That I, who am as I am. Undertake this matter (good Christian) when other of our English Nation, writing both learnedly with judgement, and zealously with knowledge, against diverse and sundry abuses crept in amongst us, nothing or very little handle the same, may to many perhaps, who are lightly weighed to the worse part, offer occasion of this common objection: What meaneth he to meddle with this thing, seeing he seeth others hold their peace? what? thinketh he if it were so necessary and needful a thing to be published in print, that among so many Books, there should be none, or nothing in them set forth? This kind of cavil, because I see it first & most of all others in the mouths of many, it seemed not therefore to me a miss at the first to meet herewith: aswell to remove the sinister opinion they conceive (I dare say) of the godly, as also the prejudicial verdict this may breed ⟨image 4⟩upon this my true, though not trim style of writing. Whether there be not diverse that have written freely & frankly against the abuse of Dancing, not only in the Latin and French, but likewise in our mother tongue: who will pluck the beam out of his eyes, may soon espy. But why our late learned men have not purposely penned some piece of work, (if it be long ago or little, these men forget it, or never see it) forasmuch as it may be imputed to the want, neither of will nor ability, to what it may be, I certainly know not: for who knoweth what things are in man, saving God and the spirit in him) yet to use a probable conjecture, I take the occasion to be in these virtuous persons: Because God hath either given them the peaceable state of Solomon, that they need not come forth into the field: or if not the peaceable state, yet the ready yielding of the people under Ezra, that there required no assault to be given: or if not the ready yielding, yet the speedy conquest of captain Joshua, that the only certain sound of the Trump, the scripture hath overthrown the walls of Jericho: and the walls overthrown, the bright Lamps ⟨image 4⟩of the gospel so shined out of their earthen vessels, that the eyes of the adversaries were in such sort dazzled, that Phinehas with his spear thrust this Madianitishe woman clean through:
THat I, who am as I am. Vndertake this mater (good Christian) when other of our English Nation, wryting both learnedly with iudgement, and zealously with knowledge, against diuerse and sundry abuses crept in amongst vs, nothing or very lytle handle the same, may to many perhaps, who are lyghtly wayed to the worse parte, offer occasion of this common obiection: What meaneth he to medle with this thing, seeing hee séeth others holde their peace? what? thinketh he if it were so necessarie and néedefull a thing to bée published in print, that among so many Bookes, there shoulde bée none, or nothing in them set foorth? This kinde of cauell, because I sée it first & most of all others in the mouthes of many, it séemed not therefore to mée a mysse at the first to méete herewith: aswell to remoue the sinister opinion they conceaue (I dare say) of the godly, as also the preiudiciall verdite this maye bréede ⟨image 4⟩vppon this my true, though not trimme style of wryting. Whether there bée not diuerse that haue writtē fréely & franklie against the abuse of Dauncing, not onely in the Latin and French, but likewise in our mother tongue: who wyll plucke the beame out of his eyes, maye soone espie. But why our late learned men haue not purposely penned some péece of work, (if it be long agoe or lytle, these men forget it, or neuer sée it) forasmuch as it may be imputed to the want, neyther of wyll nor abilitie, to what it maye bee, I certainly know not: for who knoweth what things are in man, sauing God and the spirit in him) yet to vse a probable coniecture, I take the occasion to be in these vertuous persons: Because God hath eyther geuen thē the peaceable state of Salomon, yt they néede not come forth into the fielde: or if not the peaceable state, yet the ready yéelding of the people vnder EZra, that there required no assaulte to be geuen: or if not the ready yéelding, yet the speedy conquest of captaine Iosua, that the onely certayne sounde of the Trumpe, the scripture hath ouerthrowne the walles of Iericho: and the walles ouerthrown, the bright Lamps ⟨image 4⟩of the gospell so shined out of their earthē vesselles, that the eyes of the aduersaries wer in such sort daseled, that Phineas with his speare thrust this Madianitishe woman cleane thorow:
