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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 [Nauclerus], 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
], 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:”
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
]. 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?” [
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.
If we will descend to later times, we shall find many the like examples of such kind, or rather
unkind acceptance. The first Roman Emperor [C. Caesar. Plutarch] did never do a more pleasing
deed to the learned, nor more profitable to posterity, for conserving the record of times in true
supputation; than when he corrected the Calendar, and ordered the year according to the course of
the Sun; and yet this was imputed to him for novelty, and arrogance, and procured to him great
obloguy. So the first Christened Emperor [Constantine] (at the least-wise that openly professed the
faith himself, and allowed others to do the like) for strengthening the Empire at his great charges,
and providing for the Church, as he did, got for his labour the name Pupillus, as who would say, a
wasteful Prince, that had need of a Guardian or overseer [Aurel. Victor]. So the best Christened
Emperor [Theodosius], for the love that he bare unto peace, thereby to enrich both himself and his
subjects, and because he did not see war but find it, was judged to be no man at arms [Zosimus],
(though indeed he excelled in feats of chivalry, and showed so much when he was provoked) and
condemned for giving himself to his ease, and to his pleasure. To be short, the most learned Emperor
of former times [Justinian], (at the least, the greatest politician) what thanks had he for cutting off
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