Your majesty would, I know right well, most royal king, admit a stranger to talk with your Grace, if any new guest should come and promise that he would briefly out of the sentences and judgements of the wisest men, declare the very truest causes of the felicity and unhappy state of every king & kingdom: and therefore I hope that I shall not be excluded from the speech of your majesty, because I do assuredly promise, briefly to lay down the very causes of the felicity and lamentable calamities of kings and their kingdoms so clearly and evidently, that the hearer shall not need to trouble himself with over busy diligence to seek out my meaning, but only to give attentive ear to that which is spoken. For by the help of God, I will make this treatise not to be perceived only by the wit and deep judgement of learned heads, but also to be seen as it were with the eyes, and handled as it were with the hands of very idiots & unlearned hearers, & that too, not out of the doubtful decrees and devises of men, but out of the assured word of the most true God. Even the wisest men do very often deceive us with their counsels, and greatly endamage the followers thereof. But God which is the light and eternal wisdom cannot at any time either err, or conceive any false opinions or repugning counsels, much less teach others any thing but trueth, or seduce any man out of the right way. The wisdom of the father doth in the holy Gospel cry out and say: I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. This eternal wisdom of God as it doth not disorderedly wrap things up together and make them intricate, but layeth down in order, and teacheth them plainly, so it doth not only minister wholesome counsels, but bringeth them to the effect, which they wish that obey her. Oftentimes verily men do give counsels that are not unwholesome, but yet in their counsels that is altogether omitted, which should have been first and especially mentioned. All the wise men almost of the world, have been of opinion, that kings and kingdoms should be most happy, if the king of the country be a wise man, if he have many wise, aged, faithful, and skilful counsellors: if his Captains be valiant, warlike, and fortunate in battle:
YOur maiestie would, I knowe righte well, most royall king, admitt a straunger to talke with your Grace, if any newe guest should come and promise that hee would briefly out of the sentences and iudgementes of the wisest men, declare the very truest causes of the felicitie and vnhappie state of euery king & kingdome: and therefore I hope that I shall not be excluded from the speach of your maiestie, because I do assuredly promise, briefly to lay downe the very causes of the felicity and lamentable calamities of kinges and their kingdomes so clearely and euidently, that the hearer shall not neede to trouble himselfe with ouer busie diligence to seeke out my meaning, but onely to giue attentiue eare to that which is spoken. For by the helpe of God, I will make this treatise not to be perceiued only by the wit and deepe iudgement of learned heades, but also to be seene as it were with the eyes, and handled as it were with the hands of very ideots & vnlearned hearers, & that too, not out of the doubtfull decrees and deuises of men, but out of the assured word of the most true God. Euen the wisest men do very often deceiue vs with their counsels, and greatly endamage the followers thereof. But God which is the light and eternall wisedome cannot at any time either erre, or conceiue any false opinions or repugning counsells, much lesse teach others any thing but trueth, or seduce any man out of the right way. The wisedome of the father doth in the holy Gospell crie out and say: I am the light of the world: hee that followeth mee, shall not walke in darkenesse, but shall haue the light of life. This eternall wisedome of God as it doth not disorderedly wrap things vp together and make them intricate, but layetb downe in order, and teaceth them plainly, so it doth not onely minister whoalsome counsells, but bringeth them to the effect, which they wish that obey her. Oftentimes verily men do giue counsells that are not vnwhoalsome, but yet in their counsells that is altogether omitted, which should haue beene first and especially mencioned. All the wise men almost of the world, haue beene of opinion, that kings and kingdoms should be most happie, if the king of the countrie be a wise man, if hee haue many wise, aged, faithfull, and skilfull counsellours: if his Captaines be valiaunt, warlike, and fortunate in battaile:
