scant lye in it whereupon he said to his Friends the greatest roomes are fittest for the greatest men and Beds for sick persons and so caused Oppius that was sick to lie there and himself with the rest of his Friends lay without doors The first War that Caesar made in Gaul was against the Helvetians or Swissers and the Tygurines who having set fire of their own Cities and Houses came to invade that part of Gaul which was subject to the Romans These were a very War-like and Valiant People and in all they were three hundred thousand souls whereof there were one hundred and ninety thousand fighting men yet were they overthrown by Caesar's Lieutenant at the River Arax And when the Helvetians afterwards came suddenly to set upon Caesar he made hast to get into some place of strength and there ordered his Battel against them and when one brought him his charging Horse he said when I have overcome mine enemies then I will get upon him to pursue them and so marching against them on foot he fiercely charged them The Battel continued long before he could make them fly yet had he more ado to take their Camp and to break the strength that they had made with their Carts For not onely those that were fled into it made head again but their Wives and Children also fought stoutly for their lives till they were all slain and the Battel was scarce ended by midnght Presently after above one hundred thousand of those that had escaped from this Battel were forced by Caesar to return into their own Country again and to the Townes which they had burnt and this he did lest the Germans should come over the Rhine and settle themselves in that Country being void The next War that Caesar made was in defence of the Gauls against the Germans though himself had before admitted Ariovistus their King to be received as a consederate of the Romans Notwithstanding which they were grown very unquiet Neighbours watching but an opportunity to possess themselves of the rest of Gaul Caesar perceiving that some of his Captains much feared them especially the young Gentlemen of Noble Famelies who went along with him as to some Pastimes he commanded all that were afraid to return home and not endanger themselves against their wills But for himself he said he would set upon those Barbarous People though he had left him but the tenth Legion onely Upon this the tenth Legion sent their Officers to thank him for the good opinion he had of them and all the other Legions blamed their Captaines for their backwardness and followed him cheerfully till they came within two hundred Furlongs of the enemies Camp Ariovistus his courage was well cooled when he saw Caesar so near whereas they thought that the Romans were afraid of them His Army also was in a great amaze But that which discouraged them most was the Prophesies of some foolish women who observing the terrible noise which the water in the River made advised the Germans by no means to fight and they being possessed with a supestitious fear sought to avoid the fight Yet Caesar skirmished with them every day and sometimes followed them to their Forts and little Hills where they lay whereby he so provoked them that at last they came down with great fury to fight In this Battell he overcame them and pursued them very eagerly making a great slaughter of them even to the River of Rhine filling all the fields with dead Bodies and spoiles Ariovistus himself flying speedily got over the River and escaped with some few of his men At this Battell there were slain about eighty thousand Germans After this Battel Caesar left his Army to winter amongst the Sequanes and himself thinking of the affairs of Rome returned over the Alps to a place about the River Po whilest he lay there he laboured to make Friends at Rome and when many came to visit him there he granted all their suits and sent them back some with liberal rewards and others with large promises whereby he engaged them to him During all the time of Caesar's great conquests in Gaul Pompey did not consider how Caesar conquered the Gauls with the Roman weapons and wan the Romans with the Riches of the Gauls At this time Caesar being informed that the Belgae who were the most warlike Nation of all the Gauls were all up in Armes and had raised a very great Power he presently made towards them with all possible speed and found them over-running and plundering the neighbour Countries and confederates of the Romans wherefore he gave them Battel and overthrew their chiefest Army and slew so many of them that the Lakes and Rivers were died with their bloud and filled with their dead Bodies that the Romans passed over on foot upon them After this overthrow such of them as dwelt neere the Sea yeilded themselves and from thence he conducted his Army against the Nervians the stoutest Souldiers of all the Belgae These dwelling in a Woody Country had conveyed their Wives Children and Goods into a very great Forrest remote from their enemies and being above eighty thousand fighting men they watching their opportunity set upon Caesar when his Army was out of order and little expecting them At the first charge they brake the Roman Horsemen and encompassing the seventh and twelfth Legions they slew all the Captains and had not Caesar himself with his Shield on his Arme run amongst them making a lane as he went and the tenth Legion seeing him in that danger followed him with all speed there had not a Roman escaped alive that day But looking upon Caesar's valour his men fought desperately even beyond their abilities and yet could they not make the Nervi fly but they fought it out bravely till most of them were slaine in the Field five hundred onely of them ascapeing Yet was it a bloudy Battel to the Romans for that of four hundred Gentlemen and Counsellers of Rome there were but three saved The Senate of Rome made great signes of joy for these Victories by sacrifizing to the Gods Playes c. and as Caesars fame was encreased hereby so he wan upon the Peoples love And alwayes when his affaires would permit he used to Winter by the River Po to give direction about his affaires at Rome And truly not only such as sued for Offices at Rome obtained them by Caesars money and therefore imployed all their power to promote his interest but the chiefest also of the Nobility went to Luke unto him insomuch as at one time there have been seen before his Gates one hundred and twenty Sergeants carrying Rods and Axes before the Magistrates that have waited upon him and two hundred Senators besides Here they held a Councell wherein it was agreed that Pompey and Crassus should again be chosen Consuls for the year following and that Caesar should have more money delivered him to pay his Army and that his
