The famous history of Herodotus - Book 1 (Clio)

TheFamous History of Herodotus,containingthe Discourse of diuers Countries, the succession of their Kings: theacts and exploits achieved by them: the Laws and customs of euerynation, with the true description and antiquity of the same.

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Dividedinto nine Books, entitled with the names of the nine Muses. At Londonprintedby ThomasMarshe.1584.

Tothe right excellent and vertuous GentlemanMaster Robert Dormer, son to thenoble Knight Sir William Dormer, B.R. wishesincrease of worship, with the favour of God.

Prettilywas it answered of Praxiteles (right worshipful) who being demaundedwhich of both were most to be esteemed the Painter or the writer ofHistories: whether of the two would you choose (quoted he) to be dumband make a signe aptly, or to have the use of your tongue, and tellyour tale fitly? so that himself being a Painter, and the science sogreatly regarded as then it was, yet being made a judge of twonotable sciences, he thought meeter to derogate something from hisown art, then to defame a better. Such were the days then, and thepeople so far enamoured with the Art of Painting, that to have skillin the draught of shadows, and the apt framing of pictures, wasdeemed the best quality that could rest in a Gentleman: touchingwhich, we may well say as did Parrhasius, who painting one that ranin a race, and not able to make him sweat, added this for a note, Nofarther then colours. So that Praxiteles with his pencil shall makethe sign, and being not understood, Herodotus shall tell his tale, bymeans whereof, that which wants in the one, shall be so plentifullysupplied in theother, that despising the Painter for setting down to little, weshall suspect the writer for alledging to much, finding fault withone for obscurity, and in the other fearing flattery. So lively inmany things, and so evident in all things is the pleasant discourseof histories, that a better counterfait may be drawn with two penfullof ink in Herodotus tale, then with two pot full of colours inApelles’ table. But to leave the Painter to his colours, it wasfitly said of Cicero, that to know no more then that which was donein his own time, were still to be a child, meaning that the chiefestpart of wisdom by the which we farthest surmount the bounds ofchildish ignorance, is to be well seen in stories, out of the which,whether more profit or pleasure redound to those that read them, itis hard to say. For what greater commodity may there be, then to fitourselves with sundry sortes of examples, to direct our wits, toframe our manners, to govern the course of our whole lives, aninfinite number whereof are offered in stories to the singulareprofite of the posterity. Virtue blased with excellency, vice defacedwith infamy, famous cities utterly destroyed, small towns highlyadvanced, ancient frendship turned to enmity, mortal hatred convertedto amity, free cities brought under tribute, and such as weretributary, restored to freedom, briefly, all things in stories, thatmay either for profite avail the reader, or for pleasure delight him.It is lefte to memory of Scipio Africanus a noble Gentleman ofRome,that seeking to ensue the example of Cyrus which was fayned byXenophon, he atchieued that fame of wisdom and valure as fewe hadattayned before him. The lyke happened to selimus prince of theTurkes, whose auncetours hating stories, he caused the actes ofCaesar to be drawne into his mother tongue, and by his example,subdued a great part of Asia and Africa. And Cæsar himselfe hadneuer aspired to the type of so great renown, but by following ofAlexander, reading whose victories, he brast out into teares,forsomuch as at the same age whereat Alexander had subdued the wholeworlde, himself had done nothing woorthy memory. The delyghte wereceyue by readyng hystories,is euery way singulare, a soueraignemedicine for the cares of the minde,a speedy remedy for the griefesof the body. so that Alphonsus Kyng of Spayne, lefte by Physicke asincurable, recouered his health by readyng Lyuy. In which kynde ofdelightsome veyne, sithence of all other Herodotus most excelleth,both for the pleasant course of the story, and the plentifullknowledge cōteyned therein, I thought him not vnfit at his firstentry into Englande, to growe in fauour with so noble a Gentleman, bywhose countenaunce gaynyng credite, hee may with lesse shame andgreater acceptaunce aduenture into the hands of such as shall readehim. I leave him therfore in your worships hands to entertayne as astranger, and as he deserueth to make him familiar,not forgetting towish him good fortune as a forreyner, and to your selfe increase offame, and the fauour of God to youre lyues ende. Your Worships mostduty full to commaunde, B. R.

Tothe Gentlemen Readers.

RIghtcourteous Gentlemen, we have brought out of Greece into England twoof the Muses, Clio and Euterpe, as desirous to see the lande as tolearne the language; whome I trust you wil vse well because they bewomen,and you cannot abuse them because you be Gentlemen. As thesespeede so the rest will followe,neither altogether vnwilling toforsaketheyr own Countrey, nor yetouerhastyto arriue into this, reposingthe ende of theyr counsaylein the proofe of youre courtesie.If you lyke them not for the attyrethey weare, yet bid them welcome for the newes they bring, which Iconfesse are in many poyntes straunge, but for the most part true.The first of these hath trauelled through three Countreys of ancientfame, Lydia, Persia, and Assyria,making reporteof all such things as in the same are eithermemorable for antiquity, or famous for excellency. The secondeither lesseable to trauayle far, or more pleasuringin that Countrey, kepte resyauncein Ægypt,where shefound the people sowitty, thecountrey so wonderfull, all things so straunge,and differing from thecommon course of nature, that abiding there, shee thoughte Ægyptto have greater store of myracles, then all the world beside.Whereforetrauelling to no place but to Ægypt,shetellethno news but out of Ægypt,howbeit, in such exquisite manner, that for the countrey, the people,the princes, the lawes, the course of all antiquity, hearing her, yewill desire no more. Neither of these are braued out in theyrcoulours as the vse is now adays, and yet so seemely, as either youwill loue them because they are modest, or not mislike them becausethey are not impudent, since in refusing ydle pearles to make themseeme gaudy, they reiect not modest apparrell to cause them gocomely. The truth is (Gentlemen) in makingthem newe attyre, I was fayne to take example by theyr olde array,cutting out my cloth by another mans measure, beeyng great differencewhether we inuent a fashion of our own, or imitate a paterne set downby another. Whiche I speake not to this ende, for that my selfecoulde have done more eloquently in englishe then our Authour hath inGreeke, but that the course of his writing beeyng most swete inGreeke, conuerted into Englishe, looseth a great part of his grace.Howsoeuer the case standeth Gentlemen, if it be not so well as itmight be, I would it were better than it is,wishing the best albeit Ican not attayne to the best, yet least I condemne my selfe before Ineede, I wil stay vpon the censure and opinion of others when thetime shall come. Till when, and euer, leauing you to God, and thegood successe of your affayres,I ende.

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Yourvery friende. B. R.

HERODOTVSHIS FIRST BOOKE INTITLED CLIO.

HERODOTVSbeing of the¹citye of Halicarnassus in Greece wrote and compiled an history to theend, that nether tract of time might ouerwhelme & bury in silencethe actes of humayne kynd: nor the worthye, and renownd aduentures ofthe Grecians and Barbarians, (as well other as chiefly those thatwere done in warre)might want the due reward of immortal fame. ThePersian wryters witnes ye²first cause of debate & controuersie to have comen by ye peoplecalled Phaenices who sayling from the redde sea into this of Greece,& inhabityng the selfe same regions which at this tyme also theyholde and retayne: gaue themselves to long vagaries and continualvoyages by sea. In which season by trade of merchandise brought fromAegypt and Assyria, as in many other countries, so also they arryvedat Argos. Argos at the same tyme was the most noble and famous cityin Greece. Whither the Phaenices directing their course, after theywere come,and within the space of foure or fyue days, had made a goodhand and riddaunce³of their wares. It fortuned certayne women (in whose cōpany was theKings daughter, whose name was Io. Borne of Inachus) to approach theshore, in mynde to suruay and contemplate the wealth and substaunceof these outlandish Marchauntes. Now in the meane season whiles thewomē were busye and attentiue in praising such thinges as theirfancy lead them, the Phaenises ranne violently vppon them and hauingcaught Io with some others, they rest exceedingly affryghted, andflying through feare, incontinently wayghed ancōre and sayled intoAegipt. By these meanes the Persians record that Io first came intoAegipt, not as ye Phaenices reporte, & that this was the firstcause and beginning of iniuryes. It chaunced afterward that certaineGreekes whase names they knew not taking shore,⁴& lauding at Tyrus, in like manner made a rape of the kingesdaughter named Europa. These were the people of Crete, otherwysecalled the Cretenses. By which meanes yt was cardes and cardesbetwene them, the one being full meete and quit with the other.  Butin processe of tyme, the seconde trespasse was also made andcommitted, by the Grecians, who passinge in a galley by the riuerPhasis to Aea, a city of Colchis, and hauing finished the affayresand busines for which they came,⁵caryed away Medea daughter to the King, whom the noble gentleman herfather eftsones reclayminge by an Harold of peace, and demaundingpunishment and reuenge on the trespasser: the Grecians made answeare,that as by themselves no correction was done for the rape of Io. euenso would they also in this cause goe voyde of smart and escapescotfree.

Afterthis⁶in the secōd age ensuing Alexander the sonne of Priamus hauingnotise and aduertismēt of these things was greatly desyrous tosteale and puruay himselfe a wife of the Grecians, not fearyng therigour of Iustice, or anye manner pey, or chastisment, which theybefore had utterly refused to beare and sustayne.

Hauingtherfore gotten Helena, and conuayed her away it seemed good to theGreekes, to clayme by embassage, restitution of the rape and iusticeon the rauisher, vnto whom the stealth of Medea was obiected andansweare made that it was not meete for them to require either losseor law, which in former tyme would be ruled by neither. Thus the tymehetherto passed on by mutuall pillage betwene them. But of thosethings which insue and follow. Vpon these ye Persians affyrme, theGrecians to have bene the chiefe authors, who first inuaded Asia bythe power of warre then euer themselves attempted the rule anddomiminion of Europa.⁷Reputing it the poynt of rude and grose iniury to steale away women,and the signe of a greater folly to pursue the losse of them: sinceno wyse man would set ought by those that without their own assentand free wil could neuer have bene stolne. For this cause thePersians alleadge how lightly they valued the losse of their Ladyes,whereas the Greekes on the other syde, for one silye danie ofLacedemonia,furnished a huge nauy and comming into Asia, subuertedand brought to ruine the kingdome of Priamus. since which tyme theyhave alwayes thought of the Grecians as of their heauy frendes,esteeming themselves somewhat allyed to Asia and the nations ofBarbaria, but the Grecians to be strangers, and alyens vnto them.

Andas touching the course & proceding of these things, the Persiansreport on this manner, adding hereto that the first cause of tumultand contention betwene them arose by the ouerthrow and destruction ofTroy.

Withwhose assertions the Phaenices agree not aboute the Lady Io. Whomthey flatly denye to have bene caryed by them into Ægipt in mannerof a rape, shewinge, howe that in theyr abode at Argos, shee fortunedto close with the mayster of a shippe, and feelynge her selfe to beespedde: fearynge and doubtinge greatlye the feueritye, & cruelltyrannye of her Parentes, and the detection of her own follye, sheewillynglye toke shyppe and fledde strayght awaye.

Suchare the recordes of the Persians, and Phaenicians, of the truthwherof I meane not to discusse.

Onelywhom I fynde to have done the first harme and iniurye to people ofGreece of him I determine to speake proceding orderly wt thedeclaratiō aswell of fmall cityes & towns of meaner fortune asof those that are populous & wel frequented, for so much as manycityes which former ages have known right ample and wel peopled, arenow fallen to a low ebbe: and contrariwyse, those which in the
compasse of our memory were greate have heretofore bene muchlesse: wherefore knowing the tenor of humayne felicity to be eftsonesvaryable, and neuer at one stay, my purpose is to vse the examples ofeither kynd.

Craesus⁸a Lidian born descended of Halyattes, was King of those countryes,that lye within the riuer Halis, which flowing from the south part ofthe worlde, betwene the Syrians and the Paphlagonians, right againstthe North wind breaketh into the sea called Euxinam. Of al theprinces Barbarian of whom we have understanding this same Craesus wasthe chiefe that made some of the Greekes tributary and other hisfriendes, he fubdued the Iones, Aeoles and Dores that dwell in Asia:⁹concluding with the Lacedemonians a friendly league of amity. Wherasbefore him none of the Graecians were euer thrall, or in bondage toany. For as touching the voyage made by the Cymmerians agaynst Ionia,it happened long before the tyme of Craesus: wherein was vsed nosacking of cities, no dispoylinge of towns: but secret inuasions andseysing on the pray. And albeit¹⁰in the countrey of this noble King Craesus the soueraygnty and chieferule were peculiare to the stock of Hercules which were calledHeraclidae, yet was it in this order
translated to the bloud ofCraesus whose names were Mernadae Candaules (whom the Greekes callSilos) was king of Sardis comming of the lyne and progenie of Alcæusthe sonne of Hercules. The first kyng of the family of Haeraclidansthat raygned in Sardis beinge named Argon sonne of Niuus nephew ofBelus sonne to the nephew Alcaeus and the last Candaules the sonne ofMirsus. Before Argon his raygne, they which gouerned the countrey,were the ofspring of Lydus the sonne of Atis,¹¹of whom the whole people toke the name of Lydians being before tymecalled the Meonyts, of these were the Heraclidans brought vp, beingborue of Hercules & Iardana a bondmayd.¹²Vnto these (by virtue of the oracle) was the seignory, and supremegouernment translated, who held the same for terme of fyue hundredand fiue yeares, the sonne eftsones succeded hys father, euen vntoCandaules the sonne of Myrsus. This Candaules¹³was passing well affectioned to his wyfe, in so much yt for thesinguler loue he bare her, he thought her to excell al women in thecomly feature of the body. And hereof being himselfe fully perswaded,hee fortuned to fall in talke with Gyges sonne of Bascylus, one ofthe chiefe and principall of his garde (whom also he especiallyfauoured, & not seeldome employed him in matters of greateweight) aduauncing vnto him the seemly shape of his wife abouemeasure. In short space after (for the euill hap haunted him)meetinge with the aforefayde Gyges, hee beganne thus.

Myfaythfull seruaunt Gyges, wheras thou seemest not to credite thelarge vauntes and often bragges which I make of my Ladyes beauty andcomlynesse (the eares of men being much more incredulous then theireyes) behold I wil so bring to passe, yt thou shalt see her naked.Wherat the pore Gentleman greatlye abashed, and in no wyse willyng toassent therto, made answere as followeth. My Lord (quoth he)¹⁴what māner of speech is this which vnaduisedly you vse inperswading me to beholde my ladyes secrets. for a womā you know,the more in sight the lesse in shame. Who togeather with hergarmentes layth assyde her modestye, honest preceptes have benedeuised by our elders which we ought to remember, Whereof this isone, that euery man ought to behold his own. For myne own part Ieasily beleeue you, that of all women in the world, there is nonecomparable vnto her in beauty.

WherforeI beseech your grace, to have me excused, if in a case so heynous andvnlawfull, I somewhat refuse to obay your wil. Gyges hauing in thissort acquited himselfe, fearing the daunger yt might ensue. The Kingbegan a fresh to replye, faying, My good Gyges, take hart at grace, &feare not, least either my selfe do goe about to examine and feelethy meaning by the coloured glose of fayned speach, or that theQueene my Ladye take occasion to worke thy displeasure hereby. Pullvpp thy spirites, and leave al to mee: it is I that wil worke themeanes, whereby shee shall neuer know any part of her selfe to havebene seene by anye creature liuing. Listen then awhyle and geue eareto my counsayle.

Whennight is come the dore of the chaumber wherein we lye being wyde setopen, I will couertly place thee behynde the same: strayght at myentraunce thereinto,her custome is not to be long after mee,directlyat her comming in, there standeth a bench, wherat vnclothingherselfe, shee accustometh to lay her garmentes vppon it,propoundinge her deuine and angelicall body, to bee seene and viewedfor a long space, this done, as she turnes frō the bench tobedwarde, her backe being toward thee, have care to slip priuily outof the dores least happily she espye thee.

  Thegentleman seynge himself taken in a trap, that in no wyse he couldescape without perfourmāce of his Lords folly, gaue his assent, andat an howre appoynted stood in a readines, whom Candaules closlybrought into his chaumber: and immediatly after came the Queene: whomGyges hauyng beheld at his pleasure, when her back was turned creptout of the dore, yet not so secretly, but yt the Queene had a glymseof him, and perceyued, who hee was.

 TheLady seyng the fond and vndiscrete treacherye of her husband madelittle adoe, and seemed as though shee had seene nothing. Albeitfully mynding to bee reuenged of the shameles foolish facte of herespoused Lord.

Forwith the Lydians, and welnygh also with the rest of the Barbarians,it is a greate reproach euen for a man to be seene vnclothed. Howbeit for the present tyme she kept silence, makyng no semblaunce ofmy displeasure.

Theday following, hauing assembled certayne of her houshold seruauntes,in whom shee hadde especiall affyaunce, Gyges was sent for, whosuspecting nothing lesse then that hys deceipt was knowen: spedelyand with all diligence, adressed him to come: being wont also atother tymes to come to the Queene as oft as yet pleased hyr to sendefor him. Being entred the chaumber she began to assayle him in theseworde. Now Gyges of two present wayes I geue thee free choyce whichof them both thou wilt take: either to slay the King Candaules andenioy mee with the Kingedome of Lydia: or thy selfe presently toleese thy lyfe. Lest
in obayng thy Lord in that thou oughtestnot, thou be hēseforth priuye to that which thou shouldest not.There is no remedy ye one of you both must to the pot, ether themayster or the man, ether hee which led thee herevnto, or thy selfethat sawest mee naked, and diddest those thinkes that wer vnlawful tobe done.

Gygesherewith amazed beganne first to beseech her humbly, entreating hernot to bynd him to so harde a condition. Neuerthelesse being nothable to perswade her, and seinge it necessarye either to murther hisLord, or to be murthered by other, he deemed it the better choyse tolyue himself, addressing his
speech to the Queene in this wyse.My soueraygne Lady (quoth he) synce of necessity you compell mee tobecome guylty of the bloude of my Kinge, let mee heare by what meaneswe shall set vppon him: of a truth (fayd shee) our treason shallproceede from the same place from whence he bewrayed my shame. Theassault shall be geuen when hee is a sleepe. The wretched Gentlemandryuen to so harde a strayght, that either hee must slaye or beslayne, made no delay but followed the Queene into her bed chaumber,whom with a naked dagger in hys hand, she priuely placed behynd thesame dore, from whence Gyges afterwardes arysing bereaued Candaulesof his life, and obtayned both hys wyfe and his kingdome.¹⁵Whereof also Archilocus Parius who was liuing at the same tyme makethmention in a verse named lambie. Trimeter. To bee short Gygesproclaymed himselfe kyng, and was established in the gouernment bythe oracle from Delphos.¹⁶For when as the Lydidians greatly disdayning at the heauy lotts ofCandaules, arose, and were all in armoure, they came to agreement w^tthem that mayntayned the cause of Gyges, that wherehe waspronouncedkyng by y^eoracle¹⁷he should raygne in peace: if otherwise the supreme authority shouldbee restored to y^tbloudof Hercules. Counsayle beinge demaunded of the oracle: the gouernmentand principall authoritye was assygned to Gyges. Albeyt Pythiamīgling hony wt gall threatned a reuenge to come vpon y^eson of Gyges nephewes nephew: or fift in line all discent fromhimselfe: which sayng neither the Lydians, nor their princes anything regarded vntil such tyme as the end had confirmed it. Gygesbeinge in full possession of the kyngdome, sent many giftes toDelphos to the Temple of Apollo,¹⁸whereof the greater part were framed of siluer, and besides thesiluer, a mightye summe of Gold. How beit amonges diuerfe hispresentes one is most worthy memory: to wit, 6 dishes of golde offredby him wayghing thirty talentes, which were safely garded in theclose treasurye of the Corynthians. Albeit (to speake truth) thetreasure we speake of, was not proper to the people of Corinth, butrather to Cypselus the sonne of Ætion.

Inthis manner was Gyges¹⁹the first king of the Barbarians (of whom we have notice) thatpresented any gyftes at the temple of Delphos saue only Mydas sonneto the noble Gordius, and king of Phrigia. For Mydas also consecrateda sumptuous chayre of estate, wherin he was accustomed to sit andadminIster iustice very princely and beautiful to behold, which waskept and cōserued in the same place where ye golden dishes ofGyges lay. The gold and siluer offred by Gyges was termed by thepeople of Delphos Gygeum, or Gygades, taking the name of the geuer.Being setled in hys emperiall dignitye he warred agaynst Myletus, and
Smyrna, and toke the city Colophon by force of armes. neitherany other act besides this was atchieued byhim, albeithe raignedthirty eyght years, we wil therfore passe frō him to hys sonnenamed Ardyis,²⁰who as heire apparaunt to the crown, succeeded his father in thestate royall. Ardyis conquered the Prienensis and inuaded Miletus inthe tyme of whose raygne the people called Cymmerians dispossessed oftheir own seats by the Scithians, surnamed Nomades came into Asia,and aduēturing vpon Sardis the seate of prince Ardyis toke theCitye excepting onely the towre and chiefe castle of defence.

Ardyishauyng ruled the kingdome forty nyne yeares, then left yt afterwardvnto hys sonne and Heire, called Sadyattes,²¹who gouerned the same the space of twelue yeares.

Afterhim the Scepter descended to Halyattes,²²who ioyned battayle with Cyaxares sonne of Beioces and hys people theMedes, banishing the Cymmerians out of Asia. Moreouer by the same wasthe Citye Smyrna surprised, lying neere vnto Colophon, lykewyse thefamous Citye Clazomenae valyauntlye assayled, wherfore(notwithstandynge) his noble courage was daunted, and he was forst todepart destitute of his hope, other thinges also were done by him intyme of hys warfare verye worthye of memory: which are thesefollowing. In his warre with the Milesians left vnto him by hysfather, he practised thys meanes in besieging the Citye.

Intime of haruest the grayne being ready for the sickle, he sent in hisarmy marching with the sound of fluites and pypes: which being comeninto the fieldes of the ennemye, their houses they left vntouched,onely wasted the trees and fruictes of the region, which done, theyeftsoones retyred to the place, from whence they came. For theMilesians hauing intelligence of their ennemyes approach, forsooketheyr city and dwelling houses, and fled to the sea, so that itbehoued not the ennemy to stay there: hys dryft and purpose in notspoyling the mansion places of his aduersaryes, was onele this, thatthe Milesians hauing place wherin to dwell, might returne agayne fromthe sea to till and sow the grounde, which might geue him occasion toreenter with his power, and bring their labours to none effect.

  Inthis manner hee inuaded the countrey, for terme of xi. yeares,wherein the Milesians suffred two notable foyles.

 Thefirst in Lemeneium, a place so called in their own countrey. Thesecond in a certayne field named Meander.

Sixeof these eleuen yeares did Sadyattes the sonne of Ardyis raygne inLidya, and beginning the Milefian warre, troubled his enemyes byperpetuall inuasions, and often conflictes. For other fyue years hyssonne Halyattes main tayned the quarel receyued of his father. In allthe tyme of this warre, none of the people of Ionia gaue succour tothe Milesians, saue onely the inhabitauntes of Chios, who hauingbefore tyme bene ayded by them in the battayle which they fought withthe Erythaeans, shewing mutuall goodwil, sent them now a supply intheir like extremityes. In the xii. yeare Halyattes despoyling thefieldes in lyke sort, as before it chaunced that whyle the corne wason fyre, a great tempest arose & caried the flames violently toye temple of Minerua surnamed Assessia, & burnt ye pallaice of yeGoddesse welnigh to the ground. Which thing at that present waslightly regarded of him, but being with his army returned to Sardis,he fell sicke, and being much enfeebled with the vehemency of hismaladye, whether of his own heade, or by the counsayle of othersmoued thervnto, sent to Dephos to the God for the recouery of hishealth & welfare, when the messengers were come, Pythia refusedto geue them answeare, before they had repaired the temple ofMiuerua, which the fyer had consumed at Assessum. This I heard withmyne ownares at Delphos, whyle I there soiorned. Hereunto y^eMilesians adde besydes, y^ePeriander the sonne of Cypselius, hearing what answeare Haliattes hadgeuen him by the oracle, in all hast possible dispatched a messengerto Thrasibulus thē King of Miletus his faithful & familiarfrend to admonish him to workesome deuyse, how to delyuer himselfe &hys countrey from the perpetual molestation of his enemyes. Halyatteshauing receiued these nowes, sent incontinent to Miletus forcomposition of a truce till such tyme as the temple was renewed anderected agayn. The ambassadoures being arriued Thrasibulus which knewthe cause of their cōming and understoode the purpose of Halyattesframed this deuise, what Corne soeuer was in the city ether of hisown, or in the possession of others, he commaunded it all to beebrought into the Market place and there to be layed in one heape.This done he gaue in especial charge to all the citye at a priuyesigne to fall to feasting, tipling and quaffing betwene themselvesaboue measure. Which thing he deuysed, to the intent the Sardianembassadours beholding so greate plentye, and aboundance of grayneand vewing the people in such wise to disport them selves with alkynde of pleasure and delight, might make report therof to y^ekinge his soueraigne which fell out accordynglye. For theambassadours taking diligent view of all thinges they saw, anddispatching their ambassage to Thrasibulus made speedy recourse toSardis. And as I am geuen to understand, hereof onelye proceeded aconclusion of peace betwene them.

ForHalyattes supposinge the Milesians to bee oppressed with greate wantand penury of grayne, at the returne of hys legates hard other newesthen hee looked for. After this, a league was established betwen themof mutuall hospitality and fellowship, and in steed of one temple,Halyattes, caused 2 other to be sumptiuously built at Assessun beingafter restored to hysful and perfect strength. such was then themaner of the warre, that Halyattes mayntayned agaynst the people ofMiletus,

Perianderthe sonne of Sypselus who aduertised Thrasibulus of the oracle, wasking of Corinth, in whose raigne there happened by report of hyspeople, with whom also y^ecityzens of Lesbos do iustly accord a miracle right straunge andwonderful,²³Arion Methimnaeus sitting on the backe of a Dolphine by safe and easyconduite, arryued at Taenaros, hauing the name to bee the mostexcellent and skylfull musition on the harpe of those tymes, by whomalso chieflye was inuented, named, and taught the kynde and forme ofverse called Bithyrambus. The fame is, how this Aryon hauing a lōgtyme bene resident in the court of Periander, was greatly desyrous topasse the seas into Italye, and Cicilie, wher being growen in wealth,and flowinge with infinite summes of money, was lead by a desire ofretyring backe into hys own countreye, and determyne to in shiphimselfe at Tarentum, for the speciall credite and good lyking he hadto the men of his own nation, hyred a Corinthian barck to returne in:which hauing a gall of pleasant wynde, and beinge nowe without kenneof Lande, the Maryners were all in mind to have borded Aryon, toenioy his money: which thing ye pore harper perceyuing freely offredto depart from his wealth, if therewith satisfyed they would shewmercy on him selfe and spare his life. Howbeit finding thē cruellybent, & not to bee moued with anye tears,but yt either he mustkil himselfe,& be buried on y^elādor fling hīselfe hedlōg into y^emids of ye sea:he besought thē hūbly y^tsince it semed them best to deale so roughly w^thim they would graunt him liberty in his richest aray, to sing asong, wherto they gladly yeldīg, as being not a little ioyful tolend their eares to the chiefest and most famous musitiō thenliuing on the earth. He wēt from them apart into the middest of theshippe,wher hauing decked his body w^tmost pretious and costlye furniture he framed his voyce to the sweteand melodious verse named Orthium, which no soner had he brought toan end, but al his pompe & glorious arayment, he threw himselfeheadlonge into the Sea: the shipmen held on their course to Corinth.Arion receyued by a Dolphin, was in perfect safety landed at Taenarosfrō whence so arrayed as he was he framed his steps towarde Corinthto the seate and pallace of the king: wher hauing entred a discourseof his straunge case & incredible fortune, ye king supposing himto ouer reach, cōmitted him immediatlyto close ward wher no māmight have accesse vnto hī. After that diligent serch was made forthe mariners, who being apprehended and curiouslye questioned withabout Arion, made answere that his abode was aboute Italy and
howat their comming from thence, they leaft him in florishing estate atTarentum, at which words Arion presētly appearing, draue them intosuch a quandarye: that hauing no colour of excuse, they werecompelled perforce to confesse the truth. These thinges are verifyedby the men of Corinth, and Lesbos. Ther is yet to be seene atTaenaros a huge & massy monumēt wrought of brasse, Arionsitting on y^eback of a Dolphin. Howbeit, Haliattes²⁴prince of Lydia hauing entred the warre with the Milesians, &gouerned the kingdome 57 yeares finished his days: who second of thatlinage, after the due recouerye of his strength offred at Delphos apiece of siluer plate of value incomparable,and a smal dish of yroncuryously wrought, a thinge no lesse wonderful to behold then oughtthat hath bene dedicated in the temple of Apollo being the handyworke of Blaucus Chius,²⁵who first found out the meane to worke in yron.

Afterthe death of Haliattes, the sceptor descended vnto Craesus his sonne,being then at the age of thirtye and three yeares. This Kyng myndingto have a fling at the Grecians began first of all,and encountredwith the people of Ephesus, who being inuyroned by him with a siege:gaue theyr Citty to the Goddesse, tying a rope from the temple ofDiana to the walles of the Town. Betwene the olde citye that wasbesieged and the Temple was the space of 7.furlonges. These were thefirst that Craesus began to quarel with amonges the Grecians. Afterthis he began by piecemeale to be doyng with the seuerall cityes ofIonia Æolia, pretending agaynst each diuerfe and fundrye causes somevery weighty and of due regard, other meeretrifles and veryfriuolous.

Nowwhen he had fubdued the Grecians in Asia, and made them tributory tohis seat, hee determined to furnish a nauy agaynst the inhabitauntes,of the Isles.

Tothe framing wherof when all things were in readynesse, some say thatBias Prienaeus: other that Pittacus Mitylaeneus comming to Sardis,was demaunded of the Kinge what newes in Greece, who shaped him suchan answeare, that it gaue him fmall courage to proceede in hisenterprise.

Thepeople of the Isles, O King (fayd hee) have made prouision of athousande horses, in full purpose to come agaynst thee and thy cityeSardis. Craesus thinking he had fpoken truth: Would God (quoth he) itmight once take them in the brayne to war on horsebacke against thesonnes of the Lydians, who taking his talke by the end, proceededfaying.

