Aerarij but served in the wars and have the citties pay as if they were not base Comoedians and professors of infamous players craft Thus have I thought good among the small beginnings of other things to set downe the Originall of Stage-plaies also that it may appeare that the thing arising from a considerate entrance is growne now to this foolerie andexcessive sumptuousnesse as hardly can be defraied by most rich and wealthie kingdomes And yet these plaies at first emploied about a religious businesse neither rid mens minds of scruple and superstition nor eased their bodies one jot of sickenesse But rather when by occasion of an overflow and inundation of the Tyber the Circus or Theatre was drowned and their plaies in the very midst hindred interrupted this occurrent mightily troubled and affrighted them as if the gods had turned away their face and countenance and rejected all their devoir in these appeasings of their wrath and indignation Therefore in the time that Cn. Genutius and L. Aemylius Mamercus were Consuls the second time when mens minds were busied and troubled more in seeking meanes to pacifie the wrath of the gods than their bodies vexed with diseases the elder sort and grand siegnours called to mind that in old time there was a plague assuaged and gave over by the driving and fastening of a spike or great naile by the Dictator The Senate upon a religious devotion persuaded herewith caused a Dictatour to be created for to fasten the naile aforesaid And there being chosen L. Manlius Imperiosus he nominated for his Generall of horsemen L. Pinarius There is an old law written with auncient letters and in antique words THAT THE CHEEFE PRETOR FOR THE TIME BEING SHOULD IN THE IDES OF SEPTEMBER DRIVE A SPIKE OR NAILE Well a naile was driven and stucke fast on the right side of the temple of Iupiter Optimus Maximus on that hand where as Minervaes chappell standeth That naile because in those daies there was but little writing shewed as they say the number of the yeares And thereupon that law was set up in Minervaes church for that Minerva was the inventresse of numbring And Cintius a diligent writer of such monuments and a studious Antiquarie affirmeth That at Volsinij there stuck such spikes to be seene in the temple of Nortia a goddesse among the Tuscanes to quote and represent the number of the yeares Now as concerning the temple of Iupiter Optimus Maximus M. Horatius the Consull by an act in that behalfe provided dedicated it the yeare next ensuing the expulsion of the kings Afterwards the solemne manner and custome of fastening a naile was transferred from the Consuls to the Dictatours as to the greater and more absolute Magistracie And in processe of time this custome being discontinued it was thought a thing in it selfe worthie for which a Dictatour should be created L. Manlius being elected as is above said for this cause as if he had ben called to that dignitie for some warre and not to free the people from their scruple of conscience and intending himselfe warre against the Hernickes plagued the youth with a greevous muster untill at length all the Tribunes of the Commons taking against him opposed themselves were it by force or for very shame he relented and resigned up his roume Neverthelesse in the entrance of the yeare next following when Q. Servilius Hala and L. Genutius the second time were Consuls M. Pomponius a Tribune of the Commons arrested Manlius His crueltie in taking of the musters was odious not onely for the losse and dammage that the citizens sustained thereby but also for tearing and mangling their bodies partly by scourging them with rods who answered not to their name and partly by clapping yrons upon them in prison But above all his own cruell disposition by nature was hatefull and the surname Imperiosus offensive especially to a free citie This name he got by plaine shew of his crueltie exercised no lesse upon his neerest friends and kinsfolke yea and his very owne bloud than upon strangers For amongst other matters the Tribune laid sore to his charge that having a young man to his sonne detected of no leaudnesse and dishonest life him hee had banished as it were out of the cittie from his house and home debarred from the common hall and open sight of men from the companie of his mates and companions set him to drudgerie and servile worke and betaken him as it were into a prison and house of correction where a Dictatour his sonne a young Gentleman highly descended by this daily miserie of his was taught to know that hee had indeed a lordly and imperious Sir to his father And for what great offence I pray you Because hee was not so faire spoken nor all the readiest with his tongue Which infirmitie and defect of nature ought not a father to have borne withall and cloked if there had ben any goodnesse any common