An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowedAn exposition of Salomons booke called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seene and allowed

I have seen an evil sickness under the sun, to wit, riches conserved to the owners for their evil. And these riches perish by evil travel, and he begetteth a son, and in his hand is nothing.

I haue seene an euill sicknes vnder the sunne, to wyt, ryches conserued to the owners for their euill. And these riches perish by euell trauell, and he begetteth a sonne, and in his hand is nothing.

This also is a most vain misery in the life of man, not come in deed to all men, but yet such as is daily seen, how ⟨image 92⟩riches are reserved to the mischief of the master and gatherer.¹ Solomon complaineth that this is not only a misery in such men, but also that we see such things come to pass in the world, though we be free from them.² For how many have ben privily slain in their own houses, in our days, because of their riches. Had not the Duke of Bavaria in our days a great mass of gold,³ a tower full of gold? But this gold purchased war unto the Duke, and calamity to the whole land. And scarce any Princes have left great riches behind them, but they have been the destruction of the whole Country, as Julius Caesar turned the Treasury of Rome to the destruction of the City. Our Bishops gathered treasure together, but only for a mischief, for none was the better for them, & that causeth the Burros, and people of the Country to rise. Now also they hold on in gathering, and fleecing of the people, but they will not leave, till such come as shall take from them that they gather, with their own destruction.