[ 1212] A prudentiall piece of State-policy, for the continuance of Peace.
MEmorable is that ingenious and honest contrivement,* 1.1 of Pacuvius Calavius, a wise Magistrate in Capu••, who perceiving the people to be much bent against the present Government, and ready to break out into some outrage, made the Senate acquainted therewith; and having throughly terrified them, by laying open the danger hanging over them, he promised neverthelesse to deliver them all, and to set things at quiet, if they would freely put themselves into his hands, offering his Oath, or any other Assurance, that they should demand for his faithfull meaning. They all agreed. Then shutting the Court, and placing a guard of his own followers about it, that none might enter in, or issue forth, without his leave, he called the People to assembly; and speaking as much ill of the Senate,* 1.2 as he knew they would be glad to hear of, he told them, that these wicked governours were surprised by his policy, and all fast, ready to abide what sentence they would lay upon them: Onely thus much he advised them, as a ••ning which necessity required, that they should chuse a new Senator, before they satisfied their anger upon the old. So rehearsing the names of one or two Sena∣••ors, he asked, What their judgment was of those: All cryed out, They were worthy of death. Chuse then,* 1.3 said he, first of all, some new ones into their places. Hereunto the Multitude, unprovided for such an election, was silent; untill at last, some one or other ad••entured to name whom he thought fit. The men so nominated, were utterly disliked by the whole Assembly, either for some known fault, basenesse, and insufficiency; or else because they were unknown, and there∣fore held unworthy. This difficulty in the new election appearing more and more, whilst more were to be chosen, (the fittest men to be substituted having been named amongst the first, and not thought fit enough) Pacuvius intreated, and easily prevailed with the People, that the present Senate might at this time be spared, in hopes of amends hereafter, which (doubtlesse) they would make, having thus obtained pardon for all offences past. Henceforth, not onely the Peo∣ple, as in former times, honoured Pacuvius, and esteemed him their Patron, but the Senate also were governed by him,* 1.4 to whem they acknowledged themselves indebted, for saving all their lives. Here now was a prudentiall piece of policy, such as the sage and prudent some years since amongst us, might have well improved, to the curing of many distempers, composing of much difference, and pre∣venting of great disorders, whereby we were then become even so distracted, that England was called the Bedlam of Europe, and London the Bedlam of England.