Conversation for Your Kind Wishes which Great and Good Qualities none Expresses and Extends more than Your Lordship who besides Your many Virtues which in Reverence I shall not now mention being so well known are by Your Condescention so truly great and Noble I heartily pray that all things may fortunately succeed according to Your desires to Your Self and Your Noble Relations and that You would believe me to be MY LORD Your Lordships most Obedient and most Humble Servant L. MAIDWELL THE LIFE OF Sextus Aurelius Victor SExtus Aurelius Victor was first published by the Learned Andreas Schottus and flourished under the Emperors Constantius and Julian for in the Life of Marcus Antonius the Philosopher He says That Nicomedia in Bithynia was destroy'd by an Earthquake in his time in the Consulate of Cerealis which was the next year after the Ninth Consulship of Constantius And that in his Reign when Flavius Philippus was Consul the Eleventh Century contrary to Ancient Custom was celebrated without and Solemnity Hence without doubt he was the same Aurelius Victor who was Consul with Valentinian Junior A. U.C. 1121 and certainly the same Person whom Ammianus Marcellinus mentions in his 21 Book to be an Historian of great Reputation of his Sobriety and of Consular Dignity whom Constantius made Governor of Pannonia and afterwards honoured with a Brazen Statue and the Praefecture of Rome In the Life of Severus he owns himself to be the Son of a mean illiterate Country-man and to have advanced himself by his Virtue and Learning 'T is very probable he was a Pagan in his Religion as many privately were in the time of Constantius and openly like good Courtiers in the Reign of his Successor Julian the Apostate this may be gathered from his approving of Adrian's Sacrifice to his beloved Antinous with the Complement of a Pious and Devout Action Yet after all 't is much disputed whether this Victor who writ the Lives of the Caesars be the Author of the Illustrious Romans For our Book ' though it goes under his name is of a far different stile and gives you better Latin than that of the Emperors which is harsh and unequal yet sententious and may recommend the Writers Judgment though not his Phrase Therefore some have rather ascribed these Lives to Cornelius Nepos Pliny Junior or Suetonius Others will have it to be according to the Title amongst whom is the Learned Vossius Si quid novisti rectius istis Candidus imperti si non his utere mecum THE LIVES Of the Illustrious ROMANS Writ in Latin by SEXTVS AVRELIVS VICTOR TRANSLATED by Mr. JOHN AUSTEN From the Building of Rome to the Year 244. PROCA King of the Albans PROCA King of the Albans had two Sons Amulius and Numitor Befoâ—â— the Birâ—â— of Christ 810. to whom he left his Kingdom with the Condition of Reigning yearly by turns Amulius at the Expiration of his Term refus'd to surrender the Kingdom to his Brother and intending to deprive him of Issue made Rhea Silvia his Daughter chief Priestess of Vesta that she might always live a Maid But she was got with Child by Mars and brought forth Romulus and Remus Which surprize provok'd Amulius to imprison her and throw her Children into the Tiber but they being preserv'd by the Ebbing of the Water and left upon the Shoar their Cries invited a She-Wolf to hasten to their Relief and give them suck Some time after they were found by Faustulus the King's Shepherd and by him brought home to his Wife Acca Laurentia to take care of them These young Princes when grown up slew Amulius and restored their Grandfather Numitor to his Kingdom and then by the help of the Shepherds who in great numbers joyn'd them they built a City which Romulus called Rome he having had the better Fortune in Augury to see twelve Vultures and his Brother but six And that he might begin to secure his City by the Observation of Laws before he built Walls for its Defence he gave order that none should presume to go over his Rampire which Remus leaping in derision is said to have been killed with a Mattock by Fabius Celer the Centurion ROMULUS First King of the Romans U. C. Or from Building of Rome the first Year Romulus to increase his People set up an Asylum or Place of Refuge for all Strangers and of them composed a great Army But considering the want of Wives he sent Embassadors to demand them of his Neighbours Before Christ 750. which being denied he pretended in Honour of Neptune the Celebration of Horse-Races called Consualia and when a great Concourse of Men and Women came to see those Sports he gave a certain Signal to the Romans to take away the Maids by force One of which was so beautiful that she mov'd the Spectators to inquire where they carried her It was answer'd to Captain Thalassius Which Marriage proving very fortunate it was ordain'd they should invoke the Name of Thalassius in all future Nuptials The first who made War for this Rape were the Caeninenses against whom Romulus marched in person and overcame them killing Acro their General in a single Combat and consecrating his rich Spoils to Jupiter Feretrius in the Capitol Then the Antemnates Crustumini Fidenates Vejentes with the Sabines were Confederates against them on the same Account who approaching nigh to Rome seiz'd the Virgin Tarpeja as she went to the Tiber to draw Water for the Sacrifices King Titus Tatius proffer'd her the choice of any Reward if she would let his Army into the Capitol To which she consenting demanded all they wore on their Left Arms meaning their Rings and Bracelets which being promised with Equivocation and the Gate left open the Satines gain'd the Castle and by Titus's Order pressed her to death with the Shields carried also on their Left Arms Romulus drew out his Forces against Tatius who had possess'd himself of the Tarpejan Hill and fought him in the place now the Roman Forum where Hostus Hostilius one of his best Officers fighting valiantly was slain By whose death the Romans were discouraged and began to give ground yet after that Disorder upon Romulus's vowing to erect a Temple to Jupiter Stator if he would stop his Army's Flight the Soldiers made a stand either by Accident or some Divine Instinct In this Juncture the Women came between both Armies and mediating with their Fathers and Husbands at last procured a Peace Romulus then made a Solemn League with the Sabines and received them into Rome as Fellow Citizens uniting the People by the common Title of Quirites from Cures a Town of the Sabines He established an hundred Senators who for Reverence were stiled Fathers and instituted three Centuries of Knights the first were called Ramnenses from his own Name the second Tatienses from Titus Tatius and the third Luceres from Lucumo He divided the common People into thirty Companies and distinguisted them by the Names of the principal Women But
