The Romane historie vvritten by T. Livius of Padua. Also, the Breviaries of L. Florus: with a chronologie to the whole historie: and the Topographie of Rome in old time. Translated out of Latine into English, by Philemon Holland, Doctor in Physicke

Of the first soveraigne magistrates of the citie of Rome, namely, of the KK. who were in number seven.

ALl sorts of policies and governments in a Common-weale which are set downe and named by auncient Writers, the cittie of Rome (were it by the fatall course of destinie, or upon some troubles in the State) hath re∣ceived and endured every one: so as no common-weale in manner there can be found, wherein they succeeded so one after another, as they did in the very cittie of Rome. For in the beginning, the KK. ruled it; but when they for their excessive outrage and inordinate lust exercised upon their citizens and subjects, were deposed and expelled, the Consuls (and after them the Tribunes militarie in Consuls authoritie) held the soveraigntie. But in processe of time, when this frame and forme of Common-weale (simply the best) was by the outrage of the two Gracchi (Saturninus and Drusus Triburies of the Commons) put out of joynt and trou∣bled, untill such time as their power and authoritie was by Sylla rent in twain, & the Commons disseized of their lands and killed: then the administration of the common-weale was restored againe to the Nobles and principall persons of the citie. But at length when it was oppressed againe by the civill warre of Pompey and Caesar, the soveraigne rule of the State was devolved upon the empire of Caesar alone; wherein, being first shaken a few yeeres before, through the wicked insolencie and lust of the three Triumvirs, it continued untill the time that it fell to ut∣ter ruine. Wee therefore will briefely goe through all these sorts of government, in that succes∣sive order as they followed one after another, and first begin with the KK.

37 Romulus the first K. of the Romans, reigned 37 yeeres.

ROMULUS, the founder of the citie, reigned 37 yeeres: for so many Livie assigneth un∣to him. Likewise Dionysius in the first booke, which hee repeateth also in the second: and Piutarch in Numa dissenteth not from them, howsoever in Romulus, hee writeth that hee departed this world in the 37 yeere of his age. Solinus in like manner rehearsing his worthie actes, attributeth unto his reigne 37 yeeres. Onely Eutropius (1. booke 4. chap.) alloweth unto him 39 yeeres: but Cuspinian thinketh verie well, that the copie is corrupt. This prince having reigned (according to the more common received opinion of authors) seven and thirtie yeeres; in which time; he laid the first ground-worke of the Roman Empire,

with excellent lawes and ordinances, and esta∣blished both civile & also militarie discipline, departed this life upon the Nones of Julie, which day was called afterwards, Nonae Ca∣protinae: by occasion that he in mustering and reviewing his armie at the lake of Caprae, was conveighed out of mens sight: whereupon the people fled as amased at the suddaine death of their king, as Plutarch and Dionysius doe wit∣nesse. This Romulus after his * 1.1 deification was named Quirinus, of which surname Ovid in his * 1.2 Kalender giveth these reasons.

Sive quod hasta quiris; Priscis est dicta * 1.3 Sabinis: Bellicus a telo, venit in * 1.4 astra Deus: Sive suo regi nomen posuere Quirites, Seu quia * 1.5 Romanes iunxerat ille Cures.

A spear, old Sabins Quiris cald, which Romulus us'd in fight: This martiall man a god became, & so Quirinus hight, Quirites eke his subjects hege, their K. this name might give: Or els the Curets, who he broght with Romans for to live.

That hee was base borne, and could not avouch his owne father, beside other writers, Plutarch especially affirmeth in his Theseus. Howbeit the old opinion went currant, that he was by Mars begotten in stealth of a vestal vir∣gin, Ilia, Rhea, or Sylvia, for so many names ther goe of her: and that first he was called Romus, of Ruma, which signifieth a teat or pap, and af∣terwards by way of flatterie, Romulus.

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.

