the former chearfully and the latter unwillingly The Latins were so strong that the Romans thought it convenient to create a Dictator and accordingly Virginius the Senior Consul nominated Posthumius his Collegue who chose Ebutius Helva for his Master of the Horse and hastning his Levies divided his Troops into four Parts reserving one to himself assigning the second to Virginius the third to Ebutius and the fourth to Sempronius who was to defend the City Upon Intelligence that the Latines had taken the Field Posthumius advanc'd with all speed to the Lake Regillus 14 Miles East of Rome by Tusculum where he fortifi'd himself against the Enemy who as yet were not all united but expected Aid from the Volsci The Romans divided themselves into three parts and were so conveniently posted as to cut off all Provisions from the Latine Camp designing to starve 'em but the News of the March of the Volsci alter'd their Measures making 'em resolve to engage The Roman Army consisted of 24000 Foot and 1000 Horse and the Enemy of 40000 Foot and 3000 Horse Tarquin's Son Titus commanding the main Body his Brother Sextus the Left Wing and Mamilius the Right Posthumius stood against Titus Ebutius against Sextus and Virginius against Mamilius and so began a bloody Battel Florus says that Posthumius cast one of the Ensigns among the Enemy that his Men might be the more eager to fall upon 'em and recover it and that Ebutius commanded the Bridles to be taken off the Horses that they might Charge with the greater Violence and Fury The Victory at last fell on the Romans side and the Battel was fought with so much Bravery and Courage that it was reported that the Gods themselves were present particularly Castor and Pollux mounted on milk white Steeds The Latines lost Mamilius and Sextus and were so broken that scarce a fourth Part of 'em escap'd and from the Place of this Victory Posthumius obtain'd the Sirname of Rhegillensis many others likewise gaining great Honour particularly Caius Marcius afterwards call'd Coriolanus After the Battel was over the Volsci arriv'd at the Camp whereof one Party was for attacking the Romans now weary but another Party willing to ingratiate themselves with the Conquerors prevail'd to send to the Dictator to let him understand That they came to his Assistance But Posthumius convinc'd 'em of their Falshood by their own Letters which he had intercepted and giving leave to the Messenger to return whom the Multitude wou'd have pull'd in pieces resolv'd to fall on 'em the next Day but in the Night they abandon'd their Camp and fled The Latines now in a very bad Condition sent in the humblest manner imaginable to beg Peace of the Romans and their Ambassadors with so many Tears and submissive Intreaties laid all the Blame on the Nobility that the Motion of Largius prevail'd in their behalf for the former League to be renew'd Thus ended all the Wars made upon the Tarquin's account which had been carry'd on for 13 Years As for Tarquin himself the only Person left of all his Family now abandon'd by the Latines Hetrurians Sabines with the rest of the Neighbouring People who all refus'd to harbour him he went into Campania to Aristodemus Prince of Cuma where he shortly after dy'd being about 90 Years of Age and the last King that Rome ever saw II. Upon the finishing of this War Posthumius laid down his Office and Appius Claudius the Sabine and Servilius Priscus were made Consuls for the Year following and now the Courts of Justice were again open'd and Processes against Debtors reviv'd This caus'd great Disturbances among the Common People the Plebeians alledging their Inability of paying their Debts upon the account of their Losses by the Enemies Incursions and their want of Tillage which Plea their Creditors likewise made use of shewing that these Losses were such as made the remitting of their Debts impossible which occasion'd many Tumults and Quarrels The Consuls endeavour'd to divert these threatning Mischiefs by making War against the Volsci who had lately assisted the Latines but none of the Plebeians wou'd List themselves making grievous Complaints against the intollerable Severity of their Creditors and declaring That they had ventur'd their Lives to preserve the Liberty of the State abroad and in requital were made Slaves by their Countrymen at home Now Servilius was willing to comply in some measure with the Poor but Appius very hotly oppos'd it as the most dangerous Remedy in the World and the Disagreement of the Consuls added much to the common Calamity However the Senate at last was forc'd to have recourse to the Popularity of Servilius who with fair Words and Promises perswaded the People into the Field where when he had by his good Services deserv'd a Triumph the Honour was deni'd him by the Insinuation of his Collegue Appius who represented to the Senate That by bearing and complying with the Multitude he had impair'd the Dignity of his Order The People now expecting the Performances of Servilius's Promises were wholly disappointed by Appius's Contrivances which doubled their Rage and made 'em carry all things by open Force rescuing their