The Annals of the World, History 1 · Age of the world 6 (2 of 18)

The Annals of the World · History 1 · Age of the world 6 (2 of 18)

p. 108Ammianus Marcellinus, [lib. 23.] out of ancient books reporteth, that after Cambyses his death, 7 Magi took the management of the kingdome of Persia into their hands: which number, Valer. Max. also in his [9 book, c. 2.] reteineth. But of them there were two chief, named by Herodotus, [lib. 3. c. 61. 78.] Patizithes, whom Trogus calls Cometes, and his brother, who only bare the name of king, as in the person of Cyrus his son: and is called by Herodotus, Smerdis, by Eschylus, Mardus, by Ctesias, Spendahates, by Trogus, Oropastes, and in the Scripture, Artachshashta.

To this Artachshashta it was that letters were brought from the Samaritans, to forbid the further building of Jerusalem, as of a city, which they blazoned for a rebellious and wicked place, and which if it went on to be built, would never pay tribute to the kings of Persia [Ez. 4. 7, 16.]

Artachshashta, Year of the World 3483. a. by his letter, forbade the building of Jerusalem, until he should give further order▪ by vertue of which inhibition, the Samaritans taking courage, came flying to Jerus…lem▪ by strong hand, made the Jewes give off their building, not of the City only, but … of the Temple, for which neverthelesse, they had Cyrus his expresse order. to finish it: But as they had been hitherto often interrupted in that work, so now they wholly gave it off, till the second year of the reign of Darius, [Ez. 4. 17. 24.]

Whiles this Artachshashta held the kingdom, Oroetes the Persian continuing at Sardes first reproached Mitrobates, Governor, of Dascylium in the continent of Asia, for not having gotten the Isle of Samos, into his hands, and annexed it to his government, in Polycrates his life time, and afterward took both him and his son Cranapes, both men of good esteeme among the Persians, and slew them: committing sundry other outrages, and among the rest, caused a messenger, which came to him from Darius, because he told him something that pleased him not, to be murthered, [Herod. l. 3. c. 126.]

Ctesias tells us, that Isabates the Eunuch, who had the charge of carrying the Corps of Cambyses into Persia, disclosed all the plot, and fraud of the Magi to the army, & that being therefore pursued by them, he fled for safegard to a Temple, and there they took off his head: but Herod. saies, that 8 months after Cambyses his death, the matter was brought first to light by the cunning of Otanes the son of Pharnaspes, and afterward, p. 109more fully manifested by Prexaspes; who being himself in a certain Tower, called the people to him, and from thence declared to them, and acknowledged that he himself, being forced thereto by Cambyses his command, had murdered his Brother Smerdes the son of Cyrus, and that they were the Magi which then ruled all; and having so said, he threw himself thence down headlong among them, [Herod. lib. 3. ca. 68. and 75.] As for the discovery made by Otanes, and destruction of the Magi, Justin out of Herodotus, and Trogus Pompeius, sets it down in this wise.

Ostanes (which is that Otanes) saith he, by a messenger enquired of his daughter (which was one of the concubines, or harlots of the King) whether it were indeed Cyrus his son that was King: she answered, that she her self knew not, nor could possibly tell how to learn it out of any of her fellows, because they were all kept apart in several lodgings one from the other. Then he advised her when her turn came to lie with him, to feel his head, as he lay a sleep; for Cambyses, or (as Herodotus hath it) Cyrus had caused the Magus his eares to be cut off. And being afterward assured by his daughter, that the King had no ears, he made the Princes of Persia acquainted therewith: and having drawn them into a conspiracy against the mock-king, bound them all with an oath unto it. There were seven of them onelyonly in this conjuration: who instantly, least by delay repentance might befal any, and so the thing come to be disclosed; carrying every man a dagger under his coat, went directly to the place where the King was, and killing such as stood in their way, at last came where the Magi were assembled: nor were they wanting to their own defence; for they slew down right two of the conspirators, (or rather wounded them onelyonly, as Herodotus hath it) but they were all laid hold on by the more in number: among which, Gobryas having one of them about the middle, when his fellows could not come at the Magus to kill him, for fear of hurting Gobryas himself; he bade them kill the Magus thorough his body. But yet as good luck would, they killed the Magus, and did him no hurt, [Justin lib. 1. ca. 9.]

The names of these 7 Persians (whom Jerome upon Daniel 11. verse 2. would needs call the Magi) were these. Onophas, Idernes, Naradobates, Mardonius, Barises, Artaphernes, and Darius, the son of Hystaspes: as Ctesias hath it: But in Herodotus, these. Otanes, Hydarves, Megabyzus, Gobryas, Aspathines, Intaphernes, and Darius: which Darius was then newly arrived there from Susa, where his father Hystaspes was Governour. But both Ctesias and Herodotus tell us, that the Persians ever after kept a yearly Festival upon the day wherein the Magi were thus destroyed.

Six dayes after the Magi were made away, those 7 Persians met in counsel, and advised together, what form of government they should now set up in Persia. Otanes advised for an Aristocracy; Megabyzus, for an Oligarchie; but Darius, perswaded by all means for a Monarchie; and when this last opinion, for the supream power to be settled in one person, had carried it by the major part of voices; Otanes resigned all his right to the other six, upon condition that neither himself, nor any of his should ever be subject to any of them or theirs: whence it was that his family onelyonly among the Persians were left free, and not subject to the Kings command further than themselves listed: provided that they brake no …aw of the Persians: and because he was the first that set this wheele a going, and drew the rest into the action; therefore they thought fit, to heap all kinds of magnificence and honour upon him and his posterity. And among the rest, to have him every year presented with a Median Robe. But for the Election of a new King, they came to this agreement among themselves, that every of them should get on horse-back a little before sun-rising, and whose horse happened first to neigh after the sun was up, he should be King in Cambyses room: which when the horse of Darius the son of Hystaspes, by the craft and subtilty of Oebaris his Quiry happened to do presently: all the rest leapt off their horses, and adored Darius, crying, God save the King, [Herod. lib. 3 from ca. 80. to ca. 88.]

Nor yet were they lesse mindful of their own priviledges and immunities, than Otanes had been; for this they had common to them all: First that both Otanes and the rest, should come to Court when they pleased; and have free accesse to the Kings person, without sending in word that he was there to speak with him, unlesse he were in bed with the Queen, [Id. ib. ca. 84. and ca. 118.] And secondly, that they might weare every man his turbant, in a different fashion from all other men. For whereas the King onelyonly and his heir apparent, might wear their turbants upright: (as Seneca hath it, lib. 6. De Beneficiis ca. 31. and so hath Plutarch in the lives of Theistocles and Artaxerxes) and the rest of the Nobility wear them hanging backward; it was now granted to them and their posterity, that they should wear them pointing forward; because when they went about the slaughter of the Magi, they used this fashion as a token or sign between themselves, [Plutarch in his Pracepts of government.] For Darius had given this as a sign for each to know another by in the dark: that they should turn the buckle that fastned their turbants behind, and wear them in their fore-heads, [Polyae. lib. Stratag. 7.]

But this, as it seemeth, was the grand priviledge to them granted; that although the King had, as it were, a perpetual Dictatorship in himself over them, yet they every man p. 110in his turn, should have a kind of a tribunitian power with him; to which opinion or imagination of mine own, there are three considerations moving me. First, for that these conspirators foreseeing that they should prove burdensome (and wherein I pray more than in this way?) to Darius, they bound him with an oath (which is most religiously observed among the Persians) that he should never do any of them to death, either by poison, or sword, or by any violent way, or by starving them; as Valer. Max. [lib. 9. ca. 2.] affirmeth. Secondly, for that Eschylus, who was in the fight against the Persians at Marathon names two Kings, successively between the slaughter of the Magi, and Darius his reign; to wit, Maraphis and Artaphrenes. Of whom the first seemeth to be him whom Ctesias calleth Mardonius, and the other Artaphernes. And lastly, for that in Ezra, in the edict of Darius, in the second year of his reign, for the rebuilding of the Temple, we find Artacshasta, also called by the name of King of Persia, [Ezra 6. 14.] to have given his consent thereto, in his 2 year of his reign; for the rebuilding of the Temple; we find Artachshashta also called sometime King of Persia, [Ezra 6. c. 14.] to have given his consent thereto: by whom it is hard to understand any other than Artaphernes.

In the beginning of his reign, Darius took Atossa the daughter of Cyrus, who had formerly been married to his own Brother Cambyses, and afterward to the Magus, and made her his wife, purposing to establish his kingdom the better, by matching into the Royal Stock: that so the kingdom might not seem translated to another family, but rather returned into Cyrus his house, [Herod. lib. 3. ca. 88. and lib. 7. ca. 2. and Justin out of Trogus lib. 1. ca. 10.] And as himself was first called Ochus, as appears by [Valer. Max. lib. 9. ca. 2.] (i. e.) foreign yet afterward taking the Regal foreign addition upon him, with the kingdom of Cambyses, took also his surname to him; so I conceive, that both he was that Achash-verosh, al. Assuerus, which in the Story of Esther, is said to have reigned from India to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty and seven Provinces; and that this his chief wife Atossa, was none other than Vashti, of whom there is so much mention made in the same book.

O…oetes continued still Governour at Sardes, and kept a thousand Persians for his guard about him. But Darius sending his royal letters by Bagaeus the son of Arton to the souldiers there, caused him to be dispatched out of the way; whose goods being all brought as confiscate to Susa; there came also a long with them Democedes, whom he had made his slave, a Physitian of Crotona, [Herod. lib. 3. c. 127, 128, 129.] as was said before.

It fell out af…erward that Darius, as he was a hunting fell from his horse, and with the fall, wrencht his foot, and strained it very sorely; which whiles the Egyptian Chirurgeous sought to bring right again, and used much violence in the cure, they made him that he could not sleep for seven dayes. Upon the 8 day this Democedes was brought unto him, all poor and ragged, and shackled, as he was; he with such Greek …omentations as he used, quickly brought the King to sleep again: and in short time recovered him. Whereupon he was rewarded with rich gifts by the King and his Wives; and dwelt in a goodly house in Susa: and sat at Table with the King, abounding with all things that his heart could wish: save onelyonly that he could not return into Greece again; and moreover when Darius would have hung up his Egyptian Physitians, because a Grecian could do more in his cure than they all, he obtained their pardon of the King: And whereas there was a certain Fortune-teller of Elis, which came in company with him, and had followed Polycrates to Magnesia, and was brought to Susa, among the rest of Oroetes his slaves; he got him also to be set at liberty, [Herod. ib. ca. 129, 130, 132.]

