saith she your worship as I remember ought to be a patron of these poore infantes for I haue oftentimes heard my husband saye when I had a motherlie care what should become of my children that he had prouided for them charging me to remember that till euer when I needed to vse you as a father for these infants whose honestie as he sware he would builde his soule vppon for which cause giuing him the writings I beséech your Wor. quoth she to pervse all his secrets to stand my good friend in this my miserable widdowhood Maister Besaunt touched to the quicke changed coulour verie often and receauing them at hir hands with a quiuering feare procéeding by reason of his earnest combate betwéene conscience and couetousnesse he at last after long perusing found his own bill which he carelessie tearing tolde hir that all of it was but wast paper and therevpon blushinglie departed giuing hir but colde comfort for hir great hope The good woman animated by some diuine power and â—…spieng the scales of his shame shadowed in his blushing browes tooke hold of his gowne sléeue praieng him to staie a little while and not to leaue hir so suddenlie for said she good sir if you thus leaue vs you shall proue that you little loue vs besides your hast makes me to misdoubt your honestie pardon good sir I praye you if I mistake for thus to wreak your selfe on paper and to shew by your suspectful lookes your apparant misdoubts makes me imagine you haue deceiued my Peters hope besides these papers which you haue torne may perhaps be some testimonies which I will gather as she relikes of your rage and therewithall she stooped and tooke them vp But aboue all good maister Besaunt remember God quoth she and if there be ought that concerneth these little ones in your conscience cloake not in that behalfe for God who gaue them me will not suffer their innocencie to be vnreueâ—…ged Maister Besaunt sore incensed with these words and suspitious least his councell should be disclosed by the broken and scattered papers at firste by smooth spéeches began to persuade hir to restore him them but when reason and intreatie inioyed no place for the more he moued hir the more she suspected he began to vse violence When as she poore children seeing their mother iniured beyond measure cried for helpe for hir whom motherlie care had animated alreadie euen to the triall of death rather than to leaue hir papers The noise in the house and the crie of the children called in the neighbors whoe seeing Robert Besaunt a man of such reputation as he was held not daring to inforce began to intreat his forbearance who dreading his owne discredit beyond measure left hir for that time puffing sweating and swearing that he would be reuenged on hir whoe had in this sort wrought his discontent to be short he neuer desisted till she were imprisoned vowing neuer to graunt hir libertie till suche time as she restored to him the torne writings The miserable Widdowe in this peck of troubles gathering a verie confident boldnesse vnto hir denied the restitution And finallie after the councell of some poore Cittizens put vppe a supplication or a supplantation as the sillier sort of people called it vnto William with the longe beard presenting him likewise with the broken and torne pâ—…ces of paper neuer ceasing in most humble and pittifull manner to intreat a mercifull and tender compassion towardes the reliefe of hir selfe and hir poore children William that pretermitted no occasion whereby he might insinuate himselfe amongest the poorer sort and winne the credit of a good Iusticer at his princes handes began to examine euerie circumstance and to leaue no meane vnsought wher by he might get himselfe glorie and doo the poore widdowe good First therefore he ioyned the papers and conferred the manner of the iniurie with the other circumstances and at last he euidentlie found and therewithall certified others that these torne papers was the bill of debt for forty marks Finallie comparing the estate of the poore man with that of Besaunts the time the money had béene in the defendants hands and the corrupt intention of the riche man whoe by renting the bill thought to race out the remembrance of his due debt he called him before him charging the officiall to bring the widdow and hir children before him in open sessions where after long debating and trouble on both sides Besaunt standing on his credit the widdow on hir innocencie William willing to catch the cat with his owne clawe began thus Maister Besaunt you are called into iustice not that we suspect your honestie or detract from your estimate but for this cause are you called that if you will be deposed that all allegations which may be alledged against you by this widdow are false you may see hir punished and iustice executed Besaunt little suspecting the snare that was laide and the subtiltie intended began with huge oathes to protest