Egypt he sent Cornelius Gallus before him who seized on Paraetonium the Chief Citie on that part near Africk and Pelusium the other strongest Town towards Syria did Cleopatra betray to him secretly forbidding the Alexandrians to go out against him Antony once fought prosperously against his horse and the second time was beaten then he sent him a challenge which Caesar refused saying that if Antony so pleased there were 1000 wayes lying open for his destruction Wherefore bethinking himself that he could not die with more credit than in battel he resolved to oppose Caesar both by Sea and Land but Cleopatra procured that both his Navy and horse revolted Hereupon he returned into the Citie crying out that he was betrayed by her for whose sake he had taken up Arms. She being afraid of him departed to her Monument and sent some to tell him she was dead pretending fear of Caesar Upon which message he resolving to follow her wounded himself in the belly The wound not quickly dispatching him she sent for him up into her Monument whither he was pulled up by her self and two women being willing to live now that she was alive Antony killeth himself and hoping he might possibly recover But he shortly after died willing her as well as she could to provide for her self and not grieve for him but rather rejoyce in that he had been the most famous of men as also most powerfull and now being a Roman was not through lazinesse overcome by a Roman Such was the end of this man who through desire of fame became the Author of sad Tragedies to his Countrey who in the use of his power greatly abused it and was not onely overcome by a Roman but also by a Woman and then so behaved himself that he could not be excused from lazinesse effeminatenesse and luxury all which things checked that goodnesse of disposition supposed once to be in him and left Cleopatra little cause to rejoyce for any real glory that might accrue unto him 20. Caesar endeavoured to get Cleopatra into his hands that he might lead her in Triumph He easily obtained Alexandria Dio ut suprà Sueton. in Octavio Plutarch in Antonio Orosius lib. 6. cap. 19. Patercul lib. 2. cap. 87. Florus lib. 4. cap. 11. Livii Epit. lib. 133. Julian ad Themistium the Inhabitants whereof he pardoned but put to death Antyllus the son of Antony and some others He viewed the body of Alexander the Great and out of honour to his memory set on it a Golden Crown and strewed it with flowers but touching it he broke off a little piece of the Nose and refused to see the bodies of the Ptolomies though the Alexandrians much desired it saying he had a mind to see the King and not dead men Cleopatra dealt with her Physician to dispatch her but being terrified by Caesar upon the account of her Children she gave it over and did all she could but in vain to work upon his affections when he came to see her So doth Cleopatra her self and Egypt is made a Province Then did she give him an Inventory of her goods and he promised her fair things thinking thereby that he deceived her though he himself was deceived For she understanding that she was reserved for a Triumph prevented it by a voluntary death as is in the History of her Kingdom related Caesar made Egypt a Tributary Province and would have conferred the Government thereof upon Arius the Philosopher who formerly had taught him but he refusing the imployment he gave it to Cornelius Gallus a man of obscure birth Caesario the son of Cleopatra by Julius Caesar had by his mother been sent towards India with a great sum of money but at Rhodes his Governour perswaded him to return as now being to expect the Kingdom Caesar consulting what to do with him Ariaeus alluding to * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that prudent sentence of Homer said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To have many Caesars is not good and so he was sent after his mother A. M. 3975. Ol. 187. ann 3. V.C. 724. Herodis 10. Ante Christum 28. Whilest these things were doing at Alexandria was M. Tullius Cicero son of the Orator Consul at Rome taken in by Caesar to blot out the ignominy of betraying his father in the room of Licinius Crassus where he published Caesar his Collegue's Letters concerning the overthrow of Antony and put them up over the pleading place where his father's head had formerly been set But this overthrow and death of Cleopatra hapned in the 14th year after the death of Julius Caesar the third of the 187 Olympiad the 724 of the Citie 28 before the birth of Christ A. M. 3975. 294 after the death of Alexander the Great under whom as the Macedonian Empire began so now in Cleopatra and not till now it was quite extinct and here the Contemporaries with it receive their period AN INSTITUTION OF General History The First Part. BOOK IV. The Roman Empire CHAP. I. From the absolutenesse of Octavius to the death of Tiberius containing the space of 66 years 1. THE Roman Empire had now swallowed up the Macedonian The Grandeur of the Roman Empire with such Kingdoms and States as were at all considerable and Contemporary with it whereof though some might retain a shew of liberty yet were they but in a condition of vassalage except the Parthian Kingdom which as yet acknowledged no subjection and when it did being forced thereto for the most part by intestine divisions not long continued in that acknowledgement 2. This Empire now laboured under it's own weight and like to some unwieldy thing staggered by reason of the turgency of it's inward burthen without any extraneous violence it was grown up to an athletick habit and had already sufficiently manifested the danger of this constitution For being all head and no body it wanted those limbs which by direction from a superiour sense could secure it's progresse or indeed being all body and no head It laboureth under it's own own weight it was void of that influence which effecteth an orderly motion and is necessary for the subsistence of life it self The proper fruits of Popular Government were now grown fully ripe Every one would command and none would be ruled yet every man challenging a part in the Supreme power none enjoyed it much and therefore but few were really sollicitous for the upholding of it as Popular any further than some private interests led them The heady multitude indeed was violently caried on in it's desires after the chief command but some desired it rather that others might not enjoy it holding this Principle to oppose all rising though excellent persons whatsoever Others tickled with an humour of ruling and in intellectuals above their fellows set themselves to please the rabble by maligning other men crying up liberty and equality extolling the justice of the Agrarian and vaunting of great matters intended to be done
this was known at Athens they also sent Conon and others to him and with them joyned several other States as the Boeotians Corinthians and Argives Antalcidas sent from the Spartans to Artaxerxes who were weary of the power of the Spartans Antalcides declared how those that sent him were ready to imbrace a Peace upon such terms as the King pleased for that they would no longer contend with him about the Greek Cities in Asia thinking it sufficient that the rest which were elsewhere situated might be left to their own Laws and liberty he also laboured earnestly to render Conon suspected to the King alleging that at the King 's cost he onely promoted the affairs of his own Country seeking with his Forces to obtain as many Cities as he could for the Athenians to whom under-hand he went about to restore Ionia and Aeolia also This offer concerning the leaving of the Greek Cities to the King's disposal so nearly concerned his affairs that the other Ambassadors in no case admitting it for private respects returned home without any thing concluded of and though Teribazus durst not without commission joyn himself to the Lacedaemonians yet gave he privately monies to Antaclidas to enable them to build a Fleet wherewithall to constrain their adversaries to submit to an accommodation and laying hold of Conon committed him to custody till such time as going himself to the King he might know his pleasure concerning these things 71. Some have reported how Conon was carryed to the King Isocrat in Panegyr Aemil. Probus in Conone Diodorus ad Olymp. 97. ann 3. and by him put to death but others that he made an escape Whilst Teribazus was yet with the King he sent Struthas into Asia the lesse to take care of the Sea-Coasts who shewing himself very bitter against the Lacedaemonians for the evils which the Provinces had suffered of Agesilaus and favourable upon that account to the Athenians the Spartans sent over Thymbro to make War upon him He with 8000 men took Coressus the high hill some five miles distant from Ephesus whence he made excursions into the King's Dominions but Struthas lying not far from him with a great power of Horse besides Foot at such time as with a Party he was ranging about for booty fell upon him killed him amongst many others and putting the rest to flight took many the other securing themselves where they might best do it Xenoph. ut supra The year after the Lacedaemonians sending Ecdicus to the aid of the exiles of Rhodes with eight ships dispatched away with him one Diphridas with order to passe into Asia there to gather up the remnant of the Forces with which and as many more as he could raise he was to protect those Cities which had received Thymbro and to grapple with Struthas He acted accordingly and so ordered his affairs that he proved hard enough for Struthas and amongst other commendable actions took prisoner Tigranes his Son in Law as he was going with his wife to Sardis whom releasing for a great ransome he seasonably made use of the money for the payment of his Soldiers 72. Whilst these things passed betwixt Artaxerxes and the Common-wealth of Sparta he was also imployed about the affaires of Cyprus Diodorus ad an 2. Olymp. 