Early Modern Mythological Texts: Troia Britanica, Notes to Proemium
Thomas Heywood. Troia Britanica (1609)
Notes to PROEMIUM
Ed. Yves Peyré
The four monarchies: the notion of the four monarchies derives from Daniel’s explanation of king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a statue with a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, feet of iron and clay (Daniel 2:31-45); Daniel’s interpretation of the statue as symbolising four successive “kingdoms” or “monarchies” gave rise to much discussion in Christian eschatology. A marginal note in the Geneva Bible explains that “By gold, silver, brass and iron, are meant the Chaldean, Persian, Macedonian, and Roman kingdoms”; Heywood follows Melanchthon’s Chronicon Carionis, an expanded revision of Carion’s Chronica (See “Heywood’s Library”), according to which the four successive monarchies are those of the Assyrians, the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans; the legs of iron represent the Roman empire at its height; the feet of iron and clay symbolise the weakness of (Catholic) Rome from a Lutheran point of view. Back to Proemium
1656: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 17r, dates the deluge “Anno à condito mundo millesimo sexcentesimo quinquagesimo sexto” (“in the year 1656 after the creation of ths world”); Lanquet and Cooper’s Chronicle gives the same date, which also concords with Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews, translated by Thomas Lodge (London, 1602), I, iv, p. 7. Back to Proemium
Noah’s three sons: Genesis 5:32 and 6:10. We keep Heywood’s spelling of Biblical names: although it is often different from the spelling in the Geneva Bible and King James Bible, it corresponds to widespread uses in Heywood’s time. Whenever different, the spellings in the Geneva Bible are signaled in the notes. Back to Proemium
Ham: The Geneva Bible spelling, which is abandoned in following occurrences, where Heywood prefers Cham. Back to Proemium
Sem: Shem in Geneva Bible. “Ac posteritas Sem loca vicina Euphrati versus Orientem occupavit” (“the posterity of Sem occupied the regions in the vicinity of the Euphrates, and towards the East”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 18r. According to Josephus, “Sem, the third son of Noe, had five sons, who inhabited the country of Asia, beginning at Euphrates and extending to the Indian Ocean sea”, Antiquities of the Jews, I, vii, p. 11. Back to Proemium
Carion: Johannes Carion (1499-1537 or 38) is the author of a history of the world, Chronica (Wittenberg: Georg Rhau, 1532), which appeared in English as The Three Books of Chronicles (London, 1550). Heywood follows Chronicon Carionis, Melanchthon’s extensive rewriting of Carion’s Chronica. See “Heywood’s Library”. Back to Proemium
Cham: Ham in the Geneva Bible. “Cham loca vicina Jordani et Nilo progressus versus Meridiem” (“Cham occupied the regions neighbouring the Jordan and extending to the south towards the Nile”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 18r. Josephus says “Syria and all the region that abutteth on the mountains of Amanus and Libanus”, Antiquities of the Jews, I, vii, p. 10. Back to Proemium
Japheth: “Japhet minorem Asiam versus Occidentem tenuit, unde multae gentes in Europa propagatae sunt” (“Japheth held Asia Minor towards the West, whence several nations propagated in Europe”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 18r. The idea that Japheth was the common ancestor of all Europeans is based on a common interpretation of Genesis 10:5, which attributes to Japheth’s descendants “the isles of the Gentiles”. A marginal note in the Geneva Bible explains that “The Jews so call all countries which are separated from them by sea, as Greece, Italy, etc.” Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, I, vii, p. 7, writes that Japheth’s sons “began to make their abode from the mountains Taurus and Amanus, and entered Asia, even unto Tana, Europe unto Gades”. Back to Proemium
Elam: Shem’s sons are listed in Genesis 10:22. “Elam stirps est Persarum” (“Elam was the ancestor of the Persians”, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 18r). Back to Proemium
Xenophon: Heywood borrows this reference to Xenophon’s Cyropaedia from Chronicon Carionis, fol. 18v, “Et sit mentio apud Xenophontem tribus Elamidos de Cyro” (“And Xenophon mentions the tribe of the Elamites in his Cyrus”). Charles Estienne’s Dictionarium Historicum, Geographicum, Poeticum defines “Elamitae” as “Persarum principes, ab Elam filio Sem”, and refers to Josephus. Lodge’s translation of Josephus’ Antiquities reads, “For Elymis left the Elemians or Elamites for his successors, whence proceeded the Persians”, I, vii, p. 11. Back to Proemium
Assur: Ashur in the Geneva Bible. Melanchthon underlines the phonetic similarity between the two names: “Assur … inde Assyrios esse vox ipsa ostendit” (“From Assur … come the Assyrians, as is shown by the sound itself of the word”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 18v. Back to Proemium
Ninus: Melanchthon writes that Niniveh was named after Ninus: “Significat autem Ninive, Nini domum, seu simpliciter habitationem” (“Niniveh means Ninus’ dwelling or, simply, lodging”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 18v. Nimrod (Genesis 10:10-12) was sometimes identified with Ninus. See for example George Abbot, An Exposition upon the prophet Jonah contained in certain sermons preached in Saint Mary’s church in Oxford, London, 1600, p. 106: “Nimrod, as Moses calleth him, or Ninus, as others term him, for these two are thought to be one”. Back to Proemium
Arphaxad: Arpachshad in the Geneva Bible, Genesis 10:22. “Arphachsad … Ab hoc orti sunt Chaldaei” (“Arphachsad … From him came the Chaldeans”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 18v. In Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews, “Arphaxad named those of his command Arphaxadians; who at this day are called Chaldeans” (I, vii, p. 11). Back to Proemium
Eber: “Also Arpachshad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber”, Genesis 10:24 in the Geneva Bible; a marginal note explains, “Of whom came the Hebrews or Jews”. Lodge’s Josephus has “Sale, Arphaxad’s son, was Heber’s father, by whose name in times past the Hebrews were called” (I, vii, p. 11). Heywood follows Chronicon Carionis, which says: “Arphachsad … ab eius nepote Eber, Ebraei, id est, peregrinatores. Ab hac stirpe ortus est Abraham, ut Genesis 11 legitur. Constat igitur, Messiae stirpem esse Sem, filium Nohae (fol. 18v) (“Arphachsad … from his grandson Eber came the Hebrews, whose name means “travellers”. From that origin was Abraham issued, as one reads in Genesis 11. It is therefore established that the Messiah is of the lineage of Sem, son of Noah”). Heywood’s “nephew” must be taken in the sense of “nepos”, “grandson”. The Geneva Bible glosses “Eber” as “passing or passage” (“A Brief Table of the Interpretation of the Proper Names which are chiefly found in the Old Testament”, henceforth referred to as “Brief Table”). Back to Proemium
Aram: Genesis 10:22. Heywood translates Chronicon Carionis, “Aram … Hinc Syrii orti sunt. Et metropolis Syriae est Damascus, ut Esaiae 7 scriptum est: Caput Aram Damascus” (“Aram … From him were the Syrians issued. And the capital of Syria is Damascus, as is written in Isaiah 7, the head of Aram is Damascus”), fol. 18v. Lodge’s Josephus, I, vii, p. 11: “Aram had the Arameans, whom the Greeks called Syrians”. Back to Proemium
Damascus: “The head of Aram is Damascus”, Isaiah 7:8. Back to Proemium
Chus: Cush in the Geneva Bible, Genesis 10:6, where a marginal note says: “Of Cush and Mizraim came the Ethiopians and Egyptians”. The “Brief Table” in the Geneva Bible glosses “Cusan” as “black” or “Ethiopian”. Heywood is translating Chronicon Carionis, “Chus, stirps Aethiopum in ultima ora Aphricae” (“Chus, the ancestor of the Ethiopians, in the far end of Africa”), fol. 19r. Back to Proemium
Ptolomeus: Heywood’s reference to Ptolemy’s Geography, IV, vi, is borrowed from Chronicon Carionis, where the Chusites (“Chusitae”) are situated in Ptolemy’s “Inner Libya”, fol. 19r. Back to Proemium
Chirsita: a misprint for “Chusitae” in Chronicon Carionis, fol. 19r, quoted in the preceding note. Back to Proemium
Saba: Seba in Geneva Bible. “Filii Chus sunt Saba et Evila. A Saba sunt Sabaei” (“Chus’s sons are Saba and Evila. From Saba originated the Sabeans”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 19r. Back to Proemium
Evila: Havilah in Geneva Bible. “Ab Evila pars Indorum” (“From Evila, part of the Indians”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 19r. Lodge’s Josephus says: “Sabas established the Sabians and Evilas the Evileans, at this day called Getulians” (I, vii, p. 11). Lanquet and Cooper’s Chronicle derives the Indians not from Havilah but from Arphaxad’s son: “Arphaxat, when he was xxxv years of age, begat Sale, who was father of the Indians” (A6r). Back to Proemium
Nemrod: called Nimrod both in Geneva Bible, Genesis 10:8 and in Chronicon Carionis, which says about him that “Hic in Babylone primus ita dominatus est” (“He was the first to reign in Babylon”), fol. 19r. Back to Proemium
Misraim: Mizraim. “Mizraim … Hic occupavit eam regionem quae postea nominata est Aegyptus. Ac nunc quoque Arabes et Turci nominant eam Mizri” (“Mizraim … He occupied that region which later was called Egypt. And even now Arabs and Turks still call it Mizri”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 19v. The same remark later found its way into Thomas Wilson’s Christian Dictionary (London, 1612). For Lodge’s Josephus, “the name of Misraim hath continued also in the memory of men, for we that bound upon Aegypt, call that country the country of Misraim, and the Aethiopians Misramites” (I, vii, p. 10). Back to Proemium
Lydas: Ludim in Geneva Bible, Genesis 10:13, where a marginal note specifies that “Of Lud came the Lydians”. According to Chronicon Carionis, fol. 19v, “Ludim, a quo Lydios ortos esse” (“Ludim, from whom the Lydians originated”). “Lydas” for Ludim does not seem to appear anywhere else than in Troia Britanica, where, whether deliberately or mistakenly, it was generated by similarity with “Lydia”. Back to Proemium
Labain: Lehabim in Geneva Bible, Genesis 10:13. Heywood’s “sunburnt Lybians” derive from Chronicon Carionis, which notes: “Laabim, unde sunt Lybies, fortassis ab aestu. Nam Laab significat flammam” (“Laabim, from whom the Lybians come, perhaps because of the heat, for ‘Laab’ means ‘flame’”), fol. 19v. Brief Table glosses Lehabim, or Lahabim as “enflamed”. Back to Proemium
Enamim: F, “Euamim”, an obvious misprint. Chronicon Carionis has “Enamim”, which corresponds to “Anamim” in Geneva Bible, Genesis 10:13. This paragraph in Troia Britanica conflates two of Mizraim’s sons in Chronicon Carionis, fols. 19v-20r: first Enamim, whose name, according to Melanchthon, means “fons aquarum” (“water spring”) and who therefore appropriately founded “Cyrene”, meaning “urbem fontis” (“the town of the fountain”), in the region called “Cyrenaica”; and secondly Phut, of whom Melanchthon writes “Phut, unde sunt populi in occidua parte Aphricae, circa Mauritaniam, ubi manet vetus apellatio fluminis Phut” (“Phut, from whom derive the nations of the Western part of Africa, around Mauritania, where a river still keeps the name of Phut”). Back to Proemium
Pindarus. Herodotus. Pliny: Heywood borrows Pindar and Herodotus from the paragraph on Enamim in Chronicon Carionis, where Melanchthon denies that Cyrenaica was first inhabited by the Argonauts’ descendants, “quorum mentio sit apud Pindarum et Herodotum” (“who are mentioned in Pindar and Herodotus”), fol. 20r. He is referring to Pindar’s Pythian Ode IV and to Herodotus, Histories, IV, 150-59.