that he neither stood any waie indebted to the poore Coblerlatelie deceased neither was in any sort liable to the false suggestions of the widdowe William perceiuing euidentlie she vngodlie intent of the man to defraud and how gratious a déed he should doo to speak in the innocents defense First commanded Besaunts Oath to be taken and after that rowsing himselfe in a maiesticall manner he began thus I sée well my countreymen that iustice had need of a patron when those that should maintaine hir séeke to maime hir Ah what a world liue we in when trust shall be betraid when simplicitie shall be vndermined with subtletie and pouertie ouertopped by power Behold saith hee my contreymen and therewithall he caused the two children to bee placed by him two harmelesse infants for whom the poore father laboured in his life time both left to begge after his death Alas that corruption should blind iudgement so farr that where we ought in charitie to succour these men make no conscience to supplant them The Cedar though a tall trée lets the little shrub prosper vnder him the Eglantine flourisheth by the Oake the Goldâ—…nch féedeth by the Griffin but the prouerbe is true among vs nowadaies Homo homini Demon. We liue as we should know no lack we flourishe as if we feare no fall we purchase as if life could not perish to win the world we make shipwracke of our soules and in suche a world where corruptions are so rife iustice must not sleepe for if it should the weake should to the walles and the peny father by his power should ouerpresse the penilesse in their pouerties Now therefore countreymen giue eare and hea ring pittie and pittieng patronize these poore soules This Besaunt wrongeth them making his credit the countenance of his craft and his goods the coulour of his vngodlinesse behold his hand writing wherein he thinking to extinguish the memorie of his debt hath renewed the meanes of his owne destruction which said he
speeche pleased them all so that taking with them the horsie as Libussa had instructed them they let him freelie goe and followed him But scarselie had they trauelled ten miles when as the horse staied at a riuer called Bieli and arrested himselfe before a countrey fellow called Primislaus shewing manie signes of humanitie and obseruance toward him The Bohemians as well the nobles as commons behoulding this ran with all hast vnto him and after their salutations said thus vnto him Mount vppon this horsse and goe with vs Libussa hath chosen thée for his husband and the Bohemians admit thee for their prince Primislaus although he were a poore countrey clowne not incapeable of the generall desire of rule which attainteth all men gaue vnto them a homelie salutation after his manner and tolde them that he was addressed to doo whatsoeuer pleased them and vnder standing that he was to goe to Libussa as if hee had a longe voiage to make he fastened his bottle to his saddle bow and grasping his bread and chéese in his hand he rode on féeding like a rusticke king which was a verie sufficient euidence of that which Libussa before time had declared and told vnto them As soone as his guttes were full and his bottle emptied he mended his pace and they conducted him with great pomp and honnour into the cittie where he tooke Libussa to wife and during all his life time was wholie ruled and gouerned by hir counsels and perswasions But after she had submitted hir selfe to the destinies the gouernment remained wholie in Primislaus hands and the authoritie of Ladies ceased which euen vnto that hower was both maintained and augmented by Libussa After this Valasca which whilst Libussa liued was hir secretarie being a Ladie of great valour and no lesse resolution then an Amazon not induring or abiding that the authoritie of women should be thus annihilated assembling one daie in a priuie place all those that were of her faction she said thus vnto them My sisters we haue lost our good Ladie who alwaies defended vs from the outrages of men neither could she euer endure that we should be ouer borne by them so that she her selfe hâ—…ld the Emperie and we wish hir were in respect held and accounted for Queenes You see now how inforced we indure a hard and miserable seruitude liuing vnder the gouernment of our husbands after the maner of slaues except of our selues we shall gather head and courage to recouer our former liberties Wherefore if your thoughtes be as mine is let vs ioine like heroick Ladies and we will easily recouer our estates I as you know was secretarie vnto Libussa of whom I learned that which she knew I am skilfull in inchantments and the nature of hearbes is not vnknowne vntome if therfore you haue any meaning or will to followe me assure your selues that you shall be once againe lords ouer men Upon these words the whole assemblie of women condiscended to Valascas words and mutuallie conspired against men During this