Solon his follie, or a politique discourse, touching the reformation of common-weales conquered, declined or corrupted. By Richard Beacon ...

CAP. 9. Occasions of declining are then given, when Magistrates placed for reformation of any Countrie or province, are not supported and countenaunced during the time of their go∣vernement.

SOL:

There remaine yet other occasions of the declining of common-weales, worthy of remembraunce.

Epi:

What maie the same be?

Sol:

If Princes, Kings, and States, shall not publikely grace, countenaunce, and support all governoures and Magistrates by them placed for reformation of any province or nation during the time of their governement, the subiects shal take thereby occasion of rebelling. For the Gaules vnderstanding that Rome did conspire to disgrace Caesar, raised themselves forth∣with in armes vnder the leading of Ambiorix, and Vercingentorix, in such sort, as if they had not to hastily proceeded therein, they had put all Italie in as great feare and daunger, as it was sometimes when the Cimbri came to invade their cittie.

Epi:

Wee neede not search forraine examples herein: for Salamina by this errour committed was for many yeares vexed with the rebellions of the Burkes and the Orurkes, vntil that famous knight Sir B. Bingham by his singuler art and skill in military discipline, as an other Caesar, suppressed at the last Ʋercingentorix, and the rebelling Gaules.

Sol:

What governoures were there, that were found so vnskilful in their charge?

Epi:

A late deputie of Salamina, whose name here I passe over with silence, for that I may not say, honoris cau∣sa nomino. But O you governoures, Princes, Kings, and Emperours,

whatsoever, countenaunce all inferiour governoures and magi∣strates placed for the reformation of any nation or province: coun∣tenaunce Pericles, which beholdeth alwaies the Amazon holding his dart with a hande stretched forth even in his face, with whome as with a deadly enemy hee must alwaies be fighting: countenaunce Camillus, which now is placed to reforme and sup∣presse the mutinous citizens, wherein if he fortune to be inferiour for want of your countenaunce and assistaunce, he shall be sup∣pressed, condemned; and banished, or at the least hee must of force surrender his office of Dictator. Countenance Pericles, for otherwise he shall be as one that hath committed incest, he shal be a coward, the author of warres, yea of the plague, and of whatsoe∣ver else, which maie draw with it the hatred of all the citizens of Athens. Countenance Camillus, for there shall be a Lucius Apulius, which malitiously shall accuse him for stealing part of the spoile of the Tuscans: Lastly countenaunce this Magistrate placed for reformation; for with David, he is placed to fight with a beare after a lion, with a Giant after a beare, with a King after a Gi∣ant, and with the Philistians after a King. They must fight with infa∣mie after envye, with accusations after infamy, with condemna∣tion after accusations, with iudgement after condemnation, with imprisonment after iudgement, with banishment after imprison∣ment, for Simul ista mundi conditor posuit Deus, odium atque regnum. But if you shall not countenance them, the Gaules shall rebell a∣gainst Caesar, the citizens shall mutinie, but Camillus shall not be of force to suppresse them; yea this action of reformation shal fall to the ground, and the common-weale it selfe may not long continue.