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This maner of reformation is nothing els but a feare to of∣fende, bred in the hearts of the people by the true discipline of lawes, after which manner the Citie of Rome was some∣times reformed per supplicium de Bruti filijs sumptum, poenam Decem∣viris impositam, Spurij Moelij caedes, & similia, post captam vrbem Manlij
Torquatipaenā de filio sumptā, eò quod pugnasset cortra Imperatoris manda∣tum, Fabii Magistri equitū accusationem a Papyrio cursore institutam, eò quòd praeter Dictatoris imperiū pugnam commisisset, Scipioni diē dictā, all which beeing most memorable and feareful examples, did admo∣nishe all others of their duty and obedience vnto lawes and magi∣strates.
Therefore wisely saith a learned writer, In conservandis imperiis regnis{que} faciendum est, vt antiquae leges & consuetudines in vsum reducantur, ex earum praescripto vitia puniantur.
After this maner by a severe discipline of lawes, did the Lorde Gray in times past, and now Sir R. Bingehame, mightily reforme and advance the govern∣ment of Salamina, so as wee may truely say, by such governours must this nation be reformed. By this manner of reformation hath France in times past, mightily advanced their government, and es∣peciallie the Citie of Paris, which alwaies hath most severely pu∣nished offendours.
But what order of times in this reformati∣on made by profitable lawes and discipline thereof is rightly ob∣served?
This manner of reformation is made after two sorts: either by lawes limiting the times certaine for this reformation; or accidentally thereunto led and provoked by occasions: for so the Citie of Rome after the overthrowe given by the power of the Gaules did reforme their common-weale and all discorders for∣merly by them committed. The Athenians also after the Megari∣ans had recovered from them the Ile of Salamina, and the haven of Nicoea, reformed that common-weale. And not long after the sedi¦tion betwixt the people of the mountaines, the valleies, and sea coasts, did occasion a generall reformation to be made of our Citie and common-weale of Athens. Againe, the Romaines to give an ende of many contentions raised betwixt the senators & people, sent Sp: Posth: Albus, A. Manlius, and Sulpitius Gamerinus, as legates vnto Athens, that they might the better be enformed of the laws which you Solon had established for the reformation of Athens, that thereby as by a line, they might the better reforme the Citie of Rome; and further made choice of their Decemviri to perfit this their intended reformation by profitable lawes.
Now you have declared to vs the reformation which is made accidentally: there remaineth nowe the other reformation, which is made by
force of laws & at times certaine, wherin I would willingly vnder∣stand the reason, that should limit the times certaine of our refor∣mation, and that by lawes certaine in that behalfe established, fith the accidents, and occurrants in al common-weales, which doe oc∣casion this reformation made by profitable laws, be in themselves vncertaine, and accidentall.
This manner of reformation made of particular accidentes at times certaine, and that also by lawes and statutes certaine, established in that behalfe, is founde more profitable then the other which is made accidentally. For lawes are required herein, Ne opus sit per vim peregrinam idem prae∣stare, and time herein is also to be respected, ne si impunitas longo tem∣pore cōcedatur, vs{que} adeò augeātur vitia, vt sine periculo publico deinde nec puniri nec extirpari queant; and for these causes especially, the rulers and governours of Florence were accustomed to say, Singulis quin∣quennijs redintegrare formam reip: oportere, otherwise the discipline of law may not be wel preserved. And therfore it is said, that if Roome, singulis decennijs, secundùm leges, aliquod magnum exemplum in de∣linquentes statuissent, nunquam tanta morum corruptela potuisset civium animos occupare; sed quia tandem rara esse caepit, aucta est tantopere mo∣rum corruptela, vt remedium nullum adhiberi potuerit. In like maner may we truely say, that so great a corruption could never have pos∣sessed the mindes of the people of Salamina, if there the exact dis∣c••ipline of lawes had in good time beene applied.
Now sith you have declared at large the order and time, which is rightly ob∣served in this manner of reformation, proceede vnto the dangers and difficulties, which do vsually accompany the same.