43 Numa Pompilius the second K. raigned 43 yeares.

ONe yeere of Interregencie being thus ac∣complished, the people of Rome thought

this a greevous and heavie manner of govern∣ment; and the Commons grumbled that their servitude was many-fold more than before, as having two hundred lords over them in steed of one. Which when the Senatours perceived, they agreed at last upon this point, That the old Senatours should create a king, whome they would, so hee were not one of their owne bodie and degree. Wherupon Numa Pompilius (for that in justice & wisdome he excelled all other) was called out of Cures a cittie of the Sabines, to bee their king. That hee reigned three and fortie yeers, all accord, save Eutropius, Eusebius and Cassiodorus (late writers) who set downe but one and fortie, as Onuphrius and Sigonius have observed. Of this king, Dionysius in the second booke, Livie in his first, Solinus in his second chapter, Plutarch, Plinie, and Eutro∣pius in his life; in like sort, Valerius Maximus have delivered much in record. Hee died not much above the age of eightie yeeres as Plu∣tarch writeth; for born he was (as he testifieth) the same day whereon Romulus laid the first foundation of the citie, namely, the twelfth Ca∣lends of May. Now for the name of Numa, some say it was the fore-name of Pompilius. But out of Sextus Pompeius it appeareth, that neither Tullius nor Numa were fore-names, as also by this conjecture, for that the sonnes of Numa are by Dionysius called by other sundry names diverse from the familie. Some thought therefore that Numa, Ancus, Aruns, Volusus, Drufus, Faustus, Iulus, Mammurius, & certain other surnames, were at first forenames, as Mar∣lianus in his Annales hath verie well noted.

32 Tullus Hostilius the third king of Rome, reigned 32 yeeres.

NVma being deceased, the Interregencie tooke place again: during which time an act of Senat passed, wherein by the approbation of the Commons and advise of the nobles, Tullus Hostilius was created the third king of the Romans, in the fourescore and one yeere after the foundation of the cittie. Who having rased Alba, commaunded the Albans to be translated to Rome. Their Com∣mons hee made free denizens, and the princi∣pal nobles he tooke into the order of Senators. After Numa he reigned 32 yeeres, as all writers most constantly affirm. He perished as Diony∣sius witnesseth, by occasion that his house was on fire, wherein his wife & children & all their houshold besides were consumed and burnt. Some say, that his pallace tooke fire by lighte∣ning through the ire of the gods, for that hee had forlet some sacrifices and holy rites: others write, that it was occasioned by the trecherous practise of Ancus Martius, who reigned next af∣ter him. Of him Dionysius writeth in his 3 book. That hee carried before him the name of Ho∣stus it appeareth by this, that both his father and grandfire bare the said name. A prince hee was, not onely farre unlike to Numa, but also more fierce and stout than Romulus.

24 Ancus Martius the fourth K. of Romanes, reigned 24 yeeres.

KIng Tullius beeing departed this life, there was an Interregent by the No∣bles declared, who held the assembly for Election in the 114 yeere from the founda∣tion of the city: wherein the people created Ancus Martius the fourth K. of the Romanes, and the Senators approved the same. He built Hostia a town 16 miles distant from the citie of Rome; and fought seven battels. Livius, Diony∣sius, and Solinus say, that he reigned 24 yeeres; but Eusebius, Eutropius, and Cassiodorus, 23. What death hee died, neither Livie in his first book, nor Dionysius in his 3, do set down: not∣withstanding that by them his noble acts are set out at large. Now Ancus (as Sex. Pompeius hath reported) is hee called, who harh an arme bowing inward, so as it cannot be put straight forth.

38 L. Tarquinius Priscus the fifth K. of Romans reigned 38 yeeres.

THis Tarquinius beeing left by Ancus (when he died) guardian to his chil∣dren, was the first that ambitiously intercepted the kingdome to him∣selfe; hee sent the sonnes of Ancus, during the time of Interregencie, out of the way, as it were to hunting, and made an oration unto the peo∣ple to win their harts & affections to him: & so with the suffrages of the people, and authoritie of the nobles, he was by the Interegent decla∣red K. in the 170 yeere after the foundation of Rome, and in the 41 Olympias. This noble prince as wel for warlike prowesse as peaceable pollicie and government, at the length (being above fourscore yeere old) was forelaid by the secret traines of the two sonnes of Ancus Mar∣tius, in the eight and thirtie yeere of his raigne,

according to Livie & Dionysius, whose judge∣ment we follow: or in the 37, as Solinus, Mes∣sala, Ruffus, Eutropius, Cassiodorus, Eusebius, and Bedas write; like as wee have before shew∣ed. Priscus hee was surnamed afterwards, be∣cause hee lived before Tarquinius Superbus, saith Sex. Pompeius, unto whom accord Dio∣nysius and Laurentius Valla: who writeth, that the addition of Priscus was given unto him not by men of that time wherein hee lived, but by the age following. But Livie sheweth plainely, that he had the surname of Priscus given him, even then when he came first into the citie, be∣cause he was borne before Superbus. Hee also was called Lucumo, and was the sonne of De∣maratus the Corinthian, descended from the familie of the Brachiades.

