The image of gouernance compiled of the actes and sentences notable, of the moste noble Emperour Alexander Seuerus, late translated out of Greke into Englyshe, by syr Thomas Eliot knight, in the fauour of nobylitie

¶Howe Sextilius herynge that he was made Pretor, fled: And what the Emperour sayde concernyng that matter. Cap. xxxv.

AFTER THAT it was declared vnto the Senate, that the Emperour had chosen Sextilius Rufus to be a Se∣natour, and what he had sayde on his behalfe, they all reioiced in the Empe∣rours wysedome and iudgement, and at his nexte commynge into the senate they all dyd a∣ryse and gaue thankes vnto hym, for bryngynge into that college suche a man as Sextilius was. Sone af∣ter Sextilius beinge sent for by the Emperours most gentyl letters, came into the senate, and as his lerning and honeste maners required, was beloued and com∣mended of all men excepte very fewe, whom enuy and priuate displeasure contynuallye fretyd: whiche the wise emperour perceyuinge, to the intent as well that the vertues of Sextilius shulde be more knowen, and also be increaced by his comfortable assistence, as also

to manyfeste to the comforte of other, howe moche he was inflamed in the fauour of vertue and doctryne, he caused Sextilius to be chosen Pretor, whiche than was the highest office next to the emperour, in the mi∣nistration of Iustice. Therof herynge Sextilius, he beinge therat abasshed and meruaylouse sorowefull, priuilie withdrue hym selfe out of the citie: & not ma∣kynge longe abode at his owne house, in a straunge habite, hauynge but one man with hym, wente vnto Athenes, determynynge to passe his time there in stu∣dy, vntyll the fame of hym were somewhat decreaced. and an other chosen vnto that office. Of this the ad∣uersaries of Sextilius gathered noo lyttell occasyon, not onely to pursewe hym•• with mockes and derisyon, but also to accuse hym vnto the emperour of dysobe∣dience and obstinacy contrary to his allegiaunce, and ••lso to blame hym for his departure, without askyng ••••eenes. All these accusations the Emperour herde withoute beinge any thynge meued agaynste Sexti∣lius, and at the laste beholdynge the accusers with a dyspleasant countenance, he saide vnto them as here∣after foloweth.

¶Howe dare ye, thus presumptuousely assaulte oure pacience with your false accusations? Or how may ye for shame poure out your malice thus in our presence? What giueth you boldnesse to be thus malapert in at∣tempting our reason with your enuious persuasions? Thynke ye vs to be so dull and grosse witted, that we can not perceyue your cōspiracies? or so deafe, that we can not here your false rumours, which ye haue sprad of Se••tilius? or so blynde, that we see not your can∣kred affections and passions sparklyng in your eyes,

inflamyng your vysage, blastyng out with your wor∣des, whiche for angre and haste, be so set out of•• order, that in them do appere your detestable foly. I tell you, Sextilius by this his departyng, hath nothing offen∣ded vs, or mynished the opinion that we haue had of hym, but hath augmented it, and right wel contented vs. For if enuy and malice hath not made you forget: full, ye may remembre, that whan we chase hym to be a senatour, one thyng wherin we cōmended hym was, that he neglected to be rich, or to aspire to authoritie, se ye not howe he hath confirmed my sayung, and that I spake it not for special affection? he hath not onely ne∣glected authoritie, but that more is, he is fledde from it, whan it came towarde hym. Whan we sent for him, he came vnto vs, and beinge appoynted to be a sena∣tour, he dyd obeye vs, and gladly applyed his studye and counsaile therto pertainyng: onely hering that he was chosen Pretor, before that he had mon••tion ther∣of, he fledde, as if he had ben pursued with such force, as he had not ben able to stryue with, fearynge (as I sayde, whan I praysed him) the daungerous and vn∣thankfull labours, whiche he supposed to be in suche offices. And whither or to whome is he fled? not to the Persians, not to the people of Barbary, or other our ennemyes: but he is peasibly gone vnto Athenes, whi∣che citie next vnto Rome we moste fauour. And there in a priuate habite, he lyueth in studye, in that exercyse whiche he supposeth that he can better susteyne, than the gouernance of a weale publyke. But not withstan¦dyng, shal we herefore reiect hym & iudge him vnwor∣thy to be called to authoritie? Nay, than were we ylle aduysed, and mought be noted varyable in our opy∣nyon,

sens we iudged hym ones hable for neglectyng therof, we now deme hym more hable for the refusyng: ••e we wyll be therfore more slacke in the offrynge. ye we alsoo wylle therto gentylly require hym. For true∣ly authoritie ought to be gyuen to suche as careth leste for it, & kept from them, whyche prease fastest toward it. For he that desyreth, wold haue it for his only com∣moditie: he that loketh not for it, consydreth that he is chosen for others necessitie. Therfore howe dyuers is their mynistration, it euer appereth, where as bothe hapneth. Leaue your vayne enterprise, to bryng vs in dyspleasure with hym, who is worthye more honour than we can gyue hym, and by his lawdable flyghte hath vanquished your enuy, & to your great reproche hath publyshed your foly. We therfore command you to auoyde out of our presence, and that we see you not, vntyll we calle for you.