When I did firlie set my hand to this work, I thought nothing less (most noble King) than to write any thing that afterward should be presented to your majesty. Only my mind was to teach certain introductions whereby they that are touched with some zeal of religion might be instructed to true godliness. And this travail I took principally for my countrymen the Frenchmen, of whom I understood very many to hunger and thirst for Christ, but I saw very few that had rightly received so much as any little knowledge of him. And that this was my meaning, the book it self declareth, being framed after a simple and plain manner of teaching. But when I perceived, that the furious rage of some wicked men hath so far prevailed in your realm, that in it there is no room for sound doctrine: I thought I should do a thing worth my travail, all in one work both to give an instruction for them, and to declare a confession to you: whereby ye may learn what manner of doctrine that is, against which those furious men burn in so great rage, who at this day trouble your realm with sword and fire. For I will not fear to confess, that I have in this work comprehended in manner the sum of that self same doctrine, against which they cry out, that it ought to be punished with prisonment, banishment, condemnation without judgement, and with fire, that it ought to be chased away by land and sea. I know in deed with how heinous informations they have filled your mind and ears, to make our cause most hateful unto you: but this of your clemency ought you to weigh, that there shall be no innocence, neither in words nor deeds, if it may be enough to accuse. Truly if any, to bring the same in hatred, shall allege that this Doctrine whereof I now go about to yield account unto you, hath ben long ago condemned by consent of all degrees, and attainted by many judgments already given in judicial courts: all that he saith shall amount to no more but that it hath partly ben violently thrown down by the •anding and power of the adversaries thereof, and partly ben traitorously and fraudulently oppressed with their lies and subtle practises and slanders. Herein is violence showed, that without hearing the cause bloody sentences are pronounced against it: here in is Fraud, that it is without deserving accused of sedition and evil doing.
WHen I did firlie sett my hande to thys woorke, I thoughte nothyng lesse (moste noble Kyng) than to write any thyng that afterwarde should be presented to your maiestie. Only my mynde was to teache certaine introductions wherby they that are touched with some zeale of religion myght bee instructed to true godlynesse. And this trauayle I tooke principally for my contremen the Frenchemen, of whō I vnderstode very many to hunger and thirst for Christe, but I sawe very fewe that had rightly receiued so much as any litle knowlege of him. And that this was my meanyng, the boke it selfe declareth, beyng framed after a simple and playne maner of teachyng. But when I perceyued, that the furious rage of some wycked men hath so farre preuailed in your realme, that in it there is no roome for sounde doctrine: I thought I should doo a thyng worthe my trauayle, all in one worke bothe to geue an instruction for them, and to declare a confession to you: wherby ye may learne what maner of doctrine that is, agaynst which those furious men burne in so great rage, who at this day trouble your realme with sweard and fyer. For I will not feare to confesse, that I haue in this woorke comprehended in maner the summe of that selfe same doctrine, agaynst which they crie out, that it ought to be punished with prisonment, banishement, condemnation without iudgement, and with fyer, that it ought to be chaced away by lande and sea. I knowe in dede with how haynous informations they haue fylled your mynde and eares, to make our cause most hatefull vnto you: but this of your clemencie ought you to weye, that there shalbe no innocence, neither in wordes nor dedes, if it may be enough to accuse. Truely if any, to bryng the same in hatred, shall allege that this Doctrine whereof I now go about to yelde accompt vnto you, hath ben long agoe condemned by consente of all degrees, and atteynted by many iugementes allready geuen in iudicial courtes: al that he sayth shall amount to no more but that it hath partly ben violently throwen downe by the •anding and power of the aduersaries therof, and partly ben traitorously and fraudulently oppressed with their lyes and suttle practises and sclaunders. Herein is violence shewed, that without hearyng the cause bloody sentēces are pronoūced against it: here in is Fraude, that it is without deseruyng accused of sedition and euel doyng.