Companions out of the hands of the Serjeants holding Secret Cabals denying ever to touch a Weapon till their Burdens were remov'd These dangerous Stirs put the Senate to a great stand Appius still urg'd That nothing ought to be granted to the Rabble and the better to quell the Disturbances procur'd a Dictator to be created which most suppos'd wou'd be himself But the present Consuls made choice of M. Valerius a popular Man supposing that the Terror of the Office alone wou'd perform the Work and that a Person of a mild and moderate Temper wou'd best manage it Valerius chose Servilius the late Consul for his Master of the Horse and he minding the Pleasure of the People more than his own Authority told 'em That if they wou'd freely follow him not only what they justly requir'd concerning their Debts but other Rewards shou'd be granted 'em by which means he procur'd ten Legions to be listed With these he march'd against the Volsci Aequi and Sabines who were all up in Arms and having reduc'd 'em he divided some Lands he had taken from the Volsci among the Soldiers At his return he requested the Senate that his and their Promises might be made good but was check'd for his too great Compliance with the Multitude and because he was an old Man above Seventy unfit as he said to contend and unwilling to shew his utmost Authority he immediately laid down his Office This more inflam'd the common People who now had their private Consultations designing to separate themselves from the Patritians which when the Senate perceiv'd order was given to the Consuls not to disband the Army pretending that the Sabines and Aequi had new Designs against Rome Now the Soldiers being strictly bound by their Oath call'd Sacramentum at their first Listing cou'd not
Dominions abroad for when he found leisure he built the Walls of the City which before were patch'd up in haste with large square Stone each consisting of a Load Weight Then he took care of the other publick Buildings of the City adorning the Forum with lofty Portico's Galleries and Shops being a Prince much delighted with stately Buildings and noble Sights He likewise made many Cloacae or Common-Sewers to drain the City and carry the Filth of it into the Tiber a Work of such vast Charge and Labour that when they were afterwards stopp'd the Censors spent a Thousand Talents only to clear 'em a Work likewise so admirable that Dionysius thinks that from the Magnificence of these as well as their Aquaeducts and High-ways the Grandeur of the Roman Empire appear'd In the Circus Maximus that vast Place for Games and Exercises between the Palatine and Aventine Hills he caus'd Seats to be rais'd for the Spectators with great Skill and Charge and likewise distinguish'd all their Places according to their several Ranks and Dignities In the Sabine War he vow'd a Temple to Iupiter Iuno and Minerva if he got the Victory for that reason afterwards he with wonderful Cost levelled the Rock on the Capitoline and form'd a Plat for building it but liv'd not to go on with it any further and this was the beginning of the Capitol Tarquin had design'd after these things to have added three Centuries of the Celeres to those three Instituted by Romulus but was forbidden by Actius Naevius to alter the Constitutions of that King therefore without creating of new Centuries he doubled the Number of the former This Naevius was the most famous Augur that Rome ever knew and Tarquin one time to try him ask'd him If what he had in his Thought might be done he answering in the affirmative Tarquin jeeringly told him He thought of cutting a Whetstone with a Razor Naevius â—ad him strike hard and he cut it through This much enhancâ—d the Reputation of Augury especially of Naevius's Skill therein but his being suddenly miss'd soon after was a great Prejudice to Tarquin For the two Sons of Ancus Marcius grudging him their Father's Throne accusâ—d him to the People of the Death of this Augur but his Son-in-Law answer'd their Objections and clear'd him of that Scandal Missing their Design they pretended Repentance and were easily receiv'd into Favour but three Years after they disguised several of their Companions like Shepherds and appearing in Court pretended a Quarrel and demanded Justice of the King Tarquin appearing they set upon him and kill'd him but were soon caught and receiv'd their just Reward Thus fell Lucius Tarquinius for distinction surnam'd Priscus after the last Tarquin had obtain'd the Kingdom in the Eightieth Year of his Age after he had Reign'd 38 Years and done many and great Services to the Common-Wealth The Roman Greatness and Magnificence began to appear much more in this Reign than in the former and this King was the first that ever Triumph'd in a Chariot Likewise the Roman Dominions were much encreas'd in this Reign by a larger Authority in the Sabines Country and by some considerable Additions in Hetruria and Latium CHAP. VI. From the Death of Tarquinius Priscus to the Death of Servius Tullius the Sixth King of Rome Containing the Space of 44 Years I. TArquinius Priscus being dead Servius Tullius his Son-in-law succeeded him which Tullius