Mostnoble Prince, it is thy desire to meete with these Sea fishesflooting on shore: and what dost thou think they more greedy wish andlong after, then to take thee and thy Lidyans waueryng and tossing inthe water, to gleike the one the other syde, for so many Greciansbecome fubiect, & pentionarye to thy kingdome. Wherwith Craesusverye much delighted, (for that he seemed to have fpoken wisely)chaunged his mynd, and made a friendly league with the people ofIonia that held the Isles: in processe of tyme hee
becameconquerour of al those which are within the ryuer Halis. For besydesthe Cilifians, and Lifians, all the rest were fubiect to the Empireof Craesus, which were these. The Lidians, Phrigians, Myfians,Mariandyns, likewyse the Chalibes, Paphlagonians, Thrasians,Oetimans, lastlye the Bithynians, Carians, Iones, Dores, Æoles,Pamphylians, which being all fubdued and the Gouernement of theLydians greatly amplified by Craesus, there repayred to Sardis, beingthen in y^eflower of her fortune, as well other wyse men out of Greece, termedsophIsters, as also the most famous Solon,²⁶one of the citye of Athens, who at the inftant prayers of hiscitizens hauinge tempered the common wealth, with good lawes, undercoloure of visittinge straunge countreyes, willingly for terme ofyeares abandonned his natyue soyle, that hee might not be forced tobreak
the Lawes which he before had made, the Athenians themselves standing bound with a solemne and religious vowe for tenyeares space to obserue these statutes which Solon had inuented,aswel then for the maintenance of his lawes as to view and seeforraine nations, he undertoke a pilgrimage into Ægipt to KingAmasis, and from thence to Sardis to the court of Craesus, where ingentle and courteous manner beinge entertayned by the Kinge at thethirde or fourth daye, after his arriuall he was lead about thetreasuryes to view the welth and riches of Craesus, beholdyng all theinestimable and blessed iewels that were contayned
in them.After he had attentiuely beheld and with curious eye surueyed them athis pleasure. Craesus began to borde him on this manner. YouGentleman of Athens, forasmuche as we hearde greate good wordes ofyour wisdom, being for knowledge and experynce sake a pilgrim fromyour countrey, we have deemd it conuenient to aske you a questiō,whether at any time you have seene the happiest man alive: notmistrusting, but that the lotte woulde have fallen to him selfe tohave exceeded all others in blessednes. solō not mynding to double,as one altogeather vn acquaynted with pleasing phrases, delivered hismynd in free speechin forme as followeth.

Ihave seene O King (quoth he) Tellus,²⁷one of my countriemen of Athens, a man surpassing all others inhappye lyfe, wherat Craesus wondring, earnestlye required what causemade him thinke so highlye of Tellus.

Foras muche (fayde hee) as in a wel ordered common wealth, heehaddechildren, trayned vp in vnitye, and honesty, euery of which haddelikewyse increase of his own bodye, and yet all liuing. And hauingspent the course of his age, as wel as a man might, Fortune crowndhis end with the perpetual renown of a most glorious death. For theAthenians ioyning in battayle with their next neighbours, Telluscomming with a fresh supplye, and putting his ennemies to flight:ended his life in the field, whom y^e people of Athens in the selfe same place where he had shed hisbloud, caused to be entombed with immortall honour, Solon goingforward in a large discourse as touching Tellus was cut of by Craesuswith a second demaunde, who asked him the second tyme, whom inconscience he thought next vnto him, in full hope, that at the leasthis part had bene next: to whom he answeared in the next degree.

Mostmighty Prince, I have alwayes reputed Cleobis, and Biton two youngemenne of the Countrey of Argos, of body so strong and actiue, that inall games they wanne the price, of whom these thinges are left tomemorye.

Thefeast of Iuno beinge kept at Argos, the mother of these two young menwas to bee drawne to the temyle by a yoke of bullocks, which whēthe houre came being strayed and gone out of the way, the two youngyouthes yoked thēselves and halyng the chariot forty fyue furlongsthey came to the temple: which after they had done in the sight &view of the whole multitude in a lucky howre they dyed,wherby y^eGoddesse gaue vs to understand how much better it was for man to diethen live. For when as the people flocking about extolled them to theheauens:the men praising y^egood nature and intent of the sonnes:the women commendinge theblessed chaunce of the mother, whom nature had indued with two suchchildren: the good old mother almost outof hyr wyttes for ioy, whatfor the kynd deede of her sonnes and the goodly speech of the people,aduauncinge their virtue:as shee stoode before the ymage of Iuno,besought the Goddesse with earnest prayers to rewarde the kindnes ofhir children with the chiefe and most precious blessing that mighthappen vnto man. Her prayer made, and both the sacrifyce and feastended: they gaue themselves to rest in the temple, but neuer afterawaking, in the mornīg they were founde dead, whom the people ofArgos by two carued monumentes placed at Delphos commended toeuerlastinge memory: for men of rare and excellēt virtue. To thesemen did Solon attribute the next step to perfect happinesse.

Craesusnow being throughlye warmed and beginninge to storme: why then (quothhe) thou foolishe straunger of Athens is my wealth so base in thyneeyes that thou demest me not worthy to bee compared with two priuatemen of Argos. Certes oking (fayd he) you demaund of me a question as one not altogeatherignorāt y^tthe hyghest clymers have the heauiest falles, the terme of mans lifebe threfcore yeares and ten, which yeares consist of twentye fyuethousande two hundred days, omitting to speak of that moneth which isgiuen to some yeares in addition for the iust compasse and reuolutionof the tyme. Howbeit if in euery other yeare we increase a moneth:forthe due concordaunce and euen course of times: to threfcore and tenyeres we must adde 35 monethes conteining in themselves 1500 days.

Beit then in all these days (which in full cōputation are twenty sixethousand two hundred and fifty) what thing do we see lyke unto other?what rather not flatly vnlike, straunge & disagreyng from theformer? so y^emā (O Craesus is altogeather wretched and miserable, notwtstanding,thyselfe art in wealth flourishing and a prince of manypeople: all this I deny not, and yet I cannot call thee him whomthou wouldest be,til such tyme as I heare of thy fortunate death. Forwherein is the rych man better then a begger, vnlesse the course ofhis happines continew to his graue.

Therare many rych but few blessed, and many of a meane patrimony, yetvery fortune. Two thinges there be wherin the infortunate richexcelleth those who in meaner substaunce have fortune their frende:by whom contrariwyse, they are excelled in many. The wealthy hath toglutte his desires: & to pay for his default when it happeneth.Both which though fortune have denyed him y^tin baser wealth liveth well, yet in this he goeth beyond the other,y^ewant of fubstaunce kepeth him from ryot, & care of well doyngfrō security in offending: the same hauing no fmall thankes toyeeld to Fortune, y^the hath his health,that hee is gauled & greeued with no calamity,that he is a father of verteous children, that he is garnished withthe beauty and comelye shape of the body. Besides al which if his endbe lucky: this is hee whom we seeke for: a man euery way worthy tobee counted happye. Neuertheles till the last gaspe I deeme him notblessed, but fortunate. Al which things I think it vnpossible toattayne to in this lyfe. For as one countrey cānot supply vnto itselfe all things, but flowing in some one thing it fayles in another: or as the body of a man can not in euery point be absolute,but happily being fayre in y^eface is deformed in the foote, so standeth it also with the lyfe ofman. Yet who so in euery kynd commeth neerest the mark & sealethvp his fortune wt a seasonable death,shal in maner of a king berenownd with the famous tytle of felicity. The end of euery thing isto bee regarded what issue it is like to have,because riches are lentby the Gods to many, whom afterward they bring to wrechednes.

Solonhauing thus freely and vnfaynedly layde open his opinion, withinshort space after departd y^ecourt, & trulye was accomted an vnwise mā, in y^the counsayled euerye one not respecting his present estate, tobeholde his end: After whose departure y^eheauy anger of the gods fel vpō Craesus, for y^the was so puffed vp & exalted iu the vain & inestimableconfidence of his own felicity.²⁸Who not long tyme after fel into a dreame, which rightly foretolde &shewed vnto him y^egreatmisfortune & misery was to lighte vpō his son.²⁹This noble Craesus had 2. sonnes, one of the which was dum andimpotent, the other surpassing al of his age in what soeuer he betokehimselfe vnto, whom he called Atis. This Atis (as his dreame gauehim) being sore wounded w^tan heade or poynt of yrō, should so perish & come to his end.The king awaking out of his sound sleepe, began to grace vppon themeaning herof, & sorely agast at so straunge a visiō, soughtwtout delay to ioyne his sonne in maryage with some beautifull ladyof the countrey, and wheras his accustomed maner was to employ him iny^efield as a rīgleader of his hoste frō that time forward he neuervsed him in ye like affaires. And for the more assurance he caused aldarts, spears and such like weapons of warre that honge in hisgaleryes to be remoued into by romes and close lodgings of the court,that happily if any thing shoulde chaunce to fall, his sonne might beout of the reach and compasse of mishap.

Inthe meane while when the king was solemnizing y^enuptials and maryage of his son, ther came to Sardis a certain youngman very pore & miserable, defyled with bloudshed, a Phrigianborne,³⁰& descended of princely race. Enteryng y^ePallace, he besought the king that it might be lawfull for him topurifye himselfe after the manner of his courte: which graunted, andin due order accomplished, Craesus asked him whēce he came and whathe was on this maner. My friend, what are you? from what place inPhrigia are you come to my court? what man or womā have you slaine.To whō he answered. My Father (mighty prince) is Gordius comen ofthe line of Midas:my name Adrastus: And for that vnwittingly I slewmy Brother, I am cast out and
exiled, from Country, Parents,and goodes. Craesus replying, said: Of a truth Adrastus thou artborne of our friēds, and art now comen to thy friends: abide in myhouse and thou shalt want nothing. No doubt but the present smart ofthy calamity will redounde to thy future gayne. Nowe whylst he madehis abode in the kinges palaice. It chaunced that at Olympus in thecountry of Mysia³¹there haunted a wyld bore of an huge and incredible bignesse, whichcomming from the mountaine made wast, and spoyle of the labours ofthe inhabitaunts. Whom the people sondry times indenouring to takedid no hurt to him at al, but rather receyued harme by him. Tyll atlengthe dispatching messengers to the court of Craesus they framedvnto him a sute in these wordes. There rangeth in our country (mostfamous and noble Prince) a wyld bore, straungely dismeasured &ouergrown by whome our tyllage and husbandry is piteously wasted anddispoyled. Neither can we by any meanes possible (seeking all meaneswe can) remoue or rid him frō our borders. We humbly therforebeseech thy soueraygne highnesse to aforde vs thy sonne with acompany of choyse and valiaunt youthes, with houn des and othernecessaries to acquyte and deliver our region of this pestilentbeast. To which their ardent supplicatians Craesus callyng to myndehis former vision shaped this replie. Of my sonne to make any farthermention it were in vaine for I am not determined to send him withyou, he is newly espoused to a wyfe so that in so short space he maynot without some griese estraunge and alienate himself from theamorous embracemēts of his Lady. Otherwise for the most tryed andpicked out men of y^tLydians, & such as are skilful in the chase of wyde beastaccompanied w^thoundes for the purpose, I wil cause to returne w^tyou with especial charge y^tthey let passe nothing that may make to the speedy conquering of socruel a monster. This aunswere geuen they semed therw^tgreatly discontented, when as in the meane space y^ekings son comming in presence, and hearyng both the request &humble suite of the Myfians, and the greeuous repulse geuen thē bythe king his sire, brake silēce³²& said, deare father. Such things as before tyme wer cōmendable& glorious vnto vs to make profe & tryal of our selves, etherin exploits of chiualry, or in excercise of chase, you have cleanedepriued me of both, nether for any shew of slouth, nor defect ofcourage. With what eies wil the people behold me going & cōmingthrough y^estreets? your fubiects & citezens what will they judge of me?lastly what a one shal I seeme to bee vnto my Lady? Wil she notthinke herselfe to be coupled w^ta cow:for which causes ether permit me to hunt & make one in y^evoiage, or alleage some more wayghty & seryous reason why youretayne me. To whō the king his father made answere faying. Myneown good son, not for want of stomacke, nor for any dispeasuretowardes thee do I thus: but being moued hereto by the straungeterroure of a vision, which foreshewed to me y^tthy days were short & sodainly to be ended by y^epytiful dint of an yrō head. For this cause my son have I hastnedthy maryage, & restranyed thee of the sporte and pastime which isnow in hande: for y^tmy care is, whyle I am liuing to preserue thee from peril. Thon artmine only child swete Atis, for so much as of thy deafe:brother Imake non acount, thy life is my happines, thy death my misery. Towhich words the young prince answered. Deare father I hold youexcused, if prouoked by a dreame so rare you be much more diligent &watchful ouer mee: yet in my fācy you cōceaued it not aright. Itis needful then yt sithēce your grace hath mist the blanke, I layopen vnto youthe true meaning and sence of the dreame.

Thissleepy fantasie (say you) hath manased my death, by y^tpoynt of yron. But why, in this voyage ther be no hands whom I needeto dread:neither any head of yron which you ought to feare,had Ieither bene to dye by a touth, or such lyke some cause ther were ofdoubting the worst, how beit, y^tis the yron head that denounceth my death. For asmuch thē as wehave not to deale at this time w^tmen ther semeth vnto me no iust cause of absence, but y^ttogeather with the rest I may enter yt chase. Thou hast wonne me mychild (q Craesus) I can no longer resist, wherfore as vanquished bythee I frankly yeeld and leave it in thy power to proceede w^tthem on hunting, which whē he had spokē, he called for Adrastusthe Phrygian who appearing in presence was in these words assailed byhī. Sir Adrastus at what time you were afflicted w^tmisery & defiled w^timpurity, I yelded supply to your wāts & repurged yourwickednes hauing receaued you of a straunger into myne own house.which things, I do not obiect you as vnthankfull for my bountye, orvnmyndfull of my curtesye: But in that it behoueth you to deseruewell of mee, y^thave dealt so frendly with your selfe. I am in mynd to commit vntothy tender care the safeconduit and diligent garde of my sonne, whois going to hunt, least by fortune you encounter with any theues orrobbers that mynd your destruction. Besydes it is thy part toatchieue renown by valiant and worthye aduentures, as a thing naturalto thy linage, and conueniēt for thy strēgth. To whō Adrastusansweared, were it in my choise O king (quoth he) I woulde not moueone fote out of thy court: for y^tI deeme it not meete for one in my case so miserable to kepe companywith the happy and fortunat, from doing wherof, I have hethertoalwayes refrayned my selfe. But for as much as it semeth good to yourgracious highnes, whom I ought to gratify and shew my selfethankefull for so great and infinite benefytes receaued, I am readyher in to obay your wil.

Andfor that you have put me in trust with the health and welfare of thenoble gentleman your sonne, I auouch and undertake his safe andprosperous returne. Adrastus hauing ended his talke all thingesbeinge in a readynes, w^tapproued men and youthes of syngular courage: likewyse, houndes andchaunters of the best kynd, they marched on their way.

Nowwhen they were come to the hyll Olympus,³³they began to tract and sent the beast, whom hauyng spedily dislogedthey flocked about him lyke bees, & with their darts on eueryside threatned his death. In this gredy assault, y^estraunger lately clensed from bloudshed, whom they called Adrastus,discharged his dart at the Bore, and deceyued of his ayme, in stid ofhim strake the sonne of Craesus, who being wounded to death by y^eyron point fulfilled his fathers vision. Immediatly one of the routeretyred spedily to the court, & in short space arryuing atSardis, declared vnto y^eking the great misfortune & death of his sonne: wherw^tthe woeful father greatly affrighted, yet much more sorrowed for thisthat his sonne was slayne by the hands of him who by his meanes hadbene lately sanctifyed and clensed from slaughter. And in the middesof his anguish calling vpon the sanctifyinge God Iupiter, made apiteous complaynt of the wrong done vnto him by a stranger.Inuocating like wyse the Goddes of hospitality and friendship. Theone for because he entertayned a guest not knowing that he nourishedthe manqueller of his sonne: the other because hee had
foundhim whō he appointed to be y^ttutor & defender of his child a most pernicious and deadly enemy.scarsly had he ended his prayers, but the Lydians were at hand withthe dead corse, after whom immediatly folowed Adrastus who beingecomen in presence, and standynge before the wan, & gastly carcasof Atis stretching forth his armes besought y^tking to slea him presēly vpon y^ebody of his sonne, alleadgīg yt what for his former distres &euil misfortue in slayng his cleanser there was no cause why anylonger he shoulde live. Craesus albeit in great dolour & vexationof mynd, yet maued with pitty toward Adrastus, fayd thus. Thou hastaboundantly satisfyed mee (O straunger) in that by thyne own voycethou hast craued death. Neither art thou y^ecause of this heauy chaunce (saue that vnawares thou hast done it)but some one of the Gods which foreshewed vnto me, what was to come.After this Craesus caused his sō to be honourably and magnificiallyburyed. But³⁴Adrastus sonne of Gordius nephewe to Mydas the fatall enemye of hisbrother and his frend, when all was hush at the sepulcher, and eueryman had yelded him pardon, yet beinge greuously afflycted &gauled in cōscience slew himself miserably vppon thecoffine.

  Fory^ecruel mishap & destenie of his beloued Atis, Craesus bitterlywailed & lamēted y^espace of 2 yeares, which griefe he aftewards ended: at what time thegouernement of the Medes whas translated from Astyages son ofCyaxares, to the valiant king Cyrus sprong of Cambyses, & thatthe state of the Persians begā to encrease. Reuoluing & castyngwith himselfe what meanes he might vse to atchieue y^egouernment of Persia, before it grew to be bigger. In this quādaryit came into his brain to make trial of y^eprofecies as wel of those in Greece, as y^eother in Affrica, dispatchīg messēgers euery way, som to Delphos,others to Dodona, thyrdly to Amphiara^us& Trophoni^us.Ther were also y^tput thēselves in voyage to Brāchidae in y^eborders of Miletus. & these were the oracles of Greece: wheruntoCraesus sent for counsayle: others trauayled into Africa to theoracle of Ammon, to the same entent & purpose. Al had this endeto require y^esentēce & aduyse of y^eGods, yt if they were found to accord & agree in truth, nextly hemight sollicite then as touching his own affayres:whether theythoughte it expedient for him to goe in expedition agaynst y^ePersiās. Herevpō being fully resolued, he gaue his ambassadoursstratly in charge y^ttaking a note of the day of their egresse, and setting forth fromSardis, they should kepe iust accompt of the tyme following: &euery day question w^tthe oracle, demaunding of it what Craesus son of Haliattes king of y^tLidyans did y^tday, & geuing diligent hede to their aunswers: to tell him attheir returne, what answeare was made by y^eother rest of the oracles no mā reporteth: but at Delphos theLydians hauīg entered the temple to aske of the oracle according aswas geuenthem in commaundement by the kīg incontinētly Pythiabegan to salute thē in these verses.³⁵

Thedepthe of raginge seas,

Thenumber of the sande,

Themyndes intent (set woordes assyde)

Ieasly understand.

Asauoure rancke that comes

fromhedgehogges flesh I smell,

VVhichioyntly with the fatte of Lambes

isboylde in brasen kell.

Andas it bubbleth vp,

andbreathes in burning flame.

Therelies theron a lidd of brasse,

thatouerwhelmes the same.

Whichverses geuen by Pythia, and written of the Lydians, they made speedyretyre to Sardis. When y^trest also were come that Craesus had sent about: hee toke view ofeuery mans notes & liked none of thē:till at length hearing theoracle geuen by Pythia he greatlye allowed and worshipped it:³⁶of opinion that the only true prophecy and diuination was at Delphos,which hadde hit him so pat in all thinges he did. For after thedeparture of his messengers one day aboue ye rest he set his head awork about y^tfinding out of som deuise yt might be hard to tel, & mostdifficult to discry. Wherfore hauing shred the fleshe of an vrchine,or hedgehog together w^tthe fat of a Lamb, he caused thē both to be boyled in a brasen pot:the couer or lidde whereof was also of brasse. Such was the answerewhich Craesus receyued from Delphos, what wordes were geuen by theoracle of Amphiaraus, and what sentence hee returned. I cannotaffyrme, for asmuch as no other speach goeth thereof, saue that thisProphecye also was deemed by Craesus to very true.

Inshort tyme after he determined to do honour to the God of Delphos bygreate and magnificall sacrifyce:³⁷making oblatiō of three thousand choise cattel, such as mightlawfully be offered. Moreouer, he caused a greate stacke or pyle ofwood to be made, wherein hee burnt bedstyds of siluer andgold,likewyse golden maysors with purple rayment and coats ofexceeding value, hoping thereby to purchase to himselfe the graciousfauour and goodwill of the God. The lyke charge also hee layed vpony^eLydians, that euery man should consecrate those iewels which theypossessed most costly and precious. From which their sacrifice whenas streames of liquid and molten Golde distrayned in greataboundaunce, hee caused thereof to bee framed halfe slates, orsheardes, the longer sort as he entytled them, of sixe handfull, theshorter of three a hand breadth in thicknesse, amounting to thenumber of an hundred and feuentene. Wherof foure were of fayned goldwayghing twoo talents and a halfe, the rest of whighter golde, inwayght two talentes he made also the similitude of a Lyon in tryedand purged gold, waying tenne talentes: which Lyon at such tyme asthe temple was on fyre fell down from the halfe slates whereon itstood, and is now reserued in the treasury of Corinth, poysed at sixtalents and a halfe being molten from him. All which thinges whenCraesus had finished & brought to perfection he sent them in wayeof dedication to Delphos togeather with other giftes & presentes,which were these: two bookes very fayre and stately to see to, theone framed of gold the other wrough of syluer. Wherof y^efirst at the ingresse or entry into the temple was placed on theright hand. The other on the left, which at ye same tyme that thetemple was surprised by fire were taken down, & the best andfayrest of them being of Gold, & wayghing 8. talents and a halfe,wt a superplus & addition of 24 poundes was curefully garded inthe treasury of the Clazomaeniās. The other of syluer being keptunder the eues of the temple at a certayne corner of the churchcontayning 600. Amphorae, wherin wine was mingled for the feast ofTheophanius wrought (as the men of Delphos testify) by Theodorus ofSamos: which opinion I easily ascribe also for the singulerworkmanship therof. He presented besydes 4. siluer tunnes preseruedby the Corinthians, amonges their treasury. Furthermore two drinkingcuppes the one of gold, y^eother of siluer, of the which two the most principal of Gold hathingrauen in it a tytle whith doth argue yt to be y^egift of the Lacedaemonians, albeit contrary to truth, being geuen &dedicated by Craesus, howbeyt some one of Delphos (whose name thoughI very wel know, yet I will not descry it) willing to gratify theLacedaemonians, caused this posie to be entytled. True it is that theymage of the boy, through whose handes the water powreth down in atricklyng and gentle streame, was geuen to the temple by theLacedaemonians, but neither of the two cuppes are belōging to thē.Other giftes also of no fmall price dyd Craesus send at yt sameinftant, to wit, siluer rynges, with the shape and forme of a woman3. cubits in height, which y^einhabitantsof Delphos witnes to be y^eimage of her whom Craesus in his court employed y^eoffice of baking, herewith also were offered the chaynes of theQueene his wyfe, notsparīg so much her girdles & wastbands, alwhich he causedto be dedicated at Dephos. in like maner to y^eoracle of Amphiaraus, of whose māhod & misfortune he hadiointly bine enformed, he gaue a shield & speare of mere &solide golde, a quiuer also of the same metal, wel stored andreplenished with dearth, both which, euen to our age wer reserued aty^ecityThebes in y^etemple of Apollo Ismenius. They which were summoned to this famousambassage & conueyance of y^egiftes to Delphos & Africa, had this in Items to inquire of y^tGods:whether hemight direct an army against Persia or not, & inso doing to associate & ioyne vnto himselfe y^eaide & felowship of forrayn natiōs. The Lydians dismissed, wēttheir way, & hauing attayned to their iorneys end, & madeoblation of the presentes sent by the king, they demaunded y^eoracle on this wyse.³⁸Craesus king of the Lydians, & chiefe lord of many regions,beside esteeming these to be the onlye true & infallibleprophecies amōg men, hath sent you gifts worthy your diuynegodhead: requiring you counsayle and aduise, whether it be safe forhim to lead a power against y^ePersians vsing therin the helpe & company of other people. Thisquestiō being framed both the oracles agreed in sentence faying:that if so be he addressed an army agaynst the Persians he shouldfubuert and ouerthrow a mighty kingdome:³⁹counsayling him moreouer to seeke and procure the
aide of themost puissāt & coragious people of the Graeciās. Theseanswears geuen & receiued, Craesus was so puffed vp and exaltedin courage, yt already he swallowed and deuoured in hope the wholegouernment and empyre of Cyrus. Wherfore he returned a messēger wta fresh present to Pythia, and for euery one their abyding, (whom hehadde intelligence to be very many) 2. ounces of Gold.

Forwhich his magnificent bounty the people of Delphos to shew themselvesthankefull agayne, yeelded him the chiefe preheminece in counsaylingthe oracle, the principall place in sitting and a perpetuallpriuilege of a voice & suffragie, for any man that should beadopted into the society of Delphos on this maner.⁴⁰Craesus powred out his presente vppon the temple of Apollo,solliciting the God by a third demaund: for that hauing tryed theoracle to be true, hee now tooke his pentworthes in aduyse andcounsayle. His question at this tyme was dyrected only to know howlonge hee should enioy the kingdome of Persia.

whomPythia answeared in these wordes.

VVhenseate and Scepter of the Medes

vppona mule shall light,

Tostony Hermus valiant lyde

addressethy speedy flight.

Itshall be then no shame to flye

Andyeld to such an enemy.

Withthese verses Craesus was much more delyghted then with the former,assuredly hoping that y^etyme should neuer be wherin a Mule should gouerne the Medes in stidof a man and for the same cause neither hee nor his heyresshould atany tyme be driuen to forsake the kingdome.⁴¹His next care was how make frendes and copartners of those whichamong thee Grekes were of greattest might, & noblest mind, whōby curious enquyry he found to be the Lacedaemoniās &Athenians? y^tone being y^tmost excelēt amōg y^eDores, y^eother in the Nation of the Iones, without cōparison chefest. Ofthese 2 nations⁴²ther hath ben an ancient
and grounded opinion as concerningtheir virtue. Wherof the one toke their begynning and original ofPelasgos, the other of Helen, or Grece. The later of these two neueraltered their soyle, but alwayes kept the same place of abode Theother making often charge wandred very much.

Forin the tyme of king Deucalion they helde a coast called Phthiotisand under Dorus the sonne of Hellen, a certayne region bounding vpponthe mountaynes Ossa and Pyndus by name Istyaeotis, from whence beingcast out and chased by the Cadmeans, they inhabited a place inPyndus, which they cal Macedonus. How beit fleeting agayne fromthence into Driopis, they came at length to Poloponesus, & weresurnamed the nation Doricke. What toung or language the Pelagiansvsed, I cannot certaynly affyrme but by gesse y^tseemeth to have bene the verye same that those Pelasgians vse, whichsomewhat aboue the Tyrrhenians possesse y^tcity Crotona in time neighbours to them whom the now call Dores: atwhat tyme they peopled a region in Thessalye, the like may begathered by those Pelasgiās, that built the city Plaecia and Sylax,and were in league & felowship with the Athenians. By these Isaye we may rightly coniecture, that y^elanguage which was then in vsewhich the Pelasgians was very grosseand barbarous. For the Cretoniatae & Platiens differ in speechfrom those that lye next them: but betwene themselves they vse bothone toung, and euidently declare, that they kept the selfe samephrase and manner of talke, since their first comming into thosecountreys. so that if al the people of Pelasges were such, they alsothat dwelt in Attica, and the rest of the Pelasgian cityes whatsoeuerthat chaunged their name at their first arriual into Hellen, forgatalso & let slip out of memory their mother tounge. But theGreekes⁴³themselves (as I judge) have without chaunge from the beginningretained the same kynd of language, and wheras being feuered &distinguished, from the Pelasgians, they wer very weake and feeble inmight, of a smal and tender beginning: they grew to great increase,by concurse of many nations, and huge multitudes of the Barbariansrepayring thither. In
lyke sort I suppose that the people ofPelasgos being barbarous remayned at a stay without amplifyinge andaugmenting their strength and gouermnent.

Craesustherfore had notice that the countrye of Attica was inhabited bythese people and at that time iniuriously dealt withall, and kept infubiection by Pisistratus⁴⁴the son of Hipocrates who ruled then as a Tyrant at Athens, hysfather being a priuate man and bearyng no rule in the cōmon weale,whilst he beheld the games at Olympus, yt chaunced him to see a veryestraunge and most wonderfull miracle.

Forhauing prepared sacrifyce to the Goddes, the chalderne filled withflesh and water, without any fyre under it. boyled and played in suchsort, that the water ran ouer the brymmes of the vessayl which thingChilō a Lacedaemonian vewing who then happily was present, gaue himcounsayle in no wyse to marye a wyfe that was a breeder or of afruitful wombe: and if so be he were already maryed, hee willed himto forsake and renounce his wyfe: thyrdlye if by her he were induedwith a man childe to make ryddaunce
therof and conuay it away.But Hipocrates geuing litle care to his tale begat afterwardPisistratus, who in the broyle and controuersie betwene theinhabiters of y^tshore (chiefe wherof was Megacles sonne of Alcmaeon) and the peopleof the playne (who had to their captayne Lycurgus sprong ofAristolades) made a third tumult seeking and affecting a tyrannicalland vnlawful gouernment, and gatheryng togeather a company ofrebellions and seditious persons under pretēce of ayding the peopleof the mountains,
wrought this fubtiltye⁴⁵hauing wounded him selfe and hys mules he came flynging amayne intothe market place w^this charyot as on new escaped from his enemyes, whom they (as hefained) taking his iorney into y• countrey, soughte for to haveslayne. For this cause he made humble sute and petition to thepeoplefor y^egard and defence of his body, hauing tryed himselfe to be a valeauntCaptayne in the voyage, and setting forth agaynst Megara, at whattyme being generall of the army he toke Nysaea and atchieued otherfamous & valiant actes. The people of Athens induced to beleuehī appoynted for his sauegard & custody certain choise &tryed men of the citezens, who being armed not w^tspears but w^tclubs, were always wayting & attendant on him: w^twhōPisistratus geuing a violent assault to y^etown, & chiefe hold of the city, toke it & by yt meansvsurped y^tempire of y^eAthenians. Neuertheles w^toutchaunge or alteratiō of magistraties or lawes, obseruing stil y^tsame forme of gouernment, he adorned & beautified the City inexcellent manner.

