John Hart to the indifferent Reader.Iohn Hart to the indifferent Reader.

John Hart to the indifferent Reader.

Iohn Hart to the indifferent Reader.

Behold (gentle Reader) the conference, which thou hast so long looked for, between M. Rainoldes and me, at length ended: as also it had been more then twelve months since, had not my self hindered the coming of it forth, when it was nigh ready to be delivered to the Printer. For it is now above two years ago, that the right honourable, Sir Francis Walsingham, as he had showed me great favour from the time that I was apprehended, in granting me liberty of conference at home, first in mine own country, and afterward in prison: so, when the sentence of death was past upon me, he ceased not still to offer me the same favour if I would admit it. Which I, grounding my self upon the most certain foundation of the Church so strengthened by God that it shall stand for ever, did gladly yield to, and (as became me) accepted of it with all duty. Whereupon his Honour sent for M. Rainoldes to confer with me: taking order also that I should be furnished with whatsoever books I did need thereto. But after we had spent certain ⟨p. 10⟩weeks together in conference by word of mouth, and I continued still in my former mind: he desired to have the sum thereof in writing, that he might see the grounds on which I stood. And to this intent we set down together brief notes of the points that we dealt in: I showing my reasons with the places of the authors whose judgement and learning I rather trusted too, then to my own skill; and M. Rainoldes answering them in such sort as he thought good. Howbeit, those notes being so short (as pointing to things rather then unfolding them) that they could not well be understood by any, but our selves only, unless they were drawn more largely and at full: my self being troubled then with more necessary cogitations of death, (as altogether uncertain when I might be called to yield up mine account before God and man,) requested M. Rainoldes to take pains to pen them according to our notes thereof. Promising him that I would peruse it when he had done it, and allow of it, if it were to my mind; or otherwise correct, if I misliked ought in it. This pains he undertook, and sending me the parts thereof from time to time as he finished them, I noted such things as I would have added, or altered therein, and he performed it accordingly. But when I perceived that it was prepared to be set forth in print: