the occasions and causes of all declinations which is the fifte matter remembred by you worthy of consideration Epi You have well put me in remembrance thereof For as the declination of our natural bodies ariseth chiefely either from occasions as rest labour heate colde hunger thirst superfluity abundance or from the malice or distemperature of the disease or sickenes it selfe so the declination of this polliticke bodie groweth partely by occasions and partely from the malice and corruption of the subiect as from the vnnatural distemperature of that body Sol The truthe of your opinion neither wanteth proofe nor example for in the declination of the common-weale of Rome in the times and regiment of Tarquine we may behold first a generall distemperature bred in the body of that cōmon-weale by his misgovernment so as the people and Senatours did expect nothing more then a fitte occasion to execute the same And if the deflowring of Lucretia had not happened yet noe doubt this distemperature and malice of the subiect would have attended other occasions as they should conveniently have offered themselves But if this malice and distemperature had not proceeded with the occasion or if the occasiō had not accompanied this distemperature no doubt Brutus and Collatinus would have desired the iust punishment of this offence rather at the hands of Tarquine then by the aide helpe of the people Ep Therefore wisely saith one sine occasione frustra virtus sine virtute frustra occasio sese obtulit For in vaine shall occasions profer themselves where they finde not the malice of the subiect ready to rescue and assist them And in vaine likewise shall the malice of the subiect swel and overflow his bounds when all occasions shall be removed which are in place of the feete and legs that support this distemperature So To disclose therefore the chiefe principal occasions which may further and nourish any way the distemperature of this polliticke body seemeth a matter not vnworthy of deliberation Epi Nay it is a matter rather which should possesse the highest thoughts of the minde vnderstāding of Princes and Emperours Sol Let vs proceede to enumber them if we may and set them downe vnder the accompt of matters necessarie for the better sustaining and vpholding of this polliticke body Ep Occasions are vsually after two sortes either given or malitiously sought and suggested Sol You have saide the truth for when Darius preferred Daniell above all the other rulers and governours because the spirit in him was excellent they sought an occasion against Daniell concerning the kingdome but they coulde finde no fault and therefore it is saide we may finde no occasion against Daniell except we finde it against him concerning the lawe of God whereupon the rulers craftely conspired to go vnto the king and after this maner to advance their malice they spake vnto him king Darius live for ever all the rulers of thy kingdome the officers and governours the counsellers and dukes have consulted togither to make a decree for the king and to establish a statute that whosoever shall aske a petition of any God or man for thirty daies save of thee O king he shall be cast into the denne of Lions Nowe O king confirme the decree and seale the writing that it be not chaunged according to the lawe of the Medes and Persians which altereth not This request feeding the ambition of king Darius was eftsoones sealed by him he made a law and decree Then these men assembled and found Daniell praying and making supplication vnto his God The which eftsoones they embraced as a fit occasion lente for the destroying of Daniell and repayring to the king saide vnto him after this manner hast thou not sealed the decree that every man that shall make request to any God or man within thirty daies save to thee O king shall be cast into the denne of Lyons the king answered and saide the thing is true according to the lawe of the Medes and Persians which altereth not Then aunswered they and saide vnto the king this Daniell which is of the children of the captivity of Iudah regardeth not thee O king nor the decree that thou hast sealed but maketh his petition three times a day But vnderstande O king that the lawe of the Medes and Persians is that no decree or statute which the king confirmeth may be altered or broken Then forthwith by the kings commandement Daniell was cast into the Lyons denne This one example may suffice for occasions malitiously suggested CAP. 5. Of occasions given by misgovernement and such other meanes SOL Let vs now proceed to enumber the occasions given Ep Occasion of declining is then given when the nobility is not respected for Caesar by holding a light estimation of the Senanators and nobles at such time as they repayred to give vnto him honours and by depriving and abusing the Tribunes Marullus and Flavius did give the first occasion saith Plutarch of his fall declining Romulus intreating the Senators and nobles of Rome more severely and rigorosly then in former times they were accustomed was for this cause by treason murthered Sol And no lesse occasion is then given of falling and declining when either by the iniquity of times or the proper industry