The history of the world the second part in six books, being a continuation of famous history of Sir Walter Raleigh, Knight : beginning where he left viz at the end of the Macedonian kingdom, and deduced to these later-times : that is from the year of the world 3806, or 160 years before Christ till the end of the year 1640 after Christ / by Alexander Ross ; wherein the most remarkable passages of those times both ecclesiasticall and civill, in the greatest states, empires, and kingdomes, are represented ; together with a chronologie of those times and an alphabeticall-table by the author.

CHAP. VII.

1. The fatall civill warre between Caesar and Pompey. 2. Caesars Divers victo∣ries, [ 10] in Thessalia, Egypt, Afric, Pontus and Spaine. 3. Pompey's death and Caesars.

GAllia being now quieted by the losse of 400000 men besides many more prisoners, Caesar returnes into Italy where he is received with Sacrifices, joy, and triumphs by all the cities through which he went: an Act passed in the Senat, that Caesar should part with two of his Legions for the Parthian war, which he condescended to; but understanding by Curio the Tribune, (whom Caesar by paying his debts, of an enemy had made his friend) that M. Mar∣cellus [ 20] the Consul had appointed them for Pompey, and so were retained in Ita∣ly, and withall that it was motioned in the Senat that Caesar should lay down his Commission, and deliver up the Army; hee perceived that his enemies went a∣bout to ruine him; wherefore hee refused to part with his Army, except Pom∣pey might doe the same. This was held reasonable by Curio, but Pompey's friends would not assent; wherefore Caesar is commanded to repair to Rome, as a private man, and to petition for what hee desired, and if he did not by a certain day deliver up his Army, he should be proclaimed enemy to the State. Cae∣sar knowing that Pompey ruled the Senat, and that Marcellus, Lentulus, and Ca∣to his mortall enemies meant to bring all his actions in question if he should come [ 30] to Rome as a private man, refuseth to lay down his Commission: therefore is by Marcellus and Lentulus Consuls, denounced enemy to the State, and comman∣ded not to passe the river Rubicon now called Rugum, which divided Italy from Gallia of old.

Now begins this fatall War, which was presaged by an eclipse of the Sunne, and caused by the ambition of Pompey, who retained his Armies in Spain all the three years space that he ruled in Rome, and yet could not endure that Caesar should enjoy the like priviledge; he was favoured by the Senat, Caesar by the Army, both presumed on the justice of their cause, but neither of them had any goodnesse or justice, who did sacrifice their countreys safety to their private [ 40] quarrels. Caesar passeth over Rubicon, and comes to Ariminum, where he ac∣quaints the 5 Cohorts he had with him to be his Guard, of his wrongs, and that he meant to restore the Tribunes that were banished, these five Cohortes were half a Legion, which consisted often Cohortes, every Cohors of three Maniples, and each Maniple of two Centuries or 200. so his guard confisted now of 3000 men.

The first Towne Caesar tooke was Auximum or Osimum: which so terrified Rome, that Marcellus and Lentulus the Consuls with the rest of the Magistrates forsooke the city. In the interim Caesar takes 7 Cohortes which were at Sulmo from Lucretius, and procured the 3 Legions which with L. Domitius were at [ 50] Corfinium, to join with him. Pompey who a little before bragged that if he did but knock the Italian ground with his foot, he should have armed men enough, hearing of Caesars strength and preparations, intends with most of the Senat to leave Italy, therefore they betake themselves to Brundusium a Sea Port in Ca∣labria upon the Hadriatic Sea, from whence was the ordinary passage into

Greece. Cesar dispatcheth letters to severall places of Italy, complaining of Pompey, and desiring he might be brought to answer Cesars accusations, hee desired the quarrell might be ended without bloud-shedding; for that end, hee attempted to surprise Pompey in Brundusium, but though he set guards upon the harbour, yet Pompey escaped by night; therefore Cesar repaires to Rome, be∣ing now secure, enters the Senat, shews how he is forced to take up Armes in his owne defence. Then hee seiseth upon the Treasury, which Pompey in his sudden flight neglected; and having broken open the doores he taketh 4135 l. weight of Gold, and almost 900000 l. weight of silver: thence he goeth to his Legions at Ariminum, and from thence over the Alpes to Massylia, which shut the gates against him. Hee gives charge to Trebonius with three Legions [ 10] to take in that city, then he hastes to Spain, which was now subject to L. Afra∣nius, M. Petrejus, and M. Varro, Pompey's three Generalls. These in divers battells he overcame Afranius Petrejus. and M. Varro in the further Spaine yeelded, and delivered up his Legions to Cesar. Cato was driven out of Sicilia by Curio, Cotta out of Sardinia by Valerius; Tubero out of Africa by Varrus. Mas∣sylia also submitteth, which is plundered of all, except life and liberty.

