committed this fact wherewith she is suspected seeing that shee cannot denie that fault which one would neuer haue charged her withall You see worthie Iudges that her sinne her conscience and her owne mouth beare witnesse against her pittie then this poore dead bodie burst and ouerflowing with poyson behold the bride bed and feast turned into tears and funerals take compassion of him who aboue all others is a miserable father and a most vnfortunate husband The wiues Answere YOu charge me with two great crimes without any likelihood of truth that is to say with adultery and poysoning of the one there is neither proofe nor witnes of the other there is a tormented slaue witnesse who not onlie to escape from tortures but also to bee reuenged of the stripes which heretofore she hath receiued accuseth her mistris but who is so ignorant that knoweth not that such vild wretches as shee doe seeke for nothing els but mischiefe or at the least for alteration or change and especiallie when the husband and the wife are at variance because that for the most part all the anger lighteth vpon their shoulders therfore they seeke to mittigate their owne disgrace by anothers discredite likewise your sicklenesse euermore readie to beleeue false reports and not my faults doth induce you to accuse me falsely The malice which this slaue did beare vnto my daughter persuadeth mee that she hath poysoned her because shee would not behold her mariage for fear of falling forth of my hands into hers that was yonger therfore more rigorous as being lesse subiect to reason O what a goodlie man is this who dooth giue more credite to a tortured slaues words then vnto the long experience of the integritie of his wife you do your selfe confesse that you would neuer haue thought that in seeking for the murtherer of your daughter you should haue found out your wiues adulterie it is then a signe that I neuer heretofore gaue you anie occasiō to suspect me for a lasciuious woman what mooueth you then to beleeue it now A wicked and disloiall bond woman Who prouoked you to suspect mee for poisoning your daughter One word spoken by mee in my anger Doe you not know that they which are iustly angrie or grieued do speake that which they neuer thinke Thinke you that the mother hath not a iust cause to bee angrie when shee seeth that her daughter shall be married without her consent Seeing the mother and not the father suffered all the paine in bearing her that inforceth her also to loue her more tenderlie Since I could not abide to see her badly married could I bee so hard hearted as to cause her to bee murthered Alasse the feare that I had of her death made me to diuine her destruction In like sort it is euident that those which are ouercharged either with anger or feare doe oftentimes vnaduisedly foretell such mischiefe as shortlie after falleth out but too true euen so hath it happened vnto mee being ouerburdened both with the one and the other accident consider O you Iudges how mad this man is who vnto his daughters death would ad his innocent wiues decay grounding his opinion therein vpon such a word as any one that desired to kill another would neuer vtter Lastly I protest that he wrongfully seeketh my discredit therfore I request that he may make me amends for my disgrace Declamation 74. Of Romulus who caused his brother Remus to be beheaded ROmulus and Remus being both brethren and twins were the founders of Rome and the first Kings thereof neuerthelesse they were ruled by the aduice of the Senate who had established a law that hee which went forth of the citty without leaue of the kings or the licence of the Senat should bee guilty of Treason and bee forthwith beheaded Vpon this decree they began to build the wals of their cittie Where the two Kings being one day both together and Romulus praising the diligence of the workemen saying that they had in a short time raised the walles so high as they might be well tearmed defensible Remus to shew the agilitie of his person or it may be to contrarie his brothers speeches leaped at one iumpe ouer the wall foorth of the cittie wherevpon Romulus being greatlie displeased and exceeding angrie or rather because loue and rule can neuer abide anie companion so it may be he hauing long before sought for some occasion caused his brother to bee suddainely taken and affirming that he was gone forth of the cittie without leaue hee did by the law condemne him and made him to be presently beheaded Wherewithal the Senat being displeased accused Romulus for killing not onely his brother but also their King And thus they say WHat good lucke or happinesse may wee hope to reape of our Commonwealth or cittie seeing that in the beginning thereof not onlie one twinne brother hath presumed to kill the other but also the King hath murthered the King If one hand should cut off the other one foot tread vpon the other one eie darken the other and finallie if all the members would seeke to hinder each other what benefit or helpe may be hoped for of the bodie As the man which hath but one eie is alwaies in danger to be starke blind or as he which hath but one hand the least hurt which the other hand receiueth maketh the man altogether impotent euen so wee thought our selues happie to bee free from the like danger hauing two kings to the end that if the one were sicke the other might gouerne and aid the Commonwealth those dangers which the one might incur for want of foresight the other might preuent by his forecast the one being abroad the other was in the cittie and being not onelie brethren but twinnes wee hoped that they should be inuincible but alasse the one hath ouerthrowne the other What punishment then dooth not hee deserue which hath depriued the Commonwealth of so great a hope Who knoweth not that kings are the true guides of the people and how good or bad soeuer they be the most part will follow their example Vnhappie then are those Commonwealths where the kings are wicked and especiallie when their chiefest fault is crueltie which in them is most odious therefore hath nature framed the drone being king of the bees without a sting or at the least if he haue one he vseth it not if crueltie then be so vnseemely for kings how much more is it for such as are the first kings seeing that they doe instruct and embolden all their successors to follow their steps for mans frailtie is more prone to follow the bad then the good doe wee not know that sharpe lawes are made not to destroy Cittizens much lesse Kings but onlie to bridle the vicious and by keeping them in aw to assure the vertuous the text of the law is strict but the glose is ample ought alwaies to tend rather vnto clemencie then crueltie What would you say
his own accord he offered himselfe to abide any punishment yet were his torments aggrauated the more All these acts O Romans are most lamentable worthy of great compassion amongst men But yet the hatefull contempt which this monstrous man hath made of your authoritie is most detestable For as he was in acting the second execution at Callie when the miserable soules were not yet all bound to the stakes there came as it were by diuine grace and your goodnes letters from the Praetor and people of Rome to stay their execution neuerthelesse this man his rage alone preuailed more than did the clemencie of all the rest of you But what is this man who presumeth to be more wise and taketh greater authoritie vpon him then all the other Romanes besides Surely if crueltie be wisdome and presumption carrie authoritie hee hath reason But if humanity be decent for men and to thinke no better of himselfe then others be modestie he hath done amisse for hee is worse then a beast that thinketh himselfe better then any other man If it were lawfull I would faine know what moued him that he could not so much as stay this last cruell execution Or what hurt might haue happened vnto the Romans therby of whom we are the true though disobedient children since heretofore we freely gaue our selues all we possessed into their hands But if some amongst vs more ambitious then the rest vpon hope to command the weaker sort haue yeelded themselues vnto Hannibal was it conuenient that euen those who were displeased therewithall should die so cruelly without being admitted not so much as to speake for themselues Alas this crueltie is too extreame and so much the more in that it was done against the intention of the Senat people of Rome But God graunt that vnder the colour of this horrible deed there be not some secret hidden more pernicious and hurtfull vnto the Romans then euer our rebellion was I know besides the difficultie thereof how much all true Romane hearts doe detest such as do aspire to tyrannize ouer their owne countrey yet I may say that the deeds of Fuluius doe shew that he aimeth at that marke and it may be himselfe suspecteth that so much is alreadie knowne by him which was the only cause why he was vnwilling that the Capuans should be suffered to speake least some thing might haue beene disclosed vnto his preiudice the which I will not affirme because that if it were so it ought to be more then