97. Isocrates â—in Evagora which he strove to get into his hands There was in that Island one Evagoras of great birth being descended from those who first built Salamine the principal City therein who being lately expelled through a Sedition returned with a little force of Auxiliaries Artaxerxes looketh after Cyprus and expelling Abdemon the Tyrian who then had the power over the City and a great friend of the King of Persia made himself King of Salamine and within a short time growing very rich gathered forces and by the help of his son Protagoras subdued almost the whole Island But the Amathusians with the Solians and Citians stood out against him and by their Ambassadors sollicited Artaxerxes for aid accusing Evagoras for the death of Agyres who had been confederate with the King and offering him their help for the possessing himself of the whole Island He being jealous of the growth of Evagoras and considering how convenient this Island might be by reason of its situation for the promoting of his affairs at Sea by vvhich especially Asia could be defended resolved to assist them and dismissing the Ambassadors to their content gave order to the Cities upon the Sea-Coasts to build ships vvith all speed he himself travelling into the upper Provinces for the raising of a great Land Army 73. Till he had composed matters with the Graecians no considerable thing could he attempt upon Cyprus and though they favoured the cause of Evagoras in opposition to him yet their enmity one against another hindred that effect which their Union might have produced to the great impairment of his affairs The Athenians sent ten ships to the aid of Evagoras Xenoph. ut suprà but it hapning that Teleutias being sent by the Lacedaemonians at that time to succeed Ecdicus in the Fleet and to defend their interest in Asia Diodorus ad annum 2. Olymp 98. Plutarch in Artaxerxe met with them and intercepted them all whereby it hapned that those who were Enemies to Artaxerxes overthrew those who went to make War against him After this these two Commonwealths contending sore with each other at Sea to their mutual damage Antalcidas concludeth a peace with him at length Antalcidas was sent by the Lacedaemonians to the Government of the Fleet because they knew him to be in great grace with Teribazus He coming to Ephesus left Nicolochus his Lieutenant and according to his private instructions went with Teribazus to Artaxerxes about a peace towards whom he so behaved himself to please him casting off the Spartan gravity and not refusing to dance before him that the King who before could not endure the Spartans as counting them the most impudent of all men imbraced him with singular respect and courtesie 74. He concluded of a peace with him for the Lacedaemonian State Xenoph. Hellen lib. 5. Diodorus Plutarch ut priùs in case the other Graecians would not consent to such overtures as the King made and returned with Teribazus who giving notice that all who would might accept of the conditions which his master proposed they dispatched their several Deputies to him He shewing them the Kings Seals opened the Letters wherein was contained that Artaxernes the King accounted it meet that the Cities in Asia and the Islands Clazomenae since joyned to the Continent and Cyprus should be under his Dominion as for the other Greek Cities both great and small that they should be left to their own liberty except Lemnus Imbrus and Scyrus which having been subject to the Athenians time out of mind be thought it reasonable they should so continue Those that should not receive this peace he with the rest who would embrace
threatned to burn she having a great ambition to be loved by all great persons would not stick at killing Anthony She desiring indeed that it might be so remembring how his Uncle in time past and since that Anthony had been bewitched by her easily fooled her self into a fond belief thereof and promised her ambition not onely pardon and Egypt but the Roman Empire it self Anthony seeing her kind to the Messenger above measure suspected something and soundly lashing him sent him back to his Master and then she to wipe off his jealousie most solemnly celebrated his birth-day though suitably to her present condition she neglected her own and sought all manner of wayes how to humour him She betrayeth Pelusium and causeth the Fleet and Horse to revolt to him Yet did she betray Pelusium into Caesars hands and when he drew down towards Alexandria secretly forbad the Towns-men to go out against him though openly she exhorted them to resistance And when Anthony had provided a Fleet she caused it wholely to revolt and in like manner the horse which Anthony plainly seeing after the overthrow of his foot returned into the Citie crying out that he was betrayed by her into their hands against whom for her sake he had taken Arms. 40. She being afraid of him went to her Monument as intending to kill her self under pretence of being afraid of Caesar and sent a Messenger to him to tell him she was dead He giving credit to it desired Eros his servant to kill him but he preventing it with his own death he wounded himself in the belly Anthony killeth himself but the stroak not being such an one as could presently dispatch him he intreated his friends to do it who refusing and running out of the room a tumult ensued and she perceiving what was done sent for him up into her Monument He understanding she was alive arose thinking he might also possibly live but the blood issuing out in great abundance he despaired of it and was born by his attendants to the door of the building whence he was drawn up with Cords in a lamentable plight all in goar blood helping himself as it were and stretching out his hands to her and her women who haled him up thus to the top When he was got up she laid him on a bed tore her flesh wiped off his bloud with her face calling him Lord Husband and General after which he presently expired Caesar now desired to get her into his power by strong hand having an extraordinary ambition to grace his Triumph with her and not willing to promise any thing Caesar earnestly desireth to lead her in Triumph and doth all he can to deceive her and be counted a deceiver by falsifying his word She continued still in the Monument hoping at least to purchase her Kingdom by the Treasure she had yet in her power and refused to come down talking with the Messengers from above But presently some got in to her removed all things out of the way wherewith she might hurt her self and then bringing her into the Palace detracted nothing from her former state thereby to delude her with vain hope Caesar now without any trouble entred Alexandria with Arius the Philosopher on his right hand who formerly had read the Sciences to him he permitted her to bury Antony as she pleased which after she had done being spent with sorrow and her breast all exulcerated with stroaks she thereby contracted a Feaver and glad of that pretence to abstain from all sustenance and so end her dayes she consulted also with Olympus her Physician how to reduce her self into a Consumption But Caesar smelling it out so terrified her about her Children that she was content to desist 41. Shortly after he coming to comfort her Plutarch Dio ut suprà she cast her self down at his feet indeavouring with all the art she had to inveigle his affections which though he perceived yet fixing his eyes on the ground he onely said Be of good chear Woman thou shalt have no harm she being sollicitous Vide Suetonin Octavio Florum lib. 4. cap. 11. Orosium lib. 6. cap. 19. Eutropium l. 7. not for life but love and a Kingdom Then gave she in an Inventory of her Goods and Treasure at which Seleucus one of her Officers was so Malapert as to accuse her of suppressing something whereupon she flew in his face and soundly buffeted him Caesar smiling and gently reprehending her for it But she asked him whether it was not an hard case for her whom he had deigned to visit to be accused by one of her own slaves if she had reserved any thing not for her self but wherewithall to present his wife and sister that they might render him the more favourable to her Hereat he exceedingly rejoyced hoping she had a great desire to live and promised her great matters vainly supposing he therein deceived her But she having notice by Dolobella a young Gentleman amongst his followers and one that bare her great good will that after three dayes she and her Children were to go for Italy first obtained leave of him to celebrate the obsequies of Antony which having performed with lamentations and great shew of affection she commanded a Bath to be prepared and sitting down to meat sumptuously Dined After Dinner she gave a Letter to her Keeper to carry to Caesar wherein she desired she might be buried by Antony sealed that he thinking the contents to be of consequence might the more easily be removed out of the way He being gone with the help of her two women she made fast the doors most gorgeously apparelled her self as upon some solemn day with her royal Ornaments and then put an Asp which she had procured to be brought in secretly amongst Figs Grapes and Flowers to her left Arm with the biting of which she fell presently as into a sleep and so died But she having notice of his intentions dieth by the biting of an Asp Caesar having read the Letter presently perceived what was done and indeavoured with all speed to recall her to life though in vain grieving sore that he was frustrated of a glorious Triumph A. M. 3975. Ol. 187. ann 3. V. C. 724. Herodis 10. Octavio Caesare 4. M. Licinio Crasso Coss yet pitying and admiring the person whom he caused to be royally interred with Antony according to her desire and afterwards dealt very nobly with their Children Adorned she was with all the endowments of nature above her Sex Being learned her self she was a great Lover and Promoter of knowledge which she testified in erecting another Library in the room of that which had been burnt supplied with books from Pergamus at the procurement of Antony She lived 39 years reigned 22. counted from her fathers death fourteen whereof she spent with Antony And with her perished her Kingdom now reduced into the form of a Roman Province and the Macedonian Empire was quite
