¶ The Athour to the friendly Reader.¶ The Athour to the freendly Reader.

¶ The Author to the friendly Reader.

¶ The Athour to the freendly Reader.

WHEREas this little treatise offereth it self to the view without the Authors name, herein whosoever he be that compiled it, whether he be Dutch, French, or English desireth to hold him excused. He thought it more convenient to produce the holy universal and Apostolic Church it self speaking in her own person, name, and voice: that so she might debate her own cause being public & not private against her adversary the Pope with greater gravity and majesty. For as the Lord hath not given equability of estate to all persons alike, & as one and the self same manner of speech accordeth not with all sorts of men: So was it not seemly to depend the general grievance of all nations, & the universal complaint of all people upon the mouth of any one private person: as neither would one manner of pleading in so weighty a matter become any one private Advocate. With another manner of countenance speaketh Cicero as a Consul and Judge, then when as a private Orator he pleadeth at the common bar. Certes our lot hath been so unlucky to light upon these days now, all matters being so on all parts enuenimed with poison, and so on all sides waxen cankered and incurable, that neither endeavour nor petition, prayer, nor wholesome admonition of any private person were able in any respect to avail. For this Roman ruffler maketh not so slender an account of his Peacocks plums, as to vouchsafe any private counsel ⟨image 4⟩or correction. This hideous Hydra requireth too be matched with mightier countenances and powers of greater estate: whether the Lord Christ himself will vouchsafe to destroy this monster with the breath of his mouth from out of heaven: or whether the excellent majesty of mighty Potentates and Monarchs of the earth, uniting all their Councils in one will not disdain of their authorities royal to become public Umpires here, & yield their princely assistance to the suppressing of this insolent outrage. Wherefore if ought in this treaty may seem (gentle Reader) to have bin uttered with overmuch bitterness of speech:

WHEREas this little treatise offereth it selfe to the viewe without the Authors name, herein whosoeuer he be that compiled it, whether hee bee Dutch, French, or English desireth to hold him excused. Hee thought it more conuenient to produce the holy vniuersall and Apostolique Churche it selfe speaking in her owne person, name, and voyce: that so she might debate her owne cause being publique & not priuat against her aduersary the Pope with greater grauitie and maiestie. For as the Lorde hath not geuen equabilitie of estate to all persons alike, & as one and the selfe same maner of speache accordeth not with all sortes of men: So was it not seemely to depende the generall greeuaunce of all nations, & the vniuersall complaint of all people vpon the mouth of any one priuate person: as neither woulde one maner of pleading in so weightie a matter become any one priuate Aduocate. With another maner of coūtenāce speaketh Cicero as a Consul and Iudge, then when as a priuate Orator hee pleadeth at the common barre. Certes our lot hath beene so vnluckie to light vppon these dayes nowe, all matters being so on all parts enuenimed with poyson, and so on all sides waxen cankred and incurable, that neither indeuoure nor petition, praier, nor wholsome admonition of any priuate person were able in any respect to auaile. For this Romane rufler maketh not so slender an accompt of his Peacockes plummes, as to vouchsafe any priuate counsale