About the river still called Phut, Melanchthon remarks: “Sic enim nominatur apud Plinium” (“So called, indeed, in Pliny”), fol. 20r. He is referring to the description of Mauritania in Pliny’s Natural History, V, i, 13, “mox amnem, quem vocant Fut”, or, in Philemon Holland’s translation, “and not far from it, another fresh river, which they call Fut”, The Historie of the World, Commonly called The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus (London, 1601), V, p. 92. Back to Proemium
Canaan: Chronicon Carionis explains that Canaan means “merchant” and that his descendants, the Sidonians and the Tyrians, were mainly merchants and navigators: “Chanaan, id est mercator. Sidonii enim et Tyrii nautae et mercatores praecipui fuerunt”, fol. 20v. Back to Proemium
Sidonians: “Sidonii” in Chronicon Carionis (fol. 20v), descended from Sidon. Deuteronomy 3:9; Josuah 13:4. Back to Proemium
Heath: Heth in Geneva Bible, Genesis 10:15. In Chronicon Carionis, “Heth condidit Hebron, ubi aliquandiu habitavit Abraham, et ibi locum sepulturae conjugi emit, in quo et ipse postea sepultus est” (“Heth founded Hebron, where he lived quite a while and where he bought the place for his wife’s tomb, in which he himself was later buried”), fol. 20v. Back to Proemium
Iebuseus: Iebusi in Geneva Bible, Genesis 10:16. “Iebuseus possedit Gabaa et Ierusalem” (“Iebuseus owned Gabaa and Jerusalem”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 20v. Back to Proemium
Gomer or Togorma: F, Gomor or Togerma. Chronicon Carionis, fol. 21r, specifies that “Gomer et Togorma latera esse Aquilonis” (“Gomer and Togorma were neighbouring Aquilo”), and refers to Ezechiel 38:6, “Gomer and all his bands, and the house of Togarmah of the North quarters”. A marginal note in Geneva Bible makes it clear that “Gomer was Japhet’s son and Togarmah the son of Gomer”. Back to Proemium
Cimmerians: “Fuisse autem Cimmerios ultra Thraciam, circa Maeotinem paludem … Nec longa via est à Bosphoro Cimmerio … ad Cimbricam Chersonesum” (“The Cimmerians were beyond Thracia, near the Maeotian Marshes … and Cimmeria is not far from Bosphorus, towards Cimbrica Chersonesus”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 21r. Cimbrica Chersonesus was the name for the Jutland Peninsula (Denmark) in Antiquity. Melanchthon’s “Maeotis palus”, also called “Maeotica palus”, the Maeotian Marshes, was the name of the Sea of Azov in Antiquity. Back to Proemium
Bosphors: Bosphorans, inhabitants of Bosphorus. Back to Proemium
Magog: One of Japheth’s sons in Genesis 10:2. Heywood follows Chronicon Carionis, fol. 21v: “Magog, id est de Gog … Ait autem Ezechiel et gentem Magog Septentrionalem esse, et quidem postremis temporibus, latè vastaturam esse Israel” (“Magog, which is to say ‘of Gog’ … and Ezechiel says that Magog’s nation lies in the North and that in later times it would ruin Israel”), referring to Ezechiel 38; and “Quare Scythicam gentem esse, id est, Turcicam intelligimus (“we understand them to be Scythians, that is Turks”), ibid. Surprisingly, Heywood takes “Septentrionalem” to mean “south”. Back to Proemium
Apocalypse: Heywood is translating Melanchthon’s “Cumque Apocalypsis ostendat, postremo regnaturum esse Gog et Magog” (“As the Apocalypse shows, in the end, would the reign of Gog and Magog come”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 21v. See Revelation 20:8. Back to Proemium
Madai: One of Japheth’s sons in Genesis 10:2. “Madai … Ab hoc Medi orti sunt” (“Madai … From him the Medes take their origin”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 21v. Back to Proemium
Herodotus: Of the Medes, Melanchthon writes “Gens clara, ut Daniel et Herodotus testantur” (“A famous nation, as Daniel and Herodotus testify”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 21v. He is referring to the Book of Daniel and Herodotus’ Histories. Back to Proemium
Javan: F, “Iauan or Iabu”, a misprint for Chronicon Carionis, “Iauan vel Iaon”, fol. 21v. Back to Proemium
Jovians: F, Iouians, wrongly seems to superimpose Jove upon Javan; in reality a misprint for “Ionians”, from “gentem Ionicam” (“the Ionians”) in Chronicon Carionis, fol. 21v. Back to Proemium
Elisa: Elishah in Genesis 10:4. Heywood translates Chronicon Carionis, “Elisa, a quo sunt Aeoles in minore Asia” (Elisa, from whom derive the Eolians in Asia Minor”), fol. 21v. Back to Proemium
Tharsis: Tarshish in Geneva Bible, Genesis 10:4. From Chronicon Carionis, “Tharsis, à quo condita est Tharsus, quae fuit Metropolis Cilicum” (“Tharsis, who founded Tharsus, which was the capital of Cilicia”), fol. 22r. Tarsus, the main town in Cilicia, south of Cappadocia. Back to Proemium
Cethim: Kittim in Geneva Bible, Genesis 10:4. Chronicon Carionis, “Cethim … à quo Macedones ortos esse” (“Cethim … from whom the Macedonians come”), fol. 22r. See Maccabees 1:1, “Alexander the Macedonian, the son of Philip, went forth of the land of Chettiim”. Back to Proemium
Adodanim: In fact, Dodanim (Genesis 10:4). The mistaken spelling “Adodanim” in F reproduces a misprint in some editions of Chronicon Carionis, reading “ADODANIM … sunt Dodonaei in Epiro” instead of the correct “A DODANIM … sunt Dodonaei in Epiro” (From Dodanim ... come the Dodonians in Epirus”). See “Heywood’s Library”. Back to Proemium
Javan: Chronicon Carionis gives “Iaon” as an alternate name for “Iavan”, to explain that the Ionians descend from him (fol. 21v), a name which, a few paragraphs later, becomes “Ion”, assimilated to “Ianus” (Janus), as the ancestors of Greeks and Romans: “Et consentaneum est hunc Ionem esse, quem Latini Ianum nominaverunt, patrem et Latinae et Graecae gentis” (“And one agrees that this Ion, whom the Latins called Janus, was the father of the Latins and of the Greeks”), fol. 22r. Back to Proemium
Tubal: Chronicon Carionis, “Thubal interpretatur Josephus Hispanos, et nominat Iberos” (“According to Josephus, [from] Thubal came the Spaniards, whom he calls Iberians”), fol. 22v. Lodge’s Josephus has “Thobelus gave name likewise to the Theobelians, who at this day are called Iberians”, I, vii, p. 10. Back to Proemium
Mosoch: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 23r, derives from Mosoch the “Moscoviae”, who are identified with “Moschici et Mossinoeci in Argonautico carmine”. In his History of the World, Raleigh takes care to distinguish “Mesech, the son of Aram” and “Meshech, or Mosoch, the son of Japheth” (I, viii, 7, p. 142). He goes on to refute Melanchthon’s association of Mosoch with the Muscovites: “But as for those that take Mesech out of the word Mosoch, given by the Septuagint, to be the Muscovians, sure they presume much upon the affinity of names, as aforesaid. And sure I am that David never travelled so far North, for to him Muscovia was utterly unknown … And yet Arias Montanus [Antiquitatum Judaicarum Libri IX, Leyden: Frans van Ravelingen, 1593, I, vi, p. 16] makes Mosoch the father of the Muscovians, and herein also Melanchthon runs with the tide of common opinion …”, I, viii, 7, p. 144. Back to Proemium
Apollonius: The reference is to Apollonius Rhodius’ Argonautica, II, 379, 1016 and 1117, where the Mossynoecians, a people by the Black Sea, are described. Heywood borrows the reference from Chronicon Carionis, fol. 23r: see preceding note. Back to Proemium
Tyrus: Tiras in Genesis 10:2. Chronicon Carionis, fol. 23v: “Tiras … Ab hoc Thraces esse ortos aiunt” (“Tiras … From him the Thracians are said to originate”). Back to Proemium
Ascanes: Ashkenaz in Geneva Bible, Genesis 10:3. Heywood’s development on Ascanes’ descendants derives from Chronicon Carionis, fols. 23v-24r, “… ab Ascanes ortos esse Tuisconas …”. “Nec mirum est posteros Ascanis deinde in alia loca migrasse, ut progressi sunt Cimbri, et ex locis vicinis Bithyniae, Caucones, et Caici, et Heneti” (“From Ascanes the Tuiscones are derived …”. “Neither is it surprising that Ascanes’ successors later emigrated to other places, with the progression of the Cimbrians, and, from regions adjousting Bithynia, the Caucones, the Caici, and the Heneti”). Back to Proemium
Iliad: The reference to Homer’s Iliad is borrowed from Chronicon Carionis, fol. 24r, where the Biblical Ascanes (Ashkenaz) is assimilated to Ascanius, a leader of the Phrygians, who had come from Ascania to fight at Troy; he is mentioned twice in the Iliad (II, 811 and XIII, 788). Back to Proemium
Cimbrians: The Cimbri, a Germanic people of Northern Europe mentioned in Caesar, Gallic Wars, I, 33. Back to Proemium
Caucones: F, Cancones. The Caucones were a people of Paphlagonia. Homer mentions them in the Iliad, X, 429, as allies of the Trojans. Back to Proemium
Caici: F, Caiei. The Caici (Cayci, Cauci, Chauci), also called Chatti, a Germanic people, mentioned in Tacitus, Annals, I, 55-56; XII, 27-28; XIII, 56-57. Back to Proemium
