Britannia antiqua illustrata, or, The antiquities of ancient Britain derived from the Phœenicians, wherein the original trade of this island is discovered, the names of places, offices, dignities, as likewise the idolatry, language and customs of the p by Aylett Sammes ...

A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE OF JULIUS CAESAR.

HE is worthily esteemed the Idaea or Pattern of an absolute General for * 1.1 his excellent and Industrious Contrivance, quick Dispatch, Courage in his Dangers, and Laborious in all his Affairs; Of so little Pomp, that at his first coming into this Isle, he is credibly reported to have had but three Domestick Servants in his Retinue. The whole course of his Life, even in his lowest Fortunes, had still something of Greatness in it.

At seventeen years of Age he was made Flamen Dialis, seven years after Questor of Spain, where, at the Streights, beholding the Statue of Alexander in the Temple of Hercules, he inwardly groaned to think, that at that Age wherein Alexander had Conquered the World, himself had done no memorable Action. Thereupon he laies down his Questorship and repairs to Rome, watching every occasion to grow Po∣pular, entring into many Factions, and some not without suspicion of Conspiracy, yet were all his Actions ever taken in a favourable construction, the States finding it more convenient to flatter him into a kind of Obedience, than to make too severe an Inquisition into his Affairs.

In a publick Funeral Oration in Praise of his Aunt Julia, he derived himself, on * 1.2 the Mothers side, from Ancus Martius an Ancient King of Rome, and, on his Fathers side, from the Gods. He was after this made AEdilis, then Pontisex Maximus, which Honour he carried against two Competitors of the greatest Age and Authority. Being Consul, he obtained Gallia for his Province, which he held ten years, part of the time being spent in the Invasion of Britain.

Whilst he was busie in the Conquest of this ISLAND, he received News of the * 1.3 decease of his Daughter Julia, whose death drew with her a trayn of Publick Cala∣mities. Her loss he passed over with the same Constancy of mind he used in the rest of his Affairs, and it is possible that his Ambition overcame his Sorrow, for her Life and Interest, with Pompey, seemed the only debar to his future Advancement; As, not long after he entred into the Civil War, the Commonwealth being grown so Heady, that it seemed impossible to be Governed but by a single Person.

During all the Civil War, those Forces he had employed in Britain and Gallia were alwaies his Unbroken strengths; The hardships of these Countries, joyned with Roman Discipline, and the confidence in their Leader, had so Spirited them, that as Scaeva, single, durst twice undertake a whole Army: so these few Legions seemed a match for the whole World.

After great Contendings with is Countrymen for the Supream Power, and much effusion of Blood, having at last arrived to the end of his Labours, the top and high∣est pinnacle of Honour, whilst he thought his Enemies either all destroyed, or by his Clemency not only in sparing but advancing them, sufficiently obliged in the midst of the Publick Assembly of the Roman Senate, where he had often received the Thanks and Acknowledgments of the House for his great Services, after fifty several Battles fought with success, five Triumphs, and four Consulships, laden with Honour, he was basely murthered by a Conspiracy of Senators, and so fell at the feet of his Son in Law Pompey's Image, whom not long before he had Conquered. And, what made most to the remarkableness of his Misfortune, he was slain by those to whom he had shewn the greatest Kindness, and that with many wounds, the deepest whereof was given by his near Relation Brutus, to whom once he had designed a great share in his Estate, and that Brutus the Son of Servilia, supposed his Base Child.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Julius Caesars Life.
• * 1.2

  Caesars Pedi∣gree, declared by himself.
• * 1.3

  Seneca.