Horsemen but presently from thence they went to seize upon the Capitol crying by the way as they went Liberty Liberty and imploring the favour and assistance of the People The rest of that day and all the next night Mark Anthony and Lepidus who took Caesars part were in Armes and there passed sundry massages and treaties between them and the Conspirators At last it was agreed that the Senate should sit whither Brutus and Cassius came M. Anthonies Sons by the perswasion of Cicero a great lover of Liberty remaining as Hostages for them In the Senate they Treated of Peace and concord and that all that was past should be buried in perpetuall oblivion whereunto Anthony who was Consul and the whole Senate agreed and the Provinces being divided there was algreat liklihood of Peace For the Senate approved and commended the murther and the People dissembled their thoughts For on the one side the authority of Brutus and Cassius and the name of Liberty seemed to give them some content and on the other side the hainousnesse of the fact and the love they bare to Caesar did move and excite them to hate the murtherers and so all was quiet for the present But Mark Anthony who affected the Tyranny took every oportunity to incense the People against them and Caesars Testament being opened wherein besides the adopting of his Nehpew Octavius and making him his Heire besides other bequests he bequeathed to the People of Rome certaine Gardens and Lands neere to the River of Tiber and to every Citizen of Rome a certaine summe of money to be devided amongst them which being known much encreased their love to Caesar and made his death more grievous to them Caesars Funerall being agreed upon his Body was burnt with great solemnity in the Field of Mars and Mark Anthony made the Funerall Oration in his Praise and took the Robe wherein Caesar was slaine being all bloudy and shewed it to the People using such speeches as provoaked them both to wrath aud commiseration so as before the Funerall solemnity was fully finished they all departed in great fury taking Brands in their hands from the fire wherein Caesar was burned and went to burnethe Houses of Brutus and Cassius and if they could have found them and the rest of the Conspirators they would certainly have slaine them and in their fury they unadvisedly slew Elius Cinna by mistaking him for Cornelius Cinna who was one of the Conspirators This tumult put Brutus and Cassius and their confederates into such feate that they all fled from Rome into severall parts and though the Senate having appeased the tumult inflicted punishment upon some of the seditions and had already committed some of them to Prison yet Brutus and Cassius durst not return to Rome but after a while went into Greece to Govern those Provinces which Caesar in his Life time had allotted unto them which were Macedonia to Brutus and Syria to Cassius And truly this was very remarkable that within the space of three years all the Conspirators dyed and not one of them of a naturall death Caesar in his fifth and last Consulship made an Edict that thanks should be ruturned to Hyrcanus the High-Priest and Prince of the Jewes and to the Nation of the Jewes for their affection to himself and the People of Rome And decreed also that the said Hyrcanus should have the City of Jerusalem and repair the Walls of it which Pompey had beaten down and should Govern it as he pleased himself He also granted to the Jewes that every second year there should an abatement be made out of their rents and that they should be free from Impositions and Tributes His Name of Caesar was so honourable that all his successors to this present day have assumed it into their Title and esteem it an honour to be called Caesars FINIS THE LIFE DEATH OF OCTAVIANUS AUGUSTUS In whose Raign our LORD CHRIST was born _ 〈◊〉 Caesar who was afterwards called Octavianus Augustus was by the Fathers side descended of the Antient Family of the Octavij which was of great account in Rome even from the time of Tarquin their King By the Mothers side he was descended from the Regall Line His Mother was Accia the Daughter of Accius Balbus and Julia the Sister of Julius Caesar which Accia was married to the Father of Octavius He was born in the year of the Consulship of Cicero and Caius Antonius He was but four years old when his Father dyed and at twelve years old he made an Oration at the Funerall of his Grandmother Julia. When his Uncle Julius Caesar was Warring in Spain against the Sons of Pompey Octavius though he was but young followed him thither through many and great dangers and when that War was ended Julius Caesar intending to take him with him to the Parthian War sent him before to the City of Apollonia where he plyed his Book very diligently and on a time having a minde to see Theogenes a learned Astronomer he calculated his Nativity and promised him great matters which made Octavius conceive great hopes of himself and in memory thereof he caused certain Medals to be coined and would often boast of what Theogenes had told him Octavius in the sixth moneth after he went to Apollonia having intelligence from his Mother of the Death of his Uncle Julius Caesar he hasted out of Epirus to Brundusium where he was received by the Army that went to meet him as the adopted Son of Caesar and without any further delay he assumed the name of Caesar and took upon him to be his Heire and that so much the rather because he had brought with him good store of money and great forces that were sent him by his Uncle and so at Brundusium adopting himself into the Julian Family he called himself Caius Julius Caesar Octavius To this very Name as though he had been his true Son there came great store of partly of his Friends partly of freed men slaves and Souldiers by whom being more strengthened and imboldned by the multitude of them that flocked to him and by the authority of the Caesarian name which with the common People was in great reputation he took his journey towards Rome with a great traine which daily increased like a Floud On the fourteenth Kalends of May he entered into Naples where he gave Cicero a visit From thence as he was going to Rome there met him a vast company of his Friends and as he entered the City the Globe of the Sun seemed to compasse his Head round like unto a Bow as it were putting a Crown upon his Head who afterward was to be so great a man and at night calling together his Friends he commanded them to be ready the next morning with good store of followers to meet him in the Market-place which was done accordingly and he going to Caius the City Praetor and Brother to Anthony he told him that
