CHAP. XXXIX. Of those that have used too much cruelty to wards their subjects in Taxes and Exactions.
IT is clear then by these foresaid assumptions, that a King may not impose upon his Subjects unmeasurable taxes and subsidies, least he make himselfe guilty of extortion, the root and fountain many times of many great mischiefes and inconveniences, and in very deed from whence oftner changes, seditions, and ruines of Common-wealths have proceeded, than from any other cause beside.
What hapned to Roboam King of Israel, for shewing himselfe too rigo∣rous on this behalfe to his subjects, but the defection of the greater part of his Kingdom from him; for being come to the Crowne after the death of his father Solomon, when the people came and made a supplication to him, to be eased from his fathers burdens, he (despising the counsell of his sage and antient. Counsellours, and following the giddy advice of his young companions) gave them a most sharpe and sowre reply; saying, That if his father had laid an heavy yoak upon them, he would encrease it; and if he had chastised them with rods, he would correct them with scourges; which when they of Israel heard, they revolted from him (all save the two Tribes of Iuda and Benjamin) and stoned to death his Collectours, and chose them another King to rule over them. Thus Roboam was deprived of∣ten parts of his Kingdom thorow his owne unadvised tyranny, and fled all amazed unto Jerusalem, where he lived all his dayes without recovery of the same.
Achaeus King of Lydia was hanged up against a hill, and his head throwne into a River running by, because of the great subsidies which he exacted of his people.
Dionysius, the first of that name, a notorious and renowned Tyran, not onely in regard of his exceeding cruelty, but also of his unjust rackings and exactions, was so violent in that practise of doing wrong, that alboit he well knew the griefes and vexations of the people, that ceased not to complain and lament their case continually, yet he diminished not their burdens, but multiplied them more and more, and sucked and gnew out all that ever he could, untill he left them naked, empty, and despoiled: To conclude, this grand theefe, that durst not trust his wife nor owne daugh∣ters, after he had been discomfited by the Carthaginians, was slain by his servants.
Of the Roman Emperours that most vexed the Commonalty with tri∣bures