a man as then the authour of a rash and foole-hardie fight and had beene aforetime a Publicane or farmer of the citie revenues and alwaies through his naughtie practises and cunning fetches and shifts wherein he was become skilfull a disloiall person and daungerous both to the publicke State and also to those privat companies and societies with whom he had commerce and dealing Sempronius the Consull lying in the Lucanes countrie made many light skirmishes but not any one worth remembrance and woon certaine poore townes and of small regard belonging unto the Lucanes The longer that this warre continued lingering whiles prosperous successe and adverse mishap interchangeably wrought much varietie and alteration as well in the inward minds of men as in their outward state fortune such religious zcale and superstition the same for the most part in forein ceremonies had so seized possessed the citie that either the men or gods therof were sodainly all at once become clean altered and transfigured In so much as now the Roman rites holy observations were contemned not only in secret and within dores at home in their privat houses but abroad also in the open streets yea and in the common place and Capitoll where there flocked alwayes a fort of women that neither offred sacrifice and oblations nor said their prayers and did their devotions according to the use and custome of their native countrie and citie Certaine od priests and chaplaines yea and doting wiseards and blind prophets had inveagled the minds and consciences of men whose number was the greater by reason first of the rurall people and paisants of the countrie who for neede and povertie and for feare together were driven to quit their lands which they had not tilled and husbanded by reason of the long warres and many invasions and rodes that laid all wast and so retired into the citie afterwards by the easy occupation and readie meanes of gaine which they found by the errour of others whom they soone seduced and abused which trade they used and practised openly as if it had bene a lawfull art and misterie At the first divers good and honest persons began secretly to grieve and be offended herewith yea and to mutter and utter their griefes in private but afterwards in processe of time the matter was presented before the LL. of the counsell and brake forth to open complaint in publick places The Aediles and Triumvirs capitall were blamed much and sharply rebuked of the Senate for not redressing these disorders and when they went in hand to rid the common place of this multitude and to cast down overturne and fling away the preparation and provision for their sacrifices and oblations they had like to have bene misused and mischieved by the people When this maladie and misorder seemed now to be greater than might be remedied and reformed by the meaner and inferior Magistrate M. Aemylius Pretor of the citie for the time being received commission by order from the Senate to see that the people were eased and delivered from this new religion and superstition He not only red unto them in a publike assembly the decree of the Senate in that behalfe but also made proclamation Imprimis that whosoever had any bookes of prophesies or prayers or treatises written of this art and science of sacrifices should bring in all those books and writings unto him before the Kalends of Aprill next ensuing Item that no person should sacrifice either in publick place or sacred Church after any new forme or forein rites and traditions And in that yeare there dyed certaine publick Priests to wit L. Cornelius Lentulus the Arch-prelate or high Priest and C. Papyrius Masso the sonne of Caius a Bishop Also P. Furius Philus an Augur and C. Papyrius Masso the sonne of Lucius a Decemvir deputed for holy mysteries In place of Lentulus and of Papyrius were M. Cornelius Cethegus and Cn. Servilius Cepio substituted high-priest and bishop For Augur there was created L. Quintus Flaminius and L. Cornelius Lentulus was chosen Decemvir over sacred ceremonies and divine service Now the time drew neere of the solemne election of new Consuls but because it was not thought good to call the old away busied as they were in the warres T. Simpronius one of the Consuls nominated for Dictator to hold that election aforesaid C. Claudius Cento who named for his Generall of the Cavallerie Q. Fulvius Flaccus This Dictatour the first comitiall day following created for Consuls Q. Fulvius Flaccus abovenamed his Generall of horsemen and Ap. Claudius Pulcher who in his Pretourship had the jurisdiction and government of the province of Sicilie Then were the Pretours elected Cn. Fulvius Flaccus C. Claudius Nero M. Iunius Syllanus and P. Cornelius Sulla When the Election was ended the Dictatour resigned up his place That yeare was Aedile Curule together with M. Cornelius Cethegus one P. Cornelius Scipio whose surname afterwards was Africanus When he stood and made suite for the Aedileship and the Tribunes of the Commons were against him objecting that he was not eligible and capable of that office for that he was not of lawfull