shut for some Nations of the Germans rebelled so that it was again opened These were the Inhabitants of Noricum now Bavaria and the Pannonia's now Austria and Hungary and the two Missia's now Bulgary and Servia as also Illyricum now Sclavonia and the Province of Dacia now Transylvania and Walachia and some others though at severall times Against these Augustus sent his Generals and Armies amongst which were his Sons in Law the Sons of Livia Tiberius Nero who succeeded him in the Empire and his Brother Drusus Nero of whom Livia was with child when Octavian married her and these two Brothers though the War lasted somewhat long vanquished those Nations and obtained great Victories in Germany and the confines thereof especially Tiberius who in three years space subdued the Pannonia's Illyricum and Dalmatia for which Victories he afterwards entered into Rome in an Ovation Triumph with great Pomp and honour Marcus Crassus also overcame and put to flight the Missians a People who had never seen the Romans before And when they were ready to give Battell they said Tell us who you are that seek to molest and disquiet us We are said they Romans the Lords of Nations whereupon they replyed It shall be so if you overcome us which fell out accordingly But Augustus obtained not these Victories without some crosses For in these Wars dyed his Son in Law Drusus who was highly esteemed for his Noble acts and grear Victories for the losse of whom both Augustus and Livia were much afflicted But yet his griefe was greater for the mishap which befell Quintilius Varro who was Generall of three Legions in Germany and being carelesse was surprized by the Almans and himself his Legions and all his Auxiliaries were slaine and two Standards with the Emperiall Eagles taken for which he was so immoderately grieved that he knocked his Head against the Wall and cryed out unadvisedly Quintilius Varro Give me my Legions again For certaine moneths also he suffered the haire of his Head and Beard to grow carlesly And the very day of this unhappy accident he did every year observe mournfully with sorrow and lamentation Of his Son in Law Drusus there remained two Sons Germanicus and Claudius which he had by Antonia Augustus his Neece and Daughter of his Sister Octavia and Mark Anthony of which Claudius was Emperour And Germanicus married Agrippina the Daughter of Julia Augustus his Daughter by whom he had Caius Caligula who also was afterwards Emperour Augustus after many notable Victories compelled his enemies at length to sue for Peace whereupon again he commanded the Temple of Janus to be shut up and from thenceforth all things succeeded prosperonsly with him The Subjects of the Empire were now very obedient to him and all other sent their Ambassadours seeking his favour and Friendship The Indians in the remotest parts of the East and the Scythians that inhabited the North and the Parthians an untamed People sent their Ambassadours to him giving security to keep the Peace and restoring to him the Standards and Eagles which were taken when Marcus Crassus was slaine There came also Kings who were Friends and Subjects to the Roman Empire to do him Homage laying aside their Ensignes and Royall Robes and many of them built Cities to his Name and for his honour calling them Caesaria So did Herod the Great in Palestine King Juba in Mauritania and others The World being thus at Peace and quietnesse forty and two years being expired since that Augustus after the Death of Julius Caesar came to Rome in the time of this generall Peace was the Prince of Peace our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ borne in Bethlem of the Virgin Mary Herod being King of Judaea placed there by the Romans of whose blessed Life and bitter Death as also of the order of his Ministery and Miracles see his Life published by me Anno Christi 1664. At which time their came forth a command from Caesar Augustus that all the Roman World should be taxed which taxing was first made when Cyrenius was Governour of Syria Luck 2. 1. Out of which a little Book was made by Augustus in which all the publick Riches were contained as also how many Citizens and Allies in Armes what Navies How many Kingdomes and Provinces what Tribute and Customs there were what necessary charges and Pensions went out Shortly after Augustus was called Lord by the People but he did not only refuse that Title but forbad it by a publick Edict Augustus enjoying so great prosperity was yet nothing altered in his qualities and behaviour as often it happens in other Princes but rather became more mild just and affable more courteous liberall and temperate He established very good Laws and orders for the reformation of abuses and evill customes He erected both within and without Rome many stately and sumptuous Edifices which made him to boast concerning Rome Latericiam inveni Marmoream reliqui I found it built with Brick and left it built with Marble He bestowed great gifts and favours upon all sorts of People He delighted the People with Feasts and Playes of sundry kinds going himself in person to honour them He sent Colonies into sundry parts and