Hatred to Rome From that time he served in those Wars under his Father after whose Death he sought all Occasions of Breaking with the Romans To which end he within six Months after destroyed the City Saguntum in Spain then in Confederacy with them From whence making his Way over the Alpes he passed into Italy and beat Publius Scipio at Ticinum Sempronius Longus at Trebia Flaminius at the Lake Trasimenus also Paulus and Varro at Cannae And might further have carried his Victories by taking Rome it self had he march'd directly thither and not turn'd aside into Campania to enjoy the Pleasures of that rich Country But after this when he had encamp'd his Army within three Miles of the City he was beat back by great Storms of Wind and Rain His Troops were first weakened by Fabius Maximus then repulsed by Valerius Flaccus next put to flight by Gracchus and Marcellus and being recalled into Africa he was there totally routed by Scipio From thence he fled to Antiochus King of Syria and incited him to make War against the Romans after whose Overthrow he was necessitated to retire to Prusias King of Bythinia to whom Titus Flaminius was sent on an Embassy to demand him but he prevented his being deliver'd up by drinking a Poison carried for such an Occasion in the hollow of his Ring and so died At Lybissa a Town of Bythinia he was put into a Stone Coffin with this Inscription on it Here lies HANNIBAL Q. FABIUS MAXIMUS Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator was called Verrucosus U.C. 535. from a Wart he had on his Lip and Ovicula Before Ch. 215. from his mild Nature In his Consulship he triumph'd over the Ligures and weak'ned Hannibal by his prudent Delaying to give him Battle He suffered Minutius General of his Horse at his Request to have equal Power in the Army with himself yet after that Arrogance refused not to relieve him when he had brought his Troops by ill Conduct into great Danger He shut up Hannibal in the Plains of Falernus and kept Manlius Statilius from revolting to the Enemy by his generous gift to him of a Horse and Arms also obliged a brave Soldier of the Lucanian Squadron who often left the Camp and neglected his Duty being transported with a violent Passion for a beautiful Woman by buying and presenting her to him He retook Tarentum from the Carthaginians and the Statue of Hercules which he brought from thence he placed in the Capitol And when the Senate would not approve of his Ratifying the Articles made between him and the Enemy about the Redemption of Prisoners he sold his Estate for two hundred thousand Sesterces with which he preserved his Honour and performed his Contract PUBLIUS SCIPIO NASICA Publius Scipio Nasica was a Man so eminent for his Virtue that he had the Image of Cybele Mother of the Gods by order of the Senate committed to his Care to be kept in his House till her Temple should be built He was so superstitious that when he understood himself to be chosen Consul by Gracchus with ill Omens he abdicated his Office In his Censorship he pulled down the Statues which many out of Ambition had erected for themselves in the Forum And in his Consulship took Delminium chief City of the Calmatians Out of Modesty he refused the Title of General offered him by the Soldiers as he did the Honour of a Triumph conferred on him by the Senate He was so very eloquent so well skilled in the Law and so extremely wise in all his Affairs that he was called Corculum or The Prudent Man M. CLAUDIUS MARCELLUS Marcus Marcellus slew Virdumarus U.C. 530. General of the Gauls in a single Combat Before Ch. 220. and was the Third from Romulus that dedicated the rich Spoils of a slain General to Jupiter Feretrius He first taught Soldiers to retreat without turning their Backs and by taking Advantage of a narrow Pass at Nola made Hannibal know he was not invincible Syracuse a City in Sicily was taken by him after three years Siege and when the Senate upon some false Accusation denied him the Honour of a Triumph he conscious of his just merit triumph'd from his own Authority on Mount Alban In his fifth Consulship he was unluckily drawn into an Ambuscade by Hannibal and slain His Funeral was solemnized with great Pomp but his Bones as they were sent to Rome were intercepted by Numidian Pyrats and lost LIVIA CLAUDIA the Vestal Virgin Whilst Hannibal wasted Italy U. C 549. the Romans consulting the Books of the Sybils Before Ch. 201. sent for the Image of the Goddess Cybele from Pessinuns a Town of Phrygia And as they came up the Tiber against the Stream the Ship on a sudden stopp'd in deep Water from whence it could by no Means be moved till by Direction in the same Books they understood that it might be drawn up the River by the Hand of a very chaste Woman Whereupon Claudia a Vestal Virgin unjustly suspected of Incontinency entreated the Goddess that if she knew her to be chaste she would vouchsafe to follow her then tying her Girdle to the Ship she drew it up the Tiber. The Image of the Goddess whilst her Temple was building was placed in the House of Scipio Nasica so honoured from the general Opinion of being the best Man in Rome M. PORCIUS CATO CENSORIUS M. Porcius Cato was born at Tusculum U.C. 557. but invited to fix at Rome Before Ch. 193. by Valerius Flaccus He was Tribune of the Soldiers in Sicily and behaved himself with great Valour whilest he was Questor under Scipio as he did with great Justice when Pretor In that year of his Pretorship he conquer'd Sardinia and was there instructed in the Greek Tongue by Ennius the Poet. In his Consulship he Hispania Tarraconensis and to secure them from rebelling he sent his Orders to all the Cities to demolish their Walls which every one of them imagining as only sent to them in particular readily obeyed In the Syrian War against Antiochus being Tribune of the Soldiers under Marcus Acilius Glabrio he gained the Pass of Thermopylae at the Streights of Mount Oeta and by that prevention routed the Enemy In his Censorship he turned Lucius Flammius who formerly had been Consul out of the Senate because in his Government of Gaul to please his Miss he ordered a Captive to be brought out of Prison and killed before her He was the first that built a stately Piazza calling it Porcia after his own Name and opposed the Luxury of the Roman Matrons when they demanded the Privilege of wearing their rich Ornaments taken from from them by the Oppian Law He was so indefatigable a Prosecutor of ill Men that in the fourscorth year of his Age he accused Galba for robbing the Lufitanians in his Pretorship and was himself impeached four and forty times but always honourably acquitted In the Debates of the Senate in the third Punick War he was
