julian Period. 4493 [Id. ibid.] Year before Christ 221 whether of a natural sicknesse, as [Polybius, lib. 2. pag. 155.] or whether by the wicked practise of his own son, called Philopater; which signifies indeed a lover of his father; but had that name given him per Antiphrasin, (i.e.) by a contray meaning, as Justin saith; whose words [lib. 29. cap. 1.] speaking of this matter, are these. Egyptum patre ac matre, &c. (i.e.) Ptolemes, having murdered his father, and his mother, (whom Strabo calls Agathoclea) took Egypt into his hands; who, for his villainy acted upon his parents, had his surname Philopator given him by the Country. We read also in Pliny, [lib. 7. cap. 56.] that this Ptolemei was by another nickname, called Triphon, from his effeminate and luxurious fashion of living: and in the Fasti Siculi, we find thus, Ptolemei Philopator, who was also called Gallus, son of Ptoleme: i Euergetes, who was surnamed also Triphon, &c. wherein, as the false copy in the prologue of [Trog. Pompei. 27 and 30.] make for him in the surname of Triphon, falsely attributed to the father Euergetes; so in that other name of Gallus given to the son Philopator, the collector of the great p. 362Etymologie concurs with him; for there he notes, that Philopater was there called Gallus, because he was wont to go with an Ivie Bush about his head, and other parts of his body, after the manner of the Galli, (who were priests of Cybele) in the solemnities of Bacchus; for so effeminate and debauched was this man grown, with whoreing and drinking, that when he was in his best wits, and extraordinarily sober, yet even then he would run about the streets, with the maurice dancers, and bells gingling about him, [Plut. in Cleom.] and so as Polybius observeth of him, he spent the whole time of his reign, in revellings and pastimes, giving himself over to all sensuall and filthy lusts of the flesh, and to dayly quaffing and carousing, [Polyb. lib. 5. pag. 380, 381.] and Strabo adds, [lib. 17. pag. 796.] that both he, and all the Ptolemeis that followed, grew luxurious, and never ordered that state well afterward. Now this Philopator reigned after his father 17 years, [Cl. Ptol. in Reg. Canone. Clem. Alexan. Porphy. Euseb.]

Philopator, fearing Magas his brother, who by the means of his mother Berenice, was grown gracious in the army, took counsel with one Sosibius, (who was of chief credit with him) and others how to rid them both out of the way. But this imployment troubled these men not a little, for fear lest, the high courage of Berenice considered, all this enterprise would come to naught, and therefore they were fain to flatter all the Court, giving them assurance of great matters, in case the business went on, and succeed as they would have it. But Sosibius went farther; and finding Cleomenes the King of Sparta, who at that time stood in great need of the Kings help, to be a singular wise and politick man, and of great experience in matters of the world, brake the matter to him. But Cleomenes disswaded him from it; saying, that the King had more need to beget him, if it were possible, more brothers, for the security and preservation of his kingdom, than to destroy those which he had. But when Sosibius had told him further, that the King could never be sure of the mercenarie souldiers, so long as Magas was alive. Cleomenes then bad him, never fear that, for, saith he, among his mercenaries, he hath three thousand Greeks out of Peloponesus, and one thousand out of Creet, who at one beck of his, would be ready to do what ever he would have them. Whereupon Sosibius took courage, and went on, and murdered Berenice and her son Magas, and all that belonged to them. [Polyb. lib. 5. pa. 380, 382. and lib. 15, in Excerpt. p. 65. and Plut. in Cleom.]

Philopator, having first murdered his father, then his mother, and now with her his brother, as if all had been well with him, gave himself over to his luxury more than ever; and in that way all the court followed him, and not onelyonly his Nobles in Court, and his chief Commanders in the army; but the whole body of the army, from the highest to the lowest, threw away all care of martial discipline, and lay lusting in Taverns and bawdy-houses at their pleasure, [Justin lib. 13. pag. 1.]

But to return to Antiochus, when he advised with his counsel, how to represse that rebellion of the two brothers, Molon and Alexander in Media and Persia, Epigenes (who was the man that reduced those forces to Antiochus, which were gathered together for Seleucus, and was of prime credit, and reputation in the army) advised, that Antiochus himself with his army, should presently march against them: but Hermias, on the contrary, advised the King to go himself into Coelosyria, and recover that, and send Xenon and Theodorus Hemiolius, to subdue the two brothers, [Polyb. lib. 5. pag. 387.]

Whiles this was in agitation, and the King lay at Zeugma in Seleucia, there came to him Diognetus his Ammiral, out of Cappadocia, conducting Laodice the daughter of Mithridates King of Pontus to the King; who, so soon as ever she came, married her: and coming out of the upper regions unto Antioch, there caused her to be proclaimed Queen; and that done, prepared himself wholly for the war, [Ibid. pag. 388.]

