The Annals of the World

The Sixth Age of the World.

THe basest sort of the people of the land of Judah, and such as were nothing worth, Nebuzaradan left there, to dress the vineyards, and to till the ground; over whom the King set Gedalia the son of Ahikam, a man of the same country, to govern them, [ Ier. 39. 10. and chap. 42. 16. 2 Reg. 25. 1, 22, 23.] but without any badge of Regality, or Kingly title: because, as Severus Sulpitius, in his sacred History, saith, To have some preeminence over a few miserable boors, or paisans, was not reckoned to be any dignity at all.

Seraia the chief, and Sephania the secondary Priests; and the three Keepers of the gate of the Temple, and other principal men, Nebuzaradan took and carried them to Riblah, to Nebuchadnesar, and there were they put to death, [ Ierem. 52. 24, 27. 2 Reg. 25. 18, 21.] but Jehosodake the son of Seraia, and who after him came to be high Priest, was carried away prisoner to Babylon, [1 Chron. 6. 15.]

Jeremy being bound with chains, was carried with the rest as far as Rama towards Babylon, and had there his irons knockit off, and was set at liberty, and had his choice given him whether he would go on to babylon, there to be honourably entreated, or stay in the country with that miserable crew, which was left behind; and he choosing to stay, was sent back to Gedalia the governor; who made his residence at Mizpa, in the Tribe of Benjamin, with money in his purse, [ Ier. 39. 11, 14. and chap. 4. 1, 6.]

The captains and companies, which upon the first taking of the city, fled away by night, [2 Reg. 25. 4. Jer. 52. 7.] and were scattered over the country, and all the Jews, which had fled to the Moabites and Ammonites, and other nations adjoining, returned after a while, to Gedalia, into their own country, where they gate good provision of Wine and Oil, and other summer fruits to subsist withal, [ Ier. 40. 7. 12. 2 Reg. 25. 23, 24.]

Ishmael, the son of Nethania, of the race of the kings of Judah, being suborned by Baalis king of the Ammonites to kill Gedalia, came to him with ten resolute fellows to Mizpa, and were familiarly entertained by him, and he gave no credit to such as disclosed their treacherous intent unto him, which turned to his own destruction, [ Jerem. 40. 13, 16.]

In the 7 month, [Year of the World 3417. a.] therefore Ishmael with his ten companions, taking their opportunity, wickedly murdered Gedalia, and such Chaldeans and men of arms, as at that time he had about him at Mizpa, [ Ier. 41. 1, 2, 3. 2 Reg. 25. 25.] In remembrance whereof, the Jews keep a fast unto this time, upon the third day of this month Tizri. And a day or two after, the same Ishmael slew 80 men more, which clad in mourning apparel, brought offerings and frankincense from Shechem, Shilo, and Samaria to the house of the Lord, now lying in her own dust; and these, having drawn them by a sleight to Mizpa, they • lew there in the open streats, and threw their carcases into king Aza his well, [ Ier. 41. 4, 9.]

As Ishmael returned with the kings daughters, and the rest of the people which was left at Mizpa, his prisoners, to the king of Ammon, Johanan the son of Kareo, met him with a band of men; took away from him all his prisoners, and set them at liberty, and Ishmael, with eight men only in his company, fled to the Ammonites, [ Ierem. 41. 10, 15.]

Johanan, and all his captains, with the rest of the people remaining about Bethlehem, for fear of the Chaldeans, had a purpose to fly into Egypt, [ Ierem. 41. 16, 17, 18.] But went many of them to Jeremy, desiring an answer by him from God thereupon, and he from God, after ten days, brought them an answer, exhorting them all in his name, not to stir out of their own country: assuring them, if they stayed, of God's protection there, and that no harm should betide them from the Babylonians, but if they went into Egypt, they should there, every man of them perish by sword, by famine, by sundry kinds of death. But the common sort, according to their old custom, of never obeying wholesome counsel, nor God's commands, went into Egypt; and, because needs they would have it so, Jeremy and Baruch the son of Neria, went thither with them; and when they were come as far as Taphnes, Jeremy there, declared to them in a figure, the destruction of Egypt, even by Nebuchadnezzar, of whom they were now so much afraid, [ Jer. 42. and 43. with Severus Sulpicius, in his Sacred History, lib. 2.]

In the 12 year of the carrying away of Jeconia, [Year of the World b.] the 5 day of the 10 month, ( our 25 Ian. being Wedensday ) when tidings came to Ezekiel of the taking of Jerusalem, the prophet foretold of the utter destruction, which should befall the last remainder of the Israelites, (after those others which went into Egypt) even to those which remained in their desolate country, [ Ezek. 32. 1. 16,]

In the same 12 year, in the first day of the 12 month, ( March 22. being Wedensday ) Ezekiel uttered his prophecy, concerning the grivous plague and affliction, which Nebuchadnezzar should bring upon the land Egypt, [ Ezek. 33, 1, 16.]

And upon the 15 day, the same prophet foretold, of Pharaoh, and all the tag and tag of Egypt, that they should be brought down as low as hell, with the rest of the uncircumcised nation, [ Ezek. 32. 17, 32.]

Jeremy also prophesied of the destruction, which should follow the Israelites, at Migdol, not far from the red sea, [ Exod. 14. 2.] at Taphnes, all. Daphne-Pelusium, at Noph; all. Memphis, and in Pathros, a country in Egypt: and for a sure sign of their own misery, gave them Pharaoh, all. Apryes, king of Egypt himself, whom they should see brought to all extremities before their eyes, [ Ier. 44. 1. 30.]

Obadias the prophet uttered a prophecy against Edom, which shamefully insulted over the calamity of the Jews, when Jerusalem was destroyed, and the like did Jeremy, [49. 7. and Ezek. 25. 12.] and the authors of the Psalms, [79. and 137.] which wrote all about the same time.

Cyrus, [Year of the World 3418] when he had lived 12 years, [The Julian Period 4128] or somewhat more with his father in Persia, [Year before Christ 586] being sent for, with his mother Mandane, by his grandfather Astyages, came into Media. [ Xenophon, lib. 1. of the Institu. of Cyrus. ]

Tyrus, [The Julian Period. 4419] (Ithobalus then reigning there) was besieged 13 years by Nebuchadnezzar; [The Julian Period. 4129] as Josephus reports out of Philostratus and other writers of the affairs of Phoenicia. [Year before Christ 544] [ Antiq. lib. 10. cap. 11. & lib. 1. cont. Apion. ] And in the compass of those 13 years, it seemeth that the neighbouring nations, as the Moabites, the Ammonites, and Edomites, were also subdued by Nebuchadnezzar, according to the foretellings of the prophet, [ Jeremiah in his 27, 48, 49. chapters, and of Ezek. cap. 25.]

Whiles Nebuchanezar lay before Tyre, [Year of the World 3420] which borders upon the land of Israel, [The Julian Period. 4130] [ Ios. 19. 29.] in the 23 of his reign, Nebuzaradan, captain of his guard, carried away all the remainder of the Jews and Israelites together unto Babylon, to the number of 745 persons, [ Ierem. 52. 30.] In which extreme depopulation, which left the very ground, until the 390 years of the iniquity of Israel, distinct from Judah; and the 40 years of the iniquity of Judah by itself, foretold by [ Ezekiel 4. 5, 6.] were accomplished; and fully ended.

When Cyrus was now almost 16 years of age, [Year of the World 3421] Evil-merodach, the king of Assyria his son, being about to marry a wife, called Nicotris, made an inroad, with a great army of horse and foot, upon the borders of Media, there to take his pleasure, in hunting and harrowing of the country: against whom Astyages, and Cyaxares his son, and Cyrus his grandchild; who then first began to bear arms, marched out, met with him, and in a battle of horse, overthrew him, and drave him out of his borders, [ Xenophon. lib. 1. of the institution of Cyrus. ]

Cyrus afterward, was called home, by his father Cambyses; when as yet he had one year to spend at School, as Xenophon in the same book tells us, to which also that hath reference, which Athenaeus, in his 14 book Dipnosoph. reports out of Dion; that Cyrus, when he had served Astyages, first, as one of his halbardiers, and then as one of his armor bearers returned into Persia, and that at the same time Angares a musician, when Astyages feasted his friends, sang them a song, wherein he said, That a fierce wild beast, more fierce than any boar; was let go, and sent into a fenny country, and that he should reign over all those provinces, and should with a handful of men, maintain war against great armies, &c. and that thereupon, Astyages would fain have called back Cyrus again, but could not get him.

Cyrus, [Year of the World 3422] when he had spent 17 years among boys, [The Julian Period. 4132] spent ten years more among the youths, [Year before Christ 582] [ Xenophon lib. 1. of the Instit. of Cyrus. ]

In the 50 Olympiad, [Year of the World 3424] wherein Epitelides, [The Julian Period. 4134] the Lacedaemonian, [Year before Christ 574] wan the race in running, certain men out of Cnidos, not Rhodes, and brooking the rough carriage, of the kings of Asia, agreed together, to make a plantation of themselves, some where else: and making one Pentathlus a Cnidian, (who deduced his pedigree from Hippotas, the son of Hercules,) they went for Sicily, at the time, when they of Egesta, and Selinunte, were in war each against the other: where Pentathlus taking part with the Selinuntians, was slain; and the rest, making Gorgus, and Thestor, and Epithirsis; all men of Pentathlus his linage and kindred, their captains, set sails again, and seated themselves in the Isle of Lipara, [Year of the World 3429] [ Diodorus. Sic. lib. 5.] [The Julian Period. 4139]

Arcesilaus, [Year before Christ 574] when he had reigned 16 years, in Cyrenaica, left to succeed him his son Battus, surnamed Eudaemon; unto whom a huge multitude of Grecians, advised thereto by the Oracle at Delphi, repaired; wasted first the lands of the bordering Lybians, and then parted it among themselves: whereas before • , the plantation made in Cyrene consisted only of those, which came from the Isle of Thera, with their first founder Battus, [ Herod. lib. 4. cap. 159.] [Year of the World 3430. c.]

In the 25 year of the captivity of Jeconia, in the beginng of that year, ( i.e. ) in the first month thereof (as Jonathan the Chaldee Paraphrast expoundeth it) upon the 10 day of the month ( our April 30. upon a Tuesday ) 14 years after the destruction of Jerusalem, Ezekiel had a vision, of the restitution of the Temple, City, and Kingdom of the Israelites; portending the restauration of the Church by Christ, with the greatness, honor, and excellence thereof, [ Ezekiel 40. 1. to the end of the chapter. ]

The Lybians, being put out of their lands and country, by the inhabitants of Cyrenaica, put themselves under the protection of Apryes king of Epypt: and he gathering a great army together, sent them against the Cyrenians, and the Cyrenians, pitching at a place called Irasa, near the fountain called Thestis, so routed the army of the Egyptians, that few of them were left to return again into Egypt, whereupon the Egyptians grew angry with Apryes, and revolted from him; supposing that he purposely sent them to that break-neck service, to be rid of them, that so he might the more easily, domineer over the rest that were left, [Year of the World 3431] [ Herod. [The Julian Period 4141] lib. 4. cap. 159, lib. 2. 161. Diodorus. Sic. lib. 1]

Amasis, [Year before Christ 573] (being that Saits, so much spoken of by Plato in his Timaeus) was sent by his father to appease this mutiny of the people; but they took and made him king, in his fathers stead. And Apryes, having sent a noble person, named Paterbanes to call back Amasis, at his return, cut off his nose and ears, because he brought him not with him. Upon which unworthy act of his, all fell off from him to Amasis his side, [ Herod. lib. 2. cap. 162.]