the rest with his relations to the number of 800. he marched on to Massada and there placed them where no sort of Provisions was wanting but he himself held on for Petra in Arabia hoping of that King who was such a friend of his father to obtain help for the recovery of his brothers liberty But the Parthians after his departure from Jerusalem plundred the Citie and Palace and wasted the Countrey in wich they destroyed Marisa a wealthy Town and so reducing Antigonus into Judaea delivered up Hyrcanus and Phaselus into his hands who was grievously troubled that the women had escaped which he intended together with the money to have given to the Parthians 30. Then fearing that Hyrcanus by the favour of the people might again be restored to the Kingdom he either cut or bit off his ears making him thereby uncapable of the Priesthood which by the Law was not given but to one of an entire body But Phaselus knowing he was destined to death for that he could not otherwise kill himself for his bonds dashed out his brains against a stone Antigonus having received Hyrcanus and Phaselus depriveth the former of his ears and Phaselus dasheth out his own brains It was reported that being grievously wounded in his head Antigonus caused poyson to be put into it instead of salve and that he hearing before his death that his brother Herod had escaped underwent it chearfully as leaving behind him a revenger of it And he certainly knowing nothing thereof laboured exceedingly to prevent it going to Malchus the Arabian whom he knew to be obliged to his family hoping of him to get money either upon free gift or trust and resolving to give 300 Talents for his brothers Ransom whose son also a Child of seven years old he carried with him to leave as a pledge But the Arabian being perswaded by his great ones to retain the money owing with the goods which Antipater had deposited with him sent some to meet him and command him to depart from his borders and after he was gone repented of what he had done and sent after him but too late For he was now almost got into Egypt hearing of his brothers death in the way where Cleopatra kindly entertained him intending to use him in her Wars but nothing could hinder him from hasting to Rome though in the Winter season and though great stirs were reported to be in Italy whither also he came though with great danger for the difficulty of Navigation Being rejected by the Arabian he goeth to Rome 31. He came thither when not long before there had been an agreement made betwixt Antony and Caesar the Triumvirs the former having married Octavia sister to the later and another betwixt them two and young Pompey who then held Sicily which was a time convenient enough for his affairs He made his application to Antony of whose favour he had formerly tasted recounting to him the whole story of the Parthians over-running Judaea of his brothers death and the misery of his family now besieged in a Castle and how through these Tempests both at Sea and Land he had ventured to come to him as his onely harbour and refuge and withall was not sparing in the offering of money to him in case he could procure him to be declared King of Judaea Cap. 26. Pity wrought something with Antony being backed with the memory of that friendship which had passed betwixt Antipater and himself the money more and to these being superadded an hatred of Antigonus whom he accounted a turbulent man and one that bore a mind full of hatred towards the Romans he much inclined to favour him Caesar also partly for that Antipater had done good service for his adoptive father in Egypt and because he was willing to gratifie Antony was ready to do him all good Offices being also inclined to favour him out of a particular phancy he had to the man for his courage The Senate therefore being called first Messala and then Atratonius commended him to the fathers relating his father's and then his own merits towards the Commonwealth and withall they accused Antigonus and inveighed against him as an Enemy for that he had not onely born himself as such heretofore but now of late in the calling in of the Parthians Herewith the Senate being offended Antony then declared to them that it would much conduce to the carrying on of the Parthian War which was now depending if Herod should be King so that without any more to do he was so declared by the unanimous consent of all Where to the wonder both of himself and others he his declared King of Judaea and then being accompanied into the Capitol by Caesar and Antony on each hand the Consuls going before there sacrifized and according to the custom laying up the decree of the Senate was feasted by Antony Thus obtained he the Kingdom with the wonder of himself as well as others through the especial friendship of Antony having ever feared that the Romans would never consent he should have that honour which was not wont to be bestowed but upon a royal race and therefore he intended to have sued for it not for himself but for Alexander brother to Mariamne his wife and this increased the wonder that within seven dayes he should be dispatched and dismissed out of Italy But thus obtained he the Sovereignty of Judaea A. M. 3965. A. M. 3965. in the first of the 185 Olympiad Domitius Calvinus the second time and C. Asinius Pollio being Consuls some 37 years before the birth of Christ 32. During his absence Josephus de bello l. 1. c. 12. Antigonus laid close siege to the Castle of Massada where he left his relations abounding with all sorts of provisions onely water was wanting so that Joseph had thoughts of flying with 200 men into Arabia the King whereof he had now heard to have repented of the rejecting of his brother But this was prevented by a shower which fell by night as if sent on purpose from Heaven for their relief whereupon they were so heartned as to sally out upon the besiegers whereof they cut off many In the mean while Ventidius the Roman General being sent into Syria to expel the Parthians thence after their retreat came into Judaea pretending to help Joseph but indeed with intentions to fleece Antigonus of a round sum of money which he did pitching his tents nigh to Jerusalem which being done he drew off the greater part of his forces and left Silo with a party behind him lest the fraud should be understood whom Antigonus was also to pacifie till such time as the Parthians could come and help him But in the mean time Herod landed at Ptolemais and having got together no mean company hasted through Galile against him Idem Antiq. l. 14. c. 27. A. M. 3966. To Silo and Ventidius Antony had sent expresse order by Gellius to place him in the Kingdom Ventidius
it though now he betrayed no such intention the fact had been approved of as done upon an Usurper and a Tyrant though they had not long before taken a solemn oath for his preservation and decreed such vast honours to him Antonius by putting them in mind that if he were judged deservedly slain all his acts were to be nulled and consequently the assignment of several Offices which he had of late made to several of them effected that no more was done than to decree an Amnestie or oblivion for all that was past An Amnestie voted by the Senate for which Cicero much laboured The offices were confirmed with this reason entered because it was requisite for the good of the Commonwealth and the day following the Senate meeting again decreed Provinces to the murderers viz. to M. Brutus Crete Afnick to Cassius to Thobonius Asia to Cimber Bithynia and Gall about Padus to Decimus Brutus After this Caesar's testament was opened wherein he made heirs three Nephews of his Sisters Caesar's Testament C. Octavius of three parts in four of his estate not of half onely Sueton in Julio Flor. l. 4. c. 4. as it 's found in Livy's Epitome and L. Pinarius and Q. Pedius of the other fourth part C. Octavius he adopted into his name and family and most of those that killed him he named amongst the Guardians of his son if one should be born to him As second heirs if the former should not possesse the inheritance he named Decimus Brutus and M. Autonius He also in his will gave no small matter to the Romans to be divided man by man as Plutarch writeth This moved the People out of measure to indignation against the Conspirators Antonius the Consul vehemently stirring up the multitude in his funeral Oration They were driven to that rage that after the burning of the Corps they were hardly disswaded from firing their houses and they tore in pieces one Cinna whom they mistook for another of that name that was one of them 6. Now the series of affaires bringeth us to Caesar Octavianus the adopted son of Julius He was grand-son to his sister Julia which woman was wife to M. Attilius Baâ—bus Octavius his heir and by him had a daughter that was maried to C. Octavius He was born in the Consulship of Cicero Appian de bello civili l. 3. Sueton in Augusto Dio l. 45. and lost his father who governing Macedonia died sodainly before he could stand for the Consulship when but four years old He accompanied this his great Uncle in the last Spanish War who ever kept him close to him in their travail and was now sent by him to Apollonia to study intending to take him along with him in the Parthian War There he heard of his death and the inheritance left to him His Mother and Father-in-Law Marcius Philippus were unwilling he should take the name of Caesar as subject to much envy but after some pause he resolved to the contrary and assuming the name of Caesar Octavianus made use of the good affections of his Uncles friends in Greece who accompanying him to the City he was met by a vast number of others from Rome Here after he had accepted of the adoption and confirmed it by the authority of the Praetor as the custom was he went to Antony whom he expected to have his friend and assistant in prosecuting his Uncle's Enemies But after some