The Modern Statesman, Chapter 6 – Chapter 7
CHAP. VI.
The beginning of the Common-wealth of Rome, and the cauſes of its growth.
THis City, or rather Town of Rome, being founded by Romulus, and inhabitants gathered together from divers places, was no ſooner built, but it was threatned with ruin in its very infancy, and the beſt it could expect was but an ages duration; for the greateſt part of the inhabitants being ſingle, all hope of iſſue was cut off, which onelyonly could afford it a longer life: Wives thus wanting, and none to be obtained by conſent, ſo contemptible were they in the eyes of their neighbours, they attempt what craft and force would do; and their Plot ſucceeded to their minds; for having proclaimed publick plays, and invited their neighbours, they ſuddenly provided themſelves wives of the Sabine Virgins, which came with their Parents to be ſpectators.
Yet this remedy ſeemed as dangerous as the diſeaſe; for the Sabines were a great and war-like nation, and a Colony of the Spartans, after whoſe manner they lived in Towns without walls, reputing themſelves ſafe in their own valour, and the Romans could not but expect they would reſent the affront. But ſee how fortune (which we Chriſtians truly tearm Providence) gave them aſſiſtance, by giving let to the conjunction of their enemies, though of one nation, and alike intereſſed in the quarrell.
Firſt, the Caeninenſes come againſt them, whoſe King being ſlain by Romulus in fight hand to hand, and their Army defeated, were compelled to leave their old habitations, and go and dwell at Rome by the Conqueror, who by this means encreaſed his ſtrength as well as reputation, and became the better able to deal with the reſt.
This war done, the Fidenates, Crustimini and Antenates begin another, and run the ſame fortune, and likewiſe being incorporated with the Victors ſtill encreaſe the Roman Stock.
The reſt grown wiſe by theſe examples unite, and put the Romans to ſuch a plunge, that it was eaſie to conjecture what have would have been the iſſue, had they taken this courſe at firſt; but by the interceſſion of the women running in between the armies, a peace was made, and both Nations joyned in one, the City keeping its old name of Rome from Romulus, the people being called Quirites from the chief Tribe of the Sabines, the Roman and Sabine Kings jointly reigning.
Now could the wiſeſt among the ſons of mē have judged that a rape ſhould have begot an union? but there is an hand above diſpoſes of things above our ſuppoſitions, which continued its favour till Rome grew of perfect ſtrength. This was he that withdrew Porſenna, and changed his enmity into love, and admiration; that reſtrained any warlike Marcian or Lucan, any Mulius, Silo, or Teleſinus with the joint forces of Italy from falling upon her, untill ſhe was able to bear the ſtorm; that out ſupplies off from Hannibal when he had almoſt born down all before him, and made the envy of his own Citizens inſtrumental to their own ruin; that made Antiochus ſit ſtill until Philip was brought under, and Tigranes look on until Mithridates was beaten out of his kingdom, yea that provided work by the Sarmatians for Mithridates till the Marſian war was over; that divided the Cimbri and Teutones ſo, that Marius when he had overthrown one party, had time to joyn with the other Conſull to help deſtroy the other, and ſuffered not three hundred thouſand fighting men in one body to attempt Italy; and in like manner the ſlaves, and fencers, giving Craſſus opportunity to defeat them, who had ranged Italy, and oft put the Roman Armies to rout; that by a few Geeſe ſaved the Capitol, and cauſed the unjuſt baniſhment of Camillus to be a means to preſerve Rome.
CHAP. VII.
A Parallel.
ANd hath not Providence in the ſame manner dealt with this Common-wealth? which was no ſooner eſtabliſhed in England, but it was threatned from Ireland, where Dublin, Derry, and a few forces under Generall Monk were onelyonly left us, two being beſieged, and the third in an incapacity to afford them relief; when things were thus deſperate, God divided the Rebels, and made O Neal inſtrumental in the relief of Derry, neither could they be pieced untill Ormond was totally broke, and the other party under the Popiſh Biſhop of Clogher, fought and routed.
The Iriſh cloud almoſt diſſolved, a Scotch ſtorm threatens us, which yet came not on ſo ſuddenly, but that we had time to provide ſhelter, (Providence cauſing them to trifle away much time in their treaties, and other mockeries) inſomuch that the greateſt part of it fell in their own Nation, the tayl only beſprinkling ſome parts of this, where it totally vaniſhed.
And here we can never ſufficiently admire Gods goodneſſe to this Common-wealth, who when the enemy had given our Army the ſlip, and left them ſo far behind them, ſuffered them not to march up to London, but to empound themſelves at Worcester, and ſo over-ruled the hearts of this Nation, that notwithſtanding the malice and hatred of many to the preſent Government, yet not any conſiderable perſon, or number, joyned with the enemy, even marching through the moſt diſcontented and diſaffected Counties.
The North being cleared, the Dutch jealous of our encreaſe, who have found the ſweetneſſe of a State Government, endeavour to clip our wings, and to uſurp our long held ſoveraignty of the ſeas, having undermined our Trading a long while before; but they may put what they have got by it in their eyes without any danger, unleſſe of making themſelves weep, notwithſtanding their treacherous and baſe attempt upon a ſmall ſquadron with one of our Generals in the time of Ttreaty, and before denouncing a war, and that even upon our own coaſt; whilſt we beſides the honour, and repute gained abroad, are grown more potent at ſea in one year, than we had like to have been in many ages, had they let us been at quiet; and even thus the Car haginians compell'd the Romans to become Maſters at ſea, by their injuries provoking that ſtout nation to adventure a ſea fight, though ſo ignorant, that the Conſull taught them to row by ſitting, and beating poles on the ſand; and truely little better ſea-men were our Redcoats at firſt.