time Primislaus dreamed one night that a virgine gaue him bloud to drinke for which cause he being a notable soothsaier and willing to preuent a mischiefe which as he imagined might verie easilie be impugned hee conuocated all the chiefe nobles of his Prouince vnder intention to prohibit the ouer-great licence and libertie which women had in the common weale namelie the women were accustomed to ride and run the race on horssebacke to tournay shoote and followe the chace and brieflie to exercise themselues in all warlike discipline which as he thought were matters manageable by men and vnfit tasks for women But the Barons scoffed at him when he told them ther of and said that they rather deserued loue and reuerence for their agilitie and hardines then reproofe and dishonor Valasca meane while desisied not neither daie nor night to exhort hir confederates and often with drinks inchatments turned away their affections from the loue of men and daie by daie drewe more and more into this her League of conspiracie Finallie when she perceiued that she hadde gathered a sufficient power both of married wiues maids in one night she caused euerie one of hir faction to kill their fathers husbands brethren and sonnes in their beddes and afterwards taking armes with great expedition they all of them marched togither to a place appointed them by Velasca not farre distant from Prage and subduing some that had them in chace they made a roade to Vissigrade whereas Primislaus aboad intending there to surprise him but séeing they could not take the fortresse they retired themselues into a mountaine a place naturallie impregnable and there building a castle they called it Deiuizo that is the place of virgines bicause that in their toonge a virgine is called Deiuize This action of theirs seemed abhominable to all the inhabitants of the countrey as wel in respect of the great slaugh ter they had made as also because they had a great suspition of further mischéefe for which cause they generallie gaue Primislaus to vnderstand that they were addrest to bidde these new Amazons battell and that if it pleased him to marche forward with his hoast they also were in a readinesse to follow him The K. certified them that at that present he could not come by reason that the Gods had admonished him that all those who were addicted to indemnifie the virgines were to die certifieng them that it was behouefull to go another time But they who set light by his counsell leuieng by them selues a great armie marched toward Deiuizo and striking battell with Valasco were ignominiouslie ouerthrowne and put to flight with the slaughter of the greater part of the armie and whereas in this seruice Malada Nodea Suaâ—…acia Vorasta Ragda Zastana and Tristana had behaued themselues valiantlie in rewarde of their seruice they had coâ—…ars and chaines of golde giuen them and amidst that vnmeasureable pray which they had euerie one was rewarded acording to their desart Valasca slue with hir owne hand seuen of hir enimies and after that time was held and estéemed for a goddesse so that neuer aâ—…ter that time the Bohemians had the courage to troble or molest them But they euerie daie ranged about the confines spoiling robbing and burning and daie by day inforced greater dread and feare in the harts of their enimies and being now Ladies and soueraignes of the better part of Bohemia they were constrained to haue the companie of men by reason that other wise by course of time and warres they were likelie to be reduced and brought to nothing for which cause marrieng themselues they made a lawe that those maidens who were borne by them should with all dilligence bee tenderlie and carefullie brought vppe as for the males they commanded that their right eies should be pulled out and their middle fingers cut off to the ende that hauing attained Mans estate they should be disabled to shoote in the bowe or to handle warlike weapons
presented hir therewith Ye braine-begotten dieties agree you Nurst by transparant christall of chast eies Least she that gaue you life on sudden see you And frowning kil you both who causde you rise From hir you came yong Cupids from no other And but for her if enuious you shal wrastle I feare you both wil lose a louely mother Hir brow your bower hir bosome is your castle There gree you both there both togither go you And suck the Aprill ritches of hir brest Then I who long haue serued and loue to shew you How much I loue the bosome where you rest Will come and kisse and blesse you little wantons And feed you kindly wantons if you want once Another in respect of the occasion I could not find in my hart to forget for being at supper once in hir companie where were manie that discoursed of loue shewing all the idolatrie of their pens in exemplifieng that vnchast deitie he at last when the table was taken vp remembring him of a sonnet in an ancient French