The Consul might also levy milites
evocatos, or soldiers, commanded men out of such as had served
their turn, and this at his discretion. The legions being thus
complete, were divided by two to each consul, and in these no man
had right to serve but a Roman citizen; now because two legions
made but a small army, the Romans added to every one of their
arms an equal number of foot, and a double number of horse levied
among their Latin or Italian associates; so a consular army, with
the legions and auxiliaries, amounted to about 30,000, and
whereas they commonly levied two such armies together, these
being joined made about 60,000.
"The steps whereby our militia follows the greatest captain,
are the three essays; the first, elected by a fifth man in the
parishes, and amounting in the whole to 100,000, choose their
officers at the hundreds, where they fall also to their games or
exercises, invited by handsome prizes, such as for themselves and
the honor of them will be coveted, such as will render the
hundred a place of sports, and exercise of arms all the year
long, such as in the space of ten years will equip 30,000 men
horse and foot, with such arms for their forge, proof, and
beauty, as (notwithstanding the argyraspides, or silver shields
of Alexander's guards) were never worn by so many, such as will
present marks of virtue and direction to your general or
strategus in the distribution of his army, which doubles the
value of them to the proprietors, who are bound to wear them, and
eases the commonwealth of so much charge, so many being armed
already.
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