since it was bought by Treachery The Honorable Mr. JAMES CAVENDISH From the Year 642 to 689 U. C. MARCUS AEMILIUS SCAURUS MArcus Aemilius Scaurus U.C. 642. was descended of a Noble Family Before Ch. 108. yet poor for his Father tho a Senator's Son was a Collier by Trade He at first doubted with himself whether he should aim at great Employments in the Commonwealth or get an Estate by turning Banker but being very eloquent he soon grew famous For his good Service in Spain he was made a Cornet of Horse and served under Orestes the Consul in Sardinia When he was Aedile he minded doing of Justice more than courting the People with public Shews he was Lieutenant under Calpurnius in the African War against Jugurtha whom he much opposed in the beginning but at last was corrupted by him when he was Consul he made a Law about regulating Expences and the Freed Men giving their Votes He was so haughty because that Publius Decius the Praetor did not rise up and salute him as he passed by he commanded him to stand up tore his Gown and broke his Chair of State in pieces and ordered that none should have any Causes tryed before him In his Consulship he conquered the Gantisci and Ligures and triumphed over them When he was Censor he paved the Aemilian Way and made the Mulvian Bridge he was a Man of such Credit and Interest that upon his private Advice Opimius took up Arms against Gracchus and Marius against Glaucias and Saturninus He would never look upon his Son for deserting his Post which Disgrace made him kill himself Growing old he was accused by Varius Tribune of the People for stirring up the Latins and the Allies to Rebellion Whereupon he said to the People Varius of Sucro says That Aemilius Scaurus stirred up the Allies to take up Arms but Scaurus denies it Whether of the two think you more worthy of Credit LUCIUS APULEIUS SATURNINUS Lucius Apuleius Saturninus U.C. 658. Tribune of the People was a seditious Man Before Ch. 92. and to ingratiate himself with the Soldiers of Marius's party made a Law That an Hundred Acres of Land in Africa should be divided amongst the old Soldiers and made his Colleague Baebius that opposed this Law fly for it stirring up the People to stone him To make himsel more popular he broke in pieces Glaucias the Praetor's Chair because he by keeping a Court on the same day that he held an Assembly about dividing the Land had drawn away a great part of the People He suborned a Freeman to pretend he was the Son of Tiberius Gracchus and Sempronia Gracchus's Sister was produced to justifie it but she would not be prevailed upon either by Entreaty or Threats to bring such a scandal upon her Family Saturninus after Aulus Nonius his Competitor was slain was again chose Tribune of the People and planted new Colonies in Sicily Macedonia and Achaia and brought Land with the Gold which Caepio had sacrilegiously taken from Tolosa in Gaul He banished all them that would not consent to his Laws And he told many Noble Men that opposed them whilst it accidentally thundered that if they would not be quiet and submit it should pour down a storm of Hail However Metellus Numidicus chose rather to be banish'd than swear to them When Saturninus was a third time Tribune of the People that he might make his Companion Glaucias the Praetor-Consul he cause Memmius who opposed him to be killed in the Campus Martius Marius taking Arms by virtue of an Order of the Senate which required the Consuls to take care of the Common-wealth pursued Saturninus and Glaucias into the Capitol and there besieged them and cutting the Water-Pipes forced them to surrender But he hid not keep his Word with them for the ordered Glaucias to be strangled and Apuleius flying into the Capitol was Apuleius flying into the Capitol was killed by the Stones and Tiles thrown at him Rabirius one of the Senators carried his Head into several Houses to make sport with at their Entertainments LUCIUS LICINIUS LUCULLUS U.C. 680. Lucius Licinius Lucullus was of a Noble Family Before Ch. 70. eloquent and rich and presented a very magnificent Shew to the People in his Quaestorship He reconciled Ptolemy King of Alexandria to Sulla the Consul and by Murena brought over to him Mithridate's Fleet he administred Justice very impartially during his Praetorship in Africa Being sent Consul against Mithridates he relieved his Colleague Cotta that was block'd up at Chalcedon a City of Bithynia He raised the Siege of Cyzicus starved and cut off Mithridates's Forces and drove him out of his Kingdom Pontus and beat him a second time with great success when Tigranus King of Armenia had joined him with his auxiliary Forces He was extravavagant in his Cloaths and delighted much in Statues and Pictures afterwards when from a Disorder in his Head he began to dote he was committed to the Guardianship of his Brother Marcus Lucullus LUCIUS CORNELIUS SULLA L. Cornelius Sulla was sirnamed Felix U.C. 669. from his good Fortune Before Ch. 81. When he was a little Child and carried about in his Nurse's Arms a Woman met him and said God bless thee Child thou wilt prove fortunate to thy self and thy Country But who that Woman was no Body could tell for she was never heard of afterwards When he was Quaestor under Marius Bocchus King of Mauritania delivered up Jugurtha to him In the Cimbrian and Teutonick Wars he was chosen Lieutenant General to Marius and did good service He was first Praetor at Rome and then sent Praetor into Cilicia In the Social War against the Italian Confederates he overcame the Samnites and the Irpini He opposed Marius's taking down out of Envy the Pictures of Bocchus's delivering up Jugurtha to him being Consul in Asia he routed Mithridates at Orchomenum and Chaeronaea and overcame his General Archelaus at Athens and retook the Piraean Haven He overcame the Dardani and the Eneti in his March and after his Province was taken from him by the Sulpician Law and given to Marius returning upon this Affront into Italy and corrupting his Adversaries Army he made Carbo fly for it he overcame Marius the younger at Sacriportus and Telesinus at the Gate of Rome called Collina Upon these Defeats and the Death of Marius at Praeneste by a publick Edict he sirnamed himself Felix or The Fortunate he was the first that proposed the Tables of Proscription and cut off Nine thousand that surrendered themselves in the Campus Martius he augmented the number of Priests and lessened the Power of the Tribunes And after he had settled the Affairs of the Commonwealth resigned his Dictatorship and finding upon this that he grew contemptible he went to Puteoli and there died of the lowsie Disease called Phtiriasis MITHRIDATES King of Pontus Mithridates King of Pontus U.C. 664. descended from one of the seven Persian Heroes Before Ch. 86.
