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
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
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
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
he liked not of this challenge he would stay for him with his Army in the Fields of Pharsalia in the same place where Julius Caesar fought with Cneius Pompey These Messages passing between them without effect Anthony drew his Army by Land and his Navy by Sea towards Italy and Octavian imbarked his Legions at Brundusium and crossed the Sea to a place called Torma in the Province of Epire now called Romania and after some notable exploits performed the two Armies drew neer together as also did the Navies Octavians Navy consisted of two hundred and fifty Galleys but better armed and swifter then were Mark Anthonies though his were more in number And Mark Anthony being perswaded by Cleopatra who in this also was the cause of his ruine thereby to have the better meanes to fly if the Battell should be lost would needs try his Fortune in a Sea fight though his Army by Land had a great advantage over the other Anthony chose twenty two thousand out of his Army and put them aboard his Fleet and Octavian who refused not the Sea-fight made his provision also and so shipping himself in his Galleys he committed the charge of his Land Army to Taurus and Anthony left his Land Forces with Canidius and in the sight of both the Armies these two brave Captaines which the best Navies in the World took the Seas where they fought for no lesse then the Empire of the World Yet was the Fight deferred for three dayes in dispite of both parties the Seas rising so high that they could not Govern their Vessels The fourth Day they came to an encounter at a Cape called Accius in Epire not far from the place where their Land Armies stood The Battell was one of the most cruelest that ever was heard of and lasted ten hours before Octavian obtained the Victory though Mark Anthony staid not so long in the fight For Cleopatra in the greatest fury of the Battell fled away in her Galley whom seventy of her other Galleys followed and unfortunate Mark Anthony who all his life time hitherto had been a valiant and brave Captain seeing Cleopatra fly on whom he had fixed his eyes and heart shifting out of his own Galley into a lighter followed her without regard of his Armies either by Sea or Land and overtaking her went abord her Galley wherein he sailed three dayes with out either seeing or speaking with her being confounded with shame for shewing so much weaknesse and at last they arrived in the Port of Alexandria in Aegypt His Navy which he left fighting though now Headlesse and without a Captain yet continued to make gallant resistance till five thousand of them were slaine and at last they were overcome rather for want of a Commander then through any force of an enemy though Octavians light and swift Galleys were a great help to him and so he remained Conquerour and granted life and pardon to the Conquered getting into his hands three hundred of their Galleys In Anthonies Army by Land there wanted neither courage nor constancy to their Generall though he had so unworthily deserted them and therefore they continued seven dayes in their Camp ready to give Battell without accepting any composition from the enemy and they would have staid longer had not Canidius their Captaine abused his trust flying secretly from the Camp to seek Anthony whereupon the Army being destitute of a Generall yeilded to the enemy who admitted them into his own Army being nineteen Legions of Foot and twelve thousand Horse The Senators Knights and Noble men that had served Anthony many of them he fined in great summs of Money many he put to death and some he pardoned Then did Caesar sail to Athens and being pacified with the Greeks he distributed the Corne that was left in the War to the Cities that were afflicted with Famine and that were despoiled of their Money Servants and Horses And Anthony being arrived in Aegypt chose out one good Ship of good burden and fraught with store of Treasure and rich Plate of Gold and Silver and gave it to his Friends intreating them to divide it amongst them and to shift for themselves and he wrote to Theophilus the Governour of Corinth that he would provide them an hiding place till they might make their Peace with Caesar. And Caesar of the spoiles of the enemy dedicated ten Ships ' to Apollo Actius Anthony being come into Africk went into a desart place wandering up and down only accompanied with two Friends and after a while he sent to the Generall of the Army which he had formerly raised for the defence of Aegypt but he slew his messengers and said that he would not obey Anthony whereupon he had thought to have killed himself but being hindred by his Friends he went to Alexandria and after a while he built him an House in the Sea by the Isle of Pharos and there lived from the Company of all men saying That he would live the life of Timon the Man-hater because he was abused by his Friends and had experience of their ingratitude and he called this house Timonion Yet at length he left this place and went to the Pallace where he spent his time in Feasting and jollity And Cleopatra got together diverse sorts of deadly poisons of poisonsome Creatures whereof she made triall upon many condemned persons and amongst all she liked the biting of the Aspe best for it brought a sleepinesse without any contraction of the members or groaning onely causing a gentle sweating of the face and a languishing stupidity of the senses At Rome many things were decreed in honour of Caesar for this Victory at Sea First a Triumph was granted him for Cleopatra and a Triumphal Arch was erected at Brundusium and another at Rome The base of the Julian Temple was adorned with the Beakes of the Shipshe had taken There were Playes decreed to be kept every fifth year in honour of him Processions were always to be made on his Birth day and on the day wherein the newes of his Victory was first brought That the vestall Virgins the Senate with their Wives and Children should go and meet him at his returne that all the Ornaments of Anthony should be demolished and cast down that his birth day should be accounted unlucky and that none of his Famely should ever have the forename of Marcus About this time Anthony and Cleopatra sent Ambassadours to Caesar into Asia Cleopatra demanded the Kingdom of Aegypt for her Children and without Anthonies knowledge sent him a Scepter Crown and Chaire all of Gold as it were delivering her Kingdom over to him and Anthony demanded that he might live a private life at Athens if he might not continue in Aegypt Caesar accepted of Cleopatra's gifts accounting them as good Omens but he would afford no answer to Anthony and privately he promised impunity and her Kingdom to Cleopatra if she would kill Anthony They sent also
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
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