of the ancient Brittains lay open a gap vnto Caesar his invasion and did hee not by the aide of one faction of the Gaules subdue the rest and them also in the end Was not the Duke sometimes of Valentinois emboldened to invade the dominion of the Florentines with a weake and slender armie by the feare suspition and great disagreement that then possessed them for that he had in his army Vitellozze and the Vrsins and for that also Peter de Medicis was abiding at Loiana in the countrie of Bollognia at his direction for it is saide that hee did entertaine Peter de Medicis Vitellie and the Vrsins not vvith a minde or desire to advaunce them for nothing more then that could be farther from his thoughtes but to augment the mutinies and disagreementes of the Florentines by the vvhich he hoped to vrge them either to better conditions or be able to occupy some place of importance in their iurisdiction And did not the Megarians during the vproares raised by the severall factions then maintained by the issue of Cylon and the ofspring of Megacles take from vs the haven of Nysea and the I le of Salamina then vvee may rightly conclude that so long as vve have an enemy vvhich raiseth himselfe against vs so long we ought for the safetie of the whole strongly to suppresse all factions vvhatsoever for factions breede an vnsetled minde in the people and doth nourish this desire of chaunge and alteration the vvhich did livelie appeare in the people of Athens during the continuance of the severall factions then entertained betwixt the people of the valley sea-cost mountaine for not withstanding they al kept observed the laws made by you Solon for their reformatioÌ„ yet there was none founde but gaped for a change and desired to see thinges in another state either parties hoping their condition state of life would amend by chaunge and that every of them should be better then their adversaries There remaineth now that vve deduct colonies which is the last but not the least meanes to suppresse this distemperature vvhich of all others is the most beneficiall for the coÌ„taining of a nation conquered in their duty and obedience wherein foure matters are worthily considered first the necessitie of deducting colonies secondarily the benefite that redoundeth thereby vnto common-weales thirdly what order and manner in deducting colonies is to bee vsed and observed lastly the impedimentes which are vsuallie given vnto the deducting of colonies Sol Shew vs the necessitie of collonies Epi A nation conquered may not be contained in their obedience vvithout the strength of colonies or garrisons for may we be induced to beleeve that that people or nation who daily bewaileth accuseth his present state and condition may persist therein longer then they be pressed there vnto by necessitie and more then this in the act of Absentes the meere native borne people of Salamina are tearmed to be mortall and naturall enemies vnto their conquerour and all his dominions After this sort did the citizens of Cremona affect the Venetians and the Pisans the Florentines but now to suppresse this distemperature if wee shoulde give vnto them garrisones and Praesidia perpetua nihil isto intollerabilius est saith a learned writer quia tantum abest vt victi vincentium imperijs assuescere condiscant vt non prius a novandis rebus conquiescant quam aut praesidia interemerint aut arces ceperint aut finitimos principes ac populos ad bellum accerserint whereof we neede not search forraine examples when the daily calamities of Salamina doe witnesse the same which happened since the times wherein we gave vnto them praesidia perpetua for how many waies did this people incite the French King hovv oft have they provoked the Pope to invade this lande of Salamina Againe the Emperour and all other Princes and Potentates vvhat fortes and holdes have they not taken and how many of our garrisons have they most cruelly slaine and murdered the same in the several actes of Attainder of Shane Oneile Garralde Fitz Garralde Iames of Desmond and by severall other recordes may appeare at large Neither doth this forme of governement drawe with it a perpetuall discontentment onelie but also an infinite and continuall charge in maintaining these severall garrisons as well to the Prince as to the subiect for so in the act of subsidie and other recordes it may appeare Neither be these all the discommodities that perpetual garrisons drawe with them for these notwithstanding we have beene forced to send at sundry times armies roiall to suppresse disorders and rebellions as the same more at large may appeare in the act of restraining of tributes so as wee may conclude that where colonies are not strongly and faithfully deducted there the ende of the first warres is but a beginning of the second more daungerous then the first the vvhich maie appeare by the recordes of Salamina for no sooner were the people or sects called Omores Odempseis Oconores and others expelled by great forces and strengthes to our great charges out of the severall countries of Liece Slâ—wmarge Irry Glimnaliry and Offaile but eftsones for that we deducted not colonies they traiterouslie entered the said countries by