Poet on sudden wrote this imitation As soone as thou doost see the Winter clad in colde Within September on the Eaues in sundry formes to fold Sweet Swallow farre thou fliest till to our natiue clime In pleasant Aprill Phaebus raies returne the sweeter time But Loue no day forsakes the place whereas I rest But euery houre liues in mine eies and in my hart dooth nest Each minute I am thrall and in my wounded hart He builds his neast he laies his egges and thence wil neuer part Already one hath wings soft downe the other clads This breakes the skin this newly flegd about my bosome gads The one hath broke the shel the other soares on hie This newly laid that quickly dead before the dam come nie Both day and night I heare the smal ones how they crie Calling for food who by the great are fed for feare they die All wax and grow to proofe and euery yeare doo lay A second neast and sit and hatch the cause of my decay Ah Maudline what reliefe haue I for to remoue These crooked cares that thus pursue my hart in harboring loue But helpelesse of reliefe since I by care am stung To wound my hart thereby to slaie both mother and hir yong At another time being absent from his mistresse by reason that he had a poore mans cause in Essex to be heard he wrote this briefe fancie to hir after the manner of the Italian rimes Oh faire of fairest Dolphin like within the riuers of my plaint With labouring finnes the waue I strike whose flouds are honored by my saint Withouten hart or gall I spring And swim to heare thee sweetly sing All like the fish when natures art Hath reft of â—…ate and tender hart And in the sea for loue I burne As for Arion did the fish At euerie note I skip turnes I harke I praise I like I wish But out alas with better chaunce The friendly fish did him aduance He bare Arion on his back Where I thy sweet imbracements lack These ofher twoe for their shortnesse and strangenesse I could not finde in my hart to pretermit knowing that the better sort that are priuie to the imitation and method will haue their due estimate My mistresse when she goes To pull the pinke and rose Along the riuer bounds And trippeth on the grounds And runnes from rocks to rocks With louely scattered locks Whilst amarous wind doth play With haires so golden gay The water waxeth cleere The fishes draw hir neere The Sirens sing hir praise Sweet flowers perfume hir waies And Neptune glad and faine Yeelds vp to hir his raigne Aâ—…ther When I admire the rose That nature makes repose In you the best of many More faire and blest than any And see how curious art Hath decked euery part I thinke with doubtfull vieu Whether you be the rose or the rose is you An Ode he wrote amongst the rest I dare not forget in that the Poesie is appertinent to this time and hath no lesse life in it than those of the ancient the rather because hereby the learned may sée how euen in those daies Poecy had hir impugners and industrie could not be free from detraction His Oade Since that I must repose Beyond th'infernal Lake What vailes me to compose As many verses as Homer did make Choice numbers cannot keepe Me from my pointed graue But after lasting sleepe The doomb of dreadful iudge I needs must haue I put the case my verse In lieu of all my paine Ten yeares my praise rehearse Orsomewhat longer time some glorie gaine What wants there to consume Or take my lines from light But flame or fierie fume Or threatning noice of war or bloudy fight Excell I Anacrion Stesicores Simonides Antimachus or Bion Philetes or the graue Bacchilides All these though Greekes they were And vsde that fluent toong In course of many a yeare Their workes are lost and haue no biding long Then I who want wits sap And write but bastard time May I expect the hap That my endeuors may ore-come the time No no tis farre more meet To follow Marchants life Or at the iudges feet To sell my toong for bribes to maintaine strife Then haunt the idle traine Of poore Calliope Which leaues for hunger slaine The choicest men that hir attendants be These and such like fruits of his fancie may sufficientlie testifie vnto you both the high spirite and déepe inuention of this craftie Citizen who flourishing thus in the verie fulnesse of loues ioy and reuelling in the chiefest pallaces of pleasure at last recalled to mind the ambitious desires that were wont to accompanie him which hauing the nature of fire which no sooner catcheth hold of drie matter but presentlie it consumeth it from a light smoke at last fell to so huge a flame that himselfe was confounded therewith and all his hopes made frustrate and thus it fell out The kings Maiestie hearing of his continual assemblies and comparing his purposes with his practise began vnder no small grounds to conceiue his curssed intention for considering with himselfe the manner of his life the businesse of his braine the 〈◊〉 eloquence of his toong and the mightinesse of his mind he imagined as afterward it fell out that so great meanes of quick and capeable fuell would at last breake out to an vnquenchable flame wherevpon the K. with considerate iudgement called him to court commanding him to cease his disordered assemblies least in séeking to exterminate the iniuries of the rich he shuld reuiue the in solence of the poore For said he William whoe séeth not whereto these routes tend whoe thinketh not that riot will follow them The labouring men that were kept from innonations by their worke are now capable of all chang and nouelties in their idlenesse In liuing as they doo they rather are drawne to detest labor then to follow it wherthrugh the offices and mechanicall crafts in the citiie doo
