THE Life and Death of william Long beard the most famous and witty English Traitor borne in the Citty of London Accompanied with manye other most pleasant and prettie histories By T. L. of Lincolns Inne Gent. Printed at London by Rychard Yardley and Peter Short dwelling on Breadstreat hill at the Signe of the Starre 1593. ¶ THE LIFE AND death of William Long beard Howe Willyam Long beard betraied his elder brother vnto his death of his falling in acquaintance with the Abbot of Cadonence in Normandy and how cunningly and coulourably they got authority from the Kinge to accomplish their ambitious pretences WHilst all the world was in vprore and schismes raigned in the Church when God by prodigious signes threatened pestilent plagues at suche time as two sunnes appéered in our Horizon in England and three Moones were discouered in the West in Italie William with the longe beard was borne in the famous Cittie of London of greater minde then of high parentage a graft of mightie hope at the first though as it afterwards proued his parents spent too much hope on so little vertue This frée Cittizen borne tenderlie fostered in his infancie was afterwards trained vp in good letters wherin he profited so suddenlie that most men wondered at his capacitie and the wisest were afraid of the conclusion And for that the age wherein hee was bread being the third yeare of Henrie the Second was full of troubles this yoong mans rare guifts were raked vp in the embers little regarded because not yet ripened but at last as years increased the minde ordained for mightie thinges began to mount the rather because ambition sealed his eies which made him with the Doue soare so hie till his own cunning and labour made him be ouerturned for when he perceiued his fathers foote alreadie prepared for the graue his mother seazed by age and more besotted with affection himselfe at mans estate without maintenance he thus began the first fruites of his impietie the sequell whereof exceedeth all conceit and testifieth his deuilish and damnable nature He had a brother elder than himselfe in yeares but yoonger in policie who hauing by his owne frugalitie gotten great wealth was called to be a Burgesse of the cittie a man beloued of all men for his vpright dealing and lamented of al men for his vntimelie death For William little regarding the benefites he had receiued of him in his youth the brotherlie kindnesse the bountifull curtesies sought all means possible to betray him who had trained him vp to suck his hart bloud who had sought his harts rest and to that intent séeing the opportunitie fitted him in the raigne of Richard the first that noble Prince of famous memorie he suborned certeine lewd and smister confederates of his to accuse him of Treason for which cause poore innocent man being suddenlie apprehended his goods were confiâ—…cate his body imprisoned his wife and children left succourlesse whilst wicked William being both complotter informer and witnes wrought so cunningly with the kings councell that the goods were his which his brother with his long labour had gotten and the poore innocent man brought out before the Iudges with wéeping eies beheld his yoonger brother both reuelling in his ritches and reiocing at his ruine Many were his obtestations before God and protestations to the Iudges manie his exhortations to his brother and detestations of his periurie But William whose hart was the very harbour of all impietie ceased not in his owne person to solicite and by his companions to incense the Iudges in such sort that his brother was at last by them condemned and adiudged to death as some Writers suppose for coining And being led forth to his execution like an harmelesse innocent the people mustering about the place the curssed brother the occasion and compactor of his confusion accompanie him with these or such like words he finished his life Thou God that knowest the cause of my vntimelie death canst in iuâ—…ice punish my vniust accusers meane while take mercie on my poore soule who am forsaken of my priuate friends be thou a safeguard vnto me whoe am left without succors and helpe the desolate widdow with hir distressed children This said after some priuate conference by permission betwéene his brother and him he suffered torment But William hauing gotten wealth began to take vpon him state and vnderstanding his father and mother through hartie griefe were in their extreame age committed to the graue he seazed on their goods carrieng such a countenance in London that all men wondered at him In wit he was pregnant in publike affaires pollitike in reuenges constant in speeches affable in countenance graue in apparell gorgeous yea so cunning was he to insinuate himselfe among the Commons that as the report went he had more Prentises clubs at his command then the best Courtier had seruants to attend him And as the custome is whilest thus he behaued himselfe it fortuned that hee fell in companie and conference with the Abbot of Cadonence in Normandie a man as high minded as himselfe and more subtill than Sinon by whose aduise and directions he grew so craftilie conceited that vnder a holie pretert he wrought more mischiefe than either the Councell of