It fell out afterward that Atossa, daughter to Cyrus, and Darius his chief wife, had a Cancer in her breast: and being lanced, it spread further and further; and when Democedes had cured her of that sore, he prevailed so far with her, as to move the King to make war upon Greece. Upon whose perswasion, Darius presently called to him fifteen choice men, all Persians; and commanded them to follow Democedes, and by his directions to view all the Maritine places of Greece, and bring him back again with them to him. These when they were come into Phoenicia, and from thence to Sidon; fitted themselves there of shipping, and other provisions, and sailed into Greece, and viewed all the Sea-coasts of Greece, and drew it into Maps: and were the first Persian spyes that ever came into Greece. And then having taken a view of the most celebrious cities and places in the heart of Greece, they passed from thence to Tarentum in Italy, from whence Democedes stole away to Crotona where his own home was, and there marriing the daughter of Milo Crotoniates, that famous Wrestler: would not return any more to Darius, [Herod. lib. 3. from ca. 133. to ca. 138. with Athanaeus, lib. 12. Deipnosoph. and Aelian. Var. Histor. lib. 8. ca. 17.

This was the third Sabbatical year held by the Jewes, Year of the World 3484. a. c. after their return from Babylon.

Mardocai the Jew, The Julian Period. 4194 is said to have had a dream in the Greek additions of [Esth. ca. 11.] upon the 1 day of the month Nisan, Year before Christ 520 in the 2 year of the reign of Artaxerxes the great (for so Assuerus al. Darius the son of Hystaspes, is there called) concerning a River signifying Esther, and two Dragons portending himself and Haman, [cap. 10.]

p. 111In the second year of king Darius, which was in the 65 Olympiade, Haggai the prophet reproved the idlenesse of the Jews, in setting forward the building of the temple, declaring to them, that that long steri…itie of the ground; and other plagues which continually fell upon them, between the first and third Sabbaticall years, were all for their great neglect in that work, and earnestly perswaded them to mend that fault, whereupon Zerobabel, the governour of the Jews, and Joshua the High priest, and all the people took the work in hand afresh, and provided materials necessary for the building, upon the 24 day of the same monethmonth, [Hag. 1. 1, 15.]

Upon the 21 day of the 7 monethmonth; Year of the World 3485. a. the same year Haggai animated the Jews, to go on with the work, with a promise of Gods presence, and blessing upon them in it, and although the beginnings of this present structure seemed base and despicable in the eyes of such, as had seen the glory of the former 169 years before; yet he told them, that if they considered that blessed, and so much desired Messias, which after a time, to wit 516 years from thence, should there first be manifested, and the peace which should thence be propagated to all nations, they must acknowledge the glory of this Temple, far to excell the beauty of the former, [Hag. 2. 1. 9.]

In the 8 monethmonth of the same 2 years of Darius, Zacharias the son of Barachias exhorted the people to repentance, [Zach. 1. 1, 6,]

On the 24 day of the 9 monethmonth of the same second year, about the middest of the space between seed time, (which immediately followed the end of the sabbatical year,) and the harvest, the Temple began to be reared, by Zerobabel, and Joshua the high priest, with the assistance of Haggai and Zachary the prophets, upon the foundation, which had been formerly laid, [Ezra 5. 1, 2. Hag. 2. 10, 18, 19.]

Upon the same 24 day, the two last prophecies of Haggai, were revealed to him, the one of the cessation of those plagues which hitherto had followed them: the other of the subversion of sundry kingdoms; and the exaltation of Zerobabel, [Haggai 2. 10. 23.]

Tatnei, Year of the World b. governour of the countries of this side the river, The Julian Period. 4195 and Setharboznaius, Year before Christ 519 and the Apharsakites, their associates coming to Jerusalem, endeavour to hinder them in the work of the Temple; asking the chief of the Jews, by whose command they dit it: and they answering that they did it by virtue of Cyrus his edict, went on stoutly with their work, [Ez. 5. 3, 4, 5. 13, 16.] For whereas by the Laws of Medes and Persians, the commands and grants of their kings ought to be perpetual, and unalterable, [Dan, 6. 8, 12. Esth. 1. 19. &c. 8. 8.] it was therefore lawfull for the Jews to proceed in the work; without expecting any new order thereupon.

Their enemies, by a letter certifie this answer to Darius, desiring that search might be made in the records at Babylon, whether there were any such grant made by Cyrus or noe, and desire to know the kings further pleasure therein, [Ezra 5. 5, 17.]

The work being thus interrupted, and the scarcity concontinuing in Judea, because the corne was not yet ripe, upon the 24 day of the 11 monethmonth Sebat, in the second year of Darius, the prophet Zachary had a vision, of horsemen galloping up and down over the face of the whole earth, being now all at rest and quiet, whereupon, in the hearing of the prophet, God made a good and gracious answer, with many comfortable words to the Angel, which entreated God to cease his anger and fury, which had been so hot against the people of the Jews, and Jerusalem, and cities of Juda, now these 70 years, [Zach. 1. 7. chap. 12. 13.] the beginning of which 70 years is to be reckoned, from the coming of the Assyrians, to the last siege laid unto Jerusalem, (of which more above in the 3415. year of the world) [Jer. 34. 1. with Ezek. 5. 12, 13.] whiter also is referred, all that which is spoken, [Zach. 1.] and in the three chapters following, as also, all that exhortation which is read, [chap. 2. 6, 7.] sent to the Jews remaining still in Babylon, that they should go out of her with all speed, pointing to that calamity, which a while after Darius brought upon Babylon when he took it.

Ehe edict of Cyrus, for the re-building of the Temple, which was found at Acmethae, al. Ecbatan, in the province of the Medes; together with a second command, in favour of the Jews from Darius himself, was sent to Tatneis and his fellows; wherein it was given them in charge, that they should not onelyonly not hinder the work of the Lords house, but also should, set it forward, by furnishing the expense thereof, out of the kings tribute; and moreover, to supply the necessary charge of the daily sacrifices, to be offered by the priests at Jerusalem, which command of the king, being forthwith put in excution, the Jews encouraged by the prophesies of Haggai and Zachary went on roundly to the finishing of the work, [Ez. 6. 1, 14.]

But I conceive that at this time, Artachshashta, whom Ezra 6. 14. joyneth with Darius in this edict, as partaker with him in the power of the kingdom, was one of the 7 princes of Persia, which slew the Magus: to wit, he whom Eschilus, (in Persis) calls Artaphrenes. Hellanicus, (as his Scholiast terms him, Daphernes, Ctesias Artaphernes, and Herod. Intaphernes. He therefore, according to the priviledge granted by Darius, coming upon a p. 112time to speak with Darius, without sending in, to tell him that he was there, was kept out by the door keeper, and groom of the bedchamber, who told him that the King was asleep with the Qu…en: But he, supposing that they lied unto him, drew his Cimitre, and cut off both their ears and noses; and tying the reigns of a horse about both their necks turn'd them going: But when they presently ran in to the king, shewing him what they had suffered, and upon what occasion: the king eftsoons, sent for the rest of the Princes, severally, fearing that this might happily have been done by the common consent of them all: but finding it was not, he caused both Intaphernes and all his sons, save only the eldest, whom he spared at his mothers petition, to be put to death: Herodotus relateth this matter [lib. 3. cap. 118, 119.] as a thing acted presently upon the execution done upon the Magi; but Valer. Max; following other Authors, [lib. 9. cap. 2.] tells us, that finding himself curbed by these Princes, put them all to death by a new devised kind of punishment: For saith he, making a lower room, and filling it with cinders, and bearing up the room over it, with one post, and having feasted and filled them with meat and drink, he put them all into that upper roome; and when they were all fast a sleep, taking away the post that bare it up, they all fell into the cinders, in the under roome, and there perished.

Now though it be not very likely that they perished in this manner, yet is it very credible, that putting them from the government of the kingdom, he eased himself of that yoak, which hitherto lay so heavy on his neck.

And from that time forward, Darius was a free and absolute Monarch; and he it is, that we, in the Scripture, find called by the name of Assuerus. This Assuerus therefore, in the 3 year, reckoned from the beginning of his reign, as he sate in his throne, in his pallace at Susa; to shew the glory of his kingdom, and magnificence of his state, made a feast for all the Governors, and great men of his dominions, which lasted 180 dayes long, [Est. 1. 2, 3, 4.] now this city of Susa, as Pliny, [lib. 6. c. 27.] saies, was built by this Darius; or rather as Elian, [lib. 13. de animal. c. 59.] was embellisht with goodly and magnificent pallaces by him, and Herod. [lib. 5. c. 49.] tells us, that he made that the place of his residing and there kept all his treasure.

After this half years banquet was ended, Year of the World 3486 there followed an other of seven dayes long; whereunto were invited all the dwellers, and whoever else was then present at Susa, from the greatest to the least. The men sitting with the King, in the court of the garden of the kings house, and the women within the pallace it self, with Vashti the Queen, (which to us, is Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus,) [Esth. 1. 5. 9.]

Upon the last day of this feast; the king, being somewhat high flowen with drink, would needs shew the beauty of the Queen to the men, and sent for hir to come unto him: but she refused; and thereupon, by the advise of Memucan, one of the seven wise men, of the Medes and Persians, which knew the lawes and statutes of those countries (for these were the kings Judges, which judged in all causes arising among the Persians, and resolved all cases in point of law; of whom, Herod. [lib. 3. c. 14. 31.] and Plutarch in the life of Artaxerxes maketh mention,) divorced and put her away, making moreover a law, that every man thereafter, should be Master in his own house, [Esth. 1. 10, 22.]

Hereupon, there was enquiry made after all the faire damsels that were to be found in Assuerus his dominions, to find out a fit consort for the king, to reign in the stead of Vashti, which was divorced, and among others, Hadassa, a damsel of the Jewes, which was also called Esther; the daughter of Abichajile, a woman of Benjamin, was taken into consideration, [Esth. 2. 1, 8.]

