THe fauourable and gracious Reader , I salute , with a submisse Conge both of heart and knee : To the scornefull , I owe not so much as an hypocriticall intreat , or a dissembled curtesie . I am not so vnexperienced in the enuy of this Age , but that I knowe I shall encounter most sharpe and seucre Censurers , such as continually carpe at other mens labours , and superficially pervsing them , with a kind of negligence and skorne , quote them by the way , Thus : This is an Error , that was too much streacht , this too slightly neglected , heere many things might haue been added , there it might haue beene better followed : this superfluous , that radiculous . These indeed knowing no other meanes to haue them selues opinioned in the ranke of vnderstanders , but by calumniating other mens industries . These Satyrists I meet thus : It were ( in my opinion ) more honor and honesty for them , to betake them seriously to the like studies , and the time they wast in detracting others , rather spend in instructing themselues , and by some more excellent worke ( moulded out of their owne braines ) giue the foyle to others of lesse Fame and consequence : This were a commendable and worthy detraction , sauouring of desert ; the other , a meere rancorous folly , grounded on nothing but malicious ignorance . For who more apt to call coward then the most tymerous , but he only merits a name among the valiaunt , that hath actually and personally wonne his reputation by some deed of same and Honour . But since these Criticks are a generall Subiect in the front of subiect booke , I am content to neglect them , as those Ireguard not , and to the friendly and best iudging Reader , thus turne my Apologie .

I haue aduentured ( right Courteous ) to publish this Poem , and present it to thy generall acceptance ; If it be gently receiued , and fauour ably ceusured , it may incourage me to proceed in some future labour ; if any way distasted , I am so farre from troubling the world with more , that I shall hold this little , much too much . Yet if you vnderstandingly consider this proiect , you shall finde included herein a briefe memory or Epitome of Chronicle , euen from the first man , vnto vs , this second time created Britons , with a faithfull Register , not onely of memorable thinges done in Troy and this Island , but of many , and the most famous accidents happening through the World , In whose raigne and what yeare of the world they chanced ( with which we haue conferred the Histories of the Sacred Byble ) & the truth of the times so eeuen , that who so euer will daigne the perv sall of these , shall not onely perceiue such thinges were doone , but bee also-satisfied in whose Raigne ( then successiuely gouerning in the kingdome of Britaine ) they happened . In all which , I haue taskt my selfe to such succinctnesse and breuity , that in the iudisiall perusall of these few Cantons ( with the Scolies Annexed ) as little time shall bee hazzarded , as profite from them be any way expected .

Accept then ( I entreat you ) this mingled Subject ( as well home-borne as forraine ) and Censure it as fauourably , as I haue offred it freely . Though something may perhaps distast , something againe I presume will please the most curious Pallate : Let that which pleaseth , mittig at the harshnes of the other . He that speaks much , may ( excusably ) speake somewhat Idely , and he that in vnknown Climats trauayles farre , may ( by misaduenture ) wander out of the way : but where the mayne intent and purpose is honest and good , it is pardonable to expect the best . And in that hope , I prostrate these my barraine industries to your kindest and gentle Constructions .

I Hold it necessary as a Preface to this generall History , to remember some Antiquities touching the ages of the World , with the first peopling of kingdomes , and of the foure Monarchies which may illustrate this Poem , if in any place it appcate darke and intricate . Theye are 16 56. from the Creation , Noah entred the Ark , and the Vntuerse was destroied by the Deluge , with all mankind ( Noah and his family excepted ) of his three sonnes Sem , Ham , and Iapheth , were all Nations procreated . The posterity of Sem inhabited Carion . the East by the Riuer Euphrates ; Cham , the places neere Irodan & Nyle , towards the Meridian ; Iapheth , the lesse Asia towards the West , whence many Nations of Europe proceeded .

Sems sonnes were fiue ; Elam , of whom came the Persians , from him Xenophon Xenophon . deriueth Cyrus . Assur , of him came the Assyrians . Ninus , of him the Niniuttes and Badilonians . Arphaxad , of him the Caldeans , and from his Nephewe Fber , were d●…riued the Herbrues ; ( the word signifieth Trauellers or Strangers ) Of this line came Abraham , Dauid , and the Messias . Aram , of him the Syrians descended , of which Damasco is the metropolis ; therefore it was thus written ; The head of Aram is Damascus .

