Excvse me, gentle reder if oughte be amisse, straung paths ar not trodẽ al truly at the first: the way muste needes be comberous, wher none hathe gone before. Where no man hathe geuen light, lighte is it to offend, but when the light is shewed ones, light is it to amende. If my light may so light some other, to espie and marke my faultes, I wish it may so lighten thẽ, that they may voide offence. Of staggeringe and stomblinge, and vnconstaunt turmoilinge: often offending, and seldome amending, such vices to eschewe, and their fine wittes to shew that they may winne the praise, and I to hold the candle, whilest they their glorious works with eloquence sette forth, so cunningly inuented, so finely indited, that my bokes maie seme worthie to occupie no roome. For neither is mi wit so finelie filed, nother mi learning so largly lettred, nother yet mi laiser so quiet and vncõbered, that I maie perform iustlie so learned a laboure or accordinglie to accomplishe so haulte an enforcement, yet maie I thinke thus: This candle did I light: this light haue I kindeled: that learned men maie se, to practise their pennes, their eloquence to aduaunce, to register their names in the booke of memorie I drew the platte rudelie, whereon thei maie builde, whom god hath indued with learning and liuelihod. For liuing by laboure doth learning so hinder, that learning serueth liuinge, whiche is a peruers trade. Yet as carefull familie shall cease hir cruell callinge, and suffre anie laiser to learninge to repaire, I will not cease from trauaile the pathe so to trade, that finer wittes maie fashion them selues with such glimsinge dull light, a more complete woorke at laiser to finisshe, with inuencion agreable, and aptnes of eloquence. And this gentle reader I hartelie protest where erroure hathe happened I wisshe it redrest. TO THE MOST NO- ble and puissaunt prince Edwarde the sixte by the grace of God, of En- gland Fraunce and Ireland kynge, de- fendour of the faithe, and of the Churche of England and Ire- lande in earth the su- preme head.