notwithstanding many were discontented yet some for love others for fear and out of dissimulation both Senate and People yea all in generall gave him Names preheminences and Titles of Honour such as never had been given to any other man before him neither ought to have been accepted by him and many were the more offended because they knew that he affected and desired them They gave him the name of Emperour Father Restorer and Preserver of his Country They made him perpetuall Dictator and Consul for ten years and perpetuall Censor of their manners His Statue was erected and set up amongst the Kings of Rome and a Chair and Throne of Ivory was set up for him in the Temple and in the Senate House and an high Throne in the Theater and in the place where the Senators did use to sit His Pictures and Statues were set up in the Temples and in all publick places Some Titles they gave him and he accepted of which were pecular to the Gods The moneth formerly callad Quintile they called Julius after his name They also built and consecreated Temples to him as they did to Jupiter and the other Gods and gave him certaine Honours which they held proper for their Gods and did him many other honours exceeding all measure Julius Caesar enjoying such honour and power so that he had no equall no second in the World with whom he might contend it seemed that he would contend with himself and attempt something wherein he might excell himself For he was not contented with all the Victories which he had obtained neither to have fought fifty severall Battels in all which he was Victorious save in that one at Dirrachium against Pompey neither to have slaine in the Wars and Battels which he fought a Million ninety and odd thousands of men besides those which were slaine in the Civil Wars But being of a most haughty mind he sought to do greater matters if greater could be For first he resolved to passe into the East there to conquer and subdue the fierce Nations of the Parthians and to revenge the death of Marcus Crassus and from thence to passe through Hyrcania and other Countries till he should come to the Caspian Sea and so through all the parts of Scythia Asiatica and passing the River Tanais to returne through Scythia into Europe and in his retreat to come into Germany and other Countries bordering thereupon conquering and subjecting all to the Roman Empire For which end he presently caused to be levied in severall places ten thausand Horsemen and sixteen Legious of chosen Footmen and appointing the time wherein he intended to begin his journey he commanded them to repaire to their Rendevouz He sought also not onely to subdue all Nations but to correct and reforme even nature it self For he purposed to have made an Island of Peloponesus now called Morea by cutting the neck of land between the Egaean and the Jonian Seas He purposed also to have altered the courses of the River Tiber and Anian and to have made there new channels capable of bearing great Ships He ordered the digging down and levelling many high Hils and Mountaines in Italy and to dry up and dreine great Lakes and Marishes therein He corrected the computation of the year reforming it according to the course of the Sun and brought it into that order wherein it now is He did the like about the course of the Moon and her conjunctions and oppositions to the Sun and this was attributed to him for Tyranny by those that hated him Many others things Caesar did which were very remarkable in reforming the Laws customes and Offices He reedified the ruined City of Carthage in Africk and sent thither Colonies and Roman Citizens to Inhabit it the like he did by Corinth But all these works with his high conceits and undertakings were prevented by his unexpected and immature Death which within a few Dayes after ensued A few men and those unarmed bereft him of his Life whom no former forces could resist For five moneths only he lived as Soveraign Lord in Peace when those in whom he reposed greatest trust conspired his Death Some say that Caesars was counselled to have a Guard about him alwayes to which he answered that he would have none for that he had rather die once then live continually in feare They which conspired his death were stirred up thereto either out of hatred to his Person or desire of Liberty accounting him for a Tyrant or out of suspition that he would have made himself a King a thing in the highest degree hatefull to the Romans and lastly because he begun to contemne others For he used to say that the Commonwealth was but a voice and name without a Body or Substance and that Sylla was a Fool for resigning his perpetuall Dictatorship All the whole Senate comming one Day to the Temple of Venus where he was he sat still and rose not up as formerly he used to do His Friends also and Favourites