The posterity of Cam was Chus , of whom came the Aethiopians in the farthest Ptolometes . Coasts of Aphrica , and the Libians cald to this day Chirsita : The sonnes of Chus were Saba of whome the Sabaans , and Euila , of wheme the Indians descended . Nemrod first raignd in Babylon , Misraim occupied Aegypt , which the Arabians and Turks to this day call Mizri : The sonnes of misraim were Lydas , who pcopled Lydia , a Nation that after seated themselucs in some parts of Itahe , and Labain of whom the Sun-burnt Lybians are thought to descend : Of Eua●…m came Pin●…us . Herodo●… . Pliny the Cyrenians , who built the Citty Cerenaica , of who came the Mauritanians , and of him a famous Riuer that still beares his name . Of Canaan came the Sydonians and Tyrians : Heath built Hebron where Abraham dwelt and was buried : Iebuseus possest Gaba and Ierusalem . Iapheths sons were Gomor or Togerma , of whom the Cinerians take their originall , They are seated beyond Thrace , neer the Meotiden Fenne , where the Bosphort inhabite , not farre from Cimbrica Chersonessus : Of Magog came the S●…thians , and of them the Turks : and to proue the Turke to be in God and Magor , Ezechiell saith , the Nations of Magog lie toward the south , which in the latest dayes shall seeke the fall of Israell . And the Apocalip . Magog H●…dotus shall lastly Emperise the world : Of Madai came the Medes : Of Iauan or Iabu , the Iouians or Graecians , The sonnes of Iauan , were Elisa , of whome came the Aeolians in Asia minor . Tharsis . built Tharsis the chiefe Citty of the Cilicians : Of Cethim came the Macedonians : Of Adodanim the Dodoneans in Epire. Iauan , was that Ianus that raignd in Italy . Of Tubal came the Hispani and Iberi . Of Mosoch came the Muscouites . Of Tyrus the Thrasians . The Sons of Gomer were Ascanes , Riphat , and Togorma . Of Ascanes came the 〈◊〉 , who after shifted themselues Apollonius in Argonant Iustinus posthum . Isliad . 2 〈◊〉 . into other Prouinces , and ofthem came the Cimbrians , the Bythinians , the Cancoues , the 〈◊〉 , and Heueti : Of Riphat came the Riphei , Gyants that inhabited the Riphean Hilles , where the Sanromass then liued . By the 〈◊〉 are meant all such as speake in the 〈◊〉 tongue : From Riphat came also the Paphlagonians , these 〈◊〉 themselues into Europe , some inhabiting Russia , Lytuania and Polonia , from the Adriaticke shoare vnto Illusria . Likewise Fistula , Albis , and Bohemia , 〈◊〉 where before liued the Hermaduri and Boij .

Among the Sonnes of Sem Gether is numbred , of whom came the Getes , Paralip : they were called Gotti or Gothes , who inhabited Wallachia , these speake the Almain toung , and mixt themselues with the Germans , whose name is deriued of Gerim and Ani , which signifieth , miserable Strangers . The French are cald 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . of Wallen , which in the Almain toong signifies , Wanderers . From Brute cam the Britons , since called Angli .

In Nemrod was the first Monarchy establisht , he liued a hundred years after the Floud , after 200. yeares Ninus built Niniuy in 〈◊〉 , whose wife Semiramis First Mon. after his death erected the walles of Babilon . Ninius her sonne succeeded , in whose time Abraham came into Palestine , Him succeeded Amraphel king of Sennaar or Babylon , Of these Assyrian Monarches Sardanapalus was the last , whose proud name we thus deriue ; Sar , a Captaine ; Dan , a Iudge ; 〈◊〉 , a Destroyer ; He was ouerthrowne by phul-Belochus a Babilonian , and Arbaces a Medean when Osia raignd in Iuda , phul belochus raigned ouer the Babilonians and Niniuites forty yeares . Arbaces ouer the Meades and Persians . Belochus warred vpon Israel , whom succeeded his Sonne Phal Assur , called in the Scriptures Tiglat Peilassur : He raigned 23. yeares , him Salmanasser succeeded , and raigned ten yeares , he besiedged Samaria , of him Hosea speakes , Chapter 10. 〈◊〉 succeeded Salmanasser , who besiedged Hierusalem , and raigned ten yeares , his Army was ouerthrowne by the Angels : Assur haddon next ruld , ten yeares . In him Esay . 39. Kings , 4. 23 Paral. 35 I eremy 39 Daniel 〈◊〉 declined the Monarchy of Assiria , and Merodach became Monarch ouer the Chaldees , Benmerodach raigned after his Father 21. after him Nabuchednezzar Primus 35. He warred against Aegipt , Nabuchadnezzar Magnus raigned forty , in Zedechias time he besiedged Hierusalem , a 〈◊〉 and sixe monthes , him succeeded euill Merodach , who releast Ieconias : he dead , Balsaar succeeded foureteene 〈◊〉 , he was a greet Blasphemer . In his time Babylon was raced , and the Monarchy transferred to the Persians : he himselfe being slaine by Cyrus . The kings Died : 〈◊〉 of Aegypt in the times of this Monarchy , were these . Osyris with his Wife Isis , who liued in the time of Abraham . Orus , Bochoris , Busyris , Miris , 〈◊〉 , who Herodotus . liued in the time of Samson . pherones , of whom all the Kinges of Egypt were Kings 3 , 14 〈◊〉 46 called pharoes . Proteus whom some call Cetes , to him Paris and Hellen sayled in theyr returne from Greece . Rampsinitus , Cephus , or Cheops , Cephris , Mycerinus , Anycis . Sabachus , called in the Bible Sesach , Sethen , Psamneticus . Nechos who ouercame Iosia by the Citty Megeddo , and was after slaine . Nabuchadnezzar , 〈◊〉 , Apries , who sackt 〈◊〉 , and slew the Prophet Ieremiah . Amasis , in whose time the Monarchy came to the Persians .

