The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

430 OF THE PACIFICATION OF THE CHURCH.
her a competent jointure. Next, to say, that im- before God. But of this point, touching churchpropriations should be only charged, that carrieth maintenance, I do not think fit to enter into farther
neither possibility nor reason. Not possibility, particularity, but reserve the same to a fitter time.
for the reasons touched before: not reason, be- Thus have I in all humbleness and sincerity of
cause, if it be conceived, that if any other person heart, to the best of my understanding, given
be charged, it should he a recharge, or double your majesty's tribute of my cares and cogitacharge, inasmuch as he payeth tithes already, tions in this holy business, so highly tending to
that is a thing mistaken. For it must be remem- God's glory, your majesty's honour, and the
bered, that as the realm gave tithes to the church, peace and welfare of your states: insomuch as I
so the realm since again hath given tithes away am persuaded that the Papists themselves should
from the church unto the king, as they may give not need so much the severity of penal laws, if
their eighth sheaf or ninth sheaf. And, therefore, the sword of the Spirit were better edged, by
the first gift being evacuated, it cannot go in de- strengthening the authority, and suppressing the
feasance or discharge of that perpetual bond, abuses in the church.
wherewith men are bound to maintain God's To conclude, renewing my most humble subministers. And so we see in example, that divers mission of all that I have said to your majesty's
godly and well-disposed persons, not impropria- most high wisdom, and again, most humbly
tors, are content to increase their preachers' craving pardon for any errors committed in this
livings; which, though in law it be but a bene — writing; which the same weakness of judgment
volence, yet before God it is a conscience. Far- that suffered me to commit them, would not suffer
ther, that impropriation should not be somewhat me to discover them, I end with my devout and
more deeply charged than other revenues of like fervent prayer to God, that as he hath made your
value, methinks, cannot well be denied, both in majesty the corner-stone, in joining your two
regard of the ancient claim of the church, and the kingdoms, so you may be also as a corner-stone
intention of the first giver: and, again, because to unite and knit together these differences in the
they have passed in valuation between man and church of God; to whose heavenly grace and
man somewhat at the less rate, in regard of the never-erring direction, I commend your majesty's
said pretence or claim of the church in conscience sacred person, and all your doings.