began to report that in the Books of the Sybils which in Rome were had in great Veneration it was written that the Parthians could never be overcome but by a man that should have the Title of a King and therefore he laboured that Caesar should take upon him that Title before his Parthian War and though he seemed to be displeased at it yet they suspected the contrary and their suspition was encreased for that whereas the Tribunes of the People had caused a man to be imprisoned who had set a Crown upon the Head of one of Caesars Statues he was so encensed against the Tribunes that did it that he deposed them from their Office And not long after when Mark Anthony who was his great fovourite and that year his fellow Consul being at some publick Games came to Caesar and put a Crown upon his Head though he threw it down yet they all imagined that Mark Anthony would not have presumed to have done it without his good liking and that he did it but to prove the People how they would like it these and such like passages gave them occasion to desire and designe his Death They were also further encouraged hereunto for that in sundry publick places certain writings were set up which did intice and animate them to conspire against him as upon the Statue of Brutus who in ancient times did chase the Kings out of Rome were written these words Would to God thou wert now living Brutus And upon the Image of Marcus Brutus who then was Praetor and descended from the former Brutus were these words Thou sleepest long Brutus Truly thou art not Brutus And again Thou art dead Brutus Would to God thou wert living Thou art unworthy of the succession from the Brute Surely thou art not descended from the good Brutus and such like other writings were set upon these Statues So as for these and such like reasons there were seventy of the most eminent
men in Rome that conspired to murther Caesar of which the principle were Decius Marcus Brutus Caius Cassius Gaius Casca Attilius Cimber Servius Galba Quintus Ligarius Marcus Spurius c. who after diverse consultations concluded to kill him upon the Ides of March which was the fifteenth day of that moneth in the Temple where the Senators were to sit that day Yet Brutus was held to be Caesars Son and had received great honours and many favours from him This conspiracy was kept so secret notwithstanding the great number of them that there was not any one found that discovered the same But there were so many signes and Prodigies and to himself there happened so many forewarnings that without knowing any cause all men were of opinion that Caesars Death was neere at hand Spurina also who was his Southsayer forewarned him to look to himself till the Ides of March were past for that his Life was in great danger And Caesars own Wife intreated him upon her knees that he would not that day go to the Senate For shee had dreamed that he lay dead in her lap These and such like warnings prevailed so far with him that he was about to send to Mark Anthony to make his excuse and to put off the Senate to another day But what God hath determined must come to passe and therefore Brutus being present advised him by no meanes to discover any such fear and so he resolved to go Caesar made small account of Death and said That as for himself he had won power and fame and glory enough and that at no time he could die with greater honour And some discoursing the night before he was slaine what Death was best Even that qouth he which is sudden and least prepensed The fifteenth of March being come he went from his House in a Litter towards the Senate and as he passed along the street there was a Petition delivered to him wherein was set down in writing all that was concluded in this conspiracy and he which gave it prayed him to read it presently which he began to doe but there came so many to speake to him that he could make no farther progresse and this Paper was found in his hand when he was dead As he passed on he met with Spurina the Southsayer and pleasantly jesting he said to him Dost thou not know Spurina that the Ides of March are come Yea answered Spurina and I know that they are not yet past When he came to the Temple where the Senators met he alighted from his Litter and went in and having first done Sacrifice according to the custome which all that saw persaged to be fatall and infortunate he sat him down in his Chair and Brutus Albinus entertaining Mark Anthony at the door with discourse one of the Conspirators whose name was Celer came to Caesar under a pretence to intreat him to release a Brother of his from Banishment and presently all the rest of the conspirators drew neere to his Chair which when Caesar saw thinking that they had all come for the same purpose he said unto them what force is this and at that instant one of them whose