force and long detained the same vntill they were with greater forces expelled all which more at large may appeare in the act made for the deviding of countries into shiere groundes so as we may conclude that it is not for wise Princes to persevere in that course of governement which doth nourish as it were a perpetuall interest in troubles charges and expenses for the which causes chiefely did the Venetians willingly abandon the governement of Bybienna and Pisa and wee of Athens Salamina the which did chiefely arise vnto vs for that in steede of planting of colonies we placed garrisons Now then if we be willing to cast of our former and manifolde troubles if we be desirous to dismisse our selves of these infinite and perpetuall charges and lastly if we indevour to be strong against the invaders and such as shall contend to occupie Salamina by force let vs loose no opportunity of deducting of colonies for they be deducted and maintained with small or no charges with no great offence but onely to such whose landes and houses they possesse the which remaine for the most part pacified in that they enioy their life which stoode in the handes of the Prince as vvell as their landes to dispose for their offences and if they should remaine discontented for that having respect to the whole kingdome they be but a handfull and also dispersed and poore they may never be able to hurt or disturbe the state all others which finde themselves free from their losses shall rest pacified partely fearing least they commit any thing rashly or foolishly and partly doubting least the like befalleth them as to those which remaine spoyled for their offences Againe being thus deducted with small
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
such like which Caesar chalengeth over the meaner people if the great and large countries which Caesar possesseth we shall part and dismember by drawing in the custome of Gavelkinde by the whch pollicie Wales was sometimes reformed and brought in subiection then Caesar shall be no more able to rebell and we shall rightly manage the state of Salamina Sol Doe you thinke that the statute against Coiney and Livery is a sufficient barre against the Lordes and cheiftaines that they raise not theÌ„selves vnto their former greatnesse Epi No verily for nowe they chalenge those exactions as lawfull services and reservations by the way of tenier heretofore reserved by their auÌ„cestors predecessors by these meanes holde the subiect in servage or otherwise they drive them to particular shiftes vvhich are tedious infinite and troublesome to the state and the vtter vndoing of the subiect all which may well be appeased by way of composition betwixt the Lordes and tenantes and the better to enable vs to make an equall composition herein we are to vnderstande that these demaundes are of three sortes and kindes The one received his beginning by vnlawfull meanes namely by force and by violence these are commonly called by the names of blacke rentes such were the exactions which the Obrians sometimes levied vpon the inhabitaunce of the countrie of Limbricke Other demaundes there be which did growe by way of giving protection and defence from such as founde themselves oppressed with the power and might of others such exactions sometimes have beene yeelded by the inhabitants of the small countrie of Limbricke vnto the auncestors of the nowe Earle of Kildare and such did Mac Morris sometimes yeelde vnto the late Earle of Desmond attainted Lastly other demaundes there be vvhich did growe by the way of tenier these may easily bee discerned from the others in that they be due vnto the Lorde onely from the handes of his proper tenantes or freehoulders and the same commonly shall appeare to be so by vvriting or indenture Sol You have vvell disclosed the meanes whereby the greatnesse of the nobility and chiefetaines may be abated and the people defended from the oppression of the mighty in times peaceable wherein lawe and iustice doeth prevaile It seemeth also that it is a matter of like necessitie that the good subiect bee defended from the oppression of the enemie or rebell for the naturall subiectes of Rome revolted vnto Hanniball when as they found them selves not defended from his oppression Epi We must with Fabius providently from time to time sende aide sufficient to such as are our subiectes and friendes vvhereby we shall still holde and keepe them in obedience and subiection Sol If this course had generally beene holden by some governours of Salamina the rebellions had neither beene great neither yet of long continuaunce therefore wisely it is saide Qui non defendit nec obsistit si potest iniuriae tam est in vitio quà m si parentes aut patriam aut socios deserat and after this manner speaketh a christian Doctor saying Fortitudo quae per bella tuetur â Barbaris patriam vel defendit infirmos vel â latronibus socios plena iusticia est By which course of governement the Romaines almost conquered the vvhole vvorlde as Cicero witnesseth saying Noster populus socijs defenâ—endis terrarum iam omnium potitus est Epi It seemeth also to bee a matter of like necessity that the governours of Salamina doe vvith all