_The maruaylous courage and ambition of a gentlewoman called
Tanaqvil, the Queene and wife of Tarqvinivs Priscvs the fift Roman
king, with his persuasions and pollicy to hir husbande for his
aduauncement to the kingdom, her lyke encouragement of Servivs
Tvllivs, wherein also is described the ambition of one of the
II. daughters of Servivs Tvllivs the sixt Roman king, and
her cruelty towards her owne natural father: with other accidents
chaunced in the new erected common welth of Rome, specially of the
last Romane king Tarqvinivs Svperbvs, who with murder atteined the
kingdome, with murder maynteined it, and by the murder and insolent
lyfe of his sonne was with al his progeny banished._
Ancus Marcius beynge the fourthe king (after Romulus the first
builder of that Cittye) there came to dwell in Rome one Lucumo,
a lusty gentleman, ryche and desirous of honour, who determined
to continue his habitation there. The same Lucumo was the son of
one Demaratus, a Corinthian, that for sedition fled his owne
countrye, and dwelt in Hetruria amonge the stocke of the
Tarquines: and after he was maried he begat II. sons, one of
them was this Lucumo, and the other was called Aruns. Lucumo was
heire to his father, for that Aruns died before leauing his wife
gret with child, the father not knowing that his daughter in law
was with child, gaue nothing in his wil to his nephew: for which
cause the child was called Aruns Egerius{.} Lucumo being the
sole heire of his father, maried a noble woman named Tanaquil,
and bicause the Thuscans could not abide to see a straunger grow
to abundance of welth and authoritie, shee despised hir owne
countrey rather than she would suffer her husband in any wise to
be dishonoured. Wherfore she deuysed to forsake the Tarquinians
and to dwel at Rome, where she thoughte among that honourable
sorte and new erected state that her husband beyng stout and
valiant should attayne some place of resiaunce. For she shall be
called to remembrance that Tatius the Sabine, Numa borne of the
stocke of Curetes and Ancus, broughte forthe by a Sabine woman
all straungers, did rayne and became noble and mightye. Thus
ambicion and desire of honoure easily doth perswade any deuyse:
wherfore carying with them all their substance they repaired to
Rome. It chaunced when they came to Ianiculum, as he and his
wife were sitting in a Wagon, an Eagle hooueringe hir wings ouer
Lucumo, sodenly toke away his Cappe, which don she soared ouer
the Wagon with great force, then she retourned againe, as though
he had bene commaunded by some Celestyall prouidence, and aptly
placed his cappe againe vpon his head, and then soared away vp
into the element. Tanaquil conceiuing this act to be some
Augurie or Prophecie, being cunning in that knowledg
(as commonly all the people of Hetruria be) imbraced hir husband
and willed him to be of good cheere and to expect great honour.
And as they were ymagining and consulting vpon these euentes,
they entred the City, and when they had gotten a house for him
and his family, he was called Tarquinius Priscus. His riches and
great welth made him a noble man amonges the Romanes, and
through his gentle entertainment and curteous behauioure, he
wanne the good willes of many, in so much as his fame and good
reporte was bruted through out the pallace. At length he grew in
acquaintance with the king him selfe, who seeing his liberall
demeanor and duetifull seruice, esteemed him as one of his
familiar and nere frends, and both in his warres and also at
home he imparted to him the secrets of his counsell, and hauing
good experience of his wisedom, by his laste will and testament
appointed him to be tutor of his children. Ancus raigned XXIIII.
