'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.' [‎241] (262/448)

Darius his great Army routed.
defcended from Arfamnes who was Grandfon unto Cyrmthe great as faith Herodqtm, he
had a Title to the Grown albeit others are of a different opinion, believing that defcent
was invented after his acceffion to the Grown. Neverthelefs, feeing he acquired his
greatnefs by the favour of his Horfe, inafmuch as a Horfe in the Terfim Tongue was then
and yet is called Aft and it hath induced me to think that his agnomen of Hyflafbis
was thence derived. J ^
During the interregnum^ Babylon not yet well acquainted with the Yoke, revolted ^
tut by the faithfulnefs of Zopyrm was reduced. This is that Prince, whom the captived
minded ofCym his great Anceftors good intention to the holy Gity and Temple
which Nehuchadne^ar had deftroyed, and ftirred up his heart to re-build both. In the
interim,he exprefled much kindnefs to the Jews : whence it is,that fome of their Rabbi's will
needs have him to be that Ahafyiterm who upon the repudiating of Kapi married Hefier,
Mor decafs Niece. After which, he profecuted the Grecian War, and extended his bounds
beyond the Helle{pont:%h.Q war was upon this occafion.He difpatched AmbalTadors to^W«-
tas the Macedonian King, ut Aquam & Terr am traderent Dario : whiles his Gouncil was deli
berating what anfwer to make, the King in Givility invited the Ambafladors to a ban
quet, where feveral Ladies were-, to whom the Ambaifadours, either from their in
temperate drinking, or the haughtinefs of their Mafters Empire, exprefled fuch rude
behaviour that foon after at a like collation the Ambafladours were flain by fome of the
Macedonian Youth who had difguifed themfelves in womens habit. A rafh attempt. For
being known to Darim, albeit he exprelfed his diflike of the Ambafladors misbehavi
our, he would have puniihed v yet looked upon it as a violation of the Law of Nations'
and confequently an affront towards hisperfon : which he wasfo fenfible of, that having
firft acquainted them with his apprehenfions, with all poffible fpeed (making this the
colour of that War) he marched towards them with a Royal Army, and without much
refiftance harraffed their Gountrey as far as Marathon a Town near Athens, where the
Athenians with afmall force encountred that great Army of Perjians, who by apparitions
were put into that pannick fear that they were fhamefully put to flight, not rallying till
they had paft the Hellejpont. A Vidory albeit attributed to the lingular courage and
goodcondudofA67^Ww, yet by the ingrateful State of Athens, to their everlaiting in
famy moft unworthily requited. This great defeat, aggravated by the revolt of zy£ jypt y
and the diflention amonglthis Sons about their Title to the Grown, and fome add the
grief he took for being difappointed of his hopes to enjoy Anthma 7 $ lovely ^Daughter, were
of that force as they broke his great heart; after he had reigned fix and thirty
years, having ordered that his body Ihould be buried at Perfepofa ; and direding (notwith-
Itanding that Arta-Bajhanes was his firft-born Son) that Xerxes his fecond Son born after
Darim had obtained the Grown, Ihould fucceed in the Throne.
Xerxes the firft year of his Reign reduced ^gyph and the next made what preparati
on he could to profecute the War againft Greece , the difgrace his Father received at
Marathon was fo frefh in memory. The Army he raifed was fo prodigioufly great, that
men thought it was not only enough to over-run Greece > but the whole Univerfe : no
lefs (asmoftHiftoriansfay) than eighteen hundred thoufand Foot ^ Herodom heightens
them to five millions twp hundred eighty three thoufand two hundred and twenty men ^
and alfo fourfcore thoufand Horfe *, his Navy alio were a thoufand Ships which Jaftin
lib. 2. centuples. Naves quoqne decies centum millia numero hahnijfe dicitur. With tnat
monftrousbody this great Monarch marched undifturbed as far as the Hellejpont, with
out feeing the face of an Enemy: There he took the fecond mufter of his Army. It is re
ported, that from a fudden confideration of the mortality of his men, he could not re
frain weeping. Ominous tears / for they prelaged what happened fooner than perad-
venture he then apprehended. Tojoyn the two Worlds he forthwith caufed above fix
hundred great boats to be coupled and planked, and thereby made a Bridge over the
Hellejpont 'twixt the two Gaftles Abydos which is on the Afian fhore and Seftos in Europe,
where the Sea (albeit a mile broad) isnarroweft. Having thus pafled his Army, to
exprefs equal care for his Fleet and withal to leave fome fignal of hi^ magnificence he
converted the Peninfitla where Mount Athos ftood intp an Ifland, the place he cut being
about two miles. This great body of Horfe and Foot (which as they lay drank the River
Cyfm dry) devoured alfo fuch a world of Provifions that the Providers found itimpofli-
ble to fubfift long in thofe ruinous quarters •, fo as it forced the Perfian Monarch to en
gage the Grecian Army fooner than otherwife was intended: which albeit they wifely
delayed, neverthelefs waiting for an advantage, the Perfians were no fooner advanced
to Thermo-pyU (fo called from the hot Baths there, a ftrait or narrow paflage not exceed
ing half an Acre of Ground, betwixt the Mountains that feparate Thejfaly from Greece^
I i fome