At the same time Molo, having a sure card of his brother Alexander to help him at all assaies, marched with a great army against Xenon and Theodotus, the Kings Commanders, sent into those parts, which put them into so great a fright, that they durst not keep the field, but put themselves into walled Cities for their defence; and in this case Molo, having the Country of Apollonia at his back, wanted for no store and plenty of provision. [Ibid.]

Mean while, Year of the World 3784 Philip the son of Demetrius, in Macedonia, upon the death of Antigonus, his Guardian, and father in law, being then 14 years old, took the kingdom into his own hands, [Justin lib. 18. cap. ult. & lib. 29. cap. 1.] and reigned there 42 years. [Dexip. Porphy. Euseb. and Polybius lib. 2. pag. 155.] observeth, that these three, Philip of Macedon, Ptol. Philopator of Egypt, and Antiochus Magnus of Syria, came to their Crowns all within the compasse of the same Olympiade, 139. for as Antiochus, came to the Crown in the first year of it, so Philapator succeeded his father in the third thereof, and Philip of Macedon in the fourth, and the same Polybius, [lib. 4. pag. 271.] p. 363observeth further, that about that time, almost all the kingdoms of the World, came to have a new succession of Kings in them: the like doth, [Justin, lib. 29. cap. 1.] where they both shew further, that Ariarathes, about the same time, came likewise to be King of Cappadocia.

Now when, upon the death of Antigonus, the Etolians joyning with the Lacedemonians, made a common war upon the Achaeans and Macedons; Cleomenes besought Philopator of Egypt, that he would furnish him with certain necessaries, and some souldiers, and dismisse him to return into his own country; but when he perceived, that Philopator lent but a defeare to that motion of his, he then began to be an often and earnest sutor to him, to suffer him with his own small traine, to be gone. And the King, little caring which end went forward in any businesse of moment, and never forecasting what was to come, according to his wonted folly, never regarded what Cleomenes said unto him: but Sosibius, who, as I shewed before, was the chief man of all the rest about him in matters of the kingdom, advising with the rest of the Council, thought it no policy, to let Cleomenes go, [Polyb. lib. 5. pag. 381.]

Molo, of whom I spake before, assaied to passe the River Tigris, and to besiege Seleucia; but being prevented by Zeuxis, who had gotten all the boates of the River into his hands, he turned his course, and went to Ctesiphon, and there made his provision, for his winter quarter, [Ib. pag. 389.]

Antiochus, being advertised that Molo came on, and that his men still gave ground, resolved, to leave going against Ptolemei in Coelosyria, and to march in person against Molo. But Hermias, who would not off from what he once propounded, sent Xonaetas an Achaean born, against Molo, with an army very well appointed, and with full and absolute power to do with it as he saw cause, without controule; and brought the young King back again to Apamaea, and there gathered an army about him, [Ibid. pag. 390.]

Xenaetas, coming with his army to Seleucia, sent for Diogenes, the Kings Governour of the province of Susa, and for Pythiades the Ammiral of the Red sea; and with them drew into the field, and having the benefit of the River Tigris at his back, sate him down with his army in the very face of the enemy: and the next day, seizing upon Molo his Camp, which he that night had left, there fell to drinking and rioting with his army, till Molo, espying his opportunity, came back the night following, and in the deep of the night, set upon them, when they little thought of him; recovered his own Camp, took theirs, and Xonaetas himself fighting in the dark, was there also casually slain, and Molo presently with his army came before Seleucia, and took it at the first assault; because Zeuxis was fled out of it, and with him Diomed on the Governour of the place it self: Then subdueing the whole province of Babylonia, with that which lay upon the Red-sea, he took the City of Susa, and leaving there some to besiege the Castle, whereinto Diogenes, their Commander was fled, he returned to Seleucia upon the Tigris, and there refreshed his army. And indeed, in the Country lying upon that River, he took in all as far as Europus, a City in those parts, and in Mesopotamia, all as far as Dura, [Ibid. pag. 391, 392, 393.]

Cleomenes, after that consultation held by Sosibius, was committed to custody: but watching his time, when Philopator with his traine was gone to Canopus, he gave it out among his keepers, that the King would presently set him at liberty: and while they hereupon grew carelesse of him, and lay fast asleep by their over drinking, he with his friends, brake out of prison, at noon-day; and would faine have stirred up the people to a sedition, but could not: and therefore having no hope of escaping left them, he and his followers, slew themselves, [Ibid. pag. 385.] three years after his overthow in Laconia, [Id. lib. 4. pag. 304.] whereof when Philopator heard, he commanded Cleomenes his body to be flead, and to be hung upon a crosse, and both his mother Cratesiclea, and his sons, and all the women that attended on her, to be put to death, [Plut. in Cleome.]

