Amongest many other worthy & sundry Histories, and notable acts which we have in hand, and intend (by the grace of Christ our Lord) shortly to set abroad, of such as of late days have ben persecuted, murdered, & martyred for the true Gospel of Christ, in Queen Mary's reign. First to begin with this little treatise of Doct. Nicholas Ridley, late Bishop of London, this shall be to desire thee (gentle Reader) to accept it, and studiously to peruse it ⟨image 3⟩in the mean time, while the other Volumes be addressing, which we are about, touching the full History, process, and examinations, of all our blessed brethren, lately persecuted for righteousness sake. Which Histories wham they shall come to light, (I suppose) thou shalt see as horrible a slaughter of the Saints, joined with as much cruelty of some English hearts, as ever in any one realm before Christ, or after was seen. In the mean time because all thing can not be done at once, & the Volumes be long, accept well in worth this little, (but pithy) work of ⟨image 3⟩this foresaid Bishop, in expectation of greater things, which shall (perchance) more largely satisfy thy desire. Concerning the contents of this Book, the Argument doeth easily import. For the worthiness thereof, the name only of the Author is a sufficient commendation, though I bestow no praise thereof. First when thou readest it by the name of a Fare well, thou mayest understand a faithful Declaration, as of one, being in that case, nothing dissembling his conscience in such matters and controversies of religion, wherefore he suffered.
AMongest manye other worthy & sundrie Histories, and notable acts which we haue in hande, and entēde (by the grace of Christe oure Lorde) shortly to set abrode, of such as of late daies haue ben persecuted, murthered, & martyred for the trewe Gospell of Christ, in Quene Maries raigne. Firste to begin with this litell treatis of Doct. Nicholas Ridley, late Byshoppe of London, this shalbe to desyre thee (gentle Reader) to accept it, and studiouslye to peruse it ⟨image 3⟩in the meane tyme, whyle the other Uolumes be addressing, which we ar about, touching the full Historie, processe, and examinations, of all our blessed brethren, lately persecuted for rightuosnes sake. Whiche Histories whā they shal come to light, (I suppose) thou shalt see as horrible a slaughter of the Sainctes, ioyned with as much crueltie of some English hertes, as euer in anye one realme before Christe, or after was sene. In the meane time because all thynge can not be done at once, & the Uolumes be long, accept well in worth this litle, (but pithie) worke of ⟨image 3⟩this forsaid Bishoppe, in expectation of greater thynges, which shall (perchaunce) more largely satisfie thy desyre. Cō cerning the contentes of this Booke, the Argument doeth easely import. For the worthines therof, the name onely of the Author is a sufficient commendation, though I bestow no prayse therof. Firste whan thou readist it by the name of a Fare well, thou maiest vnderstande a faithfull Declaration, as of one, beynge in that case, nothing dissembling his consciēce in suche matters and cōtrouersies of religion, wherfore he suffered.