care and indevour confirme the mindes of the subiectes by having a due regarde of their merites and services towardes the state least otherwise when no estimation is had of their merites and publique services they take occasion thereby of discontentment For the slender care estimation the French sometimes helde of the publicke merites of such as had well deserved gave the first occasion of their expelling out of Italy for so much doe their Cronicles and histories witnesse where it is saide that the nobility were not imbraced vvith that humanity they looked for and much lesse had recompenses equall to their merites yea they found manie difficulties to enter into the chambers and audience of the king There was no distinction of persons the merites and services of men vvere not considered but at adventure the mindes of such as were naturally estraunged from the house of Arragon vvere not confirmed many delaies and difficulties were suborned touching the restitution of the landes and goods of those that vvere of the faction of Aniow and of the other Barrons that had beene banished by the olde Ferdinando And lastly favoures and graces were imparted to such as procured them by corruption and meanes extraordinary not to such as had deserved the same Wisely therefore shall the governoures of Salamina confirme the mindes of such as are estranged from the house of Arragon and countenaunce such as were banished by Ferdinando and lastlie if they shall imparte favoures and graces to such as have deserved the same according to the advise of Plinie which saith Tu largiere bellorum socijs periculorum consortibus CAP. 7. The occasions of declining which vsually arise vnto the state by the disorders and oppression of the souldier EPI Noe lesse occasion is offered of declining when by the oppression of the souldier the people remaine discontented Sol You saie truely for the disorder and violence of the souldiers draweth with it a suspition of perpetual servitude which caused the Italians to abandon the power of the French for that they committed many disorders and offered violence vnto the people so as that loue that desire that affection wherewith they honoured them before had now taken contrary qualitie and not only turned into hatred conspiracie and accursings against them but also in the place of the malice they bare to the Arragons there was new insinuation of compassion to Ferdinando in such sorte as all the kingdome vvith no lesse desire expected an opportunity to repeale the Arragons then a fevve monethes before they had desired their destruction Sol The same historie doeth witnesse the like in sundry other places saying that garrisons governed vvith a desire to spoile and pray be the authoures of great discontentment yet some there be carried with a contrary opinion which give liberty vnto the souldiers to oppresse and spoile the people following the counsell of Severus Imperator which sometimes he gave vnto his children saying Inter vos consentite milites vitate reliquos omnes spernite Epi This counsell of Severus Imperator no Prince maie safelie put in practise but such as have a collected power and force into the strength of one entire armie vvhich shall farre exceede the force and strength of the people as the Sulthan the Turke and such like kingdomes which hath of footemen twelue thousande in number and sixteene of horsemen for the garde of his person These kingdomes and such like shall more wisely favour and enrich rather the souldier then the people But such
or no discontentment and maintained with far lesse charge they bee founde also more faithfull and stoute defendours of the confines of the country then garrisons and therefore it is saide by a man of great vnderstanding Si reges nostri capto Ludovico 12. rege Insubriae Colonias eo misissent vt quondam Celtarum reges fecisse dicuntur Insubria a Francorum ditione ac potestate non tam facile defecisset nec vero Hispani praesidijs militaribus nulla Colonia deducta perpetuum eius regionis imperium tuebuntur sed ab imperio subditi arrepta occasione desciscant oportet non aliter quam Belgae quos iam pridem colonijs Hispanorum ad imperium retinendum coniungi necesse fuisset quoniam nec vlla vis diuturna esse potest pessimus diuturnitatis custos est metus in like manner Salamina notvvithstanding the strength of garrisons doth daily take all occasions of declining but in former times after colonies were deducted then Salamina continued for many ages in their obedience in such sorte as none durst beare vppe heade but lived as vassals and obedient people vntill partly by the iniquity of the times partly by our domesticall factions and lastly by a negligence and security then found in these colonies they were overthrowne and expelled by the native borne people of that lande all which in the act of attainder of Shane Oneile more at large may appeare as also in the statutes of Absentes Sol Nowe sith the necessity of colonies doeth manifestly appeare by vnfallible proofes and examples let vs proceede vnto the profite and benefite that grovveth thereby Epi The benefites that hereby arise to the common-weale are sundry and diverse first the people poore and seditions