England could for a long time remedie or by industrie reuerse and thus it fortuned After that the noble and warlike Richard the firste of that name had to his immortall glorie recouered his rights in France established peace with the French king and by the perswasions of his mother Dame Elianor reconciled his brother Iohn who had before that time béene at deadlie â—…d with him It plesed his Maiestie partlie for his owne recreation sake partlie to remedie the discontents of his subiects to goe on Progresse in the eight yeare of his reigne and in the yeare of our Lord 1197. at which time the Abbot of Cadonence and William watching an occasion and oportunitie so cunninglie wrought she matter that they had audience at his Maiesties hands and attained vnder the broad seale the whole summe of their requests The Abbot couloured his stratagem vnder the coppie of conscience assuring the king that the corruption of his officers were the chiefest groundes of publike contention praieng him in the bounty of an heroick and princelie potentate to take some order for she correction of them least at the last it should turne to his owne confusion His maiestie that had euer regard of the poore with gratious good words thanked him for his good will giuing him warrant and authoritie to redresse those inconueniences and promising him great promotions if he tooke any profite by his pollicie William now that hath the second subtiltie to enact suted his lookes in all sobrietie and stroaking his long beard which he curiouslie fostered euen from the beginning tolde the king of the insolence and outrage of rich men who spared their owne and pilled the poore robbed Irus and clawed Midas beséeching in the commons behalfe a remedie
cease and by the omission of industrieriseth the pretermission of dutie For this cause as you haue care of my loue incite them not to too much libertie Further them what you may if they be wronged but let not iustice be a coulour to winne them to wickednes With these or such like admonitions kinge Richard attempted him and so wrought him that for a while the commotions and motiues of trouble were laide apart so that he walked London stréets with lesser troops and wholie adicted himselfe to play with his faire Maudeline whose vnchast life was abi-word in the cittie How William with the long beard slew Arthur Brown who deceiued him of his Maudline WHilst William was conuersent in the affaires of state intending euerie waie to inlarge his own power and attending daselie vppon the kinges pleasure it fortuned that one Arthur Browne fur me red by his youth and fitted by occation fell in with Maudline Willams wanton concubine and hauing welth sufficient and wit no lesse subtill he so craftilie handled the cause that he won the yoong woman to stoope to a seconde lure and to accept his loue Manie and often times had they entercourse so that at last the rumor passing in euerie place it coulde not choose but light at laste in Williams hearing who moued beyond measure to sée himselfe outfaced by one who had so long time béene feared by all he frowningly prepared reuenge resoluing with himselfe that no means were too meane to giue a tragicall sauce to his corrupt meaning Wherevpon breaking his mind with certaine of his faction he a gréed to watch an oportunitie to reuenge impietie and for that cause watching verie craftilie when Arthur his riuall should repaire vnto his lawlesse lemman he at laste surprised and encountred him and causing some of his train to muffle him in his cloake and to stopp his mouth for fears of crieng he stabbed him with a dagger in diuers places and in the last wound left the same sticking fastening the poore caitifes owne hande with his owne dagger which he had purposelie to auoid all meanes of suspition and to raise an opinion that he had murthered himselfe sheathed in Arthurs owne bodie This doone he departed vnespied and vnsuspected and the bodie being founde according to the censure and verdict of the Iurie which behelde the same was thrust thorowe with a stake and so buried as if he had béene guiltie of his owne murther William thus deliuered of a supplanter of his pleasure after some vnkindnesse past and calmed betweene him and his Maudline finallie fell to an accord accustoming hir as he was wont vnder promise of more constancie in affection and to the intent she should remember hir of the iniuries offered he wrot this with a poin ted Diamond in hir glasse Thinke what I suffred wanton through thy wildenesse When traitor to my faith thy losenesse led thee Thinke how my moodie wrath was turnde to mildnesse When I bad best yet baser groomes did bed thee Thinke that the staine of bewtie then is stained Whenlewd desires doo alienate the hart Thinke that the loue which will not be contained At last will grow to hate in spight of art Thinke that those wanton lookes will haue their wrinkles And but by faith olde age can merit nothing When time thy pale with purple ouer-sprinkles Faith is thy best thy beautie is a woe thing In youth be true and then in age resolue thee Friends wil be friends till time with them dissolue thee But leauing these his effeminate follies of youth wherin he so vngratiouslie passed his time let