was Son to Ocrisia a considerable Woman taken Prisoner by Tarquin at Corniculum a Town in Latium and given to his Wife Tanaquil where she was deliver'd of Tullius surnam'd Servius in remembrance of her Bondage her Husband being slain at the taking of the Town Tullius being an Infant in his Cradle a Flame of Fire is said to have appear'd and encompass'd his Head which rais'd great Expectations in Tanaquil a Woman much esteem'd for such kind of Knowledge She brought her Husband to so good an Opinion of him that he both gave him Education and in time made him his Son-in-Law When the King grew old he manag'd his Publick Affairs for him both abroad and at home with that Valour Prudence and Integrity that he gain'd the highest Esteem of all People Tarquinius having no Sons but only two Grand-sons both Infants Tanaquil much desir'd that Tullius shou'd succeed him therefore she kept his Death private for a while pretending he was only dangerously wounded till Tullius had prevail'd with the People to banish the Marcii Being thus secure of that Faction he carry'd out Tarquin as newly dead to be bury'd and as Tutor or Guardian to the young Children executed the Office of King which Tanaquil out of the Window had told the People was her Husband's Will when she feign'd him still alive The Patritians were much concernâ—d at this not knowing how to come to an Election since they perceiv'd the People wou'd not approve of their Choice but wou'd be all for Tullius so they thought it better to let him Reign in an unlawful Manner that they might ever have a just Pretence against him than by stirring to procure him a legal Title Tullius discovering all their Designs and Practices immediately assembled the People in the Forum where appearing with his Mother Mother-in-Law the two Children and all his Kindred in deep mourning and all the utmost signs of sorrow he shew'd the People how sad and lamentable his Condition was through the Contrivances of the Patritians against him which he had no otherwise deserv'd than by his good Services to his Country That they had design'd to recall the Marcii who had treasonably Murder'd Tarquin and to expose the Posterity of him whose Memâ—ry â—ught to be so precious to 'em as well as himself to the same Cruelty But if it was the Pleasure of the People he wou'd freely give up all Pretensions and rather than offend them undergo the severest Hardships A great Clamour immediately arose mixâ—d with the Prayers and Tears of those who besought him to retain the Government and some who were provided before-hand began to cry out He was to be chosen King and the Curiae were to be call'd to the Vâ—te which thing was instantly resolv'd by the Multitude He thankâ—d 'em very heartily for being mindful of the Benefits receiv'd from him and promised to pay their Debts and divide the publick Lands among such as wanted if they wou'd elect him King and thereupon he appointed a day for the Assembly At the Comitia Curiata he was chosen King by the Votes of 'em all in spite of all the Opposition of the Senate who refus'd at last to confirm the Choice as their Custâ—m was II. Not long after his Settlement according to his Promise he divided the publick Lands among the poorer Sort and in the Curiata Comitia preferr'd fifty several Laws concerning Contracts and Injuries He very much enlarg'd the City taking in three Hills to the four former namely the Quirinal the Viminal and the Esquiline on the latter of
Men with light Iron Helmets and bound their wooden Targets about with Brass teaching them how to fence and receive the Enemies Blows without Hurt By this means he render'd the Swords of the Gauls so unserviceable that giving 'em Battel at the River Anio he easily overthrew 'em which hapned 23 Years after they had destroy'd the City and after this Defeat the Romans began now to despise the Gauls as much as they had fear'd 'em before Soon after this Camillus in his Return homewards had Velitrae surrender'd to him without any Resistance But Camillus's greatest Contention and which was hardest to be manag'd was with the People who now returning home full of Victory and Success violently insisted again to have one of the Consuls chosen out of their own Body The Senate strongly oppos'd it and wou'd not suffer Camillus to lay down his Dictator-ship thinking that under the Shelter of his great Name and greater Authority they shou'd be the better able to contend for the Power of the Nobility But when Camillus was sitting upon the Tribunal dispatching publick Affairs an Officer sent by the Tribunes of the People commanded him to rise and follow him laying his Hand upon him as ready to seize him Upon which such a Noise and Tumult follow'd in the Assembly as was never before known in Rome Some that were about Camillus thrusting the People from the Bench and the Multitude below Crying out Pull him down Pull him down Still he wouâ—d not lay down his Office but taking the Senators along with him he went to the Senate-House where great Contests arose by reason of contrary Opinions but at last the most Popular Party prevail'd and a Law was made That one of the Consuls for