'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎238] (259/448)

TheJjfyrian Empire terminates.
of the River which he inclofed with a triple Wall of Brick;' and for the delight of his
Q ieen (whom fome name AmyrtU, fuppofed to be the Daughter ofthe
Rms; ) andfor the recreation of his Daughter Nytocris (who in fpmt and noble bmld-
in^s ftle afterwards made leemed another Semiramis) by. extraordinary coft and incredL
bl? number of hands raifed fuch ftately Arches of ftone as for height and breadth feemed
a Mountain, which gave a curious profped not onely over that mighty City and River
but into the Country round about which was leve], and the horizon uninterrupted by any
hill; fo that befides the delightful walks it had, he planted it with all manner of fruit and
flowers, infomuch as it feemed a Paradife. Which, with the rich and ftately Palace he ered- .
ed for his Royal Seat (reputed one of the Wonders of Afia^ and continuing perfed to
Alexanderstlmz) begot fuch admiration in the King himfelf as occafioned that exprelfion,
Is not thvgreat Babel which I have built, &c. which boaft drew upon him the molt memo
rable Judgment any ftory mentions, for feven years Ipending his time amongft favage
beafts: yet through divine mercy reftored to fenfe and dignity, all the remainder of his
life acknowledging Gods power moll Sovereign and Everlafting.
This mighty Monarch after four and forty years rule paid Nature her laft debt and
was buried in Babylon-, having Ml bequeathed his Crown and Scepter to Evil-Merodach
a Friend unto the captived and in particular to King Jehojachiriy as we find in
52. 31. nevefthelefs, a Sun very unlike the Father; much of what the one by prudence
and valour got, the other loft by want of judgment and too much pufillanimity : For,
under Amafis revolted from him; Media by the good condud ot Afiyages^nd Pcr/ia
by the lively fpirit of Cyrm withdrew from under his fubjedion', and marching with
refolute Armies againft him, in the end deprived Evil Merodach both of life and reign j
whom neverthelefs Balthazar called Beljhazzar in Daniel fucceeded, a Prince of that ty
rannical and disobliging nature as rendred him no lefs contemptible abroad than hate
ful at home: foas the period of that great Affyrian Empire which from Nimrod to this
Prince had flourilhed upwards of 1600. years under a feries of fifty Monarchs, had its
ultimate period. For Beljha^ar too fecurely and impioufly feafting a thoufand of his
Lords, (thofeGold and Silver VefTels confecrated to the Lord, and by his Grandfather
Nebnchadnezzar brought from the Temple at Jerufalem to Babylon being profanely uM
by the King, the Princes, their Wives and Concubines) digito Dei, Judgment by
interpretation was pronounced againft that miferable Prince, and execution immediate
ly followed; for, the Medes and Terfians who then befieged the City entred forthwith
and maftered Babylon, yea that night was Beljhanzar King of the Caldeans flain, and
Darm the Mede (then about iixty two years old) fainted King, Dan. 5.31. Where we are
to note, that this Darim the Mede as the Per fans call him, by the Greeks is called Cyaxares
as we find by Xenophon : He was Uncle to Cyrw the Perjian, and obtaining the Diadem
when he was old held it but two years, and dying ifTuelels, gave an uninterrupted
admifFion unto the whole : For as we read in Ez.r. 1. 2. the Lord God of Heaven gave un
to him all the Kingdoms of the Earth. And Heft. 1. 1. had his Empire extended from
India to Ethiopia , which comprehended 127 Provinces. The fiege of Babylon theMe-
4 tropolis of the World may not be pretermitted without a little, notice. Cyrw was Son of
Camhyfes zndMandane daughter olAftyages the Median King:, Cambyfes was Son of Cyrm,
Son of Darius, Son of Achemenes, Son of Perfes, who (faith Ifidore) gave Perfia its
name^, a Prince of that Vertue and repute as gave that Race for many years the ufual
firname of Aihemenida. Cyrus (whofe name being derived from Chyr Sherez. in Hebr.
which fignihes the Sun) fome years before calling to mind the mifchief intended him at
his birth by his jealous Grandfather, ambition predominating over parental relpeds,
lie marched againft him with a gallant Army of under condud ofHarpagm whom
Aftyages had ordered to deftroy Cyrus, but abhorring that cruelty preferved the Infant
who lived to recompence the fad, and were minifterial together in the fubduing Afty-
ages (whom they fentprifoner into Hyrcania in Evil-Merodach''s time, where in anguifli of
mind he foon departed-,) and after the death of Cyaxares his Son (old when he entred
upon the Government) Cyrus both by birth and conqueft claimed that Crown. The Cal-
Emperour not liking hisfuccefs, proclaimed war againft Cyrus, and drew Crcefas
tne rich andpuiifantKingof Lydia into his league. Howbeit, Cyrus who well knew the
Babylonians tempers, and the intended place of" rendezvous, with a great body of Horfe
quickly got into Cappadocia, and interpofed 'twixt the Babylonians and them and foon
engaging thzLydians, though the fight was fmart night compelled them to retreat. Cyrus
early preparing to_ renew the fight found no enemy, but intelligence that Crtefus had
withdrawn himfelf into Sardis his beft City and ftrongeft Hold, difmiffing moft of the
Army into quarters. Cyrus drew before the Garrifon and after fome aflaults not onely
took