CHAP. VIII.
A Man may receiue a benefit vnwittingly, but no man doth good without knowing of the same: Euen as many men haue been hea∣led of their infirmities, by some casuall accident, and yet for all that they are no true remedies: As some men haue recouered their health by falling into a Riuer in an exceeding cold day: As a quartaine ague hath beene driuen from some men by whipping, and a sodaine fright hath dis∣appointed the exspected houre of an ague, by fixing the imagination on an o∣ther distastfull euill, and yet none of these, although they haue beene the cause of recouerie, can be said but to bee a soueraigne remedie, so some men profit vs while they would not, or rather because they will not doe vs good, yet are wee not indebted to them for the benefit. What if fortune hath altered their per∣nicious counsailes, and drawen them to a better end? Supposest thou that I am any waies bound vnto him, whose hands striking at me, light vpon and hit mine enemie: who would haue hurt me, except hee had swarued? Oft-times a wit∣nesse whilest hee manifestly forsweareth himselfe, hath detracted from their credit who were true witnesses, and hath made the Iudges to commiserate the prisoner, supposing that it was but some slanderous circumuention and conspi∣racie. Oft-times the very great power and authoritie of the aduersarie, hath de∣liuered the delinquent out of the Iudges hands, who would not condemne him vpon the credit and fauour of the accuser, which otherwaies they had conuicted by the iustice of the cause. Yet did not these giue a benefit, although they pro∣fited, for the question is, whereat the dart was aimed, not where it lighted, and it is the minde, and not the euent, which distinguisheth a benefit from an iniu∣rie. Mine aduersarie, while••t he speaketh contraries, and offendeth the iudge by his pride, and rashly dismisseth one of his best witnesses, giueth great aduantage to my cause. I aske not whither he erred to pleasure mee, because his intention was to hurt me.