I Have (most doughty prince) received your graces letters at the last, the which (according to my duty) I have humbly taken in my hands, and cheerfully and with entire consideration thought upon their argument and meaning. But seeing I have long sense promised unto your highness the declaration of the virgins song of praise called Magnificat, (from that which purpose of mine, the wicked enterprises of many mine adversaries have oft withdrawn me,) I have thought now at the last to answer your highness letters with this treatise, (fearing lest the farther delay thereof might be to my reproof, and that farther ex•usaciō should be of no value) that your highness's noble young courage were steered to the love of scripture, & by farther exercise ⟨image 3⟩in the same might be more feruenter & stablished, to the which thing I pray God to send his grace & to help, for it is greatly necessary: seeing that in the person of so great a prince, the which being withdrawn from himself, is governed by Gods grace, the salvation of many one consisteth: & again the perdition and damnation of many one if he being permitted to himself, is guided with out grace. For though it be said of all mens hearts: that the kings heart is in the hand of God, which can wend it where it pleaseth him: yet is it not for nought said of kings and princes▪ Where by God will beat his fear in the superiors, that so they may learn and be sure, that they can not once think ought in their mind, without God do give it severally in their minds. The deed of other men doth ether hurt or profit only them, or a few beside: but princes and superiors only be set in that room, that they ether profit or hinder so many more, as their dominion doth reach farther. For the which cause doth scripture call the godly and fearing God princes, angels of God, ye gods also, as in the .vii. chap. of Exo: I have made the a God over Pharaoh. And in the .xxii. Chapter: Thou shalt not speak evil ⟨image 3⟩of the Goddes. And again, the wicked & ungodly princes she calleth Lions, Dragons and furious beasts: whom God also calleth one of his .iiii. plagues when he rehearseth them, namely: pestilence, dearth, war and furious beasts.
I Haue (moost doughty prince) receaued your graces letters at the last, the whych (accordynge to my deutye) I haue humbly taken in my handes, and chearefully and wyth entyer consyderacyon thoughte vpon theyr argument and meanynge. But seynge I haue lōge sence promysed vnto your hyghnesse the declaracion of the virgins songe of prayse called Magnificat, (frō yt whych purpose of myne, the wycked enterpryses of many myne aduersaryes haue ofte wythdrawē me,) I haue thought now at the laste to answer your hyghnesse letters wyth this treatyse, (fearynge lest the farther delaye therof myght be to my reprofe, and that farther ex•usaciō shulde be of no value) that your hyghnesses noble yonge corage were steared to the loue of scripture, & by farther exercyse ⟨image 3⟩in the same myght be more feruenter & stablyshed, to the whyche thynge I praye God to sende his grace & to helpe, for it is greatly necessary: seynge that in the persone of so great a prince, the whych beynge wythdrawen frō himselfe, is gouerned by Gods grace, ye saluacion of many one cōsysteth: & agayne ye perdiciō and damnacion of many one yf he beynge permitted to hymselfe, is gyded with out grace. For though it be sayd of al mens hartes: that the kynges harte is in ye hande of God, whych can wende it where it pleaseth hym: yet is it not for nought sayd of kynges and prynces▪ Where by God wyll beate hys feare in the superiours, that so they may learne and be sure, that they can not once thynke ought in theyr mynde, wythout God do geue it seuerally in theyr myndes. The dede of other men doth ether hurte or profit only them, or a fewe besyde: but princes and superiours only be set in that rowme, that they ether profyte or hynder so many more, as theyr dominion doth reach farther. For the whych cause doth scripture call the godly and fearynge God princes, angels of God, yee goddes also, as in the .vii. chap. of Exo: I haue made the a God ouer Pharao. And in the .xxii. Chapter: Thou shalte not speake euell ⟨image 3⟩of the Goddes. And agayne, ye wycked & vngodly princes she calleth Lions, Draggōs and furious beastes: whom God also calleth one of hys .iiii. plages whan he rehearseth them, namely: pestilence, derth, warre and furious beastes.
