To the most
high and mightie
Prince, Iames by the grace of God
King of Great Britaine, France and Ireland,
Defender of the Faith, &c.
The Translators of The Bible,
with Grace, Mercie, and Peace, through Iesvs
Christ our Lord.
Reat and manifold were the bleſſings (moſt dread Soueraigne) which Almighty God, the Father of all Mercies, beſtowed vpon vs the people of England, when firſt he ſent your Maieſties Royall perſon to rule and raigne ouer vs. For whereas it was the expectation of many, who wiſhed not well vnto our Sion, that vpon the ſetting of that bright Occidentall Starre Queene Elizabeth of moſt happy memory, ſome thicke and palpable cloudes of darkeneſſe would ſo haue ouerſhadowed this land, that men ſhould haue bene in doubt which way they were to walke, and that it ſhould hardly be knowen, who was to direct the vnſetled State: the appearance of your Maiestie, as of the Sunne in his ſtrength, inſtantly diſpelled thoſe ſuppoſed and ſurmiſed miſts, and gaue vnto all that were well affected, exceeding cauſe of comfort; eſpecially when we beheld the gouernment eſtabliſhed in your Highnesse, and your hopefull Seed, by an vndoubted Title, and this alſo accompanied with Peace and tranquillitie, at home and abroad.
But amongſt all our Ioyes, there was no one that more filled our hearts, then the bleſſed continuance of the Preaching of Gods ſacred word amongſt vs, which is that ineſtimable treaſure, which excelleth all the riches of the earth, becauſe the fruit thereof extendeth it ſelfe, not onely to the time ſpent in this tranſitory world, but directeth and diſpoſeth men vnto that Eternall happineſſe which is aboue in Heauen.
Then, not to ſuffer this to fall to the ground, but rather to take it vp, and to continue it in that ſtate, wherein the famous predeceſſour of your Highnesse did leaue it; Nay, to goe forward with the confidence and reſo-
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