Provinces He made excellent good Orders for the Governours and Government of the whole Empire The like he did also for the Wars and Martial Discipline He shewed himself loving and sociable to his Friends and Familiars whom he honoured and loved much Some conspiracies against him which were discovered he punished without rigour being more prone to pardon than to punish Of murmurings and defamatory Libels he never desired to know the Authours but answered them with gravity giving satisfaction and purging himself from those things which were charged upon him He was much addicted to and affected with learning and himself was very learned and eloquent and compiled some notable Books He much honoured and rewarded wise and learned men yet he escaped not the tainture of some vices growing through humaine frailty and his great liberty especially he was much given to Women though in his diet apparel and ornaments he was very sparing and modest He gave himself also excessively to play at Dice and other Games then in use Thus though in many things he was very happy yet besides his troubles and dangers he was very unhappy in his Children and Successours For by his four Wives to whom he was married he had only one Daughter called Julia by his third Wife Scribonia and she proved exceeding Wanton and unchast yea she left nothing undone in luxury and lust which was possible for a woman to do or suffer accounting every thing lawfull that pleased her Yea she came to that heigth of laciviousnesse that she kept her feasting even in the Courts of Justice abusing those very places with lascivious acts in which her Father had made Laws against Adulterers Hereupon her Father was so enraged that he could not contain his anger within his
do by Caesar as they had done by Pompey so that within a few dayes there began between Caesar and his small Army both in the City and in the Harbour where the Ships and Galleys lay the most cruel and dangerous encounters that ever Caesar met with For he was often forced to fight in his own Person both within the City whereof the enemies held the Greater part and also in the Harbour with his ships and was sometimes in so great perill and danger that he was forced to leap out of the Boat into the Water and by swimming to get to one of the Gallies at which time he held his Commentaries in one hand above Water and carry his Robe in his teeth and to swimme with the other hand But when his other Forces were come to him from Asia and other parts he at the end of nine moneths for so long these Wars lasted became Victorious as in all other his enterprises he had been and the young King Ptolomy was slaine in fight In this Warre Caesar did such exploits and behaved himself so gallantly that for the same onely he well deserved the fame and name of a brave Captain The Pride of the Aegyptians being thus tamed Caesar put to death the murtherers of Pompey and established the faire Cleopatra the Queen and Governesse of Aegypt whom during his stay there he intertained for his Friend and had a Son by her called Caesarion And when he had quitted and settled all things in Aegypt he departed thence into Asia and travelled through Syria now Soria being informed that during his troubles in Aegypt King Pharnaces the Son of that mighty King Methridates thought it a fit time whilst the Romans were embroiled in Civil Wars to recover what his Father had lost For which end having overthrown Domitius whom Caesar had sent to govern those parts and having taken by force of Armes the Provinces of Bithynia and Cappadocia expelling thence King Ariobarzanes a Friend and Subject of Rome and beginning to do the like in Armenia the lesse which King Deiotarus had subjected to the Romans Caesar I say being informed hereof went with his Army sooner than Pharnaces imagined though he expected him and had intelligence of his approach so that in few dayes they came to a Battell in which the King was soon overthrown and put to flight with great slaughter of his People yet himself escaped Caesar was very joyfull for this Victory because his of earnest desire to returne to Rome where he knew that many scandals were raised and many insolencies were committed for want of his presence He knew also that Pompeys eldest Son had seized upon a great part of Spain and had raised great forces of those which Marcus Varro had left there and of his Fathers Troops He also understood that in Africa many principal Romans who had escaped from the Battell of Pharsalia were gethered together where of M. Cato surnamed Uticensis was the chief and Scipio Pompeys Father in Law and that these went thither with the greatest part of the Ships and Galleys which belonged to Pompey and with the greatest power that they were able to leavy and that joyning with Juba King of Mauritania they had subdued all that Country and had a great Army in a readinesse to oppose him having chosen Scipio for their Generall because that Cato would not take that office upon him and for that the Name of Scipio had been so fortunate in Africa Caesar having intelligence of all these things within the space of a few dayes with great celerity and diligence recovered all that Pharnaces had usurped and chasing him out of Portus he regained all those Countries and so leaving Celius Minucius for General with two Legions to gaurd that Province pacifying the controversies and contentions in the rest and rewarding the Kings and Tetrarchs which continued firme in their Leagues and amity with the Romans without any longer aboad he departed out of Asia and in a short space arrived in Italy and so passed to Rome within little more than a year after he went thence which was a very short time for the performance of so great matters and so long a journey Presently after his comming to Rome he caused himself to be chosen Consul the third time and reforming so much as the time and his leasure would permit