Heneti: F, Heueti. Also called Veneti. Chronicon Carionis, fol. 24v, explains that they are Sarmatians; see note below on Sauromats. Two sentences later, Heywood specifies that they speak Polish, in which he follows Chronicon Carionis, fol. 24v, “Nomino autem Henetos omnes, ubicunque consederunt, qui lingua Polonica utuntur” (“Wherever they had settled, those who used the Polish tongue were called Heneti”). Raleigh uses the same source in The History of the World, when he notes that “The greatest number of the Sarmatians were the Heneti, who spake the ancient Polack” (I, viii, 9, p. 146). Back to Proemium
Riphat: Riphath in Geneva Bible, Genesis 10:3. Chronicon Carionis, fol. 24r, “Riphat, inde Riphei, id est Gigantes” (“Riphat, from whom the Riphei, or Giants, are issued”). Back to Proemium
Justinus historicus: The marginal note in Troia Britanica reads “Iustinus posthum.”, which might be a printer’s misinterpretation of an hypothetic “Iustinus hist.” or “Iustinus histor.” in Heywood’s manuscript, referring to Justinus historicus (Justin the historian), to differentiate the author of the Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus from Justin martyr. There is no corresponding reference to Justin in Melanchthon’s edition of Carion. Justin mentions the Riphean hills in his description of Scythia and its inhabitants in II, ii, of his Epitome. Two Latin editions of Justin had been published in London, Iustini ex Trogi Pompei historia (Bynneman, 1572) and Iustini ex Trogi Pompeii Historiis (Thomas Orwin, 1593). Arthur Golding’s translation of Justin into English was published in 1564 and reprinted in 1570 and 1578. A second translation by G. W. (George Wilkins?) was published in 1606. Back to Proemium
Sauromats: F, Sanromats. They are the Sarmatians, inhabitants of Sarmatia a region between the Vistula, the Danube and the Caspian Sea. They are mentioned in Raleigh’s History of the World, I, viii, 9, p. 146. They are first called “Sarmatae” in Chronicon Carionis, fol. 24v. “Sauromats” is another usual form of the word, which Melanchthon notes as preferable: “Sarmata rectius Sauromata est”, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 25r. See Konstantin F. Smirnov, “Sauromates et Sarmates”, Dialogues d’histoire ancienne, VI, 6 (1980), pp. 139-54. Back to Proemium
Ptolomeus: Heywood follows Chronicon Carionis, fol. 24v, “inter Sarmatas Heneti, sicut Ptolemaeus inquit” (“Among the Sarmatians, the Heneti, as Ptolemy says”). The reference is to Ptolemy’s Geography, III, v. Back to Proemium
Josephus: The reference to Josephus is borrowed from Chronicon Carionis, “Nec discrepat ab hac nostra interpretatione Ripheorum Josephus, qui ait à Riphat Paphlagonias ortos esse, quorum appellatio posterior est” (“Neither is our interpretation of the Ripheans in disagreement with Josephus’, according to whom from Riphat originated the Paphlagonians, their name in more recent times”), fol. 24v. Lodge’s translation of Josephus reads “Rhiphates engendered the Rhiphateans called at this day Paphlagonians” (I, vii, p. 10). Back to Proemium
Vistula: F, Fistula, a misprint. Melanchthon is defining a territory lying between two rivers, the Vistula, and “Albis” (the Elbe). Heywood’s enumeration gives the impression that he is taking the rivers for two countries. The dissemination of the Heneti is based on Melanchthon, who writes “et adhuc tenent eas regiones, quae nunc nominantur Russia, Lituania, Polonia. … Inde effusi sunt in has regiones, inter Vistulam et Albim, et occuparunt Boiemiam, in qua antea fuerunt Hermunduri et Boii” (“and they still hold those regions now called Russia, Lithuania, Poland. … From where they migrated to those regions lying between the Vistula and the Elbe and occupied Bohemia, which, before them, was inhabited by the Hermundurians and the Boians”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 24v-25r. The “Hermunduri” (Hermundurians) are a Germanic people, often mentioned by Tacitus, for example Germania, 41; the “Boii” (Boians) are a Celtic people, living partly in Gaul, partly in Germany, mentioned in Caesar’s Gallic Wars, I, v, 4 and Livy’s History of Rome, XXIII, xxxiv; XXXIV, xlvi; XXXVI, xxxix. Melanchthon’s spelling “Boiemia” for Bohemia gives them roots there. Back to Proemium
Gether: From Chronicon Carionis, fol. 25v: “Gether, à quo Getas ortos esse consentaneum est. Getas autem Gottos postea nominatos esse non dubium est, qui progressi tenuerunt eam regionem quae nunc Wallachia dicitur … Getas autem locutos esse Teutonica lingua non dubium est. Fuerunt ergo mixti genti Teutonicae” (“Gether, from whom one agrees that the Getae originated. There is no doubt that the Getae were later called Goths, who, in their expansion, occupied that region called Wallachia … And there is no doubt that the Getae spoke a Teutonic language. They therefore mixed with Teutons”). Wallachia is part of Romania, south of Transsylvania. Back to Proemium
Paralipomenon: the reference is to 1 Chronicles 1:17, which Heywood borrows from Chronicon Carionis, fol. 25v. Back to Proemium
Gerim and Ani: “Etymologia potest esse Gerim Ani, id est, advenae miseri seu pauperes” (“The etymology [of Germany] can be Gerim Ani, that is miserable or poor strangers”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 26r. The Geneva Bible’s Brief Table interprets Gera as meaning “a pilgrim, or stranger”. Back to Proemium
Galli: “Unde autem nomen sit Gallorum, nihil dubium est. Nam Wallen in lingua Teutonica significant peregrinari” (“And there is no doubt that the name of the Gauls comes from there. For ‘Wallen’ in the Teutonic language, means travellers”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 25v. Back to Proemium
Herodotus: According to Melanchthon, the name “Germania” is not of Latin origin, but the name of a tribe neighbouring Persia, the Germanians (“Germanioi”), mentioned by Herodotus in the Histories, I, 125; they would have progressively moved away from the edge of the Caspian Sea, trying to escape wars or tyrants: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 26r. Back to Proemium
Brute: The reference to Brute, or Brutus, the legendary Trojan ancestor of the Britons, does not appear in Chronicon Carionis. Heywood’s addition is in agreement with the main theme of Troia Britanica. Back to Proemium
Nemrod: “Nemrod post annos circiter centum a diluvio. Deinde post annos ferè ducentos Ninus condidit Niniven in Assyria … Semiramis uxor Nini, condidit moenia Babylonis” (“Nemrod [lived] about a hundred years after the deluge. Then, after almost two hundred years, Ninus built Niniveh in Assyria … Semiramis, Ninus’s wife, erected the walls of Babylon”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 30r-v. Back to Proemium
Ninias: F, Ninius. Appears more correctly as “Ninias filius Nini et Semiramidos” (“Ninias, son of Ninus and Semiramis” in Chronicon Carionis, which specifies: “Hoc regnante, Abraham venit in Palaestinam” (“During his reign, Abraham came to Palestine”), fol. 30v. Back to Proemium
Amraphel: “in historia Sodomorum sit mentio Regis Sennaar, id est Babylonis, Amraphel” (“In the history of the Sodomians, there is a mention of Amraphel, king of Sennaar, that is to say Babylon”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 30v. The reference is to Genesis 14:1-2, where Amraphel is said to have waged war against a king of Sodom. A marginal note in the Geneva Bible explains that “Shinar” means “Babylon”. Back to Proemium
Sardanapalus: Chronicon Carionis, fols. 30v-31r: “Hoc plurimi scribunt, Ex Assyriis regibus ultimum tenuisse Monarchiam, …, Sardanapalum. … Nomen est plenum arrogantiae. … Sar, id est Dux; Dan, Judex; Niphil, Eversor (“Several people write that of the Assyrian kings, the last to reign was Sardanapalus. … His name is full of arrogance. … Sar, that is captain; Dan, judge; Niphil, destroyer”). Back to Proemium
Phul-Belochus: “Propterea duo Principes, praefectus Babylonicus Phul Belochus et Arbaces Medus, bellum adversus eum moverunt … Ac periit Sardanapalus regna[n]te in Judaea Osia. … [Phul-Belochus] tenuit Babyloniam et Niniven et regnavit annos quadraginta octo; Arbaces vero Medus dominatus est Medis et Persis” (“For that reason, two commanders, Phul-Belochus, governor of Babylon, and the Mede Arbaces waged war against him [Sardanapalus] … And Sardanapalus died while Osia was reigning in Judea. [Phul-Belochus] held Babylon and Niniveh and reigned forty-eight years; the Mede Arbaces ruled over the Medes and the Persians”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 31r. Back to Proemium
Belochus warred upon Israel: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 31v, specifies: “In libro 4 Regum, capite 15, dicitur hic Phul Belochus intulisse bellum regi Israelitico Menahem” (“In Kings, book 4, chapter 15, it is said that that Phul Belochus waged war against Menahem, king of Israel”). The reference is to 2 Kings 15:19-20: “Then Phul, the king of Asshur, came against the land. And Menahem gave Phul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him, and establish the kingdom in his hand.