yeres, a man in peace and Warre, in pollicy and valiance with
any of his predecessours comparable: his children were very
yong, and for that cause Tarquinius was more instant to summon a
parliament for creation of a kyng. When the day was come he
sente the young children abroade a huntyng, and then ambiciously
presumed to demaunde the kyngdome, beinge the first that euer
attempted the like. For the better conciliation and obteynyng of
the peoples good will, hee vttered his oration: "I do not
presume to require a straunge or newe thynge: that was neuer
before put in practyse, nor yet am the first, but the third
stranger and foraine borne that affected and aspired this
gouernment: for which consideration there is no cause why any
man ought to muse or maruell more than behoueth. It is euidently
knowen that Tatius, not onely being a stranger but also an
ennemy, was made king. Numa also was made king, being altogether
a Forraine and Stranger borne, not through his owne request, but
rather voluntarily accited and called thereunto by the Romaynes:
but for my parte, after I was able to gouerne my selfe,
I repayred to dwell at Rome with my Wyfe, my Children, and all
my substance, where I haue spent the chiefest portion of my
lyfe, specially after it was mature and able to execute ciuile
magistery, which I chose rather to bestowe at Rome than at home
in myne owne country. I haue learned the Romane rites and lawes,
aswell sutch as be meete to serue abroade in the warres, as also
necessary to be practised at hoame, at the handes of mine olde
maister Ancus Martius your late king, a mayster right worthy and
famous in all poynctes to bee followed: I shewed myselfe an
humble and obedient subiect to the kyng and in frendship and
familiarity toward others, I contended with the kyng himselfe."
When he had spoken those woordes, which in deede were very true,
wyth the whole consent of the people he was saluted kynge: and
as all thynges succeeded his Noble request, euen so after hee
was settled in hys kyngdome, hee gaue himselfe to amplifie the
common wealth: he chose an hundred graue persons, whych he
called the Fathers of the lesser Countryes. He warred first with
the Latines, and wan the Citty of Appiolas, who bryngyng from
thence a greater spoyle and booty than was looked for, ordayned
richer and more gorgeous Playes than any of hys predecessours:
hee buylded certayne Galleries and other places of assembly
aboute the Forum, hee walled the City round about wyth Stone:
and as he was doing these things, the Sabines interuented him
vpon the sodayne, in so much as they were passed the Ryuer of
Anienes before the Romane hoste was in a readynesse: whych was
an occasion of great feare and styrre at Rome. In the ende after
the battayles were ioyned betweene them both, a cruell and
blouddy slaughter was commytted, the victorye falling to neyther
parte. Then the Romanes sought meanes to renue theyr force, by
addyng to theyr armye a further bande of horsemen. Wherefore
Tarquinius sent to the Rammenses, Titienses, Luceres: to the
bandes that Romulus had conscribed, hee added other new troupes
of horsemen, purposing that the same should contynue in memorye
of him after hys death: and bicause Romulus dyd the same without
aduyse of the Southsayers, one Accius Nauius, the notablest
Prophecier in those Dayes, wythstode that constitutyon,
affyrmyng that it was not lawfull for him eyther to appoynt a
newe order or to alter the olde, except the byrdes and auguries
did assent thereunto: wherewith the kynge was displeased and
deluding that Scyence, said: "Go to M. Southsayer: tell me now"
(quod he) "is it possible to bring that to passe which I haue
now conceiued in my mynd?" "Yea," quod the Southsayer, "if you
tel me what it is." "Then" quod Tarquinius, "I haue deuised that
thou shalte pare thine owne skin with a raser: therfore take
thys knyfe and doe as thy byrdes doe portend and signifie." And
as it was reported he pared his owne Skin in deede: in memory
whereof an Image of Accius was erected, with his Head couered:
after that tyme there was nothing attempted without those
auguries. Notwithstandyng, Tarquinius proceeded in hys
constytutyon, and added to the Centurias an other number, for
that 1800 horsemen wer conteyned in the three Centuriæ: the
latter addytion was called also by the same name, whych
afterward were doubled into VI. Centurias. When hys Numbre was
thus increased, once again he ioyned battell wyth the Sabines,
who by a notable pollicy recouered a great victory: and bicause
the Sabines doubled a fresh onset without any order of battell
or good aduysement, they were ouerthrowen, and then constrained
to make petition for peace: the City of Collatia, and the
Country confining vpon the same, was taken from the Sabines. The
Sabine warres beinge in this sorte ended, Tarquinius in