Antiochus, setting out with his whole army from Laodicaea, and having passed the Desert, came to the Dale of Marsyas, which lies between the Lebanus and Antilebanus. Spending therefore many dayes in marching thorough this Dale, and having taken in such places as lay in or near his way, he came to Gerra and Brochos, which are two Castles, built upon the mouth or narrow passage which leadeth into this Dale; and those he found kept by Theodotus, an Etolian born, but at this time, Governour of Coelosyria for Philopator; which when he saw, he first resolved to set upon them: but perceiving the natural situation of the place, to be very strong, and Theodotus his courage in defending them, to be no lesse, he drew off and went his way, [Polyb. lib. 5. pag. 390.] For which piece of service yet, Theodotus was so far from receiving any reward or thanks from Philopators hand, that being sent for afterward to Alexandria, he had much adoe there to escape with his life for it, [Ibid, pag. 385. and pag. 405.]

p. 364Antiochus, hearing of the utter destruction and slaughter made of his men with their General Xenoetas, and of Molo his victory, whereby all the upper Provinces were utterly lost, and fallen unto Molo, brake off his intended journey, and cast in his minde how to settle and secure the main of his estate, [Polyb. lib. 5. pag. 390.] About which as he was in councel, and Hermias could not stand alone against the general vote of all the rest which perswaded the King to go; yet to have his will in some thing, he forged certain letters, as written from Molo to Epigenes, and coming in a packet with other letters to him; and by that means, gat him to be put to death, as one that kept intelligence with Molo. And now the King marching against Molo, when he came to the River Euphrates, took into his army the remainder of his Forces that there were, and came to Antiochia, which is in Mygdonia, foreign: (i.e.) about the beginning of Winter, and there stayed till the next Spring, [Ibid. page 393, 394, 395.]

Then removing from thence, upon the fourtieth day after he came to Lyba, and there following the advice of Zeuxis, and not of Hermias, he put over the Tigris with all his army; and then marching toward Dura, at the first approach raised the siege, which was laid unto it by a Captain of Moloes: and going again from thence, and never camping two dayes in one place, at 8 dayes end, they passed Oricum and came to Apollonia, [Ibid. pag. 395, 396.]

Molo, though he grew now much afraid, least his army would leave him, yet he drew out against the King; and having two wings, he committed the charge of the left to his brother Neolaus, and led the other himself. But when the battel joyned, the right wing, wherein himself was, stood firm to him, and fought very stoutly against the Kingsmen, but the left, fell over to the King: which when Molo perceived, and saw withal, that he was ready to be wholy surrounded by the enemy, he fell upon his own sword. The rest also of his friends, and which had been pertakers with him in this conspiracy against the King, gat themselves every man away to his own home, and there acted the like tragedy upon himself. His brother Neolaus also, when the wing which he led yeilded to the King, gat him away into Persia, to Alexander Moloes brother; and there having slain Moloes mother, and his children, slew himself also over them: having first advised Alexander to do the like. The King commanded Moloes body to be hanged on a crosse in a high place, and having reproached his Rebel-army with bitter words, for their soul and disloyal carriage towards him; yet at last gave them his hand, and received them to his favour and service again: and appointed some to convoy them back into Media from whence they came, and to settle that Province again. Mean while, himself went down from those upper parts to Seleucia, where the said Hermias using the inhabitants very hardly in other points, wrung out of them over and above a thousand talents, for a fine; which yet the King mitigated and reduced to 150. and then left Diogenes to govern Media, and Apollodorus to be President of the Province of Susiana; but sent Tychon, Master of the Scribes, and General of the army, into the Regions lying upon the Red Sea, to govern them, [Ibid. from the page 396. to the page 399.]

Now at what time Antiochus made this war upon Molo, Theodotus the Etolian, Governour under Philopator of Coelosyria, returning from Alexandria, and casting in his mind, that Patropator was no better than a lost man, and despairing of any good from the Princes about him, with such company as he had with him, seized upon Ptolemais by himself, and upon Tyrus, by one Pa…tolus, and resolved to come to some agreement with Antiochus, and to put all Coelosyria into his hands: which he performed in a very short time after, [Ib. pag. 385. and pag. 405.]

Unto Attalus King of Pergamus was born by Apollinis of Cyzicum a son called Attalus Philadelphus, who lived 82 years, as Lucian in his Macrobiis reporteth; and about the same time, Antiochus likewise had a son born to him, called Seleucus, and surnamed (as it seemeth) Philopator.

Jubile 25. Year of the World 3785

Antiochus, having now gotten a son, resolved to set upon Ariobarzanes, who had obtained the Dominion of the Atropatians, and other Countries thereabouts: and Ariobarzanes fearing the coming of the King; especially because he was now grown old and decrepit, sought peace at his hands, and had it from him, upon such terms as he was pleased to give it, [Polyb. lib. 5. pag. 399. and 400.]

