The LXVIII. ADVERTISEMENT.
A nobly born Laconick Senator, having committed a great fault, the Duke of Laconia thinks it wisdom to pass by it.
YOu have formerly heard, how that the Laconick State is governed by an Elective Prince; and how that the Laconick Senate is repu∣ted and celebrated for the best that is in Parnassus. The Duke of La∣conia to supply the place of a Senator that was deceased, advanced the second Son of the Prince of Mitilene to that so high dignity. And not above a fortnight sithence, this Gentleman, much to the Dukes regrete, committed a fault, which his Highness had severely punished in other Senators; and he seeming not to take notice of it, many of his Sena∣tors were troubled at it, and advised him to use the same punishment for the same fault. To which the Duke answered, That the same punish∣ments were not to be inflicted for the same faults, where there was a di∣sparity in the Personages; and that God, whose will it was that no sub∣lunary thing should be without somewhat of amiss, had so ordained it, as that the finest Currel should not be without its rubbish; and that in so famous a Senat as was that of the Laconicks, eminent Personages added much to the Splendor of it, and were oft times of great assistance to the State upon urgent emergencies. But that this advantage was counterpoised by a notable allay, that such persons were not so easily go∣verned, nor held in as others, over whom the whole power of command, and absolute authority of the Law being to be exercised, they were not of the same reputation, nor advantage to Elective Princes, as were Se∣nators highly descended; and that the Sythe of equal Justice did for∣tunately fell grass of an equal height; but that the wary Mower, who spyed a great shrub amongst lesser grass, hoisted his Sythe, lest he might break it, or blunt the edge thereof, a piece of wisdom whereby elective Princes, whose prerogative it was to chuse Senators, were taught not to promote Personages of extraordinary birth to that degree, unless they do formerly resolve to bear with many things in them, which they would severely punish in ordinary subjects.