Why call they those who are deprehended or taken in theft, pilferie or such like servile trespasses, Furciferos, as one would say, Fork bearers.
Is not this also an evident argument of the great diligence and carefull regard that was in their ancients? For when the maister of the family had surprised one of his servants or slaves, committing a lewd and wicked pranck, he commaunded him to take up and carrie upon his necke betweene his shoulders a forked piece of wood, such as they use to put under the spire of a chariot or waine, and so to go withall in the open view of the world throughout the street, yea and the parish where he dwelt, to the end that every man from thence forth should take heed of him. This piece of wood we in Greeke call στήριγμα, and the Romanes in the Latin tongue Furca, that is to say, a forked prop or supporter: and therefore he that is forced to carie such an one, is by reproch termed Furcifer.
71.
Wherefore use the Romans to tie a wisp of hey unto the hornes of kine, and other beefes, that are woont to boak and be curst with their heads, that by the meanes thereof folke might take heed of them, and looke better to themselves when they come in their way?
Is it not for that beefes, horses, asses, yea and men become fierce, insolent, and dangerous, if they be highly kept and pampered to the full? according as Sophocles said:
Like as the colt or jade doth winse and kick,
In case he find his provender to prick:
Even so do'st thou: for lo, thy paunch is full
Thy cheeks be puft, like to some greedie gull.
And thereupon the Romans gave out, that Marcus Crassus caried hey on his horne: for howsoever they would seeme to let flie and carpe at others, who dealt in the affaires of State, and government, yet beware they would how they commersed with him as being a daungerous man, and one who caried a revenging mind to as many as medled with him. Howbeit it was said afterwards againe on the other side, that Cæsar had plucked the hey from Crassus his horne: for he was the first man that opposed himselfe, and made head against him in the management of the State, and in one word set not a straw by him.