tryumphaunt maner retourned to Rome. At that time a prodyge and
myraculous wonder chaunced to bee seene in the Palace. The head
of a Chyld whose name was Seruius Tullius lying a slepe in the
palace, was seene to burn. The kyng was brought to see that
myracle: and as one of his seruaunts was going to fetch water to
quench the fire, he was stayed by the Queene, who commaunded
that the child should not once be touched vntyll he awaked of
hymselfe: and so soone as hee rose from sleepe, the fire
vanyshed: then she tooke hir husbande aside, and sayd: "Doe you
see this Chyld whom we haue very basely and negligently brought
vp? I assure you sir (sayd she) he wil be the onely safeguard
and defender of this our doubtfull state, and will be the
preseruer of our household when it is afflycted: wherefore let
vs make much of him, that is lyke to be the ornament and a
worthy stay to all our famyly." After that they had accompted
him amongs the Number of theyr Chyldren, and traded him vp in
those Arts, which excyte all good dispositions to aspyre vnto
houour, the pleasure of the Gods appeared in shorte tyme: for
the child grew to a royall behauior, in so much, as among all
the Romane youth there was none more mete to mary the daughter
of Tarquinius. This Seruius Tullius, was the sonne of one
Seruius Tullius that was a Captaine of a towne called
Corniculum, at the apprehension whereof, it chaunced that the
sayd Tullius the father was slayne, leauing his wife great with
child: the mother being a captiue and bondwoman was delyuered of
hir Child at Rome, in the house of Priscus Tarquinius. After
Tarquinius had raigned 38 yeres, the yong man began to grow to
great honor and estimation, aswell with the kinge himselfe, as
also with the Fathers. Then the Romanes conceiued a hateful
indignation against the king, for that he being put in trust to
be the tutor and gouernour of Ancus children, displaced them
from theyr ryght inheritance, and specially for that he himself
was a stranger, fearyng also that the kingdome should not return
again to the election of themselues, but degenerat and grow into
seruile bondage. They also caled to remembrance, that the city
continued one hundred yeres after the sublation of Romulus, an
intier kingdome within one city, and that it was a shame for
them to suffer a bondeman, borne of seruile kind, to possesse
the same, and would redounde to their perpetuall ignominie,
hauing the progenie of Ancus aliue, to suffer the same to be
open to strangers, and bondmen: wherefore they determined to
defend the griefe of that iniury, and to be reuenged rather vpon
Tarquinius, than upon Seruius. In fine, they committed the
execution of that fact to two shepherds chosen out for that
purpose: who deuised this pollicy: before the entry into the
Palace they fell togyther by the eares, vpon whych fray al the
kinge's officers assembled and repaired thither to know the
cause of theyr falling out, when they were parted, they appealed
to the king, with such exclamation as they were heard to the
Palace: beyng called before the king, both of them fell to
brauling, and one of them striued of purpose to hinder the tale
of the other. The king's sergeant rebuked them, commaunding them
to tel theyr tales in order: when they were a lyttle quieted,
one of them beginneth to discourse the tale. And as the king was
attentife to heare the plaintif, the other tooke vp a hatchet
and threw it at the kyng, and leauing thee weapon stickinge in
the wound, they conueyed theymselues out of the dores. Those
that wayted vpon the kynge, made hast to releeue him, and the
Sergeantes followed to apprehend the malefactors. Wyth that a
hurly burly rose amongs the people, euery man maruellinge what
the matter shoulde be. Tanaquil commaunded the Palace Gates to
be shut, and seeketh remedy to cure her husband, as though some
hope fayled of his recouery, she called Seruius before her
(whych maried her daughter) and shewed vnto him her dead
husband, holdinge him fast by the right hande, shee intreated
hym that he would not suffer the death of his father in the law
to be vnreuenged, to the intent he might not be ridiculous to
the traytours, saying to him further these wordes: "If thou bee
a man of thy handes (O Seruius) the kyngdome is thyne and not
theirs, which thus cruelly by the handes of other haue committed
thys abhominable fact: wherefore put forth thy self, and the
Gods be thy guide: for they did portend this noble head to be
the gouernour of this city, at such tyme as they circumfused the
same with a fire descending from aboue. Let that heauenly flame
excite thy courage: be throughly awaked: we beyng straungers
sometimes haue raigned. Thinke and consider what thou art, and
not from whence thou camest: if the strangenesse of the case do
affray the, my counsel from time to time shall relieue thee."
