A68840:1821
Most fruitful [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martyr Vermil Florentine, professor of divinity,…Most fruitfull [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martir Vermil Florentine, professor of deuinitie,…
Most fruitful [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martyr Vermil Florentine, professor of divinity, in the University of Tygure with a very profitable tract of the matter and places. Herein is also added [and] contained two most ample tables, aswell of the matter, as of the words: with an index of the places in the holy scripture. Set forth & allowed, according to the order appointed in the Queens majesties injunctions.Most fruitfull [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martir Vermil Florentine, professor of deuinitie, in the Vniuersitye of Tygure with a very profitable tract of the matter and places. Herein is also added [and] contained two most ample tables, aswel of the matter, as of the wordes: wyth an index of the places in the holy scripture. Set forth & allowed, accordyng to thorder appointed in the Quenes maiesties iniunctions.
London: printed by John Day, 1564London: printed by Iohn Day, 1564
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But the form of magistrates is not one only but many, as Monarchia, Aristocratia, 1& Policia: or Tyrannis, Oligarchia, & Democratia. The descriptions and natures of which forms Plato, Aristotle, and other Philosophers have elegantly taught. Of all those forms the best is to be desired, and all men to whom it pertaineth ought to provide, that a good or tolerable estate degenerate not into an evil one. But if it happen that Tyrants or wicked princes obtain the government of things,2 that is to be suffered as much as is by the word of god lawful. The Jews were by violence oppressed of the Babylonians, whom yet god admonished that they should obey, & to pray for the king, although he were a tyrant, & possessed the kingdom of the Hebrews most wrongfully. Cesar also held Jewry by tyranny, and yet Christ said: Give that which is Caesars unto Caesars, & the things that are of god unto god. The Apostles also have taught that we must obey princes & pray for them. Nero was a most unpure beast, whom yet the Apostle in his Epistle to the Romans declared that he ought to be obeyed, not only for fear, but also for conscience sake. Phocas possessed the empire of Rome by evil arts, most cruelly slew Mauricius his prince, & also his children, whom yet the Romans acknowledged as their Emperor, & Gregory the .i. red unto the people his commandments & writings. If thou wilt demand, what form of a public wealth yt Jews had, it may easily be known by those things which we have in an other place spoken. They had at the beginning this form Aristocratia: for god allowed the counsel of Jethro, which was that there should be chosen out wise men & strong & such as feared god, which should govern the public wealth, as it is written in Exodus & Deut. Yea & god himself did so with his sprite inspire these .70. men, whom he had commanded to be chosen as helpers of Moses, that they also prophesied. So were the Israelite governed, although afterward they were governed by the power of a king.
But the forme of magistrates is not one onely but manye, as Monarchia, Aristocratia, 1& Policia: or Tirannis, Oligarchia, & Democratia. The discriptiōs and natures of which forms Plato, Aristotle, and other Philosophers haue elegantly taught. Of all those formes the best is to be desired, and all men to whome it pertayneth ought to prouide, that a good or tollerable estate degenerate not into an euill one. But if it happen that Tirans or wicked princes obteine the gouernment of thinges,