to stand fauourable vnto his child but the greedie wretch which was too well learned in no pennie no Pater noster told him that then he had no medicine for him for which cause the poore Hermotimus and his sicklie daughter repared home without succors Aspatia being thus ill bested entered hir chamber and setting hir glasse betwéene hir legges she gased so long intentiuelie on hir imperfection and with so manie tender teares bemoned hir wants till at last she fell asléepe where vpon a suddaine she beholde a doue changed suddenlie into a woman which saied vnto hir Be of good chéere and leaue these drug-maisters and goe vnto the dried crowne of Roses vpon Venus head and taking some of them beate thou them to powder and then doo thou but strew them vpon thy gréeuous sore Aspatia hauing performed no lesse then was commanded hir in hir vision was healed and 〈◊〉 â—…ie faire and so manie were the graces â—…erwith â—…he â—…hed that no man could either compare or equall them She had hir haires glorious and goldlike golden somewhat daintilie curled hir eies fierie and christalline hir nose hooked hir eares little and the coulour of hir face like vnto Roses washed in milke hir lippes crimosin hir teeth more white than snow hir voice was delicious sweete and musicall hir delightes were estranged from all effeminaâ—…e newfanglenesse shée studied not to be rich in apparell which is but the verie surfet of substancâ—… bâ—…cause being nourished in pouertie shee could not nor would not in anie wise yéelde any art to her beawtie wanting both the meanes and the manner It chanced that this maiden amongest a great manie others was bought by a Baron who belonged to king Cyrus who séeing that she was beawtifull and faire brought hir after a verie solemne and sumptuous supper into the presence of Cyrus accompanied with thrée other Grecian maids who were tricked and attired by courtlie dames before hâ—…ide to the end they might know how to entertaine and delight the king onlie Aspatia would not admit any foile for hir faire but after many refusals at last consented to put on a sumptuous habit wherein she stâ—…de so melancholie and blushinglie as if she thought all lookers on vnworthie to beholde hir beawtie and firing hir fiery eies vpon the ground she wept bitterlie before Cyrus who commanded the thrée other Uirgins to sit downe by him who were obsequious to his will but Aspatia fained as though she heard him not when he called hir vntill the Baron who bought hir enforced hir to sit by his maiestie Cyrus dallieng and beholding the thrée other virgines commended their countenances and condemned not their behauiour But hauing but touched Aspatia with the the tip of his finger she suddenlie cried out telling him that shee should be punished if she vsed such licentiousnesse This her behauior pleased the king whoe afterward offered to dallie with hir paps she presentlie flung from him and offered to depart for which cause Cyrus maruelling at the great mind of Aspatia farre against the custome of Percia said vnto him that had bought hir Thou hast onelie brought this mayden vnto me frée sincere and without spot these others are but counterfeits in their customes and their beawties are but borrowed not naturall Here vpon Cyrus affected by this meanes and earnestlie fixed his loue vpon Aspatia so that he forgat all other fancies addicting himselfe onlie to hir bed and beawtie Not longe after Aspatia called to hir mind the doome she had séen in hir dreame and the spéeches which were vsed and in regarde of those benefits she had receiued she erected a â—…atue of golde in honor of Uenus and annexed therevnto a doue beawtified with costlie gems offering daielie sacriâ—…ces to remunerate the Goddesse kindnesse She likewise sent vnto her father manie rich Iewels and made him a man of great authoritie A few daies after a faire and curious Carkanet was sent out of Theslaly in present to king Cyrus who reioicing greatlie at the same and finding his Aspatia one daie asléepe laid him downe by hir and after some amorous embracings drewe the carcanet out of a casket and saied vnto hir How saiest thou my loue dooth not this iewell become either the