Caesar hath made himself as much redoubted and admired by the great works which he caused his Souldiers to make , as by his great Battels . The Duke of Rohan's treatise of Modern Warre . Cap. 4.

Having overcome King Pharnaces , and being desirous to advertise one of his friends of his quick expedition in dispatching that war , he onely wrote three words unto An●tius at Rome , veni , vidi , vici ; I came , I saw , I overcame .

Charles the fift Emperor of Germany said , Veni , vidi , Deus vicit . Surius in bello Germanico .

He never put enemy to flight but he discamped him , Suetonius . and drave him out of the field : By this meanes he gave them whom he had once discomsited no time to bethink themselves .

In any doubtfull and dangerous service , Suetonius . his manner was to send away the Horses , So William the Conqueror at his arrival into England , burnt the ships which transporported his Army . and his own with the first , to the end that when all meanes of flight were gone , they might of necessity be forced the rather to stand to it , and abide to the last .

He called not his Souldiers Milites , but Commilitones : not plain Souldiers , but by a more pleasing name , Lucan seemeth to have alluded to this : Bellorum ô socii , qui mille pericula mortis . Augustus did much reprove this humor in his Uncle , saying , Dum affectat carier fieri , auctoritatem Principis emolliverat . Aurel. Vict. Fellow-Souldiers . He maintained them so trim and brave , that he stuck not to set them out in polished Armour , damasked with silver and gold , as well for goodly shew , as because they should in * * Suetonius . Battel keep the same more surely for fear of damage and losse .

He loved them so affectionately , that when he heard of Tiberius his overthrow , and the Legions with him : he suffered the haire of his head and beard to grow long , It is reported of Alexander that he infused such courage into his Souldiers , Vt illo praesente , nullius hostium arma vel inermes timuerint . and would not cut the same before he had revenged their Death . By which means he both had his Souldiers most devoted unto him , and also made them truly valiant .

He was so entirely beloved of his Souldiers , that to do him service ( whereas otherwise they were but like other men in any other private quarrell ) if Caesars honour were touched they were invincible , and would so desperately , Iustin. l. 12. e. ult. and with such fury venter themselves , Caesars eye made his Souldiers prodigall of their blood . that no man was able to abide them .

A private Souldier of his fought so valiantly in Britain , that by his meanes he saved the Captaines , Plutarches Lives . which otherwise were in great danger to have been cast away ( being driven into a Bogge ; ) then marching with great pain through the mire and dirt , half swimming , and half a foot , in the end he got to the other side , but left his shield behind him : Plutarch . Caesar wondering at his noble courage , ran to him with joy to embrace him : but the poor Souldier hanging down his head , the water standing in his eyes , fell down at Caesars feet , and besought him to pardon him for leaving his target behind him .

Petronius being taken by Scipio , he said he would give him his life , but he answered him again , that Caesar's Souldiers did not use to have their lives given them , but to give others their lives ; and with these words he drew his sword and thrust himselfe through .

Caesar at Alexandria being busie about the assault and winning of a Bridge , was driven by a suddain sally of the enemies to take a Boat , Plutarchs Lives . and many besides making hast to get into the same , he leapt into the sea , and by swimming almost a quarter of a mile recovered the next ship , Paludamentum mordicus trahens , ne spolio potiretur hostis . bearing up his left hand all the while , for fear the writings which he held therein should take wet , and drawing his rich coat-armour after him by the teeth , Sueton. because the enemy should not have it as a spoile . Milites erant sagati , Imperatores pal●dati .

Beholding advisedly the Image , or portraiture of Alexander the Great in the Temple of Hercules at Cales , Plutarch & Suetonius . at the sight thereof he fetched a deep sigh , as being ashamed that he had yet performed no memorable act at those years , i. e. 33. Saepe audivi Q. Maximum , P. Scipionem , praeterea civitatis nostrae praeclaros viros solitos ita dicere , cum majorum imagines intuerentur , vehementissime sibi animum ad virtutes accendi ; scilicet non ceram illam , neque figuram , tantam vim in sese habere ; sed memoriâ rerum gestarum eam flammam egregiis viris in pectore crescere , neque prius sedari , quam virtus eorum famam atque gloriam adaequaverit , Sallustius in Bello Iugurthino . wherein Alexander had conquered the whole world .

He was very much disquieted and dismayed with a dream the very night before , ( for he imagined in his sleep that he had carnal company with his own Mother : ) the Diviners and Wizards incited him to the hopes of most glorious achievements , Suetonius . Ita visum interpretari va●issimae artis auctoribus ●●nis●imis . Casaubon . Animadvers . making this exposition of his dream , that thereby was portended unto him the soveraignty of the whole world ; for his Mother whom he saw under him , betokened the subjection of the Earth , which is counted the mother of all things .

There were two Factions in Rome at that time , Sylla was the chief of the one , and Marius of the other ; Marius stood for the people , and Sylla defended the Nobles . Marius and all his Confederates were proclaimed Traitors , and enemies to the Common-wealth . Plutarch . Sylla determining to kill Caesar , some of his friends told him , Suetonius . that it was to no purpose to put so young a Boy as he was to death : but Sylla answered again , Caesari multos Marios inesse , that there were many Marii in that one Boy , implying , that he would be a great enemy unto their state . When the day of Election for summus Pontifex came , he told his Mother kissing him , that that day she should see her Son chief Bishop of Rome , or banished from Rome .

