The lawe is herein to be praised, that willeth the coūsail
of the parentes & frendes, to be knowne before the contracte.
Upon a Lawe alledged, worthelie matter maie rise, waigh-
yng the godlie ende, whereunto the Lawe was firste inuen-
ted, decreed and stablished, what profite thereof ensueth and
foloweth. What it is to vertue a mainteiner, otherwise if it
be not profitable? What moued any one to frame and ordain
soche a Lawe, as was to a common wealthe vnprofitable, to
vertue no aider, if it were a profitable Lawe and godlie, it is
as Demosthenes saieth, of God inuented, though by famous
Lawe. wise, and godlie menne, stablished and decréed. Good Lawes
tempereth to all states equitee and iustice, without fauour or
frendship, no more to the one then the other.
The order to make an Oracion by a lawe, is in this sort.
First, make a prohemiū or beginning to enter your matter.
In the seconde place, adde a contrary to that, whiche you
will entreate vpon.
Then shewe it lawful.
Iuste.
Profitable.
Possible.
You maie as in Thesis, whiche was the Oracion before,
vse a contradiction or obiection: and to that make an answere
or solucion.
¶ A confutacion of that Lawe, whiche suffered
adultrie to bee punished with death, no
iudgement giuen thereupon.
The moste
rigorous and
moste cruell
lawe of Solō[.]