THE
TRANSLATORS
TO THE
READER.
The beſt things have been calumniated.Zeal to promote the common good, whether it be by deviſing any thing 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 in ſtead of thanks: and if there be any hole left for cavil to enter, (and cavil, if it do not find an 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 thing 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 Churchmaintenance, (that we ſpeak of no more things of this kind) ſhould be as ſafe as a ſanctuary, and || ἔξω βέλους. || out of ſhot, as they ſay, that no man would lift up his heel, no, nor dog move his tongue againſt the motioners of them. For by the firſt we are diſtinguished from brute beaſts led 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.
Anacharſis, with others.Yet for all that, the learned know, that certain worthy men have been brought to untimely death for none other fault, but for ſeeking to reduce their countrymen to good order and diſcipline: In Athens: witneſs Libanius in Olynth.
Demoſth.And that in ſome Commonweals 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:Cato the elder. And that certain, 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, againſt Churchmaintenance 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 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, &c. 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 2 Sam. 11. 25.the ſword devoureth as well one as another, 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 1 Kings 22. 31.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 the chiefeſt. David was a worthy prince, and no man to be compared to him for his firſt deeds; and yet for as worthy an 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.2 Sam. 6. 16. 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 an 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 of it. Otherwiſe why do they lay it in his ſon's diſh, and call unto him for †† σεισάχθειαν eaſing of the burden? Make, ſay they, the grievous ſervitude of thy father, and his ſore yoke, lighter.1 Kings 12. 4. 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 one's conſcience.
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 arrogancy, and procured to him great obloquy. Conſtantine.So the firſt Chriſtened Emperor (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, Aurel. Vict. that had need of a guardian or overſeer. So the beſt Chriſtened Emperor, Theodoſius. for the love that he bare unto peace, Zoſimus. thereby to enrich both himſelf and his ſubjects, and becauſe he did not ſeek war, but find it, was judged to be no man at arms, (though indeed he excelled in feats of chivalry, and ſhewed ſo