daughter or mother of a king yes my liege saide she whie then my loue it shall be thine quoth he discouer therefore thy neck and put it on Aspatia little respecting the rich guift reuerentlie sagelie replied thus how should I be so bold to submit my necke vnto that gift which is a present more conuenient for Parisatides thy mother Giue it hir my Lorde and I am readie to shew you my neck without any such ornaments Cyrus reioysing at hir answer kissed hir and hauing written all the manner of discourse which had past twixt him and Aspatia he sent the same with the carcanet vnto his mother Parisatide no lesse delighted with the letter than the carcanet renumerated Aspatia with rich gifts and royall presents and conceiuing a gratious opinion in that Aspatia gaue hir place shee euer after loued hir and presented hir both with the carcanet and much other treasure Aspatia humblie receiuing hir inestimable curtesies sent both the iewell and treasure to Cyrus with this message These for a time will helpe thee and for that thou art mine ornament meseemeâ—…h I haue obtayned a great gift if as I both should and woulde I heartelie loue thee Cyrus was amazed at this deed and not without reason because this woman had no meane minde but the courage of a great and magnificent princesse But when Cyrus was slaine in the warre which he waged againste his brother Aspatia remained prisoner notwithstandinge sought out and at the last found by the noble Artaxerxes she was deliuered of hir bonds such as had captiuated hir were committed themselues Finallie being richlie apparailed like a Princesse although by reason of the deth of Cyrus she made great resistance Artaxerxes being vehementlie enamored of her beawtie after long intreatie and comforts at last won her consent and married hir yet as some writers testifie the in tire affection she bare hir last husband was neuer extinguished vntill she died A wonderous reuenge executed by Megallo Lercato of Genoua vpon the mightie Emperour of Trabisonda AT such time as the Genowaies weare Lords of certeine citties in the LeuaÌ„t it chanced that amongest other Cittizens whoe traffiqued in Caffa were most familiar with the Emperour of Trabisond there was one called Megollo Lercato whoe by reason of his rare quallities was excéedinglie fauoured by him for which cause he was gréeuouslie enuied and hated by the principall courteors whoe ceased not continuallie to inuent new meanes waies whereby they might bring him in disgrace It fortuned that sporting himselfe one daie at the game of chesse with a yoong Noble man who was greatlie beloued by the Emperor they fell at wordes and bitter vpbraides amongst all others the yong Noble vttering certeine speeches in contempt of the name
repaired to Salona in Dalmatia where he was borne But two yeares after that he had refused the Romain empire an honourable embassage was sent by the Senate vnto him praieng him earnestlie that he would haue pitie on the commons and content himselfe to returne to Rome It chanced that at such time as the said Embassadors came into his poore and homelie cottage hee himselfe was in a little garden he had setting of Lettises and diuers other hearbes and assoone as he had heard the discourse of that they were to deliuer him he returned them this answer Séemeth it a requisite matter vnto you my freendes that he who hath planted cut and watered lettice as these be should leaue them to seeke royalties and not to eate them in repose and quiet in his owne house yes my friends it is better eating these in quiet then gouerning of Rome with care Moreouer he said vnto them Now haue I proued howe much it auaileth to commande and howe healthfull it is to plough and dig Leaue me therfore I pray you in my house for why I rather desire to get my liuing in this village with my handes than to haue the charge of the Romaine empire accompanied with hate Porides the Athenian hauing in great iustice gouerned his common weale for the space of sixe and thirtie yeares at laste growing olde and fatiate of publike affaires departing Athens he went vnto a certein Lordship of his left him by his auncestors in a certeine village without the cittie in which plieng his booke by night and labouring his fields by day he liued fiftéene years more Aboue the doores of his house these words were written In veni portum spes fortuna valete Nil mihi vobiscum est ludite nunc alios Scipio the Affrican was one of the best beloued and honored captaines that euer Rome had for in the space of sixe and twentie yeares wherein he continued warre in Spaine in Affrica and Asia he neuer committed anye dishonost action neither lost any battell he neuer denied any man Iustice neither was there euer one obscure or base thought knowne in him he subingated Africa ruinated Carthage ouercame Hannibal destroied Nununtia and also restored Rome which after the battell of Cannas was almost forsaken