Master Bezaes household prayers translated out of French into EnglishMaister Bezaes houshold prayers translated out of French into English

To the honourable and most virtuous, Mistress Francis Smith.

To the honourable and most vertuous, Mistrisse Francis Smith.

I Do here offer up unto your virtue (which doth yet make you more worthy then the worth of ⟨image 2⟩your most Honourable birth) these un-Frenched Prayers, which the religious zeal of that reverend man, Beza of Geneva, hath in his private Exercises poured out unto GOD. To commend their excellency unto you, by my judgement, were to commend them to little; and therefore, ⟨image 2⟩let your own judgement (as it can best) conceive their worth; and your godly devotion, in making use of them, supply whatsoever want of grace is come unto them, by my changing their language, in the weight and life which your utterance shall give them. To none could they ⟨image 3⟩be addressed by me, so fitly, both in respect of your virtue (prone to affect such religious exercises) and for the respect & service I owe your worthy Husband, (whose favour towards me doth justly challenge a most grateful acknowledgement;) And therefore if you will be pleased ⟨image 3⟩graciously to receive these Prayers at my hands, you shall add to their number this one, That God (to whom they are sent) will, both here on Earth, & in Heaven, bless you with unspeakable felicity.

I Doe heere offer vp vnto your vertue (which dooth yet make you more worthy then the worth of ⟨image 2⟩