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

CAP. 13. Howe a Magistrate of rare and excellent vertues is required in this action of refor∣mation.

EPI:

This action of reformation with sufficient forces, for the better effecting thereof, is to be given into the hands of some man of rare and excellent vertues, by whose constancy and integrity, the envy and malice of the enemy may be quenched. Therefore the Florentines did not a litle erre, which in the times of their difficult warres, helde Antonie Iacomine above all others in greate estimation, for that onely he had taught the Florentine ar∣my, as it were with his finger, to fight, conquer, and commaund: yet in milder times, when as the warres by his industrie were growne easie and placable, they little regarded those his vertues, in such sort, as when three Captaines were propounded to be cho∣sen for the suppressing of the Pisans, he was not accepted to be one of that number; from the which errour this mischiefe did arise vn∣to the Florentines, that the Pisans, which by the industry of Antonie might easily have beene reformed, and forced to have obeyed the Florentines, made eftsoones head against those vnskilful Captaines so strongly, as the Florentines were forced dishonourably to pur∣chase their obedience with money. Againe Phillip of Macedonie, after he had behelde the affaires of the Athenians to be given into the handes of Molosses, Caridemus, and such other vnskilfull Cap∣taines, he conceived a great hope to overcome them. In like man∣ner, the weakenes and facilitie of Collatinus the Consull, did much encourage the traitours, in such sorte, as he had never prevailed against the Tarquines, nor reformed the state of Rome, if the great vertue and severitie of Brutus had not governed at that time the helme and sterne; whereby the courage and boldnes of the traitours, raised by the suffrance and lenitie of Collatinus, as a tempest was suddenly calmed and pacified.

Sol:

Therefore pro∣vident

were the counsel of Athens in committing this actiō of the reformation of Salamina, sometimes into the handes of the L. Gray, sometimes into the handes of Sir William Russell as vnto another Iacomine, by whose rare skill and knowledge in militarie discipline, the Pisans have and will be forced at the last to obey the Floren∣tines. But let vs nowe proceede vnto the forme and manner of al∣tering of auncient lawes and customes, as the second parte and member of your generall division, worthy of consultation.