Whiles the war went on between Antiochus and Ariobarzanes, Achaeus having shut up Attalus in his chief City of Pergamus, and taken all the places thereabouts, and entered into a league and confederacy with Ptolemei Philopator of Egypt, thought it no great matter to break into Syria, before Antiochus could return to rescue it; and by the help of the Cyrrhestians, who were already revolted from him, to make himself p. 365Master of all that kingdom; and therefore with his whole army moving out of Lydia, marched thither-ward: but when he came to Laodicea in Phrygia, he there took a Crown upon his head, and began to assume the title and port of a king, both when he received Ambassadors from other Princes, and also when he had occasion of writing unto them, one Siveris, who being banished out of his own Country, was entertained by him, egging him principally on thereto: and so going on-ward in his journy toward Syria, when he came near to Lycaonia, his army there began to mutiny, complaining that they were led to a war against him, who was their liege Lord, and natural King. Whereupon Achaeus, seeing it went against the hair with them, gave off his purpose, and proceeded no further in it; and moreover told the army that he never purposed to lead them into Syria against Antiochus, but onelyonly to wast the Country of Pisidia, to which he presently led them, and did it to the purpose, and so having enriched them with the spoyle thereof, and made all fair with them, returned home again. [Idem. lib. 4. pag. 271. 314, 315. and lib. 5. pag. 401, 402.]

When the war between Antiochus and Ariobarzanes was ended, Apollophanes a Physician of Seleucia, standing in bodily fear of Hermias, wrought the means to bring him into suspition with the King. whereupon the King faining himself sick, caused Hermias to be haled out of his house, and by a crue of certain men appointed for that purpose, to be murdered; and it so fell out, that at the same time, the wives of Apamea drew likewise his wife and children out of her house there, and stoned them all to death. [Id. lib. 5. pag. 400. 401.]

Antiochus, being now returned home, and having sent away his souldiers to their winter quarters, sent messengers to Achaeus, with many threating words. [Id. pag. 401. 402.]

Among the Jews, after the decease of Onians 2. his son Simon 2. succeeded in the priesthood, [Joseph. lib. 12. cap. 4.] and he is said by Scal. [in Graec. Euseb.] to have sate 20 years.

Antiochus, calling all his army to Apameas, at the first of the spring, by the perswasion of Apollophanes his Physician, removed to Seleucia, which is called Pieria, sending Diognetus his Ammiral thither with his fleet, and Theodotus Hemiolius with a convenient company to possesse himself of the streits of Coelosyria. But himself, having intelligence with some of the Seleucians in the town, whom he had won unto him by large monies and larger promises, took first one of the suburbs, and then the City set open their gates unto him, and having gotten it, he entreated the inhabitants very kindly, but put garrisons into the Castle and port both. [Polyb. lib. 5. from pag. 40, to pag. 405.]

The King was busie in setling things here, when letters came to him from Theodotus the Etolian, to request him to go into Coelosyria, for that he was now ready to deliver it into his hands: whereupon the King put himself upon a march thither-ward; but Nicolaus a Captain of Philopators, having discovered this practise, besieged Theodotus in Ptolemais, where he was; so that he could not get out to act according to his intentions, and withall, sent Lagoras, a Cretian born, with Dorymon of Etolia, with a party to keep the passage entering into Coelosyria, near unto Berytus, which Antiochus easily put to flight, and then Theodotus and Panaetolus, seeing the siege raised from before Ptolemais, where they had hitherto been shut up with such friends as they had about them, went and met him upon his way, and delivered both Tyrus and Ptolemais, with all that in them was, into Antiochus his hand: there were found in both ports, 40 ships, which were consigned into Diognetus the Ammirals hand. [Ib. p. 505, 406, with lib. 4. pag. 305.]

Antiochus, being certified that Philopator was gone to Memphis, that his forces were all met at Peleulium, that the sluces of Nilus were all opened, and the sea let in to spoil all the fresh waters there, changed his purpose of marching to Pelusium, and went into Coelosyria, and there going from one place to another, sought to take in all, partly by force, partly upon conditions, which he offered very reasonable unto them. Wherefore the places, that were lesse strong, yielded for the most part, upon the first summons; the rest clave close to Philopator, whose subjects they were, and those cost him much time in besieging them, [Id. lib. 5. pag. 406.]

Mean while, Philopator let all go at six and seven, and took no care of any thing: yet Agathocles and Sosibius, who managed all under him, made all the provision they could for the war, keeping all close from Antiochus, as much as possibly they might, and under hand sollicited the states of Cyzicum, Byzantium, Rhodes, Etolia and others, to mediate for a peace between the two Kings, whiles they, the mean time, made all provisions for the war, and trained and exercised their men in all kind of feats of chivalrie, and martial discipline, to the utmost of their endeavours, [Id. pag. 406, 407. cum lib. 4. pag. 305.]

p. 366But there happened at this time a new war to grow between the Byzantines, and the Rhodians; the ground whereof was, for that the Byzantines being fain to pay tribute and contribution to the Galls, which lay havie upon them, laid a tole upon every ship that passed by them into the Pontick sea, [Id. lib. 1. p. 158. & lib. 4. pag. 305, 306, 314.]