Buthe had not long enioyed y^twhen as the souldiours of Megacles and Lycurgus came to a truce andconspiring togeather cast him out of the city.⁴⁶In this manner did Pysistratus, first aspire to the chiefe rule ofAthens, which he was eftsones constrayned to leave, before histyrannye had taken roote. They tyme was not long after but hysaduersaryes renewed their quarel, and fell at varyaunce and debate afresh, wherwith Megacles being tyred, dispatched an harrold of peaceto Pisistratus offring him his daugher in meryage with condition ofthe kingdome. Which hee not refusing, they deuysed a meanes torestore him againe (in myfancy) very fonde and ridiculous, especiallyyf these men (being of the number of the Athenians, who had the nameto be the most wyse and prudent people of the Graetians) pleasedthemselves onely with a deuise so foolish and base.⁴⁷

Therelyeued in the Trybe of Paean a woman named Phya of stature fourecubits high, wanting three fingers. furnished with seemly beauty,whom hauing arayed in cōpleite harneis, they placed in a Charyotgallantly attyred to the shew, in which habite as she passed throughy^estreets of the citye, there ranne some before hir cryinge: ye peopleof Athens receyue willingly Pisistratus againe, whom Mineruaesteeming worthy the greatest honor amongest men, hath in her ownperson brought back into the tower. The
citezens supposing ithad bene the Goddesse indede, bowed themselves and honouryng heradmitting agayne Pisistratus for their liefe soueraygne. Pysistratushauinge in such sort recouered the kingdome vppon a couenant madewith Megacles toke his daughter to wife. But hauing 2 yoūg youthesto his sonnes, and hearyng moreouer the whole lineage of Alcmaeon tobe atteinted and guilty of an heinous cryme agaynst y^eGoddesse:vnwilling for that cause to have any children by his newwife, accompanied with her vnlawfully and agaynst nature which beinga long tyme by her concealed and kept secrete: at last, either vppondemaund, or of her own free will, she reuealed it to her mother, whoalso made her husband acquaynted with the matter. Megacles taking inill part the slaunder & contumelie done him
by Pysistratus,brought him in displeasure & hatred with y^esouldiours:⁴⁸which thing he perceiuing fled y^ecountrey, and came to Eretria to aske counsayle of his sonnes.Amongest whom the sentence of Hyppias seeming to be the best wherbyhe was incited once again to lay clayme to the kingdom, they made agathering throughout all cityes, with whom they had any smalacquayntance: many of the which made liberall contribution, &especially the Thebans. In fyne to comprise the matter in breefe, y^etime was come, & al things were in a readines for his returne.For out of Peloponnesus there resorted to him certaine Arguiesmarching under pay: & a captayne of Naxos named Lygdamis, who ofhis own accord made offer of his seruice being very wel furnished w^tmen and money: which gaue thē great alacrity and encouragmēt togo forward in their attempts. In so much as setting forth fromEretria the II. yeare after his flighte from Athens, fyrst of all hetoke the city Marathon in Attica, wher hauing incāped his army,there repayred to him diuers seditious felowes out of the city, &out of al y^etribes very many who liked better a tyrannical empyre thē a freestate. Whlst Pisistratus leuied many for his affaires, & heldhimselfe at Marathon y^eAthenians which kept within the city, made light of the matter, vntilsuch tyme as hearing him to be dislodged frō thence, & to drawtowardes y^ecitye, they put themselves in array, and went forth to encounter him.Wherfore with might and mayne they valiauntye set forward tomayntayne and defend their liberty agaynst the enemy. LikewysePisistratus and hys confederates came fiercely agaynst the city tillboth the armyes met ioyntlye in one fielde, where approachinge neerevnto the Temple of Mynerua Pallenis, and disposinge all hys Armye inorder there came vnto him Amphilytus Acarnen a prophet, who beinginspired with a deuine motiō, vttered this oracle in verse.⁴⁹

Thebayte is layed, the nets are cast,

Thefish inclosde shall play apace

VVhenPhoebe from the glistring skyes

Inview reueales her golden face.

WhichPisistratus perceiuing to be a prophecye of hys good successeimmediately gaue the ••cet and encountered y• Athenians whichwere come forth of the city, who hauing then newly dyned, and beingpartly set to dice, partly taken with sleepe, welny withoutresistaunce he put them to flight and wanne the field. Neuertheles inthe pursuite he found out a way how nether the Athenians might bespoyled in such sort, neither yet ioyne themselves and come togeatheragayne to his further trouble. Wherefore hauing
caused certayneof his seruauntes to mount on horsebacke, he sent them spedely afterthe people to bid thē bee of good courage, and euery one to departto his own house. Whervnto the willingly obaying, Pisistratus raygnedthe thyrd tyme in Athens,⁵⁰establishing & fortifyīg the tyranny as wel by supply offorrayne power, as by reuenues of hys money which he leuyed partlyfrom his own countrey men, and in part also from the riuer strymon.In like manner the children of those men that yeelded not the fyrst,but bare the
brunt of the battell, he toke in hostage and sentthem ouer to Napos: which Isle after he had conquered & broughtin fubiection he committed the gouernment & administratiōtherof to Lygdanus: hauing heretofore also halowed & purged theIsle Delos according to the oracle, which hee clensed in this sort.Out of all those places that weare with in the view and prospect ofthe temple he caused the corses and deade Bodyes to be digged vp andburyed in another place of the Island.

Inthis wise some if the Athenians being slayne in battayle, other fledaway togeather with the houshold and family of Megacles. Pisistratusobtained y^tseat roial: whom Craesus understode at the same tyme to beare rule inAthens. He heard moreouer that the Lacedaemonians, hauing escaped ascowring, were triumphant conquerous ouer y^eTegeates. For in the raygne of Leon and Hegesicles princes of Sparta,the Lacedaemonians hauing right goodeuent in al their enterprises andaffaires, were commonly repulsed and fayled by the Tegeates. Theselfe same before tyme were the most disordered and lawlesse peopleof the
Graetians, vsing no cōmunity or felowship eitherbetwene themselves or with straungers.

Notwithstandingthey were reduced to a more orderlye kynd of gouernment by Lycurgus⁵¹a mā of approued virtue amongest the people of Sparta. Who commingto the oracle at Delphos and being entered into the tēple, Pithyasaluted him in these termes.⁵²

VVelcomevnto my pallace noble knight,

Belouedof Ioue and those that rule aboue:

ForGod or man to blase thee out aright

Indoubtful waues my wandering mynd dothmoue.

Yetto the first by force I do enclyne,

Anddeme thy state not earthly but diuyne.

Someare of opinion y^tthe lawes and statutes which are now in force with theLacedaemonians, were vttered & told him by Pythia. Howbeitthemselves affyrme that Lycurgus being both tutor and vucle to youngLeobotus Kynge of the Spartans brought these ordinances out of Crete.For no sooner was he instituted gouernour to the young prince, but hechaunged all the lawes and established new, making a diligent prouisothat no man should break them. He made also decrees for warre,ordayning the society of the twenty magistrates, likewyse thecolledge or fellow of the thirtye men,so called. Lastly hedistributed and deuyded the Citizens into trybes and companies, notomitting the appointment of certayne protectours in defence of thecommons agaynst the noble named Tribuns of the people, erectingemoreouer y^esenate and counsayle of the Ephor, with an order of other sages andwyse men. By this meanes the state of the Lacedaemonians was reformedby Lycurgus: whom after his death by the buildīg vp of a famoustemple in his name, they honoured & reuerenced as a God. Andbeinge resident in a countrey verye populous and plentifull, theymade an inrode and inuasion into other regions with very good fortuneand lucky successe in battayle. Wherfore as professed enemyes topeace, supposing themselves to excell the Arcadians in might andcourage they were in mind to denounce warre agaynst Arcadye askingein that case the aduyse of the oracle.

Towhom Pythia made answeare.⁵³

Youseeke to conquere Arcadye,

Yoursuite is great, but all in vayne:

VVheremany men contented lye,

Byacornes swage their hungars payne.

Ashott as fire, as hard as oke

Vnfitto beare a forreine yoke:

Yetsince I cannot say thee nay,

Ifreely yeeld into thy hand

Afertill coast and fit for pray

Thecompasse of Tegea Land

VVherethou shalt measure by a rope

Thefruites of thy desyred hope.

Thisansweare geuen, the Lacedaemonians leauing the other parts of Arcadieleuied a power against the people of Tegêa, carying with themchaynes and fetters, in full hope (albeit deceaued by the doublemeaning of the oracle) to have brought them into captiuity.Notwithstandinge, hauing coped in fight with the enemy they wereforced to forsake the fielde and take themselves to their fete. Suchof them as were taken in the chase alyue, fast bound & inchaynedin the same gyues which they brought with them, were constrayned tomeasure out theire dwellinges in the playne of Tegêa with a ropether to inhabite. The fetters wherwith they were clogged induredwelny to our age, being hung vp in the temple of Minerua Alea inTegêa. Thus in the former conflictes and battayles theLacedaemonians, had alwayes the worst hand of the people of Tegeasaue in the tyme of Craesus, and under their rulers Anaxandrydes andAriston in whose raygne and dominion they gaue the better of theirenemyes in this sort. Aggreeued at their often foyles and continuallrepulces receyued by their aduersaryes, they went in embassage toDelphos to witt, of the Oracle, which of all the Gods they mightplease, to become conquerours ouer Tegêa. The question propoundedPythia willed them to serch out the bones of Orestes sonne ofAgamemnon, and translate them into their countrey.

Butbeing ignorant in what part of the world to make inquirye theyestsones returned othermessengersto require of the God where, or in what place Orestes lay.

Wheretoanswer was made on this maner.⁵⁴

InArcady there lyes

anample coast Tegêa hyght,

VVheretwo wyndes vse to blowe,

andbreath their blastes with raging might.

VVhereforme to forme is foe,

andblow to blow an enemy.

Heredoth Orestes lye,

whomfynd and take the victory.

Whichthe Lacedaemonians hearyng were neuer y^ewyser: who albeit they had made curious search aboute him neuerthelesthey found him not. Till at length one Lyches a Spartan of the numberof those whiche are called free knightes, by good fortune escryed theTombe. These free Knightes, are fyue souldiours of the Spartanhorsemen, wel stricken in yeares, which annually have a release fromthe field: who being in this wyse by the common consent of thehorsemen priuileged and dismissed, may in no wyse for that yeareremayne idle, but are employed in iourneys and voyages, some one way,some another.

Oneof these was the forenamed Lyches, who by the helpe aswel of acurrant and ready wyt as of a gratious and prosperous happe, came toknowledge wher Orestes lay.⁵⁵For this beinge the yeare wherein the people of Tegêa and Sparta,hadde entercourse of marchaundise one with an other, by fortunecomming into a smiths forge he behelde the smith himselfe working onyron, who on the other side perceauing Lyches to be very intentyueand in maruailing wyse to view his worke: a litle pausing, fayd. Thoustraunger of Lacedaemon, if this base worke in yron seeme so rare inthy sight: thou wouldest much more have wondered to have seene thatwhich I did. For going about in this litle court to dig a well or pitfor water, y^twas my chaunce to light vpon a sepuicher 7 cubites long. Which when Isaw, supposinge that men were neuer of greaterstature then they areat these days. I opened the Coffyne and found theriu a dead Carkasseof equall length: wherof hauing taken measure I couered it agayne.Lyches liftening to the discourse of the smith, coniectured by theoracle that it should be Orestes: construinge the smithes Bellowesfor the two mynds wherof the oracle spake, the hammer and anuyle hethought to be the two formes to each other foes: and one blow enemyto an other he toke to be the yron wroughte and beaten by the stroakeof the hammer, consideryng that yron was found out to yt h••t anddamage of men. Pouderyng these thinges with himselfe, he returned toSparta and opened the matter to the Lacedaemoniās who perceiuingthe case to be likely, wrought this pretēce, causing of set purposea quest to proceede vppon their cicizen Lyches, they condemned himfor some offence, and banished him the soyle, who incontinentlyretyryng to Tegêaand lamenting his miserable case to the smyth,couenaunted with him for the hyre of his base court, for asmuch as herefused altogeather to alienate it from himselfe, and sell itoutryght. Wher hauing made his abode for certaine daies he discoueredthe sepulcher, and taking out Orestes bones, stale priuily away andcame to Sparta. From that tyme forward the Lacedaemonians ioyningbattaile with Tegêa, remayned victors, and alwayes after obtaynedthe glory of y^tfield,hauing besydes a great part of Peloponnesus in their power anddominion.

Ofal which thinges Cresus⁵⁶not ignoraunt, furnished an Ambassage to Sparta with greate giftes,to desyre theire ayde and felowship in war, whither being come theyvsed these wordes. We are sent from Craesus kyng of the Lydians andlord of other nations, who sayth thus. Ye noble Lacedaemonians,wheras I am prouoked by the Gods to enter league and frendship wt theGraetians, amongest whom you have the report to be the most warlikeand valiaunt. I deemed it conuenient (without fraude or gunile, todesire your ayde and assistauuce in the enterpryse which I have inhand. The Lacedaemonians right glad & ioyous of theyr arryualland gentle entreaty, hauing also intelligence of the oracle, enteredbands with them of perpetual hospitality and frendship. Being alsonot vnmyndful of the bounty of kyng Craesus shewed before tymetowards their nation. For hauing sent to Sardis for prouision ofgolde, to make the ymage of Apollo, which is situated in Thornax apart of the Lacons countrey. Craesus without counterchaunge freelybestowed the gold vppon them. For which cause, the Lacedaemonians inthat also principally aboue the rest of y^tCraecians he had made choyse of their amity, willingly assented anddeclared themselves to be readye at all assayes. Lykewyse to auoydingratitude: in lue of his presentes they returned vnto him a brasenVessell, wroughte about the brymmes wich the pictures of diuerfewylde beastes, containing the measure of 30 Amphorae, which for oneof these causes that we shal alleage, was neuer brought to Sardis. The Lacedaemonians testify, that the vessel being in voyage toSardis, was intercepted by y^epeople of Samos, wher they lay at rode. The Samians assayling them bya fleete of gallies. Contrariwise they of Samos affyrme, that theLacedaemonians beinge in the waye to Sardis, and hearing newes thatCraesus was takē, and the whole city sacked by
the Persians,sold the vessel to certayne priuate: men of Samos, who madededicatiō therof in the temple of Iuno. But immediatly returning toSparta, they fayned themselves to be robbed by the Samyans, and thevessel to bee taken away by force.

Tomake briefe, Craesus deluded by the oracle, prepared an armye agaynstCappadocia, in hope to fubdue Cyrus,and the whole power of Persia.

Whilesthe was busied in these affayres, a certaine Lydian named Sandanis⁵⁷a manne of singular regarde for hys wysedome, and for this sentenceand aduise much more estemed then before, counsayled the king on thismanner. Thou determinest a voyage agaynst those (O king) which arewrapped & clothed in beastes skynnes: not farynge as they would,but as they can, abyding in a region vnfruitful and barreyne. Theirdrink is water not wyne, their chiefe foode is figges: besides thewhich they have nothīg good. From whom as thou canst take nothingif thou conquer, so consider I beseech thee how much thou shalt leeseif thou be conquered, if once they tast of our swete, then they wildayly swarme about vs, and wil neuer be driuen from vs. Truly Ithanke the Gods that they neuer put into the heads of y^tPersiansto inuade the Lydians. By which wordes, notwithstanding he litlepreuayled with Cresus. True it is, y^tthe Persians⁵⁸before they vanquished Lydia, were far from all elegancy andsumptuous dayntines. Furthermore the Capadocians were called by theGreekes, Syrians. Who before the empyre came to the Persians, didhomage to the Medes, but at that present acknowledged Cyrus for theyrKinge. The dominion of the Medes, and Lydyans is
deuyded andsundered by the ryuer Halis,⁵⁹which taking his beginning from the hill Armenus first washeth theCilicians, and secōdly the Maciens lying on the ryght hand, lastlythe Phrygians declyninge towarde the least, after this, wynding tothe North pole, that floweth betwene the Cyrians, Cappadocians, andPaphlagonians, waterynge the coast of Cappadocia on the right hande,and the borders of Paphlagonia on the lefte. In this sort the floudHalis doth part and distermine all thē hygh places of Asia, fromthe sea Cyprian, vnto the waters of the Euxine sea the backe, andhinder part of this region is in length fyue days iourney for a lightand spedy footeman.

Craesustherefore speeding himselfe towarde Cappadocia, was greatlyedesyrous⁶⁰both to ioyne vnto his own kyngdome a land so battle and plentifull,and then also to reuenge Cyrus in the behalfe of Astyages sonne ofCyaxares king of the Medes his nere kynsman: whom Cyrus yssued ofCambyses had taken captiue in y^efield. The meanes wherby kynred and alliance grew betwene the twokings Craesus and Astyages, were these. The grasiers of Scithia⁶¹and such as were conuersant in reysing and breeding cattel falling todebate and sedition betwene themselves, a certayne company of themfledde into the lande of the Medes, at what tyme the Scepter was heldby Cyaxares, sonne of Phraeortas nephew of Deioses. To whom theScythians humbling themselves were at the begynninge much made of,and grewe in credite and fauoure with the kinge, in so much that hecommitted to their charge certayne younge ympes to instruct in theScithian language, and to trayne vp in the art and facultye ofshootinge.⁶²In tract of tyme the Scythians being accustomed daily to hunt, andfor the most part wont to bryng home some thing with them for a pray,notwithstanding otherwhyles returned empty: which the kingperceyuing (who in his rage was very fierce & ceuell, sharplyrebuked them) and in reprochfull and tauntynge wordes toke them vpvery short, wherat the Scythians stomackes being moued supposingthemselves to be hardlye dealt withall by the kyng, toke cou*sayletogeather, that hauing stayne some one of the children whom theytaught, they might serue him vp to the kyng in lieu of Venisonor some other wylde and sauage pray: which done, they would putthemselves to flight to Sardis and become supplyaunts to Halyattessonne of Sadyattes for theyr defence & safetye, which fell outaccordingly. For aswel Cyaxares as others that were present at theTable, tasted of the flesh, and the
Scythians hauing committedthe villanye, iucontinentlye fledde to Haliattes, whom Cyaxaresrechalinging, & Haliattes refusing to surrender and yeelde themvp, ther arose warre betwene the Medes and Lydians which indured y^tspaceof v. yeares. In the which their broyle and discord the Medessometime atchieuynge the conquest, it happened them to encounter in anight battell. For in the sixt yeares the armyes comming to the closeand the fight being equal: sodeinly the day became nighte,⁶³which chaunge and alteration of the day. Thales Milesius foretold tothe people of Ionia presining the selfe same yeare wherein it shouldhappē.
The Medes and Lydians perceauing the day to be ouercastwith darkenesse, abandoned the field: and by meanes of Syennesis ofCilicia, and Labynetus of Babilō⁶⁴were brought to accord and composition of peace, who hastening tohave them sworne, and to establish their agreement by the bands ofaffinitye, they decreed that Astyages sonne of Cyaxares shouldespouse and take to wyfe Ariena daughter of Halyattes. supposing thecondition would not long remayn sound and inuiolate, were it notconfirmed by the sure and infolluble knot of alyaunce. In strickingleague and concluding peace⁶⁵aswell other thinges vsuall to the Greekes, are obserued by thesenations,as also cutting their armes tyll y^tbloud issue out,which ech of them lycke vp and sucke together.

ThisAstyages⁶⁶graundfather to Cyrus by the Mothersside was by him held prysoner andwent under custody, for such cause as in the sequele of this historyshalbee declared: Craesus therefore moued with displeasure, requyredof the Oracle whether he might proclaime war agaynst Persia, &hauing receiued a double & deceitful answere, deeming it to makew^thim, went out w^this army to assaile & fight against a certain part of the Persiādominiō. And approaching neare to the Riuer Halis (as I judge) heetrailed and convewed ouer his armye by brigges built vppon the water:but as some of the Graecians affyrme, hee passed the ryuer
bythe means of Thales Milesius⁶⁷who deuised another way. For Craesus standīg at a bay, vncertaynwhat way to passe the water (for asmuch as the brygges which are nowmade for passage as then were none at al) Thales Milesius being thenin the campe, inuented a meanes to chaunge the course of the water,and cause the ryuer that ranne on the righte side of the army to flowon left. Hee made therefore to bee dygged a mighty deepe trench ordytch, begynninge aboue the tentes, and procedinge in compas lyke aMone on the backside of the host, whereinto the water hauing issuefrō the proper chanel, became so low and fleet, that the ryuer
onboth parts was passable, & easy to be waded.

Someholde opinion that the olde course of the riuer was hereby whollyaltered and became drye, from whom I dissent. For by what meanes theregresse of Craesus into Lydia could the armye have retyred ouer.Craesus hauing recouered the other syde of Halis came into a part ofCappadocia named Pteria, safely situated and neere adioyning to thecity Synopis that lyeth to the sea Euxinum, where hauing encamped hiswhole power, hee spoyled, and foraged the mannours and ferme placesof the Syrians, fubduinge also and sacking the city Pteria. More ouerhe vanquished many other cityes round about, casting out the Syriansthat
neuer offended him:wherof⁶⁸Cyrus hauinge aduertisement gatheryng an armye of the myddle part ofhys countrey, & came out to meete him, notwithstanding, first hesollicited the Iones to reuolt from Craesus, which they refusing, heemarched on forward, and encamped agaynst the Lydians.

Wherethe Armyes being in viewe, the one Armye to the other, and hauingegeuen signes of defyaunce, they ioyned in force and cruell battayle,wherein many beinge slayne on either syde, and Nyght drawyng verynere, they blew the retrayte, the victory remayning on neither part.But Craesus laying for his excuse the fmall number of his men (as farexceeded by Cyrus in multitude of Souldiours) the next day following(the Persians abstaining from battayle) he moued his campe andrepayred backe to Sardis, in mynd to summon and call out theAegiptians according to couenaunt, with whose king Amasis he hadconcluded a league before euer he attempted the Lacedaemonians,purposing besides to challenge the helpe of the Babilonians promisedand auowed to him by league and composition. Not forgetting also toclayme the assistaunce of the Lacedaemonians, appoynting them a dayto bee present at Sardis:that hauing made a generall assembly of allhis power, and taken his ease that winter, he might ymmediatlye atthe beginninge of the next springe lay charge to the kingdome ofPersia by a new and fresh assault. Whilst hee leueled at this mark,he sent abroad heroldes to his league fellowes and friendes, withearnest requeste that the fifte moneth after they would cometogeather, and mete at Sardis. Lyke wyse the souldiers stipendary,which hee hyred, and conducted to ayde him agaynst the Persians, hedisfeuered and sent away: nothing doubtinge least Cyrus (with whom soshort tyme before he had fought euen hand & without disuantage)should aduenture to come nere & approche to Sardis.⁶⁹In this sort reasoning the case and debating with himselfe ytfortuned that all the fuburbes & places conterminate to the citywere filled with aboundance of Snakes, and Adders: which the horseleauing their pasture & foode swallowed greedily and inmoustruous sort eate vp and deuoured. Which Craesus adiudging (as itwas) to be a tokē on premonstration of some straungethingsto come, sente to the southsayers & Diuiners.The messengers y^ewent were wysemēy^esence, and signification of theeuentthey neuer brought newes therof to Craesus, who before their returneto Sardis was taken captyne. The wyse men Telmisses declared vntothem,⁷⁰y^eCraesus should be set vppon with a forrayne army, which shouldevanquish and fubdue the town borne and natural people of thecountrey, alleaging that y^esnakewas the child of the earth, properly bred and ingen: dred of theground, but the horse, an enemy, and a forrainer. This meanyng andexposition the Telmisses sent backe agayne to Craesus but nowcaptiue, altogeather ignorant of
these thinges which befell vntohim, and also to hys Citye Sardis.

Cyrusa certayned of the determination of Craesus that presently after theconflict at Pteria hee was in purpose to disperse & scatter hisarmy, thought it expedient in al hast possible to remoue hys host toSardis, to intercept and preuent his ennemy, or euer he couldassemble the Lydians agayne, which aduise he altogeather allowed, &put in practise and spedely arryuing into Lydia with his power washimself a messenger unto Craesus of his comming. Craesus cast into agreate pensiuenes, and anguish of mynd, to se himselfe so fardeceiued of his accompt: notwithstanding put the Lydians in array tobattayle.

Atthat tyme⁷¹there was no nation in the worlde, neither in value & mightneither in haughty courage & magnanimity equall and comparable tothe Lydians, who commonly warred on horseback as most expert &nymble in ryding: weaponed with speares of a meruailous length.

Thefield wherin the fight was committed lyeth beforethe citye Sardis:through the which, both other ryuers
have a pleasant anddelyghtsome course, and chieflye the famous ryuer Hellus, flowyngeinto the mayne streame called Hermus, which taking hys yssue andfirst head from the sacred Mountayne of the holye mother Dyndimena,ys caryed wholly into the sea, not far from the City Phocyas.

Inthis field Cyrus beholding the Lydians prepared to the battayle, andgreatly dreading the prowesse and puissaunce of theyr horsemen,determined by the counsayle of Harpagus the Mede,⁷²to put in execution this straunge deuise. Hauing gathered togetherall the Camelles that folowed the Army, and disburdened them of theyrloades of corne and vessels wherewith they wer charged, he causedcertain mē to sit on them apparelled in a robe accustomably worneof the Perfian Horsemen. Whome in this sorte attyred hee gaue incharge to march in the forefronte of the battayle agaynst thehorsemen of the Lydians. After these incontynently followed thefootemen:and in the laste ranke were placed the horsemen, into whychorder and aray hauing directed and contryued his Armie, he straightlycommaunded them to spare none of the Lydians, but whomesoeuer theyfound to make resistaunce, him to dispatch and slay presently:Craesus onely excepted, towards whome he warned that no violenceshould be shewed how peruerslie soeuer he behaved himselfe.

Thischarge geuen, he caused his Camels⁷³to proceede forward agaynst the Lydian ryders, to this ende: for thata horse is very much afrayd of a Camell, and can neither away withthe sight of him, nor abyde his smel. Which pollicy he founde out todefeate Craesus of his greattest hope, whose chiefest confidēce heknew to be placed in the strēgth and virtue of his horsemen. Asigneof battayle being geuē, and the armies comming to the close: theLydian coursers what with the sight and sent of the camels, fleddbacke and retyred violently: which clean discouraged Craesus, and puthim out of hope. But the Lydians nothing abashed therat as hauinglearned the cause, alyghted spedily, and buckled with the Persians onfoote, tyll at length manye fallyng on ether side, they were forcedto flye and gard them selves with the walles of the city, beinginuyroned by the Persiās with a siege: which siege Craesussupposing to put of and delay for a long time, sent other messengersfrom y^ewalles to his freyndes and confederates: hauinge by the firstset
down and prefyned the fift moneth ensuinge for the tyme oftheir assembly. Contrariwise by these he requested and desyred matureand speedy ayde, being held at a baye, and inclosed within the wallesand gates of hys citye. The messengers undertoke a speedy course, aswell to other nations as to the Lacedemonians his assured frendes.

Itfortuned that at the same tyme,⁷⁴there fell a strife and contention betwene the men of Sparta andArgos, about a certayne field called Thyrea, which grounde, albeitproperly belonging to the Arguies, was vnlawfullye helde backe andretayned by the Spartans. For what land soeuer in the mayne bendethand inclyneth toward the West, as far as Malea is peculier andappertinent to the Argiues with the tytle also and dominion ofcertayne Isles, in the number wherof is reckoned Cythera. Therforethe people of Argos gathering an army for the recouerye of theire ownterritory and freedome: they fel to condition for the
matter tobe tryed out by cōbratry of three hundred choise men on either sydeconsenting and agreeing that the right of the lande should follow thevictorers.

Prouidingmoreouer that both the armyes should forsake the field and retyrehome: least beinge presente they might be moued to succour ye partthat was most distressed The couenant ratifyed and confirmed betwenethem, they departd each to theyr own cityes.

Thepartyes syngled out, and delected from both armyes, remayning behynd,gaue byter assault each to other, & continued the combate tilsuch tyme as of sixe hundred, there were left but three men alyue thebattayle beinge interupted and broken of by the nere approach andcomming of the euening. The remaynētes were these. Two of theArgyues, Aleinor, and Chromius, who in manner of conquerours hastenedtheir steps to Argos one of the Lacedaemonians named Othryades whodispoyling the deade bodyes of the Argyues, caried their weapons tohis tentes keeping himselfe in his due order and array. The next daythe cause being known, the people of both Cityes were present in y^efield laying equall clayme to the victory. The Argyues, for that themen on their syde escaped, and remayninge alive were more in number.The Lacedaemonians, for that the Argyues fled the field, and theirmen onely abode behynde, taking the spoyle of his slayne enemyes.Incontinently fallyng from sowre woordes to sad blowes, many werelost on both parts and the conquest atchieued by the Lacedaemonians.since which time the people of Argos shauing their heads (wheras ofnecessity before time they nourished their hayre) made a law with asolemne and religious vowe, neuer to suffer their lockes to grow, ortheir women to weare gold before they had recouered the field ofThyrea. On the other side the Lacedaemonians decreed from that tymeforward to goe long headed contrary to their former vse &custome. But Othryades the onely suruiuour of 300. Spartans, mouedwith shame and greefe, that the rest of hys cōpany were vanquishedby the Argyues wt his own hands ended his own lyfe in the field ofThyrea.

Whylethese thinges were fresh at Sparta, the Lydian herauld arryued tointreat ayde and helpe for Craesus, whō they hauing heard, thoughtmeete without delay to assyste, and succoure him. Wher••oreputtynge themselves in a readines and being at the point to takeshipping to Sardis:
there came another messenger with newes,that the wall & bulwarke of the Lydians was scald, and Craesushimselfe takē alyue. Wherat the Lacedaemonians greatly greuedesteeming themselves to have suffered no fmall losse, altered theintent of their purposed voyage.

