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