Nevves from Malta written by a gentleman of that iland, to a friend of his in Fraunce. Shewing the desperate assault and surprising of two castles of the Turkes, by the Italians forces, vpon the eight day of September last past. Translated according to the Italian copie.

¶ Simon approoueth their great Fees and charges as things ment to be a reward and nurishment of Knowledge, lear••ing and Vertue, and punishment of vngodlines and vice, and therfore true and iust. Chap. 4.

FIrst I think yée will graunt (quoth h••e) that Maiestrates and Officers are the Deputies and Liuetenaunts of GOD héerin Earth, high and honorable, for that they are ••n very déed the hand and mouth of the Lawe, and in fewe and plain woords the speaking a••d woor∣king Law, for by them the law commandeth and forbiddeth So that their end and purpose is that God may be honored and glorified, good and godly People cherished, shor••ly that peace and concord may be maintained. I graunt you all this (quoth Pierce) you will graunt (quoth hée) that she way and meane to woork all these things is to punish and chastice the wicked and the vngodly, and to giue as little fauour vnto sinne as is possible, that is very true also (quoth Pie••ce) Yée will graunt (quoth our Hoste) that the wayes and meanes to

punish sinnes and wickednes are diuers, according to the qua¦litie of the offence, as some by death, some by other punnish∣ment of the body greater or smaller. And that there is also a pecuniall punishment by the pursse, as by fine and ransome, and such like. I graunt you all this (quoth Pierce). You will graunt me also (quoth hée) that all punishments are gréeuous vnto the sufferers therof, neither are or ought to be pleasant vnto the dooers and executors. That is very true also quoth Pierce, except they be wicked persons both the sufferer and the executor. Then quoth our Hoste, séeing all punishments are fearfull and gréeuous vnto the sufferer therof, & no plea∣sure, but rather sorrowe and gréef of hart vnto the executors therof, such and so must néeds be the first causes and occasi∣on therof. That is very true quoth Pierce. You know quoth our Hoste, that the causes and occasions of punishment is sin, wickednes and misgouernment of life, for the woord of God telleth vs, that the reward of sinne is death. All that is very true quoth Pierce. Very well then quoth our Hoste, these Propositions which you haue graunted: doo suffise for the matter which I haue taken in hand to prooue, which is, that these great Fées and charges were neuer ment, nor yet are receiued or conuerted into priuat or proper vse. I pray you Neighbour quoth Pierce, let me heare how it is prooued, for I promise you faithfully for any thing I haue yet heard: your prooues are farther to fet.

You know quoth our Hoste, that the nature of the vn∣godly is to be quarelous and contencious, and dayly prouo∣king one an other, and also to take no wrong and do no right. That is very true quoth pierce. You know quoth our Hoste that the common weapon wherwith they wil be auēged vpon eche other is the Law, which indéed is the Magistrate, as ye haue already graunted, so that vpon the matter: hée is made the executor of their wilfunes and vengeaunce, which they will néeds doo vpon eche other, which thing you haue already confessed to be gréeuous and vnpleasant to euery good man. Therfore hath it euer béen, and yet is thought, and that very wisely and truely, that the likeliest way & meane to disswade

their wilfulnes which no reason, looue nor feare of GOD could disswade was to make their wilfulnes as déere and as heauy vnto them as reasonably might be doon, to the ••nd that they should not so lightly and for euery trifle vex and trouble both the Magistrate & one an other, which effect although it failed to woork, & that their madnes would not be res••rayned therby: that yet their vngodlynes might return to the profit and reléefe of others their neighbours & Brethern that were better affected, & so by one selfe and same mean: the ••ngodly punished & fléeced, and the godly amended & inriched herby, & that this was their meaning y^t was the first assessors ther∣of: common experience teacheth vs, for in néedfull and ne∣cessary actions, as debt, detinew, and account and such like: the charges are so reasonable, as that no man would in con∣science giue lesse.

The reason is, for that they are actions of common right, and such as must néeds day by day arise betwéen a man and his Brother, neither doo they dishonest either of the ••arties which I dare not affirme vpon actions vpon cases, neither did they so iudge of them, as I verily beléeue, and therfore did they set double and treble charges thereupon, for greater is the charges in a brabble for a woord spoken: then f••r thrée hundred pound of honest debt.

So that the Magistrate, who for such Ale-house ••ctions and brabbles: should otherwise neuer be at rest, except he should deny them his help, which might be slaunder••us and perillous to the whole estate.

The Magistrate I say of pure pittie and compassi••n, was forced to set great charges vpon them, for the small fauour that he bare vnto them, & vnto their first causes & occasions.

The greatnes of all which charges not withstand••ng, yet doo we dayly sée how the vngodly run togither by hea••s like brute beasts, and yet I dare safely say, that by the greatnes of these charges, and the terrour therof: many a brabling matter hath béen and is dayly put vp without any r••uenge sought therof, and many a one hauing pursued and ••ecoue∣red in his action, yet haue his charges so gallded him: that

he hath béen easier to deale with all his life after. And so by this meane many a wilfull body brought to knowe him self: and to honor God therby.

I cannot tell Neighbour Simon quoth Pierce, but I my self haue had two or thrée brabbles that haue kept me dooing these seuen yéeres, in which time I am suer I haue spent a∣booue fiftie pound, beside my charges to and fro, losse of time, and my hinderance at home. And what haue ye gotten for all this quoth our Hoste? These papers quoth he. Wel woorth fiftie points quoth our hoste. I think verily quoth our Hoste if any honest Neighbour had néeded to haue borowed ten pound therof: you would not haue it so ready to haue pleasured him withall. If I should say truely (quoth Pierce) I think the very same. What are you assessed vnto the poore in your Parish quoth our Hoste? A peny a wéek quoth Pierce, And think you that enough quoth our Hoste? Yea verily quoth Pierce. Loe Sir quoth our Hoste, whether commeth this vnto my saying and maintenaunce of these great Fées and charges or not? Who can deny the excellency of this in∣stitution? wherby the Couetuous and vngodly men are shot one against an other, and doo punish eche other, and wherby also so plentiful prouision is made for the godly poore at their charges, and yet no thank to them therfore, and that those things from the which they would depart vnto any Ho∣nest or godly vse or purpose, with as good will as from their eyes to be plucked out of their heads, or their tripes out of their bellyes, by this meane vndesired of their owne accord, they bring it in by handfuls, and so as it hath béen said, plen∣tiful prouision made for their godly Neighbours at their charges and yet no thank vnto them therfore.

Call you this a prouiding for the poore? Neighbour (quoth Pierce) I would I had giuen you the best horse in my Plough to make this saying true, and I sweare to you (quoth he) prooue it true: and you shall haue him yet or this day Seuen night, for that would ease my hart if I might perceiue that any godly person hath fared the better or were amended by any parte of all my great expences. For then yet should I

think that I haue doone some good with all the losse of my mo¦ney. Why Neighbour Pierce (quoth Simon) doo you doubt that all these summes or the greatest part therof: commeth not to the vse of the common wealth, and to the reliefe and sustenance of the godly poore, and other easements of com∣mon things in maintenaunce of the common Wealt••? Nay Neighbour Simon (quoth he) I doubt it not, for I am fully perswaded the contrary. Truely Neighbour Pierce (quoth he) this is an vncharitable and a very erronious op••inion, and that I will proue vnto you by reasons manifest ••nd ap∣parant, and such as your self haue alredy graunted & c••nfessed. I pray you neighbour Simon (quoth Pierce let me hea••e how.