age to be a competitor and to put in for it If quoth he all the Quirites and citizens of Rome will choose me Aedile I have yeares enough on my back Whereupon in favour and furtherance of his suite there was such running and labouring on all hands to the Tribes for their voices that the Tribunes sodainely surceased their purpose to hinder him And this was the largesse and donative that the Aediles bestowed The Romane Games were according to the wealth of that time exhibited and set out with great state and magnificence and continued one day longer than ordinarie and for every street throughout the citie was allowed a Congius of oyle L. Villius Tappulus and M. Fundanus Fundulus Aediles of the Commons accused certaine dames and wives of the citie before the people of dishonest and incontinentlife and sonie of them being condemned they forced into banishment The Games called Plebeij were renewed for two dayes and by occasion of these games a solemne feast or dinner was kept for the honor of Iupiter Then Q. Fulvius Flaccus the third time entred the Consulship together with Appius Claudius and the Pretours cast lots for their Provinces It fell unto P. Cornelius Sulla his lot to have the jurisdiction both of citizens and strangers which before was executed by twaine To Cn. Fulvius Flaccus fell Apulia to C. Claudius Nero was allotted Suessula and M. Iunius Syllanus his hap was to have the rule of the Tuscanes The Consuls were appointed by decree of the Senate to warre with Anniball and to have under their commaund two legions apeece and that one of them should receive his legions of Q. Fabius the Cos. of the former yeare and the other take his at the hands of Fulvius Centimalus As for the Pretours Fulvius Flaccus had commission for the conduct of the legions
of this new dignitie and promotion Some thinke that for his brother Cn. Cornelius his sake who had been the yeare afore a Tribune Militarie and had given to the horsemen triple pay hee was through favour drawne in and called to so great honour Others for that himselfe had picked out a convenient time and made a plausible Oration that both Nobles and Commons liked very well concerning the agreement and unitie of the States The Tribunes of the Commons rejoycing highly for this their victorie in the Election remitted and called in the Inhibition of the subsedie or imposition aforesaid the thing that most of all prejudiced the service of the C.W. By meanes whereof paiment was made in all dutifull obedience and sent it was unto the armie Then within short time was Anxur in the Volscians countrie recovered by occasion that on a feastivall holyday the watch and ward of the citie was neglected This was a yeare notable and famous for the cold and snowie winter so as the high waies were choked up and Tyberis was unnavigable Howbeit by reason of provision brought in aforehand the price of comarose not And for because P. Licinius as he entred his government without any troubles with greater joy and contentment of the Commons than indignation of the nobles so also ruled and executed it all the yeare long accordingly therefore their teeth watered the next election also to make Tribunes militarie of their owne bodie One'y M. Veturius of all the Nobilitie that stood in suit for the dignitie had a place among them But as for the other Tribunes militarie in Consular authoritie all the Centuries in a manner chose Commoners to wit L. Titinius P. Menenius Racilius Cn. Genutius and L. Attilius After this hard Winter either by reason of a distemperature and disposition of the weather suddainely chaunging to a contrarie or upon some other hidden and vnknowne cause there followed presently a contagious and dangerous summer by occasion of a pestilence noisome to all kind of living creatures Of which incurable maladie when as neither the reason could be found nor any end thereof seene the bookes of Sibylla were by a decree of the Senate perused and Duumvirs appointed for divine rites and ceremonies by celebrating a Lectisterne then first instituted in the citie of Rome to appease and pacifie Apollo Latona and Diana Hercules Mercurie and Neptune feasted them as it were for the space of eight daies together and for that purpose they set out three beds or banquetting tables with as magnificent and stately furniture as could be for that time possiblie devised Which solemnitie was privately also performed All the gates and doores through the cittie stood wide open all sort of viands were set out abroad to be used in common open house kept for all commers one with another as wel vnknown strangers as their acquaintance with all friendlie welcom interteinement Kindlie courteouslie would they talke and devise even with their adversaries all chiding and brauling was laid aside and put under foot The prisoners also for that time were enlarged yea conscience made afterwards that any should be laid or kept in yrons unto whom the gods had vouchsafed that gratious meede But all this while much trouble there was and many al'armes before Veij by reason that three warres were joyned now in one For when as all at