vvhich were a burden to the common-weale are drawen forth vvhereby the matter of sedition is remooved out of the Cittie and for this cause it is said that Pericles sent into the country of Cherronesus a thousand free men of his Cittie there to dwell and to devide the landes amongst them five hundreth also into the I le of Naxus into the I le of Andros others some he sent to inhabite Thracia and others to dwell with the Bisaltes as well thereby to ridde the Cittie of a number of idle persons who thorough idlenes began to be curious and to desire chaunge of thinges as also to provide for the necessity of the poore towns-men that had nothing which being naturall Citizens of Athens served as garrisons to keepe vnder those which had a desire to rebell or to attempt any alterateration or change secondly by translating of colonies the people conquered are drawen and intised by little and little to embrace the manners lawes and governement of the conquerour lastly the colonies being placed and dispersed abroade amongest the people like Beacons doe foretell and disclose all conspiracies and as a garrison also are wont to suppresse the mutinies of such as are desirous of alteration and change and to this effect it is saide in the statute of Absenâ—es that the colonies which were sometimes deducted for the defending of the confines of Salamina then and many ages after abiding in the saide lande did nobly and valiantly defende the same against all enemies whatsoever as also kept the same in such tranquillity good orders as the kings had due subiection of the inhabitance the lawes were well obeyed and of all the revenewes and regalties they were duely aunswered as in any place whatsoever lastly they yeelde a yearely rent profite or service vnto the crovvne for ever for these causes above rehearsed it is saide Romani victis hostibus Colonias deducebant and the French conquering Lombardy did chase out the auncient inhabitants and in their dwelling placed colonies in like manner the Emperour of the Turkes from time to time of Christians whome then he reduced in servitude deduceth colonies so as it is saide that Carolus 5. imperator debellatis Pernanae regionis gentibus eadem quam Turcarum rex in coloniarum translatione ratione vsus est Sol Nowe sith as well the necessity as the profite of deducing colonies doth sufficiently appeare vnto vs let vs proceede vnto the manner and order of translating of colonies as the thirde matter vvoorthy of consultation Epi In the order and manner of deducting collonies certaine rules are to bee observed first that the lands be so devided as strengths by great numbers may be deducted and therefore Duo cuique iugera tributa sunt but not long after Prolatis finibus lege Licinia septem iugera cuique civi assignata legimus the which order was observed by the Romaines But otherwise the Emperour of the Turkes iugera quindecim cuique attribuit The Romaines laboured to deduct colonies by great numbers especially out of the confines of Italy to the ende that by the proper strength and forces of colonies they might easilie defende the confines of their dominions and suppresse al such as were founde desirous of innovation Secondly we are to plant and place our colonies in the most rich and fruitfull landes Vt in eo civibus numero auctis alimenta suppetant potentiaque auctae huiusmodi novae vrbes omnem internam vim propulsare atque etiam opprimere queant Thirdly such as are to be deducted in the number of colonies we shall wisely make them but proprietaries of the landes during life onely Vt fructuarij occasu fructus in aerarium cogerentur quoad principis beneficio alius succederet quemadmodum Amurates cum Timariolis egit by vvhich constitution three matters beneficiall to the weale publicke shall arise first opportunity shall be lent from time to time to recompence servitours by these casuall profites that shall arise without imposing any newe charge vpon the common-weale secondly by the death of this tenaunt for life the profites thereof growe vnto the prince vntill the landes be newly disposed by him thirdly the prince or state being to dispose these landes at his or their pleasure shall with this rewarde binde the proprietarie of the lande during life in all services to be loyall and faithfull lastly by holding this course sundrie inconveniences shall be eschewed which vsually followe such as graunte these landes in perpetuity for in such cases they have beene founde in Salamina especially after two or three descentes to inter-marry and foster with the meere native people and by that occasion decline sometimes from their obedience at other times they are founde to make leases of their landes or to make a grant over of their estates vnto such as are not well affected vnto the governement to the overthrowe of themselves and common-weale as it may appeare in the statute of Absentes where it is saide that the colonies being possessed of their landes did make leases of diverse of their holdes and manners vnto the late Earle of Kildar attainted by occasion whereof the same came to the possession of Thomas Fitz Garralde his sonne and heire who intending a daungerous rebellion was aided assisted