THE TRANSLATORS
TO THE READER.
The beſt things haue been calumniated.
Later spelling with notes
Zeal to promote the common good, whether it be by devising anything ourselves, or revising that which hath been laboured by others, deserveth certainly much respect and esteem, but yet findeth but cold entertainment in the world. It is welcomed with suspicion instead of love, and with emulation instead of thanks: and if there be any hole left for cavil to enter, (and cavil, if it do not find a hole, will make one) it is sure to be misconstrued, and in danger to be condemned. This will easily be granted by as many as know story, or have any experience. For, was there ever any-projected, that savoured any way of newness or renewing, but the same endured many a storm of gainsaying, or opposition? A man would think that Civility, wholesome Laws, learning and eloquence, Synods, and Church-maintenance, (that we speak of no more things of this kind) should be as safe as a Sanctuary, and out of shot, [1] as they say, that no man would lift up the heel, no, nor dog move his tongue against the motioners of them. For by the first, we are distinguished from brute beasts lead with sensuality; By the second, we are bridled and restrained from outrageous behaviour, and from doing of injuries, whether by fraud or by violence; By the third, we are enabled to inform and reform others, by the light and feeling that we have attained unto ourselves; Briefly, by the fourth being brought together to a parley face to face, we sooner compose our differences than by writings which are endless; And lastly, that the Church be sufficiently provided for, is so agreeable to good reason and conscience, that those mothers are holden to be less cruel, that kill their children as soon as they are born, than those nursing fathers and mothers (wheresoever they be) that withdraw from them who hang upon their breasts (and upon whose breasts again themselves do hang to receive the Spiritual and sincere milk of the word) livelihood and support fit for their estates. Thus it is apparent, that these things which we speak of, are of most necessary use, and therefore, that none, either without absurdity can speak against them, or without note of wickedness can spurn against them.
Original 1611 spelling
ZEale to promote the common good, whether it be by deuiſing any thing our ſelues , or reuiſing that which hath bene laboured by others,deſerueth certainly much reſpect and eſteeme, but yet findeth but cold intertainment in the world. It is welcommed with ſuſpicion in ſtead of loue, and with emulation in ſtead of thanks : and if there be any hole left for cauill to enter,(and cauill,if it doe not finde a hole, will make one) it is ſure to bee miſconſtrued , and in danger to be condemned. This will eaſily be granted by as many as know ſtory , or haue any experience. For , was there euer any thing proiected,that ſauoured any way of newneſſe or renewing,but the ſame endured many a ſtorme of gaine-ſaying, or oppoſition? A man would think that Ciuilitie , holeſome Laws, learning and eloquence,Synods, and Church-maintenance,(that we ſspeake of no more things of this kinde ) ſhould be as ſafe as a Sanctuary , and ‖ out of ſhot , as they say , that no man would lift vp the heele,no,nor dogge mooue his tongue againſt the motioners of them. For by the firſt,we are diſtinguiſhed from bruit-beaſts led with ſenſualitie : By the ſecond, we are bridled and reſtrained from outrageous behauiour,and from doing of iniuries,whether by fraud or by violence : By the third, we are enabled to informe and reforme others,by the light and feeling that we haue attained vnto our ſelues : Briefly,by the fourth being brought together to a parle face to face,we sooner compoſe our differences than by writings,which are endleſſe : And laſtly,that the Church be ſufficiently prouided for,is ſo agreeable to good reaſon and conſcience,that thoſe mothers are holden to be leſſe cruell,that kill their children aſſoone as they are born , than thoſe nourſing fathers and mothers (whereſoeuer they be)that withdraw from them who hang vpon their breaſts (and vpon whoſe breaſts again themſelues doe hang to receiue the Spirituall and ſincere milke of the word) liuelyhood and ſupport fit for their eſtates. Thus it is apparent,that theſe things which we ſpeak of,are of moſt neceſſary vſe,and therefore,that none, either without abſurditie can ſpeake againſt them,or without note of wickedneſſe can ſpurne againſt them.