the hight of the Walls and the many hands to defend them During this siege Caesar fell into a very great danger For three hundred thousand of the best Souldiers amongst the Gauls came against him besides those within the City who were seventy thousand fighting men so that finding himself to be shut in between two such mighty Armies he was faign to fortifie himself with two Walls One against those within Alexia and the other against those without And truly the Battell which he wan at this place gat him more honour than any other that ever he fought before For in this extream danger he shewed more Valour and Wisdom and courage than in any other And this was wondefull that they within the City neheard of their Friends that came to assist them till Caesar had overcome them Yea Caesars own men that guarded the Wall against the City knew nothing of the Battell till they heard the cries and lamentations of those in the City when they saw the Romans bring into their Camp such a number of Shields glistering with Gold and Silver such store of bloudy Corslets and Armour such a deal of Plate and movables and such a number of Tents and Pavilions of the Gauls which the Romans had gotten of their spoiles Thus the greatest part of this huge Army were slain and as for those within the City when they had done and received much hurt they at last yeilded and Vercing entorix went out of the City richly Armed and his Horse furnished with brave and glittering Caparisons and rode about Caesar who sat in his Chair of State Then allighting he took off the Caparisons and stript himself of his Armour and prostrated himself on the Ground and then went and sat down at Caesars feet speaking never a word Caesar after a while committed him to Prison to be led in his Triumph at Rome Now Caesar had long since projected the distruction of Pompey as Pompey had done the like for him Nothing kept Caesar from being the Greatest Person but Pompey the Great and nothing kept Pompey from being supreame but Caesar. Hitherto Pompey had set light by Caesar thinking that he could crush him when he pleased But Caesar went more cunningly to work for to attaine his end he procured to be sent into Gaul where he exercised and hardened his Army and by his valiant deeds purchased fame and honour so that now he lacked nothing but an occasion to put his design in practise which Pompey partly gave him and the iniquity of the times much surthered it For such as sued for honours and Offices bought the voices of the People shamefully who therefore came to the Market-place not to give their voices but with Bowes and Slings and Swords and the Assembly seldom brake up but the Pulpit for Orations was besprinkled with the bloud of the slaine so that many Wise men believed that there was no other cure of these evils but by putting the supreame authority into one mans hand and many wished that Pompey were the man But he seemed to decline it though cunningly under hand he laboured to be chosen Dictator Cato smelling his drift perswaded the Senate rather to make him sole Consul thereby to satisfy his ambition This was done accordingly and the time also for the Gevernment of his Provinces was prorogued they allowed him also a thousand Talents yearly out of the publick Treasury wherewith to pay his Souldiers Hereupon Caesar took occasion to send his men to Rome to sue in his name for the Consulship and for the prolonging of his Government This was too indiscreetly opposed by Marcellus and Lentulu and many things were spoken in his disgrace They took away also the freedom from the Collonies which Caesar had lately granted them And when Marcellus was Consul he caused one of those Senators to be whipt saying that he gave him those marks that he might be known to be no Citizen of Rome and bad him go and tell Caesar of it Shortly after Caesar opened his Treasures which he had got in Gaul and gave it freely among the Magistrates of Rome He set Curio the Tribune cleer out of debt He gave to the Consul Paul fifteen hundred Talents wherewith he built a stately Theater Pompey now beginning to fear laboured to have a successour sent to Caesar and withall sent for his two Legions which Caesar returned to him bountifully rewarding every Souldier and they which brought these Legions back disgraced Caesar all they could and told Pompey that if Caesar's Souldiers did but once see him they would all forsake Caesar and cleave to him This made Pompey more secure that he neglected to prepare for War One of Caesar's Captaines coming to Rome and moving the Senate to have his government prorogued they delaying their answer he laid his hand upon his Sword and said Sith you will not grant it him this shall give it him Caesar seemed to be very reasonable in what he requested For he said that whilest they required him to lay down Armes for fear of a Tyranny and yet permitted Pompey to keep his they went about to establish a Tyranny Curio in the name of Caesar moved before all the People that both should be commanded to lay down Armes which motion was entertained with great joy and claping of hands by the People who threw nose-gayes and flowers upon him for it Then Anthony one of the Tribunes brought a letter from Caesar and read it before the People in spite of the Consuls wherein hae desired that they would grant him Gaul on this side the Alps and Illyria with two Legions onely and then he would desire no more But Scipio the Father in Law of Pompey moved in the Senate that if Caesar did not dismiss his Army by a day appointed that then he should be proclaimed an enemy to Rome Marccilus also added that they must use force of Armes and not Arguments against a Thief whereupon the Senate rose without determining any thing and every one put on his mourning apparrell as in the time of a common calamity Cirero being newly come from his Government in Cilicia took much pains to reconcile them together and perswaded Pompey all he could who told him that he would yield to whatsoever he desired so he would let him alone with his Army But Lentulus the Consul shamefully drave Curio and Anthony out of the Senate who were in such danger that they were faigne to fly out of Rome to Caesar disguised in a Carriers coat This gave Caesar great advantage and much incensed his men when they saw and heard how his Friends were abused Caesar at this time had about him but five thousand Foot and three thousand Horse having left the rest of his Army on the other side of the Alps to be brought after him by his Lieutenants Judging it better suddenly to steal upon them at Rome then to assail them with his whole Army which would require time give