humanitie in him rather than to punish it and by rough handling and sharpe usage to make it more knowne and notorious Why even the very brute beasts if it chaunce that any of their breed or young ones prove but untowardly feed and cherish them still neverthelesse But as for this L. Manlius he augmenteth one inconvenience default in his son with another whom being but soft and slow of nature he keepeth down the more and that little life smal mettall that is in him he goeth about to quench and dull atones by this peasants life and rusticall usage and conversing amongst the cattell and beasts These bitter complaints and accusations moved the patience and stirred the stomackes of every man els sooner than the yong man himselfe Who contrariwise was greeved in his mind that he should be a cause of his fathers troubles thus to incurre the ill will and obloquie of the people And that all the world both heaven and earth might know that hee desired rather to succour and helpe his father than to assist his adversaries and foes he entreth into a course beseeming and bewraying I must needs say a rude and rustical mind Which although it favour nothing of civilitie yet for his kindnesse and dutifull pietie to his father deserveth commendation One morning betimes he gets him up and unknowne to everie one of the house with a good skeine close by his side to the cittie hee goes and from the gate streightwaies directly to M. Pomponius the Tribune his house He telleth the porter that hee must needs speake with his master out of hand willing him to let him understand that T. Manlius the sonne of Lucius was there And being immediatly let in for the Tribune hoped that the son was throughly angred with his father and brought new complaints and one matter or other against him or some devise and ouverture how to proceed in the commensed Action and salutations passed to and fro betweene the Tribune and him hee said that hee was
one other of the Nobles and stand to be Cos. would ye abide that Sextius should be undoubtedly Cos. and Camillus at devotion and in hazard to take repulse Is this indeed to bestow your dignities indifferently with even equall hand That two of the Commons forsooth may be elected Consuls and not two likewise of the Nobles And that one of them must needs perforce be created out of the Commons and in the electing of both the Nobles may be overhipt What societie is this what communitie participation Will not this serve thy turne and content thee that wherein thou hadst no title nor interest afore thou shouldst now have thy part unlesse in seeking to have a portion thoupluck all unto thy selfe I feare me quoth he if both Consuls might be made of the Nobilitie ye would chuse none at all of the comminaltie What is this els but to say Because willingly of yourselves ye would not chuse unworthy persons and unmeere I will bind you therfore of necessitie to elect those whom otherwise ye would passe by And what followeth hereupon but this that the Commoner who standeth with two Patricij may plainly say and that truely he is not by voices chosen but by vertue of a law and so acknowledge no benefit received of the people nor be beholden at all to them for their grace and favour Thus seeke they meanes to wring your dignities from you and not the way to sue for them and would so obtaine the greatest as that they mought not be obliged and bound unto you for the least and had rather get honours and offices by advantage taking and cunning sleights than by their owne vertue defart and worthinesse But there is some one that scorneth to be pried and looked into and to be considered as he deserveth who thinkes it meet that he alone among the other Competitors that contest and stand in suit should be sure of offices and promotions and will not submit himselfe to your censure who would have your suffrages of voluntarie to be constrained of free to be thrall servile I speake not of Licinius and Sextius whose yeares of their continuall government ye reckon upon and marke up in the Capitoll as they used sometime to count the yeares of the Kings raigne But what is he this day in the cittie of so base so abject and low condition that by the advantage and benefit of this law hath not easier accesse to a Consulship than we and our children have As for us truly ye may sometime misse of chusing us would you never so faine but for them ye must needs yea though full against your mind And thus much concerning the indignitie and unworthinesse of the thing For dignitie and worthinesse I take to be matters properly to men pertaining What shall I speake now of Religions and of the solemnitie of the Auspices which emply a meere contempt and injurie done to the immortall gods Who knoweth not that by the approbation of the gods testified by flight of birds this cittie was first founded that by the