The cry and stirre of the people being vnmesurable, that one
could scarse heare an other, Tanaquil opened the windowes that
had their prospect to the new way (for the king dwelt at the
temple of Iupitor Stator) and then spake to them in thys wyse:
"Be of good cheere (good people) the king is but amazed with the
sodainesse of the stroke, the wound is not very deepe, for euen
nowe he is come agayne to hym selfe, and the wounde being opened
and dressed there is good hope of life: I trust within these
fewe dayes you shall see hym: in the meane time, I pray you to
shewe your obedyence to Seruius Tullius, who is appointed to
execute the lawes, and to doe all other affayres in the absence
of my husbande." Seruius occupyinge the state and authoritye of
the kyng, executed the lawes in some cases, and in other some
made the people beleue that he would consult with the king him
selfe. The death of the king was concealed and kept close a
certaine space til such tyme as Seruius had gathered his force
about him. After the death of the kynge was disclosed, Seruius
beinge garded with a strong garrison, toke vpon him to be king,
not by the consente of the people, but by the will of the
Fathers. The children of Ancus vnderstanding that the kyng was
aliue, and that Seruius power and force was greate, conveyed
themselues in exile to Suessa Pometia: and leaste the children
of Tarquinius should attempte lyke enterpryse against him, as
the children of Ancus did agaynst Tarquinius, hee maryed II. of
his daughters to Lucius and Aruns the chyldren of Tarquinius.
But yet the deuise of man could not breake the necessity of fate
and constellatyon, for the hatred conceiued in desire of
ambicious gouernment, made all thyngs vnstable and vnfaythfull
amongs domestical frends: but yet to quyet and pacyfye the
present tyme, warre was renued with the Veientes, and other
Cytyes of Hetruria: wherein the Fortune and valiance of Tullius
excelled: for when he had given an ouerthrow to the ennimy,
least the people's and fathers good wil should be withdrawne, he
retourned to Rome: who then attempted and broughte to passe a
notable worke in the common wealth. He instituted a certaine
yerely taxe and reuenew, to satisfie and discharge all charges
susteined in the time of peace and warre, with sundry other
notable lawes and deuises for the defence of the publique state.
After that he had mustered the whole numbre of the Citizens in
the field called Martius, the same amounted to LXXX.M. and as
Fabius Pictor saith, there were so many that were able to beare
armure. Then the hilles Quirinalis, Viminalis and Exquiliæ, were
added to the Citye. He compassed the town round about wyth a
vamure, enuironyng the same with a double trench. He deuyded the
Romanes into V. bandes called Classes, and into Centurias, whych
bee bandes of an hundred men. He also builded a temple to Diana,
with the helpe and assistance of the Latine people. Amongs the
Sabines there chaunced an Oxe in the House of an Husbande Man to
bee broughte forth, of an huge bignesse and maruellous shape
(the hornes whereof were placed at the porche of Diana's temple
for a monument long time after.) The Southsayers prophecie that
where the same Oxe shoulde be first sacrificed to Diana, there
the Chyefe empire and principall gouernement should remaine:
which prophecie came to the knowledge of the Chyefe minister of
Diana hir Temple. One of the Sabin's expecting for a day mete to
be employed in that sacrifice, brought the sayde Oxe to Rome to
the Temple of Diana, placing the same before the altar. The
chiefe Minister calling to remembrance the oracle, and saw that
the greatnesse of that sacrifice should be famous, spake to the
Sabine these wordes: "What dost thou meane (thou impure
Straunger) to prepare sacrifice to Diana, before thou bee
purified and clensed in the lyuelye Riuer of Tiber? Here belowe
in this valley the sayde riuer doth runne: go get the hence and
wash the." The Sabine attached with a religious feare, goeth
downe to the Riuer, and while he is washing himselfe a Romane