comming of the other Legions who staying longer than he expected he resolved in person with three Confident servants secretly to embarke himself in a Brigandine and to passe that streight of the Sea and to fetch them hoping to performe the same without the knowledge of any And accordingly passing down the River to the Sea he found it so troublesome and tempestious that the Master of his Brigandine not knowing whom he carried durst not adventure forth but would have returned Then Caesar discovering his face said Perge audactèr Caesarem enim fers fortunam Caesaris Beare up bravely and boldly against the Winds and Waves for thou carriest Caesar and all his Fortunes The Master herewith encouraged strove all that possibly he could to proceed in his voyage but the force of the Tempest was so great and the Wind so contrary that do what possibly they could they were driven back again When Caesars Army heard of these passages they much wondred grieved and were troubled at it Commending him more for his Valour than for his Wifedome But within few days after M. Anthony arrived with four of those Legions which were left behind in Italy presently returning the Ships back for the rest Anthony after some adventures joyned with Caesars Army neer to Dirrachium where we lately left him Frequent skirmishes still continued between the two Armies and many were slain on both sides and one day the skirmish was so hot supplies being sent from both sides that it almost came to a just Battel wherein Caesars men were so beaten that they fled before the enemies and could not be made to stand by any intreaties or menaces till they were come into their Camp which they had strongly fortified yet many durst not trust to that but fled out of it But Pompey either because he imagined their flight to be faigned to draw him into an Ambush or because he thought there needed no more to be done and that Caesar could no more resist him he neglected to prosecute his Victory causing a retrate to be sounded without assaulting Caesars Camp which probably he might have taken and made an end of the War that day Whereupon Caesar said to his Friends Truly this day had ended the War if our enemies had had a Captain that had known how to overcome At this time Caesar lost a great number of his men amongst whom were four hundred Roman Knights ten Tribunes or Collonels and thirty two Centurions or Captaines and his enemies took for from him thirty two Ensignes Upon this Victory Pompey sent newes thereof to diverse parts of the World holding himself for an absolute Conquerour Caesar much blamed some of his Captaines and Ensigne bearers for their cowardize and his Army were so grieved and ashamed that they much importuned him to lead them forth again to Battell But he thought it not fit so soon to lead them forth against a Victorious Army He therefore sent his fick and wounded men to the City of Apolonia and departed by night with as great silence as could be from the place where he was and marched towards Thessaly intending there to refresh and encourage his Army and to draw his enemies farther from the Sea coast where their chiefe strength lay and where their Camp was well fortified and victualled or at least he intended to attempt the overthrow of Scipio who as he heard was comming to joyne with Pompey Pompey finding Caesar was departed followed him for some few dayes and then taking Councel what to do he resolved to leave a sufficient Navy to guard the Seas and with the rest to returne into Italy and to seize upon it together with France and Spain and afterwards to go against Caesar But the Romane Lords that were with him and the importunity of his unskilfull Captains and Souldiers forced him to alter his determination and presently to pursue Caesar who made an Alt in the fields of Pharsalia which are in Thessaly making his retreat with so much prudence and in so good order that upon all occasions that were offered he ever had the better till at length seeing his men full of resolution and courage he resolved no longer to defer the Fight Concerning which Battell the ordering and event of it the flight of Pompey into Egypt and how basely and barbarously he was murthered there see it before in the Life of Pompey the Great Julius Caesar having obtained this great and glorious victory used therein his accustomed Clemency not suffering any Roman either to be slain or hurt after the Battell was ended but pardoned all those that were either taken in the Fight or found in the Camp amongst whom was Marcus Tullius Cicero After which being informed which way Pompey was fled he pursued him with the lightest and swiftest of his Army and in the way subduing all the Cities he at last came to the Sea side where he gathered together all the Ships and Gallies that possibly he could together with those whom Cassius had brought he therein shipped as many of his men as they could contain and passed into the lesser Asia where being advertised that Pompey had been in Cyprus he presumed that he was gone into Egypt wherefore he steered the same course taking with him two Legions of old Souldiers onely When he arrived at Alexandria he understood that Pompey presuming upon the many benefits and good entertainment which the Father of this King Ptolomy had received in his House had sent to this Ptolomy to harbour and assist him which accordingly the King promised Pompey comming upon his safe conduct in a small Boat was by the false Kings commandement basely murthered thinking thereby to win the favour of Caesar. He understood likewise that Cornelia the Wife of Pompey and his Son Sextus Pompeyus were fled from thence in the same ship wherein they came Caesar being landed and received into the City they brought him for a present the Head of the Great Pompey but he turned away and would not see it and when they brought him Pompeys Ring with his Seal of Armes he wept considering the end and successe of the great adventures and properties of Pompey who with such honour and fame had Triumphed three times and been so many times Consul in Rome and had obtained so many Victories abroad When Caesar was landed in Aegypt he found the Country imbroyled in Civill Wars there being great discord between young King Ptolomy and his Sister Cleopatra about the division and Inheritance of that Kingdome wherein Julius Caesar as being a Roman Consul took upon him to be an Arbitrator For which cause or because their guilty consciences accused them for the treacherous murther of Pompey Fotinus the Enuuch who had contrived the said murther and Achillas who had been the actor of it fearing that Caesar inclined to favour Cleopatra sent for the Kings Army that lay neere the City consisting of twenty thousand good Souldiers purposing to