And Menahem exacted the money in Israel, that all men of substance should give the king of Asshur fifty shekels of silver a piece; so the king of Asshur returned and tarried not in the land” (Geneva Bible). A marginal note in Geneva Bible comments: “Instead of seeking help of God, he went about by money to purchase the favour of this king, being an infidel; and therefore God forsook him and Phul soon afterward brake promise, destroyed his country and led his people away captive”. Back to Proemium
Phul Assar: F, Phal Assur. Phul Assar in Chronicon Carionis, fol. 31v. Back to Proemium
Tiglat Philassar: F, Tiglat Peilassur. Tiglat Philassar in Chronicon Carionis, fol. 31v. The Geneva Bible and King James Bible give Tiglath pilaser (2 Kings 15:29). Back to Proemium
Salmanassar: F, Salmanasser. Heywood repeats Chronicon Carionis, fol. 31v, which states that “Salmanassar … Regnavit annos decem. Anno quinto Samariam obsidione cinxit” (“Salmanassar … reigned ten years. The fifth year, he besieged Samaria”) and quotes Hosea 10:14-15, which recalls the destruction of Beth-arbel by Shalman, identified as “Shalmanazzar” by a marginal note in the Geneva Bible. The siege of Samaria by “the king of Asshur” is mentioned in 2 Kings 17:5. Back to Proemium
Sennacherib: F, Zenacherib. Saneherib and Sanneherib in Geneva Bible, Sennacherib in King James Bible. Melanchthon has Sennacherib: “Sennacherib filius Salmanassaris … cinxit obsidione Ierosolymam, ubi cum Deus ab Esaia et Ezechia invocatus esset, Angeli missi trucidarunt exercitum Assyrium” (“Sennacherib, son of Salmanassar … besieged Jerusalem, where, on Isaiah’s and Hezekiah’s invocations, God sent angels who destroyed the Assyrian army”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 32r. The story of Sennacherib’s siege of Jerusalem, Isaiah’s and Hezekiah’s invocations and the destruction of Sennacherib’s army by angels is told in 2 Kings 18:13 and 19:36; 2 Chronicles 32:1-22; Isaiah 36: 1-37 and 37. Back to Proemium
Assurhaddon: Esarhaddon in Geneva Bible, 2 Kings 19:37. Asarhaddon in Chronicon Carionis, fol. 32r-v. Back to Proemium
Merodach: “Fuitque Monarchia Chaldaeus Merodach” (“The Chaldean Merodach became king [of Babylon]”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 32v. Back to Proemium
Isaiah: From Chronicon Carionis, fol. 32v, which notes that Merodach is mentioned in Isaiah 39:1. See also 2 Kings 20. Back to Proemium
Benmerodach: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 32v, “Benmerodach, id est filius prioris Merodach … Regnavit annos viginti et unum” (“Benmerodach, son of the first Merodach … He reigned twenty-one years”. Back to Proemium
Nabuchadnezzar Primus: Nebuchadnezzar in Geneva Bible and King James Bible. Chronicon Carionis has Nabogdonozor in the 1561 ed. and notes that his reign lasted thirty-five years: “Nabogdonosor Primus … regnavit annos triginta quinque”, fol. 32v. Back to Proemium
2 Kings 23: F, Kings, 4.23, a reference borrowed from Chronicon Carionis, “Gessit bellum cum rege Aegyptio Neco, cujus belli mentio sit in historia Josiae, 4: Regum 23” (“He waged war against the Egyptian king Nechos, a war mentioned in the story of Josias, 4 Kings, 23”), fol. 32v. See 2 Kings 23:29, “In his days, Pharaoh Nechoh, king of Egypt, went up against the king of Asshur to the river Perath. And king Josiah went against him”. Back to Proemium
Paralipomenon 35: “Et 2 Paral. 35, ubi scribitur Josiam interfectum esse in Mageddo” (“Et 2. Paral. 35, where it is written that Josias was killed in Mageddo”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 32v. See 2 Chronicles 35:20-24 and 2 Kings 23:29. Back to Proemium
Nabuchadnezzar Magnus: “Nabogdonosor Magnus regnavit annos quadraginta tres … cinxit obsidione Ierosolymam regnante Zedechia” (Nabogdonosor the Great reigned forty-three years … he besieged Jerusalem when Zedekiah was reigning”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 33r. See 2 Kings 25:1-7. Back to Proemium
Jeremy 39: “Apud Jeremiam capite 39, scriptum est obsidionem durasse annum integrum et sex menses”(“In the book of Jeremy, chapter 29, it is written that the siege lasted a whole year and six months”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 33r. See Jeremiah 39:1-2, “In the ninth year of Zedekiah, king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babel and all his host against Jerusalem, and they besieged it.
And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up”. Back to Proemium
Evil-Merodach: F, evil Merodach, a misprint. He was praised for freeing Jeconias (Ichoiachin, or Jehoiachin, 2 Kings 25:27, Jeremiah 52:31). Chronicon Carionis, fol. 33v, “Evilmerodach, id est insipiens Merodach, seu junior Merodach, regnavit annos triginta. Primo anno, cum patri Nabogdonosor Magno successisset, liberavit Jeconiam ex carcere” (“Evilmerodach, that is Merodach the light-headed, or Merodach the young, reigned thirty years. The first year, when he succeeded his father Nabogdonosor the Great, he freed Jehoiachin from prison”). Melanchthon attributes Evil-Merodach’s magnanimity to Daniel’s influence (ibid, fol. 33v). Back to Proemium
Balsaar: Belshazzar in Geneva Bible, Daniel 5. Heywood sums up Chronicon Carionis, fol. 33v-34r: “Balsaar … regnavit cum fratribus annos quatuordecim. … Sic autem punitae sunt eius blasphemae, ut capta Babylone, et ipso interfecto, Monarchia translata sit ad Persas. … a Cyro interfectus est” (“Belshazzar reigned with his brothers fourteen years. … His blasphemies were punished by the capture of Babylon; when he was dead, the monarchy fell to the Persians ... he was killed by Cyrus”). Back to Proemium
Daniel 5: Heywood follows Chronicon Carionis in referring to Belshazzar’s banquet and Daniel’s warning: “Hic amplexus est idolorum cultum, et vero Deo populi Israel palam in convivio maledixit, ut scriptum est Danielis 5” (“He adopted the cult of idols and openly outraged the true God of Israel during a banquet, as is reported in Daniel 5”), fol. 33v. Back to Proemium
Osiris: “Osiris … qui existimatur vixisse tempore Abrahae et Isis, conjunx” (“Osiris, … who is thought to have lived in Abraham’s time, and Isis, his wife”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 40r. Back to Proemium
Orus: Horus, Isis’ son, Diodorus Siculus, The Library, I, xxi, xxv. Back to Proemium
Bocchoris: F, Bochoris. Horus’ son according to Chronicon Carionis, fol. 40v. Referred to as Bocchoris the Wise in Diodorus Siculus, The Library, I, xlv. Back to Proemium
Busiris: F, Busyris. Chronicon Carionis refers to him as the builder of Thebes: “Deinde Busiris, id est Munitor, qui maxima opera extruxit. Et Diodorus Siculus scribit eum condidisse Thebas Aegyptias” (“Then Busiris, that is the builder of fortifications, who erected many works. And Diodorus Siculus says that he founded Thebes in Egypt”), fol. 40v. See following note. Back to Proemium
Diodorus Siculus: Heywood borrows that reference to The Library, I, xlv, from Chronicon Carionis, fol. 40v; see preceding note. Back to Proemium
Miris: Moeris. Chronicon Carionis, fol. 40v, “Post Busiridem nominatur à Diodoro post longum intervallum Rex Miris” (“After Busiris, Diodorus names king Moeris after a long interval”). The reference is to Diodorus Siculus, The Library, I, li. Back to Proemium
Sesostris: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 41r, “Post hunc fuit, tempore Samsonis, ante bellum Troianum, filius Miridis, Sesostris” (“After him, in Samson’s time, before the Trojan war, there was Moeris’ son, Sesostris”). Back to Proemium
Pherones: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 41r, “Post Sesostrin collocat Diodorus filium eodem nomine. Herodotus nominat Pheronem, quod existimo commune nomen esse Pharao” (“After Sesostris, Diodorus places a son with the same name. Herodotus names him Pheron, which I think is the common name ‘Pharaoh’”). Melanchthon relies on Diodorus Siculus, The Library, I, lix, and on Herodotus, Histories, II, cxi. Back to Proemium
Proteus: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 41r, “Proteus quem Diodorus nominat Cetem. … Ad hunc venit Paris cum Helena, et deinde Menelaus” (“Proteus, whom Diodorus calls Cetes … Paris and Helen came to him, and then Menelaus”). On Proteus being called Cetes in Egypt, see Diodorus Siculus, The Library, I, lxii. The story that Proteus gave Paris a phantom of Helen and gave the true Helen back to Menelaus comes from Tzetzes on Lycophron, 112, 820, and Herodotus, Histories, II, cxii, cxviii. Back to Proemium
Rampsinitus: Rhampsinitus. Melanchthon, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 41v, borrows him from Herodotus, together with the story according to which Rhampsinitus, struck by a thief’s boldness and astuteness, married his daughter to him, Histories, II, cxxi. Back to Proemium
