The true copye of a prolog wrytten about two C. yeres paste by Iohn Wycklife (as maye iustly be gatherid bi that, that Iohn Bale hath writte[n] of him in his boke entitlid the Summarie of famouse writers of the Ile of great Brita[n]) the originall whereof is founde written in an olde English Bible bitwixt the olde Testament and the Newe. Whych Bible remaynith now in ye Kyng hys maiesties chamber.

To the Reader

AFter I had perused this prolog (gentle reader) and was fully determined to set it in print to the edifiynge of all suche as be desyrouse to reade and vnder∣stand the holi Bible. I thought it mete to geue such a name to it, as myght declare the fruite that springeth therof, that the•…•… by the gredy studētis of gods boke might be stirred (euen whē they do but heare it •…•…amed) wyth the desyre to reade it, kepe it in memorie, and applie it to the vse it seruith fore. A more mete name therfore coulde I not i•…•…uente, thē y^e Pathwaye to perfect knowledge, which this little boke ledith vnto. For what shorter way might a man take to y^• perfection of godly know∣ledge, then to haue in memorye fyrst what Bokes of the Byble the christen feythe is bylded vpon, to what vse the reste do serue, what is seyd in euery•…•… of them, and by what meanes al darke sentences ther∣in maye be vnderstande?

All this thou hast (gentle reada•…•…) in this boke, so briefly, so playnly, and so effectu∣ously: that noman can iustly reprehend a∣ny thinge therein. It was fyrst writtē by one that hongred after thine health (as it maye be iustly gatherid by the greate tra∣uayle he toke in it) and y^• in a tyme ryght da•…•…ngerouse. It hath bene preserued wō∣derfully,

euen in al the stormis of persecu∣tion and fyry shuers of false religiō. Ma∣ny men bistowed muche to haue it copied out to the intent thei might enioye y^• •…•…tu∣tes of it, in the tyme of errowre and igno∣raunce: but thou hast it now offered vnto the for little coste, in a time when true re∣ligion biginnith to floryshe. It was at y^• fyrste made common to fewe men y^• wolde and were able to optayne it. But nowe it is made commen to all menne, that be de∣syrouse of it. Forget not therfore, to take it thanckfully, to vse it Christenly, and to esteme it of no lesse value than a most pre∣ciouse Iewell, fyrst framed by the diuine wisdome of gods spirite poured vpon the fyrste Autoure, preserued by goddis mer∣cyfull prouidence, and nowe offered vnto the by God hymselfe, that thou hongring the perfecte knowledge of goddis worde shuldest not be destitutid of so necessarye a meane to attayne to the same.

The spiryte of God worke in thyne herte that thou may s•…•…e frutful∣ly reade the lyuely worde of God to his glorye in y^• emendment of thy life. Fare well.

Londini. Anno salutis nostre. 1550. Maij. 28.

Robertus Croleus