In the fourth year of Darius, Year of the World 3487. a. the fourth day of the ninth month, called Chisslu, when the Jewes, by Sharezer, and Regem-melech, consulted with the Priests and Prophets, concerning the fast appointed to be held upon the day of the destruction of the City and Temple of Jerusalem, God answered them, that those fasts of the fifth and seventh months which they had observed for seventie years space, were no wayes pleasing to him, and put them in mind of their obstinacie, and perseverance in their sins, which had brought that terrible desolation upon them, [Zach. 7. 1, 14.] now from the said destruction, and the death of Gedalia (which gave occasion of that fast, held in the 7 month,) following two months after, to the very instant of this prophecie, we in our Chronologie, gather, that there were 70 years.

And in the eighth chapter of the same Zacharie, God tells them, that he would restore Jerusalem, and put an end to all their former miseries, and that he would change their fasts; as well that of the fourth monethmonth, on the ninth day whereof, the City was taken, as that of the fifth month, upon the tenth whereof, the Temple was burnt, and of the seventh month, wherein the remnant of the people, upon the murther of Gedalia, was scattered among the Nations, and of the 10 month, upon the 10 day whereof, the City, under Sedechia, began to besieged by Nebuchadnesar, into mirth; and would send joy and gladnesse, and liberty unto his people.

p. 113In the 6 year of Darius, Year of the World 3489 toward the later end thereof, on the 3 day of the 12 monethmonth, called Adar, was the structure of the Temple finished. The dedication whereof, the Israelites which returned out of the captivity, celebrated with great joy, and abundance of sacrifices, the Priests and Levites, every one in his place and office attending in the ministery of the Temple, [Ezra 6. 15, 18.]

And they also upon the 14 day of the first monethmonth, celebrated the first Passeover in the second Temple; keeping also the feast of sweet-bread seven dayes, with great joy, for that God had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, [Ezra 6. 19. 22.] to wit of Darius, who having recovered Babylon, after 20 moneths liege, by the means of Zopyrus, was in full right, stiled now king of the Assyrians, no lesse than of the Persians, [Herod. lib. 3. in fin.] and Justin in the end of his first book.

When Esthers turn came to be brought to the king Assuerus, Year of the World 3490. b. she was attended on, from the Seraiglia, to the kings chamber, by Hegaius the Eunuch, [Esther 2. 12, 15.] foreign, saith Herod. lib. 3. cap. 69. (i. e.) the women in Persia, come round in their turns, to their husbands beds.

But in the 7 year of Assuerus his reign, in the 10 monethmonth, called Tebeth; when Esther came unto the king, she found grace and favour in his eyes, above all the other damsels; insomuch, that he put the crown of the kingdom upon her head, and made her Queen in the stead of Vashty, [Esth. 2. 16, 17.] whence I gather, that as Vashty was Atossa, so Esther was she, whom Herodotus, calls the Virgin Artystona, and whom he sayes, that Darius loved above all his wives, and whose statue, he caused to be made of solid gold, [lib. 3. cap. 88. with cap. 69. lib. 7.] though I am not ignorant, that Hadassa, which was another name given to Esther, comes a great deal nearer to Atossa, and that Herodotus makes Artistona, to have been Cyrus his daugher, and Atossaes sister, whether we should say, that Herodotus was not so wel skilled in the Persian genealogies, or that the Persians themselves, for very envy, concealed the name of Esther.

Assuerus in honour of his new spousals, made a most sumptuous feast for all his Princes and servants, and called it Esthers feast, wherein he eased the provinces of many taxes and tallages, and gave gifts answerable to the state and magnificence of so great a king, [Esther. 2. 18.]

Jubile 19.

Hippias, Year of the World 3491. a. the Tyrant of Athens, in the fourth year before his banishment from thence, fearing what might fall, began to look about for some forrein support, and to that end, gave his daughter Archedice to Aeantides the son of Hippocles the Tyrant, of Lampsacus, the rather for that he perceived, that they were both gracious and in great esteem with Darius, [Thucid. lib. 6.]

Haman, Year of the World 3494. a. the son of Amadetha, The Julian Period. 4204 an Aggagite, of the race of the Amalekites, Year before Christ 510 malicing Mordecaie a Jew, because he would not fall down and adore him as others did, resolved for his sake to be revenged of all his nation (which was ever indeed adverse to his, Deut. 25. 19.) and to root it out, for the executing of which purpose, that he might find out a successeful time, on the first monethmonth Nisan, in the 12 year of king Assuerus, he caused pur, that is, lots to be cast before him; for the knowing of the day and the monethmonth, wherein the Jews should be destroyed: and the lot fell upon the 12 monethmonth Adar, the last of the whole year, [Esther 3. 1, 7.]

Then pretending some specious reasons to Assuerus, with the offer of ten thousand talents of silver, (which yet the king would not accept) obtained a grant from him to root out all the generation of the Jews, [Esther. 3. 7, 11.]

Upon the 13 day of the first monethmonth, the kings edict was published in Susa, and copies thereof were dispatcht away by carryers into all the provinces of the kings dominions, that all Jews, without respect to sexorage; upon the 13 day of the 12 monethmonth Adar, should dye the death, [Esth. 3. 12, 15.] Hereupon Mordecai, Esther, and all the Jews, humbled themselves before the Lord, by fasting and prayer, [ib. chap. 4.] and in memorie thereof, their posterity to this day observe a solemn fast, upon the 13 day of the monethmonth Adar, which they terme, Esthers fast.

Esther goes to the king, in gorgeous apparrel, is graciously received by him; she invites the king once and again to a banquet, and Haman mean while is busie, in giving order for a gallows to be made, to hang Mordecai on, [chap. 5. ib.]

Assuerus, one night, when he could not sleep, would needs have some records red unto him, and among other things, it was there red unto him, how two of his servants, Bigthan and Teresh his door-keepers, had conspired his death, and that one Mordecai had revealed this conspiracy unto him, and thereupon gave order, that the author of this discovery should be highly honoured, and this to be done publiquely, and by whom? but by Haman himself his deadly enemy, [Esth. 6.]

p. 114And presently after this, Haman was himself hanged up, at the gibbet which he had provided for Mordecaie, [chap. 7.] Hamans house was given to the Queen; and Mordecaie her cousin-germaine, and who had brought her up, had daily honours bestowed upon him, [ca. 8. 1, 2, 15. ib.]

Upon the 23 day of the monethmonth Sivan, there was an edict published at Susa, and copies thereof sent away speedily by carriers, into the 127. Provinces, that the Jews upon the 13 day of the monethmonth Adar, which was the day appointed for their massacre, should have leave to stand upon their own guard, and to defend themselves every where, and to kill all such as should offer to assault them, and should moreover, have the spoile of such mens goods: whereupon both in Susa, and in all the Provinces there was great rejoycing among them, and divers of the people in several countries joyning themselves to their side, turned Jews, [ib. cap. 8. 9, 17.]

Hippias (twenty years before the fight at Marathon, Year of the World d. in which he served on the Median party) being now grown an old man; was thrust out of Athens by the Lacedaemonians, and the faction of the Alcmaeonidae there: and taking a passe from the Athenians, went first to Sigaeum, and from thence sailed to Lampsacus, to his son in law Aeantides, and from thence got him away to Darius, [Thucid. lib. 6.] Now Pisistratus, Hippias his father, had committed S…geum in Troas, to Hegesistratus his base son: and that was a receptacle now for Hippias, and afterward for others of the race of Pisistratus, in case of extremity to retire unto, [Herod. lib. 5. ca. 65. 91, 94.]

Upon the 13 day of the 12 monethmonth Adar, Year of the World 3495. b. the Jews in all parts slew all those who were provided to slay them upon the same day, The Julian Period. 4105 according to Hamans decree: Year before Christ 509 In Susa it self, and the very Palace there, they slew 500. men, together with Hamans ten sons: and in the rest of the Provinces to the number of 75000. men: but medled not with one peny of their goods, [Esth. 9. 1, 16.]

Upon the 14 of the same monethmonth, the Jewes in the Provinces ceased from killing, and made merry among themselves: But they which dwelt in Susa, having another day given them by the King, slew therein 300. men more of their enemies; and hung the carcasses of Hamans ten sons, upon the gibbet, [ib. cap. 9. 13, 19.]

Upon the 15 day the Jewes that dwelt in Susa made merry and feasted themselves, [D. c. 9. 18.]

Mordecaie began the custom of keeping Holiday in remembrance of Purim, or Lots yearly, upon the 14 and 15 dayes of the monethmonth Adar: and this was established by Esther, [ib. ca. 9. 23, 30.] And this is the Jews Shrovetide, wherein they read over the History of Esther: and so often as the name of Haman comes to be read, they rap and make a noise with their hands or mallets, upon the deskes or settles in their Synagogues.

In the Isle of Naxos, Year of the World 3500 some of the richer sort were turn'd out by the meaner people; and they repaired to Aristagoras son of Molpagoras, and son in law, and cousin-germain by the mothers side, to Histiaeus, Tyrant of M…letus; and whom Histiaeus had left Governour there in his room, when Darius under a shew of Honour, had taken himself along with him unto Susa: and Aristagoras imparting the matter to Artaphernes, son of Hystaspes, and brother to Darius, Governour of Ionia, residing at Sardes, perswaded him to possesse himself of Naxos, and Paros, and Andros, and the rest of the Cyclades, all depending of Naxos, to the Kings use: which being well liked of by Darius at Susa; he furnished out the next Spring, 200. Ships for that service, [Herod. lib. 5. cap. 30. 31, 32.]

Artaphernes, Year of the World 3501. c. making Megabates a Persian borne, The Julian Period. 4211 Darius his, and his own, Year before Christ 503 near kinsman, Commander in Chief of the Persian Army; gave him order with his Fleet of 200. sailes, to go to Miletus, and there to take in Aristagoras and the Ionian Army, which he did; and sailed from thence to Chios: where a jar falling between Aristagoras and Artaphernes, when they had spent four moneths in the siege of Naxos to no purpose: each returned home, nothing done, [Herod. ib. ca. 32. 33, 34.]

Here end the 70 years from the taking of Tyre, Year of the World 3502. b. by Nebuchadnesar, The Julian Period. 4212 which is the just number of years of the bondage of that city, Year before Christ 502 expressely foretold by the Prophet, [Esay 33. 15, 17.] from which time, it seems they lived in freedom from any forreign subjection, till the time it was again taken afterward by Alex. the Great.

