that Superstition hath served to greaten more Towns in many Kingdoms of the World then the true fear of GOD and that love that should be amongst Christians Witness Rome which is so much frequented upon the imagination of her pretended holy places and false relicts of Saints departed and the supream Authority of her Ecclesiastical Affairs and her Judaick Jubilies by which and many more such like Impostures she hath made many Nations drunk with the Wine of her Fornications and Whoredomes and thereby keeps her self in such greatness till the LORD by powring out the vialls Rev. 16. burn and consume that seat of the Beast Many other Cities and Towns are also greatly frequented upon superstitious Accounts by Strangers as Loretto in Italy S Michael in France Compostella in Spain and many other places altho rough and almost inaccessible But now when Light hath discovered these Antichristian-Delusions I think we should study upon more Christian Accounts to invite Strangers as was said in the beginning of this Chapter by being through divine Grace a holy People living in the true fear of GOD and in love to his holy Image where ever it is to be seen by an holy and blameless Conversation Though there be a difference in Judgement in most Cities now in Brittain let it be our care to love all Men and seek thee good of every one if so be the LORD may bring them to the knowledge of Himself and the acknowledgement of the Truth and walk according to that rule Phillip 3.15 16. This as it is very sutable to Christian Charity and that meekness and moderation that becometh the Gospell so it is very conducible to the greatning of a City and Common-wealth CHAP. XIV Concerning Merchandising HAving touched some Generalls necessary for the prosperity of a Town in the last Chapter I come now to speak of some of them more particularly at some more length and the first is Merchandising Rulers ought to have a speciall care to give all due encouragement to Trading that can be thought upon for by it a Burgh is mostly distinguished from a Countrey-Village rather then by strong Walls or Fortifications as some distinguish without Trade a Town were little better so that Traffick is the very essence and by it the Being and Vitalls of a Burgh or City is mantained First It therefore concerneth Magistrats and Councill to assist yea to own as their propper Concernment all the Intetests that may impare or prejudge the Traffick in all Staple-Commodities when the Supream Authority makes any Act or are like to do any thing that may damnify the same as in highting Customs or Bulzeon These things would be adverted to and all opportunities carefully attended when matters of that nature may be best helped especially at Parliaments for this there is a great necessity to make choise of understanding able and active men to be Commissioners at such times otherwayes it may fall out to be done at such a time that possibly cannot be gotten helped in an Age. Secondly It were good to look well upon all these wayes whereby Trade is prejudiced amongst our selves as to take condign order with Foreâ—allers of Mercats and such raisers and highters of the prices of common Commodities and these that studie to enhance one particular Commoditie in their hands that they may sell and oppress others at their pleasure and many more wayes which others can more easily fall upon that are better acquainted nor I am with the like Thirdly It were very commendable for all that have charge in a City not onely to look to these particulars above mentioned but to be carefull that the Dean of Gild and his Councill of Assessors to whom it would be very propper may set themselves to fall upon the best Overtures for removing of impediments and advancing all means that may make every Trade whether of Scottish Commodities outward or such Forraign Commodities as are brought homeward to prosper and flowrish and then the Councill after mature deliberation had that the means be propper and may be practised without the breach of any duty to the setled Laws of the Kingdom may put to their Authority and so effectually prosecute the samen that no covetous or selfish stickler that may possibly find himself hem'd in from his avaricious and greedy way may be able to gainstand what the Councill hath enacted for the Good and Prosperity of the whole Merchants in common Hobbs in his 2 d. part of his Rudiments of Dominion sayes to this purpose That every Society of men that live in a Corporation together intending the Publick Good of the whole would not rest upon a bare consent to prosecute that and unless there be restraints for fear of punishments on those that out of selfish ends c would obstruct the Wee ll of the Publick so that all mens particular Wills must run in the Will of the Councill or such as are the Governours viz. the major part thereof Fourthly I will not take upon me to mention any particular ways how Traffick may be advanced in Towns it being more propper for a Dean of Gild Court which would be needfull to be alwayes of the ablest and most judicious of the Merchants and such as are of most publick Spirits yet it may not be amiss to offer these things to consideration Consider to what good improvement one man as I have seen in my time did bring the Manufacture of Stockings viz. G. P. in Aberdeen whereby there was a Trade in some measure keeped up not onely with Merchants at the South and West but also with severals that carie them both to England and Ireland and if one man by his own private Industrie did bring the Countrey People to such a perfection in good Stockings what may a Corporation do if a serious care were had for such improvements in this and many other things Secondly Seeing we have Commodities of our own Nation sufficient to bring us home all necessaries from France Holland and the Nations on the Baltick-Sea to serve our Towns and Countries about us onely we have little of our own to send to London and our Neighbour-Nation of England wherefore such of our Nation as travel thither are constrained to caâ—ry in Money to their great expense and hazard â—or to draw Money upon Bill at a dear rate To prevent this if it shall please the LORD who hath in his good Providence united both Nations under one KING as well as in one Protestant Religion and Language to take off these Acts which are made to obstruct the mutuall Freedom and Trade betwixt the Kingdoms or to make up a compleat Union which were rather to be wished it were most expedient to consider what Commodities we have in our Countrey that would go best off there as our Linning-Cloath Linning-Yairne Stockings of all sorts and syzes Furrs Feathers c and such like things as active Merchants might easily find out and would need to keep a good Correspondence at
