THE LAWS OF ENGLAND. 330 



he could not well brook the Persian adoration ; at a 

 supper, which with the Grecians was ever a great 

 part talk, was desired, because he was an eloquent 

 man, to speak of some theme ; which he did, and 

 chose for his theme the praise of the Macedonian 

 nation ; which though it were but a filling thing to 

 praise men to their faces, yet he did it with such 

 advantage of truth, and avoidance of flattery, and 

 with such life, as the hearers were so ravished with 

 it that they plucked the roses off from their garlands, 

 and threw them upon him ; as the manner of ap 

 plauses then was. Alexander was not pleased with 

 it, and by way of discountenance said, It was easy 

 to be a good orator in a pleasing theme : &quot; But,&quot; 

 saith he to Callisthenes, &quot; turn your style, and tell us 

 &quot; now of our faults, that we may have the profit, 

 &quot; and not you only the praise ;&quot; which he presently 

 did with such a force, and so piquantly, that Alex 

 ander said, The goodness of his theme had made 

 him eloquent before ; but now it was the malice of 

 his heart, that had inspired him. 



1. Sir, I shall not fall into either of those two 

 extremes, concerning the laws of England ; they 

 commend themselves best to them that understand 

 them ; and your majesty s chief justice of your bench 

 hath in his writings magnified them not without cause : 

 certainly they are wise, they are just and moderate 

 laws ; they give to God, they give to Cassar, they give 

 to the subjects, that which appertaineth. It is true, 

 they are as mixt as our language, compounded of 

 British, Roman, Saxon, Danish, Norman customs 



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