after the Muster of his Army at the Lake Capra he was never seen more From which Accident a Dissention arising between the Senators and the People Julius Proculus a Nobleman came before them and affirmed upon Oath that he saw Romulus on the Hill Quirinalis in a more splendid and august Form than heretofore as a Proof of his being Deified who commanded them to cease from Seditions and to love Virtue Thus they should become Lords of the World The Romans believ'd him as one of great Authority among them therefore they built Romulus a Temple upon the Hill Quirinalis and worship'd him as a God by the Name of Quirinus NUMA POMPILIUS Second King of the Romans After the Consecration of Romulus the People growing mutinous from a long Interregnum and the want of a Successor Numa Pompilius the Son of Pompo was sent for from Cures a Town of the Sabines He came to Rome with the assurance of good Omens and that he might soften this fierce People with a Sense of Religion he instituted many holy Rites built a Temple to Vesta and appointed the Vestal Nuns He ordain'd the three Flamens for the particular Sacrifices of Jupiter Mars and Romulus and constituted the twelve Salii Priests of Mars the chief of which was called Praeful He created the High-Priest and built a Temple for Janus who was represented with two Faces the Gates of which were shut in Peace and open in War He divided the Year into twelve Months by adding January and February and made many profitable Laws pretending he did all those things by the Direction of his Wife the Nymph Egeria None of his Neighbours made War upon him out of the great respect they had of his Justice He died a natural Death and was buried in the Mount Janiculus where many years after a certain Man by Name Terentius as he was ploughing found a Stone-Chest with fourteen Books in it which containing many slight and frivolous Reasons about their Religious Ceremonies were burnt in prudence by an Order of the Senate TULLUS HOSTILIUS Third King of the Romans Tullus Hostilius for his good Service against the Sabines U.C. 82. was made King Before Ch. 668. He proclaimed War with the Albans which was ended by a Combat of three Brothers on each side the Horatii on the Romans and the Curiatii on the Albans He demolished Alba for the Treachery of Metius Fufetius their General and commanded the Inhabitants to remove to Rome He built that Senate-House from him called Hostilia and added the Mount Caelius to the City At last as he imitated the Example of Numa Pompilius in his Sacrifices he by mistaking the Ceremonies performed to Jupiter Elicius so enraged the God that he was struck dead with a Thunder-Bolt and his Palace burnt with Lightning The HORATII and the CURIATII U. C. 86. The Romans and the Albans having for a long time carried on a War under Hostilius and Fufetius Before Ch. 664. and finding their Forces daily to decrease they resolved to determine it with the loss of a few The Romans chose out three Brothers called Horatii and the Albans the three Curiatii for this Combat in which two of the Romans were presently slain and the three Albans wounded Now Horatius who survived perceiving this and judging himself unable tho not wounded to fight with three feigned a Flight and by this Stratagem kill'd them one by one pursuing him as their Wounds would permit them The Conqueror in his return laden with the Spoils of his Enemies met his Sister who wept when she saw the Embroider'd Coat of her slain Lover one of the Curiatii This Indiscretion provok'd him in his rage to kill her for which bloody Fact he was condemned by the Duumviri two Judges appointed for that purpose But apappealing to the People with the assistance of his Fathers Supplications and Tears he obtain'd his Pardon yet to expiate his Crime he was forced to go under a Gibbet which is to be seen at this day in the High-way and called Sororium METIUS FUFETIUS Metius Fufetius U. C. 88. the Alban General observing himself much hated by his Citizens for putting an end to the War by the Combat of the Horatii and the Curiatii Before Ch. 662. to make amends secretly stirr'd up the Vejentes and the Fidenates against the Romans Now Tullus upon account of the League between them demanded Fufetius's Auxiliary Forces who before the Fight drew his Army upon a Hill expecting the Event of the Battle with a design to fall in with the Conqueror Tullus understanding his Design gave publick Notice that Metius was posted there by his Order by which Artifice the Enemies were terrified and easily overcome And when Metius came the next day to congratulate him for his Victory he was by King Tullus's Command tyed to four Horses and for his Treachery pull'd in pieces ANCUS MARCIUS Fourth King of the Romans Ancus Marcius U.C. 113. Numa Pompilius's Grandson by his Daughter was not unlike his Grandfather Before Ch. 667. either in his Justice or Piety He overcame the Latins added the Hills Aventinus and Janiculus to Rome new wall'd the City and confiscated the timber of some Woods for publick Shipping He laid a Tax on Salt-Pits was the first that built a Prison and planted a Colony at Ostia situate at the Mouth of the Tiber very convenient for Trade He also instituted the Office of Heralds to assist Embassadors in demanding satisfaction which Custom was borrowed from the Aequiculi a People of Latium and reported to have been found out by Rhesus at the Siege of Troy Thus having settled these things in a very short time he was taken away by an untimely Death and by that Misfortune could not complete the Character of so great a King as his Subjects expected from him LUCIUS TARQUINIUS PRISCUS Fifth King of the Romans Lucius Tarquinius Priscus was Son of that Damaratus of Corinth U.C. 137. who flying from the Tyrant Cypselus Before Ch. 613. settled in Etruria He was first called Lucumo and came to Rome from Tarquinii a City of the Tusci In his Journey thither an Eagle took off his Cap and after a high Flight replaced it on his Head Which Tanaquil his Wife observing she from her great Skill in Augury knew by that Omen he should obtain the Kingdom Tarquinius by his Riches and Industry rais'd himself to great Honour and became a particular Favourite to King Ancus who dying left him Guardian of his Children but he governed in his own Name and ruled with such Justice as if he had been lawful Successor He chose an hundred new Senators whom he stil'd the Inferior Order and doubled the Centuries of the Knights but durst not alter their Names being discouraged by Accius Navius the Augur and fully convinc'd of his Art by the Experiment of the Whetstone cut â—n two by a Razor He overthrew the Latins built the Circus Maximus for publick Shews and
