The church-history of Britain from the birth of Jesus Christ until the year M.DC.XLVIII endeavoured by Thomas Fuller.

To the Right Honourable, WILLIAM COMPTON, Sonne and Heire to the Right Honourable, JAMES, Baron COMPTON of COMPTON, AND Earle of NORTHAMPTON.

HAving formerly proved ata 1.1 large, That it is lawfull for any, and expedient for me, to have Infant-Patrons for my Books, let me give an account why this parcell of my History was set apart for your Honour, not being cast by chance, but led by choice to this my De∣dication.

First, I resolved with my self to select such a Patron for this my History of Abbies, whose Ancestour was not onely of credit, and repute, in the Reîgn; but also of favour and esteem in the affection of King HENRY the Eighth.

Secondly, he should be such (if possible to be found)

who had no partage at all in Abbey-Lands at their disso∣lution, that so his judgement might be unbiased in the read∣ing hereof.

Both my Requisits have happily met in your Honour, whose direct Ancestour, Sir WILLIAM COM∣PTON, was not onely chief Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber to the aforesaid KING, but also (as a noble b 1.2 pen writing his Life, informeth us) the third man in His favour, in the beginning of His Reign: yet had he not a shooe-latchet of Abbey-Land, though nothing surely de∣barred him save his own abstinence: as there is none in all your antient Paternall estate, for I account not what since by accession of Matches hath accrued unto it.

Thus are you the Person designed for my purpose, and I believe very few (if any) in ENGLAND, can wash their hands in the same Bason, to have no Abbey-lands sticking to their fingers; and thus being freest from being a Party, in due time you will be fittest to be a Judge, to passe unpartial sentence on what is written on this subject.

And now let me make your Lordship smile a little, ac∣quainting you with a passage in the Legend, of NICHO∣LAS a Popish Saint: Theyc 1.3 report of him, That when an Infant hanging on his Mothers breast, he fasted Wednesdaies and Fridaies, and could not be urged to suck more than once a day.

But, good my Lord, be not so ceremonious, or rather superstitious, to imitate his example: Wean not your self, until you be weaned, and let all daies be alike to your Ho∣nour. I dare assure you, no spark of Sanctity the lesse for a drop of milke the more. A good case is no hindrance to a pretious jewell, and a healthfull body no abasement to a holy soule.

And when your Lordship shall arrive at riper years, consult your own Extraction, as the best Remembrancer of worthy behaviour. In whose veines there is the con∣fluence of so many Rivulets, that a mean Herault, by the guidance thereof upwards, may be led to the fountains of the most of the English Nobility.

All I will adde is this, as you give three Helmets for your Armes, may you be carefull to take the fourth, even thed 1.4 helmet of salvation. An Helmet which here is worn close, whilest Souldiers in the Church-Militant we see but in part, but hereafter shall be born (like the Helmet of Prin∣ces) with the bever open in the Church-Triumphant, when we shall see as we are seen. The desire of

Your Honours most engaged Beads-man, THOMAS FVLLER.

Notes

• a 1.1

  In severall Dedicatory Epistles in my Pisgah Sight.
• b 1.2

  The Lord Herbert in his History, page 8.
• c 1.3

  Lib. Festi∣val. in die S. Nichol. fol. 55.
• d 1.4

  Eph. 6. 17.