(V. i.)
Pompey’s friends hearing of this, did marvellously rejoyce, crying now to be time to restore their Countrey’s libertie.
(III. lxxxii.)
Thus, too, Shakespeare refers to Pompey’s command of “the empire of the sea” (A. and C. i. ii. 191), which, if Plutarch were his authority, would be an unjustifiable exaggeration. Yet it exactly corresponds to the facts of the case as Appian repeatedly states them, and perhaps one of Binniman’s expressions suggested the very phrase.
Pompey being Lorde of the Sea ... caused famine in the cittie all victuall beyng kepte away.
(V. xv.)
The Citie in the meane time was in great penurie, their provision of corne beyng stopped by Pompey.
(V. xviii.)
In the meane time the cytie was oppressed with famine, for neyther durst the Merchauntes bring any corn from the East bicause of Pompeis beeing in Sicelie, nor from the Weast of Corsica and Sardinia, where Pompeis ships also lay: nor from Africa, where the navies of the other conspiratours kepte their stations. Being in this distresse, they (i.e. the people) alleaged that the discorde of the rulers was the cause, and therefore required that peace might be made with Pompey, unto the whiche when Caesar woulde not agree, Antonie thought warre was needefull for necessitie.
(V. lxvii.)