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