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

CAP. 4. The severall occasions and causes of all declinations, and first of occasions malitiously suggested.

SOL:

There remaineth nowe that we doe proceede vnto the occasions and causes of all declinations, which is the fifte matter remembred by you worthy of consideration.

Epi:

You have well put me in remembrance thereof. For as the declination of our natural bodies ariseth chiefely either from occasions, as rest, labour, heate, colde, hunger, thirst, superfluity, abundance, or from the malice or distemperature of the disease or sickenes it selfe: so the declination of this polliticke bodie groweth partely by occa∣sions, and partely from the malice and corruption of the subiect, as from the vnnatural distemperature of that body.

Sol:

The truthe of your opinion neither wanteth proofe nor example: for in the declination of the common-weale of Rome, in the times and regi∣ment of Tarquine, we may behold first a generall distemperature bred in the body of that cōmon-weale by his misgovernment, so as the people and Senatours did expect nothing more then a fitte occasion to execute the same. And if the deflowring of Lucre∣tia had not happened, yet noe doubt this distemperature and ma∣lice of the subiect would have attended other occasions, as they should conveniently have offered themselves. But if this malice and distemperature had not proceeded with the occasion, or if the occasiō had not accompanied this distemperature, no doubt Bru∣tus and Collatinus would have desired the iust punishment of this offence, rather at the hands of Tarquine, then by the aide & helpe of the people.

Ep:

Therefore wisely saith one, sine occasione fru∣stra virtus, sine virtute frustra occasio sese obtulit. For in vaine shall oc∣casions profer themselves, where they finde not the malice of the subiect ready to rescue and assist them. And in vaine likewise shall the malice of the subiect swel and overflow his bounds, when all occasions shall be removed, which are in place of the feete and

legs that support this distemperature.

So:

To disclose therefore the chiefe & principal occasions, which may further and nourish any way the distemperature of this polliticke body, seemeth a matter not vnworthy of deliberation.

Epi:

Nay it is a matter rather which should possesse the highest thoughts of the minde & vnderstāding of Princes and Emperours.

Sol:

Let vs proceede to enumber them if we may, and set them downe vnder the accompt of matters ne∣cessarie for the better sustaining and vpholding of this polliticke body.

Ep:

Occasions are vsually after two sortes: either given; or malitiously sought and suggested.

Sol:

You have saide the truth: for when Darius preferred Daniell above all the other rulers and governours, because the spirit in him was excellent, they sought an occasion against Daniell, concerning the kingdome, but they coulde finde no fault, and therefore it is saide, we may finde no oc∣casion against Daniell, except we finde it against him concerning the lawe of God: whereupon the rulers craftely conspired to go vnto the king, and after this maner to advance their malice they spake vnto him, king Darius live for ever: all the rulers of thy kingdome, the officers and governours, the counsellers and dukes have consulted togither to make a decree for the king, and to establish a statute, that whosoever shall aske a petition of any God or man for thirty daies save of thee O king, he shall be cast in∣to the denne of Lions. Nowe O king confirme the decree, and seale the writing that it be not chaunged according to the lawe of the Medes and Persians which altereth not. This request fee∣ding the ambition of king Darius, was eftsoones sealed by him, & he made a law and decree. Then these men assembled and found Daniell praying and making supplication vnto his God. The which eftsoones they embraced as a fit occasion lente for the de∣stroying of Daniell, and repayring to the king, saide vnto him after this manner, hast thou not sealed the decree that every man that shall make request to any God or man within thirty daies save to thee O king shall be cast into the denne of Lyons? the king an∣swered and saide, the thing is true according to the lawe of the Medes, and Persians, which altereth not. Then aunswered they and saide vnto the king; this Daniell which is of the children of the

captivity of Iudah, regardeth not thee O king, nor the decree that thou hast sealed, but maketh his petition three times a day. But vnderstande O king, that the lawe of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree or statute which the king confirmeth, may be altered or broken. Then forthwith by the kings com∣mandement, Daniell was cast into the Lyons denne. This one ex∣ample may suffice for occasions malitiously suggested.