Corn it self, what scarcity soever shall come, not to exceed such a price. Of such wares as are transported or brought in, *if they be necessary, commodious, and such as neerly concern man's life, as corn, wood, cole, &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, and some discreet men appointed to travel into all neighbor kingdoms by land, which shall observe what artificial inventions and good laws are in other Countries, customes, alterations, or ought 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 priests as should imitate Christ, charitable lawyers should love their neighbors as themselves, temperate and modest Physicians, Politicians contemn the world, Philosophers should know themselves, Noblemen live honestly, Tradesmen leave lying and cosening, Magistrates corruption, &c. but this is unpossible, I must get such as I may. I will therefore have of lawyers, judges, advocates, physicians, chirurgions, &c. a set number," 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 Africk, Bantam, Aleppo, Raguse, suam quisq; causam dicere tenetur. Those Advocates, Chirurgions and Physicians, which are allowed to be maintained out of the common treasure, no fees to be given or taken upon pain of losing their places; or if they do, very small fees, and when the cause is fully ended. He that sues any man shall put in a pledge, which if it be proved he hath wrongfully sued his

&€.

* Hippol. à collibus de increm. urb., c. 20. Plato idem 7. de legibus, que ad vitam necessaria, & quibus carere non possumus, nullum dependi vectigal, Plato 12. de legibus, 40. annos natos vult, ut si quid memorabile viderent apud exteros, hoc ipsum in rempub. recipiatur. vetia. "Utopienses caus dicos excludunt, qui causas callide & vafre tractent m Simlerus in Hel& disputent. Iniquissimum censent hominem ullis obligari legibus, quæ aut numerosiores sunt, quàm ut perlegi queant, aut obscuriores quàm ut à quovis possint intelligi. Volunt ut suam quisq; causam agat, eamq; referat Judici quam narraturus fuerat patrono, sic minus erit ambagum, & veritas facilius clieic:ur. Mor. Utop. 1. 2. de Ægyptiis. Medici ex publico vicium sumunt. Boter. 1. 1. c. 5. P De h's lege Patr t. 1. 3. tit. 8. de reip. Instit. clientibus patroni ace piant, priusquam I's sinita est. Barcl. Argen. lib. 3. is so in mest free clics in Germany.

Nihil à

It

adversary,

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 deterinine or give sentence and those again to sit by turns or lots, and not to continue still in the same office. No controversie to depend above a year, but without all delays and further appeals to be speedily dispatched, and finally concluded in that time allotted. These and all other inferior Magistrates, to be chosen as the literati in China, or by those exact suffrages of the Venetians, and such again not to be eligible, or capable of magistracies, honours, offices, except they be sufficiently qualified for learning, mancrs, and that by the strict approbation of deputed examiners: * first Scholars to take place, then Souldiers; for I am of Vigetius his opinion, a Scholar deserves better than a Souldier, because Unius elatis sunt quæ fortiter fiunt, que vero pro utilitate Reipub. scribuntur, æterna: a Souldier's work lasts for an age, a Scholar's for ever. If they misbehave themselves, they shall be deposed, and accordingly punished, and whether their offices be annual or otherwise, once a year they shall be called in question, and give an account; for men are partial and passionate, mercilesse, covetous, corrupt, subject to love, hate, fear, favor, &c. omne sub regno graviore regnum: like Solon's Areopagites, or those Roman Censors, some shall visit others, and be visited invicem themselves, they shall oversee that no proling officer, under colour of authority, shal insult over his inferiors, as so many wild beasts, oppresse, domineer, flea, grinde, or trample on, be partial or corrupt, but that there be æquabile jus, jus

b

a

* Mat. Riccius exped. in Sinas, 1. 1. c. 5. de examinatione electionum copiosè agit, &c. Contar. de repub.Venet. 1. 1. "Osor. 1. 11. de reb. gest. Eman. Qui in literis maximos progressus fecerint maximis honoribus afficiuntur, secundus honoris gradus militibus assignatur, postremi ordinis mechanicis, doctorum hominum judiciis in altiorem locum quisq; præsertur, & qui a plurimis approbatur, ampliores in rep. dignitates consequitur. Qui in hoc examine primas habet, insigni per totam vitam dignitate insignitur, marchioni similis, aut duci apud nos. * Cedant arma togæ. y As in Berna, Lucerne, Friburge in Switzerland, a vitious liver is uncapable of any office; if a Senator, instantly deposed. Simlerus. Not above three years, Arist. polit. 5. c. 8. Nam quis custodiet ipsos custodes ? b Cyreus in Greisgeia. Qui non ex sublimi despiciant inferiores, nec ut bestias conculcent sibi subditos authoritatis nomini con

fis, &c.

