¶ The testament of joseph which was translated out of Greek into Latin by a certain bishop of lyncoln called (by his surname) Grosthede, and into English, by wyllyam Frelove.  
Read this pretty & wholesome volume, that may theach the to i'll from the abominable sin of adultery.  
printed by Richard grafton and Edward whytchurch.  
1530.  

Cum privilegio ad imprimend: in solum.    

The prologue  
How this book was found, and can to light, and of what authority it is; bryfely here after shallbe declared. By cause the history is of the Jews, it appeareth the same to have been wrytyne in their proper tongue or language, which is Hebrew and they being malicious against christian people kept the same secret many years that it should not come abroad, specially by cause of a certain prophecy which is in the end touching the birth of Chryst which is greatly to their reproof & shame. Thus after certain years the Greeks which be great searchers for the scripture confess themselves that they obtained it and translated it out of the Hebrew, & so it remained among the greeks many years after, by cause there was very few found the time which were expert in both tongues: that is to say in the Greek and Latin. Until such Season a certain bishop of lyncoln here in Englond called Robert the Second and by his surname Grosthed, which had herd hereof, being also that time named a man of great fame and lernyn●● sent forth his spies or messengers & commanded them to spare f●rno costs to search for such antic writings. And in the year of our Lord. M.cc.xlij. he obtained and translated the same out of the Greek into the Latin. which reprovyth vice and abominable adultery, and magnifieth, a chafed life & matrimony. All this is consonant unto God's word according to his saying: he that is not against us is with us, this causeth me to think it to be of sufficient authority. Finally, it d● h●●● poorly set forth chaste matrimony and showeth what grace and abundance of goodness cometh thereby that it should be enough to convert a pagayne from abominable living, and to ensue the holy life of joseph, whereof the history following maketh mention, which joseph was one of the twelve patriarchs: and the title or name of the whole book is called the Testaments of the said twelve patriarchs, which be full of the spirit of prophecy. I intend therefore to translate more of them with the permission of God, if time and place shall give occasion. Now God him self which gyvythe light to all creatures hath sent this among his people as a mirror to look in, according to his holly word saying. Nothing is hidden that shall ●ot be made opine.  
¶ If this volume being but the Testament of one of the patriarchs, shall be thankfully received of the good reader. Then shall I if God permit, do mine endeavour that thou mayst have all the rest.  
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