once the Capenates and the Falisci came in manner as afore about the fortifications and trenches of the Romans for to rescue the besieged they were forced to make head and hazard a doubtfull bartaile against three armies But the best helpe they had was the remembrance of the late condemning of Sergius and Virginius Therfore having conducted by a neerer way their forces from the greater campe which before lay stil and would not come to succour they set upon the Capenates backes as they turned against the rampier of the Romanes The battaile there begunne made the Falisci also afraid in which affright of theirs they suddainlie sallied out of the lesser hold in so good time that they forced the enemies to turne their backes all quaking for feare And having gotten the upper hand they followed the traine of the victorie and in the chase made a verie great slaughter carnage of them And not long after the forraiers that wasted the land of the Capenates as they raunged abroad heere and there encountred the residue and remnant of this battaile as if fortune of purpose had presented them to their hands and swoopt them up cleane Also many of the Veientians as they fled backe into the cittie were cut in peeces before their verie gates whiles they within for feare least the Romanes at once should rush in made the gates fast so shut out the hinmost of their owne men These were the atchievances of this yeare And now approached the Election of the Tribunes militarie whereof the Nobles had in a manner a greater care than of the warre as who saw now that the soveraigne rule was not onlie parted with the comminaltie but welneer on their own behalfe quite lost Therfore albeit of set purpose they had prepared most noble and excellent men to stand in suite whom to passe by and overhip they thought the people would have bene ashamed yet nevertheles they themselves as if they had bene the parties that stood tried everie way and not onely sought the helpe of men but also craved it at the hands of the gods making it great scruple a matter of conscience and alleadging that the elections for two yeares past were not according to the will of God as appeared by this say they that in the former yeare there was an intollerable winter and such as portended some heavie judgements from above how also the yeare following there were no prodigious tokens shewed aforehand but even the verie events and effects therof were seene and felt namelie the pestilence both in countrie cittie through the verie indignation no doubt of the gods for that in the fatall bookes of Sybilla it was found out that they ought to have bene pacified for the diverting away of that pestilent influence As if in those solemne assemblies which ought in the name of the gods and religiouslie to be held the gods thought it an indignitie and unseemelie thing that the honourable offices of state should be made common no distinction of degrees no difference of houses observed but all confused and shuffled together The people therfore being driven into a maze not onelie in regard of the majestie and dignitie of those that were competitors but also of a verie remorse of conscience chose for Tribunes militarie in Coss. authoritie all of the Nobilitie a good part of them the most honorable personages of the rest to wit L. Valerius Potitus the first time M. Valerius Maximus M. Furius Camillus the third time L. Furius Medullinus the third time Quintius Servilius Fidenas the second time Quintus Sulpitius Camerinus the second time
cowardise of the Greekes that would not come into the field the war was like to be long and lingering he nominated by the authoritie of the Senat T. Manlius Torquatus for the Dictatour to hold the Election of Consuls The Dictatour having named for his Generall of horsemen A. Cornelius Cossus held the Election and with exceeding favour of the people declared for Consull one like himselfe and tracing the steps of his owne vertue and glorie M. Valerius Corvinus for that was his surname afterwardes in his absence a young man I say three and twentie yeares olde To Corvinus was adjoyned companion in government a Commoner M. Popilius Lenas the fourth time Camillus performed no memorable exploit with the Greekes for neither were the Greekes good souldiors on land nor the Romans at sea At the last being kept from landing and failing besides other necessaries of fresh water they left Italie Of what people or of what nation in Greece this fleete consisted is not certainly known I would thinke verely that they were the Tyrants or potentates of Sicilie above all other For all Greece beyond them at that time wearied and toiled out with civill warres much feared the greatnesse of the Macedonians After the armies were discharged and that both abroad there was peace and also at home quietnesse through the unitie of the States least they should be glutted with too much joie behold a pestilence arose in the cittie and constreined the Senate to commaund the Decemviri to overlooke the bookes of Sibylla and by direction thereof was a Lectisterne celebrated The same yeare there was a Colonie