Preaching before a king, he declared that the authority of Holy Scripture was above all the powers of the earth. ‘God,’ he said, ‘is great, eternal, almighty, everlasting; and the Scripture, because of him, is also great, eternal, most mighty, and holy.... There is no king, emperor, magistrate, or ruler but is bound to give credence unto this holy word.’[82] He was cautious not to put the ‘two swords’ into the same hand. ‘In this world God hath two Swords,’ he said; ‘the temporal sword resteth in the hands of kings, whereunto all subjects—as well the clergy as the laity—be subject. The spiritual sword is in the hands of the ministers and preachers of God’s Word to correct and reprove. Make not a mingle-mangle of them. To God give thy soul, thy faith; ... to the king, tribute and reverence.[83] Therefore let the preacher amend with spiritual sword, fearing no man, though death should ensue.’[84] Such language astonished the court. ‘Were you at the sermon to day?’ said one of his hearers to a zealous courtier one day. ‘Yes,’ replied the latter. ‘And how did you like the new chaplain?’ ‘Marry, even as I liked him always—a seditious fellow.’[85] [Sidenote: Latimer’s Boldness.] Latimer did not permit himself to be intimidated. Firm in doctrine, he was at the same time eminently practical. He was a moralist; and this may explain how he was able to remain any time at court. Men of the world, who soon grow impatient when you preach to them of the cross, repentance, and change of heart, cannot help approving of those who insist on certain rules of conduct. The king found it convenient to keep a great number of horses in abbeys founded for the support of the poor. One day when Latimer was preaching before him, he said,—‘A prince ought not to prefer his horses above poor men. Abbeys were ordained for the comfort of the poor, and not for kings’ horses to be kept in them.’[86] There was a dead silence in the congregation—no one dared turn his eyes towards Henry—and many showed symptoms of anger. The chaplain had hardly left the pulpit, when a gentleman of the court, the lord-chamberlain apparently, went up to him and asked, ‘What hast thou to do with the king’s horses? They are the maintenances and part of a king’s honor, and also of his realm; wherefore, in speaking against them, ye are against the king’s honor.’ ‘To take away the right of the poor,’ answered Latimer, ‘is against the honor of the king.’ He then added, ‘My lord, God is the grand-master of the king’s house, and will take account of every one that beareth rule therein.’[87] Thus the Reformation undertook to re-establish the rule of conscience even in the courts of princes. Latimer knowing, like Calvin, that ‘the ears of the princes of this world are accustomed to be pampered and flattered,’ armed himself with invincible courage.