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

CAP. 16. Of the right institution and reformation of a monarchie.

BVT otherwise wee are to institute and reforme a Monarchy, by making there a thorough alteracion and chaunge of aunci∣ent lawes, customes, and governement, yea and of the honours, ti∣tles, and dignities also, not leaving any shadow or resemblaunce in place thereof. For after this manner did king David establish an vniversall reformation. In like manner Lysander, did pull downe the pride of the citie of Athens, and tooke from them the libertie of a popular governement, vvhereby in former times it was ru∣led and governed, and established there sharpe and severe ma∣gistrates. But some others carried with a contrarie disposition of minde, have not attempted a thorough and generall reformation of the common-wealth, but reserved onely vnto themselves a principalitie and commaundement, the which forme of governe∣ment was observed by Sylla; for when he had taken the citie of A∣thens, after the citizens had made fierce warres with him, yet hee

lefte it free vnto them, enioying their owne laws. The same coun∣sell did other of the Romaines followe, as it appeareth by the wordes of Camillus vsed vnto the Senate after he had conquered the Latines: Dij immortales ita vos potentes huius concilij fecerunt, vt sit Latium an non sit, in vestra manu posuerint, si vultis crudelius consulere in deditos victos{que}; sed si vultis exemplo matorum augere rem Romanam vi∣ctos in civitatem accipiendo, materia crescendi per summam gloriam suppe∣tit. It seemeth therefore by the wordes of Camillus, that the Ro∣manes made not at al times a thorough and vniversal reformation of common-weales which they gained by conquest, but embra∣cing rather the counsell of Sylla, reserved onely a prncipalitie and commaundement; for by this meanes, they did easily nourish the ambition which they had in conquering: for such as have a pur∣pose to performe great actes, and to winne fame and glorie, ha∣ving a mighty power to effect the same, they maie safely follow the steppes of Sylla, and other of the Romaines, they may say with Camillus, let vs exemplo maiorum augere rem Romanam victos in civitatem accipiendo, materia crescendi persummam gloriam suppetit: but such as shall contend to make continuance of their conquest, being not of great forces and power, should imitate Lysander, and make a thorough and absolute reformation of the whole com∣mon-weale. For Plutarch erred not, when he saide that Sylla did performe the greater actes, but Lysander committed the few∣er faultes, and did possesse with greater securitie that which he conquered. Phillip of Macedonie, followed the steppes of Lysan∣der, whereby, possessing at the first but a small kingdome, he be∣came in a shorte time a mighty commaunder of all Greece.

Solo:

The Gaules in like manner following the steppes of Lysander, did securely possesse for a long time the partes of Italie, called Longo∣bardia: some others have beene found neither to imitate Sylla, nor Lysander, but have helde a meane course betwixt both, in establi∣shing their governement. Such were the Florentines, which in suppressing the rebellion of the Aretines, did remove some of their principall commaunders from their place and offices, others they bannished, manie they condemned, but they did not resume in∣to their handes the landes, which might have afforded sufficient

maintenaunce vnto their citizens, neither did they destroy the principall citie, but preserved the same; whereby they lost the opportunitie of confirming their empire and governement, and of augmenting their common-weale. This meane course hath never as yet beene founde happy and prosperous: For not throughly con¦quering our enemy, neither by sworde, neither yet by our boun∣tie and liberalitie, vve may not long holde them, either as sub∣iects or friendes. Therefore such as shall contend to be prosperous, and make continuance of their state, and governement, must with the Romaines, so suppresse and sharpely punish the Latines, as at no time they be able to rebell, or with bounty and goodnes so winne the affections of the privernates, as at no time they should be willing to rebell. The meane course in times past hath beene holden for the governement of Salamina by a long space; In which times they were never founde happy and prosperous in their governement.

Sol.

Now sith we have discoursed at large, of the reformation of auncient lawes and customes, and of the helps meanes and other rules therein to bee observed, as the first and principall matter in all reformations absolute and vniversall to be respected, there remaineth now a reformation of manners in the people, as a second matter worthily considered.