In Greece in the time of this Monarchy liued Iapethus , the Sonne of Noah , after whom raigned Hellas , now was the expedition of the Argonats , Erictheus , Perseus and his Acts. The warres of Troy . 〈◊〉 , with the Theban History , notorious in Oedipus and Iocasta , with the deathes of the two Brothers Eleocles , and Polynices . Now were the 〈◊〉 famous . Rome in the time of this first Monarchy , Lactantius . Dionisius 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . The second Monarchy . was bullt the tenth year of Achas , King of Iuda , It was 〈◊〉 by Kings 6244 yeares . Rhomulis raigned 38. Numa 43. Tullius Hostilius 32. Aucus Martius 2 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 37. Seruius Tullius 44. In the last part of his raigne began the Persian Monarchy : 〈◊〉 the proud 25. He was repulst his Kingdome by the Consull Brutus , because his Sonne Sextus had 〈◊〉 rauished 〈◊〉 , the wise of Collatyne .

The Persian Kings were , first Cyrus , who raigned 29. hee ouercame Cresus of Metasthenes . Xenophon . 〈◊〉 . Lydia , besiedged Babylon , and was after slaine by Tomyris , Queene of Scithia In his time liued Thales Milesius , Pithagoras borne in Samos , Solon , and Draco , who first ordred the yeare , 〈◊〉 the monthes , added the Epact , and collected first the Poems of Homor . Cambises the second King , who raigned 7. years , added Egypt to his Empire , and couered the Iudgement Seate with the skinne of his false Iudge Sisamnes . The third Darius he by the neyhing of his 〈◊〉 , was elected Emperor , raigned 36. He by the craft of his Friend Zopyrus , wan Babylon , and added to his Dominions the Getes , Cymerians , and 〈◊〉 . Now liued Hippias , the Sonne of Pysistratus in 〈◊〉 , and Miltiades . This Darius was the Sonne of Histaspes , called in the Scripture Ashuerosh , Husband to Hester , called by 〈◊〉 Aristona , as the Name of Vasts was Atossa . Some refer the History of Iudith to these times , Fourth Xerxes raigned 20. He 〈◊〉 Greece with 〈◊〉 . an Armye of 10000000. Souldiers , his cheese Captaine was Mardonius , his chiefe Counseller Artabanus . He was first repulsed by Pausanias of Sparta , after 〈◊〉 expeld Greece by 〈◊〉 . In these warres were famous , Artstides and Cimon . 4. Artaxerxus with the long hand ruld 40. He was thought to bee the Son to Darius and Hester . In his time liued Esdras , Haggeus , Zachartus , and Nehemiah . About the time of the Pelloponesian Warre . And now was Rome gouerned Demosthe . by the 〈◊〉 forme of gouernment infamous , in the lust of 〈◊〉 , to the chast Roman Lady Virginia . Darius Nothus raigned 19 In his time hued famous Alcibiades : and Sophocles , & Euripides , two famous Tragedians . Artaxerxes Memnon 40. he loued the famous Lady Aspatia , the Noblest Greekes in his daies were Clearchus , Anaxilaus , Lisander , who conquered Athens ( after gouerned by 30. Tyrants ) who were supprest by the 〈◊〉 of Thrasibulus . Now happened the Wars betweene the Phocenses and the Locri : with 〈◊〉 Leuctricum . And now 〈◊〉 Conon , and 〈◊〉 Epamaminōdas in Greece , about the 〈◊〉 that English Brennus sackt Rome . Artaxerxes Ochus next Memnon , raigned 26. In his time happened the Warre which was called Bellum sacrum . 〈◊〉 raigned foure yeares , he was slaine by Bagoas . Him Darius succeeded , & in the sixt yeare The third Monarchy . of his raigne , was slaine by Alexander the Great , in whom began the third Monarchy translated to the Gracians .