Velleius Paterculus his Romane historie in two bookes. Exactly translated out of the Latine edition supervised by Ianus Gruterus. According to the reformations in such parts of him, in which the Latin hath suffered either by time, or negligence in the transcribers of the ablest commenters upon him. And rendred English by Sr. Robert Le Grys Knt. — Historiae Romanae libri II. English

Velleius Paterculus his Romane historie in two bookes. Exactly translated out of the Latine edition supervised by Ianus Gruterus. According to the reformations in such parts of him, in which the Latin hath suffered either by time, or negligence in the transcribers of the ablest commenters upon him. And rendred English by Sr. Robert Le Grys Knt. — Historiae Romanae libri II. English

Table of contents

The names of the Commenters.

Title page

§

TO THE RIGHT Honourable Sr THOMAS IERMYN Knight, Vice-Chamberlaine of his Majesties houshold, Governor of the Ile of Iarsey, and one of his Majesties most Honorable Privie Councell.

To the understanding Reader.

Velleius Paterculus HIS ROMANE HISTORIE. LIB. I.

CHAP. I. The founding of divers Cities, by the returners from Troy, with the murther of Agamemnon revenged by his sonne Orestes.

CHAP. 2. The race of Pelops dispossest of Peloponesus by the Heraclidae. The glorious death of Codrus the Athenian King.

CHAP. 3. Combustions in Greece: planting in Thessaly, and the founding of Corinth by Haletes.

CHAP. 4. Chalcide in Euboea founded by the Athenians, and Cumae in Italy with Naples some while after, & Magnesia in Asia by the Spartans, with many other Colonies of Greeks, both in the Continent and in the Ilands.

CHAP. 5. The time of Homers flourishing.

CHAP. 6. The Assyrian Empire of 1700. yeares standing from Sardanapalus translated to the Medes by Pharnaces, in the time of Lycurgus the law maker of Sparta.

CHAP. 7. Hesiodus 120 yeares after Homer. A controversie cleared about the time of the building of Capua.

CHAP. 8. The instituting the Olympick games by Iphitus the Elean, 904. yeares before the Consulship of Vinicius. In the sixt Olympade Rome fonnded by Romulus.

CHAP. 9. The ruine of Perseus King of Macedon, by Paulus Emilius. His truimph and those of Octavius victorious by sea, and Amicius over Gentius the Illyrian King.

CHAP. 10. The proud commanding of Antiochus to have Egypt in quiet by Popilius Laenas the Romane Embassadour. Emilius his losse of both his sonnes about the time of his triumph.

CHAP. 11. A counterfeit Philip in Macedonia overthrowne by Metellus Macedonicus. Metellus his fortunate life and death.

CHAP. 12. Corinth rebelling, raced by Mummius, and Carthage by Scipio Emilianus. The death of Cato, the perpetuall urger of the racing of Carthage.

CHAP. 13. The difference in disposition, betweene Scipio and Mummius, the first neate and gentle, the second, ignorant and rude, yet the one called from his victory the African, the other Achaian.

CHAP. 14. A Catalogue of all the Roman Colonies, that were planted any where before the comming of Hannibal into Italy.

CHAP. 15. Another Register of such as were planted after that, till the time of Caius Marius his sixth Consulship.

CHAP. 16. A kinde of master roll of excellent men in severall professions that flourished about one age: In the Tragicke Comicke veines; in Philosophy, Oratory, and the like, among the Graecians.

CHAP. 17. The like and about the same time among the Romans.

CHAP. 18. Of Athens, the sole City of Greece, famous for arts, Thebes excepted by breeding of Pindarus.

Velleius Paterculus His ROMANE HISTORIE. The second Booke.

CHAP. I. The declining of the Roman vertue after the ruine of Carthage, the warre with Viriatus ended by the cunning of Caepio: & the base conditions made first by Pompeius, & then by Mancinus with the Numantines.

CHAP. 2. The sedition raised upon the deliverie up of Mancinus to the enemy by Tiberius Gracchus: His character and his intendments.

CHAP. 3. The ruine of Gracchus by Scipio Nasica: the death of Gracchus which was the first bloud drawne in Rome in civile contentions.

CHAP. 4. Aristonicus pretending falsely to the bloud Royall of Asia, which left by Attalus his will to the Romans, as after Bithynia was by Nicomedes, he had seized upon, overthrowne by Mar. Perperna. And Numantia rased by the same Emilianus who before had done as much for Carthage: His death much suspected, but never questioned.

CHAP. 5. Anlus Brutus, his severity of command in Spaine, cause of his victorie at Controbia.

CHAP. 6. The stirres raised by Caius Gracchus, brother to Tiberius, intending the same or worse then his brother had attempted: His character and overthrow by Opimius.

CHAP. 7. The cruelty of Opimius to a delicate youth, sonne to Flaccus one of Gracchus his associates, and others of that faction, detested by the Romanes who were of his side.

CHAP. 8. Caius Cato condemned of extortion for a petty summe. The two Metelli neare kinsmen, triumph in one day, as also the two brothers of the Flacci. And Minutius upon the Scordisci.

CHAP. 9. A register of Romanes in that time famous for poesie, History, and other arts of the like kinde.

CHAP. 10. Lepidus Aelius censured for hiring a house at 6•0. sesterces•a meane rate in succeeding times. Domitius victorious over the Arverni, and Fabius, for his, surnamed Allobrogian. The sate of the Domitian family to have but one Sonne of a Father, yet all arive at the highest honours.

CHAP. 11. The warre of Iugurth managed first by Metellus, ended by Caius Marius: His character: 12 Metelli or more, within twelve yeares, of the Caecilian family either Consulls or triumph.

CHAP. 12. Marius by Silla his Questor, had Iugurth delivered up from Bocchus: Overthrowes the Te• tones with slaughter in two daies of 150000 men. And after with his colleague, Catulus, the Cimbres, with the losse of above 10000 s•aine or taken.

CHAP. 13. Marcus Livius Drusus intending well to the Senate, but mistaken by them.

CHAP. 14. The same man by some of their precurement•, murthered with • knife, in a crowd at his owne house.

CHAP. 15. Carthage the first Colonie planted out of Italy: that plantations out of the native continent, have bin pernicious. The death of Drusus cause of the Italian warre. Metellus Numidicus banished by Saturninus the Tribune, and recalled by the meanes of his son.

CHAP. 16. The Italian Captaines in that warre, the fortune various, the end advantagious for the Romans.

CHAP. 17. The Italians made free of the City, the refusall whereof before was cause of the warre: Sylla made Consull.

CHAP. 18. Warre with Mithridates committed to Sylla: Mithridates his character and acts: the fidelity of the Rhodians, and perfidiousnesse of the Muylenians: Sulpitius his character with the charges in his carriage.

CHAP. 19. Sylla his returne to Rome from Nola, and expelling the opposite faction: Marius his danger at Mintura, and Sulpitius his death.

CHAP. 20. Pompey the Consull slaine by the souldiers. Cinna for his sedititious devices, deposed from his Consulls place, his recalling Marius out of exile.

CHAP. 21. The battaile fought neere Rome, betweene Cinna and Pompey, Father to the great Pompey, who after dyed of the plague.

CHAP. 22. Marius his returne to Rome: the first proscription.

CHAP. 23 Marius his seaventh Consulship and death, Sylla his acts against Mithridates: his resolution against the Marians, but after the forraine enemeis nayle• were pared.

CHAP. 24. Fimbria his boldnesse, and end: Laenas the Tribune executes Lucilius the last yeares tribune, & banisheth the rest of Sylla his party.

CHAP. 25. Sylla his returne into Italy: the overthrow of Scipio and Norbanus neare Capua, Sylla after the victory, not like Sylla before it.

CHAP. 26. Carbo, and Marius the sonne, Consulls: Marius beaten at Sacriportum by Sylla, and besieged in Preneste, Murders in Rome, & the brave death of Calphurnia.

CHAP. 27. Pontius Telesinus the Samnite, his braverie and endangering Sylla in fight at the gates of Rome a Menius seeking to escape under ground from Preneste, surprized and slaine.

CHAP. 28. Divers battailes fought and worne by Sylla his Captaines, the Servilij, Metellus and Lucullus: the secona proscription.

CHAP. 29. Cnaeus Pompeius his bringing an army to Sylla: His character and the esteeme be held with his enemy.

CHAP. 30. Sertorius betrayed at supper by Perperna and slaine: Metellus and Pompeius their triumph, before Pompeius was a Senator. The warres with the staves, and Spartacus their Captaine.

CHAP. 31. The piraeticall warre with amplest authoritie committed to Pompey, though against the will of the Nobility.

CHAP. 32. That warre in short time ended, and the seas cleared of Pyrates, who were planted in a Colonie within land.

CHAP. 33. Manlius Tribune of the people, preferres a law to commit the warre of Mithridates to Pompey, taking it from Lucullus, who had done great things in it: Lucullus his character, comparative with the disposition of Pompey.

CHAP. 34. Creet conquered and made a Province by Metellus: The Temple of Ianus shut the secona time, which was done but thrice in all the time of Rome: First by the King, secondly by Metellus, thirdly by Augustus. Cicero his suppressing of Catiline, his conspiracie.

CHAP. 35. Cicero his character: the execution of the conspirators and the death of Catiline in fight.

CHAP. 36. The birth of August. Caesar, in Cicero his Consulship: An enumeration men, in that age famous for learning.

CHAP. 27. Pompey his acts against Mithridates and Tigranes. Tigranes his yeelding himselfe and estate.

CHAP. 38, 39. A catalogue of all the Romane Provinces: when and by whom they were made so.

CHAP. 39.

CHAP. 40. Pompey his Conquests in Asia, his civill returne to Rome, and his triumph.

CHAP. 41. Caius Caesar his Consulship: His character.

CHAP. 42. Caesars taking the pirates that held him prisoner, & nailing them upon the crosse.

CHAP. 43. Caesar his returne into Italy, to stand for the high place of high priest, carying it from Catulus, reestablishing the statues of Marina, and restoring the children of such as had beene proscribed.

CHAP. 44. The confederacie betweene Pompey, Caesar, and Crassus for establishment of their power in Rome, confirmed by alliance, Pompey marrying Caesars daughter Iulia: Caesars Consulship and d•vision of lands in Campania.

CHAP. 45. Publius Clodius his character and his banishment of Cicero, with his glorious repealing: Cato his bringing a vast treasure out of Cyprus.

CHAP. 46. Caesars acts in Gaul and Britain Crassus Consul with Pompey, •• pointed to the Parthian war: H•• character & defeat.

CHAP. 47. Continuation of Caesars acts • Gaule, about Alexia: Iu•• and her sonne by Pompey dea• whose life onely hindred a ci•• warre. Clodius slaine by Mi••

CHAP. 48. Civill warre beginning betweene Caesar and Pompey: Peace treated of, hindred by Curio: His character.

CHAP. 49. Catulus, two Luculli, Metellus and Hortensiu• dead are the warre: conditions of reason tendred by Caesar, refused by the other. The warre begunne.

CHAP. 50. Pompey quits the citie and Italy: Caesar takes Domitius at Corfinium, and dismisses him: comes to Rome, thence passes into Spaine, & masters Afranius and Petreius.

CHAP. 51. Caesar goes into Greece after Pompey, and besieges him in his campe. The boldnesse of Balbus in going into the enemies armie. Caesar shrewdly shaken in one encounter.

CHAP. 52. The battaile of Pharsalia decidi•• the question, and Caesars clemency to the vanquished.

CHAP. 53. Pompey flying into Egypt is murthered by order of the boy, King Ptolomy, in his eight and fiftieth yeare.

CHAP. 54. Their attempting as much upon Caesar deservedly punished. The war revived in Africa by Iuba and Scipio, to whom Cato ioyne: his forces.

CHAP. 55. Caesar followes into Africa, wher• Curio of his party had bin slain and there was victorious, as after with much a doe in Spain against Cnaeus Pompeius the sonne of Pompey the great.

CHAP. 56. Pompeius slaine after (Labienus and Varus in) the fight. Caesar returnes to Rome, pardons all his enemies, triumphs five times, and within five months, is slaine by Brutus and Cassius.

CHAP. 57. Hirtius his advice to Caesar of holaing by force what he had got by his sword reiected, and the presages of his death despised.

CHAP. 58. The killers of Caesar ingratefull, Dolobella gives them his sonnes as hostages for their safety in comming downe from the Capitoll which they had seized.

CHAP. 59. By motion of Cicero, a law of forgetting things past is enacted, Caesars will adopting Octavius, opened. His discen•, the character of his father, and his comming to Rome.

CHAP. 60. Octavius takes upon him as Caesars heyre: Division betweene him and Marcus Antonius.

CHAP. 61. Antonius his tyrannie bravely r• prest by Octavius, who beatin• him at Mutina, forces hi• shamefully out of Italy.

CHAP. 62. The feare of Antonius being removed, the affections to the Pompeian partie declare themselves. Brutus and Cassius being fled out of Italy, have provinces and command decreed to them, Caesars souldiers not so ingratefull to him as the Senate.

CHAP. 63. Antonius passing over the Alpes to Lepidus, drawes his army from him, leaving him onely the title of Generall. Plancus his jugling, and Pollio his sincerity.

CHAP. 64. Decius Brutus one of Caesars killers, slaine by command of Antotonius: And Ciceros orations against Antonius, the cause of his being proscribed and slaine.

CHAP. 65. The instituting the Triumvirate betweene Octavius, Antonius, and Lepdius. Ventidius, who had once a Captive beene led in triumph, that yeare in Consular robes, who had beene formerly honoured with Praetorian, and afterward triumphed.

CHAP 66. The third proscription, in which Caesar over-ruled by his two companions: the death of Cicero & his Eulogium.

CHAP. 67. The carriage of wives, freedmen, servants, and children towards those that were proscribed: the foulenesse of the proscription of their nearest friends.

CHAP. 68. Marcus Caelius his character, attempts, and end, with that of Milo the exile, for killing Clodius. Caesars moderation in punishing such as had abused him.

CHAP. 69. The death of Trebonius another of the killers of Caesar, by Dolabella at Smyrna, who besieged by Cassius in Laodicaea, made his servant cut off his head.

CHAP. 70. Cassius takes Rhodes, Brutus conquers Lycia, they passe into Macedonia, the battaile of Philippi, where Cassius being beaten, dyes by the hand of his servant, and few dayes after, Brutus totally routed runnes upon his sword.

CHAP. 71. Messalla and Corvinus saved by Caesar: eminent Romanes slaine in that fight.

CHAP. 72. The parallel of Brutus and Cassius, Cnaeus Domitius with a Navy retires into Sicile to Sextus Pompeius sonne to Pompey the great.

CHAP. 73. Sextus Pompeius his character a• hee maintaines himselfe and hi• army in Sicily by Piracy.

CHAP. 74. Antonius after the defeate of Brutus, stayes in these parts: Caesar, returning into Italy, findes at troubled by Lucius Antonius, Marcus his brother, and Fulvia, the wife of Marcus Lucius, forced in Perusia, dismist unhurt, and Perusia burnt by one of their own, who set it on fire, by name Macedonicus.

CHAP. 75. Another warre raised in Campania, by Tiberius Claudius Nero, Father to Tiberius Caesar, and husband of Livia, after wife of Augustus. Her character.

CHAP. 76. Caius Velleius grandfather of the Author, not able to follow Antonius in his flight, kils himselfe. Fulvia and Plancus permitted to retire to Antonius. Pollio with Domitius joyne a fleete to Antonius his forces, Antonius returnes into Italy: Peace as made betweene them at Brund••sum. Salvidienus his treachery discovered.

CHAP. 77. Peace at Misendū, made with Sextus Pompeius, by which all that were proscribed were freed. Staius Marcus but to death by Sextus Pompeius, upon the false imputations of his Admiral: Maenas and Menecrates.

CHAP. 78. Antonius marries Octavia, Caesars sister. Labienus leading the Parthians with Pacorus, the sonne of Parthia, by Ventidius slaine: Caesar leades his army into Illyria & Dalmatia. Sharp iustice done by Domitius in Spaine upon a runne-away Centurion.

CHAP. 79. Warre resolved upon with Sextus Pompeius: Caesar maries Livia, wife of Tiberius Nero, her husband surrendring her. The character of Marcus Agrippa: part of the fleet lost by tempest: Pompey ruined, flies to Antonius, and is by his command shire.

CHAP. 80. Lepidus called to the warre with Sextus Pompeius: Pompeius turnea out of all by Caesar his strange daring.

CHAP. 81. A mutiny among the souldiers, appeased by the seventy, and as well by the bounty of Caesar.

CHAP. 82. Antonius with thirteene legions, enters Parthia, but with much adoe, and great losse, goes off. Hee resolves upon a warre with Caesar.

CHAP. 83. Plancus falls off from Antonius to Caesar. His character and carriage after his revolt.

CHAP. 84. The sea preparation at Actium, with the order of the Navies.

CHAP. 85. Caesars victory, and the flight of Antonius after Cleopatra: the rendring of the land forces to Caesar.

CHAP. 86. Caesars clemency after the victory: Pollio his faire respect to Caesar as his Prince; to Antonius as his benefactor.

CHAP. 87. Antonius his death at Alexandria, & presently after Cleopatra's. None put to death by Caesar after the victory.

CHAP. 88. Lepidus sonne to the Triumvir conspiring against Caesars life, without trouble or noise opprest by Caius Marcellus provost of the Citie. Marcellus his Character.

CHAP. 89. Caesar his returne to Rome, his triumph and the model of his government.

CHAP. 90. Dalmatia and Spaine by Caesar and (employed by his command) Agrippa, after ages of trouble brought to a perfect peace.

CHAP. 91. The ensignes lost at Crassus his defeate returned to Caesar by the Parthian Conspiracies of Caepio and Muraena, as also of Egnatius against him discovered and punished.

CHAP. 92. A brave act of Sentius Saturninus punishing the Customers, fraud, and stopping Egnatius in his demand of the Consullship.

CHAP. 93. The death of M. Marcellus sonne to Octavia, Caesars sister. Agrippa returned to Rome, marries Iulia Caesars daughter, late wife to Marcellus.

CHAP. 94. Tiberius Caesar sonne to Livia, called to affaires: His character sent into the East, quiets Armenia and receives pledges of the Parthian.

CHAP. 95. Tiberius returned with his brother Drusus, sent against the Rhaetians and Vindelicians, with fortunate event.

CHAP. 96. Agrippa surrenders his wife Iulia to Tiberius. The Pannonian warre ended by Tiberius, who entred the Citie for it in an ovant triumphe.

CHAP. 97. Marcus Lollius receives a blow, & loseth the Eagle of the legion in Germany. That warre committed to Drusus, by him happily managed: his character: his death. The rest finished by Tiberius.

CHAP. 98. Warre in Thracia ended by Lucius Piso: a briefe character of him.

CHAP. 99. Tiberius out of respect to Caius and Lucius nephewes to Octavius, quits all his greatnesse in Rome, and retires to study at Rhodes.

CHAP. 100. The Parthian falls off from his league with Rome, & Germany also rebells. Iulia her foule life punished in her with exile, in but favourites with death.

CHAP. 101. Caius Caesar sent into the East-parlies with the Parthian in an Island in the midst of Euphrates: Feasts, and is feasted by him.

CHAP. 102. Marcus Lollius sent by Augustus, supervisor to young Caius; discovered in his treacheries, kills himselfe. Caius wounded by Abduus at a treatie: enfeebled both in minde and body, and upon his returne dies at Limira; his brother being before dead at Massilia.

CHAP. 103. Tiberius Caesar adopted by Augustus.

CHAP. 104. Agrippa also the sonne of Iulia adopted by Augustus the same day. Tiberius sent to command in the German warre; by the souldiers received with all joy.

CHAP. 105. Divers Nations of Germany mastered by him: Hee returnes to Rome, leaving the remnant of the warre to the charge of Sentius Saturninus: his character.

CHAP. 106. All Germany the next yeare subdued by Tiberius, both with land and sea forces.

CHAP. 107. A passage of an old Barbarian desiring to see Tiberius, after which he returnes to the city.

CHAP. 108. Maroboduus, king of the Marcemanni, has character and seate of his kingdome.

CHAP. 109. His policie and forme of government preparing for a warre with the Romanes. Tiberius his intention to invade first.

CHAP. 110. That resolution hindred by the rebellion of Dalmatia, and all their neigbours to the number of eight hundred thousand men of warre.

CHAP. 111. Preparation to resist them, made by Augustus, and Tiberius the Generall.

CHAP. 112. Messalinus his brave actions who with a halfe compleate Legion in Illiricum, quenched the rebellion and routed aboue 20000. of the enemie. Tiberius had every where the better of the warre: Caecina and Silvanus with five legions endangered, by the valour of the souldiour freed. Agrippa the adopted lost the favour of Augustus by his want of temper.

CHAP. 113. Tiberius finding his armies bulke too great, disperses it. He goeth backe to Siscia.

CHAP. 114. His care for the sicke or wounded, his moderate governement. Pannonia seekes a peace: their Generalls Baro and Pinetus yeild themselves: the reliques of the warre are onely in Dalmatia.

CHAP. 115. Tiberius Ceasar turnes upon the Dalmatians. Lepidus with much bravery, bringing his legions thorow divers Nations: comes to Tiberius, and is for that service rewarded with triumphall ornaments: Dalmatia then quieted, when almost ruined.

CHAP. 116. A catalogue of divers eminent men, and of highest merit in these warres.

CHAP. 117. Newes of Varus Quinctilius his defeature with three legions, three wings, and six Cohorts brought immediately after the end of the Dalmatian warre: his character.

CHAP. 118. The manner of the plot, and meanes of his overthrow by Arminius: the character of him. Has intents discovered to Varus by Segestes, but not beleeved.

CHAP. 119. The execution with the losse of the whole armie: Varus kils himselfe. Eggius bravely dies, Cetonius basely having yeelded. Volumnius shamefully runne away with the horse, yet so scaped not.

CHAP. 120. Tiberius takes the warre in hand, and with happie successe and no losse having plagued the enemies, returnes to his winter stations. Lucius Asprena his brave acts with two legions, and of Lucius Ceditius who sallied out of Alisone, and by force saved himselfe and his men through a multitude of enemies.

CHAP. 121. Tiberius prospering in the next yeares warre equalled in command with Augustus, and triumphs over Pannonia and Dalmatia.

CHAP. 122. Tiberius that had deserved seven triumphs, contented with three.

CHAP. 123. The death of Augustus at Nola in his 76. yeare.

CHAP. 124. The feares of the people, upon his death wholly causelesse, Tiberius refuses, and at length assumes the State.

CHAP. 125. A mutiny in Germany and Illiricum of the Legions there (the first governed by Germanicus) quieted by the direction of Tiberius.

CHAP. 126. A description of Tiberius his governement for 16. yeares.

CHAP. 127. Tiberius his taking into his inwardest favour Aelius Sejanus following the president of Scipio and Augustus, Sejanus his character.

CHAP. 128. The favour of Tiberius to Sejanus confirmed by the iudgement of the people, with instances of the like formerly.

CHAP. 129. A summarie of the cariage of Tiberius in many affaires toward Rhascupolis, Libo, Maroboduus, to Germanicus, the people, and in diverse occasions.

CHAP. 130. A reckoning up of his workers and edifices: a complaint against those that conspired his ruine; as also for the death of his sonnes and nephew, for the frowardnes of his daughter in law, and the losse of his mother.

CHAP. 131. The conclusion, with a prayer for the preservation of the Prince and State.

§

Erratá.

The names of the Commenters.

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Beatus Rhenanus.

Albertus Ruberius.

Aldus Manurius.

Fulvius Vrsinus.

Iustus Lipsius.

Raphelengius.

Iacobus Schegkius.

Valentinus Acidelius.

Ianus Gruterus.

§

§

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Velleius Paterculus HIS ROMANE HISTORIE:

In two BOOKES.

Exactly translated out of the Latine Edition supervised by Ianus Gruterus. According to the reformations in such parts of him, in which the Latin hath suffered either by time, or negligence in the transcribers of the ablest Commenters upon him.

And rendred English BY Sr. ROBERT LE GRYS Knt.

LONDON, Printed by M. F. for R. SWAINE, in Britaines-Burse at the signe of the Bible. MDCXXXII.

§

§

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REcensui hunc librum, cui Titulus est, [VELLEIVS PATERCVLVS his Roman History, exactly translated out of the Latine, and rendred English: &c.] unâ cum Epistolâ nuncupatoria ad Honoratissimum virum, Dnum Thomam Iermyn, et Praefatione ad Lectorem: qui quidem liber continet folia nonaginta & septem, in quibus omnibus nihil reperio quod non cum publica utilitate Imprimatur, modo intra septem menses proxime sequentes typis mandetur.

Exaed [...] Londinensibus, Maij. 8. 1632.

Guillelmus [...]ray Episcopo Londinensi Capellanus Domesticus.

TO THE RIGHT Honourable Sr THOMAS IERMYN Knight, Vice-Chamberlaine of his Majesties houshold, Governor of the Ile of Iarsey, and one of his Majesties most Honorable Privie Councell.

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SIR,

WHen I had finished the last (and the same the first) work of this kinde, that I ever tooke in hand, I did not [Page] beleeve there had beene any power, besides that transcendent authoritie, which imposed that task upō me, of force to make me a second time expose my selfe to the view of the world, and under-lye the censure of this Criticall age: For I did not apprehend that your selfe, who as wel by the rights of nature, as also (but infinitely beyond them) by your so many merits, may with justice claime in me [Page] what interest you please, would ever have required at my hāds, any thing of that nature, which your owne abilities standing in no need of, cannot in your particular be usefull to you. But you were pleased, which wth mee shall ever have the force of a law, to cōmand it: In obedience whereunto I here present you with your grave and sententious Velleius Paterculus, drest after my fashion [Page] in English robes. The benefit that such, as making their acquaintance with him, now that after so many ages he is taught to speak our Ilanders language, they shall reape by the familiarity with him, wch before they wanted; they must (if friends to equity) wholly and freely acknowledge themselves to have received from you. Since without your injunction, I had never adventured upon a piece [Page] of such difficulty, as I, now it is done, do make a question, whether my desire to observe you in all, did not more enable mee to goe through with it, then any faculty of mine owne. nor, when I had brought it to an end, had suffered it to be published: but that I would not permit you to want the honour of a good work, wherof you were the immediate author, I dare with cōfidence give [Page] it that Epithete, for that among so many histories as I have read, I have met with none (and in this I beleeve every judicious Reader will be of my opinion) that doth in so few, and yet those so elegant words, involve so much strength of wit and understanding. By that which remaines of him so full of excellencie, I am taught to deplore the losse, which all lovers of knowledge do suffer in [Page] the mutilation of so daintie a piece in many places: but especially by that vast Hiatus in the first booke, in which all the glorious actions of the Romans from the foundation of the city till the ruine of the Macedonian kingdome by Emilius, during the space of five hundred yeares, or more, are swallowed up: what is now extant of him, though much short of his native beautie, and the lustre of [Page] his originall language: I humbly, desire you will accept as an eternall testimony of the respect and devotion of him, who is only sory that he hath neither occasion nor meanes in sort more suteable to your worth, to expresse how much he is

Your faithfull, and perpetually vowed servant RO. LE GRYS.

To the understanding Reader.

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I Heere once againe (if the prefixed Epithets do properly belong to thee do [...]ith the ingenuity of a hear [...] friend salute thee. If thou [...]est not such, follow my counsel, [...]d lose no more time upon [...]elleius Paterculus, then will [...]ve for reading the title: for [...]leeve mee, if as the French [...]ech is, thou hast not thy (En [...]dment bien ferre) thou [Page] wilt profit but little by him. If the prefixed title be duely thine, let me entreate thee not to censure mee upon the first view of the originall, before thou have perused the observations of Lipsius, Manutius, Schegkius, Acidelius, Rhenanus, and those others who have commented upon him, and if thou there finde that I have beene guided by their opinions in the understanding the meaning of my author who was in so many parts ma [...] gled, in so many mistaken: t [...] worst thou canst say, is, that [...] I have erred, I have erred wi [...] learned company: if thou find [...] the sixty eight chapter of the [...] cond book, that I have passed ov [...] [Page] these words (Neque enim persona umbram actae rei capit) make I pray thee sense of it thy selse if thou canst, and that is more then I am able to doe with the helpe of Lipsius; if thou observest that in some places I ingeminate a word of the same sense with the author that is not found in the Latine, know that as I once said in my translation of Argenis, I never was a Grammar Schoole boy, and therefore thought not my selfe obliged to a literall and grammaticall construction. And that as I do not allow either to my selfe, or any other translator the liberty of a paraphraster, so I thinke it not onely lawfull, [Page] but also necessary for him, retaining the sense of the author to fit it the best hee can possibly to the Idiome of the language in which hee is to render it. To cōclude, that I may not make my port bigger then my towne, now thou hast it, if thou be pleased I am cōtēted; if not, I shall not like a mercenary play wright stand, with a panting heart behinde the curtaine harkening how loud the plaudit rattles. For I am not like a horse ignorant of my owne strength, but know that where one of those that may disapprove of it, can mend it, there would be ten that would be puzzeled with it. So judge as thou findest reason and

Farewell.

Velleius Paterculus HIS ROMANE HISTORIE. LIB. I.

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CHAP. I. The founding of divers Cities, by the returners from Troy, with the murther of Agamemnon revenged by his sonne Orestes.

* * * * being by tempest separated from his Commander Nestor, he founded Metapont. Teucer not admitted to the presence of his father Telamon, for his negligence or lazines, shewen in not revenging his brothers injurie, falling with Cyprus, did build, and by the name of his Countrie styled it, Salamina, Pirrh [...]s the sonne of Achilles possest himselfe of Epyrus: Philippus of [Page] Ephyra in Thesprotia. But the king of kings Agamemnon being drivē by foule weather into the Ile of Crete, did there build three Cities: two of which hee called by his owne Countrie names; the third, to keep his victorie in memorie, Micenae, Tegea, and Pergamus; And not long after falling under the trechery of his Wives sonne Aegistus (who bare him an hereditarie hate) and the villanie of his wife, was slaine: Aegistus held the kingdome seven yeares. Him Orestes, together with his mother having his sister Electra a Woman of a masculine spirit the partner of all his designes, did put to the sword: That this his fact was by the gods approved of, did appeare both by his long life and the happinesse of his state; for he lived nintie yeares [Page] raigned seventie. He also by his bravery did quit himselfe of Pirrhus the sonne of Achilles, whom for that he had seised upon the marriage of Hermione the daughter of Menelaus, and Hellene who was contracted to him, he slew at Delphos. In these times, when Lydus and Tirrhenus brethren raigned in Lydia, being straightned with famine, they cast lotts whether of them should with part of the multitude quitte the land. The lott fell upon Tirrhenus; he being come into Italie did both to the place, to the Inhabitants, and to the Sea give a Noble and perpetuall name derived from his owne. After the death of Orestes, his sons, Penthelus and Tisamenus raigned three yeares.

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CHAP. 2. The race of Pelops dispossest of Peloponesus by the Heraclidae. The glorious death of Codrus the Athenian King.

THen about the eightieth year after the taking of Tro [...] and the hundreth and twentieth from Hercules his being received among the gods, the off-spring of Pelops (who all thi [...] time having expelled the descendants of Hercules, had held the dominion of Peloponesus) by those of Hercules his race wer [...] deprived of it. The Commaunders in this recoverie of thei [...] estate, were Teminus, Ctesiphontes, and Pristodemas, to whom h [...] was the great great Grādfathe [...] Almost in the same time. Athe [...] [Page] [...]eased to be any longer governed by Kings: the last of whom was Codrus the sonne of Melan [...]hus, a man not slightly to be pas [...]ed over. For when the Lacede [...]onians did with a sharpe warre [...]resse upon Attica, and the Pythi [...]n god had by his Oracle let thē [...]now [that the Army whose Generall should happen to bee [...]ain by the Enemy, should be the [...]onqueror] he devesting him [...]lfe of his royall acoutrements [...]d cloathed like a peasant, put [...]mself into the Enemies campe; [...]here, as if by acident, raising a [...]ntention, hee was by those [...]hich knew him not slaine. [...]drus with his death was fol [...]wed by an eternall glorie, the [...]thenians with the ensuing vi [...]rie. Who would not admire [...] that with such cunning did [...]ke his death as Cowards use [Page] to practise for the saving o [...] their lives. His sonne Medon wa [...] the first Governor of Athens (which office they stiled Archon.) His posteritie were by the Attiques called Medontidae, bu [...] they and their Successors t [...] Char [...]pe, did still hold that honour in their hands. The Peloponesians also quitting the Countrie of Attica, did build Mega [...] in the middle way between Corinth and Athens. About tha [...] time the navie of Tyre whic [...] then was most powerfull at Se [...] did upon the uttermost point o [...] Spaine in the farthest end of ou [...] world possesse themselves of a [...] Island divided from the Cont [...] nent with a very narrow inlet o [...] the Sea and therein built th [...] Towne of Gades. And within [...] few yeares by the same men w [...] Ʋticu in Africa founded, the D [...] scendents [Page] from Orestes being by those of Hercules thrust out, and vexed long aswell with various misfortunes, as with foule weather at Sea, at the end of fifteene yeares did seate themselves upō the Ile of Lesbos.

CHAP. 3. Combustions in Greece: planting in Thessaly, and the founding of Corinth by Haletes.