all disorders in Rome being troubled and not able to endure that his enemies should possesse Africk with great expedition he prepared all things necessary and from Rome took his way towards Africk commanding his Army to follow him First he went into Italy from from whence taking Ship he passed over into Africk and though neither his Navy nor his Army arrived with him trusting to the valour of those that he had with him and his own good Fortune he landed with small Forces neere to the City of Adrumentum and from thence marched to an other City called Leptis into which he was received and after some conflicts that passed his Legions being come to him and certaine other Troops of Horse and Companies of Foot he began the War which continued four moneths He first began with Petreius and Lubienus and then with Scipio and King Juba who brought to those Wars eight thousand men the one half whereof were Horse In this War were many encounters and Battels in which Caesar was in great danger but at last his good Fortune still attending him he overcame them in a great Battell wherein there were slaine of the enemies ten thousand and Caesar remained Master of the Field and in a short time after subjected all the Country to him Scipio and all the chiese Captaines with him died sundry Deaths and Juba escaping by flight from the Battell finding no place of security Asranius and he resolved to dye fighting one against the other in which combate King Juba being the stronger man slew Afranius and then commanded one of his slaves to kill him and so he died desperately Marcus Cato who was in the City of Utica hearing that Caesar was marching thitherward though he knew that he would not put him to death but rather had a desire to pardon him and to do him honour yet resolving neither to receive life nor honour from his enemy he slew himself In whose death there passed many remarkable accidents recorded by Historians Ftorus saith thus of it Cato saith he hearing of the death of his Partners he dallyed not at all but joyfully hastened his end For after he had embraced his Son and his Friends and bad them good night and then rested a while upon his bed having first perused Plato's Book of the immortality of the Soul then about the relieving of the first watch he got up drew his sword and therewith thrust himself through after which the Phisicians applied plaisters to his wounds which he indured whilst they were in the roome but then he pulled them away and the bloud following
he did accept of the Adoption For it was the Roman custome in Adoptions to interpose the authority of the Praetor which acceptance being Regisired by the Scribes from thence he presently went to Mark Anthony the Consul who behaved himself proudly towards him and scarcely admitting him into Pompeys Gardens gave him time to speak with him Octavitanus had a great mind to revenge the Death of Julius Caesar but by his Mother and Philip his Father in Law he was advised to conceal his Purpose for a time both because the Senate had approved his Death and because Mark Anthony who was principally to assist him therein did not shew himself very friendly to him Octavianus understanding that Mark Anthony had in his custody all the Treasure that was left by Julius Caesar he desired him to command it to be delivered to him therewith to pay his debts and to distrubte it as Caesar had appointed in his Will But Anthony with greater Pride than Octavianus could well bear not only refused what he demanded but reproved him for desiring it whereupon discords presently arose betwixt them and Octavianus strengthened himself with the Counsel of Cicero a great enemy to Anthony and one whose authority at that time by reason of his Wisdom and Eloquence was very great Anthony being Overseer of those things which Caesar had commanded to be done what by corrupting the Notes and changing them at his pleasure did what himself listed as if it had been the appointment of Caesan by this meanes gratifying Cities and Governours and heaping vast summes of money to himself selling not onely Fields and Tributes but freedomes and immunities even of the City of Rome and that not onely to particular Persons but to whole Provinces and of these things there were Tables hung up all over the Capitol Octavianus being nineteen years old at his own charges gathered an Army and sought the favour of the People and prepared forces against Anthony for his own and the Commonwealths safety He also stirred up the old Souldiers who by Julius Caesar had been planted in Colonies so that Anthony being afraid of him by the mediation of Friends had a conference with him in the Capitol and they were for the present reconciled but within a few dayes through the whisperings of some their enmity brake our again and Anthony not thinking himself strong enough and knowing that the Legions of Macedonia were the best Souldiers and six in number with whom also were many Archers light harnessed men and Horsemen these he sought to draw to himself who because of their neernesse might presently be brought into Italy and thereupon he caused a rumour to be spread that the Getae wasted Macedonia by their inrodes and upon that occasion he demanded an Army of the Senate saying that the Macedonian Army was raised by Caesar against the Getae before he intended the Parthian War whereupon he was chosen Generall of those Forces and he abtained a Law for the change of Provinces whereby his Brother Cains Anthony challenged Macedonia which before by lot fell to Marcus Brutus On the seventh of the Ides of October Anthony went to Brundusium there to meet foure of the Macedonian Legions whom he thought to draw to himself by money Thither also Octavianus sent his Friends with money to hire these Souldiers for himself and himself posted into Campania to engage those Souldiers which were in Colonies to take his part and first he drew to him the