OF THE PACIFICATION OF THE CHURCH. 67 



moves, a principle move :&quot; and the wisdom of all 

 examples do shew, that the wisest princes, as they 

 have ever been the most sparing in removing or 

 alteration of servants and officers upon their coming 

 in ; so for removing of abuses and enormities, and 

 for reforming of laws, and the policy of their states, 

 they have chiefly sought to ennoble and commend 

 their beginnings therewith ; knowing that the first 

 impression with people continueth long, and when 

 men s minds are most in expectation and suspence, 

 then are they best wrought and managed. And 

 therefore it seemeth to me, that as the spring of na 

 ture, I mean the spring of the year, is the best time 

 for purging and medicining the natural body, so the 

 spring of kingdoms is the most proper season for 

 the purging and rectifying of politic bodies. 



There remaineth yet an objection, rather of 

 suspicion than of reason ; and yet such as I think 

 maketh a great impression in the minds of very wise 

 and well-affected persons ; which is, that if way be 

 given to mutation, though it be in taking away 

 abuses, yet it may so acquaint men with sweetness 

 of change, as it will undermine the stability even of 

 that which is sound and good. This surely had 

 been a good and true allegation in the ancient con 

 tentions and divisions between the people and the 

 senate of Rome ; where things were carried at the 

 appetites of multitudes, which can never keep within 

 the compass of any moderation : but these things 

 being with us to have an orderly passage, under a 

 king who hath a royal power and approved judg- 