Cephus: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 41v, “Cephus … apud Diodorum, seu Cheops apud Herodotum” (“Cephus … in Diodorus, or Cheops in Herodotus”. Cheops is mentioned in Herodotus, Histories, II, 124-27. In Diodorus Siculus, The Library, I, lxiii, Chemmis corresponds to Herodotus’ Cheops. Misreadings or misprints may have transformed him into Cephus. Back to Proemium
Cephrim: So in Chronicon Carionis, fol. 41v. F, Cephris. Cephren in Diodorus Siculus, The Library, I, lxiv. Chephren in Herodotus, Histories, II, 127. Back to Proemium
Mycerinus: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 41v, “Mycerinus apud Herodotum, seu Cerinus apud Diodorum” (“Mycerinus in Herodotus, or Cerinus in Diodorus”). Mycerinos, Herodotus, Histories, II, 129. Mycerinus, Diodorus Siculus, The Library, I, lxiv. Back to Proemium
Anysis: F, Anycis. In Chronicon Carionis, fol. 41v, Melanchthon mentions “Anysis caecus, et Sabacus, qui videtur esse Sesac, 3 Regum 14” (“blind Anysis, and Sabacus, who appears to be Sesac, 3 Kings 14” [1 Kings 14:25]). Herodotus reports that the Egyptian king Anysis, who was blind, was deposed by the Ethiopian king Sabacus, who reigned fifty years on Egypt, until he resigned after an ominous dream and was replaced once again by Anysis, who had remained in hiding all that time, Histories, II, 137-40. Diodorus Siculus, The Library, I, lxv, only mentions Sabacus. Back to Proemium
Sabacus: F, Sabachus. Melanchthon identifies him with king Shishak in 1 Kings 14:25. See preceding note. Back to Proemium
1 Kings 14: F, Kings 3, 14. F repeats Melanchthon; see the two preceding notes. Back to Proemium
Sethon: Melanchthon reports his defeating Sennacherib’s attempt to invade Egypt, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 41v, based on Herodotus, Histories, II, 141. Back to Proemium
Psammetichus: F, Psammeticus. Mentioned in Chronicon Carionis, fol. 41v. See Diodorus Siculus, The Library, I, 66-67, Herodotus, Histories, II, 151-57. Back to Proemium
Nechos: Geneva Bible, Necho. Chronicon Carionis, fol. 42r, “Necos vicit Iosiam prope urbem Mageddo” (“Nechos vanquished Josiah near the town of Mageddo”). According to Herodotus, Nechos vanquished the Syrians at Magdolos, Histories, II, 159. Back to Proemium
Mageddo: F, Megeddo. See preceding note. In 2 Chronicles 35:20-24, the fight between Nechos and Josiah takes place in the valley of Megiddo. See also 2 Kings 23:29. Back to Proemium
Jeremy 46: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 42r, “Postea idem Necos à Nabogdonosor victus est, ut Jeremias narrat capite 46” (“Then Nechos was vanquished by Nabuchadnezzar, as Jeremiah tells in chapter 46”). See Jeremiah 46:2. Back to Proemium
Nabuchadnezzar: Out of place in Heywood’s list of Egyptian kings, the Babylonian prince was probably mistakenly imported from the sentence in Chronicon Carionis, fol. 42r, alluding to him as the victor of Nechos (see quote in preceding note). Back to Proemium
Psammis: F, Psamnis. Described as Nechos’s son in Chronicon Carionis, fol. 42r. See Herodotus, Histories, II, 159-60. Back to Proemium
Apries: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 42r, “Deinde Apryes, quem nominat Jeremias Ophrea, cap. 44, Sidonem delevit et Jeremiam interfecit” (“Then Apryes, whom Jeremiah calls Ophrea, chapter 44, destroyed Sidon and killed Jeremiah”). Jeremiah’s death is not alluded to in the Bible; Tertullian started the legend that he was stoned to death, Scorpiace, VIII. Melanchthon assimilates Apries (from Herodotus, Histories, II, 161-71) and Pharaoh Hophra from Jeremiah 44:30. Back to Proemium
Amasis: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 42r-v, “Cum Amasis tenuisset Aegypti regnum annos quadraquinta quatuor, ut scribit Herodotus, successit filius Psammenitus, …, qui cum sex menses regnasset, captus est à Cambyse, Rege Persico, et aliquanto interfectus” (“When Amasis had reigned over Egypt forty four years, as Herodotus writes, he was succeeded by his son Psammenitus, …, who, after six months of reign, was made prisoner by Cambyses, king of Persia, and after a while was put to death”). On Amasis’ reign, see Herodotus, Histories, II, 172-80. Back to Proemium
Japhetus: F, Japethus. Heywood skips over Melanchthon’s chapter on the Judges of Israel that follows the section on the Egyptian kings in Chronicon Carionis, and proceeds with Melanchthon’s chapter on Greek history at the time of the First Monarchy. Of Japhet, Melanchthon says: “Liber Moisi narrat eum esse filium Noae. Ex Japhet natus est Javan, à quo Graecos ortos esse nomen gentis Ionicae testatur” (“The book of Moses says that he was Noah’s son. Of Japhet was born Javan, from whom the Greeks originate, as is testified by the name of the Ionians”), fol. 61r. Back to Proemium
Hellas: According to Melanchthon, “Hellas est ab Hello, qui regnavit inter Dodonaeos, qui sunt à Dodanim, filio Japhet” (“Hellas comes from Hellus, who reigned over the Dodonians, so named from Dodanim, Japheth’s son)”, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 61r. Back to Proemium
Erechtheus: F, Erictheus. Chronicon Carionis, fol. 61v, “Nihil est clarius Argonautica expeditione. Sed hanc antecesserunt Erechtheus Atheniensis, qui clarus factus est repressione Thracum, qui Atticam invaserant. Item Perseus…” (“Nothing is more famous than the expedition of the Argonauts. But it was preceded by Erechtheus of Athens, who was made famous by his stopping the advance of the Thracians who were invading Attica, and by Perseus…”). Erechtheus was victorious over the Eleusinians, who were attacking the Athenians with the help of the Thracians. Apollodorus, The Library, III, xv, 4; Pausanias, I, xxvii, 3. Back to Proemium
Perseus: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 61v, places Perseus on a par with Erechtheus: “Item Perseus, qui bellum gessit cum Persis et Gorgonas occidit in Lybia” (“Similarly Perseus, who waged war with the Persians and killed the Gorgons in Lybia”). See preceding note. Back to Proemium
Cadmus: Heywood makes Cadmus and the Thebans follow the Trojan war, unlike Melanchthon, who places Cadmus and the Thebans before the Trojan war. Back to Proemium
Theban history: Melanchthon names it “Thebana historia, plena horribilium exemplorum” “the Theban history, full of horrors”, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 62r. He recalls Oedipus’ crime and punishment, and the mortal wars between his sons: “Duxerat ignarus matrem Oedipus, qui postea hiatus terrae absorptus est, et filii de regno dimicantes, mutuis vulneribus interfecti sunt” (“Oedipus had married his mother without knowing it, and was later swallowed up by a rift in the earth, and his sons, quarelling over the throne, wounded each other to death”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 62r. It is Heywood who introduces the names of Jocasta, Eteocles, and Polynices. Back to Proemium
Eteocles: F, Eleocles. Back to Proemium
Sybils: F, Sibils. In a brief mention of the Sybils, Heywood contracts the chapter Melanchthon devotes not only to the Sybils, but also to Atlas, Orion, Linus, Orpheus, Musaeus, Homer and Hesiod, Chronicon Carionis, fols. 63r-65v. Back to Proemium
Lactantius: Melanchthon mentions the Sybils’ prophecies on the coming of Christ and refers to Lactantius, Divine Institutes, VII, xvi, xxiv, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 64v. Lactantius’ Divinae Institutiones were printed as early as 1565 by Konrad Sweynheym and Arnold Pannartz at Subiaco, and frequently reprinted since. Back to Proemium
Achas: From Chronicon Carionis, fols. 65v-66r, [the foundation of Rome] “Fuit autem annus primus septimae Olympiadis, annus 10 Achas Regis Juda” (“took place the first year of the seventh Olympiad, in the tenth year of the reign of Achas, king of Judas”). Back to Proemium
Dionysius of Halicarnassus: Melanchthon’s reference in his chapter on the foundation of Rome, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 65v. Dionysius discusses the foundation of Rome in Roman Antiquities, I, 72-90. Back to Proemium
244 years: F, 6244, a misprint. Chronicon Carionis, fol. 67r, “Initio Roma gubernata est à Regibus, annos 244, teste Livio.” (“In its beginnings Rome was ruled by kings for 244 years according to Livy.”) Back to Proemium
Livius: Livy. The reference is borrowed from Melanchthon, see preceding note. The succession of kings is narrated in Livy’s History of Rome, I. Back to Proemium
Romulus: F, Rhomulis. The following list is borrowed from Chronicon Carionis, fol. 67r-v. Back to Proemium
Collatine: F, Collatyne. Chronicon Carionis, fol. 67v, “Hic expulsus est regno propter filii scelus, qui Lucretiam per vim compresserat. Id exemplum notum sit inter libidinum poenas”. (“He was destituted because of the crime of his son, who had raped Lucrece. This is a famous example of the penalty for lust.”) Heywood adds the name of Sextus. Back to Proemium