despaired of that his Mother did hang her self for grief yet afterward coming to more years he attained to such excellency that the most Eloquent Cicero stood not to call him the Prince of Greece and not unworthily seeing he gathered the distressed Forces of Greece when Xerxes with his innumerable Navy began to burn Athens and other Towns and became the Valiant Avenger of his Countrey and compelled that King whom the Seas seemed not sufficient to bear to return with trembling into his own Countrey in a smal fishing boat O that such may be the fruits of many that have long stood as barren Plants in their Generation Let all that are sensibly touched with a deep impression of their unfruitfulness and usless life improve by Faith and Prayer that refreshing Promise Psalm 92.12 13 14. The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our GOD. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing Now the LORD is faithfull And his truth endureth for ever Psal. 117.2 CHAP. IX Anent Envy and Vain-Glory being both Enemies to Vertue IN the next place I would have Counsellours and Citizens watching against Envy whereby a man grieves at his Neighbours Good Prosperity and Success and rejoices at his hurt or when any cross event befalls him If the good of the Common-Wealth were sincerely aimed at it would be the joy of all the Members that the Body were well If any were blest to be an instrument of good to the Publick every Ingenious Person that hath a Publick Spirit would rejoice therein and esteem more of the person and give all the Glory to GOD the cheif Author thereof and would be far from that venemous disposition to detract misconstruct defame or look with an envyous eye upon such as did deserve better from all 2. This evil of Envy rages most against the best deserving and therefore the more hatefull If any one be blessed to be an instrument of good and because thereof be commended by some according to demerit this stirs up Envy in others and occasions detraction and misconstruction of the best deeds or endeavours contrare to the rule of Love 1. Cor. 13.4 5. Charity envyeth not thinketh no evil 3. Envy hath brought ruine to many Famous Cities and Persons It was the misery of Athens that could never endure to see one Citizen become more Famous and Deserving beyond his fellow Citizens but either he was killed banished forefaulted of his Estate or otherwise tempted to put hand in himself It was Envy that was the death of that moral and most strick Philosopher Socrates whom when his Wife Xantippe tho a most perverse Woman and had been a daily Tryall to the Good man yet when she saw the Executioner reaching the Cup of Poison which he was sentenced to drink cryed out That he was an innocent man that was now to dye Socrates answered What thinks thou it better I should dye guilty What may be said of other Famous Athenians whose Glorious Actions both in Peace and War at home and abroad did not honour them with the Glory of Trophies or Triumphs but procured the Punishment of an miserable Exile Themistocles after he had beatten Xerxes in a Sea-Fight and had delivered his Countrey and all Greece from the Command and Tyrrannie of the Barbarians behooved to yeeld to Envy He is rewarded with ten Years Banishment and the best excuse the Athenians could put upon it was that they might bear down his Spirit lest otherwise by Power and Glory he might be lifted up and transgress the bounds of that popular equality that was fit yea they permited Tymocreon a Rhodian Poet to defame him in Verse and to accuse him of Covetousness Unjustice Wickedness and Perjury 5. Aristides who by Vertue and the Glory of his Actions was most Honourable and through his Zeal to Justice was surnamed Just was ejected and banished out of his Countrey though he had preserved enlarged it and with so great Honour made it Famous When he was going out of the Town he lift up his hands to Heaven not with imprecations against his Citizens but prayed to the most High GOD that all things hereafter might befall the Athenians so happily and successfully that there might be no more occasion to remember Aristides Examples might be multiplied to show how Envy hath depressed many excellent Men and rendered them uncapable to do their Countrey or Common-Wealth service 6. But because this is the thing that envyous ones most desire I shall mind them of some Scripturall instances that may deterr them from so base a Vice Let such consider that Envy is a disease that torments themselves more then it can do the person whom they envy Therefore Antisthenes said that as rust eats iron so does envy the person that envyeth Solomon sayes Its rottenness of the bones Prov. 14.30 So David Psal. 112.10 speaking of the envy of the Wicked to the Righteous sayes They shall gnash with the teeth and melt away Iob. 5.2 Envy slayes the silly one 7. It was Envy that made Corah Dathan and Abiram provoke the LORD to cause the Earth open her mouth and swallow them up So Psal. 106.16 compared with Num. 16.30 31. verses Envy was the first rise of the ruine of Pharoah and the Egyptians Exod. 1.9 Behold the People of