name was Casca beginning they all drew their poyniards and Swords which they had privately under their Gowns and began to wound him The first blow he received Casca gave him in the throat At which Caesar said aloude What dost thou Traitor Casca and wresting the Poyniard out of his hand he arose and stabbed Casca through the Arme and being about to strike him again he was prevented by the many wounds which the others gave him wilest with great force and courage he leaped from one side to the other to defend himself But when he saw Marcus Brutus with his drawn Sword in his hand wherewith he had already wounded him in the Thigh he was much amazed and said in the Greek Tongue Why how now Son Brutus And thou also And having so said seeing so many weapons bent against him and that no body came to his rescue he remembred to keep the honour of his person with his right hand he covered his Head with part of his Robe and with his left hand girt himself and setled his cloathes about him and being so covered he fell down to the ground having received three and twenty wounds and it happened that his fall was at the foot of the seat on which Pompeys Statue stood So in this manner died one of the most Mighty Worthy Valient Wise and most successfull Princes and Captaines that ever was in the World For his excellencies abilities invincible mind incomparable courage the Battels which he fought and Victories which he obtained The Provinces Kings and Nations which he subdued His Counsels Policies and Stratagems and bold attempts his Magnanimity clemency and bounty both to the conquered and Conquerors the great designes which he had proposed to himself a little before he was slaine being all well weighed and considered it will plainly appear that in none of those things aforesaid nor in any other that may be said of him there hath been any Heathen King or Captain that ever excelled him And setting apart his ambition and desire of rule he was onely noted and blamed for being too much given to women Caesar was thus slaine in the fifty sixth year of his age a little more than four years after the Death of Pompey in the seven hundred and tenth year after the building of Rome and about fourty and two years before the Incarnation of our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Caesar left behind him neither Son nor Daughter legitimate at the time of his Death For though he had been four severall times married yet he had but one only Daughter named Julia that was married to Pompey and dyed before him Wherefore by his last Will he adopted for his Son and made his Heire in the Dodrant that is in nine parts of twelve of his goods his Nephew Octavius Caesar after wards called Octavianus Augustus who was the Son of Acia his neece and of Octavius Praetor of Macedonia which Octavius at this time was by the commandment of his Uncle in the City of Apollonia in the Province of Epirus where he applied himself to his studies staying for him there thence to go with him to the Parthian War being now about seventeen years of age Caesar being thus slaine the newes of it ran presently all over the City and the tumult therein was so great that no man knew what to doe or say All Offices ceased the Temples were all shut up and every man was amazed Caesars Friends were affraid of those that slew him and they as much feared his Friends Brutas Cassius and the other Conspirators and others that joyned with them seeing the great tumult durst not go to their Houses nor prosecute their other designs for fear of Mark Anthony and Lepidus whereof the one was Consul and the other Generall of the
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
own House but published these things yea and communicated them to the Lords of the Senate He kept himself also a long time from company for very shame He had thoughts of putting his Daughter to death but at last he banished her into Pandataria an Island of Campania her Mother Scribonia of her own accord accompanying her in banishment Julia being at this time thirty eight years old For want of Sons to succed him Augustus first adopted his Nephew Marcellus the Son of his Sister Octavia to whom he first married his Daughter Julia and Marcellus dying without issue he then married her to his Favourite Agrippa who also left her a Widdow but yet he had by her three Sons and two Daughters Two of these Sons having been adopted by Augustus died before him whereupon he adopted the third who bore his Fathers Name Agrippa the which adoption he afterwads revoaked for some displeasure conceived against him and lastly he adopted his Son in Law Tiberius Nero and made him his Heire whom also he married to his Daughter Julia the Widdow of Agrippa yet this he did more through the importunity of his mother than for any good liking that he had of him