MADAME , the late pestilence in Couentrie , which occasioned my translation &c. of this Historie , moved me also , in part , to addresse the same unto your Honour .

For being altogether restrained then , from free practise of my profession abroad , & no lesse impatient of idlenesse at home , I could not readily thinke of a better course to spend that vacation , than in an Argument having a reference to mine old Grammaticall Muses , and according ; in some ●…ort , with my latter studies in Physick . What howres therfore , either the doubtful or diseased estate of my neighbours , together with the meditations of mine owne mortalitie would afford , I employed gladly in the said Subiect .

Againe , for as much as the selfe same cause debarred me from accesse unto your house at Combe ( a dutie that otherwise the vicinitie of our aboad did require ) I fully resolued at the finishing of those my Sedentary labours , to present the same to your view : therby to sheild my selfe ( whom it pleased you before time to grace with kind entertainment ) from the iust imputation of rude negligence in that behalfe . But now , since the same citie so dangerous the yeare before , is become a retyring place of safety for your Houshold , & hath to mee alreadie yeelded fit opportunitie to excuse my former absence personally by word of mouth , I have presumed nevertheles to dedicate the same unto your Honour , as a token of my thankefulnesse for your bounteous favour , farre above the proportion of my deserts , and an earnest penny of that propense minde , which I carie to honour your name , in the best maner I could deuise .

And verily calling to my remembrance how courteously you have vouchsafed heretofore to accept even at second hand my trauailes in this kinde , and with good words testified oftentimes the contentment you received therin , I had no reason to doubt the like acceptance of that which out of a loving and devote heart I offer first unto your selfe .

Lastly , when I consider , how together with sincere pietie , rare wisdome , and other eminent vertues , there is seated in your person a singular affection to advance good literature , with an extraordinarie respect of learned men , I knew no means out of my small fortunes to do you greater honour , than by entituling you as Patronesse of that , which may benefit young Scholers , my countrimen , that would be learned : to give knowledge unto the word , that all the profit or pleasure whatsoever , which shall grow unto them , from these endeavours of mine , are derived immediatly from you and for your sake bestowed upon them .

These motives , right Honorable , as well of my first enterprise , as of chusing your Patronage , if it please you to approue , ( the onely thing that I humbly crave at your hand for this present ) I shall not only thinke my pains well taken and choise as well made : prising your acceptance to the worth of a competent guerdon : but also continue my hearty prayers unto the Almightie for your perfect health , proceeding in a vertuous course of life , with increase of true Honour here upon earth , and after the revolution of many new yeares , for eternall happinesse in the highest Heaven .

THE IVLIAN linage , as most men are perswaded , is descended from Ascanius Iülus , the sonne of Aeneas by Creusa : which Iülus , after he had left Lavinium , built long Alba : wherein also he reigned . Others , grounding vpon a more assured evidence , have thought it good to derive the same rather from Iülus the son of Ascanius . For when after the death of ( this ) Ascanius ▪ the Kingdome of the Latines was devolved * * or returned unto againe upon Sylvius the sonne of Aeneas and Lavinia , the charge of Religion & sacred ceremonies of the Latin and Troian Nation both , remained yet still in the race and progenie of Iülus : out of which are sprung the Iulij . These ( Iulij ) with certaine other most noble families of Latium , Tullus Hostilius King of the Romanes , after he had rased Alba , translated to Rome , and raunged among the 〈◊〉 . Late it was , ●…re they rose and mounted to high place of Magistracie ; but were reckoned almost in the last ranke of the 〈◊〉 of auncient Nobilitie : & of them , the Iüli ●…are the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . For C. Iulius , ( sonne of Lucius ) surnamed also Iülus , was Consull together with P 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rufus , in the yeare after the foundation of Rome citie * * or rather 265 , according to the Chronology annexed unto Titus Livius . 264. And * * By the computation of Dionyfius , T. Livius , C●…ssiodorus & others . seaven yeeres after , * * C. Iulius , or Iūlus . his sonne , with Q. Fabius Vibulanus ( Consull ) the second time . Againe , some space of time comming betweene , Vopiscus Iulius , sonne of Caius and Nephew of Lucius , bare the Consulshippe with L. Aemilius * * al. Mamercus Mamercinus third time Consull , in the yeere * * or 28●… , after the Chronologie aforesaid of Dionyfius . 280. I finde likewise , that in the yeere * * more truly 303 302. Caius Iulius , sonne of Caius , and nephew of Lucius , was a decemvir for the enacting and 〈◊〉 of Lawes , and that in the former Election of that Magistracie : as also , that Caius Iulius sonne of Caius and Nephew of Caius , became Consull with Marcus Geganius Macerinus , in the yeare * * 307 , by Livius ac●… 306. and the selfe same man a second time , with Lucius Verginius Trirostus in the yeere * * 319. 320. 4●…7 318 : and immediately in the * * So ●…med . yeere next following , a third time , with the same Verginius now twice Consull . And thus much for the Iūli . For to reherse and collect all them of that familie , together with the honorable places of everie one , which were many in number , and of sundry kindes ; is not our purpose : and besides , the thing it selfe is apparent and upon record in the publick Registers .

