A dialogue agaynst light, lewde, and lasciuious dauncing wherin are refuted all those reasons, which the common people vse to bring in defence thereof. Compiled and made by Christopher Fetherston.

¶ To the Christian rea∣der. C. F. wisheth grace, mercie, and peace, from God the father, & from our Lord Iesus Christ.

AS Iron fornaces, doe not at y^• first blowing send out the greatest, nor yet the soun∣dest sowes of Irō, yet those which are then cast, are not cast away: As out of the fi∣nest fountayne of water, there doeth not at the first issue out the greatest aboundaunce of water, yet men doe not refuse, but rather chuse the same, if it be but onely (quia noua delectant) because they are delighted in no∣uelties: so (gentle reader) authours do not at the first publishe eyther in quantitie the biggest, or in qualitie the best bookes: and yet are not they ashamed to put forth these their first labours, sithens nisi per principia ad summū peruenire non possunt, they can not come vn to perfection but by certayne beginnings. Which thing being so, doeth

not a litle encourage me, to publishe this poore peece of woorke of mine (which is so simple, that it is scant worthie to appeare in print) and also I am the more bolde to let it show the face, because I hope that the good and godly will gratefully accept the same, if it be but onely because it is some testimo∣nie of my good will which I beare towardes them. The seely shepheard hauing no better stuffe, presented vnto a famous prince a grea∣sie bottle full of fayre water: the poore far¦mer hauing no greater store, gaue vnto a rich Citizen his lande lorde, a fewe apples, and poore Conon, presented vnto the king, a seely roote in token of his good will. All which did thankefully accept these simple gyftes, nothing respecting the giftes, but the good will of the giuer. Whose examples, hoping the godly will followe, in receiuing this simple gift of mine, I pray instantly vnto the Lorde God almightie, that it woulde please his diuine maiesty, to finish that good worke which hee hath begun in them, and that he will dayly increase in them that hun∣ger and thirst, which they haue after righte∣ousnes, so shall they be sure to be satisfied in the life to come, with the fruition of those

ioyes which all those shall haue which loue Christ and his comming. Which ioyes the Lorde God graunt vnto vs all, for his mer∣cies sake. Amen.