mitre-fish

Updated: May 5, 2025

The great ecclesiastical benefices were equally matter of merchandise, and married men, women, unborn children, enjoyed revenues as dignitaries of the church. Infants came into the world, it was said, like the mitre-fish, stamped with the emblems of place. "'Twas impossible," said L'Etoile, "to find a crab so tortuous and backsliding as the government."

John Lothrop Motley - History of the United Netherlands from the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce — Complete (1584-86)

The great ecclesiastical benefices were equally matter of merchandise, and married men, women, unborn children, enjoyed revenues as dignitaries of the church. Infants came into the world, it was said, like the mitre-fish, stamped with the emblems of place. "'Twas impossible," said L'Etoile, "to find a crab so tortuous and backsliding as the government."

John Lothrop Motley - PG Edition of Netherlands series — Complete

The great ecclesiastical benefices were equally matter of merchandise, and married men, women, unborn children, enjoyed revenues as dignitaries of the church. Infants came into the world, it was said, like the mitre-fish, stamped with the emblems of place. "'Twas impossible," said L'Etoile, "to find a crab so tortuous and backsliding as the government."

John Lothrop Motley - History of the United Netherlands from the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce, 1584

The great ecclesiastical benefices were equally matter of merchandise, and married men, women, unborn children, enjoyed revenues as dignitaries of the church. Infants came into the world, it was said, like the mitre-fish, stamped with the emblems of place. "'Twas impossible," said L'Etoile, "to find a crab so tortuous and backsliding as the government."

John Lothrop Motley - History of the United Netherlands from the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce — Complete (1584-1609)