THen was all Greece shaken with most bitter Contentions. The Achaians being driven out of Laconia did possesse thē [...]selves of the lād they now hold. The Pelasgi marched up to Athens and a brave young souldier by name Thessalus, by his nation [...] Thesprotian, with a great army of his Countrymen did seaze [Page] upon the Countrie, which to this day from him is named Thessalia: the Citie before that time being called of the Mirmidons. Concerning which name we may with reason wonder at those who writing of the times of the Troyan warre doe mention that Countrie by the title of Thessaly: which as others doe fault in, the Tragedians doe most commonly. To whom that libertie is not to be granted, for that the Poets have not spoken any thing in their owne person, but all under their names that lived in those times. And if any of them will maintain that they were named Thessalians from Thessalus the sonne of Hercules; it were fit he should shew some reason why before the time of this later Thessalus they never were so styled. A little before [Page] this Haletes the sixth from Hercules and sonne of Hippotes, founded Corinth, which before was called Ephyra in the Isthmus, making it the enclosure of Peloponnesus; Nor is there any cause why we should wonder that Homer doth mention Corinth, for in the person of a Poet, hee both doth name this Citie, and certaine other Colonies of the Ionians, as in his dayes long after the taking of Troy they were called.

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CHAP. 4. Chalcide in Euboea founded by the Athenians, and Cumae in Italy with Naples some while after, & Magnesia in Asia by the Spartans, with many other Colonies of Greeks, both in the Continent and in the Ilands.

THe Athenians in Euboea Chalcida dispossest the Inhabitants of the Colony of Erethria; the Lacedemonians in Asia seised upon that of Magnesia. Not long after the Chalcidians being as is before related, descended from the Attickes did under the conduct of Hipocles and Megasthenes their leaders found the cittie of Cumae in Italie. The course of that their way was directed as some report, [Page] by a dove siying before them as others by a tin [...]kling found of brasen pannes, such as in the night-sacrifices of Ceres, is usually heard. A part of these men did a long time after build Naples. Both these Cities their excellent and perpetuall faithfullnes to the Romans, doth render much worthy of the repute they hold, and the delicacie of their scituation. But some others have with more diligent care preserved their Countrie Ceremonies: the neighbourhood of Osca, wrought a change in those of Cumae. What power those Cities have beene of in times long since past, the extent and strength of their walles doth even at this day demonstrate. In the age following a great multitude of Grecian youth whose mightie power [Page] emboldened them to seeke where they might settle, powred themselues upon Asia; for both the Ionians under the leading of Iones going from Athens, planted themselves upon a most noble part of the Sea coast which to this day is called Ionia, and built there these Cities, Ephesus, Miletum, Colophone, Priene, Lebedua, Myūta, Erythra Clazomenae and Phocaea: & also possessed many Ilands in the Aegean and Icarian seas, as Samos, Chios, Andrus, Tenus, Pharus, Delus, besides others of lesse account, And presently the Eolians setting saile from the same Greece, after they had bin vexed with extream long wandring, did fasten upon places of no meane account, and built famous Cities, Smyrna, Cymen, Larissa, Myrina, and Mitylene, with other [Page] Cities, which are in the Isle of Lesbos.

CHAP. 5. The time of Homers flourishing.

THen also in his full brightnesse, shined the most noble, and without comparison, the matchlesse wit of Homer; who both for the greatnesse of his works, & the clearnes of his verses, did alone deserve to be called a Poet. In whom this is most glorious, that neither was there before him any one for him to imitate, nor after him any found that could imitate him. Nor shal we finde any other besides Homer and Archilochus, who was the first Author of his owne worke, that did therein reach to an absolute perfection. He was [Page] longer after the Trojan warre, of which he wrote, than some suppose: for hee flourished almost nine hundred and fiftie yeares since, was borne within these thousand yeares, for which cause it is not to bee wondred at that hee often useth that ***, for by this is discerned the difference of times, as well as of men, whom if any man doe beleeve to bee borne blinde, hee is himselfe deprived of all his senses.

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CHAP. 6. The Assyrian Empire of 1700. yeares standing from Sardanapalus translated to the Medes by Pharnaces, in the time of Lycurgus the law maker of Sparta.

IN the succeding times the Empire of Asia was from the Assyrians, who had held the same for the space of seventeene hundred yeares, translated to the Medes about seven hundred and seventy yeares after these things last related: for Pharnaces the Mede, deprived Sardanapalus their King, melted with ease full delicacies▪ and to his owne misfortune over-happie (who was the three and thirtieth in descent from Ninus and Semiramis the founders of Babylon, so as still the sonne had succeeded to the [Page] father) both of his Empire and life. In that age the most illustrious of the Greekes, Lycurgus the Lacedemonian descended from the Kings, was the Author of most strict, and withall of the justest Lawes; of which so long as Sparta was a diligent observer, it did flourish with all felicitie. About this time, and sixtie five yeares before the building of Rome, was Carthage founded by Eliza the Tyrian Lady, whom some have also called Did [...], Neere to the same time Caranus, a mā royally borne, and the sixteenth in descent from Hercules, invested himselfe in the Kingdome of Macedonia, from whom Alexander the great, being the seventeenth of his race, and in his mothers right extracted from Achilles, made it one of his [Page] glories that hee was also by his father derived from Hercules. Aemilius Sura, in his Annalls of the people of Rome, sheweth that first the Assyrians being Lords of all nations, held the Empire of the world; then the Medes; after them the Persians, from whom the Macedonians got it, and last of all, not long after Carthage was mastered, Philip and Intiochus, two kings extracted from the Macedons, being overthrowne and conquered, the supreame command did devolve to the Romans.

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CHAP. 7. Hesiodus 120 yeares after Homer. A controversie cleared about the time of the building of Capua.

BEtweene these times, and that of Nine [...], who was the first great Monarch, did passe nineteene hundred ninetie and five yeares. Hesiodus was of this age, and about one hundred and twentie yeares after Homer. A man both for the cleerenesse of his wit, and daintie smoothnesse of his verse, worthie of memorie infinitely desirous of rest and quiet. And as hee was in time, so also was he in esteeme the next to a man of so high repute as Homer was: who avoyded falling upon that error which Homer had lighted upon [Page] and avowded both his country and parents: but his countrey, because hee had beene evill used by it, most scornefully, While I am employed about forraigne matters, I have lighted upon a Domestique busines, & that very erroneous and farre from agreeing with the opinions of the most approved Authors. For some there are that affirme that about these times Capua and Nola were founded by the Tuscans, almost eight hundred and thirty yeares since. To whose opinion I should indeed subscribe: but how farre doth Marcus Cato differ from them? who affirmeth that Capua was founded by the Tuscans and after that Nola. That Capua stood entire about two hundred and thirtie yeares before it was taken by the Romans: [Page] which if it bee so it being since the taking of Capua two hundred and fortie yeares: since it was founded, must bee onely about five hundred yeares. My selfe (with pardon of Catos diligence) would say that I can hardly beleeve that so great a Citie did grow to that height, flourish, was ruined and raised againe, and all in so short a space of time.

CHAP. 8. The instituting the Olympick games by Iphitus the Elean, 904. yeares before the Consulship of Vinicius. In the sixt Olympade Rome fonnded by Romulus.

AFter this the noblest tryal [...] of mastery in sports, and the most effectuall for the exercising [Page] the faculties of the minde and the body, the Olympicke games were begun: having for their Author Iphitus the Elean. Hee is reported to have first instituted those games, and a fayre with them, nine hundred and foure yeares before thou Marcus Vinicius didst enter upon thy Consulship; Almost one thousand two hundred & fiftie yeres before that, when Atreus did celebrate the funeralls of his father Pelops, Hercules at the trialls of exercises which were there presented, was in every one of them the Conquerour. At that time the Archōtes of Athens did cease to hold their places perpetually, of which the last was Alcmaeon, and began to bee created every tenth yeare: which order did last about seventie yeares, and then the affaires of [Page] the common wealth were committed to Magistrates chosen every yeare. Of those which were created every tenth yeare, the first was Charops, the last Eryx. Of the yearely Officers, the first was called Creon. In the sixth Olympiad, two and twentie yeares after the first that was instituted. Romulus the sonne of Mars having taken revenge of the wrongs done to his Grandfather, did found the Citie of Rome upon mount Palatine▪ in the dayes of the feast, held in honour of the Goddesse Palles: from whence to the times of your Consulships, it is seven hundred seventy and two yeares. Romulus effected this, being aided by the Legions of his Grandfather Latinus (for I very willingly doe subscribe to the opinion of those which have in [Page] that sort delivered) whereas otherwise with an unwarlike company of Shepherds, hee would scarce have beene able to settle his new Citie, the Veians being so neare, and other Etruscans and Sabines; although hee had now enlarged it with a Sanctuary betweene the two Groves: He held about him an hundred elected & called fathers instead of a Counecll, and this was the originall of the name of Patricians. The rape of the Sabine virgins, which ***************

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CHAP. 9. The ruine of Perseus King of Macedon, by Paulus Emilius. His truimph and those of Octavius victorious by sea, and Amicius over Gentius the Illyrian King.

Here is a vast breach in the History.

HEe reached what the Enemie most feared: for by the space of two yeares, he had fought with the Consulls, with so variable fortune, as for the most part he had the better of them, and had drawne a great part of Greece to allye themselves with him. Nay, even the Rhodians also, who were before that, most faithfull to the Romans, expecting the event, did [Page] then seeme, with a faithfulnesse to be doubted, more enclinable to the Kings part. And King Eumenes stood in that warre as a newtrall, neither answering his brothers beginnings, nor the fashion which himselfe had formerly carried. The Senate then, and the people of Rome, did create Lucius Emilius Paulas Consull, who had before triumphed both as Praetor and Consull. A man to be praysed as farre as virtue can bee understood and valued; the sonne of that Paulus, who at Canna did as unwillingly fight that battaile, so ruinous to the Common wealth, as bravely lose his life in it. Hee in a great battaile neere Cydna, a City of Macedonia, overthrew Perseus, and having chased him and turned him out of his Campe, with the ruine [Page] of all his Army, compelled him, quitting all his hopes to flie out of Macedonia; which hee forsaking, fled into the Island of Samothracia, and there as Suppliant, betooke himselfe to the Sanctuary of the Temple. To him Cneius Octavius the Praetor who commanded the fleete, did come, and more with reason than force perswaded him to entrust himselfe to the fidelitie of the Romans. So did Paulus lead in triumph one of the greatest and noblest Kings of that time, the same yeare in which the triūphes of Octavius, the Praetor of the Navie, and of Anicius carrying Gentius, King of the Illyrians before his Chariot, were so conspicuous. How perpetuall a companion of a high and eminent fortune envie is, out of this may bee collected, [Page] that where no man off [...]ed to oppose the triumphs of Octavius, and Anicius, there wanted not some that laboured hard, to hinder that of Paulus, whose glory did so farre outgo the others as well by the greatnesse of king Perseus, by the shew of Images, and Statues, as by the quantity of money, that he brought into the Treasury two hundred millions of Sesterces, and in the magnificence of it, did farre outstrippe all triumphs whatsoever had gone before him.

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CHAP. 10. The proud commanding of Antiochus to have Egypt in quiet by Popilius Laenas the Romane Embassadour. Emilius his losse of both his sonnes about the time of his triumph.

AT the same time when Antiochus Epiphanes, who had at Athens begunne to set up the Olympick games, being King of Syria did besige in Alexandria the infant King Ptolome, Marcus Popilius Laena was sent Ambassador to him to command him to desist from his attempt, who delivering his message, and the King answering that he would thinke of it, made a circle with his staffe in the sand about th [...] King, and charged him to giv [...] him an answere before he wen [...] [Page] out of the same: So did the Romane constancy put an end to the Kings Consultations, and the command was obeyed. But Lucius Paulus who had gotten a great and glorious victory, was father of foure sonnes: Two of them, being the eldest, he had given to be adopted, the one to Publius Scipio, sonne to Publius the Africane, who of his fathers greatnesse and bravery held nothing but the glory of the name, & a forcible eloquence; the other to Fabius Maximus. The other two being the younger, who had not yet put on the habit accustomed to be worne by mé, at the time that he obtayned the [...]oremétioned victory, he reteined to himselfe. When according to the auncient custome, before he entred the Citie, he made a relation, before his triumph [Page] of his carriage in his affaires (He besought the immortall gods that if any of them did maligne his actions, and envy his fortune, that they rather would shew their spleene upon him then upon the Common wealth, which words as delivered by an oracle, did ere long draw a great deale of his blood from him. For one of his two sons whom he had retained in his house, with him, he lost a few dayes before his triumph, and the other within fewer dayes after it. About this time there was a sharpe Censure pronounced by Fulvius Flaccus & Posthumus Albinus For Cnaeus Fulvius brother to th [...] Censor Fulvius, and also his partner in all things was by the sam [...] Censors put out of the Senate.

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CHAP. 11. A counterfeit Philip in Macedonia overthrowne by Metellus Macedonicus. Metellus his fortunate life and death.

AFter the defeate and takeing of Perseus, who at the end of foure yeares, deceased in a free restraint at Alba, a counterfeit Philip, so termed, by reason of his fiction, in pretending a fabulous discent, when he gave out himselfe to be Philip, and of the royall blood, being full of extreamest boldnesse, & having with armed hand seized upon Macedon, and usurped the ensignes of majesty: within a short time received for the same his due payment. For the Pretor Quintus Metellus, who for his valour was surnamed the Macedonian [Page] gaining a noble victory, overthrew him and the whole Nation: and also defeated the Achaians who were beginning to rebell, in a great and bloody battaile. This is that Metellus the Macedonian that built the Galleries which did compasse about the two Temples, which were founded without any title of dedication, and are now surrounded with the Galleries of Octavia: and who brought out of Macedon that troupe of Horsemens Statues, which stand in the front of the Temples, and are at this day the principall ornament of that place. The cause of the making that company of Statues is reported to be, that Alexander the great did desire of Lysippus a principall Arts-master in those workes, that he would make th [...] Statues of those horsemen o [...] [Page] his which were slaine, out of his owne troupe at the river of Granicke, to the life, and place his owne among them. He also was the first, who building an house at Rome of the marble taken out of auncient Monuments, did give a beginning there, either to their magnificence or excesse. Hardly canst thou find a man of any Nation, Age, or qualitie, whose felicitie thou mayest compare with the fortune of Metellus: For besides his glorious triumphs, his honors of the highest degrees, and his eminent place in the Common wealth, his life prolonged to old age, his sharpe yet guiltlesse Contentions with his enemies for the Common-wealths cause: He had foure sonnes, saw them all men grown, left them all behinde him alive and full of honours; when he was [Page] dead, his foure sonnes tooke up his bed with his body before the Rostra; one of them a man of Consular degree, and that had bin Censor; the second that had also beene Consull; the next at the same time Consull; and the last then stood Canditate for the Consulship, which honour he also obtained. This is indeede rather happily to depart this life then to dye.

CHAP. 12. Corinth rebelling, raced by Mummius, and Carthage by Scipio Emilianus. The death of Cato, the perpetuall urger of the racing of Carthage.

AFter this, as we have before related, when all Achaia was bent to warres, whereof a [Page] great part was by the Armes and valour of Metelius Macedonicus reduced, the Corinthians furiously and with foule indignities against the Romans, flying to Armes, Mummius the Consull was appointed to command in that war. And about the same time, (rather for that the Romans were willing to beleeve whatsoever was reported of the Carthaginians, then for that the reports that were brought them were worthy credit) the Senate resolved, utterly to demolish Carthage. And then it was that Publius Scipio Emilianus, a man wholy resembling in his vertues his Grandfather Publius Africanus, and his father Lucius Paulus and in all endowments, both of warre and peace, and as well for his Iudgement, as Knowledge, the most eminent of his time, [Page] who in his life, did never either doe, or speake, or thinke, any thing, but what was praise-worthy, whom we have before delivered to be the sonne of Paulus, but adopted by Scipio the sonne of Africanus, when he sought for the Ediles place, was created Consull. That warre against Carthage, which had bin by other Consulls managed two yeares before, he followed with greater eagernes. Having before that, in Spaine, beene honoured with a murall crowne, and in Africa, with one given to him, that by seige had mastered any place: and had also in Spaine, being challenged, slaine an Enemie, of a vast both strength and body, himselfe being but of ordinary abilitie and forces. So that Citie more disliked by the Romanes, for the competition of Command, [Page] then for any fault it had committed in those times, he rased to the foundations: and rendred that a monument of his valour, which it was before of his Grandfathers clemency. Carthage was destroyed about one hundred seventy seven yeares since, after it had stood sixe hundred sixtie seven yeares, in the Consulship of Cnaeus Cornelius Lentulus and Lucius Mummius. This end befell to Carthage the emulator of the Romās greatnes and command, with whom our Auncestors beganne the warre, when Claudius and Fuluius were Consulls, two hundred nintie and sixe yeares, before thou Marcus Vinicius didst enter the Consulship. So that for the space of one hundred & fifteene yeares, there was betweene these two Nations, either warres, or [Page] preparations for it or any uncertaine peace: & not to be trusted. Neither did Rome who now had mastered the whole world, esteeme her selfe and hope to be in securitie, if the name of Carthage still resting on foote were in any place extant. So doth the hate growne out of contention, out-live the feare of the concurrent, nor is it at an end when he is conquered: neither yet doth he cease to be maligned, till he cease to have a being.

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CHAP. 13. The difference in disposition, betweene Scipio and Mummius, the first neate and gentle, the second, ignorant and rude, yet the one called from his victory the African, the other Achaian.

THree yeares before Carthage was ruined, Marcus Cato, the perpetuall urger of the destruction thereof, when Lucius Censerinus and Marcus Manlius were Consulls, ended his life. In the same yeare that Carthage fell, Lucius Mummius, eight hundred fiftie two yeares, after it was founded by Haletes the sonne of Hippotes, did race Corinth to the ground. Both the Commanders were honoured with a s [...]name from that of the Nation conquered by them, the [Page] one being called the African the other the Acha [...]an. Neither was any man of those of the first head entituled to a name before Mummius that was acquired by his vertue. The disposition of these Commanders, was much different: their studies also were nothing like. For Scipio was so curious, both an Arts-man and an Admirer of the liberall arts and all kinde of learning, as he kept both in the warres and at home, Polibius and Panetius men of excellent knowledge, perpetually about him. For never did any man more daintily put away the vacations that he had from businesse, then this Scipio when he was at leysure, and continually was he employed either in the Art of warre, or that of peace, being alwayes in Armes, or at his studies, he either enured his [Page] body to labour & dangers, or his mind with profitable studies. Mummius was so clownish, as after the taking of Corinth, when he hired certaine men to carrie some pictures and, statues the choisest and perfectest workes of the greatest Artists, into Italy, he commanded them that had the charge of them, to be told that if they spoyled thé, they should make thé new. But I doe not thinke (Ʋinicius) that thou art in doubt whether it had beene better for the Common wealth that this art of the Corinthians had still remained in the first rudenesse rather then to have binne so perfectly understood: or whether this wisdome or that ignorance would have beene a more [Page] convenient ornament for the Republique.

CHAP. 14. A Catalogue of all the Roman Colonies, that were planted any where before the comming of Hannibal into Italy.

NOw since the presentment of divers things contracted into one, doth more easily make an impression into our eies and mindes than that which is divided into several times; I have determined to distinguish the first part of this worke from the last, with no unusefull delivery of things done, compendiously drawn together: And to insert in this place what Colonies, and in what time by decree of the Senate, [Page] were after the taking of Rome by the Gaules, carried and planted abroad: for of those which were setled by occasion of the warres, both the causes, and the Authors, and the names of the places themselves, are very glorious. To this end wee shall not seeme unseasonably to weave in our discourse, the times wherein Cities had their beginning, and the Romane name an increase by the Communication of their priviledges. Seven yeares after Rome was taken by the Gaules, a Colonie was planted at Satrium, and the yeare following, another at Setina. After nine yeares more, one at Nepe, and then at the end of thirtie two yeares, the Aricynes were received into, and made free of the Citie. But about sixe hundred and fiftie yeares since [Page] Spurius Posthumius, and Veturius Calvinus being Consulls, the freedome of the Citie was granted to the Campanians, and part of the Samnites, without power of giving their voyces, and the same yeare a Colonie was led to Cales; within three yeares after, were the Fundanes and Formians received into the Citie, in the same yeare that Alexandria was founded. In the next Consulls time, was the freedome of the Citie granted by Spurius Posthumius, and Philo Publius then Censors, to the Acerranes. Three yeares after that was a Colonie carried to Taracina, and foure yeares more being past, one to Luceria, and the third yeare after that to Suessa, Aurunca, and Saticula, then within two yeares, one to Interamnis: from thence for ten yeares space, nothing of [Page] this nature was done: then were two Colonies placed at Sura and Alba, and two yeares after, one at Confinium: but when Quintus Fa [...]ius was Consull the fifth time, and Decius Mus the fourth time, in which yeare Pirrhus began his reigne, Colonies were sent to Sinuessa and Minternae; and foure yeares after to Venusia, within two yeares after which without libertie of giving their voyces, when Marcus Curius and Rufinus Corneli [...]s were Consulls, the Sabines were made free of the Citie. This was about three hundred and twentie years since, but the Cossan and Pestum were received almo [...]t three hundred yeares past. In the Consulship of [...]abius Dor [...], and Claudi [...]s Car [...]u [...]: five yeares being elapsed, Semp [...]ius So [...]us, & App [...]s the sonne of the blind [Page] man being Consulls, Colonies were sent to Ariminum, and Beneventum, and also the freedome of voice in election, was granted to the Sabines. But in the beginning of the first Punique warres, Firmum and Catum were planted with Colonies a yeare after, so was Aesernia, and two and twentie yeares after that Aesulum, Alfium, and Fregellae; then two yeares after, and the yeare following, Torquatus and Sempre [...]ius Consulls, Brundusium; and at the end of three yeares more, Spoletum. In which yeare was the beginning of the celebration of the playes in honour of the Goddesie Flora. After two yeares Valentia was made a Colony, and upon the comming of Hanibal into Italy, Cremona, and Placentia.

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CHAP. 15. Another Register of such as were planted after that, till the time of Caius Marius his sixth Consulship.

FRom that time while Hannibal remained in Italy, the Romans were not at leisure to thinke of founding Colonies. The next ensuing yeares after his quitting it, when as during the warres▪ souldiers were rather to be provided than discharged; and after the end of it, their forces had need of being cherished, and held united together, more than of being scattered and dispersed. But when Cneius M [...] lius Volso & Marcus Fulvius Nobilior were Consulls, a Colony [Page] was planted at Bononia, almost two hundred and seventeene yeares since; and foure yeares after, two others at Pisaurum and Potentia; then three yeares being past at Aquileia and Gravisca; and after foure yeares more, one at [...]uca. In the same times (although some there are that doubt thereof) there were Colonies sent to Puteoli, Salernum▪ and Buxentum; but to Auxinum in the Picene countrey almost one hundred eightie seven yeares since; three yeares before that Cassius the Censor at the turning from the Iupercall to Mount Palatine, erected a Theater, in the demolishing whereof the strict severitie of the Citie, and the Consuil Capio, did most nobly appeare, which their act I should willingly reckon among the bravest [Page] arguments of the publique inclination in those dayes. When Cassius Longinus and Sextius Calvinus (who overthrew the Salves by the waters which of his name are called Sextian) almost a hundred fiftie and seven yeares since was one carried to Fabrateria, and a yeare after these, other were planted at Scylacium, Minervium, Tarentum, Neptunia, and Carthage in Aff [...]ica, the first (as we have have said before) that was setled by them out of Italy. Of Derto [...]a there is some doubt. But when Marcus Porcius, and Quintus Marius were Consulls, a Colony was planted in Narbo Marcius in Gallia, about a hundred and fiftie yeares since; and thirtie three yeares after, when Marius was the sixth time Consull, and Valerius Flaccus, another [Page] was setled at Ephoredia in the Countrey of Vagienna. Nor can I commit to memory after that time any Colony that was planted, but of souldiers.

CHAP. 16. A kinde of master roll of excellent men in severall professions that flourished about one age: In the Tragicke Comicke veines; in Philosophy, Oratory, and the like, among the Graecians.

THough this parcell of my worke hath in a sort outgone the proportion that I had designed for it: and that I understand that in this so over speedy a poasting, which, like a wheele, an overfall of water, [Page] or a downe right precipice, doth not give mee leave to rest any where; more necessary ones are almost rather to be permitted, than superfluous ones to bee entertained: I cannot yet containe my selfe, but I must observe and marke out a matter which I have often had in agitation in my minde, and whereof the reason hath not h [...] therto beene sufficiently cleared. For who can too much wonder, that the most remarkable spirits in every kinde of profession, in the same manner, the same confined space of a little, and strengthened time, and as creatures of a different kinde, out of a closed cage or a severall division, are never the lesse distinguished from those of another fort, though kept together in one body. So those wits that [Page] were capable of any worthy worke to have varied from one another in all resemblances as if they had beene of other times and abilities in proficiencie. For one age, and that not consisting of many yeares, did enoble the Tragicke Bu [...]kin by the meanes of the divinely spirited men Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. One age and within a very few yeares did the same honour to the first and antient Comicke veine under Cratinus, Arislophanes, and Eupolis; and inventing the newer straine of Menander, and those that were rather his equalls in time than in his workes. Philemon and D [...]philus left behinde them peeces not to be imitated. As for the Philosophers excellencies deduced from the instructions of Socrates (of all whom [Page] wee have a little before made mention) how small a time did they flourish after the death of Aristotle and Plato? What was there worth regard among the Orators before Isocrates? what after his auditors and their disciples? So were they shut up within a little compasse of time, that there was none of them worth the remembring, who might not have seene one another.

CHAP. 17. The like and about the same time among the Romans.

NEither did this befall the Greekes more then the Romans; for except thou wilt remember things harsh and unpolished, the invention of Roman tragedies is to be ascribed, [Page] and commended in Attius with the times about his dayes, and the dainty witty conceit of the Latine about the same age, were by Caecilius, Terence, and Afranius rendred worthy of an high esteeme. The Historians (if thou wilt adde to the number of those before him, L [...]vius) besides Cato and some others as ancient as obscure: were included within the compasse of eightie yeares: so neyther did the plenty of Poets eyther shew it selfe before that time, or much come after it. But for the Art of Oratorie and the abilitie of pleading in open court with the perfection of Eloquence in prose, excepting the fore-named Cato, (let mee speake with favour of Publius Crassus, Scopio, Laelius, the Gracchi, Fannius and Sergius Galba) did so totally glitter under the [Page] Prince thereof Tully, that thou canst not observe more then a very few to have beene taken with it before him: but none to have admired it who either was not knowne to him or had the good fortune to know him. Whosoever shall be curious in the searching the times past, shall finde, that the same hath been the fate of Grammarians, Potters, Painters, and Carvers. The eminence of all manner of Sciences I finde to bee circumscribed within the compasse of a very short time. But when I seeke for the cause that wrought both for curiositie and profit, such a similitude betweene the wits of that age, and that which preceded it; I finde none of the truth of which I may be confident: yet perhaps I have met with some that are probable. Among which these are the [Page] principall. Emulation doth nourish the wit, and one while Envie, another while Admiration doth heate the contention, as also nature doth climbe to the top of that which is with extreamest ardencie desired and hardly can he stop that strives to reach to perfection. Againe, in nature that which cannot goe forward, retires backe: and as at first wee are on fire to reach them that we esteeme before us; so when as we despaire of out-going and over-taking them, our desire together with our hope, doth grow faint and old, and what cannot be compassed, ceaseth to be followed, and the pursuer, as a place already possest, quits it and seekes a new one: and letting that passe, in which we ca [...] be of no high esteeme, we seek [...] some other subject, to which to [Page] bend our endeavors: from whence it follows that a frequent & changing passing from one studie to another is the greatest hindrance to the arriving at perfection in any thing.

CHAP. 18. Of Athens, the sole City of Greece, famous for arts, Thebes excepted by breeding of Pindarus.

MY admiration now passeth to consider of the times & Cities. One only Citie of Attica did flourish longer in eloquence, & those kinde of workes than all Greece besides. So that thou wouldest thinke, that the bodies of that nation were divided into other Cities, their wits shut up within the wals of Athens alone. Nor doe I more wonder at this than that there was no Orator among the Argives, the Thebans or the Lacedemonians thought worthie of Authoritie whiles he lived, or of memorie after his death; which Cities were [Page] barren of those knowledges, except that the eloquence of Pindarus did give a lustre to Thebes: for Alcmon, the Lacedemonians doe with no just title challenge to be theirs.

Velleius Paterculus His ROMANE HISTORIE. The second Booke.

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CHAP. I. The declining of the Roman vertue after the ruine of Carthage, the warre with Viriatus ended by the cunning of Caepio: & the base conditions made first by Pompeius, & then by Mancinus with the Numantines.

THe former Scipio laid open the way to the Roman power; the later to their excesse and riot: for the feare of Carthage [Page] being removed, and the Competitor of the Empire taken out of the way, not by degrees, but by a precipitate course wee fell from vertue, and gave our selves to vices. Our old discipline was quitted, a new one brought in; the Citie turned from watching to sleepe; from Armes to pleasure; from businesse to idlenesse. Then did Scipio Nasica build in the Capitoll his Galleries; then Metellus his that we before have mentioned: then in the Circus did Cnaus Octavius build his, farre the more beautifull. And this publicke magnificence was followed with private riot. An unlucky & shamefull warre then ensued in Spaine, Viriatus commanding & leading the theeves, which was managed with so various fortune, as it was oftnest [Page] unfortunate to the Romans. But Viriatus being brought to his end, more by the devices of Servilius, Caepio, than by his valour: the warre of Numantia much more troublesome was kindled. This Citie could never arme above ten thousand of her owne youth, but either by the fierce bravery of the people, or by the ignorance of our Commanders, or by the favour of fortune: shee forced both other leaders, & Pompey himselfe also, a man of a high repute, to accept of most basely dishonourable conditions (this man was of the Pompeian family, the first Consull.) Nor lesse foule and detestable were those they extorted from Mancinus Hostilius the Consull. But Pompey escaped unpunished by the favour that was borne him. Mancinus [Page] by his humble shamefastnesse for not refusing it, hee brought it to this, that with his hands bound behinde him, he was delivered by our Heralds to the Enemy, who denied to receive him, as sometimes the Samnites at Caudium did, affirming that the violation of the publicke faith was not to bee expiated with the bloud of one man.

CHAP. 2. The sedition raised upon the deliverie up of Mancinus to the enemy by Tiberius Gracchus: His character and his intendments.

THe rendring up of Mancinus did raise a most dangerous sedition in the Citie: For Tiberius Gracchus the sonne of [Page] Tiberius Gracchus (a man most noble and of highest esteeme) Grandchild by his daughter to Publius Africanus, who for the time being Questor, when that agreement was made, and besides the Author and contriver of it; One while taking it in the worst part, that any act of his should be disvalewed, another while doubting the hazard of the like censure or punishment, being created Tribune of the people, a man otherwise of a life most unblameable, for his judgement most excellent, in his intentions most just; finally, adorned with as great vertues as both nature and industrie being in their perfection, the condition of mortall man is capeable of: When Publius Mutius Scaevola and Lucius Calphurnius were Consulls, about one hundred [Page] sixtie two yeares since, fell off from the best and honestest sort of the Citie, and promising freedome of the Citie to all Italy, and withall publishing certaine lawes for the distributing of lands, while all men coveted to have power in the State, hee confounded all things, and brought the Common wealth into a craggie and redoubtable danger, and Octavius his fellow in office, for that hee stood for the Common wealth, he deprived of his command. Hee created Triumvirs for the division of lands, and the leading out of Colonies; himselfe, his father in law Appius who had beene Consull, and his brother Gracchus, who then was but a very youth.

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CHAP. 3. The ruine of Gracchus by Scipio Nasica: the death of Gracchus which was the first bloud drawne in Rome in civile contentions.

THen Publius Scipio Nasica, Grandchild to him that by the Senate was judged the best man in the Citie, sonne to him that being Censor built the Galleries in the Capitoll, and great Grandchild to Cnaeus Scipio, a man most honourable, uncle to Publius the African, being both a private man, and of the gowne, though hee were a neere kinsman of Tiberius Gracchus, yet preferring his countrie before his kinred, and thinking whatsoever was not for the welfare of the publike in his owne particular, [Page] was a stranger to him; for these his vertues, in his absence hee was first of all men created chiefe and Soveraigne Bishop. When wrapping the skirt of his gowne about his left arme from the highest part of the Capitoll, standing at the top of the staires, hee exhorted as many as desired the preservation of the State to follow him. Then the Noblemen, the Senate, and both the better part and greater of the Knights, together with so many of the Plebeians as were untainted with these pernicious devices, charged upon Gracchus, standing with his troupes, and labouring to draw almost all Italy to a head together: He flying and running downe the cliffe of the Capitoll, was strucken with the frame of a forme, and so with [Page] an untimely death ended his life, which hee might have passed with all glorie and honour. This was the beginning of shedding bloud in civill contentions in the Citie of Rome, and of swords used without punishment; from thence grew all right to bee troden under foot by force; And the more powerfull and former custome, with the differences betweene the Citizens, which before were wont to be cured by treaties and conditions, were after decided by the sword. Neither were warres taken in hand for just causes and reasons, but as it were their way of trafficke and merchandizing, which to speake truth, is no wonder, for examples doe not rest upon the grounds from which they had their first beginning: but having [Page] made their way thorow any narrow and streight passage, they afterwards take to themselves a course of free and open libertie, and when once men have swarved from that which is right, they runne headlong to all injustice. Nor doth any man thinke that base and dishonourable to him, which another hath found beneficiall.

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CHAP. 4. Aristonicus pretending falsely to the bloud Royall of Asia, which left by Attalus his will to the Romans, as after Bithynia was by Nicomedes, he had seized upon, overthrowne by Mar. Perperna. And Numantia rased by the same Emilianus who before had done as much for Carthage: His death much suspected, but never questioned.