being sorry that such an one should succeed him Not long after the first Letter of his Name that was upon the Inscription of his Statue that was set up in the Capitol fell down being struck with a flash of lightening whereupon the Southsayers foretold that he should live only one hundred dayes after which was denoted by the letter C. and that he should be Cannonized for a God because Aesar which remained of his Name in the Hetruscan Tongue signified a God Hereupon he wrot a Catalogue of his doings which he appointed to be engraven in Tables of Brasse and to be set over his Tomb. Things being thus done Caesar Augustus being now seventy six years old and odd dayes having raigned above fifty six and being the best beloved and the best obeyed Prince in the World Death overtook him which was occasioned by a flux which held him for some dayes and so Augustus died at Nolla in Campania in the same House and Chamber wherein his Father Octavius died being the nineteenth day of August upon which day he was first made Consul and in the fifteenth year after the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. He was generally lamented and there was a universall sorrow and heavinesse over the whole Empire for him For he did wisely and uprightly Govern that Monarchy which he had gotten by force and fraud He was of a mean stature of a very good shape and proportion of Body of an exceeding fair face mixed with modesty and gravity His eyes were very clear and bright He was very advised in his speeches and loved to speak quick and briefly His last Will and Testament was written a year and four moneths before he died and left in the custody of the Vestall Virgins In his life time he was very desirous to reforme abuses in Rome and in the first place he corrected some disorders in the Senate whom he reduced to the number of six hundred He reformed what was amiss in their playes and Games in the Knights and in their manner of suing for publick Offices He set fines upon their Heads that would not marry and bestowed much upon those that had Wives and Children He gave unto Hortensius twenty five thousand Crowns to procure him to marry that he might raise up issue to that Noble Family of the Hortenses He ordained that maids should be at least twelve years old before they married and suffered them to kill Adulterers that were taken in the fact and condemned the Sodomites without pardon He gave order that none should be put in nomination for Offices but such as were vertuous and of good repute He tied not himself to any certain hours for his meales but used to eat when he was hungry and that which he fed upon was neither dainty nor delicate and he drank little Wine Instead of a Looking-glasse he used to read or write whilst his Barber was trimming him He never spake to the Senate or people or to his Souldiers but what he had first written and premeditated though he had words at command He delighted to read good Authours but gathered nothing more then sentences teaching good manners and having written them out word for word he gave Coppies thereof to his familiar Friends and sent them about to the Governours of Provinces and to the Magistrates of Rome He was too much adicted to Divinations and was marvellously afraid of Thunder and Lightning Our Saviour Christ being borne all the Devils Oracles ceased and the Oracle of Delphes was faigne to confesse it and ever after remained dumb whereupon Augustus being astonished caused a great Altar to be set up in the Capitol with an Inscription signifying that it was the Altar of the God first born To prevent the great abuse of Usury which undid many Families he put into the Exchequer twenty five hundred thousand Crowns and suffered private men to take of it for three years without Interest putting in good security for the paying back of the principall and condemned such usurers as had taken more than the Law allowed to pay four times as much to those who had been oppressed by them FINIS Caesars Parentage His danger by Sylla His flight He is taken by Pirates His boldnesse He is delivered He crucifies the Pirates His studies His return to Rome He grows popular And is feared His preferment His ambition He is made High Priest His Moderation He puts away his wife His ambition His victories in Spain His Prudence His subtilty He is chosen Consul He marries his Daughter to Pompey He is sent into Gaul He bettays Cicero His Valour and great successes His Souldiers Valour His Temperance His activity He overcomes the Swissers And the Germans And the Gauls His policy He overcomes the Belgae A Battel His Policy He overcomes the Germans He passes over the Rhine And went into England Julias death He beates the French The French rebell Caesar overcomes them Non vult Caesarve priorem Pompeiusve pareni Disorders at Rome Pompey sole Consul