the Great He further ingratiated himself with the People by disbursing a great summe of his own money in mending the Appian way when he was made Overseer thereof as also for that when he was chosen an Aedile he shewed the People the pastime of three hundred and twenty couple of Sword Players and exceeded all others in the sumptuousnesse of his Feasts and sports which he made for the delight of the People which made them daily to give him new Offices by way of requitall Not long after the High Priest Metellus dyed and Isauricus and Catulus two of the chiefest men and of the greatest authority in Rome contended for the place Caesar also presented himself to the People and sued for it and Catulus fearing the event sent a great summe of money to Caesar to procure him to leave off his suite Caesar sent him word that he would disburse a greater summe than that to maintaine the suit against him and when the Day of Election came his Mother bringing him to the Doore Caesar weeping kissed her and said Mother This day thou shalt see thy Son chief Bishop of Rome or bannished from Rome and accordingly he carred it by the suffrages of the People insomuch as the Senate and Noble men were all affraid of him judging that from henceforth he would make the People do what he pleased Afterwards Caesar going into the Senate to cleere himself of some accusations that were brought against him the Senate keeping him somewhat longer than ordinary the People come to the door and called for him bidding them let him out Whereupon Cato fearing an insurraction of the Poor and needy persons who put all their hopes in Caesar moved that a frank distribution of Corne for a moneth should be made amongst them which indeed put the Commonwealth to the charge of fifty five hundred Myriades but it quenched the present danger and did happly scatter the best part of Caesars strength and that at such time when he was made Praetor and had thereby opportunity of doing much mischief Yet all the time of that Office he never attempted to make any alteration in the Common-wealth About this time Clodius was suspected of too much familiarity whith Pompeia wherefore Caesar put her away The Government of Spain being falne unto Caesar as he was Praetor his Creditors came with great importunity calling for their debts But he being unable to satisfy them went to Crassus the richest man in Rome who stood in need of Caesars boldness and courage to withstand Pompeys greatness who became his surety to his greediest Creditors for eight hundred and thirty Talents whereupon he was suffered to depart to his Province As he passed over the Alps he came to a little poor Village where his friends that did accompany him asked him merrily if there were any contending for Offices in that Town and whether there were any strife amongst the Noble-men for honour Caesar answered I cannot tell but for my part I had rather be the chiefest man here than the second person in Rome Another time in Spain reading the History of Alexander he was sorrowfull a good while after and at last burst out into weeping His Friends marvelling at it asked him what was the cause of his sorrow He answered Do you not think that I have good cause to be sorry when Alexander being no older than myself had conquered so many Nations and Countries whereas hitherto I have done nothing worthy of my self When he first came into Spain he followed his business close and in a short time had joined ten new Ensigns of Foot Souldiers unto the other twenty which he had before Then marching against the Gallicians and Lusitanians he conquered all before him as far as to the Atlantick Ocean subduing those People which before knew not the Romans for their Lords and then did as wisely take order for the establishing of Peace For he reconciled the Cities together made them Friends But especially he pacified all suits of Law betwixt Debtors and Creditors which arose by usury Ordaining that the Creditors should take yearly two parts of the revenew of their Debtors till such time as they had paid themselves and that the Debtors should have the other third part to live upon By this he won great estimation to himself and returned from his Government very wealthy his Souldiers also were full of rich spoiles The Romans had a custome that such as desired the honour of Triumph should stay without the City whereas they that sued for the Consulship must of necessity be there in Person Caesar coming home just at that time when Consuls were to be chosen he sent to request the Senate that he might be permitted to sue for the Consulship by his friends Against this Cato at first did vehemently invey alleadging that it was contrary to an express Law But when he perceived that many of the Senators being Caesar's friends favoured his request he cunningly sought all he could to prevent them whereupon Caesar resolved rather to give over his suit for the Triumph than to lose the Consulship So he came into the City and outwitted all but Cato His device was this Pompey and Crassus were the two greatest Persons in Rome and at jarr between themselves Caesar affecting to make himself greater than either of them sought to make them friends and thereby to get the power of them both For indeed they both affected his Friendship that by his help they might supplant one another And in the end by his endeavours a peace was concluded betwixt them yet being still jealous one of another and fearing to lose Caesar they both sought to gratifie him and by this means he made himself equall to either of them and that power which they two had formerly usurped was now divided between three and in the end Caesar hereby got the sole command This League being made betwixt them Caesar demanded the Consulship being brought into the Assembly for the Election betwixt these two Noble Persons and was there chosen Consul together with Calphurnius Bibulus without the contradiction of any And when he was entered into his Office he began to put forth Laws meeter for a sedicious Tribune than for a Consul because by them he preferred the division of Lands and distrubuting Corne to every Citizen Gratis and all to please the People And when the Senators opposed it he took the advantage Protesting that the Senate by their austerity drave him against his will to cleave to the People and thereupon he asked Crassus and Pompey in the open Assembly if they gave their consents to his Laws They answered yea Then he prayed them to stand by him against those that threatned to oppose him with the Sword Crassus said he would and Pompey did the like adding that he would come with his Sword and Target both against such which gave great offence to the Senate but the common People much rejoyced Caesar
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
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