the Children of Israell are more and mightier then we GOD who is Love it self and takes pleasure to do good and also in the wellfare of all his people cannot endure Envy wherefore if we would approve our selves to be of one Spirit with Him we would not envy the Honor Esteem Riches or any Vertue which others do happily procure but when ever Providence should bless any to be instrumentall of publick Good we take the Obligation as our own thinking our selves bound to recent it as done to our selves 8. But because naturally the Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to Envy Iames 5.5 all persons would need to watch against Vain-Glory and Vaunting as they would wish to be fred from Envy for nothing provokes others more to Envy then the vanity of boasting of their Vertues Worth and of any Good they have done It s good to keep an equality and carry soberly not permiting our selves to be blown up with any wind of vain Conceit or Applause from others nor to hunt after it Many Heathens have given eminent Examples of Moderation in shunning all causes of Envy some have removed themselves from their Native Countrey of purpose to eschew the Envy of their Citizens others have refused Rewards for their most Notable Services As Pittacus Mytelaeneus who was holden for one of the seven Wise Men of Greece for when he had fred his Countrey from Tirrany and had killed Phrynon the Athenian Generall in a singular Combat when the Supream Command of the Common-Wealth was offered to him he
milde and sober as well as severe as in Wisdom and Prudence the severall caises may call for 5. Let not 3 dly the Bretheren of Gild incroach upon the just Liberties of the Trades which I think were rather to be enlarged for the encouragement of Vertue then peremptorâ—ly to be hem'd in where there can be but small prejudice thereby to the Bretheren of Gild and yet great benefit to them By this the Trades might be engaged to consent more freely and cordially to all good Overtures that might advance the Publick Interest of the Town therefore any Favour may be allowed them with Publick Consent that may not tend to set them up in a stated Faction and thereby make a rent in the Body but all things which may evidence the good Respects of the Town to them and encourage them in their Trades to be vertuous and diligent ought freely and kindly to be condescended to 4 ly On the other hand the Trades ought not to envy the Priviledges of the Brethren of Gild but each should be subservient in their places to another neither of them seeking to Remove the antient Land-mark which their Fathers have set Prov 22.28 6. In the second place let due care be taken to suppress Factions and all factious Persons which hath a direct tendency to Discords Hatreds Emulations and many such like bad Vices if this Evil were seriously laid to heart all the means that Wisdom and Prudence could help men to fall upon would be imployed and improven to bear down this of which I have spoke somewhat in the seventh Chapter and therefore shall forbear it now 7. In the third place let Justice be duely administred to all without respect of persons with out fead or favour according to 2. Chron. 19.6 7 I but name this for brevities sake forbear having mentioned it at more length in the 5. Chap. 8. Let fourthly all the Inhabitants study a loving discreet and respectfull cariage to one another according to their Rank in the fear of the LORD and discountenance and bear Testimony against all miscariages that may cross Love and Concord and let all live in a courteous and peaceable Disposition and if there be any mistakes which may readily fall in amongst Neighbours let every one according to their Relation and Place study to clear it and reconcile all disagreeing Parties and look upon these that are apt to kindle discords and prejudices amongst Citizens under what ever pretence to be unworthy to live in civil Society If we be bound to offices of Love to Enemies Exodus 23 45 how much more to our Neighbours and fellow Citizens This would be very lovely both in the sight of GOD and Man according to Psalm 133.1 c throughout O how good and pleasant it is to see Bretheren to dwell together in Unity c. 9 For begetting and mantaining this desirable Blessing of Love and Concord in a City and Common-Wealth Fifthly it would be very conducible to have Societies Fellowships and Fraternities set up in a Town and they to have frequent Meetings for conference about such Affaires as are most pertinent to their Societies and for this end it were good there were commodious publick Houses for their respective Meetings with wayes set down and setled for all Accommodations convenient whereby meetings in Taverns might be evited where there is oftentimes too much Money lavished and the Creatures too much abused and much time mispent where with much sobriety and mutuall assistance they might with due moderation argue and debate about improvement of Traffick in Merchandise and advancing of Trades and Arts and propose Overtures and set down wayes for the same as need should require to call for the Aid Assistance and Authority of the Magistrats and Councill and in all these Meetings care should be taken that no motion might be heard much less entertained that did tend to division just irritation or offence to any within the Common-wealth but let all have one eye to the Glory of GOD their own Good and the Prosperity and Advantage of the whole Incorporation Bodinus in his third book of his Reipublick and seventh chapter towards the end shewes severall Advantages of these Meetings and Societies in Countries and Provinces and particularly in the Province of Languedock in France what great and good things they did which I shall refer to the reader to peruse but generally there is much good to be done to the whole Town when they are discreetly and well ordered By them all abuses may come to be rectified and what is defective supplyed and in a