Epistle VII. To Calvisius.
by
the Same. [Mr. Henley.]
[_]
On the Will of Saturninus.
IT Is notorious, that a Township can be neither appointed an Heir, nor make the first Demand upon a Will.
But Saturninus, who has left me his Heir, has bequeath'd a fourth Part of his Estate to our Town,
and then fix'd that Fourth to 400000 Sesterces: This, in the Eye of the Law,
is Null, but in the Intention of the Deceas'd, is firm and valid. Now to me,
the Will of the Defunct (tho' I am afraid the Lawyers may take amiss what I shall say) is more important than the Law;
especially in a Devise which is made to our common Country. What probability is there,
that after having given it 1200000 Sesterces of my own Estate, I should deny it something more than a Third Part of 400000,
of what is come to me from another Hand? I know too, that you are not disinclin'd to my Opinion,
since you have the Affection of a very worthy Citizen to the same Body.
I would therefore desire you, at the next Meeting of the Decurions,
to shew, what the Law is; yet in a sparing and modest
manner; and then add, that I offer 400000 Sesterces, according to the Will of
Saturninus. Let this be call'd his Gift, his Benefaction, but only my Obedience to his Pleasure.
I would not write this publickly to the Court; my Confidence in your Friendship,
and good Sense, persuaded me that you would speak for me upon this occasion,
as you would for your self: And I was afraid, that my Letter might seem to depart from that just Mean,
which you might easily preserve in your Discourse. For the Personal Air,
the Gesture, the Tone of the Voice itself, determine the Sense what is spoken,
but a Letter, destitute of all these Recommendations, is left naked to every malicious Construction.
Farewell.