his enemies opportunity to strengthen themselves against him He therefore commanded his Captains to go before and to take in the City of Ariminum a great City on this side the Alps with as little bloodshed as might be Then committing the rest of those Souldiers which he had with him to Hortensius he spent a whole day in seeing the sword players exercise before him At night he went unto his lodging where having bathed himself a little he came into the Hall and made merry with those whom he had bidden to supper Then rising from the Table he prayed his Guests to be merry and he would come again to them presently howbeit he had secretly before directed his most trusty Friends to follow him not all together but some one way some another Himself in the mean time took a Coach that he had hired and pretending at first to go another way he suddenly turned towards Ariminum But when he came to the River of Rubicorn which divides the hither Gaul from Italy he suddenly made a stop for if he once passed that there could be no hope of peace considering with himself of what importance this passage was and what miseries would ensue upon it Some say that he spake thus to his Friends Doubtlesse if I forbear to pass over this River it will be the beginning of my ruine if I passe it the ruine will be generall Then turning towards the River he said It is yet in our power to turn back but if we passe the River we must make our way with our Weapons Some say that Coesar standing thus doubtfull he was encouraged by the apparition of a man of a very great stature piping upon a reed whereupon many of the Souldiers and some Trumpetters went neer to hear him and that he catching one of their Trumpets leaped into the River sounding to the Battel with a mighty blast and so passed on to the farther side of the River Whereupon Caesar with a furious resolution cryed out Let us go whether the Gods and the injurious dealing of our enemies do call us The Dice are cast I have set up my Rest Come what will of it After which he set spurs to his Horse and passed the River his Army following him Caesar having passed the River and drawn his Army together he made an Oration to them shedding some tears and tearing his Garment down the Breast laying before them the equity of his cause and craying their assistance To whom having with a generall applause and consent made answer that they were ready to obey his will he presently marched on and came the next day to Ariminum upon which he seized The like he did to all the Towns and Castles as he passed on till he came to Corfinium which was held by Domitius who in a factious tumult had been nominated for his successour in the Government of Gaul This being taken he pardoned the Souldiers and Inhabitants and used Domitius kindly giving him leave to depart who went straight to Pompey by which clemency he purchased to himself much honour These thirty Cohorts he kept with him Caesars resolution being known at Rome it troubled Pompey amazed the Senate and terrified the common People Pompey now found himself deceived who before could not believe that Caesar would thrust himself into so great danger or that he could be able to raise sufficient forces to resist him but the success proved otherwise For though Pompey had authority from the Consuls and Senate to leavy Souldiers to call home his Legions and to send Captains for the defence of those Cities in Italy by which Caesar should passe yet all this was not sufficient to resist his fury and the power that he brought with him The fame of Caesars comming increasing daily Pompey with the whole Senate left Rome going to Capua and from thence to Brundusium a Sea Town seated at the mouth of the Gulph of Vinicâ— where he ordered the Consuls to passe to Dyrrachium now Durazzo a Sea Town of Macedonia there to unite all their forces being out of hope to resist Caesar in Italy who had already taken Corfinium where having drawn Domitius's thirty Cohorts to serve him he marched on and hearing that Pompey and the Consuls were at Brundusium he hasted towards them with his Legions with all possible speed But Pompey though he had fortified the Town sufficiently for his defence yet when Caesar began to invest the Town he imbarked himself and his men in the night time and so passed over to Dyrrachium to the Consuls Thus Caesar injoyed Italy without opposition yet was he doubtfull what to resolve on He would gladly have followed Pompey but wanted Shipping and it being Winter he knew that Ships could not be procured so soon as was requisite and considering with all that it was not safe to leave an enemy behind him which might cause an alteration in France or Italy he resolved first to go into Spain which held for Pompey and where he had his best Legions under the command of Petreius and Afranius saying to his Friends Let us go against an Army which wants a Captain and afterwards we will go against a Captain that wants an Army For Pompeys Souldiers in Spain were very valiant and had been long exercised in Armes but their Commanders were neither Politick nor expert in War But on the contrary Pompey was a most Wise and Valiant Captain but his Souldiers were newly levied and of small experience Caesar returning from Brundusium in sixty dayes space became Lord of all Italy and when he came to Rome the People were in great fear remembring the Miseries they had suffered under Sylla But Caesar using his accustomed clemency hurt no man high nor low He called the Senators together which remained there comforting them with milde and good words and laying the whole fault upon Pompey he fought to justifie his own cause declaring how much he desired Peace with all requsting that Abassadours might be sent to Pompey to procure the same And causing himself presently to be chosen Consul he opened the Treasury though Metellus one of the Tribunes of the people opposed him and the Treasure which he took from thence which was very great he distributed amongst his Souldiers Then was he desirous to go into Spain first taking order for the Civill Government and making choise of the Legions which should go with him he left the rest in Brundusium and Otranto and other strong places upon the Sea Coast to keep Pompey from landing if he should attempt to return into Italy He also made Hortensius and Dolabella his Captaines to provide Shipping to be brought into the Port of Brundusium there to be in a readinesse against his return from Spain Quintus Valerius he sent with a Legion into Sardinia against Marcus Cotta which held the same for Pompey To Sicily he sent Curius and Marcus Cate with direction that having taken the same he should passe over into Africk
