'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.' [‎257] (280/448)

Alexander dies Babylon,
royal of PerJia, was lamentably deftroyed by Alexander's inconfiderate crediting Bapdas,
an Eunuch that mortally hated him: The accufation was, That he had violated Cyrm his
Tomb, in which was no wealth, as was informed, but a Sword and Bow. Howbeit, up
on further examination the fraud being difcovered the Eunuch had the like reward, and
his rich Houfe and furniture were given Perdicas, eftimated at fix hundred thoufand
Crowns. There Calanm the Brachmati, in contempt of death, and to fhew that life is but
jomnium umbra brevijfmum built his funeral pile, predided Alexander's death in Babylon 5
and taking a folemn farewel of his acquaintance in the Camp, according to the Indian
mode, burnt himfelf to aihes.
Alexander after that returned to Sajhan, and married Statira the Per fan Princefs, whofe
Sifter he then gave to his dear Epheftion *, and other Perfian Ladies to as many great Offi
cers of his Army. For the greater magnificence of which marriages he prepared a mofl;
ample and royal Feaft for nine thoufand Guefts, to each of which he gave a Cup of Gold
toufe in their Sacrifices ; and as a more abundant teftimony of hislove to the Army, as
well as to exprefs his own greatnefs, he difcharged out of his own Treafury the debt his
Souldiers had contracted, which amounted to nine thoufand andfeventy Ta
lents, being in ours five hundred Millions and feven hundred thoufand Crowns: eafie
for ^ArWer to fpare athis death, (which foon after happened) having found coffered
up at Babylon an hundred thoufand Talents, as Juflm reports, in ready coin, which lome
others double, and his Revenue at that time being three hundred thoufand Talents fer
annum. Neverthelefs, having feme apprehenfions of fear in going to Babylon, (for fun-
dry Prophecies were rumoured that he fhould dye there) he turned with his Army to
wards the North, and came to Ecbatan j where his Favourite £p^//w;,notwithftanding *
his Phyficians utmoft care, dyed of a Feaver *, whofe death Alexander fo paffionately be
wailed, as Juftin taxes him that contra deem Regtum din luxit. But for the greater folem-
nity, for feveii dayes a general howling (in which the Prafic* expreffed their Art fuffici-
ently) was made ; all the Horfes in the Army alfo were fhorn, the battlements and
walls of Houfes thrown down, Inftruments of Mufick put under filence, as not theleaft
noife appeared: yea, to complement the Conquerour, the facred Fires in each Pyrese
were by the Surena extinguifhed: a Monument laftly was ereded, upon which was ex
pended twelve thoufand Talents, which is feven millions of Crowns : and having offered
up his afflidedDodor as a Sacrifice (for which is worthily reproved) the Al
tars were made to fmoak with Incenfe and the dead Corps worfhipped as a Deity, the
higheft Honour he could afcend unto.
Now whiles thefe Obfequies were in hand, Alexander had notice that Ambafladours at
tended him at Babylon, not only from Carthage and other African parts, but alfo fromfe-
veral Kings and States in Europe * namely^ Spain, Sicily, Prance, Sardinia, and moft parts
of Italy, Rome excepted *, which though but growing to what it afpired of Caput Mundi,
yet being four hundred years old from the foundation laid by Romulus, was then fo great
that, as Plutarch reports, it could fet out an hundred and thirty thoufand warlike Citi
zens. Thefe came to congratulate his fuccefs in the Eaftj to divert his journey Weft, and
to crave his Alliance: yea, Adeo Vniverfum Terr arum Orb em Nominis ejus terror invaferat,
ut omnes Gentes 'veluti deflinato Jibi Regi adularentur, being become fb terrible to the W or Id,
as all Nations courted and feemed to acknowledge him their Soveraigii. Then was ac-
complifhed that Prodigy of thofe two Eagles obferved to fit upon the higheft Pinacle of
the Court of Pella that whole day on which Alexander was born, Duplitis Imperii Europe &
Afu.omen praferentes: and as others, Vnwerfarum Terr arum Imp emm Infanti portendebantj
portending the Infants conqueft of the Univerfe.
The accefs of thofe extraordinary Ambaffadours from the furtheft occidental parts,
(Imay fo fay, feeing the Morini in Picardy are by Lucan called Extremi Hominum) thefe,
or rather his inevitable fate accelerated Alexander's remove to Babylon *, which being near, ;
the Caldean Magicians interpofed and prevailed with him to turn afide for fome time to
Birfa beyond Euphrates, whence, by Anaxarchus the Philofopher, who derided their Arts, 1
he was induced to return to Babylon, though not without iome bad Omens at his entrance, 1
which neverthelefs was as fplendid and great as Art and coft could invent. After Audience
given 3 Summons iffued for the holding a Parliament of no lefs than the whole World; and
entertainments as fumptuous as luxury in the higheft degree could fet forth, took place:
during which, this great Conquerour having delivered to D^Ws Ring, with
which he fealed all his Commiffions and Difpatches, he dyed: Qui (zs Juftin cum nul
la hoftium unquam congrejfus eft, quern 'non uicerif, nullam ZJrbem, quam non expugnaverit *,■
nulUm gent em adiitf quam non c ale aver it', Deniq^ ft ore lAEtatis fua ac Viftoriarum, non vir-
tute hoftili fed frauds & fmrum infidiis ereptm eft. His death wa§ not without fufpicion of