Whereupon the Rhodians sent presently to Prusias King of Bythinia, (that Prusias which in Excerpt. Memnon. [cap. 29.] is surnamed foreign, (i. e.) the Lame) and made an association of arms with him, who was otherwise mischievously enough bent against them, as for sundry other causes, so especially for that they laboured, all that ever they could, to make love and friendship between Attalus and Achaeus, which he thought, in many respects would prove damageable to him, and his affairs. Wherefore he came to this agreement with the Rhodians, that they should take the charge of the war at sea upon themselves, and let him alone to plague the Byzantines at land. And to begin, he forthwith went and seized upon a port of theirs in Asia side called Hieron, which place belonged formerly in common to the Marchants which traded into Pontus: but the Byzantines had lately bought them out, and appropriated it to themselves, together with all that portion of Mysia in Asia, which they had many ages before enjoyed, [Id. lib. 4. pag. 314, 316, 316.]

The Byzantines, seeing what the Rhodians had done with Prusias, did the like with Attalus, and Achaeus, and sent to crave aid of them, and Attalus was very desirous of himself to have hearkned to their motion, but Achaeus lying so heavy upon him as he did, he could afford them but little help. Achaeus, whose Dominions stretched far and near in this side the Taurus, and who had lately taken on him, (as I said before) the title of a King, promised them all the good that he could do them, [Ibid. pag. 314.] They sent also to Tibites, to call him out of Macedonia, to be their General in this war against Prusias; for it was conceived, that the whole kingdom of Bythina, belonged as well to Tibites, as to Prusias, whose Uncle Tibites was. [Ibid. pag. 316.]

Prusias, fearing the coming of his Uncle, pulled down all Castles and places of any strength, that were in the kingdom, [Ib. pag. 318.]

The Rhodians to draw away Achaeus from the Byzantines, sent to Ptolemei, and desired him to bestow on them Andromachus, (who was at that time a prisoner in Alexandria) to present him as a gift of their own, unto his son Achaeus. Which done, and some other offices of honour, done unto him by the Rhodians, the Byzantines lost the chiefest staff they had to leane upon: and withall Tibites, whiles they were convoying him out of Macedon, dyed by the way, which infinitely crossed them in their designes. But Cavarus (a petty King of those Galls, who were in Thrace, (as Polybius, in Excerpt. Valesii pag. 26. and Athenaeus lib. 6. cap. 6, tells us) who at that time came to Byzantium, mediated a peace between them, and Prusias and the Rhodians upon condition, that the Byzantines should forbear exacting any more tole, or impost upon their ships, and Prusias should restore, what he had taken from them of Byzantium. [Ib. pag. 317. & 318.]

At the same time also Mithridates King of Pontus made war upon them of Sinope, who borrowed 140 thousand drachmahs of the Rhodians, and therewith fortified their City against him: and all that Peninsula, or neck of land, wherein their City stood, [Ib. pag. 323.]

Antiochus besieged Dura in Phaenicia, Year of the World 3786 a City which Cl. Ptolemaeus calls Dora, but to little purpose, for that the place was naturally strong: and Nicolaus, a Captain of Philopaters, sent them ever and anon relief. Yet because winter now came on, he was contented to make a truce with them for four moneths, at the motion of certain Ambassadors sent by Philopator; for further term he would not grant, not spend more time there, than needs he must, out of his own dominions: for manifest it was, that Achaeus intended to invade his whole estate; nor was there any doubt but that Philopator aided him therein: wherefore having sent away the Ambassadors, he disposed garrisons in fit places, and leaving the care of all things there to Theodotus, he returned to Seleucia, and sent his army into their winter quarters: but taking no further care, of keeping them in military duties; supposing, that the rest would come on of it self, without any great fighting for it, because he had already gotten a part of Coelosyria, and Phoenicia; and thought the rest would submit unto him of their own accord, and for words onelyonly without blows. [Ib. pag. 409.]

But when things came not on, The Julian Period. 4496 in such sort, Year before Christ 258 as he imagined, at the first of the spring, he drew out his army again, purposing to set upon his enemies by sea and land, and by force to subdue the remainder of Coelosyria that stood out against him, [Ib. pag. 411.]

Philopator committed the main of all his wars to Nicolaus the Etolian, made Gaza the Magazin, and there laid in all his provisions for the war, sent forth his armies by p. 367sea and land, made one Perigemes Ammiral of his forces by sea, who had with him 30 fighting ships onelyonly, but of vessels of burden, to the number of 400. [Ibid. pag. 411.]

Antiochus was marched as far as Marathos, when Ambassadors came to him from the Isle of Aradus, to desire his friendship, and he not onelyonly took them into his association, but also took up the difference that was between them and their neighbours, which dwelt upon the continent, and made them live good friends ever after: and then entring by the way of Theu-prosopon, into Phoenicia, came to Berytus, and in his way set upon Botrys, and took it, but burnt Treres and Calamus to the ground. [Ibid.]