Pompey was now Master of the Sea; and gave a check to Cesars victories, for Octa∣vius & Libo Pompey's Legats did circumvent Dolobella and Antonius that were for Cesar, and who were appointed by him to guard the mouth of the Hadriatick Sea. C. Antonius held the Curicttic or Corcyrean shoare, but submitted, and yeelded [ 20] up 15 Cohortes to Octavius his Fleet. Libo drove Dolobella from Illyricum or Dalmatia: the Ships also that Basilus sent to help Antonius were catched by the Pompejan Cilicians, with a new trick of ropes made like gins hid under the water. Curio also Cesars Legat, after he had overthrown Varrus in Africa, lost both himselfe and Cesars Army, in a rash battell with Iuba King of Mauritania. Pompey chose Epirus, now Albania, a countrey famous for good horses, to be the seat of the war: and Cesar having made all the Provinces sure behinde him, makes all the speed hee can to encounter with Pompey, therefore ventures in a small Pinnace to crosse the Sea in the midst of Winter, and in a storm; [ 30] wherein he shewed more courage then the fearfull Shipmaster, whom he checks for his timidity: Fear not (saith he) thou carryest Cesar. When he came on shoar; and had gathered his Forces together, being impatient of delayes, used all means possible by plundering of Towns, and taking in Forts, to draw Pompey to a bat∣tle, which he warily avoided, hoping by tergiversation to break the courage of Cesars Army, but Pompey's souldiers did interpret his procrastination, cow∣ardise: so that Cesar said truly when hee went to Spaine, that he went against an Army without a Captain: but when he came into Epirus, that he went a∣gainst a Captaine without an Army, for his souldiers were young gallants, and raw in military affaires. Some skirmishes there were between the two Armies. [ 40] Cesar fell upon Torquatus and his Legion, being in Garrison, Pompey came with his whole body to rescue him. Whereupon Cesar left the siege to encounter with Pompey, Torquatus follows him from his Garrison in the reare, but Cesars Souldiers perceiving their danger, betooke themselves to their heels; so that Cesar could by no meanes hinder their flight: and if Pompey had not recalled his army from the pursuit, hee had got the day, and the quarrell had been ended, which made Cesar say, that Pompey knew not how to con∣quer. Many Roman Knights were knights were killed, with 30 Centurions, and 4000 common souldiers.

Upon this defeat, Cesar makes hast through Epirus into Thessalia in Greece, famous for the Gyants warre against Iupiter; and there chooseth the Pharsali∣an [ 50] fields called also Philippici from the town Philippi close by) for his campa∣nia. Pompey follows after, whose Army consisted of 40000 Foot; in the left wing were 7000 horse; in the right 5000. besides the Auxiliary Forces of the East, with the Nobility, Senators, Pretorian and Consular men. Cesar had not above 30000 Foot, and 1000 horse, but stout souldiers all. The battell con∣tinued

doubtfull for a while, till the German cohortes fell so furiously upon Pompey's Horse, that they were forced to give ground, and at last betooke themselves to a disordered flight, the Cesarians pursue them with a command from Cesar that they should aim at the Pompejans faces, and withall to spare their fellow citizens. Of the Pompejans were slaine 15000. and 33 Cen∣turions, Pompey himselfe escaped with the two Lentuli, Favonins the Pretorian and his sonne Sextus. Some perswaded him to goe to Parthia, others to his friend King Iuba of Africa, but he chose rather Egypt for his retreat, hoping to be kindly used by young Ptolemy, for old courtesies bestowed by Pompey on him, and his Father; therefore he came first to Larissa, then by Sea to Mity∣lene; [ 10] thence he sailed with his wife Cornelia into Egypt, the base King sends to receive Pompey into his own Ship, and a warrant there to kill him, being perswaded thereto by Pothinus the Eunuch, and his Tutor, by Theodotus also, and Achil∣las his Generall; for they feared that Pompeys intertainment would draw all the Roman Forces thither, therefore Achillas and Septimius now a Colonell, but here∣tofore a Captaine in Pompey's his Army, first murthers this brave Comman∣der, and then cuts off his head in the sight of his wife and children; he was 58 years old.

Pompey's Generalship was profered to Cicero, which he refused, and betook himselfe privately to Brundusium. Cesar not made insolent with his victory, [ 20] gives a generall pardon to all his enemies. At Rome hee was created Dictator though absent, in three dayes he comes to Egypt, where Theodotus presents him Pompeys head and ring, at sight of which he weeped, and checkt the murtherers, then he went to Alexandria, and demanded contribution, the Kings Govern∣ours pretend poverty, Achillas is commanded to dismisse his Army of 20000 men; but hee marcheth with him against Cesar, a battell is fought in which the Kings Fleet is set on fire, the flame whereof consumes a part of the city, and in it, Ptolemies famous librarie of 400000 volumes: in the Isle Pharus was a great fight in which Cesar lost many men, and Pompeys murtherers slain, Cesar himselfe hardly escaped into a cockboat, which with the weight of the [ 30] passengers sunk, but he saved himself by swimming with one hand, for the o∣ther in which he held his papers, he was forced to hold above the water; so having swimmed 200 pases hee came safely to his Ship: then hee renewes his Forces, and in a battell overthrowes the Egyptians, in which 20000 are slaine, 12000 with 70 long Ships taken, and the King himselfe was drowned in a boat overset with passengers. So Alexandria being forced to yeeld, Cesar bestowes Egypt on Cleopatra, the Kings body was found in the mudde.