Aristagoras fearing what might befall him, because he had not been able to perform what he had undertaken to Artaphernes for the taking of Naxos, and had not wherewithal to pay his army; began to think of revolting from the Persians. And it fell out in the very nick, that there came a messenger from Histiaeus in Babylon, having his errand written in letters made with hot irons upon the flesh of his head, and now grown over with hair, by which Aristagoras was advised both himself to fall off from Darius, and also to put all Ionia in armes against him, if he could, [Herod. lib. 5. c. 35. Polyae. Stratag. lib. 1.]

Aristagoras hereupon, having imparted this to his friends, perswaded them to side with him, though Hecataeus the Historian disswaded them by all means from rising in armes against the King of Persia: but all in vain; for the conspirators dispatched away p. 115Iatrogaras to Myus to the army, which upon their return from Naxos, remained there, and by a stratagem, took all the principal Commanders of their Fleet. And Aristagoras, now openly revolting from Darius, made a fair shew of a kind of liberty to the Milesians, and took away the tyrants that were in some cities of Ionia; and then went to the Lacedaemonians to pray an aide of them; but received a flat denial at their hands, [Herod. lib. 3. ca. 36, 37, 38, 49, 50, 51.]

In the 20 year of the reign of Darius, Year of the World 3503. a. 246. of Nabonassars aera, upon the 28 day of the monethmonth Epiphus, according to the Egyptian Calender, (upon the 29. of our November) ending about midnight, there was an Eclipse of the Moon observed at Babylon, [Ptol. Mag. Syntax. lib. 4. ca. 9.]

Hippias the son of Pisistratus being sent for from Sigeum upon a vain hope given him of being restored to his Principality in Athens, by the Lacedaemonians, returned from thence into Asia, and accusing the Athenians of many things to Artaphernes, did what in him lay to bring Athens under the subjection of Darius, [Herod. lib. 5. chap. 91. 96.]

The Athenians understanding that Hippias had defamed them to Artaphernes, sent their messengers to Sardes, to perswade the Persians there, not to give credit, nor to lend any ear, to those out-laws of the Athenians: But Artaphernes advised them, if they loved themselves, and their own safety, to call home, and receive Hippias again; But whiles they stood out, and refused to hearken to any such conditions, it fell out that Aristagoras the Milesian returning from Sparta, where he gat nothing but a denial, came to Athens, and there obtained of them 20 saile of Ships to aid the Ionians in their war against the Persians: whereof they made Melantho an eminent man in Athens Commander. [Herod. lib. 3. ca. 96. 97.] Which Fleet, as [Herod. ca. 98. ib.] hath well noted, was the beginning of all mischeif, both to the Grecians and Persians: for this was the beginning of all the wars which grew between the Grecians and the Persians, and which ended in the ruine of the Persian Empire.

Aristagoras, returning to Miletus, perswaded the Paeones, whom Megabazus the Governour of Thracia, had carried away from their own habitation upon the banks of the River Strymon into Phrygia, and by the command of Darius planted them there, to return into their own country; wherefore they taking with them their wives and children, gat away to the sea side, where some for fear, abode still: the rest putting over to Chios, from thence gat shipping, and came to Lesbos, and from thence to Doriscus: and from thence again, by land went away into their own country, [Herod. lib. 5. ca. 98.]

The Athenian Fleet arrived at Miletus, Year of the World 3504 and with them came also five tall Ships of the Eretrians, The Julian Period. 4214 for the Athenians sake. Year before Christ 500 There Aristagoras staied himself, but sent his own brother Charopinus Commander over the Milesians, and Helmophantus Commander over the rest of the Ionians, against Sardes. The Ionians, in company with the Athenians and Eretrians, coming with their Fleet to Ephesus, left their Ships at Goresus, a Port of the Ephesians, and marched themselves in a body over-land to Sardes: and took and burnt it all, save the Castle which Artaphernes himself kept, not sparing the very temple of Cybele. But when the Lydians and Persians joyning together, made good the Market-place, thorough the middest whereof ran the River Pactolus, and there defended themselves against them; the Ionians for very fear left the place, and retired to the Hill T…molus, thereto adjoyning, and from thence by night fled away to their ships: whereupon the Persians dwelling on that side the River Halys, gathering into a body, pursued them, and overtaking them about Ephesus: fought with them, and routed them; killing many, and among them Enalcidas Captain of the Eretrians; a man who had borne away the garland in many of their games, and highly commended by Simonides the Poet in his verses. They which escaped out of the battel, dispersed themselves into their several cities: and the Athenians abandoning from thence forth the Ionian cause, though earnestly entreated thereto by Aristagoras, would no more appear in it, [Herod. from ca. 99. to ca. 103.]

Onesilus, turning out his own elder brother Gorgus, King of the Salaminians, and forcing him to flee over to the Medes for succour, prevailed with the whole Isle of Cyprus to fall off from them; save onelyonly those of Amathusa: But while he was besieging that city, tydings came of the firing of Sardes by the Athenians, to Darius: who thereupon growing wrath with the Athenians, gave order to one of his attendants, that as often as ever he sate at meat, he should three times remember him of it, and say, Sir, Remember the Athenians: and then, very improvidently sent away Histiaeus, the brother of that Aristagoras, from Susa to Miletus as if of purpose to be afterward the ring-leader of the Ionian Rebels against himself, [Herod. lib. 5. ca. 104. 105, 106.]

The Ionians entring into the Hellespont, took Byzantium, and other cities in those parts; and sailing from thence, drew over many of the cities of Caria to joyn with them in this war against the Persians; for the city Caunus, which hitherto stood off, and would not side with them, hearing now of the firing of Sardes, fell also to them, [ib. ca. 103.]

At Clazomenae (which was of it self sometimes an Island, but now joyned to the continent of Ionia, by a neck of land, as [Strabo lib. 1.] sheweth) was borne Anaxagoras p. 116the Philosopher, son of Hegesibulus, [Olym. 70.] as Diogenes Laertius sheweth in his life, out of Apollodorus his Chronicle.

Whiles Onesilus, lay with his army before Amathusa, news came to him, that Artybius, a Captain of the Persians was making toward Cyprus, with a very numerous army, whereupon he sent to crave aide of the Ionians, and they out of hand advanced toward Cyprus, with a great fleet. But the Persians putting over out of Cilicia, into Cyprus, landed there, their men, and marched by land to the city of Salamis, sending about the Phaenians with the ships, to double the point of a Promontory in that Island, called, Claves Cyprus, (i. e.) the keys of Cyprus, and anon after, there followed a fight between the parties, both at land, and sea. And at sea, the Ionians, behaved themselves all very bravely that day, especially the Samians, and had the better of the Phaenicians. But at land, while the rest were busie in fight, first Stesenor, Tyrant of the Curii, betrayed his fellows: and then presently the men of Salamis, who fought in chariots, did the like; whereupon the whole army of the Cypriots being routed, many of them were put to the sword; and among them Onesilus, the author of this war, and with him, Aristocyprus, king of the Solians, son of that Philocyphrus, whom Solon, at his being in Cyprus, so much extolled above all other Tyrants, in his verses. The Ionians hearing that Onesilus was slain, and the rest of the cities of that Isle besieged, and that Salamis it self had opened her gates to Gorgus, their old king, returned into Ionia, with all the haste they could make. But among all the cities of Cyprus, that of Solos stood it out longest, yet at seven moneths end, the Persians having undermined the wall round about, took it; and so the Cypriots paid dearly for their one years liberty, and were reduced to their former estate of slavery, [Herod. lib. 5. from cap. 108. to 116.]

The Persian Lords at Sardes, Year of the World 3505 who had married Darius his daughters, The Julian Period. 4215 as Daurises, Year before Christ 499 Hymees, and Otanes, pursuing the Ionians, who had been in the service against Sardes, after they had routed them near unto Ephesus, and driven them aboard their ships, parted the rest of the work among themselves, and took each of them, in hand what cities of theirs, they would subdue, [Herod. ib. 116.] Daurises for his part, undertook the parts joyning upon the Hellespont; and there took Dardanus, Abydus, Percotes, Lampsacus, and Paeson, every day a city: but as he was on his way from thence, to the city Parios, he understood that all Caria had revolted from the king, and joyned with the Ionians, wherefore he gave off that purpose, and marched away with all his army into Caria, [c. 117.] Hymees undertook the parts about Propontis, and coming thither, was Cios in Mysia. But then hearing that Daurises was marched out of Hellespont into Caria, he left Propontis, and marched into Hellespont, [ib. cap. 122.] But Artaphernes, the Governour of Sardes, and Otanes the third of those undertakers, went against Ionia it self, and the countrey of Aeolia, adjoyning thereunto. In Ionia they took Clazomenae, and in Aeolia, the city Cuma, [Ib. cap. 123.] which being so taken, Anaxagoras with his companions, consulted together, whither they might flie, in which counsaile, Hecatous the Historian advised, first to transport into the Isle of Leros, and there to fortify for the present; and dwell till occasion were offered to return to Miletus. But Aristagoras his opinion was, to saile rather to a place called Myrcinus, a city among the Edons, (who dwelt upon the bank of the river Strimon) which his own Brother Histiaeus had formerly built: wherefore committing the charge of Miletus to Pythagoras himself, with such Volunteers, as he could get, sailed from thence into Thrace, and possessed himself of the place, which he intended, [Ib, c. 124, 125, 126.]

Histiaeus, the Tyrant of Miletus, dismissed from Susa by Darius, came to Sardes: where being upon his very first arrival, hotly charged by Artaphernes, as the author of all the rebellion in Ionia; he got away the night following to the sea side, and there finding a sh…p ready, sailed over into Chios; where the people supposing that he had been sent thither by Darius, of purpose to sollicite them against the Grecians, laid him in irons; but understanding shortly after, that he came in a contrary errand, they quickly set him at liberty: and he forthwith dispatched away letters to Sardes, by Hermippus, of Atarne, to perswade some Persians there, to a revolt. But Artaphernes having gotten knowledge of th… practise, by the discovery of the messenger, put those Persians to death, wherefore Histiaens, failing of this purpose, obtained of them of Chios, to grant him a convoy back to Miletus. But the Milesians, as they were glad to be rid of Aristagoras, so they would by no means hear of taking another Tyrant in his room; insomuch, that when Histiaeus, assaied to get privilie into the city by night, he received a wound in the thigh, given him by a Milesian; and so being cast out thence, he returned again to Chios, [Herod. lib. 6. in the beginning of it.