IN the meane time, while these passages are on foot in Italy. Aristonicus after the death of King Attalus, by whom Asia was bequeathed as an inheritance to the people of Rome (as inlike sort afterward Bithynia was also left by Nicomedes) false [...]y pretending himselfe to bee [Page] of the blood Royall, possest himselfe therof by force. He by Marcus Perperna, was overthrowne & led in triumph: but Manius with the losse of his head, did from Aquilius receive his payment, for that in the beginning of the warre he had slaine Crassus Muciarus, a man most learned in the lawes, as he was in qualitie of Proconsull upon his departure out of Asia. And Publius Scipio the African, sonne of Emilius, who had rased Carthage: after so many disasters about Numantia, being created Consull the second time, and sent into Spaine, did there make good the fortune and valour of which hee had before given proofe in Africa; And within a yeare and three months after his comming thither, having compassed Numantia round about with [Page] his workes, did level it with the ground. Neither did any man of what Nation soever before his time leave his name recommended to perpetuall memorie, by a more glorious destruction of any places: For by the rasing of Carthage, and Numantia, he freed us of feare from the one, and of scorne and reproach from the other. He when the Tribune Carbo enquired of him what he thought of the killing of Tiberius Gracchus, answered; That if he had in his thoughts to possesse himselfe of the state, he was worthily punished. And when all the assembly cryed out, I (said he) that have so often remained unterrified, with the shouts of the armed enemie, how can I be moved with yours, to whom Italy is a step-mother. Being re [...]urned to the Citie, within a [Page] while after when Mareus Aquilius and Caius Sempronius were Consulls, an hundred and fiftie yeares since; after his two Consulships, and two Triumphs, when he twise had quitted the Common wealth of her feares, he was in the morning foūd dead in his bed; so that certain markes of his being strangled, were found upon his necke. Neither was there ever any enquirie made of the cause of a mans death, of so great eminence: and his body was caried out to funerall with his head covered, by whose meanes the citie of Rome had lifted up her head aboue all the inhabited world. So dyed he either a naturall, as the most part supposed, or a death procured by practise, as many have delivered. How ever, he certainly past his course of life most nobly, and [Page] was in glory inferiour to no man that before that time had beene, except his Grandfather. He departed this life, almost at the end of his sixe and fiftieth yeare: whereof if any man make a question let him looke backe to his former Consulship, to which he was elected in his six and thirtieth yeare, & he will cease to doubt.

CHAP. 5. Anlus Brutus, his severity of command in Spaine, cause of his victorie at Controbia.

BEfore the destruction of Numantia, the command of Aulus Brutus in Spain was very glorious: who making his way through al the nations of Spaine, [Page] having taken an infinite number of men and Cities, & reached to those people, which were scarce knowne, by heare-say, did worthily obtaine the sirname of the Gallician. And before him but a few yeares, the government of that Quintus termed the Maudonian was so severe, that when he assaulted a Citie called Contrabia, five legionarie Cohorts being beaten downe from a clifty place, he immediately commanded them to give upon the same againe. And all his souldiers making their wills as they stood in their ranks, as if they were to runne upon certaine death: the Constancy of the Cō mander, not frighted from his purpose, received the souldiers backe with victory, whom he had sent to die. Such was the effect of feare mingled with [Page] shame, and a hope sprung out of despaire. This man by the valour and severity of his action: but Paulus Emilianus, following the example of the former Paulus, by his discipline in Spaine, did grow very famous.

CHAP. 6. The stirres raised by Caius Gracchus, brother to Tiberius, intending the same or worse then his brother had attempted: His character and overthrow by Opimius.

TEn yeares then being elapsed, the same fury which had possessed Tiberius Gracchus, did also seaze upon his brother Caius, who did aswell resemble him in all his vertues, as in this error, but in his wit and eloquence [Page] far more excellent. Who when with all tranquillitie of mind, he might have been a principall man in the Citie, either for revenge of his brothers death or to invest himselfe in a regall power, taking him for his patterne, and entred upon the Tribuneship, attempting things far greater and more insupportable: granted the freedome of the Citie to all Italians, did extend it almost to the Alps, divided lands, forbad any Citizen to possesse above five hundred acres (which was also provided fo [...] by the law Licinia) imposed new customes upon Merchandize, filled the Provinces wit [...] new Colonies, transferred th [...] power of hearing and determ [...] ning from the Senate to the o [...] der of Knights, purposed to d [...] stribute Corne to the Commo [...] [Page] people; left nothing unstirred, nothing at peace, finally, not any thing that was at quiet in the same estate. And further prorogued his Tribuneship for another yeare. Him Lucius Opimius then Consul, who when he was Praetor, had rased Fregelae, pursued with force, and together with Fuluius Flaccus a man of Consular qualitie, and that had triumphed, whom as badly affected as himselfe, Caius Gracchus had made Triumvir in the roome of his brother Tiberius, & his Consort in his royall power, deprived of his life. That alone is reported to have beene wickedly done by Opimius; That he set a price and proclaimed that hee would in ready gold pay it upon the head (that I may not say of Gracchus) of a Citizē of Rome. Flaccus when upon Mount Aventine [Page] he drew on and encouraged his armed troupes to fight was with his eldest sonne there slaine. Gracchus as he was flying when now he was at the point of being apprehended by those that Opimius for that purpose had sent, presented his necke to his servant Euporus: who no more faintly slew himselfe, after he had done, then he did assist and free his lord. That day the faithfulnesse of Pomponius a Romane Knight to Gracchus, was very notable; who like Coeles making a stand upon the bridge against all the force of the enemy at the last fell upon his sword; As before the body of Tiberius Gracchus, so now also that of Caius with a strange cruelty of the Conqueror, was throwne into the Tiber.

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CHAP. 7. The cruelty of Opimius to a delicate youth, sonne to Flaccus one of Gracchus his associates, and others of that faction, detested by the Romanes who were of his side.

THis was both in life and death, the fortune of the sonnes of Tiberius Gracchus, and the Grandchildren of Publius Scipio the Affrican, in the life time of their Mother Cornelia daughter to the Affrican. Men [...]hat made ill use of most excel [...]ent abilities of spirit, who if [...]hey had desired any proportion of honours within the compasse of a Civill estate, whatsoever [...]hey in a tumultuous manner [...]ought to reach the Commonwealth [Page] to them if quiet would have presented. To this sharpnesse was added a transcending villany: for a youth of excellent beauty not as yet full eighteene yeeres old, and not guilty of his fathers faults, the sonne of Fulvius Flaccus, whō his father had sent as a messenger to propound a treatie, was by Opimius put to death. Whom when a Tuscan sooth-sayer his friend observed to be drag'd weeping to prison, why dost thou not rather (said he) thus: and withall running his head against the stone bridge, at the prison gate, with his braines beaten out, fell downe dead. Presently were there cruel inquisitions set on foote against the friends and followers of the Gracchi. But for Opimius a man in other things upright and grave, when he was afterward [Page] condemned by the Iudgement of all the people: the memory of that his cruelty would not suffer him to be with any humanitie pittied. The same spight also of a publique censure did not unadvisedly ruine within a while after Rutilius and Popilius who when they were Consulls had beene most bittterly eager upon the friends of the Gracchi. Let me intermingle with affaires of so great consequence, a thing scarce worth the being known. This is that Opimius from whose Consullship, the wine called Opimian, tooke its name, and was most highly esteemed, which that it is not now to bee met with, the distance of time it self will declare it, being from him to the Consular of thee Marcus Vinicius one hundred fiftie and one yeares. An authoritie of [Page] lesse power did succeed this act of Opimius, because they sought to satisfie their particular spleenes, and the revenge was rather ascribed to private hate thē to the vindicating of the publique right. In the next ensuing yeare Porcius and Marcius being Consuls, a Colony was planted at Narbo Marcius.

CHAP. 8. Caius Cato condemned of extortion for a petty summe. The two Metelli neare kinsmen, triumph in one day, as also the two brothers of the Flacci. And Minutius upon the Scordisci.

LEt now the severitie of the Citties Censures be recommended to memory: For Caius [Page]Cato a man of Consular qualitie, grandchild of Marcus Cato, and sonne to the sister of the Affrican, was condemned upon information out of Macedonia of extortion, when the question was but of foure thousand Sesterces. Thus did they rather bend their eyes upon the disposition to offend, then the measure of the crime, squaring the fact by the rule of the intention, and weigh what, not how farre men did offend.

About the same time, the brothers of Marcus Metellus did triumph in one day. Now was the fortune lesse remarkeable, as hitherto the sole one of that kinde of the sonnes of Fulvius Flaccus (his I meane, who had taken Capua) in the Colledge of Consulls, whereof the one was given in adoption, [Page] and he so received into the family of Acidianus Manlius. For the Censureship of the Metelli, was of Cozen-germans, not of brothers, which happinesse had onely befallen to the two Scipios. Then did the Cimbri & the Teutones passe over the Rhine who presently aswell by our many losses as by their owne became famous. At the same time that Minutius who built the Galleries, which even to this day are highly esteemed, did bravely triumph over the Scordisci.

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CHAP. 9. A register of Romanes in that time famous for poesie, History, and other arts of the like kinde.

IN the the same age were Scipio Emilianus, and Laelius, Sergius Galba, the two Gracchi, Caius Fannius, and Cerbo Papirius, famous for eloquence. Neither is Metellus Numidicus, or Severus to be forgotten, but above all Lucius Crassus and Marcus Antonius▪ to whom both in time and abilities succeeded Caius Caesar, Strabo and Publius Sulpicius. For Mucius was more famous for his skill in the law then for any eloquence that he was owner of.

About the same time were highly prized the ingeniousnesse [Page] for Comedyes of Afranius, for Tragedies, of Pacuvius & Attius, who were honoured even to the being paralleld with the Grecian witts, who did not refuse to their workes prime ranke among themselves. So as indeed it seemed there was in these more daintines; in them more substantiall bloud. The name also of Lucilius, was at that time of high esteeme, who served on horsebacke under Publius the African in the warre of Numantia; When lugurth also being a young man, and Merius serving under the Command of the same Generall, did in the same army learne what they afterward should execute in armes of an opposite quallite. The Historiographer Sisenna was then young: but his worke of Silla's civill warre, he [Page] wrote some yeares after, when he was old. Caelius was more auncient then Sisenna, but Rutilius, Claudius, Quadrigarius and Valerius Anti [...]s, were in the same age with him. Yet let us not be ignorant, that in that age was Pompouius notable for his conceipt of a harsh stile, and for the new Invention of his worke praise worthy.

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CHAP. 10. Lepidus Aelius censured for hiring a house at 6 [...]0. sesterces [...]a meane rate in succeeding times. Domitius victorious over the Arverni, and Fabius, for his, surnamed Allobrogian. The sate of the Domitian family to have but one Sonne of a Father, yet all arive at the highest honours.

ANd here let us observe the famous severity of the Cē sors, Cassius, Longinus and Caepio who one hundred fiftie and seven yeares since, did call in question, Lepidus Aelius the Augur, for that he had hired a house of six thousand Assis rent. If now any man should dwell in one of that value, he should scarce be acknowledged for a Senator. So easily do men fall from what [Page] i [...] fit, to errors, from errors to crimes, and from crimes to the bottome of all wickednesse. In the same tract of time, the victory of Domitius over the Arverni and that of Fabius, of the Allobroges were glorious. To Fabius the Grandchild of Paulus, for that his victory, the surname of the Allobrogian was added; where is to be observed, that in the Domitian family there was a peculiar, and as it was most noble, so was it a felicitie bounded within the number of a very few men. As before this Cneus Domitius a young man of a most worthy and cleere roundnesse: there were of the same house but all the sole sons of their Fathers: yet all of them attained Consullships and priesthoods, and allmost all of them the honour of Triumphs.

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CHAP. 11. The warre of Iugurth managed first by Metellus, ended by Caius Marius: His character: 12 Metelli or more, within twelve yeares, of the Caecilian family either Consulls or triumph.

THen followed the warre with Iugurth, managed by Quintus Metellus a man inferiour to no one of his time: His Lieutenant was Caius Marius, of whom wee spake before: borne of a family of Knights, rugged and sterne, of a course life, as the fittest for the warrs, so the worst for peace, knowing no meane, insatiably greedy of glory, in his passions ungoverned, and alwaies unquiet. He by the Customers and others that traded in Africa, accusing Metelius [Page] of slowenesse, as who had drawne the warres out into a length of three yeares, and the innate pride of the Nobilitie, with their greedy desire of prolonging their Command: did bring to passe, that when having gotten leave, he was come to Rome, and created Consull: the whole charge of the warre, now almost brought to an end by Metellus, as who had twise overthrowne Iugurth in open fielde, was committed to him. Yet notwithstanding was the triumph of Metellus, as glorious as well deserved, and for his worth and valour, the sirname of Numidian bestowed upon him. As before wee remembred the Noblenesse of the Domitian, so heere wee must observe that of the Cecilian family, in which almost [Page] within the compasse of twelve yeares, at this time there were above twelve Metelli that either were Consulls or Censors, or did triumph. So that it appeares, that as the fortune of Cities and States, so also that of races or families doth now flourish, now grow old, now perish and come to an end.

CHAP. 12. Marius by Silla his Questor, had Iugurth delivered up from Bocchus: Overthrowes the Te [...] tones with slaughter in two daies of 150000 men. And after with his colleague, Catulus, the Cimbres, with the losse of above 10000 s [...]aine or taken.

BVt Caius Marius had associated to him for his treasurer [Page] Lucius Silla, the destinies as it were making way for him: and by him whom hee had sent to King Bochus, neere one hund [...]ed and thirtie yeares since received King Iugurth delivered to him: and being againe chosen Consull at his returne to the City, in the Calends of Ianuary, and the beginning of his second Consulship, [...]ed him in truimph Then a [...] before we have related when a vast multitude of the German Nations, who were called the Cymbres and Teutones, had powred themselves out upon us, & had overthrowne Capio & M [...]lius the Consull, and before that in Gallia, Carbo and [...]elan [...]s, and turned them out of their army, and slaine Scaurus Aurelius the Consull, with others of principall marke & qualitie: the people of Rome to repell so potent [Page] an enemie▪ did thinke no man more fit to cōmand in chiefe than Marius. The third yeare then of his redoubled Consulship was spent in the preparation for the warre; in which yeare Cnaeus Domitius, Tribune of the people, did preferre a law, that the Priests, whom before that their fellowes in office did institute, should bee created by the people. In his fourth Consulship, he fought with the Teutones beyond the Alpes, neere the Sextian waters: and having put to the sword in that day and the next, above one hundred and fiftie thousand men, he did extirpate the whole Nation. In his fifth on this side the Alpes in the fields which are called Raudij, himselfe being Consull and Quintus Luctatius Catulus Proconsull, in a most fortunate [Page] encoūter, there were of the enemies slain or taken prisoners, more than one hundred thousand men. With this victory Marius did seeme to have deserved of the Common wealth that it should not be sorrie that he was borne in it, and with his good service to have made amends for the ills that hee was author of: his sixth Consulship was conferred upon him as a reward of his merits: yet notwithstanding let him not be unjustly deprived of the glory of this Consulship, in which he being Consull, did with force of armes, tame the madnesse of Servilius Glaucia, and Saturni [...]us Apulcius, whom borne and bent onely to doe mischiefe, with their unintermitted honors▪ tearing the Common-wealth in pe [...]ces, and with the sword and [Page] slaughter, disordering, and scattering the assemblies of the people: in the Hostilian Court hee punished with death.

CHAP. 13. Marcus Livius Drusus intending well to the Senate, but mistaken by them.

AFter this a few yeares being interposed, Marcus Livius Drusus entred his Tribuneship, a man most noble and excelling both in eloquence and goodnesse: who with farre better intentions than fortune undertooke the affaires that presented themselves, who when hee endeavoured to restore to the Senate their antiently former honour, and to draw to that order from the Knights the [Page] power of judging and determining: for the Knights having by the power of the Gracchian l [...]es gotten that authoritie, when they had raged against many of most eminent marke, and those also most innocent, and also had condemned with the infinite lamentation of the whole Citie Publius Rutilius of extortion; (A man not of that age alone, but of any whatsoever equall to the most vertuous) did euen in those things, which for their behoofe hee contrived finde the Senate opposite to him. They not understanding t [...] if hee proposed any thing for the advantage or benefit of the Plebeians, that it was done to the end as with a baite to draw the multitude to his favour, that having obtained pettie things and trifles, they might [Page] give way to matters of greater import. Finally, such was the fortune of Drusus, that the Senate did better approve the miscariage of his fellow Tribunes, than his excellent intendments and scorning the honors which were by him presented to them, did with an equall temper brooke the injuries of others, envying him that height of glory, and enduring the poore and meane repute of the rest.

CHAP. 14. The same man by some of their precurement [...], murthered with [...] knife, in a crowd at his owne house.

THe minde of Drusus then (since his faire intentions succeeded ill) being turned to [Page] granting freedome of the Citie to all Italy, which when he had beene labouring for, and returned out of the Market place, attended with the vast and innumerable multitude, which did alwayes follow him, being in the court of his owne house, strucken with a knife, which was left sticking in his side, within a few houres breathed his last. But being at the last gaspe, looking upon a number that stood about him, and lamented for him, hee let fall one word most sutable to the integritie of his conscience, Will ever (sa [...]d he) [my kinsmen and friends] our Common wealth finde a Citizen affected to her good, like my selfe. This was the end of that most noble young man▪ of whose disposition it should be amisse to forbeare giving [Page] one argument. When he built his house upon Mount Palatine, in that place, which once was Cicero's, after that Censorinus his, and now belongs to Statilius Sisenna, and the Architect promised him that hee would so order it, that having an open prospect abroad, it should bee free from all view of any man without, nor should any looke into, or supervise it: nay, rather (said he) if thou hast any skill at all, so frame my house, as whatsoever I doe in it may be seene by all the world.

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CHAP. 15. Carthage the first Colonie planted out of Italy: that plantations out of the native continent, have bin pernicious. The death of Drusus cause of the Italian warre. Metellus Numidicus banished by Saturninus the Tribune, and recalled by the meanes of his son.

I Would reckon among the [...] most pernicious points of the lawes of Gracchus that he planted Colonies in other countries beyond the bounds of Italy. That error our Auncestors had so carefully avoyded (when they observed Carthage to be growne so much more powerfull than Tyre, Massilia, then Phocaea, Si [...]acusa, then Corinth, Cizicum, [...]nd Bizantium, then Miletum, [Page] which were their originall and Mother countries) that out of the provinces, they still recalled the Citizens to Rome to bee taxed. The death of Drusius raised the warre of Italy, which already and before his death was boyling: For when Lucius Cesar and Publius Rutilius were Consulls, now one hundred and twentie yeares since when that disease being as by contagio [...] spread from the Aesculans over all Italy (for they had slaine the Praetor Servius, and Fonteius the Legate) and having infused it selfe among the Marsians, was runne thorow the whole countrie, had armed them against the Romans, whose fortune as i [...] was bitter, so was their caus [...] most just; for they required t [...] be members of that Citie, who [...] Empire and command they d [...] [Page] maintaine with their swords. That at all times, and in all warres, they did furnish double the number, both of horse and Foote, that the Romans themselves brought to the field: and yet might not be admitted to the priviledges of that Citie, which by their meanes and valour was arrived at that heighth that [...]he should loath and scorne men of both the same bloud and Na [...]ion, as Forrainers and Aliens. That warre consumed more [...]han three hundred thousand of the youth of Italy. The prin [...]pall Commanders of the Roman side in that warre, were Cnaeus Pompeius, father to Cnaeus Pompeius, the great, Cai [...]s Marius of whom wee spake [...]efore, Lucius Sylla, who the [...]eare last past had beene Prae [...]or, and Quintus Metellus, [Page] sonne to him that was sirnamed Numidian, who deservedly purchased the sirname of Pious For by his pietie to his parent, by the authoritie of the Senate, and with the consent of the whole Common wealth hee restored his father to his countrie, being expelled by Lucius Saturninus the Tribune of the people, because he alone refused to sweare the observation of the lawes propounded by him. Nor was that Metellus the Numidian more enobled by his triumphes, or the honors which hee had attained, than hee was by the cause of his banishment the exile it selfe, or his returne from it.

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CHAP. 16. The Italian Captaines in that warre, the fortune various, the end advantagious for the Romans.

OF the Italian partie, the most remarkeable Captaines were, Silo Poppedius, Herius Asinius, Iusterus Cato, Caius Pontidius, Telusius Pontius, Marius Egnatius, & Papius Mutilius. Nor will I by my bashfulnesse lessen at all the glory of my owne bloud and family, so long as I but relate the truth: For not a little honour is due to the memorie of Minutius Magius my great Grandfather, who being Nephew to Docius Magius the noblest of all the Campanians, and a man of most unspotted fidelitie, did serve the [Page] Romans in this warre, with so much loyaltie, that with a legion which himselfe had raised among the Hirpines, hee tooke Herculaneum, and in it Titus Didius, and consorted with Lucius Silla, besieged the Pompeies, and forced Cosa. Of whose worth both divers other, and especially, as well as most clearly Quintus Hortensius in his Annalls, hath made relation: And whose deservings the people of Rome did afterward amply, and fully remunerate, both in endowing him (and that not among others, but) singly and by himselfe with the priviledges of the Citie; and in creating his two sonnes Praetors, when the old man was not yet past begetting of other children, but had some borne to him after that time. So variable and mischievous [Page] was the fortune of that warre, that in two yeares, one after the other, two Roman Consulls were slaine by the enemie, Rutilius first, and then Cato Porcius: The armies of the Romans in sundry places were defeated, and they compelled to weare onely their Cassocks, and remaine a long time in that habite: they chose for the seat of their Empire Corfinium, and called it Italicum. After that by degrees, and incorporating into the City, such as had either not taken armes at all, or quickly laid them downe, and made their peace, our forces were repaired, and the common wealth sinking and ready to perish, was restored by Pompey, Sylla and Marius.

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CHAP. 17. The Italians made free of the City, the refusall whereof before was cause of the warre: Sylla made Consull.

THe Italian warre being for the greatest part ended except onely those reliques thereof which remained about Nola, (which setled, the Romans having sheathed their swords, did rather choose to graunt the libertie of the City to those which were conquered and deprest, then before when they were sound and entire) Quintus Pompeius entred his Consulship, together with Lucius Cornelius Sylla, a man that neither can bee sutably to his merit commended for his carriage before his victory, nor [Page] yet in the same proportion dispraised for his actions, after hee was Conquerour. Hee being descended of a noble family, as the sixth from Cornelius Rufinus, who in the warre of Pyrrhus was reckoned one of the most eminent Captaines of that time, when the honours of his family had beene intermitted, did so carry himselfe for a long time, as it seemed hee had no thought of standing for the Consulship. Afterward growing to reputation in the Italian warre, and before that in his Lievetenancie under Marius in France, where hee had routed some of the enemies most esteemed Captaines; hee tooke heart from his good fortune, and requiring the Consulship, was so declared by almost all the voyces of the Citie. [Page] Yet was hee in the nine and fortieth yeare of his age, when he attained to that honour.

CHAP. 18. Warre with Mithridates committed to Sylla: Mithridates his character and acts: the fidelity of the Rhodians, and perfidiousnesse of the Muylenians: Sulpitius his character with the charges in his carriage.

AT that time, Mithridates King of Pontus, a man (of whom wee may neither bee silent nor yet speake slightly) in warre most eagerly fierce, of notable valour, sometimes in his fortune, alwaies in his courage of the highest ranke, in direction a great Captaine, in execution a brave souldier, in his hatred [Page] to the Romans another Hanibal, having possest himselfe of Asia, and out the throats of all the Romans that were in it, whom in one day and houre, by his letters to the Cities, with infinite promises of rewards, he had procured to bee massacred. At that time there was not any who either in faithfulnesse toward the Romans, or in valour against Mithridates did parallell the Rhodians. Their fidelitie was by the perfidiousnesse of them of Mytelene, rendred the more illustrious, who delivered to Mithridates bound and captive Marcus Aquilius, and other Romans with him: although afterwards they were by Pompey restored to their liberty, onely in favour of Theophanes. When Mithridates did seeme in a fearefull manner to [Page] threaten Italy: Asia by the lots fell to Sylla for his Province. Hee being gone out of the Citie when hee staied before Nola, (for that Citie did most obstinately continue in armes, & was then beleagured with the Roman forces, as if it had beene sorry for the faithfulnesse which above all other (Subjects or confederates) it had most religiously observed in the Punique warre) Publius Sulpitius Tribune of the people, a man eloquent, eager, by his wealth, favour, friendships, and the vigour of his wits and spirit, made most eminent, having with all secresie of his intentions procured himselfe a vaste authoritie with the Common people: As if he were growne to be weary of his vertues, and that his well laid designes were unsuccessefull [Page] to him: upon a suddaine becomming ill disposed & headily rash, decreed all commands, all provinces to Caius Marius, who greedily affected them after hee was seventy yeares old: and preferred a law to the people, by which the command of Sylla should be abrogated, the warre of Mithridates decreed to Marius, with other pernicious and balefull lawes not to be endured in a free Common wealth. And besides, by certaine assasines of his owne faction, he caused to bee murthered, the son of Quintus Pompeius, then Consull; who also was sonne in law to Sylla.

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CHAP. 19. Sylla his returne to Rome from Nola, and expelling the opposite faction: Marius his danger at Mintura, and Sulpitius his death.

SYlla then drawing his army together returned to the Citie, and by force possessed himselfe thereof, threw out of it the twelve authors of those mischievous novelties, in which number were comprehended Marius with his sonne, and Publius Sulpitius, and by a law which then was passed, did condemne them to banishment. As for Sulpitius the horsemen that overtooke him in the fennes of Laurentum slew him, and his head being set up to shew over the pleading place, was as a [Page] presaging Omen of the proscription that ensued. Marius also after his sixth Consulship, and in the seventieth yeare of his age, was with a leather thong cast about his necke, dragged naked, and covered all over with myre out of a plot of reeds about the Marsh of Murica, in which, flying from Sylla his Cavallery which pursued him, he had hidden himself, by the command of the Decemvirs to the common prison of Minturna: to make an end of whom, when a common slave of the Towne, by birth a German, who by chance was taken in the Cymbrian warre where Marius commanded in chiefe, was sent with a sword: he as soone as hee knew Marius, with a hideous out-cry, discovering his indignatiō at the hard fortune of so great a personage, [Page] casting away his sword, runne out of the prison. The Townesmen then being by an enemie taught to have compassion upon one that but a little before was a man of highest eminence, having furnisht him with provision, put him aboard a ship, and dismist him in safetie. But hee having met with his son about Aenaria, stood for Africa: and in a shed among the ruines of Carthage, passed for a time a life full of necessitie: while Marius beholding Carthage, and it on the other side holding him, one of them might in a sort serve for a comfort to the other.

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CHAP. 20. Pompey the Consull slaine by the souldiers. Cinna for his sedititious devices, deposed from his Consulls place, his recalling Marius out of exile.

THis yeare was the first that ever the Roman souldiers embrewed their hand in the bloud of a Consull: for Pompey Syllas colleague was by the army of Cnaeus Pompeius, slaine in a mutinie, but whereof the Commander himselfe was the Author. Neither was Cinna of better temper than Marius or Snipitius, so that whereas the freedome of the City was so granted to the Italians, that the newly incorporate Citizens should bee distributed into eight tribes, left by their power and multitude, [Page] the dignitie of the antient Citizens should bee abased, and they to whom the courtesie was done, have more Authoritie than the conferrers thereof. Cinna promised that he would divide them among all the Tribes, with the fame of which benefit he drew a mightie number of them into the Citie. Out of which being forced by the power of his fellow in office, and of the chiefe Citizens, when hee bent himselfe for Campania by the authoritie of Senate, hee was deprived of his Consulship, and in his place was subrogated Lucius Cornelius Merula, the high priest of Iupiter. This injurie was better suted to the person of the man, than fit to serve for a president. Cinna then having first corrupted the chiefe Centurions and Tribunes, and [Page] within a while the souldiers also with hope of a donative, was received by the army which lay about Nola. And when they had all sworne obedience to him, hee retaining the markes and ensignes of the Consulship, declared warre against his countrie: relying upon the multitude of the new Citizens, of whom he had enrolled more than three hundred Cohorts, and had filled up about thirtie legions. Yet did that side stand in need of authoritie and favour: to give it that addition, he recalled out of banishment Caius Marius with his sonne, and those which were driven into exile with them.

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CHAP. 21. The battaile fought neere Rome, betweene Cinna and Pompey, Father to the great Pompey, who after dyed of the plague.

BVt while Cinna makes war upon his Countrie Cnaeus Pompeius, father to Pompey the great (of whose noble endevours as wee have before delivered, the Republique had made good use in the Marsian warre, and especially about the Countrey of Picenum, and who had taken Asculum, about which Towne, when the Armies were dispersed in diverse other Countries, seventie and five thousand Roman Citizens, and more then threescore thousand Italians fought in one day) being hopelesse of holding the Consullship [Page] any longer, did so doubtfully and indifferently cary himselfe betweene the factions, that he seemed to direct all his actions to his owne ends, and to lye in wait for the time, wavering to and fro, as ready when the fairer hope of power and greatnesse, presented it selfe, to render both himselfe and his army. Yet at the last, in a greate and a sharpe battaile he encountred with Cinna. The issue whereof being fought and determined under the very walles, and the Allyes of the Romans both fighting in it, and being also spectators thereof: how mischievously balefull it was, can scarce be expressed in words. After this when the pestilence raged in both the Armies as if the [...]word had not sufficiently wa [...]ted thē, Cnaeus Pompeius depar [...]ed this life. The reioycing for [Page] whose death was almost a counterpoize for the losse of so many Citizens as either the sword or sickenesse had deprived of life, and the people of Rome upon his dead body vented the ill will which they ought him in his life. Whether there were two or three families of the Pompeies or no, certaine it is that the first of that name Quintus Pompeius was Consull with Cnaeus Servilius, about one hundred sixtie eight yeares since. Cinna and Marius not without bloudy skirmishes on both sides, recovered the Citie. But Cinna entring first, passed a law for the recalling of Marius from exile.

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CHAP. 22. Marius his returne to Rome: the first proscription.

PResently Marius also to the common plague of his Coū trie men came into the towne. Nothing could have beene more bloudy then that victory: if that of Sylla had not followed it. Neither did they rage with an unrestrained licentiousnesse, but the noblest and most eminent men of the Citie, were with sundrey kindes of death removed out of the way. Amongst them the Consul Octavius, a man of a most harmelesse dis [...]osition by the command of Cinna was put to the sword. But Merula who upon the comming of Cinna had disclamed the Consulship, cutting his veines, and sprinkling [Page] the alter with his blood, did call upon the same Gods whom hee oft had, as high Priest to Iupiter, invoked for the welfare of the Republique, with curses for Cinna and his faction, and in that sort rendred up his spirit, which had so superabundantly deserved well of the common wealth Marcus Antonius a man most eminent, both for his ranke in the Citie, and for eloquence, was by the swords of the souldiers whom for a time he had with the daintinesse of his Oratory caused to pause upon the command of Marius and Cinna, cruelly slaughtered. Quintus Catolus who both for his other virtues and by the glory of th [...] Cymbrian warre, wherein he wa [...] an equall sharer with Marius was of highest repute; when h [...] was hunted for to bee put t [...] [Page] death, shut himselfe up in a place [...]ately pergetted with lime and [...]and; & causing fire to be brought [...]nto if to give the more force to [...]he savour of drawing an aire [...]ernicious and deadly, and with [...]ll suffocating his owne breath, [...]ied rather as his enemies wi [...]hed, then as they intended. Thus [...]ll things in the Republique, ran [...] headlong course of mischiefe: [...]nd yet did not any man declare [...]imselfe that he had the daring [...] give away the goods of a [...]ittizen of Rome to another, [...]or any that was so affronted as [...] demand them. That also after [...]ard was added, that Avarice [...]ecame the motive of cruelty: [...]d the proportion of the fault [...]as rated according to the [...]orth of the estate: so as he that [...]as rich was held a guilty per [...]n, and every man was made [Page] the price of his owne danger. Neither did any thing seem [...] base, so as it were gainefull.

CHAP. 23 Marius his seaventh Consulship and death, Sylla his acts against Mithridates: his resolution against the Marians, but after the forraine enemeis nayle [...] were pared.

CInna then entred his secon [...] Consulship, and Marius hi [...] seventh, to the disgrace of hi [...] former ones; in the beginnin [...] whereof, falling into a fickr [...] he deceased: a man in the warre [...] as superlatively bitter to the enemie, as in peace to his Cou [...] trey men, and of quiet most impatient. In his roome was su [...] rogated Valerius Flaccus, the au [...]hor [Page] of a most base and unjust [...]aw: that Creditors should be [...]aied but the fourth part of their [...]ebt. Of which his fact within [...]wo yeares hee received [...]he reward which hee had [...]o well deserved. White Cinna [...]id thus dominiere in Italy. [...]he greater part of the Nobili [...]e fled to Sylla in Achaia, and [...]rom thence into Asia. In the [...]ean time, Sylla did in such sort [...]ncounter with the Generall im [...]loied by Mithridates against [...]im about Athens in Baeotia [...]nd Macedonia, as he both re [...]overed Athens, and having be [...]owed much labour about the [...]everall fortifications, which [...]hey had made upon the port of [...]iraeus, he put to the sword about [...]wo hundred thousand men, and [...]oke prisoners not many fewer [...] any man shall impute this time [Page] of rebellion to the Athenians he is certainely ignorant both of the truth and all antiquitie. For the fidelitie of the Athenians to the state of Rome was still so inviolate, that alwaies and in every occasion whatsoever was performed with all sincerity and integrity, they used to say it was done with an Atticke faithfulnesse. But at that time being oppressed with the force of Mithridates his armes, they in a most wretched estate being subject to their enemies, held under with their garrisons, and beseiged by their friends, had their hearts without the Rampires, and their bodies within the walles, obeying the necessitie which they could not avoid. From thence Sylla passing over into Asia, found Mithridates an humble suppliant and obedient to all hi [...] [Page] commands. Vpon whom imposing a fine of money, and part of his ships, he constrained him to quit Asia, and those Provinces which by force he had seized upon: he received backe from him all those which were prisoners, did justice upon fugitives and offenders, and enjoyned him to be content with his estate descended to him from his Fathers, that is, with the Kingdome of Pontus.

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CHAP. 24. Fimbria his boldnesse, and end: Laenas the Tribune executes Lucilius the last yeares tribune, & banisheth the rest of Sylla his party.

