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THe Troians (as I haue heard) first built and inhabited the Cittie of Rome, who vnder the con∣duct of Aeneas, liuing like fugitiues, wandred vp and downe without any cer∣taine place of habitation: with these the Aborigines, or natiues ioyned them∣selues,
who being a sauage kind of people, liued free without lawes, and disso∣lute without gouernment.
After both these were in∣uironed with one wall (in∣credible it is to be thought on) with what redinesse they complied together, being different in linage, lan∣guage and customes. But after their estate grew res∣pectiue, and powerfull enough, being inlarged with inhabitants, ciuilitie & territory (an euent most frequēt in humane affaires) enuy did attend on prospe∣ritie, so that for this cause alone, the Kings and bor∣dering. Nations assailed them with warre; in this some few friends came to
their ayde, others being terrified, remoued them∣selues from the danger: But the Romans being regard∣full of themselues, both in ciuill & militarie exigents, neglected no opportu∣nity; they made great pre∣parations, incouraged one another, issued forth to en∣counter the enemy, repo∣sing their liberties, their Countries, and parents safety, in the protection of their Armes After, when their vertue had giuen the repulse to danger they sent aydes to their friends and allies, procuring new confederacies, rather by giuing then receiuing be∣nefits. Their gouernment was regular, and the name
of it was termed Royall. Certaine selected persons whose bodies were infee∣bled with age, as their minds were fort••fied with wisedome, did prouide for the Commonwealth: these in regard of their yeeres, or Office, were called Fa∣thers.
Afterwards when the Domination Royall, which was first instituted for the maintenance of liberty, and inlargement of territory, did degenerate into pride and absolute soueraigenty, the forme of policie being changed, they erected an annuall Empire vnder the rule of two Consuls. By this course, they thought mens minds could best be
strained from insolency. But euen then more then before, euery man began to ouerualue himselfe, and to dispose his endeuours to∣wards indirect ends: as well knowing, that Princes jealousies attend more vpon good men then bad, and that the vertue of others administers to them al∣wayes an occasion of terrour.
Now it is a matter strange to be rehearsed, how much the Cittie hauing regained her liberty, inlarged her selfe in a short time. So forcibly moued the desire of glory, for now the youth, as soone as they were capa∣ble of warlike sufferances, with much exercise learned their military duties, resi∣ding for the most part in
Tents, and these reposed more delight in the equi∣page of their Armes and horses of seruice, then in bankets, and whores. Hence was it, that to such men no labour was vncouth, no place was too difficult for accesse or assault, yea, the armed enemy was not dreadfull: their valour sub∣dued all incountring oppo∣sites, the controuersie of glory remaining especially amongst themselues. Thus euery man stroue with emu∣lation to inuade the enemy, to scale the walles, and to exploit such things in pu∣blicke view. This they ac∣counted riches, Honour, and true Nobilitie. They were greedy of praise, libe∣rall
of their coine. They co∣ueted glory without mea∣sure, wealth with a compe∣tency.
Here I could relate, in what places the Roman people haue defeated with small numbers, puissant Ar∣mies of their aduersaries, what Citties they haue ta∣ken by situation impregna∣ble: but I feare, this digres∣sion would withdraw me too farre: onely let me as∣sure thus much, that For∣tune is predominant in all euents: It is she, that illu∣strates and obscures our actions being led more by will then reason.
The exploits of the Athe∣nians in my opinion were ample and magnificent, yet
somewhat inferiour to their report, for by reason of those admirable wits which liued in that State, their actes were celebrated tho∣row the world, with excesse of praise: so that their ver∣tue was prized in as high an estimate, as the sufficiency of wit could deliuer in lan∣guage. But the ancient Ro∣manes were necessitated in this, the capablest spirits being the most actiue doers: no man exercised his mind without reference to the body. The best men preferred doing before speaking, and desired ra∣ther to haue their owne de∣serts praised, then to re∣ate other mens exploits, by which meanes disci∣pline
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an irruption vnto him with their weapons. The Consull hauing intelli∣gence of these prepara∣tions, and Guardes being disposed, according as the occasion and time re∣quired, he proposeth, (a Senate being called) what their pleasure was to doe with them, who were de∣liuered ouer vnto custo∣dy; a frequent Senate ha∣uing declared them not long before, to haue vn∣dertaken treasonably a∣gainst the Common∣wealth.
Thereupon D. Iunius Sillanus, being first deman∣ded his opinion, because at that time he was Con∣sull Elect, gaue 〈◊〉〈◊〉
that condigne punish∣ment was to bee taken vpon those who were kept in prison, as also vpon L. Cassius, P. Furius, P. Vmbrenus, and Q. Annius, if they should be apprehen∣ded. And being after∣wards mooued with Caesars Oration, he pro∣tested that hee would punctually concurre in opinion with Tiberius Nero, in that hee had tbought it fit to make a re∣ference concerning that particular, and the rein∣forcement of the Guards: but Caesar, when it came to his turne, being required his opinion by the Con∣sull, deliuered these or the like words:
All men that consult (O ye conscript Fathers) about doubtfull affaires, ought to be free from hatred, friendship, anger, and pitty: for whereas these impediments are, the mind can hardly dis∣cerne the truth: neither is there any man, who can serue at once, both his pleasure & profit: where∣as you bend your disposi∣tion, there it preuailes: If lust hath gotten the pos∣session, it predominates, and Reason sways nothing at all. I haue an ample subiect (ye conscript Fa∣thers) to discourse, what Kings and Nations haue done vncouncellably, be∣ing forced by anger or
compassion. But I had ra∣ther relate those things, which our Ancestours, contrary to their naturall desires, haue accomplish∣ed rightly and orderly. In the Macedonian war, which wee waged with King Perses, the great and goodly Citty of Rhodes, that grew powerfull by the support of the Ro∣mane people, became vn∣faithfull, and ill-affected to vs. But afterwards the wars being ended, when it was consulted vpon, cōcerning the Rhodians: our Predecessours, lest any man should re∣port, they vndertooke the warre more for wealth then wrong, dismissed
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