made manifest since that many haue not only bene suspected but also greeuously punished for matters lesse apparent then this And amongst others Coriolanus Manlius Spurius Cassius and Melius only for shewing themselues ouer liberall To conclude I feele my selfe so ouercharged with griefe as I am not able to speake in such sort as I ought pleading before this honorable Senat who may be pleased to beare with my weaknes considering that they neuer keepe decorum which are ouercharged with extream sorrow May it then please you most worthy Senators protectors of equitie by that little which I haue badly expressed to consider what might further be spoken vpon this matter by one who is free from all anguish and feare The Answere of M. Attilius in the absence of Fuluius I Thinke most graue Senators that these men here haue no other reason to complain of Fuluius but only because he hath saued the liues of too many of the Capuans For it is very certaine that after the taking or surrender of Capua Fuluius caused information to be made of all those that had borne any good will vnto the Romans and there were found no more then three silie women that is to say Vestia Oppia and Faucula Cluuia who by the hire of her bodie did secretly relieue the Romans that were in prison and the other did euery day offer sacrifice for the prospertie victory of the Romans The third being but a yong girle was the same that came vnto our campe and gaue intelligence that those Numidians which fained to be runne away from Capua were sent for spies and some of them were found with letters about them to carrie vnto Hannibal Touching the rest it may be said that although they were all guiltie yet did Fuluius cause those onely to die who surpassed the others in authoritie Wherfore Fuluius was no lesse mercifull vnto those whom he saued then iust vnto them that he executed But it is the manner of the wicked yea of the most part of men seldome to say more rightly none of their Citizens were worthie to liue so did Fuluius but well hauing seene with his eies your obstinacie in fighting your fauour to Hanniball and your hate to the Romans therevpon to execute iustice as also because the dignitie of the consulship carrieth with it the authoritie both of the Senate and people in such affaires where expedition is required and it is not for the offenders to demand an account of the iudges for the iustice which they haue executed but those who by their fauor are yet liuing ought rather to admire their most wonderfull mercie Say then that your cruelties haue bene the cause that Fuluius may yet be called more mercifull then iust Finally he is the man who leauing his Collegue hurt at the siege of Capua came with part of the armie to succour Rome and fight with Hanniball who was before our gates at your instance He it is who hath compelled you to submit your selues againe vnto the Romans And he it is who in the behalf of the people hath yet the power to punish you further Wherefore it is but follie to answere particularly to euery slaunderous supposition which you would assert against him since those that are conquered do neuer loue their conquerors Declamation 2. Of the first Earle of Flaunders who was accused to the French King for hanging his eldest son THe Flemmings write very obscurely in their Chronicles that their first Earle was named Leideric being the sonne of one Saluart a Foster of Flaunders and they say that the said Leideric while he was yet a Foster and comming to suruey his woods did find the French king his daughter bebloubered with tears because that in the said forrest some had murthered a Prince of England who had secretly stolen and carried her forth of France Which Princesse Leideric married and of her had seuen sons whom he caused to be all apparelled with garments the left side whereof was cloth of gold in honour of their mother and the right side was woollen cloth because himselfe was neither prince nor knight Now it happened that the said French king whose name they likewise tell not followed in chase of Hart euen vnto the cittie of Liste in Flaunders where the said Leideric dwelt with whom the king was lodged who thorowly viewing Leiderics children thought that they greatly resembled his daughters countenance and demanding for their mother he presently knew her for his lost
contrarie haue thereby gained immortall praise and glorie Likewise there is no doubt at all but that the fathers kindnesse ought to exceed all other loue following the example of our maker who leaueth not to exercise his mercy together with his iustice and that it is so he many times punisheth sinnes both in this world and in the world to come moreouer we must not thinke any father so cruell to hurt his sonne in the little finger without feeling the griefe thereof himselfe in the middest of his heart and therefore it is a meere folly to teach fathers how they ought to loue their children since nature who is the mistresse of all humane creatures instructeth them therein sufficiently and as it is most certain that princes or such as rule are aboue all others bounden to be vertuous and that they are constituted as guides and examples for all their subiects to follow so can it not also be denied but that seueritie of iustice is more requisit in them then any of the other vertues if vertues may be feperated and he which will well consider my deed without passion shall find all the foure principall vertues therein to be obserued For first of all I haue done iustice in putting him to death who was not onely the death of an innocent or at the least the same that caused the mother to suffer her child to die but also such a one who defrauded a poore woman of part of her liuing in that he paied her not for the same which she brought to sell for her reliefe My prudence was shewed in putting him to death without any commotion of the people and in terrifieng all others from offending as also to take from euery malefactor all hope to escape iust punishment for their misdeeds My temperance I declared in causing the offender to die by the shortest and secretest maner of death that I could deuise thereby ridding him from the shame to be a spectacle vnto many And my fortitude was manifest in that I was able to ouercome the desire which I had to pardon him both the same and all other offences But in the end considering that the first princes are bound by their examples to stirre vp and prouoke their successors to execute iustice without partialitie I haue for that end sacrificed my will together with the life of my best beloued sonne because the euill customes of the former princes are turned into lawes by those which succeed them and those which are good are quite forgotten if they be not confirmed by verie memorable examples Therefore Saule did not amisse when hee would haue put his sonne Ionathas to death seeing law is to be administred vnto all alike for where exception of persons is respected there must needs corruption of iustice follow which marreth all for nothing can be permament which is corrupted True it is that he was my eldest sonne but being such a one as he was he neither ought to succeed me nor yet to liue any longer and accuse me no more of crueltie since to punish an euill doer is a deed of mercie for pittie without iustice is follie or rather iniquitie and the greater he is that offendeth the more seuere punishment he deserueth For the poore wretch or hee which is of base condition may excuse himselfe by his pouertie by want of instruction by ignorance by his lewd education and such other like reasons both vaine and friuolous but the offences of great personages is to bee attributed to nothing but to pride malice Neither is one death more shamefull then another but only that death where the partie is made a spectacle to the standers by for it is not the death but the offence that is shamefull And therefore in executing iustice I cannot be tearmed cruell vnto mine owne blood or my sonne nor vnto your Prince vnto the Kings daughter neither vnto our children for he not being such a one as hee ought to be was now no more to be regarded by any of vs but was no better then a thiefe and a murtherer Who is then so mad as to be called a grandfather father mother brother or a subiect to so vild a man Neither must these be the meanes to begin those good seruices that ought to be done vnto the crowne of France which was institituted and preserued hetherto by vertue It is a vaine thing to goe about to persuade fathers of the valor or worthinesse of their children seeing that for the most part they beleeue it more then is requisite and alwaies doe excuse their faults more then they ought of which sort I confesse my selfe haue beene one so long as there was any hope of amendment I assure you that a long time was my heart most greeuously perplexed before I could consent vnto the punishment death of my sonne But omitting all other circumstances I will shew you the reasons which moued me to put my sonne to death for the sonnes discredite must needes bee the fathers disgrace because they doe alwaies cocker their children but too much and therefore