INasmuche right worshipful Sir , as it is well knowen to all your neyghbours , that you haue bene a worthie champion , and a bolde souldiar , that very manly hath stande and fought vnder the banner of Christes fayth , not beynge moued or driuen backe , neyther with the pestiferous blastes of Antichristes preachers , or yet in feare of peryll of the highe and mightie waues of this tempestrious sea , which vnsatiably hath swalowed vp many a cowardly heart , and ouerwhelmed many weake in fayth . Which constancie of your behalfe hath no lesse demerited , then Christ him selfe hath promised ( as his Apostle saynt Iames dothe full well recorde ) that is to saye , a crowne incorruptible . And therfore hath Christe him selfe willed all men to perseuere in fayth vnto the ende . Also monishinge all his , to beware and take hede of the false and deuillishe doctrine , that shal be sowen in the ende of the worlde ( saying ) that therby many shal be deceaued , yea and the heartes of innocentes shal be therby peruerted , as the Apostle doth wel testifie . We maye nowe in these oure dayes ryghte worshipful syr saye , that sede hathe bene sowen . But it is darnell in the stede of good corne . For the increase thereof is euil , and therfore the sede is the better perceaued . For the nature of darnell is suche , that yf it be receaued in what licor or meates , it wil cause the eater therof to iudge him selfe to be dusie in the braynes , as the experience doth full well proue , that this darnel , the whiche hath bene receaued of manye , what carnall vessels hath brought them selfes , as to saye into a madnes of minde , neyther fearynge God , dreading hell , obeying their kyng , or knowyng them selfes , as we maye daylye perceaue by experience in their workes . For who haue redde of so many heresies , treasons , conspiracies , murders , false accusations , prowde attemptes , deuillishe assaultes , fonde enterprises , lamentable crimes , and wretched ending , as hath bene sithe the time , that this darnell hathe entered into their brayne . Yet maye be well iudged by these people , that Legion the great deuil the monsterous cockatrice hath layde her egges , and hath hacheged them , and hath brought forth her birdes in an euill time , by whose poyson innumerable hath bene and is infected . Who happie good fyr is that man , that hath not entered into their wicked iudgement , neyther yet hath walked in their peruerse wayes , neyther yet hathe rested them selfes in theyr seate or pestilent chayre . Yet doth these wicked byrdes chatter , and continuallye saye : that all the cause of our plages hathe bene for that we haue not receaued gods word , as thoughe Goddes woorde was neuer in this realme before , and that Gods worde can not be receaued but in the Englishe tongue . But surelie good syr the rulers of the earth hath bene to blame for suffering so precious and holye aynell to be cast amonge swyne , sithe Christe him selfe hath warned vs the contrarye . And so it is an olde sayinge , that to muche familiaritie ingendreth contempte : yet will this wicked generatiso stiflye stande in argument , that it is necessarye , that al men shuld haue the Bibel and Testament in their mother tongue , as thoughe that all men being ordeyned to learne Gods worde , shoulde also be teachers . But surelye good syr theyr opinion is verelye false , as you shall well perceaue . Vza being appointed to driue the oxen that did beare the arcke of God , was not ordeyned to touche the arcke . For as it is wrytten in the storie , because he didde staye the arcke wyth his hande , when it was in ieopardie of fallyng , he was stroken downe deade by the hande of God . Oza the kyng dyd also enterprise to incense the aultare , whiche was not his office to do , and therfore , he was stroken with leprosie in his face . Thus were they plaged , that didde presume to the office , not being called therevnto , although they did suppose to do God good seruice . Christ him selfe didde talke of the kingdome of heauen with Nicodemus a ruler in Israell , so dydde he with Zacheus , a man of worshipfull estate amonge the Iewes , with the Centurion a capitayne , the yonge inheritour , the widowe of Canaan , the woman of Samarie , and with manye innumerable mo , yet did not Christ commaunde none of all these to preache the Gospell . Yet it was his good pleasure , that they shulde knowe it , when he healed the man , that was both domme and deaffe : which doth figure those , that know not Christe , neyther can talke of his lawe . Yet when this man did knowe Christ , and could testifie of his grace and mercy , yet Christe did not sende him to preache , but to prayse God , & hym to magnifie : and when Christe did clense the lepers , he didde not sende them to preache , but to shewe them to the priest , and gaue them charge to fulfill , that the lawe did commaunde them . And contrarye , when Christe had stroken downe Saule , and conuerted him to Paule , he sent him to preache vnto the Gentiles , and Christ generally sent his Apostles to preache to all creatures . And yf Christe shuld haue geuen that commaundement to all men , then all shuld haue bene preachers and no hearers : therefore euen as God hath set orders and degrees amonge hys Archaungels and aungels : and diuersitie of the light and brightnes of the sunne , moone , & eche other starre . Euen so he hath made some Patriarches , Prophetes , Apostles , Euangelistes , doctors , and teachers , and so diuerslye of estate of eche other degree amonge the people on the earth . For God him selfe euen from the first creation , of stones , herbes , and fruites , that growe and sprynge yearely out of the earth , God hath made some of more vertue and worthie estimation then some . Lyke as the potter dothe not make all his vessels for one vse or purpose , but diuerse vessels to serue for diuerse vses , according to the will of the maker . And therfore it is Gods will , and also the counsell of the Apostle , that euery man should abide and walke in hys vocation and calling . And nowe good syr to conclude , for that I haue euer hearde , & well dothe knowe , that you haue bene faythfull in your office , and iustelye hath walked in your vocation . I haue therfore dedicate this my simple worke in your name , therby declarynge my good wyll towardes the maynteynaunce of the true religion , and also to do some thing to pleasure you , yf it were in my simple power . But to conclude as I haue sayde , I beseche you good syr consider my good wyll , and lette it stande for a iuste facte .