word much reformation attained and advantages improven for the good of every Partie and Members of the Body and much Love Harmony and Concord attained and mantained among all the Inhabitants 10. It were good 6 ly and very expedient that the Inhabitants could come to that degree of Freedom and Brotherly Kindness as cheerfully to entertain each other at Table my meaning is not by Feasting or in any extraordinary way which might tend rather to a prejudice then increase of Love and Friendshipe but that neighbours might be so free and friendly together as to both give and take a part of any homely fare as occasion did offer Cicero called the Table Parens Nutrix Amicitiae The Parent and Nurse of Friendship Lycurgus caused the Lacedemonians eat all together at Publick Tables and upon the Common Charges The Christians in the Primitive times when Love was most remarkable had their Love Feasts and all these were but to nourish and entertain so noble and necessary a Grace as Love and sweet Concord is 11. By this Blessing of Love and Concord how joyntlie all should joyn together in every Overture and motion made for the advantage of the Publick and good of the whole Body that as Prov. 24.26 Every man should kiss the lips of him that gave a good advice though it were with some apparent prejudice to our own particular if it were for a far greater good to the Publick 12. By this we should make the Motto of all the Burrowes be most deservedly called BON-ACCORD and that upon all commendable and Praise Worthy accounts that it should be a delight to all to live together a good example and refreshment to strangers that should see our Love and if we did entertain this Peace within our Walls the LORD would add that inseparable Blessing with it Prosperity should be in our Pallaces Psal. 122.7 And for my part it shall be my Prayer as verse 8. For my Brethren and Companions sakes I will now say Peace be within thee and I will seek thy good CHAP. XI Anent Observation of Laws both Nationall and Municipall THere are two sorts of Laws that our Cities are to observe One is Nationall Laws which are made by the Supream Authority for the good of the wholl Kingdom these ought to be carefully observed and if their be a negleâ—t of them we are lyable to the Penaltie contained
GOD â—o be an instrument of good in his place he â—ust make conscience to look up to GOd â—nd wait upon him for his blessing in all his â—ndertakings Prov. 3.6 If we acknowledge â—e LORD in all our wayes he will direct our â—aths And without this waiting on the LORD or his blessing how can any expect to prosper â— their undertakings and consultations The forecited Author sayes in that same place Ibâ— nunquam res humanae prospere succedunt ubi neâ—gliguntur divinae There human matters never succeed well where divine are neglected And he adds Tit. 4. Let the Council be diligently carefull that what ever is done in the Senate they may have GOD for their Author whose favour being obtained by the Sacrifices of spiritual Prayer nothing can succeed ill nor fall out wrong in thâ— Common-Wealth When a Popish Prelat goeâ— thus far in this matter Professors of Truth should much more depend upon GOD and acknowledge him having many promises annexed to the Dutie as Ierem 29.12 13. Zach. 13.9 Psal. 10.17 Philip. 4.6.7 Prov 15.8 29. Ioh. 16.23 Thus for the dutie of Holiness which is theâ— first branch of Religion CHAP. V. Anent Iustice and Righteousness and the Branches and Effects thereof in a City CIties that would honour GOD aright would studie in all things to be Just and Righteous This Righteousness and Justice of all the blessings oâ— Civil Society is the greatest for â—t layes the foundation of Civil Societie and without it there could be no Civil Societie or Corporation whatsoever yea without it all â—he duties of Holyness and Religion will prove â—o be but Formality and Hypocrisie accorâ—ing to Amos 5.21 22. The propertie of this Divine Vertue is to do wrong to none and â—s the Civilists desyne Justice it is to render â—o every one their due To those that have â—eserved well thanks praise and reward â—nd to offenders rebuke and punishment It is verie notable duty and a branch of this vertue to keep promises pactions â—nd covenants and all such engagemenâ—s â—nd that not onely with Citizens or Strangers with whom we have to do but also with our Enemies There can be no baser imputation â—pon these who have the charge of the Common-Wealth then to break promises and engagements which reproach can never be obâ—iterated by any progress of time as we read of the Carthaginians whom Ennius called Covenant breakers which was the chief cause of the overthrow of that Famous Citie which had so long contended with Rome for the Empire of the World Cicero calls this fidelity a constancie of words and Counsells that all â—e done which are promised Let these therefore who have charge of a City embrace Righteousness from which neither fear nor favour hope nor promâ—ses nor any other allurement ought to diâ—veâ—t them Let this Righteousness appear in all concernments both publick and private weights and measures in guarding against oppression of any doing wrong to none encouraging and defending the just and vertuous and punishing the unjust and vicious From this Vertue when carefully made conscience of their will spring forth many more which will contribute much for the good of an Corporation As Innocencie Freindshipe Concord Kindly Love Thankfullness Courteousness Gentleness all which are Ornaments of the best Citizens The Righteous LORD loveth Righteousness Psal. 11.7 And Blessings are upon the heaâ— of the just Prov. 10 6. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way The righteousness oâ— the upright shall deliver them And to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward Prov. 11.5.6.18 CHAP. VI. Anent Sobriety and Moderation THe third thing that most immediatly relates to the Honour of GOD is a Christian Sobriety and Moderation whereby all pride inordinate passion or hastiness excess of meeat drink and vanity of apparell will be evited Pride and self-conceit hath occasioned manie evils both in Church and State But I shall say as the Apostle said Rom. 12 3. For I say through the grace given to me to every man that is amongst you not to think of himself more highly nor he ought to think but to think soberly according as GOd hath dealt to every man the measure of faith This Vertue will not permit any rash course to be taken but will make men carry themselves moderatly both in Prosperity and Adversity This will not let Rulers imperiously Command as through passion or hastiness to abuse the Citizens and to encroach upon their just liberties and priviledges but wisely and moderatly perswade and exhort where that can take effect and to do nothing by force because power is in their hands which is very unsuteable yea most detestable in a free City and amongst a free people unless inevitable necessity require it This will not permit a Magistrate to be elated or lifted up in his mind but will suppress that vanity and ostentation that many are subject to Valerius Publicola was most imitable in this That when the people of Rome had expelled their Kings and they with the Senate had conferred the supream Authority upon him yet he used it most soberly and modestly and of his own accord assumed Spurius Lucretius for his Collegue and because he was a man of a greater age caused transferr the Rods or Magistraticall Ensignes on him By the exercise of this Vertue all excess in meat and drink will be eschewed and all vanity or prodigality in apparell evited and curbed and here I cannot but mention the commendable Laws made by Zaleucus to the Locrenses to this purpose Amongst many good Laws for that Common-Wealth to bear down the pride of women He appointed that no woman whatsoever should wear Gold or any precious or costly Garments unless they did publickly profess themselves Whores nor that men should wear Gold-Rings or Milesian-Garments unless they should be looked upon as Whore-Masters or Adulterers whereby Diodorus sayes through fear of reproach and shame he did most wisely curb all excess and superfluitie which are amongst the Vices that wrong a Citie or Common-Wealth If there were more of this Vertue in Cities there would not be such unlimited deboarding in rich and costly Apparell that there is nothing the most Noble in the Land can wear but Citizens Wives and Daughters yea sometimes of the meaner quality must have it if they can reach it It were very suteable to the Wisdom of a grave Senate by Penall Laws to restrain these excesses which neither GODS Law nor Conscience can bear down It s sad to see when diverse Acts of Parliament have been made to restrain this excess and yet that Magistrats and Councils should let them perish through their slackness and want of Zeal to the Publick Good The best fruits of this Prodigalitie in a Citie is to uphold and increase Pride Emulation Lust and to diminish particular mens Estates which should relieve and uphold the Common-Wealth under incident Burdens It were more praise worthie if the expense made upon costly Apparel beyond what might
refused it and when his Countrey-Men offered him great and large Lands he requested that they would not give him what many would envy and many more covet Wherefore of all these sayes he I will have no more but so much as may declare the moderation of my Spirit and be testimony of your Good Will towards me for lesser Gifts and Rewards are of greater duration and great things are scarce thought a mans own I might add many more Instances of the like Sobriety and Moderation in great Persons from several Histories particularly from the Famous and ever to be Honoured Common-Wealth of Venice where it may be observed that there was very little personall Ambition or Affection of airie Applause for all they contended was for the Good of their Native Countrey and Wealth and Honour thereof for they would not admit of Sumptuous Tombs nor Magnifick Statues nor the Warlick Ensignes of their Glorious Victories to be set up as the lasting Monuments of their Vertuous Atchievments but to give one of the many of such instances Caspar Conterenus that Noble Venetian in the description of the Venetian Common-Wealth showes for proof of this that Andreas Contarenus Duke of Venice dying shortly after that most remarkable Overthrow he had given the Genoaves prohibited by his Latter-Will that no Ensignes or Ducall Coat of Armes neither his own propper Escotcheon or Name should be engraven on his Tomb that no person might know where such a Worthy and Well Deserving Person was interred This and the like may check the airie and vain Spirits that hunt after the vain applause of the World 9. The Apostle gives an excellent Direction which all that have a right esteem of Gospel Rules will walk by Philip. 2.3 Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowlyness of mind let each esteem other better then himself Again Gal. 5.26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory provocking one another envying one another 10. As for Avarice which is a most dangerous and destructive evil to a Common-wealth when it gets place in the hearts of Rulers it s so gross a Vice in publick Persons and I having never seen nor known any prejudice done by any in power within the City I live in to the common Treasurie or damnage thereof I shall not insist on it GOD Himself having by Jethro given it as a speciall Qualification of all that should be in Authority that they should be men Hating Covetousness Exod. 18.21 Thus having touched at some speciall Evils very prejudiciall to a City I shall in the next place fall to speak somewhat of the particulars which the Town-Councill should be carefull to cherish for promoving the good and wellfare of their Corporation CHAP. X. Anent Love and Concord as the