it was not without cause that the Romanes from whence all good lawes haue their beginning did giue vnto fathers all power ouer the life and death of their children knowing that without most iust occasion they would neuer put them to death No sonne could be more dear vnto me then mine eldest but equitie commandeth me to loue the Common wealth better which in no sort can be regarded when he which ruleth the same is not vertuous because none therein should be in safety if the prince were vicious My life and death is in the mercie of the kings Maiestie but to die I would not haue failed to doe that which I haue done being as we are mortall and death may only be delaied but not escaped Our life also is not to be measured by our years but by our deeds for he hath liued long inough who is by good men deemed most worthie of long life and he cannot die too soone who spendeth his life in wickednesse Wherefore it was no reason that my sonne should haue liued any longer and I would to God that so his reproch might die with him as I wish my renowne may liue after me Touching iudgement he which gouerneth the Commonwealth must needs be iudge in the same Such were the Dictators or Consuls amongst the Romanes and such at this day are kings and princes And Plato saith Happie is that countrie where Philosophers are kings and kings be Philosophers whereby it appeareth that rulers ought to bee iudges as you your selues doe confesse in saying that the king ought to haue iudged my son which indeed had ben reasonable if his Maiestie by his prerogatiue had not giuen me free authority in matter of iustice in such sort then as I am subiect to the iudgement of the king is my sonne subiect vnto mine and I am not to yeeld an account of my actions vnto any other then vnto his Maiestie
Likewise he knew that Numa Pompilius did more conserue and increase Rome by his religion and good lawes then Romulus did in the building thereof by his wars the which to speak truth are verie necessarie in euerie new gouernement but where the people doe honour their Prince and he is in loue and peace with his neighbours there warlike men are more dangerous then defensiue the which we may see by the Romanes who neuer were ouercome but by their own proper forces also the souldiors which were in the citie were the destruction of the same Therfore those princes do wel who haue the means to send such people to exercise their furie in strange countries for armes are alwaies hurtfull in a countrie vnlesse it be for the defence thereof You say that because you haue beene in the warres your neighbours and strangers will stand in feare of you better were it for you to bee beloued of them for euerie one desireth their death of whom they stand in dread I would haue followed you to the wars my selfe if you had gone thether by commandement or consent of your father vnto whom it was griefe enough to bee disobeied by his son without encreasing the same by the like offences of his nephew for if I had followed your course I should haue thought that I might haue giuen him iust cause to think me none of his subiect much lesse his kinsman God graunt that this your ingratitude caused him not to doubt whether you were his sonne or not Touching Pirrhus his answere was as wicked as the end of his life was wretched And Perseus was ouerthrowne onlie because he trusted in his forces prouoking by his presumption the Romanes against him You say that I deserue not the gouernement 〈◊〉 your father being farre more wise hath iudged me worthie and you vnfit I will no further answere to your assertions which do as much discouer your impudencie together with your contempt of God and good things as also the malice which aboundeth in you but will leaue you to your owne discretion and will onelie conclude thus that all those reasons aboue said and it may bee the least onelie more then al the rest ioined together haue incited your father to giue me that which I deserue and I praie you compel me not to take that frō you which of my own liberalitie I haue bestowed vpon you Touching that which I possesse I doe so much trust in the sacred Maiestie of the Emperour as I am assured that hee will maintaine me in my right who am his most humble most faithfull seruant Declamation 5. Of Spurius Seruilius who defended himselfe against the people being by them accused for his cowardly fighting at the hill of Janicola NOt long time after that the Kings were banished Rome and that the death of Tarquin the last king thereof was made manifest the Consuls and Senat began to grow more prowd and couetous then they were accustomed and the people being on the one side ouerburdened with taxes and on the other side ouerlaid with vsurie and imprisoned for debts they began to rise against the Senat in such sort that they being in armes vpon the holy mountaine they would in no wise be persuaded to depart before there was granted vnto them that they might haue two Tribuns for the people by meanes whereof their insolencie grew to that heigth that when they had not warre abroad they troubled the Senat at home intending t◠set new lawes abroch and amongst others the law called Agraria and on the other side the Senat resisting their demands in that behalfe they were cited before the Tribuns and condemned sometimes into exile and otherwhiles great fines set vpon them by reason whereof some of them did voluntarily banish themselues before that iudgement was pronounced against them and others made themselues away by some kind of death before the pronunciation of the sentence amongst whom was Coriolanus who died in exile and Menemus the sonne of Agrippa who died with anger being condemned in 200 asses because in the time of his consulship he aided not the Fabians who were slaine at Cremera Afterwards Spurius Seruilius was accused that he was the cause that the Romans lost the batiaile at the foot of the mountaine Ianicola against the Tuscanes who defended himselfe courageously against the Tribuns saying after this maner NOt in vain did Plato say that the common people are like vnto the beast Polipus which hath many feet wanteth a head by reason whereof not seeing the way which he holdeth he ouerthroweth himselfe in like maner the ignorant people doe go on forward without anie consideration seeking their owne ouerthrow whilest they imagine to giue the Senate a fall and that which is worst of all they who ought to guide those blind men in a better course are such as by force would bring them into the bottomelesse pit of confusion or headlongdowne fall of rashnesse It is vnto you that I speak O you Tribuns yet no Tribuns but rather seducers of the poore people and scourges of the Common-wealth Surelie the Senat and people doe now receiue worthie punishment of their faults the one hauing desired the other hauing suffered you to be promoted to such authoritie Trulie worthie Agrippa did neuer doe other harme to the Commonwealth thinking to doe good then in appeasing the people with this cōdition that they should haue Tribuns appointed them as if at the length the people knowing the confusion of their weakenesse would not by the same meanes haue acknowledged their fault for without you they would haue vnderstood that the Senat executing right and iustice as it doth is inuincible as depending onlie vpon the lawes and the gods O Romans know you not that the kings haue honoured and in a manner submitted themselues vnto them And so long as they held that course they were like vnto the gods in honour and prosperitie but after that Tarquin the prowd would haue put downe the Senat he himselfe was exiled with perpetual shame to the confusion of all his posteritie O blessed people who then knowing what was needful for them did endeuour themselues to hold vp the Senat not suffering so much as that any kinsman or fauorer of the name of a king should remaine in Rome whervnto Collatin the rooter out of kings and one of the first Consuls who was banished onlie because he was by name a Tarquin was a witnesse they hauing no desire to suffer neither king nor Consull of his race Shall we then indure the tirannie of the Tribuns Doe you not say O you people that they would if it were possible abolish the Senat that they might afterwards tirannise ouer you for such is the manner of those who of nothing doe rise vnto some dignitie as through pride and ingratitude they doe make themselues intollerable which is to bee seene by these Tribuns who when they could not shew their pride ingratitude to Agrippa for the short