waiting he entertained him with great contempt and though he had got a great quantity of Caesar's money yet he denied to let him have any fearing he should grow into too much esteem Purchaseth the Love of the People Caesar hereupon sold his own inheritance to pay the legacy given to the People which procured him much love his Uncle's or Father's as now he must be called old Soldiers flocked to him whom he accepted of out of fear of Antony who now became every day more odious both to him to People and Senate 7. The Senate suspected Antony as intending to set up himself Appian Livii Epitom lib. 117. Dio l. 45. and he intended nothing more for which cause he resolved to have some Province assigned him Antony practizeth for his own advancement wherein he might get power To curry favour then he propounded to be considered Sextus Pompey who yet remained of the sons of Pompey the Great that beloved man that in requital for his fathers estate confiscated he might have an allowance out of the publick and command of the Seas with that Navy he formerly had This being received with great applause was enacted and so Pompey was called back into Sicily where he afterwards waged a great War against Caesar Antony perswaded Dolobella his Collegue a young man whom Caesar having ordained to be Consul after his departure out of the City when he was dead took the Office and inveighing against his benefactor would have had the day of his death stiled the birth-day of the City though he loved him not to ask Syria not of the Senate but the People hoping that after him he should not be denied such a request The difference increasing betwixt him and Caesar he desired to have the six Legions which lay in Macedonia and obtained them deceiving the Senate by a false rumour that the Getes hearing of Caesar's death had invaded that Province He baited them by preferring a Law against any one's being Dictator It was his design to bring these Legions over into Italy to awe and command all and that he might effect this he preferred by force a Law for changing of Provinces and thereby procured to his brother C. Antonius Macedonia which formerly had been assigned to M. Brutus and to himself the nearer Gall or Gallia Cisalpina which before was given to Decimus Brutus 8. The Senate would in no wise grant this whereupon he betook himself to the People When he had brought over his Legions part of them revolted to Caesar who now out of fear went up and down Italy gathering Soldiers out of the Colonies his father had planted With a considerable Army at length Antony marched into Gall whence he commanded Brutus to be gone who gave way to him then but departed to Muâ—â—na resolving there to stay and endure a siege for that he had some considerable strength and expected assistance Here Antony straightly besieged him which the Senate hearing of by Cicero's working especially who now began to speak and write his fourteen Orations in imitation of those of Demosthenes called Philipicks declared him an Enemy to the State which proved a means for the bringing in and preferring of Caesar Octavianus The hatred of him procureth young Caesar's preferment For though the Senate cared not at all for him as being generally of Pompey's faction Appian ut supra Dio l. 46. Plutarch in Antonio Cicero Philip. 5. Sueton in Octavio yet they resolved to make use of him for his Armies sake and therefore erected him a
statue made him a Senator though but nineteen years old decreed that he should be considered towards preferment as ten years older and gave him equal power with Hirtius and Pausa the Consuls whom now they sent to relieve Brutus They took Bononia but Antony being bold for that he had got the better in some skirmikes went and met Pansa whom he overthrew but returning carelesly into his Camp was worsted by Hirtius A littel after a great battel was fought near Mutina wherein Antony was quite defeated and fled to Lepidus then Proconsul in the further Gall. A. M. 3962. V. C. 712. Both the Consuls died of wounds Hirtius in Antonie's Camp and Pansa at Bononia Brutus being at this time spared by Caesar thought of departing with his ten Legions to M. Brutus and Cassius now in Greece but his Soldiers moved by the difficulty of the journy revolted the six new raised Legions to Caesar and the four of old Soldiers to Antony He then purposing with a small attendance to passe through Gall was taken at Aquilea and betraied by Capenus Sequanus Governour of the Countrey who sent his head to Antony Before this Appian Livius lib. 120. Cicero Philip. 11. Trebonius another of his Complices in Caesar's death excluding Dolabella whom the Senate had judged an Enemy from Pergamus and Smyrna was taken by him in the later place and after grievous torments had his head cut off which the Soldiers kicking about as a foot-ball did so abuse as no face was to be seen on it Not long after the death of Decimus Brutus Minutius Basilius another of the Conspiratours was slain by his slaves whom he had gelded in a great rage 9. Now the Senate having no need of young Caesar slighted him exceedingly Yet having no need of Caesar the Senate again slighted him decreeing the honour due to him unto Brutus whom he had relieved giving him very bitter taunts and denying him a Triumph Being sensible hereof and how most of them were of Compey's Faction Appian ut supra Livius l 119. Sueton. in Angusto Patercul l. 2. c. 62. Livii Epitom lib. 120. he began to tamper with Antony by Letters as also with Lepidus for a conjunction and sent 400 Soldiers into the City in the name of the Army to demand the Consulship for him Hereat the Senat straining hard one Cornelius a Centurion laying his hand on his Sword said This shall do it if you will not Then called he Antony and Lepidus into Italy whereat the Senate much startled and too late blaming their own rigidity decreed him Consul and whomsoever he would take to himself So he invaded the Consulship a moneth and five dayes before he was twenty years old and took Q. Pedius for his Collegue Then by a Law was fire and water forbidden to all that had an hand in the death of Caesar and their goods were sold The Senate was now so changed either through good advice or fear that in stead of slighting they advanced him above all example Vide Dionem lib. 46. They resolved that after his Consulship he should take place of all Consuls and though formerly they were displeased with his levying forces being a private man now they desired him to add to his Army and decreed to him the Legions of Decimus Brutus The City was committed to his care Livii Epit. l. 120. Appian bell civil l. 4. and power given him to act what he pleased Which procureth the Thumviraté though without the prescript of the Laws which he retained fifty six years till his death Not long after came Aemilius Lepidus and M. Antonius into Italy whom he met about Bononia and after a three dayes conference entred into confederacy with them which is famous by the name of the Triumvirate The Terms of the Combination 10. The terms of this Combination were That Caesar for the remainder of the year should leave the Consulship to Ventidius who formerly in the Social War when a Boy was led in Triumph and after that rubbed the heels of * Concurrite omnes Augures Aruspices Portentum inusitatum constatum est recens Nam mulos qui frecabat Consul factus est Mules for his living Idem ibid. Dio lib. 46. That a new authority of three men should be erected to take away civil dissentions which they three should execute for five years with Consular power for the Dictatorship was waved because of a Law lately preferred against it by Antony with authority to dispose of all Offices for that Term. That Antony should have as a Province all Gall except that of Narbon which Lepidus was to have with Spain and to Caesar was Africk with Sardinia and Sicily assigned other places beyond the Seas being left to another time They agreed further that their Enemies should be destroyed wherein the case of Cicero moved the greatest controversie For Antony would not meddle except he in the first place should be slain These Verses were scattered up and down the Citie Lepidus was content but Caesar stood much against it Gellius lib. 5. cap. 4. yet on the third day he assented an exchange being made for he yielding up Cicero Lepidus permitted his brother Paulus and Antony L. Caesar his Uncle by the Mother's side to be proscribed Lastly it was agreed that Lepidus should be Consul the following year instead of Decimus Brutus designed formerly by Julius Caesar He guarding Rome and Italy the other two were to make War upon Brutus and Cassius who now though at first without any decree of the Senate had seized on Macedonia and Syria Cassius in Laodicea besieged Dolabella who being judged an Enemy by the Senate for the death of Trebonius when the Citie vvas taken caused his Page to cut off his head and so ended his life being a man of no great solidity He vvas son-in-law to Cicero but after the divorcing of Tullia they fell into great enmity vvhereupon the Orator proved a back friend to him in the Senate reigning amongst the Fathers and the People with his Eloquence The effects of it 11. The first effect of the Triumvirate was a Proscription of some 300 persons of Equestrian and Senatorian ranks Appian Though the pretence was to revenge Caesar's death yet many were murdered for their rich Estates others out of malice and some for their convenient Houses and Gardens Amongst those of greatest note was Varro who now living to see and feel a second Tricipitina yet escaped with his life Cicero the man most aimed at by Antony for opposing him so vehemently in the Senate upon the Triumvirs their coming went to Sea but the winds being contrary and because he could not endure the shaking of the ship he returned saying he would die in his Countrey often preserved by him Being weary both of his flight and life Plutarch in Cicerone he came to a Village a little more than a mile distant from the Sea Here his servants