Lepidus he sent to Rome as Prefect thereof and Mark Anthony he made Governour of all Italy And resolving to leave Licinius Crassus in France with his acustomed celerity he went on his journey finding no resistance neither in Italy nor France till he came to Marcelleis which held for Pompey This City he besieged and to avoid losse of time left Decius Brutus and Caius Trebonius with sufficient Forces who endured much in the siege himself hasted into Spain where being expected Afranius and Petreius attended him with four Roman Legions and the aid of their Friends between whom and Caesar the War continued for some while chiefly about the City of Lerida At first Caesar was in great danger and much distressed chiefly for wans of Victuals as also for that the Winter was come on which troubled him with the swelling of Rivers before and after which there passed many great skirmishes between the two Armies And Caesar watching his opportunities at last brought his adversaries to such distresse that they perished with hunger and were forced to come to a composition which was that the Legions should have liberty to go whither they pleased and so part of them took pay of Caesar the rest departed and Petreius and Afcanius went to Pompey This War being ended and the Spring come Caesar that he might leave no enemy behind him marched into the Province of Betica now Andaluzia with part of his forces commanding the rest to march whither he had appointed and there to stay for him because Marcus Varro held that Province for Pompey against Caesar with one good Legion But he not daring to oppose Caesar delivered up the Legion to him together with that Country and all was pacified there From thence Caesar went to Cordova where he called a Parliament of all the States of that Province in which he highly commended them and those of Sivil for taking his part and so marching forward he came to the Isle of Cadez where having gotten Ships in readinesse he left Quintus Cassius with four Legians in that Province and so embarking he went to Taragona commanding his Legions to march by Land thither where having settled his affairs he advanced with his Army towards Narbona and from thence to Marcelleis which now yeilded to him having endured many calamities during the Seige Caesar respecting the antiquity and same of this City would not destroy it nor the Inhabitants but leaving a strong Garrison in it he ordered his Legions to march for Italy and himself with a sufficient guard and some of his Friends took passage by Sea to Rome Though all things succeeded thus well with Caesar yet some of his Captaines had ill sucesse For Caius Antonius whom he left with Dolabella for to command his Navy was overthrown and taken Prisoner in the Gulph of Venice by Octavius Lieutenant to Pompey In which overthrow this was very remarkable Anthony was faign to put his men into long Boates for want of Ships which were taken by a Strategem as in a toil by the Pompeians with Ropes under the Water One of them which had in it a Thousand valiant young men being thus ensnared was assaulted by the enemies whole Army against which they defended themselves bravely from morning till night and in the end being oppressed with the multitude by the perswasion of Valteius their Collonel they all slew one another rather than they would fall into the enemies hand Dolabella was likewise overthrowne neere to the Island of Coreyra now Corfu and Curius who went with his two Legions into Africk though at first he had good successe yet afterwards he was overthrown and most of his men slaine by Jaba King of Mauritania Pompeys Friend Caesar being come to Rome and made Dictator new Consuls were chosen whereof he being one layed aside his Dictatorship and provided Praetors for the Provinces as himself pleased He sent Mracus Lepidus into Spain Aulus Albinus into Sicily Sextus Peduceius into Sardinia and Decius Brutus into France and taking such further order as he thought good he departed from Rome in December towards Brundusium whither he commanded all his Forces to march there to take passage for Macedonia where he knew that Pompey staid with his Army who all that whole year that Caesar spent in his journey to Spain busied himself to provide a Navy wherein to return into Italy and in gathering Treasure and levying Souldiers having made an exceeding great provision of all things For there came unto him Ships money and men from sundry Kingdomes and Provinces both of Asia and Greece as from Syria Pontus Bithynia Cilicia Phoeniciae Caeppadocia Pomphilia Armenia Minor Aegypt Greece Thessaly Boeotia Achaia Epirus Athens Lacedemonia the Isles of Creet and Rhodes and from many other Countries There came also to his aid King Deiotarus and Aribarzanes of all which together with those which he brought with him from Italy he compounded a very great Army by Land and a very great Fleet of Ships and Gallyes by Sea It being now the depth of Winter Pompey presuming it improbable if not impossible for Caesar to passe the Seas to him having also intelligence that Caesar was in Rome he disposed of his Army to their Winter Quarters in Macedonia and Thessaly and himself retired farther from the Sea commanding his Sea-Captaines of whom Marcus Bibulus was chiefe to guard the Sea coast But Caesar knowing that in the speedy execution consisted his greatest hopes of Victory and that occasion once lost could hardly be recovered he departed from Rome and came to Brundusium though all his Legions were not as yet come to him There he embarked seven of his best Legions in such ships as were ready sending a Command to the rest which were comming to hasten to Brundusium whither he would send for them with all possible speed And so departing he crossed the Seas with a prosperous gale of Wind and the third day after arrived upon the coast of Macedonia before Pompey had any intelligence of his embarking There he safely landing his men in dispite of Pompeys Captaines and commanded his Ships and Galleys presently to returne to Brundusium to fetch the rest of his Army Presently after his first landing he seized upon the Cities of Appallonia and Erico driving from thence Lucius Torquatus and Lucius Straberius who held them for Pompey Pompey hearing of Caesars arrivall sent for his Troops which were neerest hand with all speed possible with whom he marched towards Dirrachium where his Victuals ammunition and other provisions for the War lay lest Caesar should go and surprise them which indeed he attempted but in vaine the situation of the place makeing it inexpugnable Pompey being come their Camps were lodged within a few furlongs each of other where he passed many adventurous skirmishes and also some Treaties of Peace offered by Caesar but rejected by Pompey so confident he was of his own power In the interim Caesar dayly expected the
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