drawne out of the Antiates to people Satricum and the towne was repaired by them which the Latines had destroied Also there was at Rome a league concluded with the Carthaginian embassadours who came of purpose to sue for societie and amitie The same rest continued still both at home and abroad when T. Manlius Torquitus and C. Plantius the second time were Consuls The Vsurie which was before after one in the hundred became now but halfe so much The paiment of debtes was dispensed and ordered into three yeares by even portions so as a fourth part should be paied out of hand And albeit some of the Commons for all that were pinched therewith yet the Senate had more regard to see credite kept with the chamber of the cittie than of the difficulties of private persons The greatest matters were well eased in that they forbare to collect the tribute and to muster souldiours The third yeare after that Satricum was reedified by the Volscians M. Valerius Corvinus the second time Consull with C. Petilius upon newes out of Latium that embassadours from Antium went about to the nations of the Latines solliciting them to rise up in armes was commaunded to make war upon the Volscians before the enemies forces were greater who put himselfe on his journey with a fierce armie toward Satricum Whither when as the Antiates and other Volscians were come to meete him with a power provided aforehand against any preparations from Rome presently without any staie they joyned battaile as being through a deepe setled and long hatred malitiously bent one against the other The Volscians a nation more hastie to rebell than hardie in fight being defeated in a battaile fled amaine and highed apace to put themselves within the wals of Satricum But when the wals were not able to save them for that the towne being environed and invested round with souldiors was readie to be taken by scaling there were upon 4000. of them besides the common sort not meete for service that yeelded themselves The towne was rased downe and burnt Onely they spared the firing of Matutaes church And the whole saccage and spoile was bestowed upon the souldiors But there were not comprised within this bootie the 4000 that yeelded Those the Consull in his triumph caused to be led bound before his chariot and after that solde them and brought a round sum of money into the treasurie Some write that this number of captives were bondslaves And that is more like to be true than that they should be sold who yeelded themselves After this followed Consuls M. Fabius Dorsuo and Servius Sulpitius Camerinus Then began the Auruncan war upon a sodaine invasion that they made And for feare lest the action of that one State and cittie had been the resolution of the whole Latine nation and by their maintenance there was created Dictatour as if it had been against all Latium alreadie up in armes L. Furius Camillus who chose for his Generall of horsemen Cn. Manlius Capitolinus And as the use had been in time of great troubles and sodaine tumults he mustered without any respect of Immunitie and Exemption and therewith proclaimed a Cessation of all courtes of lawe and the legions with all speed possible were led against the Auruncans Where they found that they caried a mind of harriers rather than of warriors So that in the first battaile that war was dispatched Howbeit the Dictatour because they not onely made the quarrell and warred first but also offered fight without any drawing backe supposing there was some neede of Gods help withall from heaven had vowed a temple to Iuno Moneta and after he had obtained that he vowed for and thereby was charged to performe his vow so soone as he was returned home to Rome with victorie gave up his Dictatorship The Senat commanded two officers called Duumvirs to be created for the edifying of that temple according to the magnificence of the people of Rome The place was appointed set out on the Capitoll hil even the very plot of ground where somtime before stood the dwelling house of M. Manlius Capitolinus The Coss. having imploied the Dictatour his armie in the Volscian war surprised at unwares the towne Sora out of the enemies hands The temple of Moneta was dedicated the yeare after it had been vowed when C. Martius Rutilius the third time and T. Manlius Torquatus the second time were Consuls Immediatly upon the dedication of that church there ensued a strange wonder like unto that old marveile of the hill Albanus For it rained stones in the daie time it seemed to be darke night And the bookes of Sibylla being perused for that the cittie now was mightily given to superstition the Senat ordeined that there should be a Dictatour named for the ordeining of certaine feasts and holydaies So P. Valerius Publicola was chosen and with him Q. Fabius Ambustus Generall of the horsemen Order was given that not onely the Tribes should go in solemne procession with their praiers and Letanics but also the nations that bordered upon them with a precise direction unto them upon what daies every one should make supplication That yeare as it is reported there passed heavie judgements and sentences of the people against the Vsurers with whom the Aediles had commensed sute And without any notable cause to be remembred they grew to an Interreigne Vpon