C

tice equally done, live as friends and brethren together; and which 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 incroach one upon another." If any man deserve well in his office he shall be rewarded.

-" quis enim virtutem amplectitur ipsam,

Præmia si tollas?"

He that invents any thing for publike good in any Art or Science, writes a Treatise, or performs any noble exploit, at home or abroad, shall be accordingly enriched, honored, and preferred. I say with Hannibal in Ennius, Hostem qui feriet erit mihi Carthaginensis, let him be of what condition he will, in all offices, actions, he that deserves best shall have best.

*

Tilianus in Philonius, out of a charitable minde no doubt, wisht all his books were gold and silver, jewels and precious stones, to redeem captives, set free prisoners, and relieve all poor distressed souls that wanted means; religiously done, I deny not, but to what purpose? Suppose this were so well done, within a little after, though a man had Croesus' wealth to bestow, there would be as many more. Wherefore I will suffer no & Beggers, Rogues, Vagabonds, or idle persons at all, that cannot give an account of their lives how they maintain themselves: If they be impotent, lame, blinde, and single, they shall be sufficiently maintained in several hospitals, built for that purpose; if married and infirm, past work, or by inevitable losse, or some such like misfortune cast behind, by distribution of corn, house-rent free, annual pensions or money, they shall be relieved, and highly rewarded for their good service they have formerly done; if able, they shall be enforced

< Sesellius de rep. Gallorum, lib. 1 & 2. * Si quis egregium aut bello aut pace perfecerit. Sesel. 1. 1. Ad regendam rempub. soli literati admittuntur, nec ad cam rem gratia magistratuum aut regis indigent, omnia explorata cujusq; scientia & virtute pendent. Riccius lib. 1. cap. 5. In defuncti locum eum jussit subrogari, qui inter majores virtute reliquis præiret; non fuit apud mortales ullum excellentius certamen, aut cujus victoria magis esset expetenda, non enim inter celeres, celerrimo, non inter robustos rubustissimo, &C. Nullum videres vel in hac vel in vicinis regionibus pauperem, nullum obæratum, &c. • Nullus mendicus apud Sinas, nemini sano quamvis oculis turbatus sit mendicare permittitur, omnes pro viribus laborare coguntur, cæci molis trusatilibus versandis addicuntur, soli hospitiis gaudent, qui ad labores sunt inepti. Osor. 1. 11. de reb. gest. Eman. Heming. de reg. Chin. I. 1. c. 3. Gotard. Arth. Orient. Ind. descr. h Alex. ab Alex. 3. c. 12.

Romæ Isaac. Pontan. de his optime. Amstol. I. 2. c. 9.

Sie olim

to

to work.

k

"* For I see no reason (as 1he said) why an Epicure or idle drone, a rich glutton, a usurer should live at ease, and do nothing, live in honor, in all manner of pleasures, and oppresse others, when as in the mean time a poor laborer, a smith, a carpenter, an husbandman that hath spent his time in continual labour, as an Asse to carry burdens, to do the Commonwealth good, and without whom we cannot live, shall be left in his old age to begge or starve, and lead a miserable life worse then a jument." As "all conditions shall be tied to their task, so none shall be overtired, but have their set times of recreations and holidaies, indulgere genio, feasts and merry meetings, even to the meanest artificer, or basest servant, once a week to sing or dance, (though not all at once) or do whatsoever he shall please; like "that Saccarum festum, amongst the Persians, those Saturnals in Rome, as well as his master. • If any be drunk, he shall drink no more wine or strong drink in a twelve month after. A bankrupt shall be P Catademiatus in Amphitheatro, publikely shamed, and he that cannot pay his debts, if by riot or negligence he have been impoverished, shall be for a twelve-month imprisoned, if in that space his creditors be not satisfied, he shall be hanged. He that commits sacriledge shall lose his hands; he that bears false-witnesse, or is of perjury convict, shall have his tongue cut out, except he redeem it with his head. Murder, adultery shall be punished by death, but not theft, except it be some more grievous offence, or notorious offenders: otherwise they shall be condemned to the gallies, mines, be his slaves whom they have offended, during their lives. I hate all hereditary slaves, and that duram Persarum legem, as

