The history of the vvorld: or, An account of time. Compiled by the learned Dionisius Petavius. And continued by others, to the year of our Lord, 1659. Together with a geographicall description of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America.

CHAP. XII. The most memorable Transactions in the Roman Affairs, from the begin∣ing of the Peloponnesian War, to the death of Philip, that is, from the 373, to the 418 year of the City-Account.

SEveral Wars were waged at Rome, from the beginning of the Peloponnesian War, to the death of Philip. (a) For they had to do not onely with the Aequi and Volsci, but also with the Veians, whose City they besieged and kept at the Leaguer ten years toge∣ther. When it was, that it came first into use to make Tents of Skins to defend themselves from the sharpnesse of the Winter∣storms. They began the siege the 349, and the City was taken by Camillus the Dictator, the 358th year of the City Account. The same Camillus reduced the Falisci to the Roman Empire, (not so much by force, as by the opinion he gained amongst them by his singular Justice) the 360 year from the foundation of Rome.

(b) But Rome her self, that famous Conqueress, had almost been brought to nothing by the Galls. Who, when in the 363 year they had besieged Clusium, and the Romans had sent the three Fabii Legates thither, they, (contrary to the Laws of Nations) when they had once appeared in the front of the Army, forsook Clusium, and fled to the City.

At the first onset those Romans that stood to it were routed, and fled to Alia: and at last the City was taken, set on fire, and the Capitol (into which the flower of the City had betaken them∣selves) beset, and Manlius being absent, had been taken by the enemy, but for the gagling of certain Geese at their approach; which awaked Manlius and the rest, who came together thither, and forc'd the Galls down a precipice from the Capitol. In this mean time, Camillus, who was banished, and at Ardea, was resto∣red home, and while he was absent, elected Dictator. He, when he came, rally'd the Roman forces, and repell'd the Galls, and clear'd the Coasts of them within eight miles of the City.

After this, the Dictator, Camillus, perswaded the Romans from a phansie they were very earnest in, of leaving the ruines of Rome, and invading the Veians, (but with very much a••o) and brought them to repair the ruines of their own Country. But M. Manlius, taken with the splendour of the Capitol, from which he had the sirname, Capitolinus, being puss'd up with arrogance, he was indu∣ced, through his own ambition, and the favour he had with the people, to propose to himself, and go about the means of com∣passing the Soveraignty to himself; but being taken in this pro∣ject, was precipitated from the (c) Tarpeian rock, (the very place he had had in charge to defend) the 370 year after the City was built.

(d) At length a great difference grew between the Patricii and

the common people. For C. Licinius, and L. Sextius, Tribunes, made a law the 377 year of the City, That the Commons should have the election of another Consul; which when the Senate op∣posed most violently, the Tribunes would suffer no Officers of State to be created: (e) By which means Rome became an Anarchy for the space of five years, and at last the Plebeians prevailed in the 387 year of the City; and the year following, the common peo∣ple made their first Consul, L. Sextius.

(f) In the 392 year of the City, there happening a great open∣ing or gaping of the Earth in the midst of the Eorum, and the Oracle commanded, that the best thing the Romans had, should be dedicated to it. Whilest all men wondred what this should mean, M. Curtius, an excellent young Souldier, and notably valorous, all armed and mounted on horseback, cast himself into the jaws of the gaping earth, accounting, That no virtue more became a Roman, than valour and courage, nor was a greater good.

After this, they went to War with the Tiburtians, the Tarquinii and Falisci, but most hotly the 398 year of the City, when the Falisci and Tarquinians fighting with fire-brands, and casting Ser∣pents in the front, to the great terrour of the Priests, were con∣quered by Fabius Consul, and had conditions of peace granted to them both for 40 years, in the 403 year of Rome.

With the Galls also they had to do more than once. Whilest they stood in battalia, M. Valerius, Tribune of the host, at the age of 23 years, Pichier'd a certain bravado of the enemy, who stood challenging and inticing the Romans to battle, and slew him by the help of Corvus, in the 405 year of the City; whence he took the sirname Corvinus; and the year following, for his singular de∣serts, was made Consul.

But none of these Wars proved more tedious and virulent, than the Samnian, which the Romans took upon them at the request of the Campani, the 411 year of the City. For they being vanquish'd by the Samnians, put themselves under the protection of the Ro∣mans, by a League of fealty, and so engaged the Romans in that War, (d) which lasted 70, or 71 full years, although the Sam∣nians were often that while conquered, and often entred into League with the Romans; as in the 413th year they (e) renewed their hostility against the Romans; but the year following were conquered again by Coss. Torquatus and Decius, one of whom struck his son with an Ax, for that he had engaged in fight without com∣mission; the other engaged himself for the Army, and they com∣mitted themselves to his fealty and protection; but soon after, viz. the 460 year, they rebelled, and were then clearly eradica∣ted.

Notes

• (a)

  Liv. 4. & 5. Flor. l. 1. c. 12. Eutro. 1.
• (b)

  Liv. 5. Flor. l. 1. c. 13. Plut. Cam. Eutr. 1.
• The City is taken by the Galls.
• M. Man∣lius.
• (c)

  Liv. 16. Plut. Cam.
• (d)

  Liv. 6. Flor. 1. c. 26.
• (e)

  Liv. 7. The first Con∣sul of the People.
• (f)

  Liv. 7. Oros. 3. c. 5.
• M. Curtius.
• The Samnian War. Liv. l. 7. Flor. l. 1. c. 16. Eutr. 2.
• (d)

  Liv. 31.
• (e)

  Liv. 8. Flor. l. 1. c. 14 Oros. 3. c. 9.