ALTHOUGH I undertake the History of a very mean State , considering its small Extent and Compass , and the little Noise which it hath made in the World , yet my design to publish it , cannot be justly blam'd , seeing God himself is no less admirable in the small works of Nature , than in the great , where the matter is fashion'd by his hands : neither is he less wonderful in the Government of small States , than great Kingdoms ; as a Pilot shews no less skill in resisting with a little Bark a Tempestuous Sea , than in preserving a great Ship in the midst of a Storm .

You must not expect here magnificent descriptions of Glorious Actions , Eloquent Harangues of Famous Generals , or Battels fought by infinite numbers of Soldiers ; but instead of this , at every turn , some Miracle of Providence , some Historical or Political passage worth your consideration : In this Scene will appear Actors , who , although they are not array'd in the glistering Attare of Princes , nor speak big , as Kings of the Earth on the spacious Theatres of their Dominions ; yet do they not fail to act that part they have taken upon them , and to set before us excellent instructions , which are so much the more profitable , as they are every mans concern : for every man is either a Soldier , or Citizen of his Countrey . There you 'l see examples of all kinds of Vertues and Vices ; which will not be useless , if you mind not so much him that speaketh , as what he saith , whether it be to the purpose .

For my part , I shall not be so solicitous after smoothness in my style , as after truth in my relations ; and shall endeavour that no passion shall make me unworthy the name of an Historian , who ought chiefly to be a Secretary to Truth , and not to Falshood or Flattery . He who writes to shew his Eloquence , publisheth rather his own History , than that of the States or Persons , whom he pretends to write of : and it often happens , that such a one climbs upon the Scaffold of his Vanity , that he may make himself the more ridiculous , and have the greater fall . Truth hath no need of Varnish , or any affected dress , to make it lovely ; and provided it be not unseasonably , or carelesly expos'd , its beauty which it borrows from none but it self , can never want hearty admirers .

But before I enter upon the description of this History of Geneva , Ancient names of Geneva . it will be expected I should say something concerning its Name . Geneva is the most ancient it ever had ; and the same we meet with in Caesar's Commentaries . A late Author hath mistook , in saying it hath been call'd Geneüa : Volateran . neither do I know upon what grounds he affirms Genes to be a Colony of the Genevoises ; seeing Genes is a very ancient City , and bore that name in Hannibal's time ; Livy relating 't was taken by ●●go , Hamilcar his Son. Genabum as some Moderns have call'd Geneva , is the name of Orleans . That of Gebenna , by which Geneva hath been known for several Ages , began to be in use about Charlemain's time : for so we find it in that Emperours Life written by Aimoin the Monk in the Chronicles of the Abby of Rheginon , and thus used by almost all Authors and Publick Acts for above eight hundred years down to 1536.

Notwithstanding there be some who would make us believe , that Lucan meant Geneva under the name of Gevenna in these Verses ; Qua Rhod●nus raptum velocibus undis In Mare fert Ararim , Marlian Paradin . qua montibus ardua summis , Gens habitat can● pendentes rupe Gebennas . Where Araris with Rhodanus now meet Runs joyn'd into the Sea , the Men whose Seat Is on Gebenna Mount covered with Snow . But there he speaks not of a City , but of the Mountains of Cevennes , which C●sar means by the same word . I shall likewise make it appear in the sequel of this Discourse , that it hath never been call'd Colonia Equestris . The Genevoises restored it to its ancient name in the year 1536. taking away that of Gebenna , which the rudeness of former Ages had given it . In his Opuscula . The Learn'd Scaliger hath observ'd , that Geneva must be sounded the second syllable short ; and at this day in the Language of the Countrey 't is pronounc'd Zéneva .