sorrowfull then the miserable Hecuba Alas alas why doe you not as well beleeue that he may prooue good as his mother which is the surer side and that he may not be so bad as the father of whome you haue beene reuenged by the hands of her who more then any other was bounden vnto you You must beleeue that the gods are iust and pittifull and in this onlie point of pittie men may follow them and make themselues almost like vnto them as the Prouerb saith That one man is a god vnto another and sometimes a wolfe vnto a man take you thē that part which is most commendable O courteous lords beware that you incurre not the anger of the gods the reproch of men and that which is worst of al take heed least your ingratitude or your ouer great desire of reuenge be not the cause to make you lose the good wils of such who in some other vrgent affairs may aid or doe you some worthie seruice For ingratitude and crueltie are abhominable both before God and men Declamation 12. Of him who vnder coulor of obeying his father displeased the priest that administred the sacraments vnto him A Certaine honourable ladie being at the point of death made her last will and testament after the desire of her curate who had more respect vnto his owne particular profit and the commodity of the church then to any the benefite of her kindred wherevpon so long as the ladie was able to say I he alwaies added something or other vnto the will when neither any of the sonnes nor the father himselfe either would or durst gainsay him in any thing he did for feare of troubling the mind of the sicke woman but after her death and that the funerals were inded there was some motion made to haue the said will reformed wherevnto the curate would in no sort consent but compelled the heires and executors to performe the same vnto their great griefe Some small time after the husband of the deceassed chanced to fall into the like sicknesse and the curat handeled him after the same sort as he vsed his wife euen vnto his last gaspe so that the poore man because he would leaue the world in peace did still answere I the which the eldest sonne perceiuing who but a little before was returned from the warres he began to bee exceeding angrie and imagined which way he might be reuenged of the Priest Wherefore comming neere vnto the bed he also began to increase the number of the masses and dirges wherevnto the pacient stil answered then in the end he said alowd Is it your will that the curate be presently throwne down the staires the sicke man said I againe not vnderstanding what his sonne said the same was no sooner spoken but the sonne tooke the Priest by the neck and throwing him downe the staires brake one of his armes The curate accused him and protested that he had wronged him saying WHat treason may be more execrable then this being committed vnder the coulor of pittie I was called to comfort the sicke to administer vnto him the holy sacraments to admonish him of his souls health when this vngodly fellow approched neere vnto the bed and faining to assist my deuout intention did wickedly betray me as is manifestly of be seene by the maiming of my limmes The deriding of the sacred reliques and abusing of the patients will might well haue sufficed without further adding therevnto this outrage Who shal henceforth be the pastor that dare instruct the diseased to haue a care of their saluation Seeing the thanks which they haue and the recompence which they receiue therefore is the assaying to breake their necke Verie true is that which is commonly spoken of such as follow warres which is that they neuer take pleasure in anie thing but in doing mischiefe and that they as much despise those things which are sacred and holie as they doe esteeme such as are prophane This lewd fellow hath not only sticked to slander his owne father at the houre of his death but also careth not although he be damned for euer O child of perdition doest thou not know that at the last gaspe consisteth either the saluation or damnation of men How manie are there who hauing alwaies liued godlie doe damne themselues at the last houre and others hauing bene wicked that by their end haue been saued The good Dismas who was crucified at the right hand of our Lord sheweth vs an example of the one and Iudas an Apostle of the same Christ is a figure of the other how durst thou thē trouble the last thoughts of thy father by thy insolencie Especially outraging him whom with all thy might thou oughtest to defend seeing that we doe here represent the Diuinitie for the Pope representeth God the Archbishop the Pope the Bishop the Archbishop and the Curate the bishop I require then that the wrongs done vnto God the Pope the Archbishop the Bishop and to my person may be repaired and that he which hath committed it may be punished according to his deserts to the end that all such insolent persons that will not bridle their affects for the reuerence which they owe vnto God and his Church may by his example beware that they incurre not the like punishment The Answere DO you call that Treason to performe the same thing the which you heretofore by law compelled vs to doe That is to fulfill the testators last Will Now it is to be considered that in al things we doe we must begin at one end as for me I began first with the last and the rather because the same not being set downe in writing I feared that it might haue ben forgotten or least by deferring of time which is verie often the losse of occasion I might be hindered from effecting the last commandement of my father as also because he long before made a signe vnto me that I should rid him from your companie who had no other talke with him but of temporall matters that he might wholie apply his mind vnto God and therefore he graunted vnto euerie thing which you demaunded thinking that the best way to dispatch him from your importunities but had you had your owne will I beleeue you had ben there yet to trouble him wherefore I am not to be blamed if I had a desire to doe this last seruice for my father vnto whom I am more bounden then to you for I remember verie well that you your selfe at such times as in my youth I came vnto you to shrieue did alwaies inioine me to doe whatsoeuer my father and mother commanded me without exception of anie thing and if otherwise I did I should be damned thinke not then maister Parson that for respecting you ouermuch I will be damned Moreouer you haue so manie times preached vnto vs that a man must honour his lather and mother and that it is the first commandement that hath anie reward promised vpon the
doe you not couet to be of the number of these Seeing that my disgrace offereth you the meanes to make proofe of your loue and faith towards me lose not this occasion bad for me but good for you your glory may be a comfort to mine affliction I do not withhold your marriage good through couetousnesse but to keepe you from doing that thing which may redound vnto your dishonour and I would not in anie sort that it should be said that I was consenting vnto it and I protest before God and men that I doe it for no other cause at all for I am not ignorant how much all women are importuned especially such as are knowne not to abide with their husbands for any great loue but as I haue said I will neuer consent that it shall be reported that I haue ben the cause of your follie Wherefore I remit all vnto the iudges without anie further speaking of the matter being to stand to their censure whether I am to restore your marriage good or not the which shall be a smal losse vnto me if I may be so good cheape rid from her who loueth me not at all The Answere I Should think my selfe happie in hazarding but only my goods and life to remaine with you but when the question concerneth the soule we ought to consider that we haue nothing more precious seeing that the same is none of ours but God hath made it immortall to gouerne this bodie the which ought to be wholy obedient vnto the soule that we might afterwards by the onely helpe and grace of God restore the same vnto him vnspotted if it were possible the which I cannot doe if I remaine with you for all those that doe but onely speake vnto such as you are guiltie except they doe only speake to conuert you the which hitherto I could in no sort doe but how should I doe it When neither the exhortations of the church nor yet your excommunication both together were able to turne you That which Saint Paule saith that the beleeuing woman ought to remaine wth the vnbeleeuing man is nothing pertinent to this matter for more faultie is the Christian which sinneth maliciously of set purpose then is he which sinneth of ignorance being yet vncalled of God I doe well remember what I haue promised you at our marriage and I will performe it so that it be not to the condemning of my soule and that it is so I haue alwaies shown that dutie which an honest wife oweth vnto her husband and am yet readie to continue the same if you doe returne againe vnto the bosome of the church and then you shall truly know that I will not forsake you for any occasion I am not also ignorant what the worthinesse of mariage is and I would not haue you thinke that men doe seperate me from you but God himselfe for as much as he is head of the church I doe confesse that the woman was made for man but for al that it followeth not that she ought to damne her selfe for him As touching the hope which you doe shew you haue to returne vnto the church it were better that it were too soone then too late for then should I haue no occasion to depart from you and I doe promise to turne vnto you when you shall be absolued There is no loue wanting in me but there lacketh goodnesse in you because you remaine obstinat I cannot