id of dividing and choosing in our preliminary discourses； men will yet be returning to the question； Why the Senate must be a council apart （though even in Athens； where it was of no other constitution than the popular assembly； the distinction of it from the other was never held less than necessary） this may be added to the former reasons； that if the aristocracy be not for the debate； it is for nothing； but if it be for debate； it must have convenience for it； and what convenience is there for debate in a crowd； where there is nothing but jostling； treading upon one another； and stirring of blood； than which in this case there is nothing more dangerous？ Truly； it was not ill said of my Lord Epimonus； that Venice plays her game； as it were； at billiards or nine…holes； and so may your lordships； unless your ribs be so strong that you think better of football： for such sport is debate in a popular assembly as； notwithstanding the distinction of the Senate； was the destruction of Athens。〃 This speech concluded the debate which happened at the institution of the Senate。 The next assembly is that of the people or prerogative tribe。 The face； or mien； of the prerogative tribe for the arms； the horses； and the discipline； but more especially for the select men； is that of a very noble regiment； or rather of two； the one of horse； divided into three troops （besides that of the provinces； which will be shown hereafter）； with their captains； cornets； and two tribunes of the horse at the head of them； the other of foot in three companies （beside that of the provinces）； with their captains； ensigns； and two tribunes of the foot at the head of them。 The first troop is called the Phoenix； the second the Pelican； and the third the Swallow。 The first company the Cypress； the second the Myrtle； and the third the Spray。 Of these again （not without a near resemblance of the Roman division of a tribe） the Phoenix and the Cypress constitute the first class； the Pelican and the Myrtle the second； and the Swallow with the Spray the third； renewed every spring by The one…and…twentieth order； 〃Directing； that upon every Monday next ensuing the last of March； the deputies of the annual galaxy arriving at the pavilion in the halo； and electing one captain and one cornet of the Swallow （triennial officers） by and out of the cavalry at the horse urn； according to the rules contained in the ballot of the hundred； and one captain with one ensign of the Spray （triennial officers） by and out of the infantry at the foot urn； after the same way of balloting； constitute and become the third classes of the prerogative tribe。〃 Seven deputies are annually returned by every tribe； whereof three are horse and four are foot； and there be fifty tribes： so the Swallow must consist of 150 horse； the Spray of 200 foot。 And the rest of the classes being two； each of them in number equal； the whole prerogative （beside the provinces； that is； the knights and deputies of Marpesia and Panopea） must consist of 1；050 deputies。 And these troops and companies may as well be called centuries as those of the Romans； for the Romans related not； in so naming theirs； to the number。 And whereas they were distributed according to the valuation of their estates； so are these； which； by virtue of the last order； are now accommodated with their triennial officers。 But there be others appertaining to this tribe whose election； being of far greater importance； is annual； as follows in The twenty…second order； 〃Whereby the first class having elected their triennial officers； and made oath to the old tribunes； that they will neither introduce； cause； nor to their power suffer debate to be introduced into any popular assembly of this government； but to their utmost be aiding and assisting to seize and deliver any person or persons in that way offending； and striking at the root of this commonwealth； to the Council of War； are to proceed with the other two classes of the prerogative tribe to election of the new tribunes； being four annual magistrates； whereof two are to be elected out of the cavalry at the horse urn； and two out of the infantry at the foot urn； according to the common ballot of the tribes。 And they may be promiscuously chosen out of any classes； provided that the same person shall not be capable of bearing the tribunitian honor twice in the term of one galaxy。 The tribunes thus chosen shall receive the tribe （in reference to the power of mustering and disciplining the same） as commanders…in…chief； and for the rest as magistrates； whose proper function is prescribed by the next order。 The tribunes may give leave to any number of the prerogative； not exceeding 100 at a time； to be absent； so they be not magistrates nor officers； and return within three months。 If a magistrate or officer has a necessary occasion； he may also be absent for the space of one month； provided that there be not above three cornets or ensigns； two captains； or one tribune so absent at one time。〃
To this the Archon spoke at the institution after this manner：