the future might be chosen out of the Plebeians and this hapned 143 Years after their first Creation and 24 after the burning of Rome by the Gauls From this time forwards the Military Tribunes were for ever laid aside now 78 Years since their first Creation after 49 Courses of that Office and 15 from the Consul-ship to that and from that to the Consul-ship Now the People were reconcil'd to the Senate and a Temple was presently built and Dedicated to Concord according as Camillus had vow'd and the Patritians desiring a Praetor to be created out of their Body for the Administration of Justice in the City it was immediately Granted ' em This Praetor was a Magistrate of extraordinary Note so call'd à Praeâ—undo a Name which the Consuls themselves had for some time The Power and Authority of this Magistrate was very great for he executed the Office of the Consuls in their Absence both in the Senate and in the Comitia But the Principal Business of these Praetors was to Administer Justice in the City or Provinces to which the Consuls couâ—d not so easily attend and upon that account they may be English'd Lord Chief Iustices They judgâ—d all Causes both Civil and Criminal which last were call'd Capitales in Civil Causes they were cloth'd in Purple but when they pass'd Sentence in Criminal Causes they were in Mourning Upon the account of their Power and Honour and likewise because they were created by the same Auspicia with the Consuls Livy calls them Collegues of the Consuls Their Ornaments and Ensigns were six Lictors with their Fasces the Toga Praetexta and Cella Curulis and besides those Marks of Consular Dignity the Sword and Spear plac'd by them in the Court Their Officers in Court besides the Lictors were the Scribes or Notaries to enter things in Writing and the Accensi or Bailiffs who Summon'd the People together At first there was but one Praetor and that for above 100 Years then another was Created who administred Justice to Strangers whereupon for Distinction sake the first was call'd Praetor Urbanus or Major and the latter Peregrinus or Minor But as the Business and Dominions of Rome increased the number of these Praetors was likewise inlarg'd and encreas'd gradually till in Augustus's Reign they came to Sixteen Immediately after the Reconciliation between the Nobility and Commons a 4th Day was added to the Latin Feriae and the greater fort of Games were Solemniz'd which when the Aediles of the Commons were unwilling to manage according to their Office the young Patritians offer'd themselves and the Senate procur'd also of the People that two Patritians every year might be made Aediles who from the Ivory Chair call'd Cella Curulis had the Name of Aediles Curuleâ— These were Created 128 Years after the Aediles of the Commons but were of greater Account as being Curule Magistrates their Chair being so call'd either from Currus the Chariot which carri'd it and the Magistrate about or from Curvus because it was made with Crooked Feet They had all the same Offices and Business as the Aediles of the Commons but had rather greater Authority but more especially they took Care of the great and publick Games such as the Ludi Florales Circenses Megalenses Romani c. as also of Tragedies and Comedies Sometimes at their own Charge they made these Shews and ever examin'd the Plays written before they were Acted and whether from this Inspection of all Plays and the like it is uncertain they seem to have been the Licensers and Judges of other Writings It is further observ'd that the Generals of Armies when return'd home from Victory deliver'd up the Corn and Provisions which were Prize to these Aediles Curules as they did the Prisoners to the Praetor and the Money to the Quaestor Thus were the Disturbances of Rome allay'd and all things for a short space continu'd in Peace and Quiet IV. Soon after these Affairs were setled News came of the Gauls meeting together who had before been dispers'd through Apulia and of the intended Revolt of the Hernici But all Preparations were deferred by the Senate because they were unwilling to have any thing done by a Plebeian Consul On the other side the Tribunes began to complain that for one Plebeian Consul the Nobility had got three Patritian Magistrates who sate as Consuls in their Curule Chairs and their Praetexta Modesty therefore suffer'd not the Fathers to Create both the Curule Aediles out of their own Body so that it was agreed first that every other Year they shou'd be chosen out of the Commons but afterwards they were Elected promiscuously The Year following there hapned a grievous Plague in the City which swept away vast Numbers among the rest Camillus himself after he had done so many Noble Services for the City that he was deservedly called the second Founder of Rome The Plague raging both in this and the following Year the Romans to appease their Gods brought in Stage-Plays sending for Actors out of Hetruria in the Language of which Country Hister signifying a Player thence came the Roman word Histrio These Plays were at first very Barbarous and Antick beginning with a plain Country Dance to a Pipe after which the