answer it.
Amongst our towns, there is only [565]London that bears the face of a
city, [566]Epitome Britanniae, a famous emporium, second to none beyond
seas, a noble mart: but sola crescit, decrescentibus aliis; and yet, in
my slender judgment, defective in many things. The rest ([567]some few
excepted) are in mean estate, ruinous most part, poor, and full of
beggars, by reason of their decayed trades, neglected or bad policy,
idleness of their inhabitants, riot, which had rather beg or loiter,
and be ready to starve, than work.
I cannot deny but that something may be said in defence of our cities,
[568]that they are not so fair built, (for the sole magnificence of
this kingdom (concerning buildings) hath been of old in those Norman
castles and religious houses,) so rich, thick sited, populous, as in
some other countries; besides the reasons Cardan gives, Subtil. Lib.
11. we want wine and oil, their two harvests, we dwell in a colder air,
and for that cause must a little more liberally [569]feed of flesh, as
all northern countries do: our provisions will not therefore extend to
the maintenance of so many; yet notwithstanding we have matter of all
sorts, an open sea for traffic, as well as the rest, goodly havens. And
how can we excuse our negligence, our riot, drunkenness, &c., and such
enormities that follow it? We have excellent laws enacted, you will
say, severe statutes, houses of correction, &c., to small purpose it
seems; it is not houses will serve, but cities of correction; [570]our
trades generally ought to be reformed, wants supplied. In other
countries they have the same grievances, I confess, but that doth not
excuse us, [571]wants, defects, enormities, idle drones, tumults,
discords, contention, lawsuits, many laws made against them to repress
those innumerable brawls and lawsuits, excess in apparel, diet, decay
of tillage, depopulations, [572]especially against rogues, beggars,
Egyptian vagabonds (so termed at least) which have [573] swarmed all
over Germany, France, Italy, Poland, as you may read in [574] Munster,
Cranzius, and Aventinus; as those Tartars and Arabians at this day do
in the eastern countries: yet such has been the iniquity of all ages,
as it seems to small purpose. Nemo in nostra civitate mendicus esto,
[575] saith Plato: he will have them purged from a [576]commonwealth,
[577]as a bad humour from the body, that are like so many ulcers and
boils, and must be cured before the melancholy body can be eased.
What Carolus Magnus, the Chinese, the Spaniards, the duke of Saxony and
many other states have decreed in this case, read Arniseus, cap. 19;
Boterus, libro 8, cap. 2; Osorius de Rubus gest. Eman. lib. 11. When a
country is overstocked with people, as a pasture is oft overlaid with
cattle, they had wont in former times to disburden themselves, by
sending out colonies, or by wars, as those old Romans; or by employing
them at home about some public buildings, as bridges, roadways, for
which those Romans were famous in this island; as Augustus Caesar did
in Rome, the Spaniards in their Indian mines, as at Potosi in Peru,
where some 30,000 men are still at work, 6000 furnaces ever boiling,
&c. [578]aqueducts, bridges, havens, those stupend works of Trajan,
Claudius, at [579]Ostium, Dioclesiani Therma, Fucinus Lacus, that
Piraeum in Athens, made by Themistocles, ampitheatrums of curious
marble, as at Verona, Civitas Philippi, and Heraclea in Thrace, those
Appian and Flaminian ways, prodigious works all may witness; and rather
than they should be [580]idle, as those [581] Egyptian Pharaohs, Maris,
and Sesostris did, to task their subjects to build unnecessary
pyramids, obelisks, labyrinths, channels, lakes, gigantic works all, to
divert them from rebellion, riot, drunkenness, [582]Quo scilicet
alantur et ne vagando laborare desuescant.