surest foundation of a Kingdom City or Common-wealth THe foundation of all Kingdoms Common-wealths Cityes Societies and Families is LOVE and CONCORD for as our Lord said Mat. 12.25 Every Kingdom divided against it self is brought to desolation and every City or House divided against it self shall not stand This may alone suffice to discover the absolute necessity oâ— Concord and sweet Harmony in a City and Common-wealth therefore have I chosen to lay iâ— down in the first place as the only and surâ— foundation of a happy and prosperous City For what is the Origen of a City or Civil Society but an harmonious Concord and Agreement to live together for mutuall Aid and Assistancâ— in all common Concernments and when thiâ— common and necessary principle is forgotten and every one minds mostly his own things with the utter neglect of the common-Good it may be said that People and Place are going to ruine And in no Age since the World was can any instance be given where such a City or People did prosper multitudes of instances may be given where it was the dismall presage of an inevitable destruction and that of the most famous and magnificent Cities in the World To forbear the many miserable effects which at first view are obvious to any judicious beholder where this Vertue is wanting I shall instance but this one Evil which is an inevitable consequent thereof and it is this Every motion that can be made for the publick Good though with demonstration of never so much advantage if it but cross the particular interest of any Partie or Person yea because it proceedeth from such a person or partie it is forthwith opposed crushed and utterly husht down by these concerned and all their Witt Power and Moyen laid out for that end Whereas â—f there be Love and Harmonious Concord amongst â—he Inhabitants all will joyn as one-man to â—romote every Motion that may further the Publick Good 2. Wherefore I judge it a chief Duty lyâ—ng upon all in Charge or that have any Place â—r Authority in a Common-Wealth to lay themâ—elves out in the pursuit of so great a Benefit and seeing this is so necessar and conduceable for the good of a Corporation I shall propose these few means that may contribute for the attainment and preservation thereof when attained 3. In the first place let there be care taken that all Ranks of Persons have their due Liberties and Priviledges preserved according to the Rules and Constitutions of the Common-Wealth for incroachments upon these have caused great agitations yea many alterations in the Governments of Cities and sometimes have hazarded the ruine thereof from this General I shall instance some Particulars 4. Let the People bewar first of encroaching upon the Priviledges of the Councill and Magistrats which cannot be done without Mutinies and seditious Meetings and the most effectuall way to prevent this Secondly That the Magistrats and Councill be very tender of the Priviledges and Liberties of the People to do nothing against them by force or oppression Hence it was that the People of Rome rose up against the Decem-viri when they perceived them to exercise Tirranny and Oppression under the covert of Authority Therefore by sedition and slaughter they were thrust out and a new Government erected So also the Thirty Praetors of Athens whom Lysander the Lacedemonian had set up after they had with Poison and Sword destroyed many Famous Worthie Men were destroyed and overturned by Thrasibulus which Socrates that Divine Philosopher foretold before he drank that deadly Poisonous Cup at their Decree Therefore Magistrats would rather moderate their Power by Authority then bend and strain it up to the hight Thus wisely Theopompus did bow the Royal Authority amongst the Lacedemonians to a certain mediocrity and was the first setter up of the Epheri from amongst the Common People like the Tribuns amongst the Romans and when he was Taxed by his Wife as in scorn Thinks thou not shame said she that thou leaves thy Son with less Royal Authority and Power then thou got from thy Ancestors He answered wisely O Woman I do not leave them less but a far more strong and lasting Authority Magistrats would be
is not onely Blessed with many Personall and Domestick Advantages to these that carefully and prudently follow the same so it hath its own advantages for the good of the City As First the Off-spring of Old Families will not be a burden to the Town which oftentimes gives occasion of reproach to Latter-in-comers to upbraid them and burie the Vertues and good Offices their Worthy Ancestors have manifested in their time to the advantage of the Common-wealth in utter oblivion It could not but move the beholders to see M. Hortalus the onely Stock of the Noble Hortensian Family to plead for Charity with his four Children in his hand before the Emperour Tiberius and the Lords of the Senate of Rome laying out his Poverty before them tho he was descended of so many Consuls and Dictators yet through want of honest Industrie or that Frugality requisit had fallen into extream necessity whereas if he or his immediat Parents had not through Ambition wasted or through idleness suffered their Estates to ruine as the Emperors answer to him did insinuat he and they might have prevented this shame Cor. Tacitus lib. 2.8 Secondly In like manner by this the Town is better furnished with able and understanding men for Rule and Government and better management of the Towns effairs seeing it is evident that these who are born and bred in the Town are for most part better educated in Learning and brought up more carefully at Schools then Strangers or Countrey-people are who for most part come from the Countrey to be Merchants and Trades-men in Burghs As also many Towns-Youths have occasion to be bred in Forraign Countries and thereby to attain better accomplishments then others who never had such opportunities so that they may be farr more usefull and skilfull for