same Auspices all hath been ordered and directed as well in war abroad as in peace at home And who be they that have to doe with these tokens presages by auncient custome and tradition from our forefathers Forsooth even the Nobles and none els As for the Magistrates of the Commons none are chosen with regard of slight sight and feeding of the birdes But to us they doe so properly belong that not onely those Magistrates of the Nobles which the people create they doe not otherwise elect but by observation of the birds but we also our selves without the assent and voice of the people doe nominate an Interrex by meanes of the birdes yea and in the private actions of our life we are guided by them at home which these Commons use not in their very offices What then meaneth he els but to take these Auspicia out of the cittie who by creating Commoners to be Consuls depriveth the Nobles therof who onely may have and use them Now let them mocke on and scoffe at our religions Let them deride our ceremonies What makes matter say they if those pullets pecke or eat not What if they come somewhat late out of their coupe or cage What if a bird sing auke or crowe crosse and contrarie How then A great piece of matter surely Small things but I confesse they be but as small as they are our auncestours by not concerning them have brought this C.W. to a flourishing state And we now a daies as if we stood not in neede of the grace and favour of God pollute all holie rites and ceremonies And therfore let our prelats and high priests our Augurs and King at Sacrifices bee created it skilleth not how even out of the common multitude Let us set upon any mans head it matters not whose so he come in likenesse of a man the miter of Iupiter his Flamine Let us commit the keeping of the Anciles or heavenly shields and the secret Sanctuaries let us commit the gods themselves and the charge of their holy service to those unto whom we may not lawfully nor without impietie Let no lawes be published nor Magistrates created solemnly with regard of birds at all and of the will of the gods Nor in the Centuriate assemblies holden by degrees and Curiat-meetings by the wardes and parishes let not the Senatours be presidents and have their authoritie and toiall assent Let Sextius and Licinius like Romulus and Tatius raigne togither as fellow KK in the cittie of Rome because they give away so freely the monies lands and territories from others So sweete and favorie it is to prey upon other mens goods Never consider they not looke so farre into the matter that by one of these goodly lawes our fieldes will be desert and wast by ejecting and dispossessing the rightfull land-lords and by the other all credit in borrowing and lending in taking and putting forth of mony shal be abolished And then farewel all human societie commerce intercourse whatsoever In these respects therfore thus I conclude and would counsell you in any wise to stop frustrate and disanull the overture and proceeding of these lawes and in so doing I praie God blesse and speed you well This Oration of Appius thus farre onely prevailed that the time of publication of these Actes was cut off and differed But the same Tribunes Sextius and Licinius being chosen againe thetenth time propounded this law and had it enacted That of the Decemvirs for divine service and church matters some should be created of the Commons So five of them were of the Nobles and five of Commoners whereby they seemed to have gained alreadie one good step onward unto the Consulship The Commons contenting themselves with this victorie yeelded unto the Senatours that for the present without any mentioning of Consuls there should be elected Tribunes Militarie So there were created A. and M. Cornelij the second
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
their hand when they sware by Iupiter pronouncing these words If I made default with my knowledge then let Dicspiter cast me out of all that I have Saving the cittie and the castle as I burle from me this stone The Capitoll had certaine vaults like cisternes into which were throwne all things over-worne or so old that they were good for nothing The sixe steeds drawing in one teeme were there to bee seene which Cneus Cornelius set up The twelve gilded-shields likewise made of that money wherein the Aediles condemned and fined the corne-mudgins that hourded and kept in their corne The shield also Martius set out with the image of Asdruball and the columne garnished with ship beake-heads of brasse whereof Livie speaketh were here to be seene VVithin the temple of Iupiter Capitolinus there was a short cloake or mantle of purple woollen to which if other purple garments were laid they shewed the colour of ashes in regard of the excellent bright glosse and lustre that it caried A present this was by report