Daurises the Persian, Year of the World 3506 leading his army against the Carians, The Julian Period. 4216 they met together, Year before Christ 498 and made a body, at a place called Columnae Albae, (i. e.) the white Pillars, near the river Marsyas, where Pixodorus the son of Mausolus, a man of Cyndya, who had married the daughter of Siencses the king of Cilicia, gave them advice to passe over the river Maeander; and that having that river at the back of them, they should there abide the coming of the enemy, and fight with him, upon that advantage: but the contrary opinion carried p. 117it, that they should put the Persians to have the river at their backs, and force them to figh at that disadvantage, to the end, said they, that if they fled, having that river at their back, they should not be able to get away. At last therefore, the Carians and Persians came to a battail, near the river Marsyas, which was a very sharp one, and lasted long, and in which the Persians lost two thousand men, and the Carians ten thousand. But when the Carians fled at last to a place called Labranda to the Temple, of Jupiter the warlike, and were there in consultation what to do, whether to submit to the Persian, or to abandon Asia, the Milesians with their partakers, came to aide them: whereupon they took fresh courage, and fought again with the Persians which invaded them, and after a fight longer than the former, they fled again; in which they lost very many men, especially of the Milesians: after which great losses; yet the Carians, upon a new supplie, fought with them a third time; for hearing that the Persians, went about now to sack and ransack their cities, they lay in ambush for them upon their way, as they were marching to Mylassa, following therein the advice, of Heraclides Inabolius, a man of Mylassa, into which ambushment, the Persians falling by night, were all cut off, with their commanders, Daurisces, and Amorges, and Sismaces, and with the rest Myrses also the son of Gyges, was there slain, [Herodotus, lib. 5. from cap. 118. to 121.]

Hymees the Persian which led his army into the countrey of Hellespont, took in all the Aeoles, which inhabited near the cost of old Troy, and the Gergithes, the remainder of those ancient Teucrians, and having done all, deceased himself, of a sicknesse at Troas, [Ib. cap. 122.]

Histiaeus the Milesian, when he could not prevaile with the men of Chios, to let him have away their shipping, put over to Mitilene; where the Lesbyans by his perswasion, let him have eight tall men of war, well and fully furnished, in which they …ailed with him to Byzantium, and staying there, they intercepted certain ships of loading, of the Ionians, which came out of Pontus, all, except such as professed themselves willing and ready to serve Histiaeus, [Herod. lib. 6. cap. 5. and 26.]

Aristagoras, Histiaeus his brother, lying with his army at the siege of Mircinus, a city of the Edones, was there slain with all his men by the Thracians, after they had taken his word, for their own safe passage, and leaving of the place, as Herodotus, in the very end of his fifth book delivers. But Thucidides, [lib. 4.] reckons from hence, 61 years, to the carrying of a colony of the Athenians, by Agnon the son of Nicias, and planting it in Amphiposis, which Diod. Sic. in his 12 book, saies, was done in the 85 Olympiade, to which period of times, we have here conformed our relation of the six years (ending the year following) of the rebellion of the Ionians against the Persians.

There was now a huge preparation making against the city of Miletus, Year of the World 3507 by land and sea, The Julian Period. 4217 for the Persian Commanders, Year before Christ 497 of all those parts, uniting their forces, set up their rest, to carry that place, what ever became of the rest. Among the Seamen their Phenicians, were the forwardest of all others, and with them were joyned the Cypriots, lately subdued by the Persians, and the Cilicians, and Egyptians, [Herod. lib. 6. cap. 6,] of which danger thus hanging over their heads, mention seems to be made in those letters, which are attributed to Anaximines the Milesian, written to Pythagoras living then in Crotona, by Diogenes Laertius in his life: where, when he had spent 20 year, he went to Metapontus, and there ended his dayes, as Justin reports out of Trogus, [lib. 20. cap. 4.] to wit in the fourth year of the 78 Olympiade, [as Euseb. hath it in his Chron.] which takes up part of this, and part of the year following.

The Ionian fleet consisted of 363 ships; the Persian of 600. Aeaces the son of Solyson, the Tyrant of Samos and other Tyrants of Ionia, which having been thrust out by Aristagoras, were now in the Persian army, laboured what they could to draw over every man his countrey-men, and acquaintance from the Ionian to the Persian side. In a sea fight at Lada, which is a little Island lying over against Miletus, between the Phaenicians, and the Ionians, of 60 ships that came from the Isle of Samos, and fifty slunk out of the fight, and returned home, so did 70 more of the Lesbian ships; and sundry other of the Ionians in like manner, onelyonly there were 100 saile of the Isle of Chios, which fought it out very manfully, till at length having taken many of the enemies ships, and lost many of their own with what they had left, they returned home, some of which yet being hardly pursued by the enemie, ran themselves on ground, at the promontory of Mycale, and there gat to land, and travelling all night on foot, came safe to Ephesus, whiles the women there were celebrating their feast and sacrifices called Thesmophoria, to wit, in honour of their goddesse Ceres: whereupon the men of the city, supposing the Chians to have been theevs, come to spoil them at that time, fell suddenly upon them, and slew them. But Dionysius, captaine of three ships of the Phocaeans, having taken three ships of the enemies, carried them, not into Phocaea, which he knew well enough was ere this seized on, and possessed by the enemies, with the rest of the Ionian territories, but furnished as he was, sailed directly into Phaenicia; where lighting upon some ships of loading, and having taken out of them a great booty of monies, and other things, he set sail, and came away for Sicilie, [Herodotus lib. 6. from cap. 7. to 17.]

p. 118The Persians having thus mastered the Ionians at sea, fell presently to beleaguer Miletus, both by sea and land: and undermining the walls thereof with all kind of engins, they utterly overthrew and razed it to the ground in the sixth year after Aristagoras began his rebellion against the King of Persia, [Herod. lib. 6. ca. 18.] Some of the Milesians which escaped the fury of the sword with certain of the Samians, carried a colony of them that were left into Sicilie, [ib. ca. 22.] the rest were carried away to Susa: upon whom Darius inflicted no punishment more, than that he placed them in the City of Ampa, seated upon the Sea called the Red-Sea, where the River Tigris running under the walls thereof, falleth into the Ocean. The champion and low grounds lying near the city of Miletus, the Persians took to themselves, but the mountainous parts, they gave to the Carians of Pedasus to possesse, [ca. 20. ib.]

Upon the taking of Miletus, the Carians all were quickly taken in; some readily yeilding themselves, others upon compulsion, [ib. ca. 25.] Histiaeus the Milesian, hearing what was become of his city Miletus, sailed presently with those Lesbians which were with him to Chios; which he easily subdued, being sorely weakened with that great loss which they had lately suffered at Lada: from thence with a strong party of Ionians and Eolians, he went to Thasus: but whiles he was besieging of Thasus, news was brought him, that the Persians were fallen upon the rest of Ionia; wherefore raising his siege from before Thasus, he sailed forthwith to Lesbos, with all his forces. And from thence, because he saw his men a little doubtful, he set saile again and came into the Province of of Atarnis: as if he meant onelyonly to forrage as well there, as in the country lying upon the River Caicus, in the Province of Mysia. Harpagus the Persian then lay in those parts with a very considerable army: who setting upon Histiaeus, as he came out of his ships, at a place called Malena, took him alive, and destroyed the greater part of his men. When Histiaeus was brought prisoner to Sardes, Artaphernes, took and crucified him, and sent his head to Darius at Susa. Darius blamed them for their labour, in that they had not brought him alive unto him: and gave order that his head should be enterred, as a man well deserving of him and the Persian nation, [Herod. ib. ca. 27. 28, 29.]

The Persian Sea-forces, Year of the World 3508 wintering about Miletus, The Julian Period 3218 went to take in the Islands bordering upon the continent, Year before Christ 496 and in lesse than two years, took in and subdued Chios, Lesbos, Tenedus, and the rest, [Herod. lib. 6. ca. 31.]

After the Islands, the Persian Captains took in also, the Cities of the Continent of Ionia; and having them in their power, they chose out of them the most beautiful boyes and maids among them, and sent them to Darius; but set fire on the Cities with the Temples in them: And so the Ionians were thrice brought into bondage; once by the Lydians, and now twice by the Persians, [ib. ca. 31. 32.]

Those of Byzantium, as also of Chalcedon, which lies over against it, before the Phoenician Fleet came near them, left every man his habitation, and fled up into the remoter parts of the the Euxin Sea, and there built them a city, which they named, Mesembria, [ib. ca. 33.]

The Phoenician Fleet sailing from Ionia, Year of the World 3509 subdued all that lay on the left hand of them as you go into the Hellespont: The Julian Period. 4219 for what lay on the right hand in Asia side, Year before Christ 405 was already subdued by the Persians in the Continent. Then went the Fleet and took in Chersonesus, and the cities thereof, all save the city Cardia: where till then, Miltiades the son of Cimon, had been tyrant, [ib. ca. 33. 34.] But when Miltiades sailed from Cardia with five tall men of War for Athens, the Phoenicians pursued him, and took one of his ships, wherein was his son Metiochus: who being sent prisoner to Darius, was by him honourably received; Darius also bestowed on him, both house and lands, and gave him a Persian woman to wife, by whom he had also many children, [ib. ca. 41.]

Artaphernes Governour of Sardes, finding the Ionians at wars one with another; sent for some of each party to come before him, and made them friends upon certain covenants and conditions, and willed them upon failer thereof to go to law, and try out the right that way rather, than to spoile and butcher one another as they did, [ib. ca. 42.]

When Artaphernes had brought them to this, then laied he out all their country by Parasanges: for so the Persians call every division, containing 30 furlongs: and laid a certain tribute upon every such division, which they were to pay yearly to the King, much after the rate of what formerly was paied, saith [Herodotus lib. 6. cap. 42.] meaning that rate, which (as he had formerly written) Darius, when he came first to the crown, had imposed thoroughout all his Dominions, [lib. 3. cap. 89. 90.] and before▪ he was Master of the Islands, [cap. 96.] In the narration whereof we may observe, that however, for the more easie levying of tributes, the 127. Provinces mentioned in Esther, were now by Darius reduced to 20 Governments, yet the bounds of that Empire were still the same; namely, India, and Ethiopia, whereof the one was of Cambyses his acquest, and the other of Darius himself: of whose revenue out of India, Herodotus speaking, saith in this wise. The Indians as they are a most populous nation, above all other men living that we know, so they pay tribute far more than any other nation doth, to wit, 360. talents of gold dust; and this is the p. 119twentieth part, or a Satrapie. But for as much, as we find that Darius at his first coming to the crown, was not possessed of the country of India, as may appear even by Herodotus himself, [lib. 4. c. 44.] it is therefore most likely, that at what time this book of rates upon lands was made by Artaphernes in Ionia, the like was done all over the kingdom, by the Governours of the several provinces.

