Concerning which it is to be understood, that
no man was capable of those governments, but
such as had born the chiefest offices and places
of charge. For their manner was, that com∣monly
upon the expiration of their offices, the
Consuls and Praetors did either cast lots for the
Provinces, which they called Sortiri provincias;
or did otherwise agree amongst themselves how
they should be disposed, and that they termed
Comparare Provincias, L••vie toucheth both
the one and the other; Principio insequentis
anni cum Consules novi de Provinciis retulis∣sent,
primo quoque tempore, aut comparare in∣ter
eos Italiam & Macedoniam, aut sortiri pla∣cu••t:
in the entrance of the next year, when the
new Consuls had proposed the businesse of the
Provinces; it was forthwith embraced, that they
should either divide by agreement Italy and
Macedonia betwixt them, or take them as their
lots fell. Howbeit sometimes the people (whose
assent was alwayes necessary) interposed their
authority, and disposed the same as they thought
expedient. But such as had never born office
of charge in the State, were no way capable of
those dignities, nor thought fit to command a∣broad,
having never shewed their sufficiency at
home.
For the maner of their setting forward out of
Rome, after they were assigned to imployments,
it appeareth by infinite examples of histories, that
they first went into the Capitoll, and there
made publick sacrifices and solemn vows, either
to build a Temple, or to do some other work
worthy good fortune, if their designs were hap∣pily
atchieved; which they called Vota nuncu∣parc,
the solemn making of vows. And he that had
made such a vow, stood voti reus, tyed by vow,
untill his businesse sorted to an issue: and after
he had attained his desire, he was voti damnatus,
bound to perform his vow, untill he had acquitted
himself of his promise.
Touching their habite expressed in this phrase,
Paludati exeunt, it appeareth, as well by anci∣ent
Sculptures, as Medalls, that Paludamentum
was a cloak used and worn by men of war, whe∣ther
they commanded in chief, or as Lieutenants
and Centurions; and was tyed with a knot upon
their left shoulder. Festus calleth all military
garments, Paludamenta. And Varro giving a
reason of that name, saith; Paluda à Paluda∣mentis,
sunt haec insignia & ornamenta Mili∣taria.
Ideo ad bellum cum exit Imperator, ac
Lictores mutant vestem, & signa incinuerunt,
Paludatus dicitur proficisci: quae, propterea
quod conspiciuntur qui ea habent, & Palam
siunt, Paludamenta dicta. Paludamenta are
military ornaments. So when the Emperour re∣moves,
and the Serjeants change their garment,
he is then said to march Paludatus. which gar∣ments,
in regard they are conspicuous which wear
them, and so are taken notice of, are called thence
Paludamenta. The colour of this cloak was
either purple or white. And therefore it was
held a presage of ill fortune, when at Carrae, a
City in Mesopotamia, one gave Crassus a black
cloak in stead of a white, as he went to lose the
battel to the Parthians.