be tearmed in the number of those that haue left their husbands without cause but my greatest griefe is because I haue too iust a cause and I beleeue that Alcest Iphias and the other ladies which were truly vertuous would haue done as I doe in the like case as mine had they liued in these our daies for euen as it was an honor and vertue in them to doe that which they did for their husbands so likewise should it be but a shame and a sinne in me not to forsake you The same which you say prouoketh you not to restore me my marriage good induceth me not to leaue you so that I may abide with you without offence and discredite as I would not also that any one should think that I were consenting or partaker of your obstinacie no more then you would be thought to bee consenting vnto my seperating and vnder this false colour you would keepe backe my marriage good I doe aduertise you that I will rather forgoe it if it be not ad alwaies procure them enemies and do make quarels in publicke places to the greater daunger of honest people then their owne But I would to God that I had ben dead before now at the least with my husband seeing that life is more bitter vnto mee then death and my greatest griefe is because I am not onlie harmed by this Homicide but as manie of the noble kindred which he and I haue are greatlie interressed in it manie of the friends whom he fauoured are damnified the poore hath lost much thereby for he was a good almes giuer Lastlie the Commonwealth is weakened losing such a Citizen who liued so well that he had manie friends and not one onlie enemie that did pleasure manie and neuer displeased anie Consider then you righteous iudges what punishment is to be done vpon him who depriuing vs of so manie benefits hath been the cause of so great mischiefe The Answere IF mens actions ought to be iudged not according to the euent of the same but according to the intent of him that dooth it I cannot in anie sort bee blamed for I did neuer know this man whether he were honest or dishonest wherefore seeing I neither loued him much lesse hated him I had no desire to doe him either good or hurt But since by misfortune it is so fallen out that being constrained to defend my selfe from those who sought to kill me he hath had a blow both against my will vnwitting mine enemies are more to be blamed then I for they are the cause thereof Wherefore ought I then to beare the punishment thereof The sorrow that I haue had because this fault is happened by my hand is sufficient inough although it was done against my meaning without that I should be further troubled for the same and were it not that my wife and my children whose liuings I doe get could not liue without me I had rather die then liue hauing ben so disgraced by you to haue depriued you of your future hopes and your present happinesse but if it be a crueltie to cause the innocent wife and children of a guiltie man to suffer what is it then to take away the life from the wife and innocent children of such a man that is no waies faultie For it is sufficientlie manifest that this woman which accuseth me of crime not knowing me no more then I doe her is carried away with her passion seeing that also she doth altogether condemn my fact without hauing anie respect vnto the innocencie of
mine intent I will not say for my defence that her husband hath rather ben the cause of his death then I seeing that he would needs passe by such a place where manie men were fighting for not onlie they which are wise and well aduised do shun the like meetings but also fooles children and the verie brute beasts doe flie from them as touching the criminall coniectures that it was a thing done of set purpose the sharpe pursute of mine enemies doe sufficientlie excuse me and if there be anie other proofe more sufficient then hers of such a fact trulie I will condemne my selfe as worthie of death but being otherwise I cannot be so where she saith that I ought not to throw stones at anie man I answere that he which would iudge of that it were fit that he did prooue the like daunger as mine was to affirme also that to haue manie enemies is a signe of a wicked man is a verie absurd iudgement for it is often seene that the good are hated as well as the bad and that which is worst It is of the wicked that the good are hated so that they are in far greater danger and verie often constrained to defend themselues euen so it fell out with me But who was or euer shall be milder then Socrates And who had more wicked enemies then he who neuer ceassed to slander him euen to the procuring of his death as an offender What shall we say of Phocion and of Aristides likewise of Solon and Licurgus and of the great Scipio Africanus I passe ouer with silence our Sauiour Christ and other Saints least I should prophane their holie names in placing them amongst other men I am not be alone then that hath enemies neither ought this mishap impaire my reputation or make my cause the worse in anie sort Finallie there is no fault so little that cannot be greatlie aggrauated if anie man will seeke for circumstances as this woman doth who would prooue the Common-wealth and so manie persons interessed that it seemeth by her speech that her husband was immortall but I demand if he should haue died of an appoplexie or some other sudden death whether should not the losse haue ben all one But it is the manner of women to make the wrongs which they receiue seem great esteeming those which they commit verie little wherefore it were superfluous to answere her tedious accusations which is the cause that referring my selfe as well vnto the mercie as to the equitie of the iudges I will attend their iust sentence Declamation 18. Of Sergius who fought against his enemies without aduertising his fellow Virginius thereof and therefore is not aided by him SErgius and Virginius both equall in authoritie were captaines in the Romane army before the cittie of the Veies Sergius was encamped on that side where the Tuscanes might come to releiue the besieged cittie and Virginius on the other Now it happened that Sergius was assailed of the Tuscanes and fought with them without requiring aid of Virginius so that part of the campe was thereby discomfited he being returned to Rome accused Virginius for not aiding him and said thus WHat profiteth wisdome courage and dexteritie in a commander when enuie alone is farre more able to hinder him then all these vertues together are able to further the aduancement of his seruice that desireth to profit the Common-wealth Euen so is it happened vnto me for although Virginius and I did both together imploy all our best means to besiege and take the citie of Veies for the honor and profit of the Senat and people of Rome yet were we neuer able to doe anie seruice of worth but on the contrarie we receiued dishonor and hurt by the onlie enuie and ambition of Virginius Neuerthelesse what haue not I done to allure him vnto kindnesse and to persuade him to be carefull of the safetie and honor of the Commonwealth I haue alwaies giuen him the chiefest honour and held him not as my companion but as the only Generall commander of the enterprise yea and leauing vnto him the place of most aduantage I did encampe my selfe both where the greatest danger and most concourse of the enemies was thinking by that meanes not only to induce him but also to bind him more straightlie not vnto my aid but vnto the common good of the whole armie and his owne honor yet what haue I gained with all this dutie and true humilitie nothing at al but only thereby increased his malice pride and ambition I therefore considering with my selfe how hardlie two Generals in one armie doe performe anie enterprise fortunatlie and how on the contrarie by the diuersitie of their opinions wits they doe oftentimes not onlie procure one anothers mischeife but also sometimes put the Commonwealth in great danger as Terentia Varo did at Cannas when he gaue battaile against the opinion of his Collegue did rather desire yet further to abase my authoritie in respect of his honouring him as my superiour in all lawfull things but all was vaine for as much as those actions which doe serue to gaine the loue of such as are modest doe increase the pride and insolencie of those that are prowd for they doe attribute that vnto cowardlines which is done by modestie and wisdome which men Virginius desired to follow for he seeing that I to gaine his fauour did oppose my selfe vnto the greatest daunger for his securitie and defence did presume that I did not this noble act to induce him vnto the like aiding of me but that I did owe him this honour wherevpon he did not only forget that I was his companion but also he would not performe the dutie of a good Generall for how can he be a good Generall that seeth anie of the inferiour captaines in daunger to be ouerthrowne and will not send him aid Paulus Emilius ceassed not to fight but did willingly die in the battaile although that Varo began the same against his aduice the which I haue not done for it is well known that I would not fight against your will seeing that I encamped in that place to no other end but onlie to make head against the Tuscanes if they came to molest the campe to raise the siege or to hinder our enterprise yet neuerthelesse you had rather suffer the Commonwealth to be hindered then to affoord me your aid in so great an extremitie especially seeing that by that meanes we might happily haue ended our enterprise for in succouring me the Tuscanes had ben discomfited and no doubt the besieged could not haue chosen but of necessitie must haue yeelded but you rather desired my losse and dishonour then to haue your owne profit and honour ioined together with mine which had been but a small matter if all the Romanes had not ben therewithall greatly hindered The gods forbid that I should say that you had intelligence with the enemies but I am very sorrie that you giue occasion vnto many to