Another eyesore is that want of conduct and navigable rivers, a great
blemish as [583]Boterus, [584]Hippolitus a Collibus, and other
politicians hold, if it be neglected in a commonwealth. Admirable cost
and charge is bestowed in the Low Countries on this behalf, in the
duchy of Milan, territory of Padua, in [585]France, Italy, China, and
so likewise about corrivations of water to moisten and refresh barren
grounds, to drain fens, bogs, and moors. Massinissa made many inward
parts of Barbary and Numidia in Africa, before his time incult and
horrid, fruitful and bartable by this means. Great industry is
generally used all over the eastern countries in this kind, especially
in Egypt, about Babylon and Damascus, as Vertomannus and [586]Gotardus
Arthus relate; about Barcelona, Segovia, Murcia, and many other places
of Spain, Milan in Italy; by reason of which, their soil is much
impoverished, and infinite commodities arise to the inhabitants.
The Turks of late attempted to cut that Isthmus betwixt Africa and
Asia, which [587]Sesostris and Darius, and some Pharaohs of Egypt had
formerly undertaken, but with ill success, as [588]Diodorus Siculus
records, and Pliny, for that Red Sea being three [589]cubits higher
than Egypt, would have drowned all the country, caepto destiterant,
they left off; yet as the same [590]Diodorus writes, Ptolemy renewed
the work many years after, and absolved in it a more opportune place.
That Isthmus of Corinth was likewise undertaken to be made navigable by
Demetrius, by Julius Caesar, Nero, Domitian, Herodes Atticus, to make a
speedy [591]passage, and less dangerous, from the Ionian and Aegean
seas; but because it could not be so well effected, the Peloponnesians
built a wall like our Picts' wall about Schaenute, where Neptune's
temple stood, and in the shortest cut over the Isthmus, of which
Diodorus, lib. 11. Herodotus, lib. 8. Uran. Our latter writers call it
Hexamilium, which Amurath the Turk demolished, the Venetians, _anno_
1453, repaired in 15 days with 30,000 men. Some, saith Acosta, would
have a passage cut from Panama to Nombre de Dios in America; but
Thuanus and Serres the French historians speak of a famous aqueduct in
France, intended in Henry the Fourth's time, from the Loire to the
Seine, and from Rhodanus to the Loire. The like to which was formerly
assayed by Domitian the emperor, [592]from Arar to Moselle, which
Cornelius Tacitus speaks of in the 13 of his annals, after by Charles
the Great and others. Much cost hath in former times been bestowed in
either new making or mending channels of rivers, and their passages,
(as Aurelianus did by Tiber to make it navigable to Rome, to convey
corn from Egypt to the city, vadum alvei tumentis effodit saith
Vopiscus, et Tiberis ripas extruxit he cut fords, made banks, &c.)
decayed havens, which Claudius the emperor with infinite pains and
charges attempted at Ostia, as I have said, the Venetians at this day
to preserve their city; many excellent means to enrich their
territories, have been fostered, invented in most provinces of Europe,
as planting some Indian plants amongst us, silkworms, [593]the very
mulberry leaves in the plains of Granada yield 30,000 crowns per annum
to the king of Spain's coffers, besides those many trades and
artificers that are busied about them in the kingdom of Granada,
Murcia, and all over Spain. In France a great benefit is raised by
salt, &c., whether these things might not be as happily attempted with
us, and with like success, it may be controverted, silkworms (I mean)
vines, fir trees, &c. Cardan exhorts Edward the Sixth to plant olives,
and is fully persuaded they would prosper in this island. With us,
navigable rivers are most part neglected; our streams are not great, I
confess, by reason of the narrowness of the island, yet they run
smoothly and even, not headlong, swift, or amongst rocks and shelves,
as foaming Rhodanus and Loire in France, Tigris in Mesopotamia, violent
Durius in Spain, with cataracts and whirlpools, as the Rhine, and
Danubius, about Shaffausen, Lausenburgh, Linz, and Cremmes, to endanger
navigators; or broad shallow, as Neckar in the Palatinate, Tibris in
Italy; but calm and fair as Arar in France, Hebrus in Macedonia,
Eurotas in Laconia, they gently glide along, and might as well be
repaired many of them (I mean Wye, Trent, Ouse, Thamisis at Oxford, the
defect of which we feel in the mean time) as the river of Lee from Ware
to London. B. Atwater of old, or as some will Henry I. [594]made a
channel from Trent to Lincoln, navigable; which now, saith Mr. Camden,
is decayed, and much mention is made of anchors, and such like
monuments found about old [595]Verulamium, good ships have formerly
come to Exeter, and many such places, whose channels, havens, ports are
now barred and rejected. We contemn this benefit of carriage by waters,
and are therefore compelled in the inner parts of this island, because
portage is so dear, to eat up our commodities ourselves, and live like
so many boars in a sty, for want of vent and utterance.
