To the right honourable and virtuous Lady, the Lady Cheyney of Toddington.

I am not ignorant, my good Lady, how much time you do daily bestow in reading good books, whereby you do not only profit greatly in knowledge, but also confirm yourself most strongly in the profession of true religion. This virtue being the root of all other good things does spread so far and takes so deep hold in you, as it brings forth great and plentiful deserts of praise, whereof I choose rather to be a true reporter whensoever I am asked than with my rude style to debase a thing worthy so high commendation. Neither am I ashamed in this point to confess mine own weakness, for I know few have attained to that excellency as they could rightly commend virtue, neither yet can I but be sorry that, nature having given me judgment to think truly of your true nobility, has denied me ableness to speak worthily of it. My grief is the greater because I acknowledge myself most bound thereunto of all others as one being not only well acquainted with your virtuous behaviour, and so a true witness of the same, but also having received great benefits at your hands, and so forced by duty to be a willing reporter of your good gifts. But in this I rest satisfied that although I am no sufficient praiser of your virtues, yet your Ladyship good deserts shall be an open testimony of my true opinion, and the world shall see that albeit I want cunning to commend worthily, yet I want not good will to speak what I think truly. These things considered, to whom could I, either in respect of duty or otherwise, offer this simple translation of a good book more fitly than to your Ladyship, to whom I confess myself to owe more than I can hope to recompense, and yet no more than I am ready to perform? The rather I am moved into hereunto, because I know how much your Ladyship does abhor the vain superstition of wicked papistry, and therefore I nothing suspect your good accepting of this book, wherein is set forth in manner of a tragedy the devilish devise of the popish religion, which pretends holiness only for gain and treads Christ under foot to set up wicked Mammon. The papistical opinion of freewill is here likewise excellently confuted, and our election manifestly proved to proceed from the free grace of God, whereby the filthy bunch of popish good works is cut off and made good for nothing but for the fire. Thus, having assured hope of your Ladyship’s accustomed courtesy, that you will favourably receive unto your defence this silly gift of mine, I will not enter into excuse of my bold attempt in translating it, submitting myself to the censure of the wise and honest, who I know will with your Ladyship have respect to my good meaning, and shadow such faults as they find with their gentle interpretation. Thus, God bless your Ladyship and make you happy in all your doings.

Your Ladyship’s forever to command, H. C.