The ransome of time being captive Wherein is declared how precious a thing is time, how much he looseth that looseth it, & how it may be redeemed. Written in Spanish, by the R. Father Andreas de Soto, confessor to the most excellent Infanta Clara Eugenia. Translated into English by J.H.

TO THE HIGH, AND MIGHTY PRINCESSE THE LADY KATHERINE DVTCHESSE MARCHIONESSE, AND COVNTESSE OF BVCKINGHAM▪ COVNTESSE OF COVENTRIE, VICE-COVNTESSE VILLIERS, AND BARRONESSE OF WHADDON▪ &c.

MADAME

This peece in its natiue language was happy by the protection of that glorious Princesse, and mirrour of vertuous Ladies, the Lady CLARA EV∣GENIA

of happy memorie.

T'is now translated, and vested with an English hew: to whose protection, and tuition, with more conuenience, or more confidence, may this stranger flie, then to your most Gracious Highnesse? For if it bee the bookes ambition to scorne the publicke view, vnlesse it may hee graced with the sacred patronage of à Dutchesse, of à Noble, and vertuous Ladie; by ••••ying to the refuge of your High∣nesse vnparrelled vertues, it shall onely change, not loose it's mi∣stris.

MADAME, yet I most humbly bowe; craving pardon of your Grace that I present my ho∣mage so veiled as in à translation, not in à primary composition, best suting with my duety, and your most eminent worth; since that

your Excellencyes splendor might well enlighten, make acute, giue full vigour, yea and most liuely spirit to each vulgar capacity; to me especially whose deuotion to your Greatnes and Goodnes well weighed, would be found as verily, it is, truely resigned.

Really I would haue attempted the deliverye of some notions wherewith aswell my zeale, as also your Graces singular vertues haue formerly prompted me.

But when I (let not this my Apology, MADAME, not fin∣de grace with your Grace) perused this treatise (which I now dedicate to your Excellency) made English; and found it consonant to what the height of my imagination could arriue, yea and as well agree∣ing, aptly according with your Excellencyes example: Then was

I acquieted, made no farther search, for that I was euen fully appayed, Alas! yet MADAME as confiding in your indulgency, your conniuency.

The Author most learnedly hath deliuered his charitable minde, in whose worke reading and curious notions are sweetly couched, eui∣dently to bee seene in an appropri∣ate Methode: yea and it is most assuredly embellished and practi∣cally confirmed by him, as being fraught vvith many rare patternes, among vvhich MADAME were I not à trans∣lator I would herein record, regis∣ter your Grace, as one deseruedly.

Farther what are the particular contents of this piece will cleerly be shewē in the subsequēt preface, compiled by the Author himself;

to which I referre your Excellen∣cy wherein may be contemplated à discourse vvhich may well and likely proue à generall benefitt to all Readers by your Grace.

MADAME

Your Excellencies Most humbly deuoted Seruant IOHN HAWKINS.