instituted the great Roman Games for manly Exercises He triumphed over the Sabines and â— hose Latins who were called Prisci He fortified the City with a Wall of Stone and rewarded the Valour of his Son who at the Age of thirteen years wounded his Enemy in a Battel giving him a Coat edg'd with Purple and a Necklace with a Golden Boss which were the Ornaments of Gentlemens Sons At last he was trapan'd out of his Palace by a Plot of Ancus's Children and murder'd by their Appointment SERVIUS TULLIUS Sixth King of the Romans Servius Tullius was the Son of Publius Corniculanus U.C. 175. and the Captive Ocrisia Before Ch. 575 He whilst he was brought up in Tarquinius Priscus's Palace a lambent Flame was seen to circle his Head Queen Tanaquil upon her Observation judg'd it as a certain Prediction of his future Dignity and thereupon perswaded her Husband to breed him up as he did his own Children When he came to Man's Estate Tarquinius Priscus made him his Son-in-Law And after the King was murder'd Tanaquil told the People from a Window that her Husband had receiv'd a dangerous tho not a mortal Wound and desired that till he was cured they would submit to Servius Tullius Thus he got the Kingdom precariously yet govern'd it with great Justice He often conquer'd the Etrusci and added the Hills Quirinalis Viminalis and Esquilinus to Rome He raised a Fortification with Trenches about the City and divided the People into four Tribes call'd Palatina Esquilina Suburrana and Collina allotting the poorer sort a proportion of Corn out of the publick Granary He settled Measures and Weights with the Distinction of the Citizens into Classes and Hundreds and was the first that made a Register of Estates till then unknown in any Country He perswaded the Latins to build a Temple to Diana on the Mount Aventinus in imitation of that at Ephesus After it was built a certain Latin had a Cow-calf of a wonderful Bigness and 't was told him in a Dream that that People should be Sovereign over the rest whose Citizens should sacrifice that young Cow to Diana The Latin drove the Cow to Mount Aventine and declar'd this Secret to a Roman Priest who cunningly told him he ought first to purifie his Hands in a clear running Stream and whilst the simple Latin went down to the Tiber the Priest sacrificed the Cow by this prudent Trick procuring Glory to himself and Empire to his People TULLIA Servius Tullius had two Daughters one of a fierce U.C. 216. and the other of a mild Disposition Before Ch. 534. and from his Remark that Tarquinius Priscus had two Sons of the fame Temper he married his fierce Daughter to Tarquinius's mild Son and his mild Daughter to his fierce that he might qualifie their Minds by the Difference of their Natures It happened both the good natur'd died either a natural Death or else by Poison Upon which the ill natur'd married from the similitude of their Humors Soon after Tarquinius Superbus by the instigation of his Wife Tullia having made a party assembled the Senate and began boldly to demand as Lawful Heir his Father's Kingdom Of which when Servius was informed he went to the Senate where he was flung down slairs by Tarquinius's Order and slain as he fled to his Palace Tullia made haste to the Forum and was the first that saluted her Husband King who order'd her to retire from the Crowd She going home beheld without any Compassion her Father 's dead Body lie expos'd in the Streets and commanded her Coach-man abhorring the Cruelty to drive over him Whence that Street was call'd Sceleratus or Wicked and this bloody Tullia afterwards banish'd with her Husband Tarquin TARQUINIUS SUPERBUS Seventh King of the Romans U.C. 219. Tarquinius Superbus obtain'd his Sirname Before Ch. 531. name from his Pride He traiterously usurp'd the Kingdom by murdering Servius Tullius yet by his great Valour he conquered the Latins and the Sabines took from the Volsci their Capital City Suessa Pometia and gain'd the Town Gabii by the Policy of his Son Sextus who pretended to revolt from him for his Cruelty He was the first that instituted the Latin Feasts as publick Marts for all the Neighbouring Cities He built Galleries for the Spectators in the Circus and made the great Common-Shoar which Ditches were called Quiritium because in that Work be had employed all the People He in laying the Foundation of the Capitol found the Head of one Tolus whence 't was predicted that Rome should become the Head of all Nations He was banish'd Rome together with his lascivious Son Sextus foâ— the Rape he commited during the Siege of Aradea upon the chast Lucretia and fled to Porsenna King oâ— Etruria by whose Assistance he endeavoured to regain his lost Kingdom but after several Repulfes he retired to Cumae a City in Campania finishing there the Remainder of his Life very ignominiously Mr. HENRY EWER From the Year 244. to 388. U. C. L. TARQUINIUS COLLATINUS and LUCRETIA his Wife WHilst Tarquinius Collatinus U.C. 244. who was Tarquinius Superbus his Sister's Son Before Ch. 506. served under his Uncle with others of his Relations at the Siege of Ardea an accidental Discourse falling out at a merry Entertainment between the young Princes concerning the Excellencies of their Wives they agreed to make Experiment of this Preference and all take Horse for Rome where the Kings Sons surprize their Careless Wives diverting themselves at a luxurious Banquet Thence they go to Collatia where Lucretia liv'd and find her spinning among her Maids for which in all their Opinions she was esteem'd the most virtuous But Sextus Tarquinius falling in love with her came back that night with a design upon her Honour and by the privilege of a Kinsman being kindly entertain'd at Collatins his House he brake into Lucretia's Chamber and ravish'd her She the next day sends for her Father and Husband from the Camp and after the Discovery of the Rape she stabs her self with a Dagger secretly conceal'd under her Garment This horrid Crime engag'd them in a Conspiracy to ruin Tarquin's Family and by their Banishment to revenge her Death LUCIUS JUNIUS BRUTUS First Roman Consul L. Junius Brutus U.C. 245. also Tarquinius Superbus his Sisters Son Before Ch. 505. fearing the same Misfortune which his Brother had suffered who for his great Riches and Wisdom was killed by his jealous Uncle pretended himself a Fool and from thence called Brutus He once for sports sake being admitted a Companion to the young Princes Titus and Aruns going to Delphi to consult the Oracle he presented Apollo with a hollow Stick fill'd with Gold and when 't was answer'd by the Priestess that he would be most powerful at Rome who should first kiss his Mother he immediately kiss'd the Earth the common Parent of all things Afterwards in revenge of Lucretia's Rape he combined with Tricipitinus and Collatinus to