publick effaires then others Thirdly By this Old Families may be continued to many Generations through the blessing of GOD if not in growing prosperity in Wealth Credit and Esteem at least in a continuance of what hath been already attained thereof as hath been seen in many great and flourishing Cities abroad whereof abundance could be instanced And this would wear out the common reproach put upon Cities by the indiscreeter sort of Gentrie who look on them as Carles and base spirited-men which is mostly occasioned by the frequent access of too many that are such who take up Trafficking and Merchandising and supplie the roomes of many of these who think themselves too good to Trade And seeing there is nothing can make a man more properly a Gentleman then Vertue and descent from vertuous persons by Birth and Antiquity joyned with a competent Estate and Living and good accomplishments of the mind our Cities being furnished with the Off-spring of old Inhabitants well educated and bred and vertuous in their Callings and Behaviours might upon good ground be reputed Gentlemen as well as many others that without question are held so seeing that Merchandiseing in it self may be esteemed as consistent with a Gentleman as Tillage of the Land may be to these Gentlemen who labour their own Lands which doubtless is very commendable in it self and becoming the Greatest Persons seeing the Spirit of GOD gives this Counsell by a Royall and Princely Hand as the Pen-man Prov. 12.11 He that tilleth his Land shall be satisfied with bread but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding The meaning whereof is very plain preferring Industrie in the most common and ordinary Calling to an idle life under what ever pretence of Gentility esteeming such in plain termes fools and void of understanding Fourthly By this our Cities and Towns would be better furnished of publick Spirits that would be more tender of the good of the Common-wealth for it is without all doubt that when the Inhabitants are born and bred in the Town and it may be descended of severall Generations of Ancient Citizens they will not onely be more ready to lay out their pains and labour for the Credit and good of the Town but will more willingly spend and be spent yea lay down their lives if called thereto then probably can be expected from New-incomers who cannot have that naturall love and respect to the place which others cannot but have Hence it is reported of the Generous Romans that after the battell at Cannae when almost all ground of hope was lost of preserving Rome Florus lib. 2. cap. 6. said Aerario deficiente privati opes suas Reip. conferunt That is When the Thesaurie was exhausted all the privat men bestowed their Wealth upon the Publict I would have all Citizens to consider the way and manner of the most flowrishing Cities abroad where Traffick and all kind of Trade is vigorously prosecuted to the great encrease of Wealth and Prosperity and that by the most considerable men in their Towns some one way and some another by Mechanick-Trades as well as by Merchandiseing Let all inform themselves of the Industry of the Inhabitants of the Towns of the United-Provinces who by their pains and industry in their severall Callings are become so great and powerfull yea â—ormidable that there is no KING nor PRINCE â—n Europe but will honour them with the Title â—f High and Mighty Lords whereby they have â—aunted the pride of the Spaniard and more â—hen once coped with the most Powerfull PRINCES in Christendom Let also the Inâ—ustry of the Hans-Towns in Germany and â—he Cities on the Baltick Sea be considered and that it is that makes each of them so considerable as they are It is reported that the Grand-Seigneor aâ—ongst the Turks who is one of the greatest PRINCES of the World that even he must â—lso have some Handy-Trade such is the reâ—pect that even Infidels put upon Vertue when â—any that are called Christians are in this worse â—en Infidels who refuse to provide for their â—amilies by commendable and vertuous Calâ—â—ngs and Employments By these and the â—ke considerations I earnestly intreat that all â—ur Inhabitants of what ever rank or quality â—ey be would seriously ponder the great imâ—ortance of Trading every one according to their Talent and Ability and that the meanest may be encouraged in all fit wayes becoming especially Young Men. The Romans thought this much worth the noticeing for they Crowned publickly all Young Men that were studious of vertuous Exercises and Employments with Corona Populea with Poplar leaves as I touched in the twentyfifth Chapter of this Book CHAP. XXVIII Directed to the Inhabitants and Free-men of Cities IT may be easily beleeved how much of the wellfare of every particular Citizen depends upon the well-being of the publick Estate and Condition of their respective Towns for a City or Common-Wealth is but one Body as was well expressed by one showing it was as absurd for the Members of the Common-wealth to grudge to contribute their uttermost endeavours for the Publick good as it were for the Members of the naturall Body of a Man to repyne against the Stomack because