Geneva is a City of great Antiquity ; Munster calls it Mirae vetustatis Vrbem . and were we not so inform'd by Authors , the Beauty and Commodiousness of its Scituation would incline us to believe it : for it is seated on a rising ground , Scituation of Geneva . wash'd on one side by the Lake Leman and the Rhosne , which thence takes its course ; bordered with fruitful Plains and Mountains . Hence we may imagine , a place so commodious , as well for necessity as delight , hath drawn thither Inhabitants at the same time the Countrey began to be cultivated . But Cities and Persons have the same fate : The more any Family is anciently Noble , the more difficult a matter it is to produce its Titles . Antiquity is as a dark Night , whose obscurity cannot be dissipated , and in which a man can do nothing but search about to no purpose . How many Fables do we find mixt with the Original of Troy , Rome or Carthage ? And if this hath happened to such flourishing States , what can be expected from mean ones , whose mishap having been to have no Author to be the Guardian or Depositary of their History , they have therefore lain in obscurity . Julius Caesar is the first who mentions Geneva , yet there is no doubt , but it was then a City under Government , and a place of strength , which kept one of the passages out of Gaule into Italy and Germany : For it was undoubtedly the Interest of the Allobroges , or Inhabitants of Gallia Transalpina , being neighbours to the Helvetians and Latobriges , a people of Gallia Belgica , who held Switzerland and the Country of Vaud at that time , to have a Fort , which should shelter them from the Incursions of this warlike people , and might serve as a place of Traffick and Correspondence .

The Allobroges , Antiquity of Geneva . whose chief City was Geneva , held a great part of the Alps and low Countrey betwixt Rhosne and the Mountains . They were a valiant people , and had gained great reputation by their courage ; neither were they inferiour to the rest of the Gaules in Riches . Stephen de Byzance and Livy , who cannot be suspected of flattery , give them these Elogies . Geneva then was a great while before Caesar's time : And as well his silence , as other Authors , inclines us to believe , that its Original was unknown . All that the Moderns have asserted concerning this matter , is founded on an uncertain Author , and on a Chronological Manuscript of the Countrey of Vaud , being about four hundred years since it was written , as we may judge by the time which endeth the History . The Author of the Genevoise Citizen relates , that it was kept in his time in the Castle of Chillon on the Lake ; and there is now one there to be seen , which perhaps is the same with that in the City of Orbe in the Countrey of Vaud . The little Book Printed at Lyons in 1614. Entituled A Chronology of the Countrey of Vaud , is an Epitome of it ; and 't is out of one or the other of these , that the Manuscripts of the History of Geneva have taken out several particulars relating to that City , which are not to be met with elsewhere .

Although to speak ingenuously , this Chronicle appears to be nothing else but a slight exercise of some half-witted Scribler of former times , and therefore deserves not much to be credited : howsoever , I shall here offer what he asserts concerning the Foundation of Geneva , leaving the Reader to his own liberty to judge and believe if he pleases that in these fabulous relations there is some truth . See here then what he saith .

In the year of the Worlds Creation 2729. and 1073. years after the Flood , the great Hercules coming into Spain to go over into Italy , he pass'd near the Lake which hath been since call'd Leman , where seeing so fine a Countrey inhabited , he left there one part of his Army which was sick , under the Command of Arpentinus . This Captain liking the Countrey , built on the side of the Lake , a City which he call'd Arpentras or Arpentrine , which was seated higher than where lyes now Lausanne ( and in effect there yet may be seen some marks of a City ) this was founded in the year of the Worlds Creation 2730. and fifty three years before the destruction of Troy.

Arpentinus was succeeded by his Son Rigo : after the destruction of Troy , when Francus , Aeneas , Antenor , with many more , came to inhabit other Countreys ; about which time Lemannus Paris's Son arriv'd in those parts with his Trojans , driving out Rigo from Arpentras ; and being in full possession , call'd the Lake after his own Name , Leman . This Lemannus having reign'd a considerable time , was at length drove out from Arpentras by his own Subjects who rebelled against him , and killed one of his Sons : whereupon he in revenge , having taken again the City , demolish'd it ; and seeking a new place whereon to build another , he came to the end of the Lake , whence issues forth the Rhosne ; and finding a little Hill of ( Genevriers , or ) Shrubs , he layes there the foundations of a City , which he call'd for this reason , Genevra or Genebra . This was in the year of the Worlds Creation 2833. and fifty years after the destruction of Troy , and three hundred seventy nine years before the Building of Rome , and eleven hundred and thirty years before the Birth of our Saviour . After Lemannus ( who dyed whilst they were building Geneva ) his Son Eructonius reigned eight and twenty years , leaving three Sons who divided the Kingdom betwixt them , viz. Sequanus , Allobrox and Helvetius .