old Souldiers of Galatia then those of Casilinum on both sides of Capua giving to each man five hundred pence by which meanes he gat together about ten thousand men who marched with him under one Ensigne as a guard In the mean while the four Legions of Macedonia accusing Anthony for his delayes in revenging Caesurs Death without any acclamations conducted him to the Tribunal as it were to hear an account of this matter and there continued silent Anthony taking this ill upbraded them with their Ingratitude and complained that they had not brought to him some disturbers of the Peace who were sent from that malapert young man for so he called Octavian and to ingratiate himself with them he promised an hundred pence to each of them which niggardly promise was intertained with laughter which he took so ill that being returned to his Quarters in the presence of his most converous and most cruel Wife Fulvia he put to death some Centurions out of the Martian Legion When those of Caesars party that were sent to corrupt the Souldiers saw that they were more exasperated by this deed they scattered Libels about the Army wherein they disgraced Anthony and extolled the liberality of Caesar. And when some sided with Octavian and others with Anthony the Army as if it had been set to sale at an outery addicted themselves to him that would give most And because that Decius Brutus who commanded Gallia Cisalpirea now Lombardy opposed Anthony he went to besiege him in the City of Mutina now Modena which being known in Rome Cicero his authority and credit in the Senate was such that Mark Anthony was declared an enemy to the State and the new Consuls Hircius and Pansa were sem against him and with them was Octavian sent with Ensignes of a Consul and Title of a Pro-praetor having been first admitted into the Senate though so young which was done by the procurement of Cicero though he afterwards requited him ill for it Octavian with the Consuls drew neer to Mark Anthony Cicero remaining to command in chief in all matters at Rome and between the two Armies there passed many skirmishes and encounters and at last they came to a Battell wherein the Consuls and Caesar had the Victory but Hircius was slaine in the Battell and Pansa was so wounded that he died within a few dayes after and both the Armies of the slaine Consuls obeyed Caesar. By this meanes D. Brutus was freed from his siege and Anthony was forced to forsake Italy by a dishonourable flight leaving his baggage behind him In this service Octavian made marvelous proof of himself being but twenty years old performing the Office not onely of a good Captaine but also of a stout Souldier For seeing the Standart bearer sore wounded and ready to fall Octavian took from him the Eagle and bare it a great while till he had lodged it in safety Mark Anthony after the Battell gathering the remainders of his Army passed the Alps and went into France solliciting the Friendship of Lepidus who was there with an Army ever since the Death of Julius Caesar whom after some treaties he made his Friend and Octavian after the Victory obtained presently sent to the Senate to require a Triumph for his Victory as also the Counsulship for the remainder of the year in the roome of the dead Consuls with their succession in their charge and command of the Army But the answer of the Senate was not according to
his desire For the Friends and Kinsmen of those that had murthered Caesar began to fear him and to suspect his power wherefore they prevailed to delay that which he required and in the end they resolved to assign the Army to Decius Brutus and temporizing with Octavian they granted him a Triumph but denied him the Consulship whereat he was much discontented and therefore secretly treated of friendship with Mark Anthony and having drawn to himself the affections of the Army he therewith marched towards Rome and approaching near to the City in dispite of the Senate he caused himself to be chosen Consul being not fully twenty years old Then did he cause accusations to be exhibited against Brutus and Cassius and the rest of the Conspirators and in their absence having none that durst defend their cause they were condemned After this was done he left the City and with his Army marched toward Anthony and Lepidus who were already entred into Italy Decius Brutus hearing of the Treaties and League that was made between Octavian Lepidus and Mark Anthony not daring to stay in that Country departed with his Army which soon forsook him some going to Caesar others to Mark Anthony whereupon he fled but being at last taken he was brought to Mark Anthony who caused his Head to be cut off The Armies of these Captaines drawing neere together to whom Assinius Pollio and Plancus with their Legions were joyned these three Octavian Caesar Mark Anthony and Lepidus meeting after three dayes debate they concluded their accursed Peace and these firebrands of sedition entered into a Triumvirate with severall intents and designes Lepidus was covetous and sought riches by troubling the State Anthony was by nature an enemy to Peace and to the Common-wealth desiring an opportunity to be revenged of those who had declared him an enemy to the State And Octavian sought revenge upon Brutus and Cassius and those who had slaine his adopted Father And to bring these things to passe Octavian put away his Wife who was Daughter to Servilius and contracted himself to Claudia Daughter in Law to Anthony by his Wife Fulvia who was now a child and from whom he was afterward divorced by reason of the discord that arose between Anthony and him In this League which they made besides dividing the Provinces amongst themselves they agreed to Proscribe and kill each of them his enemies and the one delivered them into the others hands having more respect to be revenged upon an enemy then to save a Friend and so there was made the most cruel