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To the Gentlemen Readers, students of the French tongue, Io. Eliot salutation.
MY louing Countrimen, you that be students of this famous language, and desire nothing more then the sweet fruition thereof, which if you might be sure to attaine speedily, ye would spare no small cost, nor refuse any reasonable paines, Two things I know you will request at my hands before I go any further: first, that I should dilate in some good speeches, the dignitie of the French tongue, whose praises if I should repeat from the beginning, a floud of Elo∣quence would not suffice: but I will be breefe, and it shall con∣tent you onely to know, that it is a Courtly speech, spoken and vnderstood by most Princes, Noble-men, and Gentlemen in all parts of Christendome, because still the finest wits delight to read bookes of State, Pollicie, Marciall discipline, Phisicke, Hu∣manitie, Historie, Diuinitie, and a number of most rare spi∣rits haue written thereof in French. Some are giuen to read Poë∣sies & Loue-toies, the sweetest that are to be read are in French, pend by Bartas, Marot, Ronsard, Belleau, de Portes, and diuers other wits inimitable in Poësie: some to follow armes and the conduct of warre, the French is the onely tongue for the Mar∣cialist: others to trafficke with the stranger, the French is the on∣ly trading tongue in Europe. And againe, if we marke well the scituation of Fraunce, it lyeth in the very heart of Christiantie, and thither are sent Embassadors from al other quarters of Eu∣rope, from England, Scotland, Pole-land, Constantinople, Italie, Bar∣barie, Spaine, Netherland, Germanie, Agents from Malta, Rhodes, Sicilie, & from the Seigniorie of Venice, the Popes Noncio from Rome: and the French they haue their Lidgers, Agents, & Em∣bassadors with all these States againe, beside the great trafficke