This Chronicle likewise makes mention of several other Kings of these Countreys , as Milius , Ergogus , Tigurus , Epantalus , Aviticus , Carphas and his three Sons Conodus , Gavotus and Equester , Caturigus , Flenans , Arulus , Centronius , Benevits , Algurus Ciricus and Oblius , who built a Fortress at Geneva in the Isle of Rhosne . These names readily offer themselves for the finding out the Founders of Cities , and the Etymology of the names of Provinces : which gives us plainly to understand , that this is a History devised at pleasure , seeing there are many of these Latin words , although that Tongue was not known till some Ages after . Sequanus ( sayes the Chronicle ) gave his name to the County of Burgundy , from whence the people were call'd Sequaeni : Allobrox gave his name to the Countrey of the Allobroges ; Equester to the Country of Vaud , where was Colonia Equestris ; Ergogus to that of Ergau ; Helvetius to that of Helvetia ; Aventica , Helvetius his Concubine , to Avanche ; Centronius , to the Centrons , who are them of Tarantoise ; Arulus , to Arles ; Gavotus , to Gavots ; Benevits , to the City of the same name ; and in short , Ciricus , to St. Cierg●e .

Now that which I find the worst contriv'd in all this account , Derivation of the word Geneva . is the Etymology of the word Geneva , which it derives from Genévres , ( or Jumper Shrubs ) with which this little Hill on which the City was built was over-spread ; as if the Latin or French Tongue were spoken four Ages before Rome was built ; for the word Genévre comes from the Latin Juniperus : So it is also with the word Equestris , which was never heard of in the Countrey of Vaud till Caesur's time , as we shall have occasion to mention hereafter .

Not that this great Antiquity of eight and twenty Ages need be suspected , seeing there are Cities , as that of Athens , ancienter by five hundred years : But we are never obliged to believe without proof ; neither do we find Homer to mention Lemannus Paris his Son , although it may well be expected , he should say something of him , to inform us of the posterity of that Heroe in his Poem . 'T is certainly a very idle humour of some people , who would needs perswade the World , their Ancestors were sprung from the Ashes of Troy , and were no less than Founders of Cities ; as if Troy had been sufficient to people all the World , after it self had been ruin'd .

Be it how it will concerning these eleven Ages before the coming of our Saviour , we read of no considerable matters or Warlike feats performed by the Genevoises during that time , but what we have from this Chronicle : They laid waste the City of Benevits , which stood distant from that place where now standeth Nyons , because it would Lord it over the neighbouring Countreys , and exact Tribute . It addeth , that this Oblius dyed without Children , and left all these Countreys to the disposal of their own people , who by this means became free and under no Monarchy .

The Genevoises had the advantage of the Lake and the Rhosne , The Genevoises formidable to the Romans . which serv'd them instead of Ditches , and the Alps which sheltered them as Ramparts . They separated them especially from the Romans , whose neighbourhood was chiefly to be feared , and against whom they have signalized their Valour with the rest of the Allobrogeses , who extended their Borders as far as Isere . The Air of the Mountains which they breathed , and the ignorance of carnal delights , which renders us soft and effeminate , made them Warlike and Dreadful to their Neighbours . The Romans have tryed them sufficiently in their Wars against them . The first proof which they gave of their Courage , was under the Consul Marcus Fulvius , in the year six hundred twenty eight from the Building of Rome , and one hundred twenty five years before the Birth of our Saviour . 125. years before the Birth of our Saviour . The Auvergnats and them of Roüergue were joyned with the Allobroges . The Romans bragg'd they had defeated them , though 't is certain the Consul obtain'd not the Triumph ; which is a sufficient proof , that the loss on the Gaules side was not great ; and in effect the War broke out again three years after , and the Allobroges raised greater Forces . 122. years before our Saviour . They fought the Romans near Orange , not far from the place where the Sorgue dischargeth it self into the Rhosne : the Romans got the Victory by a Stratagem , after they had for a long time vigorously disputed it . They had brought with them Elephants , which they had caused to march against the Allobroges , believing the Gaules , having never seen them , would be affrighted , as it indeed fell out ; their Horses being startled , set a running , after the same manner as it had happened heretofore to the Romans themselves , when Pyrrhus , who first brought them into Italy , fought against them so bloody a Battel , in which they were overthrown : the Gaules lost in this Conflict twenty thousand men , and Bituitus King of Auvergne one of their chiefest Captains was taken Prisoner , and led away in Triumph by the Consul Domitius Ahenobarbus , to whom the care of this War was committed . Notwithstanding this overthrow , the Allobroges who had been overcome rather by their Enemies Craft , Paul. Orose . than through their own want of Courage , took again the Field the year following with their Confederates , and advanc'd as far as Isere , offering the Romans Battel . The Consul Fabius Maximus who was General , lost his Quartan Ague in the heat of the fight , and accompanied with his usual good fortune , obtain'd a signal Victory . Twenty six thousand Gaules were cut in pieces , and the Consul obtain'd the glorious Title of Allobrogick , and the great Triumph at his return to Rome . There might have been seen not many years since in the Village of Versoy , about a League distant from Geneva , an old Marble Stone , on which was engraven the Elogy of the Conqueror of the Allobroges .

