nd commended. Semblably we make our humble
Petition, that those commaundements which you shal send and
require to be put in execution, be thoroughly established and
obserued: for the goodnesse of the lawe doth not consist in the
ordinaunce, but in the fulfilling and acomplishement of the
same: wee will not also omit to say vnto you (most famous
Prince) that you must haue pacience to suffer the importunate,
and to dissemble with the offenders: for that it is the deede of
a Prince to chastise and punishe the wrongs done in a common
wealth, and to pardon the disobedience done vnto him. You send
vs word by your letters that you wil not come to Rome, vntyll
you haue finished the Germaine Warres: whych seemeth vnto vs to
be the determination of a vertuous and right noble Emperour, for
so mutch as good Princes such as you be, oughte not to desire
and chose places of delite and recreation, but rather to seke
and win renowne and fame. You commaunde vs also to haue regarde
to the veneration of the Temples, and to the seruice of the
Gods: whych request is iuste, but very iuste it were and meete
that your selfe should doe the same: for our seruice would
little preuaile, if you should displease them. You wil vs also
one to loue an other, whych is the counsel of a holy and
peaceable Prince: but know ye that wee shal not be able to doe
the same, if you wil not loue and intreat vs all in equall and
indifferent sorte: for Prynces chearyshinge and louing some
aboue the rest, do raise slanders and grudges amongs the people:
you likewise recommend vnto vs, the poore and the widowes:
wherin we thinke that you ought to commaund the Collecters of
your Tributes, that they do not grieue, when they gather your
ryghtes and customes: for greater sinne it is to spoyle and pill
the needy sort, than meritorious to succour and relieue them.
Likewise you do persuade vs to be quiet and circumspect in our
affayres, which is a persuasion resembling the nature of a
worthye Prynce and also of a pitifull father. In semblable maner
you require vs not to be opinionatiue and wilfull in the Senate,
ne affectionate to self wil whych shal be done accordingly as
you commaund, and accept it as you say: but therwithall you
ought to think that in graue and wayghty matters, the more
depely things be debated, the better they shall be prouided and
decreed: you bid vs also to beware, the Censores be honest of
lyfe and rightful in doing iustice: to that we aunswere, that