Furthermorethe conquest and winning of Sardis, was in this sort.⁷⁵

Cyrushauing layne at a siege the space of 14. days, sent coursers abouthis army, and propounded a great reward to him that first scaled y^ecity wall, which being oftentimes in vayne enterprysed by the wholearmye: when the rest were quiet, a certain Mardane by name Hyraeades,sought speedy meanes to ascend and clymbe the wall on that part whichwas naked and vndefended of the Lydians: neuer fearyng or suspectingleast the citye should be taken on that side, which for theroughnesse and craggines therof was demed inuincible.⁷⁶On which syde onely Meles first kynge of Sardis had not lead hysbastard sonne Leo: The wise men of Telmisses holding opinion thatvppon what part of the walles soeuer this Leo passed, they shouldebecome inexpugnable, and not to be vanquished. Meles therfore by allparts of the citye walles wherby any daungerous assault mighte layeto the Town, lead and trayned hys vnlawful sonne: omitting that sydeonly which lieth toward Tmolus, for that he thought it to be of powerand strength sufficient agaynst the vyolent charge and counterpeaseof the enemy. From this part the Mardane Hyraeades hauinge marked aLydian descending the day before to recouer his helmet thithertombled down, considered with himself,
and began to attempt thelyke. After whom followed other of the Persians, who consequently werpursued by the rest in great routes and multitudes. By which meanesy^ecitye Sardis was taken and sacked.

Amidsthis distresse and extreamemisery ther chaunced to Craesus a verye rare and straunge miracle:hauinge a dumbe sonne of whom we made mention before, hee toke greatecare and wroughte all meanes possible, whyle hys kingdome flourishedto recure his malladye, approuinge and trying aswell other thinges,as also the aduyse and sentence of the oracle. To whose demaundPythia made this aunswere.

Thouvnaduysed Lydian King

whatmakes thee take such care

Toyeeld vnto thy silent sonne

thefreedome of his toung?

Thegayne God wot is not so greate

thoumayst it wel forbeare:

Theday drawes on when he shall speake,

forwhich thou nedes not long,

Nowthe walles beinge taken a certayne souldiour of y^ePersians came vyolently towards Craesus to have done him to death,not supposing him to have bene the king. Whom he perceyuinge,neuerthelesse regarded not the daunger making no difference whetherhee perished by sword or otherwyse. The dumbe sonne seeyng theimminent perill of the King hys father, and fearynge his death, brakeout in these wordes fayinge.⁷⁷

Holdthy handes (Good fellow) slay not king Craesus. Which being the firstwordes that euer he spake, hee had alwaies after the ready vse andpractise of his toung. Thus Craesus and hys city Sardis, after he hadraygned 14. years and abiden so many days siege, fell into the handsand power of the Persians: hauing lost a great kingdome, accordyng tothe voyce and sentence of the oracle,⁷⁸being in this sort apprehended, he was brought to king Cyrus, whocausing his hands & feete to be clogged with great & weightygiues of yron, set him in ye midst of a woodpile, made for the nonceaccōpanied wt 14. children of the Lydians: determinīg to offerthese first fruites to ye Gods ether for perfourmāce &accōplishment of some vow or for profe or tryall whether any of theGods (vnto whose honor & seruice he understode Craesus to begreatly addicted) woulde saue & deliver hī frō y^efyre. These things are cōmonly spred & reported of Cyrus.

Inthis most yrksome & lamentable case whiles y^ekynge of y^eLydiās stode on ye heape or pyle of fagots he bethought himself ofthe words and faying of Solon:⁷⁹who lead by the diuine instinct of some heauenly influence, had toldhim before that in the number of the liuinge, there was no man sosingular that might be named happy. Wherof being admonished in hismynd, and fetching from the bottom of his hart a deepe and streyningsigh, by report wept bitterly, & three fundrye tymes cryed outaloude vppon the name of Solon, which Cyrus hearing willed theinterpreters to aske him whom he called vppon. To whom Craesus madeno answeare at all, vntil such tyme as beinge compelled byconstraynt, he fayd. I named him whom I had rather then al the wealthin the worlde, hee had lykewyse talked with all those who beingeplaced in the hyghest degree of honoure have the chiefe gouernment ofthe kingdomes on Earth, which woordes for that hee vttered not halfeplaynlye, and to the cleare and perfyt understanding of those whichwere attentyue, and listened vnto him, they vrged him a fresh to makea recytall therof agayne. At whose inftant and importunate halingebeinge now constrayned to begynne his speech anew, he told them how along tyme synce Solon an Athenian, arriued at his court: whobeholding his infinite treasure & aboundance of wealth made veryelight accompt thereof as a thinge of smal and base value, in so muchthat whatsoeuer he had spokē and pronounced of him, the same in duemeasure had fallen out and comen to euent. Which
thingesneuerthelesse, were not peculiarly fpoken by him but generally ofthe whole nation and company of men: and chiefly of those whichplease themselves here on earth in a pleasant dreame and singularcōtentment of happy blisse. Whyles Craesus spake these thinges, andthe fagottes had taken fyre on euery syde: Cyrus⁸⁰understandynge by the expositers of the Lydian toung what he hadsaid, was moued with compassion, knowinge himselfe also to bee but aman who was now in hand to frye another to death by fyre, that oflate days was nothinge inferiour to himselfe in power and prosperity.And fearing vengeaunce for the same and consydering the instablecourse and fickle flower of mans affayres, commaunded with alldiligence the fyre to be extinguished and Craesus with the rest ofhis company to bee set free. But they stroue in vain the fyre hauingtaken such vehement holde, that it seemed vnquencheable and not to bee ouercome. In this place the Lydians recounte that Craesus knowingkyng Cyrus his minde to be chaunged & seeing euery man endeuoureto abate the rage and furie of the flame howbeit nothing at allprofiting: he lyfted vp his voyce & cryed to Apollo for succour:that if euer any giftes offered by him had ben pleasant in his sight,he would acquite and deliver him from this presēt daunger. As hewas pitifully shedding his teares in plainte and lamentation to theGod, sodainly⁸¹the skye being faire & the weather smoth and calme the daye wasouercaste and fhadowed with the darke vale of dimme and duskiecloudes, which breakynge
out into maine showres cleane put outand quenched ye fire: Herby Cyrus perceiuing that Craesus was avertuous mā and reuerenced the Gods he saued him from the fyre: &demaunded him the question faying. Tell me now O Craesus whosecounsaile was it to inuade my country, and became of my friend myneenemy: Certes (quoth hee) G Kinge I have done this to mine own greatlosse and thy gayne the God of the Graecians incyting and leading mehereto, who was the cause that I warred agaynst thee. For no man⁸²is so franticke to desire warre rather then peace: when as in tymeof concorde the sonnes bury the fathers: but in warre the fathercarieth the sonne to hys graue. Howbeit it seemed good to the God tobringe these things to passe, which hauinge saide. Cyrus placed himby, and hadde him in great honour and reuerence, and stedfastlyebeholding him greatly wondred with the rest of his company. All whichwhile Craesus in a deepe muse and profound studye sat stil withoutspeaking any worde.

Butsodainly lifting vp his head and vewing the Perfian souldiersspoyling and ryflyng the citye. Whether shall I speake my mynd (nobleCyrus fayde hee) and vtter that I thinke, or holde my peace at thispresent and say nothinge: But being lycenced to speake freely andwithout feare, he asked him faying. Wherin is al this company sobusily cōuersaunt: or what seeke they to do: of a truth (quothCyrus) naught else but to pole, and dispoile the city, and make ahand of thy riches and treasure. To whom Cresus answeryng: neither dothey wast my city mighty prince (fayd he) nor consume my goods, (forthe righte of these thinges is no longer myne) but they are thygoods which they trayle and lugge aboute, and al this wealthpertayueth to thee: vpon which wordes the king aduysinge himselfdrewe Craesus asyde from the company, and demaunded of him what hethought meet to be done in this case. Who replyed saying. For asmuchas it hath pleased the Gods to make mee thy seruant. I hold it myduty whatsoeuer I shal perceiue more then thy selfe to make theepriuy and a counsaile therto. The Persians (quoth he) are a crokedgeneration, and of nature peruerfe and stubburne: yet neuertheles,verye bare and beggerly, whom if in this sort thou securely permit toryg and ransacke cityes, and recouer store & plenty of wealth, Ifeare me that as euery one groweth to greattest aboundaunce, hee willsonest slipp the coller, and become of a true fubiect, a trayterousrebell. Wherefore yf thou wilt follow my counsayle do this. Place ateuery gate of the city certayn of thy gard with precise commaundemētthat no goods be caryed out of the Citye, pretending of the tenthpart therof to make an oblation and sacrifice to Iupiter: which doingthou shalt neither purchase their displeasure by takyng away thewealth: and themselves acknowleging the intent to bee good, wileasily condiscend, and bee pleased therwith.

Thiscounsayle greatly lyked king Cyrus: wherfore hauinge in lyke sortedisposed and setled, his Garde as Craesus had warned him, to himselfe he speake in termes as followeth.

Mygood Craesus, whereas thou art a kinge, and by nature framed both todo well and speake wysely, aske of me what seemeth thee good, and itshalbe geuen thee.⁸³

Mysoueraygne Lorde (quoth Craesus) I shall esteeme my selfe hyghlyebenefyted by your Grace, yf by your maiestyes leave and sufferaunce Imay sende these my letters to the Gods in Greece. Demaundinge whetherit were lawful for him in this order to double with his freyndes.

ButCyrus requesting to know the cause yt set him so far out of fauourwith Apollo: hee brake out, and rypt vp the matter from thebegynning, declaryng vnto him the Oracles which were geuen, andchiefly hys offeryngs wheron he presumed to denounce warre agaynstPersia.

Aftera large rehersal made as touching all these thinges, he returned tohis former sute, requestyng the Kinge that it might be lawful for himto challenge the God for these matters, and cast them in his teeth.To whom Cyrus smylyng, fayd. Not this onely (O Craesus) but what elsesoeuer shalbe gaunted to thee, and not at this tyme alone, but as oftas it shall lyke thee to make petition. Leave obtayned) he forthwithdispatched certayne men of the Lydyans to Delphos, with charge, thatlaying the gyues at the entry of the temple, they shoulde questionwith Apollo yf hee were not ashamed to delude and cousyne Craesus,with his fraudulent and deceitful Oracles: making him to assaulte thePersians in hope to vanquish the power of Cyrus, of which his hopedvictory, these were the first fruites: commaunding them therwt toshew him the manacles, with the which being first captiue, he hadbene chayned. Moreouer to aske him, whether the Graecian Gods had apriuilege and peculiar liberty, aboue the rest to bee ingrate andvnthankful to their friendes. The Lydians arryued at Delphos,⁸⁴and declaryng theyr messuage, Pythia made them answere on this maner.The necessary euent of fatall destiny, it is vnpossible for the Godsthemselves to auoyd. Craesus layeth the disloyalty of the fift agebefore him, yt is to say, of his great graundfathers father:⁸⁵who being squyre of the body to y^eHeraclidans was induced by the fraud & deceypt of a woman to killhis Lorde, and was after inuested with his dignity, which nothingappertayned to him.

NotwithstandingeApollo by al meanes endeuouringe to cause the fal of Sardis to lighton the posterity of Craesus, not vpon himselfe: for all this couldnot prolōg or alter the inchaungeable race of destenye: butdispensinge therewith as much as might be, in some part he requytedhis curtesy by deferryng the battery and conquest of Sardis for termeof three yeares. It is meete therefore that Craesus knowe, how hisseat imperiall came three years later to ruine then was determinedand appoincted by fatall necessity. Agayne it was no fmall benefitethat he saued him from frying at a stake, for as touthing the oraclehe hath no cause to cōplain being forewarned by Apollo thatfurnishinge an armye against Persia he should ouerturne and destroy agreat Empyre. Of this fayinge if in case he had bene better aduysedit was his part to have enquyred of Apollo what empyre he meant,whether his own gouernment, or the kingdome and principality ofCyrus. But the prophecy being neither sufficiently pondered byhimselfe nor sought to be discussed, if any thing happened otherwysethen he would and wished for: let him thanke him selfe and not blamethe God.

Nowfor that he aleageth besydes the sentence of Apollo as concerning theMule: it was better fayd by the God, then considered by him. For bythe Mule was kyng Cyrus understode, whose parents were of dyuersnations, and his mother of a more noble progeny and lineage thē hisfather. The one being a Mede, daughter to Astyages, kynge of y^eMedes. The other a Perfian, and in homage and fubiection to theMedes, who being a man of base account, and verye meane regard,neuerthelesse crept into fauour, and wedded
the daughter of hissoueraygne liege.

TheLydians thus answered by Pythia, made their spedy regresse to Sardisdeclaring to Craesus what they had hearde. Wherby he came to confessethat the blame rested in his own folly, and was vniustly and withoutcause imputed to Apollo. It suffyceth therfore to have fpoken this ofthe dominion and rule of Craesus, ann by what meanes hee firstvanquished & fubdued Ionia. Furthermore besides those whichbefore are mentioned: many other notable presentes were offered bythis king which are yet apparant, &
to be seene in Greece.For at the Citye Thebs in Boaetia there is a table of three feete allof Gold dedicated vnto Apollo Ismenius. Certayne young heighfers alsowroughte of Gold, with fundry pillers of the same kynde. Lykewyse inthe entrey and porch of the temple there is to be seene an hugesheyld of solide golde. All which were extant, and remayning euenvntil our age. Albeit, by length of tyme many were consumed andbrought to decay. As for the gyftes he bestowed at Branchidae (as faras we can learne) they were nothinge inferiour to them in value whichwere sent to Delphos. Notwithstanding as wel those which heepresented at Delphos, as also the other that were geuen to the templeof Amphiaraus were of his own propre and hereditary fubstaunce, thefirst fruites of his fathers possessions: as for the rest which inlyke maner he consecrated were of the wealth and fubstaunce of hisenemy: who before Craesus aspyred to the crown was of the secte andfaction of Pantaleon.⁸⁶For this Pantaleon also had to father Halyattes and was brother toCraesus but by fundrye women, themother of Craesus beinge of Caria,the other of Ionia. no
soner was Craesus indued with thesoueraygntye but hee toke his enemy y^tconftantly withstode him, & drawing him asyde into a fullersshoppe, he bereft him of his life: whose goods before hand vowed tothe immortal Gods hee made consecration of in those places wherereofwe spake before. And thus much as concerning his liberality andmagnifycency vsed toward the Gods.

Nowas touching⁸⁷the countrey of Lydia, there is nothing therof recounted worthyadmiration like as of other regions: saue that only out of the hyllTmolus are digged fmall peeces of gold in manner of grauel. There isalso a monumente by them erected the straungest that euer was heardor seene (onely excepted the maruaylous works done by the Egyptians,and Babylonians) to witte, the tombe of Halyattes⁸⁸father to Craesus. The foundation or grounde wherof is of mightygreate stone, the rest of the sepulcher of earth and mould cast vpand heaped togeather in forme of a mount, finished and brought toperfection by the toyle and payne of certayn day men, and hyredlabourers, being holpen therin and assisted by maydes of thecountrey.

Inthe toppe or highest part of the Tombe ther appeared in our daysfyue limits or feuerall precinctes and borders declaryng by letterstherin ingrauen how much euery one had wrought and done, wherby itwas euident by measure takē that the greatest part therof was builtvp and framed by the labour and handyworke of the maides. For yedaughters of y^eLydiās,⁸⁹are al prostitute and common vntill such tyme as by the vse of theirbodies they have gayned and collected a dowry wherwith they be placedout, & geuen in
maryage, which is at theire own choyse &arbitrement. The compasse of the sepulcher was sixe furlonges and twoacres about, the bredth 13. acres, nere vnto the which there passetha mayne riuer, which the Lydians hold opinion to be perpetuall, namedby them Gygaeus, and thus much of the tombe. The lawes⁹⁰which the Lydians vse are almost all one with the statutes andordinaunces of the Grecians saue that they set theyr virgins to opensale and cause them to kepe publique stewes and brothel houses. Thesefirst of all (to our knowledge)⁹¹broughte in vse the coine of siluer and gold, instituting shops ofmercery, and marchaundise, and setting vp Tauernes andvittailinghouses. They challenge also to themselves the firstinuention and deuyse of playes and games, which are iointly in vseand obseruation with the Grecians, alleaging that togeather, & atthe same tyme they deuysed these thinges: and made a drauft andsequestration of theire countreimen whom the sente to inhabite andpossesse a part & portion of Hetruria The meanes also andoccasion they affyrme to have bene these.

Inthe tyme⁹²of Atis sonne of kinge Manes there was a great scarsity and dearth ofvittayles, throughout y^ewhole land of Lydia. In the beginning wherof the Lydians iustanedthemselves by day laboure, and continual toyle, but after fyndingethe famyne to encrease, they sought other shiftes and deuysed meaneswhereby to allay and diminish the greate distresse & intollerablerage of hungar, whereof arose the gallaunt deuise of playinge⁹³at Chesses: also dyce playing, tenise, and such lyke, which theLydians clayme and vendicate as proper to themselves, obseruinge thisorder to delay and forget their hungar: one whole day they spent inplay and gamīg, neuer seeking after any meate, another (leauing ofto disport and recreate themselves) they
made prouisiō offoode for the maintenance of their bodies. In which maner they livedthe space of eyghtene yeares.

Buthauing no release of their miserye,⁹⁴and perceiuing the dearth & penury nothing at all to surcease:the king deuyded his people into two parts: one of the which heallotted to abyde and stay in their own countrey, commaunding theother to abandon the lande. Ouer those that remained stil in Lydia, &departd not the listes of their natiue countrey, the king himselfheld the chiefe rule and gouernmēt:
placing ouer the rest hissonne for their Lord and principal whom he called Terrhenus.

Furthermorethey vnto whom the lot fell to relinquish and leave the region, heldtheir way to Smyrna: where hauing built shippes such as were fyttestand most conueniente for caryage: they toke the sea to seeke bothseates and sustenaunce. Vntil such tyme as hauing passed manyenations, they came to the Vmbrians, wher founding and building vpcityes they made their abode, and dwel their to this day Changingethe name of Lydians, with the name of theyr kinges sonne whom theyhad theyr prince and guide, being after called Tirrhenians.⁹⁵

Butsufficeth it vs to know that the Lydians were fubdued and brought infubiection by the Persians. It resteth now that we declare andexpresse who that Cyrus was,⁹⁶which vanquished the power and fubuerted the kyngdome of Craesus.Consequently by what meanes the Persians atchieued the principalityand rule of Asia, wherin I wil alleage that of which the Persiansthemselves are authors: who set down vnto vs a playne and euidenttruth, not seeking by the vayne florysh and pompe of wordes toaugment
the noble and valiant actes of theyr famous kynge.Cyrus. Right wel knowing that alother historyans which make report ofthe same king are found to vary in three fundrye tales.

TheAssyrians⁹⁷hauing held the dominion of Asia y^ehigher for terme of 520 yeares, the fyrst that made insurrection andrebelled agaynst them were the Medes, who behauing themselvesmanfullye and couragiouslye in the behalfe of their liberty shoke ofthe yoke of bandage, & delivered them
selves from theslauery and seruitude of their gouerners, whose example also othernations immediatly followed & attempted the like, in so much ytal the people of the mayne land became free, were ruled and gouernedby their own lawes. Til at length they were made thral agayu by thesemeanes. Ther lived in ye countrey of the Medes, a man of rare &singular virtue named Deioces⁹⁸sonne of Phraortes: Who determining to atchieue ye supremisie framedin his head this conceipte.

TheMedes dwelling here and there, scattered by villages, Deioces in verygood credite beforetyme began more strictly and feuerelye to obserueiustice, and follow equitye then earst he was accustomed: for that hesaw the Medes vniuersally addicted to liberty and licentiousnes, andassuryng him selfe that iniury and wrong were flatly contrary andrepugnant to right. The people that dwelt in the same village takingediligent heede to his manners, appoynted him a judge to decide theircontrouersies. But hee (as hauing an eye to the seate royall andkingdome of the Medes kept the sincere rule of Iustice and swaruednot one ynche from lawe and equity. Which doing, besydes that hereaped no fmall prayse of his neyghbours and acquayntance, he hadresort also and repayre to him by those that dwelt in other places,and in tyme welny frō all places of ye realme, who moued with thegood report, and fame of hys Iustice, came in flockes, adhibitingDeioces for an arbitratour in theyr causes, hauinge bene foyled andput to the worst, by the false sentence and iniurious verdite ofothers, and admitting no man to the lyke office and dutye.⁹⁹

Whenthe numbers of his Clientes were encreased, knowing all causes to beiustly determined and takē vp by him Deioces perceauinge himselfeto bee the onely man for the whole countrey, precisely refused etherto abyde any longer there where earst he was wont to adminIsteriustice, or at all to intermedle and deale with anye causes,alleagynge y^eit was fmally to hys profite to spend whole days in determination andarbitrement of other mens causes, omitting the care of his ownhoushold, and priuate affayres.

Wherforerobbery spoyle, vyolence, and all kynde of villany being now morefreely and with greater impunity in euery place committed then euerbefore: the Medes assemblyng a general counsayle, begā todeliberate and consult as touching the state and condition oftheircommon weale. Where (as I am brought to thinke) the friends andfamiliars of Deioces consideratlye and ofset purpose, spake in
thissence. It cannot be (say they) that in this corruption & lewdnesof manners we should long enioy and abide in our countrey. Goe tothen let vs appoynt and ordayne ouer vs a kinge, that our laude maybee gouerned by good lawes: wherby it may be free for euery manquietly to dispose of hys own affayres and have no cause to fearelest by the ahomination and outrage of wicked and pernicious manerswe be cast out and dispossessed of our own seats. By which woordesthe Medes indured to couch & fubmit themselves to a kyng: theybegan to consider whom they might electe and chose for the soueraygnelord of their libertye. Which there doubt the name & remembranceof Deioces, straight ways cut of, who by general consent and onevoyce of the whole multitude was named and approued kynge. And beingaduaunced to the chiefest dignity, he cōmaunded forthwith a pallaceto be erected and built vp seemly for the maiesty and magnificientestate of a prince. Moreouer y^echoyse should be made of stronge and likelie men for the gard andpreseruation of his body. Which the people of the Medes (willing togratify him by their proue and ready obediēce) immediatlyperfourmed raysing a mighty and sumptuous court notably fenced andgarnished for his safe abode: situated also in ye part of thecountrey which he best fancyed, leauing it free and his own libertyto select and picke out of the whole countrey of ye Medes such as hethought meete for the defence and care of hys health. Deioces in fullautority and power of a kyng compelled them also to founde a city,¹⁰⁰which being by them accordingly furnished & fortifyed, they mighthave ye lesse regard of their smal & homely cotages, which thingethe people willingly agreeynge to he enuyroned and fensed in a cityewith stronge and mighty walies, which is now called Ecbatana, whereone wall boundeth vpon an other in such manner that the onelycompasse of the one cleane encloseth and whollye conteyneth the othereuery one in lyke maner excedinge each other in height.

Whereuntothe nature of the place gaue no fmall aduauntage, as hauinge hisreise and rearynge towards the pitch of a hyll. How bee it, far moregreate was the helpe of art and industry of man, hauing wrought feuenseueral closurs and countermures nere adioyning the one to the other.In the last circuit wherof was the pallace of the king togeather withthe treasure of the city. The scope & compasse of the last andgreatest incloseth welny as much, space or more as the wall ofAthens. The batlement of the first wall is coloured with whyte: theseconde with blacke, the third with redde, the fourth also with blew:or skye coloured, the fyft with yellow, the two last being coped withbattlementes, the one of siluer the other of gylt. The pallace of theking being (as we have heard) strengthned and corroborated withdefence and munition, he commanded the rest of the people to dwellassyde on euerye part rounde aboute prouiding moreouer that no māat any time should have accesse or entraunce to his person but thatall things should be done by messages to and fro: in so much, thatthe king seldome or neuer came under view or sight to any. Abouethis, it was held neither seemely nor lawful for any man to laugh orspit in presence of the prince or anye other. These thinges aretherefore practised and obserued by the Medes: that those which werhis equalles before of approued courage and valiancy: might not haveany cause by seyng him to be greeued at his dignity, andconsequentlye to brew treasō against hispersō: but cōtrarilybeing abridged of his sight & cōpany yt might come into opinionyt the king was no part of his people, but a mā singled &sequestred frō y^erest of the multitude. •erewt Deiocos hauinge garnished and setforth his maiesty, & in perfyte manner autorized, & setledhimselfe in his empyre, he ministred iustice w^tgreat rygor and feuerity. They which were in plea & controuersyeone with an other put their causes in wrytinge, and by a messengersent them in to the king, which whē he had determined he fubscribedhis judgement, and sent them back agayne, executing iustice on thismanner.

Inother thinges he held another order, yf happily he had intelligēceof any that had done wrōg or iniury toan other, sending for him heput him to a payne accoring to the measure of his offence: to whichend he had dispersed diuers espyalles to prye and watch throughoutthe whole Realme. Thus the whole nation of the Medes fell to the rule& gouernment of Deioces, wherof himselfe was the only principal.Appertinent to the tytle and seate of the Medes are thus manyfeuerall peoples.¹⁰¹The Busans, Paratacenians, Struchates, Arizantyns, Budyans, Magians.All which were under the soueraignty of the Medes. After ye deceaseof Deioces,¹⁰²whose raygne continued the terme of 53. Yeares his sonne Phraortestooke vppon him the gouernmente. Who not content to be kynge of theMedes alone, moued warre vppon the Persians,¹⁰³and made them fubiect to the power of Media, and hauing the rule anddominion of both nations the people of the which were mighty andvalyaunt he fubdued also Asia, muadynge dyuers other countryes, nowone and then another, tyll at length hee came to geue assault to theAssyrians, I meane those that whylom were chiefe of al the rest, butat that inftant renounced and forsaken of all theire Subiectes byrebellion. Neuerthelesse of themselves in very good estate. Agaynstwhom Phraortes under taking a voiage the 22. yerre of his raygne,¹⁰⁴was slayne in battel and the most part of his armye put to theswoord.

Afterwhose death Cyaxares hys sonne and Nephew to Deioces came to thecrown, who hadde the name to be of greater prowesse and might inwarre then any of his auncestors. Wherfore he distinguished intobandes trowpes the people of Asia, and fyrst of all arranged hisarmy into an order of spearemen: horsemen and bowmen, whereas beforeall were confused and out of aray. This is hee who warred with theLydians, at such time as the day was turned into night:¹⁰⁵and who hauinge purchased the fauour of all Asia that lyeth about theryuer Halis, mustered a power of men agaynst the city Ninus, aswellto take reuenge of his fathers death as to vanquish and destroy thecitye.

Butin the meane tyme whyle hee foyled the Assyrians in the field, andheld them at bay within the citye, hee was of a sodaine incounteredwith an huge army of the Scythians lead and guided by Madyis theirkinge, successor to his father Protothias. Who hauinge driuen theSymmerians out of Europe brake from thence into Asia, and beinge inquest and persute of those whom they had flighted in battel came intoMedia.

Thedistaunce betwene y^etwo riuers Maeotis & Phafis euē vnto the countreye of Colchisis 30. days iorney for a light footman: but betwene Colchis, &the land of the Medes the way is short, & the trauell easye, oneonely region lying betwene them, which is the countrey of the peoplecalled Saspires: which after we have passed, the next stepp is intoMedia. Notwithstāding the Scythiās toke not this course butfetcht a compasse about another waye, towardes the vpper regionsleauing the mount Caucasus on their right hand. The Medes entringbattell with the Scithians. were by them vanquished, and lost thetytle and superiority of all Asia. Wherfore the Scythiās surprisingy^edominiō of Asia, went from thence the next way into Aegipt, butarryuinge in Siria Palaestina they were met by Pfammiti•hus Princeof the Ægyptians by whose gentle intreaty and greate rewardes theywere stayed from goyng anye further, wherefore retyring backe agayneafter they were come to ye citye Afcalon in Syria, many of thempassed by quietly, without offer of damage or iniury, howbeit somedrouping behind rifled the chappel of Venus Vrania,¹⁰⁶being of greatest standing and antiquity, amonges all the templesthat were euer erected to that Goddesse: for the Pallace of Venus inCyprus toke oryginal of this, as the Cyprians themselves testify. Thetemple also extant at Cythera was built by y^ePhaenicians,which were a progeny and ofspring of the Syrians. But the Goddessemoued with wrath agaynst those that wrought the spoile and pillage ofher temple, punished both themselves and all those which came of themwith the feminine sicknes. Which thing the Scythians also graunt: whoare easily brought to confesse that the cause was such, and noneother why they are tainted and infected with this disease. Neither isit hard for those that trauayle into Scythia, with their own eyes tobehold them, which are thus diseased, whom the Scythians callEnareas,¹⁰⁷that is, execrable and accursed. Asia therfore was held by thispeople 28. yeares, for which tyme proudly and iniuriously exercysinggouernment they made wast and hauocke of al.

Forbeside the ordinary pension of tribute, they exacted so much of eueryone feuerally as theyr pleasure was to rate them at.

Wherwithalso hardly satisfied they committed spoyle and robberye throughoutall the countrey. Wherfore Cyaxares and his people the Medes,intertaining the most part of them with sumptuous feastes, and allsortes of delicious and dayntye fare: watching their time when theScythians were ouerladen with drinke, they set vppon them and fluethem. By which meanes recoueryng the empyre with all that they hadbefore, they toke also the citye Nynus. The which in what sort it wasby them taken, and howe they brought under their rule all theAssyriās, saue only Babylon, it shall else where be declared.

Nowewhen as Cyaxares¹⁰⁸had raygned 40. yeares and reclaymed the kyngdome from the Scythians,he ended his life, & Astyages hys sōne ruled in his stede: ofwhose loynes issued a goodly gentlewoman named Mandâne: whom hyrfather on a night dreamed¹⁰⁹to have let her vryne in so great aboundāce, yt to it filled thewhole citye, and couered Asia w^tamaine floud. The meaning wherof after he had learned
of theMagi (who had skil to lay opē & interprete dreames) atteyntedwith exceeding feare, hee resolued to marye his daughter (being nowof ripe yeares) to none of the noble bloud of y^eMedes which might seeme worthy of her persō: but to a certaynePerfian named Cambyses, whō he knew to be of a good house and ofnature remisse and quiet. Albeit with him selfe in far lesse accomptthen a meane mā of the Medes. The same yeare he had placed hisdaughter with Cambyses, hee saw another vision no lesse straunge thenthe former: wherein ther seemed vnto him out of the wombe of hisdaughter to grow a vyne that ouerspread & fhadowed all Asia, andhauing knowledge what it meant, immediatly sent for his daughter fromPersia, where shee abode: to whom being greate with childe, and neerethe tyme of her delivery, hee assygned a strayght and diligent watch,in full purpose to destroy that whatsoeuer shee had brought forthinto the world: beinge geuen him to understand by the wyse Magi, theinterpretors of dreames, that
the yssue of his daughter shouldraygne in hys sleed.