Tyre at last was given up to Nebuchadnezzar, [Year of the World 3432] for that it was not taken by force, [The Julian Period. 4142] and given up to be ransacked by the Soldiers, [Year before Christ 572] appears by [ Ezek. 29. 18, 19.] but rather rendered upon conditions. And therefore for king Ithobalus, ( 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ) he appointed one Baal ( 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ) a man of the same country, to be a petty king there, who governed them 10 years, as Josephus affirms out of the Annals of the Phoenicians, [ lib. 1. contra Apion. ]

In the 1 day of the 1. month of the 27 year of the captivity of Jeconia, (21 of April, upon tuesday with us, ) God promised to give all Egypt to be Nebuchadnezzar to be spoiled, in recompense of his long labor; endured in the taking in of Tyrus, [ Ezech. 29. 17, 20.]

Cyrus having now attained almost the full age of 27 years, was taken out of the rank of the striplings, and reckoned among the number of full men, according to the discipline, and use of the Persians, [ Xenophon, l. 1. of the Institution of Cyrus. ]

Nebuchadnesar laying hold of the rebellion in Egypt, and peradventure solicited by Amasis to assist him against his Father Apryes, invaded Egypt with his army; and having gotten it into his hands, even from Syene, to the end thereof: made havoc as well of the Egyptians, as of the Jews which dwelt among them, killing some, and leading away the rest into captivity, according to the several prophecies of Jeremiah, [ c. 43. 44, 46. and Ezech. 29. 30, 31.]

Pharaoh Hophra, all. Apryes, being forced to retire into the Country of Thebais; Nebuchadnesar, as it should seem, made Amasis his Viceroy, over all Egypt, though Herodotus knew not this: for as Scaliger well observeth in his notes, Ad Fragmenta: The Priests of Egypt, which informed him, of such things, as he desired to be satisfied in, told him so much only as made for the honor of their Nation, but concealed the rest, which bewrayed their cowardice and slavery, and payment of tribute to the Chaldeans.

Nebuchadnezzar, having finished his conquests, returned to Babylon: and there, as he lay at ease, and in all kind of jolity in his own house, had that remarkable dream, of the great Tree, (whose destiny was to be cut down ) represented to him, the meaning whereof, when he could not learn by his wizards of Chaldea, the Prophet Daniel unfolded to him, [ Dan. 4.]

Nebuchadnezzar new built Babylon, in a wonderful magnificence and beauty; building a whole new City without the old, and enclosing all, with a treble wall, made of brick: and in favor of his wife called Amyrtis, (of whom I spake in the year of the world, 3374) a woman of Media, and King Astyages his daughter, made that famous and so much renowned garden, borne upon pillars: of which Berosus; He built ( saith he ) that garden, called, the hanging Garden, because his wife desired the pleasure of the hills, as having been brought up in Media: And Q. Curtius; It is said ( saith he ) that a King of Syria, reigning in Babylon, built this great work at the importunity of his wife, whom he dearly loved; and who out of a desire she had to enjoy the pleasure of hills and woods, in that low country of Babylon, set her husband upon it, to imitate the genius or spirit of Nature itself, by the amenity und pleasantness of this work.

But who so will know more of the infinite magnificence, and sumptuousness of this work, must read the Fragments which are left, of Berosus and Abydenus, the former of which, blames the Greek writers, who attribute this work to Semyramis, whereas indeed, this, and those other vast and magnificent structures, were the proper works of this Nebuchadnezzar; as Josephus, in his first Book contra Apion, reports out of him. And the later says plainly that those vast walls, with the brazen gates thereof, reckoned among the miracles of the world, and which remained to the times of Alexander the great; were built by this Nebuchadnezzar, as we find in Eusebius, in his ninth book De Evangelica Preparat. And Clitarchus, and others, which attended Alexander in that voyage, say that the compass of that wall, was 365 furlongs, according to the number of the days of the year, [ Diod. Sic. l. 1.] and that every furlongs length thereof, was built and perfected in one day, as Q. Curtius, lib. 5. c. 4. reports.

Twelve whole months were no sooner past, [Year of the World 3435] but Nebuchadnezzar, [The Julian Period. 4145] growing proud, [Year before Christ 369] and boasting of the magnificencie of his buildings, fell distraught of his wits, and being put from his house and home, spent seven years in the woods and fields among beasts, [ Daniel 4. 32, 33.]

Apryes, gathering an army out of Ionia and Caria, to the number of thirty thousand soldiers, to assist him for their hire, fought with his son Amasis, at Memphis: but being routed and taken prisoner, was kept for a while in the City of Says: and not long after strangled, according to the prophecy of [ Jer. 44. 30. and reported by Herod. lib. 2. 163. and 169. and by Diod. Sic. lib. 1.]

After his death Amasis reigned 44 years, as Herod. reporteth, lib. 3. c. 10. but, which the Priests would not be known of to Herodotus, paid tribute all that while to the king of Babylon.

Was the 18 year of Jubilie. [Year of the World 3442. a.]

Nebuchadnezzar at the end of 7 years, [The Julian Period. 4152] after his humble acknowledgment of the power of God, [Year before Christ 362] was restored both to his right wits and kingdom also, and thereupon publicly proclaimed God's great grace and mercy shown upon himself, and his power over all Nations, [ Dan. 4.]

And having himself foretold concerning the taking of Babylon by Cyrus, as Abydenus ( quoted by Euseb. l. 9. Praepar. Evang. c. ult. ) reports out of the relation of the Chaldeans, departed this life, when he had reigned about 20 months co-partner in the kingdom with his father, and 43 years by himself alone.

After him came Evil-merodach, his son in the 37 year of the captivity of Jehojachin, or Jechonia: about the 25 day of the 12 month ( our April 15. upon a Tuesday ) on which he gave order for the enlarging of Jeconia, [ Ier. 52. 31.] and two days after he took him out of his prison-clothes, and setting him above all the Princes of his Court, reckoned him among the number of the Kings friends; so that all his life time after he did eat at the Kings table, [2 Reg. 25. 27, 28, 29.]

In Lydia Cresus, after the decease of his father Halyattes, reigned 14 years, [ Herod. lib. 1. c. 86.]

After King Baal, the King of Babylon governed Tyrus by Judges: the first of which was Ecnibal the son of Baslach, whom Scaliger calleth ( 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ) and he ruled there 3 months: then Chelbes, the son of Abdeus, whom he also calleth ( 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ) and he ruled there 10 months; as Josephus reports out of the Phoenician Annals, in [ his 1 book cont. Apion. ]

Abbarus ( 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ) the High Priest judged the Tyrians 3 months: and after him, [The Julian Period. 4153] Mitygo • us and Gerestratus ( 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ) governed them 6 years, [Year before Christ 561] [ ib. ]

To Croesus living at Sardes resorted all the wise and learned men of Greece; and among them, Solon the law-maker: who had with him that so much renowned conference of the incertainty of man's life, and of all human felicity therein, [ Herod. lib. 2. from the 28 chapter to the 33.] There is extant a short Epistle of Solons to Croesus, in the end of Solons life, in Laertius; wherein he says, that he was sent for by Croesus, what time Pisistratus governed in Athens. Aesope a Phrygian borne, that famous composer of Fables, was at the same time sent for by Croesus, to come to him at Sardes; and was held in great esteem by him: And he condoling with Solon in a letter, for that he was uncivily turned away by Croesus, only for the freedom of speech, which he had used to him; and telling him withal, that Kings must have, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ( i. ) either very few, or very pleasing words used unto them; wrote back in answer thereto, That Kings must have, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 : ( i. ) either very few, or very honest things spoken to them. [ Plutarch in the life of Solon. ]

Aesope going from Sardes, to Delphi, was there most unjustly sentenced to die; and accordingly was thrown down the rock there, called Phaedrias, about the 54 olympiade, as Strabo; to wit, toward the end of the 4 year of that olympiade, if the precedent times be rightly calculated. The revenge of which foul murder, so often threatened by the Oracle there, was taken afterward by Judmon, grandchild to that Judmon of the Isle of Samos; whose slave, together with Rhodope of Thracia, that famous strumpet, Aesope sometime had been, [ Herod. lib. 2. ca. 134.]

Solon, leaving Croesus, went into Silicia, and there built a city, and from his own name, called it Solos: wherein he planted certain Athenians, who in process of time, having corrupted the native language, were said 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 : ( i. ) to commit soloecismes in their speech; as Laertius in his life reporteth: which yet is more properly said of the Solii in Cyprus, than of the Solenses in Silicia; as Solon in his elegies written to Philonyprus the King, recorded by Plutarch, in the life of Solon, shows: where Plutarch also tells us, that this petty king of Cyprus, who made use of Solons wit and counsel, in some affairs of his own; removed a little town formerly called Epea, into a lower ground more fit and useful for habitation, and in honor of Solon, called it Solos.

After Solons departure, Croesus, who deemed himself the happiest man alive; found by sad experience, that all Solon had told him, of the instability of man's life, and felicity thereof, to be too true: for presently after he had a dream, wherein he saw his son Atys thrust thorough with a Spear: a true token of a violent death, which was eftsoons to befail him; which whiles he sought by all care and diligence to prevent, and was now busy about a marriage for him, one Adrastus a Phrygian borne, and of the Kings blood there, who having slain his own brother against his will, was by his father Midas, the son of Gordius, (not that old Midas, the son of Gordias King of Phrygia, whose Epitaph made by Homer and set upon his tomb, Herodotus in the life of Homer recounteth) bannished, and came to Sardes, there to receive his expiation from Croesus his hand: Croesus having expiated or cleansed him, committed to him over and above, the care and charge of his son Atys; who at that time, was sent unto by the Mysians, and requested to come and help to kill a boar of a vast bigness, which wasted the corn and other country commodities growing about the hill Olympus, not without the destruction, many times, of the husbandmen themselves. Where Adrastus aiming at the boar with the point of his Spear, gored Arys, and so against his will slew him. But when Croesus had pardoned him the fact as done unawares, he slew himself upon the tomb of the diseased. Croesus having thus lost his son; passed two whole years in continual dueil, and mourning for him: from which yet he was forced in the end to rouse himself, for fear of Cyrus, his growing then into power; and by whom indeed, he was afterward despoiled of all, Herod. lib. 1. from the 34. chapter to the 46.] whereof also you may see, what Hen. Valesius in his collections out of [ Diodo. Sic. pa. 238. and what Val. Max. in his 1 book cap. 7.] saith.

