Of wisdome three bookes written in French by Peter Charro[n] Doctr of Lawe in Paris. Translated by Samson Lennard

CHAP. LXII. Of riches and pouertie.

THese are the two sources and elements of all discords, * 1.1 troubles, and commotions that are in the world: for the excessiue riches of some do stirre them vp to pride, to delica∣cies, pleasures, disdaine of the poore; to enterprise and at∣tempt: the extreame pouertie of others, prouokes them to enuie, extreame iealousie, furie, despaire, and to attempt for∣tunes. Plato calleth them the plagues of a Common-wealth. But which of the two is the more dangerous, is not thorowly resolued amongst all. According to Aristotle it is abundance, for a State needs not doubt of those that desire but to liue, but of such as are ambitious and rich. According to Plato it is po∣uertie, for desperate poore men are terrible and furious crea∣tures; for wanting either bread or worke to exercise their arts and occupation,s or too excessiuely charged with imposts, they learne that of the mistresse of the schoole Necessitie, which of themselues they neuer durst to haue learned, and they dare because their number is great. But yet there is a better remedie for these than for the rich, and it is an easie matter to hinder this euill; for so long as they haue bread and emploiment to exercise their mysteries, and liue, they will neuer stir. And therefore the rich are to be feared for their owne sakes, their vice and condition: the poore by reason of the imprudencie of gouernours.

Now many Law-makers and great States-men haue gone * 1.2 about to take away these two extreamities, and this great in∣equalitie of goods and fortunes, and to bring in a mediocritie and equalitie, which they called the noursing-mother of peace and amitie; and others likewise haue attempted to make all things common, which could neuer be but by ima∣gination. But besides that, it is impossible to establish an e∣qualitie, by reason of the number of children which increase in one familie, and not in another; and that it can hardly be put in practise, although a man be enforced, and it cost much

to attaine thereunto; it were also inexpedient, and to small purpose, and by another way to fall into the same mischiefe: for there is no hatred more capitall than betwixt equals; the enuie and iealousie of equals is the seminarie of troubles, se∣ditions, and cruell warres. Inequalitie is good, so it be mode∣rate. Harmonie consisteth not of like sounds, but different and well according.

Nihil est aequalitate inaequalius.

This great and deformed inequalitie of goods proceedeth from many causes, especially two: the one is from vniust lones, as vsuries and interests, whereby the one eat the other, and grow fat with the substance of another: qui deuorant ple∣bem sicut escam panis. The other from dispositions, whether amongst the liuing, as alienations, donations, endowments in mariages; or testamentaries by reason of death. By both which meanes some doe excessiuely increase aboue others, who continue poore. The heires of rich men marrie with those that are rich, whereby some houses are dismembred and brought to nothing; and others made rich and exalted. All which inconueniences must be ruled and moderated by auoiding excessiue extremities, and in some sort approching to some mediocritie and reasonable equality: for to haue either entire, is neither possible, nor good nor expedient, as hath beene sayd. And this shall be handled in the ver∣tue of Iustice.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 The causes of troubles.
• * 1.2

  2 Against the equalitie & inequalitie of riches.