Roman Liberty; and therefore one would have thought the
young men might have obteined an easy Pardon: But such
was the zeal of the Romans for the preservation of their Freedom,
that they were all put to death without mercy; and that
all others in time to come might be deprived of the least hope
of being spared upon the like occasion, their own Father was
the manmost forward to bring them to execution.
This was Treason in gross; but in after-time there started
up more refined Pieces of Treason, as may be collected out of
the Actions of Melius and Manlius, two persons that
had deserved highly of the Commonweal; but especially the
latter, who saved it from ruin, when the Gauls had besieged
the Capitol. Nevertheless, presuming afterwards upon the
People becaus of his extrordinary merits, he by greatning himself
beyond the size of a good Citizen; and entertaining
thoughts and Counsels of surprizing the publick Liberty, was
condemned to death but yet not without the Peoples pity
(as indeed it was an unhappy necessity, that they should be
forced to destroy him that had saved them from destruction)
to the same end also came Melius, upon the like Occasion
Another sort of Treason there was contrived like wise against
that People; and that was by those Magistrates called
the Decemviry; touching whose Actions, and the ground
of their Condemnation, I only let you know, that you may
be sufficiently informed by abler pens then mine; such as the
Historian Livy, Pomponius, Dionisius, and others that have
written of the Roman Affairs and Antiquities.
A fourth sort of Treason against that people was manifest
usurpation, acted over and over, long before the time of Cæsar,
Some other Particulars also there were of less consideration,
that came within the Compass of Treason, and in all
they were very strict, to vindicate the Interest of the Commonweal,
without respect of Persons.
To these Passages out of the old Commonweal of Rome,
let us add the rest that we have to say about this Point, out of
the Practices of the present state of Venice, the most exact for
Punctillo's of this nature that ever was in the world; and