Evil-merodach King of Babylon, [Year of the World 3444. c.] a man odious for his vicious life, [The Julian Period. 4454] had many attempts made upon him: [Year before Christ 560] and at last, was murdered by Neriglissoros his sisters husband, when he had reigned little more than two years: as Berosus tells us, [ lib. 3. of the Chaldean affairs, cited by Josephus lib. 1. contra Apion: ] and because we read that Jeconia King of Judah, had a daily stipend and allowance made him for his diet and entertainment by him, ad diem mortis suae, omnibus diebus vitae suae (i.) to the day of his death, all the days of his life, [Jer. 52. 34. 2 Reg. 25. 30.] therefore it is most probable, that Jeconia himself died also much about the time that Evil-merodach died.

After Evil-merodach, [Year of the World a.] came he that murdered him, Neriglissorus ( 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ) and reigned 4 years, [ Berosus ib. ]

In the kingdom also of Media, upon the decease of Astyages, [ Tob. 14. 17.] called Ahasuerus, succeeded his son Cyaxares, Cyrus his mothers brother: as Xenophon says, [ lib. 1. of the Institution of Cyrus: to wit, in the beginning of the first year of the 55 Olympade 31 years before the decease of Cyrus: which Cyaxares, Daniel calleth Darius the Mede, son of Ahasuerus.

The King of Babylon, [Year of the World 3445] not only raised his own subjects, [The Julian Period. 4755] but also solicited Croesus the King of Lydia with the Cappadocians, [Year before Christ 559] both sorts of Phrygians, Carians Paphlagonians, and Cilicians, on the West: and the very Indians on the East side of him, to join with him in arms against the Medes and Persians: telling them, that they were two great Nations, and now linked together by mutual affinity, and would, if not looked unto, and opposed in time, over-run, and bring in subjection all countries far and near. Whereupon Cyrus was by his father Cambyses, and the council of the kingdom, made General of the Persian army, and sent away into Media with 30000. soldiers, and one thousand Commanders, all of equal authority under him: as Xenophon, [ in his 1 book of the Institution of Cyrus says: ] and there, when he came, was he also made by his Uncle Cyaxares, who had sent for him, General of the Median Forces, and the management of the war against the Babylonians, wholly committed unto him. And from this time are the 30 years of his reign or principality reckoned, toward the end of the 1 year of the 55 Olympiad, from which period Julius Africanus in the third book of his Annals, out of Diodorus. Sic. Thallus, Castor, Polybius, Phlegon, and other Chronologers, counts the beginning of Cyrus his reign, and is to that purpose quoted and justified by Eusebius, [ in his 10 book de Praepara. Evangelica. ]

At the same time, to wit, in the Spring-season, in the close of the same year of the same olympiade, Solon, taking leave of Philocyprus the King, and of his Solians, thought to return to Athens: as we find by his elegies, mentioned as before in Plutarch; but being surprised with a sickness, he there took leave of them, and of all the world besides; and died in Cyprus, being fourscore years of age: as Laertius writeth, in the year when Hegestratus was Archon or President of Athens, in the second year of Pisistratus his domination there: as Plutarch relates out of Phanias the Ephesian.

In the 30 year after the desolation of Jerusalem, [Year of the World 3446. b.] the unknown author of the 4 book of Esdras, faines himself to have had that conference with the Angel Uriel: which is there set down [ Esdras 3. 1. and ca. 4. 1.] at what time Salathiel was Captain, or chief of the people, [ cap. 5. 16.] because Jeconia was then dead.

Croesus, preparing now against Cyrus, sent great presents to Delphi, and consulted the Oracle there concerning the issue of this war, 3 years before the taking of Sardes, [ Herod. lib. 1. ca. 53. 54, 55, 91.]

The King of Armenia, [Year of the World 3447] perceiving the Babylonian to make preparations against Cyaxares, [The Julian Period. 4157] would neither send him aid, [Year before Christ 557] nor pay him tribute any longer: contrary to agreement made, what time Astyages or Cyaxares had overcome and had him in his power. Whereupon Cyaxares, under color of a hunting voyage, fell into Armenia, where overcoming both him and his son Tigranes in a battle, he reduced them again to his subjection: he also possessed himself of the mountains, which lie between Armenia and Chaldea: and there building a strong Fort, made peace upon certain conditions, between the two nations, [ Xeno. lib. 3. de Instit. Cyri. ]

Cyaxares and Cyru, [Year of the World 3448] march against the Babylonian King and Croesus, [The Julian Period. 4158] and the rest of the confederates, [Year before Christ 557] and gain a main victory against them; the King of Babylon fell in the battle: Croesus, with those which were left, brake up his camp by night, and fled. Cyrus having made a league and amity with the Hircanians, who had fallen over to him from the Babylonian, using their help, and guidance in the way, pursued the enemy that was fled; overtook them, fought again with them, and again overthrew them; Croesus sending away his women by night, by reason of the heat by day, withdrew out of his camp, with all his horse. The Hyrcanians fell upon the companies of the Cappadocians and Arabians, and slew both their Kings. Cyrus, sparing the lives of such as either were taken by force, or had yielded to mercy, divided the spoil of the field among his soldiers, [ Herod. lib. 3. and 4.]

Laborosoarchodus ( 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ) son of Neriglissorus, a man far riper in wickedness than in age succeeded him in the kingdom of Babylon, and reigned 9 months, [ Berosus. ]

Balatorus ( 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ) reigned in Tyre, among other Judges one year, [ Phoenici. Annal. ]

Gobrias, (whose only son, that new king of Babylon, in his fathers life time, had in a hunting match, vilanously slain,) with his friends, revolted to Cyrus, [ Xen. l. 4.]

And now came Cyrus to invade the country of Babylon itself, and appeared before the walls of the city, and there challenged the new king, to a duel, or single combat, Gadatas, a noble man, and one, whom this new king had gelt, upon a jealousy he had of him with his wife, fell over to Cyrus, and Cyrus, when the Babylonians in revenge thereof, sallied out and spoiled his lands, set upon them, and routed them; But the Cadusii, whom Cyrus had appointed to bring up the rere of his army, making an on-set unawares of Cyrus, upon a country lying near the city, were cut off by the king of Babylon; who issued out upon them: and Cyrus having first revenged the death of these his men; came to agreement with the king, to hold truce with the Paisants or Plowmen on both sides, and the war to go on between the Soldiers only. And then, passing beyond the city, took in three forts of theirs, then returned to the confines of Assyria and Media, from whence he set forth upon this journey. And thither, upon his invitation, came his Uncle Cyaxares unto him; and was there by him honorably received and entertained in the pavilion of the king of Assyria that was, to wit Neriglossorus, and the winter approaching, they there entered into a consultation, for things necessary to maintain the siege, if need should be, [ Xenophon lib. 5. & 6. in the beginning thereof. ]

After Laborosoarchadus, [Year of the World 3449] Nebuchadnezzar's grandchild by his daughter, [The Julian Period. 4159] who was made away by his subjects, [Year before Christ 555] for that excess of vilany, which appeared in his actions, succeeded the grandchild of the same Nebuchadnezzar, by his son Evil-merodach, called by Berosus ( 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ) Nabonidus, but by Herodotus, Labynitus ( 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ) by Abydenus Mabannidochus, and by the prophet Daniel, Belshasar, all. Baltazar, who reigned 17 years, as Berosus in his third book of his Chaldee History, and Ptolomei in Can. Reg. tells us.

In the first year of this kings reign, Daniel had the vision shown him of the 4 beasts, signifying the 4 monarchies of the world, and of God, delivering over all power and sovereignity to the son of man, [ Dan. 7. 1.]

Balatorus, the petty king of Tyre deceasing; one Merbolus ( 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ) was sent for from Babylon, and reigned there 4 years, [ Phoenic. Annal. ]

In the 3 year of Belshaser; [Year of the World 3451] the vision of the Ram and Goat, [The Julian Period. 4161] foreshowing the destruction of the Persian Monarchy by Alexander, [Year before Christ 553] and the great misery which Antiochus should bring upon the people of God, was shown to Daniel, living then at Susa, in the province of Elam, upon the bank of the river Ulai, [ Dan. 8. 1, 2.] which river Environs the Castle of Susa, and parts the provinces of Susa and Elima • s, ( i.e. ) the Shushanchaeans from the Elamites, as the inhabitants of those two provinces are distinguished by [ Ezra 4. 9.] and as Pliny lib 6. c. 27. teacheth us, from whence we learn, that at this time the province of Susa, was not in the hands of the Medes or Persians, but of the Babylonians, under whom Daniel then lived, as I noted before in the year of the world, 3405.

Now Berosus tells us, [ in his third book of his Chaldee History, quoted by Josephus, lib. 1.] cont, Apion. ] that those walls about the river of the city of Babylon, (which were but begun by Nebuchadnezzar) were fully finished with brick, laid with a kind of slime, or liquid brimstone. For his mother Nicotris, a witty woman, foreseeing a storm ready to fall upon Babylon from the Medes, to hinder them in their passing the river by boats into Babylon, turned the river Euphrates, which of itself ran straight along, with a swift course, and drawing it through many winding channels, which she had cut for that purpose, made it withal to run more slowly than formerly it did; and then raised a huge damme upon each side of the river, and up the river from the city ward, digged a vast pond, into which she turned the river, so that she left the old channel of the river dry, which done, she then fell to work, and fenced the banks of the city within, with her brick walls, and the water-gates thereof, answerable in every point to the walls, which were made on the farther side of the channel, round about the city, she built also a bridge of stone in the midst of the city, and having all done, then she turned the river out of the pond, into his right channel again, [ Herod. lib. 1. cap. 185, 186, 188.] The magnificence of which stone-bridge (which joined to the kings houses, that stood on each side the river) Philostratus, in the life of Apollonius, [ lib. 1. cap. 18.] describing, saith, that it was built by a Queen; that came out of Media; whence we gather, that as Nebuchadnezzar himself took Amyitis himself, so likewise his son, Evil-merodach took to wife this Nicotris out of Media.

Merbalus deceasing, [Year of the World 3453] the king of Babylon set one Hirom ( 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ) Merbalus his brother in his place; [The Julian Period. 4163] who reigned there 20 years, [Year before Christ 551] [ Phoenic. Annal. ]

Darius the son of Hystaspes, [Year of the World 3455] was this year born; [The Julian Period. 4165] and was almost 20 years old, [Year before Christ 549] a little before Cyrus his death, [ Herod. lib. 1, cap. 209.]