his Enemies Eyes which Victory honoured him with the additional Name of Corvinus His Prudence was of great Consequence to the Common-Wealth when a great number of poor Debtors not able to pay their Creditors had attempted to seize Capua and forc'd Quinctius to head them in appeasing that Sedition by taking off the Debt SPURIUS POSTHUMIUS U.C. 433. Titus Veturius and Spurius Posthumius in their Consulship warring with the Samnites Before Ch. 317. were drawn into an Ambuscade by their General Pontius Thelesinus who sent out some pretended Deserters to tell the Romans that Luceria a City in Apulia was besieg'd by the Samnites Two Roads lead to this place the one longer but safer the other shorter yet more dangerous the Romans in great haste to raise the Seige by taking the shorter way fell into the Ambush the place where this Misfortune happen'd was call'd Furculae Caudinae Caius Pontius when he had taken them sent for his Father Herennius to consult his Judgment in this matter who answer'd He would either have them all killed to weaken their Forces beyond hopes of Recovery or else sent away without Ransom that they might be for ever oblig'd to him for such a generous Favour but he rejecting both these Propositions made them all Slaves and enter'd into a League with dishonourable Conditions on their part which the Romans so disliked that Posthumius their General was deliver'd up to them to disannul the Articles but not received upon that Account by them LUCIUS PAPIRIUS CURSOR Lucius Papirius from his swiftness call'd Cursor U.C. 434. was sent Dictator against the Samnites Before Ch. 316. perceiving the War to be undertook with ill Omens he return'd to Rome to consult the Soothsayers for better Divination and left the Command of the Army to Fabius Rullianus with Orders not to fight upon any Occasion yet he inticed by a fair Opportunity fought the Enemy for which Papirius at his return would have beheaded him For the safety of his life he escaped to Rome where it was not in the Power of the Tribunes to defend him nevertheless by his Fathers Tears and the Peoples Intreaty he was at last pardoned and Papirius triumph'd over the Samnites He was very pleasant in his Conversation and a great Lover of Jests as appear'd one time after having severely reprimanded the Praetor of Praeneste for his Cowardise he order'd the Lictors to make ready their Axes and when he saw him sufficiently terrified with the fear of Death commanded them only to cut up the Roots that hinder'd their March The HONORABLE Mr. ROBERT BERTIE From the Year 434. to 511. U.C. QUINCTUS FABIUS RULLIANUS U.C. 434. Q. Fabius Rullianus was the first of his Family Before Ch. 316. for his Valour call'd Maximus when he was General of the Horse under Papirius Cursor he conquer'd the Samnites but had like to have been beheaded by the Dictator for fighting without Order in his absence He first triumph'd over the Apuli and Lucerini then over the Samnites thirdly over the Gauls the Umbri the Marsi and the Tusci In his Censorship he distinguish'd the Libertini in respect of their Votes into four inferior Tribes and would not be chose Censor a second time declaring it was not for the good of the Commonwealth to have the same Men often Censors He first instituted the Cavalcade of the Roman Knights on the Ides of July from the Temple of Honor upon white Horses to the Capitol At his death so much Money was collected for him by publick Contribution that his Son made a publick Feast and gave a Dole of raw Flesh to the People MANLIUS CURIUS DENTATUS U.C. 404. Manlius Curius Dentatus first triumph'd over the Samnites Before Ch. 446. whom he conquer'd as far as the Adriatick Sea At his return to Rome he thus signaliz'd the Greatness of his Victory in an Affembly of the People I hvae taken so much Land that it would turn a Desart had I not taken so many Prisoners to inhabit it and have taken so many Men that they must perish with Hunger had I not taken so much Ground for them to subsist on He triumph'd a second time over the Sabines and thirdly enter'd the City with a less Triumph call'd Ovation for conquering the Lucanians He drove Pyrrhus King of Epirus out of Italy In the Division of the publick Lands he gave forty Acres a Man amongst the People and reserv'd but forty for himself professing that none ought to be reckon'd a Roman Citizen who could not be contented with it He was so moderate in his Desires that he answer'd the Samnite Embassadors proffering him a great Present of Gold as he was at Dinner upon roasted Turnips I had rather eat these Turnips in this Earthen Dish and govern them that possess such Riches When he was accus'd of converting to his own use the publick Money he produced for his Vindication a Wooden Cruet which he us'd at his Sacrifices solemnly swearing he never had any thing more of the Enemies Spoils in his House He brought the Aqueducts of the River Anio into Rome at the Expence of the same Plunder and in his Tribuneship forced the Senate to make the Law from him call'd Curia by which Magistrates might be elected out of the Plebeians for which many Obligations the Republick conferr'd upon him an House and five hundred Acres of Land in Tiphata APPIUS CLAUDIUS CAECUS Appius Claudius Caecus U.C. 462. in his Censorship Before Ch. 288. tho he admitted the Libertini into the Senate prohibited the Musicians from publick Feasting and playing on Pipes in Jupiter's Temple Two Families call'd the Potitii and the Pinarii had for many Ages been constituted to perform Sacrifices to Hercules he brib'd the Potitii to instruct the common Slaves in those Religious Ceremonies for which Offence he was struck blind and the Race of the Potitii utterly extinguish'd He violently oppos'd the Communication of the Consulship to any Plebeian and would not gratifie the Ambition of Fabius Rullianus to have absolute Command without Decius Mus in the War against the Samnites He conquer'd the Sabines Samnites and Hetrurians and pav'd the way as far as Brundusium whence it was call'd the Appian Road. He finish'd the Aqueduct which was brought into Rome from the River Anio and was the only Man that kept the Censorship five years together When a Peace was concluding with King Pyrrhus and his Embassador Cineas had corrupted many of the Senators Appius old and blind was brought in his Litter into the Senate and with a noble Speech broke off those base Propositions PYRRHUS King of Epirus Pyrrhus U.C. 472. King of Epirus was by his Father descended from Achilles Before Ch. 278. by his Mother from Hercules he ambitiously aimed at the Empire of the World and perceiving the Romans very powerful consulted the Delphick Oracle about the Fortune of the War whom Apollo thus ambiguously answer'd Aio te Aeacida Romanos