abundantly he left his dying hand even in the wound Scipio who had been Generall in this War escaped also from the Battell by flight entered into some Gallies which being met with by Caesar's Navy that he might not fall into his enemies hand after he had given himself some wounds he threw himself into the Sea and so was drowned Caesar having obtained so great and absolute a Victory spent some few dayes in settling and ordering the Provinces of Africa making the Kingdome of Juba a Province and then marched to Utica where he imbarked June the third and came to the Isle of Sardinia and after some short stay there he arrived at Rome the twenty fifth day of July At his comming thither there were granted unto him four Triumphs First for his conquests and Victories in France in which were carried the Protractures of the Rivers of Rodanus and the Rhine wraught in Gold The second Triumph was for the Conquest of Aegypt and of King Ptolomy where were set the River of Nilus and the Pharus burning The third was for the Conquest of Pontus and of King Pharnaces wherein in regard of his speedy Victory was placed a writing with these words Veni Vidi Vici I came I saw I overcame The fourth Triumph was for the Province of Africa wherein King Jubas Son was led Captive and in this Triumph were given Jewels and Armes to Octavius Caesars Nephew who succeeded him in the Empire As for the Battell wherein he Conquered Pompey he would not Triumph because it was against a Citizen of Rome These Triumphes being ended he gave great rewards to his Souldiers and intertained the People with Feasts and bountifull gifts and then caused himself to be chosen the fourth time Consul And so to the end that there should be left no place wherein he would not be obeyed he resolved to go for Spain hearing that Gneius Pompeius the Son of Pompey was retired with the rest of the Army which had escaped out of Africk to go to his Brother Sextus Pompeius who was in possession of a great part of Spain as we heard before together with the famous Cities of Sivil and Cordova and many others of those parts many Spaniards also comming to their aid Caesar in this journey carryed with him his most valiant and most experienced Souldiers and made so good speed that in few dayes space he arrived in Spain in which journey his Nephew Octavius followed him Entering into Spain he came to the Province of Betica now Andaluzia where were Sextus Pompeius with his Brother Gneius and such Legions and Souldiers as they had gotten together and there began betwixt Caesar and them a most cruel and bloudy Warre the end whereof was that neere to the City of Munda Caesar and Gneius Pompeius for Sextus was then at Cordova joyned Battell which was one of the most obstinate and most cruel fights that ever was in the world For Caesar being a most excellent Captain and the Souldiers which he brought with him most brave and valiant men and fleshed with so many Victories held it out with great resolution and on the other side the bravery and courage of young Pompey and his men was such and they fought in such manner as Caesars Squadrons began to give ground and were ready to forsake the Field and at the very point to have been wholly overthrown and the matter came to this issue that Caesar was about to have slain himself because he would not see himself overcome Yet taking a Target from one of his Souldiers he rushed into the midst of his enemies saying with a loud voice If ye be not ashamed leave me and deliver me into the hands of these Boyes For this shall be the last day of my Life and of your Honour with which words and his example his Souldiers took heart in such manner that recovering the ground which they had lost the Battell became equall which lasted almost a whole day without any signe of Victory to either party sometimes seeming to incline to the one sometimes to the other side untill at the length Caesar and his men did so great exploits as that the evening being come his enemies began to faint and fly and the Victory was apparently Caesars There died of the enemies above thirty thousand in this Battell and Caesar lost above a thousand men of account besides common Souldiers Caesar esteemed so much of this Victory and so gloried in the danger which he had ascaped that ever after he used to say That in all other Battels he had fought for honour and Victory and onely that day he fought for his life Young Pompey after he had performed all the offices of a Prudent Generall and Valiant Souldier was forced to fly and wandering through many places was at last taken and slaine by some of Caesars Friends who carried his head to Caesar. His other Brother Sextus Pompeius fled from Cordova and afterwards forsook Spain Caesar recovered Sivil and Cordova and all the rest of the Country after which ordering his affaires in Spain after his pleasure he returned to Rome and Triumphed for these Victories which was his fifth and last Triumph Caesar now came to be the most mighty the most redoubted and the most highly esteemed man in the World having conquered and subdued the greatest part thereof in as little time as it might seeme that another man might be able to travel through those Countries by reasonable journeys He then made himself perpetuall Dictator and so without opposition he finished the making of himself the Soveraigne Lord and Monarch of the Empire of Rome within lesse than five years after he first attempted the same And this was the Originall and beginning of the Roman Emperours For Julius Caesar would not be called King that Name being odious to the Romans above all things ever since Kings were first driven from Rome but contented himself to be called Perpetuall Dictator and Emperour which Title was usually given to the Roman Generals upon their obtaining any signall Victory But after Julius Caesar all his successors took that title glorying to be called Emperour which hath evere since been held for the highest Title and Dignity in the World Caesar having now attained to that absolute power which he had so ambitiously saught after he shewed in all his Deportment much clemency and Magnanimity honouring and rewarding his Friends and easily forgiving and very cheerfully pardoning all those that had been his Adversaries Thus he pardoned Brutus Cassius Cicero Marcellus and many others Yea some of them he admitted to his company and private familiarity and to Offices and Dignities and amongst the many virtues wherewith he was endued his clemency and liberality were most glorious But all this prevailed not with the Romans to quench their desires after the recoverie of their lost liberty neither to asswage the hatred and malice conceived against him by his adversaries as afterwards appeared And
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
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
