Romaines: where is seene, that the same kingdome indured a M. yeres
without tumulte, and without any Civill warre: whiche preceded not of
other, then of the permutations, whiche from place to place everie yere
thesame Capitaines made, unto whome were apoincted the charge of the
Armies. Nor for any other occasion in the Romaine Empire, after the
bloud of Cesar was extinguished, there grewe so many civill warres,
betwene the Capitaines of the hostes, and so many conspiracies of the
forsaied capitaines against the Emperours, not onely kepyng continually
still those capitaines alwayes in one governement. And if in some of
those firste Emperoures, of those after, whom helde the Empire with
reputacion, as Adriane, Marcus, Severus, and soche like, there had been
so moche foresight, that thei had brought this custome of chaungyng the
capitaines in thesame Empire, without doubte it should have made theim
more quiete, and more durable: For that the Capitaines should have had
lesse occasion to make tumultes, the Emperours lesse cause to feare, and
the senate in the lackes of the successions, should have had in the
election of the Emperour, more aucthoritie, and by consequence should
have been better: but the naughtie custome, either for ignoraunce, or
through the little diligence of menne, neither for the wicked, nor good
ensamples, can be taken awaie.

COSIMO. I cannot tell, if with my questionyng, I have as it were led you
out of your order, bicause from the chusyng of men, we be entred into an
other matter, and if I had not been a little before excused, I should
thinke to deserve some reprehension.

[Sidenote: The nomber of horsemen, that the Romanies chose for a Legion,
and for a Consailes armie.]

FABRICIO. Let not this disquiete you, for that all this reasonyng was