Whichthing Astyages carefully noting, presentlye at the byrth of Cyrus,sent for Harpagus his most familiar and faythfull counsayler, and theonely solicitor and dealer in al his affayres. To whom hee fayde onthis manner: My good and trusty seruaunt Harpagus, I straightlyewarne thee not to neglect ye charge I shal lay vpon thee, nor in anywyse to delay the speedye dispatch and accomplishment of the same.Beware thou dost not deceiue me, and take hede, least reposing thytrust in other to do it for thee, thou bee a cause vnto thy selfe ofgrieuous reuenge.

Takethis litle bratte of my daughter Mandâne, and, cary it home withthee to thyne house, and slay it: which done, take order also by somesecrete meanes to see it buryed: to whom hee answered. Most noblePrince, your maiesty at no time enioyned ought to Harpagus that hefcorned to doe, and shall hee from henceforth neglect your hestes?

Beit your wil and pleasure, I shall do it: it is my dutye & deuoyreto perfourme it.

Whichhauing fayd, the young infant was delivered into hys handes in a rychand coastlye mantle whom hee receyuing departd home to his own housethe teares trickling down his cheekes for sorrow. Whether being comenhee opened to his wyfe all the wordes that had passed betwenehimselfe and the king, who began to demaund him in these wordes. Andwhat then my lord are you mynded to do?

Certes(quoth he) albeit I am commaunded by Astyages: yet whyle I live wil Ineuer be brought to commit so detestable a villany: be he neuer somadd, and tenne hundred times more enraged then he is at thispresent, both for that this pore seely brat is of myne own kyndredand allyance, and then because Astiages himselfe is now olde andwithout issue of a man child. After whose whose death if by fortunehis daughter should aspyre to yt crown (whose sonne I am charged tobereaue of his life) what else could I hope for but the most crueland miserable death that coulde bee deuysed? Neuerthelesse, for myneown safetyes sake, I hold it necessarye this childe shoulde dye, yetnot by anye of myne, but by some of the kinges own seruantes.Hys
talke ended, forthwith he sent a messenger to yt heardman ofAstyages whom he knew wost cōueniently to be resident in suchpastors and hils as were haunted and frequented wt wyld beastes. Theheard mannes name was Mitradates: whose mate in bedde and fellow inseruice was a poore laye woman named in the Greeke toung Cyno, whichsignifyeth a Bytch: in the Median lauguage Spaco, Spaca, in thecommō vse of their speech being the right name for a vitch. Thepaftour where hee grased his cattell were borderyng to the foote orbottom of a desert mountayne, lying to the North syde of Eobatana,and to the Euxine sea: al that coast of the land of Media whichtendeth towardes the people Saspires, beinge very hygh & full ofhils and forrestes, but the rest much more low and playne. Theheardman receyuing the messuage, and repayring to the house ofHarpagus after he was comen thither, he began to salute him in thesewordes.¹¹⁰Gentle Syria (quoth he) it is the kinges wil you take this litleinfante and laye him in the most wilde and desert place of the woodswhere he may soonest bee deuoured. Which wordes his maiestycōmaunded me to say vnto you, with this greeting moreouer, that ifin case thou make not speedy dispatch of it, but by some meanes saueit
and kepe it alive, thyselfe in sted therof shalt dye thedeath. Which thing also that it might be done without deceipt, hegaue me in precyse charge with myne own eyes to behold the childdead, with which wordes the poore soule toke the babe, and returnedthe same way hee came to his base and fimple cottage. Now it fortunedthat all that day his wife laye in traueile of childbyrth, and (asthe Gods would have it) in the meane space whyle her husband went tothe city, was delivered of a sonne: being very sollicitous andcareful one for another: Mitradates for yt safe deliverye of hiswife: Cyno for the good successe of hyr husband, who besides customewas sent for by Harpagus. Being returned home, & with great ioyreceaued of his sorrowful wyfe, she curiously demaunded of him whatthe cause might be, that in such post hast he was summoned byHarpagus to come to the city. To whom he fayde (my deare wyfe) at mycomming to the city I both heard and saw that which I woulde to God Ihad neuer seene, nor it had bene done by our Lordes and mayfters. Allyt house of Harpagus resounding with teares and yellyng with mostpitifull outcryes and lamentation. Wherinto after I was entered allagaft & astonied for fear I beheld a comly younge chyld lying inthe middes of the house quaking and cryng wrapped in a rich mantel ofgold and diuerfe colours, whom Harpagus (hauing espyed me) commaundedme to take by and by, and cast it out in the mayne forrest for a prayand spoyle to the sauage and rauenous beastes: addynge moreouer ytAstyages charged me
so to do, with great threats and men•cingesif I should do otherwyse. The child I toke and have brought with meesupposing it to belong to some one of the court: for that I wouldneuer have thoughte it to have bene of the kings own bloud.Notwithstanding I maruayled much to see that so rychly arayed withgold and sumptuous attyre: as also what it might meane that Harpagusand all his family so bitterly wayled in extreame wae and heauines.Now in the way I was acertayned of all the matter by a seruaunt
thatbrought me out of the city, and delivered the child into my handes:who told me it was the sonne of Mandane our kinges daughter, begottenof Cambyses sonne of Cyrus,, and that Astyages commaunded it shouldbee slayne: and this is he. Wherwithall he vnfolden the mantle &shewed the child to his wyfe. The selye woman beholding the youngbabe to be fayre and beautiful and of body large and wellproportioned, fell down on her knees, and bathinge her husbandesfeete wt her lukewarme teares she besought him in no wyfe to imbruehis handes in the bloud of an infant so goodly and well fauoured. Whoalleaging that it could not be otherwyse, because that Harpagus wouldsend his seruauntes to see it dead, and that himselfe should beemiserably tormented to death. The woman which by thys tyme had setabroach a new deuise begā a fresh to counsaile him faying. If therebe no remedye but needes thou must lay it out: yet heare me onceagayne & follow my counsayle how thou mayst craftely dispensewith the kings commaundement and saue the childe. This day have Ibrought forth a young infant which was stil borne and dead in ytwombe. Take yt therfore and faying it out in the desert: let vs kepeand foster this in the steed, so shall it neither be known y^tthouhast disobayed the king, and our selves shall gayne the heauenly ioyof so goodly an infant. By this meanes (my good husband) both ourdead chyld cast out in this kynglye¹¹¹vesture shall enioy a royall and princely sepulcher: and this pooreseely innocent that is assygned to dye shall be preserued and keptalive. Which deuyse fytted the neatheardes humoure so wel thatwithout any longer deliberation, hee put it in practise. Wherforegiuinge to his wyfe the childe which he was mynded to have slayne,his own bratte that was still borne gallantly decked in the othersaray, he toke and layd out in a most wilde and wast mountayne. Whichdone the 3. day after he had cast it forth (leauyng another toouersee the neat)he posted him to the city to the house and mansiōplace of Harpagus,geuing him to understande that the child, was dead,and that for more assurance he myght behold it wher he lay: whosending with him certaine of his seruauntes in whom he reposingegeatest affyaunce willed them to take view thereof, who fyndyng it tobe so (as they thought) in steede of Mendanes¹¹²sonne toke the heardmās child, and buryed it. Now the other youngbrat y^twas after called Cyrus was brought vp and cherished by yt grasierswyfe who notwithstanding, as yet did not call him Cyrus, but by someother name. The child arryuing to the age of tenne yeares, descryedhis progeny, and opened himself by this deed, and sportyng in avillage where the hearde grased, and beinge at sporte and playe withhis equalles, hee chaunsed by the other children his playfellowes tobe chosē kynge.¹¹³

Theboy incontinentlye limittynge to euerye one hys propre charge, tokevppon him lyke a younge Prince in dede, ordaining strayght some ofthem to builde housen, and others to garde hys Bodye, and to attendevppon hys person, one for the steward of his court, another for hislegate and ambassadour to forreine countries: lastly such a one asmight controll and ouersee the rest: bynding euery man with afeuerall dutye. Among this company of little wagges ther vsed to playa young boy the sonne of Artmbares, a man of great calling andprincipal respect among the Medes, whō Cyrus for that he refused toobay his authority, and do as hee bade him, caused the other boyes totake and lay hold on, which they doing, he beat him spightfully &without measure. The boy taking it heauily to be thus abused, was nosoner escaped from them, but he rāne home crying to the city wherehis father dwelled and complayned of the wrong & vyolence done tohim by Cyrus: albeit not callīg him Cyrus (for as yet he had notthat name) but the sonne of Astyages heardman. Artmbares transporttedwith choller, in a rage toke his sonne by the hande, and lead him tothe kynge, where declarynge the intolerable misusage of hys child,opened his coate & shewed hys shoulders, sayng. Is it meete (Okyng) that we be thus abused by the wretched brat of thy heardmā?Astyages willing to
gratifye Artmbares and do him honour byreuenging his sonnes quarel, caused the heardmas boy to be sent for:who bryng come, Astyages castyng towardes him a sterue and frowningloke, began in this wyse: why syrra (quoth hee) you litle punion, isit for so base a brat as thy selfe, borne of a beggerly vassall, toscourge and whip in such sort a childe sprong of a noble house, whosefather is one of the peeres and chiefe men of my realme? The boy¹¹⁴beholdyng the king with a bold and stedfast countenaunce answeredthus. Why my Lord (quoth he) that which I have done I have done byiustice, for our town boyes, in whose crew this
was, appoyntingme their king, as the meetest of them all to beare rule, this fellowwould not obay me, and thought fcorne to do as I bad him: for whichcause according to hys due desert I sharply punished him,and if I forso doyng be worthy to be beaten, here I am do with me what thou wilt.Whyles the boy spake these wordes, Astyages his hart began to rise:for he seemd to himself to acknowledge the countenaunce of the boy,callynge to mynde the forme and signes of his face, besydes, hisstately and liberal gesture:the terme also of his yeares hit so patwith the time of his casting out, that he verily thought him to behis yong nephewe. Wherat some what astonied he remained silent for aspace, & hardly at the length returning to himselfe (beingdesirus to send away Artmbares, to the end he might talke alone withthe heardman) he spake thus. My meanyng is O Artmbares (quoth he) insuch sort to deale in this matter that you shall
thinke yourselfe satissy, and your sonne have no cause to complayne. With whichwordes Artmbares taking hys humble leave of the king, Cyrus was leadinto an inner parlour. Astyages being now alone with the heardman,began to parle with him where he had the boy, or how he came by him.Who thinking it best to stand to hys tacklinge affirmed stoutly thathe was his own sonne, and that his mother was liuing with him at homeat his house. To whom the king castyng an angry smyle: Certes (quothhee) good fellow thou art not thyne own freynd to runne wilfullyeinto the briers, and to be cause vnto thy selfe of a terrible death:and presently making a signe to hys gard to lay hold on him they tokehim in purpose to have lead him awaye. But the miserable neatheardoppressed with extremity and driuē to so nere a strayght, resoluedwith himself abandoning all fayned allegations to seeke refuge byconfessynge the truth: wherfore openyng the whole matter from thefirst head and begynning, he fell down on his knees, and humblyecraued pardon of the kyng. Astyages hearyng him without glose orcolour to speake as it was, made light of his fault and let him goe,sending certaine of his court for Harpagus against whom hys stomackewas inflamed with greate wrath and indignation, to whom appearing inprefence hee spake as followeth. Tell me Harpagus¹¹⁵in truth (quoth he) by what death didst thou murder ye childe that Igaue vnto thee begotten & borne of my daughter Mandâne: whoseeing Mitradates the heardman present, thought it not best todissēble and conceale the matter by fayning, least he were taken vpfor triping and conuicted of a lye: but framing this aunswere: hefayd. My soueraigne lord and King, after I had receiued the Infant atyour graces hand, I cast in my head the best way & fittest meanesto obey and fulfill your wil: and that in such sorte also, thatauoydinge your Maiestyes displeasure, I might neither be a minesterof bloudshed to your princely selfe, nor to your noble daughter. Forwhich consideratian I wrought thus. sendinge for this heardmangrasier of your maiesties Neat, I gaue into his handes the new bornebrat, with a weighty and precise cōmaundement from your gratioushighnesse to put him to death: and in so faying I spake no more thentruth, for so much as your pleasure was it should be so. In this sortI committed vnto him the babe with an earnest and carefull
chargeto lay it out in the desert chases of the wilde and inhabitablerockes & mountaines, adding a hundred thousād threats of themost cruell and pestilent death in the worlde if in case he shouldlet, or in ye least point refuse to perfourm it with diligence. Whichdone by him and the infant being dead, of my most assured and trustyseruauntes I sent some to behold the child hauing nowe expyred andbreathed forth hys last blast who fynding it cold, and without sence,layd it in the earth and buryed it. This standes the case O king andby this death the child perished. Now as touching this discourse ofHarpagus his talke was directed and grounded on a flat and sinceretruth.

ButAstyages makinge no semblaunce of anger of that which had happened,began and told him fyrst of the heard mans confession procedingeorderlye with the rest, till at length he came to say thus. For thatthe childe liveth and by the benefyte offortune and fauour of theGods hath escaped death I greatly reioyce as being disquieted with nosmal anguish and torment of conscience to consider the villany andwicked treeson wrought agaynstyt, and being often challenged by mydaughter, for the priuy murder and concealed death of hyr child, Iwas not a litle gauled and astlicted in thought. But in that fortunehath turned all to
the best: send me hether thy sonne to bee aplayfellow and companion to my litle nephew, and see thou come thyselfe backe agayne and accompany me at supper. For the truth is I amin purpose to do sacrifyce to the Gods immortall for the saferecouery of the child, to whom the honour and chiefe prayse of thisgracious and fortunate happe doth esspecially belong.

Harpagushearynge this, dyd hys humble reuerence to the kinge, exceedyngeioyous at the fauourable yssue and good euent of his fault, and not alitle glad besydes that as a fellow and companion of the kynges mirthand comfort he was inuyted to supper. Wherefore departing home he nosooner entred within the dores but with all speede he caused hissonne to be sought out, whom being of the age of 13. yeares he sentto the court willyng him to do whatsoeuer he was commaunded by thekynge. Himself as one ready to leape out of hysskynne for ioy, withmery counteuaunce and smyling cheere declared to hys wyfe imediatlythe whole course and tenour of hys happye successe. Hys sonne arryuedat the kyngs pallace:¹¹⁶Astyages incontinently slew, and cutting and dismembringe him intofmall peeces: part therof hee commaunded to bee rosted, and otherpart sodden: both excellently wel seasoned and relished, to be keptin a readines. At supper time ye guestes beinge gathered togeather,and amonges them Harpagus the kyng himself with the rest were seruedwith messes of mutton wherewith the borde was generally spred, saueonly Harpagus, before whom were set the parts of his torne andmangled childe, except the head, the handes, and the feete, whichwere feuerally kept and set asyde in a basket.

Ofthese lamentable deintyes,¹¹⁷after Astyages iudging hys guest to have well fedde, hee demaundedhim the question how he lyked hys chere: who hauinge auouched himselfgreatly delighted therewith as the swetest and most delicat meatethat euer he tasted: certayne appoynted for the nonce drew nere withthe basket conteyning thehead, handes, and feete, who willing him toopen it, and choose of those things which were in it what liked himbest, he discouered ye maund and beheld the residue of his murtheredchilde: wherewith somewhat abashed, yet patiently kept him selfe fromopen outrage. Now Astyages askyng him whether he knew y^e head of that beast, of whose flesh he had fed so freshlye, hee madehim answere, yea, & stood contented with that, whatsoeuer hismaiesty should do at any tyme. Immediatly he arose from the table andtaking the remnauntes of his vnfortunate and wretched bratt, framedhis steps towardes hys
own house, in mynd (as I judge) tointerre and burye the remnauntes of that accursed and boucherlyeacte. On this manner did king Astyages take reuenge of his faythfuland beloued seruaunt Harpagus. After which entringe into deliberationof Cyrus,¹¹⁸hee called for the wyse men named Magi, by whose meanes he came toknowledge of hys dreame, to whom after they were come he moued aquestiō about the true construing and exposition of hys vision, whoyeeldyng the same answeare that they dyd before, that it behoued theboy if he were liuing to raigne and be kyng. Astyages tookeimmediatlye theyr talke by the end, and goinge forward: Of a truthe(quoth hee) it is most certayne that the Chylde is liuinge, andfareth very well. And when as in the Countrye where hee was broughtvppe, the children of his own village in wayof pastime had made him aking loke what they do that are kynges indeede, the selfee same inlike maner did hee. For appoynting his wayghters, his porters, hismessengers to goe to and froe with other such like dutyes andoffices, hee bare himselfe amonges them lyke a young prince.

Nowtel me therfore you that have skill, what thinke you of this? If thechyld live (say they) and have already borne rule and that notaduysedly or of premeditate purpose but by chaunce & destinye. Beof good courage then (O king) we warrant you hee hath taken his leaveand shal rule no more. For some of our prophecies, sothfayinges, andconiectures come to fmall effect: & as meere phantasies, and ydledreames proue very light and fall to nothing. Surely (quoth the king)and I thinke no lesse beinge of this opinion also that for asmuch ashee hath once bene named & held for a kyng, my dreame hath hisend, and that we have no more need to feare him anye longer.Neuerthelesse I leave it to your wysedome carefullye to cōsiderwhat may befall, and geue me such counsayl and aduyse as may besafest both for the maintenaunce of my scepter and for thecōtinuaunce of your own estates, to whom they aunswered. It isgreatly to be wished and desyred of vs (O mightye Prince) that thykyngdome perpetually indure, for otherwyse if it should descend or betranslated to this boy, which is a Perfian what could we loke forthat are Medes and aliens, then to be held and kept under in bondageand slauery. Whereas on the other syde under thy gouernment (whosenatural fubiectes we holde an accompt ourselves) we are in manerprinces ouer them, and with thy selfe in great credite and honor. Byhow much ye rather we ought to have diligent respecte of thyprosperous raygne, and at this tyme also to aduertise and warne theeif we sawe, or were priuye to oughte that might bee preiudiciall tothy royall person, but for as much as the vision is comen to soslender proofe, that in euent it seemeth a tryfle, both our selvesare in good hope, and wil your grace also not to dispayre, but tosende home the childe into Persia, to his parentes: wherat Astyagesgreatly reioysing, calling for Cyrus fayd vnto him: My sonne, albeitheretofore by meanes of a fond & friuolous vision, I did theeiniury: yet by thyne own good fortune and happie desteny, thou artkept alive. Now thefore ioyfully get thee home to the Perfians withthose whom I have appoynted to be thy guydes, wher thou shalt fynde afather not like to the heardman Mitradates, and a mother much betterthen thy nourse Cyno. With which wordes he toke his leave of him andsent him away.

Whenthey were come¹¹⁹to the house of Cambyses,Cyrus was receiued of his parentes, whohauing knowledge that he was their sonne, kyssed and embraced him amyllion of tymes, holding themselves the most happy and fortunatepeople in the world, for the sodayne and vnhoped recouery of theirswete sonne, whom they neuer thoughte to have seene alyue. Andcuriously demaunding of him how, and by what meanes he escaped, hemade them answeare, that til this tyme he neuer knew: beingaltogeather ignoraunt of hys kyndred & lineage, addyng moreoueryt for ought he knew he was the very naturall and lawful child ofAstyages his heardmā, saue that onely in the way he hadintelligēce of his whole misfortune & straunge hap by thosewhich were geuen him of Astyages for his safe cōduct into Persia.He declared therfore in what sort he was nourished, & kept vp bythe field mans wyfe, whom in al his talke he greatly praysed andcommended, in so much yt alwayes at one ende of hys tale was hisswete and dearly beloued Cyno:which name his parents hearing,¹²⁰to the end yt deliverance of their sonne mighte seeme more straunge &miraculous, they blazed abroad y^•Cyrus was brought vp & cherished of a bitch: wherof consequentlysprang and arose a fayned tale.

Cyrusgrowing in yeares and approaching nere to mās estate, waxed of allequals the most valiant and hardye, & in passinge fauour &goodwill with al men, whō Harpagus oft tymes vrged by fundry gyftesand presentes to take reuenge of his graundfather Astyages. Forseynge that by himselfe beinge a priuate man ther was no waye torepay the iniury done him by the king (Cyrus being now at ripe andmature age) he thought good to make him, who had all one cause tohave all one ogethe. Furthermore, hee wrought this, at what tymeAstyages through the peuishnes of age dealt very cruelly, and lyke atyraunte with the Medes. Harpagus clawing fauour, and insinuatyngehimselfe with the Peeres of the realme, perswaded thē to depryueAstyages of the supreme dignity, and make choyse of Cyrus for theirhigh and soueraigne Prince. And seing his pretended treason togetherwell to fadge & goe forward, willyng to make Cyrus of counsayle(which thing for that all the oge into Persia were intercluded &garded by watch and warde, was hard to be done) he came in mynd ofthys conceipt:¹²¹hauing finely and cunningly drawen out the garbedge of an hare, heconueied into her belly a letter wherin was set forth and declaredhys whole mynd: which togeather with the hare and nets deliverynge toan huntsman, one of hys own houshold seruauntes, whom he especiallyetrusted, he sent into Persia, geuīg him in charge to deliver itinto Cyrus hys own handes, and to request him to og vp the haresecretely by himself and without company. The fellow togetherexecuting his mayfters will, toke y^ehareto Cyrus, who opening her belly found the letter enclosed, which hevnfolded and read in these termes.¹²²

Thousonne of Cambyses (whom no doubte the Gods tender and regard, forotherwyse thou haddest neuer mounted to so great estate) takevengeance now of Astyages,the seeker of thy vtter spoyle anddestruction.

Forby his desire thou haddest dyed the death, but by y^efauour of the Gods & by means of me, thou remaynest alyue. Allthe course of which thy bagicall and vnhappye fortune I doubt not butthon knowest of olde: as also the villanye and execrable togetherdone to mee by Astyages, in that my selfe refusinge to kil the gauethe ouerinto the oget of his neathearde.

Nowtogether if thou wilt listē to me, the whole kingdome of the Medesshall be fubiect to thy power. Seke first of al to allure the myndesof the Persians to slippe ***ogeth, and***oget, which done put thyselfe in voyage agaynst the Medes, in full hope and assurance toenioy the crown. For be it my selfe or any other of the nobles ofMedia whom y^ekingshall assygne to come forth agaynst thee and geue the
battell,we have all geuen handes with one consent to rebate the power of theMedes, and ioyninge ancientes to march under one banner, to the vtterouerthrowe and depriuation of that cruell and malicious tyraunt. Theaccount is cast, the ogether made, and nothinge wantinge, but thatwhich we earnestly with for, and shortlye for, thy quicke and speedyarriuall. The letter read and perused,¹²³Cyrus cast with him self what sleight or art he might now vse toinduce and moue the Persians to sedition and fynding one notaltogeather vnfyt for his purpose, hee determined to make tryalltherof, indytinge a letter in such wordes as hee thought best, afterthis he summoned a generall concourse and meeting of the Persians,wher opening the letter he signifyed to them that Astyages hadapoynted him lieuetenaunt or principall of Persia. For which causeyou Persians (fayd he) I will and commaunde you, to resort hethereuery man furnished and prouided of his hooke or bill, which chargegeuen he brakevp the assembly.

Nowit is meete we knowe that many sorts of people are together under thegenerall name of Persians. Certayne wherof Cyrus together intysedthem to rebell, which were such that of them all the rest depended.

Thenames of the people be these.

TheArtatians, Persians, Pasargadians, Meraphians, Mafians: of whichnumber the Pasargadians are the most noble and renowmed: amonges whomis the stocke and familye of the Achaemenides, out of the which thekinges of Persia are alwayes chosen and elected. There be also otherPersians besydes these, as the Parthelians, Derufians, Germanians,addicted to the trade of tillage and manurynge the ground. Other alsothat have principall regard of grasinge and feedyng cattel, to wit,the Dayans, Mardians, Drophicians, Sagartians. All which ready prestwith their sicles & hedging billes, Cyrus toke and lead into afield of 18. or 20 furlonges exceedyngly ouergrowen and pestered withbushes, which in one days space they cleane cut vp and caried
away.Wherfore the next day following hee commaunded them to be presentagayne euery man handsomly and well arayed. Himselfe in the meaneseason gatheryng togeather whole heards of goats, sheepe and oxen,all that his father had, hee slew them to make prouision of asumptuous and magnificent banquet wherewith to feast and entertaynethe whole host and company of the Persians. The next day insuing when(as Cyrus had commaunded) the Persians were assembled and comentogeather, he caused them to sit down in a great and large field,where as mery as crickets, they fell freshly to those chats which ingreat plenty and aboundance were set before them. At after dynnerCyrus demaunded of them whether of the two they rather wished, thelabour past, or the pleasure present. To whom they replyed that therewas no comparison or equality betwene them: for as no payne andmisery was absent from the one: so no pleasure and felicity waswanting to ye other. Which their answeare Cyrus takyng hold ofpresentlye went forwarde faying. My frendes and countriemen ofPersia, euen so it fareth with you, and at such choyse and electiōyou now stand. For geuing your consent to obay and follow me: boththese and many other infinite cōmodityes shal redound vnto you,without the toylsome yoke of seruitude and slauerye, but refusing mycounsayle, a whole sea of miseryes do dayly threaten you, not vnlykethe toyle and wretchednesse that yesterday you abode. Be ruled thenby me and attaine your freedome, for both I my selfe am prouyded bydeuyne lotte and appoyntment of the Gods, by whose meanes you shouldenter into this paradise of blessednesse, and you in nothinge(especially in martial courage) were euer accompted inferiour to theMedes. What resteth thē but that in defyaunce to Astyages and thetytle of the Medes, you cast of the yoke of seruitude, and becomefree.

ThePersians long since moued¹²⁴with disdayne to see thēselves ouertopped and kept under by theMedes: hauing y^eoportunity of a captayne, with handes and feete (as they say) vowedthemselves to obay Cyrus, and recouer their liberty. These thingessounding in the eares of Astyages: Cyrus by a purseuant was cyted vpto appeare at ye court:whom he returned backe agayne with thisansweare, that his meaninge was to come verye spedily and somewhat tosone for his purpose. At which newes Astyages imediatlye prepared apower of the Medes, ouer whō in an ill hower¹²⁵he placed Harpagus generall, not mynding the iniurye hee
haddone vnto him. The army prepared, and the Medes & Persiansmeeting in the field: they which were not priuye to the purpose ofHarpagus, began to fight and bicker with the ennemy: the rest withoutoffer of violence ioyning with them. Other there were, that withfmall resistaunce turned their backes to the Persians and fledamayne.

Thehost of Astyages beinge in this wyse dispersed and shronke in thewetting, newes was broughte thereof to the king, who in a greateheate of choller and outrage, menacing Cyrus fayd. Let the traytourbee assured hee shall not thus escape. How be it, first of all¹²⁶apprehending the wyse men Magi, by whose counsayle hee was brought tolet Cyrus depart, he hanged them vp euery man, not leauing one alive.After this he put in armour the rest of the Medes, y^twere in the city both young and old: with whom being present in thefielde. After that for a whyle he had abidden the might and power ofthe Persians, he was driuen to flie, and in the eadin was takenalyue, with the losse and perdition of hys whole army.¹²⁷Ouer whom being now captiue, Harpagus his counsaylour greatlyeinsulted, with open scoffes and reproachful tauntes, eading nothingyt might gaule and greeue him to the verye hart: laying in his teeththe supper wherin he hadde caused him to seede of his sonnes flesh.For which cause hee had now made him of a kynge a vassal. Why then(quoth Astyages) dost thou now challēge the dead of Cyrus to thyselfe, who alleaginge on the other side that it was his deede anddone by him, for that Cyrus was moued ther unto by his letters.Astyages answered that of all men he held him most voyd of wit andgoodwill to his countrey. The one, for that hauing power to be kinghimself, he had yelded it ouer to an other: the other in that formalice of one supper he had brought his own countrey into perpetualleading. For had it bene necessarye to have put ouer the kingdomefrom himself to an other, it had bene much better to have chosen aMede then a Persiā wheras now the Medes being nothing giltye ofthat fact, were become of rulers, slaues, and y^ePersians that hetherto had lived in bondage were now come to belordes themselves.

Onthis manner¹²⁸king Astyages hauinge the space of 35. yeares borne rule in Media:was depryued of his seate: by whose cruelty and sore dealing theMedes came in fubiection to the Persians after they had held thesupremisye of all Asia aboue the floud Halis an hundred twenty eightyears, sauinge the tyme that the Scithians eading the eadin.Afterwardes the Medes repenting themselves of that they had done,reuolted from Darius, but being ouercome in battayle, they wereagayne perforce driuen to obedience. The Persians by whose meanesCyrus vanquished his graundfather Astyages, hauing the chiefe ruleand dominion of Asia. Cyrus doinge no violence to Astyages, kepte him in his house to the houre of his death. such therefore was thebyrth and education of Cyrus, & the meanes wherby he atchieuedthe kyngdome: who not longe after tryumphed ouer kyng Craesus hisprofessed enemy, of whom we spake before: by which his victory he wanthe ful title & possession of all Asia.