given to Aurelianus by a Persian king who had it from the farthest Indians The lintell cheekes and sill of the Capitoll dore were made all of brasse The brasen tiles likewise upon the roofe Q. Catulus gilded all over The place where Numa tooke his auguries was on the Capitoll but Tatius used rather the castle cliffe where also stood somtime the house of Manlius but afterward therupon was built the chappell of Iâ—mo Moneta The bookes also of Stbylla were kept in the temple of Iupiter Capitolinus by tenne VVardens in a stone coffer under the ground Over and besides so many edifices were there so beautifull was the Capitoll and the riches thereof so great so many goodly ornaments shrines of the gods most artificially wrought that right worthily of men in old time it was called the earthly habitation of the gods and of Iupiter himselfe For during the upright and flourishing state of Rome so curiously built and richly beautified it was that as heaven surpasseth the earth so farre this edifice went beyond all other workes and woonders whatsoever of the world in so much as it seemed to have been built by the gods so farre surmounted it all the devise and reach of mans wit But as excellent as these things sometimes were now at this day they are to be seene all naked forlorne and desolate CHAP. XI The temples of Concord and Iupiter Stator moreover what the Curia is BEtweene the Capitoll hill and mount Palatine there lyeth a valley whereof wee have spoken before The temples and buildings whereof as also the places behind the Capitoll by order and course we are now to describe In this valley therefore the temple of Concord deserveth to be visited first which word beeing derived as it were from the unitie and agreement of heart maintaineth augmenteth and preserveth alone all things in the world whatsoever A temple to this Concord Camillus vowed in case hee could reconcile the Commons to the Nobles VVhen as therfore the people was brought into grace and favour againe with the nobilitie he built the church of Concord beginning above the Comitium and so forward unto the Forum The porches belonging to this temple are yet to be seene at the foot of the Capitoll From it there was an ascent of an hundred steps up to the chappell of Iuno Moneta That temple of Concord fallen in long time to decay was afterwards by the Senat reedified Therein many a time the Senat met and sate in counceli and crations were made unto the peeple In this also there was a yault or shroud under the ground wherein oftentimes theeves armed men cutters and hacksters were kept as in a prison untill the assemblies of the people were dismissed This house had many statues and images curiously and cunningly wrought namely of Iuno Apollo and of Latona bearing and holding her two babes Apollo and Diana Likewise of Aesculapius and Hygia the handy-worke of Niceratus Also of Iupiter Ceres and Minerva likewise of the Dames weeping and adoring the said images all made by Stenes Moreover the images of Mars and Mercurie the workmanship of Pisicrates Also of Maefyas-bound made by Zeuxis the painter Likewise father Liber and Cassandra painted by Theodorus As for the image of Victorie in the porch and entrance of the said temple it is to be seen how it was smitten with a thunderbolt To Iupiter Stator Romulus in the Sabine warre vowed a temple that he might stay the flight of the Romanes whereupon he was called The upholder of the Romane state Therefore after victorie obtained he built a temple at the foot of the Palatine hill just over-against the church of Concordia where at this day be most high battlements of walles In this house also like as in that other of Concord the Senate assembled oft Likewise in other temples The courts wherein the Senate gathered together in counsell were temples all and therein were there acts made but in the sacred churches of the gods neither met the Senat nor any orations were made to the people This temple of Stator was burnt to the ground in that fire of Neroes making and never after reedified CHAP. XII The temple and grove of Vesta the temple of Faith and of Romulus THe temple of Vesta was built by Romulus betweene the Capitoll and the Palatine hills not far from the Forum Romanum where at this day is to be seene the church of S. Marie of graces Neere unto it the pallace of Numa was built The Romane Pontifies when they would consule of great matters concerning religion met in the court-yard of Vesta like as the Senat and people of Rome debated in counsaile of their weightiest affaires within the temple of Faith Now this was a most auncient temple built in Palatium by Romulus or as some will have it by Numa There was a grove also consecrated to Vesta which reached from the root of the Palatine as far as to the large street called Nova via Out of that grove before Rome was taken by