CAius Flavius Fimbria who being Generall of the horse before Sylla his comming, had staine Valevius Flascus a man of Consular qualitie, and possessing himselfe of his army, and saluted by the title of Generall, had as it hapned in a battaile routed Mithridates: Vpon Sylla his passing over, slew himselfe. A young man he was who what he most unlawfully durst attempt did with courage put in execution. The same yeare, Publius Lanas, Tribune of the people, did throw downe from the Tarpeyan rocke Sexius Lucilius who had beene Tribune of the people, [Page] the yeare before: and when his fellowes in office, whom he had cited and appointed a day for their tryall, did for feare flie to Sylla: he by proclamation declared them Rebels, forbidding them the use of fire and water. Sylla, then having setled the affaires beyond the Sea, when to him first of any Roman, the Embassadors of the Parthians had presented themselves: and among them certaine of their soothsayers, had upon observation of some markes in his body, foretold that he should passe a most glorious life, and that the memorie of him should be long lived, returning into Italy, he at Brundusium landed with only thirtie thousand men against forces of his enimies, consisting of above two hundred thousand. Hardly can I esteeme any action [Page] of Syllaes more noble then that when the faction of Cinna and Marius tyrannized over al Italy, he neither forbare to declare, that he would make warre upon them, nor yet quitted the businesse that he had in hand: And thought that the publique enemie of the State was first to bee represt, before he thought of private revenge: and that when the feare of a forraigne force was removed, and he had mastered his enemie abroad, hee would also take order with those at home. Before comming of Lucius Sylla in a mutiny of the Army, Cinna was by them slaine; A man better meriting to have beene executed at the pleasure of the Conqueror, then slaughtered by the rage of the souldier, of whom it may be truly said: that he dared give [Page] attempt upon those things which no honest man ever durst thinke; and effected that which was not to be done by any, but those that were of the most dauntlesse courage: and that in consultation and advice, he was headily rash; in execution, a gallant man. Carbo having no colleague subrogated in Cinna's place, was, for the rest of the whole yeare the sole Consull.

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CHAP. 25. Sylla his returne into Italy: the overthrow of Scipio and Norbanus neare Capua, Sylla after the victory, not like Sylla before it.

THou wouldest have thought that Sylla had not come into Italy to make a part in the war: but to negotiate for and procure a peace. With such quietnesse and so great care of the provisions and fruits of the earth, of the countrey, the people, and the Townes, did he lead his army through all Calabria and Apulia, into Campania: and did seeke to end the warre with just, and equall conditions. But they whose greedy desires were both extreamly wicked and unbounded, could not away with peace. In the meane time Sylla his army did dayly increase, every one [Page] that was of the honestest [...]ort, and the most discreet flocking to him. After that not farre from Capua he prosperously defeated Scipio and Norbanus the Consuls, of whom Norbanus was overthrowne in fight. Scipio forsaken by his army and betrayed by them, was by Sylla dismist untoucht. So unlike was Sylla the souldier to Sylla the Conqueror, that while he overcomes he was more mild then the gentlest spirit: after the victory, more cruell then can bee spoken. For both when hee was Consull, as wee have already told, he dismist in safety Quintus Sertorius, onely disarming him; a firebrand soone after, (of oh how great a warre) with many others whom he had in his power: I think that in the same man there might be seene an instance of a [Page] mind double, and most different from it selfe. After the victory, in the descent from the mountaine Tifata, where Sylla had encountered with Caius Norbanus, he rendred thankes to Diana, to whose Deity all that country is consecrated: & also dedicated to the goddess, the Bathes for their virtue in curing diseases very famous, with all the fieldes about them: of which his gratefull devotion the brazen table fixed upon a post of the temple, with the inscriptiō therof doth to this day beare witnesse and keep the memory in being.

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CHAP. 26. Carbo, and Marius the sonne, Consulls: Marius beaten at Sacriportum by Sylla, and besieged in Preneste, Murders in Rome, & the brave death of Calphurnia.

IN the meane while, the Consuls for the time being, Carbo the third time, and Caius Marius sonne to him that was seven times Consul, who then was six and twenty yeares old, and one rather of his fathers courage, then fitted for that age, having, & that bravely made many attempts, being at last beaten by Sylla about Sacriportum, retyred with his army to Preneste, which being by nature fortified, he had before strengthned with a garrison. When, lest there should be any [Page] thing wanting to the publique calamities; In that Citie where the emulation was alwayes wont to be about vertuous actions, the contention was now only for the height of mischiefe: & he thought himself the best man, who did most transcend in villany. For while they were in armes, and disputing the fortune of the warres at Sacriportum, Damasippus the Praetor in the market place of Hostillius did cause to be murthered, as favorers of Sylla his faction, Domitius Scaevola, who also was the soveraigne Bishop, and a most famous sage of all lawes both devine and humane: together with Caius Carbo of the Praetorian ranke, and brother to the Consull, and Antistius who had binne Aedile. Nor let Calpurnia the daughter of Bactia and wife of [Page] Antistius, lose the glory of her most noble resolution; who when her husband, as wee have related, was slaine with a sword, ranne her selfe thorow: how great an addition to her fame and glory; her vertue makes her eminent, her countrey is unknowne.

CHAP. 27. Pontius Telesinus the Samnite, his braverie and endangering Sylla in fight at the gates of Rome a Menius seeking to escape under ground from Preneste, surprized and slaine.

BVt Pontius Telesinus, Captaine of the Samnites, one both at home and in the warres of an invincible spirit, and of the Roman name, a most irreconcileable [Page] enemy: having gathered together about fortie thousand of the bravest and the most eager of warres, that were to be found among the youth of his nation. When Carbo and Marius were Consults about fortie yeares since, upon the Kallends of November, did so rudely encounter with Sylla before the gate Collina, as hee brought both him and the Common wealth into the extremitie of danger: which was not in greater hazard when Hannibal his tents were pitched within three miles of the walles, than that day when Telesinus flying about the ranks of his army, & proclaiming that the Romans last day was come; cried out that the Citie must bee destroyed and rased; adding thereunto that those Wolves, the ruiners of the libertie [Page] of Italy, would never faile to bee troublesome, except the wood in which they used to harbour, were stubbed up by the roots. At length above an houre within night, both the Romans army gat some time to breath, and the enemie fell off; Telesinus was found the next day halfe a live, and with a speech rather of a conquering, than a dying man, whose head being cut from his shoulders, Sylla commanded to be carried about the walles of Preneste. Then at length the younger Caius Marius despairing of the successe of his affaires, attempting to escape by certaine Mines which with wonderfull Art being cut under ground, did opē themselves into severall fields, when now he had gotten out of the earth, was by some that were set there for that [Page] worke, deprived of life. There are some that report, hee dyed by his owne hand: some that say, that he and his younger brother Telesinus beleagured, and attemting to escape with him, finding themselves past all hope, engaged ranne together, and with interchanged woundes, dispatched one another. How ever hee dyed, and that to this day, his memory is nothing obscured by so great glory of his father: in what repute Sy [...]a did hold that young man, it is easily to bee discerned in this; that when he was slaine, he assumed the name of fortunate, which indeed hee should have withall justice taken upon him, if his victory and his life had ended together. Offella Lucretius commanded in chiefe at the siege of Marius and Praneste, who having [Page] beene before of the Marian faction when hee was Praetor, fled over to Sylla. The fortune of that day in which the army of the Samnites, and Telesinus was mated, Sylla did honour with a perpetuall memoriall of plaie, in the Circus, in which without naming it, the victory of Sylla is glorified.

CHAP. 28. Divers battailes fought and worne by Sylla his Captaines, the Servilij, Metellus and Lucullus: the secona proscription.

A Little before that Sylla fought at Sacriportum, divers Commanders of his partie had in brave and important encounters, routed severall armies of the enemies. As the two Servilij [Page] at Clusium, Metellus Pius at Faventia, and Marcus Lucullus at Fidentia. The miseries of the civill warre did seeme to be ended, when by the crueltie of Sylla, they were both renewed and augmented: for hee being created Dictator (the assuming of which honor by any man had now by the space of one hundred and twentie yeares beene intermitted, ever since the next yeare after Hannibal his quitting of Italy, so as it seemed the people of Rome did not so much desire to make use of the Dictatorship, as they stood in feare of the power of so absolute a command which their Ancestors had employed to relieve and settle the State in the greatest exigent) did abuse it with a licentious and unbounded crueltie. He was the first (and would to [Page] God he had beene the last) that invented and raised a president for proscriptions. That in that Citie, in which an overworne stage-player was censured for sawcie abusing of others, in the same there should bee an authorising from the State of the massacring of a subject, and hee thrive best, who had slaine most men, nor the reward for killing an enemy be more full and bounteous, than for murthering a Citizen, and every man bee made the pay-master of his owne hangman. Neither was this rage bent onely against those who had borne armes against him: but many innocent men also fell under it. To which was added, that the goods of those that were proscribed, were set to sale, and their children being disinherited, were [Page] also barr'd and excluded from standing for any honors or offices in the State: and withall, which was of all the most unworthie peece, the sonnes of Senators, must beare the burthens of that order, and yet lose the rights thereof.

CHAP. 29. Cnaeus Pompeius his bringing an army to Sylla: His character and the esteeme be held with his enemy.

VPon the comming of Lucius Sylla into Italy, Cnaus Pompeius, the sonne of that Pompey, of whose most glorious exploits in his Consulship in the Marsian warre, wee have before made relation, being three and twentie yeares old, about one hundred [Page] yeares since, undertaking with the meanes of a private fortune, great matters, and gallantly putting in action what hee had so projected; to vindicate and restore the honour of his countrey, did raise a full and just armie in the Picene territorie, which was in every place stuffed with the followers and dependants of his father, whose greatnesse would, to describe it fully, require many volumes, but the proportion of the work I have in hand compells mee to deliver it in few words. His mother was called Lucilia, descended of a race of the degree of the Senate, for his shape it was of the best, not such as inlovely youths is counted for dainty, but for the gracefulnesse and Majestie suted to such a height of greatnesse which did so attend upon his fortunes [Page] to the last period of his life. Of authority and power (that it might for his honour be tendred to him, not seised upon by him) hee was most eagerly desirous. In warre a most able Captaine, in peace a Citizen, (except where hee stood in feare of a concurrent equall) full of all modesty, of his friends a most constant observer; oftended, hee was not hard to bee entreated; once reconciled, hee most faithfully kept his word; in receiving satisfaction, no man so easie. His power he never or seldome abused, to commit any insolence: hee scarce was discerned to wish any thing, except it should be counted among the highest of his aimes, that hee thought scorne in a free Citie, and Lady of so many Nations, where by right all men were of [Page] his owne ranke, to see any one his equall in honour. Hee from the time that hee came to mans estate, being trained up in service under his father, a most able Captaine, did so enforme his judgement, which of it selfe was cleere & capable of knowledge, with an excellent understanding of the Arts of warre, that by Sertorius, Metellus was indeed more commended, but Pompey more cordially redoubted.

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CHAP. 30. Sertorius betrayed at supper by Perperna and slaine: Metellus and Pompeius their triumph, before Pompeius was a Senator. The warres with the staves, and Spartacus their Captaine.

IN the end Marcus Perperna, a man of Praetorian qualitie, and of the proscribed, by his race and descent more noble than his disposition, at Exosca murthered Sertorius, when they were at supper, and by that his basest treachery, procured to the rest of the people of Rome an assured victory, to his owne partie ruinous destruction, and to himselfe a most ignominious death. Metellus then and Pompey triumphed for their conquest of both the Spaines. But Pompey in this same triumph being as yet [Page] but a Knight of Rome, before the time that he was, or might bee elected Consull, entred the City in a triumphall Chariot: who can forbeare to wonder at this man? that being by extraordinarie commands, raised to the highest type of honour, did yet with impatience brooke the Senate and people of Rome their shewing that they tooke into their consideration, and had regard to Caius Caesar when hee pretended to a second Consul [...]hip. So familiar it is with men [...]o allow any thing to themselves, but excuse nothing in o [...]hers, and to bend their envie [...]red by occasions, not as the [...]ause, but as their humour and [...]he persons direct them. In his Consulship did Pompey re [...]tore the power of the Tri [...]unes, whereof Sylla had onely [Page] left the shadow or image in use. While the warre of Sertorius was on foote, sixtie foure fugitive slaves breaking out of a fencing schoole, where they were kept at Capua, led by Spartacus, and getting swords in the Citie, at the first withdrew themselves to Mount Vesuvius, and presently their multitude daily increasing, with various and grievous calamities they afflicted all Italy, whose number did grow to such an excesse, a [...] in the last battaile that they fought, they opposed the Roman army with forty thousand armed men. The glory of ending this warre, was due to Marcus Crassus, who was ere long a principall man among all the Romans.

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CHAP. 31. The piraeticall warre with amplest authoritie committed to Pompey, though against the will of the Nobility.

NOw had the quality of Pompey turned the eyes of the world upon him, and hee was in every place and respect, the more fixedly regarded, when being Consull, he had solemnely sworne that his time being expired, hee would not accept of, or seeke the government of any Province, and had kept his oath. Two yeares after, A [...]lus Gabinius the Tribune preferred a law that since the Pirates did now in the manner of a just warre, not of the everie and surprizing attempts, with whole navies affright the world, and had also [Page] sacked certaine Cities in Italy: that, I say, Cnaeus Pompey should be employed to represse them: and that his command should extend thorow all the Provinces of equall power with the Proconsulls, and every way fiftie miles from the sea side; by which decree of the Senate, the Empire of almost the whole world was conferr'd upon one man. Yet was the same also decreed two yeares before in the Praetorship of Marke Anthony. But sometimes the consideration of the person, as by president it doth mischiefe, so it either augments or lessens the envie that i [...] borne them: for seldome are th [...] honours envied of such men whose power is not redoubted; and on the contrary, men doe stand in feare of extraordinarie greatnesse in those whom they [Page] suppose likely either to quit or retaine them at their pleasures, and to have no limits or termes set them but by heir owne will. This determination was opposed by the prime of the Nobilitie: but their prudent advice was over-ruled and mastered by the violence of others. The esteeme of Quintus Catulus, and This modestie also are worthie of memorie, who when, in opposing of this law, hee had said in the assemblie, that Cnaeus Pompeius was indeed a very excellent man, but yet in a free Republique, neither all, nor yet too much was to be committed to the hand of any one man, & then added; But if any thing disasterous betide him: whom have you to substitute in his roome? the whole assemblie cried out, Thy selfe Quintus Catulus: He [Page] then vanquished by the uniforme consent of them all, and so honourable a testification of the whole Citie concerning himselfe, departed out of the assemblie. Let mee heere admire both the honestie of the man, and the equitie of the people. Him, that hee would not any further contend, and of their part, that though disswading and declaring himselfe adverse to their desires, they yet would not defraud him of the attestation iustly due to him.

CHAP. 32. That warre in short time ended, and the seas cleared of Pyrates, who were planted in a Colonie within land.

ABout the same time Cotta did equally divide the power of judging betweene the [Page] two orders of the Senate and Knights; which Caius Gracchus having bereft the Senate of, had transferred to the Knights, and Sylla had after restored to them. And Otho Roscius also by a law of his propounding, rendred againe to the Knights their places in the Theater. But Cnaeus Pompeius having taken with him to assist him in that warre, many and worthie men, and appointed guards of ships for all the bayes and sea coasts, in a short time with an invincible power did free the world of feare. And having in many encounters and divers places beaten the Pyrates: at length falling upon them about Cilicia with his whole fleet, and totally routing them, that hee might with the more celeritie make an end of the warre, so dilated over the earth, [Page] hee recollecting the remnants of them, setled them in Cities, apart remoted from the Sea uppon certaine habitations. There are that carpe at this act of his: but though such an Author bee reason enough for the fact, yet reason it selfe doth make any author of great authoritie. For giving them meanes to live without rapine, hee shut them up farre from Sea, so barring them from that way of spoyling others.

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CHAP. 33. Manlius Tribune of the people, preferres a law to commit the warre of Mithridates to Pompey, taking it from Lucullus, who had done great things in it: Lucullus his character, comparative with the disposition of Pompey.

VVHen the Pyraticall warre was upon the point of concluding, and Lutius Lucullus (who seven yeares before in his Consulship, had by lot Asia asigned unto him as his province, and had there performed both great and memorable services, had often in many places routed Mithridates, had with a glorious victorie freed Cizicū from siege, and had overthrowne in Armenia Tigranes the greatest King of those Pyrates, and [Page] rather would not, then was unable to give the last blow to that warre, hee (who in all other respects was worthie of praise, and in warre invincible) was yet vanquished with the love of mony) did still command in that warre. Manilius then Tribune of the people, a man alwaies mercenarie, and a busie advancer of the power of another, preferred a law, that the warre with Mithridates should bee committed to Cnaeus Pompeius. The bill did passe, and thereupon was there great and bitter brawling betweene the Generalls, while Pompey objected to Lucullus his base love of gaine, and Lucullus to him his unlimited desire of command, and neither of them in that which hee imputed to the other, could bee charged with belying him: For neither [Page] did Pompey after hee once had put his hand to the affaires of state in his minde, ever brooke any equall, and in those things in which by due right, he should have beene the prime, he desired to bee the sole man. Nor did ever any man lesse covet all other things, or more greedily glory than he. In seeking honors without moderation, in injoying and using them most modest: as who whereas hee most desirously entred them, did yet with an equall temper lay them downe, and what hee desired to assume at his owne pleasure, was content to devest himselfe of it at the wil of another. Lucullus on the other side, a man in all other regard of highest excellencies, was the first beginner of the excessive riot of our times in building, feasts and furniture of houses: [Page] whom for his forcing out the sea in some places, by masses of earth throwne into it, and letting it into other by undermining of mountaines, Pompey the great did not without a smartnesse of wit, use to call the gowned Xerxes.

CHAP. 34. Creet conquered and made a Province by Metellus: The Temple of Ianus shut the secona time, which was done but thrice in all the time of Rome: First by the King, secondly by Metellus, thirdly by Augustus. Cicero his suppressing of Catiline, his conspiracie.

ABout the same time the Isle of Creet was by Quintus Metellus brought under the command [Page] of the people of Rome, which by the leading of Panares and Lasthenes, with twentie foure thousand young men of incredible swiftnesse, unweariable with their armes & travaile, and most excellent Archers, had for three whole yeares vexed the Romane armies. Neither from encroaching upon the glory of this man also, did Cnaeus Pompeius restraine his desires, but endeavoured to claime a part of his victorie. But for the triumphs of Lucullus and Metellus both their owne singular vertue and the envie of Pompey did with all the best sort of men render them the more favoured. In these times it was, that Marcus Cicero, who was indebted onely to himselfe for all his additions, a man of a most illustrious newnesse, and as hee was [Page] noble in his life, so for his understanding of the greatest: whose worke it was that wee should not be inferiour to them in wit, whom with armes we had mastered: being Consull, with his singular virtue, constancie, vigilancie, and carefulnesse overthrew the conspiracie of Sergius Catiline, Lentulus, Cethegus, & divers others of both the degrees of Senators & Knights. Catiline by feare of the Consulls command was forced out of the Citie, Lentulus of Consular qualitie, and that had beene twice Praetor, and Cethegus with others of noble families, by authoritie of the Senate, and direction from the Consull, were put to death in prison.

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CHAP. 35. Cicero his character: the execution of the conspirators and the death of Catiline in fight.

THat day of the Senates sitting, in which these things were acted, did render most gloriously glistering, the virtue of Marcus Cato, which was before in other things conspicuous and clearely shining. He being the greate grand child of Marcus Cato, the head of the Portian family, was a man most like to virtue it selfe, and every way more neerely aproaching in his disposition to the Gods then man: who never did just things that he might appeare so, but because he could do no other, and to whō that onely did seem reasonable which had equitie in it, and being clearely free of all humaine [Page] maine vices had alwaies fortune in his owne power. He being chosen (as yet a very youth) Tribune of the people, when others did opine that Lentulus and the rest of the Conspirators should be held under guard in the free townes, when, almost one of the last, his suffrage was called for, did with such power both of spirit, and wit, inveigh against the Conspiracie, that with his ardencie he rendred the opinions of those who had perswaded the way of lenitie, suspected of being privie to the plot: so laid open the dangers hanging over their heads, of the ruine and firing of the Citie and altering of the State, so magnified the vertue of the Consull, that the whole body of the Senate sided with his opinion, censured them to die whom we spak of before, [Page] and the major part of the order of Senators accompanied Cato by way of honour home to his house. But Catiline did no more faintly put in execution his designes of mischiefe when they were discovered, then he had before undertaken them; for fighting with infinite valour He paied the life to the sword of the souldier, which was due to that of Iustice.

CHAP. 36. The birth of August. Caesar, in Cicero his Consulship: An enumeration men, in that age famous for learning.

NO meane addition of honor to the yeare of Cicero his Consulship, was the birth of Sacred Augustus, who then was [Page] borne now eighty two yeares since with his greatnesse to obscure all men of what nation soever. It may almost seeme superfluous to reckon up the ages of the men of eminency for their wits of those dayes: for who knowes not that about that time though somewhat differing in yeares did flourish, Cicero, Hortensius, and indeed Crassus, also Cato Sulpitius & within a while Brutus, Calidius, Coelius, Calvus, and in the next ranke to Cicero Casar, and as a fosterchild of theirs Corvinus with Asinius Polio, and the emulator of Thucidides Salust, and the Poets Ʋarro, Lucretius and Catullus second to none in verifying of the worke which he tooke in hand. The tallying up of the names of these able wits, who are in a sort still in our eyes, is a kinde of folly, among [Page] whom in our age are most eminent the prince of Poets Virgilius and Rabirius & Livie who succeeded to Salust, with Tibullus and Naso most excellent in the manner of their worke. For of men of eminency as the admiration is great so is the censure full of difficulty.

CHAP. 27. Pompey his acts against Mithridates and Tigranes. Tigranes his yeelding himselfe and estate.

VVhile these affaires are on foot in the Cittie and in Italy, Cnaeus Pompeius did manage the warre of a remarke [...]ble nature against Mithridates: who after the departure of Lu [...]ullus, had raised a brave body of [...] new army. But that King being [Page] overthrowne, routed and stript out of al his meanes, retired himselfe to Armenia, and Tigranes (his father in law) a king in that time, but that he had before bi [...] shaken by Lucullus, of all othe [...] the most puissant. Pompey therefore pursuing thē joyntly, entred Armenia, and first Tigranes hi [...] sonne, but at odds with his father, presented himselfe to Pompey, and ere long he himselfe also in person, and as suppliant rendred himselfe and his estate, to his disposure, professing tha [...] there was no other, either Roman, or of any other nation, besides Cnaeus Pompeius, to whos [...] consortship he would adjoyn [...] himselfe. And therefore that any fortune either prosperous or adverse which he should alot him he should repute easie to be su [...] fered. That it was not dishon [...] [Page] to be conquered by him whom it were a crime to overcome. Neither was it inglorious to Pompey that he submitted himselfe to him whom fortune had raised above all other men. The royall estate was by him reserved for the king, but for him fined in a mighty summe of money, which Pompey, as he alwaies ased to do, did deliver into the power of the Questor, and so was it accounted for, to the pub [...]ique Treasurie. Syria and other provinces which he had seized upon, being rerest him, were part [...]estored to the people of Rome, part then appropriated to them, as Syria, which was then first made [...]ributary to Rome. Armenia was [...]ppointed for the boundes of the Kings Empire.

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CHAP. 38, 39. A catalogue of all the Romane Provinces: when and by whom they were made so.

IT doth not seeme to hold any great discrepance from th [...] rule of my intended worke, i [...] few words to deliver cursorily what countryes and by what Commanders mastered, hav [...] beene reduced into the forme o [...] Provinces, and submitted to th [...] payment of tribute, which we have noted, that the more easil [...] of the whole together there ma [...] be a view taken in the severa [...] parts. Claudius being Consu [...] did first passe an army over into Sicilie, and almost fiftie two yeares after Claudius Marcell [...] having taken Siracusa made it [Page] [...]rovince. Regulus first entred A [...]rica about the ninth yeare of the [...]rst Punicke warre, but two [...]undred and foure yeares after [...]ipso Emilianus racing of Car [...]age, about one hundred eightie [...]d two yeares since reduced it [...]to a Province: Vpon Sardinia [...]etweene the first and second [...]ique warre, by the conduct [...] Titus Manlius the yoke of [...]r command was setled. A vast [...]roofe of a warlike Cittie it is, [...]at once onely under the Kings, [...]e second time in the Consul [...]ip of this Titus Manlius, and [...]e third in the principalitie of [...]ugustus, the Temple of the bi [...]onted, Ianus being shut up did [...]ure us of an universall peace. [...] Spaine about the beginning of [...]e second Punicke warre, Cnaeus [...]d Publius Scipio led our armies [...]out two hundred and fiftie [Page] yeares since. After that it bein [...] with various fortune possessed and often by parcels lost, by th [...] command of Augustus it wa [...] made tributarie. Macedonia b [...] Paulus, Achaia by Mummiu [...] Aetolia by Fulvius Nobilior we [...] subdued, Asia by Publius Scip [...] brother to the African, was take [...] from Antiochus, but by favo [...] of the Senate and people o [...] Rome, being a while enioyed b [...] the kings of the family of Att [...] lus, in the end Marcus Perpern [...] having taken Aristonicus prisoner, made it subject to Tribut [...] The glory of having conquer [...] Cyprus is not to be ascribed [...] any. For by a decree of the S [...] nate, the administration of Ca [...] and the Kings death which [...] by the impulsion of a guilt [...] Conscience did procure to hi [...] selfe, it became a tributarie P [...] [...]ince. [Page] Creta by the direction of Metellus was amerced at the ex [...]iration of her most auncient li [...]ertie. Syria and Pontus remain [...]e monuments of Cnaeus Pompe [...] his valour.

CHAP. 39.

THe Gaules (first entred with an army by Domitius Fabius [...]e nephew Paulus, who was [...]lled the Allobrogian,) with our [...]reat losse we often both cove [...]d and lost. But the most clear [...] glorious workemanship of [...]ius Caesar is to be now view [...] in them: by whose command [...]d fortune they utterly broken [...]e brought to almost the same [...]at the whole world is, to con [...]bute a dul and servile pension. [...] the same manner Servilius [...]uricus subjugated Cilicia, and [...]lso Manlius Gasto-gracia when [Page] it had revolted after the warre [...] with Antio [...]hus Bithynia, as we [...] have already said, was by the las [...] testament of Nicomedes left a [...] inheritance to the people o [...] Rome. Sacred Augustus, beside [...] all the Spaines and other nation [...] with the titles of whom hi [...] market-place is adorned, rendring in almost the same fashion Egypt tributary, did bring to the Exchequer as large a revenew as his father had done from Gallia. But Tiberius Caesar whe [...] had inforced out of Spaine, a direct confession of their subjection did also wring the like o [...] of the Illyrians and Dalmatian [...] He also did ad new provinces t [...] our Empire Rhaetia the Vindilicians & the Noricians with Pa [...] nonia and the Scordisci. But le [...] us returne unto our forme [...] course.

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CHAP. 40. Pompey his Conquests in Asia, his civill returne to Rome, and his triumph.

In the next place succeeded the warre that Cn. Pomp. managed, wherein whether the glory or the labour were the greater, doth rest uncertaine. Media, Albanis, and Hiberia were victoriously passed through, & from thence winding in his course, he turned upon those Nations which inhabit on the right hand, and the innermost part of Pontus, the Colchians, Heniochians with the Achaeans. And by the fortune of Pompey, and the traynes of his son Pharnaches, in the end Mi [...]hridates himselfe was ruined, [...]he last of all the Kings, of such power and absolutenesse besides [Page] the Parthians. And now Pompey conqueror of all nations that hee had reached, and greater then either himselfe or any of his Countreymen did wish, and in every respect praysed beyond the condition of a mortall man, returnes into Italy: whose comming back opinion did render very gracious. For many did affirme that he would not come home, but with his army, & by that means to determine at his owne pleasure what proportion the publique libertie should hold. The more men had apprehended this feare, so much the more with honor, was the faire and civill returne of so great a Commander. For cashiering his army at Brundusium and retaining nothing but the name of Generall with his private followers, whom it was alwaies his custome to converse [Page] withall (when out of businesse) he returned into the Cittie: And there in most magnificent manner did two whole dayes together tryumph of so many Kings, bringing into the treasury a farre greater masse of money of his spoyles, then any had done before him, but one Paulus. In the absence of Cnaeus Pompeius, Titus Ampius and Titus Labienus, Tribunes of the people, preferred and past a law, that in the games in the Circus he should weare a crown of gold, and al his triumphall ornaments, and at the stage-playes onely the ordinary young mens gowne and a golden crowne: That yet onely once (and so much indeed was more then enough) he made use o. This mans greatnesse Fortune did raise with so vast additions, as he first triumphed [Page] of Africa, the second time of Europe, and the third of Asia: and of how many parts the world doth consist, so many monuments did she make them of his glory. Never did the highest eminencies want envic. Both Lucullus therefore (but yet remembring the wrong done him) and Metellus the Cretan, not complayning without cause, (For Pompey had drawne from him the ornaments of his triumph, his captived Captaines) and with them part of the Noblemen did oppose, and would not give way that the rewards promised by Pompey either to the Cities or to well deservers, should be paied by his direction.

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CHAP. 41. Caius Caesar his Consulship: His character.

THen followed the consullship of Caius Caesar, who, as I am writing, layes his hand upon me, & whatsoever haste I have, constraines me to pause upon him. He being extracted of the most noble Iulian family, and (which with all of greatest antiquity is held for certaine) deriving his discent from Aluchises and Venus: Of person the most lovely of all the Citizens of Rome; in vivacitie of spirit, most sharpe; in bounty most profusely liberall; of courage above either the nature or the beliefe of any man; In greatnes of his designes, celerity in execution, patience in dāgers, most neerely resembling [Page] that great Alexander (but him sober and not transported withanger) Finally a man that used both sleepe and meat to live, and not for voluptuousnesse, when he was in bloud most neerely tyed to Caius Marius and also sonne in law to Cinna, whose daughter he could by no meanes be compelled to repudiate, at that time that Marcus Piso a man of Consular qualitie, had, to gaine Sylla his favour put away Annia who once had beene Cinna's wife, and to whom himselfe had benne married eighteene yeares, when Sylla was master of all: the instruments of Sylla and the upholders of the faction rather then he himselfe seekking for his life, changing his garments, and disguising himselfe in a habit not suted to his fortune, by night slipped out of [Page] the City. And when afterward he being yet a very youth was taken by the Pirates, he so carried himselfe all the time that he was detayned by them, that he was of them both respected and feared; Neither did he ever in all that time, either by day or night (for why should that which is most worthy observation be omitted, if it cannot be with any flourishing phrase delivered) put off his shooes or ungirt himselfe, for this reason, lest, if he should in any thing change his fashion, he might be suspected by them who only with their eyes held a guard upon him.

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CHAP. 42. Caesars taking the pirates that held him prisoner, & nailing them upon the crosse.

IT would bee too long to tell how much and how often he shewed his daring; with how great power of his, the authority of the people of Rome, upon his motion refused to second the intentions of him, that then had Asia in his possession. This one thing let me relate to serve for instance of the greatnesse to which he was ere long to rise. The night following that day in which he was by the common purse of the Cities ransomed (yet so as he made the pirates give hostages to the Cities) he both being a private man, and [Page] doing it on the suddaine in a disordred manner, setting out a fleete he sayled to the place where the pirates were: and part of their Navy he forced to flye, part he sunke, some ships & with them many prisoners he tooke. And glad of this his victory gotten, by night returned to his friendes, when clapping them in prison whom he had taken, he went into Bithynia to the Proconsull Iunius (who then governed that part of Asia) desiring that he might have power to punish them as they deserved, which when he refused, and said that he would sel thē for slaves, (for a dull cowardize is ever waited on by envy) he with incredible speed returning to the sea side, before any letters of direction could be brought from die Proconsull, nayled upon the [Page] crosse every one of them whom he had taken.

CHAP. 43. Caesar his returne into Italy, to stand for the high place of high priest, carying it from Catulus, reestablishing the statues of Marina, and restoring the children of such as had beene proscribed.

HE also making haste into Italy to enter upon the Priesthood (for when he was absent he was by Marius and Cinna though he thē was almost a child created the high Priest of Iupiter in the roome of Cotta, a man of Consular qualitie, though afterward when Sylla was Conqueror who made voyd all that they had done he had lost that place) that he might not be discovered [Page] by the pirates (who then filled al those Seas, and were not without cause bitterly enraged against him) he went aboard a ship of foure oares, & with two friends and ten servants, crossed over the broadest part of the Hadriatique gulph: And when in that course he kenned, as he thought, the Pirates shipps, stripping himselfe out of his cloathes, and tying his dager to his thigh, he prepared himself to either fortune. But within a while perceived, that his sight was mistaken, and that they were certaine trees, which in a long row appeared like the Masts of ships. The rest of his actions in the Citie, with his most noble accusation of Dolobella, and the favour of the people shewed him in a larger measure then is usually afforded to delinquents and his most glorious [Page] yet civill competitions with Quintus Catulus & other men of principall qualitie; and the carrying the question against Quintus Catulus, who by the confession of all men was the prime man of the Senate, in their concurrency for the place of the Soveraign Bishop, his reestablishing, when he was Edile, the Images of Caius Marius whē all the Nobilitie opposed it, restoring to their honors the Children of those that had bin proscribed; His Praetorship and Questorship passed in Spaine with admirable bravery and industry, when he was Questor unde [...] Vetus Antistius the grandfather of this Vetus, a man of qualitie Consular, and high priest, father of two of the same ranke of Consul, and high priest, and as good a man as can be expected of any humane innocency, [Page] these things (I say) the more they are knowne, the lesse they need my pen.