doth offer the Sacrifice, which was right acceptable both to the
kyng and his country. The king althoughe that of longe tyme he
had raigned, yet vnderstoode that the elder Tarquinius which was
maried to one of his daughters, did bragg and report eftsones
that his father in law obteined the gouernment and kingdom
without the consent of the people: wherfore the king through his
lyberalyty by dyuyding the conquest atchyeued of the Ennymye
amongs the common people, conciliated theyr fauor and good wils:
in so much as he affirmed that he would raign in despite of them
all, and that there was no king at any tyme that raigned with a
more generall consent: all whych did nothing diminish the hope
and desire of Tarquinius. He had a Brother whose name was Aruns,
being of a quiet and gentle disposition. Both they married two
of the king's daughters, which were of manners and conditions
very vnlike. The yonger daughter being the wife of Aruns, the
sharper shrewe, and fiercer of nature, seeing that hir husbande
was nothing giuen or plyant to match with hir vngracious deuice
or ambicious stomack, attempted hir brother, whose condicion was
correspondent to hirs, and sayd vnto him, that he was a Man in
deede, and one worthy to be accompted to be borne and proceede
of the bloud Royall. Then she began to contemne hir sister, for
that she hauing such a man to hir husbande, would suffer him to
neglect so meete and iust occasion for recouery of the kingdom.
Their natures being of one disposition, as commonly one
myschyefe procureth an other, al things began to be disquieted
throughe the attempt of that vngracious woman. To be shorte,
they two deuysed meanes, that Aruns hys Brother, and the Elder
Tullia hir sister were slain: which done, they two maried
together. The wicked woman ceased not daylye to animate and
prouoke hir husbande from one parricide to an other. And amongs
all hir wicked talke and cruel instigations, she vsed these
words: "If thou be that man vnto whom I thinke I am maryed, then
I wil call the both husband and king: but if thou bee not hee,
then the alteratyon is chaunged to the worse, and cruelty is
matched with cowardise. But why doest thou not put thy selfe in
a readinesse? Why thou commest not nowe from Corinthe, or from
the Hetrurian Tarquines, to atchieue and conquere newe kingdoms
as thy father did. The familiar Gods and the Gods of thy
countrey, the nobility of thy father, and thy royal bloud, thy
stately seate within thine own house, and thy name Tarquinius,
do create and make kyng. But if in al these occasions thou dost
wante stomacke, why dost thou make the whole Citye conceyue a
false opinion of thee? Why dost thou not shewe thyselfe to be
the sonne of a king? Auoide hence I say, and go to the
Tarquinians, or to Corinth, retire again to thy firste lynage:
thou dost rather resemble thy brother's effeminate hart, than
the valiant stomacke of thy father." With these wordes and sutch
like, she pricked forward hir husbande, and she hir self could
in no wise bee quiet. Then Tarquinius went forth to the fathers
of the lesser countries, and called to theyr remembraunce the
benefites vnto them by hys father extended, desiring the like to
bee shewed and rendered vnto hym, he allured the yonger sort of
the City by giftes and other lyberall rewardes, promising them
if he atteined his purpose, more frankly to recompence them. By
this meanes the king became odious and offensiue to the people.
Tarquinius seeing his time, guarded with a bande of Men, entred
the market place, wherewith the common people were greatly
abashed, then he mounted into the palace, and placed himselfe in
the royal seate of the same, causinge the Fathers to be cited
before hym by the haraulde, vnto whom he repeted the petigree of
Seruius, and his first entrance into the kingdom. As he was
speaking these wordes, Seruius in great haste repayred to the
Palace, and findyng Tarquinius sitting in his place, sayd to him
these wordes: "Why? what is the matter Tarquinius (quod he?)
