False complaints. Or The censure of an vnthankfull mind, the labour of Carolus Pascalius translated into English by W.C. A worke very learned and fit for all estates in this age of vnnecessarie discontentments, shewing how all complaine, but all without cause

To the Reader.

TO tell you, that I haue tran∣slated, this booke shall bee an honor to the Author, but a hazard (peraduenture) of your opinions to my selfe. But seeing a desire to be∣nefit others, must not looke at those curious obseruatiōs, which displease some: I thought there was small losse, if I benefitted the bet∣ter sort, though I gaine vnto my selfe the scof∣fing reprehension of some few; there are in my opinion few bookes of a more generall information or fitter for this age; this age, this vnthankeful age, wherin all states (almost) are infected with this poyson, to be discontent;

and by reason of their discontentments to be vnthankefull; for there is no euill, that man sooner apprehendeth, then the opinion of his own; which maketh him (for the most part) an vniust esteemer of what good, he hath recei∣ued, & so consequētly vnthankfull vnto him that gaue it. If I could cure this disease, this naturall and contagious disease (which grow∣eth by the increase of sence and decay of ver∣tue) I should in some thinges reforme their iudgements, whom I know to bee farre wiser then my selfe. I will not tell you (a thing too well known) how all conditions are vnthank∣full, but I will say with my Author (which may serue to cure them) that the great and awfull ruler of men, times, and things; the liberall and wife disposer of all that are annexed to mans life, Knoweth how to deuide, much better, then wee can chuse. In this Treatise, thou shalt find much rypened wisedōe to cure this sick∣nesse. If thou vnderstandest the Author him∣selfe, reade him, as he wrote; for he receiueth but darkenesse, and a blemish from my penne, Faults which I doe vnto him, yet against my

will. If thou vnderstandest him not, read this, for it is better to heare a good tale euill told, then not at all; it is labour to me, more then to thy selfe; If thou thinkest, that I am wor∣thie small thankes, I know, in this I deserue as little blame; vnthankefulnesse is that fault, which is reproued in this Treatise; I would bee sorrie this fault should bee in thee, if it be, it is dangerous, seeke to cure it, ac∣cept this well, and to mee, thou art thanke∣full enough; greater benefits require grea∣ter thankes; consider to whom thou art most bound, and make him the contemplation of thy thankefulnesse; so shalt thou make be∣nefits, not to be losses; nor thy selfe vnhap∣pie.

This which thou readest translated into thy owne tongue (for thy vnderstanding) is the worke of a verie wise, and great man; and such a one (as in my weake opinion) to Chronicle the ciuill warres of that great Kingdome Fraunce, hath not in the circuit of his large Empire, any more iudiciall, or more eloquent; I thinke a Historie written

by him, would not bee much inferiour to that of Tacitus; whose impenetrable iudg∣ment (doubtlesse) had not been so great, if he had not set downe great vices striuing with great vertues; much euill, with much good; all concurring in new gouernours, what he hath performed in this, toward the curing of the common disease of vnthank∣fullnesse, thou that readest, maist easely iudge; and though hee neede not, yet I craue thy pardon (courtious Reader) and so end. farewell, the 2. of October, 1604.

W. C.