1

* Idem Aristot. pol. 5. c. 8. Vitiosum quum soli pauperum liberi educantur ad labores, nobilium & divitum in voluptatibus & deliciis. Quæ hæc injustitia ut nobilis quispiam, aut fæenerator qui nihil agat, lautam & splendidam vitam agat, otio & deliciis, quum interim auriga, faber, agricola, quo respub. carere non potest, vitam adeo miseram ducat, ut pejor quam jumentorum sit ejus conditio? Iniqua resp. quæ dat parasitis, adulatoribus, inanium voluptatum artificibus generosis & otiosis tanta munera prodigit, at contrà agricolis, carbonariis, aurigis, fabris, &c. nihil prospicit, sed eorum abusa labore florentis ætatis fame penset & ærumnis, Mor. Utop. 1. 2. "In Segovia nemo otiosus, nemo mendicus nisi per ætatem aut morbum opus facere non potest: nulli deest unde victum quærat, aut quo se exerceat. Cypr. Echovius Delit. Hispan. Nullus Geneva otiosus, ne septennis puer. Paulus Heuzner Itiner. • Athenæus 1. 12. Simlerus de repub. Helvet. Spartian. olim Romæ sic. He that provides not for his family, is worse then a thief. Paul. fredi lex. utraq; manus & lingua præcidatur, nisi eam capite redemerit. quis nuptam stuprârit, virga virilis ei præciditur; si mulier, nasus & auricula præcidatur. Alfredi lex. En leges ipsi Veneri Martiq; timendas. 'Pauperes non peccant, quum extrema necessitate coacti rem alienam capiunt. Maldonat. summula quæst. 8. art 3. Ego cum illis sentio qui licere putant à divite clam accipere qui tenetur pauperi subvenire. Emmanuel Sa. Aphor. confess.

Al

• Si

"Brisonius

Brisonius cals it; or as Ammianus, impendio formidatas abominandas leges, per quas ob noxam unius, omnis propinquitas perit, hard law that wife and children, friends and allies should suffer for the father's offence.

No man shall marry until he be 25, no woman till she be 20. nisi aliter dispensatum fuerit. If one die, the other party shall not marry till six months after; and because many families are compelled to live niggardly, exhaust and undone by great dowers, none shall be given at all, or very little, and that by supervisors rated, they that are foul shall have a greater portion; if fair, none at all, or very little howsoever not to exceed such a rate as those supervisors shal think fit. And when once they come to those years, poverty shall hinder no man from marriage, or any other respect, but all shall be rather inforced then hindered, except they be f dismembred, or grievously deformed, infirm, or visited with some enormous hereditary disease, in body or mind; in such cases upon a great pain, or mulct, & man or woman shall not marry, other order shall be taken for them to their content. If people overabound, they shall be eased by Colonies.

h

No man shall wear weapons in any City. The same attire shall be kept, and that proper to several callings, by which they shall be distinguished. Luxus funerum shall be taken away, that intempestive expense moderated, and many others. Brokers, takers of pawns, biting usurers, I will not admit; yet because hic cum hominibus non cum diis agitur, we converse here with men, not with gods, and for the hardnesse of men's hearts I will tollerate some kinde of usury'. If we were honest, I confesse, si probi essemus, we should have no use of it, but being as it is, we must necessarily admit it. Howsoever most Divines contradict it,

"Dicimus inficias, sed vox ea sola reperta est;"

с

Lib. 2. de reg. Persarum. * Lib. 24. Y Aliter Aristoteles, a man at 25. a woman at 20. polit. Lex olim Licurgi, hodie Chinens um; vide Plutarchum, Riccium, Hemmingium, Arniseum, Nevisanum, & alios de hac quæsrione. a Alfredus. b Apud Lacones olim virgines fine dote nubebant. Boter. 1. 3 c. 3. Lege cautum non ita pridem apud Venetos, ne quis Patritius dotem excederet 1500 coron. Bux. Synag. Jud. Sic Judæi. Leo Afer Africæ descript. ne sint aliter incontinentes ob reipub. bonum. Ut August. Cæsar. orat. ad cælibes Romanos olim edocuit. Morbo laborans, qui in prolem fac le diffunditur, ne genus humanum fæda contagione lædatur, juventute cas ratur, mulieres tales procul à consortio virorum ablegantur, &c. Hector Boetius his. Eb. 1. de vet. Scotorum moribus. f Speciosissimi juvenes Beris dabunt operam. Plato 5. de legibus. The Saxons exclude dumb, blinde, le reas, and sucn like persons from all inheritance, as we do fools. h Ut olim Romani, Hispani hodie, &c. Riccius lib. 11. cap. 5. de Sinarum. expedit. sic Hispani cogunt Mauros arma deponere. So it is in most Italian cines. * Idem Plato 12. de legibus, it hath ever been immoderate, vide Guil. Stuckium ant q. convival. lib. 1. cap. 26. Plato 9. de legibus.