Tomyris: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 72v, recounts Tomyris’ treatment of Cyrus’ corpse as reported by Herodotus, Histories, I, 214. Back to Proemium
Metasthenes: Metasthenes Persa is the spurious author of De Judicio Temporum et Annalium Persicorum, one of the apocryphal fragments collected by Giovanni Nanni (Annius of Viterbo) in Commentaria fratris Joannis Annii Viterbiensis super opera diversorum auctorum de antiquitatibus loquentium (Rome: Eucharius Silber or Franck, 1498), a collection frequently reprinted under various titles, such as Berosus Babylonicus de antiquitatibus, or Antiquitatum variarum or Historia Antiqua, etc. Heywood borrows his name from Chronicon Carionis, fol. 68v. Back to Proemium
Xenophon. Herodotus: Also referred to in Chronicon Carionis, where Melanchthon acknowledges that he is summarizing Xenophon’s Cyropaedia and Herodotus, Histories, I (fol. 70r). Back to Proemium
Thales Milesius: Heywood is summarizing Melanchthon’s chapter “De Studiis Doctrinarum in Graecia” in Chronicon Carionis, fols. 77r-79r. A short paragraph is devoted to Thales fol. 77v. Back to Proemium
Pythagoras: Of Melanchthon’s paragraph in Chronicon Carionis, fols. 77v-78r, Heywood only keeps the first words, “Pythagoras natus in Samo…”. Back to Proemium
Solon: Heywood is content with merely naming the famous legislator, to whom Melanchthon devotes nearly a whole page, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 78r.
Draco: Heywood sums up Melanchthon: “Ordinavit et annum ac menses, et ad duodecim menses Lunares adjecit Epactas dies undecim, ut congruerent Solis circuitum. … Collegit et in integrum corpus Homeri poemata” (“He instituted years and months and added the eleven days of the epact to the lunar year so that it corresponded to the circuit of the sun. … And he gathered the entire corpus of Homer’s poems”, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 78v.
epact: the eleven-day gap between a solar and a lunar year. See preceding note.
Cambyses: Heywood sums up Melanchthon’s paragraph on Cambyses in Chronicon Carionis, fols. 79r-80r. The story of Sisamnes comes from Herodotus, Histories, V, 25. In England, the story of King Cambyses had been dramatized by Thomas Preston, c. 1558-1569.
Darius: After it was agreed among seven Persian nobles that the one whose horse would first neigh in the morning would become king, Darius’ groom, who had mated his master’s horse with a mare the preceding night, led the horse towards the mare in the morning, so that it was the first to neigh; this trick enabled Darius to claim the title of king, as Herodotus reports in Histories (V, 80-86) and Melanchthon repeats in Chronicon Carionis, fol. 81.
Zopyrus: When Darius besieged Babylon, Zopyrus managed to trick the Babylonians by pretending to have deserted from Darius’ army after cutting off his own ears and nose to make the story credible: Herodotus, Histories, III, 152-60, repeated by Melanchthon in Chronicon Carionis, fol. 81r-v. The neighbouring populations, Getes, Cimmerians and Sauromats, are also mentioned by Melanchthon, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 81v, still after Herodotus.
Hippias: Heywood follows Melanchthon, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 82v.
Miltiades: On Miltiades’ involvement with the Persians, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 83r; Herodotus, Histories, VI.
Hystaspes: F, Hislaspes. Heywood is translating Melanchthon, “Hic Darius filius Histaspis est, maritus Esther, quem historia sacra nominat Assuerum … Apud Herodotum altera conjunx Darii praecipue dilecta nominatur Aristona, quod videtur esse nomen Esther, sicut nomen Vasti est Atossa”, Chronicon Carionis, fols. 83v-84r.
In the Geneva Bible, a marginal note to Esther 1:1 explains that “King Ahashuerosh” was “Called also Darius, who was now the sovereign monarch and had the government of the Medes, Persians and Chaldeans. Some think he was Darius, Hystaspis’ son, called also Artaxerxes”.
Artystona: F, Aristona, following Melanchthon. One of Cyrus’ daughters, and one of Darius’ four wives according to Herodotus, Histories, III, 88. She was identified with Esther.
Vashti: F, Vasti. Esther 1:9. She was identified with Atossa, Artystona’s daughter and another of Darius’ four wives according to Herodotus, Histories, III, 88.
Philo: Melanchthon wrote that “Philo historiam Judith etiam refert ad tempus Darii filii Histaspis” (“Philo also situates Judith’s history at the time of Darius, Hystaspes’ son”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 84 r. He was referring to Philo of Alexandria.
Xerxes: In Melanchthon’s Chronicon Carionis, Heywood found that Darius was preparing war against the Greeks when he died. His son Xerxes took over the preparation for war, “cum haberet incitatorem Mardonium, hoc bellum movit dissuadente Artabano patruo Xerxis. Exercitus dicitur fuisse decies centum millium hominum” (“He launched that war, encouraged by Mardonius, but against the advice of Artabanus, Xerxes’ uncle. His army was said to count ten hundred thousand men”), fol. 85r. Melanchthon refers to the debate between Mardonius and Artabanus in Herodotus’ Histories, VII, 8-10.
Pausanias of Sparta: From Chronicon Carionis, fol. 88r-v. Back to Proemium
Themistocles: “Adeo excelluit sapientia Themistocles, ut praecipue ipsius consiliis Graecia fuerit victrix Persarum” (“Themistocles excelled so much in wisdom that it is mainly thanks to his advice that the Greeks overcame the Persians”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 88v. Back to Proemium
Thucydides: In Chronicon Carionis, fol. 88v, Melanchthon repeats Thucydides’ praise of Themistocles in The Peloponnesian Wars, I, 138. Back to Proemium
Aristides and Cimon: Borrowed from Chronicon Carionis, fol. 89v: “Duo autem viri celebrantur in eo bello, qui ad caeteras virtutes, modestiam et justiciam adjunxerunt: Aristides et Cimon, qui et res magnas et utiles patriae gesserunt, et cum essent in omni officio justi et moderati, placidos habuerunt exitus.” (“Two men were celebrated in that war: Aristides and Cimon, who added modesty and justice to other virtues: they achieved great and useful things for their country, and as they were just and moderate in every office, they ended their days peacefully.”) Back to Proemium
5: F, 4. Since Xerxes was the fourth Persian king mentioned, Artaxerxes is the fifth. Back to Proemium
Artaxerxes: F, Artaxerxus. Heywood translates Melanchthon’s title in Chronicon Carionis: “Artaxerxes Longimanus Quintus Rex Persarum” (Artaxerxes Longimanus [literally, “of the long hand”], fifth king of the Persians). Melanchthon explains: “Dictus est Longimanus, quod dextra longior fuerit quam sinistra” (“He was called Longimanus, of the long hand, because his right hand was longer than his left hand”), fol. 90r. Back to Proemium
Darius and Hester: From Melanchthon, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 90r: “Iudaei tradunt eum fuisse filium Darii et Esther” (“The Jews say that he was the son of Darius and Hester”). Back to Proemium
Esdras, Haggeus, Zacharius, and Nehemiah: Melanchthon, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 90v: “Dedit etiam gubernatores sapienties et foelices, Haggaeum, Zachariam, Esdram, Nehemiam et alios …” (He [Artaxerxes] also gave [the Hebrews] wise and felicitous governors, Haggeus, Zacharius, Esdras, Nehemiah and others …”). Back to Proemium
Demosthenes: Heywood follows Melanchthon in attributing to Demosthenes this section of his chronology: “Anni a fuga Xerxis usque ad initium belli Peloponnesiaci sunt quinquaginta. Hoc tempore maxime floruit Graecia, et praecipue creverat Athenarum potentia, quam Demosthenes inquit tenuisse principatum inter Graecos annos tres et septuaginta, numerans videlicet annos a Cimonis victoriis usque ad Lysandrum Lacedemonium, qui obsessas Athenas deditionem facere coegit” (“Fifty years elapsed between Xerxes’ flight and the beginning of the Peloponnesian war. In that time, Greece was most flourishing and Athens’ power increased mainly, which Demosthenes said was foremost among the Greeks for seventy-three years, from Cimon’s victories until Lysander the Lacedemonian compelled the besieged Athenians to surrender”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 91r. Back to Proemium
Decemviri: These ten patricians, who were in office in Rome between 451 BC and 449 BC to draw up a code of law, acquired a bad reputation, as is shown by Livy, who insistingly compares them to the ten Tarquins in his History of Rome, III, xi; xxxix; xliv. They are mentioned by Melanchthon, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 92v, who refers back to Livy. Back to Proemium
