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THE TRANSLATORS TO THE READER
Preface to the King James Version of 1611
THE BEST THINGS HAVE BEEN CULMINATED
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, 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.
Yet for all that, the learned know that certain worthy men [Anacharsis with others] have been
brought to untimely death for none other fault, but for seeking to reduce their Countrymen to god
order and discipline; and that in some Commonwealths [e.g. Locri] 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 [Cato the elder], 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 [Gregory the Divine], 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,
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KJV Bible