The seconde tome or volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Newe Testament conteynyng the epistles of S. Paul, and other the Apostles : wherunto is added a paraphrase vpon the reuelacion of S. John.

To the right Excellent and most vertuous Lady Anne, Duchesse of Somerset, her graces moste humble Orator Iohn olde wish∣eth true felicitie and continuaunce of health in Christ Iesu oure only saueour.

COnsyderyng (moste vertuous and excellēt Ladye) that the holy goste playnlie commendynge by the mouthes of the moste worthy kinges of famous memorie Dauyd and Salomon, the myghtye effectuous wor∣king vertue, and necessary holsomnes, of the feare of God, which is the right foundacion and groundworke of god∣ly wysedome, sayeth amonge other specyal••yes of sondry mencioned states of persones, in a vehement admi••acy on of praise: that the woman whiche feareth the Lorde, shalbe so muche commen∣dacion worthie, and be estemed for so excellent a treasour and Iewell, that her price is farre beyonde the vttermoste coastes: because that hauynge that sure grounde worke of wisedome, she like a dyligent skilfull house wife, employeth the stocke and whole substaunce of her qualities and trauaile in those necessatie▪ dooinges from tyme to tyme, which make to the furniture of true religion and the glory of God, suppressing of vice, aduauncement of christian vertue, and to the reliefe of the nedy, especially those of the householde of faithe: so that in her labours and ordrely forcaste of well dooinges, procedinge from vertue to vertue, as thoccasion and necessitie of matter perswadeth, the pillers and tur∣••ettes of heauenly wisedome shynynge and glistringe in the eies of the behol∣ders, declare her worthie praises and price to bee of moste notable estymacyon and value before God and man: And forasmuch as the experience of your gra∣ces godly frutes of vertuous life and dooinges, hathe and dooeth vndenya∣blye reporte the vnfayned feare and loue of God to be in your harte, aswell in your graces moste christian studies and trauailes in the faithfull furtheraunce and aduauncement of the syncere worde of God, as in liberall reliuing, help∣ing and with moste hartie diligence succouring the poore, as the commune patronesse and helper of all nedie & succourles settours forth of the Gospell of Christ: where in the later ende of thys laste yeare I toke in hande at the request▪ of your graces humble seruaunt▪ my speciall good frende Edward whitchurch Printour, to translate the Paraphrases of Erasmus vpon certain of Paules epistles, whiche were lefte vntranslated for lacke of payne takers in that mat∣ter, for somuche as the learned menne appoynted to thys purpose of translaci∣on, had finished their limited taskes before: and now at the like request I haue made the like enterpryse to translate the Canonycall Epistles of. S. Peter, Iude, Iames and Iohn: Being encouraged by youre graces muche proued clemencie towardes all menne in generall, I am presentlie bolde to dedicate these symple doinges of my rude trauslacion vnto your moste noble and excel∣lent

name, not as a thing (being of it selfe a translacion of basse kinde of theng∣lishe phrase, accordinge to the rude commune Englishe speache of the countrey where I was borne) worthie youre graces commendacion, but as a moniment and reknowlaginge of my moste bounden duetie of humble thankes geuinge vnto your grace, for causinge me to bee called of late to a competent vicatage called Cob••••gton in warwike shire, at the humble sute of the reuerende ministre of Goddes worde, my singular frende Doctour hugh Latymer: and as a con∣staunt memoriall and token of my duetie to considre, vpon what respecte he be∣stowed his sure, & your grace youre gracious helping forewardenes towardes me: that I shoulde dispence and employe my contynuall studie, labours, resi∣dence, trauailes and industries to the earnest performacion and faithfull dis∣charge of that ecclesiastical charge, vocacion and office committed vnto me, and to content my selfe as indifferentlye with that competent small lyuinge, as though it were of muche more reuenues and value: Besechynge your grace to take this my moste humble present in good and benig•••• parte, considerynge that for wante of ryches of eloquence and learnyng to caste in to the commune treasoury amonge the abundaunt ryche dooinges of famous learned men, I am readyly glad, as an obscure vnlearned person, with the poore widow to cast in my two mytes.

Now touchyng thys notable learned Paraphrast D. Erasmus, if hys do∣inges vpon the Gospelles and Actes of thapostles be so necessarye and holsom playne declaracions of Christes minde and the Euangelistes, as the opinion of many learned, is they bee: his Paraphrases also vpon the pistles, are no lesse frutefull ne lesse profytable to geue lyght and ready instruccion vnto mennes consciences, aswell to plucke awaye er••onyous opynyons, if he be redde with aduised iudgement, and to teache Christ aright, as to banysh pride, dronkenes, ••reason, tumultes, sedicion, vproares, incontinencie, ryot, idlenes, ruffianynge vagabuncie, malyce, slaunder, vncommely talking, lyght tales ••nuentynge and carying, deuouring of neighbours, and couetousnes, the rote of al wickednesse: whiche horrible vices are now a dayes so licentiously vsed and practiced on all hādes for the most parte, hat Gospel like truth & liberty is almost vtterly chaū∣ged in to hellishe iniquitie: suche is the deuilles diligent preaching prelacie, not only endeuouryng to bring to passe therby to plante and establish his Romysh Antichristianitie with disobedience and other his braunches and states of wic∣kednes agayne, partly vnder pretence of a Christen libertie, and partly vnder colour of a commune wealth, but also to cause the Gospel of Christ the rebuke•• of disobedience and all other kyndes of vice, to beare the blame of false opini∣ons, disobedience, and naughtie lyuing, as though it were thoccasyon or bol∣sterour of vice.

To the redresse hereof, Erasmus in these epistles is a ready strong interpre∣tour in many necessary places: in all I am not hable to affirme, knowing that he in hys life tyme, was a manne subiecte to infirmitie and imperfeccion accor∣ding to the naturall condycion of manne: as he himselfe speaketh of the great Doctour. S. Hierome: Homo••rat, et falli po••••rat et fallere. A manne he was, and might bothe be deceaued and deceaue.

And as for my labour in this rude Englishe translacion, I toke it in hande for none other ende, but only to doe at my hartie frendes vndenyable request, a litell parte, whiche learned menne hauyng done certayne seuerall partes of the

other paraphrases, had by occasyon lette vntranslated: and that the vnlearned might through diligent reading of these englished paraphrases, tast, according to the measure of theyr faithe, the swetenes of Christe, and the vertue of true o∣bedyence and christen liuyng, and auoide the deuilles subtill Iuggling, eschewe disobedience and sedicious assembling, repent of light ruffia••yng and blasphe∣mous carnal Gospelling, contemne the world with al his painted flatering, and abhorte the to muche wickedly vsed brutish lyuing. The Lorde Iesus Christe the onlye autor of saluacyon and healthe, contynue and encreace hys moste gracyous gyftes in youre grace to the ende, and Ioyfully preserue youre long prosperous healthe in hym.

Amen.

The xv. of Iulie. M. D. xlix.