Caesar hath observ'd in the Conference which he had with Arioviste , that after this Victory , the Romans generously forgave the Auvergnats and them of Rouergue , not exacting of them any Tribute , nor so much as reducing them into a Province . From whence , 't is likely , that the Allobroges , who were their Allies in this War , were no worse us'd : and that the Romans considering them rather as Friends than Vassals , did let them live after their own manner , and protected them against the insultings of their neighbours .

For not long after , 108. years before the Birth of our Saviour . the Tigurits , who are they of the Canton of Zurich , had made themselves formidable , and ceased not to molest them , the Romans sent their Consul Lucius Cassius to repell the Tigurins into their own Countrey ; The Genevoises protected by the Romans against the Switzers . but he himself was defeated and slain near Geneva . Lucius Piso his Lieutenant General and Father-in-law to Caesar , had the same fortune ; and from that time the Tigurins having joyn'd with the Teutons , Cimbres and Ambrons , made dreadful havock in Gaule , and often beat the Romans , till such time as they were subdued by the Consul Marius , who having slain great multitudes of them , 102. years before the Birth of our Saviour . forc'd the rest to return into their own Countrey ; by which means he secured the Allobroges , who lay most in danger by their incursions .

About forty years after the Allobroges took up Arms again against the Romans , 60. years before our Saviour . wasting Gaule Narbonnoise : the Senate sent the Praetor Pomptinus , who caus'd Vence to be besieged ( a considerable City of the Voconces ) by Manlius Ventinus ; but he was forc'd to raise his Siege and depart after he had wasted the Countrey . Catugnatus who commanded the Allobroges , came to help the Voconces , and falls into an Ambuscade laid for him by Ventinus . Pomptinus marches towards the Countrey of the Allobroges , and after some skirmishes with Catugnatus , he subdues them , who remain'd from that time faithful to the Romans .

Two years after , 58. years before our Saviour , Helvetians invade the Gaules . the Helvetians thinking themselves pent up in their own Countrey , invaded the Gaules , burning their Towns and Villages with an Army of ninety two thousand men , besides old people and children , which in all were about three hundred sixty eight thousand souls . They first began with the Allobroges , pretending only to pass thorough their Countrey , but were timely prevented by Julius Caesar , who was then Proconsul of Gaule ; who , as soon as he had notice given him , raised Soldiers and came to Geneva , where he makes all necessary preparation to stop this Torrent . There was in this City a Bridge to pass over into the Countrey of the Helvetians . Caesar caused it to be broken down to hinder the Enemies from coming into the Countrey of the Allobroges and the rest of the Gaules .

The Helvetians having heard that Caesar was come , sent Embassadors to him at Geneva , shewing him they had no design upon any of the Countreys belonging to the Romans , intending only to pass thorough them . Caesar remembring how they had used Lucius Casstus and Lucius Piso his Father-in-law , There are some marks of this to be seen near Gingin about a league from Nyons , and four leagues from Geneva . thought it not convenient to grant their request . Howsoever , that he might be better provided , he desires time to deliberate , and that they would return to him some few dayes after : In the mean time he gathers what Forces he could , and passing the Rhosne , he employes his Army in the making a Wall sixteen foot high , and about twenty thousand foot in length , with a Ditch of the same extent .

