e found an other manner & sort of people, who will make no
accoumpte at all to mocke at this matter: as indeede the world is ful
of mockers, and men without Godlines, without God, and without
religion. Now as concerninge these persons, they deserue no manner of
aunsweare at al, because they do as soone scoffe at the principall
pointes of christian religion, and that which directly concerneth the
seruice of God, as matters of lesse weight and importaunce. Wherefore
I not much regarding or caringe for the iudgement of such iudges, will
let them runne to the water with the bridle uppon their head, or in
their necke, as they say. But as touchinge the first, because they bee
not altogeather malicious and obstinate, I hope, that ha= uing
aunsweared their obiections, and declared the reasons which haue
moued, yea rather driuen me forward or inforsed mee to descipher and
sett out this matter, they will iudge my labour not to haue bene
altogeather unprofitable.

It is then in the first place to bee wished and desired, that troubles
beyng pacified, and all dissentions repressed, and put out, the
spirits and consciences of men, should be assured and thorowly
perswaded of that which appertaineth to their saluation. And indeede
our Lorde hath stirred and raised up so perfect an age in al sciences
& know= ledge, in which so many learned men, and of excellent learning
and knowledge, haue so blessedly and diligently imployed them= selues
to teach us the order and maner to liue well, some after one sort and
fashion, and some after an other, that those which be not yet
satisfyed, can not, or ought not, to lay the fault in any but in
themselues.

Next all good men ought to wishe and desire that those which put their
hande to (this is to say trauaile for) the reformation of maners,
should do it with such good argumentes, that there shoulde remayne, or
be left, but euen a very litle to be corrected and amended. And yet
this wish & desire should not let or hinder the trauaile of such as do
indeuor to pull up by the rootes such herbes as be hurtful to the
field of the Lord, be they neuer so small and little: and I do, or
which thing I labour to do in this little boke according to the
talente & graces which are geuen me from aboue.

Adde also that if any do deeply & seasonably consider this matter, I
hope he shal not finde it so barren and of little edification, that it
ought to be dispised or troden under foote: for many men of quality
(y