ustomes,
prouident in Iudgementes, and ware in theyr trade of lyfe: for I
say vnto you, that a wyse man is more availeable in gouernement
of a common wealth, than a man of ouermutch skyll and
experyence. The forme then whych ye shal obserue in matters of
Iudgement shall be thus: that in ciuile processe you keepe the
law, and in criminall causes to moderate the same, bicause
haynous, cruell, and rigorous lawes be rather made to amaze and
feare, than to be obserued and kept. When you giue any sentence,
ye ought to consider the age of the offendaunt, when, how,
wherefore, with whome, in whose presence, in what time, and how
longe ago, forsomutch as euery of these thyngs may eyther excuse
or condempne: whych you ought to beare and vse towards them in
lyke sort as the gods towards vs, who giue vs better helpe and
succoure and correct vs lesse than we deserue. That
consideration the Iudges ought to haue, bycause the offenders
doe rather trespasse the Gods than men: if then they be forgiuen
of the gods for offences whych they commit, reason it is that we
pardon faultes don by those rather then by our selues. In like
maner we commaund you, that if your enimies do you any anoiance
or iniury, not incontinently to take reuenge, but rather to
dissemble the same, bicause many wrongs be don in the world,
which were better to be dissembled than reuenged. Wherin ye shal
haue like regard, touching offices in the Senate and Common
Wealth, that they be not giuen to ambicious or couetous persons:
for there is no Beaste in the World so pestiferous and Venomous,
to the Common Wealth, as the Ambicious in commaunding, and the
couetous in gathering togither. Other things we let passe for
this tyme, vntil we haue intelligence howe these our
commaundements be fulfilled. This Letter shal be red in the
chyefest place within the Senate, and afterwards pronounced to
the people, that they may both know what yee commaunde, and see
also what ye doe. The Gods keepe you, whome we pray to preserue
our mother the City of Rome, and to send vs good successe in
these our Warres.

_A notable Letter sent from the Romane Senate to the Emperour
Traiane, where in is declared how sometimes the region of Spayne did
furnish Rome wyth golde from their Mines, and now do adorne and
garnish the same with Emperours to gouerne their Common wealth._

The sacred Romane Senate, to thee the great Cocceius Traiane new
Emperour Augustus, health in thy gods and ours