of princes the nobilitie is in so great measure advanced as they become thereby dangerous feareful vnto the state by the one occasion Salamina hath often sundry times declined Epi What by the iniquitie of times Sol Yea verily for vpon the division of the house of Lankaster Yorke iustice there declining the nobility helde as it were a soveraigne commandement over the cōmonalty they call their lands by the name of their cuntries their tenants by the name of their followers and men they give laws and prescribe vnto the people their manner of living they oppresse where they dislike they reward whom they favour they perish whom they hate and finally they make themselves iudges and arbitrators of the goods lands life liberty and of all the fortunes of the subiect The which over great power and commandement doth lively appeare in the act made for the taking awaye of the great authority of Captainship with all exactions vvherein it is declared that the Lordes of Salamina in the time of iustice declination vnder the pretence of defending the people of Salamina their own possessions arrogated vnto themselves absolute and regale authority within large circuits by the distributiō whereof each man had as much righte as force would give him leave by meanes whereof they grew vnto such greatnesse as they acknowledged no superiour no obedience vnto the counsels of Athens they holde for lawes there owne willes and desires by their proper authority they gather and assemble the people of the saide pretenced countries rules and Captaineships to treat conclude and agree for making of warre or peace roades iniuries granting of ceases bene volences finding of men of warre as horsemen
common-wealth in such sort as they did depose and displace sometimes the Consuls sometimes their Dictator at their pleasure for no doubt what by the refomation made by the industry of their Censors and by their skill and knowledge in militarie discipline they quietly governed at home and fortunately conquered abroad in all partes of the world Therefore since the reformation of manners is a matter of so great importaunce vnto estates and common-weales it shall bee convenient that you doe describe at large vnto vs what you intende thereby Epi We intende nothing els by a corruption of manners but a departure from the feare and reverence of God from the honour and obedience due vnto Princes governours and Magistrates from the love which wee owe vnto our Country and generally a declining from a iust care and regarde of publike affaires and all heroicall vertues vnto pleasures wantonnesse vices and other such private respectes and regardes Sol You have exactly described the same for as the fatnesse and goodnesse of the earth is easily discerned by the large profit and benefite it yeeldeth to the labouring hande and the goodnesse of the tree by his pleasaunt fruite so the corruption of manners in the people by his infinite evils miseries common calamities ruines and destructiones of states which every where it begetteth and bringeth forth as by his several fruites and effectes may be discerned For it breedeth in men a base opinion and estimation of vertues and a contempt of magistrates it offreth in open market the sale of offices the voices of election yea even Iustice it selfe it enableth Caesar with the money of the Gaules to purchase not onely favour and offices but even the libertie of Rome From this fountaine springeth ambition desire of revenge mutinies sedition treason and rebellion finallie it leaveth no place no not the Senate house of Rome nor the pulpit for orations nor the image of Pompey no not the open publicke market places vndefiled and free from bloud no not the pallace of princes Vte Galbae Pertinaci accidit both which most vertuous kings were killed by their subiectes the which mischiefe did arise vnto them chiefely for that the manners of their subiectes and souldiers were corrupted by the malice and evill governement of their predecessors so as generally it may be reputed the mother and nourse of al common calamities Epi That detestable custome and more detestable confirmation thereof for receiving and supporting of traitours rebels and evil disposed persons comming and arriving into the lande did first occasion so generall a corruption of manners in Salamina as more at large the same may appeare in the act of repeale thereof made by king H. the 7. Sol. Sith then this generall corruption of manners doth draw with it so many publicke miseries and calamities as are before remembred we can not except men be altogither voide of humanity and reason but abhorre even the remembraunce of these lamentable times and be forthwith kindled with a desire of reformation CAP. 18. The severall occasions which breede in the heartes of the people or nation a generall corruption of manners EPI That we may the better effect this reformation of manners it behooveth vs to vnderstande the severall occasions which doe nourish the same and lastly the sundry waies meanes which may be found for the better reformation thereof Sol First let vs vnderstand the occasions as you have saide Epi Sometimes we remaine corrupted in manners by ease wealth and security