Marginal Notes
[1] ἔξω βέλους.Yet for all that, the learned know that certain worthy men [2] have been brought to untimely death for none other fault, but for seeking to reduce their Countrymen to good order and discipline; and that in some Commonwealths [3] it was made a capital crime, once to motion the making of a new Law for the abrogating of an old, though the same were most pernicious; And that certain [4], which would be counted pillars of the State, and patterns of Virtue and Prudence, could not be brought for a long time to give way to good Letters and refined speech, but bare themselves as averse from them, as from rocks or boxes of poison; And fourthly, that he was no babe, but a great clerk [5], that gave forth (and in writing to remain to posterity) in passion peradventure, but yet he gave forth, that he had not seen any profit to come by any Synod, or meeting of the Clergy, but rather the contrary; And lastly, against Church-maintenance and allowance, in such sort, as the Ambassadors and messengers of the great King of Kings should be furnished, it is not unknown what a fiction or fable (so it is esteemed, and for no better by the reporter himself [6], though superstitious) was devised; Namely, that at such a time as the professors and teachers of Christianity in the Church of Rome, then a true Church, were liberally endowed, a voice forsooth was heard from heaven, saying: Now is poison poured down into the Church, etc. Thus not only as oft as we speak, as one saith, but also as oft as we do anything of note or consequence, we subject ourselves to everyone’s censure, and happy is he that is least tossed upon tongues; for utterly to escape the snatch of them it is impossible. If any man conceit, that this is the lot and portion of the meaner sort only, and that Princes are privileged by their high estate, he is deceived. “As the sword devoureth as well one as the other,” as it is in Samuel [7], nay as the great Commander charged his soldiers in a certain battle, to strike at no part of the enemy, but at the face; And as the King of Syria commanded his chief Captains to “fight neither with small nor great, save only against the King of Israel:” [8] so it is too true, that Envy striketh most spitefully at the fairest, and at the chiefest. David was a worthy Prince, and no man to be compared to him for his first deeds, and yet for as worthy as act as ever he did (even for bringing back the Ark of God in solemnity) he was scorned and scoffed at by his own wife [9]. Solomon was greater than David, though not in virtue, yet in power: and by his power and wisdom he built a Temple to the Lord, such a one as was the glory of the land of Israel, and the wonder of the whole world. But was that his magnificence liked of by all? We doubt it. Otherwise, why do they lay it in his son’s dish, and call unto him for easing the burden, “Make”, say they, “the grievous servitude of thy father, and his sore yoke, lighter?” [10] Belike he had charged them with some levies, and troubled them with some carriages; Hereupon they raise up a tragedy, and wish in their heart the Temple had never been built. So hard a thing it is to please all, even when we please God best, and do seek to approve ourselves to every ones conscience.Yet for all that,the learned know that certaine worthy men haue been brought to vntimely death for none other fault,but for ſeeking to reduce their Countrey-men to good order and diſcipline : and that in ſome Common-weales it was made a capitall crime,once to motion the making of a new Law for the abrogating of an old,though the ſame were moſt pernicious : And that certaine,which would be counted pillars of the State,and paternes of Vertue and Prudence,could not be brought for a long time to giue way to good Letters and refined ſpeech , but bare themſelues as auerſe from them, as from rocks or boxes of poiſon : And fourthly , that hee was no babe,but a great clearke , that gaue foorth ( and in writing to remaine to poſteritie ) in paſſion peraduenture, but yet he gaue forth, that he had not ſeene any profit to come by any Synode, or meeting of the Clergie,but rather the contrary : And laſtly,againſt Church-maintenance and allowance,in ſuch ſort, as the Embaſſadors and meſſengers of the great King of Kings ſhould be furniſhed, it is not vnknowen what a fiction or fable ( ſo it is eſteemed , and for no better by the reporter himſelfe , though ſuperſtitious ) was deuiſed ; Namely , that at ſuch time as the profeſſours and teachers of Chriſtianitie in the Church of Rome, then a true Church,were liberally endowed,a voyce forſooth was heard from heauen,ſaying; Now is poiſon powred down into the Church,&c. Thus not only as oft as we ſpeake,as one ſaith,but alſo as oft as we do any thing of note or conſequence,we ſubiect our ſelues to euery ones cenſure,and happy is he that is leaſt toſſed vpon tongues ; for vtterly to eſcape the ſnatch of them it is impoſſible. If any man conceit,that this is the lot and portion of the meaner ſort only, and that Princes are priuileged by their high eſtate,he is deceiued. As the ſword deuoureth aſ well one as the other,as it is in Samuel; nay as the great Commander charged his ſouldiers in a certaine battell,to ſtrike at no part of the enemy, but at the face ; And as the King of Syria commanded his chiefe Captaines to fight neither with ſmall nor great , ſaue onely against the King of Israel: ſo it is too true, that Enuie ſtriketh moſt ſpitefully at the faireſt,and at the chiefeſt. Dauid was a worthy Prince , and no man to be compared to him for his firſt deedes , and yet for as worthy as acte as euer he did ( euen for bringing backe the Arke of God in ſolemnitie ) he was ſcorned and ſcoffed at by his own wife. Solomon was greater than Dauid, though not in vertue,yet in power : and by his power and wiſdome he built a Temple to the L O R D, ſuch a one as was the glory of the land of Iſrael, and the wonder of the whole world. But was that his magnificence liked of by all? We doubt it. Otherwiſe , why doe they lay it in his ſonnes diſh, and call vnto him for ‖ eaſing the burden, Make , ſay they ,the grieuous ſeruitude of thy father , and his ſore yoke, lighter. Belike he had charged them with ſome leuies,and troubled them with ſome carriages ; Hereupon they raiſe vp a tragedie , and wiſh in their heart the Temple had neuer bene built. So hard a thing it is to pleaſe all, euen when we pleaſe God beſt, and doe ſeeke to approue our ſelues to euery ones conſcience.
Marginal Notes
[2] Anacharsis with others.
[3] Locri.
[4] Cato the elder.
[5] Gregory the Divine.
[6] Nauclerus.
[7] 2.Sam.11.25.
[8] 1.King. 22.31.
[9] 2.Sam.6.16.
[10] σεισάχθειαν
1.King 12.4