He said , he had rather be the chiefest man in a poor Village , then the second person in Rome .

He did extremely affect the name of King , and some were set on as he passed by , in popular acclamation to salute him King ; whereupon finding the cry weak and poor , he put it off thus in a kind of jest , as if they had mistaken his sirname , Non Rex sum , sed Caesar.

He often used these verses of Euripides , which he himself thus translated .

He alone managed all the affaires of state : his Collegue or Fellow-Consull did nothing , in so much as divers Citizens pleasantly conceited , whensoever they signed , subscribed , or dated any writings to stand upon records , would merrily put it down thus ; Such a thing was done not when Caesar , and Bibulus , but when Iulius and Caesar were Consuls : setting down one and the same man twice by his name and sirname ; yea , and soon after these verses were commonly currant .

He was such an excellent Rider of a Horse from his youth , that holding his hands behind him he would gallop his Horse upon the spur . The Horse he used to ride upon was strangely marked , with feet resembling very near a mans , and the hoofes cloven like toes : * * Like to Alexanders Bucephalus . Plutarch . The Beast would abide no man else to ride him , and he himself was the first that backed him .

When one brought him his Horse to get upon , which he used in Battel , he said unto him , When I have overcome mine enemies I will get upon him to follow the chase , Solinus . He gloried in nothing so much ( saith Austin . 5. Epist. ) as in pardoning his enemies , and gratifying his friends . but now let us give them charge .

Benignitate adeò praeditus , ut quos armis subegerat , clementiâ magis vicerit .

He was of so good a nature , that such as he subdued by Battell , he more overcame with gentlenesse .

He said the greatest pleasure he took of his Victories was , that he daily saved the lives of some of his country-men that bare armes against him . He held neuters for his friends contrary to Pompey , who held them for enemies . Aurel. Caesar dando , sublevando , ignoscendo , gloriam adeptus est . Salust . in bel . Catilin .

When Pompey's head was presented to him , Vberrimas lachrymas profudit , he wept bitterly , and caused him to be honourably buried , Idem dixit , non mihi placet vindicta , sed victoria . saying , Ego Pompeii casum deploro , & meam fortunam metuo , I lament Pompey's fall , and fear mine own fortune .

When he found many Letters in Pompey's coffers , Dion . King Cotis having received for a Present many beautiful & rich Vessels , yet frail and easie to be broken , brake them all , that he might not be stirred to choler when they should happen to be broken . wherein divers testified their good will unto Pompey , and their hatred towards him , he neither read them nor copied them out , but presently burnt them , least being exasperated by them , he should have been forced to have committed some greater evil .

When Pompey's Images had been thrown down he caused them to be set up again , Plutarch in Tullies life . Pompeii sta●●●s erigendo su● confirmavit . and Cicero thereupon used this speech , that Caesar in setting up Pompey's Images again , made his own to stand surer .

He accounted his conquest of the two Pompeys ( Sons to Pompey the great ) in Andaluzia in Spain the most glorious of all his victories , for he would often say afterwards , that at others times he fought for Fame and Victory , but that day he fought for his life , which he had never fought for before .

When some of his friends did counsell him to have a Guard for the safety of his Person , Mori satius est semel , quam timore semper torqueri Plutarch . Sueton . and some also did offer themselves to serve him , he would never consent unto it , but said , It was better to dye once , then alwaies to be afraid of death .

He said also , Mori se quam timeri malle , saith , Paterculus , when some advised him to keep by Armes what he had got by Armes .

When he was hindered by one of the Tribunes from taking some of the common Treasure out of Saturnes Temple , Silent leges inter Arms. and told that it was against the Law , Tush , said he , Time of Warre and Law are two things .

That speech of his was compounded both of terrour and clemency , Adolescent difficilius est mi●i hoc dicere , quam facere . to Metellus the Tribune ; for Caesar entring into the inner Treasury of Rome to take the money there kept , Metellus forbad him ; whereto Caesar said , That if he did not desist he would lay him dead in the place ; and presently taking himself up , he added , young man , it is harder for me to speake it then do do it .

* * Magno illi Alexandro , sed sobrio , neque iracundo simillimus , qui semper & somno & cibo in vitam , non in voluptatem uteretur . Paterculus . Plutarch . Suetonius . He was a spare drinker of Wine , as his very enemies confessed , whence arose that Apothegme of Cato , That of all that ever were , Caesar alone came sober to the overthrow of the state .

He was the first that devised the way for friends to talke together by writing Cyphers in letters , when he had no leisure to speake with them for his urgent businesse , and for the great distance from Rome .

He said , Caesars wife ought not only to be without fault , but also without all suspition of fault .

Being certified that Cato had slain himself with his own hands , Plutarch . in Apophtheg . Dixit invidere se Catoni mortem , quando sibi salutem invidisset . Plutarch in the life of Cato . he seemed to be very sorry for it , and said , O Cato , I envie thy Death , because thou didst envie my glory to save thy life .