The day which he had appointed them being come , he absolutely refuses their request : and this was the beginning of that bloody War described by Caesar himself in his Commentaries , but which belongs not to our subject . Julius Caesar's name yet retain'd in divers Families at Geneva .

There are yet some Remains of this great Prince ( who by degrees made himself absolute Lord of the Roman Republick ) in the Names of divers of the Families of the Julius's at Geneva , which may be seen there in several ancient Inscriptions . There are mention'd one Cajus Julius Caesar Longinus a Free-man of this Emperour , and Quintus Julius Sergius , Julius Macrinus , and Julius Brocchus an Aedile and one of the Duumviri , as also Julius Marcianus , Julius Capito , Julia Vera , and Titus Julius Valerianus , Overseer of the Publick Buildings . Although perhaps not one of these were nearly related to him ; yet this shews at least , that he had brought many Romans with him thither , especially them of his own Family , of which he himself was at that time the greatest .

We must not here omit one Historical passage , of which ancient Authors have taken no notice ; which is , that after the overthrow of the Swedes , and spoil of the whole Countrey of Vaud , which was then comprehended under the name of Pagus Vrbigenus , to whom the City of Orbe gave that name : these parts were extreamly depopulated ; A Roman Colony sent to Geneva . which caused Julius Caesar to send a Colony thither , either to furnish the Countrey again with Inhabitants , or else to withstand the Helvetians , in case they should again set upon the Gaules . Now the greatest strength of this Colony lying in their Cavalry , they were hence called Colonia Equestris , or Civitas Equestrium , the Colony or Commonalty of the Equestres , as we find it in the four ancient Inscriptions which are at Geneva ; and in a fifth Julia Equestris ; which is an evident proof , that Julius Caesar had founded it . Deseruere cavo tentoria fixa Lemanno . For when the Civil War broke out between him and Pompey , he sent for the Troops which quartered near the Lake Leman , Lucan . to assist him .

Geneva kept firm thenceforward to the Emperours who succeeded Julius Caesar ; and the Stones which are yet to be seen there engraven in honour of several Emperours , witness as much . Some there are which are dedicated to Augustus , others to Trajan , Antoninus , Marc. Aurelius and Trebonian , which we shall recite at the end of this History . There is also mention of several Roman Magistrates who administred Justice after the same manner as in other Colonies . There were likewise Sextumviri , who were six men established since Augustus's Reign ; also Duumviri to determine Cases of Equity , and Surveyors of Publick Buildings ; Prelats and Pagan Priests , and every thing else which the Religion and Custom of the Romans were wont to bring into conquered Contreys . There were also to be seen on these ancient Marble Stones several kind of Vows engraven to Jupiter , Mars and Apollo , whom they worshipped before the coming of the Romans , after the manner of the other Gaules , under the name of Tamaris , Theautate and Belenus . The little Rock in the Lake served instead of an Altar , which was dedicated to Neptune God of the Watry Element : And 't is from his name , that the Rock called Neiton hath been deriv'd . There 's to be seen on the biggest ( for there are two near one another ) a hollow place which hath been cut to kindle therein the fire for Sacrifices ; and 't is not long since some Fisher-men found at the foot of it two small Hatchets and a Brass Knife , which is the same which they call'd then Securis and Secespita , to cut the throats of those Beasts they sacrificed .

To finish what may be said of Geneva in the time of Heathenism , 't is certain that in Marc. Geneva burnt in Marc. Aurelius his time . Aurelius's Reign the City was wholly burnt , he having taken upon him the care to have it built anew . Others say , this was done under Heliogabalus , who likewise was called Marc. Aurelius . There are some , who attribute its rebuilding to Aurelian : Neither is it to be doubted , but that nearness of Names hath occasioned this confusion in History . There 's yet to be seen at Geneva an Inscription of Marc. Aurelius , which gives some credit to our first conjecture ; for Heliogabalus reigned so little a while , and behaved himself so unworthily and cruelly , that this alone is sufficient to carry us off from believing he had the least thought to become Benefactor to a City , for which he had not any kindness .