It would be considered then, whether that which is said in [Esther 10.] After this the king Assuerus imposed a tribute upon the firme land, and Isles of the sea; or, as it is in the vulgar latine edition, Rex vero Assuerus omnem terram, & omnes maris Insulas fecit tributarias, (i. e.) But king Assuerus made all the earth, and all the Islands of the sea tributary; hath not reference to this very time. For as Thucidides, [lib. 1.] tells us, (and Plato in his Menexenus confirmes as much) that Darius, by the meanes of his Phaenician fleet, subdued all the Islands lying in the Egean sea, so doth Diodorus Siculus, [lib. 12.] teach us, that they were all lost again by his son Xerxes, immediately upon his overthrow in Greece; and before the 12 year of his reign, after which it was, that the Scripture tells us, that Assuerus imposed this Tribute upon the Isles. For that in Xerxes his war against Greece, all the Islands which lay between the Cyanean Isles, and the two fore-lands, that of Triopium in Cnidia, and that other of Sumium in Attica, did send him in shipping; the same Diodotus Siculus in his said 12 book, testifieth; And that his successors, held none of them all, save Clazomene, (which was at that time, but a poore litle Isle, as Thucididides, [lib. 8.] teacheth us) and Cyprus, is manifest by the tenor of Antalcidas his peace, recorded by Xenophon, [lib. 5. Hellenic.] Which to me seemeth a great argument, that Assuerus mentioned in Esther, can be none other than this Darius, whom for this, and other such like impositions laid upon the people, the Persians used to call foreign (i. e.) a crafty Merchant or Huckster, as Herodotus observeth of him: Because that under Cyrus and Cambyses, his two Predecessors there was no talk of any tribute charged upon the subject: only they brought the king presents, [Herod. lib. 3. cap. 89.] To which purpose it is also, that we read in the 15 book of the Epitome of Strabo: The first, saith he, that ever brought up paying of tribute, was Darius Longimanus: (mistaking the sirname of Artaxerxes the grandchild, and giving it to the grandfather) for before him, men paied their kings, out of that which every country yeilded, as corne, horses, &c. And Polyenus, Stratagem. lib. 7.] Darius, saith he, was the first that ever imposed a tribute upon the people; neverthelesse, to make it the better to digest with them; he put his officers to rate it: which when they had laid on very heavily, he took off one half thereof; which they willingly paied, and took it for a great favour too, at the kings hand, which story is toucht upon also, by Plutarch in his Apothegmes of kings and Emperors.

In the beginning of this spring, Year of the World 3510 the king taking off all other commanders, The Julian Period. 4220 sent Mardonius, Year before Christ 494 the son of Gobryas, a young gentleman, and newly married to the kings daughter Artozostra: who coming to the sea side, in Cilicia, with a vast army, and provision accordingly, both by sea and land, sent away the rest of his forces, over land to Hellespont, but he with the navie, came into the parts of Ionia; and putting down the Tyrants, in the several Cities, restored to them every where their popular governments: He shortly after subdued the Thasy by his fleet, and the Macedonians, by his land army. His navie sailing from Thasus to Acanthus, and loosing from thence, whiles they sought to double the cape of the mount Athos, was afflicted by a mighty tempest; wherein he lost 300 of his ships, and upward of 20000 men: But whiles Mardonius with his land army kept in Macedonia, the Thracians, called the Brygi, fell upon his camp by night; in which on-set, they slew many of his men, and withal wounded Mardonius himself: but having subdued Macedonia, he left it, and returned into Asia.

In the year following, Year of the World 3511 Darius commanded the inhabitants of Thasus, Year before Christ 422 who had been accused to him, Year before Christ 493 for intending a rebellion against him, to demolish the walls of their City, and to send away all their shipping to Abdera: and then, to try whether the Grecians, would indeed stand it out, or come in and submit to him, he sent Embassadors into Greece, with order to demand Earth and Water of them, giving order neverthelesse to his tributary towns upon the sea cost, to prepare and furnish our fighting ships, and others, to transport horses in: many therefore, as well of the continent of Greece, as of the Isles thereunto adjoyning, gave him Earth and Water, and among them the inhabitants of the Island of Egina, and that with the first, [Herod. ib. c. 46. 46, 49.]

The Eginetae therefore, Year of the World 3512 as Traytors to Greece, The Julian Period. 4222 were presently set upon, Year before Christ 492 by Cleomenes, king of the Spartans; between whom and Demaratus his collegue in the kingdom, a strife arising, put Demaratus out of his place; who thereupon fled into Asia; and betook himself to Darius: by whom he was magnificently entertained, and had Cities, and territories bestowed on him, [Herod. lib. 6. cap. 49, 50. 61, 67, 70.]

In the 31 year of Darius, Year of the World 3513 257 of Nabonasar, The Julian Period. 4223 the 3 day of the month Tybi (25 day of our April) half an houre before midnight, Year before Christ 491 there was an eclipse of the moone, observed at Babylon, [Ptol. mag. Syntax. lib. 4. cap. 9.] Darius removed Mardonius from his charge, as a man that had not ordered matters well at sea, and sent others to take charge of the war against the Eretrians and Athenians, to wit, Datys, a Median born, and Artaphernes, p. 120whom the Scholiast of Aristophanes calls Artabazus) Commander of the horse, the son of his brother Artaphernes. To these, as they lay encamped in a plain of Cilicia, near the sea, repaired all the sea forces, with their ships, as well for fight, as for transportation of horses; which the tributary Cities had provided and furnished according to order given: into which having put their foot and horse, they set sail, and went for Ionia, [Her. l. 6. c. 94, 95.] with a fleet of 600 ships. Yet Plato in his Menexenus, counteth only 300 ships, and 500 thousand land soldiers: which number Lysias also holds to, in the Epitaph which he made, upon the Corinthian Auxiliaries; but Emilius Probus, in the life of Miltiades, sayes, there were in that fleet, 500 ships; 200000 foot, and 10000 horse.

The Persians, Year of the World 3514 c. setting saile from Samos, The Julian Period. 4224 came to Naxos, and set fire on all their houses, Year before Christ 490 and Temples: But sparing Delos, they went to other Islands, from whence they took away both men to serve them, and also their children for hostages; which when the Carystii refused to deliver; they endured a siege, till at last they also were fain to surrender their City, and give up themselves to their enemies discretion, [Herod. lib. 6. cap. 95, 96, 99.]

The Persians, having taken Eretria, after seven daies siege, and spent some few dayes in settling things there, sailed thence to the land of Attica, and wasted a great part thereof: and came at last, by the guidance of Hippias the son of Pisistratus into the field of Marathon; where they were all defeated by the men of Athens, and of Platea, under the conduct of Miltiades, who had gotten the sovereignty, or command of the Chersonesus, in Thracia: of their part were slain, 192 men: of the Persians, 6400. [Herod. l. 6. c. 101, 102. 112. 117.]

The Persians, Year of the World d. being routed, fled to their ships, of which many were sunk, and many taken: in both the fights, the Persians lost 200000 men, Hippias also, sometimes the tyrant of Athens, died there, who had been the author and procurer of this war, [Justin out of Trogus, lib. 2. c. 9.] The whole army of the Persians at this battle consisted of 300000. as Valer. Max. [lib. 5. c. 3.] saith, and Plutarch intimates no lesse in the beginning of his Parallels: Justin, and Orosius following him say, they were in all 600000 men: Emil. Probus in his Miltiades, sayes there were 100000 foot, and 10 thousand horse: of the Athenians there were 10000, and of their auxileries out of Platea; 1000, saith Justin with Orosius. Probus assures us, that the Athenians, with the men of Platea, and all, made but 10000. This insignious victory, was gotten by them, upon the 6 day of Boedromion, the 3 month in the Attic Calendar, after the somer solstice, as Plutarch in the life of Camillus, sayes; when Phanippus was Praetor or L. Chancelor of Athens: as the same Plutarch hath it in the life of Aristides: to wit, in the 3 year of the 72 Olympiade, 4 years before the death of Darius, as Severus Sulpitius, in 2 book of his Sacra Historia telleth us: and in the 10 year before Xerxes his passing over into Greece, (as Thucidides in his 1 book of his history, witnesseth; and Lysias in his Epitaph of the Corinthian Auxiliaries, hath it) and before the sea fight at Salamis, in the same month of Boedromion, 10 years compleat, as we find in Plato [3 de Legibus.]

Daris and Artiphernes returning into Asia, carried with them their captives of Eretria to Susa, [Herod. lib. 6. cap. 119.] though Cresias would have it, that Datis was slain in the fight at Marathon: and that, when the Persians desired to have his corps, the Athenians refused to give it.

Darius, Year of the World 3515 when the Eretrian captives were brought unto his presence, The Julian Period. 4225 gave order to have them placed in a part of the Cissian country, Year before Christ 489 which is called Anderica, 210 furlongs from Susa, [Herod. lib. 6. c. 119.] of whom a man may see more in Philostratus, in the life of Apollonius, [lib. 1. c. 17.]

When Darius had spent now 3 years, Year of the World 3517 in making greater preparations against Greece than before; The Julian Period. 4227 in the fourth year the Egyptians revolted from him, Year before Christ 487 [Herodotus, lib. 7. cap. 1.]

When Darius was now ready to begin his war against the Egyptians, Year of the World 3519 and Athenians both, The Julian Period. 4229 he was, Year before Christ 485 by the Lawes of the Persians, to declare his successor in the kingdome.

Artobazanes, whom others call Artemenes, or Ariamenes, his son by Gobryas his daughter, born to him before he came to be king, claimed the succession, by right of primogeniture, or as first born: But Xerxes, who was begotten and born, after Darius came to be king, and that of Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Monarchie, was declared to be king, in succession. [Herod. lib. 7. cap. 2, 3.] of which friendly contention between the two brothers, more is to be seen in Justin, out of Trogus, [l. 2. c. 10.] and in Plutarch, in the life of Artaxerxes, and in his Apoth…gmes; and in his treatise foreign, (i.e.) of Brotherly love.