with the Romaines after their severall conquestes of Asia Africa and the greatest partes of Greece and vvith the invincible army of Hanniball by the pleasures of Capua sometimes by bitter adversities with the Athenians we become haters despisers of vertue and we make vnto our selves that hatefull lavve of Ostracismus whereby we banish and put to death men of rare and excellent vertues with the Hectomarij and Hiereling sometimes we mutine and rise in armes against the rich and other times with the poorer sort of the oppressed factiō of Marius we cōpasse the Senate house and demaunde the delivery of Caesar sometimes by the malice and practises of forreine enemies with the I le of Euboea and the other partes of Greece by corruption of Phillippe of Macedonie we depart from our obedience sometimes by contēpt and neglect of religion and the professors thereof with Samaria the citie of Ninivie we fall into a generall corruption of manners lastly either by our lightnesse or incredulitie with the Vandales sometimes in Africa of the Arrian sects we dismember the body of the Church by sects and factions so as either with the Churches of Greece Rome and Ravenna we rise in armes one against another or at the least the common people amiddest so great variation of sectes and opinions finding no an core or place of rest that may quiet their troubled soules and consciēces die and live for the most part in great anxietie and incredulitie Sol Nowe you have at large discussed the occasions vvhich maie draw the people into a generall corruption of manners it shall not be impertinent to intreate of the severall remedies which may be found to resist so great an evill vvhich worketh the ruine of states and common-weales CAP. 19. The readie waies and meanes to reforme and resist a generall corruption of manners EPI The chiefe and principall remedies are found to be in number three namely a secret prudence and wisedome secondarily good lawes well executed thirdly a succession of severe Magistrates for no doubt like as the wilde olive and figge tree by the continuall addressing of a skilfull husbandman is made at the last kindely profitable and fruitfull and not inferiour to the naturall braunches so a common-wealth overgrowne with a generall corruption of manners and thereby become savage barbarous and barren like vnto the vvilde olive and figge tree may by the continuall pruning and addressing of a skilfull magistrate be made obedient civill and profitable vnto that prince whom God hath constituted to be the labourer in that vineyarde the which is to bee effected by the three waies and meanes before remembred the first whereof is a secret prudence and vnderstanding wherein two matters principallie are found worthy of consideration first the subiect and matter secondarily the time for as the infirmities in our naturall bodies growing vppon contrarie causes receive not their cure by one selfe same councell and medicine for the which cause we endevour to cure the frenzie by rest and by motion the lethargie so it fareth with the infirmities of a pollitike body for where the corruption of manners in the multitude groweth by wealth rest and securitie there it receiveth his present cure with the lethargie by motion dispersing the humours and finally by sharpe correction and discipline but otherwise it is where the same proceedeth from extreame aduersitie for there it receveth a happy cure with the frenzie by ease pacience and sufferance for Contraria subiecta
Lacedaemonians holding Thebes vnder their subiection and obedience woulde not permitte that anie Cittizen of Thebes should be trained in the warres but rather laboured to render them peaceable and by ease and rest soft and effeminate and there was no smith to be found through all the lande of Israell during such time as the Philistians held them in subiection least the Hebrewes make them swordes and spades saie the Philistians Let vs then drawe the people of Salamina from the exercise of the warres let vs with Numa coole and pacifie the hoate courage of the Romaines to fight by the daily vse and exercise of religion prayer and devotion and let vs vvith the ancient kinges of Athens draw them vnto planting sowing ploughing the land and let vs there advance and shewe forth the olive tree vnto the iudges let vs there from henceforth honor the Godesse Pallas and not Mars or Neptune as heretofore for she of right ought there to prevaile and have preheminence for she it is that shall cause the people to imbrace with all humility and obedience the governement of kinges Put that great number of Heilotes to laboure and plough the grounde and let no man be trained but the free Citizen saieth Lycurgus let them yeelde vnto vs magna vectigalia and let vs give vnto them magnum egregium exercitum if nede shall require Lastly let vs advance all occupations and sciences with the counsel Areopagite that thereby they may be drawen from the study and thoughts of innovation and change for difficilis res est saith a learned writer innumerabilem multitudinem a principe vel a paucis coerceri nisi plebs operibus intenta quaestum faciat Therefore wisely did sometimes Pericles Vespasianus Augustus and nowe