Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

[ 1519] Magistrates, to be impartial in Justice.

SEleucus that impartial Law-giver of the Locrians, made a Law against Adul∣terers,* 1.1 that whosoever should be found guilty thereof, Exocularetur (they are the words of Reverend Bede) should have his eyes put out; It so hapned that his Son proved the first offendor, sentence was pronounced, execution ready to be done;* 1.2 Whereupon the People•• submissis precibus rogitabant, &c. earnestly entreated the Judge his Father that he would pardon the fact; Who, upon serious deliberation, put out one of his own eyes, and one of his Sons, and so shewed himself, pium Patrem, et severum Iudicem, a Godly Father and an up∣right Judge together:* 1.3 Thus it is that Magistrates, like the Earth, should be immoveable, though the Winds should blow at once from all the points of the Compasse; not to favour Friends, nor fear the frowns of enemies, but proceed impartially according to the merits of the cause that is before them, Prov. 18. 5.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In Cham. tom. 2 operum.
• * 1.2

  Par••••re sub∣jectis et debel∣lare superbos Virgil.
• * 1.3

  Jer. Leech Serm. at S. Ma∣ry le Bow. Lond. 1627.