Cicero wrote a book in commendation of Cato , to justify that action , which Caesar answered with another , which he called Anti-Cato , both which are lost . Schildius out of Beroaldus saith , Cicero wrote a book intituled Cato , in commendation of him , which vexed Caesar , because he conceived the commendation of the other tended to his dispraise , and therefore he wrote two bookes against Cato , discovering his crimes , called Anti-Catones .

Being in a Pinnase or small Boat in a great storm , Caesarem vehis , & fortunam ejus . he said to the Master of it : Fellow , be of good cheer , for thou hast Caesar and his fortune with thee .

[ So Charles the fifth taking his Horse to rush into the main battel , was requested to forbear , but he answered , An Emperour was never shot through with a Bullet .

So William the second of England , comming to imbark at Portsmouth , the Master told him the weather was rough , and there was no passing without imminent danger , Tush , said he , set forward , I never yet heard of a King that was drowned , Dan. Hist. ]

Yet I may say of him as our Chronicler doth of one of our English Kings , Cambd. in Annal. De Henrie . 8. Inerant illi confuso quodam temperamento , virtutes magnae & vit●a non minora .

Suetonius and others , speake of his unnaturall uncleannesse , and prodigious prodigality . He stole out of the Capitol 108000. pounds ( reduced to our money ) in gold at once , gave to Servilia a Jewell which cost him 46875. pounds , Plin. lib. 7. c. 25. owed 1953125. pounds more then he was worth by his own confession . His shewes , and publike Donations , in costlinesse are almost invaluable .

About the trimming of his body he was over curious , Circa corporis euram morasior , ut non solùm tonderetur diligenter , ac raderetur , sed velleretur etiam . Suetonius . so as he would not only be shaven very precisely , but also have his hair plucked .

The chiefest cause that made him mortally hated , was his excessive desire of honour , and his slighting the Senators .

When his friends complained unto him of Antonius and Dolabella , that they intended some mischief towards him , he answered them again , As for these fat men , and smooth-combed-heads , Odi pallidos & macilentor . quoth he , I never reckon of them , but those pale-visaged , and carrion lean people , I fear them most , meaning Brutus and Cassius .

He never refused to fight but in his latter dayes , being then of this opinion , that the oftner he had gotten●victory , the lesse he was to venture , and make trial of fortune : also that a victory could gain him nothing so much as some disastrous calamity might take from him .

There conspired against him more than threescore , the heads of which conspiracy were Cassius and Brutus . He had fair warning of his death before it came , by many evident prodigies ; Fires were seen in the Element , and spirits running up and down in the night , and solitary Birds at noon-day sitting in the great Market-place ; as the Bird Regaliolus did flye with a little branch of Lawrell into the Court of Pompeius , Or Regaviolus , quasi Rex avium . Casaub. Animadvers . a sort of other Birds of divers kinds from out of the Grove hard by pursued after , and there pulled it in pieces .

Caesar sacrificing to the gods , Nec centum victimis perlitare poterat . Florus , l. 4. Hist. Rom. c. 2. found that one of the Beasts which was sacrificed , had no heart , and that was a strange thing in Nature , how a Beast could live without a heart .

There was a certain South-sayer that had given Caesar warning long before , Eo ipso die dum ad senatum iret , libelli conjurationem & conjuratorum nomina indicantes , in manus ipsi traditi . to take heed of the day of the Ides of March ( which is the fifteenth of the Moneth , ) for on that day he should be in a great danger . That day being come , Caesar going unto the Senate-house , and speaking merrily to the South-sayer , told him , The Ides of March were come : Plutarch . Suetonius . So they be , softly answered the South-sayer , but yet they are not past .

[ Christianus Matthias Theat. Histor. Theoret . Pract. in Iul. Cap. 3. hath an elegant and memorable parallel history .

Henry the 4. King of France was disswaded from going abroad that day he was slain ▪ by some ; as a day mark't out by Astrologers to portend danger to his person : yet he , a second Caesar as well in the course of his life as of his death , was little sway'd therewith , but like a King , and a Christian replied ; that it was an offence to God to give credit to these Prognostiques , and that having God to his guard , he feared no man . The Life and death of Henry the 4. ]

The night before this Discourse had with the South-sayer , all the windowes and doores of his chamber did flye open , and his Wife Calphurnia dreamed that Caesar was slain , and that she had him in her arms .

He was stabbed with 23. wounds ; Sueton. He was slain in Pompeys court . Tribus & viginti vulneribus ad terram ditus est ; sic ille qui terarum orbem civil● sanguine impleverat ; tandem ipse sanguine suo curiam implevit . Luc. Flo. l. 4. Hist. Rom. c. 2. he onely gave one groane at the first thrust , without uttering any words . Some say , That as M. Brutus came running upon him , he said , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; And thou my Son ?

All men are of opinion , that such a death befell unto him as he desired ; for when he had read in Xenophon how Cyrus being at the point of death , gave order for his Funeral , he seting light by so slow and lingering a kind of death , wished to dye quickly and of a suddain .