Virginia: Virginia’s rape by Judge Appius, one of the foremost Decemviri, which is not mentioned by Melanchthon, is introduced here by Thomas Heywood. The story is told by Livy, History of Rome, III, xliv-xlviii, and translated in William Painter’s Palace of Pleasure. This very popular story was dramatized by R. B. (Richard Bower?) in Appius and Virginia (c.1564). If, as has been suggested, Thomas Heywood had a hand, with John Webster, in the writing of Appius and Virginia, a second English play on the subject, published in 1634 but possibly written as early as 1608, he would have had the story in mind when writing Troia Britanica. Back to Proemium
Darius Nothus: Heywood finds these elements in Melanchthon’s chapter on “Darius Nothus Sextus Rex Persarum”, Chronicon Carionis, fols. 92v-93r. On Alcibiades’ role in the Peloponnesian wars, see Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War, V, xliii, 2-lxxxiv, 1; VI, ii-xciii, 1; VIII, vi, 3-cviii, 2; Xenophon, Hellenica, I, i-v; Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History, XII-XIII; and Plutarch’s chapter on Alcibiades in Parallel Lives. At the end of the chapter, Melanchthon added: “Dignum memoria et hoc est, quod captivi Athenienses multi dimissi sunt propter hoc solum officium, quod Siculis communicaverant Tragoedias Sophoclis et Euripidis. Tantus honos ab ingeniosis hominibus habitus est bonis scriptis” (“It is also worth remembering that many Athenian prisoners were set free simply because they had done the Sicilians the favour of making them know the tragedies of Sophocles and Euripides; such was the esteem in which intelligent men held good literature”). Heywood is content with summarily noting that Alcibiades, Sophocles and Euripides were contemporaries. Back to Proemium
Artaxerxes Mnemon: F, Artaxerxes Memnon. In his chapter on “Artaxerxes Mnemon Septimum Rex Persarum”, Melanchthon gives the main lines of his reign and mentions Aspatia, whom he presents as the one of his concubines he loved most. On the day his son Darius was officially chosen to become his successor, the custom was that the father would grant his heir whatever wish the latter expressed. Darius asked for Aspatia, which eventually led to enmity between father and son, Darius’ plot to murder his father, and Artaxerxes’ execution of his son (Chronicon Carionis, fol. 94r-v). Melanchthon draws the story from Plutarch’s Parallel Lives, “Artaxerxes”, 26-29. Back to Proemium
Clearchus … Thrasybulus: F, Thrasibulus. In one sentence, Heywood covers Melanchthon’s chapters on “Res Graecae”, “De Triginta Tyrannis” and “De Thrasybulo et amnesia” which lead to Thrasybulus’ restoration of democracy in Athens when he put an end to the government by the “Thirty Tyrants” imposed by the Spartans after the Athenian defeat in the Peloponnesian wars, Chronicon Carionis, fols. 94v-101r. See Xenophon, Hellenica, II, iv, Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History, XIV. Back to Proemium
The Phocenses and the Locri: Heywood alludes to the war between the Phocians and the Locrians, during which Lysander died. Melanchthon sums up the episode in his chapter “Imperium Laconicum”, Chronicon Carionis, fols. 101r-107r; see Plutarch, Parallel Lives, “Lysander”, 27-30. Back to Proemium
Bellum Leutricum: The battle of Leuctra (371 BC), where the Boeotians led by Epaminondas defeated the Spartans, Chronicon Carionis, fols. 103v-104v. Xenophon gives a detailed description of the battle, but without ever mentioning Epaminondas’ name, Hellenica, VI, v. Back to Proemium
Conon, Epaminondas: Melanchthon praises Conon and Thrasybulus, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 103r-v. These Athenian generals are both devoted a chapter in Cornelius Nepos’ Lives of Eminent Commanders, VIII and IX. Also Xenophon, Hellenica, IV, Justin, Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus, VI, vi. Melanchthon has a whole chapter on Epaminondas, Chronicon Carionis, fols. 107r-109v; so does Plutarch in Parallel Lives and Cornelius Nepos, Lives of Eminent Commanders, XV. Back to Proemium
Brennus: Heywood emphasises the near contemporaneity between Epaminondas and Brennus, who seized Rome. In Chronicon Carionis, fols. 135r-v, Melanchthon explains that there are two homonymous Brennus, one who invaded Greece in 278 BC (Pausanias, X, xxii-xxiii; Justin, Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus, XXIV, vi-viii) and one who had taken Rome about a century earlier (Livy, History of Rome, V, xxxviii-lv; Plutarch, Parallel Lives, “Camillus”). Heywood is not interested in the invador of Greece but in the conqueror of Rome: see Troia Britanica, canto XVI, stanza 17. This Brennus, obviously, was not English, but a Gaul of the tribe of the Senones. Heywood’s patriotic annexion is entirely his own; it was shared neither by Philemon Holland, who translated Livy’s “Brennus regulus Gallorum” (History of Rome, V, xxxviii, 3) as “Brennus, the Duke or prince of the Gauls” (The Roman History, p. 204) nor by Thomas North, who rendered Jacques Amyot “Brennus roy des Gaulois” (Les Vies des Hommes Illustres, “Furius Camillus”, xxvii) as “Brennus king of the Gaules” (Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans, p. 150). Back to Proemium
Artaxerxes Ochus: F, Artaxerxes Orchus. Eighth king of Persia according to Melanchthon, who notes: “Regnavit sex et viginti” Chronicon Carionis, fol. 111r. He lived c. 425 BC-338 BC. Like Melanchthon, who specifies that “Pertinet autem historia belli Sacri ad Ochi tempora, Chronicon Carionis”, fol. 108v, Heywood is right to write that the Sacrum Bellum, or Sacred War (363 BC-347 BC), is contemporaneous with his reign; it mainly opposed the Thebans in support of the Delphians, and the Phocians, supported by the Athenians. Melanchthon develops the history of the Sacred War in Chronicon Carionis, fols. 114r-116r and explains that Artaxerxes Ochus’ intervention consisted in his financial help of the Thebans. Back to Proemium
Arsames: Ninth king of Persia according to Melanchthon. After assassinating Artaxerxes Ochus, the influential chiliarch Bagoas, who could not be king himself, had the crown transferred to Ochus’ son Arsames, whom he killed in turn after four years of reign, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 116r-v. Bagoas does not appear in Justin, Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus X, iii. His story is to be found in Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History, XVI, l, 8 and XVII, v, 3-4. Back to Proemium
Darius: Melanchthon writes that after killing Arsames, Bagoas transferred the crown of Persia to a “prince of Armenia” called Darius. He is referring to Darius Codoman, satrap of Armenia, king of Persia from 336 BC to 330 BC. Melanchthon adds that the advent of this Darius put an end to the dynasty founded by Cyrus. Darius himself was overcome by Alexander the Great, who annexed the country: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 116v and fols. 119v-122r. Also Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History, XVII, v, 5 - vii, 3, and xxx-xxxix. Back to Proemium
Alexander: Heywood borrows Alexander the Great’s genealogy from Melanchthon, Chronicon Carionis, fols. 118v-119r: “Supra dictum est Reges Macedonicos ab Hercule ortos esse, paterna origine. Olympias vero mater Alexandri ex Aeacidis est” (“I said above that the Macedonian kings descended from Hercules patrilinearly; Alexander’s mother Olympias descended from Aeacus”). This genealogy could be found in Plutarch’s Parallel Lives, “Alexander”, ii; it made Alexander a descendant of Hercules on his father’s side and of Achilles on his mother’s. Back to Proemium
Olympias: F, Olimpius. Back to Proemium
He died: These words are missing in F, but can be recovered from Heywood’s source, Melanchthon’s Chronicon Carionis, fol. 127r, which has: “Vixit annos triginta duos, et menses octo. Regnavit annos duodecim, et menses octo” (“He lived thirty-two years and eight months. He reigned twelve years and eight months”). Back to Proemium
Ptolomeus: Heywood draws the list of the kings of Egypt after Alexander from Melanchthon’s chapter “Reges Aegyptii post Alexandrum”, Chronicon Carionis, fols. 141v-144v. They are:
1. “Ptolemaeus filius Lagi”, one of Alexander’s generals, who won Egypt from Perdiccas (Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History, XVIII, xxix-xl).
2. “Ptolemaeus Philadelphus”, who had a peaceful, brilliant reign, illustrated by the intellectual attraction of the Library of Alexandria, with Callimachus, Apollonius of Rhodes, Aratus, Bion, Theocritus, and the mathematicians Conon and Hipparchus: Chronicon Carionis, fols. 142r-143r.
3. “Ptolemaeus Evergetes”, who waged war against Syria after the murder of Berenice; the intellectual center of Alexandria continued to flourish under his reign: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 143r.
4. “Ptolemaeus Philopator”, who vanquished Antiochus the Great in the Syrian war; after the death of his sister and wife Eurydice, he indulged in lust and murder, and died poisoned, according to Melanchthon, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 143v.