and so they came to Brundusium where they were kept out by a Garrison placed there by Caesar The Triumvirs fall out 19. This made such a breach betwixt them that Antony blocked up the Town and procured Pompey from Sicily to invade Italy Appian Caesar came to Brundusium where the old Soldiers being unwilling to fight against Antony the Army laboured to reconcile the Triumvirs which Cocceius friend to both at length effected with much labour Pollio on Antonie's side and Maecenas on Caesar's as Delegates making up the breach All offences were mutually to be forgiven and for that Marcellus husband to Octavia Caesar's sister was now dead and also Fulvia Antonie's wife for grief that he neglected her Antony married Octavia Then was the Roman Empire divided betwixt them Are reconciled and a new agreement is made the bounds of their Dominins being Codropolis a Town of Illyricum all from it Westward being to obey Caesar and all Eastward Antony Africk was left to Lepidus who now was even no body and having offended Caesar had been confined by him to that Province The War against the Parthians was judged to Antony and that against Pompey who must needs now be suppressed unto Caesar Antony sent Ventidius into Asia to restrain the Parthians who now had made an incursion as far as Ionia But out of Sardinia did Menodorus Pompey's Admiral the second time eject Helenus Caesar's Captain whereupon Caesar refused to hearken to Antony when he moved him to be reconciled unto Pompey Both the Triumvirs or rather now the Duumvirs being come to the Citie were received with most lamentable complaints of poor people ready to starve for want of Provisions which Pompey hindred from coming from the East by Sicily from the West by Sardidinia and Corsica which he had in his power and from Africk by his Navy also which then was most powerful at Sea Caesar could not be drawn to make Peace with him A great famine caused by Sextus Pompey notwithstanding the loud cries and prayers of the multitude which obstinacy drew him and Antony rescuing him into such danger as both of them were near stoning At length being forced to it and Pompey being perswaded they met but Pompey expecting to be admitted into the power and place of Lepidus the Treaty came to nothing Yet the pressure of the famine brought them together again and amongst other things it was concluded that Pompey retaining all the Islands he had already and Peloponnesus over and above as long as they should hold their power and having liberty to be Consul and to discharge the Office by any of his friends he was to leave the Sea open Procureth an agreement with him and pay to the People what corn was due out of Sicily The proscribed persons except such as were guilty of Caesar 's death had now all liberty to return The day following Consuls were designed for four years Frst Antonius and Libo than Caesar and Pompey next Aenobarbus and Sosius and lastly Caesar and Antony who then it might be hoped might restore the Government to the People Then did Antony and Caesar return and were most joyfully received Joseph Antiq. lib. 14. c. 26. And this year being the 714 of the City did they procure Herod the Great to be declared King of Judaea in the first year of the 184 Olympiad Cn. Domitius Calvinus the second time and C. Asinius Pollio being Consuls 20. Antony departed towards the East again for the Parthian Warre Dio lib. 49. Appian in Parthicis which hitherto Ventidius his Lieutenant had managed with good successe having got several victories wherein Labienus who brought them into Syria and Pharnapates or Phraates or Barzapharnes being called by several names the greatest of their Captains Ventidius prospereth against the Parthians with Pacorus son to Orodes the King Florus l. 4. c. 9. were slain After this he repelled them in Media and Mesopotamia and besieged Antiochus Comagenus in Samosata whom he suffered upon promise of 1000 talents to send Ambassadors unto Antony who now drew near and for that the siege was likely long to continue by reason of the desperat resolution of the defendants granted him Peace for 300 talents accepted but of two Hostages and those inconsiderable ones and he gave him leave to put to death Alexander who had formerly revolted to the Romans This by (a) Dio ut prius some he was thought to do for fear of the Army which was angry at his ill usage of Ventidius though others say Plutarch in Antonio he honoured him according to his deserts who though a man of an obscure extract now first of all others triumphed over the Parthians Antony having setled the affairs of Syria departed to Athens where he spent the winter with Octavia But the (c) Appian de bello Civil l. 4. peace with Pompey continued but a short time The cause of the breach whatever secretly was aimed at was pretended to be for that Antony being to quit Peloponnesus would do it but upon this condition that Pompey should give him satisfaction for such moneys as was due to him from the Inhabitants But Pompey liked not of any such condition and therefore rigged a new Fleet and provided himself of forces perhaps giving credit to Metrodorus who would tell him that the present state of affairs was no true Peace but rather a cessation of arms He then renewed his Piracy which renewed the former grievances and made the People cry out that the matter was onely altered from three Tyrants to four But Metrodorus revolted to Caesar bringing in with him Corsica Sardinia and three Legions and then Antony was called to Brundusium to consult about the War Thither he came at the day appointed but Caesar keeping not his word he staied not for him either not liking the breach of the Peace The Peace with Pompey broken or for that he envied Caesar all that power he saw him have for still they suspected and grudged each other A. M. 3967. V. C. 716. Herodis 2. But Caesar being provided set out to Sea as to invade Sicily and was beaten back by Pompey though he took him at unawares who heard nothing of the revolt of Metrodorus till also of Caesars coming Afterward his ships lying at Anchor were extreamly battered and most of the men were cast away 21. Caesar fortified the Coasts of Italy for fear lest Pompey should make an invasion which he not knowing how to improve a Victory Idem was never wont to attempt Then wanting all manner of provisions for the Warre he sent Maecenas to Antony who refusing not to joyn with him this cheared him together with a Victory got by Agrippa in Aquitaine many Cities and private persons also promising aid Antony came to Tarentum with 300 ships but whether there was something else betwixt them or for that he was now furnished he slighted his help Caesar excused himself that he met him
not which the other took in ill part yet sent for him again For having laid out much upon the Fleet he intended to exchange it for some Italian Legions to be used in the Parthian Warr it being difficult for him to raise men in Italy which was subject to Caesar though by their last agreement both were left free there to make their Levies Antony and Caesar make a new agreement and prorogue their power Octavia coming over to her brother agreed them who then made the exchange and because the time of the Triumvirate set by the Senate was almost out prorogued their power for five years longer without any consideration had of the suffrages of the People So Antony departed into Syria Caesar deferring his Expedition into Sicily untill the following year 22. He determined to invade Sicily from three several quarters Lepidus Idem who now joyned with him was to invade it from Africk Taurus from Tarentum and he himself from Puteoli Pompey resolved to oppose him so many several wayes but at this time it needed not for Caesar's Navy was the second time wracked by a Tempest which so puffed up Pompey that he stiled himself Neptune's son But Caesar gave not over the enterprize for the same Summer having recruited his forces and mended his ships he put forth to sea and then though on Lepidus his part were lost two Legions overthrew Pompey's Fleet but was again worsted and yet landed 21 Legions and 2000 Horse besides 5000 lightly armed No great or memorable battel was there on Land but Pompey sent to his Enemy to know if he would fight by Sea fearing his Land-Forces He accepted of his offer and then finally defeated him having sunk 28 of his Vessels The rest were either taken or broken Pompey overthrown by Caesar seventeen onely escaped A. M. 3969. V. C. 718. and at the sight of this overthrow his Land-forces yielded to Caesar so that with his seventeen Vessels he fled to Antony from whom he expected protection having restored formerly his mother safe to him when in such a condition Messana still stood out but the Garrison at length yielded to Lepidus who granted to the Soldiers to draw them to his party the plunder of the Town equal with his own Having now by the addition of those Forces 22 Legions and a strong body of Horse under his command he pleased himself with thoughts of getting all Sicily into his hands to which he pretended a right as first invaded by him and he sought to hinder Caesar all he could from the possession of it 23. Caesar expostulated with him for his ingratitude but to no purpose Then found he means to draw away all his Army from him Appian ut supra Plutarch in Antonio Dio. l. 49. which now was something averse to Civil Warrs and satisfied of the greater worth of Caesar being moreover incensed against their General for making Pompey's Soldiers partakers with them in the plunder of Messana Yet though his Soldiers would have killed him did he save them alive but outed him of all power and banished him One head of the Tricipitina broken off so that thus fell one head of this Tricipitina Pompey not being persued by Caesar craved protection from Antony yet sent to the Parthian in case he should not be received by him Then thought he of seizing upon Syria and the parts adjacent upon a rumour of Antony's being overthrown whereupon he was pursued by his party and at last taken and killed at Midaius a Town of Phrygia as Dio