For Brutus on the one side of the Field did beat Octavian and put his Battalion to rout pursuing them into the Camp where many of them were slaine and while Brutus was following his Victory his partner Cassius was overthrown by Mark Anthony though he did all that was possible to encourage his men and by reason of the clouds of dust knew nothing of Brutus his Victory whereupon retiring to an high ground he there pitched his Tent and so standing and looking about he saw Brutus his Troops comming to his aid and to relieve him but he imagining that they came flying before their enemies commanded a slave of his whom he had made free to kill him who did it accordingly Octavians men that escaped by flight retired to Mark Anthonies Camp and had not Brutus his men busied themselves in ransacking Octavians Camp they had that day obtained an intire Victory for they might in due time have rescued and relieved Cassius and both of them being joyned together might easily have overthrown Mark Anthony but God had otherwise determined The Victory being thus devided the Generals of either party gathered their forces together and of Brutus side were slaine eight thousand men and of the enemies side a far greater number Brutus did his best to encourage and comfort his Souldiers and the Gentlemen which followed Cassius and the next day though both Armies were put in Battell array yet they fought not but a few dayes after Brutus by his Souldiers was forced to come to an other Battell who was of himself willing rather to delay and prolong the War knowing that his enemies wanted Victuals and many other necessaries and because he reposed no great trust in the forces of Cassius for he found that they were fearfull and hard to be commanded because of their late overthrow When they came to the second encounter Brutus did all the Offices of an able Generall and of a Valiant Knight yet in the end his men were broken and overthown by the enemy Burtus having gathered his scattered Troops together found himself unable to make any further resistance and being advised by some of his Friends to fly he told them That so be would yet not with his feet but with his hands and thereupon taking a Sword from a servant of his called Stratus he slew himself Thus Octavian and Mark Anthony remained Victors and Masters of the Field and all things succeeded according to Caesars desire for whom God in his secret Counsell had reserved the Monarchy of the whole World which for the present was devided between three These Wars being ended and the Legions of Brutus and Cassius reduced to the obedience of the Conquerors Octavian and Mark Anthony agreed and resolved that Anthony should remaine to Govern Greece and Asia that Lepidus should go into Africk and that Octavian should returne to Rome and accordingly Mark Anthony went into Asia where he gave himself up to sensuality and delights with the fair but wanton Cleopatra Queen of Aegypt and Octavian though with some hindrances by reason of his health at last came to Rome Not long after there arose new Wars and troubles for though Octavian was at peace with Lepidus who was now in Africk Octavian having under his command Spain France part of Germany Italy and Illyricum yet Lucius Antonius who at this time was Consul being provoked thereto by his Sister in Law Fulvia Wife to Mark Anthony began to oppose himself against Lepidus and Octavian seeking to overthrow the Triumvirat which contention brake out about the division of Fields which Caesar had made to the Souldiers which had served him in his Wars Some say that Fulvia made this stirre that she might procure the return of Mark Anthony to her of whom she was jealous hearing of his familiarity with Cleopatra The discord in Rome grew to that height that they came to Armes and Lucius Antonius went from the City and levied an Army against Octavian who also marched towards him with his Forces But Lucius not daring to joine Battell shut himself up in Perugia where Caesar immediately besieged him and divorced himself from Claudia the Daughter of Fulvia and was married to his third Wife Scribonia by whom he had one only Daughter Octavian being about twenty three years old so strictly besieged Perugia that Lucius and his men were brought to such straits for want of Victuals that he was forced to yeild up himself to Octavian who pardoned him and used him kindly and thus this War was ended without bloudshed And so Octavian returned to Rome of which he was now sole Lord and from hence some reckon the beginning of his Empire which was about four years after the Death of Julius Caesar and about thirty eight years before the Incarnation of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Caesar being now in quiet Fulvia by letters and false informations sought to stirre-up her Husband Mark Anthony against Octavian with which resolution she left Italy and went towards him and at the same time Mark Anthony departed from Alexandria in Aegypt and came to the Isle of Rhodes where he was informed of all that had happened to his Brother Lucius From thence he went into Greece and at Athens he found his Wife Fulvia sick yet vehemently inveying against Octavian wherefore leaving her there he went with two hundred Gallies into Italy and landed at Brundusium where the Wars began between him and the Forces of Octavian who was yet at Rome But newes comming of Fulvias death some Friends interposed to reconcile them and at last it was agreed that Arbitrators should be chosen to compose their differences Octavian chose Mecaenas and for Mark Anthony was Asinius Pollia and these brought it to this issue that Mark Anthony should have all the East from Italy beginning from the Jonian Sea which is the entry into the Venetian Gulph unto the River of Euphrates wherein were included all the Provinces of Graecia and Asia with all the Islands within these limits To Octavian was allotted from the said Jonian Sea to the Westerne or Spanish Sea wherein were contained Spain France Italy Germany and Britan. To Lepidus was confirmed Africa where he then was with all the Provinces thereof And for the strengthening of this League Mark Anthony now a Widdower was to marry with Octavia the Sister of Octavian by the Fathers side formerly married to Mareus Marcellus by whom she had one Son called also Marcellus whom Octavian adopted And this marriage was dispensed with by the Senate because in Rome Widdows were not permitted to marry till they had lived ten moneths in Widdowhood which she had not done This being concluded Octavian and Mark Anthony went to Rome where the wedding was solemnized and they were seemingly good Friends but their Peace was disquieted by the Neighbourhood of Sextus Pompeius who commanded the Seas from Sicily where he lived and with his Ships and Pirates he disquited Caesars