vs draw to the consideration of his traitorous practises and finallie as the fruits of such sinister follies conclude with his tragicall end After he had for a time vntill the princes minde were otherwise withdrawne with more waightie matters ceased both his routs and riots the old ranckled venome of his ambition began more fréelte to breake forth so that what before time he colored vnder conscience now at last he manifested with audacious considence The mightie in court that maligned him he ouermaistered by his attendants swashing out in open streats vppon euerie light occasion for himselfe hee thought no man sufficient to suppresse him â—…or of sufficiencie to braue him for at a beck Coblers Tinkers tailors and all sortes of the hare-brainde multitude attended him fought for him supported him and made him Lorde of their factions where-through the better sorts neither were Lords of themselues neither commanders of their owne liueliehoods From some he extorted wealth by corrupt witnesses sparing no meanes to inrich his followers by racking and wresting the kinges authoritie and no sooner did he heare that the kinge had giuen order to his councell to sensure on his bad demeanors but gathering to himselfe a huge multitude he openlie vsed this discourse vnto them beginning his exhortation with this place of Scripture Haurietis aquas in gaudio de fontibus saluatoris Which is as much to say as You shal drawe waters with Ioy out of the fountaines of our Sauiour For quoth he my worthie and faithfull friends whoe haue more courage than coine and abilitie in armes then possibilities of wealth I am the sauiour of you that are poore and the soueraigne of such as are penilesse you that haue assaied the hard hand of the rich shall be succoured by the happie hande of the righteous Now therefore draw your happie fountaines of councell out of my words and turne the troubles you haue to assured triumphs for the daies of your visitation is at hande I shall depart waters from waters I mean the proud from the poore the mercilesse from the mercifull the good from the euill and the light from the darkenesse I will oppose my selfe against all dangers to preuent your domage and loose my life but you shall haue liuing Be confident therefore and bolde for such as haue courage are sildome conquered Let the greatest vpbraid they shall not bite we haue weapons to withstand as well as wordes to perswade we are as couragious as our enimies are craftie Stick therefore vnto me who will striue for you let me be supprest you are subdued let me flourish you are fortunate but if finister chance threaten whie Alea iacta est vnasalus victis nullam sperare salutem Thus dailie and hourelie animated he the ill minded sorte and although the king did oftentimes summon him and by letters disuaded him from his ill demeanour yet was hee enforced to vse violence or otherwise that stripe which at first séemed to be but a fillip would at last haue growne vnto a Fistula For which cause Hubert then Bishop of Canterburie soundlie resoluing in his thoughts that forbearance would be the meanes of further mischiefe by the aduise of others of the Priuie councell called him in question summoning him against an appointed day to come and yeelde a reason of those his factions tumults William that saw the iron readie to war hot and the
neither any other march andise could be brought either from the kingdome of Naples from Corsica or the riuer of Genua vnto the cittie Against him Pope Alexander sent the great Consaluo who tooke the rocke and brought Menaldo bound to Rome vpon a leane Iade in maner of triumph And it is reported that he went with so confident a countenance that he inforced terror in all those that beheld him Consaluo for that he was a Spaniard got him his pardon and wrought the Pope to be very bountifull vnto him A true and famous History of Partaritus king of Lombardie who being pursued by Grimaldo fled first of all to Cucano king of the Auarior Huns and then into France and finallie after manie trauailes was restored to his kingdom with much maiestie wherein the worthy memorie of two faithfull seruants is happilie registred PArtaritus was the sonne of Albert kinge of Lombardie who after the death of his father raigned himselfe in Millan and Gundibert his brother in Pauia Betwixt these twoe there grewe a mortall discention for which cause Gundibert sent Caribald Duke of Turinge to Grimoald duke of Beniuent a most worthy and valiant Capteine requesting his assistance in armes against his Brother and promising him in rewarde thereof to bestowe his sister vpon him in mariage But Garibald vsed Treason against his Lord animating Grimoald to the enterprise not as an a better but a conqueror For said he you may easily occupie the kingdome by reason of the twoe brethren whoe through their dissentions haue almoste ruinated the same Grimoald asserteined her of made his sonne Duke of Beneuent and leuieng a mightie power set onwards on his way to Pauia and through euerie Cittie that he passed he drewe friends vnto him and won the better sort with benefites to the end they should assist him toward the attainment of the kingdome and comming to parlie with Gundibert who little suspecting