1 Interregents.
FOr one yeere after the death of Romulus, the nobles fell to variance, and strove who should be king: but by reason, that no one per∣son excelled above the rest in that state so new∣ly founded, there grew severall factions and de∣bates in their head-corporations. They who wer descended from the Sabines (because after the death of Tatius none of them raigned with Romulus in equall societie) were desirous to have a king created out of their bodie, because they would not forgoe their hold and possessi∣on in the Empire. But the old Romanes could not away with a straunger-king. Howbeit, as dif∣ferent as they were in affections, al were willing to set up a king, as having not tasted yet the sweetnesse of libertie. The Peeres moreover mightily seared (by reason that the neighbour States bordering round about were provoked against th••m) least some forraine force might assaile their cittie left thus without soveraigne government, and the armie without a leader. Whereupon the two hundred nobles agreed among themselves to enter into an association of rule, and made ten Decuries: and in every Decurie created one to have the sovereigntie over the rest. These Senatours were then too in number, as Livie saith, and according to Plutarch a hundred & fiftie. But Dionysius wri∣teth, that there were two hundred of the Sa∣bines, and as many Romanes. After this they cast lots; and their Decurie unto whom the lot∣terie first fell, ruled the cittie: howbeit not all of them at once, but one alone had the regall or∣naments, and the lictours going before him. Five daies hee governed and no longer; and so by this order in course, the nobles of every De∣curie governed the citie fiftie daies. For after five daies determined, hee whose lot was first to governe in that Decurie, delivered up unto the second the imperiall dignitie together with the ensignes thereof: and hee againe, when his five daies were expired, unto a third, and so to the tenth. Thus when these tenne first Interregents had passed one 50 daies, a second Decurie of Senatours in like manner ruled the citie other 50 daies; and thus they went round through all untill they had fulfilled a yeeres space in this regencie. This government was of the thing it selfe called Interregnum, which name it still re∣tained afterwards, and the men likewise were named Interreges. In this yeare therefore was the magistracie of Interregents first devised a∣mong the Romanes. And not onely after the death of Romulus the State was ruled by In∣terregencie, but also after the decease of Numa, Tullius, & Ancus, kings. In like manner during the time of the free State & Commonweale, after the time of yeerely magistrates expired, the said governement tooke place very often, before the creation of new: for they held the assembly for elections, wherin new governours were by the people created. Now the office and charge of this Interregent was, during the time of his regencie (which ordinarily passed not five daies) to execute all those functions in the ci∣tie, which belonged either to KK. or Consuls; namely, to minister justice, to rule the Com∣monweale, to hold a Senate, and there to pro∣pound the affairs of State, & lastly to summon the generall assembly for chusing new magi∣strates. As touching the beginning of Interre∣gents, Dionysius in his second booke, Livie in his first, Plutarch in Numa, Sext. Ruffus, Euse∣bius & other old writers, have written at large.