IT hath always been the practise of Satan and his subtle soldiers the papists, even the sworn adversaries of Gods truth, that when they can not prevail against the same by tyranny and torments, they labour to deface it by most impudent slanders and lies (the chiefest defence and stay of their kingdom) as thou shalt see (good reader) in this treatise following. For when they could by no tyranny nor cruel handling discourage this man of God from the constant confession of the truth, they stirred up most shameful & cursed lies against him that he should be a privy maintainer of such as cursed the Queen, but to their own perpetual shame and ignominy. For whilst they have sought by this ⟨image 3⟩mean to bring Gods eternal verity in to contempt and too make it more odious to the world: what else have they done but disclosed their own wickedness and malice and given him occasion so to paint out their falsehood and lying spirit in their right colours, by this pithy, learned, and worthy little piece of work: that all men may hereby clearly perceive whose children they are, and they them selves shall need no other glass to see how like their father they look, the father of all falsehood and lies. And to the end that this their wicked dealing, which have thus proudly set them selves against God and against his Christ in his poor members, may be the better known & registered to the world and the posterity to come, to their shame and confusion, and to the advancing of gods glory in the innocent suffering of his saints, thus torn and rent by tyranny, torments, lies, and slanders for his names sake: behold the providence of god, who hath now ⟨image 3⟩brought this work to light, which otherwise by the negligence of some was like to perish. And here have I just occasion to discommend those men which do defraud the congregation of such worthy monuments. Great was the care of this blessed man and other for the church of God, and many fruitful works did they write in prison, in bands, in setters, but few are come to light: and shall we like careless and ingrateful people suffer these Godly labours, these painful travails, thus to perish? how desirous they were to have them published, to witness to the world that which they taught and sealed with their blood, and to profit their brethren:
IT hath alwayes bene the practise of Sathan and his subtill souldiers the papistes, euen the sworne aduersaries of Gods truth, that when thei can not preuail against the same by tyrannye and tormentes, they laboure to deface it by most impudente sclaunders and lyes (the chiefest defence and staye of their kingedome) as thou shalt see (good reader) in this treatise folowynge. For when they coulde by no tiranny nor cruel handlinge dyscourage this man of God frome the constante confession of the truth, they stirred vp most shamfull & cursed lies against him that he should be a priuye maintayner of suche as cursed the Quene, but to their owne perpetuall shame and ignomye. For whilest they haue soughte by thys ⟨image 3⟩meane to bringe Gods eternall veritye in to contempte and too make it more odious to the worlde: what els haue they done but dysclosed theyr owne wickednes and malice and geuen him occasion so to paint out their falsehode and lyinge spirite in their righte coloures, by this pithye, learned, and worthy little pece of worke: that all men may hereby clearly perceaue whose children they are, and they them selues shall nede no other glasse to see how like their father thei looke, the father of all falsehode and lyes. And to the ende that this theyr wicked dealinge, whiche haue thus proudly set them selues against God and agaynste his Christ in his poore members, may be ye better knowen & regestred to the worlde and the posterity to come, to their shame and confusion, and to the auauncing of gods glorye in the innocente sufferinge of his saintes, thus torne and rente by tiranny, tormentes, lyes, and sclaunders for his names sake: beholde the prouidence of god, who hath now ⟨image 3⟩brought this worke to lighte, which otherwise by the negligence of some was like to pearishe. And here haue I iust occasion to discommende those men whiche do defraude the congregation of such worthye monuments. Greate was the care of this blessed man and other for the church of God, and manye frutefull workes did they write in prison, in bands, in setters, but fewe are come to lighte: and shal we like carelesse and ingratfull people suffer these Godly laboures, these painfull trauales, thus to pearishe? how desirous thei were to haue them published, to wytnesse to the worlde that whiche they taughte and sealed with theyr bloud, and to profyt their bretheren:
