Commentaries, Title page – Dedication 1
¶Moſt fruit full & learned Cōmentaries of Doctor Peter Martir Vermil Florentine, Profeſſor of Deuinitie, in the Vniuerſitye of Tygure, with a very profitable tract of the matter and places.
¶Herein is alſo added & contained two moſt ample Tables, aſwel of the matter, as of the wordes: wyth an Index of the places in the holy ſcripture.
Galath. vi,
God forbid that I ſhoulde reioyce but in the croſſe of our Lorde Ieſu Chriſte, wherby the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.
¶Set forth & allowed, accordyng to thorder appointed in the Quenes maieſties iniunctions.
¶Imprinted at London by Iohn Day, dwellyng ouer Alderſgate.
Theſe Bookes are to be ſolde at his ſhop vnderunder the gate.
Ptolomeus
Marinus
Strabo
Polibius
Aratus
Hipparchus
Geometria
Aſtronomia
Arithmetica
Musica
MERCVRIVS
IB—F
DROICT ET LOYAL:
¶ To the ryght honorable, my moſt ſinguler good Lord and Maiſter the Lord Robert Duddely, Earle of Leceſter, Baron of Dynghby, Knight of the honorable order of the Garter, one of the Quenes highnes moſt honorable priuy Counſel, and Maiſter of her Maieſties horſſe.
THe old opinion (right honorable and my ſinguler good Lord) being no leſſe auncient then true, whiche accomptes hym an ill man, that is good but for him ſelfe (as who ſaye, from whom no goodnes commeth to the help of others) moſt like a Drone in a Bee hiue, ſhrowded there for his owne ſucke, not for the common wealth of Bees, whom therefore they ſuffer not among them, but kill & caſt out, as an vnkinde member, vnnaturall, and not to be endured in their ſtate: hath bene alwayes the rappyng hammer in my head, and the ſpurre to my ſide, to knocke and pricke me forward (that am of my ſelfe lytle able to do) to procure what I can (to my calling at leaſt) for the profit of my vniuerſal country men, by whom & among whom, as a member I lyue.
In reſpect whereof, among other it hath pleaſed God, to geue me leaue (by your Lordſhips meane, vnderunder the liſence of my moſt dread ſoueraigne Lady and Prince) to publiſh and ſet out to the glory of Gods Maieſtie chieflie: I hauehave taken vponupon me to plant and put foorth (lyke ſuch a huſbande, as can not endure the plowe of my profeſsion to ſtande vnoccupied) this notable and right excellent woorke of that famous, graue, and great learned Doctor, Maiſter Peter Martir (entiteled His Commentary vponupon the booke of Iudges) being turned, at the requeſt of the learned, out of that tounge, wherein he wrote it, into our Engliſh phraſe, in which it is moſt meete for vsus. As who ſhoulde ſaye, what he publiſhed into one toung priuately, he ment (as I take it) ſhoulde be deliuered to all men generally (Chriſtians or other) to whom it maye doo good. VVhoſe labour tending to ſuche effect, cannot, but like a tree that beares many braunches, ſpread it ſelfe abroad, tyll it ſtretche with hys fruit to many countries, nacions, and languages, out of the ſame ſpryng and ſtocke, wherin he firſt planted it to grow, and hath graffed it for vsus, And happy that ſpring (yea very happye) that caries ſuch courſe of water, to furniſhe ſo many Conductes, for the neceſsity and helpe of ſo many inhabitors, as it can not but hauehave concourſe among. And happy that ſeruant that hath ſo beſtowed his maiſters talent, as it cannot but turne agayne with ſo great an intereſt to the owner. And twiſe happy they, that may ſo taſte and drinke of it, as the glory may be Gods, and the comfort theirs, which being the onelyonly but and marke wherat this Markmā ſhot: what deſerueth ſuch an Archer to be accompted of? I that thinke my ſelfe ſcant meete to ſet out his booke, do recken my ſelfe much more vnmeete to expres his prayſe. As if I were either able or meete, what ſhould I labour to ſhewe your honour a whole man by his peece, vnleſſe (as it might he ſaid) I ment to ſhewe your honour the Sunne by a candle. Him ſelfe therfore that hath taken this paine vponupon him, and beſt can ſhewe him ſelfe by his owne ſhape: ſhall report him ſelfe in his owne labour to your honour, as he is beſt able. VVho as he thought it moſt meete for his part, to vnfolde the ſecretes of that cōmon wealth in the time of the Iudges, for the plainer vnderſtanding of the ſence therof, to the commoditie of vsus, and others after vsus and him: So hauehave I thought it meete for me, and my very duty to your honor, humbly to preſent and offer the ſame (by me now publiſhed) vntounto your honorable hands, as from the Iudges of Iſrael and him, to one a Iudge and Ruler of this my natiue countrye and people, vnderunder our ſupreme Iudge, our moſt dread ſoueraigne Lady the Queenes Maieſtie. Hauing had nothing meeter wherby to expreſſe my faithfull hart, good mynde, and duty, to your honourable Lordſhyp, then thys the ſimple laboure of my plowe: the fruite wherof cannot be but yours, that are owner of me.
Humbly beſeching the ſame to accept it in as good part, as my faithfull ſeruiceable hart towardes your honour, hath and doth meane it. Beſeching God, that ſo graciouſlye hath lyked to beginne wyth your Lordſhip hitherto, mercifullye continue and keepe the ſame, to hys glorye, to the comfort of your ſelfe, and hope that this your Countrye of Iſraell (whereof you are a Iudge) hath conceaued of you.
Your Lordſhips humble, faithfull, and redy ſeruaunt Iohn Daye.