An Abstract of that part of the Historie of Ptol•maeus King of Aegypt, which is vsually put before these Epistles for the better vn∣derstanding of the first booke.

PTolemaeus, king of Aegypt, father, to Ptolemaeus, that slue Pompeius: and to that well-knowne Cleopatra: abusing his royall dignitie by his leuitie; as, playing the minstrell, while o∣thers danced; from whence hee was surnam'd Auletes: and be∣ing otherwise in life lycentious; gaue daily new occasions to his subiects to withdraw their loue, and loyalty. But, falling into th'-acquaintance Page  [unnumbered] of Pompeius in the warre against Mithridates; and ambitious of Societie and amitie with the people of Rome; as was vsuall with other Kings and his owne predecess•rs: hee gaue to Caesar then Consull, and Pom∣peius his sonne in law sixe thou∣sand talents to effect it.* Hee also sent an ayde vnto Pompeius in his imployments in Iudaea of eight thousand horse, without any charge vnto the Commonwealth. Hee kept a sumptuous table for a thousand personages, and bore the charges of as many seruitors to attend them. These and the like profus'd expences daily en∣creasing: and surmounting his annuall reuenue of twelue thou∣sand and fiue hundred Talents:* being inforced to borrow of Caius Rabirius Posthumius, and other friends, and Vsurers; and after to taxe his subiects for the pay∣ment, they growing at length to dislike his proceedings, not able Page  [unnumbered] further to tollerate so heauy bur∣dens, expell'd him the kingdome. Whereupon, about the end of the Consulship of Publius Lentu∣lus and Q. Metellus, he repaires to Rome; complaines to the Se∣nate• vrgeth the Societie, and Amitie; of himselfe, and An∣cestors; with the Senate, and people: gets Pompeius to backe him, and plead his deserts; and so effectually followes his busi∣nesse; that it was thought, not onely iust; but for example-sake vsefull, and pro•itable to reu•nge the iniuries of that King, whom the Senate and people of Rome had not long before graced with those attributes of Friend, and Companion. A decree of the Senate was forthwith enacted, That the Consulls should cast lots which of them should restore him to his Countrie. The first lot fell to Lentulus, together with the gouernment of Cilicia and Cyprus. For Spaine; that Page  [unnumbered] fell to his Colleague Metellus, was too remote from Aegypt, and not to be annexed to the reduce∣ment of the King of Alexan∣dria. Against this decree, and ballottation C. Cato Tribune of the people opposed; obiecting re∣ligion; and alleadging an Ora∣cle out of the Sibyline verses. That, if the King were redu∣ced by a multitude, it would prooue dangerous to the Com∣mon-wealth. Then, they deli∣berated, who should reduce him without an armie. Some stucke to Lentulus, whom they had formerly aswell by decree, as lot receiued: some thought it fit to send Pompeius; some, otherwise. The varietie of opi∣nions prolonged the businesse: but Cato's audacitie ouerthrew it. For, from the beginning of his Tribuneship, hee by dayly detractions, prouoked enuie both against the King, and Lentulus. At length a law being diuulged, Page  [unnumbered] to abrogate the gouernment of Lentulus in Cilicia; his friends withdrew their thoughts, from a lesser care, to a greater feare. And Pompeius, wa• by the same Cato so bitterly ac∣cused to the Senat, that he gaue o∣uer al pretence in that reducemēt. The King dispayring of the Se∣nates ayde, fled to Gabinius Pro-Consull in Syria; By whom, through the promise of *ten thou∣sand talents; and the assistance of Pompeius then Consull, hee was restored about twenty fiue yeares before the beginning of our Christian Computation. Hee found his kingdome vn∣der the Dominion of Archelaus friend to Gabinius, in the right of his wife Berenice, eldest of the three daughters of the said Ptolemaeus: but he slue them both in his restoring.

Gabinius being after call'd in questiō for violating the preroga∣tiue of the Cōmonwealth, in that Page  [unnumbered] he had passed the bounds of his Prouince against the Law Corne∣lia de Maiestate: was by corruptiō of Iudges absolued. The detesta∣tion whoreof, was cause that hee was shortly after, accused of ex∣tortion, condemned, and with con•iscation of goods banished. Our Cicero was in the first ac∣cusation, Playntife: in the last, at the request of Pompeius de∣fendant.

Read Cicero's Oration in de∣fence of Caius Rabirius Post∣humius.