CHAP. 44. The confederacie betweene Pompey, Caesar, and Crassus for establishment of their power in Rome, confirmed by alliance, Pompey marrying Caesars daughter Iulia: Caesars Consulship and d [...]vision of lands in Campania.

WHile hee therefore was Consull, there was contracted betweene him, Cnaeus Pompeius, and Marcus Crassus, a society for the instauration of their power; which was to the City to the whole world, and though in different times no lesse to themselves ruinous and balefull. [Page] This device Pompey was induced to pursue, to the end that at length his Constitutions made in the Provinces beyond the Seas (to which as we before have delivered, many were opposite) might bee by Caesar confirmed. By Caesar this course was taken, for that hee saw that hee should, by giving way to Pompey his glory, encrease his owne, and that the envie of their common greatnrsse being confined to him alone, hee should fortifie his owne strength. And by Crassus, that the principalitie and prime place, which otherwise alone and by himselfe he could not, he thus might hold supported by the authoritie of Pompey, and forces of Caesar. There was also an alliance agreed upon betweene Pompey and Caesar; for Pompey the great [Page] tooke to wife the daughter of Caius Caesar: while he was Consull, Caesar passed a law, that the lands in Campania should be devided among the Plebeians. So were planted thereabout twentie thousand Citizens: and that countrie restored to their freedome about one hundred fiftie and two yeares, after that Capua in the Punique warre was by the Romans reduced into the forme of a government under a Prefect. Bibulus the fellow Consull to Caesar, while hee rather had will than power to crosse Caesar in his designes, did for the most part of the yeare keepe himselfe in his house: whereby thinking to augment the envie bent upon him, he encreased his power. Then were the Gallias decreed to Caesars government for five yeares.

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CHAP. 45. Publius Clodius his character and his banishment of Cicero, with his glorious repealing: Cato his bringing a vast treasure out of Cyprus.

AT the same time Publius Clodius, a man nobly borne, eloquent, and bold, who neither for his words nor actions did ever know any limits, but those of his owne will, the smartest executioner of mischievous intendments, being also infamous for whoring of his sister, & accused of incest for committing of adultery in the middest of the most religiously sacred Ceremonies of the people of Rome: when there was bitter hatred between him & Marcus Cicero (For what friendships could there be betweene spirits so directly opposite) [Page] and had of a Patrician rendred himselfe Plebian, being created Tribune of the people, passed a law, that whosever had killed a Roman Citizen uncondemned, should bee interdicted the use of fire and water. [...]n which words though Cicero were not named, yet hee alone was levelled at: So that man who had deserved infinitely of he common wealth for preser [...]ing his country from ruine, was [...]ewarded with the calamity of [...]eing exiled. Neither were Caesar and Pompey free from be [...]ng suspected of lending their [...]ands to the oppressing of Ci [...]ro. And Cicero himselfe did [...]eeme to have procured it to his [...]wne michiefe, by refusing to [...]ee one of the twentie men ap [...]ointed for the distributing the [...]nds in Campania. Hee was [Page] within two yeares, by the tardie care of Pompeius with a most desired returne, to the wishes of Italy, and upon a decree of the Senate, assisted by the vertue and act of Anniu [...] Milo Tribune of the people, restored to his honours and hi [...] countrie. Nor was there any, after the banishment and the repeale of the Numidian, that was either expelled with more envie, or recalled with more gladnesse; whose house being maliciously rased by Clodius, was so beautifully reedified by the Senate. The same Publius Clodi [...] in the Senate, under the title o [...] a most honourable employment sequestred Marcus Cato from the Republique, for hee passe [...] a law, that hee should bee sen [...] Questor with Praetorian powe [...] with a Questor also under hi [...] [Page] [...]nto Cyprus, to deprive the King Ptolomy of his estate, who [...]y all foulenesse of life had well merited that disgrace: But hee [...]pon the comming of Cato laid [...]iolent hands upon himselfe: whereby Cato return'd to Rome [...] summe of treasure, farre be [...]ond what was hoped for, whose integritie it were a crime [...]o commend: his insolence might be almost blamed, for that [...]he Citie being emptied, and [...]he Senate with the Consulls [...]one to meet him, when hee [...]ame up the Tiber by ship, hee [...]id not set his foot on shore till [...]e came where the mony was to [...]e landed.

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CHAP. 46. Caesars acts in Gaul and Britain Crassus Consul with Pompey, [...] pointed to the Parthian war: H [...] character & defeat.

VVHen after these passages [...] Caesa [...] had in Gallia perfo [...] med stupēdious acts, hardly to b [...] expressed in many volumes, an [...] not satisfied with very many [...] most happy victories, not wi [...] innumerable thousands of the [...] nemies slaine & taken prisoners had also passed his army over i [...] to Britain, seeking as it were a [...] other world to be subject to o [...] Empire & his own, an invincib [...] paire of Consuls Cn. Pompeius [...] M. Crassus entred their seco [...] Consulship, which neither w [...] sincerely sought nor laudably a [...] ministred by them. To Caesar [...] by a law wch Pompey preferr'd [...] the people, the command of [...] province was prorogued for t [...] [Page] [...]ime of the former graunt. To [...]r [...]ssus who was thē in his mind lotting of the Parthiā war Syria was decreed. This man in other [...]hings most upright & free from [...] voluptuousnes, did yet neither [...]now any mean, nor set any boūd [...]o his covetous desire of mony or [...]ory. Him, as he was departing [...]or Syria, the Tribuns of the peo [...]le wth ill boding presages labour [...]ut in vain to retaine: whose exe [...]ations if they had bin of effica [...]e against his life onely, the losse [...]f the Generall, so the army had [...]eene safe, would have beene [...] gaine to the Common weath. When Crassus had passed over [...]uphrates, and was marching [...]owards Seleucia, the King Oro [...] whirling about him with in [...]it forces of horse, slew him [...]ogether with the greater part [...]f his army. The remainder of [Page] the legions Caius Crassus wh [...] then was Questor (and not lon [...] after the author of a most execrble fact) preserved, & did in su [...] sort keepe Syria in the power [...] the people of Rome, as with [...] happy change of the event he [...] verthrew & routed the Parthia [...] when they entred it with force [...]

CHAP. 47. Continuation of Caesars acts [...] Gaule, about Alexia: Iu [...] and her sonne by Pompey dea [...] whose life onely hindred a ci [...] warre. Clodius slaine by Mi [...]

IN those times, those whic [...] we have before spoken of, an [...] the succeeding daies, abo [...] foure hundred thousand en [...] mies were slaine, and more [...] ken prisoners by Caius Caesar [...] [Page] hee fought oftentimes in set and orderly battaile, often in troupes, and often upon sallies and suddaine attempts, twise hee entred Britanie: finally, in nine whole yeares scarce any one did passe him, wherin he did not most just [...]y deserve a triumph. But about Alexia, he did so great things as [...]re scarce within compasse of [...]ny mortall to dare attempt, and [...]lmost onely in the power of a God to performe them. And [...]ow had Caesar beene almost se [...]en yeares in Gallia, when Iulia [...]he wife of Pompey, & the inter [...]osed pledge of the concord; which by the envie of Pompey was ill cimented betweene Cnae [...]s Pompeius & Caius Caesar, depar [...]ed this life. And fortune remo [...]ing all barres from betweene [...]he Captaines preordained to so great a triall, within a short [Page] while after the little sonne of Pompey borne of Iulia also died. Then the canvasing for voyces, raging with the sword and the slaughter of the Citizens, whereof there was neither meane not end to bee discerned: the third Consulship was bestowed upon Cnaeus Pompeius alone, by the approbation even of those who had before used to be adverse to his honour, with the glory of which dignitie, as a testimonie of the noble mens being reconciled to him, hee was totally estranged from Caius Caesar. But the whole power of that his Consulship he spent in repressing the enormities of plotting and procuring voyces at elections. At that time Publius Clodius by Milo who then stood candidate for the Consulship (a president of no good use in it selfe, yet [Page] beneficiall being done for the publique) was upon a meeting and brawles, rising betweene them slaine upon the place. Milo called in question for it, was condemned not more for the dislike of the fact, than because such was Pompeies pleasure, whom yet Cato by his suffrage delivered publiquely did acquit, which if he had pronounced somewhat sooner, there would not have wanted those that would have followed that patterne, and have proved that a Citizen was slaine then whom there had none lived more pernicious to the Common wealth, nor more infestious to honest men.

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CHAP. 48. Civill warre beginning betweene Caesar and Pompey: Peace treated of, hindred by Curio: His character.

THen within a little space of time, the exordiums of the civill warre began to kindle, when every one that stood most for the right, were of opinion that both Caesar and Pompey should east off their armies. For Pompey in his second Consulship, had proeured the Sp [...] to be appointed to him, and th [...] for three yeares space himself [...] being from thence absent, and sitting at the helme of affaires in the Citie, might by his Lievtenants Afranius and Petraus whereof the one had beene Consull, the other Praetor, govern [...] [Page] the same. And those that opined that Caesar should dismisse his army, he sided with; but such as thought himselfe also should doe the same, he opposed: who if two yeares before that they fell to armes, hee had dyed in Campania, being oppressed with a grievous sicknesse, when hee had finished all those his intendments of his Theater, and the other workes which hee made about it, (At what time [...]ll Italy did decree publique supplications for his recovery, and that the first that ever were for any private Citizen) Fortune might have saved her labour in reviving him, and the greatnesse which he had held among the living, hee had carried with him are in paired to the lower world. But neither did any other man furnish the civill warre, nor [Page] those so many mischiefes, which for twentie yeares together did succeed to it, with a greater or a more furious firebrand than Caius Curio, a Tribune of the people, a man noble, eloquent, bold, and of his owne and other mens also, both fortune and honour profusely lavish: a man most wittily wicked, and to the mischiefe of the common wealth, a dainty speaker; whose minde, pleasure and lusts, neither any wealth, nor any desires would satisfie. This man was at first for Pompey, that is, as it then was accounted, for the Common wealth; and presently in shew against both Caesar and Pompey, but in his heart for Caesar. Whether that for meere good will, or for a bribe of a hundred thousand Sesterces as we have recived it, wee leave uncertaine▪ [Page] At the last those most healthfull conditions of the then springing peace (which Caesar with a mind repleate with all justice did require, and Pompey not unwillingly did admit) hee brake and scattered in peeces. Cicero above all things labouring and carting from the publique quiet: the order of those things as well as hose that went before, is both delivered in the compleat writings of others, and shall, I hope, bee expressed also in these of mine.

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CHAP. 49. Catulus, two Luculli, Metellus and Hortensiu [...] dead are the warre: conditions of reason tendred by Caesar, refused by the other. The warre begunne.

NOw let us restore to our intended worke its owne forme; yet first let me congratulate with Quintus Catulus, the 2 Luculli, Metellus and Hortensius, who when without envie they had flourished in the Common wealth, and beene eminent without danger, did exchange this life before the beginning of the civill warres, with a quiet, or at least with a death not hastened before the due time. When Lentulus and Marcellus were Consulls, seven hundred and three yeares after the building [Page] of the City, and the eightie and eight yeare before thou Marcus Vimcius didst enter thy Consulship, the civill warre began to flame. The cause of the one Captaine did seeme the better, but that of the other the firmer. The authoritie of the Senate did put armes into Pompeies hand, into Caesars the confidence of his souldiers. The Consulls and the Senate did yeeld the Soveraigne command of all to the respect of the cause, not to Pompeies person. Nothing was left unattempted by Caesar, that might conduce to the preservation of peace, nor any thing accepted by the Pompeious: when one of the Consulls was more furious than reason; but Lentulus if the Republique were safe, could by no meanes bee preserved from ruine. And Marcus [Page]Cato maintained that death was to be preferd before the admission of any conditions offered to the state by a private Citizen. A man indeed grave, and of the antique stampe, might more cō mend Pompeies part; but a prudent would follow that of Caesar: reputing things on that side more glorious, on this more dreadfull. Thus in the end all Caesars requests being with scorne rejected, they decreed: That contented with one onely legion to retaine the title of the Province, hee should come a private man into the Citie, and in demanding the Consulship, submit himselfe to the suffrages of Rome.

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CHAP. 50. Pompey quits the citie and Italy: Caesar takes Domitius at Corfinium, and dismisses him: comes to Rome, thence passes into Spaine, & masters Afranius and Petreius.

Caesar perceiving that they must come to armes, passed over Rubicon; Cnaeus Pompeius, the Consulls, the greater part of the Senate quitting the Citie, and afterward Italy, put over sea to Dyrrhachium. But Caesar having in his power Domitius, and the legions which were with him at Corfinium, dismissing without delay their Commander, and others that had a minde to goe to Pompey, followed him to Brundusium; so that it appeared, that he had rather [Page] while all things stood entire and unhurt, make an end of the warre by treatie, than oppresse those that fled from him. When hee found the Consulls were passed over the Sea, he returned to the City, & there in the Senate, and in a full assembly rendred an account of his intentions, and his most miserable necessitie, who was by the injurious armes of other men compelled to draw his sword. Then he resolved to goe for Spaine: but the haste of his journey, Massilia did a while retarde, with a faithfulnesse more entire than wisdome in Counsaile, unseasonably taking upon them to judge of the principall forces of the side: which they onely ought to take in their hand, who have power to compell such as will not obey. The army [Page] then which was commanded by Afranius of Consular, and Patreius of Praetorian qualitie, being mated with his comming, his vigor and his glory rendred it selfe to him. Both the Lievtenants, and as many of every condition as would not follow them, were dismissed and sent to Pompey.

CHAP. 51. Caesar goes into Greece after Pompey, and besieges him in his campe. The boldnesse of Balbus in going into the enemies armie. Caesar shrewdly shaken in one encounter.

THe next yeare when Dyrrhachium, and the countrie neere about it, were possest by Pompeies campe, who having [Page] sent for out of all the provinces beyond the seas, the legions, the auxiliaries both of horse and foot; the forces of the Kings, the Tetrarchs, and also of the princes, had gathered together a mightie army, and held, as he supposed, the seas so guarded with his fleets, that Caesar could not put over his legions; Caesar using his owne, both celeritie and fortune removed all obstacles that were in his way, both of passing when he pleased, and that his army might be drawne downe to his fleet, and also at the first came and encamped close by Pompey, and within a while besieged him in his trenches, and compast him in with his workes. Yet did the besiegers suffer more by want of necessaries than they that were besieged. Then did Balbus Cornelius [Page] (with a rashnesse beyond beliefe of any man,) goe into the enemies quarter, and divers times conferre with the Consull Lentulus, who was in doubt what price hee should set himselfe at, and by that addition make himselfe a way, by which not as borne for his owne countrie of Spaine, but yet a Spaniard, he reached to triumph, and the high Priest-hood, and of a private man, might be raised to bee of Consular qualitie. The fortune after this of their encounters was various, but one farre more prosperous to the Pompeians, in which the souldiers of Caesar were shrewdly beaten.

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CHAP. 52. The battaile of Pharsalia decidi [...] the question, and Caesars clemency to the vanquished.

THen Caesar with his army drew to Thessaly the place that was predestin'd for his victory: Pompey though diverse advised him to take a far differing course (of whom some perswaded him to passe over into Italy, (nor by Hercules could he have done any thing more beneficiall for his partie) others tha [...] he should draw the warre out a [...] length, which by the dignitie o [...] his side would dayly be made more advantageous for him) following the eagernes of his owne mind, pursued his enemy. As fo [...] the battaile of Pharsalia and th [...] most bloudy day, to the name o [...] [Page] Rome: the bloud that on both [...]ides was there shed, and the two heads of the Commonwealth dashed together, the one eye of the Empire put out, so many and such men of the Pompeian partie as there did lose their lives this manner of writing is not capable of. That yet is to be observed, that assoon as Caius Caesar saw the Pompeian factiō declined, he bent himself to nothing either more readily or more desirously then (that I may use both a phrase & fashion military) to cast and dismise them freely into every? quarter. Oh the immortall gods what a reward of this his disposition did so gentle a man reape afterward at Brutus his hand. Nothing was more miraculous, more magnificent, more noble then that victory, when their [Page] Countrey wanted not any Cittizen but those that dyed in the battaile: yet did the obstinacie of some disgrace the beautie o [...] his clemency, when the Conquerour did now more willingly give them life thē they received it.

CHAP. 53. Pompey flying into Egypt is murthered by order of the boy, King Ptolomy, in his eight and fiftieth yeare.

POmpey flying from the battaile with the two Lentul [...] who had beene Consulls, his son Sextus and Favonius of Pretorian qualitie, fortune did gather to him such consorts as the Conquerors afforded him: Of them part perswading him to retire [Page] to the Parthians, others into Africa where he had King Iuba a most faithfull partisan of his; he resolved to stand for Egypt. Remembring the favours which at Alexandria he had conferred upon the father of that Ptolomy who then (more a boy then a young man) there reigned: But who when hee sees a man in adversity retaines the memory of any former benefit? who doth thinke any thankes due to men in calamity? or when fortune changeth doth not also change [...]is faith? From the King therfore [...]here were some sent that should receive Cnaeus Pompeius [...]omming to him (who had a lit [...]le before at Mitylene taken aboard his ship, his wife Cornelia [...]or a companion to him in his [...]light) by the advice of Theode [...]us and Achillas: and perswade [Page] him to goe out of the ship of burden in which he came, into that in which they came to meet him. Which when he had done, the prime man of all that were called Romanes by the cōmand and direction of an Egyptian slave, when Caius Caesar & Publius Servilius were Consulls, wa [...] butchered. This was the end after three Consulships, as many Triumphs, and the whole inhabitable world conquered, of a most pious and most excellent man, who had beene raised to that pitch beyond which there was no further height, being ther [...] in the seventieth & second yeare, one onely day before his birthday, in whom fortune did seeme so farre to differ from her selfe, that for him who of late wanted earth for him to conquer, there now wanted for his sepulture: [...] [Page] can I call them but over-busie who in the age of so great a man, and one almost of our own time have mistakē five whole yeares? when from the Consulship of Caius Atilius and Quintus Ser [...]ilius the account of the yeares was so easie to be computed, which I have added, not to ex [...]ept against others, but that no exception may be taken against me.

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CHAP. 54. Their attempting as much upon Caesar deservedly punished. The war revived in Africa by Iuba and Scipio, to whom Cato ioyne: his forces.

NEither was the fidelity of the King, and those by whose direction he was governed greater toward Caesar then that they had shewed to Pompey. Who when they first had attempted upō him by treachery and after that had the boldnesse with open warre to provoke him, did with a well deserved punishment make satisfaction to both these great Commanders, whereof the one onely was surviving, Pompey that now was not in any place corporally, was yet every where under [Page] the name of Iuba, for the favour of his party had raysed up a mighty warre in Africa. In which King Iuba, and Scipio, a man of Consular ranke, two yeares before Pompey was slaine, by him made his father in law, did command: whose forces Marcus Cato had much augmented, bringing with infinite difficultie both for want of necessaries and for the passages of places in the journey, his Legions to them. This man when the Cō mand in chiefe was presented to him by the souldiers, did yet rather choose to obey him that was of more honorable qualitie.

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CHAP. 55. Caesar followes into Africa, wher [...] Curio of his party had bin slain and there was victorious, as after with much a doe in Spain against Cnaeus Pompeius the sonne of Pompey the great.

THe care of keeping my credit in my promise of brevitie doth put me in minde how cursorily all these passages are to be handled. Caesar then following his good fortune passed into Africa which the armies o [...] the Pompeians possessed, havin [...] slaine Curio the Generall then o [...] the Iulian faction. At first with variable successe within a whil [...] he there also was fortunate i [...] fight, and the enemies force were defeated. Neither was the [...] the clemency of Caesar to the [...] [Page] that were conquered unsutable to that which he had shewen before. But the warre of Spaine of greater difficultie did entertaine Caesar though victorious in that of Africa, (for Pharmaces overthrowne by him was scarce to be counted an addition to his glory) which mightie and full of terror Cnaeus Pompeius son of Pompey the great, a young man, and of infinite spirit in matter of warre, had raised, aydes flocking to him on every side from all parts of the world of those that were yet still the followers of the greatnes of his fathers name. The fortunes of Caesar did ac [...]ompany him into Spaine, yet [...]id he never fight any battaile [...]ore cruell or fuller of danger, [...]o as when the event was more [...]hen doubtfull, he alighted from [...]is horse, and standing firme, in [Page] the head of his shrinking army having first expostulated with fortune for reserving him to such an end, he professed to his souldiers that he would not move one steppe backe, and that therefore they should consider what a General and in what place they were to abandon, and by that meanes with shame more then with courage, the fight was renewed with more bravery o [...] the Captaine then the souldier.

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CHAP. 56. Pompeius slaine after (Labienus and Varus in) the fight. Caesar returnes to Rome, pardons all his enemies, triumphs five times, and within five months, is slaine by Brutus and Cassius.

CNaeus Pompeius being found sore wounded in a wilde desert was there slaine: Labienus and Varus died in the fight. Caesar being absolute victor of all his enemies, returning to the Citie (which no mortal man could believe) granted a general pardon to all that had borne armes against him, and with most magnificent shewes of fencers at the sharpe, representations of Sea fights, of horse and foote, with fight of Elephants, and feasts many dayes together, did give it [Page] ful content. He entrd in five Triumphs; the setting out of that of Ca [...]a was of Lymon wood; that of Pontus, of Brasile; that of Africa, of Ivory; that of Alexandria of Tortoyses; and that of Spaine, of Silver polished. The money brought in of the spoyles was somewhat more then sixe-hundred Millions of Sesterces. Yet could not this man, so great, and who with so much clemency to all men had caryed himselfe in his victory, enjoy himselfe in perfect quiet, above five months. For having made his returne to the City in the month of October, in the Ides of March following by conspiracie, of which Brutu & Cassius were the Authors, one of whō by promising him the Consulship, he had not obliged, and on the other side, by putting him off he had [Page] offended Cassius: they having also ioyned to their designe complices in the murder, the neerest of all his friends and who by the support of his party were raised to the highest honors, Decius Brutus, & Ca [...]us Trobonius, with other men of noble qualitie, he was slaine. To whom indeed Marcus Antonius, a man that was most ready to dare any thing, had procured much dislike being his fellow Consull, by putting upon his head a Royall diademe, as in the Lupercalian games he sate in the pleading place, which Caesar refused, but so as it appeared he was not offended with it.

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CHAP. 57. Hirtius his advice to Caesar of holaing by force what he had got by his sword reiected, and the presages of his death despised.

Experience makes it appeáre that the advice of Pansa and Hirtius was to be commended, who alwaies had perswaded Caesar, that the command which by force he had obtained, he should in the same sort retaine. To whom he replying, that he had rather dye then live in feare while he expects to finde the same gentlenesse in his owne case which he had shewed to others; he was seized upon by those ingratefull men: when indeed the immortal gods had given him very many presages, and tokens of the future danger; [Page] for both the Soothsayers had fore warned him, that he should most carefully take heed of the Ides of March; and his wise Calphurnia, aftrighted with a vision in the night, had earnestly intreated him, that day not to goe out of his house: And besides certaine writings which were delivered to him, discovering the whole plot of the conspiracy, he did not presently reade. But truly the force of the destinies is unresistable, the fortune whereof while he resolved to change, he spoiled the intendments thereof.

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CHAP. 58. The killers of Caesar ingratefull, Dolobella gives them his sonnes as hostages for their safety in comming downe from the Capitoll which they had seized.

THe yeare that they executed this horrid fact, Brutus and Caius Cassius were Pretors, Decius Brutus was designed Consull, who garded with a troupe of fencers belonging to Decius Brutus seized upon the Capitol where Marcus Anton [...]s then being Consull (whom as Cassius opined that he should together with Caesar be together slaine, and Caesars last will be supprest, Brutus opposed it: affirming that besides the Tyrants (for so considering their action it was expedient to terme him) [Page] there was no other blood to be drawne) convoking the Senate, when now also D [...]labell [...], whom Caesar had appointed to substitute Consull in his owne place, had taken the Rods and ensignes of a Consull, as a Mediator for peace had delivered his children for hostages into the Capitol, did give his faith to the killers of Caesar for their safety in comming downe from the Capitoll. There was in imitation of that famous decree of the Athenians a proposition of a generall oblivion of things past presented by Cicero, and passed with approbation of the Senate.

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CHAP. 59. By motion of Cicero, a law of forgetting things past is enacted, Caesars will adopting Octavius, opened. His discen [...], the character of his father, and his comming to Rome.

AFter which was Caesars wil opened, in which he did adopt Caius Octavius the grandchild of his sister Iulia. Of whose originall though others have prevented me, I yet hold it fit to say somewhat. Caius Octavius was, as not of a Patrician, so yet, of a family of the ranke of Knights very nobly esteemed. He being created Praetor among others of the noblest qualitie, a man grave, pious, harmelesse and rich, where in the first place that dignity had procured him in [Page] marriage Attia the daughter of Iulia, by meanes of that honor was awarded Macedonia for his province. And in that being styled Imperator (or soveraigne cō mander) when he came backe to stand for the Consulship, departed this life. Leaving his sonne not yet a man, whom Caius Caesar his great uncle, when he was brought up with Philippus his father in law, loved as his owne. And when he was but eighteene yeares old, he comming to him, in the Spanish warre, he ever after kept in his company, never making him comrade to any but himselfe, nor to be carried in any litter but his owne, and did conferre the honour of the high priesthood upon him a Child. The civill warres then being quieted to enforme the disposition of that singular youngman, [Page] in the liberall sciences he sent him to Apollonia to study, intending ere long to have him his fellow souldiour in the warre against the Getes, and then against the Parthians. To whom when the newes was brought of the death of his Vncle, and presently the Centurions of the Legions about him made offer to him of the assistance of themselves and their souldiers, which Salvidienus and Agrippa thought was not to be slighted, he making hast to come to the City, did at Brundusium receive full advertisement of the whole course both of the slaughter and of the will. Whom, when he came to Rome, a vast multitude of his friends did meet him: and the globe of the sun was seene over his head, equally bent round like a bow, & of those colours as it were placing [Page] a crowne upon the head of him that was shortly to be a man of such eminencie.

CHAP. 60. Octavius takes upon him as Caesars heyre: Division betweene him and Marcus Antonius.

ATtia and his father in law Philippus were not of the mind that he should assume the name of a fortune so envied as that of Caesar: but approved of that of the contriver of profitable fortunes for the world, the preserver of the Romane name. But his caelestiall spirit scorned humane advices, and did rather choose with danger to ayme at the highest, then with safety to reach poore things & ignoble: & was more willing to beleeve [Page] concerning himselfe; his Vncle, and Caesar then his stepfather: Affirming that it was a wickednesse for him to thinke himselfe unworthy of that name, wherof Caesar was esteemed worthy. Him did Antonius presently entertaine with much pride (yet was not that contempt in him, but feare) and having hardly admitted him into Pompeyes gardens, afforded him audience. Ere long as if he had bin endangered by some treachery of his, he basely raised a slander of him, in which his vaine falsehood was shamefully discovered. In the end the madnes of Antonius and Dolobella reaching at a most impious soveraigntie, did openly breake out. Seven hundred millions of Sesterces, by Caesar deposited for the Temple of Opes, Antonius had seised upon: the [Page] decrees of Caesar changed, and false ones inserted in his corrupted Cōmentaries, And all things set at a certaine price, while the Consull made open sale of the Cōmonwealth. He also resolved to possesse himselfe of Gallia, the province that was designed for Decius Brutus: Dolobella had marked out for himselfe the provinces beyond the Seas. Between men that naturally had no resemblance, and desired things different, hatred began to grow, and by that the young Caius Caesar was aymed at, in the dayly trecheries of Autonius.

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CHAP. 61. Antonius his tyrannie bravely r [...] prest by Octavius, who beatin [...] him at Mutina, forces hi [...] shamefully out of Italy.

THe Citie oppressed by the Soveraignty of Antonius, grew dully languishing. Indignation and griefe all men were furnished with: but with power to resist, not any. When Caius Caesar now entred the ninteenth yeare of his age, daring wonders, but attaining things beyond it, upon his owne private advice, shewed greater courage in the cause of the Common-wealth, than the whole Senate. And first from Calatia, next from Casilinum drew to him his fathers old souldiers, whose example▪ others having followed, [Page] in short time they grew to the proportion of a full army. When Antonius went to meet the army, which out of the Provinces beyond the seas, hee had commanded to come to Brundusium: the two legions called Martiall, and the fourth, knowing both the pleasure of the Senate, and the excellent spirit of that brave young man, plucking up their ensignes, went and rendred themselves to Caesar. The Senate then honoured him with a statue on horsebacke, which to this day standing in the pleading place doth with the inscription point out his age (an honour that by the space of three hundred yeares, had befalne to no man besides Lucius Sylla, Cnaeus Pompeius and Caius Caesar) and creating him Propraetor together with the Consulls Hirtius and [Page] Pansa, appointed him to make warre upon Antonius. By him being now in his twentieth yeare, the businesse was most bravely managed about Mutina, and Decius Brutus who was besieged, being relieved, Antonius with a base flight, and naked, was compelled to quit Italy: one of the Consulls being slaine, and the other within a few daies dying of his wounds.

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CHAP. 62. The feare of Antonius being removed, the affections to the Pompeian partie declare themselves. Brutus and Cassius being fled out of Italy, have provinces and command decreed to them, Caesars souldiers not so ingratefull to him as the Senate.

BEfore Anthony was routed, all things honourable were by the Senate decreed for Caesar and his army: Cicero being chiefely the author of it; but as their feares ceased, their inclination shewed it selfe, and the faction of the Pompeians recovered heart. Brutus and Cassius had the provinces decreed to them, which they before, without any order of the Senate, had seized upon: those armies whatsoever [Page] which had adjoyned themselves to them were commended: and all commands i [...] the provinces beyond the sea were committed to their disposure. For Marcus Brutus and Caius Cassius, redoubting one while the forces of Antonius▪ another pretending that they feared, to the end they might cast more envie upon him; had by their Proclamations declared, That they would bee content to live if it were in perpetuall exile, so as the Common wealth might bee setled in peace: neither would they minister occasion of a civill warre. That the [...] had honour in abundance out o [...] the conscience of their fact, who being departed from the City and out of Italy, with a setled and equall minde, without publike commission, had possessed [Page] themselves of provinces and armies, and declaring that it was the Republique wheresoever they were, they had also received the treasures, which cut of the Transmarine provinces was carried by the Quaestors to Rome from those that were willing to deliver it to them. All which things were included in the decree of the Senate, and by it approved of. And to Decius Brutus, because hee lived by the favour of another, was a triumph decreed: the bodies, of Hirtius and Pansa were honoured with a publique funerall. Of Caesar there was no mention at all, and the Embassadors that were sent to his army, were commanded to deliver their charge to the souldiers, but not in his presence. Yet was not the army so ingratefull as the [Page] Senate; for when Caesar did beare dissembling that injurie, the souldiers denied that they would heare any direction in the absence of their Generall; it was at that time that Cicero swayed with an inbred love of the Pompeian party, opined that Caesar was to bee praised and elevated, when hee spoke in one sense, and meant to bee understood in another.

CHAP. 63. Antonius passing over the Alpes to Lepidus, drawes his army from him, leaving him onely the title of Generall. Plancus his jugling, and Pollio his sincerity.

IN the meane time Antonius in his flight having passed the Alpes, at first in their parlies being [Page] rejected by Lepidus, who was surreptitiously created high priest in the roome of Caius Caesar, and had Spaine assigned to him for his province, but as yet [...]arried in Gallia: ere long comming after in sight of the souldiers, when both all the Generalls were abler than Lepidus, and Antonius then many of them, so long as hee was sober, by [...]he backe side of the Campe the [...]ampire being throwne downe, [...]ee was by the souldiers admit [...]ed, who in the name of the [...]ommand did indeed give the [...]recedence to Lepidus, when all [...]he power was in his owne [...]ands. When Antonius entred [...]he quarter, Inventius Laterensis, [...] man both in life and death [...]he same, when hee had most [...]arnestly disswaded Lepidus [...]rom joyning himselfe with [Page] Antonius, who was declared an enemie of the state: his advice being rejected, ranne himselfe thorow with his sword. Then Plancus with uncertaine fidelity (that is, with his owne) having a long time disputed with himselfe, and scarce yeelding to his owne opinion, and one while an assistant of Decius Brutus his fellow in office, as designed Consull with him, setting also himselfe to sale by his letters to the Senate, and presently the betrayer of hi [...] Companion; and Asinius Polli [...] that stood firme to his first intentions, faithfull to the Iulia [...] faction, averse from the Pompeian, did both of them deliver up their armies to Marcus Antonius.

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CHAP. 64. Decius Brutus one of Caesars killers, slaine by command of Antotonius: And Ciceros orations against Antonius, the cause of his being proscribed and slaine.

DEcius Brutus being first forsaken by Plancus, and afterwards attempted by his treacheries, his army by degrees falling off from him in his flight, and in the house of a Nobleman, with whom hee had a league of hospitality (his name Cornelius) by those that Antonius had sent for that purpose, had his throat cut: and so made a most just satisfaction, and a speedy, with his punishment to Caius Caesar that had of him deserved the best offices, of whom hee was [Page] the murtherer when hee had beene the inwardest of all his friends, and of the fortune whereof hee had reaped the fruit, was content to tranferre the envie upon the author thereof; holding it just for him to retaine what hee had received from Caesar, and that Caesar who gave it should bee destroyed▪ It was at this time that Marcus Tullius with continuall declamations against him, did seare into the memorie of Antonius eternall brands of hatred to him: yet hee with most glorious and heavenly eloquence, but the Tribune Canutius with a perpetuated rage did flie out upon Antonius: both of them with their deaths paid for their vindicating the Common liberty: but with the Tribunes bloud the proscription began, with the [Page] death of Cicero, Antonius being then in a sort glutted, it ended.

CHAP. 65. The instituting the Triumvirate betweene Octavius, Antonius, and Lepdius. Ventidius, who had once a Captive beene led in triumph, that yeare in Consular robes, who had beene formerly honoured with Praetorian, and afterward triumphed.