Moreover , I have observed in the Iulian line , a certaine house also of the Mentones : and among them , one Caius Iulius , colleague in the Consulshippe with T. Quint●…s Pennus Cincinnatus , in the 322. yeere after the foundation of the citie . I finde likewise , Caius Iulius Denter to be master of the Horsemen , when Caius Claudius Cr●…ssus Sabinus Regillensis was Dictator , for to hold their solemne assembly of Election , in the yeare 405. There were besides of these Iulij , others going vnder the name of Libones : and of the same race one triumphed ; to wit , Lucius Iulius , sonne of Lucius and nephew of Lucius ; companion in the Consulate which Marcus Attilius Regulus , in the yeere * * H●…ply Pomp●…n 2●… of the tribe Pompun●… 486. But , as touching Caius Iulius sonne of Lucius , and surnamed Caesar 〈◊〉 , whom Suetonius also ment in the 55. chapter of Iulius Caesar , and Cicero praiseth in his Brutus , and in the second booke of his Oratour , I doubt , whether this addition ( Strabo , ) should not be taken as a by-name . For , otherwise there is in our ●…ands a peece of siluer coine , with the inscription of Lucius Iulius , sonne of Lucius , and surnamed Strabo . The Epigramme of the former is extant among the Antiquities of Rome citie , in this maner .

C. Iulius , L. F. Caesar Strabo , AEd. Cur. Q. Trib. Mil. Bis XVIR . AGR. D●…nd . ADTR . IV D. Pontif.

To conclude , I have met with writers , who reckoned also among the Iulij , certaine* Annales : which , for mine owne part verily , I could never yet light upon , in searching the Records & Chronicles . But in the eight booke of the Familiar Epistles ( of Cicero ) and namely in the seaventh letter there , of M. Caelius unto Cicero , there is mention made among others , of one L. Iulius , sonne of Lucius , Pomp. Annalis : where the writing ( as I suppose ) is not very certaine and 〈◊〉 acknowledge . For besides that the better corrected Copies call him Villius , ( for Iulius ) Liuie also hath expresly & plainely written in his fortieth booke , that one Lucius Villius a Tribune of the Commons , made a Law which prouided and ordained , in what yeere of mens age they might sue for everie kinde of Magistracie , and be capable thereof . Whereupon , unto that 〈◊〉 was giuen this surname , to be called Annales Thus farre Liuius . Hereunto may 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 moreouer ; that the Kinred Iulia , is reckoned in the Tribe Fabia ( and not Pomp●… ) , as we have noted in the fortieth chapter of Augustus . I am of opinion therefore , that safer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 account the Annales among the Villii , and not the Iulii . But thus much hereof , by the ●…ay , and as it were passing by ; Now proceede we to the rest .

In the linage 〈◊〉 then , there was a familie also of the Caesars . But what the reason should be of that surname , it is not certainely knowne ; no more , than who he was , that first bare the saide 〈◊〉 . For , before Caesar the Dictator , and his father and grandfather , there were Iulii na●… Cae●…ares . As for example ; He , who ( as Livie witnesseth in his 27. booke ) was in the second ●…unick warre sent from the Senate to Crispinus the Consul , about the nomination of a Dictatour . As for the terme Cae●…ares , those usually the Romane tongue surnamed so , who were borne , either by r●…pping their mothers wombes ▪ or with a * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . bush of haire growing on their heads , or else * * cum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Some adde moreouer the tale of an Elephant slaine in Africk , which the inhabitants there call Caesar : and vpon that verie cavse , this surname first befell unto Caesar the Dictatours 〈◊〉 . But Spartia●…us and Servius , the Authors hereof , are of the meanest credite and authoritie . For not his progeny alone , of all the Iulii , had this surname , but many others besides of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 , both long before and also together with him .

〈◊〉 before Iulius 〈◊〉 the Dictator , there were , Sext. Iulius , sonne of Caius , nephew of Lucius , together with Lucius Aurelius Orestes , in the yeere after the foundation of Rome * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 596 : Also 〈◊〉 . Iulius sonne of Ca●…us , nephew of Sext , was colleague with L. Marcius Phi●… in the beginning of the Sociall warre in the yeare after the cities foundation * * 597. after the aboue said Chronologie . 662. and in the next yeere after , Lucius Iulius so●…ne of Lucius , and Nephew of Lucius , bare the Consulate with Pub. 〈◊〉 Lupu●… . Neither before these , were anie of the Caesars reno●…med or aduanced to the highest Office * * 663. of 〈◊〉 . Many ▪ * * Consulship . Frater patruelis . yeeres after , out of the same familie , Lucius Caesar , son of Sextus and cosi●… Germane to that C. Iulius Caesar , who beg at the Dictato●…r , and attained only to the 〈◊〉 , who also died at P●…sae without any evident sicknesse , euen as he did his shoes 〈◊〉 in a morning , that L. Caesar I say , came to be Consull .

Well . Caesar the Dictator was borne at Rome ( when Caius Marcius and Lucius Valerius Flaccus were Consuls ) vpon the fourth day before the Ides of Quintilis , which moneth after his death , was by vertue of the Law Antonia called for that cause , Iulie , His bringing up hee had with his mother Aurelia , daughter of Caius Cotta , and his aunt by the fathers side Iulia , the wife of Mar●… . Whereupon grew the love that he tooke ( a Petritian though he were ) to the 〈◊〉 Fa●…tion ; and the hatred he bare to Sulla . The Greeke and Latine tongue , the precepts also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Oratorie , ●…e learned of M. Ant●…nius Gu●…pho , a French man borne . Who being of an 〈◊〉 ●…it and 〈◊〉 memorie , courteous besides in his behauiour , and of a kinde & 〈◊〉 nature , taught the Greek and Latine , Grammer , & 〈◊〉 ●…itbal , first in the house of C●…ius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; 〈◊〉 in his owne ; and got much there●… ; such was the bountie of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that hee never compounded with 〈◊〉 for any wages or reward . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wonderous 〈◊〉 and apt to learne , ●…a and framed naturally for ●…quence .

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speech was trimly ●…arnished , ( 〈◊〉 Domesticall ●…cquaintance ) by his mother 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spake the Romane tongue purely and elegantly : like as the Muciae , Laeliae , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 honorable Dames did , in whose families there arose Oratours of great 〈◊〉 .