Venice, 1568

On this Polish philosopher’s work, the Constitutions of the United States and of Poland were based. The book was published in Latin, De Optimo Senatore, and in the latinized version of that time the author’s name was Laurentius Grimaldus Goslicius. In 1733, Mr. W. Oldisworth of London, translated the book into English, and in the “Dedication” he wrote:

But neither These, nor any other Disturbances whatsoever, had ever happened, if the Principles laid down by Gozlicki, had been duly attended to. Power and Liberty will sometimes be at Variance: But amidst all the Struggles and Contentions of this Sort, POLAND hath preserved its Constitution for a very Long Series of Years, and hath felt none of those Fatal Shocks and Convulsions, which many Popular States and Absolute Monarchies, its Contemporaries, could not get over, without an Alteration or Over throw of their Political Establishment. And as its People have all along been noted for their Great Learning and Knowledge, the Inseparable Companions and Sure Supporters of Liberty, so they have, in the midst of a Disadvantageous Soil and Clime, always maintained a Character of Dignity and Grandeur; have often distinguished themselves by their Wisdom, Bravery, and Conduct; and at one Time particularly, in so Glorious a Manner, that they seemed to have a Good claim to the Title of The Deliverers of Europe from Infidelity and Slavery: On which account, there is perhaps a good deal of Deference due to them; and they may be admitted as Advocates for That Liberty, which by their Arms they so bravely Defended: At least they may expect to be Heard with Patience, upon so Agreeable a Subject, by Us, their Constant and Firm Allies, of whom , for our Love of Liberty, they have had so Good and Opinion, that Remote as we are from Them, they have more than once attempted to set an Englishman upon the Throne of Poland.