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A fervent Protestation.
BEfore the Almighty our GOD, and your Lordships good Grace, this day, on the perill of my fouls damnation (if I lie, or take his name in vaine herein) I take the fame GOD, to be my witheẞe; That with all my heart, with all my foul, with all my strength, power and understanding (according to the meafure thereof, which the Almighty bath given me) for the most part of the time, from my youth hitherto, I have used and still ufe, good, lawfull, honeft, chriftian and divinely prefcribed means to attain to the knowledge of thofe truthes, which are meet, and neceẞary for me to know; and wherewith to do his divine Majefty fuch fervice, as be bath, doth, and will call me unto, during this my life: for his honour and glory advancing, and for the benefit, and commoditie publique of this Kingdome;fo much, as by the will and purpofe of God fhall lie in my skill, and hability to perform: as a true, faithfull, and moft fincerely dutifull fervant, to our most gracious and incomparable Queen Elizabeth, and as a very comfortable fellow-member of the body politique, governed under the fcepter Royal of our earthly Supreame head (Queen Elizabeth) and as a lively fympathicall, and true fymetricall fellowmember of that holy and myfticall body, Catholiquely extended and placed (wherefoever) on the earth: in the view, Knowledge, direction, protection, illumination and confolation of the Almighty, moft Blessed, moft holy, moft glorious, comajefticall, coeternall, and coeffentiall Trinity: The Head of that Body, being only our Redeemer, Christ Jefus, perfect God and perfect man whofe return in glory, we faithfully awaite; and daily doe very earneftly cry unto him, to haften bis fecond comming for bis elects fake; iniquity doth fo on this earth abound and prevaile, and true faith with Charity and Evangelicall fimplicity, have but cold; flender and uncertrin intertainment among the worldly-wife men of this world.
Therefore (herein concluding) I befeech the Almighty God, meft abundantly to increafe and confirm your Graces heavenly wifedome, and endue you with all the reft of his beavenly gifts, for the relieving, refreshing and comforting, both bodily and fpiritually, his little flock of the faithfull, yet militant here on earth, Amen.
An Epilogue.
Good my Lord, I befeech Your Grace, to allow of my plaine and comfortable Epilogus, for this matter at this time. 1. Seeing my ftudious exercifes, and converfation civill, may be abundantly teftified, to my good credit, in the moft parts of all Chriftendome; aud that by all degrees of Nobility, by all degrees of the Learned, and by very many other, of godly and Chriftian difpofition, for the fpace of 46. years triall: (as appeareth by the Records lately viewed by two honourable witneffes, by Commission from her Majeftie;) 2. And feeing, for thefe 36. years laft paft, I have been her moft Excellent Majefties very true, faithfull and dutifull fervant; at whofe Royall mouth, I never received any one word of reproach; but all of favour, and grace: In whofe Princely Countenance, I never perceived frowne toward me, or difcontented regard, or view onme;