and inhumane Proscription and Butchery that ever was before heard of giving and exchanging Friends and Kinsmen for enemies For Mark Anthony gave up his Fathers Brother and Lepidus his own Brother Lucius Paulus and Octavian M. T. Cicero whom he called Father and who had intreated and honoured him as a Son And besides these they Proscribed and condemned to die three hundred other Principall men of Rome amongst whom were about one hundred and fourty Senators besides two thousand Romans of the order of Knighthood This agreement being made they all three went to Rome where they took upon them the Government of the Commonwealth by the name of Triumvirat the time being limited to five years though they never meant to leave the same And presently after those who were condemned and Proscribed were by their commandement put to death being sought out in all parts and places their Houses were ransacked and their goods confiscated Cicero understanding that his name was in the Catalogue amongst the Proscripts onely because he had been a lover of Roman Liberty he fled to the Sea where he embarked himself but so hard was his hap that by contrary winds he was driven back to the shore whereupon returning to some possessions of his neere Capua not far from the Sea as he lay sleeping there he was awakened by some Crowes which with their bils pluckt his cloaths from his back His servants being moved with this ill presage put him into his Litter and again carried him towards the Sea but being overtaken by the murtherers he put his neck out of his Litter and they cut off his Head and his right hand wherewith he had written his Orations a gainst Mark Anthony called Philippicks And thus was he slaine by one whom he had defended and delivered from death Anthony joyfully received his hand and caused it to be nailed up in the place where he was wont to plead to which all the People repaired to behold so wofull and miserable a spectacle of whom there was not any one but was heartily sorry for the Death of so great a Personage and so fervent a lover of his Country Salvius Otho a Tribune of the People invited his Friends to his last Supper and as they were sitting in came a Centurion and in the presence of them all strake off his Head Minutius the Praetor was slaine sitting in his seat of Judgment L. Villius Annalis who had been Consul flying from the murtherers hid himself in the Suburbs in a little House of one of his clients but his own Son betrayed him to the murtherers who slew him there but shortly after this Parricide being drunken quarrelling with the same Souldiers was slaine by them C. Toranius also being betrayed by his own Son was slaine who in a few dayes having consumed his Patrimony was condemned for Theft and banished into a place where he died miserably Quintus Cicero was hid by his Son whom they could never make to confesse by any torments where his Father was but the old man not being able any longer to endure that they should torment so vertuous a Son came and presented himself to the Murtherers whereupon the Son entreated them to kill him first but they killed them both together The Egnaces the Father and Son embracing one the other were both run through at once and slaine C. Hosidius Geta was put into a grave by his Son as dead who sustained and kept him till the danger was over Aruntius after he had comfored his Son delivered up himself to the murtherers but his Son for griefe famished himself Some other Children carefully hid and preserved their Parents Tanusia was such an importunate suitor to Caesar for her Husband T. Junius that she preserved his life He was in the intrim hidden by Philopoemen his bondmen enfranchised whom Caesar afterwards Knighted for his fidelity to his Master Q. Ligurius haivng been concealed by his Wife was discovered by a slave and killed whereupon his Wife pined her self to death Lucretius Vespilio having passed many dangers whilst he sought to hide himself here and there at last came to his Wife Shuria who hid him between the Sealing and the top of the House till she had begged his Life of the Triumvirs Apuleius was saved by his Wife who fled away with him Antius his Wife wrapped him up in Coverlets and caused him to be
Friends who thereupon resolved to ruine him But at the request of the Senate and of Mark Anthony he harkned to Peace and by the mediation of Friends it was agreed that all matters past should be forgotten that they should live like good Nighbours and Friends and that Sextus Pompey should enjoy Sicily Sardinia and Corsica which he had in possession and that he should cleere the Seas from Pirates that Marchants and passengers might passe safely and that he should furnish Rome yearly with a certaine quantity of Corne. This being concluded they agreed upon a meeting of all three upon the Sea side in the straight of Messina in a Fortresse built for that purpose which reached into the Water whither Sextus Pompey might come with his Galleys and be in safety which accordingly was performed with great joy and solemnity and Sextus Pompey feasted them in his Galleys and they likewise him by Land From hence Sextus Pompey returned into Sicily and Octavian and Mark Anthony to Rome where for a while they remained in great familiarity and then Mark Anthony preparing for his journey into the East sent Ventidius before him with a great Army against the Parthians wherein he had so good successe that he overcame and defeated Pacorus the Parthian Kings Son and slew twenty thousand of his men and thereby sufficiently revenged the Death of Marcus Crassus for which he afterwards Triumphed at Rome Mark Anthony departed from Rome with his new Wife and wintered with her in Athens Octavian in the mean time in Rome growing mighty and in high esteem was yet very pensive being troubled at the Nighbourhood of Sextus Pompey in Sicily attending an occasion to War against him for which purpose