Politeuphuia VVits common wealth.

Of Accusation.

Defi. Accusation is the attaindure or challenge of any partie in a doubtfull matter, and may be imployed, both in the good and euill part, sometimes proceeding from an honest passi∣onate zeale, and sometimes from the defects of further malice.

HE that accuseth another, must looke that hee be not guiltie of the same fault him∣selfe.

Spyes and accusars, are necessary euills in a Common-wealth.

Persit vertue, terrifieth an accuser, indiffe∣rent vertue whets him on.

VVhosoeuer presently giues credite to ac∣cusations, is eyther wicked himselfe, or very childish in discretion.

Things growne full, grow out of frame, and accusation beeing at the highest, eyther re∣steth, or declineth.

Great accusations haue hard beginnings, both through theyr owne debates, and theyr inuentors.

In states that are accused of greatnes, father and sonne, are neuer a like fortunate.

If greatnesse could keepe vvhat it gettes, it should neuer be accused of infortunes.

VVe accuse nature of prodigality, to spend in one age what should serue for two.

VVee oppose accusations against Fortune, least she should burst with presumption.

Other mens sinnes accuse our consciences of frailety.

Too many Kings, breed factions in a coun∣trey; and great members accuse weak heads.

Ambitious men raisde once to dignity, ac∣cuse afterward all other estates of insufficien∣cie.

Courts are neuer barren of accusations, nor accusers of eares, euen the eares of the grea∣test.

Flattery, the nurse of vice, is the mother of false accusation, but zeale, of iust appeales.

Youthfull counsaile, priuate gaine, and par∣tiall hate, accuse kingdoms of short continu∣ance.

VVarres pretending publique good done for spight, vvorke most iniustice; for they

bend theyr accusations against the mightiest persons.

Kings, because they can doe most, are in ac∣cusation the worst, though they runne into ills by compulsion.

Great men too much gra••st, vse rigor, and accuse humility of dulnes▪

Minions too great in power, accuse Kings too weake to rule.

Hee that accuseth himselfe, is a iust man. Chrisostom.

Good must not be drawne from Kings by force, nor accusation by threats.

Fooles weepe when great men are accused, as pittying the fall of honor.

Hee that accuseth himselfe, and afterwards aunswereth not, tempteth God. August.

Generall calamity, accuseth Princes of ge∣nerall imbecility.

It is danger to accuse a wicked man. Demo.

VVhen great men are accused & condem∣ned, guiltie vassailes are hopelesse and des∣perate.

No man may bee both the accuser and iudge. Plut.

Princes indangered, seeke theyr peace by any meane, & priuate persons iniured, seeke reuenge many times by false accusation.

The greatest wrongs that euer vvere effec∣ted, were then performed, when Princes fea∣red to fall by surmize, or accusation.

The accused is not guilty, vntill he be con∣uicted. Lactan.

Leontius the Emperour, after hee had put Iustinian to flight, caused two of his tale-bea∣rers to be burned.

Ex defendendo, quam ex accusando, vberior gloria comparatur.

Accusator nocere, monitor prodesse reprehen∣dendo studet.