Croesus, being made General of the confederate army of the Babylonians and others' passed the river Halys, which parted the dominions of Media and Lydia, without a bridge, by the skill, and industry of Thales the Milesian Philosopher, and came into Cappadocia: and there took the City of Pteria; and all the Cities thereabout, utterly destroying the Syrians, who had deserved no ill at his hand: for that the Cappadocia • s were called Syrians by the Grecians, is testified by Herodotus, [lib. 1. c. 72.] Cyrus, having first sent to the Ionians, to feel their pulse; and to try whether he could draw them over from Croesus or no, fought a pitched battle with Croesus, and it fell out to be a drawn battle between them; But the next day Croesus, because Cyrus came not on upon him, returned to Sardes; where he meant to hang up his sword for that winter, and the beginning of the next spring, to march against the Persian again. In the mean while, he sent all his Auxiliaries to their own homes▪ and employed Ambassadors to such as were in league and friendship with him, among whom were the Lacedemonians; giving order to all, to come to the Randezvouz at Sardes, upon the fifth month after: But when Croesus had thus sent away, and scattered his army, then fell Cyrus upon him with all his forces; upon which sudden and unexpected approach of his; Croesus, though much troubled, yet he went forth to fight with him, with such of his Lydians as he had about him, trusting principally in his troops of horse. Cyrus to cross him in that design, placed his camels in front against them; the very smell of which beast, a horse cannot endure; and therefore all the horse of Croesus presently turned tail, and carried their riders away with them; But the Lydians left their horses, and ranged themselves in battalion on foot: yet at last, many being slain on either side, they betook them to their heels: But the Persians pursuing the point of this their victory, followed them to Sardes; which after 14 days lying before it, they took. Croesus was condemned to the fire, but coming to the place of execution, and there crying out, O Solon, Solon, (whose wise counsel, concerning the instability of human condition he had formerly so much despised) Cyrus thereupon not only spared his life; but took him also into his privy counsel, Cyrus took care then of the funerals of Abradatos the king of Susa (who having fallen off from the king of Babylon to him, was slain in the battle) and of Panthea his Queen, who seeing her husband lying dead, slew herself over his dead body: and made them a huge and sumptuous monument, [ Herod, lib. 1. from the 75 cap. to the 90. with Xeno. Instit. lib. 7. The collections out of Diod. Sic. by Hen. Vales. p. 241. Plut. in the life of Solon. Polyan. in his stratag. lib. 7. in Cyrus and Croesus: and Solinus in Polyhist. lib. 1.] where he saith that Cyrus made his entry into Sardes, in the 28 Olympiad, to wit, in the 1 year thereof, as Eusebius hath it in Chron.

Croesu, sending his shackles for a present to Delphi, complained all in vain, that he had been cheated by the Oracle there, [ Herod. lib. 1. c. 90, 91.] When the men of Ionia and Eolia, would fain have submitted to Cyrus, upon the same conditions, that they had formerly lived in under Croesus, Cyrus refused them; granting that only to the milesians, who fearing what mightfall, had formerly made their peace with him, [ Herod. ib. c. 141. 143. 169.] The rest of the Greek Nations, fortifying each of them their own Cities, sent Pithermon of Phocea, with other Ambassadors, to the Lacedemonians, to crave aide of them: which though they refused to send, yet they sent their Ambassador Lachrines to Cyrus, to forewarn him not to touch any of the Greeks in Asia; and he sent them word again, that he would shortly make them leave off caring for the Ionians, and the rest of the Greeks in Asia, and look to themselves at home, [ Ibid. cap. 141. 152. 153.]

Thales the Milesian, gave them all advise to hold a Common Council at Teos, which was a City, seated in the very heart of Ionia, [ Herod. Ib. cap. 170.] whiles Cyrus remained at Sardes, and there made his provision of Ramms and other Instruments of battery, purposing to raze the walls of all that stood out against him, the Carions sent and craved his help to compose a war which was grown among themselves. He sent thither Adusius, a Persian, with an army, in which service, the Cilicians and Cyprians very willingly followed him. Adusius put an end to their difference, yet so, as he left sufficient garrisons of his own, in the Cities of either party, [ Xenoph. lib. 7. Instit. ]

In the 58 Olympiad, toward the end of the 1 year thereof, Thales the Milesian Philosopher, died, as Laertius reports out of Sosicrates, and Anaximander his countryman first observed the Loxodromie, or biassing motions of the stars, in the Zodiac, as Pliny, out of other authors says, [lib. 1. cap. 8.] though Plutarch in his 2 book, de Placitis Philosophorum, hath more rightly informed us that that point of Astronomy was not unknown to Thales the Milesian, Anaximanders master: And that he himself, in the 2 year of this Olympiad, at the age of 64 years, died, Laertius tells us, out of the Chronicle of Apollodotus the Athenian, of whose Mathematical inventions, he further addeth out of Phavorinus, that he first invented the making of the Dial, and set it up in Sparta, in a place, fit to receive the shadow of the sun; as, saith he, Phavorinus reporteth in his Varia Historia: adding further, that he also invented the Horoscopes; for the finding out the equinoctials and Salstices for the Dial, to find out the hour of the day by, is one thing, and the Horoscope, or instrument whereby to observe the Equinoctials, and the Tropics, or the summer and winter solstice, is another: though Pliny attributes the invention of the Dial and Clock to Anaximenes his scholar, and fellow citizen, [ lib. 2. ca. 76.] in these words; This rule and reason of shadows, which we use to call • nomonical, or Dial-work, was first found out by Anaximenes, Anaximander • scholar: and he was the first that set up a Sciathericum, (i.) a Dial to show what's a clock, in sparta: vid. sup. in the year of the World, 3291.

Anaximenes the son of Eurystratus succeeded Anaximander in his school at Miletus; as Clemens [ Alexandri. in his 1 book of his stromat. ] shows: but Pythagoras, when both his masters, Anaximander and Anaximenes were dead, went into Egypt; as Thales had advised him to do: being commended to Amasis King of Egypt, by a letter from Polycrates of Samos, as Laertius in his life reporteth: which Amasis, it seemeth, the Egyptians surnamed Semnesorteus. For that in his reign, Pythagoras came into Egypt; Pliny in his 36, book cap. 9. showeth: and there he continued 22 years, conversing with the Priests, and from them it was that he learned his skill and knowledge in Astronomy and Geometry; and was catechised or initiated in all their rites and ceremonies, as saith [ Iamblichus, in the life of Pythagoras, ca. 3. and 4.] for therefore also was he circumcised by them, that being admitted into the secrets of their religion, he might the more freely partake of the mystical philosophy of the Egyptians: in the attaining whereof, he was principally beholding to one Sonchedes, the Arch-prophet among them, [ Clem. Alexan. lib. 1. strom. ] This Sonchedes, I take to be him of Sais, with whom Solon had formerly much conversed, as Plutarch in his life reporteth. And from them it was, that Pythagoras learned his Metempsuchosis, or transmigration of souls out of one body into another, as Diodorus. Sic. reporteth: and being used to their books, and diving into their writings, concerning former times, he thence picked out the observations of innumerable by pastages, saith, [ Valer. Max. lib. 8. c. 7.]

Hystaspes and Adusius, joining together, conquered all Phrygia bordering upon the Hellespont; and took the King thereof, and brought him prisoner to Cyrus, [ Xenoph. Instit. lib. 7.]

Cyrus committing Sardes to the keeping of Tabalus a Persians borne, and delivering the treasure of Croesus, and the rest of the Lydians to Pactyas a Lydian borne, returned towards Ecbatan, and took Croesus along with him, little regarding how matters went in Ionia: but no sooner was Cyrus gone from Sardes, but Pactyas forthwith persuaded the Lydians to revolt from Cyrus, and from Tabolo, the Governor there; and laying out the Kings treasure, to hire soldiers from other parts, drave Tabolo into the Castle and there besieged him very straitly: whereof when Cyrus was advertised upon the way; by the advice of Croesus, he sent back Mazares a Median, with a part of his army; who disarming the Lydians, brought them to follow a more idle course of life, [ Herod. lib. 1. from the 153. to the 157. chap. ] and so a Nation formerly famous for laboriousness, power, and chivalry, falling into effeminancy and luxury, lost their courage, and all kind of virtue, as saith [ Justin. out of Trogus, lib 1. ca. 7.]

Mazares redemanded Pactyas of the Cumaeans, [Year of the World 3459] unto whom he was fled out of the Castle. [The Julian Period. 4169] The Cumaeans consulted the Oracle at Branchis, [Year before Christ 545] and received from thence an answer, That they should deliver him up: yet they not willing, either to give him up to be slain by the Persians (being much disuaded therefrom by Aristodicus the son of Heraclides, a man of great authority among them) or by keeping him, to draw Cyrus his displeasure upon their city to their own destruction, they sent him away safe to Mitylene▪ And when the Mitylenians were ready to give him up, the Cumaeans again sent a Ship to Lesbos and there took him in, and conveyed him to Chios: and the Chii drew him by force out of the temple of Minerva there, and delivered him up to Mazares: and had in reward therefore Atarneum a place in Mysia, lying over against Lesbos given them, [ Herod. lib. 1. from cha. 157. to cha. 160] though Plutarch seeks to justify both the Mitylenians and the Chii in this point, in his book, of the malignity of Herodotus, upon this ground, for that a more ancient Historian than he; to wit, Caron of Lampsacus, tells the matter simply in this wise. Pactyas hearing of the approach of the Persians Army, fled first to Mitylene. and then to Chios, and there Cyrus took him.

Mazares having gotten Pactyas into his power, marched presently against those, who with him, had assaulted Tabalas: and in part subdued the inhabitants of Priene, partly wasted the country lying upon the Maeander, and gave both it, and the city of Magne sia for a prey to his soldiers, [ Herod. lib. 1. ca. 161.]

Harpagus, [Year of the World 3461] who was a chief man about Cyrus, went with his army against Ionia, and fought with them ( as Eusebius in his Chron. upon the 2 year of the 59 Olympiad noteth) for Mazares dying of a disease, Harpagus (whom some erroneously call Harpalus) was made General in his place. And he coming into Ionia, fell presently to entrenching round about, and blocking up their cities where ever he came, and thereby took P • ocaea, the chief city of all Ionia, [ Herod. lib. 1. ca. 162.]

The Phoeaeans, abandoning the city, which they could not hold, shipt themselves, their wives and children, and put over into Chios: whence returning upon an occasion offered, to Phocaea, they there put to the sword all the garrison, which Harpagus had there left to keep it: and from thence set sails again, and came to the Isles of Oenu • ae; and from thence sailed to the Isle of Cyrnus, all. Corlica, where 20 years before they had made a plantation, and there bult a city called Alalia: where when they had staid five years, and made all the neighbouring countries weary of them, by their ro • bing and spoiling the Italians and Carthaginians, set out a navy of 60 ships, and had a sea fight with them; wherein the Phocaeans, having gotten the victory▪ but lost much blood in getting it, and 40 of their ship, removed themselves to Regium in Italy, and there built the city Hyela, afterward called Velia in the territory of Oenotria, [ Herod. lib. 1. cap. 164. 167.] Thucides also, [ lib. 7. of his history ] confirms it, that the Phocaeans, which built Marseillus, gave the Carthaginians an overthrow at sea, for, that one part of them built Velia, and another Marseilles, in the time of Servius Tullus king of the Romans, more than 600 years after the coming of Aeneas into Italy, is testified by Hyginus, quoted by A. Gellius [lib. 10. Noct. Attica, cap. 6.] and of this colony of the Marseillians, Isocrates also in his Archidamus maketh mention; see before in the year of the world, 3404.