We have many excellent havens, royal havens, Falmouth, Portsmouth,
Milford, &c. equivalent if not to be preferred to that Indian Havana,
old Brundusium in Italy, Aulis in Greece, Ambracia in Acarnia, Suda in
Crete, which have few ships in them, little or no traffic or trade,
which have scarce a village on them, able to bear great cities, sed
viderint politici. I could here justly tax many other neglects, abuses,
errors, defects among us, and in other countries, depopulations, riot,
drunkenness, &c. and many such, quae nunc in aurem susurrare, non
libet. But I must take heed, ne quid gravius dicam, that I do not
overshoot myself, Sus Minervam, I am forth of my element, as you
peradventure suppose; and sometimes veritas odium parit, as he said,
verjuice and oatmeal is good for a parrot. For as Lucian said of an
historian, I say of a politician. He that will freely speak and write,
must be for ever no subject, under no prince or law, but lay out the
matter truly as it is, not caring what any can, will, like or dislike.
We have good laws, I deny not, to rectify such enormities, and so in
all other countries, but it seems not always to good purpose. We had
need of some general visitor in our age, that should reform what is
amiss; a just army of Rosy-cross men, for they will amend all matters
(they say) religion, policy, manners, with arts, sciences, &c. Another
Attila, Tamerlane, Hercules, to strive with Achelous, Augeae stabulum
purgare, to subdue tyrants, as [596]he did Diomedes and Busiris: to
expel thieves, as he did Cacus and Lacinius: to vindicate poor
captives, as he did Hesione: to pass the torrid zone, the deserts of
Libya, and purge the world of monsters and Centaurs: or another Theban
Crates to reform our manners, to compose quarrels and controversies, as
in his time he did, and was therefore adored for a god in Athens. As
Hercules [597]purged the world of monsters, and subdued them, so did he
fight against envy, lust, anger, avarice, &c. and all those feral vices
and monsters of the mind. It were to be wished we had some such
visitor, or if wishing would serve, one had such a ring or rings, as
Timolaus desired in [598]Lucian, by virtue of which he should be as
strong as 10,000 men, or an army of giants, go invisible, open gates
and castle doors, have what treasure he would, transport himself in an
instant to what place he desired, alter affections, cure all manner of
diseases, that he might range over the world, and reform all distressed
states and persons, as he would himself. He might reduce those
wandering Tartars in order, that infest China on the one side, Muscovy,
Poland, on the other; and tame the vagabond Arabians that rob and spoil
those eastern countries, that they should never use more caravans, or
janissaries to conduct them. He might root out barbarism out of
America, and fully discover Terra Australis Incognita, find out the
north-east and north-west passages, drain those mighty Maeotian fens,
cut down those vast Hircinian woods, irrigate those barren Arabian
deserts, &c. cure us of our epidemical diseases, scorbutum, plica,
morbus Neapolitanus, &c. end all our idle controversies, cut off our
tumultuous desires, inordinate lusts, root out atheism, impiety,
heresy, schism and superstition, which now so crucify the world,
catechise gross ignorance, purge Italy of luxury and riot, Spain of
superstition and jealousy, Germany of drunkenness, all our northern
country of gluttony and intemperance, castigate our hard-hearted
parents, masters, tutors; lash disobedient children, negligent
servants, correct these spendthrifts and prodigal sons, enforce idle
persons to work, drive drunkards off the alehouse, repress thieves,
visit corrupt and tyrannizing magistrates, &c. But as L. Licinius taxed
Timolaus, you may us. These are vain, absurd and ridiculous wishes not
to be hoped: all must be as it is, [599]Bocchalinus may cite
commonwealths to come before Apollo, and seek to reform the world
itself by commissioners, but there is no remedy, it may not be
redressed, desinent homines tum demum stultescere quando esse desinent,
so long as they can wag their beards, they will play the knaves and
fools.
