The fissher-mans tale of the famous actes, life and loue of Cassander a Grecian knight. Written by Francis Sabie.

To the right VVorshipfull, his verie good friend and Benefactor, M. Henrie Mordant, sonne and sole heire to the right Hono∣rable the Lord Mordant, Francis Sabie wisheth full fruition of externall and internall felicitie.

ABashed (right Worshipfull) at the ex∣cellencie of your greatnesse, astonished at the reporte of your prudence: com∣forted notwithstanding, at the remem¦brance of your acustomed clmencie: a∣nimated at the consideration of your excellent vertue: more confidentlie doe I present vnto your Worship these few vntutord lines, the trauell of my rude Mule, and vntimelie fruites of my first spring. The ground where they grew, as it needed much ma∣nuring, and diligent tillage, euen so the Gardener to make amendes, was none of the skilfullest, but lacked that cunning which riper yeares and longer experience might peraduenture haue supplyed, whereby the fruit, which otherwise would haue bene delicate, be changed and turned to meere wildings. Yet considering that the stomacke ouercloyd with daintie and sweete iunkets, is oft times very much recreated with meaner and har∣sher meats: So your Worship sometime wearied with high and serious affaires, may at length vouchsafe to cast a glaunce vpon these my vnlettered poemes, which

wil perhaps bring no lesser content than delectation vn∣to your graue and stayed mind, vnto whome, and vnto whose noble predecessours, I do acknowledge me and my weake parentes so much to bee and haue bene in∣debted, that should the gods allot vnto the tearme of my life, Nestors yeares, bestowe vpon me Croesus wealth, and endue me with Tullies elequence, yet were I neunr able with long endeuour, incessiue giftes, or finenesse of Oratorie, to make satisfaction, requite, or set foorth halfe that praise and dutie, which is of me, to you to be perfourmed, for so great and so many inestimable be∣nefites: should I goe about to rehearse them, I shoulde vndertake a matter as hard to be compassed, as is Aetna to be remooued. These rude lines, penned at vacant houres, partly to shun the vntolerable crime of ingrati∣tude, partly to make known in some measure, my boun∣den dutie, I haue presented to your Worship, praying you to vouchsafe them your acceptance', as Alexander did of a cup of cold water, offered vnto him of a simple man, which not doubting of, I hope hereafter I shall be better able to present your Worship with some polisht and profitable peece of my trauell.

Your Worships euer at comandement FRANCIS SABIE.