The Manifestoes reprinted in the present volume are essential to any real understanding Of the early phases Of Puritanism. They are so rare that no apology is needed for making them accessible in a modern form. For want of first-hand knowledge of the Puritans, their contentions and their works, many partisans and even some historians have tended to represent them in an unhistorical light, and to undervalue the reasons that justified Church and State alike in its hostile attitude towards them. It is high time that this misreading Of history gave way before a fuller knowledge Of the documents. These have also a special interest as being early products Of the secret presses Of Elizabeth's day which managed to evade the vigilance Of the Government and produce litera ture hostile to it under its very eyes. The mystery of the production of these Tracts is still only partly solved.