in other mens matters as these doe who would persuade me that this exercrable offence should not once haue prouoked me to reuenge the which it hath not done but rather vnto a iust punishment of the malefactor for that is called reuenge which is done wittingly but that is punishment which is inforced through a most iust cause of disdaine or anger Some may say that euery punishment ought to be done with a setled mind without choler for feare of being ouer rigorous I do confesse it ought but who can also denie that the first motions of anger are not in our owne power Wherefore I would and it were also reasonable that these my ouer sharpe accusers had a true feeling of the wrong done vnto me and then they would iudge more modestly of their brother who hath done that which they ought to desire that is rooted out from amongst them a supersticious Diuine not only hurtfull to his friends but vnto all the Commonwealth Is it not too apparent that such people are puffed vp with ambition that they had rather see the death of a million of men then to suffer that by any it should be knowne that they haue failed one iot in their fond diuinations As he of Milan did who hauing foretold that at a certaine time he should perish by yron not finding any man that would kill him although he gaue them diuers occasions slew himselfe to verifie his prophesie so this my dead brother hauing foretold that by this my marriage a great mischance should happen vnto all our race had rather be the cause thereof himselfe not seeing any likelihood therein then to be esteemed vnskilfull in his art which is especially forbidden both by diuine and humane laws And then you say that you haue lost the best of your brethren me thinks that if he were the best then the rest should be nothing worth at all and you ought not to say that a iust cause of disdaine constraineth you to require the death of the third but rather an iniust hatred for were it not so from whence could such an inuectiue proceed to animate the iudges against me Had it not ben sufficient for you only to haue said this man here hath slain our two brethren for this and this cause wherevpon we demand iustice You say that you are partakers of the misfortunes of my marriage why doe you not rather say of the insolencie wickednesse and adulterie of Sadoc As also that I am vnworthie to be reckoned amongst your brethren truely hee neuer deserued to be accounted If offenders ought to be punished for an example I haue not done so bad as you say in punishing him suddainely For who was a more notorious offender then he You say that those which follow armes doe all become wicked men Abraham Moises Iosua and a number of others because they were valiant in armes were they the lesse righteous Moreouer the multitude of those which you alleage that haue slain their kindred maketh more for my commendation then my condemnation for you shall find that the most part of them had lesse cause to doe the same then I. Furthermore I cannot beleeue that either monie or desire of vainglory draweth men vnto the wars but rather a desire to maintaine lawfull and iust quarrels although euery Generall affirmeth it to be his owne Finally the wars hath ben in all ages Saint Iohn baptised the souldiors without forbidding them to vse the same art yea God hath many times commanded his people to vse it so that it may be iustly proued that wars is rather an occasion of vertue then vice Concerning the report of my wife this is not the first time that women haue ben beleeued in the like case wherefore seeing neither you nor I haue or can find any reproch in mine that may blemish her honor she is as well to be beleeued as othets and if as you say a woman cannot be forced then haue diuers heretofore ben wrongfully condemned for the like offence Truly the law had ben sufficient to haue punished Sadoc but if I had had such patience as was requisite what assurance should I haue had that hee would either haue come before the iustices or els if he had chanced into their hands that you would not all haue taken his part as you are now against me And as you say it is iniustice to pardon an offender so is it iustice to punish a wicked man as I haue done wherefore I haue not offended but only in that being iustly stirred vp to anger I haue defrauded the iudges of their authoritie of whom humbly beseeching pardon for this fault I do wholly submit my selfe vnto their mercie beseeching them also to defend me from your malice Declamation 22. Of him who after he had had his pleasure of a maid would haue forsaken her to haue married her sister A Yong Gentleman hauing had a quarrell a long time with a neighbour of his made an agreement with him vpon a condition that the said neighbour should giue him leaue to chuse one of his three daughters in marriage and allow him the tearme of one yeare to make his choice so that vnder this coulor being familiar with them all he got the eldest of them with child afterwards he would haue chosen the second wherevnto the neighbour opposed himselfe saying THou vngracious man how darest thou imagin such a wickednesse Or once behold me in the face hauing ben so treacherous and mischieuous to abuse that familiaritie which was granted vnto thee in signe of reconciliation vnder the which thou hast more harmed me in protesting thy selfe to be my friend then all thy weake forces had ben able to hurt me if thou hadst continued my mortall enemie O God is it possible that men may be so wicked That what they cannot doe by force they accomplish vnder the cloake of an honest friendship but why say I freindship When that is the greatest benefit that God hath giuen for the vse of man without the which this life should be full of bitternesse and sorrow But let vs come vnto the matter did not you make your choise when you had carnall copulation with my daughter Is not that the consummation of marriage Truly yes they were all three promised vnto you but in lying with this you haue had your choise and it is not verie likely that she would otherwise haue consented therevnto but you breaking promise with her would by that means be reuenged of me for all former enemities but if it be so that an ancient hatred preuaileth more with you then a new friendship I doe beseech you most worthie iudges that he may be punished which hath suborned seduced and abused hir that is his wiues sister for by our agreement he is bound to take one of the three moreouer let him be punished which hath so greeuously offended his father in law his mother in law and his sisters in law and finally contemning laws and all honestie hath
them both at once attributing that in me to passion which can be no lesse thē prudence truly hee were vnworthie to bee a iudge that knew not how to discouer the malice of offenders for as much is that iudge to be esteemed which is without wisdome as a Commonwealth without laws a Prince without faith a phisition without experience a souldior without valor and a Marchant without credit who being such they doe not fall themselues alone but they are the cause of the ouerthrow of a great number But tell vs what was the cause that Salomon iudged so rightlie but onlie wisedome Euen so I without the same should neuer haue knowne your iniquitie and so consequentlie I should neuer haue found out a iust cause to condemne you for it is verie manifest that couetousnesse neuer iudgeth anie thing to be vnlawfull because it hath no place but amongst such as are wicked which is it that caused you to thinke it lawfull to commit whoredome with your bondwoman then to denie the fact and to forsweare your selfe because you would not make her free desiring rather to preiudice the law then to hinder your profit and afterwards being cast in prison for yout faults you would yet further defraud your creditors in not consenting to the sale of him who if he be not your sonne standeth you in no stead but to burthen you with a further charge and especiallie hindering his mother he is the cause that she cannot applie her businesse to get your liuing and her owne so that they doe both helpe to consume and wast that little which remaineth to paie the creditors or that which you haue hidden to deceiue them If he be not your sonne whie would you keepe him To serue for a witnesse of your seruants shame Doe you