LEpidus was then by the Senate declared an enemy to the state, as before Antonius had bin. Afterwards there began an intercourse of letters betweene Caesar, Antonius and Lepidus: and overtures made of agreement when both Antonius did now and then put Caesar in minde [Page] how infestious the Pompeian party was to him, to what a height it was growne, and also with how great care and industrie of Cicero, Brutus and Cassius were advanced: and withall professed that hee would joyne his forces with Brutus and Cassius, who were now seventeene legions strong, if Caesar did scorne his consortship; adding withall, that Caesar was more engaged in the revenge of his father, than himselfe of his friend. Then was there a society of their power agreed upon betweene them, and, their armies perswading and intreating it, affinitie concluded betweene Caesar and Antonius, the daughter in law of Antonius being betroathed to Caesar. Caesar then entred his Consulship (with Quintus Pedius his colleague) the day [Page] before hee was twentie yeares old, and the tenth of the Kalends of October, seven hundred and nine yeares after the building of the City, and seventy two yeares before thou Marcus Vinicius wert created Consull. This yeare saw Ventidius in that City, into which hee once had among the captive Picentines beene led in triumph, coupling the young mans gowne with the Consular robes, and the Praetors. The same man also did here afterward triumph.

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CHAP 66. The third proscription, in which Caesar over-ruled by his two companions: the death of Cicero & his Eulogium.

ANtonius then full of rage, & equally with him Lepidus, both of whom as we have said before had beene adjudged enemies to the State, when each of them did more willingly heare what they had suffered, than what they had merited: Caesar opposing it, but in vaine, having two against him: the proscription, a mischiefe after Sylla his patterne, was set on foot. Not any thing was there in that time so unworthie as that either Caesar should bee compelled to proscribe any man, or that Antonius should proscribe Cicero: And [Page] by the villany of him (It is the common saying or the people) his head was cut off; No man protecting and keeping him safe, who for so many yeares together had defended both the publiqu [...] safetie of the State, and that also of many private Citizens. Yet hast thou done nothing to purpose (Marcus Antonius) for indignation which my brest is not able to keepe from breaking out, doth force me to quit the forme of my intended worke; thou doest (i say) nothing to purpose, in telling out the reward for the cutting of that most caelestiall and noblest head, or with authorizing the slaughter of him, that was once the preserver of the Republique, and of a Consull so famous procuring the death. Thou hast indeed deprived Marcus Cicero [Page] of the light of the sunne, which made him full of cares, shortned his old age, and berest him of life to bee valued under thy principalitie at farre lower price than death, in thy Triumvirate. But his fame and the glory of his actions, and speeches, thou art so farre from taking from him that thou hast increased it. It lives, and shall live in the memory of all future ages. And while this body of things existent in nature, which whether by chance, or by providence, or how ever is setled, shall stand, which hee almost: solely with the spirit of a Roman apprehended with his understanding, did comprehend, and with his eloquence did illuminate, it shall carry with it the praise of a Cicero, as the companion of that age: and all posteritie shall both [Page] admire his writings against thee, as well as with execrations detest thy fact; for sooner shall mankinde faile in the earth, than the glory of him, and the horror of thee.

CHAP. 67. The carriage of wives, freedmen, servants, and children towards those that were proscribed: the foulenesse of the proscription of their nearest friends.

THe calamity of those times, so impossible it is for any man in words to expresse, as it is hard for any sufficiently to lament it. This yet is to be observed, that toward those which were proscribed, there was found of some wives, a singular faithfulnesse, in freedmen an indifferent [Page] one, in slaves now and then some: but in their children none all. So troublesome to men is any delay of their hopes, howsoever conceived. And that there might bee nothing sacred left, which might not serve to reward or provoke man to mischiefe, Antonius proscribed his Vncle Lucius Caesar, and Lepidus his brother Paulus. Neither was Plancus refused the favour of obtaining that his brother Plancus Plotius should be proscribed. From whence it was that among the jests of the souldiers, as they followed the triumphall Chariot of Lepidus and Plancus, and among the curses of the Citizens these words were used; The Consulls triumph over the Germans (id est, the brothers) and not of the Gaules.

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CHAP. 68. Marcus Caelius his character, attempts, and end, with that of Milo the exile, for killing Clodius. Caesars moderation in punishing such as had abused him.

LEt this which treats of a thing past, bee referred to a proper place: neither is the person, of whom wee are to speake, fitte to be veyled in darkenesse and shadowes: while Caesar in the battaile of Pharsalia, and in Africa disputes with his sword, the maine of the businesse; Marcus Caelius a man most neerely resembling Curio in eloquence and boldnesse, but in either of them beyond him, and no lesse than hee wittily mischievous, when in no moderate course he could subsist, his private fortunes [Page] being much narrower than his minde, in his Praetorship made himselfe the Author of new lawes: neither could hee by the authoritie of the Senate and the Consulls bee deterred from his designe. And sending for Ainnus Milo (who being refused, his repeale from exile, was an enemie to the Iulian party,) stirred up a sedition in the City: and not now covertly beginning a warre, was first sequestred from all charge in the Common wealth, and not long after by the forces of the Consulls, and by the order of the Senate, in the Thurians country was ruined. The fortune of Milo was sutable to his intendments, who assaulting Compsa of the Hirpines, was strooken with a stone, and so made satisfaction both to Publius Clodius, whom [Page] hee had slaine, and to his country which hee invaded. A man thou mayest say rash beyond the name of valiant. Now to take somewhat of many that may bee omitted, let it yet bee observed that Merulus Effordius and Flavius Caesetius Tribune of the people, having used immoderate licentiousnesse against Caius Caesar, while they charge him with ayming at the Crowne, had welneere felt upon themselves the weight of the scepter. Yet to this heighth onely did the anger of the often provoked Prince rise, that contenting himselfe with a censoriall censure, rather than with a punishment corporall, like a Dictator, hee sequestred them from their places, and the publique affaires, and professed that it was to him the greatest miserie that either [Page] he must goe beyond the bounds of his owne nature, or suffer his honour to bee empaired. But let us returne to our course.

CHAP. 69. The death of Trebonius another of the killers of Caesar, by Dolabella at Smyrna, who besieged by Cassius in Laodicaea, made his servant cut off his head.

NOw both had Dolobella in Asia slaine Caius Trebonius, a man of Consular ranke at Smirna (to whom he succeeded) having over-reached him with a tricke, who had beene most ingratefull to Caesars merits, by whom hee had beene raised to the degree of Consull, and yet had a share in his murther: and Caius Cassius having received [Page] from Staius Murcus and Crispus Maruns men of the Praetorian ranke, the brave legions which they commanded in Syria, besieged and tooke Laodicaea, and therein Dolabella, who had put himselfe into it; (yet so as Dolobella did not time [...]ously present his necke to the edge of his servants sword) and with that one draught made himselfe master often legions. And Marcus Brutus had wrung from Caius Antonius the brother to Marcus Antonius in Macedonia, and from Vatinius at Dyrrhachium their legions which were willing to change their Commander. But A [...]tonius hee mastred by force, Vatinius by his reputation, Brutus being thought worthy to bee preferrd before any other Generall whatsoever, and Vatinus inferiour to none that [Page] had a name. In whom the deformity of his body did strive for the superiority with the basenesse of his minde: so as it seemed it was bestowed in a lodging of all others the most worthiest of it. Yet was he seven legions strong. Then by the law Pedia, which Pedius fellow, Consull to Caesar preferred, all they who were th [...] killers of Caesar, the elder being condemned were interdicted the use of fire and water, at which time Capito my fathers brother of the Senators order, did subscribe upon Agrippas motion against Caius Cassius.

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CHAP. 70. Cassius takes Rhodes, Brutus conquers Lycia, they passe into Macedonia, the battaile of Philippi, where Cassius being beaten, dyes by the hand of his servant, and few dayes after, Brutus totally routed runnes upon his sword.

VVHile these passages are on foot in Italy, Cassius with a sharpe and very fortunate warre had (an action of mighty import) taken Rhodes, and Brutus had conquered the Lycians: from whence they had passed their armies over into Macedonia: when Cassius in every thing running a contrary course to the nature of Brutus, had in the end also mastered his clemency. Neither do I finde, any upon whom [Page] a more indulgent fortune did once attend; or whom, as if she had beene tryed, she did with more speed abandon, then Brutus and Cassius. Caesar then and Antonius, passing their armies into Macedonia, neere the City of Philippi, came to fight a battaile with Marcus Brutus & Cassius. The wing that Brutus commanded, having beaten their opposites, did take Caesars campe; For he himselfe, though extreamely sicke, did yet discharge all the duties of a Generall, and was also earnestly intreated by his Physitian Artorius, that he should not tarry in his quarter, he being frighted in his sleepe with a manifest threatning of danger toward him. The wing in which Cassius commanded, was on the other side forced to fall off, and shrewdly plagued, had retyred [Page] to a higher ground. Cassius then by his owne fortune guessing at the successe of his comfort, when he had sent one whom he had called out, for that purpose, and commanded him to bring him word what the number & force of those men was which were comming toward him: he returning an account thereof somewhat slowly & they being now neere him, and upon their full speed, and for the dust neither their faces nor their ensignes could be discerned, beleeving that they were enemies that were rushing upon him, he wrapped his coat about his head, and fearelesse yelded his necke to his freed man. The head of Cassius was but fallen to the ground, when he that was sent came and brought word, that Brutus was Victor, who seeing [Page] his Generall lying dead, I will, said he, follow him, whom my dulnesse hath slaine, and with that fell upon his sword. A few dayes after Brutus fought another battaile, and in that being overthrowne, when he had fled to a knolle by night he intreated Strato the Aegeatian his neerest friend to lend him a hand in his death: & lifting his left arme up to his head when he held the hilts in his right hand, he guided the point to his left pappe where the heart doth pant, and pressing on the same, with one blow ended his life.

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CHAP. 71. Messalla and Corvinus saved by Caesar: eminent Romanes slaine in that fight.

PResently Mesalla a most noble young man, and next in authority to Brutus and Cassius in that army, when there were some that did desire to choose him for their Generall, did rather make election of being preserved by the favour of Caesar, then to commit himselfe any more to the hazard of armes. Neither was there in that victory to Caesar, any thing more pleasing, then that he could by it save save Corvinus, nor at any time an instance more cleare of a man gratefull and pious, then Corvinus was ever after to Caesar. Nor was there ever any civill warre [Page] more polluted with the bloud of men of the noblest qualitie. Therein dyed the sonne of C [...]to: In the same also fel Lucullus and Hortensius the sonnes of two Citizens most eminent. For V [...] ro when he was amidest the scornes of Antonius to be put to death, he with a free liberty did prophecy truly, and of him that which was worthy to befall him. Drusus Livius the father of Iulia Augusta, and Varus Quintilius not so much as making tryall of the enemies courtesie, the one of them slew himselfe in his tent, and the other when he had put on the markes of his honors and offices, by the hand of his freed man whom he cōpelled to do it, had his throat cut.

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CHAP. 72. The parallel of Brutus and Cassius, Cnaeus Domitius with a Navy retires into Sicile to Sextus Pompeius sonne to Pompey the great.

THis end was fortune pleased to appoint to the faction of Marcus Brutus, when he was thirtie seven yeares old; His mind being depraved in that day which with his rashnesse of his fact, did blot out all his other vertues. As for Cassius he was as much a better Captaine then Brutus, as Brutus was a better man then he: of whom thou wouldest rather love Brutus for a friend, and more redoubt Cassius if thy enemy: in the one there was more violence, in the other more vertue. Who if they [Page] had beene Conquerours, as much as it was better to have Caesar for our Prince then Antonius so much had it beene to have had Brutus then Cassius: Cnaeus D [...] mitius the father of Lucius D [...] mitius a man whom wee of late have seene, and one of a most noble and eminent sincerity, the grandfather of this Lucius D [...] mitius, an excellent young man, being possessed of a fleete, did then with a great trayne of such as would follow his advice, contented to make himselfe the party, commit himselfe to fortune. Staius Marcus to whose charge the Navy and the guard of the Sea was entrusted, with his fleet, and that part of the army which was under his Command, went over to Sextus Pompeius the sonne of Pompey the great, who returning out of [Page] Spaine had now possessed himselfe of Sicilia; & both out of Ita [...]y and frō divers other parts of [...]he world so many as fortune [...]ad withdrawne and freed from [...]he present danger, together with many who had bin pro [...]cribed, flocked to him. To them which possessed no certaine state [...]ny generall was convenient e [...]ough; and when fortune left them no liberty of election, but onely shewed them a retreat to fly to, and when they sought to escape from a balefull tempest, any roade was a harbour for thē.

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CHAP. 73. Sextus Pompeius his character a [...] hee maintaines himselfe and hi [...] army in Sicily by Piracy.

THis young man was in learning ignorant, in his speech barbarous, in his courage daring of body able, in his resolutions speedy, for fidelitie most unlike his father, the freedman o [...] his freedman, and servant of hi [...] slaves, envious to those of any worth, that hee might bee subject to the basest men: whom the Senate, as then almost wholly consisting of the Pompeias faction, after Antonius his flight from Mutina, had recalled out of Spaine (where Asinius Pollio of Praetorian quality, made a very brave warre upon him) had restored him to his fathers estate [Page] and given him the command of the Sea coast. He then as we before have said, having seazed upon Sicily, did enroll in his army slaves and fugitives, and so made up a great body of legions. And by Menes and Menecrates, his fathers freedmen, whom he had made his Admiralls infesting the seas, made use of spoyling, and robberies to maintaine himselfe & his army: nor was he ashamed to make with piraticall villanies, those seas, unsafe & troublesome, which by the armes and conduct of his father, had beene cleered and freed from Pirates.

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CHAP. 74. Antonius after the defeate of Brutus, stayes in these parts: Caesar, returning into Italy, findes at troubled by Lucius Antonius, Marcus his brother, and Fulvia, the wife of Marcus Lucius, forced in Perusia, dismist unhurt, and Perusia burnt by one of their own, who set it on fire, by name Macedonicus.

THe partie of Brutus and Cassius being ruined, Antonius to take possession of the Provinces beyond the sea, tarired there, and Caesar returning into Italy found it much more troublesome then hee hoped to have done. For Lucius Antonius the Consull, sharer with his brother in his vices, but wanting the vertues which were sometimes [Page] found in him: one while with complaining of Caesar to the old souldiers, another provoking them to armes that had justly in the division of lands, and appointing of inhabitants to them, lost those lands which they held before, had raised a great army. On the other side, Fulvia the wife of Antonius who had nothing feminine about her, but her body, did fill all things with armes and garboyle. She for the seate of the warre, made choise of Praeneste; Antonius being chased from every place, by the forces of Caesar, had retired himselfe to Perusia; Caesar following his owne fortune and vertue assaulted and caried Perusia. Antonius he dismissed without harme: the Perusians, more by the rage of the souldiers then by the will or direction of the Generall [Page] were cruelly handled. The Towne was burnt, the beginning of the fire was caused by the principall man thereof, Macedonicus, who setting fire of his owne house, and his goods, ranne himselfe through with his sword, and threw himselfe into the flame.

CHAP. 75. Another warre raised in Campania, by Tiberius Claudius Nero, Father to Tiberius Caesar, and husband of Livia, after wife of Augustus. Her character.

AT the same time, there was on foot in Campania, a furious warre, which Tiberius Claudius Nero, of the Praetorian rank, and the high priest, a man of a great spirit, and of infinite learning, [Page] the father of Tiberius Caesar (openly avowing himselfe the patron of those which had lost their lands) had raised: But that also by the comming of Caesar was buried and determined. Who can sufficiently admire these charges of fortune? who these uncertaine accidents of humaine Condition? who would either hope or feare things distering from the present, or contrary to that which was expected? Livia the daughter of Drusus Claudianus, a most noble and most valiant man, by her discent, her goodnesse her, her beauty of all the dames of Rome, the most eminent: whom we since have seene the wife of Augustus, and when he was translated to the gods, have also seene her high priest and Flamen to him. Then flying from the sword of Caesar [Page] (that afterward was her owne Caesar) whose sonne of two yeares old, this our Tiberius Caesar the restorer of the Romane Empire, and who was predestinated to be in the end the sonne of Caesar also, she carrying in her bosome with one onely attendant that her flight might the better concealed, by unfrequented wayes to avoid the armes of the souldiours got to the sea side, and with her husband Nero passed over into Sicily.

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CHAP. 76. Caius Velleius grandfather of the Author, not able to follow Antonius in his flight, kils himselfe. Fulvia and Plancus permitted to retire to Antonius. Pollio with Domitius joyne a fleete to Antonius his forces, Antonius returnes into Italy: Peace as made betweene them at Brund [...]sum. Salvidienus his treachery discovered.

THe testimony that I would give to a stranger, I must not defraud my grandfather of. For Caius Ve [...]eiu [...], who was by Cna [...] u [...] Pompeius chosen into a very honorable place among those three hundred and sixtie [...]udges, and both to him, to Marcus Brutu [...], and to Tiro the Prefect of their workemen, a man inferior [Page] to none: oppressed with age, and infirme of body upon the departure of Nero from Naples, whose part for the singular friendship betweene them he in all he was able assisted; when he could not beare him company, with his sword in Campania, he ranne himselfe through. Caesar then permitted Fulvia freely without any wrong to depart out of Italy, and Plancus to beare the woman company in her flight. For Assinius Pollio with seven legions having long retayned Venutia in the devotion of Antonius, and done great and brave things about Altinum and other Cities in that Country, going to Antenius in his way having with his perswasions, and giving him his faith for assurance, prevailed with Domitius of whom wee have before spoken, that escaping [Page] our of Brutus his campe, and after his death having made himselfe Admirall of a Fleete of his owne, he drew him to Antonius. By which fact whosoever will judge equally may know that Pollio did not cōferre a meaner benefit upon Antonius then Antonius did afterward upon Pollio. The returne then of Antonius into Italy, and the preparations of Caesar against him presented indeed a feare of war, but quickly was there a peace concluded betweene them at Brundusium. At which time the villanous devices of Rufus Salvidinus came to light, who being borne of obscurest parentage, did prize at a low rate his being raised to the highest honors, and that next after Cneus Pompeius and Caesar himselfe of the Order of KNIGHTS, [Page] was created Consull, except he might rise to that heigth from whence he might see both Caesar and the Common wealth beneath himselfe.

CHAP. 77. Peace at Misendū, made with Sextus Pompeius, by which all that were proscribed were freed. Staius Marcus but to death by Sextus Pompeius, upon the false imputations of his Admiral: Maenas and Menecrates.

THen, the unanimous voyce of the people complaining, whō a sharpe famine did presse, the sea not being free; there was a peace concluded also with Sextus Pompeius, at Misenum. Who not incongruously when he entertained Caesar and Antonius [Page] at supper aboard his ship, told them that he would feast them in his keele, alluding to the name of the place where his fathers house stood (as then possessed by Antonius,) By the Articles of this peace it was agreed that Sicilia and Achaia should be alotted to Pompeius in which notwithstanding his unquiet mind could not settle. That only one thing he by his comming brought of benefit to his countrey, that for all that were, proscribed and as many others as for severall causes had fled to him, he did contract they should be safe and peaceably returned to their Country. Which article besides others of the most eminent men did restore to the Republique both Nero Claudius, Marcus Silanus, Sentius Sturninus, Arantius and Titius. [Page] But Staius Murcus who by his comming to him, and that of a Fleete royall had doubled his forces, being charged with forged crimes, because that Menas and Menecrates were not pleased to have a man of that sort their fellow in office, Pompeius had put to death in Sicily.

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CHAP. 78. Antonius marries Octavia, Caesars sister. Labienus leading the Parthians with Pacorus, the sonne of Parthia, by Ventidius slaine: Caesar leades his army into Illyria & Dalmatia. Sharp iustice done by Domitius in Spaine upon a runne-away Centurion.

ABout this time it was that Marcus Antonius tooke to wife Octavia the sister of Caesar. Pompey was returned into Sicily; Antonius into the provinces beyond the seas, which Labienus retiring from the campe of Brutus to the Parthians, and leading their army into Syria, having slaine Antonius his Lievtenant had extreamely shaken. But he by the valour and conduct of [Page] Ventidius, together with the forces of the Parthians, and the Kings sonne Pacorus, that noblest young man was utterly ruined. In the Interim of these times, lest idlenesse the most capitall foe to discipline should corrupt the souldier, Caesar with frequent expeditions into Illyricum and Dalmatia, by patience in dangers and practise of the Art of warre, made his army able to endure. Then also it was that Ca [...]v [...]s Domitius, who in his Consulship had Spaine for his Province, was the author of an example of greatest consequence, and one comparable to those of ancient times; for hee commanded to bee slaine with a club a Centurion of the first ranke, by name Vibilliu [...], for base and cowardly running away from the fight.

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CHAP. 79. Warre resolved upon with Sextus Pompeius: Caesar maries Livia, wife of Tiberius Nero, her husband surrendring her. The character of Marcus Agrippa: part of the fleet lost by tempest: Pompey ruined, flies to Antonius, and is by his command shire.

POmpeies fleet, and the report and fame of him, growing every day greater, Caesar determined to goe thorow with that warre. And committing the care of building of ships, of pressing souldiers and mariners, and of excercising them, and training them for the sea service to Marcus Agrippa, a man of most excellent parts, unconquerable by labour, watching [Page] or danger one that knew (no man better) how to obey, but that onely referr'd to one sole man: ambitious indeed of commanding others, in all things hating delaies, and coupling the execution with his resolving. He having built in the Lakes of Avernus and Lucrinum, a most gallant fleete, with dayly excercising, made both the souldier and the Saylor absolutely perfect in both the arts of souldiery, and sea service. With this fleete Ceasar (having first upon the resignation of Nero, to whom shee had before beene married, taken Livia to wife, with all the ceremonies usuall in the common wealth) began the warre upon Sicily & Pompeius. But him that was invincible to all humane force, fortune did at that time grievously [Page] aflict: for about Velia & the Promontory of Palinurus, a storme at the South falling upon him, did miserably teare and scatter farre the greater part of his whole fleete. That caused some delay in that warre, which afterward was managed with doubtfull and sometimes variable fortune. For both the fleete in the same place was torne with a tempest, and as neere Mylae, under the leading of Agrippa, the successe was prosperous; so by the unexpected comming in of a fleete, even in the sight of Caesar himselfe, not farre from Tauromenium, there was a great blow received by him. Neither was the danger very farre from his owne person: and the legions which were with Cornisicius, Caesars Lievtenant being landed, were [Page] almost defeated by Pompeius. But the dou [...]tfull fortune of that time was by a seasonable valour corrected: for they having opned at large the squadrons of the fleetes of both sides. Pompeius being stript of almost all his ships, fled into Asia, and by the command of Marcus Antonius, whose assistance he craved, while hee was troublesome with a fashion, betweene a Commander, and a suppliant, and one while would stand upon his greatnesse, another even beg his life; hee had his throat cut by Titius. Against whom the hatred which by that misdeed hee had procured himselfe, did so long endure, that some time after hee presenting plaies in Pompey his Theater, was by the curses of the people driven from the spectacle, which [Page] himselfe was bestowed, and was at the change of.

CHAP. 80. Lepidus called to the warre with Sextus Pompeius: Pompeius turnea out of all by Caesar his strange daring.

WHen Caesar made that warre against Pompey, he had sent for Lepidus out of Africa with twelve legions, but halfe compleat. He the vainest of all men living, and who had not with any vertue of his owne merited so long an indulgence of fortune, had joyned to his owne troupes the souldiers of Pompey, because hee was neerer to them, who followed not his, but Caesars fortune. And now puffed up with the [Page] number of above twenty legions, his madnesse grew to that height, that being an uselesse cō panion in the victory of another, as long as hee stayed there suspecting Caesars designes; and ever differing from that which gave satisfaction to others, hee construed the whole victory as his owne, and tooke the boldnesse upon him to enjoyne Caesar to get him out of Sycily. Not the Scipios or any other of the ancient Roman Captaines did ever dare, and execute a braver thing than Caesar at that time did. For when he was both disarmed, and in his cloake carrying nothing but his name about him, hee entred into Lepidus his campe, and avoyding those darts which by order of that most mischievous man, were throwne at him, his cloake being [Page] thrust thorow with a pike, hee durst seaze the Eagle of the legion. Then mightest thou know what difference there was betweene the Generalls. Those which were armed followed him that was disarmed: and Lepidus in the tenth yeare, after he had attained to a potentie most unsutable to his life, being abandoned both by fortune and his souldiers, wrapped in a mourning garment, and concealed in the dragge of the multitude that flocked about Caesar, hee fell prostrate at his knees. His life and his private estate were granted him: his honour which hee could not support, hee was bereaved of.

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CHAP. 81. A mutiny among the souldiers, appeased by the seventy, and as well by the bounty of Caesar.

A S [...]dden mutiny of the souldiers then risen, who by often considering their owne strength, were fallen from regarding the discipline of the warre: and what they thought themselves able to enforce, would not deigne to have by request, was partly by the severitie, partly by the bounty of the Prince repressed. And upon them was at the same time bestowed a faire addition of the Colonie in Campania: the rents thereof did belong to the State, instead of which there was appropriated to the common treasury, a much larger revenue of [Page] twelve hundred thousand Sesterces out of the Island of Creete, & the water worke promised, which at this day is both a singular one, conducing to the health of the City, and an ornament fitted for delicacie and pleasure. Agrippa in this did deserve, and had conferred upon him the honour of a Navall Crowne, which before him was never bestowed upon any Roman. After this Caesar returning a Conquerour to the City, did declare that hee did designe for the publique use divers houses which his factors had by seve [...]all purchases drawne into one, [...]hat he might be seated more at [...]arge; And promised that hee would build the Temple of Apollo, and the galleries about [...]t, which also hee afterward with singular magnificence performed.

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CHAP. 82. Antonius with thirteene legions, enters Parthia, but with much adoe, and great losse, goes off. Hee resolves upon a warre with Caesar.

THat sommer in which Caesar was so happie in Sicily against Lepidus fortune, also fought successefull on Caesar part, and the Republickes in the East. For Marcus Antonius passing through Armenia, and then Media, to invade the Parthians, was encountred by their King. And that at the first having lost two legions, with the Lievtenant Statianus, and their baggage and his Engines, presently fell into those dangers with extreame hazard of hi [...] whole army, as out of them he [Page] despaired ever to bee delivered. And having lost not lesse than the fourth part of his forces, hee was preserved by the advice and faithfulnesse of a certaine man, but a Roman; who being taken prisoner in the defeate of Crassus his army, had changed his fortune, but not his disposition: and coming in the night to the Roman guards, forewarned him that he should not go [...] the way that hee intended, but passe another through the woods. Marcus Antonius his doing so, was the preservation of the legions; of which yet, as we said before, at least a fourth part of his whole army; and of the followers of the campe, and slaves were lost, and of his baggage scarce any at all was left him. Yet this his flight because he came off alive, Antonius called [Page] a victory; who the third summer after returning into Armenia, over-reaching Artavasdes the King thereof, with a tricke bound him in chaines: but, that he might not want of his due honour, with golden ones. The fire then both of his love to Cleopatra, and the greatnesse of his vice (which are ever fomented by wealth, libertie, and flatteries) encreasing, he determined to make warre upon his owne country: when hee had before that commanded himselfe to be stiled a new Bacchus; when with a Garland of Ivie crowned with a crowne of gold, with the Thirsus in his hand, & buskins buckled on his leggs, in a Chariot like Liber pater, hee had ridden about Alexandria.

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CHAP. 83. Plancus falls off from Antonius to Caesar. His character and carriage after his revolt.

VVHile these preparations for warre are one foote, Plancus, not out of judgement to make election of the better part, neither out of love of Caesar, or the State (for to all these he was perpetually adverse) but infected (as with a disease) with treachery, when hee had beene the basest flatterer of the Queene, and an observer, beneath the degree of her slaves, when he had beene Antonius his Register, and both the author and minister of the fithiest actions, when he had to all men, nd in every thing beene mercenary, wsten naked and dyed of a [Page] sea-blew colour, with his head crownd with reeds, and dragging a long taile behinde him, he had crept upon his knees, and danced as Glaccus: being checked by Antonius at a banquet for his manifest extortions, fled unto Caesar. And afterward iputing the clemency of the conquerour to his owne vertue, used to say that Caesar when he had pardoned, had well tryed it; Titius did within a while immitate him who was his Vnckle▪ Wittily did Caponius, a man of Praetorian ranke, who to his children was a father, most precise carefull of their breeding, the father in law of Silius, answer Plancus, when in the Senate he imputed many, and those vile things to Antonius from whom he was lately fled: upon my faith (said he) Antonius did [Page] many foule things the day before thou leftest him.

CHAP. 84. The sea preparation at Actium, with the order of the Navies.

VVHen Caesar then, and Messalla Corvin [...]s were Consulls, the victory at Actium was gained: where long before they came to fight, the advantage of the day, and the successe thereof was apparent on the Iulian side. On this part both the souldier and the Commander were full of vigor and spirit; on that all things languished: on this were Kings most firme to the cause; on that with their wants much disaffected. There were ships great indeed, but that could not move with [Page] any competent speed Here were others of a more dreadfull aspect: From this side not one fled to Antonius: from that to Caesar dayly some went over: Finally, in the sight of Antoniu [...], and as it were at his very beard, by Marcus Agrippa was Leucas assaulted and carried. Patros taken, Corinth seazed upon, and twice before the last and generall triall, his fleete was beaten. The King Amintas followed the better and more commodious course; for Dellius, in this warre also firme to his old fashion, as hee had before from Dolobella, turned to Caesar: and Cnaeus Demitius a most eminent man, (who onely of all that sided with Antonius did never though with his great and most desperate hazard salute Cleopatra by the title of Queene, but onely [Page] by her name) came over to Caesar.

CHAP. 85. Caesars victory, and the flight of Antonius after Cleopatra: the rendring of the land forces to Caesar.

AT length the day of the maine triall came on, in which Caesar and Antonius drawing out both their Navies, fought, the one for the preservation of the world, the other for the ruine thereof. The right wing of the Iulian Navie was governed by Marcus Latius, the last by Arruntius, the command in chiefe of the whole sea fight rested upon Agrippa: Caesar designing to himselfe the place to which fortune should call him, [Page] was in every part present. Antonius his fleet was commanded by Publicola and Sosius. As for the forces at land, those of Caesars part were commanded by Taurus, and Antonies by Candius: when the fight began there was on the one side all things necessary: the Generall, Saylors, or Rowers and souldiers: on the other nothing but the souldiers. Cleopatra began first of all to flie, and Antonius did choose rather to beare the Queene company in her flight, than his souldiers in fighting for him. And being Generall, who ought to punish runawayes severely, did himselfe runne away from his owne souldiers. Their constancy in fighting most bravely, even when they had lost their head that should have directed them, did long continue, and when they [Page] dispaired of victory, they fought to dye. But Caesar desiring to reduce them to quiet thoughts by words, whom he might have ruined with the sword, calling to them, and shewing them that Antonius was fled: asked them for whom and with whom they would now fight. But they, when they had fought a long time for their Generall that was absent, with much a doe, and hardly laying downe their armes yeelded the victory: and Caesar did more readily promise them pardon and life, than they could bee perswaded to crave it. And by all men it was acknowledged that the souldiers had done the duty of the bravest Generall, and the Generall behaved himselfe as the most cowardly souldier. So that thou mayest make a doubt whether he would have [Page] governed the victory by his owne, or Cleopatra's discretion, that was by her pleasure directed in his flight.

CHAP. 86. Caesars clemency after the victory: Pollio his faire respect to Caesar as his Prince; to Antonius as his benefactor.

THe same course also was taken by the army at land, after Canidius with an inconsiderate flight, had whirled after Antonius: who is hee that in the cursitory way of this so contracted a worke, dares take upon him to expresse what that day did beneficiall for the whole world, out of what, and into what an estate the fortune of the Common wealth did remove. [Page] But the victory was used with all clemency, very few were they who were put to death, and those indeed which durst not so much as crave their lives. Out of which lenity of the Generall, it may well be collected what he would have made the effect of his victory, either in the beginning of his Triumvirate, or in the Philippian fields if it had beene in his owne power ******* at length with much wrestling for it, the clemency of Caesar preserved him. Let me not over-passe the memorable both fact, and deed of Asinius Pollio. For when after the peace of Brundusium, he had still remained in Italy, and had neither seene the Queene, nor after the mind of Antonius, was by her love enfeebled, had medled with his faction, Caesar [Page] requiring him to goe with him to the bataile of Actium, My merits (said he) towards Antonius are greater, but his favours to me better knowne. I therefore will withdraw my selfe from your hazards, and rest here a prey for the Conquerour.

CHAP. 87. Antonius his death at Alexandria, & presently after Cleopatra's. None put to death by Caesar after the victory.

THe next yeare Caesar pursuing the Queene and Antonius to Alexandria, did put the last hand to the civill warre: Antonius did, and that not timerously, kill himselfe. So as by his death he did seeme to wipe of many spots of his former [Page] faintnesse. But Cleopatra abusing her gardians, having an Aspick brought into her did by the biing thereof, free from all womanish feare, put an end to her life. A thing it was, worthy of both the fortune and the clemency of Caesar, that of all those which had borne armes against him there was not any one that by him, or upon his command was put to death. [...]ecius Brutus was by the cruelty of Antonius slaughtered: Sextus Pompeius being defeated by Caesar, by Antonius likewise (when hee had given him his faith to preserve for him his honours also entire) was deprived of life. Brutus and Cassius before that they had made triall how the Conquerour would be enclined toward them, with a voluntary death ended, their daies. [Page] Canidius died more cowardly then did sute with the profession of which he had ever beene. The last of the Murtherers of Caesar, Parmensis Cassius received his payment by death, as Tribenius before had done.

CHAP. 88. Lepidus sonne to the Triumvir conspiring against Caesars life, without trouble or noise opprest by Caius Marcellus provost of the Citie. Marcellus his Character.