Plenty and Prospeâ—â—ty upon us according to Isa. 62.4 Thou â—â—alt no more be termed forsaken neither shall thy â—â—nd any more be termed desolate but thou shalt be â—â—lled Hephzibah and thy land Benlah for the â—ORD delyteth in thee and thy land shall be â—arried It is well worth the noticeing what Bodin 〈◊〉 his third book of his Republick Chap. 7. Pag. â—2 writs of the Province of Languedock in France at the Nobility and Gentry of that Countrey in their conventions had ordered 1200 Livers or an hundred pound sterling yearly for training up the Youth of that whole Countrey in the City of Nimes besides what was done by other Societies and that they builded brave Fortresses or Forts in the Kingdom That they caused execute Buzac who was the most noble and notable Volens or Robber in that Age whom neither Judge nor Magistrat no nor the Parliament of Tholouse it self could get any order taken with Also they appointed other great sums for other brave uses and ends of publick concernment And so goeth on to shew the great profit which accrues to a Nation or Countrey by such conventions and societies and showes that these were better governed in the Cantons of the Switzers then in any other part of the World for every Canton yea every rank of men as Merchants and Trades had their common and general Meetings there for the good of the Publick Also that the ten Circuits of the Empire of Germany have their distinct Meetings a part all which are in such order and correspondence one with another that the Empyre sayes he would have long agoe been brought to ruine had not this Policy and Government prevented it It were much to be wished that there were appointed dyers of Meeting from that Love and Friendship which ought to be amongst Neighbours and Relations in the bounds of every Presbitry or Parish and it were expedient that some Justice of Peace might be present where conveniently they may be had to confer what might tend to the good of the bounds within their precincts and accordingly â—o put such things in practice and to prepare Overtures at every such meeting for the good of â—he whole This questionless would greatly â—end to the good of the Land and would â—ypen matters not onely for more publick conventions but also for a Parliament when â—uch occasion offered or for any other meetâ—ngs which the Kings Councill appoints as they â—id lately for repairing Hye-Wayes and Bridges Every Parish might have their Heritors with â—uch others of the discreetest of their Yeomanrie â—o meet once or twise every Moneth in a conâ—enient House unless it be in Winter which â—ere a mean to preserve freedom and friendship â—n the Parish where they might confer at large â—nent the general Concernments thereof as the â—roportioning of the Cess or other Subsidies â—nd laying down a way for a publick Purse â—r defraying publick Charges of the Parish â—roviding for the Poor mending Hye-Wayes Bridges and Calsies within their bounds and â—â—king course with idle persons Numa Pompilius King and Law-giver to the â—omans Solon and Lycurgus these Graecian-Lawâ—â—vers were much for such Meetings and Fraternities and all such means as might tend to beget and confirm Friendship and Love and advance the common interest see Plutarch on Solon and Lycurgus lives These are but a few hints of such Vertuous Employments and Improvments as our Great Men might lay themselves out in which is humbly conceived might tend much to the Honour of GOD Good of the Countrey and profit of Posterity if effectually prosecuted But because many great Wits are ready to reject every motion which flowes not from themselves or from some of a higher station then they are and forâ—this end raise objections against such things I shall answere this with one singular observation of the forementioned French Author Bodinus in his fourth book Pag. 593. There are sayes he two remarkable faults which oftentimes men of sharpest spirits fall into concerning the Government of Societies c. One is that they look narrowly to the inconvenients of a Law or of a good motion without considering the good that may flow from it The other is they run from one extream to another So I shall wish the Benefits which may flow from this may be laid in the ballance against any inconvenients which men can imagin can follow upon this Next I wish such may not run from the diligent and carefull observation of such good Overtures and profitable Motions to a supine and totall neglect of all that may tend to the Glory of GOD good of the Countrey and of their Posterity but rather as I hinted in the beginning may improve their accutest Parts and more noble Enduements to fall upon a way of prosecuting these Honorable Ends â—o the compleatest period In which caice I have attained all I ever aimed at being a true Zelot of the Publick Good and in soberness â—hall close with one that was a good Countrey-man in his time who said Vive vale si quid novisti rectius istis Candidus imperti si non his utere mecum Englished thus Live and farewell if better things thou knows Impairt them freely if not make use of those PHILOPOLITEIUS A Succinct SURVEY Of the famous CITY OF ABERDEEN With its Situation Description Antiquity Fidelity and Loyalty to their SOVERAIGNES AS ALSO The gracious Rewards conferred thereon and the signall Evidences of Honour put upon many chief MAGISTRATS thereof With a Catalogue of THEM since the CITY was burn'd for LOYALTY about the Year 1330. TOGETHER WITH The Epigrams of ARTHUR JOHNSTOUN Doctor of Medicin upon the said CITY and severall other of the Principall ROYALL-BURGHS in this Ancient Kingdom of SCOTLAND Translated into English by I B. By a Zealous Lover of BON-ACCORD 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aberdeen Printed by Iohn Forbes 1685. BON ACCORD Insignia Vrbis abredonie Psal. 87 4. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me behold Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia this man was born there vers 6. The LORD shall count when he writeth up the people that this man was born there Prov. 17.6 The glory of children are their fathers Philip. 4.8 Finally brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise think on these things Unto the Right Honorable SIR GEORGE SKENE of Fintray Lord Provest ALEXR. ALEXANDER Bailie WALTER ROBERTSON Bailie ALEXANDER GORDON Bailie ANDREW MITCHELL Bailie PATRICK GELLIE Dean of Gild JOHN GORDON Thesaurer And to the rest of the Honorable Councill of the City of ABERDEEN RIGHT HONORABLE It hath been the â—avourable Advantage and signall Providence that hath attended Aberdeen for many Ages that it hath had a honorable Character among the Burghs of Scotland which I wish may never declyne the sense whereof made me