writeth but as Florus and Appian at Miletus in the fourtieth year of his age fourteen years after the death of his Father Pompey killed Caesar at his return restrained roberies in the City setting watches therein and administred things in the antient way by annual Magistrates He burnt all letters written in time of War promising he would restore the Commonwealth as soon as Antony should return who he knew would also lay down the Magistracy all Civil Warrs being ended He was therefore received with luckie acclamations and had a Perpetual Tribuneship bestowed on him as invited by this honour to lay down his other power Concerning this he wrote privately to Antony who whilst Caesar was thus imployed about Pompey had called Cleopatra into Syria and there given her Phoenicia Caelesyria Cyprus a great part of Cilicia with part of Arabia Nabathaea Antony doateth on Cleopatra and so much of Judaea as brought Balsamum Then sending her home he marched into Armenia where yet he could do nothing for desire of her like himself but ever thought of returning to her which shortly after he did but was much troubled in his passage by the Parthians to whom his Army had revolted but that they killed such as first passed over to them 24. The year following and that wherein Pompey was slain Plutarch Dio. he was solicited by the King of Media in conjunction with him to make Warre upon the Parthian but was hindred by stirs which hapned betwixt Cleopatra and Octavia his wife who now returning to him out of Italy met with letters at Athens to stop her there he pretending necessary avocations by Warre Caesar then would have had her come to his house but she would go to her husbands where she educated both his children and her own as became her Then did Antony return into Armenia where he caught the King by a wile and brought him in triumph into Aegypt Now would he be called Father Bacchus His extravagancies in Aegypt as Cleopatra Isis who now was stiled by him Queen of Aegypt Cyprus Africa and Caelesyria Caesario whom she had by Julius Caesar being her partner in these Principalities But his own sons by her Alexander and Ptolomy he named Kings of Kings betwixt whom he did not onely part what Provinces he himself had but also Armenia Parthia and Media and to Cleopatra their daughter assigned Cyrene These things together with the disgrace of his sister provoked Caesar who made report of them to the Senate and People Hereby he incensed men's minds against Antony who shortly after went into Media and entered into league with the King thereof Caesar at the same time fought against several People of Illyrioum and the next year both provided for the Civil War betwixt themselves 25. Antony in way of recrimination to Caesar objected his putting Lepidus besides the Triumvirate and taking his Soldiers as those of Pompey to himself which ought to have been equally free for both and he challenged his part of the Soldiers raised in Italy Caesar and he fall out For Caesar besides what we formerly mentioned accused him of taking Aegypt as his Province Dio l. 50. Florus l. 4. c. 11. killing Pompey abusing Artavasdes the Armenian King to the great infamy of the Roman State but above all upbraided him with Cleopatra and what he had assigned to their children as also for that he owned Caesario as begotten by
Caesar though to the Senate he had acknowledged him for his own son Antony bewitched by Cleopatra so far as not to be able to rule himself wrote to the Senate to have those things confirmed which he had setled upon her and her children The two Consuls Cn. Domitius and C. Sosius being much for him were forced to leave the City and get over to him who now also having raised great forces sent to Rome to drive Octavia out of his house and if taking his opportunity he had this Summer invaded Italy he might in all probability have put an end to the quarrel For Caesar was not yet provided wanting money exceedingly which he now exacted throughout Italy But this delay herein helped him that men's minds were more and more bent against Antony especially after Caesar had published his Testament A. M. 3973. Ol. 187. an 1. V. l. 722. Herodis 8. wherein he disposed as formerly to his and Cleopatra's children and ordained that though he should dye at Rome his body should be sent to her at Alexandria it was also reported that he meant if his matters prospered to give her Rome and transfer the seat of the Empire into Aegypt Hereupon the Warre was decreed against her and he was devested of his Triumvirate Vide Dionem ubi supra but not declared an Enemy for fear of those with him For then must they necessarily have been included in the same capacity and so driven upon desperate Councils to them therefore rewards were promised if they would forsake him and hereby was he thought rendred more inexcusable in that being unhurt he should make War for an Egyptian woman against his Countrey Then did the one draw all the East and the other the West to his party Caesar had ready 250 ships of War 80000 foot and 12000 horse Antony had 500 such like ships Their preparations for war very big and stately with 100000 foot and also 12000 horse The King of the Medes also sent him aid which being not sent back and Antony also recalling his forces he had left with him for the protection of that Countrey the Parthian became Master of that Kingdom and Armenia also was lost 26. The following year Agrippa being sent before by Caesar Idem Plutarch in Antonio took divers ships coming to Antony with Provisions Antony worsted and molested him exceedingly upon the Sea wherewith Caesar incouraged passed from Brundusium into Epirus to a Promontory whereof that lieth near the Bay of Ambracia sending his forces he took in Corcyra so did Agrippa the Island Leucas near to Actium with Patrae and Corinth Titius also and Taurus routed Antonies horse Then several persons of note fell off from Antony Sosius was beaten and lost his life at Sea and Antony himself was also worsted by a guard of Caesars Being much troubled hereat Canidius would have perswaded him to send away Cleopatra and decide the quarrel either in Thrace or Macedonia for that he was stronger in Land forces But though his navy had been twice worsted and he had lost many ships yet she obtained of him to fight at Sea providing withall all things as for a fight For four dayes the Sea was so rough with winds that it hindred them from fighting but on the fifth they joyned and then Caesar's ships being light could easily tack about and invade Antonies which were unwieldly and of little use Cleopatra wearied with long expectation ere it could certainly be known how things would go with her gilded deck Purple sayls A. M. 3974. V. C. 723. Herodis 9. Ante Christ 29. and sixty light Egyptian Gallies fled away which Antony seing presently followed forsaking his men and running away who ought to have animadverted upon such as did so Overthrown at Actium in a Sea-fight His Soldiers fought most valiantly notwithstanding the basenesse of their General who getting into Cleopatra's Gally went and sate by himself in a deep silence Patercul l. 2. c. 85. holding his head with both his hands till at the tenth hour they were partly perswaded and partly constrained to submit it being confessed that in this fight they behaved themselves like to and executed the Office of the best General and their General played the part of a run-away Soldier From this victory of Caesar at Actium a Promontory of Epirus Several * Dio. Suetonius Aurelius Victor Authors date his Monarchy which lasted from the second of September whereon the battel was fought to the 19th of August on which he died 44 years wanting 13 dayes Now was hee himself the third time Eutropius and M. Valerius Messala Consuls in the 723th year of the Citie the second of the 187 Olympiad and the seventh of Herod King of Judaea as Josephus gathereth the 29th before the Aera of Christ A. M. 3974. 27. His Land forces could scarcely believe his flight Plutarch in Antonio having such an Army left to him intire and for seven dayes were so constant to him that though the thing was clearly known they rejected Caesars messages but being now over-taken by him and forsaken of their Leader Canidius Patercul lib. 2. cap. 87. Dio lib. 51. who had posted away after Antony they yielded and were taken into Caesar's Army Then did Caesar go to Athens His Land forces yield to Caesar where he put to death Cassius Parmensis one of those that slew his Uncle and setling the affairs both of Greece and Asia determined to vvinter in Samus but was called into Italy by Agrippa to quiet his Soldiers who now mutinied He sailed then to Brundusium but the Senate meeting him there he went no further and having dispatched his businesse within thirty dayes returned into Asia Antony for some time lived disconsolately by himself Cleopatra conveyed ships over into the Red-Sea intending there to seek her fortune she had thought also of flying into Spain They both sent to Caesar she that her Children might have Egypt granted them and he that he might be permitted to live privately at Athens She sent him a Golden Crown and Scepter with a royal seat privily to curry favour and he though openly he threatned her secretly promised her safety and her Kingdom if she would kill Antony who was also advised by * Joseph Antiq l. 15. c. 10. Herod of Judaea to do as much by her 28. They sent again to him the first and second time and he gave up to him Turullius a Senator and one of the murderers of Julius Caesar He putting the man to death returned no answer neither the second time when he sent Antyllus his son to him with much Gold which he received Dio lib. 5. Plutarch in Antonio But with her he still dealt sending Thyrsus his Freed-man to her to make her believe that he was in love with her hoping she might kill Antony and preserve her Treasures which she threatned to burn if she came into any danger Now going down into
