The Virginia Gazette

"AMBASSADOURS came from Tarquin (to the Romans, after his expulsion) with letters calculated to gain the people, and instructions to treat with them in such a manner as might be most likely to corrupt them; as they were to tell them, from the king, that he had bid adieu to his high notions, and was willing to listen to very moderate conditions. Though the consuls were of opinion that they should be admitted to confer with the people, Valerius would not suffer it, but opposed it strongly; insisting, that no pretext for innovation should be given the needy multitude, who might consider war as a greater grievance than tyranny itself. After this, ambassadors came to declare that he would give up all thoughts of the kingdom, and lay down his arms, if they would but send him his treasures, and other effects, that his family and friends might not want a subsistence in their exile. Many persons inclined to indulge him in this, and Collatinus in particular agreed to it; but Brutus, a man of great spirit, and quick resentment, ran in to the forum, and called his colleague traitor, for being disposed to grant the enemy the means to carry on the war, and recover the crown, when indeed it would be too much to grant them bread in the place where they might retire to. The citizens being assembled on that occasion, Caius Minutius, a private man, was the first who delivered his sentiments to them, advising Brutus, and exhorting the Romans, to take care that the treasures should fight for them against the tyrants, rather than for the tyrants against them. The Romans, however, were of opinion, that while they retained that liberty for which they began the war, they should not reject the offered peace for the sake of the treasures, but cast them out together with the tyrants. In the mean time, Tarquinius made but small account of his effects; but the demand of them furnished a pretence for sounding the people, and for preparing a scene of treachery. This was carried on by the ambassadors, under pretence of taking care of the effects: part of which, they said, they were to sell, part to collect, and the rest to send away. Thus they gained time to corrupt two of the best families in Rome."