unfrequented so now it is inhabited on every side in so much as there remaineth no marke and token at all where Lupercal was How beit the greater part of writers affirme that it was in that quarter of the citie where at this day S. Theodors church is seene For to this place upon a time the Tybre overflowing made a creeke thither and hard by it was where the two infants were cast foorth In the Lupercal therefore certaine authors confidently avouch that Romulus and Remus were laid to perish and so carried by water to the place called afterwards Ruminalis were under a fig-tree there nourished by a shee woolfe This woolfe haunted and kept in the denne called Lupercal and from thence ranne to the banke side under the figge-tree Ruminalis for to suckle the said babes and so gave the name unto the cave to be called Lupercal as it were the lurking hole and denne of the woolfe There be againe that would have Evander to give the name to the same hollow cave for he as is before declared was decended from Arcadia where the people after most auncient rites and ceremonies doe right devoutly worship Pan the god of heardmen Vnto whom also a mountaine in Arcadia to him dedicated was called Lycaeus for that he keepeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. wolves from the sheepe and preserveth the flockes and heards This Evander therefore comming upon a time into Italie and resting in these parts consecrated both this grove and cave to Pan and according to the manner of his countrey there honoured him In the said cave therefore reared was an altar and a goat thereupon sacrificed unto him as to the god and preserver of the flockes and seeing that he chaseth wolves from them therefore the place where in he was worshipped tooke the name Lupercall Now the feast Lupercalia was by Romulus and Remus instituted For they having obtained of Numitor a plot of ground to build them a citie on in that very place where they had been cast forth called all their companions to a feast and merrie meeting where after they had killed sacrifices and refreshed themselves with meat and withall taken their wine liberally to the full they grew to disport and in that merie fit clad themselves in the skins of the goats which they had sacrificed and then fell to hopping and dauncing full jocundly Hereupon their posteritie celebrating the memoriall thereof held a festivall solemnitie called Lupercalia which retained the name of the place where first they began Hereof see more in Valerius Maximus Servius and Plutarch in the life of Antonius As for the fig-tree Ruminalis it was so cleaped of the river Tyber called at the first Rumon Some would have it take the name of Romulus Others of the milke given to the said infants for that part of the throat which draweth milke is called Ruma in Latine This place was over against the house of the two lords Cosinus and Damianus on the side of the mount Palatine opposit against the grand race or shew-place called Circus Maximus Romulus and Remus thus laid foorth about Lupercall and carried by the water to this place were fostered for a while under the figtree Ruminalis in the place where the Comitium after was The tokens of this tree remained unto the time of Augustus Caesar as Ovid testifieth CHAP. XIIII Of the New way the streets Ingarius and Tuscane THe street called the New way overagainst the temple of Iupiter Stator goeth along the valey betweene the Capitoll hill and the Palatine and reacheth to the Forum Romanum This howsoever it be called New was well known to be most auncient and is different from that which Caracalla repaired under his baines The street Iugarius otherwise called Thurarius leadeth from the gate Carmentalis along the foot of the Capitoll hill to the Forum Romanum In it was the altar of Iuno Iuga who was thought to make mariages and to couple folke in matrimonies and she it was that gave the name to Vicus Iurius Vicus Thuscus beginneth at the Forum and along the foot of the Palatine sheweth the way to Velabrum The reason of the name is this The Tuscanes upon a time fighting against the Aricians were by them overcome and after many thousands of them slaine in battell the rest being few in number fled to Rome who taking delight in the pleasant seat of the citie and the commodiousnesse of the place determined there to remain VVherupon having a plot of foure stadia granted them by the Senat between the Capitoll and Palatine they inhabited the same Hereupon the street was called by them Thuscus Vicus and many a hundred yeer after retained that name In it afterwards there kept bawds and such kind of people whereupon it grew out of credite and lost also the first name CHAP. XV. The Arches of Romulus the Senaculum and the dwelling house of Ovid. THe old arches which some thinke Romulus erected continued a long time built of bricke neither would the Romanes suffer that any man should make them of marble to the end that the