THE SECOND OBSERVATION.
THere were in Rome certain officers called Aediles, ab Aedibus, as having the care of houses and buildings, both publick and private, that they might be built and maintained in such manner as was agreeable to the ordinances of that State,* 1.1 together with other things whereof they had the charge. Nunc sum designatus Aedilis (saith Cicero) habeo rationem quod a Populo Romano acceperim, mihi ludos san∣ctissimos, maxima cum ceremonia, Cereri Li∣beroque faciendos: mihi Floram Matrem populo plebique Romanae, ludorum celebritate placandam: mihi ludos antiquissimos, qui primi Romani sunt nominati, maxima cum dignitate ac religione, Jovi, Junoni, Miner∣vaeque esse faciendos: mihi sacrarum Aedi∣um procurationem; mihi totam urbem tuen∣dam esse commissam: ob earum rerum labo∣rem & solicitudinem fructus illos datos, anti∣quiorem in senatu sententiae dicendae locum, togam praetextam, sellam curulem, jus ima∣ginis, admemoriam posteritatemque proden∣dam. Now that I am appointed to bear the office of Aedility, I recon with my self what charge I have received from the people of Rome: viz.* 1.2 to see to the solemnizing with highest ce∣remony of the most holy plaies consecrated to Ceres and Bacchus; to the pacifying of Flora towards the people with celebration of playes due to her; as likewise to the performing of those most ancient playes, in honour of Jupiter, Juno, and Pallas, with the greatest splendour and religion possible: to have a care of sacred houses, and in generall of the whole City, &c. Wherein it is to be noted, that these shews and Plaies, were alwayes made and set forth at the charge and costs of the Aediles: and thence it was, that the allowing or disallowing of all Play-books belonged unto them. Moreover,