extinct 300 years after the death of Darius and the Monarchy of Alexander by whom it arose 293 after Ptolomy the son of Lagus had obtained Egypt in the third of the 187 Olympiad the year of the World 3975. and 28 before the birth of Christ Octavius Caesar the 4th time and M. Licinius Crassus being Consuls Contemporaries with the Empire of the Macedonians CHAP. VII The Judaean Kingdom or Principality of the Asmonaeans From the departure of Antiochus Sidetes from Jerusalem to the reign of Herod an alien being by birth an Idumaean conteining the space of 98 years 1. AFter Antiochus had raised his siege and departed from Jerusalem A. M. 3870. as was said before he undertook an Expedition against the Parthians wherein he was slain John the son of Simon who then was chief both Priest and Magistrate of the Jews accompanied him some way with a band of Auxiliaries A. M. 3877. and got the sirname of Hyrcanus from the overthrow of the Hyrcanians as it 's thought and returned with great credit into his own Countrey After Antiochus his death John sirnamed Hyrcanus his exploits he led down an Army into Syria thinking as indeed it fell out that the Cities were left without defence whereof he took several Medaba Samaga Sicima and Gerizim A. M. 3878. Ol. 163. an 2. V. C. 627. Seleucid 186. Ptol. Physcon 20. Joh. Hyrcani 9. where the Cuthaeans had built a Temple resembling that at Jerusalem In this Expedition he also subdued Idumaea the Inhabitants whereof he put to their choice whether they would be circumcised or quit their habitations They chose the former and now began to be reckoned amongst the Jews submitting to all their rites and ceremonies After this he sent to Rome desiring that the confederacy made with the Senate might be renewed that Joppa Gazara with other Cities and places taken from the Jews by Antiochus Her reneweth the League with Rome contrary to their Decree might be restored that it might not be lawful for the King of Syria to passe through their Country with his Armies that whatsoever Antiochus had attempted against them in War contrary to their will might be made frustrate and that the Senate would please to send their Ambassadors to procure those things and to cause satisfaction to be given for the havock made of the Country The Fathers renewed the confederacy with them according to their desire promised to take order they should be no more wronged and dismissed the Ambassadors with money to bear their charges and letters commendatory to those through whose Countryes they should passe The many changes which then presently hapned in the Syrian Kingdom so diverted the several Princes from medling with the Jews that they were glad of their friendship and this proved a sufficient opportunity for Hyrcanus to establish his affaires For they destroying one another with War he securely injoyed the revenues of the Countrey Besiegeth Samaria and got together a great masse of money so that despising them he went and besieged Samaria Idem cap. 18. the Inhabitants of which he was displeased with for their injury offered to the Marisseni though the King of Syria's Subjects yet his friends and allies 2. He cast a trench about it Idem ibid. de bello Judaico lib. 1. c. 2 3. and committed the siege to the care of his two sons Antigonus and Aristobulus who sorely oppressed the defendants hindering all importation of Victuals so that they were constrained to beg aid of Antiochus Cyzicenus then reigning in Syria He came but was overthrown by Aristobulus his Soldiers and being pursued by the brothers as far as Scythopolis hardly escaped and the siege was renewed The besieged reduced to their former necessities sent once more to Cyzicenus who then obtaining about 6000 men of Ptolomy Lathurus then expelled his Kingdom by his mother made an inroad into Hyrcanus his Dominions and made havock of all things thereby hoping to constrain him to raise the siege But having lost many of his men intercepted by the Enemy he himself went to Tripolis and gave over the War to Callimander and Epicrates two of his Captains Callimander being more venturous than wise was presently slain and his fellow was corrupted to betray Scythopolis and other Towns to Hyrcanus who then after a years lying before Samaria took it Taketh it razed it and brought the water-courses through the Place by the filth of which all appearance of a Town was taken away After this inviting the Pharisees on a time whose Scholar he had been to a feast he laboured to approve his sincerity to them and desired if any of them knew any fault in him to tell him plainly of it All approved of his manners but one Eleazarus a seditious and bad man who told him that if would be accounted good he must devest himself of the Priesthood and be content with the Principality for that he had heard say that his mother was a captive in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes This being utterly false Hyrcanus was grievously offended and so were the Pharisees but Jonathan a Saducee of the contrary sect and one in great grace with him Grudges betwixt him and the Pharisees took thence occasion to tell him that this affront came from all the Pharisees together and that he should perceive it by the punishment they would inflict upon him if their opinion was demanded They being mercifully inclined thought it sufficient he should be imprisoned and beaten for no greater an offence at which Hyrcanus was sore displeased as then thinking they had raised that scandal of him Wherefore being more incensed by Jonathan he revolted to the Saducees abrogated the constitutions of the Pharisees and punished their followers whence it came to passe that neither he nor his sons were much beloved by the People A sedition also arose hereupon but he quieted all and having governed the People 31 years died being honoured with three especial dignities of the chief Government High-Priesthood and also Prophecy as Jonathan tells us who relateth that he foretold his two eldest sons should neither of them long enjoy his Principality A. M. 3899 the last of the 160 Olympiad about 104. years before the birth of Christ The original of the several Jewish Sects 3. Mention being here made of Pharisees it is requisite to speak something of this sect and others amongst the Jews according to the nature of this work Josephus first maketh mention of them in the ninth Chapter of his thirteenth Book of Antiquities afterwards more diligently and largely * Lib. 18. c. 2. de bello lib. 2. c. 7. handling them There is no question but these sects sprang up after the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity It 's probable that the difference amongst them arose after the building of the second Temple about their worship and offerings Some thought they were onely to live by the prescript of the Law neither
rather to be rewarded above then below their merits he was to requite deserving persons rather above than below their merits for this was the way to win upon them and to make them virtuous He then advised him not to admit of any extraordinary honours from Senate or others for this would be needlesse chargeable and dangerous He bade him by virtue seek for immortality not by Temples built unto his name The gods he told him he was ever and all over to worship according to the custom of his Countrey and compel others so to do and to punish Authors of strange religions not onely for reverence to his gods but also because such things draw men to the use of forein customs whence conspiracies and bandyings arise which are no whit agreeable with the Government of a single person Neither was he to suffer any Magicians and to have a care of Philosophers also who by their foretellings often raised Seditions He was to be studious of peace content with present enjoyments and yet to be ready for War upon all occasions Though he must use Intelligencers and Spies yet he ought not to be too credulous and not indulge his servants or Dependents too much for all their failings would be imputed to him He was to right inferiour and private men incourage arts and profitable occupations as to punish idle and vitious persons not to suffer contentious or animosities to grow nor peculiar names to be assumed nor any other thing whence discord might arise He was to keep an equality in his granting requests as much as could be and therefore not to suffer any to ask him what he should not grant but to indeavour that none should petition for any thing forbidden In sum he advised him never to abuse his power and not to think this a diminution of it if he did not do all that he might but by how much the more he could do what he would by so much to take care to will all things that became him He bade him alwayes consider whether he did well or ill whether by such an action he procured love or ill will that he might do and forbear accordingly He told him that though he heard no body blame him yet ought he not to conclude that therefore he did well nor to expect that any should be so mad as openly to upbraid him This no man would do though most extremely injured Nay many saith he are constrained openly to commend those by whom they have been wronged lest they should be thought to blame them But 't is the duty of a Prince not to guesse at the affections of others from their words but from those things which 't is most probable that they think of 22. These and other like things he would have him do for many things he said he passed over because all could not be spoken at the same time One thing he would say which was the sum of all either said or to be said If he would do all those things which if he were a subject he would have his Prince do to him he should in nothing offend prosper in all things and lead both a safe The sum of all Maecenas his advice and most happy life For how could not all but look upon him and love him as a father and preserver when they should see him modest of unblameable life and excellent both in Peace and War when he should neither disgrace nor injure any one but carry himself humbly not exact money from others whilest he himself flowed with wealth not afflicting others whilest he was