Howe darest thou be so bolde so long as I am liuing to call the
Fathers, or yet presume to sit in my seat?" Wherunto Tarquinius
fiercely replyed: "That hee possessed but the roume of his
father, which was more mete for a king's sonne and heyre, than
for suche a bondeman as hee was, and that hee had long enough
abused his lordes and maisters." Wherwithal a great hurly burly
and tumult began to rise by the fautors of both parts, so that
he was like to attaine the Garland, which best could daunce for
it. Tarquinius forced to giue the laste aduenture, beynge more
lusty and stronger than the other, tooke Seruius by the myddle,
and caryinge hym oute of the Courte, threwe hym downe the
Staires, whyche done, hee caused the Senate to retourne into the
Palace. Then the kynge wyth all hys trayne of Offycers, and
other hys seruaunts ranne away, and as they were flying, hee was
slayne by those that Tarquinius sent after to pursue hym, in the
streete called Cyprius. Tullia vnderstandyng that Seruius hyr
father was slayne, she bashed not in hir Wagon to come into the
market place before all the assemblye there, called hir husband
out of the Court, and boldly was the first that called him king.
But being rebuked and commaunded by him to auoid out of that
greate throng of people, she retired home agayn, and when she
was paste the vpper ende of the said strete called Cyprius, the
wagoner dryuing toward the right hand to the Hill called
Exquiliæ, hee stayed the Wagon, and shewed his Ladye the bodye
of hyr Father, lyinge starke dead in the streete. In memory of
which shamefull and vnnatural fact, long tyme after ther
contynued a Monument: for the same strete was called Vicus
Sceleratus. Some report that she caused the wagon to be dryuen
ouer the dead corps of hir father, wyth the bloud of whom and
hir husband, hir wagon being contaminated, she presented the
same to hir Gods: after which abhominable beginnings, like end
ensued. This Seruius Tullius raigned XLIIII. yeres. Then
Tarquinius began to raigne, vnto whom Superbus was added for his
surname: this wicked sonne in law would not suffer the dead body
of Seruius to be buried. His conscience being pricked with the
abhominable gaine of hys kyngdom, fearying also least other
might conceiue like example, he guarded his person with a band
of armed men, executing all thinges wyth force and tyranny,
contrary to the aduyse and consents of the Senate and people. He
caused the fautors and frendes of Seruius to be put to death,
whereby the numbre of the Fathers was diminished, whose places
he suffred none other to supply, of purpose to bring that
honourable order to contempt. He gouerned the common welth by
his own domestical and priuate Counsel: War, peace, truce,
society of the Cyties adioining, he vsed as he list, without any
further assent. The Latines he specially regarded, to the intent
that through forreine aide hee might raign in more surety at
home, with the chief of which country he ioyned affinity. One
Octauius Manilius, a Tusculan born, was the prince and chief
ruler of that country, descending from the stock of Vlisses, and
the Goddesse Circes, if the same be true, vnto whom Tarquinius
gaue his daughter in mariage: by reason wherof he conciliated
great alliance and frendes. Tarquinius beinge of great authority
among the Latines, appointed them vppon a day to assemble at a
woode called Ferentina, there to intreat of matters concerninge
both the states. To which place the Latines repaired vpon the
breake of the day, but Tarquinius came not thither till the
Sunne was set. During whych time many things were in talke.
There was one amonges them called Turnus Herdonius, whych in
Tarquinius absence had inueyed vehemently agaynst hym,
affirminge that it was no maruell though he was called Superbus
by the Romanes. For what prouder mock could be inforced to the
Latines, than to make them wayt a whole day for his pleasure.
"Dyuers Princes and Noblemen (quod he) that dwel far of, be come
according to the appointment, and he which first allotted the
day, is not present. Heereby it most euidently appeareth in what
sort he will vse vs if he myghte once attayne the soueraynty.