the Gaules a voice was heard giving warning That the citie should be lost unlesse the walles and gates were repaired The temple of Romulus was seated at the foot of mount Palatine in the mids of that side which regardeth the Capitoll in that very place where now the church is of S. Theodore In this said temple there is a most ancient monument The pourtraiture of the shee woolfe yeelding her teats unto the founders of the citie to be sucked CHAP. XIII Lupercal and the figtree Ruminalis THis Lupercal was a cave at the botome of the Palatine hill overspread and covered with trees having springs deepe beneath under the rocke In the most inward and secret place of this cave there was an altar consecrated to Pan. But as touching the etymologie and derivation of the name as also of the situation thereof there goe divers opinions For as in times past the place was close hidden and
Livia CHAP. V. The Palatine houses and the court of the Salij THat Romulus and Remus being shepheards abode sometime in these parts the sheds and cottages which long time after were found here made of slight wood and reed doe testifie which as any of them in continuance of time decaied and fell downe the shepheards repaired with the like matter to their auncient forme that the perpetuall memoriall of Romulus and Remus the citie founders what kind of persons they were and what manner of houses they woned in might be delivered to posteritie In that corner of the Palatine hill which leadeth into the grand cirque or shew-place there stood many ages the cottage which they called Casa Romuli Tullus Hustilius before he built his court dwelt upon Velia in that verie place where afterwards the chappell of the Penates stood Not farre from thence even in that part of the Palatine which regardeth the Forum Catiline by report had his house built Moreover betweene M. Scaurus his house and Catilines there was but a small step over Ciceroes house purchased of Crassus was in the most frequent and conspicuous place of the mount Palatine above the church of Iup. Stator neere the Palatium Plinie testifieth how the houses of Crassus the orator and Viterbius in the Palatium were in old time overturned One captaine Vanas likewise had an house in the Palatium Also Tyberius where of we have written in the former chapter Augustus borne in the region about Palatium in a place called Capita bubula i. the oxe heads and where after his death they erected a chappell unto him dwelt first neere the Romane Forum above the round staires called Scalae annulariae in the house sometime of Calvus the oratour Afterwards he built the stately Palatine at his owne charges and gave it to the city and himselfe dwelt on the Palatine hill in the small house of Hortensius The Guild or religious court of the Salij built in the mount Palatine chaunced to be burnt and in the ashes thereof the staffe of Romulus called Lituus was found without any hurt Publicola dwelt in an house standing over the Forum which was called Subvelia That the dwelling house of Tarquinius Priscus was neere unto the temple of Iup. Stator may soone be prooved out of Livie CHAP. VI. Of the top of Velia the statues in Palatine and other things in generall THe pitch of the hill called Summa Velia was in that higher part of Palatium which looketh into the Southeast whereas now is the temple of Marie the new Called Velia it was because in old time before the devise of shearing sheepe the shepheards were there woont to plucke the wooll from the sheeps backe Augustus set up a Librarie of Latine and Greeke bookes in Palatine and adorned it with the money raised of the most excellent brasse of that huge colossus of Thuscane Apollo He adjoyned thereto a porch or gallerie which they called Palatium In it was erected by the Senate a statue unto Numerianus the Emperour and a singular oratorie In the same porch the Romanes also set up a statue unto M. Varo whiles he lived The Auguratorium which was a place where they used to take auguries was upon mount Palatin Apollo Palatinus likewise the workmanship of Scopas was Palatiū Latona in the same was placed Titus the Emperour set up a golden statue in Palatine to Britannicus Moreover the tree which grew out of Romulus his speare was in the Palatium For hee after he had taken his auguries in the mount Aventine launced his speare from him into the Palatine which sticking in the earth budded forth leaves and grew to be a tree Likewise the bay tree which the same day that Augustus was borne sprung with him and suddainly appeared was in Palatium Of this laurell tree they that afterwards triumphed were woont to weare their wreathed guirlands The Palatine baines whereof Cicero maketh mention in his oration for Roscius were in the same Palatium and of them there remaine yet some tokens above the Circus max. not far from the vineyard