The works of the famous Nicholas Machiavel, citizen and secretary of Florence written originally in Italian, and from thence newly and faithfully translated into English.

CHAP. XXIII.

How the Romans pretended Religion many times to regulate their City, to prosecute their Wars, and to pacifie their tumults.

ANd I hold it not extravagant to produce two or three Examples in which the Romans made use of their Religion both in the regulation of their City, and the prosecution of their Wars; and although in Titus Livius they be very frequent, yet I shall content my self with these.

After the people of Rome, had created their Tribunes with consular power and all of them (except one) from among the Plebeans; there hapning that year, a furious Plague, a desperate Famine, and other Prodigies besides, the Nobility in the next creation of Tri∣bunes took advantage of that occasion, and pretended that the Gods were incensed against the people, for that they had debased the Majesty of the Empire, and that there was no remedy to appease them but to reduce the Election of the Tribunes to its primitive insti∣tution; upon which the people were so frighted, they chose all their Tribunes that year, out of the Patricii. It was the same case in the taking of Veii The Romans had been before it ten years, and no great lekelihood of carrying it; but the Tenth, the Lake of Albin being miraculously swell'd; so as to drown a good part of the Country, the great Officers of the Army observing their Soldiers weary of the Siege, and impatient to be at home; feigning to have consulted the Oracles, they pretended that they had received this answer, That Veii should be taken that year that Albin overflowed; which answer reflecting upon their Devotion, the Soldiers reassumed their Courage, continued the Siege, and (Camillus being chosen Dictator) carried the Town; and thus you may see how the Romans made use of their Religion to encourage their Army against the fatigues and dangers of a tedious Leaguer, and to fright the people from entrenching upon the pri∣viledges of the Nobility in the Election of their Tribunes; without which pretence it would have been a hard matter to have persuaded either the one or the other. There was another example to the same purpose, Terentillus, a Tribune of the people, would needs make a Law (which was called Lex Terentilla, and shall be mentioned hereafter) contrary to the interest, and inclination of the Senate. The Senate resolved to oppose it, and the best means they could think of, was pretence of Religion; of which they made use two ways; they ordered the Books of the Sybils to be look'd over, and this answer to be returned, That that very year the City would be in great danger of losing its liberty, unless civil Sedi∣tion was prevented; which artifice, (notwithstanding it was discovered by the Tribunes) put the people into such a fright, they grew cool in the business, and refused to stand by them. After this, they made use of the same pretence another time; Appius Herdonius

having got together of Slaves and Exiles to the number of Four thousand men, seized upon the Capitol in the night, and brought such a terror upon the City, it might very well be feared if the Aequi and the Volsci (perpetual Enemies to the Romans) had taken their op∣portunity and marched to Rome, they would have gone near to have master'd it: However the Tribunes persisted, and nothing could serve their turns, but the Lex Terentilla must be promulged; for they affirmed the Stories of being invaded, were but suggestions and fal∣lacies, and not one word of them true: Hereupon one Publius Rubetius (a grave Citizen, and of good authority among them) came forth of the Senate, and partly by fair words and partly by foul, remonstrating the danger of the City, and the unseasonableness of their de∣mands, he play'd his part so well, that the Constrained the people to take an Oath of fidelity ••o the Consul; and in testimony of their integrity, the people ran to their Arms, and reco∣vered the Capital from Herdonius; but Publius Valerius their Consul being slain in the Conflict, Titus Quintius was chosen immediately in his place; who to keep the populace employed, and leave them no time to think of their Law Terentilla, Commanded them out of Town forthwith against the Volsci, alledging that the Oath which they had taken to be true to the Consul, obliged them to follow him; and though the Tribunes opposed it, and objected that that Oath extended no further than to the Consul that was dead; nevertheless Livy tell us, that such was the peoples tenderness and veneration for Religion, that they chose rather to follow the Consul, than to strain and presume upon their Consciences, giving this reason for it.

Nondum haec, quae nunc tenet seculum, negligentia deûm venerat, nec, interpretando sibi quisque jusjurandum, & leges aptas faciebat.

The neglect of the Gods, which has overspread this Age, was not then come to that height, nor did everyman interpret his Oaths, and accommodate his Laws, to his own interest and advantage.

Upon which the Tribunes perceiving their danger and that if they persist, they should run a hazard of being utterly extinguished; they came to an agreement with the Consul, received his Orders, obliged themselves not to insist upon the Lex Terentilla for a Twelve-month, in case the Consuls for the same time would forbear drawing out the people. And thus you see how by pretence of Religion, the Senate overcame a difficulty, which without it, it could never have done.