Because, therefore, it is a thing so difficult, impossible, and far
beyond Hercules labours to be performed; let them be rude, stupid,
ignorant, incult, lapis super lapidem sedeat, and as the [600]apologist
will, resp. tussi, et graveolentia laboret, mundus vitio, let them be
barbarous as they are, let them [601]tyrannise, epicurise, oppress,
luxuriate, consume themselves with factions, superstitions, lawsuits,
wars and contentions, live in riot, poverty, want, misery; rebel,
wallow as so many swine in their own dung, with Ulysses' companions,
stultos jubeo esse libenter. I will yet, to satisfy and please myself,
make an Utopia of mine own, a new Atlantis, a poetical commonwealth of
mine own, in which I will freely domineer, build cities, make laws,
statutes, as I list myself. And why may I not?—[602]Pictoribus atque
poetis, &c. You know what liberty poets ever had, and besides, my
predecessor Democritus was a politician, a recorder of Abdera, a law
maker as some say; and why may not I presume so much as he did?
Howsoever I will adventure. For the site, if you will needs urge me to
it, I am not fully resolved, it may be in Terra Australi Incognita,
there is room enough (for of my knowledge neither that hungry Spaniard,
[603]nor Mercurius Britannicus, have yet discovered half of it) or else
one of these floating islands in Mare del Zur, which like the Cyanian
isles in the Euxine sea, alter their place, and are accessible only at
set times, and to some few persons; or one of the fortunate isles, for
who knows yet where, or which they are? there is room enough in the
inner parts of America, and northern coasts of Asia. But I will choose
a site, whose latitude shall be 45 degrees (I respect not minutes) in
the midst of the temperate zone, or perhaps under the equator, that
[604]paradise of the world, ubi semper virens laurus, &c. where is a
perpetual spring: the longitude for some reasons I will conceal. Yet be
it known to all men by these presents, that if any honest gentleman
will send in so much money, as Cardan allows an astrologer for casting
a nativity, he shall be a sharer, I will acquaint him with my project,
or if any worthy man will stand for any temporal or spiritual office or
dignity, (for as he said of his archbishopric of Utopia, 'tis sanctus
ambitus, and not amiss to be sought after,) it shall be freely given
without all intercessions, bribes, letters, &c. his own worth shall be
the best spokesman; and because we shall admit of no deputies or
advowsons, if he be sufficiently qualified, and as able as willing to
execute the place himself, be shall have present possession. It shall
be divided into 12 or 13 provinces, and those by hills, rivers,
roadways, or some more eminent limits exactly bounded. Each province
shall have a metropolis, which shall be so placed as a centre almost in
a circumference, and the rest at equal distances, some 12 Italian miles
asunder, or thereabout, and in them shall be sold all things necessary
for the use of man; statis horis et diebus, no market towns, markets or
fairs, for they do but beggar cities (no village shall stand above 6,
7, or 8 miles from a city) except those emporiums which are by the sea
side, general staples, marts, as Antwerp, Venice, Bergen of old,
London, &c. cities most part shall be situated upon navigable rivers or
lakes, creeks, havens; and for their form, regular, round, square, or
long square, [605]with fair, broad, and straight [606]streets, houses
uniform, built of brick and stone, like Bruges, Brussels, Rhegium
Lepidi, Berne in Switzerland, Milan, Mantua, Crema, Cambalu in Tartary,
described by M. Polus, or that Venetian Palma. I will admit very few or
no suburbs, and those of baser building, walls only to keep out man and
horse, except it be in some frontier towns, or by the sea side, and
those to be fortified [607] after the latest manner of fortification,
and situated upon convenient havens, or opportune places. In every so
built city, I will have convenient churches, and separate places to
bury the dead in, not in churchyards; a citadella (in some, not all) to
command it, prisons for offenders, opportune market places of all
sorts, for corn, meat, cattle, fuel, fish, commodious courts of
justice, public halls for all societies, bourses, meeting places,