of Fedra In the same mountaine also there was a place called Sicilia and Iupiters parlour The most beautifull streets called Antonianae paved with Lacedaemonian and Porphyret stones were in Palatium The streets also of Padus and Fortuna respiciens were to be seene in Palatine And there were the games and pastimes celebrated which they call Palatual CHAP. VII The Palatium now called the Greater the court-yard of the Palatium and the old gate of the very Palatium it selfe HOw great a compasse the Palatium tooke up in old time how gorgeously it was built how rich how frequent and full of houses the huge ruines the pictures statues and most pretious pillars there found do easily declare For no man ever hath left in writing who first built so great and stately edifices who afterwards enlarged the same and in so conspicuous a place erected those houses By little and little it grew to so great an height as if all writers should be ignorant of those antiquities neither was any thing at one time done at once which seemed worth the memoriall For Historiographers are wont to deliver unto posteritie those things only which are rare and worthie of admiration The mount Palatine at this day is called Palatium majus and setting aside the Church of Saint Andrew hath scarse two houses inhabited The rest beeing either replenished with vines or fit for pasture yeeldeth grasse and food for sheepe caples and goats So as it seemeth it may be called Balantium of the bleating that sheep make rather than Palantium This Palatium had also a place therein called Atrium built in old time and hallowed by Augurie in it the Senat sate in counsell because they might not assemble in any place unaugurate or unhallowed Therein also rammes were sacrificed The old gate of the Palatium was neere the Rostra over-against S. Laurence church in Miranda Some would have this to be called the gate of Romulus in old time CHAP. VIII The temples of Ianus Augustus and Faustina AFter the description of the temples and edifices of Palatium the third part of the citie now followeth a fourth namely the Romane Forum Therein is the most stately temple of Ianus for me thinkes wee doe well to begin at Ianus who is counted the dore and entrance as it were of all things having four gates For Ianus himselfe who was therein worshipped had foure faces from Faliscia a citie in Tuscane forced by the Romans he was translated to Rome into the Forum named after Transitorium His temple was built in that part of the said Forum which looked toward the Romane Forum Procopius saith that in his daies it was built in the mids of the Forum over-against the Capitoll a little above the place which the Romans called The three Destinies Other temples there were besides of Ianus and namely in the Capitoll neere the theatre of Marcellus with two fronts all of brasse and had two
overlooketh the church of Saint Laurence in Fontana is named Clivus Virbius there also is the grove Fagutalis wherein stood the mansion house of Servius Tullius Neroes house called Golden tooke up all that space which from that quarter wherein now Saint Gregories church standeth lay betweene Constantines arch the Colosseum the Carinae Esquiliae and Mecaenas hortyards His house before was in his owne fire where with he burnt the citie consumed also and when he reedified it anew hee called it Aurea The spatious largenesse whereof was such that it had about it three porches of a mile compasse apeece It contained also a poole like another sea walled it was about and resembled a very citie There were to it belonging holts and hamlets countrey-like vineyards pastures woods and beasts both tame and wild of all sorts The house and the porches were double guilded all over and set out with pretious stones And in one word there was nothing wanting that might serve for pleasure or prodigall riot In the entrie of this house there stood an huge image giant like called a Colossus 120 foot high After Neroes death dedicated it was to the Sunne and then changed the name Now men thinke it was called Colossus after his name who was the first deviser of all such statues VVithin the same house Nero included also the chappell of Fortune This goddesse being made of the stone Phengites when all the dores were shut gave light to the whole house within such raies of radiant brightnesse casteth this kind of stone from it This goddesse Servius Tullus first consecrated and of Segetes i. standing corne called her Seia At the baines of Diocletian there is a street-way leading up to S. Antonies church in Esquiliae where stood sometime a most noble towne of Mecaenas within his owne hortyards for those most pleasant hortyards were in the plaine of Esquiliae Here-within was Priapus worshipped upon which ill favoured idoll Virgil hath plaied much in verse Neere the hortyards of Mecanas stood