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 CLAUDIUS. 3 5

THE FIFTE NOUELL.

Appius Claudius, one of the Decemuiri of Rome, goetfi about to raui/he Virginia a yonge may den, which indeuour of Appius, when her father Virginius vnderjlode being then in the warres, hee repaired home to refcue his daughter. One that was letrouthed vnto her, clamed her, whereupon rofe great contention. In the ende her owne father, tofaue the Jhame of hisjiocke, killed her with a Booker's knife, and went into the sorum, crying vengeance vpon Appius. Then after much contention and rebellion, the De cemuiri were deposed.

SPURIUS Pofthumius Albus, Aulus Manlius, and P. Sulpitius Ca- merinus, were sent AmbafTadours to Athenes, and commaunded to wryte out the noble Lawes of Solon, and to learne the Inflitutions, orders, and Lawes of other Greeke cities. Vpon whose retourne, the Tribunes were verie inftant that at length lawes might be enacted and confirmed. And for that purpose certaine officers were appointed, called Decemuiri : with soueraigne authentic and power to reduce the fame into wryting, whiche were thought meete and profitable for the common wealth. The principall and chiefe of which nomber was Appius Claudius, who committed no lefle filthy faclie, then was done by Tarquinius, for the rape of Lu- crece. The fayde Appius conceiued a libidinous desire, to rauime a yong virgine, the doughter of one Lucius Virginius, then a cap tain in the warres at Algidum, a man of honest and sober life, whose wife was also of right good behauiour, and their children accordingly brought vp, and inftructed. They had betrouthed their doughter, to one L. Icilius of the order of the Tribunes, a man of great ftoutnefle and tried valiance in the cause of the people. This yong maide being of excellent beautie, Appius at the first began to woe by giftes and faire promifes : but when he fawe that (he was impregnable, he deuifed by wicked and cruell pollicie, to obteine her, committing the charge of that enterprife to one of his frendes, called Marcus Claudius, who went about to

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