TO THE WORSHIPFVLL AND RELIGIOVS GENTLE. man, Mr. Iohn Parker, Citizen of London, and of the worship∣full Societie of Marchant-Taylors.
Right Worthy Sir,
IN these ingratefull daies of ours, wherein mens merits are forgotten, with the expiration of the life; and that too many doe glory, to leaue happy or vnhappy posterities behinde them to •••••• their memories liue when they are gone; or else put a vaine hope of a long lasting same, by e••••••∣cting painted vaine-glorious Sepulchers, and marble Monuments, whilst small are the•••••• ber of those that by Piety, Charity, Noble and vertuous Actions, and good life and conuersation, •••• seeke to attaine the neuer-fading memory of Eternity, and true lmmortality, so that it is a doubt, wh••∣ther the death of the good, or the life of the bad, are most to be lamented: Yet although the true worth•••• this deceased Right Reuerend, Right Honourable and right Learned Father, (whom God in merry •••• taken from the euill to come) is of that inuincible and impregenable strength, that the flattery or battle of future time cannot beat it downe into the gulfe of obliuion and forget fulnesse, yet (though we•••• lesse) I in dutious loue and reuerence to the Dead, and true in affection to the liuing (amongst whom •••• •••• of my departed Lords Friends and Seruants, I am much endeared and oblieged vnto) I haue set •••• rudely to paper, and as I could (though not as I should) I haue as it were onley look'd into the Sui•••••••• of a goodly City, tasted Manna afarre off, and touched the skirts or hem of his meritorious vertues; wh•••• I have made bold to dedicate to your Worships graue and iudicious view and censure, humbly desir•• your VVorship to accept my intention more then my Labour, in hope whereof, I cease to enlarge my E•••••• further, wishing you such happinesse in this life, as is correspondent to your worth, and such, felicity in •••• life to come, as is layd vp for good men in Heauen.
Your Worships to command, IOHN TAYLOR