CHAP. XIIII. The hill Citatorum: the Villa Publica, temple of Neptune, and the bridge in Mars field.
BEtweene Antonines Columne and S. Laurences church in Lucina, there is raised a mount, called now Citorius, for Citatorum; not that it was a mount in deed, but because the people of Rome when in the chusing of magistrates they were to give their voices, as they were cited went thither as it were into some hill. Some say it was called Acceptorum, of taking the peoples suf∣frages: others, Septorum, for the vicinite of those Septa beforesaid. This little mount, there be that would have to rise and encrease by the ruins of some porch or stately gallerie: or els, of the common Hostelrie, called Villa Publica. For there was in time past a place called Villa Publica, a large buil∣ding in manner of a court or hall; wherein were received and enterteined all embassadours of ene∣mies, who might not be allowed either to enter into the citie, or to goe into the publicke lodging or Hospitall called Graecostasis.
Neere to the Septa, M. Agrippa (as Denis writeth) built a goodly temple with a most beautifull porch to it, in the honour of Neptune.
At this foresaid hillocke called Citatorum, and the Columne of Antonius, there was a bridge fast by the Septa, whereupon they that were cited when they had given their voices, passed by and went their wai••s: and so were severed from the rest that were to give their suffrages, because they should not be entermingled amongst them, nor be able to shew unto them, on whose side they had pas∣sed their voices.