luxurious not punishing others whilest he himself was loose and licentious but in all things as it were sharing with them Therefore relying on that defence which would be great in thy self if thou hurtest no man believe me saith he thou wilt have no body neither hate thee or devise any thing against thee which being so thou must needs lead a pleasant life For what can be more sweet what more happy than for one with virtue to enjoy all humane good things and to be able to confer them upon others In conclusion those and other things heretofore spoken being considered he bade him yield to him and not contemn Fortune which had preferred him picked out from amongst all others to be chief Now if taking in reality to himself alone the Soveraign power he feared the name of a Kingdom as odious he might omit that and order his matters under the other of Caesar if he desired other titles they would give him that of Imperator heretofore given to his father they would adorn him also with some other venerable note of honour so that he might injoy all the Privileges of a Kingdom without the envied name thereof Caesar followeth the advice of Maecenas 23. Maecenas concluded with these words whose advice Caesar followed though he greatly commended them both for wisdom copiousnesse and freedom of speech yet he did not presently set upon all those things which he offered lest if on a sudden he should attempt to change the constitution of the State he might fail in his indeavours therefore some things he changed out of hand other afterwards and some things he left to be perfected by his Successors which he thought might be better setled through the advantage of time and opportunity Taketh the title of Imperator and ordereth several matters He used also the industry of Agrippa in the prosecution of these designs no lesse than if he had advised him to this course In this same year and his fifth Consulship he took the name of Imperator not in that sense wherein antiently it was wont to be given for victories obtained for so he had it given him often both before this and after but in respect of chief Command or Authority as it had been decreed to his father Julius and his sons and posterity Then was he made Censor with Agrippa and amongst other things belonging to that Office purged the Senate into which many Equites and unworthy Plebeians had crept during the Civil Wars and increased it to the number of a thousand Two persons viz. C. Clâ—ilius and C. Furnius he put into the rank of Consulares because being designed Consuls they had been prevented by others He also ranked certain families amongst the Patricians because most of those had perished in the Wars He commanded that no Senatour without his leave should passe beyond Italy which is at this day observed saith Dio it being unlawfull for any of that rank to travel except into Sicily or Gallia Narbonensis whither any that have Estates in those Provinces may go without leave because those Countreys are in quiet and destitute of Arms. Caesar also considering that many Senators and others trusted him not lest they should attempt new matters he gave out that he had burned all the Letters found in Antony his Coffers and indeed some of them were lost but most of them he very carefully kept and afterwards made
use of them as he had occasion He sent for Antiochus Commagenus who had treacherously killed his brother sent on an Embassy to Rome and put him to death being condemned by the Senate 24. Caesar in his sixth Consulship together with M. Agrippa his Collegue made a Lustrum 41 years after the last Celebration of one by Cn. Lentulus and L. Gellius and herein were cessed 4063000 Polls of Roman Citizens Maketh a Lustum He celebrated Games also which had been decreed in memory of his victory at Actium and it was ordered they should be renewed every fifth year four Colleges of Priests taking care of them viz. the Pontifices Augurs Septemviri and Quindecimviri by courses He caused other sorts of Games and Exercises to be made at his own cost borrowing money ordered that two persons of Praetorian rank should yearly oversee the Treasury gave to the people four times as much Corn as they were wont to have to some Senators he gave money some of this rank being so poor that they could not bear Offices belonging to them All ingagements and debts to the Exchequer he made void that stood good before the battel at Actium except what concerned buildings He suffered no sacrifize to be offered to Egyptian gods within the Pomaerium took also care for repairing of Temples And because many unjust things had been ordained during the late Seditions and Civil Wars especially in the Triumvirate he made them all void by one Edict and caused them to cease from his sixth Consulship Being in the eyes and mouths of all for these things he considered how he might increase his reputation and confirm his single power by the consent and without the constraint of the people Being then Consul the seventh time when he had prepared every Senator before-hand whom he knew to be well affected towards him he came to the Senate-house and there read a set speech which he had written down fitly for this purpose Pretending in a set speech to the Senate a desire to lay down his power 25. Herein he first exceedingly magnified with much affected art the things he was about to do and then signified that though he had such opportunity to establish himself as no man ever had more yet did he now devest himself of all power restore all unto them Arms Laws and Provinces and not onely such things as he had been untrusted with but he gave them besides what he himself had further acquired This then his gift he much illustrated by his self denial shewn as well formerly as at present being very sorry that ever there had been occasion for the Commonwealth to use him He spake of the justice and prudence of this resignation and boasted of the glory of it which he avowed to exceed the Conquests of Gall Mysia Egypt or Pannonia the victories over Pharnaces Juba or Phraates the expedition into Britain or the passage of the Rhine and all the difficulties of the Civil Wars He demanded if any could be found that excelled him in greatnesse of mind who had so many Cities Nations and Soldiers at his back and whom none durst oppose Horatius Macius Curtius Regulus and the Decii who ventured their lives for glory were not comparable to him for as much as by this resignation he exceeded both them and all others in glory And shewed hence that the gallantry of spirit found in the antient Romans was not extinct Having discoursed much in this vein he concluded with his advice to the Senate how to manage publick affairs telling them that if they followed it they would be happy and thankful to him who rescuing them from seditions had brought them into that estate but if they did not punctually observe it they would make him repent of what he had done and cast themselves again into manifold Wars and great dangers 26. Caesar having read his writing the minds of the Senators were marvailously affected Some there were who knew his design and therefore agreed with him the rest either suspected his intent or believed him Of these some admired his craft in concealing his purposes others were troubled at his design some at his cunning and others at his refusal of the Government For there were some who hated the Popular form as turbulent and approving of the change were well pleased with Caesar's administration Yet the product of these several affections was the same for neither they that believed he spake as he thought could rejoyce those that wished he were reduced to a private condition being yet fearful how things would go and they that desired he might keep his power being sorry for the losse of their hopes Neither could they that believed him not reprehend him because to some will and to others courage was wanting No man yet whether he believed him or believed him not durst commend his speech for that some liked it not and others feared to do it Wherefore having often interrupted him whilst speaking when he had done they all besought him with many words that he would alone undertake the Government and by many arguments compelled him at length to accept of the Soveraignty Then that his person might be preserved Thereby confirmeth it they presently decreed the pay of his Guard to be double to that of other Soldiers 27. Caesar by this artifice pretending that he would lay down his power effected that it was confirmed to him by Senate and People Yet that he might seem to be Popular he said he would not govern all the Provinces nor obtain perpetual power over such as he should take care of therefore the weaker because they were more quiet he left to others the most powerful which had appearance of most danger having an Enemy near at hand or likely to be turbulent he kept himself under pretence that the Fathers might enjoy their power safely and he himself undergo labour and dangers but by this device he rendred the Senate really helplesse and weak and engrossed to himself the Militia Divideth the Principalities bethixt the Senate and himself To the Senate and People was left Africk Numidia Asia Greece with Epirus Dalmatia Macedonia Sicily Crete Libya called Cyrenaica Bithynia with the neighbouring Pontus Sardinia and that part of Spain called Hispania Baetica Caesar kept the rest of Spain all Gall and Germany as also Coelesyria Phoenicia Cyprus and Aegypt Over these Provinces he assumed the Government but for ten years within which time he undertook to reduce them into order adding with a certain juvenile kind of boasting that as soon as ever he could quiet them he would quit his power Then did he set over the Provinces of both sorts men of Patrician dignity but over Aegypt one of Equestrian rank onely for the causes above rehearsed To Senators he allotted by themselves Africk and Asia and the rest of the Provinces to Praetorians He forbad either to take this employment within five years after they had born Offices in the City They held