memoriall of their citie founder should remaine more firmely in the minds of men But in continuance of time long after they decaied and fell downe in that very place where now is the church of Saint Marie of Grace and were never afterwards reedified The Romanes named that place Senaculum betweene the Capitoll and the Forum wherein the Senate kept a consistorie for counsell and consultation That Ovids mansion house stood under the Capitoll himselfe witnesseth even where as now the church is of S. Marie of Consolation Thus much of the buildings of the Capitoll and the valley to it Now followeth the mount Palatine THE THIRD BOOKE CHAP. I. The divers etymologies of Palatine ALbeit the hill Palatine were a long time inhabited before the cittie was built and namely first by Valentia the daughter of Italus then by Evander who also therein set up a castle whome there succeeded after the cittie was founded KK and Emperors insomuch as scarcely any one place of Rome is more renowmed by writing than this hill yet the certein reason of the name why it should be so called which a man may be bold to follow can hardly be set downe Some would have it so called because the Arcadians wandering with Evander disorderly and the Palatines out of the Rheatine territorie called likewise Palatium came to that mount and it inhabited others of Palas the great grandfather of Evander-Livie thought that of Palanteum a citie of Arcadia it was first called Palantium and afterward Palatine There are besides who of Palatia the wife of Latinus fetch the originall of the denomination or of Palath◠the daughter of Hyperboreus who bare Latinus unto Hercules and inhabited this mountaine or of Palantia the daughter of Evander who there was buried or of Palas who was himselfe interred in it Some there are also who of the bleating of sheepe which pastured there in times past before
without them are heat with a stuph appointed either to wash and bath or to sweat by the Greeke name Thermae That the Romans used in old to bath wash themselves oftener than we now adaies is testified by many and divers authorities of writers and for sundrie causes they were wont so to doe as yet the manner is amongst us namely to scoure away sweat or to wash dust off in like sort for health pleasure wherby it came to passe that every man if he were but of mean wealth had in manner a privat bath or hot house by himselfe but the same were devised and contrived after diverse and sundry sorts For many publick baths there were ordained for the cōmon people to use at their pleasure Serv. Orata invented first and made the pendant or hanging baths But after that roiot superfluitie abounded in excesse the bathing houses were built with wonderfull cost and magnificence so as they seemed to keepe no meane nor measure as appeareth by the very reliques and ruines therof at this day And those places where they built these baines and hote houses they called Thermae which contained within them divers places and an infinit number of roumes bearing sundrie names and serving to as many uses For some were appointed to heat water those were round built from whence hote water was let into the baines not to them only that were on the ground beneath but also to those which were pendant and hanging aloft which water after they had done washing being foule and good for nothing was conveighed by certaine pipes and spouts into sinkes They had other roumes also called Apodyteria wherein they that were to goe into the bath put off their cloths and laid them by In the same places were court-yards having about them most spatious porches or cloisters built with arched and embowed roufes most stately wherein were marble pillers garnished with divers and sundry colours In like manner pavements of stone and walls seeled and hung with marble tables Also close walking galleries groves and swimming places all for the pleasure and contentment of the people where they might refresh and sollace themselves These delights so drew and allured mens minds as that they would wash oftentimes in one day yea and in these bains the princes were wont to sup and bath with other persons whosoever as it fell out They had besides private bathes to themselves most sumptuously built and gorgiously set out And namely Antoninus Cavacalla at his owne charges edified certaine baths which by his name were called Thermae Antoninae The huge ruines therof are yet to bee seene some of the pillers still stand others are throwne down Some say they were begun only by Antoninus but finished adorned by Severus They stood about the foot of the Aventine neer the streetway leading to Ardea where now is the church of S. Balbina Vnder these baths ther stood a most goodly palace built by the same Antoninus but at this day there is scarce any example or shew thereof THE FIFTH BOOKE CHAP. I. The aetymologie of the mount Aventine THe Aventine is of the Romane hils the fourth in order The compasse and forme whereof because wee have alreadie described in the first booke needlesse here it is to repeat But it remaineth to declare how it came so called what temples of