not know that he which cleaueth vnto vices maketh them his owne It is no charitie to keepe a child to be your slaue and lesse charitie is it not to consent to haue him sold to paie your debts Touching your demand why I doe not sell your other goods I answere there is time enough but I would first begin with that which was least profitable vnto you and yet of great charge and if you allow not this reason I did it to make the truth knowne vnto others as wel as to me it is that he is your child wherein I doe sufficientlie declare that I do not onlie ioine mercie with iustice but also that I doe further therevnto ad wisedome to make vp the number more perfect for without it iustice seemeth to be rigor and mercie no better then follie for what greater foolishnesse can there be then to pittie such a one as hurteth others as this infant hurteth you and your creditors therefore if he be not your sonne let him be sold and if you haue begotten him make his mother free Wherevpon doe you appeale Because I haue not likewise condemned you for periurie The same may yet be done all in good time the deed being prooued You do also saie that it were better to sel the mother and the child together it would be more indeed the childs profit but it must bee considered that manie would willinglie haue a child in their house to make them some sport and afterwards to doe them some seruice which would not be troubled with a whoore that can be nothing but a slander and an ill example for all their houshold For all these foresaid reasons it may be gathered that I haue no desire either to harme the innocent or to hurt the afflicted but mine intention is to haue the father acknowledge his child and that the mother should be recompenced as reason requireth Declamation 25. Of a Generall who after he had lost the battaile sent to the Prince to know if he should giue the battaile A King sent his Lieutenant Generall to the warres with an expresse charge not to giue any Generall battaile without he did first aduertise his Maiestie thereof It happened that occasion offered such an aduantage that the said Lieutenant notwithstanding the Kings commandement did fight a battaile but as the wars are casuall and that oftentimes fortune crosseth the vertuous so he lost the said battaile and presently afterwards hee sent a post vnto the king to tell him that such an occasion was offered vnto him to giue the battaile as was greatly vnto his aduantage and declared such apparent reasons as the Prince appointed that the battaile should be giuen then the messenger said If it like your Maiestie the battaile hath ben giuen with all such order and policie as was requisit notwithstanding wee haue lost the field The King being exceeding angrie caused the messenger to be hanged and the Lieutenant Generall to bee taken and condemned him to death who appealed defending his cause thus IN vaine doe Princes send those vnto the wars whose hands they keepe tied and trulie it may be said that I was sent in such sort Neuerthelesse seeing the likelihood of a profitable victorie to finish the wars to the great honor and commoditie of my Prince and countrie the band of his commaundement vnlosed of it selfe and leauing me at my libertie I did my best although fortune enemy to vertue so wrought against vs as the effect prooued not according to the likelihood of the deed and the desire of the doer but what shall I say That I can do what men may doe onlie fight a battaile but God alone must giue the victorie The which oftentimes either he delaieth or suffereth it whollie to be lost for the sinnes of the people when God seeth that their pride and other vices are not yet left moreouer it happeneth manie times that God will punish the insolencie of the souldiors vsing the enemies as instruments of his iustice Was not the battaile lost by the children of Israell before Hai onlie for the theft of Achan Was not also the whole host troubled and Ionathas in danger of death because he had tasted a little honie With a number of other examples which I ouerpasse because I will not be tedious Alas how hard are mens actions to be effected without his great danger that imploieth himself therein And principallie when the iudgement of the performance thereof dependeth vpon one mans voice onely Wherefore O Prince I say that you alone cannot iudge me much lesse condemne me except you doe it of your owne absolute authoritie which vndoubtedly were manifest tirannie the which I thinke you doe verie much abhorre considering that you alone cannot be a head without members and that in this deed of mine the members are also interressed that is to say if I haue offended they are to punish me and not hauing offended they ought to preserue me to performe some good seruice for it is a matter of no small importance for them to saue or lose such a man whom you haue thought worthie to be the onlie Generall of your wars and I doubt whether you alone may make a decree that
then Socrates who was put to death for no other cause But considering that Iustice alone is the soueraigne of al other vertues and ruleth all mortall wights because that without her none can liue in safetie especiallie seeing that without it the Commō-wealth is like vnto a body which being corrupted with euill humors doth with lanquishing pine away I haue neglected all other things especiallie to maintaine the same and you haue no cause to complaine on mee for setting as little by my life as by my goods Wherefore without answering anie further to your slanderous reproches trusting vnto the equitie of the Prince I doe freelie submit my goods honour and life vnto his most iust iudgement Declamation 32. Of those that would depose the King because he had lost the battaile IT is the custome of a certaine people that the men of warre doe chuse the King It happeneth that the said King doth lead his men vnto the warres where all his souldiors are ouerthrowne onely he with a verie small number escaped so that the Citizens and people are constrained to take arms to defend them from the conquerors and the better to performe the same they would chuse another king but the foresaid king resisteth them saying AS there is but one onelie God in heauen and one sunne to lighten the world so likewise cannot you haue two kings ouer you neither yet can you depose or change your king at your pleasure for the power of kings commeth of God which holdeth their hearts in his hand how dare you then but onlie thinke such a wickednesse as to be desirous to change or depose him who is annointed and chosen of God to raigne ouer you Did not Dauid put him to death which made his boast that he had slaine Saule And although that Dauid were already annointed king of Israell yet was king Saule not deposed vntill his death You saie that I haue gouerned the warres ill I denie it for I went thether my selfe and neither wanting valor nor skil I did valiantlie fight to the great endangering of mine owne person I haue not neglected my dutie in fighting but God hath giuen the victorie to the enemies wherefore would God haue preserued me from so great a danger vnlesse it were to manifest the especiall care that he hath ouer kings and that it were his pleasure that I should yet raigne ouer you And not another How dare you then imagine to change him whom he hath first giuen vnto you and then afterwards so miraculouslie preserued If you stand in doubt whether I deserue the dignitie or not the electiue voices of so manie valiant men which haue onlie iudged me aboue all the rest of this realme for the worthiest to be your king ought to assure you thereof but as hope dooth torment mens hearts no lesse then feare and other passions so some of you hoping to attaine vnto the kinglie dignitie haue not the patience to stay vntill it be void by my death whereby it plainlie appeareth that couetousnesse neuer iudgeth anie thing to be vnlawfull the people haue nothing to doe to depose their king but God by depriuing him of life who by his grace and for your good hath been pleased to saue me will you then contradict his will But although I had for want of skill beene the cause of our losse will you saie that you must needs chuse another that maie doe as much or worse He which hath once done amisse may when he beginneth again make amends but thankes be to God as I want not experience so haue I not failed to doe that which was requisit but it may be it was our sinnes that haue prouoked Gods wrath against vs who by our contrition and amendment of life is first to be appeased then he being mercifull vnto vs we shall not onlie be reuenged of our enemies but he will also giue vs power to subdue those that would oppresse vs yet that this shall be done vnder any other thē I whilst I liue I hope that good God will neuer suffer it seeing that to determine but such a matter were to heape sin vpon sin The Answere WE doe neither require two kings neither doe we desire to change our king for we haue none who made you king ouer vs are not they dead that chose you for their king You are then king ouer the dead Wherfore reason would that you should be sent vnto them When you were