44 Servius Tullius the sixt K. of the Romans reigned foure and fortie yeeres.

AFter Priscus Tarquinius was slain, pre∣sently Servius Tullius was the first that (without any election of the people, yet with the general consent of the Nobles) tooke upon him the Romane kingdom, in the yeere from the foundation of the citie 176. Concerning whose conception, wee must not let passe that which Plinie writeth in the 36 booke after this manner. During the reigne of Tarquinius Priscus, there appeared sodainly the genital member of the masculine sex upon the herth where the fire was kept, and thereupon presently a captive woman & bond∣servant of Tanaquil the queen, named Ocrisia, sitting there by the fire side, conceived & was with child; and so was Servius Tullius borne, who succeeded in the kingdome. Afterwards as the boy lay asleep within the kings pallace, his head was seene on a light fire, and supposed he was the son of the familiar Lar of that house. In which regard, he instituted first the Compi∣talia and plaies to the Lares. Concerning his birth, Plutarch hath written more in his booke of the Romans fortune. By the crastie and sub∣till devise of his wives mother Tanaquil, he at∣tained to the crowne in the fourth yeere of the fifth Olympias, and reigned 44 yeeres: but by the vilanous complot of Tarquinius his sonne in law, and Tullia his owne daughter and Tar∣quins wife, hee was most impiously slaine in the verie street; which thereupon was called Sceleratus. As touching the yeeres of this kings reigne, some controversie there is among wri∣ters: for Livie, Dionysius, and Solinus (whom wee have followed) write, that hee reigned 44 yeeres: but Messala Corvinus, Sex. Ruffus, Eu∣tropius, Eusebius, Cassiodorus, and Bedas, 34, and not above. Howbeit, in adding those ten to the reigne of Tarquine afterwards, they hin∣der not this grosse summe and computation of the yeeres: for they set them downe 35, which Livie, Dionysius, and Solinus, make but 25. This K. tooke the name of Servius, by occasion of his owne fortune, for that his mother Ocri∣sia a captive (but a most beautifull and wise wo∣man of Corniculum) bare him during her bondage: but Tullius hee was called, by the name of his fathers kindred, as Dionysius wri∣teth in his fourth booke, reckoning up many acts by him atchieved.

25 L. Tarquinius Superbus the seventh K. of Ro∣mans, ruled 25 yeeres.

IN the two hundred and twentieth yeare after the foundation of the citie, L. Tarquinius the younger having killed Servius Tullius, en∣tered upon the Romane kingdome with force of armes, not by Interregent, ne yet any right of law. Superbus hee was named for his cruell demeanour, in that hee forbad to commit to earth the dead corps of his father in law, by him murdered; giving out that Romulus like∣wise died and lay unburied. Hee was the sonne of L. Tarquinius Priscus the king; as Q. Pictor, Au. Gellius, Licinius Macer, Verrius Flaccus and Livius have written. Howbeit Dionysius out of L. Piso in his Annales, by most strong reasons disproveth their errour, and by the cer∣taine computation of the yeeres sheweth how it cannot possibly be so, but rather that hee was the sonne of Tarquinius Priscus his sonne, who died in the life of Priscus. Five & twentie yeeres he reigned according to Livie in his first book. Dionysius in his fourth, and Solinus in his Po∣lyhistor. But Cassiodorus, Eusebius, Eutropius and Bedas, ascribe unto him five and thirtie yeeres, adding unto his raigne those ten yeares which they tooke from Servius Tullius, and thereby giving occasion of errour to the later writers. Of him Dionysius, Livie, both the Pli∣nies, Gellius, Macrobius and Eutropius have written much. Collect then, into one summe the yeares of these kings raigne, and thereof will arise the number of two hundred fortie foure.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  Same read thus, Latinis.
• * 1.4

  arma.
• * 1.5

  Romanus vi∣cerat, but ••••∣ruptly.