Pompey deluded Factions in Rome Caesar goes against Pompey He passes Rubicon Pompey flies and the Senate Caesar pursues him He is Lord of all Italy And went to Rome He went into Spain And conquered Pompeys men And other places He takes Marcelleis His Captaines had ill successe Pompey prepares for War Caesar goes against him Now Brindez Sksrmishes betwixt them Caesars rashness Caesar is beaten Caesars policy Pompeys good resolution Pompey beaten and slain Caesars clemency He pursues Pompey He comes into Egypt Vanity of vanities His Wars in Egypt His danger His Victory He passes into Asia Overcomes Pharnaces He comes to Rome He passes into Africk He overcomes Scipio Cato kills himself He returns to Rome His Triumphs He goes nto Spain A cruel Battell His Victory He returns â—o Rome His power His clemency and Magnaminity Disconten's arise Base flattery His great projects His Pride His dissimulation A conspiracy against him His death foretold He is slaine His character His will Peace concluded A tumult He favoured the Jewes His Parentage His first imployment He comes into Italy Many resort to him He comes to Rome M. Anthony's pride And falshood Caesar raises an Army Anthony leaves Rome His Parsimony Caesars Policy Anthony declared an enemy Caesar overcomes him He fliesinto France Caesar makes himself Consul A Triumvirate erected Many proscribed Ingratitude Cicero flies And is slaine Horid cruelty Sons unnaturall Sons dutifull and good Wives good Wives bad Servants bad Servants good A good Son A Jezabel Base coveteousnesse Valour Oppression They go against Brutus and Cassius Prodigeis A Spectarum Brutus beats Caesar M. Anthony beats Cassius Brutus beaten Kills himself Anthony With Cleopatra Troubles in Rome Caesars Victory Authony comes into Italy Peace made bewixt them Anthony marries Octavia They are reconciled with Sextus Pompey The Parthian bea ten Caesar envies Sextus Pompey Wars against him Caesar marries Livia Pompey beaten Caesar beaten Pompey beaten And flies And is slaine Caesars dangers He falls out with Lepidus Caesars Policy Lepidus overcome Caesar retern to Rome Anthony besotted with Cleopatra Caesar seeks a quarrill with him Caesars new troubles Qurrals betwixt them Preparation for War Anthonys imprudence Caesars message Antonys answer They meet They prepare to fight A Battell Antony flies His mens fidelity His Army yeilds to Caesar. Anthony lives privately Caesar highly honoured Anthony prepars for War Casar pursuss him into Aegypt Prodigies Cleopatras treachery Anthony kills himself Casar bewailes his Death Caesar pardons the Egytians Cleopatras Passion She kills herself Caesars Triumphs Caesare commendations Flattery Janus Temple shut up New troubles Spain subdued Augustus his crosses Many Ambassadours come to him Our Saviour Christ borne His Prudence and Justice His vices His crosses A prodigy His Death His Character He was a friend to marriag His temperance His Prudence The Devils Oracles dumb His Charity
THE LIFE DEATH OF Julius Caesar The first Founder of the ROMAN EMPIRE AS ALSO The LIFE and DEATH OF Augustus Caesar In whose Raign our Blessed LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIT was borne By Sa. Clarke sometime Pastor in St. Bennet Finck London LONDON Printed for William Miller at the Guilded Acorn in St Pauls Church-yard near the little North Door 1665. THE LIFE DEATH OF Julius Caesar The first Founder of the ROMAN EMPIRE JUlius Caesar by the Fathers side was of a very Noble and ancient Family and by the Mothers side he descended from the Kings of Rome who were extracted from the Trojan Aeneas When he was a young man Sylla having gotten the Lordship of Rome would have had him put away his Wife Cornelia who was the Daughter of Cinna the Dictator but he could not prevaile with him either by promises or threats to do it whereupon he took away her joynter from him Sylla being very busie in puting to Death many of his enemies yet passed by Caesar whom he contemned for his youth And Caesar was not contented to retire himself in safety inthose stormy times but came and made suite to the People for the Priesthood which was then void when he had scant any haire on his face but by Syllas means he suffered a repulse who was so irritated hereby that he determined to have killed him and when some of Syllas Friends told him that it was to no purpose to put so young a man to Death he answered That they did not consider that there were many Marius's in that one Boy Caesar being informed of his danger secretly fled from Rome and hid himself a long time amongst the Sabines wandering from one place to another yet at length he fell into the hands of a party of Syllas Souldiers who soughtfor him but he bribed their Captain with two Talents and so escaped Then went he unto the Sea side and taking Ship he passed