But to return to Harpagus, the Teians also, when he had untrencht himself round about their city, got them on shipboard, and sailed away into Thrace, and there built them a city called Abdera, the foundations of Timesius, a man of Clozomenae had laid, as was noted before, in the year of the world, 3349. But the rest of the Ionians, all save the Milesians, who had beforehand made a league with Cyrus, being vanquished one after another, fell into Harpagus his hand, and being suffered to live every man in his own country, paid what was imposed upon them, [ Herod. lib. 1. cap. 168, 169.] yet Bias of Priene, chief of all the wise men of Greece, when, though thus afflicted, they would needs assemble in their old Common Council of Ionia, called Panionium, counseled them, that they should rather make a common navy, and sail away, to Sardinia, and there make a common city for all Ionians to inhabit in, for, saith he, by this means, you shall be free from this slavery, and live happily, [ Herod. lib. 1. cap. 170.]

Cyrus, [Year of the World 2494. c.] when he had now brought into his subjection, [The Julian Period. 4174] all the continent westward, [Year before Christ 540] forthwith made war upon the Assyrians; and marched with his army, against Labynitus, all. Nabonidus their king, [ Herod. lib. 1. cap. 178, 188.] whereof a fame was spread, and came to the Babylonians ears, two full years before the city was besieged, [ Jer. 51. 46.] for when Cyrus was upon his march toward Babylon, he came to the river G • ides, which falls into the Tigris, which for want of boats, he could not pass. And while he stayed there, one of the white horses, which were consecrate to the son, going into the river, was there by the violence of the river swallowed up, and drowned, which Cyrus, taking very grievously, surceased his journey for Babylon, for that time, and fell to work upon the river, which he drew out into 360 several channels, so that, (as he had threatened to make it) a woman might pass over it, and never wet a knee in it: in which work, he spent all that summer, [ Herod. lib. 1. cap. 189, 190, 202. with the fifth book, cap. 52.]

In the year following, [Year of the World 3465 b.] Cyrus went on his way to Babylon; [The Julian Period. 4175] where, in a pitch field, [Year before Christ 539] fought between these two great Lord's of the world, Cyrus and Belshasur, or Nabonidus: the Chaldeans being put to the worst, retired to the city, resolved to endure a siege, [ Herod. lib. 1. cap. 130. Jerem. 51, 27, 28, 30.] which they made light of; both because they had above 20 years provision in it, and also because they thought there were many in Cyrus his army, who bare more good will to them, than to the Persians, [ Herod. lib. Xenophon. Instit. lib. 7.]

Cyrus caused presently a vast trench, both for breadth and depth, to be cast round about the wall of the city, casting up the earth ever toward his own army, and making store of bulworks all along; for guards to be upon, and dividing his whole army into twelve parts, ordered, that every of them, should watch his month by turn, [ Xenophon. ib. ]

Cyrus, [Year of the World 3406. b.] when he had spent much time in this work to little purpose, [The Julian Period. 4176] at last, [Year before Christ 538] drew a ditch from the river to that vast pond, which was every way 3 or 4 hundred furlongs wide, which this Belshasars mother Nicotris, had formerly digged; as I shown before: and then opening the mouths of this and that other ditch, which he had newly cast about the city, let out the river into them, and so made the channel thereof, which was not above two furlongs broad, passable for his men. [ Herod. lib. 1. cap. 190, 1901. Xenophon Institut. lib. 7. with Jeremy 59. 32. 36.]

Cyrus passing now the river with his army, guards up the water-gates, and scaling every where the rampiers, got into the city, upon a festival day, whiles all men there, were busied in their banquets, [ Id. ib. with Jerem 51. 39, 57.] And so vastly big was that city, that, as the inhabitants reported, when the skirts of it were surprised, and taken by the enemy, they who dwelt in the heart of the city, never heard thereof, [ Herod. lib. 1. cap. 191.] to which that of that Jeremy, 51. 31. hath reference, where he saith, that post upon post, and messenger upon messenger shall run to tell the king of Babylon, that all the skirts of the city were possessed by the enemies.

At the same time, Belshasar purposing to feast all his nobles, caused to be brought froth all the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar his father, or grand-father (for that he was his sons son, may be gathered out of Jer. 27. 7.) had brought away from Jerusalem, to the glory of his Idols, and dishonor of the true God: and God, on the other side, by sending a hand to write upon the wall of the room, where Belshazzar fate, drinking, the number of years which the Babylonish Empire was to continue, and that it had been now weighed in the balance, and was found too light; and was therefore to be transferred to, and settled upon the Medes: evidently declared, what present destruction was to fall upon him. But when his wizards of Chaldea, could not read the writing; his Queen advised him to send for Daniel; who, when he came, both red the writing, and also gave him the interpretation of it, and for his pains, was publicly proclaimed, the third man in the kingdom, [ Dan. 5.] But whereas the kings wives are said to have been present at the banquet, [ verse. 2. 3.] and the Queen to have come in afterward, [ verse 10.] this is to be understood of the Queen-mother, Nicotris, for that she was the mother of this last king of Babylon, we have already shown out of Herodotus.

In the same night, that this banquet was made, was Belshasar the king of the Chaldeans slain, [ Dan. 5. 30.] by the soldiers of Gobryas, and Ga • atas, [ Xen. lib. 7. Instit. ] and so the Babylonish kingdom came to an end, as had been sundry times foretold; as by Isaiah, [chap. 13, 14, 21, 34, 46, 47. Habakkuk, chap. 2. and Jerem. cap. 25. 50, 51.] and the Empire translated to the Medes and Persians, [ Daniel 5. 21. chap. 6. 8. 12, 15.]

Darius the Mede, son of Ahasuerus, all. Cyaxares, the son of Astyages, took upon him the kingdom, delivered to him by Cyrus the conquerer, [ Dan. 5. 51. and chap. 9. 1.] for whom Cyrus had set apart the kings house, and all his palaces in Babylon, to the end, that if upon occasion he should come thither, he might have a Palace of his own to lodge in, [ Xenophon. Instit. lib. 8.] and the Angel, in this first year of his reign, is said to have confirmed and strengthened him in his kingdom, [ Dan. 11. 1.] after which he reigned 2 years.

Cyrus, having set all things in order at Babylon, returned through Media into Persia, to his father Cambyses, and Mandana his mother, who were yet living, and from thence, returning again into Media, married the only daughter and heir of Cyaxares, and for dowry had the whole kingdom of Media, given him with her: and, the marriage finished, he presently went his way, and took her with him: and coming to Babylon; from thence sent Governors into all his Dominions; Megabyzus into Arabia, Artacaman into Phrygia the greater, Chrysantas into Lydia and Ionia, Adusius into Caria, Pharmichas into Phrygia Hellespontiaca, all. the less; but into Silicia and Cyprus, and Paphlagonia, he sent no Persians to govern them; because they seemed voluntary, and of their own accord to have taken his part against the king of Babylon: yet he made even them also to pay him tribute, [ Xen. Instit. lib. 8.]

Now all the countries, which he subdued by the forces of Media, of which himself was General, Cyrus ever professed that he laid them to the dominions of Cyaxares, [ Xen. l. 5.] and therefore it is most likely that at the former meeting in Council, he made that distribution of the Governments by his advise, for as Xenophon [ lib. 8.] saith of Cyrus, It seemed good unto him, to set Governors over all the Nations which he had subdued: So the Prophet Daniel, who, as it seemeth, went at this time with Cyrus from Babylon into Media, saith of Cyaxares, It seemed good to Darius, to set over the kingdom, 120 Governors, that they should be over all the Kingdom, [Dan. 6. 1.] yet over all the Governors he made three Over-seers, the principal of which was this Daniel: whereupon it was that the rest, stirred up by a spirit of envy against him, put into the kings head, to make a Decree, that for 30 days space, no Petition should be made to any God or man, but to himself only: which Decree, when Daniel had broke, by making his prayer unto God; he was cast into the Lions den; and thence delivered without hurt done at all unto him: and then Darius, having cast those plotters against Daniel into the same Lions den, published that memorable Decree through all his dominions, that every man therein, should reverence, and stand in awe of Daniel's God, [ Dan. 6.]

Toward the end of the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede, [Year of the World 3467] to be reckoned from the subversion of the Babylonish Empire, [The Julian Period. 4177] began the 70 year of the Babylonish captivity of the Jews, [Year before Christ 537] which began under Jehoiakim, in the first year of Nebuchadnesar, which was the last of those years of their calamity specified by [ Jer. 29. 10.] Thus saith the Lord, when the 70 years shall begin to be finished in Babylon, then will I visit you, and perform that my good word unto you, and will bring you again to this place, and when you shall call upon me to depart from thence, and when you shall pray unto me, then will I hear you. Upon consideration of which very time, now so near approaching, it was that Daniel poured out that most fervent prayer, for the remission of his own sins, and of his people's; and for that promised deliverance out of their captivity: whereupon the Angel Gabriel brought him an answer, not only for this, but also concerning the spiritual deliverance of the Church, to be wrought at last by the death of the Messias, uttering that most famous and memorable prophecy of the 70 weeks, [ Dan. 9. 12, &c.]

Cyrus having spent one whole year with his wife in Babylon, gathered thither his whole army, in which there are said to have been counted, one hundred and twenty thousand horse, two thousand iron Chariots, and six hundred thousand foot Soldiers; which having furnished with all necessary provisions, he undertook that voyage, wherein he is said to have subdued all Nations, inhabiting from Syria to the red Sea, [ Xenophon, Instit. lib. 8.]

Cyrus, [Year of the World 3468. a.] his father Cambyses being now dead in Persia, [The Julian Period. 4178] Cyaxares in Media, [Year before Christ 536] held all the Empire or Monarchy of the East in his own hand: from which year, both Xenophon, 8. Inst. reckons the 7 years of his reign, and the holy Scripture, out of the Records of the Medes and Persians, reckoneth this first year: for it teacheth us, that in this year came forth that renowned Edict of his; Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, Into my hand hath God given all the kingdoms of the earth: in which year, the 70 years of the Babylonish captivity (foretold by Jeremiah, and according to the prophesy of Isaiah uttered of him by name, c. 44. 28. and 45. 13.) being now expired, he gave leave to all the Jews, dwelling wheresoever in his dominions, to return into their own country, and commanded such as did return, to fall in hand with the re-edifying of the Temple of God; prescribing, or rather at their request, granting to them a power to build it to such a bigness; which had he prescribed, and they (as needs they then must) observed the frame thereof had been far greater, than that of Solomon's was; which now it was not, [ Haggai, 2. 3.] And he allowed the charge thereof, out of the kings treasure, and restored all the vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from thence, [2 Chron. 36. 22, 23. Ezra, 1. 1, 2, 7. and 5. 13, 14. and 6. 2, 5.]

Of the Jews therefore which returned to Jerusalem, Cyrus made Sehoafar the Captain, or his Lieutenant, and into his hands did Methridates the Treasurer, by Cyrus his command, consigne all the vessels belonging to the Temple, to be carried to Jerusalem, [ Ezra. 1. 7, 11. and 5. 14, 15.] Now that his Chaldee name, or that by which he went in Court, was in Hebrew, Zerubbabel; appears out of [ Ezra 3. 8, 10. compared with chap. 5. 16.]

