In respect whereof, among other it hath pleased God, to give me leave (by your Lordships mean, under the licence of my most dread sovereign Lady and Prince) to publish and set out to the glory of Gods Majesty chiefly: I have taken upon me to plant and put forth (like such a husband, as can not endure the plough of my profession to stand unoccupied) this notable and right excellent work of that famous, grave, and great learned Doctor, Master Peter Martyr (entitled His Commentary upon the book of Judges) being turned, at the request of the learned, out of that tongue, wherein he wrote it, into our English phrase, in which it is most meet for us. As who should say, what he published into one tongue privately, he meant (as I take it) should be delivered to all men generally (Christians or other) to whom it may do good. Whose labour tending to such effect, cannot, but like a tree that bears many branches, spread it self abroad, till it stretch with his fruit to many countries, nations, and languages, out of the same spring ⟨image 3⟩and stock, wherein he first planted it to grow, and hath grafted it for us, And happy that spring (yea very happy) that caries such course of water, to furnish so many Conducts, for the necessity and help of so many inhabitors, as it can not but have concourse among. And happy that servant that hath so bestowed his masters talent, as it cannot but turn again with so great an interest to the owner. And twice happy they, that may so taste and drink of it, as the glory may be Gods, and the comfort theirs, which being the only but and mark whereat this Markman shot: what deserveth such an Archer to be accounted of? I that think my self scant meet to set out his book, do reckon my self much more unmeet to express his praise. As if I were either able or meet, what should I labour to show your honour a whole man by his piece, unless (as it might he said) I meant to show your honour the Sun by a candle. Him self therefore that hath taken this pain upon him, and best can show him self by his own shape: shall report him self in his own labour to your honour, as he is best able. Who as he thought it most meet for his part, to unfold the secretes of that common wealth in the time of the Judges, for the plainer understanding of the sense thereof, to the commodity of us, and others after us and him:
In respect whereof, among other it hath pleased God, to geue me leaue (by your Lordships meane, vnder the lisence of my most dread soueraigne Lady and Prince) to publish and set out to the glory of Gods Maiestie chieflie: I haue taken vpon me to plant and put foorth (lyke such a husbande, as can not endure the plowe of my profession to stande vnoccupied) this notable and right excellent woorke of that famous, graue, and great learned Doctor, Maister Peter Martir (entiteled His Commentary vpon the booke of Iudges) being turned, at the request of the learned, out of that tounge, wherein he wrote it, into our English phrase, in which it is most meete for vs. As who shoulde saye, what he published into one toung priuately, he ment (as I take it) shoulde be deliuered to all men generally (Christians or other) to whom it maye doo good. VVhose labour tending to suche effect, cannot, but like a tree that beares many braunches, spread it selfe abroad, tyll it stretche with hys fruit to many countries, nacions, and languages, out of the same spryng ⟨image 3⟩and stocke, wherin he first planted it to grow, and hath graffed it for vs, And happy that spring (yea very happye) that caries such course of water, to furnishe so many Conductes, for the necessity and helpe of so many inhabitors, as it can not but haue concourse among. And happy that seruant that hath so bestowed his maisters talent, as it cannot but turne agayne with so great an interest to the owner. And twise happy they, that may so taste and drinke of it, as the glory may be Gods, and the comfort theirs, which being the onely but and marke wherat this Markmā shot: what deserueth such an Archer to be accompted of? I that thinke my selfe scant meete to set out his booke, do recken my selfe much more vnmeete to expres his prayse. As if I were either able or meete, what should I labour to shewe your honour a whole man by his peece, vnlesse (as it might he said) I ment to shewe your honour the Sunne by a candle. Him selfe therfore that hath taken this paine vpon him, and best can shewe him selfe by his owne shape: shall report him selfe in his owne labour to your honour, as he is best able. VVho as he thought it most meete for his part, to vnfolde the secretes of that cōmon wealth in the time of the Iudges, for the plainer vnderstanding of the sence therof, to the commoditie of vs, and others after vs and him:
