The Life and Death of John Calvin, Title page – Printer to the reader
A diſcourſe wrytten by M. Theodore de Beza, conteyning in briefe the Hiſtorie of the life and death of Maiſter Iohn Caluin, with the Teſtament and laſte will of the ſaide Caluin, and the Catalogue of his Bookes that he hath made. Turned out of Frenche into Engliſhe, by I. S.
In the yeare of our Lorde. M.D.LXIIII.
¶Seene and allowed according to the order appointed in the Queenes Maieſties Iniunctions.
Imprinted at London by Henry Denham, for Lucas Harriſon, dvvelling in Paules Churchyarde at the ſigne of the Crane.
The Printer to the Reader.
FRIEND READER I offer vntounto thee this preſent gathering or ſumme, contayning the Lyfe and Death of the Faithfull ſeruant of God, Maister Iohn Caluin: by the which thou ſhalt ſee maruellous examples of the aſſaultes, that he hath endured for the Doctrine of the Sonne of God, and alſo what aſsistance God doth giuegive to his, when his honor and glorye commeth in question. In the meane time thinke it not ſtraunge that this diſcourſe doth not agree with the accustomed forme of Hystorians, for the purpoſe of the Auctor who is Master Theodore de Beza, a good ſeruant of God alſo, and a companion of Maister Iohn Caluin in the worke of the Lorde, was not to publiſhe it as an Hystorie, but onelyonly for a Preface to the Commentaries of the ſaide Caluin vppon the Booke of Ioſue, come to light ſith his death. I hauehave thought good to aduertiſe thee hereof, to the ende that thou ſhouldeſt not thinke, that the memorie of ſo great and worthie a perſonage myght be ſatisfied with ſo ſmalle a diſcourſe, (albeit that it is diligently and truely ſet forth) the which ſhall ſerue thee onelyonly to this purpoſe to make thee to hope and looke for an ample and goodly Hystorie of his actes and doings, which ſhall greatly profite to the aduancement of the Church of God: to whom be glory and honor for euer and euer. Sobeit.