The Jews thefore prepare for their return into their country, [Year of the World c.] the poorer sort, have allowance made them to defray their charges upon the way, [ Ezra 1. 5, 6.] Now the number of the children of the province, or poor people of the Hebrews, born in Chaldea, which with their Captain Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, all. Salathiel, and their high priest, Jehu, all. Jusua, the son of Josadak, returned out of that captivity, amounted to 42360. besides proselytes, man-servants, and maid-servants, to the number of 7337. [ Ezra 2. 1. Nehem. 6. 67, and c. 12. 1. 9.] Now the particular sums cast up in Ezra, make only 298, 8. and in Nehemiah, 31031. neither of which make up the full sum of 42360. and yet either of them, in the foot of each of the cathologues, of 42360. is said to have been the number of the whole congregation, [Ezra 1. 64. and Nehem. 7. 66.] wherefore to make up the full sum of 42360. the Hebrews in their great Chron. tells us, that we must cast in those of the other tribes of Israel, which came up out of the captivity with the Jews. For even at the last extirpation of the Jewish state, there was a remainder, of the other ten tribes, [ Acts 26. 7.] not only of the dispersion. [James 1. 1.] and at Jerusalem, [2 Chron. 9. 3. Luke 2. 36.] and other cities of Judah, [2 Chron. 11. 16. with c. 31. 6.] but also of those who kept still upon their old lands; for Shalmaneser swept not all away out of all the tribes, as I shown before in the year of the world, 3227. out of the History of Josiah: but he left a remnant of them, in their own country, which was afterward, together with the Jews, and Benjamites, and Levites, carried away by Nebuchadnezzar unto Babylon, and were now dismissed and sent back again by Cyrus. After which, as in the first year of Cyrus, all the Israelites, are said to have dwelt in their own cities, [ Ezra 2. 70.] so in the sixth year of Darius, they are said to have been present, at the dedication of the Temple, and to have offered there 12 he Goats for the sin of all Israel, [Ezra 6. 16, 17.] and when Christ preached the Gospel in Galilee, [ Matth. 14. 14.] that prophecy of Isaiah, is said to have been fulfilled of the people of Zebulon and Nephthaly, who saw a great light.

The chief men of their fathers families, coming to Jerusalem, offered every man according to his ability, toward the restauration of the Temple, to the sum in all of 61000 drachmahs of gold; and 5000 pounds of silver, and 100. Priests robes; and both priests and Levites, and the rest of the people, dwelt every man in his own city, [ Ez. 2. 68, 69▪ 70.]

On the first day of the seventh month, [Year of the World 3469. a.] in the feast of trumpets, the Israelites came all as one man out of their several cities to Jerusalem, and there built the altar, and every morning, and every evening offered the daily sacrifice unto God, and upon the 15 day of the same month, kept the feast of Tabernacles, and moreover, provided for materials and workmen toward the building of the Temple, as Cyrus had given them leave to do, [ Ezra 3. 1, 7.]

In the second year after their return from Babylon, [Year of the World c.] in the 2 month (called Jair) they appointed Levites to oversee the work of the House of God; [The Julian Period. 4179] and laid the foundation of the Temple, [Year before Christ 535] with the great lamentation of the old men, who 53 years before had seen the old Temple standing; but with the great rejoicing of the younger sort who saw the new one now going up, [ Ezra 3. 8, 13.]

The Cuthaeans, the old enemies of the Jews, who had heretofore been planted in Samaria by Esarchaddon, cunningly offered to join with them in the building of the Temple; but being refused, they crossed the Jews all they could in the work, and discouraged the people from proceeding therein, [ Ezra 4. 1, 4.]

This was the first sabbatical year, [Year of the World 3470. a.] kept by the Jews, after their return from the captivity of Babylon.

The Samaritans, [The Julian Period. 4180] by the means of certain Courtiers about Cyrus, [Year before Christ 534] whom they had bribed for that purpose, disturb the Jews in their work of the Temple, [ Ez. 4. 5.] from whence, as it seemeth, proceeded that 3 weeks mourning of the Prophet Daniel: In which, he continued his fasting, which was begun about the 3 day of the 1 month, in the 3 year of Cyrus, thorough all the time of the feast of Easter, [ Dan. 10. 1, 4.] after which, upon the 24 day of the 1 month, that vision of the Kings of Persia, of Alexander the great, and his successors, and their kingdoms was shown and revealed unto Daniel, as he stood upon the bank of Hiddikel, or the River Tigris: all which is contained in the 3 last Chapters of Daniel: which as may be collected out of the close thereof, was the last vision that ever he had, and that but a little before his death.

Amasis, [Year of the World 3473] as it seemeth, [The Julian Period. 4183] fell off from Cyrus; [Year before Christ 531] and the people of Egypt carried away formerly by Nebuchadnesar, after 40 years completed there, were now sent back again, by Cyrus into their own country: and so were they restored to their old kingdom, in the later end of Amasis his days: a kingdom old and ancient indeed, but the meanest of all others, and of no long continuance in one stay, [ Ezek. 29. 11, 16. Jer. 46. 26.] For that Cyrus had Egypt in his possession appears, both by Xenophon, [ 8. Instit. Cyr. ] as also in the Prologue to his whole work: and that it was afterward subdued by his son Cambyses, all Authors agree; from whence we gather, that in the intermediate time, they enjoyed their own liberty.

But by this occasion of Amasis his revolt from Cyrus, perchance also it came to pass, that when Hirom had stood King of Tyrus full twenty years, (who was the last King mentioned by Josephus, in his Catalogue of them) he was put out, and instead of men of their own country, such as hitherto they had been governed by, as the Egyptians had been by Amasis (for the very Punic names of those Kings, show them all to have been of the same country) they had Governors set over them of other nations.

Cyrus being now 70 years of age dies, [Year of the World 3475] having lived from the time that he was first made General of the Median and Persian armies, [The Julian Period. 4189] full 30. years: and after the taking of Babylon, [Year before Christ 529] 9 years, and after his full Monarchy, 7 years, and one or two months over. Of the manner of his death, Authors much differ, Herod. [lib. 1. ca. 214.] Justin out of Trogus [ lib. 1. c. 8.] and Valer. Max. [ lib. 9. c. 10.] say that he was slain in a fight, against the Massagetae or Scythians: and that his head was severed from his shoulders by Tomyris their Queen, and by her thrown into a tub full of blood, and he bid there to satiate himself with blood, which he had so much thirsted after in his life time. Diod. Sic. lib. 2. says, that when she had taken him prisoner, she crucified him, Ctesias [lib. 11.] saith, that in a battle against the Derbicans, a people bordering upon Hircania, being himself wounded in the thigh by a certain Indian, he slew Amorraeus their King, and his two sons; and 3 days after died himself. Johannes Malela of Antioch, out of a forged book, attributted to Pythagoras of Samos, says, that he was slain in a Sea-fight, against the Samiaens. But [ Xeno. Instit. lib. 8.] reports that he died his own death quietly, in his own country of Persia; adding among many other things, that he gave order to his sons, that they should wrap his body neither in gold nor silver, but in plain moulds, and bury him out of the way: yet that they should call all his friends, Persians and others to his Monument; and having there presented them with what ever was fit to be given them at the Funeral of a fortunate man, should so dismiss them: but that his tomb was made him at Pasarges, is delivered by those who wrote the noble Acts of Alexander the great, as Curtius, Plutarch, Arrianus, and by Aristobulu • , whom Alexander sent expressly to see it cited to this very purpose by Strabo [lib. 5.] of his Cosmographie, where he recites also this inscription found upon his tomb; O man, I am Cyrus, who founded the Persian Monarchy, and was King of Asia; and therefore every me not that I have a Monument. As for that Greek Epitaph, upon him written, if any man will believe it, in Persian characters, reported also by the same Strabo, out of Onesicritus,

Cyrus left his kingdom to his eldest son Cambyses, and to his younger son, Tanaoxaras, all. Tanyoxarcas, whom Herodotus calls Smerdis, Justin out of Trogus calls Mergis; he left, as Ctesias says, the seignories or Commanderies, of Bactria, Choromnea, Parthia and Caramania, but as Xenophon, [ Instit. lib. 8.] of the Medes, Armenians, and Cadusians.

In the entrance of the kingdom of Ahasuerus (for by that name is Cambyses known in the language of the Scriptures) the Samaritans, who had hitherto sought secretly to undermine the Israelites, now openly framed a direct information in writing to the king against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, [ Ez. 4. 6.] for they knew very well, what difference there was between the father and the sons nature and disposition; for that Cyrus was naturally kind and loving to those that were under him, and the other furious by nature, and sudden in his resolutions, as Diod. Sic. rightly observeth of him, in his Excerpta, published by Hen. Valesius, [ p. 238, 249.] with Herodotus: [ l. 3. c. 89.] [Year of the World 3477. a.]

This was the 2 Sabbatical year held by the Jews after their return from Babylon. [The Julian Period. 4186] [Year before Christ 528]

Cambapheus an Eunuch, [Year of the World 3478] who could do all in all with the king of Egypt, [The Julian Period. 4188] by the means of his cousin germane, [Year before Christ 526] Isabat an Eunuch likewise, who could do also as much with Cambyses king of Persia, betrayed the bridges, passages and other things to the Persian, upon promise made him, that he for his pains, should have the Government of Egypt, conferred upon him, [ Ctes. lib. 3. Persicorum. ]

In pursuance whereof, Cambyses gathered an army: whereof his land companies consisted, as of sundry other Nations, so among them, of Grecians, out of Ionia and Eolia in Asia; but his sea forces principally of Sidonians and Cyprians, who had freely submitted to him; Polycrates also, the king or tyrant of Samos, furnished him with 40 sail of ships, all men of war, and into them he put all such as he suspected for enemies at home, desiring Cambyses that he would spend them there, and never send them home again, [ Herod. lib. 3. c. 1. 19. 44.]

Phanes of Halicarnassus, a chief man among the aides of Egypt; and well versed in their affairs, but one that bare a hate to Amasis, seeing Cambyses preparing war against Egypt, fled over to him: and disclosed to him many secrets of the land of Egypt, and finding Cambyses much troubled how he should pass through the deserts that lay in his way, for want of water, advised him to send to the king of Arabia, to obtain leave to pass through his country; [ Id. ib. cap. 4. & 7.] for against his will, there was no passing for him, to the borders of Egypt, [ Ib. c. 88.]

The king of Arabia, [Year of the World 3479. b.] making a league with Cambyses, [The Julian Period. 4189] by the messengers that were sent unto him, [Year before Christ 525] sent all his camels loden with borachoes or lethren bags full of water to the places by which Cambyses with his army was to pass, and there attended his coming, [ Id. ib. c. 9.]

Cambyses coming with his army into Egypt, found Amasis newly dead, when he had • eigned 44 years, [ Id. ib. c. 9. & 10.] Diod. Sic. lib. 1. Biblioth. tells us, that he died, when Cambyses began his war in Egypt, in the later end of the 3 year of the 63 Olympiad; after whom, his son Psammenitus, (whom Ctesias calleth Amyrteus) reigned 6 months, [ • erod. l. 3. c. 14.] in whose reign it rained at Thebes, which in the upper parts of Egypt 〈◊〉 taken for a great prodigy, [ Id. c. 10.]

