XIII.  When the city was founded, Romulus first divided all the able-bodied males into regiments, each consisting of three thousand infantry and three hundred cavalry.  These were named legions, because they consisted of men of military age selected from the population.  The rest of the people were now organised.  They were called Populus, and a hundred of the noblest were chosen from among them and formed into a council.  These he called Patricians, and their assembly the Senate.  This word Senate clearly means assembly of old men; and the members of it were named Patricians, according to some, because they were the fathers of legitimate offspring; according to others, because they were able to give an account of who their own fathers were, which few of the first colonists were able to do.  Others say that it was from their Patrocinium, as they then called, and do at the present day call, their patronage of their clients.  There is a legend that this word arose from one Patron, a companion of Evander, who was kind and helpful to his inferiors.  But it is most reasonable to suppose that Romulus called them by this name because he intended the most powerful men to show kindness to their inferiors, and to show the poorer classes that they ought not to fear the great nor grudge them their honours, but be on friendly terms with them, thinking of them and addressing them as fathers (Patres).  For, up to the present day, foreigners address the senators as Lords, but the Romans call them Conscript Fathers, using the most honourable and least offensive of their titles.  Originally they were merely called the Fathers, but afterwards, as more were enrolled, they were called Conscript Fathers.  By this more dignified title Romulus distinguished the Senate from the People; and he introduced another distinction between the powerful and the common people by naming the former patrons, which means defenders, and the latter clients, which means dependants.  By this means he implanted in them a mutual good feeling which was the source of great benefits, for the patrons acted as advocates for their clients in law suits, and in all cases became their advisers and friends, while the clients not only respected their patrons but even assisted them, when they were poor, to portion their daughters or pay their creditors.  No law or magistrate could compel a patron to bear witness against his client, nor a client against his patron.  Moreover, in later times, although all their other rights remained unimpaired, it was thought disgraceful for a patron to receive money from a client.  So much for these matters.