he prepared a great Fleet pretending that Sextus with his Ships and Gallyes hindred the comming of Corne into Italy These Sicilian Wars continued for some years in the beginning whereof Octavian had ill successe yet more from stormes and tempests than from the force of his enemies and if Sextus Pompey had been as Prudent and able to offend his enemy as he was to defend himself and as he was Valiant if he had been as Wise and Politick he might have greatly distressed Octavian in all matters concerning Italy yet the matter was so handled that at Octavians request Mark Anthony came twice out of the East into Italy to assist him in these Wars The first time he came to Brundusium where not finding Octavian according to appointment he returned without seeing him upon some jealousies which grew betwixt them But Octavian having lost most of his Fleet in a storme he sent his intire Friend Mecenas to Mark Anthony at whose intreaty he returned into Italy with three hundred Ships and Galleys giving it out that he came to Caesars aid And though there were some differences between them yet Octavia so laboured between her Husband and Brother that she reconciled them and so they met in the mouth of the River neer Tarentum where Mark Anthony gave to Octavian one hundred and twenty of his Galleys for his Wars and Octavian gave to him some of the Italian Souldiers and they renewed their Triumvirat for other five years Which done Mark Anthony returned to the East to prosecute his Wars against the Parthians his Wife Octavia and her Children remaining in Rome Anthony being gone Octavian resolving to prosecute the Wars against Sextus Pompey with all his Forces armed two Navies whereof Agrippa was the Admirall of the one and himself of the other He sent also to Lepidus intreaing his aid who accordingly came and brought with him a Thousand Ships little and great and eighty Galleys wherein he transported five thousand Horse and twelve Legions of Foot Souldiers Sextus Pompey hearing what great preparations were made against him did strongly fortifie all the Sea-coasts of Sicily and on the frontiers of Africk neere to Lilibaeum he placed Plinius a good Captain with good companies of Souldiers and his whole Fleet by Sea he drew into the Port of Messina purposing to mannage his Wars by Sea having neither experience nor power to do it by Land and so he attended the comming of his enemies Lepidus loosing with his whole Fleet from Africk was encountered with a tempest wherein with the losse of a great part of his Navy he with the rest landed at Lilybaeum and took in certaine places there about but having small judgement and experience in the Wars he made a greater noise then did hurt to Pompey Octavius also being at Sea in a tempest lost thirty of his Galleys besides small Ships and with much difficulty returned to Italy and Taurus who commanded the Galleys which Anthony left landed at Tarentum though with great losse and danger Octavian was so grieved at these losses that he had thoughts of giving over the War for that yeer but changing his mind he repaired his Fleets and ordered Agrippa with one of them to passe into Sicily and there to make War both by Sea and Land and himself following with the other Fleet did the like About this time Octavian divorced himself from Scribonia though he had a Daughter by her called Livia and then he married Livia Drusilla Wife to Tiberius Nero by whom she had a Son called also Tiberius hereupon Tiberius was forced to leave her to please Octavian though at this time she was with child of a Son This Livia he loved deerly and continned with her till his Death Agrippa assaulted and took in some places in Sicily which Pompey hearing of departed from Messina with one hundred and seventy five Galleys to relive them and Agrippa being advertised of his comming prepared to meet him his Galleys being almost equall in number and so they joyned Battell which for a time seemed to be equall but at last Agrippa prevailed and Pompey rerreated in time his Galleys and Foists withdrawing themselves into some Rivers neer at hand whither Agrippa with his bigger Vessels could not follow them In this fight Pompey lost thirty of his Galleys Agrippa the next day went to a City called Tindaria thinking to surprise it by reason of intelligence which he had with the Citizens and Pompey in the night gave secret order to his whole Fleet to retire to Messina Octavian in the mean time imbarked a great part of his Army which he landed in Sicily and set them on shore under the command of Cornificius little thinking that Pompey had been so neer who if he had taken this opportunity might have defeated Octavian But loosing it Octavian imbarking again intended to determine the quarrell by a Battell at Sea leaving Cornificius with his men fortified on the Land Then did Pompey saile out of Messina with his whole Fleet and neither Parties refusing it they came to a Battell in which Octavian was overcome and all his great Fleet scattered and lost and himself driven to fly into Italy in a Brigandine where through many dangers he at last came to