VVHile Caesar was putting an end to the Actian and Alexandrian warre, Marcus Lepidus, a young man, of a better shape then disposition of mind, sonne to that Lepidus who had beene the Triumvir in the setling [Page] the state, and of Iunia the sister of Brutus, entred into a conspiracie of killing Caesar, upon his first returne to the City. Then Marcus Marcellus, Captaine of the Guard of the City, borne of a noble family, and order of the Knights: A man whensoever the affaires required vigilance, that never slept, provident, and who knew how to drive a businesse to the head: but when once the affaires gave him any time of remission, melting in ease and daintinesse more then women would desire, not lesse deere to Caesar then Agrippa, but these preferred: For he lived almost contented with narrow studdes of purple upon his gowne, neither was he unable to reach greater matters, but did not desire them: He with infinite stilnesse and cunning sented out the devices of [Page] that rash headed young man, and with wonderful speed, without all trouble of men or affaires herein, having ruined Lepidus, did extinguish a fearefull origiginall of a new civill warre, and which was likely to have sprung up again. So her received his due punishment, for his ill contrived plots. Let Servilia the wife of Lepidus be matched with Antistius his before mentioned Calphurnia, who throwing her selfe alive into the funerall flame, received in recompence of her untimely end, the never dying memory of her braue action.

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CHAP. 89. Caesar his returne to Rome, his triumph and the model of his government.

BVt of Caesars returne into Italy, and to the City, how he was met, with what applause of all men, of all ages, and all degrees he was received; what the magnificence of his triumphs was, what that of his bounties, not a full and just volume, much lesse this so concise a worke, is able to make a fit and just relation. Nothing from thence forth could men desire of the gods, nothing could the gods bestow upon men, nothing be craved in prayer, nor any thing in a perfect felicity be found, which Augustus, after his returne to the City, did not endow the republique, [Page] the people of Rome, and in summe, the whole world with all. The civill warres that had lasted now twenty yeares were ended, foraigne warres buried, peace repealed, the rage of armes quieted in evrey part, to the lawes their power, to the seates of Iustice their authority, and to the Senate their majestie restored, the commād of the Magistrates restored to the auntient measure, onely two Praeton more added to the former eight, and the first most auncient forme of the Common wealth revived. Husbandry returned into the Country, to things sacred their due honor, to men security, to every man a certainty of enjoying his owne. Some lawes commodiously amended, others with the publique good enacted [Page] Senators chosen without harshnesse, though not without strictnesse, men of principall quality and who had borne offices of honour and triumphed, by the perswasion of the prince drawne to the Citie for the ornament of the common wealth. Consull he was onely eleven times, which that it might not be continued upon him, Caesar having often pressed and stood against it with much adoe obtained. For the Dictatorship, as the people had obstinately urged it upon him, he as constantly rejected. The warre made under his command, and by victories, peace established through the world, and so many workes perfected, both at home and out of Italy, would require an Historian that upon that sole worke should bestow the whole terme of his life. Wee remembring [Page] what we have professed, will present to your eyes and mind the whole picture of his governement.

CHAP. 90. Dalmatia and Spaine by Caesar and (employed by his command) Agrippa, after ages of trouble brought to a perfect peace.

THe Civill warre, as wee have said, thus interred, and the members of the Common wealth, now knitting together, and he taking care of such things as so long a course of warre had rent in sunder, Dalmatia which for two hundred and twenty yeares had bin rebellious, was brought quietly to a plaine confession of subjection to our Empire. The Alpes famous both for [Page] wild beasts and divers nations subdued, all the Spaines one while by himself in preson, another by the ministration of Agrippa, whom the favour of the Prince had raised to the third Consulship, & after to the Consortship with him of the Tribuniciall power, with a sharpe and variable warre at last was setled. Into which provinces when at the beginning Scipio and Sempronius Longus being Consulls our armies were sent, and after in the first yeare of the second Punicke warre, againe under the Command of Cnaeus Scipio uncle to the African, about one hundred and fiftie yeares since: the warre was there so bloudy & so doubtfull, as our Armies and Generalls being lost, we often went away with dishonour, and sometimes not without danger to the Romane [Page] Empire. For those provinces made an end of the Scipios they also with a dishonorable warre of twenty yeares, Viriatus being generall of that side held our Auncestors play. In them made was the base stipulation of Quintus Pompeius, and that more base of Mancinus, which the Senate with the ignominy of the Generall yeilded up to the enemie, did cancel; the same also cō sumed us, so many Generalls of Consular qualitie, so many of Praetorian, and in our fathers daies, did with her armes raise Sertorious to that heighth that in five whole yeares it could not be judged whether the Romans or the Spaniards were the braver warriors, nor which people of them two, should obey the other. These provinces then so large, so populous, so [Page] stout, almost fiftie yeares since, Caesar Augustus reduced to such tranquillitie, as they who never were before free from most furious warres, were under Caius Antistius, and after that under Publius Silius the Leiutenant and others, free from so much as robberies.

CHAP. 91. The ensignes lost at Crassus his defeate returned to Caesar by the Parthian Conspiracies of Caepio and Muraena, as also of Egnatius against him discovered and punished.

VVHile the west was thus quieted from the East, the Roman ensignes which upon the overthrow of Crassus, Orodes [Page] and at the repulsing of Antonius his sonne Pharnaces had taken, were rendred and sent backe to Augustus. Which by the propounding of Plancus and the universall consent of the Senate and people of Rome bestowed upon him the surname of Parthian. Yet were there not wāting some that could hate even his happiest state of things. For Lucius Muraena, and Fannius Caepio, of farre differing dispositions (for Muraena without this guiltine [...] might have passed for a good man: but Caepio even before he was tainted with this crime, the worst that might be) having conspired together about the killing of Caesar, seazed upon by publique authority, what by violence they would have acted they by Iustice suffered. Neithe [...] long after was it that Egnati [...][Page]Rufus a man in every respect more like a Fencer, then a Senator, having in his Edileship gotten the favour of the people (which he had dayly encreased by quenching of fires with his owne private family) so highly as they were content to joyne, for his sake, the office of Praetor, to take of Edile, and presently also was bold to stand for the Consulship: being overwhelmed with the guilt of all manner of foulenesse and wickednes, having drawne into his designe others that were likest to himselfe, determined to kill Caesar. That since he could not subsist if Caesar were safe, at least he might yet dye when he were taken away. For such is the disposition of men, that every one had rather sinke with the publique ruine, then be oppressed [Page] with his owne, and though he suffer the same yet be lesse remarked. Nor was this man more fortunate in being concealed, then those that went before him, and being clapt in prison, he died a death, of which his life was most worthy.

CHAP. 92. A brave act of Sentius Saturninus punishing the Customers, fraud, and stopping Egnatius in his demand of the Consullship.

LEt not a brave fact of an excellent man be defrauded of a due remembrance, Caius Sentius Saturninus, who about that time was Consull. Caesar was then absent about ordering the affaires of Asia, and the East carying about with his person, the [Page] benefits of his peace. When Sentius (as it fell out being at that time both sole Consull and Caesar absent) had both done other things with the strictnesse of former times, and with admirable constancy: had after the old fashion and severity of the Consuls, discovered the frauds of the farmours of Customes, punished their avarice, and brought the revenues of the state into the publique treasury. And also sitting principal Consull at the assembly for elections, those that stood for the quaestorship, if he judged them unworthy of it, he forbade to declare themselves: threatning them when they remained firme to their intentions, that he would by his Consular power punish them, and Egntaius who flourishing in the favour of the people did hope to couple the [Page] Consulship, to the Praetorship as he before had done that to the Edileship, he forbade to professe himselfe for a Candidate, and when he prevailed not with him, he swore that though the people by their suffrages did choose him, yet that he would not declare him for elected. Which fact of his I should reckon worthy to be cōpared with any of the auncient Cōsuls whatsoever, but that we doe more willingly commend the things that we heare of then those that wee see, that we wait upon the present with envy, but things past with reverence, and doe believe that those doe overload us, these instruct us.

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CHAP. 93. The death of M. Marcellus sonne to Octavia, Caesars sister. Agrippa returned to Rome, marries Iulia Caesars daughter, late wife to Marcellus.

ALmost three yeares, before the villany of Egnatius brake out, and about the time of Muraena's and Caepio's conspiracy, now fiftie yeares since Marcus Marcellus the sonne of Octavia, Augustus his sister whō all men did so reekon, for his successour in his power, if ought should happen to Caesar, as they thought it could not yet discend upon him securely by reason of Marcus Agrippa his greatnesse, (having when he was Edile presented most magnificient shewes to the people) departed this life, [Page] a very young man, and truly as they say of free and open vertues, of a cheerefull disposition, and witte, and capable of the fortune for which he was bred. After whose decease, Agrippa, who under colour of important service of the state was gone into Asia, but as report speakes it, for some secret distates with Marcellus had withdrawne himselfe, from the present time returning thence tooke to wife Iulia the daughter of Augustus who had before beene married to Marcellus. A woman whose wombe was neither fortunate for her selfe nor for the Common wealth.

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CHAP. 94. Tiberius Caesar sonne to Livia, called to affaires: His character sent into the East, quiets Armenia and receives pledges of the Parthian.

AT this time Tiberius Claudius Nero, who when he was three yeares old, as we before have said, Livia the daughter of Drusus Claudius (Nero to whom she had before beene married affiancing her) had married Augustus: Being trained up in the discipline of heavenly knowledge, a young man admirably furnished by his Nobilitie, shape, stature, the best kindes of learning, and an infinite wit: Who from the beginning might hope for any greatnesse that he since hath arrived at, [Page] and at the first view appeared a Prince, being Quaestor at the nineteenth yeare of his age, began to deale in affaires of state. And did at Ostia and in the Citie by the direction of his father in law, so order the businesses of a pressing dearth and want of corne that by what he then did it clearely appeared how great a man for employments he would one day prove. Neither long after being sent by the same his father in law, to survey and put in order the Orientall provinces, he having in that expedition given many singular proofes of all kindes of virtues; with his Legions entred Armenia. And having brought it under the cōmand of the people of Rome, did deliver the Crowne thereof to Artavasdes, with the fame of which so great name of his the [Page] King of the Parthians also affrighted, sent his sonne to Caesar for Ostages.

CHAP. 95. Tiberius returned with his brother Drusus, sent against the Rhaetians and Vindelicians, with fortunate event.

VVHen Nero was returned, Caesar determined to make experience of him in a warre of no meane consequence giving him for an assistant his brother Drusus Claudius, of whom Livia was delivered in Caesars house. They both dividing their charge invaded the Rhaetians and the Vindelicians, and forcing many Cities and Castles, as also by some happie successe in open fights, with [Page] much losse of the bloud of the conquered nations, and more danger then damage of the Romane army; did master them that were most strongly seated, the accesse to them extreamely difficult, in number multitudinous, and in the fierce bravery of their courage redoubtable, before which time the Censorship of Plancus and Paulus being transpassed in wrangling and braules was neither honorable to them, nor usefull to the state, when the one wanted the respect and vigor that should be in a Censor, and the others course of life would not agree with that title. For Paulus was not able to fill the roome, and Plancus could reprehend nothing in youngmen, or heare objected to them which hee must not bee enforced to acknowledge to bee in himselfe.

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CHAP. 96. Agrippa surrenders his wife Iulia to Tiberius. The Pannonian warre ended by Tiberius, who entred the Citie for it in an ovant triumphe.

AGrippa, within a while after who had by many deservings enable his late raising, and had brought it so farre as he was both the father in law of Nero (whose children his Nephewes, sacred Augustus giving them the names of Caius and Lucius had adopted) did now tie Nero in stricter and neerer bonds to Caesar for his daughter Iulia, which had beene married to Agrippa, Nero tooke to wife. Then followed the [Page] Pannonian warre, which being begunne by Agrippa and Marcus Vinicius thy grandfather, then Consulls, and which being great, cruell, and also neerly hanging over Italy, was by Nero ended. The Natives of the Pannonians and Dalmatians, the scituations of the Countries and rivers, the number and equipage of their forces, the most glorious, and many victories of so great a Generall in that warre we will in some other place describe. Let this worke now keepe its owne forme. Nero having obtained this victory entred the City in Ovant triumph.

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CHAP. 97. Marcus Lollius receives a blow, & loseth the Eagle of the legion in Germany. That warre committed to Drusus, by him happily managed: his character: his death. The rest finished by Tiberius.

BVt while in this part of the Empire all things succeed most prosperously; a blow received in Germany under the Lievtenant Marcus Lollius, (a man in every thing more greedily desiring money than to doe bravely: and with the wariest dissembling of his vices, most vicious, together with the losse of the Eagle of the fifth legion) did call Caesar from the City into Gallia. The care and burden then of the German warre was transferd [Page] to Drusus Claudius, Nero's brother; a young man of so many so eminent vertues, as either the nature of mortall man is capable of, or industry can acquire, whose disposition whether it were more able for affaires of the warre, or the acts of peace it is uncertaine. Certainely his gentlenesse and swetnesse in his conversation, and his respect to his friends faire, and like himselfe is said to bee inimitable: As for the beauty of his person, it was in the next ranke to his brothers. But him now the Conquerour of a great part of Germany, and having drawne very much bloud of that people in many places; the injustice of the destinies when he was Consull in the thirtieth yeare of his age, ravished from us. The charge then of that warre was [Page] delivered to Nero, which hee underwent with both his owne vertue and fortune. And having past victorious thorow all the parts of Germany without any damage of the army committed to him which ever was the care of that Generall, hee so mastered it, as hee almost brought it into the forme of a tributary Province. Than was a second triumph with a second Consulship presented to him.

CHAP. 98. Warre in Thracia ended by Lucius Piso: a briefe character of him.

VVHile these things of which wee have treated doe passe in Pannonia and Germany, a bitter warre risen in Thracia; all the Nations of [Page] that country flying to armes, was by the vertue of Lucius Piso, whom even at this day wee see still a most diligent and most milde guardian of the Cities quiet, suppressed: for being Caesars Lievtenant, hee made warre with them three yeares together, and partly in fight, partly by forcing of places, hee brought those most fierce Nations with their extreame losse and destruction into their former fashion of living in peace: and by his actions restored to Asia their security, and to Macedonia their quiet. Of whom all men must both thinke and say that his conditions were most equally tempred betweene smartnesse and lenity, nor that easily can be found any man who either was more fervently in love with ease and quiet; or did [Page] more ably beare the weight of affaires, and that did take more care for that which was to be done, without any ostentation of doing it himselfe.

CHAP. 99. Tiberius out of respect to Caius and Lucius nephewes to Octavius, quits all his greatnesse in Rome, and retires to study at Rhodes.

WIthin a little while after, having past two Consulships, and as often triumphed, and in the Consortship of the Tribunitiall power made equall to Augustus, of all the City except one (and that because hee would have it so) the most eminent, the greatest of Captaines, and both by his fame and by his fortune the most illustrious, [Page] and indeed the second eye and head of the State: with a strange, a wondrous, and an unspeakeable piety (whereof the reasons within a while were discovered) when Caius Caesar had now put on his virile robe, and Lucius also began to be ripe for the conversation of men; Lest his glittering should hinder the beginnings of those rising young men, hee concealing the cause of that his resolution, did crave leave of him that was both his wives father, and his mothers husband, that hee might take some rest from his continued labours. What the carriage of the City in that time and occasion was, what the thoughts of particular men, what teares were shed by those that tooke their leaves of a man of that greatnesse, how his country did [Page] almost lay hold upon him to stay him; wee hold best to reserve the narration for a full and compleate worke; That yet in this our running straine, we must speake that hee so past his seven yeares at Rhodes, as all both Proconsulls and Lievtenants, passing into the provinces beyond the seas, and comming to visit him did ever stoope their fasces to him a private man (if such a Majestie may bee termed private,) and confessed that his retirement was more full of honour than their Command.

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CHAP. 100. The Parthian falls off from his league with Rome, & Germany also rebells. Iulia her foule life punished in her with exile, in but favourites with death.

THe whole world did feele that Nero had quieted the tuition of the City: For both the Parthian falling off from the friendship of Rome, laid hold of Armenia: and Germany perceiving the eye of him that had mastered her, not beate upon her, rebelled against us. But in the City the same yeare that sacred Augustus, now thirty yeares past, when himselfe and Gallus Caninius were Consulls, had with most magnificent shewes of Fencers at the sharpe, and representation of Sea-fights, [Page] dedicated Mars his Temple, and satisfied both the eyes and mindes of the people of Rome; a storme and mischiefe, foule to be related, and horrid to bee remembred broke out in his owne house. For Iulia his daughter totaly forgetting the greatnesse of both her father and her husband, did leave nothing unassaied either in riot or lusts, that a woman might or do or suffer filthily; And measured the greatnesse of her fortune by her libertie of sinning, accounting all lawfull that she had a minde to. Iulius Antonius a singular instance of Caesars clemency, being then the polluter of his house, was also the revenger himselfe of the villany committed by him: whom, when his father was vanquished, hee had not onely estated in a full security [Page] of his life, but had also conferred upon him the Priesthood, Praetorship, the Consulship, provinces and honours, and more had in the strictest bonds of affinitie received him into his bosome by the honour of marying him to his sisters daughter. And Quintus Crispinus vayling his crime with the austeritie of a sowre brow, Appius Claudius, Sempronius Gracchus, Scipio, with other of lesser note, and of both the orders of Knights and Senators, as if they had but corrupted the wife of any private man, when they had defiled the daughter of Augustus, and the wife of Nero, suffered according to law. Iulia being banished into an Iland, was removed out of the eye of her father and her country, whom yet her mother Scribonia accompanied, [Page] & remained with her as her fellow exile, though voluntary.

CHAP. 101. Caius Caesar sent into the East-parlies with the Parthian in an Island in the midst of Euphrates: Feasts, and is feasted by him.

WIthin a little time after this when Caius Caesar, having before had the charge of quieting other provinces, was sent into Syria, first visiting Tiberius Nero, to whom as his superiour hee yeelded all respect, he there in such various fashion carried himselfe, as there was not wanting occasion and reason to praise him very highly, nor yet some cause to discommend him. Hee came to an interview [Page] with the Parthian King, a most stately young man in an Island which the river Euphrates compassed about, their number on both sides being equall. Which shew being very brave and memorable of the Romane army standing on this, the Parthian on that side, when the two most eminent chiefes of Empires, and men in the world did meet together, it was my chance to see in the beginning of my souldiership, being then a Tribune o [...] the souldiers: which place having held before under Marcus Vinitius thy father, and unde [...] Publius Sillius in Thracia and Macedonia and since in Achaia, Asia, and all the Easterne provinces with the mouth, and both the sides of the Ponticke sea. [...] now do enjoy no unpleasing rem [...] brāce of so many affaires, places [...] [Page] Nations, and Cities. The Parthian first feasted with us on our side. And afterward Caius was entertained by the King on the enemies shore.

CHAP. 102. Marcus Lollius sent by Augustus, supervisor to young Caius; discovered in his treacheries, kills himselfe. Caius wounded by Abduus at a treatie: enfeebled both in minde and body, and upon his returne dies at Limira; his brother being before dead at Massilia.

AT which time the treacherous devices (and such as were to bee found onely in a crafty and mischievous soule) of Marcus Lollius, who was appointed by Augustus as the Moderator [Page] of his sonnes youth, being first discovered by the Parthian, were afterward by Caesars displeasure made knowne. His death which within a few daies afterward followed, whether it were accidentall or voluntary, I cannot tell. But as much as men rejoyced at his death, so much did the City grievously lament within a little after the losse of Censorinus, who dyed in the same parts: a man that seemed borne to purchase the good will of all man kinde. Caius then entering Armenia, at the first beginning carried his businesse fortunately enough: but within a while comming to a partie; in which he in considerately had engaged himselfe, he neere Artagena was sore wounded by one Abdius. Vpon which hurt as his body was the [Page] weaker, so his minde began to be lesse able for affaires of State. Nor was there wanting the conversation of men, that fed his vices with their assentation (for flattery doth perpetually attend upon the greatest fortunes.) By which meanes hee was brought to that passe, that in the uttermost and remotest corner of the world, hee would rather have drawne out his daies to old age, than returne to Rome. Having long strugled against it, and unwillingly returning toward Italy, he in a City of Lycia called Limira, died of sicknesse, when his brother Caesar now almost three yeares before being bound for Spaine, was dead at Massilia.

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CHAP. 103. Tiberius Caesar adopted by Augustus.

BVt fortune which had taken away the hope of a mightie name, did now at length restore to the Republique her owne guardes and safety: for when Publius Vinicius thy father was Consull, before the death of these two brothers, Tiberius Nero returning from Rhodes, had filled his countrey with incredible joy. Neither did Augustus Caesar long demurre upon it, for it was not to bee enquired who was to be chosen, but he was to be chosen that was most eminent; what therefore after the death of Lucius, when Caius was yet living, he would have done, but was hindred the rein by Nero [Page] his stiffenesse in refusing it, after the decease of both the young men, he put in execution. That hee both tooke him into the fellowship of the Tribunitiall power with himselfe, and being Consull with Elius Catus Sentius, the fifth of the Kalends of Iuly, seven hundred fiftie and foure yeares after the building of the City, now twentie and seven yeares since hee adopted him for his sonne. The rejoycing of that day, the concourse of the Citizens, the prayers of those which did almost with their hands lay hold upon the gods, and the hope of perpetuall tranquillity, and the eternity of the Roman empire, wee can scarce fully expresse in that compleate worke which wee doe intend: let us not then goe about to doe it to the life in this. One onely [Page] thing I am content now to deliver: that, then there appeared cleerely to fathers, a hope of enjoying their children, to husbands their wives, to owners of their patrimony, to all men of safety, quiet, peace and tranquillity: so that neither could any hope expect more, nor be more happily answered.

CHAP. 104. Agrippa also the sonne of Iulia adopted by Augustus the same day. Tiberius sent to command in the German warre; by the souldiers received with all joy.

THe same day also was adopted Marcus Agrippa, the sonne of Iulia, whom she bare after the death of Agrippa: but in the adoption of Nero, this was [Page] added by Caesar himselfe, that he did it for the Common wealths sake. Not long did his countrey hold him in the Citie, the Protector and guardian of the Empire; but presently sent him into Germany: where three yeares before under Marcus Vinicius thy Grandfather, a most worthy man, a furious warre had broken out, and by him was happily managed, in some places invading, in others standing upon the defensive: and for that respect were decreed to him triumphall ornaments, with a right glorious inscription upon the workes; that time made me, who before had beene Tribune military, the souldier of Tiberius Caesar: for being presently after his adoption sent with him in quality of Generall of the horse into Germany, the successour [Page] of my fathers places. I was for nine whole yeares (either Generall, as I said, or his Lievtenant) the spectator of his heavenly actions, and, as farre as the meanest of my faculties could reach, an assister of them. Neither doth the condition of mortall man afford in my opinion any thing like that fight which I then enjoyed; when in the noblest part of Italy and all the tract of the Gallian Provinces, every man seeing their old Generall, and who by his merits and vertues was truely Caesar before hee was so by name, did rather congratulate with themselves than with him for his advancement. But the teares of the souldiers by their Joy wrung out their cheerefulnesse, and their new fashioned exultations in saluting [Page] him, their striving to kisse his hand, and not forbearing presently to adde, We see thee Generall, wee have thee againe in safety. And then; I was with thee in Armenia, I in Rhaetia, I was rewarded by thee in Vindelicia, I in Pannonia, I in Germany: can neither be exprest in words, nor hardly bee thought to deserve the being beleeved.

CHAP. 105. Divers Nations of Germany mastered by him: Hee returnes to Rome, leaving the remnant of the warre to the charge of Sentius Saturninus: his character.

HEe then presently entring Germany, subduing the Canine fates, the Atteari, the Bructeri, & reducing the people of the Cherusci, [Page] and passing over the river (which within a while was ennobled by our losse there received) of Visurgis; having pierced into the heart of the country, when Caesar had freed all parts of a sharpe and most dangerous warre, the rest which was of lesse hazard, he committed to Sentius Saturninus, who had beene his fathers Lievtenant in Germany. A man of manifold vertues, industrious active, provident and in all military duties as well framed 1 to endure them, as to understand them: yet one, that when his affaires did give him roome to take his ease, that did with delicacie and freenesse abuse it. But notwithstanding even that in such sort, as thou wouldst rather terme him magnificent, and joviall, than riotous and lazie: of whose brave and noble Consulship, [Page] wee have before treated. The summer expeditions of that yeare being prolonged even till December, did eonduce profitably in the highest degree to the victory. Caesars piety did hale him▪ when the Alpes were almost barracadoed up with snow, into the Citie for the safety of the Empire: but in the beginning of the spring, the same returned him into Germany, in whose middle marches hee had at his going away by the river Iulia, about the head thereof, placed his winter garrisons.

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CHAP. 106. All Germany the next yeare subdued by Tiberius, both with land and sea forces.

OH the good gods, what workes able to fill the greatest volumes, did wee the next summer under the command of Tiberius Caesar. All Germany passed thorow and surveied by our armies, Nations conquered which were by name almost unknowne, the people of the Cauchi reduced to subjection, all their youth infinite in number, of a prodigious vastenesse of body, and by the scituation of their places most free from danger; rendring up their armes, and empalled with the squadrons of our glittering and armed souldiery, together [Page] with their Commanders, fell prostrate before the Tribunall of our Generall. The Longobards overcome, a people also of Germany more fierce than fiercenesse it selfe: Finaly, what never was before by any hope conceived, much lesse at any time attempted, The Roman army was with flying colours led foure hundred miles, from the Rhyne to the river of Elbe, which runnes by the confines of the Senones & the Hermondurians▪ and in the same place the Romane fleete (with an admirable felicity, and care of the Generall, and a due observing withall of the times) having sayled thorow the Ocean, by an unheard of, and till then an unknowne sea, passing up the river of Elbe with the conquest of many Nations, and infinite provision of all [Page] things joyned with Caesar and his armie.

CHAP. 107. A passage of an old Barbarian desiring to see Tiberius, after which he returnes to the city.

I Cannot forbeare but among the greatnesse of these occurrents, I must insert this, such as it is: when wee had possessed the hithermost banke of the foresaid river, and that of the other side did glister with the armed youth of the enemie, who at every motion of our navie was in much disorder: one of the Barbarians, auncient in yeares, comely of personage, and of qualitie, as much as might by his habit be conjectured, of the best sort; getting aboard a hollow [Page] piece of timber (after which fashion their boates are made) and guiding that vessell alone, without other helpe hee came into the middest of the river, and enquired if it might be free for him without danger to land on that banke where we stood in armes, and to see Caesar. The leave that hee desired being given him, hee rowed to land, and when he had a long time beheld Caesar: Our young men (said he) are madde, who while they doe adore your deitie when it is absent, do rather choose, when you are present to stand in feare of your armes, then to trust your fidelity, but I by thy favour and permission, Caesar, have now seen the gods, of which I before had but heard. Neither have I found or wished in my life a day to mee more fortunate then this: [Page] having then gotten leave to kisse his hand, returning to his boat, and without ceasing his eye fixed upon Caesar, hee passed over to the banke where his owne people stood. Caesar then victorious over all the nations which he had reached, with his armie safe, and unempaired, and onely once by a stratagem of the enemies with their extreme losse attempted brought his legions backe to their winter stations, and with the same speed that he had used the yeare before, returned to the citie.

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CHAP. 108. Maroboduus, king of the Marcemanni, has character and seate of his kingdome.

THere was now nothing in Germanie that might be conquered but onely the Nation of the Marcomannes, which under the conduct of Maroboduus, quitting their owne habitations, had set downe upon those lands which are surrounded with the Hercinian wood. No making haste can excuse the forbearing to make mention of this man. Maroboduus then, by his birth noble, of body able, of courage stout, rather accounted a Barbarian, for his countries sake, then for his understanding, had possessed himselfe of a principalitie among his countrimen, not in a [Page] tumult, by chance, or changable and onely setled at the pleasure of those that did underlie it: but aiming in his minde at a stable command, and a regall power, hee determined, drawing faire from the Romanes all his nation, to goe thither, where while hee fled from very powerfull armes he might make his owne the most potent. Seizing therefore upon the places of which wee spake before, hee either by warre made all his neighbours yeeld to him, or by treaties made them one body with him▪

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CHAP. 109. His policie and forme of government preparing for a warre with the Romanes. Tiberius his intention to invade first.

HIs body carefully guarded, his Empire with perpetuall exercising almost brought to the Romane discipline, hee in short time raised to an eminent heighth, and even to our Empire fearefull. And towards the Romanes hee so carried himselfe, that as he did not provoke them with warre, so hee made it appeare, that if he were injured he would want neither will nor meanes to resist. His Embassadors whom he sent to Caesar, did sometimes commend him to him, as a suppliant, sometimes treated for him as an equall. [Page] What nations or men whatsoever would fall from us, found with him a certaine retreat, and perfectly dissembling it hee was in sūme the emulator of the Empire. And his armie which hee had raised to seventy thousand foot, and foure thousand horse, with continuall employing it against his borderers, he fitted for a greater businesse then that hee had then in hand. And so much the more was hee to be redoubted, for that when hee had Germany before him, and upon his left hand; Pannonia upon his right hand; the Noricitans at the backe of his inhabiants, as being ready at any time to fall upon any of them, hee was equally feared of all; Nor did hee suffer Italie it selfe to rest secure and fearelesse of his growing greatnesse, [Page] it being but two hundred miles from the tops of the Alpes the borders of Italie, to his frontire. This man, and that countrie Tiberius Caesar resolved the next summer to attacque severall wayes: and commanded Sentius Saturninus, that by the countrie of the Catti cutting a way through the Hercinian forrest, he should leade the legions into Boiohaemum (so is the countrie called which Maroboduus possessed) himselfe beganne to draw the armie which served in Illirium against the Marcomanni by Carnuntum a place that of the kingdome of Noricia is on that side next to them.

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CHAP. 110. That resolution hindred by the rebellion of Dalmatia, and all their neigbours to the number of eight hundred thousand men of warre.

FOrtune doth sometimes breake off, and hinder the determinations of men. Caesar had now prepared his winter stations upon the Danubius, and drawing his army towards them, was not aboue five dayes journey from the neerest of the enemy, had commanded Saturninus, who almost equally distant from him to march on within a few dayes to joyne his Legions with Caesar in the forenamed place, when all Pannonia dista [...]ced with the benefits of a long peace, and Dalmatia growne in [Page] strength, having drawne into their society all the nations about them as was among them, agreed flew to armes. Then were things necessarie preferred before matter of glory. Nor was it thought safe to leave Italy naked the enemie being so neere & the army shut up in the remotest parts of Germany. The whole number of the people and Nations which had rebelled, was full eight hundred thousand men. Two hundred thousand foote and nine thousand horse, they had selected, of which vaste multitude under the command of most brave and most understanding Captaines they had decreed that part should stand for Italy, which confined at the confluence of Nauportium and Tergestis; part had broken into Macedonia, part was left at home [Page] for the guard of their owne. The principall command was in Baro and Pinetus their Generalls. But in all the Pannonians, there was not onely an ordinary exercising of their mindes, and in discipline, but also an acquaintance with the Roman language, and in many of them knowledge of learning. No Nation certainely therefore did ever so suddenly couple the determination of making warre with the warre it selfe, and put in execution what they had resolved to doe. The Romane Citizens were oppressed with it, the Merchants butchered, a great number of Ensigne-bearers s;laughtered in that part of the Country which was furthest from the Generall; all Macedonia seased upon by their forces, all things, and in every place wasted with the sword [Page] and with fire. How great was the feare of this warre when it did shake and terrifie the constant, and the mind setled by experience in so great warres of Augustus Caesar.

CHAP. 111. Preparation to resist them, made by Augustus, and Tiberius the Generall.

LEvies therefore were made, all the old souldiers were from every quarter recalled, and both men and women that were within the taxe of freedmen compelled to finde a souldiour. This word of the Prince himselfe was heard in the Senate; That except they tooke good heed, within ten dayes the enemie might be before the walls [Page] of Rome. In vaine had we made all this preparation except there had beene one to governe it. The republique therefore as it did desire a guard of forces, so did it also crave of Augustus, Tiberius for Generall. Our meanenesse had also in this warre a place of honorable employment. For my charge of horse being expired, and my selfe designed Questor, when I as yet was not a Senator, I was made equall to Senators, and those which were appointed Tribunes of the people: and brought a part of the army delivered me by Augustus to his sonne. In my Quaestorship then not making use of the lot of my Province, and being sent a messenger, from the one of them to the other, what armies of the enemies did wee not see in the first yeare? with how brave [Page] opportunities by the prudence of our Generall, did we by peece-meale catch some parts of their forces, which altogether were madly enraged? with how great temper and with al commoditie did we see things done by the authority of the prince? with how vaste workes was the enimie so block't up with the guardes of our army, that hee might not breake out any way? and being needy of meanes and raging within himself, his forces might decay and languish?

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CHAP. 112. Messalinus his brave actions who with a halfe compleate Legion in Illiricum, quenched the rebellion and routed aboue 20000. of the enemie. Tiberius had every where the better of the warre: Caecina and Silvanus with five legions endangered, by the valour of the souldiour freed. Agrippa the adopted lost the favour of Augustus by his want of temper.

