The Liberty of a Christian, Title page – Dedication 1
A Treatiſe, Touching the Libertie of a Chriſtian.
Written in Latin by Doctor Martine Luther.
And Tranſlated into Engliſh by IAMES BELL.
At LONDON, Imprinted by Ralph Newbery and H. Bynneman.
Anno 1579.
To the right Honourable, and moſt vertuous Lady, Anne, Counteſſe of Warwicke.
AFter I had finiſhed this ſimple Tranſlation for the behoofe of the vnlettered, ſome of my welwillers conceiuing well of the matter, were very deſirous that I ſhould preſent the ſame to ſome noble perſonage: others challenging more knowledge in Courtly affaires, perſwaded the contrary, being of opinion, that though it might in ſome reſpect ſeeme plauſible enough, yet the preſent being but ſimple, could not deſerue to be aduanced to Court, eſpecially to place of eſtate. And although I ſuppoſed, and partly knew, that the opinion of the later was but weake in iudgement: yet loe, it made ſo much the longer ſtay in deliberation, by how much I was abaſhed in conceit, in reſpect of my rudeneſſe, and vnaptneſſe, to ſatisfie the learned, & Courtly eares. Neuertheleſſe, hauing clothed my Stranger in Engliſh attyre (whom I call a Stranger, in reſpect of the perſon, who was the firſt Author therof.) And well knowing the Court, to the great fame and honour thereof, by the ſpace of many yeares now paſſed, to hauehave bin the reſcue of all Strangers diſtreſſed, I could not but beleeue, that in the Court, this Stranger ſo godly, ſo zealous, ſo learned, ſhould be both eaſily accepted, and gently entertained: and encouraged by this well knowne experience, I yeelded my ſelfe to the firſt perſwaſion, and finding by generall report (Madame) the noble ornaments and gifts, I ſpeake not onelyonly of nature, but of godlineſſe, wiſedome, and zeale, ioyned with ſingular mildeneſſe and benignity, being the fruits of grace amongſt the reſt eſpecially, to ſhine in your ſacred breaſt, I was therby emboldned to proceede, and aboue all others, to preſume vponupon your honourable patience, and to preſent to your honour this my poore Stranger: In whoſe commendation I dare boldly affirme, that there was neuer any a more truſty ſeruant to his Maſter: neuer any of more vndaunted courage in his Maſters cauſe: neuer any that aduentured, or durſt aduenture farther: neuer any that vſed more conſtancie, magnanimity, and force, in battering the fortreſſes of the enemy: neuer any that pierced deeper, preuailed further, and procured larger, for the ſafety of poore Chriſtians, ſo many hundred yeares oppreſſed, impriſoned, impoueriſhed, yoked, and chained in miſerable captiuitie, through the monſtrous outrage of that execrable Nimrod of Rome, amongſt many of whoſe exployts, albeit there cannot any one bee found, that is not able to repleniſh the Spirituall and true Chriſtian man, with ſuch, and ſo great ioy, as can not with my penne be expreſſed, yet in my ſimple iudgement, this one little treatiſe of his, which I hauehave now aboue all others ſelected to tranſlate, doth farre excell and ſurmount in ghoſtly conſolation, wherein are entreated no vaine, childiſh, or trifling toyes, but ſweet, delectable, ſerious, weighty, and matters of great importance, namely, the pure faith of a true Chriſtian man, the ioyfull vnion and marriage of the moſt amiable Bridegrome IESV Chriſt, to the poore miſerable abiect and wretched Soule, the well ordering of chriſtian life, and the gladſome chriſtian freedome and liberty. Euen ſuch a one is this my Stranger, whom, if it may pleaſe your Honour to vouchſafe vntounto your honourable patronage, I ſhall not onelyonly accompt my ſelfe moſt happy in my ch…i…e, but alſo (acknowledging your honourable courteſie in full ſatisfaction of mine Engliſh coſt, ſuch as it is employed) yeeld my ſelfe doubly bounden & indebted to your Honour in any thing which my penne may endeauour, or trauell may performe. The holy ghoſt, the Author of all goodneſſe, & ghoſtly conſolation, repleniſh your heart with the moſt ioyfull freedome of his grace, to the comfort of all ſuch as trauell in the building of Gods holy temple.
Your honours moſt humble at commandement, IAMES BELL.