The Persians, having passed those sandy dry deserts of Arabia, sat down upon the edge of Egypt, [ Ib. c. 11.]

But Cambyses coming at last to besiege Pelusium, caused cats and dogs, and sheep, and •• rds called Ibides, and all kinds of living creatures, which the Egyptians worship for • ods, to be placed in the front of his army; whereat the Egyptiants being troubled, for f •• r of hurting their own gods, forbare shooting at the enemy, and so Cambyses taking •• lusium, got an entrance into, and a footing in Egypt, [ Polyenus in the 7 book of Stratag. ]

They that came to assist the Egyptians, as the Grecians and Carians, in hatred of Pha • es who had been a chief instrument in conducting this foreign army into Egypt, slew his so • s, whom he had there left, before his eyes, and drinking up their blood, fell a skirmishing with him, [ Her. l. 3. c. 11.]

After a sharp encounter, where in many were slain on either side, the Egyptians fled; [ Id. ib. ]

Cambyses, sent a Persian Herald up the river in a ship of Mitylene, to Memphis, whither the Egyptians in great disorder and confusion were fled, to exhort them to render themselves; but the men of the city sallied out upon the ship, took hir, brake or burnt hir, and having cut all the men in her, into gobbits, brought them into the city; and afterward endured the siege for some short time, [ Id. lib. 3. c. 13.]

Arcesilaus, son of Battus the Lame, and of Pheretima his wife; yielded up Cyrene to Cambyses, and submitted to pay him tribute, [ Id. l. 4. c. 165.] for they of Cyrene, and the Barcei, and the Lybians, bordering upon Egypt, terrified with his success against their neighbors the Egyptians, rendered themselves unto him, and sent their presents to Cambyses and Cambyses took what came from the Lybians graciously, and in good part, but those of the Cyrenians, not so, because they were so small, for they sent him only five hundred pounds, which he took, and threw among the Soldiers, [ Id. lib. 3. cap. 13. and cap. 91.]

Ten days after he had taken the walls of Memphis, he had thought to try the patience of Psammenites, whom in contempt of him, he had with other Egyptians, committed to prison, in the suburbs of the city, sending his daughter with other maidens of the prime nobility of Egypt, with pitchers on their arms to the river, to fetch him water, and sending his young son, with two thousand more of the same age, and all principal noble men's sons with ropes about their necks, and bridles in their mouths, to be shamefulput to death: all which was done, in revenge of those Mitylenians, whom being sent in a ship to Memphis, they had murdered the kings Judges, having so ordered, that for every Mitylenian then slain, ten of the chief of the Egyptians should be put to death, and among them, in the first place, Psammenites his own son, whom Cambyses would have saved, but, when it was too late. But the father himself lived afterward with Cambyses, without violence, or other wrong done too his person: till at last, being convicted of stirring up the people to a new rebellion, he drank bulls blood, and died, [ Herod. lib. 3. cap. 14, 15.] though Ctesias says, that he was sent away prisoner, to live in Susa.

Cambyses marching from Memphis, came with his army before the city Sais; where coming into the palace of Amasis; against whom he undertook this war, he caused his body to be hailed out of his vault, and to be brought before him, and causing his carcase to be whipt with scourges, and all kind of reproach, and coutumely to be used upon it, then caused it to be consumed with fire, [ Herod. lib. 3. cap. 16. and Diod. Sic, in his Excerpta; published by Hen. Valesius, pag. 249,]

Cambyses having thus conquered Egypt, in the 5 year of his monarchy; he reigned in it 3 years, [ Jul. African. and Euseb. in Chronic. Graec. pag. 17.] having slain fifty thousand of the Egyptians in fight, and sent a way seven thousand of them prisoners to Susa, [ Ctes. ]

Iamblicus reporteth, that Pythagorus was among the rest then also taken and sent away to Babylon, where he conversed with the Chaldeans, [ Iambli. in his Life, ] and another writer of his life, namely Malchus, all. Paphyrius, saith, that at Babylon, he not only conversed with the other Chaldeans, but applied himself also to Zabratus, and that he was by him purified and cleansed from the sins of his former life. This Zabratus is thought by some, to have been that Nazaratus of Assyria, whom Alexander, (Polyhistor I think) in his book of Pythagoricall opinions, makes to have been Pythagoras his master, and some others mistaking the matter, judge to have been the prophet Ezekiel, as Clement of Alexandria, [ lib. 1. Strom. ] relateth. But this showeth, that he did converse with the wise-men of the Jews in Babylon, for that he made use of many of their opinions afterwards, in the course of his Philosophy, as Hermippus, in his first book of Pythagoras, quoted by Josephus (lib. 1. cont Apion.) and in his first book of Law-makers, cited by Origen, ( lib. 1. cont. Celsum. ) reporteth, And no less doth Aristobulus the Jew, a Peripatetic Philosopher, in his first book to Phylometor, as we find in Clemens of Alex. lib. 1. Strom. ) and as Euseb. (lib. 13. Praepar. Evangel. ) affirms; and upon the same ground believes, that the books of Moses were translated into Greek, before the Persian Monarchy began: whereas it is far more likely, that he gat that part of his learning and knowledge, by conversing with the Jews in Babylon; for that Pythagorus had familiarity and discourse with them also, appeareth by Pyrphier in his Life, out of Diogenes, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ( i. e.) of the incredible relation made of Thule.

Cambyses also was about to prepare a navy, [Year of the World 3480] to go against the Carthaginians: [The Julian Period. 4190] but gave it off, [Year before Christ 524] for that the Sidonians, upon whom he was most to rely, for that kind of service, refused to go against their own Colony and kindred: mean while, he sent for some of the Itchthyophagites, from the city Elephantina; who of all others in those parts, were most versed in the Ethypian language; and sent them for so many spies, to the Ethyopians called Macrobi • ; because they are generally very long lived, and inhabit, the lower parts of Africa, bordering upon the southern sea; yet under color of carrying presents to their king, and to see The Table of the Sun. The king of Ethiopia in the presence of those, whether Ambassadors or spies, took his bow, and bent it; and then unbent it again, and so gave it them, to carry it to Cambyses, and bad them tell him, that when his Persians should be able so easily to bend such bows as those, he should then, and not before begin to get him an excessive great army, and come fight with the long lived Ethiopians, [ Herod. lib. 3. from chap. 17. to chap. 25.]

Smerdis, all. Tanyoxarces, Cambyses his full Brother, assaying to bend this bow, came within two fingers breadth of the noch, which none other of all the Persians could do, for very envy whereof, Cambyses presently dismissed, and sent him away into Persia. [ Herod. lib. 3. cap. 30.]

Cambyses in a rage, gave order out of hand for a voyage into Ethiopia; without provision made of corn, or other victual: nor re-counting with himself, that he was to go to the furthest end, as it were of the world, but like a bedlam-man, so soon as he had heard what his • chthyophagites had said, marched away instantly with all his own foot, commanding the Grecians to stay behind, [ Id. ib. cap. 24.]

When he was come as far as Thebes in Egypt, he there culled out about 50 thousand men of his army, and sent them to rob first, and then to burn the Temple of Jupiter Ammon, and to make slaves of all the inhabitants of the place: but himself marched forward towards Ethiopia, [ Id. ib. Diodorus. Sic. in his Excerpta, published by Hen. Vales. pag. 249.]

In that voyage, Cambyses subdued the Ethiopians, which bordered upon the lower parts of Egypt, which inhabit the city Nisa, and keep holy-days to Bacchus, [ Herod. lib. 3. c. 97.] and there, unto Saba the chief house or palace, of the king of the Ethiopians, and the Island wherein it stood, he gave the name of Meroes, in memory of Meroe, who was both wife and sister to him. [ Strabo. lib. 17. of his Geogr. Josephus. l. 2. Antiq. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . all. cap. 10.] for she accompanied him into Egypt, and there died, and her he had married, a thing strange, and never heard of before in Persia, and not long after, he married his elder sister also, [ Herod. lib. 3. cap. 31.] called Atossa; who after his death was married also, to Magus, and after him to Darius Hystasphis, [ Ib. cap. 68. and 88.]

The army which went from Thebes against the Ammonians, having travelled seven days journey over the sands, came at length to the city, Oasis, (which city was inhabited by those Samians, which were of the Escrionian tribe) and from thence, to a country called B • atorum insula, (i. e.) the Islle of the happy ones, and as they marched from thence, over the sandy plains, and were at dinner, in the mid-way between Oasis, and Ammonia, it is said, that there arose, a mighty strong wind out of the South, which brought those moveable sands upon them, and overwhelmed them all. [ Herod. lib. 3. cap. 26. Just. lib. 1. cap. 9.] Plutarch in the life of Alexander, saith, that there were 50 thousand men lost in the land, that time, ( i. e. ) that the whole army that went, every man of them were drowned in that deludge of quick-sands.

As for the Army which went forward with him against the Ethiopians, they had not gone five days march, but all provisions fa • l'd them: and a little after they had no horses left them to eat, and when still they went on, and came to the sands, they were then fain to cast lots, and to eat up one another, which when cambyses saw, he returned, and came back to Thebes, having spent a multitude of his army, [ Herod. lib. 3. cap. 25. Seneca, lib. 2. cap. 30.] of his natural questions, of whom Lucan also speaking, saith,

Cambyses returning to Memphis, discharged his Grecians; and shipt them there to be gone, [ Herod. lib. 3. cap. 25.] But when he there saw the Egyptians keeping holy-day, because their god Apis had appeared to them, he conceiving they had done it for joy of his disastarous voyage, sent for Apis to be brought unto him, and ran his own sword into him, commanding all his priests to be scourged with whips, and the rest of the Egyptians, which were found keeping holy-day, to be slain by his soldiers. Apis being so wounded by him, pined away in the Temple, and died, and the priests took the body of the beast, and secretly buried it, [ Herod. lib. 3. cap. 27, 28, 29.]

For this cause, the Egyptians say, that Cambyses, being not otherwise overwell in his wits, fell stark mad; which appeared first in causing his own brother to be killed: for having sent him away, formerly into Persia, (as was said before) he now dreampt, that a messenger came to him from thence, who told him, that Smerdis; fitting in the regal throne, touched the Heavens with his head: wherefore being astonished with this dream, he forthwith dispatched away Prexaspes, who was most intimate with him of all the Persians, to kill his brother Smerdis, and he accordingly coming to Susa, caused him to be murdered, having drawn him forth, as some say, upon a hunting match: but as others report, that having toaled him along, as far as the Red-sea; he there threw him in, and drowned him, [ Ib. cap. 30. and 36.] But Justin out of Trogus, lib. 1. cap. 9. saith, that this charge was committed to Cometes, one of the Magi, and that he murdered not this Merges, for by that name Smerdes goes in him (until after Cambyses was dead; Ctesias, purposely (as his manner was) dissenting from Herodotus tells us a quite other tale; That Spendahates, one of the Magi, having been scourged by Tanyaxares, that is, by this Smerdis his command, accused him to Cambyses, of seeking to make himself king; And that by the advise of this Spendahates, he was sent for out of Bactria into Egypt, and was there made to drink Bulls blood, and thereof died; and that he himself was sent back into Bactria, and there, because he was in all lineaments of face and body, very like unto him, ruled all, as if he had been very Tan • oxarces, or Smerdis himself.

