CHAP. XXXVIII.
SHal Philip be cōstrained to performe his word vnto thee, because he hath promised thee, although he ought not to do that, though he iniury another man, though he cōmit a hainous crime, although by this one act of his, he locketh vp the hauens, and shutteth vp theports against those that are shipwrackt? It is no point either of lightnesse or inconstancie, for a man to forsake a knowne and condemned er∣rour. And a man ought ingeniously to confesse and say, I thought otherwise, I am deceiued. But this is a perseuerance in an arrogant foolishnesse to say, That which I haue spoken once, whatsoeuer it bee, I will abide by it, and make good my word. It is no shame to change a mans opinion, when the businesse is chan∣ged. Go to, if Philip had left him in possession of these demeasnes, and that sea-coast which he had gotten by his shipwracke, had he not barred all misera∣ble men from reliefe? It is better (saith he) that thou shouldest carry throughout my kingdome these letters ingrauen in thy most shamelesse forehead, more worthy to be written in thine eyes. Shew thou in thy punishment, how sacred a thing the table of hospitalitie is. Let all the world reade this my law, enregi∣stred in thy countenance, by which is decreed, that it is no capitall matter, to entertaine any miserable person into a mans house. So shall this constitu∣tion of mine bee more strongly ratified, then if I had engrauen the same in brasse.