the gods and what other edifices be therein The Aventine therfore some think tooke the name of birds which were wont to flie unto this hill there to nestle others of a king of the Albanes slaine and buried there There bee againe who suppose that the Sabines who being by the Romans enfranchised citizens there settled and made abode gave the name to this hill of Avantes a river in their province Varro affirmeth that it was so called of a ferriage For as it hath been said a little before this mount was divided from the rest and from the citie by certaine lakes and the Tyber whereupon they that would goe to it used to ferrie over in small punts or whirries Some guesse that it came to have that name of resort unto it for that the Latines used in great frequencie to repaire unto the holie temple of Diana there Remurius also it was named of Remus who chose a place in the top thereof to sit for to take the flight of birds for Augurie and in the end was there enterred Romulus therfore commaunded that it should not be inhabited because hee would have had it wholly consecrated to his brother This hill Ancus Martius afterward compassed with a wall and granted leave to as many as would there to dwel howsoever there be some that thinke it stood void untill the time of Claudius the emperour of happie memorie as being an ominous place and unfortunat by reason of foule birds that haunted it and therefore not to bee received within the walls But the truth is when the Romanes grew populous they joined this mountaine also to the rest of the citie CHAP. II. The temples of Diana Dea bona Hercules Victor queene Iuno Moneta Luna Victorie Minerva and Libertie The altar of Iupiter Elicius IN the top of mount Aventine toward the Tyber there standeth the church of S. Sabina that very place where aforetime was the holy chappell of Diana The feast and holiday of bondslaves was wont to bee kept at Rome the thirteenth day of August for upon that day Servius Tullius whose mother was a bond-woman consecrated a temple to Diana in Aventine and ordained it to be a feastivall day for bondservants as who were patronised by Diana Some think that this chappell was built by K. Ancus of that mony which the citizens conferred and contributed who lately had been translated thither from Politorium This temple was common unto all the Latines whereupon oftentimes they resorted thereunto Very neere unto that place stood the church of Saint Marie called Aventina But in times past the place was consecrated to the goddesse Bona i. good For Claudia a vestall virgine or Nun built a chappell pell unto her in the honour of Fatua sister of Faunus a most chast maid Vpon the same banke and brow of the hill where at this day S. Alexius church standeth was sometime time the temple of Hercules Conquerour And neere unto it another of Iuno Regina built by Camillus with the pillage gotten in Veij In the ruinate place of Decius the emperours baines there was a temple also of Hercules where the Christians afterwards consecrated a church to Saint Prisca On the side of the Aventine hill stood the chappell likewise of the Moone as Ovid dooth witnesse Thus much of those buildings in the Aventine which had a certain place thereupon in our knowledge the rest following were doubtlesse in the Aventine but in what part there of they stood it is unknowne after so long time and namely the temple of Victorie built by the Arcadians and in honor of whom they offer sacrifice yeerely Minerva and
Senatour who gave the name both to a gate and a mountaine which in these daies are called Mount Pincius and gate Pinciana The reliques and markes of his house are seene in that very place neere the old wall And about the same walls we meet with an huge building in forme of an hemisphere or halfe circle which men imagine was the temple of the Sunne Vpon the same hill over-against the tombe of Marcellus in the very port way Flaminia fast by the monument of Domitian stood Neroes sepulchre also Now this hill Hortulorum tooke the name of certain hortyards and gardens under it which in old time by reason they were continually so well watered were most fruitfull Downe this hill all they were wont in times past to descend into Campus Martius who meant to sue and stand for any magistracie THE SIXTH BOOKE CHAP. I Of the flat plot of the citie and the Theatre in generall THat it may bee understood more certainely in what place of the plaine and levell part of the citie every thing stood let there bee a streight and right line drawne from the Capitoll through Pantheon to Tybre neere the church of Saint Roch. So shall the cittie bee in manner devided into two equall parts The one shall lie from the front and side of the Tyber the other from the Forum of Trajanus to the gate Flumentana along the foot of the two hils Quirinalis and Hortulorum Begin we will therefore at the Theatre of Marcellus and recount the places in order as hitherto we have done As for Theatrum a Greek word it is and in Latine may be aptly translated Visorium The first Theatres were appointed among the Athenians and those in regard of husbandmen who