Darius, having declared Xerxes to be king in succession, when he was now ready to take his journey, nay rather when he was now putting over into Greece, as Diod, Sic: [lib. 11.] reporteth, in the year after the revolt of the Egyptians, at the later end thereof, departed this life, when he had reigned fell 36 years, [Herod. lib. 7. c. 4.]

p. 121Next him came Xerxes, the 4 king of Persia after Cyrus: who trusting in his riches, (as they were indeed exceeding great) stirred up his own subjects, together with all his allies and friends, to make war upon the Grecians kingdom; according to the prophecy of [Daniel 11. 2.] though not moved hereunto at the first so much by any desire of his own, as set on, by the perswasions and instigations of Mardonius, his Cousin Germain, of the Alevadae, the kings of Thessaly, of the kindred of Pisistratus, and of one Onomacritus, a Sorcerer of Athens, [Herod. lib. 7. cap. 5; 6.]

Xerxes, Year of the World 3520 in the very beginning of the second year, The Julian Period. 4230 after the death of Darius, Year before Christ 484 took a journey against his rebel Egyptians; whom when he had subdued, and brought into a harder state of bondage, than they had ever felt under his predecessors, he set his brother Achaemenes, the son of Darius to be ruler over them, [Herodotus lib. 7. cap. 7.]

This year was Herodotus the Historian, the son of Lyxus, and Eryone born at Halicarnassus, in the province of Caria: for that he was 53 year old, when the Peloponesian war began. [A. Gellius lib, 15. cap. 23.] affirmeth out of Pamphyla. Now at that very time, Artemesia, the daughter of Lygdamis of Halycarnassus, upon the decease of her husband, obtained, (during the pupillage of her young son, whose name was Psindelis, as may be gathered out of Suidas, in the word foreign: (i. e.) Herodotus) the Tyranny which her husband held, and ruled over the Halicarnassians, the Coi…, the Nisirians, and Calydonians: and she, a while after, came into Greece with five good fighting ships, to the aid of Xerxes in his war there, [Herod. lib. 7. cap. 99.]

Xerxes, Year of the World 3523 when he had gathered together out of all his dominions, The Julian Period. 4233 Egypt, Year before Christ 481 Phaenicia, Cyprus, Cilicia, Pamphylia, Pisidia, Lycia, Caria, Mysia, Troas, Hellespo…t, Bythinia, and Pontus, to the number of 1200 ships, making his Rendezvous at Cuma, and Phocaea in Ionia, himself with all the foot and horse, that he could make out of all his provinces, set out at length from Susa, in the beginning of the 4 year of the 74 Olympiade, though [Diod. Sic▪ in the beginning of his 11 book,] hudling together the gests of 2 years into one, relates this as done, in the first year of the Olympiade following Herodotus, [lib. 7. cap. 21.] affirms, that this provision was in making the 3 whole years before this year; but with a note premised in the chapter preceding, which cannot consist with the exact course of the times: For (saith he) from the subduing of Egypt, he was full 4 years in gathering an army, and in making his preparations; and in the beginning of the fifth year; he began to march with a huge army: for indeed, he set out from Susa, in the beignning of the fifth year, not from his subduing of Egypt, but from his coming to the crown: so that both Justin out of Trogus, [lib. 2. cap. 10.] and Orosius following him, do unadvisedly attribute five years, but most absurdly doth Julianus in his first Oration of the praises of Constantius, say, that he was ten years in making this preparation. But more ingenuous then all these, (though he not over exquisite in his account neither) is Labianus, foreign, where he saith, that between Darius and Xerxes, there was ten years time spent in making this preparation against Greece; since we have formerly shewed out of Plato, that from the fight at Marathon, to the fight at Salamis, which was fought in the first year of the 75 Olympiade, (almost a full year after Xerxes his setting out from Susa,) there were onelyonly ten years ran out.

At Critalis in Cappadocia, all Xerxes his forces came into one body; and from thence he passed the river Halys, and came to Celaena, a city in Phrygia: where Pythius, a Lydian born, (whom yet Pliny [lib. 33. cap. 10.] makes to be a Bithynian) the son of Atyis entertained him, and his whole army, in a most magnificent and sumptuous manner: from hence passing by Anava, a city of Phrygia, and a Lough, out of which salt is made, he came to Colossae, a city likewise of Phrygia, where the river Lycus running under ground, loseth it self, and from thence again, to a town called Cyndra, seated in the confines of Phrygia, and Lydia, and then passing the river Maeander, and passing by the city called Callatebus, he at length arrived at Sardes, from whence he dispatcht away his messengers into Greece, to demand of them earth and water, (i.e.) to require them to give themselves up into his power, [Herodotus, lib. 7. from the 26. chapter, to the 32.]

The Navy in this mean while, was at Eleus, in Chersonesus, from whence a part of the army went to dig thorough the neck of the mount Athos, which was twelve furlongs over; and were forced to this work, with Bastinadoes. The inhabitants also of the places adjoyning, were drawen into the work, and Bubares the son of Megabysus, and Artachaeus the son of Artaeus, both Persians, were appointed, to overlook the workmen, by whose industry at last that neck of land was cut through, and the sea let in, so broad, that two great ships with their oares out, might therein meet, and passe without falling fowl each of other, [Id. ib. cap. 22, 23, 24.] And another part of the army was occupied in making a bridge of ships over the Hellespont, where the sea from Abydus to the shoare, on the other side, is seven furlongs over: and when the bridge was all made, came a mighty tempest, and brake it all down again: at which Xerxes growing mad for anger, caused 300 stripes to be given to the Hellespont, and a paire of shakles to be thrown p. 122into the sea, to bind and fetter it withall: as for those, who were imployed in making of the bridge; he caused their heads to be smitten off: and then set others on work, to make the bridge stronger, [Id, ib. from chap. 33. to 36.]

In the beginning of the spring, Year of the World 3524. b. Xerxes with his whole army, moved from Sardes, where he had quartered all that winter, marching toward Abydus; and as he was setting forth, the sun withdrew his light; there being no clouds to cover it, but a most clear air, and the day was turned into night, at which stupendious prodigy, Pythius the Lydian being amazed, (for that it was no natural Eclipse, the Astronomical tables easily declare) besought the King, that of his five sons, who were then in his army, he would leave his eldest out, to be a comfort to him in his old age: Whereat growing into a rage, he caused that eldest son of his to be cut in two, and his whole army to march between the parts of his body, [Id. ib. ca. 37. 38, 39.]

Hermotimus, who was an Halicarnassaean borne, and could do most of all the other Eunuchs with Xerxes, coming into the country of Atarne, in the province of Mysia, sent for Panionius, of the Isle of Chios (who was by his trade, a dealer in buying and selling of slaves, and by whom himself had formerly been gelt, and made an Eunuch) with his wife and children to come unto him: and making the father to cut out his childrens stones, and then them to do as much to their father; he thought himself in some sort revenged for the wrong which had been done him in his eviration, [Ib. lib. 8. chap 105. 106.]

Xerxes his army going from Lydia to the River Caiicus, and the country of Mysia, from thence came into the country, where old Ilium, or Troy, stood; and as he lay that night at the foot of the Hill Ida, there fell a terrible tempest of lightening and thunder, which destroyed many of his army: after which they came to the River Scamander, which they quite drank up; nor was it able to satisfie the men and cattel of the army with water for their thirst; when Xerxes was there, he went up to see and view the old habitation of King Priame; and there he sacrificed to Minerva of Troy, 1000. Oxen: and the Magi that attended him offered cakes to the Worthies, sometimes; of that place. This done, a panick or sudden fright fell and seized upon his army by night: and he removing from thence in the morning so soon as it was light, came to Abydus, [id. lib. 7. cap. 42, 43.]

Here a toy took Xerxes in the head, to see all his army together; wherefore sitting in a Hall, which he had caused for that purpose to be there prepared, very sumptuous, and all of fair white stone; he there looking toward the sea, beheld all his Navy, and to the land-ward, all his land Forces at once, which whiles he beheld; he would needs also see a sea-fight: and when that fight was done, wherein the Phoenicians gat the prize, the King took great pleasure, both in the fight it self, and also in the number of his men. And when he beheld all the sea of Hellespout covered with his ships, and all the shoares and plains about Abydus with his souldiers; and withall considering the shortnesse of mans life, and that none of all those men should be alive at one hundred years end, he wept, [Id. ib. cap. 44. 45. and Valer. Max. lib. 9. cap. 13.]

Xerxes, sending away his Uncle Artabanus to be Vice-roy at Susa, and there look to his house and kingdom; prepared himself now, to passe over into Europe: so soon therefore as the sun was up, himself holding a golden vial in his hand over the sea, made his prayer to the sun, that nothing might hinder him in the conquest of Europe, till he had gone to the utmost bounds thereof: And having thus said, he flung both the vial, and a golden gobler, and a Persian cimitre, into the sea. These things thus done, he sent his horse and foot to passe over the bridge on the right hand, which was toward Pontus; but over that on the left hand, which was toward the Egean-sea, he made all the bag and baggage, servants, and carriages to passe: spending seven whole dayes, and as many nights in the transportation. When all was over, the Navy fell down out of the Hellespont westward, to a place called Sarpedons Foreland. His land army passing thorough Chersonesus to Agora, turned aside to a place called the Black Bay: where a river of the same name, or Black water, was not able to make all his army drink. Having passed this River, the army held on their march westward, till they came to Doriscus, which is the name both of a sea-coast or shoar, and also of a spacious field in the country, of Thracia, which the great River Hebrus runneth thorough: and there they camped, [Ib. from the end of chap. 52. to the beginning of 59.]

