Usage of the idiom ‘Crossing the Rubicon’

Wikipedia gives the following information on the search “Crossing the Rubicon”

Julius Caesar's crossing the Rubicon river was an event in 49 BC that precipitated the Roman Civil War, which ultimately led to Caesar's becoming dictator for life and the rise of the imperial era of Rome. Caesar had been appointed to a governorship over a region that ranged from southern Gaul to Illyricum (but not Italy). As his term of governorship ended, the Roman Senate ordered Caesar to disband his army and return to Rome. He was explicitly ordered not to bring his army across the Rubicon river, which was at that time a northern boundary of Italy. In January of 49 BC, Caesar brought the 13th legion across the river, which the Roman government considered insurrection, treason, and a declaration of war, on the Roman Senate. According to some authors, he is said to have uttered the phrase "alea iacta est" — the die is cast — as his army marched through the shallow river.

Today, the phrase "crossing the Rubicon" is an idiom that means "to pass a point of no return".

Historically it refers to the act of Julius Caesar crossing the river in 49 BC that led to establishment of imperial Rome. Idiomatically it means to pass a point of no return.

My question is “When did the idiomatic use of this phrase start and come into common usage?”

Solution 1:

The following sources suggest that the expressionn entered the English language in the early 17th century:

From the American Heritage Dictionary - Cross the Rubicon:

Irrevocably commit to a course of action, make a fateful and final decision. For example, Once he submitted his resignation, he had crossed the Rubicon. This phrase alludes to Julius Caesar's crossing the Rubicon River (between Italy and Gaul) in 49 b.c. Recounted in Plutarch's Lives: Julius Caesar (c. a.d. 110), the crossing gave rise to the figurative English usage by the early 1600s.

From Etymonline: Rubicon:

in phrase to cross (or pass) the Rubicon "take a decisive step," 1620s.

From Merriam-Webster Rubicon:

Rubicon has been used in English as the name of a significant figurative boundary since at least the early 1600s.

Solution 2:

It's not the entire expression, but the earliest example given by the OED is from 1613, where "Rubicon" refers to "a course of events to which one is irrevocably committed after passing a point of no return":

He hath passed his commission (as Caesar did,) and is waded vp to the chinne through the bloudie Rubicon, and so is become Rebell to his Soueraigne Lord the Emperour, as also to the state of the Church.
_{Aphorismes Ciuill & Militarie}

Other early examples use the phrase "pass the Rubicon".

If you wil couragiouslie resolve to cut this Gordion knot with Alexander, and to passe this Rubicon with Cæsar, you shall then trulie and tryumphantlie participate of the ones Fame, and of the others Glorie.
_{Votivæ Angliæ, 1624}

Queen Dido did never more importune Æneas's stay at Carthage, than his mother and sister do his continuance here at London... But now he is past the Rubicon.
_{The court and times of Charles the First, 1626 (modernized text)}

The OED gives several other examples from later in the 1600's, which indicates to me that had to be at least somewhat common at that time.

Apparently the French passer le Rubicon predates the usage in English, since it can be found in Cotgrave's 1611 French/English Dictionary.