armouries, [608]in which shall be kept engines for quenching of fire,
artillery gardens, public walks, theatres, and spacious fields allotted
for all gymnastic sports, and honest recreations, hospitals of all
kinds, for children, orphans, old folks, sick men, mad men, soldiers,
pest-houses, &c. not built precario, or by gouty benefactors, who, when
by fraud and rapine they have extorted all their lives, oppressed whole
provinces, societies, &c. give something to pious uses, build a
satisfactory alms-house, school or bridge, &c. at their last end, or
before perhaps, which is no otherwise than to steal a goose, and stick
down a feather, rob a thousand to relieve ten; and those hospitals so
built and maintained, not by collections, benevolences, donaries, for a
set number, (as in ours,) just so many and no more at such a rate, but
for all those who stand in need, be they more or less, and that ex
publico aerario, and so still maintained, non nobis solum nati sumus,
&c. I will have conduits of sweet and good water, aptly disposed in
each town, common [609] granaries, as at Dresden in Misnia, Stetein in
Pomerland, Noremberg, &c. Colleges of mathematicians, musicians, and
actors, as of old at Labedum in Ionia, [610]alchemists, physicians,
artists, and philosophers: that all arts and sciences may sooner be
perfected and better learned; and public historiographers, as amongst
those ancient [611]Persians, qui in commentarios referebant quae
memoratu digna gerebantur, informed and appointed by the state to
register all famous acts, and not by each insufficient scribbler,
partial or parasitical pedant, as in our times. I will provide public
schools of all kinds, singing, dancing, fencing, &c. especially of
grammar and languages, not to be taught by those tedious precepts
ordinarily used, but by use, example, conversation, [612]as travellers
learn abroad, and nurses teach their children: as I will have all such
places, so will I ordain [613]public governors, fit officers to each
place, treasurers, aediles, quaestors, overseers of pupils, widows'
goods, and all public houses, &c. and those once a year to make strict
accounts of all receipts, expenses, to avoid confusion, et sic fiet ut
non absumant (as Pliny to Trajan,) quad pudeat dicere. They shall be
subordinate to those higher officers and governors of each city, which
shall not be poor tradesmen, and mean artificers, but noblemen and
gentlemen, which shall be tied to residence in those towns they dwell
next, at such set times and seasons: for I see no reason (which
[614]Hippolitus complains of) that it should be more dishonourable for
noblemen to govern the city than the country, or unseemly to dwell
there now, than of old. [615]I will have no bogs, fens, marshes, vast
woods, deserts, heaths, commons, but all enclosed; (yet not
depopulated, and therefore take heed you mistake me not) for that which
is common, and every man's, is no man's; the richest countries are
still enclosed, as Essex, Kent, with us, &c. Spain, Italy; and where
enclosures are least in quantity, they are best [616]husbanded, as
about Florence in Italy, Damascus in Syria, &c. which are liker gardens
than fields. I will not have a barren acre in all my territories, not
so much as the tops of mountains: where nature fails, it shall be
supplied by art: [617]lakes and rivers shall not be left desolate. All
common highways, bridges, banks, corrivations of waters, aqueducts,
channels, public works, buildings, &c. out of a [618]common stock,
curiously maintained and kept in repair; no depopulations, engrossings,
alterations of wood, arable, but by the consent of some supervisors
that shall be appointed for that purpose, to see what reformation ought
to be had in all places, what is amiss, how to help it, et quid quaeque
ferat regio, et quid quaeque recuset, what ground is aptest for wood,
what for corn, what for cattle, gardens, orchards, fishponds, &c. with
a charitable division in every village, (not one domineering house
greedily to swallow up all, which is too common with us) what for
lords, [619]what for tenants; and because they shall be better
encouraged to improve such lands they hold, manure, plant trees, drain,
fence, &c. they shall have long leases, a known rent, and known fine to
free them from those intolerable exactions of tyrannizing landlords.