for demolishing Carthage his natural Vigor lasted so long that he had a Son at fourscore whose Effigies was often brought out to honour a Funeral Solemnity C. CLAUDIUS NERO and ASDRUBAL HANNIBAL's Brother Asdrubal U.C. 545. the Brother of Hannibal passed into Italy with great Recruits Before Ch. 205. for the strengthening his Army and the Roman Empire had then been utterly ruined if he had once joyned his Brother But Claudius Nero whose Camp was in Apulia near Hannibal leaving part of his Forces behind him drew out a large Detachment of his choicest Men and marching directly against Asdrubal joined M. Livius his Colleague at a Town called Sena by the River Metaurus in Calabria where they two together beat Asdrubal After this Victory Nero returned to his Camp with the same speed and threw Asdrubal's Head before his Brother Hannibal's Trenches At which sight Hannibal publickly declared he was overcome by the ill Fortune of Carthage For this good Service Marcus Livius entered Rome with a greater Triumph and Nero with a less because the Action was not performed within his Province P. CORNELIUS SCIPIO Publius Scipio called Africanus U.C. 551. for his Courage and Conduct in the Conquest of Africa Before Ch. 199. was supposed to be the Son of Jupiter for before his Mother was with Child of him a Serpent supposed the Genius of Jupiter was seen in her Bed and in his Childhood a Snake twined about him without doing him any harm The Dogs never bark'd at him altho he went into the Capitol at Midnight nor did he ever undertake any Business till he had sate meditating a good while near the Image of Jupiter as if he received Directions from that God He but eighteen years of Age by his singular Valour saved his Father's Life at Ticinum and so great Influence was the Authority of Scipio that he put a stop to the young Noblemen and hinder'd them from leaving Italy and conducted the Remainder of the Army after the Defeat of Cannae through the Enemies Camp to Canusium At four and twenty he was sent Pretor into Spain and took Carthago Nova now Carthagena the same day he came before it when his Soldiers brought him a young Maid whose Beauty attracted every one to be a Spectator he out of Modesty would not see her but gave order that she should be restored to her Father and betrothed Lover a Prince of Celâ—iberia He beat Asdrubal and Mage Hannibal's Brothers out of Spain made a League with Syphax King of Mauritania and received Massanissa into the Number of the Allies Returning home after these Victories he was made Consul before he was old enough according to Law and by the Consent of his Colleague passed over into Africa and forc'd his way through Asdrubal's and Syphax's Camp in one night He vanquished Hannibal after he was recalled out of Italy and imposed new Laws upon the conquered Carthaginians In the War against Antiochus he was his Brother's Lieutenant and his Son that was taken Prisoner was returned without Ransom in honour of the Father Being accused of Extortion by the Petilii and Naevius Tribunes of the People with great assurance he tore his Book of Accounts in pieces before the People and said This day I conquered Carthage 't was a good piece of Service to the Commonwealth let us go to the Capitol and return our publick Thanks to the Gods Then he left the ungrateful City spending the rest of his Life in exile and at his death begged of his Wife that his Body should not be carried back to Rome MARCUS LIVIUS SALINATOR In his first Consulship triumph'd over the Illyrians yet sometime after was maliciously accused by all the Tribes except the Metian for embezelling the publick Stock In his second Consulship he was joined with his Enemy Claudius Nero but rather than the Government should sustain any prejudice from their Variance he was freely reconciled to him and upon their Victory over Asdrubal Hannibal's Brother rode in Triumph into the City He was also chose with the same Nero in his Censorship and set a Poll-Tax upon every Tribe except the Metians taking away their Pension because they had either condemned very unjustly at first or else had done very ill in conferring so great Honours upon him after a former suspicion TITUS QUINCTIUS FLAMINIUS Was the Son of that Flaminius who who was killed at Trasimenus He was sent Consul into Macedonia and guided by King Carops's Shepherds into the Province He routed King Philip and took his Camp receiving from him his Son Demetrius for an Hostage tho afterwards he made him pay a great Ransom before he restored him to his Kingdom He took also the Son of Nabis King of Lacedemon as a Pledge for his Fidelity and at last made Proclamation by the common Cryer at the Nemaean Games with general Applause that all the Graecians should enjoy their ancient Liberties This was he that was sent to Prusias to demand Hannibal MARCUS FULVIUS NOBILIOR In his Pretorship conquered Spain for which good Service he enter'd the City with a less Triumph called Ovation The Aetolians and Ambracians were routed by him in several Battels who in the Macedonian War had first sided with the Romans but afterwards revolted to Antiochus King of Syria He drave them into their City Ambracia and by a Blockade forced them to surrender yet he plunder'd them of nothing but their Statues and Pictures which were carried before him in Triumph His Friend Quintus Ennius wrote a noble Poem in commendation of this Victory tho it was sufficiently famous of it self and needed not the Art of a Poet to set it off Mr. HEARY MOLINS D'AVENANT From the Year 563 to 660. U. C. L. SCIPIO ASIATICUS SCipio Asiaticus U.C. 563. Brother to Scipio Africanus Before Ch. 187. was a Man of a weak Constitution yet upon the Account of his Valour in Africa was recommended by his Brother for Consul and having him for his Lieutenant-General beat Antiochus King of Syria at Mount Sipylus in Caria where the Enemies Bows by reason of the excessive Rain were made useless He took from him part of his Hereditary Kingdom and from his Success gained the Name of Asiaticus Some time after he was accused for embezelling the Publick Treasure but Gracchus Tribune of the People satisfied of his Integrity tho his Adversary stop'd any farther Proceeding yet Marcus Cato the Censor afterwards took from him his Horse as a particular Mark of Disgrace ANTIOCHUS King of Syria Antiochus U.C. 560. King of Syria trusting too much to his own Power Before Ch. 190. waged War with the Romans under pretence of recovering the City of Lysimachia built by his Ancestors in Thrace and then in the possession of the Romans In a short time he seized on all Greece with the adjacent Islands but ruined himself by Luxury in the Island Euboea Upon the Approach of Acilius Glabrio he drew up his Forces in the Straits of the
