instituted by his distribution of the conquered lands, not now of
enemies, but of citizens, to forty-seven legions of his soldiers;
so that how he came to be perpetual dictator, or other
magistrates to succeed him in like power, is no miracle.
These military colonies (in which manner succeeding emperors
continued, as Augustus by the distribution of the veterans,
whereby he had overcome Brutus and Cassius to plant their
soldiery) consisted of such as I conceive were they that are
called milites beneficiarii; in regard that the tenure of their
lands was by way of benefices, that is, for life, and upon
condition of duty or service in the war upon their own charge.
These benefices Alexander Severus granted to the heirs of the
incumbents, but upon the same conditions. And such was the
dominion by which the Roman emperors gave their balance. But to
the beneficiaries, as was no less than necessary for the safety
of the prince, a matter of 8,000 by the example of Augustus were
added, which departed not from his sides, but were his perpetual
guard, called Pretorian bands; though these, according to the
incurable flaw already observed in this kind of government,
became the most frequent butchers of their lords that are to be
found in story. Thus far the Roman monarchy is much the same with
that at this day in Turkey, consisting of a camp and a
horse-quarter; a camp in regard of the Spahis and Janizaries, the
perpetual guard of the prince, except they also chance to be
liquorish after his blood; and a horse-quarter in regard of the
distribution of his whole land to tenants for life, upon
condition of continual service, or as often as they shall be
commanded at their own charge by timars, being a word which they
say signifies benefices, that it shall save me a labor of opening
the government.
But the fame of Mahomet and his prudence is especially
founded in this, that whereas the Roman monarchy, except that of
Israel, was the most imperfect, the Turkish is the most perfect
that ever was. Which happened in that the Roman (as the
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