After Harpagus, [Year of the World 3481] Oroetes a Persian born, [The Julian Period. 4191] being made Governor of Sardes, [Year before Christ 523] and of all the Provinces of Lydia, Ionia, and Phrygia, by Cyrus, is said to have sent a messenger to Polycrates of Samos, to ask him about a certain matter; and that Polycrates then happening to be lying upon his bed in his chamber (Anacreon the Teian, that excellent Lyric. Poet of Ionia, and who, as Clem. Alexand. says, was the first inventor of Love-Songs, sitting by) vouchsafed the messenger not so much as a look, much less an answer. And Oroetes resolving to be revenged of him for this affront, sent one Myrtus a Lydian born, the son of Gyges, in another message; to tell him, that himself for fear of Cambyses, would fain flee over to him, with all his treasure. Polycrates giving overhasty credit hereto, to hasten the matter, went himself unto him, carrying one Democedes, a Physician of Crotona in Italy, along with him; and when he came as far as Magnesia toward him; there Oroetes took and crucified him: letting the Samians who came with him go: the rest, and among them this Democedes, he took and made his bondservants, [ Herod. lib. 3. from ca. 126. to 127.] But Valer. Max. [lib. 6. cap. ult. ] relates, that he was crucified by Orontes (for so he calls him, with Tully, lib. 3. de Finibus ) Governor under King Darius, upon the top of the mount Mycale; to wit, in that fore-land of Ionia, which looks toward Samos: where as yet Darius at that time, was but one of the guard to Cambyses, and of no such high place or authority among the Persians: as appears out of, [ Herodot. lib. 3. cap. 139. and cap. 140.] where he saith, that in Cambyses his expedition into Egypt, Syloson the brother of Polycrates, presented him with a most rich robe publicly at Mempsis, whence came the proverb; Sylosons robe: and he also says, that Polycrates came to that foul end, at what time Cambyses was scarce his own man in Egypt, [ ibi. ca. 120.] and with him agrees [ Pliny lib. 33. ca. 1.] where he saith, that this fell out in the 230. year after the building of Rome, which according to Varro his account; and which for the most part he follows, falls upon the 64 Olympiad.

Cambyses seeing his wife Meroe take on, as she did, for the death of her brother Smerdis, disparched her out of the way, too, [ Herod. lib. 3. ca. 31. 32.]

In the 7 year of Cambyses, the 225. year of Nabonassers callender, upon the 17 day of the month Phamenoth, with the Egyptians, (16 day of our July ) one hour before midnight, the Moon was seen eclipsed at Babylon, [ Ptol. in his, Mag. Syntax. lib. 5. c. 14.]

Cambyses shot Prexaspes his son, who was his cup-bearer thorough with an arrow: and the day following, caused 12 principal men more of the Persians who had done no hurt at all, to be buried alive, with their heads downward. He gave order also, that Coesus, who had sometime been King of Lydia, only because he had in a fair and friendly manner admonished him not to do such things, to be put to death. But repenting him soon after, he was glad that execution was not done upon him; nevertheless he put them to death who were appointed to do, and had not done it. Many like mad pranks played he, both upon Persians, and also upon other friends of his, while he remained at Memphis: he opened many of their Sepulchers to see the bodies of those who lay buried in them; going upon a time into the Temple of Vulcan, he laughed exceedingly, and jeered at his image there; and another time going into the temple of the Cabirie, whether it was not lawful for any to have acxesse, but for the Priests only; and having spent many a jest upon the images which he saw there, he caused them all to be consumed with fire, [ Herod. lib. 3. from ca. 34. to ca. 38.] The rest of their temples, partly he burnt down, partly he pulled down, and partly he defaced, and mangled; as also he did their Obelisis, [ Strabo lib. 17.]

Patizithes one of the Magi, [Year of the World 3482] whom he had left Overseer of his private estate at home, [The Julian Period 4992] having gotten knowledge of Smerdis his death, [Year before Christ 522] which was kept very close, and k •• wn to very few of the Persians, set his own brother, whose name was also Smerdes, and very like him both in stature and feature, upon the Kingly throne: and forthwith posted away messengers into all parts, and among the rest, to the army in Egypt; that from thence forward they should obey none, but Smerdes, Cyrus his son, and not Cambyses: so Herodotus, [lib. 3. ca. 61. for Justin out of Trogus, lib. 1. ca. 9.] says, that Cometes one of the Magi, having killed Merges. all. Smerdes, (to whom the kingdom indeed belonged after Cambyses) set up his own Brother Oropastes, who was very like him in the lineaments of his face and body, as was said before; But Ctesias writes, that Bagabates the Eunuch, and Artasyras an Hyrcanian borne, (both which were with Cambyses in Egypt, and of great authority about him) took counsel, while Cambyses was yet living, how to set up Spendadates, one of the Magi also, who was very like unto Smerdes whiles he lived; and after Cambyses death, did proclaim him King.

Cambyses was answered by the Oracle of Butis, whither he had sent, that he should die at Ecbatane; which he understood of Ecbatane in Media, where all his treasure lay. But as he lay at Ecbatane in Syria, the messenger brought him word, what the commandment of Patizithes was: who hearing of the conspiracy that was against him, presently leapt to horse, purposing in all haste to march with his army to Susa, against the conspirators; but as he was leaping, his sword fell out of his scabbard: and ran into his thigh. Upon the twentieth day after which accident, he sent for the Nobles of Persia to come unto him, unto whom he made known both the slaughter of his brother, and the treason of the Magi, against himself: requiring them by no means to suffer the kingdom to return to the Medes, (for the Magus was a Median born as may be gathered out of Herodotus, lib. 3. cap. 73. and cap. 126.) and soon after, his wound festering, he died, when he had reigned only 7 years and 5 months, [ Herodotus, lib. 3. from cap. 62. to 66.] Josephus tells us that in his return out of Egypt, he died at Damascus, [ lib. 11. Antiq. cap. 3.] putting Damascus instead of Herodotus his Ecbatane in Syria. Ctesias will have it, that he came as far as Babylon; and that there he took his wound, and died of it; writing of his death, and the foregoing signs and presages thereof in this manner.

When Cambyses was offering sacrifices, and the beasts throats were cut, there came no blood out, at which he was much amazed, and Roxane bare him a boy without a head, and that amazed him much more, and the Magi told him, that this portended, that he should leave no successor of his own behind him. His mother also appearing to him in a dream, seemed to threaten him destruction, for his brothers death, which troubled him yet more than all the rest, and that when he was come to Babylon, and there sat whitling a little stick with a knife, to spend the time, he by chance hurt therewith a muscle in his thigh, whereof he died the 11 day after: [ Ctesias. ] But at his departure out of Egypt, he left Aryander to govern it, in his stead.

When Cambyses was now dead, little thought the Persians that they had got a Magus to be their king: but that his brother indeed, had succeeded him in the kingdom, especially, when Prexaspes stood to it, that he never killed him, nor was it in truth safe for him now to confess that he had killed a son of Cyrus with his own hand, [ Herod. l. 3. c. 66.] and the matter itself was therefore the more easy to be concealed, because among the Persians, it was ever held for a point of state, to have the person of the king seldom seen abroad [ Justin. l. 1. c. 9.] and so it came to pass, that this Magus, bearing himself for Smerdes, Cyrus his son, as being of the same name, and very like him, held the kingdom seven whole months quietly, which served to make up the 8 year of Cambyses his reign. But during that time he spared for no cost, to show all kind of bounty and munificence to the subjects in all parts, insomuch, that when news came afterward of his death, all Asia, and all nations save the Persians, much lamented for it, for the dispatching away courriers into all parts, he proclaimed three years freedom from paying of tribute, and service in the wars and this de did, so soon as ever he took the title upon him, [ Herod. lib. 3. cap. 67.] and he took moreover Atossa Cyrus his daughter, and all the rest of Cambyses his wives to himself, [ Ib. c. 68. 88.]

Ammianus Marcellinus, [ lib. 23.] out of ancient books reporteth, that after Cambyses his death, 7 Magi took the management of the kingdom of Persia into their hands: which number, Valer. Max. also in his [9 book, c. 2.] retaineth. 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 virtue of which inhibition, the Samaritans taking courage, came flying to Jerus • lem▪ by strong hand, made the Jews give off their building, not of the City only, but 〈◊〉 of the Temple, for which nevertheless, they had Cyrus his express 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 esteem 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 murdered, [ 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 safeguard to a Temple, and there they took off his head: but Herod. says, 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, more 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 inquired 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 herself 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 ears 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 only in this conjuration: who instantly, least by delay repentance might befall 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 defense; for they slew down right two of the conspirators, (or rather wounded them only, 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 Governor. 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 days 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, persuaded by all means for a Monarchy; and when this last opinion, for the supreme 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 only among the Persians were left free, and not subject to the Kings command further than themselves listed: provided that they brake no • awe of the Persians: and because he was the first that set this wheel a going, and drew the rest into the action; therefore they thought fit, to heap all kinds of magnificence and honor 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 subtlety 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 less mindful of their own privileges 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 access to the Kings person, without sending in word that he was there to speak with him, unless he were in bed with the Queen, [ Id. ib. ca. 84. and ca. 118.] And secondly, that they might wear every man his turbant, in a different fashion from all other men. For whereas the King only 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 fastened their turbants behind, and wear them in their fore-heads, [ Polyae. lib. Stratag. 7.]

But this, as it seemeth, was the grand privilege to them granted; that although the King had, as it were, a perpetual Dictatorship in himself over them, yet they every man in 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.) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 yet afterward taking the Regal 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 addition upon him, with the kingdom of Cambyses, took also his surname to him; so I conceive, that both he was that Achash-verosh, all. Ahasuerus, 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 Governor 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 soldiers 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 Physician 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 days. 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 only that he could not return into Greece again; and moreover when Darius would have hung up his Egyptian Physicians, 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 Eli’s, 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 persuasion, 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 spies 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 anymore 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 Jews, [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 Ahasuerus all. Darius the son of Hystaspes, is there called) concerning a River signifying Esther, and two Dragons portending himself and Haman, [ cap. 10.]

In the second year of king Darius, which was in the 65 Olympiad, Haggai the prophet reproved the idleness 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 Sabbatical years, were all for their great neglect in that work, and earnestly persuaded them to mend that fault, whereupon Zerobabel, the governor 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 month, [ Hag. 1. 1, 15.]

Upon the 21 day of the 7 month; [Year of the World 3485. a.] the same year Haggai animated the Jews, to go on with the work, with a promise of God's 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 excel the beauty of the former, [ Hag. 2. 1. 9.]

In the 8 month 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 month of the same second year, about the midst 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 Zacharias 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.] governor 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, endeavor 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 lawful for the Jews to proceed in the work; without expecting any new order thereupon.

Their enemies, by a letter certify 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 no, 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 corn was not yet ripe, upon the 24 day of the 11 month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, the prophet Zacharias 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 Judah, now these 70 years, [ Zach. 1. 7. chap.