that killed the Impostor set up by the Magi could speak two and twenty Languages and was so strong that he could drive a Chariot and Six Horses Whilst the Romans were quarrelling with the Allies he beat Nicomedes out of Bithynia Ariobarzanes out of Cappadocia and sent Orders all over Asia to have every Roman massacred that should be found there on a certain day which was done accordingly He seized on Greece and all the Islands that belonged to the Romans except Rhodes But Sulla beat him in a pitch'd Battel took his Fleet by the Treachery of Archelaus and totally routed him at the City Orchomenus and might have cut off his whole Army had he not been in haste to go against Marius and so was glad to make peace upon any Terms Afterwards upon his making Head against the Romans at Cabira he was overcome by Lucullus and and at another time by Pompey who gave him Battel by Night Thence he fled into his own Kingdom and upon the Rebellion of his Subjects headed by his Son Pharnaces finding the Tower beset the place of his Retreat he took a Dose of Poison which having little effect because he had formerly taken so many Antidotes when Sithocus the Gaul was sent to execute him and was startled at his Majestick Look he bade him do his Office and assisted his trembling Hand in the performance CNAEUS POMPEIUS MAGNUS U.C. 689. Cnaeus Pompeius the Great sided with Sulla in the Civil War Before Ch. 61. and behaved himself so well that he was mightily beloved by him He retook Sicily from the proscribed persons that fled thither without any opposition turned Hiarbas out of Numidia and restored Massinissa he rode in Triumph into the City when he was but Six and twenty years old and tho he was but a private Man forced Lepidus to leave Italy for endeavouring to rescind Sulla's Laws of Proscription when he was sent Praetor into Spain instead of the Consuls he conquered Sertorius and not long after cleared the Sea of Pirates within Forty Days he forced Tigranes to surrender and Mithridates to poison himself Then with great Fortune and no less Expedition he went first into the North against the Albani the Colchi the Heniochi Caspii Iberi and in the East struck Terror into the Parthians Arabians and Jews He was the first Roman that went as far as the Hyrcanian or Caspian the Red or Arabian Sea Upon the Division of the Roman Empire Crassus had the Government of Syria Caesar of Gaul and Pompey of Rome After the Death of Crassus he commanded Caesar to disband his Army but he refused to do it and coming against Pompey drove him out of the City and beat him in Pharsalia from whence he fled to Ptolemy King of Alexandria and was by his command killed by Achillas and Pothinus two of his Life-Guard Septimius Captain of the Guard stabbed him in the sight of his Wife and Children and cut off his Head which until that time had been looked upon as Sacred his Body was thrown into the River Nile but taken up by Servius Codrus and buried with this Inscription upon his Tomb. Here lies Pompey the Great His Head was wrapt up in a Cloth by Achillas and presented with his Ring to Caesar who could not forbear Tears at the sight of it and gave order to have it burnt with many rich Perfumes Mr. JAMES LLOYD From the Year 670 to 722 U. C. JULIUS CAESAR CAius Julius Caesar U.C. 697. in honor of his great Exploits sirnamed Divus Before Ch. 53. went Voluntier into Asia in the Retinue of Thermus the Praetor where by conversing too often with Nicomedes King of Bithynia he was suspected of Incontinency After this he applied himself to the Bar and prosecuted Dolobella for Bribery and had him condemned In his Voyage to Rhodes where he design'd to study under Apollonius Molo he was taken by Pyrats and paid a great Ransom yet in revenge he soon after took the same Pirats and crucified them When he was chose Praetor he subdued Lusitania and all Gaul on the other side of the Alpes and twice crossing the Ocean with his Fleet conquered Britain Upon Pompey's denying him a public Triumph he drove him out of Rome by Force of Arms and beat him at Pharsalia in Thessaly yet when his Head was brought to him in Aegypt by Achillas he wept and gave order to have it honourably buried and took the occasion of King Ptolemy's Guards setting upon him to expiate the Murder of Pompey upon them and their King The Terror of his very Name put Pharnaces the Son of Mithridates to flight He overcame Juba and Scipio in Africa the two Pompeys in a Battel at Munda in Spain and then forgiving his Enemies laid down his Arms with all private Grudges for he commanded that only Lentulus Afranius and Faustus the Son of Sylla should be put to Death He was made perpetual Dictator by the Senate and assassin'd in the Senate House by some Conspirators headed by Brutus and Cassius with Three and twenty Wounds When his Body was laid before the Pulpit where Marc Anthony made his Funeral Oration some say the Sun was Eclipsed OCTAVIANUS CAESAR U.C. 721. Caesar Octavianus was adopted from the Octavian into the Julian Family Before Ch. 29. Julius Caesar made him his Heir and to revenge his Murther he conquered Brutus and Cassius in Macedonia who were principally concerned in that Conspiracy and at the Streights of Sicily overcame Sextus Pompeius the Son of Cneus Pompeius when he endeavoured to recover his Father's Estate Upon the Coast of Actium near the Gulf of Ambracia he totally routed the Fleet commanded by Marc Antony who was deeply in love with Cleopatra and governed Syria as Consul The rest of the World was subdued by his Lieutenants The Parthians in honor to him of their own accord sent him the Standards which they had formerly taken from Crassus The Indians Scythians Sarmatians and Dacians althô he had not conquered them sent him Presents He shut the Gates of Two-faced Janus's Temple with his own Hand never shut but twice before his time once in Numa Pompilius's Reign and a second time after the first Carthaginian War The Senate made him perpetual Dictator and stil'd him Divus Augustus for his noble Actions CATO PRAETORIUS Cato Praetorius U.C. 689. great Grandson to Cato the Censor Before Ch. 61. was ever so firm to his Principles that in his youth whilst he was brought up in his Uncle Drusus's House Quintus Popedius Silo chief Magistrate of the Marsi could not persuade him either by Bribes or Threats to say That he would side with the Allies When he was Quaestor he was sent into Cyprus to fetch the Money that King Ptolemy's Estate was sold for and brought it safe to Rome with great Integrity He was so upright and just that contrary to others he voted the Death of the Catilinarian Conspirators In the Civil War between Caesar and Pompey