TO THE READER.

AMongst the diuers reportes of1
the behavior of M Campion,2
M. Sherwin, & M Brya~ at their3
death passing among freindes from4
hand to hand I hapned vpon one geven5
out as it seemeth by a Catholike6
priest, who as it apereth pressed to obserue7
& marke those dealings: which8
report I have here published, co~sidering9
the divers & many slaunders raised10
since by some maliciously blinded11
to satisfie & content all such as do12
desire to vnderstand the manner of13
the same: I hope that consideration14
which hath movid me hereto, wil also15
perswade that priest to the wel liking16
of this my doing? & I dout not17
but that the relation it self will content18
the reader throughly touching 19
their words, and behaviour at the tyme20
of execution, Notwithstanding 21
those slaunders which were since spred22
to diminish the honour of their23
resolute departure & Martirdome, as24
that M Campion was timerous and25
fearfull, & that M Sherwin died a26
protestant, with other such false reportes,27
as thov shalt see in pervsing28
this short relation here exhibitid for29
thy satisfaction: wherin is a lively Image30
of resolute martirs, constantly31
professing their faith & belief, resolutly32
disclaming from all treasons and33
treacheryes falslie intendid againste34
them: and loyaly behaving them selues35
towards our queene & country.36
Who as they were in their lives lanterns37
of piety & vertue, so in their deathes38
made themselves paternes and39
examples for all good christian subiectes40
to follow.41
And here by the way I might point42
out M. Elmers folly, as not one of the43
least, who notwithstanding the knowen44
lerning of M. Campion he him45
selfe a man of knowen wisedome, &46
iudgement, was not ashamed, at a47
Sessions at Newgate, vpon the apparance48
of the Cutler of Holborne, to49
say openly, that M. Campion was50
vnlerned, and that a Note booke or51
two of his felowes being taken from52
him, he had nothing in him, as it was53
manifest in his disputations in the54
Tower. Further that al the Papistes55
in the worlde coulde not answere56
Whitakers booke against the saide57
M Campion. Which his censure, I58
referre vnto the iudgement of the59
lerned discret and wise, who I know60
do condemne the babbling of that61
barren declaymer, as voyde of witte,62
discretion, lerning, modestie, & truth.63
But howe friuolous and vayne these64
slaunders are, although the whole65
world filled nowe with the fame of66
his lerning doth know, yet it shal be67
made more manifest and apparant68
euen vnto him selfe by those Disputations69
had in the Tower, to the honor70
of M Campion and furthering71
of his cause, at suche time as by the72
grace of God they shal be published.73
This rehearsal good Reader I confesse74
is impertinent to the purposse75
of that Preist who gaue out the report76
folowing, and yet I thought it77
not altogether amisse to touch those78
slaunders so false and malicious, as79
many good Gentlemen can not but80
confesse. Muche more M Elmer81
spake that day, as he thought, to the82
discredite of M. Campion, but I pray83
God giue him better consideration84
both of this and of further iustice,85
and so shall the poore Poulter at his86
nexte complaynt be heard, euen of87
himself, beeing as he himself said, a88
Bishop, a Lorde, and of some credite89
Farewell90