OF THE TRUE GREATNESS OF BRITAIN. 335 



having been two mighty returns of fortune, though 

 at great distance of time ; the one in the times 

 of Sesostris, and the other in the empire of the 

 Mamalukes, besides the middle greatness of the 

 kingdom of the Ptolemys, and of the greatness of 

 the caliphs and sultans in the latter times. And 

 this region, we see likewise, is of strait and defen 

 sible access, being commonly called of the Romans, 

 &quot; Claustra ./Egypti.&quot; Consider in like manner the 

 situation of Babylon, being planted most strongly in 

 regard of lakes and overflowing grounds between 

 the two great navigable rivers of Euphrates and 

 Tigris, and in the very heart of the world ; having 

 regard to the four &quot; cardines&quot; of east and west and 

 northern and southern regions. And therefore we 

 see, that although the sovereignty alter, yet the 

 seat still of the monarchy remains in that place. 

 For after the monarchies of the kings of Assyria, 

 which were natural kings of that place, yet when 

 the foreign kings of Persia came in, the seat re 

 mained. For although the mansion of the persons 

 of the kings of Persia were sometimes at Susa, and 

 sometimes at Ecbatana, which were termed their 

 winter and their summer parlours, because of the 

 mildness of the air in the one, and the freshness in 

 the other ; yet the city of estate continued to be 

 Babylon. Therefore we see, that Alexander the 

 Great, according to the advice of Calanus the 

 Indian, that shewed him a bladder, which, if it were 

 born down at one end, would rise at the other, and 

 therefore wished him to keep himself in the middle 