THe act of Messalinus so fortunate in the event, so brave in the attempt, must be commended to memory, who being a man more noble in his disposition then in his extraction, and that most worthily had Corvinus for his father, and left his sirname to his brother Cotta, being [Page] governor of Illyrium, with the twentieth Legion that was but halfe the just number, having subdued the rebells, when hee was compassed about with above twentie thousand of the enemies forces, overthrew and routed them, and for that action was honoured with triumphall ornaments. So were the enemies delighted with their numbers, such was their confidence of their strength, that wheresoever Caesar was, they did trust in thē selves nothing at all. Part of them being opposed to the Generall himselfe, and macerated at our pleasure, as well as with our profit, brought to a starving famine, when they neither dared make head against him that pressed thē nor yet fight wth thē that offered it, and did draw themselves into battaglia, seizing upō the Mount [Page] Claudius with the strength, of the place defended themselves. But an other part which marched against our army which Aulus Caecina, and Silvanus Plautius of Consular quality, brought out of the Provinces beyond the Sea, having compassed in our five legions with their aides and the Kings horsemen (for Rheme [...]alus the King of Thrace, with a great powre of Thracians drew to our aid in that warre) did almost power a ruinous destruction upon them all. The Kings horse were routed, the wings beaten, the Cohorts turned their backes: and even about the ensignes of the legions, was feare and trembling. But the Romane virtue did at that time challenge more glory for the souldiers, then it left for the Commanders: who bursting with exceeding love [Page] of their Generall did fall upon the enemie before by any intelligence they knew where the Enemie was. Now therefore matters being doubtfull the Legions encouraging themselves, some Tribunes of the souldiours being slaine by the enemie, the Campmaster killed, the Com [...]ders of the Cohorts slaine, the Centurions not unbloudied, of whom the first ranke were lost, they charged the Enemie. And not cōtented, withstanding their furie they brake through their, battel & so beyond al hope recovered the victory. Almost at this same time Agrippa, who that day that Tiberius, was so, by his owne grandfather was adopted, and had now two yeares before begunne to demonstrate what manner of man he was, with a strange depravednesse [Page] of his mind & wit, bent to head-long courses did estrange the mind of his father, who was also his grandfather, from him. And ere long his vices dayly growing more foule made an end fit for his madnesse.

CHAP. 113. Tiberius finding his armies bulke too great, disperses it. He goeth backe to Siscia.

REceive now Marcus Vinicius the description of a Captaine in warre as great as thou at this day seest him a prince in peace. The armies being joyned together, both those which were before with Caesar and those which came to him, and ten legions being drawne into one Campe, with above seaventie [Page] Cohorts, fourteene wings, & above ten thousand old souldiers, and besides these, a great number of Voluntaries and a strong body of the Kings Cavallery: finally so great an army as since the Civill warres had not in any place beene drawne together, all men were in that respect glad thereof, reposing their principall confidence of the victorie in their nū ber. But the excellent Generall who well understood what he went about, and preferred things profitable before such as shewed faire, (whom I ever observed in all his warres to follow those courses which were indeed approvable, rather then such as were by most commended,) for a few dayes sate still to refresh his armie tired with their journey. And perceiving it greater then could be well ordered, and [Page] that it was not easily to be governed, determined to dismisse it. And passing with a long and very laborious journey, the difficulty whereof can hardly be exprest he so directed it, that neither any durst attacque them in grosse, nor all of them for feare of those which were next them, make any attempt upon any part of his men that departed from him, returned them to the quarters from whence they came. Himselfe in the beginning of a most sharpe winter, comming backe to Sciscia did appoint Livtenants, in which number we all were, to the government of the devided winter stations.

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CHAP. 114. His care for the sicke or wounded, his moderate governement. Pannonia seekes a peace: their Generalls Baro and Pinetus yeild themselves: the reliques of the warre are onely in Dalmatia.

O What an act (must I now relate) not glorious in the relation but of highest ranke in a solid and reall virtue, as also for benefit most commodious, in the experiēce of it most pleasing, and for humanitie singular. There was not all the time of the Germane and Pannonian warre, any one of us, or that were in qualitie before or behind us that was sicke, whose recovery of health Caesar did not with such care provide for as if his mind infinitely distracted with so māy [Page] other affaires had onely bent it selfe to that one businesse. Those that wanted it had ever a chariot ready to carrie them: his owne litter was common, the ease whereof I among others felt. One while Physitians, another meate carfully drest, another meanes to bathe, which onely for that purpose were caried about with him, were ready to helpe the infirmity of any man, onely his house and those of his family were wanting to the sick man; for the rest there was no lacke of any thing that by the one could be desired, or by the other be performed. And now to this that (which every one who was there will acknowledge) as well as the rest which I have related: that he alone ever rode on horse backe: hee onely and alwaies in the summer expedition expedition [Page] did suppe sitting with those which he had invited: To those that offēded against the discipline of the warre, as often as the president was not pernicious, he easily granted a pardon; Admonitions were frequent, chastisements sometimes; but punishment by death very rare: so he held a meane betweene winking at many things, and restraining of some. That winter the warre went on prosperously: But the summer following, all Pannonia, the remainder of the war resting in Dalmatia, supplicated for war. That Nation proudly brave with so many thousands of able youth which but a little before threatned to bring Italy into servitude, bringing their armes which they used to weare, upon the rivers side that is called Bathinus, and all of them in generall [Page] prostrating themselves at the foote of the Generall. Baro and Pinetus their two most famous Leaders; the one taken, the other yeelding himselfe; we shall, as I hope, relate in order, and in a compleate history. In Autumne the victorious army was againe bestowed in their winter stations, the command of all in chiefe was by Caesar laid upon Marcus Lepidus, a man both by birth and fortune next to the Caesars themselves, whom as farre as any man did know or understand, so much he would both admire and love, and reckon him the ornament of those so great families, from which he was descended.

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CHAP. 115. Tiberius Ceasar turnes upon the Dalmatians. Lepidus with much bravery, bringing his legions thorow divers Nations: comes to Tiberius, and is for that service rewarded with triumphall ornaments: Dalmatia then quieted, when almost ruined.

CAesar then turnded both his minde and armes to the other charge of the Dalmatian warre. In which country what a Lievtenant he found for his use, of my brother Magius Celer Velleius, both his owne and his fathers professing it, did well testifie, and the most princely rewards which Caesar when he triumphed, bestowed upon him, doe print in memory of all men. [Page] In the beginning of summer Lepidus having drawne the army out of their winter garisons, and marching toward his Generall Tiberius, through Nations that were as yet entire, not having felt the plague of warre, and for that cause both stout and fierce, contending as well with the difficulties of nature, as the force of the enemy, with mightie losse of his opposers; wasting the country, burning the houses, killing the men, jolly with his victory, and loaden with booty, came to Caesar: which act if hee had done when the Soveraigne command had beene in himselfe, he by right ought to have triumphed. Now for the same by the vote of the Senate agreeing with the judgement of the Princes, hee was honoured with triumphall ornaments. That summer [Page] made an end of a most important warre. For Dantisi and Desidates, the Dalmatians, being almost invincible as well by the scituation of the places and mountaines, as by the fiercenesse of their nature, and a wondrous habilitie in matter of the warre, by the straights of the forrests, were not now by the direction, but by the hand and sword of Caesar himselfe then brought to bee quiet, when they were almost totally ruined. Nothing could I in that so great a warre, nothing in Germany could I either see or admire more, than that the occasion of victory did never seeme to the Generall so convenient as hee would purchase it with the losse of his souldiers. And that what appeared to him most safe, he ever did repute fullest of glory, taking [Page] care of his conscience still before his fame, nor ever were the determinations of the Captaine, governed by the opinion of the army, but the army by the prov [...]dence of the Captaine.

CHAP. 116. A catalogue of divers eminent men, and of highest merit in these warres.

IN the Dalmatian warre Germanicus being sent before into divers places and those full of difficultie, did give many and great proofes of his valour. Quintus Iulius Posthumus also also of Consular quality, of high esteeme for his diligent endeavours, and Governour of Dalmatia, was thought worthy of triumphall ornaments: which [Page] honour a Few y yeares befor [...], Passienus and Cassus, men accounted of for some severall vertues, had obtained in Africa. But Cossus transmitted the evidence of his victory with his sir-name to his sonne; A young man borne for a patterne of all kinde of vertue: And Lucius Apronius being partner with Posthumus in all his actions, did in that service with excellent vertue merit those honours which within a while after he had obtained. I would that in matters of more consequence it did not appeare how great the power of fortune is in every thing; but in this kinde also it may bee fully discerned what force she hath. For Sejenus, a man of disposition most like the ancient times, and one who alwaies did temper the gravity of former daies [Page] with humanity, in Germany, in Illiricum, and after a while in Africa, having had charge of principall account, wanted not merit but matter to procure him a triumph. And Aulus Licinius, Nerva Silianus, the son of Publius Silius, whom hee that did not indeed understand him, did abundantly admire, (lest hee that was the best of Citizens, and the most ingenious Captaine should suffer no losse, being untimely snatcht from him) was bereft of the fruit of the Princes dearest friendship, and of having his honour perfected, and raised to the highest type of the glory of his ancestors. If any man shall say that I have sought an occasion of making mention of these men, hee shall charge one that doth willingly confesse it; for a just cleernesse [Page] without falsehood among good men will never bee called a crime.

CHAP. 117. Newes of Varus Quinctilius his defeature with three legions, three wings, and six Cohorts brought immediately after the end of the Dalmatian warre: his character.

CAesar had but now put an end to the Pannonian and Dalmatian warre, when within five daies after the perfecting so great a worke, there came fatall letters out of Germany of Varus his being slaine, three legions, as many wings and sixe Cohorts put to the sword, onely in this fortune favouring us, that the Generall was not at that [Page] instant otherwise engaged. Both the businesse and the person enjoyne us heere to pause a while. Varus Quinctilius descended rather of a famous than a noble family, was a man of a gentle disposition, in his carriage quiet, neither in minde nor body stirring, more inured to the idlenesse of standing campes, than to the toyle and labour of the warre▪ And that he was no despiser of mony, Syria shewed, which hee when he was poore entring when it was rich, hee left poore, himselfe returning wealthy. Hee commanding the army in Germany, conceived them to be such as had nothing of men, but language, and the parts of the body, and that they which could not bee tamed with the sword, might by the Law be reduced to quietnesse: with [Page] which inenttention passing into the heart of Germany, as if hee had beene among men that delighted in the sweetes of peace, hee spent the summer in hearing causes, and sitting in his Tribunall.

CHAP. 118. The manner of the plot, and meanes of his overthrow by Arminius: the character of him. Has intents discovered to Varus by Segestes, but not beleeved.

BVut they (which till he had found by proofe hee hardly beleeved) in their heighth of barbarisme, most subtle, and a race of men borne for lying, counter-feiting pretended suites one after another, and one while provoking one another with injuries [Page] another giving him thankes for that hee had ended them according to the Roman justice, and that their wildnesse did by the discipline before unknowne to them, grow more civill, and those questions which were wont to bee disputed by armes, were now decided by sentence, did bring Quinctilius into the deepest stupiditie of negligence; So farre as that hee beleeved that hee sate as the City Praetor in the market place, judging of causes, and not that hee commanded an army in the middest of Germany. A young man then, noble by birth, valiant of his person, quicke of apprehension, beyond the rate of a Barbarian of a nimble wit, by name Arminius, sonne to Sigim [...] rus, Prince of that Nation, whose aspect and eyes did denote [Page] the fervency of his spirit, being a continuall follower of our colours in the former warres, and having obtained the freedome of the City of Rome, and to be made of the order of Knights, made use of the dulnesse of the Commander to his mischievous end: not absurdly concluding, that no man can be more easily overthrowne than he that feares not at all, and that security is most commonly the fore-runner of calamity. At the first therefore hee drew a few, afterwards more into the fellowship of his designe. That the Romans might bee ruined, he both affirmes and perswades them to beleeve: with their determination hee couples action, and sets downe a time for the treachery. This was discovered to Varus by a faithfull man of [Page] that Nation, and one of high esteeme, called Segestes. But the destinies were more potent than any counsaile, and had wholly dulled the edge of his understanding; for so it is, that for the most part he that is preordained to fall into a worse fortune, doth spoile all good advice, and, which is the most miserable thing that can bee, causes that to bee thought worthily inflicted upon him what ever it bee that befalls him, and chance becomes accounted to him for his fault. Hee therefore refuses to give credit to that relation. And professeth that he rates the hope of the good will borne him by his deserving of them. Neither did the Conspirators after the first discoverer, leave any roome for a second.

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CHAP. 119. The execution with the losse of the whole armie: Varus kils himselfe. Eggius bravely dies, Cetonius basely having yeelded. Volumnius shamefully runne away with the horse, yet so scaped not.

THe manner of this bitterest calamitie, then which besides the losse of Crassus in Parthia, the Romans never felt out of their owne country any more grievous, as others in their compleat workes have done, so wee shall also endeavour to expresse: now wee must onely summarily lament it, an armie of the bravest, and for discipline, valour and experience, the prime one among the Romans, by the lazinesse of the Commander, the [Page] perfidiousnesse of the enemie, and the inequality of fortune being circumvented, when neither occasion was afforded to those wretched men of fighting bravely as they would have done, and some being sharpely punished for that they used both Romane courages and armes, hemmed in on every side with woods, with bogges, and with ambuscadoes, was totally cut in pieces by that enemie, whom they had alwaies so killed like sheepe, as one while their anger, another their pittie did prescribe. Their Captaine had more courage to die then to fight. For following the example of his father, and grandfather, he runne himselfe through with his sword. Of the two Campe-masters, as noble a president as Lucius Eggius did set to other, Catonius did yeeld as [Page] base a one: who when the execution had slaughtered the farre greatest part of the armie, being the propounder of yeelding had rather chose to die by the hands of the hangman, then in the fight. Bur Volumnius Lieutenantto Varus, in other things a quiet and good man, was the author of the vilest example; for leaving the foote without the assistance of the horse, hee with the wings fled towards the Rhine. Of which fact of his, fortune tooke revenge, for he did not over-live those whom hee had forsaken, but dyed a betrayer of his countrie. The rage of the enemie had torne the halfe burnt body of Varus, and his head, being cut off and carryed to Maroboduns from whom it was sent to Caesar, was at length honorably buried in the sepulchre of his auncestors.

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CHAP. 120. Tiberius takes the warre in hand, and with happie successe and no losse having plagued the enemies, returnes to his winter stations. Lucius Asprena his brave acts with two legions, and of Lucius Ceditius who sallied out of Alisone, and by force saved himselfe and his men through a multitude of enemies.

THese newes being reported Caesar flies backe to his father, and as the perpetuall defender of the Romane Empire assumes the businesse. Hee is sent into Germany, settles Gallia, disposeth of the armies, fortifies the gards of the standing campes. And valuing himselfe by his owne greatnesse, and not by the rule of the enemies confidence [Page] (which did threaten Italy with a warre of the Cimbres and Teutones,) with his army hee passed over the Rhine. Arminius being frighted (upon whom his father and his country was content to lay the blame,) he yet pierces farther into the countrie, makes his way thorow the frontiers, wastes their possessions, fires their houses, routes those which he encountred: and with infinite glory, and all those in safetie which hee carried over with him, returnes to his winter stations. Let us heere give a true testimoniall of Lucius Asprenas his worth; who with the active and manly worke of two legions which hee commanded, serving as Lievtenant under his Vnckle Varus, did preserve his forces free from so great a calamity. And by comming downe [Page] in seasonable time to the lower wintering Campes did settle the then wavering mindes of the Natiōs on this side of the Rhine Yet notwithstanding there are some that doe beleeve, that as those which were living were by him secured, so the patrimonies of those which were slaine under Varus, were by him possessed, and the estates of the ruined army (as farre as he had a minde to) seased upon. The valour also of the Campe-master Lucius Ceditius, and those which being shut up with him in Alisone were by the innumerable forces of Germany besieged, is to be commended, who overcomming all difficulties, which by the want of necessaries being intolerable, the power of the enemie made unresistable, neither rashly resolving it, [Page] nor faintly putting it in executiō, watching a fit oportunitie, did with their swords make themselves a way, to returne to their own party. By which it appeares that Varus, a man indeed grave and meaning well, did rather ruine his army for want of the judgement that should bee in a Generall, than for lacke of courage, and bravery in his souldiers: when by the Germans there was all manner of crueltie used to the prisoners, Caldus Caelius, most worthy of his ancient family, performed a very brave act; who did so straine the foldes of the chaines, with which he was bound, about his head, as with the effusion of his bloud and braines together, hee breathed his last.

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CHAP. 121. Tiberius prospering in the next yeares warre equalled in command with Augustus, and triumphs over Pannonia and Dalmatia.

THe same both vertue and fortune in the subsequent times did possesse the soule of the Generall Tiberius, which at the beginning it was endowed with, all who having shaken the enemies forces, by invasions of Sea and land forces; when he had quieted the affaires of Gallia, which were of greatest moment, and the enraged dissentions of the common people of Vienna, more by reprehensions than punishments, and the Senate and people of Rome, his father requiring that hee might-have [Page] ouer all the provinces and armies an equall authority with himselfe, had in the same decree comprehended him: for it had beene absurd that they should not have beene under his command, who were by him rescued, or that he that was the first in aiding them, should not be judged equally capable of the honour resulting from it: being returned to the City, did then enter in triumph (due indeed to him long before, but by the continuance of the warres till then delayed) over the Pannonians and Dalmatians. The magnificence whereof who will admire in Caesar, but the favour of fortune, who can but admire? For report had delivered, that all the principall Captaines of the enemy were slaine, but his triumph presented them to the [Page] people bound in chaines. At which time it was my hap and my brothers to accompany him among the principall men and those which were honoured with rewardes of speciall esteeme. Or who among the other things in which the singular moderation of Tiberius Caesar doth cleerely shine, will not wonder at this, that having without all question deserved seven triumphs, he was yet contented with three.

CHAP. 122. Tiberius that had deserved seven triumphs, contented with three.

FOr who can doubt but that for reducing of Armenia, and placing a King over it, upon whose head with his owne hand, [Page] he put the Diademe, and for setling the affaires of the East, hee ought to have entred the City in a triumph Ovant. And having conquered the Rhaetians, and the Vindelicians, to have entred in a Chariot. After his adoption then, with a continuall warre of three yeares standing, the forces of Germany being shattered, the same honour was both to have bin presented to him, & by him accepted. And after the losse received ūder Varus, the same Germany being quickly with a most prosperous successe of affaires laid flat upon the earth, ought to have adorned the triumph of this greatest Captaine. But in this man thou canst not well tell whether to wonder more at his observing no meane in undergoing labours and hazards, or that hee was so moderate in taking [Page] honours upon him.

CHAP. 123. The death of Augustus at Nola in his 76. yeare.

VVE are now come to the time in which there was most cause of feare. For Caesar Augustus, when he had sent his Nephew Germanicus into Germany to make an end of the remnants of the warre, and was about to send his sonne Tiberius into Illyricum, to settle with peace what he had subdued by armes, intending to follow him, and with all to bee present at a shew of wrestlers, which in his honour was by the Neapolitans dedicated to him, went into Campania. Although he had before felt some grudging of [Page] weakenesse, and the beginnings of a declination to the worse in his health, yet the strength of his minde labouring against it, he followed his sonne, and parting from him at Beneventum, himselfe went to Nola, where his malady growing daylie upon him, when he knew (whom he must send for, if he desired that all should stand safe after him) hee with all haste recalled his sonne to him. He with more celeritie than was expected, flew backe to the father of his country. Augustus then proclaiming himselfe secure, and wrapped in the embracements of his Tiberius, commending to his care, his, & his owne works, nor now at al repining at his end, the fates did so appoint, being a little refreshed with the first sight and conference of him [Page] that was most deare to him, within a while his spirit being resolved into the first originalls thereof, when Pompeius and Apuleius were Consulls in his seventieth and sixth yeare of his life, rendred his caelestiall soule backe againe to heaven.

CHAP. 124. The feares of the people, upon his death wholly causelesse, Tiberius refuses, and at length assumes the State.

VVHat men then did redoubt, what trembling there was in the Senate what cō fusion among the people, what the whole world feared in how narrow confines either of preservation or destruction wee [Page] were placed, I that make so much haste have no leisure: and he that hath leasure cannot expresse. This alone I have to deliver from the common mouth of the people; That the City whose ruine wee feared, wee did not so much as find to be moved: and so great was the Majestie of one man, as neither for good men nor against bad, there was any need of armes; one onely strugling (as it were) there was in the Citie, the Senate and people of Rome contending with Caesar, that he should succeed in his fathers place, & he that he might rather live a private Citizen equall with the rest, then a prince in so eminent place. At length he was overcome more with reason then with the honour presented to him: when he saw, that what he tooke not upon him, would [Page] infallibly perish. To him onely hath it befallen to refuse the Principality well neere a longer time then others have borne armes to get it. After the returning of his father to the Gods, and the funerals of his body, solemnized with all humane honors, his name consecrated with divine ones, the first of his workes as Prince, was to order the election of officers, as sacred Augustus had left written with his owne hand. At which time my brother and my selfe being put in the list of those that stood Candidates for the Praetorship next after the noblest men, and such as had been high priests we gained this in it, that neither sacred Augustus commended any after, nor Tiberius Caesar any before us.

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CHAP. 125. A mutiny in Germany and Illiricum of the Legions there (the first governed by Germanicus) quieted by the direction of Tiberius.

THe Republique did immediately receive the reward of both their advice and desire. Neither was it long concealed what he had suffered if wee had not prevailed, or what wee gained by obtaining of our wishes. For the army that served in Germany, and which was governed by Germanicus in person, as also the Legions which were in Illiricum with a certain rage and a vast greedinesse of cōfounding all things, sought a new Generall, a new state and in summe, would have also a new Commonwealth [Page] They were bold also to threaten that they would give the law to the Prince. They were about to determine what their entertainement should be, what the terme of their service. From this they proceed to armes, their swords are in their hands, and almost did they rise to the heigth of lawlesse using them, onely there wanted one to lead against the Comon-wealth, not who should follow. But all these the readinesse of their old Commander, forbidding many things with gravity, promising some others, and amidst the severe punishing of the authors, a gentle chastizing of the rest, in a short time laid on sleepe and quite removed. At which time truly as Germanicus did things for the most part faintly, so Drusus being sent by his father against [Page] this fury of the Souldiers which was all of a light flame, using the former and auntient severity, with a course hazardous to himselfe in the act, and of pernitious president, with the same swords of the souldiours by which he was beseiged, he punished those that beleaguered him, wherein he used principally the assistance of Iunius Blaesus; A man whō thou couldst not say whether he were of more use in the Campe, then disarmed in the City, who within a few yeares being Proconsul in Africa deserved and obtained triumphall ornaments, and the sirname of Imperator (that is, soveraigne Commander) & when he governed Spaine & the army with his virtues, and in Illyicum with very brave discipline, as we said before, he kept [Page] them quietly in a most setled peace. Being abundantly furnished with the fairest goodnesse to intend that which was just, and with authority to performe what he intended. Whose care and fidelity, Dolabella also a man of a most generous singlenesse of heart did in all things imitate.

CHAP. 126. A description of Tiberius his governement for 16. yeares.

THe businesse of these sixteene yeares seeing they are fixed in the sight and mindes of all men, who would go about by parcells in wordes to deliver? Caesar had now consecrated his father, not by his command, but by religious devotion, and had not called him a god, but made [Page] him one. Fidelity was recalled into the pleading place, sedition turned out of the Market place, ambition from Mars his field, discord from the Senate, Iustice, equity, & industrie, which were buried, and their place of residence not to be found, restored to the Citie. To the Magistrates was added authoritie; to the Senate, Majestrie; to the seates of Iustice, gravity; into all men was either infused a will to doe wel, or a necessitie of doing so, imposed upon them; vertuous actions were honored, bad ones punished; The meane man doth respect the great man, not feare him: the great one precedes the meane, but contemnes him not. When was there ever a greater rarity of death? when ever a peace more delightfull. Sacred peace being spread from the East [Page] through all the Clymates of the West, and what ever place is bounded by the South, and the North, over all the corners of the whole world, doth in every place free them from the feare of robberies. The casuall losses not of private men alone, but of Cities also, was by the munificence of the Prince, repaired; Cities of Asia reedified; the provinces freed from the injuries of officers; For good men honor was very ready, for delinquents punishment was slow indeed, but yet some there was: favour is mastered by equity, ambition by vertue, for the excellent Prince, by doing wel himself, doth teach his Subjects, and being greatest in power, yet by his example greater.

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CHAP. 127. Tiberius his taking into his inwardest favour Aelius Sejanus following the president of Scipio and Augustus, Sejanus his character.

IT is seldome that men of highest Condition doe not use great assistances for the governing of their fortune, as the two Scipio's, the two Laelij whom in every regard they made equal to themselves, as sacred Augustus did Marcus Agrippa, and next after him Statilius Taurus: the meanenesse of their births being no impediment to their rising to diverse Consullships and triumphes, & to very many Priesthoods, For it is true that great affaires doe need great helpers, where in petty things scarcitie [Page] doth not much empaire them. And it conduceth to the publique good that what is necessarie for use, should also be eminent in honor, and that the benefit of the State be backed with authority. According to which examples Tiberius Caesar tooke, and still retaines as his especiall helper in all his principall charges Aelius Sejanus, whose father was a prime man of the order of Knights, but by his mother descended from families of the noblest qualitie, auntient and remarkable for many honors, as who had brothers, Cosins, and an Vncle of Consular ranke: But himselfe a man most capable of fidelity and laboriousnesse, the fabrike of his body well fitted to the vigor of his minde. A man of a most pleasing severity, and the [Page] auntient cheerefulnesse, in his fashion most like to those that do little: Chalenging nothing to himselfe, and by that meanes obtaining all things, ever valewing himselfe beneath the rate put upon him by others, in his aspect and carriage quiet, and of a vigilant spirit. In the prizing the vertues of him the opinions of the City doe this good while conted with the judgement of the Prince.

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CHAP. 128. The favour of Tiberius to Sejanus confirmed by the iudgement of the people, with instances of the like formerly.

NEither is this a new fashion of the Senate and people of Rome, to account that the noblest which is best: for even those of former ages, before the first Punique warre, now three hundred yeares since, did raise Titus Cornucanius, a man of the first head, to the highest pitch, as, well by all other honors as by that also of the high Bishop, and Spurius Catullus by discent of the order of Knights, and presently Marcus Cato, and that new inmate of Tusculum, & Mummius the Achaian, they also promoted to Consulls places, Censorships [Page] and triumphes. They then that advanced Caius Marius, whose originall is not knowne but by fixe Consullships, so that he was without question the chiefe of the Romane name, they that did attribute to Marcus Fulvius so much as almost with but giving way to it hee could make whom he would the cheife man in the Citie: they that denyed nothing to Asinius Pollio, which the noblest Romanes must purchase with much sweate, did certainly thinke that greatest honor was to be bestowed upon him in whose mind was lodged the greatest vertue. The imitation of these our owne Countrie examples did move Caesar to make experience of Sejanus: Sejanus to ease the Prince of part of his burden, and brought the Senate [Page] and people of Rome to this, that what they judged to be best, the same they would require for their safety.

CHAP. 129. A summarie of the cariage of Tiberius in many affaires toward Rhascupolis, Libo, Maroboduus, to Germanicus, the people, and in diverse occasions.

BVt having set forth, as it were in grosse, the forme of Tiberius his governement, let us now reckon up the particulars. With what prudence did he call to him Rhascupolis the killer of Cotys his brothers sonne? using in that affaire especially the industry of Flaccus Pomponius of Consular qualitie, a man borne for all things that were to bee [Page] justly done, and rather with purest vertue deserving glory, then hunting after it? With what a gravity, as a Senator and judge, not as a Prince and President, did he heare, and expedite causes? with what celerity did he ruine Libo, that ungrateful man, and one that did labour for innovations? with what principles did he instruct his Germanicus, and having seasoned him with the rudiments of his souldiourship, received him backe the subduer of Germany; With what honors did he glorifie his youth? the adornements of his triumph being correspondent to the greatnesse of the acts which he had performed? How often did he shew respect to the people in a Congiary or Dole, and when by the Senates appointmēt he might doe it, how willingly did hee [Page] perfect the taxe of the Senate, so as he neither willingly did give any provocations to ryot, nor did suffer an honest poverty to be deprived of honors. With how great honour did he send his Germanicus into the provinces beyond the Seas: with what power of his directions, employing as his Minister and assistant his sonne Drusus, did he compell Maroboduus that hung upon the frontires of his Kingdome, (let me speake with pardon of his royall estate) like a serpent thrust out of the earth, with the wholesome medicaments of his advices to get him home againe? How doth hee hold him in, honorably but yet not securely? Of what importance was that warre which being commenced by Sacrovir and Iulius Florus, he with a strange [Page] celeritie and speed did suppresse So that the people of Rome did know that they had conquered before they knew they were entred into a warre, and the Messenger that brought word of the victory, came before him that told of the danger. The war also of Africa that was full of terror, and still greater by the dayly additions to it, by his direction and advice was in a short time buried.

[Page]

CHAP. 130. A reckoning up of his workers and edifices: a complaint against those that conspired his ruine; as also for the death of his sonnes and nephew, for the frowardnes of his daughter in law, and the losse of his mother.

WHat works hath he founded in his owne name, & in that of his family and kindred? with how religious a magnificence, and beyond the faith of any mortall man, doth hee now build a Temple for his father? with how magnificent an equall temper of minde hath hee repaired the worke of Pompey which was consumed by fire? As he that, whatsoever is eminent in glory, doth as if it were of his bloud thinke himselfe [Page] bound to maintaine? with what bounty, both at other times, and now last of all, Mount Caelius being set on fire, did hee out of his owne estate repaire the damages of all sorts of men by that accident? with how great quiet of men, doth hee, without the feare of a presse, a thing of perpetuall and principall terrour, provide for the supplies of his armies? If either the nature of men may beare it, or their meannesse stretch so farre as to complaine to the Gods of themselves: what hath this man deserved, first that Drusus Libo should enter into treacherous purposes; then Silius and Piso, of the one of whom hee setled the honours, and those of the other he encreased? That I may passe to greater things, although hee reckoned even these for the [Page] greatest, what he had demerited to make him lose his sonnes in their youth? what that his nephew by his sonne Drusus? we yet have spoken onely of things to cause sorrow, wee now must come to such as will procure blushing: with how many anguishes have these three last yeares (good Marcus Vinicius) rent his soule in peeces? how long hath his brest burnt (and which is a most miserable thing) with a concealed fire: that by his daughter in law, by his nephew, he is compelled to grieve, to be angry and to bee ashamed. The sadnesse of which time was augmented by the losse of his Mother, a woman superlatively eminent, and in every thing liker the gods than men, whose power no man ever felt, but either by the ease of his danger, [Page] or the augmentation of his honour.

CHAP. 131. The conclusion, with a prayer for the preservation of the Prince and State.

I Now must close up this worke with a prayer. Thou Iupiter Capitolinus, the Author and parent of the name of Roman; thou father Mars, thou Vesta the preserver of the perpetuall fires, and what ever other Deitie it bee that hath raised this masse of the Romane Empire to this highest point of the worlds greatnesse: You all, I doe with the voice of all the people entreate, pray, and beseech, that you will keepe, conserve, and defend this State, this peace, [Page] this Prince, and when hee hath the longest age beene resident among mortall men, appoint him successours, though with the latest, yet such as their neckes may be able to beare the weight of the worlds Empire, as bravely as wee have found his to be; and let all the intentions of the people, be either pious *⁎*

FINIS.

§

§

LONDON, Printed by Miles Flesher, for ROBERT SVVAYNE, in Britaines-Burse at the signe of the Bible: 1632.

Erratá.

[Page]

PAge 51. line 18. for strengthened, reade stre [...]ghtned. P. 74. l. 12. for clifty, r. clifty. P. 86. l. 22. for qualite, r. quallitie. P. 125. l. 16. for affronted, r. effronted. P. 127. l. 13. for Generall, r. Generalls. P. 159. l. 24. for Pirates, r. parts. P. 179. l. 10. for one Paulus r. onely Paulus▪ P. 198. l. 1. for Caius Crassus, r. Caius Cassius. P. 202. l 7. for cast off, r. cash. P. 203. l. 19. for reviving, r. ruining. P. 205. l. 8. for carting, r. caring. P. 264. l. 5. for tried r. tyred. P. 274. l. 4. for tarired, r. taried. P. 296. l. 4. for successefull, r. successefully. P. 300. l. 18, for precise, r. precisely. P. 311. l. 17. for these, r. lesse. P. 320. l. 10. for his, r. this. P. 321. l. 10. for take, r. than. P. 331. l. 3. for enable, r. enobled. P. 364. l. 18. for his inhabitants, r. his habitation.

Faults of false pointing, or want of parentheses in due place, the understanding Reader will amend in reading.

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Title statement

Velleius Paterculus his Romane historie in two bookes. Exactly translated out of the Latine edition supervised by Ianus Gruterus. According to the reformations in such parts of him, in which the Latin hath suffered either by time, or negligence in the transcribers of the ablest commenters upon him. And rendred English by Sr. Robert Le Grys Knt.Historiae Romanae libri II. English

Velleius Paterculus, ca. 19 B.C.-ca. 30 A.D.

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1632

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2009-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

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A14316

ID [STC]

STC 24633

ID [STC]

ESTC S119054

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99854261

ID [PROQUEST]

99854261

ID [VID]

19670

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A14316)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 19670)

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— Velleius Paterculus his Romane historie in two bookes. Exactly translated out of the Latine edition supervised by Ianus Gruterus. According to the reformations in such parts of him, in which the Latin hath suffered either by time, or negligence in the transcribers of the ablest commenters upon him. And rendred English by Sr. Robert Le Grys Knt., Historiae Romanae libri II. English, Velleius Paterculus, ca. 19 B.C.-ca. 30 A.D., Gruterus, Janus, 1560-1627., Le Grys, Robert, Sir, d. 1635..

Extent

[16], 430, [2] p.

Printed by M[iles] F[lesher] for R. Swaine, in Britaines-Burse at the signe of the Bible,. London :: MDCXXXII. [1632]. (A translation of: Historiae Romanae.) (Printer's name from colophon.) (The first leaf bears "The names of the commenters" on verso.) (Running title reads: Velleius Paterculus his Roman history.) (A7 is a cancel.) (With a final errata leaf.) (The title page verso is found in three settings: (1) imprimatur line 2 has "EVELLEIUS"; (2) imprimatur line 2 has "[VELLEIUS"; (3) title page verso is blank.) (Reproduction of the original in Yale University. Library.)

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