5. “Ptolemaeus Epiphanes”, against whom Antiochus the Great waged war, before finally giving him his daughter Cleopatra to become his wife: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 143v.
6. “Ptolemaeus Philometor”, protected from Antiochus the Great by the Roman Empire: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 143v; Livy, Roman History, XLV, xii-xiii.
7. “Ptolemaeus Evergetes”, who, according to Melanchthon, restored Demetrius Nicator to the throne of Syria: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 143v.
8. “Ptolemaeus Physcon”, or “sausage” (“farcimen”), because he was pot-bellied, married his sister, then killed her and ordered that the son he had with her be served to him in a meal. He was deposed: Melanchthon, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 143v.
9. “Ptolemaeus Alexander”, Physcon’s brother, reigned after his brother was deposed, before being deposed in turn: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 144r.
10. “Ptolemaeus Lathurus”, remembered by Melanchthon for his terrible massacre of 30 000 Jews in Alexander Jannaeus’ time: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 144r.
11. “Ptolemaeus Auletes”, Cleopatra’s father, as Melanchthon, followed by Heywood, recalls; exiled in Rome and restored to his throne with the help of Aulus Gabinius: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 144r.
12. “Ptolemaeus Dionysius”, Cleopatra’s brother, killed Pompey and fought Julius Caesar, who, after his death, confirmed Cleopatra on the throne; she reigned twelve years until she committed suicide after Octavius’ victory over Antony. Egypt then became a Roman province: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 144r-v. Back to Proemium
Ptolomeus Philadelphus: F, Ptolomeus, Philodelphus. The printer mistakenly took the double-barelled name to refer to two successive kings and read “o” for “a”. Back to Proemium
Philopator: F, Philopater. See note on Ptolomeus’ descendants, above. Back to Proemium
Philometor: F, Philometer. See note on Ptolomeus’ descendants, above. Back to Proemium
Physcon: F, Phiscon. See note on Ptolomeus’ descendants, above. Back to Proemium
Dionysius: F, Dionisius. See note on Ptolomeus’ descendants, above. Back to Proemium
The kings of Macedon: Heywood lists the kings of Macedonia, whose reigns Melanchthon sums up in several chapters, “De Successoribus Alexandri”, “Bellum Lamiacum”, “De Cassandro”, “De Antigono”, and “Posteri fuerunt Reges Macedoniae”, Chronicon Carionis, fols. 127v-133v.
Melanchthon sums up the battle of succession between Perdiccas, one of Alexander’s generals who superseded Alexander’s brother Arideus by marrying Alexander’s sister Cleopatra and two other generals, Antipater and Craterus, who won the Lamian war against the Athenians at the battle of Crannon, and opposed Perdiccas: Chronicon Carionis, fols. 128r-130v.
After the deaths of Perdiccas, Antipater and Craterus, Cassander, who had married Philip’s daughter Thessalonica, occupied Macedonia, where he reigned 18 years (Chronicon Carionis, fols. 130v-131v), but was fought by Antigonus, another of Alexander’s generals (Chronicon Carionis, fols. 131v-133r). His grandson, Antigonus II, was also a descendant of Antipater through his mother. Justice and moderation characterized his reign according to Melanchthon, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 133r. He was succeeded by Demetrius II, of whom Melanchthon only says that he did not reign long, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 133v. In fact, he reigned ten years: see Plutarch, Parallel Lives, “Aratus”. Demetrius’ son Philippus made peace with the Romans after unsuccessfully waging war against them, as Melanchthon summarily notes, adding that he executed his younger son Demetrius on a false accusation of his elder son Perseus: Chronicon Carionis, fol. 133v. Of Perseus, Melanchthon only says that he was taken prisoner by the Romans, “captus a Romanis”, Chronicon Carionis, fol. 133v, which Heywood merely repeats. Like his father, he waged war against the Romans, was vanquished, and captured. He died in captivity. Back to Proemium
Perdiccas: F, Perdicas. See note on Macedonian kings above. Back to Proemium
Antiochus Socer: According to Melanchthon, “Post Seleucum rex Syriae, Babylonis et Asiae, a Tauro monte usque ad Ionam, secundus Antiochus Soter regnavit annos novendecim” (“After Seleucus, king of Syria, Babylon and Asia, from mount Taurus to Ionia, Antiochus Soter the second reigned ninety years”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 134v. Back to Proemium
Antiochus Theos: Waged war with Egypt, before he made peace with Ptolemy, whose daughter Berenice he married. Melanchthon records the main events of his reign in Chronicon Carionis, fols. 134v-136v. Back to Proemium
Antiochus Magnus: Heywood’s information about his three sons is borrowed from Chronicon Carionis: “Antiocho Magno tres filii fuerunt: Seleucus Philopator, Antiochus Epiphanes, Demetrius”, fol. 137v. Back to Proemium
Polybius: From Melanchthon, who reports that “Narrat autem Polybius tantam fuisse petulantiam in hoc Antiocho, ut pro Epiphane dictus sit epimanès, id est furiosus” (“Polybius writes that there was so much violence in that Antiochus that instead of Epiphanes, he was called “epimanes”, that is furious”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 138r. The reference is to Polybius, Histories, XXVI. Back to Proemium
Demetrius: “Demetrius frater Antiochi Epiphanis duos habuit filios, Demetrium Nicanorem et Antiochum Sedetem” (“Demetrius, Antiochus Epiphanes’ brother, had two sons, Demetrius Nicanor and Antiochus Sedetes”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 141r. Back to Proemium
Antiochus Gryphus: “Demetrii Nicanoris filius fuit Antiochus Gryphus” (“Demetrius Nicanor’s son was Antiochus Gryphus”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 141v. Back to Proemium
Antiochus Cyzenius: Antiochus Cyzenichus, called “Cyzicenicus” in Chronicon Carionis, fol. 141v. Back to Proemium
Tigranes: F, Tygranes. Of Antiochus Gryphus and Antiochus Cyzenichus, Melanchthon writes: “Hi duo inter se bellum gesserunt de regno Syriae, et uterque interfectus est.” (“These two waged war against each other, fighting for the throne of Syria, and each was killed”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 141v. Back to Proemium
Jews: Heywood borrows his list from Melanchthon’s chapter “Duces Judaeorum post reditum ex Babylone”, Chronicon Carionis, fols. 144v-145r, where Melanchthon treats of Nehemiah, Jeconias, Sealthiel, Zorobabel, Resa Mesollam, Johanna Ben Resa, Judas Hircanus, Joseph primus; and from the following chapter, “Post Alexandrum”, fols. 145v-146v in which Abner Semei, Eli Matathia, Asar Mahat, Nagid Artaxad, Haggai Eli, Maslot Naum, Amos Sirach, Matathia Siloah, Joseph junior, Janna secundus Hircanus are presented. Back to Proemium
Jeconias: F, Ioconias. Back to Proemium
Sealthiel: F, Selathiel. Back to Proemium
Judas Hircanus: Heywood’s temporal landmark is borrowed from Melanchthon, who specifies that “Praesuit Judaeae, cum Alexander vicit Darium” (“He presided over Judea at the time of Alexander’s victory over Darius”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 145r.
Eli Mathatia: F, Eli mathatai. Back to Proemium
Asar Mahat: F, Asa mahat. Back to Proemium
Janna: F, Ianua. Back to Proemium
Machabees: From Melanchthon’s chapters devoted to them, “Series Principum et Regum, qui ex Macabaeis orti sunt”, Chronicon Carionis, fols. 146v-150v, where Matathias, Judas Macabaeus, Jonathas, Simon, Johannes Hircanus, are dealt with; and “Reges ex Familia Macabaea”, fols. 150v-152r. Back to Proemium
Hircanus: F, Hercanus. Back to Proemium
Aristobulus: “Filius Joannis Hircani fuit Aristobulus, qui se regem nominavit primus post reditum ex Babylone, oblitus modestiae priorum Ducum” (“Johannes Hircanus’ son was Aristobulus, who, after the return from Babylon, was first to call himself king, forgetting the modesty of the previous commanders”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 150v. Back to Proemium
Hercanus: F, Hircanus. Back to Proemium
Alexander Iamneus: F, Inmneus. “Secundus rex, Alexander Iamneus, regnavit annos viginti septem” (“The second king, Alexander Iamneus, reigned twenty-seven years”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 151r. Back to Proemium
Alexandra: F, Alixandra. “Successit Alexandro conjunx Alexandra, quae et Salome nominatur” (“Alexander was succeeded by his wife Alexandra, also called Salome”), Chronicon Carionis, fol. 151v. Back to Proemium
The sons of Alexander: From Melanchthon, who dwells on their fratricidal wars and the deplorable end of the line of the Machabees, Chronicon Carionis, fols. 151r-152r. In the next chapter, devoted to Herode, Melanchthon underlines that “Anno tricesimo regni Herodis natus est ex Maria Virgine Filius Dei, Dominus Noster Jesus Christus” (“The thirtieth year of Herode’s reign, God’s son, our Lord Jesus Christ, was born of the Virgin Mary”), fol. 153r. Heywood choses to stop his summary there, overlooking Melanchthon’s following chapters, the first of which is devoted to the Roman wars in the Third Monarchy. Back to Proemium
Troia Britanica, Proemium
Back to Troia Britanica: Contents
How to cite
Yves Peyré, ed., 2013. “Notes to Proemium”, Troia Britanica (1609). In A Dictionary of Shakespeare's Classical Mythology: A Textual Companion, ed. Yves Peyré (2009-).
http://www.shakmyth.org/page/Early+Modern+Mythological+Texts%3A+Troia+Britanica%2C
+Notes+to+Proemium