And who doubteth in thys so manyfest apparance, but that he went
about to affect the Dominion of the Latines? If the Romanes haue
had iust cause to beleeue him, and if their Kyngdome had ben but
gotten and not violently rapt and stolne by parricide, then the
Latines mighte also beleeue hym, who being but a straunger to
them, had no great cause to beleeue hym. Hys owne subiects do
repent the time that euer he bare rule: For some be slayne and
heaped vpon the dead bodies of other, some be banished, some
haue lost their goods: what other frutes than these maye the
Latine people expecte and look for? Therefore if they would be
ruled, he required euery man to returne home to his own house,
and geue no more attendaunce for the day of Counsel, than he
doth which first appoincted the same." These wordes and sutch
like, this sedicious and desperat man declared: Whose talke
Tarquinius interuented, and vpon his comming euery man conuerted
him selfe to salute him. Then Tarquinius began to excuse his
long tariaunce, for that he was appoynted an arbitrator betwene
the father and the sonne, for whose reconciliation he was forced
to stay that longe space, and to spend the time of that day.
Wherefore he appoynted the next day. The conceit of which excuse
Turnus could not kepe secret, but sayd: that a matter betwene
the father and the sonne might be ended in few wordes: for if
the childe would not be obedient to his father, some mischyef
must needes lyght vppon him. Tarquinius vnderstanding these
inuections made againste hym by Turnus, immediatly deuyseth
meanes to kil him, to the intent he myght inculcate like terror
to the Latines, that he did to his owne subiects. And bicause he
was not able to sort his purpose to effect by secrete malice, he
attempted to accuse him of Treason, and suborned (by means of
diuers of the Citty of Aricia) his owne man whom with gold he
had corrupted to bring in a forged accusation, whych was that
his maister had prepared in one night a number of men with
Munition and weapon to distroy the Nobility of the Latines, of
purpose to recouer the principalitye of the same. This matter
began to be suspicious, by reason of the Tumult made the day
beefore against Tarquinius, and therefore the people the soner
did credit the case. In fine, Turnus was condempned, and
therefore a new kind of death deuised for him. Who being laide
vpon a Hurdle his face vpward, was throwen into the water of
Ferrentina. This execution being done Tarquinius reuoked the
Latines to Counsel, wherein he praised them for their Iustice
extended vpon Turnus, and then spake these wordes: "I may by an
old order and constitution iustlye say thus mutch vnto you. The
whole nation of the Latines descending from the City of Alba are
bounde to obserue that truce which the Albanes wyth all their
colonies annexing themselues to the Romane Empyre in the tyme of
Tullius Hostilius, were firmely obliged to accomplishe. The
renouation whereof will nowe conduce more aduauntage and vtylity
to them al, than euer it did beefore. For throughe this Truce
the Latines shall possede and participate parte of the
prosperous successe of the Romane people. Better it were in this
sort to ioyne themselues togither, than to see Destruction of
either Cities, Depopulacions and spoiles of their countries,
whych in the time of Ancus (my father then raygnyng) he
suffered. The like also (if you do forsake this offer) ye may
styll expecte and suffer." The Latines herevnto were soone
perswaded, a Day was appointed when the lustiest sorte of theyr
Countrie should be ready armed at the wood called Ferrentina.
Being ioyned in order of battel, they marched towardes the
Volsciens, and wanne the Citye of Suessa Pometia, the spoile
wherof Tarquinius solde for XL. Talents, imploying the same vpon
the Temple of Iupiter. Afterwards he assaulted the Gabinians,
and when he saw he coulde not by force obteyne the same, he
surmised a pollicy. Who seeming to bend him self wholy vpon the
building of the Capitole and to set aside the affaires of his
warres, deuised with his sonne Sextus, which was the youngest of
the three, that he should runne to the Gabinians, and complayne
of his father's intollerable crueltye, whych accordingly he did.
