use 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