These supervisors shall likewise appoint what quantity of land in each
manor is fit for the lord's demesnes, [620]what for holding of tenants,
how it ought to be husbanded, ut [621]magnetis equis, Minyae gens
cognita remis, how to be manured, tilled, rectified, [622]hic segetes
veniunt, illic felicius uvae, arborei foetus alibi, atque injussa
virescunt Gramina, and what proportion is fit for all callings, because
private professors are many times idiots, ill husbands, oppressors,
covetous, and know not how to improve their own, or else wholly respect
their own, and not public good.
Utopian parity is a kind of government, to be wished for, [623]rather
than effected, Respub. Christianopolitana, Campanella's city of the
Sun, and that new Atlantis, witty fictions, but mere chimeras; and
Plato's community in many things is impious, absurd and ridiculous, it
takes away all splendour and magnificence. I will have several orders,
degrees of nobility, and those hereditary, not rejecting younger
brothers in the mean time, for they shall be sufficiently provided for
by pensions, or so qualified, brought up in some honest calling, they
shall be able to live of themselves. I will have such a proportion of
ground belonging to every barony, he that buys the land shall buy the
barony, he that by riot consumes his patrimony, and ancient demesnes,
shall forfeit his honours. [624]As some dignities shall be hereditary,
so some again by election, or by gift (besides free officers, pensions,
annuities,) like our bishoprics, prebends, the Bassa's palaces in
Turkey, the [625]procurator's houses and offices in Venice, which, like
the golden apple, shall be given to the worthiest, and best deserving
both in war and peace, as a reward of their worth and good service, as
so many goals for all to aim at, (honos alit artes) and encouragements
to others. For I hate these severe, unnatural, harsh, German, French,
and Venetian decrees, which exclude plebeians from honours, be they
never so wise, rich, virtuous, valiant, and well qualified, they must
not be patricians, but keep their own rank, this is naturae bellum
inferre, odious to God and men, I abhor it. My form of government shall
be monarchical.
[626]nunquam libertas gratior extat,
Quam sub Rege pio, &c.
few laws, but those severely kept, plainly put down, and in the mother
tongue, that every man may understand. Every city shall have a peculiar
trade or privilege, by which it shall be chiefly maintained: [627]and
parents shall teach their children one of three at least, bring up and
instruct them in the mysteries of their own trade. In each town these
several tradesmen shall be so aptly disposed, as they shall free the
rest from danger or offence: fire-trades, as smiths, forge-men,
brewers, bakers, metal-men, &c., shall dwell apart by themselves:
dyers, tanners, fellmongers, and such as use water in convenient places
by themselves: noisome or fulsome for bad smells, as butchers'
slaughterhouses, chandlers, curriers, in remote places, and some back
lanes. Fraternities and companies, I approve of, as merchants' bourses,
colleges of druggists, physicians, musicians, &c., but all trades to be
rated in the sale of wares, as our clerks of the market do bakers and
brewers; corn itself, what scarcity soever shall come, not to extend
such a price. Of such wares as are transported or brought in, [628]if
they be necessary, commodious, and such as nearly concern man's life,
as corn, wood, coal, &c., and such provision we cannot want, I will
have little or no custom paid, no taxes; but for such things as are for
pleasure, delight, or ornament, as wine, spice, tobacco, silk, velvet,
cloth of gold, lace, jewels, &c., a greater impost. I will have certain
ships sent out for new discoveries every year, [629]and some discreet
men appointed to travel into all neighbouring kingdoms by land, which
shall observe what artificial inventions and good laws are in other
countries, customs, alterations, or aught else, concerning war or
peace, which may tend to the common good. Ecclesiastical discipline,
