The commentaries of C. Julius Cæsar of his warres in Gallia, and the civil warres betwixt him and Pompey / translated into English with many excellent and judicious observations thereupon ; as also The art of our modern training, or, Tactick practise, by Clement Edmonds Esquire, ... ; where unto is adjoyned the eighth commentary of the warres in Gallia, with some short observations upon it ; together with the life of Cæsar, and an account of his medalls ; revised, corrected, and enlarged.

THE SIXTH OBSERVATION.

UPon occasion of Caesar's calling unto him, out of the town, Senatores, senatorumque fi∣lios, Equitesque Romanos, the Senators, sons of Senators, and Roman Knights, it shall not seem impertinent, to note the degrees and conditions of state whereof the Roman people consisted. For the better clearing whereof, it is to be understood, that by that notable transaction at Comitium, between Romulus and Tatius, it was agreed, That both those Nations should dwell together at Romulus town, which after his name, should be called Rome; and that the inhabitants thereof should be named Quirites, after the name of Ta∣tius City. Howbeit, specially they were divided into three Tribes, whereof they which were of Romulus party,* 1.1 were called after his name, Rham∣nenses; those that came with Tatius, Tatienses; and the third Tribe Lucerences, of Lucus, a Grove: forasmuch as they being neither of Ro∣mulus retinue, nor yet of the Sabines, were ne∣verthelesse met together at that place, from divers parts, as at a Grove, where commonly assemblies were made to offer sacrifice, and to perform their heathenish solemnities.

Each of these Tribes were divided by Romulus into ten Curiae; and so made the number of thirty Curiae. And out of each of these Curiae he chose three persons, such as by their presence and sufficiency seemed fittest, and most worthy; which amounted to ninety. To whom, out of every Tribe he further added three, and one more of his own choosing, to make the number up a hundred; whom he established as his Coun∣cel or Senate:* 1.2 by whose advice he resolved of all matters of consequence, either concerning peace or warre, as Dionysius Halicarnasseus no∣teth.

Howbeit Plutarch saith,* 1.3 they were sel∣dome assembled but to understand the Kings plea∣sure; and had no other preeminence in the Com∣monweal, saving they were the first that did know what was purposed. Howsoever, they were stiled by the name of Senatores, quasi se∣niores, as thereby qualified to be admitted to Counsell: and in the same sense they were called Patres.

The Senate being thus established, Romulus selected out of every of those Curiae ten young men, and so made up the number of three hun∣dred, for a guard to his person; who for their rea∣dinesse and numblenesse were called Celeres,* 1.4 all mounted on horseback: whence grew their Ordo Equestris, or band of Roman knights, which were the mean between the Senate and the people, and as a Seminary to supply the Senate; for out of them were the Senatours taken. The rest, that were not of these two Orders,* 1.5 were compre∣hended under the name of the Commons, or Popu∣lacy. Whereby it appeareth that Rome consisted of three estates, Senatours, Knights, and the Com∣mons, according to that of Ausonius;

Martia Roma triplex; Equitatu, Plebe, Se∣natu. Of three sorts Rome consists, Knights, Com∣mons, Senate.

Touching the number of Senatours, it is further to be noted, that Tarquinius Priscus, to gain the favour of the people, took a hundred of the Com∣mons, and added them to the Senate, who were called Senatores minorum Gentium.* 1.6 And Bru∣tus having reduced it to a Commonweal, made them up three hundred out of the band of Knights; and from that time they were called Patres con∣scripti.* 1.7 Neither were they at all times limited in that number: for the seditious Gracchi added three hundred more unto them; and Julius Caesar admitted unto the Senate all manner of persons. In which regard Augustus (as Suetonius saith) Senatorum affluentem numerum deformi & incondita turba (erant enim super mille,* 1.8 & quidam ind••gnissimi) ad modum pristinum & splendorem redegit: Reduced the excessive num∣ber of Senatours, which was become a deformed and shapelesse company (for they were above a thousand, and divers of them unworthy fellows) to their ancient way and splendour.

Concerning a competency of wealth, to make a man capable of the place of a Senatour, we may observe, that in the reign of Servius the King, he that was worth a thousand asses (which are a∣bout three hundred pound sterling) was eligible. But the riches of the Empire increasing, a Sena∣tours wealth was rated at nine thousand pound, according to Suetonius; Senatorum censum ampliavit,* 1.9 ac pro octing••ntorum millium sum∣ma duodecies H••S taxavit, supplevitque non habentibus. The wealth of a Roman Knight was rated at three hundred threescore, or thereabouts.

This Corfinium was the chief town of the Pe∣lignians,* 1.10 and stood in the centre of Italy,* 1.11 where all the confederate people assembled when they consulted of warre against the Romans, for their right of Burgeship, or freedome of the City, which was then denied them: which warre was called Bellum sociale Marsicum, and Italicum. There is now nothing remain∣ing of that town but the ruines, as a mark of the place where it anciently stood, upon a Plain, commonly called Pentina, or Sant Pe∣ligno.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Plutarch. in vita Ro∣muli.
• * 1.2

  Senatus.
• * 1.3

  Lib. 2.
• * 1.4

  Celeres or Equites: ordo Eque∣stris.
• * 1.5

  Plebs, or populus.
• * 1.6

  Senatores minorum Gentium.
• * 1.7

  Patres con∣scripti.
• * 1.8

  Sueton. 35.
• * 1.9

  Sueton. 41.
• * 1.10

  Corfinium.
• * 1.11

  Strabo, lib. 6.