Pharnaces the sonne of Mithridates tooke occasion by this Roman dis∣cord to rebell against him. Cesar marcheth, and at the first encounter o∣verthrowes [ 40] him, so that hee truly said, I came, I saw, I overcame, Phar∣naces having fled to Bosphorus Cimmerius in the mouth of the lake Meo∣tis, distant from Bosphorus Thracius 500 miles. Here Pharnaces who would have betrayed his Father Mithridates, is betrayed by his friend Asander and murthered.

Pompeys faction inraged against Cesar, breakes out in two places; in Africa under King Iuba, Scipto Pompeys Father in law, and Cato Governour of U∣tica; in Spain, under Cu. Pompejus great Pompeys eldest sonne. At Rome also they began to stir, but Antonius Generall of the Horse to Cesar, appeased the tumult with the murder of 800 citizens: in Africa, Scipio, Iuba and A∣franius [ 50] are defeated by Cesar, 10000 men were slaine, and 60 Elephants taken. Cato at Utica killed himselfe, having first read Plato's Book of the immortality of the soule. Iuba hired Petreius to cut his throat, which he did, and then killed himselfe with the same sword. Scipio being kept back by contrary windes from Spain, murthered himselfe on Ship-board. Torquatus also was kil∣led. Cesar commanded Pompeys daughter and his Nephews to bee slaine,

but Cato's sonne, and others that begged for mercy, were pardoned.

Cesar upon his returne to Rome, was honoured with four triumphs, answering his four conquests of Gallia, Egypt, Pontus, and Africa, he made a sumptuous feast, and exhibited magnificent shews, he pardoned M. Marcellus upon the Senats intrea∣ty, and called him home from his banishment, for which Act of clemency he is high∣ly commended by Cicero in his incomparable oration for M. Marcellus; but before he could returne he was murthered by Magias his client at Athens. After the war was ended a list was taken of the citizens, and there were not found above 150000 whereas four years before, about the beginning of the war, there were reckoned a∣bove 400000 citizens. Cesar was now made Consul the fourth time. He prepares [ 10] for Spain against Pompey's two sonnes, Cn. and Sextus, but both their Fleets were spoiled at Sea, after divers townes were taken by both sides, a great battell was fought near the city Munda, wherein Cesar at first was defeated, but upon a fresh encounter he got the day. Cn. Pompejus fled into Munda, but Cesar making a ram∣pire of dead bodies, took the town, Pompey fled, but was overtaken and killed by Ceronius, the younger brother escaped. T. Labienus that had done so much good service in Gallia for Cesar, but now adhering to Pompey's faction, was slain.

The civill war being every where composed, and Cesar returning from Spain was honoured with the fifth triumph, the title of pater patriae, and of perpetuall Dicta∣tor, and that he should be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, Holy or inviolable, but he conti∣nued [ 20] not long in honour; for he returned from Spain to Rome in October, and a∣bout the Ides or midst of the next March he was slaine, this was not above five months. His great honours, felicity, and pride had procured him envy: for when the Fathers before the Temple of Venus came to confer these honours on him, he sate still in his chair of state, and did not stand up, as hee ought: and though he refused to wear the crown which M. Antonie put on his head, in the Lupercall solemnities, but sent it to Iupiter in the Capitol: yet when one had placed a crown on the head of his Image, hee was content it should remaine there, wherefore he thrust the two Tribunes out of their office, for questioning the man that crowned his image. A plot being then contrived by M. Brutus, C. [ 30] Tribonius, C. Cassius, D. Brutus his favourite, and some others, he was murthered in the Curia of Pompey, having received 23. wounds, whereof the second was on∣ly mortall which he had in his brest, his murtherers fled to the Capitoll, resolved to make an act of Oblivion, to fling Cesars body into the Tibris, and to seise up∣on his estate, but they feared the greatnesse of Antonius and Lepidus. Such was the tragicall Catastrophre of this brave Commander; who had fought fifty pitched battels with the common enemies of Rome, besides his many victories in the civill war. He made many wholesome Laws, he reformed the Roman Calender by the help of Sosigenes the Mathematician of Alexandria, he not onely conquered his enemies, but his passions also, in advancing his greatest adversaries to honours [ 40] and places of trust. When he took Pompey's cabinet at Pharsalia, and Scipio's at Thapsus, he burned all their Letters without looking into any one of them. Hee who was carried so often in triumphant Chariots, and whom no forraigne force could subdue, is now conquered by a few traitors at home, and carried by three of his meanest servants. So horrid was this murther, that the Sun is said to hide his face from it, by an eclipse: and so far was his death the cause of peace, as his enemies thought, that it presently occasioned more civill wars; and so little were his enemies secured by his murther, that none of all these traitors outlived him a∣bove three years, but all perished miserably, yet deservedly, even some of them with the same sword that wounded him; he was 56 years old when he died. [ 50]

Notes

• 3924,
• 3924.
• 3925.
• 3926.