Wherefore that we may continue in quiet peace, & when occasion shall require, obtain Godly victories, expedient it were, and for my countries sake I wish, that our soldiers may be well instructed, in the knowledge and fear of God: so much the rather, for that their ⟨image 3⟩life is doubly incertain. Anacharsis thought sailors and such as travail by sea, to be rather of the number of the dead, then of the living: by cause that he which is in most assurance, is alway within eight or ten inches of his death. And is not a soldier every moment of an hour more near his bane, amid so many great shot, small shot and other weapons? Wherefore it were good, not only for the parties them selves, but also for all Christian common wealths, if they which are called to serve in wars, were well instructed in the knowledge & fear of God, as god be thanked some of them are, I would think my self surer in the company of five hundred well trained soldiers, which were instructed in the fear and love of God: then in that of xv. hundred which are as well trained and exercised in the use of their weapons as they, and do want the other chief instruction. And for my part being a simple one, am not ashamed to be exercised in the study of Gods book: no more, then to be in the field exercised, in the use of any weapon or order, although my study in it be not such as I wish it to be: yet having received great profit & comfort of conscience, by reading of sundry works of divinity: and namely by the reading of a work of Master Peter Viret, entitled the Christian instruction, I would not bereave my country ⟨image 4⟩men the commodity of the same: but thought my self bound in conscience to make them partakers thereof. Wherefore having translated the first part of it into our tongue with boisterous and rude terms, as a man utterly void of eloquence: I have committed the same to the print, and so far presumed upon your honours goodness, as under your Lordships name to suffer it to come to the sight of others. May it please you, to accept this simple token of my travail & poor good will towards your honour. I doubt not but some shall receive such fruit of it, as they shall like well my labour, and pray for your Lordship, under whose name it is published. And so shall my desire in Christ be satisfied. God prosper your honour in health and high estate.
VVherfore that we may continew in quiet peace, & whē occasion shall require, obtaine Godly victories, expedient it wer, and for my countreys sake I wish, that our souldiors may be well instructed, in the knowledge and feare of God: so much the rather, for that their ⟨image 3⟩lyfe is doubly incertaine. Anacharsis thought saylers and such as trauayle by sea, to be rather of the nōber of the dead, then of the liuing: by cause that he which is in most assuraunce, is alwaye within eight or ten ynches of his death. And is not a souldior euery moment of an houre more nere his bane, amyd so many great shotte, samll shot and other weapons? VVherfore it were good, not onely for the parties them selues, but also for all Christian cōmon wealthes, if they whiche are called to serue in warres, were well instructed in the knowledge & fear of God, as god be thāked some of thē are, I would thinck my self surerer in the company of fiue hūdred well trayned souldiors, whiche were instructed in the feare and loue of God: then in that of xv. hundred whiche are as well trayned and exercised in the vse of their weapons as they, and doe want the other chief instruction. And for my parte beyng a simple one, am not ashamed to be exercised in the study of Gods booke: no more, then to be in the fielde exercised, in the vse of any weapō or order, although my studie in it be not such as I wish it to be: yet hauyng receiued great profite & cōfort of conscience, by reding of sondrie workes of diuinitie: and namely by the readyng of a worcke of Maister Peter Viret, intituled the Christian instruction, I would not bereaue my countrey ⟨image 4⟩mē the commoditie of the same: but thought my selfe bounde in conscience to make them partakers therof. VVherfore hauing translated the first parte of it into our tounge with boystrous and rude termes, as a man vtterly voyde of eloquence: I haue committed the same to the printe, and so farre presumed vpon your honours goodnes, as vnder your Lordshippes name to suffer it to come to the sight of others. May it please you, to accepte this simple token of my trauaile & poore good will towardes your honor. I dout not but some shall receiue such fruite of it, as they shall like well my labour, and pray for your Lordship, vnder whose name it is published. And so shall my desire in Christ be satisfied. God prosper your honor in health and high estate.