Who shewinge hymselfe as a voluntarye exyle, sayd that hys
father had conuerted hys tyrannye from other, and began to
execute the same vpon his owne freendes, and that he was also
weary of the presence of his owne chyldren going about to remoue
hys domesticall conuersants oute of hys house, as he had done
the like out of the Court, to the intent hee would leaue no
ofspring or heyre behinde him to possesse his kingdome: adding
further, that he was escaped euen through the midde of his
father's weapons and fury, thincking no place better for his
safegarde and refuge, than to seeke succour amongs his ennimies.
"And bicause (quod he) ye shall not be deceiued, he is euen now
preparing of warres against you, and purposeth vpon the sodaine
to set vpon you. Now if there be no place of abode for me your
humble suppliant amongs you, I must needes wander through Italy,
and first I will attempt the Volscians, afterwardes the Æquians
and Hernicians, tyll sutch tyme as I finde some Nation willing
to defend the poore Chylde from the cruell and wicked furye of
the Father: and perchaunce (quod he) ye shall wynne hym that may
bee an Instrument and courage vnto you all, to represse that
proude kyng and cruell Natyon." The Gabinians delyberating what
was best to be done in this case, the young man seemed as though
he were offended, and would in al hast depart, and seeke refuge
of others, then they curteously interteined him: thys yong man
was had in great estimation amongs them, throughe craftye and
vaine persuasions, makyng them belieue that he would conduct
their army euen vnder the walles of Rome, with sundry other
fained instigations to brynge him self the more in credit. At
length he was chosen captain of theyr warres, and recouered
sundry victories for the Gabinians: whereby the foolishe Nation
both of the lower and chiefest sort, beleeued that their
captayne was sent vnto them by the prouidence of the Gods. He
susteined perill and payne in like sort as the common Souldier
did, liberally deuidinge his spoiles and booties amongs them. He
was so well beloued, that hys father Tarquinius at Rome was of
no greater authority than hee was among the Gabinians. When he
thought that he had recouered force enough to answer his
father's expectation, he sent a post to Rome to know his
father's pleasure, although the gods had giuen him sufficient
authority amongs the Gabinians. And bycause Tarquinius was
doubtful of the trust and fidelity of the messenger, hee would
aunswer nothing by worde of mouth, but carying the messenger
into a garden, hard adioyning his house, with a wand which he
caried in his hand, he cut of the heads of the highest Poppies
that grew in the garden, meanyng therby that he shoulde
dispatche the heads of the chiefest and principal in the City.
Whervpon the messanger without answere by mouth returned. But by
declaryng those signes and circumstances which his father vsed
in the garden Sextus conceiued his meaning. Then like a naturall
sonne, following the steppes of his father, he cut of the heads
of the Gabinian nobility, wherupon som ran away, vpon whose
departure the goods as wel of them as of other that were put to
death were deuided. The state of the Gabinians being in this
doubtful case, void of al counsell and succour, at length was
surrendred to the Romanes. Then Tarquinius concluded peace with
the Æquians, and renued a truce with the Thuscanes and wholly
bent him self to the affayres of the City. This Tarquinius was
the father of him that rauished the noble Lady Lucretia: the
lamentable history whereof, is recited in my former Tome, by the
end of which stock, remembred in that history, and begining of
the same described in this Nouell, may be gathered, what
fruyctes Ambytyon and lothsome luste bryng forth. For Tarquinius
Priscus repairing out of Hetruria, to dwell at Rome, by the
ambycyous wyll of hys wyfe aspired and atchyeued the kyngdome,
whych was by the sundry deuyce of Tullia, the daughter of
Seruius Tullius mainteyned, and by the libidinous desire of
Sextus Tarquinius, the sonne of Superbus the 6 Romane kynge
ended, and the whole race expelled and euerlastingly banished
out of that Citty. So meete an example for those that breath,
and longe after the Rightes, titles, and Kyngdomes of other, as
may bee read in any Author. For although the Springe appeare
very fresh and lusty, of some degenerate grifft planted vpon
some auncient stock, yet the fruyct most commonly in taste
eateth somwhat sower, and the Rellishe in mouth not altogether
so pleasaunt, as that whych both in soyle and stocke, is duely
planted.