and abandoned This man in the two and fiftie yeare of his age departed Rome and retired himselfe vnto a little farme of his which was betwixt Pozzuolo and Capua in which as Seneca witnesseth he had no other reuenewes but certeine fields wherein he liued a house wherein he ledged a barne wherein he bathed and one of his Nephues who serued him And with so great affection retired hee himselfe to the farme house that for eleuen yeares space which he liues he went not once to Capua or set foot towardes Rome All these excellent men of whom we haue spoken with manie infinite others also left their kingdomes Consulships gouernments citties pallaces fauourites cares and ritches for no other intent but a quiet life intending after worldlie affaires to reconcile themselues to a more straight order hauing respect to that which insueth after death A most subtill dispute made in Antioch in the presence of king Ptolomey by seuen seuerall Ambassadors which of their Common-weales had the best lawes and most notable Customes PLutarch writeth in his booke De exilio that king Ptolomey being in Antiochus there were vpon an appointed day at dinner with him manie embassadors from the Romaines Carthagenians Scicilians Rhodians Athenians Lacedemonians and Scicilians whoe falling into disputation amongst themselues euerie one began to praise and extoll their countries Lawes and customes as the best and moste exquisite The dispute was handled with great feruencie betwéene them and with manie reasons each one endeuoured himselfe to dignifie his state for which cause Ptolomey destrous to know the truth and to bring all contentions and discords to an exigent commanded them that euerie one should write or speake their customes or perfect Lawes which they had in their common weales for by that means it might be easilie iudged which prouince best deserued the Palme of iustice The Embassadors of Rome began and said We hold our Temples in wonderous great honor and reuerence we yeeld great obseruance to our gouernors and rulers we gréeuouslie punish the wicked offenders and malefactors The Embassadors of Carthage saied in the Common-weale of Carthage the nobles cease not to fight the commons and mechanicall persons to labour the Philosofers and learned to instruct They of Scicilie said In our lande we obserue intire iustice we traffique with vpright conscience and generallie imbrace equalitie They of Rhodes said In our common weale the olde people are honest the yonger sorte shamefast the Ladies and women solitarie and silent The Athenian Embassadors said In our common weal the rich are not permitted nor allowed to be partiall the poore to be idle neither those that gouerne are suffered to be ignorant The Lacedemonians said in our State enuie raigneth not because all are egall nor auarice because our goodes are in common nor any suffred to be idle but euerie one doth labour The Scicionians saied In our common weale we permit nor maintaine any trauailer least returning home againe he shoulde bring vs matters of noueltie neither admit we Physitians who spoile and kill the whole nor Orators who maintaine publike contentions Assoone as Ptolomey had heard all the seuen Ambassadors he praised all their common weales saieng that they were iustlie and worthilie gouerned commendinge their customes and holding their lawes praise worthie where vpon with great honors euerie one returned to his lodging glorifieng and reioycing in their credit and satisfied in his iustice Strange Lawes of Tirzus the Tyrant where-through he withstood Conspiracies TRizus the Tyrant indeuouring to preuent the coniurations and tresons which might be imagined and wrought against him by his cittizens forbad them by an especiall and prescript law to surcease their priuate and publike conferences tyranizing aswell ouer their toongs as their tresure But his cittizens enuieng and hating this his commandements kept their consultations by becks gestures and eager countenances when they were agréeued and smiling and pleasant lookes when they were contented if dangers threatned them they frowned if Fortune fawned they were not froward by this meanes expressing and shewing the affections of their minds and de luding the pollicie of the tyrant Tirzus séeing and beholding this varietie in the faces of his cittizens began to feare and for that cause forbad them such like significatiue and mute consult whervpon one of his cittizens amongst the rest repining at his tyrannie inuented a new meanes and entering the pallace with other friends wept and cried out verie bitterlie The Tyrant vnderstanding héereof hasted him with some of his guard to depriue the eies of their naturall libertie in like manner as he had reduced the toong and gestures into seruitude but the people amazedlie hating his insolence drew the weapons out of the hands of his guard and murthered both him and all his followres FINIS