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384 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
generally for every man to obey the lawes of his
country, as is the advise of Socrates, inspired (saith
he) by a divine perswasion. And what else meaneth
she thereby, but only that our devoire or duety hath
no other rule but casuall ? Truth ought to have a like
and universall visage throughout the world. Law and
justice, if man knew any, that had a body and true
essence, he would not fasten it to the condition of this
or that countries customes. It is not according to the
Persians or Indians fantazie that vertue should take
her forme. Nothing is more subject unto a continuall
agitation then the laws. I have, since I was borne,
seene those of our neighbours, the English-men, changed
and re-changed three or foure times, not only in politike
subjects, which is that some will dispense of constancy,
but in the most important subject that possibly can be,
that is to say, in religion : whereof I am so much the
more both grieved and ashamed, because it is a nation
with which my countriemen have heretofore had so
inward and familiar acquaintance, that even to this day
there remaine in my house some ancient monuments of
our former alliance. Nay, I have seene amongst our
selves some things become lawfull which erst were
deemed capitall: and we that hold some others, are
likewise in possibilitie, according to the uncertainty of
warring fortune, one day or other, to be offenders
against the Majestie both of God and man, if our justice
chance to fall under the mercy of justice; and in the
space of few yeares possession, taking a contrary essence.
How could that ancient God more evidently accuse, in
humane knowledge, the ignorance of divine essence,
and teach men that their religion was but a peece of
their owne invention, fit to combine their societie, then
in declaring, as he did, to those which sought the
instruction of it, by his sacred Tripos, that the true
worshipping of God was that which he found to be
observed by the custome of the place where he lived ?
Oh God, what bond or dutie is it that we owe not to
our Soveraigne Creators benignitie, in that he hath
beene pleased to cleare and enfranchize our beliefe from