the Venetians holde the mindes and thoughts of their Citizens alwaies occupied and imploied in labours occupations and sciences Sol There are which finding this polliticke body distempered have devided the same into partes and factions whereby as a smoke parted into many rivals it looseth his principall force for with the aide and assistance of the weaker parte they have suppressed the stronger and then easily commaunded the weaker and for this cause it is saide that the kinges of Aegypt have heretofore devided their regions and kingdomes by factions Ne vnquam conspirare inter se Aegyptij omnes possent Epi This course of governement is never to be embraced but vpon a great extremitie when as neither there remayneth counsell nor forces which otherwise may suppresse this distemperature for thereby foure mischiefes shall arise vnto the state first the rentes revenewes customes compositions tributes escheates and other profites annexed vnto their crowne shall thereby cease for it is saide the Florentines by their civill factions that first received their beginning of the disorders which were in the governement popular were rendred as well vnable to pay the French king the residue of the money which had beene lent them by the Duke of Millaine as also to defray the ordinarie charges of the warres with Pisa The like mischiefe did arise vnto the severall townes of Bomagua from their severall factions and disorders but why doe we seeke forraine examples did not all compositions customes rentes revenewes tributes and other escheates and profits for a long time cease by the extreame povertie of the subiectes of Salamina which did first arise vnto that countrie by reason of their severall factions as it may appeare by the statute of Captaineship where it is declared that in the time of iustice declination the Lords and chiefetaines fell into much strife for greatnesse of rule and governement by reason whereof they drewe vnto them other inferiour states to be of their severall factions vvhereby the countrie was drawen into that povertie as for a long time all rentes revenewes and other profits there ceased and more then that a newe charge and trouble did growe vnto Athens for the appeasing of those disorders Againe the honour of well governing and commaunding is hereby lost which is a second mischiefe that ariseth vnto vs herein for ob discordias civium aceidit vt vnius imperio non pareant sed in diversas partes divisaregio nullis principibus parere cogatur All which did sometimes lively appeare in Salamina when as the Lordes and chiefetaines of that land by drawing all other inferiour states vnto their severall factions did thereby withdraw the feare obedience and attendance of the subiect of Salamina due vnto the state of Athens and wholy converted the same vnto themselves as in the statute of Captainship more at large may appeare Thirdly by factions and discordes there groweth a neglect of al publike affaires for it is truely saide that in the civill discords of the Florentines no man having a sound care of the affaires publike many of the principal citizens being suspected either to frēd the Medices or mē that desired an other forme of governement things were overruled more with confusion then with counsel Lastly greater mischiefe then any before remembred ariseth by factions and discordes for in such cases a third person shall easily atchieve vnto the principallity suppresse either faction at his pleasure for so Clearchus by the assistance of the faction of the nobility was inabled to hold the place kingdome as wel against the people as nobles which were then the two factions that raigned disturbed the politike body it is also said the particular factions of the citizēs of Millaine drawing to privat counsels did immediatly conspire take armes against Lodowicke Sforce in such sort as he was forced thereby to make his present departure with his wife childrē at which instant the citizens of Millain with francke ready goodwil received the enemy have not several factions of Salamina offred thēselves with frācke ready goodwill to receive the enemy hath not Iames sometimes Earle of Desmond sent vnto the french king by al means excited provoked him to send an army for the invading of Salamina the which conspiracy did not then take his desired effect by reason of a peace thē immediatly cōcluded betwixt King H. the 8. the french King againe being frustate of that hope hath he not many waies provoked the emperour to send an army for the invading possessing of Salamina in like maner hath not Thomas Fitz Garrald addressed his letters vnto the Bishop of Rome as also vnto the Emperor by one Gale in Granyll otherwise called Charles Raynold Archdeacon of Kelles for the invading of Salamina all which in the act of the attainder more at large may appeare And hath not Oneile who by sufferaunce and tollerance long supported his faction against the state sometimes addressed his letters vnto several forraine Princes for the drawing in of straungers to invade and possesse Salamina the which vvere publikely intercepted by the Lorde Deputie c. All vvhich may evidently appeare in the statutes of his attainder Againe did not the faction