Romanæ historiæ anthologia An English exposition of the Romane antiquities, wherein many Romane and English offices are paralleld and divers obscure phrases explained. By Thomas Godwyn Master of Arts: for the vse of Abingdon Schoole.

CHAP. 2.

De primâ divisione Romanorum in Senatores, sive Patres, Patricios, sive Patronos, & Ple∣beï, sivè Clientes.

THe first division of the Romans in respect of their de∣gree, and place was this. The elder, wealthier, & gra∣vest sort of Romanes, were called sometimes Patri∣cij, either because of their age, and gravity; or because they had many childrē (for great priviledges were granted vn∣to fathers of three children:) & sometimes Patroni, because they were as patrons, and fathers in helping and assisting the causes of the common people seeking to them. The younger, poorer, and simpler sort were called, as they had relation to the Patricij, Plebeij .i. the commons; as they had relation to their Patrons, they were named Clientes .i. Cli∣ents. Betweene whomc 1.1 there was such a mutuall, and reci∣procal entercourse of loue, and duty, that as their Patrons were ready to protect their clients, so the clients were bound with all faithfulnesse to cleaue vnto their Patrons: and that not only to credit them with their attendance in publike assemblies, but to disburse out of their owne pur∣ses towards the bestowing of their daughters, the paying of publike mulcts, the giving of largesses in suing for offi∣ces, &c. Neither was it lawfull for either of thē to enforme, to depose, to giue their voices, or to side with adversaries one against another without the guilt of treasō: for which crime of treason they were dijs inferis devoti .i. cursed to hell, and the law gaue liberty for any man to kil them. Out of the Patricij did Romulus elect 100. counsellers to assist him in determining matters concerning the cōmō-weale: to these did Romulus after adde another 100. and Tarqui∣nius Priscus, as diverse authors testifie, made them a cōpleat 300. which they called Patres, or Senatores, & their sonnes Patricij. But in processe of time the commons also were e∣ligible into a Senators place. Some say that Tarquinius Priscus added the second hundred to the Senate out of the commons,d 1.2 who were called Senatores minorū gentium .i. Senators of the lower house. Brutus added the last 100. & made them 300: at what time they began to be called Pa∣tres

conscripti. And this accordeth with Ioannes Rosa in his Epitome of the Romane history, in his chapter de Regibus Romanis: where he saith, that Tarquinius Priscus did dou∣ble the number of the Senators: And likewisee 1.3 Alexander Neop. saith, that Brutus made them a compleat 300.

Notes

• c 1.1

  Lazius de Repub. Rom. lib. 12. cap. 3.
• d 1.2

  Martin. Ph•• leticus in Cic. lib 1 Ep. fam. 1.
• e 1.3

  Alex. Gen. dier. l. 2. c. 29.