penes Episcopos, subordinate as the other. No impropriations, no lay
patrons of church livings, or one private man, but common societies,
corporations, &c., and those rectors of benefices to be chosen out of
the Universities, examined and approved, as the literati in China. No
parish to contain above a thousand auditors. If it were possible, I
would have such priest as should imitate Christ, charitable lawyers
should love their neighbours as themselves, temperate and modest
physicians, politicians contemn the world, philosophers should know
themselves, noblemen live honestly, tradesmen leave lying and cozening,
magistrates corruption, &c., but this is impossible, I must get such as
I may. I will therefore have [630]of lawyers, judges, advocates,
physicians, chirurgeons, &c., a set number, [631]and every man, if it
be possible, to plead his own cause, to tell that tale to the judge
which he doth to his advocate, as at Fez in Africa, Bantam, Aleppo,
Ragusa, suam quisque causam dicere tenetur. Those advocates,
chirurgeons, and [632]physicians, which are allowed to be maintained
out of the [633]common treasury, no fees to be given or taken upon pain
of losing their places; or if they do, very small fees, and when the
[634]cause is fully ended. [635]He that sues any man shall put in a
pledge, which if it be proved he hath wrongfully sued his adversary,
rashly or maliciously, he shall forfeit, and lose. Or else before any
suit begin, the plaintiff shall have his complaint approved by a set
delegacy to that purpose; if it be of moment he shall be suffered as
before, to proceed, if otherwise they shall determine it. All causes
shall be pleaded suppresso nomine, the parties' names concealed, if
some circumstances do not otherwise require. Judges and other officers
shall be aptly disposed in each province, villages, cities, as common
arbitrators to hear causes, and end all controversies, and those not
single, but three at least on the bench at once, to determine or give
sentence, and those again to sit by turns or lots, and not to continue
still in the same office. No controversy to depend above a year, but
without all delays and further appeals to be speedily despatched, and
finally concluded in that time allotted. These and all other inferior
magistrates to be chosen [636]as the literati in China, or by those
exact suffrages of the [637]Venetians, and such again not to be
eligible, or capable of magistracies, honours, offices, except they be
sufficiently [638]qualified for learning, manners, and that by the
strict approbation of deputed examiners: [639]first scholars to take
place, then soldiers; for I am of Vigetius his opinion, a scholar
deserves better than a soldier, because Unius aetatis sunt quae
fortiter fiunt, quae vero pro utilitate Reipub. scribuntur, aeterna: a
soldier's work lasts for an age, a scholar's for ever. If they
[640]misbehave themselves, they shall be deposed, and accordingly
punished, and whether their offices be annual [641]or otherwise, once a
year they shall be called in question, and give an account; for men are
partial and passionate, merciless, covetous, corrupt, subject to love,
hate, fear, favour, &c., omne sub regno graviore regnum: like Solon's
Areopagites, or those Roman Censors, some shall visit others, and
[642]be visited invicem themselves, [643] they shall oversee that no
prowling officer, under colour of authority, shall insult over his
inferiors, as so many wild beasts, oppress, domineer, flea, grind, or
trample on, be partial or corrupt, but that there be aequabile jus,
justice equally done, live as friends and brethren together; and which
[644]Sesellius would have and so much desires in his kingdom of France,
a diapason and sweet harmony of kings, princes, nobles, and plebeians
so mutually tied and involved in love, as well as laws and authority,
as that they never disagree, insult, or encroach one upon another. If
any man deserve well in his office he shall be rewarded.
———quis enim virtutem amplectitur ipsam,
Proemia si tollas?———[645]