But when he came at last to a main battle, he divided his army into three parts, the one he gave to Theodotus, the other to Menedemus, and the third he reserved for the sea, and commanded Diocles to take charge of them; which Diocles he had made Governour of Parapotamia, lying upon the Euphrates. But he with his Life-guard kept in the midst of all, as a reserve, to see how all things went every where in the battle, and to help where need should be: and withall Diognetus for him, and Perimenes for Pnilopator prepared for fight with thir naval forces, keeping each of them as close to the land as possible they could; and at last, upon a general signal given, they fell to it by land and sea, and at sea neither party had the better, and parted upon eaven terms, but at land Nicolaus, after a strong fight, was routed by Theodotus, and in the chase, lost 2000 men slain, and as many more taken prisoners, the rest fled into Sidon. Perigenes seeing all lost at land, retreated at sea likewise, and came to Sidon: and Antiochus without any delay came thither with his whole army, and sate down before it; but forbare assaulting of it, both because it was stuffed with men, and had provision enough within to keep them, [Ib. pag. 412, 413.]

When P. Cornel. scipio, and T. Sempronius Longus, were Consuls of Rome, Hannibal, having with much difficulty passed the Alpes, came down into Italy, in the Summer of this year, [Liv. lib. 21.] in the latter end of the 2 year of Olymp. 140. from whence we reckon the beginning of the second Carthaginian war, al. the war of Hannibal, described at large by Polybius, Livie, Silius Italicus, in verse, and Appianus Alexandrinus, in his Hannibalica: by which war, the name and fame both of the Carthagenians and Romans spread so far in the world, that in Greece first, and then in Asia, properly so called, and the Islands thereunto adjoyning, all men, upon their several occasions, cast their eyes upon, and lookt after them, and not upon Philip, Antiochus, or Ptolemei, any longer, [Polyb. lib. 4. pag. 443.]

In the same Summer that Hannibal came into Italy, Antiochus also brake into Palaestina; and having given order to Diognetus his Ammiral to approach with his Feet to Tyrus, he with his army marched to Philoteria, a City seated upon the Lake of Tiberias, into which the River Jordan falleth: and from thence, runneth thorough the Country adjoyning upon the City of Scythopolis: which Josephus calleth Bethsan, in the Tribe of Manasses. And having taken them both, and put Garrisons in them, he passed the mountains, and came to Atabyrium; that is Thabor, a City seated upon a hill, the top whereof is reckoned to be 15 furlongs compasse; where Antiochus toling them out with small skirmishes, caused his Van to go close to the walls, and then to make as if they fled; Year of the World 3731 which they did: and when the Townsmen came out and pursued them, others that lay in ambushment arose, fell upon them, and slew many of them, and then himself falling on with the rest of his army, assaulted, and took that City also, [Polyb. ib. pag. 413.]

At the same time, Keraeas, a Commander of Ptolemei Philopator, revolted from him unto Antiochus; whose entertainment there, was so good, that presently Hippolochus a Thessalian born, with 400 Horse in his company did the like. And Antiochus, leaving a strong Garrison in Atabytium, removed thence, and took in Pella and Camus and Gephrus, upon surrender: which so prosperous successe of his, moved the Arabians, which bordered upon those parts, with one consent, to cast themselves into his armes, and to joyn with him. Antiochus, borne up with these new hopes, and confiding in the riches of Arabia, marched into the Country of Galatis; and having made himself Master of the field there, took the City Abyla: and in it, all those, who under the command of Nicias, came to succour them. There remained now only Gadara, a City in the opinion of the World, far stronger than any in all those parts: Antiochus therefore came and shewed himself before it; and beginning to cast up his works, with the very sight thereof, he struck such a fright into them, that they presently sent, and rendred themselves unto him, [Ib. pag. 414.]