The Navy coming to this place, and being haled a shoar, Xerxes would needs again take a muster, first of his land Forces, and then of his sea. Of his Foot, Herodotus reckons 170 myriads, or 1700000. men, [chap. 60.] and of his Horse, besides Camels, and Chariots, 8 myriads, or 800000. Horse, [chap, 87.] Among the Commanders of his Foot, he mentions two sons of his, begotten of his Queen Aristona, (whom I conceive to have been Esther) and of them he makes, the one called Arsames, Commander of the Ethiopians, to the southward of Egypt, [chap. 69.] and the other, named Gobryas, Leader of the Maryandeni, and Ligyes, and Syrians, [chap. 72.] Diodorus Siculus reckoneth of his foot Forces 80 myriads, or eight hundred thousand men; not coming to p. 123Herodotus his number of them by one half: and yet the number which Diodorus attributes to the Foot, that doth …esias allow onelyonly to the whole Army of all sorts. viz. 80 myriads, besides the Chariots. Isocrates in his Paenathenaica, saith, that in his army of Foot, there were 70 myriads, (i.e.) seven hundred thousand souldiers; which self same number, Elian, [lib. 13. c…. 3.] of his Various History alloweth, and no more, to the whole Army. Pliny counts them 788000. men, [lib. 33. cap. 10.] where yet for Xerxes, Darius his army is named. Justin, out of Trogus, and Orosius, following him, [lib. 1. ca. 10.] sayes, that Xerxes had of his own subjects, seven hundred thousand, and three hundred thousand Auxiliares from his friends. Emilius Probus, in the life of Themistocles, saith, that his Foot were seven hundred thousand men, and his Horse four hundred thousand.

His Ship… for fight, were 1207. of which the Phoenicians furnished him, with 300. reckoning with them the Syrians dwelling in Palaestina: as Herodotus saith, [lib. 7. ca. 89.] adding that by the name of Palaestina, he meaneth all the sea coast of Syria, as far as the borders of Egypt, [lib. 3. ca. 91.] which also in another place he affirmeth to have been anciently called Syria Palaestina, [lib. 3. ca. 91.] and that the inhabitants thereof are all circumcised, [lib. 2. ca. 104.] for among other nations subject to the Persian Empire, the Jews also were one. And that he had of his country-men in this army against the Grecians, Josephus would faine prove out of those Verses of the Poet, [Choerilus, lib. 1. cont. Apion.]

His camp a nation strang to see, did follow,

Who spake the language of Phoenicia;

And did the Hills of Solymi inhabit,

Near to a broad Lake which on them doth border:

Whose heads were rounded, and on their bald crownes,

Of a horse head the dried skin did wear.

by which the learned Salmasius also conceives the Jews were meant; in linguae Hellenisticae Ossilegio; though Scaliger, [In notis suis ad fragmenta] and Cunaeus, [lib. 2. De Rep. Hebra. ca. 18.] and that most learned Bochartus [in Geogra. Sacrae Par. 2. lib. 1. ca. 6.] takes them us understood of Solymi in Pisidia.

But besides these men of War, Herodotus tells us, that he had 1207. Ships of burden, some of 30, some of 50 oares a piece, besides lesser vessels, and ships to carry horses in, to the number of 3000. [lib. 7. ca. 97.] Diodor. Sic. saith, there were above 1207. ships of of War: for carriage of horses, 850. and 3000. ships of burden of 30 oares a piece: and the Poet Eschylus, in Persis brings in messenger reporting the number of those ships in this manner.

I know that Xerxes ships a thousand were;

But full two hundred and seven ships he had,

Exceeding swift ones. So the fame doth go.

Now whether he means that the total sum of them was a thousand; and so the 207. swift ones a part of them; or whether both summes put together, make up the number of 1207. which agreeth best with the particular catalogue of the ships, which every nation contributed to this voyage, mentioned by Herodotus, and with the totals of them by him cast up, doth not very clearly appear out of the Verses themselves. Cresias seems to favour the former opinion, and so doth Tully in the first of his Orations against Verres. Iscocrates in his Panegyric, and Panathenaic Orations, agreeth with the later; and Lysius in his Epitaph, sets them down in a round summe, 1200. ships: adding, that there were over and above them, 3000. ships of burden: For to say with Justin, that there were ten hundred thousand ships of them, no doubt, cannot be right.

That in those 1207. ships which came out of Asia, there were 241400. men stowed, Herodotus collecteth, by placing 200. men in every bottom: besides 30 passengers in every one of them, of Persians, Medes and Sacaeans, which make in all 36210. men. But to those other 3000. ships of burden, he allows 240000. men, by placing in each of them, 80 persons, one with another; those which had more bearing out those that had fewer in them. So that the whole Navy consisted of, 517610. men; to which if you adde the number of the land souilders, 1700000. Foot, and 800000, Horse, and the Arabians which had charge of the Camels, and the Lybians who intended the Waggons, amounting to about 20000. then will the whole number of them which followed Xerxes out of Asia into Greece, in all kinds, rise to the number of 2317610 thousand men, besides horse-boyes and other servants, hangers-on, and besides those which were imployed in furnishing the camp with corn and other victuals, [Herod. lib. 7. ca. 184.]

Xerxes marching now from Doriscus into Greece, as he came to any country, took all that were fit, and made them serve him in the War, [Id. ib. ca. 118.] whereby his Navy grew greater by 120. ships; into every of which, putting as before 200. heads, his Sea-Forces were encreased 24000. men: and Herodotus thinketh that his Army by land, was likewise encreased 30 myriads, that is, 300 thousand men: though, Diod. Sic. p. 124be of opinion, that they came to somewhat lesse than 200 thousand: and so the total of Xerxes his Army in Europaean and Asiatic souldiers amounteth to 2641610 men. Now the number of horse-boyes, and foot-boyes, and of hangers-on, and the tarpailians in the corn-ships, and others, he thinks to be greater rather than lesse, than that of the souldiers came unto. So that if that former summe should be but doubled, the number of those which Xerxes carried by sea to Sepias, and by land to Thermopylae, would come to 5283220 men; for as for the women which baked, and whores, and eunuchs, no man can tell the true number of them: no more can he of the horses and other beasts, of drought or burden, and Indian dogs with their keepers that followed the Gentlemen in the camp for their pleasure, so that it is no wonder, if so many rivers failed some bellies of so many as were there of all kinds to fill, [Id. ib. c. 185, 186, 187.] as Juneval saith, Statyr. 10.

We now beleeve that many rivers deep,

Did faile the Persian army, at a dinner.

and therefore the lesse wonder, if both Isocrates in his Panathenaic oration, and Plutarch in his Parallels, report, that Xerxes drew with him into Greece, 5000000. of men.

And yet in all this great number, was there not a man found comparable to Xerxes himself, for the beauty and goodlinesse of his person; or one that might seem more worthy of that great Empire than himself, if we beleeve Herodotus, [lib. 7. cap. 187.] that, as Saul among the children of Israel, [1 Sam. 10. 23, 24.] so here, Xerxes might well seem to have had, foreign, (i.e.) a feature fit for, and worthy of a crown. And yet if you speak of him as for a king, saith Justin out of Trogus, you will find cause to commend his wealth, (fore-spoken of by Daniel 11. 2.) rather than his wits, of which, saith he, there was such infinite abundance in his kingdom, that when whole rivers failed the multitude of his army, yet his wealth could never be exhausted: as for himself, he was ever seen last in the fight, and first in the flight, fearful when any danger was, but puft up with pride, when there was none.

Leonidus king of Sparta, with an army of 4000 Grecians, opposed himself against him and his whole army, consisting of three hundred thousand men, at the straits of Thermopylae in Thessaly, so called from the hot springs of water, which there do rise, as appears by the Epitaph which was made upon them, recorded by Herod. [lib. 7. cap. 228.]

foreign

foreign. (i.e.)

Here gainst three hundred thousand Persians,

Fower thousand Spartans fought it out and died. For

Thirty Myriads make three hundred thousand; which are as many as Theodoret, [l. 10.] foreign giveth to that whole army, [Diodor. Sic. lib. 11.] in this very Epitaph, p. 26. in the Greek and Latin edition, for, foreign, (i.e.) for the 30 Myriades hath foreign, (i.e.) 20 Myriades, which make 20 hundred thousand; whereas yet, (p. 5.) he saith, that the whole army consisted of little lesse, than 100 Myriades, which is, of 1000000. (i.e.) of one hundred hundred thousand men, and speaking particularly of this fight at Thermopylae, (p. 9.) he says, that 500 men there set upon 100 Myriades, (i.e.) one hundred hundred thousand men. And yet Justin relating the same story out of Trogus, [lib. 2. c. 11.] saith, that 600 men, brake into the camp of five hundred, or as in Orosius, of six hundred thousand men. And Isocrates in his Archidamus saith, that one thousand of them, went against seven hundred thousand of the Persians: But those whom Isocrates calls a thousand, Justin and Orosius, six hundred, and Diodoru, five hundred; are to be understood of those, who when the rest of the Grecians were sent away, stood it out to the last brunt, in which they all, together with their king Leonidas died; of which number, 300 were Spartans, the rest, thespians and Thebans, [Herod. lib. 7. cap. 222, 224.] for whom amends was fully made by 20000 of the enemies then slain upon the place, [Id. li. 8. c. 24.]

While these things thus passed at Thermopylae by land, sundry encounters and fights at sea happened also about Artemisium, a sore-land of Eubaea, [Id. ib. cap. 15.] Eurybiades, a Lacedomonian, was chief Commander or Ammiral of the fleet, which consisted of 271 ship, besides 9 others, of 50 oares a piece, of which 127 were set out by the Athenians, and Plataeans, as Herod. saith, [ib. cap. 1.] whereas yet, Isocrates, in his Areopagitical oration, saith, that the Athenians furnished onelyonly sixty of them: but Emelius Probus delivers, that the whole Grecian fleet consisted of 300 saile, and that 200 of them were of the Athenians, in this Themistocles, Herodotus, Diodorus, and Probus, all say, that this was a drawn battle on either side, though Isocrates in his Panegyrical oration, and Elian, [lib. 2. cap. 25. Varia Histor.] talk as of a great blow, which the Persians received in it; yet the day when this battel was fought, is said by Elian, to have been upon p. 125the sixth of Thargelion, which was the second monethmonth, of the spring time, with the Athenians, agreeth not well with the relation of Herodotus, who [lib. 8. cap. 12.] saith, that this was done in the midst of Summer, to wit, near after the end of the spring, at what time the Olympic games, in the midst of all these troubles, were kept in Greece, [ib. c. 26.] to wit, in the 75 Olympiade; wherein, besides others, Dionysius, Halicarnassaeus, in his Roman Antiquities, [l. 9.] saith it was, that Xerxes made war upon the Grecians.