356 OF A DIGEST OF LAWS. 



true, the best thing is water : for common and trivial 

 things are many times the best, and rather despised 

 upon pride, because they are vulgar, than upon 

 cause or use. Certain it is, that the laws of those 

 three lawgivers had great prerogatives. The first 

 of fame, because they were the pattern amongst the 

 Grecians : the second of lasting, for they continued 

 longest without alteration : the third, of a spirit of 

 reviver, to be often oppressed, and often restored. 



Amongst the seven kings of Rome four were 

 law-givers : for it is most true, that a discourser of 

 Italy saith ; &quot; there was never state so well swaddled 

 &quot; in the infancy, as the Roman was by the virtue of 

 &quot; their first kings ; which was a principal cause of 

 &quot; the wonderful growth of that state in after-times.&quot; 



The Decemvirs laws were laws upon laws, not 

 the original ; for they grafted laws of Gracia upon 

 the Roman stock of laws and customs : but such was 

 their success, as the twelve tables which they com 

 piled were the main body of the laws which framed 

 and wielded the great body of that estate. These 

 lasted a long time, with some supplementals and the 

 Prctorian edicts &quot; in albo ;&quot; which were, in respect 

 of laws, as writing tables in respect of brass ; the 

 one to be put in and out, as the other is permanent. 

 Lucius Cornelius Sylla reformed the laws of Rome : 

 for that man had three singularities, which never 

 tyrant had but he ; that he was a lawgiver, that 

 he took part with the nobility, and that he turned 

 private man, not upon fear, but upon confidence. 



Caesar long after desired to imitate him only in 