In the same Summer also, in Pamphylia, the Pednelissenses, being besieged by the Selgenses, and in danger to be taken by them, sent and prayed in aid of Achaeus; who forthwith sent them 6 thousand Foot, and 500 Horse, under the command of Garsieres; who purposing to enter the Town, by the way of Mylias, found that passage p. 368blockt up by the Selgenses: whereupon, he made as if he would be gone, and the Selgenses seeing him gone his way, brake up, and went their way too: some to the Camp, and others to their harvest, which was then ready for the hook; which Gasieres perceiving, turned back short, and passed the streight of Mylias, near unto Climax, without impeachment; and left a strong guard upon it, and then committed the whole management of that war, and defence of Pednelissa, to Phaylus: who, going presently to Perga, stirred up the people of Pamphylia and Pisidia, to come and help the distressed: Whereupon they of Aspendus sent them in 4 thousand Foot, and they of Etenna 8 thousand; but the Selgenses instead of blowing the fire, blew it out, and by their rash and unadvised carriage of matters marred all, and being shamefully overthrown, lost 10 thousand of their men, and fled home to Selga: Phaylus followed them at the heeles; wherewith they took such a fright, that they forthwith sent Logbasis to treate of a peace: and he instead of a treator, played the traitor with them; for a truce was taken, in which time, the souldiers of their adverse party came freely into Selga; but they of the Town had underhand sent to Achaeus, and put themselves wholy into his mercy, to deale with them as he would: mean while, Logbasis plotted the delivery of the Town to their enemies: and when things were now ready for their purpose, the plot was discovered; and so both he, and those of the Town, whom he had drawn into the conspiracy with him, and the enemies, which lurked there, in expectance of the event, were all taken, and put to the sword. Then began Achaeus seriously to deale for a peace between them: nor were the men of Selga averse from the motion; Whereupon they were to pay down 400 talents ready money, and 300 more a while after; and the Pednelissans were to restore them all their prisoners without ransome. Achaeus, having gotten Mylias, and the greatest part of Pamphylia into his hands, marched forthwith to Sardes; where, harrowing Attalus with an uncessant war, he began at last to threaten Prusias also, [Ibid. from pag. 415. to pag. 420.]

Whiles Achaeus was busie in making war against the men of Selga, Attalus sate not idle, but, having the Galls, called the Tectosagi (whom for the reputation of their valour, he had sent for out of Europe, to serve him against Achaeus) of Europe, with him, he marched thorough the Cities of Eolia, and others thereunto adjoyning, which for pure fear had submitted themselves to Achaeus: Cuma, Smyrna and Pnocaea, all voluntarily joyned with him: those of Egea, and Lemnos, yielded to him for fear, at his first approach: Ambassadors also came to him from the Teians and Colophonians; whom, upon hostages given, he took in upon such conditions, and covenants, as before: and then going on still, and passing the river Lycus, he came into the Country, inhabited by the Mysians: and having gone thorough that, he came to the borders of the Carsenses, whom, together with those who kept Didyma-tiche, he so frighted, that Themistocles, whom Achaeus had left to keep them for him, gave them up both into Attalus his hand: and, removing from thence, he ravaged all the region of Apia, and passed the hill of Pellicante, and encamped upon the bank of the river Megistus; and while he was there, the Moon fell into an eclipse: and thereupon his Galls, who were otherwise weary of so long trotting up and down, with their wives and children in their company, pretending they held this eclipse for some sad prodigie, would go no further, [Ib. p. 420.] for upon the first of our Septemb. the Moon, in the beginning of the night, was eclipsed for more than a whole hour long.

Atta…us, fearing least his Galls, inclining to Achaeus, would fall upon his Countries, yet because it was upon his word that they came out of Europe into Asia, would not fall upon them, and put them to the sword, but convoyed them all back safe to the Hellespont, where they first landed, and there laid them out lands to live and dwell upon; promising them further, that if at any time after, they should have occasion to use him, he would not, in any reasonable matter, be wanting to them. Then calling to him those of Lampsacus, Alexandria, and Ilium; and commending them for persisting so constantly in their loyalty to him, he returned with his army to Pergame. [Polyb. ib. pag. 421.]

Antiochus, Year of the World 3787 being advertised, that a great army of the enemy was met in a City of Arabia, called Rabatamana, (al. Rabbath-Ben-Ammon) and there plundred all the Country thereabout, marched thitherward, and came near to the little hillocks of earth, whereon the City stood, and having gone about and viewed them, he found that there were two onelyonly wayes to get into it; and therefore planted his batteries against those places, committing the charge of the works, of the one to Nicarchus, of the other to Theodotus, to make breaches in the wal: and when they were made, and the walls quite thrown down, sooner than could have been imagined: the Kings men laboured day and night without any intermissions and with all the might they possibly could, to get into the City, but could do no good, by reason of the multitude of people that were within to maintain the breaches. At last, one of the prisoners in the Camp shewed them a vault, or hollow way under ground, by which they came down to get them p. 369water: which no sooner had he stopt up, but they were forced to yeild for want of water. The King having thus gotten the place, left Nicarchus with a sufficient Garrison to keep it: and sent Hippolochus and Kiras, which had revolted from Ptolemei to him, with 5 thousand Foot to the Country joying upon Samaria, to govern that province, and to safe-guard those, who were his friends in those parts, and acknowledged him for their Sovereign; and went himself with his army to Ptolemais, purposing there to winter, [Ibid. pag. 414, 415.]

Cn. Servilius, Year of the World b. entered his Consulship at Rome, upon the Ides, or 7 day of March. Now among other prodigies, which were from sundry places certified to the Senate at that time, this was one, That in Sardinia, the body of the Sun seemed to be lesse, than it used to be: and another, from Arpi, that the Sun and the Moon, seemed to fight each with other. Ca. Flamminius the other Consul, who was with the army in the Spring of this year, fought unluckily with Hannibal, at the Lake of Thrasimene, in Hetruria, and was there slain with 15 thousand of his men, [Liv. lib. 22.] There was that year an Eclipse of the Sun seen in Sardinia, upon the 11 of our February, and [Polyb. lib. 5. pag. 442.] telleth us, that as well that great battle at Thra…mene, as that other between Antiochus and Philopator, concerning Coelosyria, were both fought toward the later end of the 3 year of the 150 Olymp. the later of which, fought at a place called Raphia; is by him described in this wise.

