it, forsaking their own seats, labour to root out the established possessors of another land, making room for themselves, their wives, and children. They that fight for the mastery are pacified with tribute, or with some other services and acknowledgments, which had they been yielded at the first, all had been quiet, and no sword bloodied. But in these migrations, the assailants bring so little with them, that they need all which the defendants have,-their lands and cattle, their houses and their goods, even to the cradles of the sucking infants. The merciless terms of this controversy arm both sides with desperate resolution; seeing the one part must either win, or perish by famine; the other defend their goods, or lose their lives without redemption. Most of the countries in Europe have felt examples hereof; and the mighty empire of Rome was oyerthrown by such invasions. But our isle of Britain can best witness the diversity of conquests; having, by the happy victory of the Romans, gotten the knowledge of all civil arts, in exchange of liberty, that was but slender

instructed therein before; whereas the issue of the Saxon and Danish wars, was, as were the causes, quite contrary. For these did not seek after the dominion only, but the entire possession of the country, which the Saxons obtained, but with horrible cruelty, eradicating all of the British race, and defacing all memorial of the ancient inhabitants through the greater part of the land. But the Danes, (who are also of the Cimmerian blood,) found such end of their enterprise, as it may seem that the Cimmerians in Lydia, and Scythians in the higher Asia, did arrive unto. So that by considering the process of the one, we shall the better conceive the fortune of the other. Many battles the Danes won, yet none of such importance as sufficed to make them absolute conquerers; many the Saxons won upon the Danes, yet not so great as could drive them quite away and back from hence, after they had gotten firm

footing. But in course of time, the long continuance even of utter enmity, had bred such acquaintance between them, as bowing the natures of both these people, made the one more pliant unto the other. So their disagreeable qualities, both ill and good, being reduced into one mild temper, no small number of the Danes became peaceable cohabitants with the Saxons in England, where great slaughter had made large room; others returning home, found their own country wide enough to receive them, as having disburthened itself of many thousands that were sent to seek their graves abroad. And such, (as I think,) was the end of the Cimmerian war in Lydia; whereunto though some victory of Halyattes may have hastened the conclusion, yet the wearisome length of time seems to have done most in compelling them to desire of rest. I know not why I should fear to add hereunto my further conjecture; which is, that the matter was so compounded between the Cimmerians and Halyattes, that the river of Halys should divide their territories. For Halys was henceforth the border of the Lydians, and on the eastern side of the river was the country of the Amazons, that is, indeed, of the Cimmerians and other Scythian people, whose wives and daughters these warlike women are supposed to have been.

And hereunto the quarrel ensuing, between Halyattes and Cyaxares the Mede, hath very good reference for Halyattes, (as it is said,) fought in defence of certain Scythians, upon whom the Median sought revenge. And it stands with reason, that the Lydians and Cimmerians, being much weakened with mutual slaughters, should have joined in a league of mutual defence, for their common safety; though otherwise it had been dangerous to Halyattes, if he had permitted the Median to extend his kingdom so far westward, whatsoever the pretences might be of taking revenge upon such as had spoiled each of their countries. As for that occasion of

the war between these two kings, which Herodotus relates, I find it of little weight, and less probabili

He tells of Scythians, that, being chased out of their country by faction, came unto Cyaxares, who committed unto them certain boys, to be instructed in the Scythian tongue, and feats of archery. Now it so fell out, (saith he, lib. 1.) that these Scythians using much to hunt, and commonly bringing home somewhat with them, did nevertheless otherwhiles miss of their game, and come home as they went. Hereupon the king being forward and choleric, bitterly reviled them; and they, as impatient as he, killed one of the boys that were under their charge, whom, dressing like venison, they presented unto him, which done, they fled unto Halyattes. This Herodotus delivers as the ground of a war that lasted six years between the Medes and Lydians the one king demanding these fugitives to be delivered into his hand, the other refusing to betray such men as were become his suppliants. To this I will say no more, than that I see no cause that might induce the Scythians to betray themselves to either of these kings, unto whom their nation had wrought so much displeasure; particularly they had reason to distrust Cyaxares, for the treachery that he shewed in the massacring of their countrymen that were in his kingdom; of whom it is now meet that we should speak.

(4.) The war of the Scythians in the Higher Asia.

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As the Cimmerians held their course westerly along the shores of the Euxine sea, so the Scythians and Sarmatians took the other way, and having the Caspian sea on their left hand, passed between it and Caucasus, through Albania, Colthene, and other obscure nations, where now are the countries of Servan and Georgia, and so they entered into Media.

The Medes encountered them in arms, but were beaten, and thereupon glad to come to any agreement with them. This was in the time of Phraortes, whilst Psammeticus reigned in Egypt: if it were in the sixth year of Nabulassar's reign over Babylon, (supposing him to have reigned thirty-five, otherwise we must allow to Ben Merodach what we take from him,) then do the twenty-eight years of their dominion end, one year before the great Nabuchodonosor was king; so giving him good leave to provide securely, for the invasion of Syria, which expedition he began while his father yet lived, as Josephus out of Berosus relates the history.

Now, the Medes, desirous to save themselves as well as they might, from this terrible nation, which, when they had no lust to a second trial of the sword, refused not to undergo the burthen of a tribute, but thought nothing dishonourable that would serve to remove those troublesome guests into some other lodging. On the other part, the Scythians finding still the countries pleasanter and better, the further that they marched into the south, did suffer themselves to be persuaded, that a little more travel would add a great deal more to their content. For they relied so much upon their own valour, that they feared no resistance; and being the bravest men, they thought it reason that they should dwell in the best region. That Phraortes persuaded them into Egypt, I do not think; Babylon was near enough; whether if he could send these locusts to graze, then should not his unfriendly neighbours have cause to laugh at his misfortune. What shift Nabulassar made with them, or that at all he had any dealings with them, I do not read. But it is well known, that his dominions lay in the midst between Media and Egypt, as also, that they made all those parts of Asia tributary; wherefore we may well believe, that they watered their horses in his rivers, and that he also was content to give them provender.

Psammeticus hearing of their progress, (like the jealous husband of a fair wife,) took care that they might not look upon Egypt, lest the sight thereof should more easily detain them there, than any force or persuasion, that he could use, would send them going. Therefore he met them in Syria, presuming more on the great gifts which he meant to bestow upon them, than on his army that should keep them back. Egypt was rich, and half the riches thereof had not been ill spent in saving all. Yet Psammeticus took the most likely course, whereby to make his part good against them by strong hand, in case they had been so obstinate as to refuse all indifferent composition. For he lay close upon the edge of the wilderness in Gaza, (as I take it,) the southermost border of Palæstina; whence he never advanced to meet with the Scythians, but gave them leave to feel as much of the scalding sun-beams, ill agreeing with their temper, as all the length of Syria could beat upon them. When they were come as far as Ascalon, the next day to Gaza, then did he assay them with goodly words, accompanied with gifts, which were likely to work so much the better, by how much the worse they were pleased with the heat of a climate so far different from their own. Psammeticus had at his back a vast wilderness, over the scorching sands whereof, the Scythians more patient of cold and wet, than of the contrary distempers, could ill have endured to pursue him, through unknown ways, had they fought with him and prevailed, especially the kingdom of Egypt being ready to entertain him with relief, and them with new trouble at the end of their weary journey. Wherefore they were content to be entreated, and taking in good part his courteous offers, returned back to visit their acquaintance in the high countries. The Egyptian king, (besides that he preserved his own estate from a dangerous adventure, by hiring this great army to depart from him,) found all his cost well repaid in