into Bythinia unto King Nicomedes And after a while he took Sea again and fell into the hands of some Pirates who at that time kept all the Sea-coast with a great Fleet. They asking him twenty Talents for his Ransom Caesar laughed them to scorne as not knowing what a man they had taken and of himself promised them fifty Talents and sent some of his men to get him this money so that he was almost left alone amongst these Theeves which were the cruellest Butchers in the world having onely one of his Friends and two Slaves with him Thus he continued thirty eight dayes amongst them not as a Prisoner but rather waited upon as a Prince by them For he boldly exercised himself amongst them in their sports He would make Orations and call them to gether to hear them and if they seemed not to understand or regard them he would call them Blockheads and Beasts and laughing would threaten to hang them and they took all in good part thinking that it proceeded from his Boyish simplicity When his Ransome was come he paid it them and so was dismssied and presently arming and manning some Ships out of the Haven of Miletum he followed these Theeves and finding them yet at Anchor he took most of them and got a great Booty and carryed there persons to the City of Pergamus and there imprisoned them whilst himself went to Jumus the Governour of Asia to whom the execution of these Pirates did belong But he desiring to get the money because there was good store of it said that he would consider of these Prisoners at better leasure Caesar hereupon returned back to Pergamus and there hung up all these Theeves openly upon the Crosse as he often had threatened that he would doe when they thought that he was but in jest When Sylla's power began to decay Caesars Friends wrote to him to returne to Rome But he first went to Rhodes to study there for a time under the Tuition of Apollonius an honest man and excellent Rethorician whose Schollar also Cicero had been Caesar had an excellent gift to speak well naturally which was much holpen by his Studies so that he was very eloquent and might have been second to none but that he applied himself rather to follow the Wars and to mannage great matters than to pleading of causes When he was returned again to Rome he immediately wan the good willof the People by his Eloquence and courteous speaking to every man being more ceremonious in his deportment than could be expected from one of his years Besides he ever kept a good Table and fared well and was very liberall which much encreased his estimation with the people And his enemies presuming that when he could not hold out that charge and expence the favour of the People would quickly decay they suffered him to go on till by degrees he was grown very great and powerfull So that though some of them foresaw that his power would at last turne to the destruction of the Commonwealth of Rome yet now they knew not how to provent it Indeed Cicero was the first man who mistrusting his dealings found out his subtilty and malice which he cuningly cloaked under a shew of curtesie and familiarity Yet said he When I consider how finely he combeth his fair bush of haire and how smooth it lyeth and that I see him scratch his Head with one finger my mind gives me then that such a man should not be so wicked as to designe the ruine of the common-wealth The first time that he made proofe of the good will of the People was when he stood in competition with Pompey to be chosen a Collonel of a thousand Foot Souldiers and carryed it against him but a more manifest proof of it was at the Deathof his Aunt Julia the Wifeof Marius the elder For then he solemnly made an Oration in her commendations in the Market place and at her Buriall did boldly shew forth the Images of Marius which was the first time that they were seen after Syllas Victory over him at which time Marius and all his partakershad been proclaimed Traytors and enemies to the Commonwealth And whereas some cryed out upon Caesar for doing it the Poeple on the other side applaudded and thanked him him for it And whereas there was an ancient custome that the Romans used to make Funerall Orations in commendation of old Ladys but not of young Women Caesar was the first that praised his own Wife in an Oration at her funerall which much engaged the People to him seeing him of so kind and loving a nature Shortly after he was made Treasure under Antistius Vetus the Praetor for which he ever after honoured him so that when he himselfe came to be Praetor he made his Son Treasurer under him and when he came out of that Office he married his third Wife whom was Pompeia and married his Daughter Cornelia which he had by his first Wife to Pompey
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
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