the trecheries which Garibald had complotted came slenderlie and courtlie accompanied to intertain him he on sudden slue him and occupied the kingdome Partaritus assertained hereof abandoned Rhodeline his wife and his iit tle sonn and fled to Cucano king of the Auarior Huns Grimoald confirmed in the kingdome of Pauia vnderstanding that Partharithus was entertained by Cucano sent ambassadors vnto him threatning him that if he retained Partharithus his enimie in his kingdome he shoulde be assured to purchase of him a mightie enimie and more to occasion a present and dangerous warre The king of the Hunns assertained héereof called Partarithus vnto him and said thus I pray thée gentle friende depart into some other place for if thou be héere resident my good will towards thee will occasion great warres againste my selfe Partharitus vnderstanding the kings mind returning into Italie went and sought out Grimoald reposing his life vpon the good dispositions of his enimie And drawing neere the Cittie of Lodi he sent before him one of his faithfull seruants called Vnulfe who might make manifest to Grimoald both how much he trusted him and what he required at his hands Vnulfe presenting himselfe before the kinges Maiestie told him that Partaritus his maister had recourse vnto his clemencie and sought succour in his court Grimoald admiring his confidence faithfullie promised him that he might repaire vnto him vppon the faith of a prince assuring him that before he should be harmed he would hazard his owne hart A little while after when Partharitus presented himselfe before Grimoald and humblie knéeling on his knées be sought his fauour the king pitiouslie and gratiouslie entertained and kissed him whome in humble manner Partharitus saluted thus mightie Soueraigne I am thy seruant who knowing that thou art a Christian doubt not of thy compassion I might as thou knowest O king haue liued among Pagans but what life were that and howe base confidence were I in rather to trust the faithlesse then humble my selfe to the faithfull I beseech thée of mercie and kissing thy feete craue maintenance The king according to his maner swering a solemne oath promised him saieng By him that begat me since thou hast recourse vnto my faith I will neuer forsake thée but I will take order for thee in suche manner that thou maiest both honestlie and honorablie liue in this countrey Wherevpon he commanded him to be worthilie lodged giuing charge that he should be furnished of all necessaries whatsoeuer vpon his treasurie It chanced that Partaritus departing from the king and repairing to his lodging was suddenlie encountered with a whole troope of Cittizens of Pauia who came to sée him and salute him as their sorestemed friend But sée what great mischiefe procéedeth from an euill and detracting toong For some malignant flatterers beholding the same sought out the king and gaue him to vnderstande that if he made not Partaritus suddenlie out of the waie himselfe without all doubt should lose both his kingdome and life swearing to him that all the cittie was alreadie addicted to take his part Grimoald considering these thoughts and by his ouermuch credulitie suspecting more then he néeded suddenlie resolued on the death of miserable Partharitus and calling his councell vnto him ceased not to contriue the meanes howe the innocent might be made awaie They séeing that daie far spent resolued the déed shoulde be doone the next morrowe animating the king by good words who otherwise through feare was almost out of his wits notwithstanding thorow their perswasions gathering to himselfe more confidence the better to coulour his intention hee sent vnto him that night manie excellent dishes and strong wines purposing if it were possible to make him drunke assuring himselfe that by the meanes thereof he for that night shoulde haue more care of his sléepe than regard of his safetie But see how God helpeth the innocent for a certein gentleman who before time had béene a seruitour in Partharithus fathers court presenting him with a messe of meate from the king and leaning downward as if intending reuerence to his Maiestie tolde him secretlie howe the kinge the next daie had resolued to put him to death For which cause Partaritus suddenlie called his squire willing him for that night to giue him no other drink but a little water in a siluer cup knowing this that if those who presented him in the kings behalfe would request him to carouse to his health he might easilie doe without intoxicating his braines drinking onelie water Those that serued him at the table seeing Partaritus take his liquor so liuelie certified the king thereof who with much ioyfulnesse said let the drunkerd drinke his fill for this night but to morrowe yer euer he suspect the banquet I meane to feast him with his owne bloud This saide he caused his guard to be set the house fearing and suspecting least Partaritus should escape him in any sort The supper being ended and euerie one hauing taken his leaue Partharitus thus left alone with Vnulfe his trustie seruant and the Page who ordinarilie attended on
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
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