John Trapp on Ezra 4:13

Verſe 13. Be it knowne now unto the King] q. d. This is no light buſineſſe, but of greateſt importance: and therefore fit to be noted and noticed.

Then will they not pay tole, tribute, &c.] This is an old device of the Devil and his Impes, to repreſent Gods people to the world as Antimagiſtratical, and diſturbers of the publike peace. Thus they dealt by the Primitive Chriſtians, who were the Emperours beſt ſubjects, and yielded them greateſt reſpect and profit. Thus Francis King of France pretended and profeſſed to the Princes of Germany (whoſe friendſhip he deſired) that he purſued the Lutherans with fire and ſword, for no other cauſe but for that they were Levellers, and enemies to civil government. This drew from Calvin (who was then but twenty five years of age) that golden book of his Inſtitutions of Chriſtian Religion, to free the Reformed Churches of that ſlurre and ſlander. The like was ſuggeſted by the Arminians in the Low-countries, and by the Epiſcopal party here. It was in Tacitus his time, unum crimen, eorum qui crimine vacabant, the onely fault of ſuch as were indeed without fault.

And ſo thou ſhalt endamage the revenue] Diminiſh the annual Entrado's of the crowne which are well called the Kings ſtrength here; becauſe if theſe faile, little good can be done, either at home or abroad. Henry King of Navarre (afterwards King of France) was wont to ſay, that he was an husband without a wife, a ſouldier without money, and a King without a Kingdome. What would the King of Spaines greatneſſe ſoon come to, were it not for his yearly incomes, his mines of America?