_A Scholemaister traiterously rendring the noble mens sonnes of Faleria
to the hands of Camillus, was wel acquited and rewarded for his paines
and labour._
Warres were addressed by the Romaines against the Falisques (a people of
Italye, the ruines of the chiefe citie wherof do yet appeare sixe miles
from Viterba) and an armye conscribed and sent thether, vnder the
conduct of Furius Camillus. The Falisques vppon the approch of the
Romaines, were constrayned to retire within their citie, thinking the
same to be their most assured refuge. And they to continue their siege,
incamped a mile from the citie, and determined throughly to besiege it,
which in deede had like to haue beene of verye long continuance except
fortune had giuen to the Romaine Captaine, for his tried and well
approued valiaunce, victorie in time, which chaunced after this maner.
It was a custome amonges the Falisques (obserued also in these oure
dayes) to haue their children instructed by one Scholemaister, and him
also to vse for their guide and companion in all games and pastimes.
Amonges theym there was a Scholemaister, which taughte noble mennes
sonnes, who in the time of peace, teachinge those children, and vsinge
for theyr exercise to leade them abroade in the fieldes, kepte still
that order, for all the warres before the gates, sometime wyth shorte
walkes, sometime wyth longer for their disportes: and continuinge
varietie of talke wyth his schollers longer then he was wont to do, at
length he brought them to the Romaine campe, euen to the tent of
Camillus, hoping thereby (by like) to haue beene well welcomed, and
liberally rewarded: saying to Camillus, as detestable woords as the
facte was traiterous and wicked: which was in effect--“That he was come
with that present vnto him, to yelde those children into his hands whose
parents were the principall of that Citie: and therby knew for certainty
that the citie would surrender.” Camillus seeing that fact, and hearing
those words, said vnto him. “Thou arte not come (villane) to a people
and Captaine, with this thy trayterous offer, semblable to thy selfe. We
haue no aliaunce with the Falisques confirmed by compacte or humaine
promise, but amitie wherunto nature doth bind vs, is and shall be for
euermore betweene vs. Warre so well as peace, hath his law and right:
which we haue learned to obserue with no lesse Justice, then constancie.
We make no warre against boies, whom wee spare, whensoeuer we inuade or
take any cities: but against armed men we fight, yea, and against such,
as without offence, or prouocation of our partes, assailed the Romaines
campe at the siege of the Veiens. Thou hast vanquished them so much as
lyeth in thee, with a new kinde of victorie atchieued by treason: but I
will subdue them by pollicie of the Romaines, by vertue, indeuour and
armes, euen as I did the Veiens.” When he had spoken those wordes, he
caused this trayterous scholemaister to be striped starke naked, and
binding his handes behinde him, deliuered him to the children, with
roddes in their handes, to whippe him home to the citie. When hee was in
this order retourned, the people of the citie flocked together to see
this sight. Then the magistrates assembled in counsaile, vpon this
straunge occasion, and where before they were incensed with maruailous
wrath and furie, rather desirous of vtter ouerthrow, then peace. Now
their mindes were quite altered, and peace vniuersally demaunded. The
fidelitie of the Romaines, and iustice of Camillus, both in Forum and
Court was celebrated, and by general conformitie, Ambassadours were
sente into the campe to Camillus, and from thence by Camillus
sufferance, to the Senate of Rome, of purpose to yelde themselues to
their gouernment, who being brought before the Senate spake these
woordes. “Wee (fathers conscripte) vanquished by you and your Captaine,
(where at neither God nor man oughte to be offended) haue yelded our
selues to you, thinking that wee shall liue more happie, and better
contented vnder your gouernmente, then by our owne lawes and liberties:
a thing that maketh the victor more glorious and praise worthie, then
anye other. By the successe of these warres, two holsome examples bee
manifested to mankinde. Ye doe preferre fayth in warres before certaine
victorie, and we, induced by that faith, haue of our owne accord,
presented victorie unto you. We be at your commaundement: sende hither
commissioners, to receiue our weapons, our pledges and our citie, which
standeth with the gates wide open. We hope well, that neither ye shall
haue occasion to be miscontented with oure fidelitie, nor wee offended
with your gouernment and Empyre.” For which facte greate thankes were
attributed to Camillus, both by the Falisques and Romaynes.
Here appeared the face and true Image of that greate vertue, Justice,
wherewith this noble man was truly affected. His noble nature was not
able to abide any trayterous fact, done by vnnaturall Citizens, toward
their owne countrie. No vngratitude of his owne countrie men, could
withdrawe his nature from the zeale and loue he bare to his countrie.
His condempnation by vnkinde Apuleius Saturninus the Tribune, for which
he fledde to Ardea, could not let or impeach his magnanimitie from
giuinge the Galles an ouerthrowe when they had sacked Rome, and sharpely
besieged the Capitole: who in his absence (created Dictator,) by
gathering together such Romaines as were fledde, vnwares set vpon the
couetous Galles, as they were in controuersie for paimente of a golden
summe of money, and thereby restored his countrie to libertie. Wherefore
worthely might he be intitled, with the honourable name of a second
Romulus. For as Romulus was the first builder and peopler of that citie,
so was Camillus the vindicator and deliuerer of the same.