It was an old saying, _Omnia Romae venalia_ (all things are venal at Rome,)
'tis a rag of Popery, which will never be rooted out, there is no hope, no
good to be done without money. A clerk may offer himself, approve his
[2078]worth, learning, honesty, religion, zeal, they will commend him for
it; but [2079]_probitas laudatur et alget_. If he be a man of extraordinary
parts, they will flock afar off to hear him, as they did in Apuleius, to
see Psyche: _multi mortales confluebant ad videndum saeculi decus, speculum
gloriosum, laudatur ab omnibus, spectatur ob omnibus, nec quisquam non rex,
non regius, cupidus ejus nuptiarium petitor accedit; mirantur quidem
divinam formam omnes, sed ut simulacrum fabre politum mirantur_; many
mortal men came to see fair Psyche the glory of her age, they did admire
her, commend, desire her for her divine beauty, and gaze upon her; but as
on a picture; none would marry her, _quod indotato_, fair Psyche had no
money. [2080]So they do by learning;

[2081] ------"didicit jam dives avarus
Tantum admirari, tantum laudare disertos,
Ut pueri Junonis avem"------

"Your rich men have now learn'd of latter days
T'admire, commend, and come together
To hear and see a worthy scholar speak,
As children do a peacock's feather."

He shall have all the good words that may be given, [2082]a proper man, and
'tis pity he hath no preferment, all good wishes, but inexorable, indurate
as he is, he will not prefer him, though it be in his power, because he is
_indotatus_, he hath no money. Or if he do give him entertainment, let him
be never so well qualified, plead affinity, consanguinity, sufficiency, he
shall serve seven years, as Jacob did for Rachel, before he shall have it.
[2083]If he will enter at first, he must get in at that Simoniacal gate,
come off soundly, and put in good security to perform all covenants, else
he will not deal with, or admit him. But if some poor scholar, some parson
chaff, will offer himself; some trencher chaplain, that will take it to the
halves, thirds, or accepts of what he will give, he is welcome; be
conformable, preach as he will have him, he likes him before a million of
others; for the host is always best cheap: and then as Hierom said to
Cromatius, _patella dignum operculum_, such a patron, such a clerk; the
cure is well supplied, and all parties pleased. So that is still verified
in our age, which [2084]Chrysostom co