In the beginning of this Spring, saith he, Antiochus and Ptolemei, having all things provided for the purpose, were now upon the point to try it out for the mastery of Coelosyria, in a main battle: Ptolemei therefore with 70 thousand Foot, and 5 thousand Horse, and 73 Elephants, set out from Alexandria, [Id. ib. pag. 421.] and made his first encamping at Pelusium, where he stayed till the rest of his army came in to him: and having there given every man his allowance of corn, he marched on thorough a country destitute of water, near the mountain Casius, and the Barathra, and so came to Gaza: and after five dayes march, came to the place which he intended; and there encamped, within 50 furlongs of Raphia, which is the first City of Syria, saving onelyonly Rhinocorura, which a man meets withal coming out of Egypt, to go into Coelosyria, [Ibid. pag. 422.]

Antiochus also at the same tme, came thither with his army, consisting of 72 thousand Foot, 6 thousand Horse, and 102 Elephants: and passing by the walls of Raphia, encamped the first night about 10 furlongs, and the next day came within 5 furlongs of Ptolemeis Camp, [Ibid.]

At that time, Theodotus the Etolian, who was formerly a man well known in Ptolemeis Court, and one who had well observed his courses and manner of doings: with two onelyonly in his company, about break of day, came within his trenches, and the night following, got into the Kings Pavilion, hoping alone to have done the feat, and there to have slain the King; but Dositheus (who was by extraction a Jew, but one who had fallen away from the Religion of his fathers) removing the King to another Tent, had caused another man of mean quality, to lie that night in the Kings bed: Theodotus therefore, that night brake into the Kings Tent, and there wounded two of the Bed-chamber, and slew one Andraeas, the Kings chief Physician; and so returned untoucht, into his own Tent again, [Ibid. and 1 of the Macchab. cap. 3. v. 3, 4.]

After they had there laien 5 dayes, looking one upon the other, they then both resolved for a battle, [Polyb. ibid.] and fight they did; in which fight, when Antiochus appeared to have far the better of it, Arsinoe, Ptolemei's sister, went among the souldiers, with her hair hanging about her eares, and crying to them, that they would stand to it, and in that battle defend their own wives and children; promising them, if they came conquerors out of the field, to give every of them, two pounds in gold: whereby it came to passe, that the souldiers took fresh courage, and slew their enemies down-right, and took of them many prisoners, [1 Maccab. cap. 3. v. 5, 6. with Polyb. lib. 5. pag. 424, 425.]

In that fight, Antiochus lost little lesse than 10 thousand of his Foot, and upward of 300 Horse: besides prisoners taken, above 4000. of his Elephants there were 3 killed in the fight, two died afterward of their hurts. Of Ptolemeis side, there were slain 1500 Foot, and 700 Horse; of his Elephants 16 were killed on the place, and the rest for the most part taken, [Polyb. ibid. pag. 427.]

Antiochus, having buried his dead, returned home with the rest of his army; and Ptolemei took back again, both Raphia, and the rest of the places which had been taken from him, upon the voluntray surrender of the inhabitants: every man striving who should be formost, in acknowledging him their Lord, and returned to his subjection; especially the Coelosyrians, a Nation naturally, and of themselves, ever inclined to the service of the Ptolemeis; upon this occasion, exceeded all others, in honouring him, with Crowns, Sacrifices, Altars, and other such like expressions of their affection, [Ibid. pag. 427, 428.] And Ptolemei going to visit the Cities next adjoyning to that place, bestowed gifts upon their temples, and thereby heartened up the p. 370people to continue in his service, [1 Maccab. 3. 7.]

When the Jews sent some of their Sanedrin, and Elders, to tender him their service, and to present him with gifts, and withal, to congratulate him after so great a victorie; it fell out, that he was thereby made the more forward to go thither, and to honour the City with his presence: and when he came, fell into an admiration of the beauty of their temple, and would fain have gone into the sanctum sanctorum; whereinto it was not lawfull for any man to go, save for the High Priest onelyonly, and that but once in the year neither. But when the Jews stoutly resisted that motion, and the King upon their refusal desired the more and more to go in, and now all the Temple was filled with crying and howling, and the City, with tumult and sedition: then Simon the High Priest, kneeling down towards the Temple, to wit, between the Temple and the Altar, powred out his prayer unto God, begging his help, in this needful time of trouble: whereupon, the King fell into such a horror of mind and body, that he was unneath able to speak, and so was carried half dead out of the Temple, [3 Macchab. cap. 1. & 2.]