the said Virgils house The temple of Felicitie which tooke up a part of that plot where Neroes Gold-house should stand was by him burnt Above those gardens or hortyards of Mecanas was raised a wonderfull peece of worke called Aggeres Tarquinij Superbi i. Tarquinius bulwarkes CHAP. XIII The pallace of Sisiminus the plaine and market place of Esquiliae the grove Querquetulanus also that of Iuno Lacinia and of Mars the chappell and altar of ill fortune THe pallace of Sisiminus in Esquiliae stood as they say where the church of Saint Marie the greater now is The plaine or field Esquilius neere the tower of Mecaenas called Intermontes i. among the hills is betweene the foresaid bulwarkes and the citie wall This plot of ground was in times past called Foculus because dead bodies were therin burnt But when the stinking steeme thereof was noisome to the citie the citizens and Augustus Caesar by a generall consent gave the said field unto Mecaenas where he made his goodly hortyards and most daintie gardens Of which Cicero with other speaketh much In like mauner the market place Esquilinum was in the same hill That side of the Esquiliae which looketh toward the grove Querquetulanus had in it the grove of Iuno Lacinia In the same Esquiliae was the chappell and altar of Ill fortune In the way which goeth to the gate Interaggeres even in the verie bulwarks or rampiers of Tarquinus stood the arch of Gordian made of marble garnished also and set out with ornaments of triumph Of the ruines thereof was S. Gregories church in Damasus built CHAP. XIIII The cliffe Suburranus the arch of Galienus the shambles or flesh market of Livia or as some would have it Livianum the Praenestine way and the Trophees of Marius AT the top or upper end of Suburra was the Clivus Suburranus so called of Suburra yeelding an easie ascent from thence up into the Esquiliae Anon you meet with the triumphall arch of Galien the emperour where now standeth the church of S. Vitus making a goodly shew of the Tiburtine stone whereof it was made Neere unto it was the shambles or market place called Marcellum Liviaâ— or Livianum This as some think tooke the name of one Macellus who being a notorious thiefe and practising much to steale in the cittie was in the end apprehended and by the Censors condemned and his house being seized as confiscate to the citie was converted to a place wherein they sold meat and all other victuals and so it kept still the name as is said of Macellum Some are of opinion that the said house was pulled downe and another built in the ruines thereof which reteined the name still of the former From hence beginneth the port-way Praenestina and leadeth to the gate Esquilina In this way you shall meet on the right hand with a huge bank of brick halfe ruinat upon which were erected two Trophees of marble that is to say certain posts like Quintins standing upright with spoiles of enemies hanging thereupon and they resembled men that were taken prisoners It is said that these Trophees were set up by Marius in his triumph for the Cimbrian warre which when Sylla had cast downe and overthrowne C. Caesar afterwards Dictator erected againe The place of the inhabitants thereabout is at this day called Cimbrum As touching Trophees looke to read more in Plutarch Valerius Max. and others CHAP. XV. The house of the Aelij the chappell Marianum the region or quarter called Tabernola the baines and dwelling house of Gordian the palace of Caius and Lucius also the pallace Licinianum THe house of the Aelij stood in that place where now be the monuments Mariana and the chappell of that name The plaine part of the Esquiliae betweene it and the mount Caelius and the Basilica Lateranensis is at this day called Merulana for Mariana and in old time the region of Tabernola Neere the Church of S. Eusebius in the way Praenestina was built the baines and habitation of Gordianus The ruines of those hot-houses are yet to be seene whereby a man may soone give an estimate how faire how stately and large they were at first Betweene the gates Esquilina and Naevia not farre from the walles there be to be seene certaine notable ruines this they commonly call the baines of Galutius But in that place stood in old time that beautifull and famous pallace which Caesar erected under the name of Caius and Lucius his nephewes Hard by the church of S. Balbina whereas now is the Beare called Pileatus stood sometime the pallace Licinianum CHAP. XVI The water Martia or Trajana and the temple of Isis. THe current of the water Martia passing by the gate Trajana through the plaine of Esquiliae went as farre as to the baines of Diocletian unto the hills next adjoyning This in old time was called Aufera It ariseth out of the spring Piconia in the mountains of the Peligni and passeth by the Martians country and the lake Fucinus and