〃MY LORDS： 〃It is affirmed by Cicero； in his oration for Flaccus； that the commonwealths of Greece were all shaken or ruined by the intemperance of their Comitia； or assemblies of the people。 The truth is； if good heed in this point be not taken； a commonwealth will have bad legs。 But all the world knows he should have excepted Lacedaemon； where the people； as has been shown by the oracle； had no power at all of debate； nor （till after Lysander； whose avarice opened a gulf that was not long ere it swallowed up his country） came it ever to be exercised by them。 Whence that commonwealth stood longest and firmest of any other but this； in our days； of Venice； which； having underlaid herself with the like institution； owes a great； if not the greater； part of her steadiness to the same principle； the great Council； which is with her the people； by the authority of my Lord Epimonus； never speaking a word。 Nor shall any commonwealth； where the people in their political capacity is talkative； ever see half the days of one of these； but； being carried away by vainglorious men （that； as Overbury says； void more than they drink）； swim down the stream； as did Athens； the most prating of these dames； when that same ranting fellow Alcibiades fell a…demagoguing for the Silician War。 〃But whereas debate； by the authority and experience of Lacedaemon and Venice； is not to be committed to the people in a well…ordered government； it may be said that the order specified is but a slight bar in a matter of like danger； for so much as an oath； if there be no recourse upon the breach of it； is a weak tie for such hands as have the sword in them； wherefore what should hinder the people of Oceana； if they happen not to regard an oath from assuming debate； and making themselves as much an anarchy as those of Athens？ To which I answer； Take the common sort in a private capacity； and； except they be injured； you shall find them to have a bashfulness in the presence of the better sort； or wiser men； acknowledging their abilities by attention； and accounting it no mean honor to receive respect from them； but if they be injured by them； they hate them； and the more for being wise or great； because that makes it the greater injury。 Nor refrain they in this case from any kind of intemperance of speech； if of action。 It is no otherwise with a people in their political capacity； you shall never find that they have assumed debate for itself； but for something else。 Wherefore in Lacedaemon where there was； and in Venice where there is； nothing else for which they should assume it； they have never shown so much as an inclination to it。 〃Nor was there any appearance of such a desire in the people of Rome （who from the time of Romulus had been very well contented with the power of result either in the parochial assemblies； as it was settled upon them by him； or in the meetings of the hundreds； as it was altered in their regard for the worse by Servius Tullius） till news was brought； some fifteen years after the exile of Tarquin； their late King （during which time the Senate had governed pretty well）； that he was dead at the Court of Aristodemus the tyrant of Cumae。 Whereupon the patricians； or nobility； began to let out the hitherto dissembled venom which is inherent in the root of oligarchy and fell immediately upon injuring the people beyond all moderation。 For whereas the people had served both gallantly and contentedly in arms upon their own charges； and； though joint purchasers by their swords of the conquered lands； had not participated in the same to above two acres a man （the rest being secretly usurped by the patricians）； they； through the meanness of their support and the greatness of their expense； being generally indebted； no sooner returned home with victory to lay down their arms； than they were snatched up by their creditors； the nobility； to cram jails。 Whereupon； but with the greatest modesty that was ever known in the like case； they first fell upon debate； affirming 'That they were oppressed and captivated at home； while abroad they fought for liberty and empire； and that the freedom of the common people was safer in time of war than peace； among their enemies than their fellow…citizens。' It is true that when they could not get the Senate； through fear； as was pretended by the patricians； to assemble and take their grievances into consideration； they grew so much the warmer； that it was glad to meet； where Appius Claudius； a fierce spirit； was of opinion that recourse should be had to consular power； whereby some of the brands of sedition being taken off； the flame might be extinguished。 Servilius； being of another temper； thought it better and safer to try if the people might be bowed than broken。 〃But this debate was interrupted by tumultuous news of the near approach of the Volsci； a case in which the Senate had no recourse but to the people； who； contrary to their former custom upon the like occasions； would not stir a foot； but fell a…laughing； and saying； 'Let them fight that have something to fight for。' The Senate that had purses； and could not sing so well before the thief； being in a great perplexity； found no possible way out of i