on feastivall daies visited the temples of the gods afterwards at Rome they began to bee taken up The first and that the greatest of all others was built of timber by M. Scaurus for the concavitie within would receive fourescore thousand men After it were Theatres made to turne about and shew their front one while this way another while that But as touching Theatres see more in Cassiodorus and Vitruvius who have written plenteously thereof and namely by whome they were first ordained and in what manner built CHAP. II. The Theatre of Marcellus and the Librarie the gallerie and court of Octavia A Vgustus built many things under the name of others as wee find it written by authours in many sundry And among the rest was the Theatre of Marcellus his nephew or cousin by his sister Octavia A part hereof is yet to bee seene betweene the Capitoll and Tyber where now standeth the pallace of the Sabelli It was able to containe eightie thousand men See more thereof in Asconius Hard by the very same Theatre was the gallerie of Octavia reared by the said Augustus for his sister Octavias sake Therein were certaine curious peeces of worke wrought by Praxiteles and namely the ravishing of Proserpina The portraiture of Bacchus and Satyrus Also Apollo Diana and the nine muses the workmanship of Timarchides VVithin this gallerie or walking place Plinie saith there stood a chappell of Iuno and the image of the said goddesse Fast by the said gallerie stood the court or pallaee of Octavia and in it Cupid portraied with lightening in his hand It tooke up in times past as great a space as at this day the churches of S. Nicholas in Carcere and S. Marie in Porticu After the death of Marcellus Octavia his mother set up a librarie neere his Theatre Now the first that ever ordained That bookes of all learning should bee in some publicke places bestowed for to bee read of all that would come was at Athens Pisistratus the tyrant and at Rome Asinius Pollio CHAP. III. The Cirque or shew place Flaminius and the temple of Apollo THat this Cirque Flaminius stood in that place where at this day the darke store houses and sellars be hard by S. Katharins church the markes yet remaining testifie Flaminius it was called either because it was built about the plaine called Campus Flaminius or else by Flaminius the Consull who was slaine at the battell of the lake Thrasymenus In it were the plaies and games exhibited which they call Apollinares and therein the horse-runnings were performed To it the Senate used oftentimes to come downe from the Capitoll to sit in counsell Neptune also had a chappell there Apolloes temple was in that very place as it evidently appeareth where now S. Maries church is under the Capitoll betweene the liearbe-market and the Cirque Flaminius neere to the gate Carmentalis CHAP. IIII. The temples of Vulcane Mars Bellona Hercules and Iupiter Stator the columne or pillar Bellica the altar of Neptune the galleriâ— Corinthia and the colosse of Mars WIthin the Cirque Flaminius stood most famous temples of the gods to wit of Vulcane Mars and Bellona to wit that which was toward the gate Carmentalis Before the said gate there stood a marble pillar which the Romanes called Bellica for it shewed when warre was to be made The Romanes in old time used and retained this manner in proclaiming warre The publicke beadle or one of the heraults called Faecials launced a speare with some other ensignes of warre into that land upon which they meant to levie armes But when after many conquests they had enlarged their empire and dominion and that they were oftentimes to give defiance to nations farre remote and distant because they should not need to fling a speare or javeline as I said before into that land they did but sticke one in the pillar abovenamed on that side which regardeth that part whether they were to make their expedition To Hercules the Great protectour and keeper of the cirque Flaminius they built a temple in the same place for his statue was there erected in the very entrance thereof on that side where now standeth the church of S. Lucie in the darke Apothecae M. Fulvius built another temple of the allowance that hee had of the Censours stocke to Hercules Musarum for hee had heard in Greece how Hercules was Musagetes i. the leader and companion of the Muses The same Fulvius translated the images of all the Muses out of the towne Ambracia to Rome and consecrated them under the protection and safegard of that most potent and mightie deitie to the end that they might have mutuall helpe one of the other namely the quietnesse of Muses by the defence of Hercules and the valour of Hercules by the sweet voice of the Muses This church much decaied and disfigured by time Martius Philippus Augustus his father in law i. his mothers husband repaired In the same Cirque they would have the temple of Iupiter Stator to stand There also as they gather by certain presumptions was the altar of Neptune which in old time ran bloud Octavius reared a porch or gallerie built born up with brasen pillers and therupon named Corinthia This stood betweene the Cirque