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The Civil Government of Rome

As order is essential to Government, Romulus had no sooner filled his City with Inhabitants, than he distinguished them by Ranks. The first was that note Patres Plebeji /note of underline Patres /underline or the better, and underline Plebeji /underline or the common sort. As Rome grew populous, more Orders became necessary, and the People were divided into Senators. Knights and Commons. Senators might be either Patricü or Plebeji. but both they and the Knights must be possessed of a certain Fortune.

Knighthood was not merely titular; it had the advantage of a gold Ring, and a Horse kept at the public Charge. Besides these Ranks established by authority, there were others in which, authority wisely gratified the vanity of private Men. He that had Pictures or Statues of his note Nobilis /note ancestors was stiled. underline Nobilis /underline, he that had only note Novus /note his own, underline Novus /underline, and he that had neither underline Ignobilis /underline : note Ignobilis /note so that underline Sus imaginis /underline was like our note Sus Imaginis /note Right of bearing a Boat of Arms, and none

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