chosen we were Citizens now through your fault we are constrained to be souldiors It is the ancient custome that the men of war doe chuse the king we wil then chuse one Seeing that your selfe are the cause that we haue chaunged our qualitie what reason is there that you should remaine in yours Concerning the example of Dauid and Saule it nothing concerneth our matter for the greatest parte of euerie action consisteth in the time and place therefore it must be considered that as our time now is not the like vnto the time then so also that we are here and not in Palestine Moreouer we haue nomore Prophets to annoint the kings because God for our sinnes dooth no more elect kings by miracle wherefore it commonlie happeneth that the most wicked man attaineth to that dignitie and chieflie when the election remaineth in the power of the souldiours for sildome is there found anie equitie amongst those that follow the wars so that our miserie is lamentable seeing that your ambitious rashnesse compelleth vs of Citizens to become souldiours We know well to our great preiudice that you your selfe did goe vnto the wars but of your industrie valor and dutie no man beareth witnesse except your selfe but the widdowes and orphants of those whom you haue led vnto the slaughter with a far greater number can witnesse the contrarie and they doe affirme that you had great wrong to escape because so manie valiant men are lost through your default the which is more punishable then excusable To saie likewise that God hath preserued you by some his especiall prouidence it may verie well be because he would send you back hether to receiue punishment for your rashnesse by that spectacle somewhat to comfort the multitude of those whom you haue made miserable neither did the electiue voice of the souldiors chuse you as the best man of the land but as he that was most conformable to their desire and that would giue them the most libertie to doe ill for so were Otho Galba Vitelius and other harebrain men chosen by the souldiors for Emperors As for ambition and couetousnesse wherewith you accuse vs by presumption you doe euidentlie shew that it remaineth in you In saieng also that he which hath once done amisse becommeth afterwards more expert the same is doubtfull for euen in his first fault he sheweth that he wanteth iudgement and no man ought to presume to make himselfe cunning by the preiudice of so manie others and with no lesse then the hazard of a whole realme In
so that your pittie shall bring you a double frute that is to say profit and glorie Grant then my request O you Grecians whereof I am not vnworthie considering the maniefold good seruices which I haue done for you by the which I doe coniure you as also by those which I may hereafter performe if you doe bind me by this gracious fauour which I doe intreat of you Alasse I perceiue you are all silent but I know not whether it is because you are astonished at the strangenesse of the matter or els which the gods forbid because none of you wil condiscend vnto the intercession which I make for him whom you doe not yet know If you will not whollie graunt my request herein yet at the least assure me that the chastisement shall not bee equall to the crime but that the rigor of law shall be mittigated by lenitie You make no answer at all Grecians wherefore I feare me least this danger wil draw you vnto ouer great rigor surely the fault is great but in pardoning the same your mercie shall bee the more esteemed for it is a common thing to pardon smal offences and it behooueth those that are noble and great men to pardon those faults as are of great importance such as this is Trust me if you continue your silence anie longer you will prouoke me also to hold my peace for as I would be glad to saue the whole armie so would I bee sorrie to cause the death of anie of the princes But I plainlie perceiue that I must take your silence as a token of your consent and so consequentlie that the zeale of the Commonwealth and the safetie of all you ought to be preferred before the assurance which I require mark then my words well without passion which I feare to bee too true It is so that some of our secret friends which are in Troy whom I would not credite if I did not thorow lie know their integritie haue assured mee that Palamedes during these ordinarie skirmishes hath vnder the coulor of fighting with the enemies contracted with them to burne the Grecian Nauie to the end that the armie being void of all succours or hope shold he laid open for the enemy and to bring the same to passe he hath receaued great summes of gold from thē It behooueth you therefore O you Grecians to make diligent search and to be thorowly informed whether the accusation be true or that the Troians haue fained the same onlie of set purpose to weaken our forces by the losse of a man so famous or to set vs at discord together or whether Palamedes haue taken this gold for anie other intēt as for to deminish their store by so much or els to worke some other stratagem therby I thought it good to declare this openly in the presence of al men to the end that some assuaging the rage of the rest you might altogether with one mind endeuor to sift out the truth of the deed of the which labour Palamedes might ease you by confessing the matter and for what intent he hath receiued this coine if hee will not haue vs to search his ship or els where for the said gold the which being once found without his confession would greatlie increase his crime Wherefore aduise him in the way of friendship not to imagine that the same can be hidden from Argos which signifieth no other thing then the eies of the multitude who doe see manie things which are supposed to be verie secret O how miserable are those that perseuere in mischiefe because they are persuaded the same shall neuer be manifest For euen when they thinke they are most safest then oftentimes either they themselues or els those in whom they put most confidence doe bewray them in such sort as ouer late repentance and suddaine punishment doe both fall vpon them at once But this is the mischiefe that ambition persuadeth those which follow the same that all things how wicked soeuer they be are lawfull and that abundance doth nothing but increase auarice which of it selfe is insatiable Doe you then Palamedes shew your selfe to be free from these vices and in shewing by effectuall reasons that your intent was sound you may free vs from this suspition considering that if you do otherwise the Grecians are no lesse readie to punish obstinate traitors then couragious to fight against their Troian enamies And let not passion O you Grecians cause you to forget my former words spoken of pure zeale onlie for your preseruation Palamedes his answere O Radhamant Minos and Eacus iust iudges of the infernall places O Plute and Proserpine Monarks of the darkesome mansions thou Nemesis goddesse of reuenge and you hellish hags Alecte Thesephone and Megera tormenters of sinfull soules ceasse your torturing of Tantalus Ixion Sisiphus the Belides Prometheus and all the other damned soules in perpetuall torments to employ your iustice your power your reuenge and al your extreamest furie against this peruerse wicked Traitor who harboreth no lesse mischiefe in his heart then malice in his tongue O immortall gods how can you suffer such iniquitie O earth why doe you not open vnder the feet of this abominable wretch to swallow him vp O you worthie Grecians how can you hope for happie successe in your most iust warre so long as this diuell in the shape of a man remaineth amongst you Who is he that can beware of his Treasons who can euer defend himselfe from his malicious practises Which doe worthelie persecute me in that I am the cause that this poison in mans likenesse is come with vs to infect the soules courages and the noble nature of the Grecians animating them vniustlie against those who are both iust and righteous Alasse it is a true saieng that a good man is no longer in safety then he pleaseth a traitor the which saieng may bee verefied by me who thinking that I had done well for all the Grecian Nation haue prouoked against my selfe the vniust vengeance of this mischieuous man who indeuoureth to worke my shamefull ouerthrow Forbeare a while O you Grecians the vniust rage which you haue conceaued against me by the most venomous tongue of Vlisses vntill that I make you know what falshood he vseth against me wherein he hath not failed to employ all his diuelish subtiltie First I would haue you to consider how in the beginning of his oration he seeketh to rauish the minds of the hearers vnto a certaine admiration with a desire speedilie to vnderstand that which he would say then seeing their soules so doubtfull he stirreth them vp vnto anger and fear persuading them that they are all in great danger afterwards by a fained hipocrisie he would make them beleeue that he is familiar with the gods foreseeing all future mischiefes but in effect he foreseeth none at all but those which himselfe intendeth to doe as he hath caused this gold to be hidden where it was found and lastlie he