Bel-vedére, or, The Garden of the muses

Of Treason, &c.

Treason is hated both of God and men, As such a sinne, as none can greater be.

TReason hath no place where obedience is. Rebellion doth bewray corrupted nature. There is no treason woundeth halfe so deepe▪ As that which doth in prince•• bosoms sleepe. Rebellion springs of too much head strong will. The rebell shrinkes, where rule and order swayes. Kings pallaces stand open to let in The ••oothing traitour, and the guide to sinne. In darknesse dwels the blind rebellious mind. Traitours are loath'd, and yet their treason lou'd. They that gainst s••ates and kingdomes doe coniure, Their head-long ruine none can well recure. Treason first workes ere traitors are e••pied. Most bitter-sower doth foule rebellion taste. Bet me 'tis good to let the traitour die. ••o sparing ••ustice fee ••s iniquitie. All filthie floods flow from rebellions brinks. No vertue merits praise with treason toucht.

No worthy mind by treason will assaile, When as he knowes h•• valour can preuaile. A factious Lord s••ld benefits him-selfe. Who builds in blood and treason, builds vnsure. A troubled streame of puddle mixt with mi••e, Doth quench the thirst of rebels h••e desire. Men in seditions nour••'d, in factions liue. Shame, is the rightfull end of treache••••e. It's madnesse to giue way to treacherie, Without due vengeance to such iniurie. In carelesse trust is treason soonest found. Reuolted subiects, of them-selues will quaile. No greater spight, than basely be betra••ed By such a one whome thou before hast made. Reuolt's a mischiefe, euer-more pernitious. Who nill be subiects, shall be slaues at length. Conuerse with treachers, looke for treacheri••: Who deales with bad man, must haue iniurie. Conflict with traitors is most perillous. A traitor once, ne're trusted afterward. They that doe couet deadly to betray, By sweetest meanes first practise to entrap. No place is ••ase enough for any traitour. Time is the touch that treacherous minds doth try. Nothing auailes, strong bulwa••kes, sence or towers: When treacherous foes all inward strength de••ou ••s. Traitours are subiect to continuall feare. Traitours, like vipers, gnaw their countries bones.

Similies on the same subiect.

AS Iuie kills the tree embracing it, ••o traitours murder with their smoothest lookes. As euill sauours doe corrupt the aire, So treachers doe pollute a common-weale.

As in faire weather greatest stormes arise, So in mild seasons, treason is most bold. As braunches too much loden quickly breake, So traitors too farre trusted, doe most harme. As too much rankenesse bends the stalkes of corne▪ So too much mildnesse whets the traitor on. As hawkes are lost by soaring ouer-high, So traitours perish in their chiefest hopes.

Examples likewise on the same.

THey that slew Caesar in the Senate-house, Perisht like traitours, neuer prospered. The traitours that great ••ompey did betray, With death did Caesar iustly guerdon them. Sylla to her owne father proou'd vntrue, And therefore felt desert accordingly. Lyciscus rotted aliue aboue the ground For his vile treason to th'Orcmenians. Th'Athenians would let none be buried, That had been traitours to the countrey. Tullie saith: Wise men not at any time Will trust a traitour or a faithlesse man.