a second Ambassage to Caesar and Cleopatra promised him a huge masse of money and Anthony minded him of the former friendship and alliance that was between them and what acts they had done together he delivered also to him Terullius a Senator and one of Caesars murtherers whom he put to death he proffered also to kill himself to obtaine security for Cleopatra yet Caesar would give him no answer Anthony and Cleopatra hereupon prepare for War and Caesar at last marched against them and sent Cornelius Gallus before with four Legions who suddenly seized up Paraetonium the prime City of Aegypt toward Lybia Anthony being informed hereof marched towards Paraetonium hoping to draw Gallus his Souldiers to owne him but when on the contrary he had received great losse both by Sea and Land he returned to Alexandria Presently after Caesar took Pelusium by the Treachery of Cleopatra who caused Selucus the Governour to deliver it up to him hoping to draw his love to her yet did she disown it to Anthony Cleopatra had storehouses and Monuments admirable both for sumptuousnesse and higth which she had built by the Temple of Isis and thither she had brought the most precious things of all her Royall Treasure as Gold Silver Emeralds Pearles Ebony Ivory and Cinnamon as also store of Lamps and Flax whereupon Caesar fearing that she would set fire of them whereby he should loose such Treasures he to preven despaire gave her hopes of favour whilst he marched to wards the City and she privately forbad the Citizens of Alexandria to sally out against him whereas openly she seemed to encourage them to oppose him Caesar being come before the City Anthony fallied out and fought valiantly with him and routed his Horse and drave them to the very Camp of which at his returne he boasted to Cleopatra and she to reward him gave him an Headpeice Armour all of Gold The next Day Anthony dispersed tickets amongst Caesars Souldiers promising them fifteen hundred Drachmaes a piece if thy would come over to him These Caesar read to his Souldiers rendering Anthony more hatefull to them thereby and they being exceeding angry that their fidelity was tempted fought so valiantly at the next encounter that Anthony was driven back out of the Field After this Anthony challenged Caesar to a single Duel who answered That Anthony had many wayes to die He therefore considering that he could not die any way more honourably than in Battell resolved to set upon Caesar both by Sea and Land Many Prodigies fore-ran the bondage of Aegypt In some places it rained bloud Armies appeared in the Aier A huge Draggon was seen amongst the Aegyptians which hissed horribly A Comet appeared and the Images of the Dead The Statues seemed to mourne and Apis lowing heavily shed some teares On the Kalends of August Anthony early in the morning went down to the Haven to order his Fleet. But Cleopatra caused them to revolt from him and to joyn with Caesars Fleet Whilst Anthony beheld this he was also forsaken by all his Horsemen who revolted to Caesar and his Foot were heaten back into the City whereupon he cryed out that he was betrayed by Cleopatra She fearing his anger fled to her Monument with one Eunuch and two Maids and sent Anthony word that she was dead This he believing desired his faithfull servant Erotes according to his former promise to kill him Erotes drew out his Sword as if he would do it but Anthonies back being towards him he slew himself who falling at his feet Anthony said Noble Erotes thou hast taught me what to do but couldst not endure to do it thy selfe So taking the Sword he thrust it into his Belly yet after a while the bloud stopping he desired those about him to dispatch him but they all fled which caused a great tumult Cleopatra from the top of the Monument perceiving it for the Gate was so made that being shut it could not be again opened she sent her Secretary to bring him into the Monument to her Anthony was carried to the foot of the Monument and being tyed in a Pulley was with great paines drawn up by Cleopatra and her two Maids It was a sad sight to see him thus drawn up besmeared with bloud and ready to give up the Ghost When he came to the top he stretched forth his hands to Cleopatra who receiving him in laid him on a bed tareing her head tire breast and face with her own hands so that she was all gore bloud He laboured to comfort her and advised her to look to her affaires and to save her life if she could do it without dishonour and that amongst all Caesars Friends she should most trust Proculeius and so gave up the Ghost In the mean time Dercetaeus one of Anthonies Guard stole his bloudy Sword and ran away with it to Caesar telling him what had happened Caesar then going into the inmost roome of his Tent much bewailed Anthony his Kinsman and Colleague and who had been his companion in many Battels and in the Government of the Empire Then sending for Proculeius he commanded him by all meanes if it were possible to save Cleopatra alive fearing to loose her Treasures and that she might adorne his Triumph Procuieius and one Epaphroditus coming to the Monument laboured to perswade Cleopotra to come forth and at last by a wile Proculeius seized upon her yet granted her some dayes to embalme Anthonies Body after which they brought her into the Pallace diminishing nothing either of her wonted traine or honour that so she might do no mischief to her self Caesar having Conquered Alexandria ascended into a Tribunal and calling the Citizens before him who for fear fel upon their knees he told them that he freely pardoned them for their great God Serapis his sake He also pardoned the rest of the Aegyptians being unwilling to put so many men to death which formerly had done so good service for the Romans Of those that favoured Anthony some he put to death and others he pardoned either of his own good will or at the intercession of Friends And whereas Anthony had with him many Children of Kings some as Hostages others upon false accusations some of them Caesar sent home others he joyned together in marriage and some he kept by him Comming to view the Tomb of Alexander the Great which as Strabo reporteth was of Glasse Caesar put a Crown upon it and strewed flowers over it and worshipped it and being asked whether he would see the Bodies of the Ptolomies he answered That he would see a King not the dead Neither would he go to see their God Apis saying that he used to worship Gods not Oxen. Many great Kings and Captains desired to bury the Body of Anthony but Caesar would not take it from Cleopatra who buried it splendidly and Magnificently and Caesar suffered her to take what Treasures she would for his Funerals Cleopatra through her