Furthermorethe rytes and customes which the Persiās vse I fynd to be these.First for ymages, temples, & aulters, they neuer build any, andaccompt it great follye and madnes in those that do builde them. Forthis cause as I judge they think not the Gods to come of the progenyand lineage of men, as the Graetians doe. Wherfore making choyse ofthe kighest and most lofty hyls of the countrey on the toppes
ofthem they do sacrifyce vnto Iupiter by which name they understand thewhole cope and vaute of heauen, geuing also lyke honor and reuerenceto the sunne, the Moone, the Earth the Fyre, the Water, and theWyndes: imputing to these alone a deuyne nature and deity, which fromthe beginnīg they have had in honour. Notwithstāding in course oftime they began to buckle and pray to Vrania: which maner they drewfrom the Assyrians and Arabians. Venus of the Assyrians is calledMilitta, in Arabia Alitta, by the Persians Metra. The ceremonieseading by them to bee kept and obserued in time of sacrifice arethese. They neither set vp any aulter, or eadin anye fyre at all,omittinge also to say or tast of the sacrifyce before the immolation.Pypes, Myters, saltcakes, they neuer vse. But as euerye one ispurposed to make oblation to the heauenly powers, so eading his hostor sacrifyce into a fayre and cleanē place, hee humbleth himselfein prayer to some one of the Gods hauing his head decked with anightcap vsuallye worne of the women of Persia, bounde about for themost part, and roned with mirtle. Being alwayes prouided that theparty which maketh the offeryng hold it not lawful to pray forhimself only or to make supplication for any priuate or peculiarcommoditye of his own, but vniuersallye for the whole realme andmultitude of the Persians, and chiefly for the king. The sacrifycerhimself being a part and parcell of the whole number: so that inpraying for all others hee prayeth for himselfe. This also: cuttingand hewing y^ehalowed beast into fmall and slender peeces, they incontinently boyldit: which done makinge diligent inquisition for the
softest andsmothest grasse they can find, and especially trifolly or threeleaved grasse, they spred thereon the sodden flesh, ouer which aMagician yalpeth out a songe of the beginning & childhod of y^eGods, which they accompt a most forceable and valerous incantation.Without this Magitian:¹²⁹They hold no sacrifice lawful or rightly perfourmed. After this thesacrifycer taketh the flesh, and applyeth it to what vse it seemethhim good. Of all the days in ye yeare they obserue with greatest ioyand solemnitye theyr byrthday. Wherin, then at other tymes, they vselarger dyete with greater plentye and aboundaunce of meate: in somuch
that the richer and wealthier sorte set whole oxen, camels,horses, and asses vppon the borde, prepared and rosted in a fornace.such as are of meaner ability and fubstance celebrate their natiuitywt beastes of lesse quantity. Litle meat sufficeth them: the greatestpart of theyr prouision consistīg
in choise chats andiunkettinge dishes. And those not verye tothsome and daynty. Hereofit commeth that the Persians obiect to the Grecians their shortmeales & quicke dinners, for that (say they) they have nothingpleasant, dilicate, or worth eatyng, whereby they may be allured tositte longe at meate. Which if they hadde (no doubt) they wouldequatt theyr Stomakes to the full and seeldome or neuer
arysehungrye.

Moreouerthe Persians¹³⁰generally are verye much geuen to wyne. Being notwithstandingforbidden by the law to perbreake or vomite in company, or to makewater wher they may be seene, which maner and custome they kepe asyet.¹³¹Commonly when they have typled so long they see a peece of the deuil,they by and by fall into question and consultation of graue andserious matters: and loke what is agreed
vpon among theircuppes the same thenext day following is propounded by the host ofthe house where the senate was held: and if in lyke manner they allowand thinke well of it being sober, they vse it, if otherwyse, theyrefuse it. On the other side what soeuer in time of sobriety hathbene determined by them, the selfe same they ruminate and run ouer afresh, being wel mostned with wine.

Ifthey meete one an other in the way it is no hard matter to knowwhether they be equalles or superiours ech to other. For being oflike reputation they kysse each other on the mouth. If the one besomewhat the others superiour, after a more modest and bashfullfashion they kisse on the cheekes. If much more set by and of fargreater regard the base and vnnoble falleth flat on the earth inhonour and reuerence to the other. Behauinge themselves with alldutifull demeanour and curteous vsage towardes them,
which arenexte dwellers, and neyghbours vnto them.

Inthe second degree imbracing and making much of those who dwell nerealso and border uppon their neighboures, and so consequently thenerer euery one is in place to them y^egreater he isin friendship and familiarity, esteeming thēselves ofall men the best.

Tothose which are furthest seperate and disioyned from them indistaunce of place they disdayne to shewe the least poynt ofciuility, in ful accompt that of al men liuing there is none lykevnto them selves in any thinge, and as euerye man hath nerestpropinquity to them in place and neighbourhod so they deeme him toexcell others in virtue and good liuing, making least accompt ofthose that dwell furthest of and most of themselves.

Furthermorein the tyme of the Medes empyre,certain familyes exercised mutuallgouernment, that is, were rulers ouer some and ruled by others, forthe Medes generally weare rulers and chieflly ouer those that dweltnext them: who in like sort had the ouersight of such as borderedvpon them: to whom also in order was permitted the rule andmoderation of others. Like to this manner of gouernment was the loueand familaritye that was also of the Pefians, alwayes louinge thosebest that were their neerest neighbours. Of all countryes in theworld y^ePersians are most delighted with forrayne and outlandish maners:wherfore leauing their own countrey vesture, they put themselves inMedish attyre, deeming it better & more seemly them their own,wearyng vpon their hands a kind of placars or stomacher vsed of theÆgyptians. Moreouer
they are drawen with all kynd of pleasure &delight which they can either inuent thēselves or learne of other:learning of the Grecians to be in loue wt beautiful boyes. They wedmany virgines, & woo more cōcubynes. In the next place tostrenght & valiaunt courage, they make most of him yt hath mostchildrē, whō anually ye kīg indueth wt a great reward as thoughhe had atchined some notable act. Their childrē from 5. yere oldtil they come to 20. they trayne & bringe vp in 3 principalthings in ryding, in shoting, & speaking truth. The child neuercōmeth into the fathers sight before he 5 yeare old, but is broughtvp priuily among the company of women, to the end yt if the child dyebefore he aspyre to that age the father may conceaue no griefe orsorrow for y^esame.Which custome truly I greatly cōmend: as also this y^tit be not lawfull for the king for one offence to bereaue a man ofhys lyfe: nor for any of yt Persians to practise cruelty vpō hisfamily beīg moued therto by one only transgressiō. But breathingvppon the cause if by good aduysemente he founde more and greaterfaultes committed then duties perfourmed: then to geue the brydle tohys anger & worke hys wil. Besides they are in opinion in ytcountrey, yt no mā at anye tyme slew his own father: but that thechild so doing vppon examination and tryal had of his byrth isawaies
found to be a bastard and changling.

Thinkingeit a thinge vnpossible that the naturall childe should euer aduentureto brew the destruction of his own and lawfull syre. Whatsoeuer isdishonest to do that also they esteeme vnseemly to speake. But of allthinges they accompt it most abhominable to lye: and next to that tobee much in debt: both for many other respectes, and chiefly becausethey thinke it skarse possible for him that oweth much not todissemble and lye much, if any one be infected with leprosie, orotherwyse di••eined with vncleannes of the body,
he may notcome within th• citye, or vse the company of any Perfian, alleagingthat for offence and transgression agaynst yt sunne they werepunished and attaynted with such diseases. And if happily it befall astraunger or forreyuer to be taken with such like sicknesse, theybanish and expell him the countrey: for the same reason also chastingand skaringe all Pigeons and doues out of the circuite and compasseof theyr region. It is open blasphamy with the same people, (notonely repugnant to good maners and ciuility) to pisse or spitte intoanye brooke or riuer, likewyse to wash his handes therein, or anysuch lyke, wherof the water may cōceaue any maner fylth orcorruption: verye deuoutlye and with great religion, yelding worship& honour to yt flouds & riuers. This also is peculier to ytPersiās, which not marked by them, is knowē of vs, yt all thewordes in theyr language which cō•ist of 4 or more sillables docommonly end in one letter: which letter the Dores cal san the IonesSigma. And if we loke more narrowlye into theire speech, and notethat wel we shal fynd not onely some but all the names of thePersians to have their termination and endinge alike which for yt Iknow it assuredly I am not afraid to auouch it conftantly, being inhalfe a doubt in like sort to awarrant & beare out the truth ofthose things which the same people are fayd to obserue about the deadbodyes of their countrimen, whom (as the rumor is) they neuer b•ryeorintumulate before such tyme as either by dogges or foules of theaire, they are drawen and haled about. Which thinges that theirwisemen doe, whom they call Magi, I dare vndoubttedly affyrme,because they manifestly do them. The Persians therfore inrowling andwrapping yt dead body in waxe they afterwardes interrupt and lay itin the graue. The Magi do much dissent and differ from other men:being also vnlyke and diuerfe in their customes from the priestes ofAegipt. For the Ægyptian Priestes refuse to defyle and pollutethemselves with the slaughter of any creature, sauing of those whichthey sacrifyce to the Gods. But y^tPerfian Magi are not squemish or dainty to imbrew their hāds in thebloud of any liuing thing what soeuer, onely excepted a man or adogge esteeming it in maner of a conquest to be noted for a commonkyller and destroyer of Ants, Serpentes, byrdes, wormes and suchlyke, wherin they greatly glory. sufficeth it now of the Perfianfashions and order of liuing to have fpoken hetherto, eftsones makingrecourse to that from the which we have somwhat digressed.

Thepeople of Ionia & Æolia¹³²hearyng y^•Lydians with so smal endeuour and welny without blowes to beconquered by the Persians put in ambassage to Cyrus certayne of thechiefe peares of either countrey offring to stād at y^•same cōditiōs to him as they did before tyme to Craesus. To whosesuite & humble petition Cyrus made answeare by this similitude orapology. A certayn fisher (quoth he) beholding in the sea greatplenty of fyshe began to play very pleasuntly on his pype suuyosingy^•at the swete sound of his harmony y^•fish would have leaped out to the land: but frustrate of his hope, ina great heathe cast his nets into y^•sea & iuclusīg a geate number drew to shore where seyng themleape and play vpon the dry ground: Nay now (quoth he) you daunce tolate, seyng yt when I pyped before, you refused to come. Which speechhe vsed for that hauing before tyme disdayned his gentle offer beingsollicited by him to reuolt from Craesus to the Persians: Now whenthey sawe the worlde chaunged, & the euent of thinges notanswearable to their expectation, they made offer of their seruice,and signifyed themselves ready prest to do hys commaundements:wherfore moued with displeasure agaynst them with this briefeansweare he sent thē away. The people of Ionia hearyng this,repayred euery one to their own cityes, to fortify and make strongtheir walles. Hauinge before by a generall counsayle or synodeassembled themselves in Panionium where they all mett sauing theMilesians whom Cyrus receyued into fauour, under the same conditionas he had taken the Lydians, to the rest of the Ionians it seemedbest by common consent to send legates into Sparta, aswel to certifythe Lacedaemonians of their present estate as to craue & imploretheir assistance. The people of Ionia vnto whō the temple ofPanionium doth belong, have their places of residence and abode sopleasant and delectable, that what for the excellent temperature andmyldnesse of the ayre and deuyne benefyte and commodity of themountaynes, there is no people in all Greece comparable vnto them.For neither the hygher region nor the lower, nether ye East cōmeth,nor y^ewest approacheth any thing nere to ye excellency therof, y^e
one being for ye most part very coulde or to much ouergone w^twater: y^eother (that is to say ye higher coast) burnt vp & pestered w^theat, and dust. The lāguage vsed in Ionia is not all one, butreduced and brought to 4 fundry propertyes & formes of speechMyletus ye chiefe city amongs thē, bounding to the south, &after yt Myrus & Pryene situated in Caria vse all one tosig. Butye cities in Lydia (to witt) Ephesus, Colophō, Lebedus, Teos,Clazomenae, Phocaea: albeit they agree not in speach wt the placesforenamed, yet betwene themselves they speake alike. The residuewhich are three: two are Isles, Samus & Chios: one in the maynecalled Erythrae, doe differ much in phrase and manner of wordes.Chios & Erithrae iumping in one, the other which is Samuschallenging vnto it selfe a diuerfe & straunge form of languagefrom the rest: wherbyit is euident, that theyr speach is qualifyed by4 fundrye differences.

Ofthese people were the MILESIANS who under coloure and pretence offeare came to league and couenant with Cyrus. As for those cityesthat were incompassed by the sea, they had lesse cause to feare &more to live in greater security then the rest. Both for yt thePhaenecians were not yet tributory to the seat of Persia, and thePersians thēselves were vnaccustomed to sea battels & vsed noshippes. The same for no other cause then that they knew theGraecians to be weake and mightles, and of all the rest, the Ioniansto be of least power and fmallest valure, withdrew & alienatedthemselves from the other cityes in Ionia. Foras much as settingAthens aside there was noe citye of principal fame in all that toast.so yt both other regions there inhabitaunt, and also the Atheniansflatly renounced to bee called Ionians many of them beinge ashamed ofthe name. wheras cōtrariwysethe 12 cities are not alitle proudtherof greatly vaunting themselves under the tytle of Ionianswherefore hauinge once called them selves Paninoi, they built also atemple, intytling it after their own name Panionium, decreeyng andconsenting neuer to admitte any other to the society and felowship ofthe same.¹³³Neither was ther any very desyrous to be made pertakers therof sauingthe Smyrneans. The lyke thing happened to the Dorienses that inhabitePentapolis which before was called Heyapolis, who by the generalldecree and ordinaunce of the rest, arenot suffred to inioy thelibertyes of the palaice Triopium.

Excludingtherfore certayne of theire own natyue people For the violation andbreach of a law or priuilege belongīg to the temple. For in thegames of Appollo Triopius certayne three footed stooles beingeappoynted for him that wan the price (which neuertheles it was notlawful to cary out of the temple, but in the same place to makededication therof to the god) one Agasicles of Halicarnassusattayning the victorye strayned cursye with the law, and taking awaythe stole with him caryed it home to his own howse: For which deed y^e5 other cityes, Lyndus, Ialissus, Cameirus, Cos, and Cindus.sequestred Halicarnassus being the sixt from the right and freedomeof the temple: leuiyng a mucle or peine vppon the whole citye, forthe bold enterprise
of their valerous champyon Agasicleshowbeit the Ionians seeme vppon good ground and iust consideratiōto have partd their countrey into 12 cityes refusing to amplify andaugment the number being iust so maney parts of Peloponnesus, wherinthat tyme they dwelt, euen as now also the Acheans, who draue andexpelled the Iones out of theyr proper seat are iustlye deuyded intoso many parts. The first and principall whrerof is named Pallena:after whiche are recounted Aegyrae and Aagae perpetually washed andmoystned with the pleasant streame of the riuer Crathis which is alsocalled Italicus. In the next place are reputed the cityes Bura andHelice, whether ye Ionians discomfited in battayle by the Achoeansfledde for succoure, next vnto
Helice are these Aegion with thepeople called Rhypes, also the Patrenses, Pharenses, and the cityOlenus, by the which scowreth the swift and maine riuer Pyrus. Lastof al Dyma and the Trytaeenses that dwell in the middle tracte of theregion. These are the 12 feuerall and distinct parcels of Achaea:which afore tyme were held and possessed by the Ionians, who for thesame cause onlye, and none other kept the number of twelue Cityes,without desyre to multiplye or increase the same. Whom precipuallyenotwithstandinge and aboue others to call Ionians yt were greatmadnes, since the people Abantes also are of the proper lineage andnaturall stocke of Ionia, which neuertheles have estranged themselvesfrom the name of Iones Lykewyse the Minyans intermedled and mingledwith the Orchomenians, the Cadmaeans, Dryopians Phocenses,Molosfians, Arcadyans, Pelasgians, Dores, Epidaurians, & manyother nations confused and ioyned one with another.
Of whichnumber they that went out of the court or castell of Athens namedPrytanêum and reputed themselves the noblest and most principal ofthe Iones (at what tyme, being singled from the whole multitude ofthe Athenians they went to dwel in an other prouince) had with themno wiues of their own: in steed whereof they vsed certayne women ofCaria, whose parentes they had before tyme slayne. By reason of whichslaughter ye dames of Caria, toke a solemne vow (which they likewysecaused their daughters diligētly to obserue) neuer to sit at meatewith theyr husbandes, nor cal them by their own names. For thathauing cruelly murthered their fathers, their first husbandes, &their sonnes: they had also haled thē poore widowes much agaynsttheir willes, to their vnchast and fylthy couches.

Allwhich thinges were done at the city Miletus in Ionia.

Furthermorethe kinges of Ionia and such as weare aduaunced to the sumpremeregiment of the countreye: were partly of Lysia comen of the lyne ofGlaucus sonne of Hippolochus, and partly selected and chosen out ofthe Citye Pylus, drawing theyr progeny from Codrus sonne ofMelanthus. Notwithstanding the name and tytle of the Ionians, theymost willingly holde and embrace, of whom we spake before: and invery deede are naturally so: howbeit not they onely, but all the restwhich comming of the Athenians kepe and solemnize the festiuall dayscalled Apaturia, are fubiect to the selfe same name. Which custome ofcelebration, is vniuersally held and obserued of all besydes theEphefians and Colophonians, who by means of a murder committed, areprohibited and restrayned therefro. Now it is meete we know thatPanyonium is a certayne
holy and religious place in Mycaleinclyninge to y• North dedicated by the whole countrey of Ionia toNeptune, syrnamed Heliconius. Mycale is a promontory or high placelyinge in the firme lande towardes the sea, the wa•e syde wherofpertayneth to the ys•e Samus. To this mountayne the people calledIones assemble and gather togeather, to perfourme the ceremonies ofimmolation and sacrifyce, which they call by the name of the placePanionia. It is to be noted also, not onely in the solemnity ofIonia, but in the feastes & religious days of al the Graetians,how like vnto the name of the Persians they end all in a letter.

Wehave heard then of the cityes of Ionia, what & how many in numberthey are, it followeth,¹³⁴that we speake of those that are in Æolia which are these Cumae,which is also called Phryconis, Larissae, Newalle, Teuus, Cylla,Notium Ægyroessa, Ægaea, Myrina. Crynia. And these eleuē were theancient cityes of Æolia. Hereunto was added in tyme past Smyrna, acity belonging to this regiō, which now hangeth as it were betwenethe Ionians and Æolians, and is reckned for part of neit her.Otherwyse (as we see) both the nations had bene equall in the numberof cityes. All the towns of Æolia are spred in the mayne in power
and dominion going beyond the Iones but in the temperatecalmnesse of the ayre comming far behynde them. The occasion &meanes wherby they lost Smyrna was this.¹³⁵Hauing entertained the Colophonians dryuen from their countrey byciuil tumult and sedition: the people of Ionia bearyng grudge andmalice towardes them, lay in diligente wayght to surpryse and taketheir city. Which thinge they did at such tyme as the Smyrneans werebusied in the solemnising of Bacchus festiuall, which they vsuallykept wtout the city. The Iones therfore when euerye one went outstale priuely into the city, and shuttinge the gates held posessionby vyolence. Which thinge being knowen and spedy helpe yelded from alparts of Aeolia, they fel to condition y• restoring to theSmyrneans all their necessaryes and mouable goods, yt shoulde beelawful for them to hold the city in peace: wherunto the contrary parthauing geuen theire consent it was agreed by the eleuen cityes ofAeolia to deuyde the rest betwene thē, eueryone making choyse oftheir own citizens. such therfore and so many in number are y•cityes of the maine, excepting those that inhabite Ida, which
arenot referred to the former accompt.

Thisalso: Lesbos is impeopled with fyue sea Cityes planted in ylandes:hauing once also possessed the sixte
called Arisba, with theMethimneans, seduced and withdrew from the rest, as alied tothemselves in kyndred and lyneage.

Therewas also a citye founded in Tenedos, and an other in the place calledthe hundred Iles. Now the people of Lesbos and Tenedos with the restof the Graecians inuyroned by the sea, had no cause to bee dismayedor troubled. But the other cityes of the land determined to take suchpart as the Iones did and to follow them. Wherefore the ambassadoursof both nations in short space landing at Sparta: they chose onePythermus a Phocaean to be the mouth of yt rest, and to reueale theirsuite to the Lacedaemonians, who at y^tfame of the ambassadours arryuall flockinge together in greateheapes, Pythermus stoode forth & in many wordes moued theLacaedemonians to imploy their ayd & assistance to succour therest: but they geuing litle eare to his talke w^toutpurpose to moue one foote in the behalfe of Ionia sente them away,Pythermus and his company in this wise repulsed, made speedy returneto Ionia. Howbeit the Lacedaemonians desyrous to understand thesuccesse of Cyrus, and the Graecians sent forth a bragandyne orshippe of espyall to prye and listen how all thinges wente. Who beingsodaynlye driuen to shore at Phocae a spyed one Lacrines the stoutestchampyon in the rout of Sardis, wher king Cyrus made his abode togeue him to witt from the Lacaedemonians that he should not endamageor abuse the Grecians any way under payne of theyr, heauye wrath anddispleasure.

Cyrushearyng the bold message of Lacrines, demaunded of certayne Greciansthat stode about him, what maner of fellowes the Spartans were, andhow manye in number, which after he understode he made him thisansweare.

Verily(my friend fayde he) I neuer stode in awe or feare of those which inthe middest theyr citye have avoyde place wherby mutuall othes,fayned vowes, and protestations, they defraude & cosine eachother: whom if the Gods spare me life I wil one day cause to leave ofthe regarde of other mens miseryes and bewayle theire own. Whichwordes were vttered by Cyrus in mockage and derision to all theGrecians, for hauing such wyde and wast marketplaces, for open saleand marchaundise. For the Persians neither
have any such placefor exchaunge and chapmandry, neither are troubled at any tyme withbuyinge or selling.

Afterthis leauing the rule and gouernment of Sardis to one Tabalus aPerfian: and hauing in like maner geuē one Pactyas a man of thecountrey of Lydia in charge with the goods of Craesus, and the restof the Lydians accompanied with Craesus, he toke hys voyage towardEcbatana, the chiefe citye of the Medes and hauing no greate regardeof Ionia, albeit they were fyrst to bee dealt withall (as scanningmore sedious in his heade touching the Babilonians, Bactrians,Sacans, Ægiptians, all which he determined to assayle by warre) heesent agaynst the Iones some other of his capteynes. Being newlydepartd from Sardis Pactias caused the Lydians to rebell fromTabalus, and the Persians, and hauing in hys custodye all the wealthand tresure of Sardis he toke sea and leauied a power of hyredsouldiours, procuring the helpe and supply of all the cityes lying onthe shore. Who being moued by his earnest intreaty ioyned with him:and remouing hys tentes to Sardis, forced Tabalus to take the towerfor hys defence and sauegarde, where he planted his army in a siegeagainst him. Tydings hereof beinge brought vnto Cyrus, who was yet inhis iourney, he turned himselfe vnto Craesus, and spake on thismaner. When wil it be O Craesus (quoth he) that I shall be quiet &have nothing to do? wil the Lydiaus neuer leave of to trouble me andthemselves in such wyse? were I not best to make slaues of them andkepe them under by miserable thralldome and bondage? For in this thatI have already done I am not vnlike to him that hauing slayne thefather, taketh pity on the children. Forasmuch as I have led theeawaye captyue beinge more then a father to the Lydians: and restoredto themselves theyr city againe. So that I cannot but greatlymaruayle what cause mighte moue them so sodaynly to cast of obedienceand become disloyall.

Craesusfearyng least in his fury he would have beatē down and defaced thecity: began thus (and fayde) most worthye Cyrus thou hast fpoken verywell and wisely: yet neuer thelesse it behoueth thee to moderatethyne anger, and not to suffer a citye of so great fame and antiquityto be wholly ouerthrowen: whiche (the Gods doe knowe) is alltogeather innocent both of the former offences that were done agaynstthee & of the presente treason which is now in hand, the firsttrespasse (o kinge) I did my selfe, and I smart for it: the secondhath Pactyas done, and let him feele the price of it. But to theLydians (noble prince) shew mercy & compassyon, and fynd somemeanes by infeebling their strength to preuent their courage, and totake from them all occasion of treason heareafter.

Commaundtherfore that no man amonges them be founde to keepe any war likeweapons in his house: ordayninge besides that auorde their coats theyweare cloakes, drawing on their feete pumpes and buskins, inioynethem to bringe vp their children in playing on the cithren, insinging, in keping of tauernes and vintninge houses: and vndoubtedlyethou shalt see that of valiant men and warlike people they willshortely become effeminate and like vnto women: y^tthere shal be no cause to feare least euer hereafter they riseagaynst thee. These things Craesus put into his head, thirking itbetter for the Lydians to live in this sort then to bee comonly soldefor salues and vassals, knowing that if in case he had not framed avery reasonable deuyse, he could neuer have remoued Cyrus from hispurpose. It is also to bee thought that he feared least the wholenation of the Lydians should be cleane rooted out and destroied bythe Persiās if escaping this at any tyme hereafter they sought torebel. Cyrus right glad at the counsayle and deuyse of Craesus, gauehim promise to do thereafter, wherfore callinge vnto him Mazares acaptayne of the Medes, hee warned him to charge the Lydians with theaccomplishmēt and perfourmance of all those thinges that Craesushad told him: with a straight cōmaundement to let none of thoseescape vnsold for bondmen which had accompanied the Lydians in theassault of Sardis. As for Pactyas the principall, he commaunded himtobe taken and brought alive. Which thinges after he had left to thediscretion of Mazares, hee proceeded immediatly towardes Persia hisnatiue countrey. Nowe Pacyas hauing knowledge that the army drewnere, raysed the syege and fled to Cumae, whom Mazares spedilyarriued at Sardis, and hearing him wt the rest of his company to bevanished away. Fyrst of al bound the Lydians diligētly to perfourmeall those things that Cyrus had commaunded. In the next place sendingmessengers to Cumae to wil them to render and yeld vp Pactyas. TheCumaeans toke
counsayle togeather & decreed to sendBranchyde to ye God inguiring of him what was best to be done. For asmuch as in ye place rested an oracle very ancient & of longcontinuance, which sēblably ye people also of Ionia & Aeoliadid vse and frequent. This prophecy was situate in a certayne fieldof the Milesians about the haven Panormus whether ye Cumaeans at thistime sent for aduise in their affayres, demaunding what they might doin this case yt might seme most acceptable and approued to the gods.Answere was made y^ePactyasshould be restored to ye Persians: which the people hearyng andthinking it wisdom to obay the oracle, were fully mynded so to do.Howbeit, the more part of thē bendyng & inclyning hereto oneAristodicus borne of Heraclides, a man of no fmall accompt amongsthē, either for y^thee beleued not ye oracle or mistrusted ye messengers y^twere sent vnto it, earnestly wt stood it tooth & naile, in nowise suffering y^eCumaeans to obay the voyce & suggestion of ye God, whervpon itcame to passe ye other messengers were sent the seconde tyme, to witye priestes & religious mē of the citye, Aristodicus himselfemaking one of the company, who being come to the place where the godheld his seate, humbly besought him in these wordes. Ther came vntovs (O king) a certayne Lydian named Pyctyas prostrate in allhumility, pitifully crauing & beseeching vs to saue & assisthim frō the vyolent & cruel hands of his spyteful & enragedenemies we (albeit dreading the might & power of ye Persians:)yethave not delivered him, vntil we understoode of thy diuine wisdomwhat pertained to vs to doe in so doubtful a case. Hauing ended hisspeach, he receaued ye like answere as before, ye Pactyas was to beyelded into ye hands of the Persiās: wher wt all Aristodicus beingangry of set purpose wrought this fact. As he walked about ye templecertain young sparrowes & other birds yt built there he toke outof their nests & sodaynly a voice was hard out of the inner partof y^etemple faying: thou wicked & malicious wretch what makes thee inthis sort, to spoile ye nests of my innocēt suppliantes, wheruntoAristodicus answeryng: (o king quoth hee) dost thou so greatly fauourand regard those that flye vnto thee for succour, and yet biddest theCumaeans to delyuer Pactyas into the handes of hys enemyes? To whichthe God replying. Truly, fayd he, I bid you all goe to the deuil, andneuer hereafter to sollicite this oracle about the restoring of yoursuppliantes. The Cumaeans certifyed of this last answeare determinednether to giue vp Pactyas to be slayn of the Persians: nor yet bykeeping him stil to bring Cyrus to the fubersion and ruine of theircitye. Wherefore they sent him secretly away to Mytelaeane. ButMazares in
lyke sort making challenge of him from thence, theMitylinaeans couenaunted vppon a certayne pryce to surrender him.Which notwithstanding I dare not auouch and veryfie for that thematter came not to full issue and perfection. The people of Cumaeunderstādyng in what distresse Pacctyas was at Mytilaene, sent abarke to Lesbos, where hee went a borde and was spedely landed atChyus, where hauing taken sanctuary in the gardian temple of Minerua,he was neuertheles haled out violently by the Chians, & geuē tohis ennemyes. The Peraeans gaue in reward to the citye Chius acertayne field of Mysia named Aetarnaeus right ouer agaynst Lesbos.

Bythis meanes was Pactyas in warre with the Persians, when oportunityserued to be geuen into the handes of Cyrus. Neuerthelesse of thefruites and increase of Atarnaeus, for a longe tyme after the peopleof Chius, neither made any barly cakes to offer to the gods, norwrought any paast of ye meale thereof for iunkets & banquettingdishes. And in briefe what soeuer the ground yeelded they flatlyabolished from the seruice and worship of the gods. Pactyas beingbetrayed by the Chians, Mazares without further delay lead his armyagaynst those that had ministred ayde to him in gettyng the city, andconqueringe the Pryenses, he began to wast and depopulate the fieldesof Maeander, geuing the whole pray and booty to his souldiours.

Whichdone, in semblable manner he gaue the onset to Magnesia, and lastlyattached with extremitye of sicknes, finished hys lyfe. In whosesteed Harpagus,¹³⁶who was also a Mede, guyded the army. This was hee whom king Astiagesintertayned with a banket of his sonnes flesh: and by whose meanesCyrus before tyme aspyred to the estate royall. To him the chiefegouernment of the army was nextly committed: who comming into Ionia,intrenched many cityes and tooke them. For hauing first of allcompelled thē to vse the refuge and defence of their walles, heraysed bulwarkes agaynst their towns, and with fmall forcecaused
them to yeelde. In which manner he wanne Phocaea, thechiefe city of the Iones, the people whereof first of all theGreciās wandered on ye sea in long and ample voyages, fynding outand discrying both the countreyes themselves, Adria, Tyrrhenia,Iberia, Tartssus, and the nerest cu•• also and rediest way ofnauigation to the same. At which tyme they had in vse no beaked orsnow•ed shippes armed with a pyke or stemme of iron, but fmallerand lighter vessels driuen with {is} oeres apiece. These at theirfirst arryual to Tartssus, were very welcome to ye king whose namewas Arganthonius and by whom the kingdome had bene gouerned
80yeares, liuing by the space of 120.

Whomade so passyng much of the Phocaeans; and shewed them so curteousintertaynment, that he left it in their power to chose any part ofhis kingdome to inhabite, wherevnto not able to allure them by anyperswations, and hearyng by them how the power of Harpagus daylyincreased, hee gaue them an infinite summe of moneye to inuyron andcompasse about their citye with a wall. The circuit of their
wallbeing no fmall number of furlongs in scope and compasse, framed &compacted of greate and huge stones layd togeather wt singulercunning: by this meanes was y^ewall of the Phocaeans builded. Agaynst whō Harpagus incāping hispower gaue fierse & mightye assault to the city, giuing themunderstanding withal that it should suffyce and content him if theywould throw down but one fortres or gardure of their wall for himselfto build an house on. But the Phocaeans abhorryng nothing more thenseruitude & losse
of liberty, required of him one daysdeliberation in the cause, and for that whyle to reclayme his armyefrom the walles Harpagus (albeit as he fayd) hee verye well knewewhat they meant to do neuerthelesse, graunted them space to breathand bethinke themselves. The army goyng from the city, forth with thepeople of Phocaea with their wiues and children and all theirfubstaunce tooke sea, in shippinge
besides all the ymages oftheyr temples and gyftes offered to the gods, sauing those that wereof iron or stone or onely paynted and wrought in colours. Which donewith al their caryage they sayled into Chius▪ Phocaea left desolatewithout any liuig creature in it was ye next day takē by thePerfians. The people wher of hauing cheapened of ye Chyans y^eIles Oenusiae (who refused to sel them fearing least ye mart andcustome of marchandize shoulde bee translated from their own Ile,thither) departd thence into Cyrnus.

