Initially Lentulus remained in Rome but left, with many senators, ahead of Caesar's advancing forces. He recruited troops for Pompeius in Capua (even gladiators at one stage, before thinking better of this). Caesar sent his agent, the younger Balbus, on a mission to win over Lentulus – possibly Crus was "patronus" to the Cornelii Balbi, uncle and nephew, if he had been their sponsor when they were granted Roman citizenship under Pompeius in 72, and Caesar hoped that Balbus would have some influence with the consul. However, by 3 March Cicero reported to Atticus that the Consuls had crossed over from Brundisium to the shore of Greece.