Although I confess my meaning is not so much to obtain• your favour only in respect of my labours, as humbly to beseech, yea and by the sacred name of Christ to adjure you, that not only all good books may again find entertainment, and be freely used in your kingdom under your allowance: but also that you be careful in the first place, of that true religion which hath been shamefully corrupted. If Jesus Christ, the only son of God doth justly challenge this of all the Kings of the earth, then hath he bound you, most noble Queen, with a more holy band to put your sacred hand to such a work. For in that time wherein your self, the daughter of a King, were not free from that dreadful tempest rushing down so furiously upon the heads of all the faithful; (this Lord Jesus I say) plucking you safe thereout, albeit you had your part with them in the fear of this danger; he hath obliged you to vow your self and all your designs to his service. And so far is it off that you have any cause to blush in respect of such a deliverance, that contrariwise God hath therein given you ample and plentiful matter of rejoicing, in vouchsafing thus to conform you to the Image of his son; unto whom our Prophet among other glorious titles gives him this, namely, That out of prison, and from judgement was he taken, and exalted unto a sovereign degree of celestial rule and dominion. As it is not a common honour then to resemble such a Patron: so as oft as you shall call the same to mind (which you should never forget) out of what perplexed and woeful fears you are escaped through ⟨image 5⟩Gods providence, who hath in a visible manner as it were, reached forth his hand from heaven unto you. Know ye, that he sets this mark before you; namely, that with a fearless constancy, and an invincible magnanimity of mind, you should interchangeably reserve unto your Protector and Redeemer, that right which unto him appertaineth; and setting all other businesses aside (with which on all sides you shall be environed in these beginnings of your reign) you will (which I nothing doubt of) give such order that his service unworthily corrupted for a time in your country, may be there reestablished in its first glory.
Although I confesse my meaning is not so much to obtain• your fauour onely in respect of my labours, as humblie to beseech, yea and by the sacred name of Christ to adiure you, that not onely all good bookes may againe find intertainement, and bee freely vsed in your kingdome vnder your allowance: but also that you be carefull in the first place, of that true religion which hath been shamefully corrupted. If Iesus Christ, the onely sonne of God doth iustly challenge this of all the Kings of the earth, then hath he bound you, most noble Queene, with a more holy band to put your sacred hand to such a worke. For in that time wherein your selfe, the daughter of a King, were not free from that dreadfull tempest rushing downe so furiouslie vpon the heads of all the faithfull; (this Lord Iesus I say) plucking you safe thereout, albeit you had your part with them in the feare of this danger; he hath obliged you to vow your selfe and all your designes to his seruice. And so farre is it off that you haue any cause to blush in respect of such a deliuerance, that contrariwise God hath therein giuen you ample and plentifull matter of reioycing, in vouchsafing thus to conforme you to the Image of his sonne; vnto whom our Prophet among other glorious titles giues him this, namely, That out of prison, and from iudgement was he taken, and exalted vnto a soueraigne degree of celestiall rule and dominion. As it is not a common honour then to resemble such a Patron: so as oft as you shall call the same to mind (which you should neuer forget) out of what perplexed and wofull feares you are escaped through ⟨image 5⟩Gods prouidence, who hath in a visible manner as it were, reached forth his hand from heauen vnto you. Know yee, that he sets this marke before you; namely, that with a fearelesse constancie, and an inuincible magnanimitie of mind, you should interchangeablie reserue vnto your Protector and Redeemer, that right which vnto him appertaineth; and setting all other businesses aside (with which on all sides you shall be enuironed in these beginnings of your reigne) you will (which I nothing doubt of) giue such order that his seruice vnworthilie corrupted for a time in your countrie, may bee there reestablished in its first glory.