Wheretwenty yeares before lead by a certayne prophecye they had founded acity named Ætalia. Whyle these things were doyng Argathonius theTarcefian kyng dyed. But y^ePhocaeans holdyng their course toward Cyrnus turned out of the wayeand came to their old citye where they s•ue the garison and powerof the Persians planted there by Harpagus for the possession andcustody of the Citye. Cursinge & banning those with mostblasphemous and execrable speaches which should seeke to leave theyrcompanye and turne behynd.

Wherewithalltaking a fiery wedge of hoat iron, they cast it into the sea, deepelyvowing neuer to returne to their city Phocaea, before the ironrysinge from the bottome of the water should ••ote aloft andswimme one the toppe. Howbeit launchinge towardes Corsica: the halfepart of the rowt were moued with a great longing and desire of theircountrey, and the maners and customes therof, insomuch that many ofthem without regard of their oth, returned backe to Phocaea. Otherslead with a greater care of theyr late
uow, leauing the IlesOnusae, went strayght to Cyrnus.

Wherebeing come on shore, for terme of 5 years they ioyned felowship withother their countreymen which before tyme were shed from the city toinhabite that place, making ordinaunce and appoyntment of diumeseruice and honoure to the Gods. Neuerthelesse being accustomed inmanner of enimyes by open pillage to spoyle and destroy the fields oftheir neighbours round about: the Tyrrheniās and Carthaginiansdetermined by common consent to encounter them by power of warrehauing furnished to the same end a fleete or Nauye of threfcoreshippes. The lyke number on the other syde being prouyded by thePhocaeans, wel stored and replenished with souldiours they set forthto meete the enemy in the sea called Sardonium. Where ioyninge inbattell the Phocaeans obtayned a victory much lyke vnto that ofCadmus. For of threfcore vessels fourty being sunk and ouerwhelmed inthe sea, the other twenty were so mangled and torne, and the nosesand stemmes thereof blunted and beaten backe, that they seruedafterwards to fmall vse. Retiring therefore to Ætalia they toketheyr wiues and children with the rest of their wealth asmuch ascoulde wel lye aborde and remoued from Cyrnus to Rhegium. The menwherewith the drownd shippes were filled, loke how many escaped thewater and came into the handes of their enemies (which hapned tomany) at their cōming to land wer stoned to death. Insuing whichmurder they cattell & people of the Agilleans, as manye came intothat place where the men of Phocaea were stonned were ether scorchedand blased all with lightning or attached with extreame furye &madnes. For which cause the Agylleans willing to make satisfactionfor the offence, sent to Delphos, where Pythia commaunded them to doall those thinges which they hold
and obserue to this houre:annuallye perfourminge to the Phocaeans that were stayne the solemnepompe of funeral exequies with a game of wrastling and exercise ofthe body.

Suchwas the euent and successe of those people after they forsooke theircountrey soyle. Of which rout and companye they which escaped thedynt of battel and cut the seas to Rhegium, planted a city in yeFielde of Oenotria, called Hyêla: beingtherto moued by the aduyse ofone Posidoniates, a manne very well esteemed and thoughte of in allthe lande of Phocaea. In this manner did Fortune deale with thosethat dwelt in Ionia.

Thevery lyke thing chaunced to them that held the city Teios: whose townby meanes of a vulwarke cast vp agaynste the walles veynge at apoynte welnye vanquished and ouercome by Harpagus, they passed theseas into Thracia, fynishinge the citye Abdêra in the same place:the foundation and grounde whereof was fyrst layed by TemesiusClazomenius. How bee it, not inioyinge the fruite and due guerdon ofhis labour, hee was driuen thence and expelled by the Thracians.Albeit, the menne of Teios in the
selfe same citye of Abdêrahave him in honour and reputecion of halfe a God. These people onelyof the whole natiō of Ionia moued with hate and disdayne ofbondage, left the places, where they all were naturallye resyaunte,and soughte forrayne and straunge countries. The rest remayninge(except the Milesians) tooke heart at grasse, and foughte bothstoutlye and valtauntlye in the behalfe of their landes and liberty.

Butthe fortune of warre proceedynge agaynst them, they came intocaptiuitye. And abydinge still in theire own seates, dyd as they werecommaunded. Onely the Milesias (who were in league with Cyrus and thePersias) as we fayd before, were quiet and voyde of trouble. By thismeanes was Ionia the second tyme bereaued & spoiled of theirelibertye. The people of the Iles perceyuinge the mayne land to beeall under the dominion and rule of the Persians: fearyng the worstyelded themselves to Cyrus to be at his pleasure. Now the Ioniansalbeit in very miserable estate and condition, yet osyng their oldehaunte and accustomed meetinge at Panionium, the fame is that oneBias¹³⁷a Prienian gaue them such counsayle, as had they pursued it withdiligence, they had lived in the most happy and blisseful estate ofall the Greciās. His aduyse was this,
that the people ofIonia abandoninge their own howses & places of habitation, shouldimbarke themselves to Sardinia, and there for their whole multitudeto build and erect a city to be helde and inhabited by them al ingeneral which doyng they might cast of the yoke of ye Persians, andhauing in their dominion the griatest and most principall of all theIles, might also hold ye chiefe rule & dominion ouer all therest. This was ye counsayl of Byas, to ye pore afflicted Iones.

Notmuch inferyour to this was the graue aduise and sentence of Thales¹³⁸whereby he prouoked and styrred vp the people before their captiuityto the institution of one generall parliament to be cōmonly held atTeios both for that ye city was fixed in the midle part of theregion, and that the other Cityes rounde aboute, mighte neurrthelessebee reckened as tribes appertinēt therto. This was ye holesomdoctrine & wyse counsayl geuen by these 2 learned sages to y^epeople of Ionia. Harpagus after his tryumph ouer Ionia, directed hyspower agaynst the Caryans, Caunians, and Lyfians, leading with himthe Iones and Æoles. Of which number the Carians forsoke the Iles tocome dwell in the mayne. For in ancient tyme they were under theauthority and gouernement of Minos, bearyng the name of Lelages, atwhat tyme also they were resident in the Ilandes w^toutrent or pension of tribute, as far as I can learne by y^ediligent scrutiny (& hearsay) of times forepast & consumed.onely they weare leauied at a certayne number of shyppes furnishedand prepared with men of armes as often as it semed good to thePrynce.

MoreouerKing Mynos inioying a very large & ample Oilion, very fortunatein the euent of warre. The nation of Caria was exceedingly aduauncedaboue the rest in royall fame & dignity: of whom the Gretiansborowed three principall thinges, first found out and deuised bythem. It was their inuestion to weare a Crest or Cope on theirHelmets, to paynt and set forth their Targets in gallant shewe &brauery of colours: last of all the steele or handle of the shieldecame likewise frō thē, whereas, before they vsed no steeles,
buthanging them about their neckes and right shoulders, with lystes andthonges of leather they moued and guyded them to and fro. Along timeafter the Caryans, the Dores also and Iones chaunged the Isles withthe mayne or continent, and rows•ed thē there: all which thingsare affirmed of y^eCarians by the people of Creta. From whom the Caryans themselves doegreatly dissent and swarue in opinion,
cōftantly auouchinghow from the beginning and beyond all memory, those seates have benehelde by them without chaunge or mutation either of name or place. Intestimony whereof they shewe the temple of Iupiter Carius, founded atMylassus whereunto the Lydians also and Myfians have common resorteas allyed to the Carians in neere kindred & affinity. For theCarian calleth the Myfian and Lydian brother, whereof it commeth thatthey vse all one place of prayer and worship to the powers deuyne.All other nations beside though in tongue they differ not from thyCarians, yet are they not ioyned with them in fellowship of sacrificeand seruice to the Gods.

Thepeople Caunij, though they fetch theyr Progeny, from Crete, yet (asmee seemeth) they rowst now in theyr naturall Rest where in they havealwayes bene resiaunt. Theyr speach or forme of phrase they havedrawne from the Caryans, or the Caryans deriued theirs from them:whereof I am not able to set down an absolute and infalliblesentence. The lawes they vse are very dyuerfe and straunge, both fromthe maners of Carya, and other Nations. Forasmuch as with them it isa very laudable custome & hyghly commended accordinge to therespect and degree of age, for men, women and children to flocketogether in companies to open feastes and bankettinges. The state oftheyr religion and maner of ceremonies accustomably vsed by them werefirst taken from forrayne Nations: wherewith after being wearyed anddiscontented, they tyed themselves to y^eSaynctes of theyr own Countrey. The selfe same takeing Weapons intheir handes marched forward like madde men till they came to theCalyndian hilles, beatinge and swynging ye antes alleadging that theybanished out of their coastes, straunge and forreyne Gods. Sutch werethe maners and customes also of those people. But the Lycians mostassuredly are an offpring and braunch of the Cretenses: for in thebeginning Creta was inhabited by the Barbarians, but afterwardes thesonnes of Europa, Sarpêdon, and Minos, fallinge at variaunce for theEmpyre, Minos gettinge the better of his brother, chased him and allhis cōsederates out of the lande: who beinge dispossessed of theirseates seysed vppon a Region in Asia called Mylias, which name atthis day is sometime attributed to that place where the Lyciansdwell. Mylias so properly called, hauinge at that time to namesolinij. During the rule and gouernance of Sarpêdon they were calledby ye name which they brought with them. Which is to say, Termiliae,which as yet is held and reteyned of those that lye next vnto them.Howbeit Lycus the sonne of Pandion beinge dryuen from Athens by therigour and violence of his Brother Aegêus, and comming to SarpêdonPrynce of the Termilians: in continuaunce of tyme it came to passethat they tooke the name of Lycus, and were called Lycians. Theyaccustomed themselves to the lawes of Creta, and Caria. Albeit theyhave one thinge of theyr own proper and peculiar, wherby as by Badge,or cognizaunce they are seperated from other nations, in that theycall them selves by the names of their Mothers not of their fathers:as if the question be demaunded of any of them what he is, or whosesonne, the manner and vse is to blase hys pedegre from his mother,rehersynge besydes his mothers mother and so vpward.

Ouerand besydes, if a Woman free borne couple hirselfe in matrimony witha slaue or bondma:: neuerthelesse their Children and seede generallyeshall be held and accompted free.

Contrariwyseif a man free by byrth and natiuitye shall ioyne in wedlocke with aforrayne woman, or one that is reputed for a scalant or commonstrumpit, their discent and yssue shalbe alway signed with the noteof infamye, and neuer be called to any degree of credite orestimation.

Furthermorethe people¹³⁹which at those tymes held the dominion of Caria without atchieuaunceof any famous or notable act were conquered and ouercome by Harpagus.Neither were the Carians onely destitute of the glorye and renoune ofnoble dedes: but the rest also of the Gretians there
aboutlurked in silence and had their name darkened and ouerwhelmed withobscurity. There kept resiauntes in those places aswel others, asalso the Cnydians, which were a remnaunt of the Lacedaemoniansthither drawen and deriued, whose region wyndeth to the sea calledTryopium and is almost on euery syde hemmed in by the sea. The Northpart being limitted with the salte waues of Ceraunium: the southsideby the Rhodian and Simanian sea. The rest which is a very narrowstrayght, not passinge fiue acres in
breadth: the people ofCnydus (whyle Harpagus was busied in y^eaffaires of Ionia) thought to have digged a way, & in so doyng tohave brought ther countreye into the forme of anIland geuing free course and passage to the sea on euery syde. Fortheir whole territory was within the broken circle of the sea:ioyninge to the mayne or firme lande in that strayght where thewaters almost mette, which space they were in mynd to have trenchedthroughout, wherby the sea in manner of a circle mighte have his fullscope and issue about the Ile, whereto employing their whole forceand indeuour it chaunced them in the middest of their toyle to beetaken in manye parts of the bodye, and chiefly with an extremesmarting and sorenes of the eyes. Wherupon resoluinge to send toDelphos to Apollo, they inquired of him what it might be that sogreatly hyndred them to proceed in their enterprise.

Towhom Pythia made answere in certayne verses cōsistyng of sixe feeteafter this maner.

Seekenot to saue your seate

bytrenche or heaped pyle.

Ifmightye I oue had pleasde

Yourland had bene an Ile.

Thisanswere receiued, the Cnydians made holiday, & attempted nofurther to delue the ground. Wherefore Harpagus inuading theircountrey with his army they fubmitted themselves without resistaunce.More then this, somewhat about Halicarnassus in the region dwell thePedaceans: with whom at the shew or appearance of any daunger ormisfortune either to themselves or their neighbours, it falleth outthat Mineruas Priest hath continuallye a longe bearde: which happenedvnto them three fundry tymes.

Thesealone of all the people in Carya kept Harpagus at lenghth of weapon,and defended their city a long tyme, fencing the mountayne Lyda withprincipall garde and munition, howbeit in ye end they were driuen toyeeld. From thence Harpagus mouing hys tentes into ye fieldes ofXanthus was encountered by the Lyfians. Who albeit they were fewer innumber, neuertheles hardened themselves to all extremity & withmāful courage susteined the might and puissaunce of their ennemyes.Who preuayling against them at the last made thē to recoyle andtake their Citye. Whereinto being entred, they toke their wiuesChildren, and all their fubstaunce and shut them vppe into the Toweror castle of the city, and setting fyre to the same without pity orregard they burnt them all. And immediately after binding themselveswith a most horrible and dreadefull othe, they closed the secondetyme with their enemyes: with whō they persisted in valiaunt fight:so longe as one man of their number remayned alyue.

Allthe Lycians which are called by the name of Xanthians, and forreinersand arriued from straunge places,
except 40 familyes, which byfortune at ye same tyme being oute of the city escaped death. By thismeanes came Xanthus into the handes of the Persians. In like manneralso the city Caunium was taken by them whose people for y^emost part followed the example of the Lycians. Harpagus thereforehauing added to the seate of Persia all the cityes the lower: thesuperiour and hygher parts thereof Cyrus by his own proper Mart andvaliauncy had ouercome and vanquished leauing no part of the samefree and vnfubdued. Wherefore in presence we will leave of to speakeof the rest of their noble actes & deedes, letting passe manythings wittingly for desire to reueale and displaye those thyngeswhich to them selves were most labour some and difficulte and deserueto bee prynted in eternall memory.

Nowwhen king Cyrus had brought into his power all the nations that lyein the mayne, he leuied his whole strēgth against the Assyrians.There be many and great cities of Assyria, but aboue all oneespeciall and pryncipall, both in defence and dignity surmounting therest, by name Babylon, where after the occasion and ruine of Nynuswas planted the seate and palace of the greate kinge. This city hadthe foundation and being in a wonderful huge playne: and was builteand contriued into a foure square forme: euery side thereofconteining in length an hundred and twenty acres. Whereby it iseuidente that the circuit and compasse of the whole city amounted tothe summe of 480 acres of grounde, so greate and of so huge bygnesand amplitude was the mighty citye Babylon. Moreouer within thewalles faire and beautifull passing measure, garnished & setforth with rych and sumptuous buildings, as no Citye whereof we havenotyce approacheth any thinge to the incomparable dignity of thesame.

Firstof all it is cast about and incompassed with a wyde and deepe Ditchfilled and implet with water, in the nexte place is raysed a wall 50royall cubits in thyckenesse and 200 in heigth: a cubute royallcontayninge three fingers more then the vulgare & common cubyte,which we vsually follow in measuring. It shall not be impertinent toye matter to shew and declare to what vse & seruice the earth wasimployed, which was cast and voyded out of the trench, as also inwhat maner and forme the wal was builte.

Ofthe clay cast out, and clensed from the ditche were drawed and framedcertayne brickes, which arysynge at length to a great multitude theywere dryed and burnte in a kill or fornace.

Afterwardesclosing the same togeather with morter betwixt euery thirtith courseor row of brickes they layd y^etoppes of canes or reedes dipped and steeped in boylyng lyme, andfirst of in this manner they curbed and garded about the brinckes ofthe mote wt a list or hemme of brickes obseruing also the selfe sameart in the frame and workemanship of the wal.

Onthe toppe of the wall along the edges and margentes therof were built& cituated certaine smal howses one story hygh facing and fulopposite one to an other, betwene euery of the which was so muchspace and distance, as a cart might have gone betwene them.

Throughthe walles ther opened an 100 broad gates for passage and ingresseinto the citye all of brasse, with postes and hynges of the same.Eyght days iourney from Babilō is placed a city called Is, fast bythe which floweth a riuer of no great bygnes, named also Is, caryingehis streme into y^efloude Euphrates: This seely brooke scowreth through his chanelgreate plenty of lyme wherof they had principall vse
in thebuildyng of the walles of Babilon. Of the forme and descriptionwherof sufficeth it thus to have fpoken. How be it, it behoueth vs tounderstande that the citye Babylon, ys cutt and sundered in twayne bythe mayne streame of the rithe riuer Euphrates: which is very greatdeepe and swift of course and taking hys fyrst yssue from themountaynes of Armaenia, breaketh at the length and emptyeth yt selfeinto the red sea.

Thepartition of the walles made by the intercourse of y^eriuer shootes bppon the bankes on either syde, which are breasted outand fortifyed with a countremure of bricke to kepe the waters fromflowing into the citye. The Citye it selfe is replenished with housesfour storyes in heighte being also deuyded, & as it were chekeredinto fundry streets and lanes some leādyng long wayes, other somecrosse and ouerthwort, at the end of one streete openeth a brasendore through the wall and countergard of the ryuer, whereby thepeople have accesse to the water. And this wall is in defence of thecitye agaynst the vyolence of the floud. Moreouer in either part andregion of the citye there is another wall, not much inferyour instrenghe (albeit in thicknesse somewhat lesse then the former. One ofthese in ye one part of the citye incloseth aboute the stately courtand resyaunce of the Prince exceeding strong, and of a mile compasse.Likewise in the other part of the City is a wall, in the circle andclosure whereof is conteined the Temple of Iupiter Belus, wherevntoentry is made through the wall by mighty brasen gates, standing yetin this our age, to the open view and beholding of trauaylers. Thiswall is built in maner of a quadrangle, foure-square, being on eueryside two acres long. In the middest of the Temple standeth a towre ofsound worke, very firme and solide, without vaut or holownsse, afurlong thicke, and as much high: on the top of the which was plantedanother towre, which in like manner vphelde and underpropped thethird: wherevppon likewise were fiue other turrets placed, eachtaking hys ground and foundation from the top of another. Onthe
outside of euery towre do winde certaine degrees of steps orstayres leading to the top or highest part of the same. In the midwayvp the stayres are framed certayne seates or benches for those thatgo vp to rest and breathe by the way. In the top or supremity of thehighest turret is another Chappell, within the whiche is placed a beddecked with most costly and sumptuous furniture, besides the whichstandeth a beautifull table of fine gold. In this sacred house orvestry no image is erected, neither doth any creature lye in thesame, saue one woman alone, beeing of the same countrey (as thePriests of Babylon affirme) and such a one, as it pleaseth the god tochoose for his own dyet. Who do also conftantly reporte (albeit I amhardly
brought to beleeue it) that the god himselfe entring intothe Temple, taketh vp his lodging in that chamber. Like as also itfalleth out at Thebes in Ægypt by the voyce and record of theÆgyptians, where in the oratory or place of seruice dedicate toIupiter Thebanus, a woman vseth to lye: who (as also the other ofBabylon) is conftantly auouched at no time to have custome orfellowship with men. Such is also the prioresse or woman priest atPaterae in Lycia when time or occasion ferueth, for there the Oracleis not continually held, but at such time as it approcheth, theAbbesse ouer night is fast lo•kt and included into the Church.
Inthe temple of Babylon besides there is another temple somewhat lower,wherein is kept the famous monument of the god Iupiter wrought ofgolde, neere vnto the which adioyneth a table, which together withthe frame and settle thereto belonging, is also of meere and solidegold, esteemed of the Chaldaean priests at the summe and value of800. talents. At the comming out of the chappell, there is also to beseene an aultar of cleane gold: not far from the which standethanother of strange and wonderfull bignes, whereon are offered allsuch beastes as are of perfect age and ripe growth: contrarywise onthe aultar of golde it is
not lawfull to sacrifice any butsucklings, and such as are newly drawne and taken from the teate. Onthe greater of the two aultars, the Chaldaean Chaplaynes burneincense to the god, with expence of a C. M. talents of frankincense.In the same temple is also another image of. 12. cubites in length ofmassy and beaten golde, which albeit I sawe not with mine own eies,yet presuming vpon the credit of the Chaldaeans, I have aduentured toset it down. This image Darius the sonne of Hystaspes, and King ofPersia, would faine have bin fingering, neuerthelesse, for feare ofafterclaps, he was contente to coole his thirst, and forgoethe
spoile, howbeit, Xerxes his sonne & heire in later daiesrifeling the temple, made a booty therof, hauing done to death achaplaine who stoutly forbad him to moue the image out of his place.With these & such like ornamēts was yt temple of Babylongorgeously adorned, besides an infinite number of gifts and presents,franckly geuen and bestowed to the polishing and setting foorth of sorare & famous a monument.

Furthermore,the genealogy and succession of the Kings of Babylon is very manyfoldand diuerfe, of whome ioyntly with yt affaires & estate ofAssyria we meane to intreate: part of these laid their wealth &treasure on the trimming & beautifying of the city walles: otherspared no coast to inrich & adorne the temples & palaces ofthe gods. In the lineall discent of the bloud royall, mention is madeof two women: the one of these raigned fiue ages before the later,and was called Semiramis. This Queene caused to be cast vp &
raisedgreat mounts & mighty banckes, very wonderfull to be seene, whichkept the riuer within the course of his naturall chanell, beeing wontbefore time to ouerflow & couer the whole plame. The secondQueene named Nitocris was of wit more sharp & fubtile, and ofmuch more fiue inuention then ye former, by whom both other thingswere brought to passe right woorthy memory, whiche we purpose torecount: and chiefly this, that perceiuing the power and gouernementof the Medes to grow and increase, and as well other towns, as alsothe city Ninus to be vanquished by thē, she forethought all themeanes that could be deuised, to arme & defend hirselfe againstthe enemy. First of all the riuer Euphrates that whilome by astreight & equall course streame throughout the town, flowing ina right line towards the sea by meanes of certaine trenches cast vpand digged for the streame, she drew into a confuse and intricaterace, folding & winding many waies, insomuch that in three fundryplaces it hath eftsoones recourse vnto one little village in Assyriacalled Arderica so that they which come frō the sea to Babylon byy^triuer Euphrates, are cōstreined to
ariue thrice at Arderica &that also in three feuerall days. This was also one worke of herswhich she did about y^triuer, the borders wherof besides she hath hemmed & garded inwith a banke so strōg & mōstrous, & what for ytvnmeasurable hignes & bignes of yt same, it would greatlyastonishe those that do view & behold it. somewhat aboue thecity, a little off from the riuers side, she caused a place to becast & trenched for the receipt of a standing water or poble,which they digged so deepe, till they came to the water, extendingeuery way in breadth the space of. 320. furlongs. The earth that wasvoyded heerefro was referred and employed to the bancking of theriuer. The edge and brinckes of the poole were layde aboute and pauedwith stone. In both which things, as well in turning the course ofthe water, as in deluing the trench or lake, she had this purpose,that the violēce of the floud being hindred by so many windings
andturnings, might flowe in a more quiet and peaceable streame: then,that the passage from the maine sea to Babylon might be made moretroublesome to the saylers, by the often creekes and circuites of thewater: finally, that the next way and readiest path from Media toBabylon being shut vp, and intercepted by the mutable course of theriuer, the Medes hindered from mutable trade of Merchandize with theAssyrians, might be ignorant and vnskilfull of hir assayres andcounsayle. Thus did Queene Nitocris on the lower side of Babylonprouide for the safetie and good estate of the Realme, hauing anothermeaning in the fenne or marish which she caused the people to diggeaboue the town, for the City being separate and diuided into twoparts, by meanes of the riuer which floweth through the middes, underthe raigne and dominion of other Princes, whosoeuer of the Citizenswas desirous to go ouer on the other side, he was fayne to be ferydouer, and passe by a boate, whiche coulde not be voyde of greatetoyle and trouble, of which extremity by the good inuention of QueeneNitocris, the City obteyned speedie release by one and the selfesamemeanes, leauing behinde two famous monumēts of perpetual memory.Wherfore hauing turned the riuer into the maine gulfe or lake thatwas cast vp and digged in the plaine, she incontinently caused mightystones to be hewed out, squared for ye purpose. The floud hauing abreach and issue another way, within the compasse of his own chanellbecame drye and voyde of water, Nitocris therefore fenced the bankesand shores of the riuer within the City, with a skirt or edge ofbricke, to saue the water from abating and wearing the earth. In likemaner the steppes leading down from the brasen wickets to the water,she framed of bricke layd and mortered together in like sorte as thewalles. About the middest of the City she made a bridge ouer thewater, built of stone cut and polished to the same ende, which shecaused to be knit & mortered together with leade and iron. Thisbridge in the day time she couered with planckes of fouresquareforme,
to giue passage & recourse to her fubiects: which inthe euening were continually drawne & remooued from thence, tothe end all occasion of mutual theft and villany in the night mightbe foreseene & preuented. The worke being ended, she wrought themeanes for the water to returne to his proper course, eftsoonesboyding the lake againe, which then by continuall feeding of thestreame, drew to be full. Thus the end prooued the deluing of thefenne to be very profitable & cōmodious, by meanes whereof abridge was made for the
vse & benefit of the city. The sameNitocris also put in practise this fubtile and deceitfull inuention.Alost vppon the most stately and portlike gate of the City in openshew and appearaunce to all mē, she built her a sepulchre, engrauenwith this title or superscripcion: If any of the Kings of Babylonafter me shall stand in neede or pen•ry of money, let him open thetombe and take as much as he will: but not vnlesse he be driuen byextremity, for it shall not be good for him. This sepulchre was solong vnmoued, till
the kingdome fell into the hands of Darius,who very much disdaining that he neither had vse of these gates(because that ouer them was placed a dead body, so that he counted itvnwholesome to go through them) nor any profit or commodity of themoney, especially being allured and prouoked thervnto by the Epitaphand inscription, he brake open the monument and looked in, notfinding one crosse nor ought else saue the dead carkesse &certaine letters, faying thus: Vnlesse thou hadst bene an vnsatiablewretch, and greedy of filthy gayne, thou wouldst neuer havediscouered the graues of the dead. These things are left to memory ofthe Queene Nitocris, against whose sonne Labynitus hauing the name ofhis father, and the gouernement and principality of all Assyria;Cyrus prepared his whole army, at whose approch the great Kinggathered a power of mē, hauing made aboundant prouision both ofcorne and cattell. Moreouer, great plenty of water was had inreadinesse, brought from the floud Choasspis, running a littlebesydes Susa, of which riuer alone the King is accustomably wont todrinke. The water of Choasspis being first sodden and after reseruedin vessels of siluer, is continually borne after the King whethersoeuer he goeth by Chariots driuen on
four wheeles, whichfollow his trayne in great number.

Cyrustherefore undertaking a iourney to Babylon, after he came to theriuer Gyndes (whiche proceeding from the Mantien mountaynes necrevnto the people Darnei, meeteth with the riuer Tigris, whose streamepassing by the City Opis, floweth into the red sea) he attempted topasse the water, which by no meanes can be gone ouer withoutshipping, where stepping foorth a lusty gallant of the army, andmounting on the backe of a milkewhite steede, sacred and holy to thegods, aduentured in a brauery to take the water, and go ouer, whomethe floud winding and wreathing with in his streame, swallowed vp sothat he was neuer after seene. But King Cyrus greatly agreeued at thevnkind and iniurious deede of the riuer, threatned the water infurious manner, faying, that the time should not be long erre hebrought it so lowe, and to so scant an ebbe, that the very women ofthe countrey should dare to go ouer it, not weting themselves to theknees, which thing for the vehemency of his rage he immediately putin practise, intermitting and leauing off hys voyage to Babylon:wherefore diuiding his campe into two parts, he leuelled out and drewby a line. 180. trenches on either side of the riuer, whereinto hedetermined to draine the water:
which enterprise (as in so greata multitude) was at lēgth brought to passe, albeit he consumed thewhole sommer in performance thereof. The mighty riuer Gyndes being inthis sort shed and deriued into. 360. brookes at the approach of thenext spring Cyrus renewed his purpose, and set foorth afresh towardesBabylon, whome the great Kyng with an hoast of men well prepared,exspected and looked for in the fielt. When he drewe neere to thecity, signe of battell was giuen, and a fierce encountry made on bothsides, but the Persians preuailing, compelled the contrary part toflie into the city, where the Babylonians (for that lōg before theyperceyued King Cyrus to be of a busie & an vnquiet nature, giuento controuersy & trouble, intermedling & dealing with othernations) had made plentiful prouision of vittailes, & all kind ofsustenance for many yeares, for which they lived in security, nothingat all waying to be kept in and enclosed with a siege. Cyrus in likecase hauing a long time layne at the walles without any successe orauayle, was altogether ignorant of what wood to frame his arrowes,howbeit at last, either of his own trayne, or by
the counsayleand aduertisement of others, he cast about another way, and wroughtthus: placing his army on eache side of the city, some on that partwhere the riuer entereth in, others on the backside where it flowethout, hee gaue commaundement, that at such time as they saw the waterto fall and berome fleete and easy to be waded; they shoulde inuadethe city by the chanell of the floud: leauing therefore his ariny inthis order and aray, with the vnfittest and weakest part of hispower, he withdrewe himselfe asyde to the poole, made by thehandyworke of Queene Nitocris, whether beeyng come, looke what beforetime had bene wrought by her whyle the bridge was building, theselfe-same also dyd Cyrus, piercing the bancke of the riuer; andgeuing a vent to the water to passe into the fenne: whereby thestreams decreasing, became very shalow, and without daunger to thosethat aduentured to passe through which thing being marked by thosethat stayd behinde at the walles, they tooke the riuer, and wadingvery little aboue the knees with manfull and valiant courage, brakeinto the City: whome the men of Babylon (if in case
they hadforeknown the fact of Cyrus) had not onely not permitted to take theTown, but contrarywise had destroyed them all by a miserable death:for hauing fast barred the little gates that open to the riuer, andplaced themselves partly on the top of the wall, partly on the bankeswithout the City, they had pent and included them as it were in acaue or denne from whence they could neuer have escaped alive: wherasnow the Persians stealing vpon them of a sudden, were at theirelbowes before they were aware. In which their distresse (so huge wasthe City in dignesse) that (by report of those that dwelt next them)they which inhabited the middle part of the City, were flatlyignorant that the town was taken. Wherefore being a festiuall day,they egerly persued their delight and pastime, disporting thēselveswith dauncing, and all kind of pleasant recreation, vntill the casewas too plaine that the enemies were within the walles. such therforewere the meanes whereby the City Babylon was first of all taken andsurprised by warre. As touching the power and value whereof, we willshewe many testimonies, this one especiall and of manyfest euidency.The whole coast which is under the gouernance of the great King,being leuied at a certayne rent to finde the Prince and his armie (Imeane besides those reuenewes and pensions which euery moneth in theyeare are duely payde and yeelded to the Crown) at the fourth part ofthys rent or fubsidie is the region of Babylon rated alone, the othereyght parts beéing gathered and contributed out of the wholeCountrey of Asia: so that the puissance and hability of this regionis equiualent and matchable to the third part of Asia. The seignioriealso and principality of this part (which the Persians call aSatrapy, that is, a Dutchy or Countey) doth in great measure exceedeall other prouinces that are under the protection of the great
King.For so much as Tritechmas sonne of Artabazus whome the King made hisLieutenant, and principall ouer this Countrey, had duely renderedvnto him for tribute euery day in the weke more then eyght gallons ofsiluer, according to the Perfian measure called Artaba, whichexceedeth by three quarts the measure that is vsed in Attica, whichthey call by the name of Medimnus. Moreouer he had a stable ofcouragious and lusty coursers for the saddle, besides those whichwere purposely kept and managed for the vse of warre: to these wereadded eight hundred stalions or stone horses, with sixteene thousandmaares
which were couered by those horses, one stalion beingreserued and admitted to the couering of twenty maares. Besides allthis, so great a multitude of dogs or mastifes comming of the kindeand breede of India were belonging to him, that four great townsstanding in the plaine of Babylon, stoode at no other reuenue, thento find and maintayne a company of curres. All whiche things werepeculiar and appertinent to him that was the viceroy or president ofBabylon. In the countrey of Assyria they have fmall store of rayne:such graine as the land yeeldeth beeing euermore watered by thefloud, not after the maner of Nilus in Ægypt (which of his ownaccord riseth ouer the bankes,and giueth moisture to the fields roundabout) but partly by the labour and hāds of men, partly also bybrookes and ditches deriuing the water throughout their ground. Forthrough all the region of all Babylon (euen as in Ægypt also) aredrawne many trenches and ditches, the greatest whereof is nauigable,and caryeth ships, bearing to that coast where the sunne is at astand in winter, and reacheth from Euphrates to the floud Tigris,neere vnto the which was planted and situated the city Ninus. Thissoyle for corne and all kinde of grayne, is the most battle andplentifull of all others, being very barren and naked of wood:wherein, especially the figge tree, vine, and olyue,
couldneuer prosper or come to any proofe, but for seede and tillage sofruitefull and aboundant, that it neuer fayleth to yeeld increase twohundred fold: and if the ground be very well taken, and the yearefauourable, it multiplieth to three hundreth times as much as wascast into the earth. The
eares of their wheate and barly aremore then a handfull broade. Likewise ye fmall seede of Millet orHirse, together with the graiue of India called sesamum, to whatexceeding growth and tallnes they arise in this countrey, that almostthey seeme in manner of mighty trees, albeit I assuredly know &could iustly affirme, yet I will rather keepe silence, knowing thatthose which hath bene already fpoken of the greate encrease of theirgraine are such, that they far surmount aboue the cōmon credit andvsuall course of nature. They vse no kinde of oyle but such as ismade of the seede Sesamum. Palme trees are cōmon with thē ineuery place
of the countrey, many of the which beare fruite &are very fertile. Part of this fruite they turne and employ to foodeand sustenaunce, making wine and honny of the rest. The treesthemselves they prune and manure not vnlike theyr figge trees. someof these palmes (as they vse also to do in other) the Graecians callmale trees, the fruite wherof they eate not, but only bind it to thefruite of the female trees, whereof breedeth a fmall woorme or flye,which with her sharpe and forcked nebbe biteth through the fruite ofthe female palme, whereby it commeth to ripenesse and maturity, beingotherwise wont to drop off and decay before it arriue to full growthand perfection. For of the fruite of the male palme is bred andproduced this little worme, such as come also of a wilde figge tree.

Letvs now proceede vnto that which next after the city it selfe, is (inmy fancy) the straungest mirrour and wonder of the whole region. Thevessels wherein they are accustomed to passe down ye streame toBabylon, are made circlewise, and of round compasse, drawne ouer onthe outside, and couered with leather: for the people ofArmenia,whose countrey lyes aboue the Assyrians, hauing hewed &smoothed out of willow certaine round vessels very hollow and deepe,they cast ouer a paast or couering of leather, applying them both tothe vse of houshold affayres to contemne licour in & such like,and also to rowe in and passe the water. They have neither head nortayle that a man may poynt at with his finger, there to be the noseand forepart of the
shippe, and heere the hinder part or sterne,but are contriued into a circulare forme like a buckler or target.The bottome of these vessels they matte and fence with strawe orrushes, wherevpon laying their chaffer and merchandise, they committhemselves to the water. Theyr chiefest cariage is fmall roundlets orfirkins of wyne, makyng the caske it selfe of the leaves of palme.The vessels are gouerned by two feuerall rothers, at the which, twomen continually stande and are attendaunt, the one whereof drawes thester•e towardes him into the shippe, the other thrusteth from himoutwarde. These kynde of shippes are maruaylous greate, and verycapable, albeit some of them be of smaler making then other. Thegreater sort are of power to carry the waight of fyue thousandtalentes. In euery of which there is one live Asse at the least, andin the bigger three or foure. Beeyng landed at Babylon, and hauyngmade theyr mart of such thynges as they broughte, they sell also thewoodde of theyr Shyppes, with the strawe, rushes, and such lyke,loadyng backe theyr Asses with the skinnes, which they driue homebefore them into Armenia: forsomuch as to saile vpwards against thecourse of the riuer, it is not possible for them, by reason of theswiftnesse and violence of the strcame, which is the cause also thatthey make their vessels not of wood, but of
skinnes. After theyare returned to Armenia they make prouision of other ships, all onein similitude and fashion with the former: such are the vesselswherein the Assyrians ferry down the water to Babylon.

Nowfor their habite and attyre it is on this manner. Their vsuallcustome is to go clothed in two garments, one of linnen down to thefeete, another of wollen drawne vppon the same: aboute theirshoulders they cast a cloake of whyte coulour. In their showesfollowing the custome of the whole countrey, they vse all onefashion, not much vnlike the Thebane slippers. Their hayre very long,tied and bound vp behinde with a coyfe. In all parts of their bodyeembaulmed with swete oyles and precious oyntmentes. On their fingersthey we are a signet: bearing in their hāds a slender rod in formeof a scepter, very skilfully and artificially wrought, on ye topwhereof is carued either an apple, a rose, a lilly, an eagle, or somesuch like thing, being accompted wickednesse with them, and againstall lawe, to carry a rod or scepter without such an ensigne on thetop. And thus much for their attyre.

Thelawes which they vse are these. One most commendable, and for thesingulare wisdom and commodity thereof greatly to be regarded.Likewise another, which (if I be not deceiued) the people Eneticomming of the Illyrians do commonly practise throughout their wholelande. Once in a yeare they obserued this custome. The virgins thatwere arriued to the due time and estate of marriage, they assembledall into one place, fast behind these stoode a great multitude ofyong men and batchelers. When all were come and the company was hush,there arose vp a common cryer, proclayming feuerally the sale ofeuery one to such as were minded to buy them, and in the first placeshee that was the paragon and most beautifull damosell of

allthe route, was in like manner first published and set forth to besold, whom some one or other hauing purchased with a great summe ofmoney, she that was next in beautie to the fairest, was next priced,with a condition annexed, that they whiche bought shoulde also marrythem. Such therefore of Babylon that were of good wealth, and wantedwines, bought vp the brauest wenches, euery one speeding best forbeautie that badde best for the beautifull. The basest sorte ofyonkers that were not so deyntely toothed, contenting themselves withthe homeliest lasses, chose rather to take a good nutbrown wench witha dowrie, with whome to practise the daliaunces of Venus. The marketbeing made of the best and fayrest, incontinently the most vggly andfoulest drosse of the company was by the voyce of the crier cyted toappeare, whome he set foorth and propounded to the liking of any, whowith the least expence and sinalest charge that might, woulde becontente with a wife. In which sort she standeth, til there stepfoorth a mate that will holde himselfe satisfied with a sluttishewife and a slender dowrie, euermore making a gayne of those vpponwhome nature and the heauens had largely bestowed theyr graces andtreasures, whereas with the rest, that were either impotent, lame, orin part of the body disfigured, or generally sluttish and ylfauoured,they endowed with a portion of goodes the sooner to procure and getthem husbands. Neither was it free and indifferent for any man toplace and dispose his daughter to whome he would: nor for the byerwithout sufficient warrant or suretie of his good vsage of hir totake hir away: but hauing brought such as should plight their faithand honestie in his behalfe, that he should vndoubtedly vse hir inplace of his wife, he tooke hir with him, whereof if by fortune theycoulde not agree, the law commaunded that the money whiche was geuenfor price of the virgine should be eftsoones restored to the buyer:wherein the custome was not so strict and feuere, but that a coupleof contrary villages might match together, and enter the estate ofmariage one with another, the man alwayes rendering a certaine summeand price for his wife if she were worth the buying. This law wasvery well and wisely ordeyned by them, which within a while afterlost his force, and was utterly neglected: albeit in later days theycoyned a new deuise that no man should abuse or anyway iniurie awoman, nor carry hir away into a strange city, for the city beingtaken, and themselves shamefully intreated by their enemies, in somuch that the most part of them had wasted their goodes andfubstance, the poore lay people that were in great extremity and wantof sustenāce, caused their stocke, ye care of their honesty &chaste liuing set apart, to purchase lucre by the common vse of theirbodies. Another law and statute they had of equal prayse andcommendation with the first, whereby it was prouided that all personspossessed with any griefe or disease, should be caryed out and laydin the open market place, to the end that (vsing no Physicions) eueryone might giue their verdit of their sicknesse and maladie. As eueryone therefore approcheth neare vnto the diseased, if at any time theyhave had triall and experynce of the like payne and distresse eitherin themselves or in other, they let not to minIster connsaile to thesicke, & prescribe such order & dyet, as hath bin heretoforeeither profitable to themselves, or wholesome to other: utterlyabhorring from all lawe and ciuility, to passe securely &carelesly by the feeble, & not to enquire the state and maner ofhis griefe. They esteeme it no fmall blisse to them to be buried insepulchers, resembling very narrowly the custome of the Ægyptians infunerall sorrow and lamentation for the dead. As oft as they havesociety and fellowship with their wiues, placing themselves in seatesone ouer agaynst another, the men take swete perfume, and burneth it,the women likewise doing the very same. At the drawing neere of theeuening they wash and wrinse themselves very cleane, not attemptingto touch any thing with their hands, before they have thoroughlycleansed and purged the filth from their bodies, which thing is invse
likewise with the Arabians.

Theselfesame Babylonians acquaint themselves with an order full of allabhomination and wickednesse. All the women of their nation once intheir whole lives, resort to the Temple of Venus, where abandoningtheir chastity, they giue vp themselves to be defiled and corruptedby straungers: howbeit, such women as are of great reputation, andhave wealth at will, disdeining to sit and accompany with the rest,are drawne to the temple in charlots or litters cast ouer and coueredwith a vale of leather: whether being come, leauing the trayne oftheir meyny and seruants behinde them, they place themselves inseates before the
gates of the palace, which is the common vseof all such as are of high degree. Within the Churche they sit ingreate multitudes, bound about the temples of the head with garlandsof swete and pleasant flowres, some of them are comming, othersgoing, for certayne passages and wayes feuerally made by cords &lines, leade and direct the strangers to such as they fancy best andhave moste minde to. Moreouer, hauing once taken her seate in theTemple, she neuer returneth home vntill some one or other of foreignecountreys hath geuen her money, and reapt her chastity, whoapproching neere to his lady whome he liketh, sayeth thus: TheGoddesse Militta be fauourable and gracious vnto thee. By this nameMilitta is Venus called with Assyrians, neither is it lawfull todespise the money which is geuen, how much or how little soeuer itbe, being applied to a sacred & holy vse. Neither may ye womābe her own caruer to reiect any yt commeth to her, but whosoeuer isher first chapman him she immediately followeth wtout respect ofpersons: with whome, after she hath accompanyed for a while, hauingmade her offring to ye Goddesse, she returneth home, for the time tocome not to be allured by mountaynes of gold to acquaint themselveswith any in the like sort. Of this noble route such as are mostprayseworthy for beautie and comely proportion of the body, havesoonest made theyr market and are gonne, the grosser and baser sortbeing held by the law to remaine there so long, till they haveaccomplished the rites and customes of the Countrey, so that itchaunceth thē otherwhiles to abide in the Temple a yeare or two,yea sometimes three, before the poore soules can be acquit of theirseruitude. The like ordinaunce is of force & virtue in some partof Cyprus. These are the lawes of the
people of Babylon, ofwhome there be three sortes, some which live only by fish, whichebeeing purged and dried against the sunne, they vse in this manner,first they pown & bray it in a morter, which done, they preserueand keepe it in linnen sheetes, whereof they take at their pleasure,and putting thereto liquour, they kneade and bake it in maner ofbread.

ThePerfian prince Cyrus hauing obteyned the victorie ouer all thecountrey of Babylon, was pricked with desire to bring into his powerthe people of the Massagetes; a nation very large, and in armescouragious and valiaunt, hauing their habitation in the East towardesthe morning sunne beyond the floud Araxes, right ouer against theIssedonians, and being (as some men suppose) a part of Scythia. TheRiuer Araxes is both greater and lesse then the mighty streame calledIster, wherein also are many Iles not inferiour in compasse to theIland Lesbus. The people of those Iles live in the sommer time by allkinde of rootes whiche themselves plucke vp and gather, reseruing thefruite of their trees that is ripe and ready to be eaten for theirwinter foode and sustenance. By these people were found out anddeseryed certayne trees, whose fruite being cast into the fire (whichthey vse to kindle swarming together in great flockes) doth no lesseincharme and make drunken the senses of those that fit by, with thesauour and smell proceeding therefro, then their wyne doth intoxicatethe heads of the Grecians, being so much the more idle in theirbraynes by how much ye more they burne of the aforesaid fruite: euenso far at length, that they fall to singing, dauncing and leapingpast measure. Now the floude Araxes (like as also ye ryuer Gyndeswhich Cyrus broached and deuyded into 360 trenches) beginneth at theMantien hylles parting it selfe into sixty feuerall streames, therest (one only excepted) have their endinges in fennes and marishegroundes: where certayne people are fayde to make
their abode,which are nourished by rawe fishes, being clothed and apparelled inseale skinnes. The other part of Araxes continueth his course vntothe sea called Caspium, which is a sea of it selfe, not permixt andmingled with any other, for aswell the salte water through the whichye Grecians vse to saile, as also the other without ye pyllers calledAtlanticum, finally, ye red sea & it do meete each with other andare all one: but the Caspian waters are hemmed in & inclosed withtheir own shores, being in length 15. days sayle for a light shippethat goeth with oares: in bredth such that the widest part (which istoward the west) may be passed ouer in eyght days. The west side ofthis sea is edged in by the mountayne Caucasus, being of incomparableheight and greatnesse: vpon this hill one people of all sortesinhabyting: very many & diuerfe susteyned by wilde foode andfieldishe reliefe. The leaves which their trees beare are much likevnto ours in shew, though different in nature: these they beate topowlder, and rempering them with a quantity of water they make ofthem a certayne colour of such force and virtue that Paintingtherewith vppon their garments the similitudes of fundry wildebeasts, it neuer chaungeth hue, but euen as if the pictures had benewouen and wrought in the cloth: so together with ye woolle it selfethey weare out and decay. These men after the maner of brute beastesmeddle and accompany with their women in open sight. Now the Westpart of the sea Caspian being inuyroned by the hill Caucasus, ye sidewhich extēdeth toward the Easte beateth vpon a large, spacious, &ample playne. The most part of this playne is possessed by theMassagets, whom Cyrus for diuerfe & waighty causes was styrred vpand prouoked to assaile by warre. First by the remembraunce of hisbirth and infancie, whereby he was moued to thinke and imagyne himselfe to bee more then halfe
a god, far aduaunced aboue themortall estate of humane kinde. Againe not a litle puffed vp andemboldned by ye luck and prosperous atchieuaunce of all hisaduentures wherein fortune shewed him so amiable a countenaunce, thatagainst what nation soeuer hee set his force, the same hee causedeither to bend or breake, alwayes hauing the better hande of hisenemyes.

Thekingdome of the Massagets after the decease of the prince hir husbandwas held by the most noble and vertuous Queene Tomyris, vnto whomCyrus addressinge certayne messengers in fained glose of deceiptfullwords, demaunded hir mariage: but the prudent and couragious ladyperceiuing his bent, how not for the loue of hir selfe, but fordesire of the kingdome he had couloured a sute of dissembledmatrimony, flatly forbadde him to come within the lystes and boundesof hir countrey. Cyrus seeing his pollicie to be in vayne, lead hispower to the ryuer Araxes, in open and professed wise, threatningvengeance and all kinde of cruelty against the realme of theMassagets: wherefore hauing couered the ryuer with certayne bridges,whereby to trayne and conuey his army ouer the water hee fortifiedthe same with defence & munition of towers builte by y^ehelp & ayde of ships which he made for ye purpose: to whom beingdiligently cōuersant & busied in these affaires, Tomyrisdispatched an Herauld of peace wt a message as followeth. Thou kingof the Medes, leave of to trouble thy selfe in those matters which y^ehast taken in hand, vncertayne what gayne y^tshalt
reape by this thine enterprise: be quiet therefore &be king of thine own, suffring vs to inioy these borders whereof wehave the right & chiefe dominion. But what? disdaynest y^•my counsaile? preferrest thou al things before peace &quietnesse? Be it then, if thy hart burne to be dealing with yeMassagets, cease thy buildings & either follow vs 3. days iourneyinto our countrey, or depart our coasts & receiue vs into thine.Cyrus hauing heard this greeting, assembled together the chiefe of yePersians & propounded ye matter to be scanned among them: whobeing all of one mynde & consenting in one opinion made it nocōtrouersie, but yt it behoued rather Tomyris with hir army to bereceyued into Persia & them selves to retyre into their ownlande: against whom Craesus being of a contrary iudgment began toreason & argue in this maner. Truly (O king) as I fayd before,since it hath pleased the mighty Iupiter to delyuer mee into thyhands: whatsoeuer I shall marke to be amisse in thy house the same tothe most of my power I will study to amend:for myne own fortunealbeit an vnthankfull mistresse, yet hath she bene a lesson andschooling vnto me: if thou thinke thy selfe a god, and thy armyimmortall, my counsaile is not for thee, my sentence cannot auaylethee: but if ye acknowledge thy selfe to be mortall, and to rule ouerthose that be fubiect to death, learne this first, that ye affayresof men are placed as it were in a circle, which being rowled andturned about ne permitteth the same man to bee alwayes fortunate: astouching therefore the question propounded I vary in opyon from allthy counsaile: for geuing liberty to thy enemies to come into thineown realme, it is to be feared least at
the same time thouleese both the victory and thy kingdome. thinkest thou the Massagetsif they get the better, will straight wayes depart without spoyle ofthy countrey? contrarywise, if thou vanquishe them what canst thouwinne? Certes (O Kynge) not comparably to that as if thou beate theseCockes one their own dunghilles, so mayste thou followe thempresently vpon the spurres and set them besides their own pearches.Consider this (noble prince) and if thou seeme to like it, seeke tofollow it, and fly not one foote before thou performe it: that hauingdone this fonde girle to understande thy inuincible force andprowesse, thou mayste follow thine enimyes at the hard heeles eueninto y^egatesand walles of their city. For shame let it not be fayd at any time,that Cyrus the sonne of Cambyses did abandone the fielde and geueplace to a woman. I thinke it good therefore to goe so far forward,vntill they prouyde them selves, and come forth to meete vs: whereinalso we have fit occasion to vse a pollicy. It is not vnknown to youthat the Massegets are vnacquainted with the stately dyet andmagnificency of the Persians: for which cause hauing left behind
vsin our tentes all store of delightesome and pleasante meates, withgreat plenty and aboundance of swete wines, let vs leave the weakestpart of our army there, and withdraw our selves aside to ye ryuer:our enemyes glutted with ryot, and bereaued of their right senses byexcesse of wine; what may hinder vs to take them vnwares, causingthem to pay the pryce of their dinner with the losse of their lyues.These opinions were vttered as concerning the cause. But Cyrusrefusing to be ruled by the Persians, betoke him selfe
whollyto follow the aduise of Craesus. Wherefore he gaue significations toTomyris to retyre back, delaring him self to be ready to follow &geue her battle at home in her own countrey. The Queene according asshee had determyned withdrew her selfe backe into the middes of theregion.

Nowking Cyrus hauing committed to his sonne Cambyses the gouernaunce andadministration of the realme,
he delyuered into his handsCraesus king of ye Lydians, earnestly charging him vpon the duty &obedience of a sonne, y^tif his luck in battle were worse then he loked for, he should letpasse no part of courtesie, honour, & liberality towards him:which when he had fayd he sent them away into Persia passing ye waterhim selfe with his whole power. The same night after hee had traynedhis host ouer the streame of Araxes there befell vnto him a straungevision, wherein being on sleepe he seemed to beholde the eldest sonneof Hystaspes hauing on his shoulders two wynges, with one of thewhich he fhadowed all Asia, with the other all Europa. Hystaspes(comming of the princely house of ye Perfian Achemenides and borne ofArsaces) had a sonne named Darius, superiour in yeares to the rest ofhis children, being at that time welnigh twenty yeares olde, whom hisfather for that hee was too younge for the campe, left at home in hisown conntrey. Cyrus awaked from his dreame, began to waigh and ponderwith him selfe the drift and intent of his vision, and supposinge itto bee of no smale moment called for Hystaspes with whom in secretwise hauing remoued all company he cōmoned thus. Thy sonneHystaspes hath wrought treason, against me and my kingdome, which hisdisloyall & malicious trechery. I came to knowe by this meanes.The heauenly powers whose prouidence is a buckler to mee against alladuersity hauing chiefe care and regarde of my health, have shewed meall things that are to come. No longer ago then this last night Ibeheld in my sleepe the eldest of thy children, bearing on eachshoulder a mighty winge, and couering with the one all Asia, with theother Europa, whereby I assuredly coniecture his treason which heecouertly tendeth against the crown: hence then, dispatch and
speedethee into Persia, reserue him safely to my nexte returne, thatcalling him to his tryall. I may see by what meanes he can quithimselfe of trechery. These things fayd Cyrus for that hee assuredlythought that Darius had tended mischiefe to his person and priuilysought to undermine him in his kingdome. But hee reckned without hishost, & was far deceyued of his accounte: for the gods didforeshew, and signifie to him how in that place he should finishe hislife, and that his kingdome at the length should descend to Darius.Hystaspes shaping an answere to ye kings words began and fayd. Thegods forbid (O mighty prince) that any one of the Perfian bloudshould either malice thy person or impeach thy Maiesty: who if hewere known a thowsand M. deathes were to easy for him. By whom, butonely by thy ayde (most gratious king) were we made of slaues fremen,of fubiects and vassals lordes and rulers ouer other? If the godshave accused my childe of treason, take him, he is thine own, Iyeelde him vp to bee dealt withall as it séemeth thee best. Histalke finished hee immediatly tooke his passage ouer the ryuerAraxes, into Persia, for farther assuraunce and charge of his sonnesappearaunce at ye Kings pleasure.

Cyrushauing gayned the other side of Araxes, and marched forward one daysiourney, forthwith he did as Craesus had counsayled him, leauing inhis tents the feeblest and most vnapt souldiers of his whole number,and departd thence with the rest to the shores and banckes of Araxes,being lightly harneysed and addressed for the purpose. The seelyremnaunte of the Persians appointed to stay behinde in defence andmunition of the tentes, were assayled by the third part of theMassagets power: where vsing al meanes to saue the tentes and succourthem selves, they were miserably foyled and slayne. The enemyentering the campe and perceyuing all places to be furnished withsumptuous prouision of dainty and delicious meates, toke the benefitof so good and fauourable fortune, and fel freshly to the banquet, inso much that hauing there stomacks forced with bittayls and theirheads inchaunted with wyne, they were taken with a profounde &heauy sleepe: when of a sudden the Persians returning from theirambush, came vpon them vnwares & putting the most part to thesword, the rest they tooke and apprehended alyue. Among these was thesonne of Queene Tomyris named Spargapises, to whom was geuen andcōmitted the guiding of the army. Tomyris aduertised of hir sonnesmisfortune together with the chaunce and losse of hir fubiects, fullof stomacke and displeasure, sent hir Legate y^esecond time, and saluted Cyrus on this wise.

Thouinsatiable and bloudy boutcher boast not thy selfe of this thou hastdone, for if by the fruite and sappe of the Vyne (wherewith thy selfeotherwhyles being filled to the very eyes art free from no madnesse,vyce, and blasphemy) if herewith I say, thou hast taken andinchaunted my sonne: it is thy pollicy, not thy power: thy craft, notthy courage that hath gotten thee the victory. Well then: once agayneheare mee, and bee ruled by my counsayle: get thee henceyet, and beespeedily packinge, release my sonne whom thou hast in hold: for if incase thou refuse and stay but one moment, I sweare by the sunne thegod and king of the Massagets, I will glut that greedy pawnch ofthine with aboundaunce of bloude, wherewith thou seemest to beeinsaturable and neuer to be satisfied. These words with Cyrus came inat one eare and went out at the other, lighter in value then the wyndin waight.

Notwithstandinge,seely Spargapises sonne to the stoute and couragious Queene. Tomyris,being throughly awaked and come to him selfe, perceyuing the case hewas in, hunbly besought Cyrus to loose him & take of his bondes:which done, and hauing his hands at liberty, hee pawnched himselfeinto the belly with a Iauelyne, and so dyed. Such was the end andheauy desteny of poore spargapises ye Queenes
sonne. Whom hismother greatly lamenting, and seeing hir counsayle to take no place,gathered a mighty power & fought with king Cyrus in such sorte,that of all battayles & combatryes of the Barbarians there wasneuer any so bloudy, fell, and cruell on both sides as this. Thefight and battayle it selfe was in this maner. First of all beingdistant one from another a certayne space, they assaulted each otherby shotte of Arrowes, which beinge spente & consumed, so feirce aclose was geuen on both parts wt swords, Daggers, and Iauelynes, thatthe very fire sparkled out by the force and might of their blowes.Thus the battayle remayned equall a greate space, neither partyeelding the breadth of a hayre to his enemy, till at the length theMassagets preuailing, made a great slaughter of the Persians: whereinCyrus himselfe hauing raygned thirty yeares saue one, made a finallende and conclusion of his days: whom the wrathfull Queene Tomyrisseeking oute amonge the slayne and mangled bodyes of the Persians,toke his head & throwing it into a vessell filled with bloud, invaunting and glorious wife insulted ouer it in these words. ThouBoutcherly tyrant, my sonne thou tokest by craft and kylledst bycruelty, wherefore with thy selfe I have kept touch. Now thereforetake thy fill bloudy caitife, sucke there till thy belly cracke. Inthis maner dyed the noble King Cyrus: of whose death and ende sincemany and fundry thinges are bruted, it steined vs good to followethat, which among the rest founded neerest to truth.

TheMassagets are very like the Scythians both in lyuing and attyre.There maner is to fighte both on foote and horse backe, in bothkindes exceeding valiaunt. There weapons which they vse are Arrowes,speares, & short Daggers after the maner, and custome of thecountrey: all their Harnesse and furniture is garnished and adornedboth with Golde and Brasse: vsinge to their speares Duyuers andDaggers, Spangs and bullions of brasse: their Costlets, Belts, andthe rest of their armour beinge gallauntely set forth and beautifiedwith Golde. In like maner also the curets of their horse are layde &embossed with curious worke of Golde: wherewith also are done andbeset their raynes, brydles, and trappinges: being altogethervnacquainted with the vse of siluer, or Iron. For the land yeeldingvnto them inestimable plenty of Gold and Brasse, yet of Siluer andIron it is quite voyde and destitute.

Moreouertheir maners are these. Euery one marieth a wyfe, whichnotwithstanding is common and indifferente to all. For that which theGrecians affirme to bee done by the Scythians, the selfe same, notthey, but the Massagets doe cōmonly vse and practise: being of avery certainety, y^tas oft as any of the Massagets is moued with desire of Women, hemaketh no more adoe but hanging his quyuer vpon the pinne of hiswayne, goeth openly to worke without any regard. They have nocertaine ende or terme of their lives:
but as euery one isarryued to the pits brinke, & grown to extremity of age, him hiskinsfolkes and acquaintance take with certayne cattell and sacrificehim to the gods, whose fleshe being afterwardes boyled in a Chaldern,they make thereof a solemne feaste or banquet. Which kinde &maner of death is esteemed with them the most blessed and glorydusdeath that can possibly happen to man. Such as dye through anydisease or malady, they neuer eate, but ouerwhelm and couer them withmouldes, holding him vnhappy and accursed that lyued not to thediuine dignity and honour of sacrifice. They sowe not one foote ofgrounde, but mayntaine them selves and live by fish, greataboundaunce whereof the riuer Araxes doth yeelde vnto them. Theironly drinke is milke, besides the which they vse nothinge. Among thegods they geue honour to the Sunne alone, vntowhom they consecrateand offer vp horses: which manner of oblation they ordained for thisreason: that to the quickest, and swiftest of all the gods, theymight likewise offer the most flight and swifte creature that lyuethon the earth.