The Printers to the Readers

Whereas some men have thought and reported it to be a fault and negligence in us for that we have so long kept back from you this book being so profitable a work for you, namely since Master John Dawes had translated it and delivered it into our hands more than a twelvemonth past: you shall understand for our excuse in that behalf, that we could not well imprint it sooner. For we have been by diverse necessary causes constrained with our earnest entreaty to procure another friend of ours to translate it whole again. This translation, we trust, you shall well allow. For it has not only been faithfully done by the translator himself, but also has been wholly perused by such men, whose judgment and credit all the godly learned in England well know and esteem. But since it is now come forth, we pray you accept it, and use it. If any faults have passed us by oversight, we beseech you let us have your patience, as you have had our diligence.

Some people have thought it was a fault and negligence on our part that we held back this book for so long, since Master John Dawes had translated it and delivered it to us more than a year ago. You should know, as our excuse, that we could not print it sooner. We were, by various necessary reasons, compelled to earnestly ask another friend of ours to translate the whole work again. We trust you will approve of this translation. Not only was it faithfully done by the translator himself, but it was also thoroughly reviewed by men whose judgment and reputation all the godly learned in England know and respect. Now that it has come out, we ask you to accept it and make use of it. If any errors have slipped past us, we ask for your patience, as you have had our diligence.