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ALtho by all laws it be permitted by every one to use all good means to defend him∣self and his rights, yet because that love, which we carry towards every thing that is our own, doth still flatter us so much, that we will have our opinion for the most part to be preferred
before the judgment of all others whatsoever; it often falls out that in this kind we run into many and gross errors. Many good men have set themselves to prevent these Errors; but especially and more accurately those of the Oratory, who, as soon as they understand any persons to disagree, make it their business to find out the cause and the original of the dis∣cord: which being discovered they use all their arguments that may exhort, and in a manner compel the dissenting parties to terms of agree∣ment.
There is in the common-wealth very great use of this kind of perswasion to union, for what is more desirable than the Concord of Subjects, it being the States safest Establish∣ment.
But if the Controversy beget a Law-suit, and come into the Court, and of the two parties contending one be so poor as that he be unable to maintain the Law-suit, he is releived by a Sodality newly erected among the Clarks Re∣gulars of St. Paul in Antoninus his Forum. This Sodality consists of Advocates and Proctors, who meet every Thursday, and there diligently examine the Petitions exhibited unto them con∣taining the cases of such Suits and Controver∣sies. When they find the cause good, they de∣clare it so to the Petitioner, and promise that they will undertake the prosecution thereof in the Court; and they as faithfully perform their promise, defending the cause undertaken most stifly. But if they find it not good, they per∣swade
seriously the party to leave off his Suit which he hath begun.
The like charitable and just defence of causes is undertaken by another and far ancienter Colledge of Proctors of the Court, called the Colledge of St. Eustacius, out of which the poor have their Proctors assigned to follow their causes.
Lastly the Tribunal it self of the sacred Rota, if any one plead Poverty, doth allot him a Proctor and Advocates, and appoint his writings to be drawn up by the Actu∣ary without any fees; least his poverty should make him forsake his cause and so suffer in his Right.