The forrest of fancy Wherein is conteined very prety apothegmes, and pleasaunt histories, both in meeter and prose, songes, sonets, epigrams and epistles, of diuerse matter and in diuerse manner. VVith sundry other deuises, no lesse pithye then pleasaunt and profytable.

The Louer hauing long time loued a fayre Gentlewo∣man, at whose handes he had reciued small hope of obtaining his purpose, wrighteth vn∣to her as followeth.

TO vse any long discourse my dearely beloued Parme∣nia, in the declaration of my great good will and ser∣uent affection towardes you, I coumpte it but friuotous, seing I am well assured that you haue long since percey∣ued, and from time to time made perfect ••ryall of my true ••uer towards you yet to the hope so vncertain that I haue hitherto receiued frō you, as I cannot assure my self of any further fauour at your handes, then he that hath neuer de∣serued any at all, and as it is the property of all those that loue faithfully so feare the worst, so doe I many times misdoubt least through my owne euill destenye, or the fai∣ned flattery of some false dissembler, I shal bee depriued of that comfort which doth more content me then the Con∣quest of a whole kingdome: wherefore being greatly gre∣ued with the vncertaintie of my present estate, by meanes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 y^• mutability, that many times I find to be in you, not able any longer to sustain the torments that it putteth me vnto, I haue thought good to write these few words vn∣to you most humbly beseeching you to dissolue me of this doubt without delay that if I finde not your aunswere a∣greeable with my desyre I may seeke if I can to suppresse the seruente affection that is nowe so deepelye rooted in my harft, as I feare mee I shall hardlye remooue it.

Doe this my good Parmenia, and feare not anye inconuenience that may growe thereby.

For, I hope that by graunting mee youre friendlye fauoure, you shall haue no cause to repente you of any thing that shall happen vnto you vnlesse it be because you

haue so long lacked the company of so comfortable a com∣panyon, by whose meanes with the helpe of God you shal not only be deliurred of your long and grreuous sicknesse, which cannot be otherwise cured, but also leauing the life that now you ••eade be cid of all these your mallicious E∣nemies, that with their enuye on deuill dealing doe daylye vndeseruedly deuise to doe you displeasure, and withall purchase to your selfe so faithfull a friend as for anye ad∣uenture will neuer forsake you but vsing his dilligente & carefull industry to prouide for your maintenance, which neede I hope shall neuer happen vnto you, howesoeuer you esteeme my present state to be, for I know there is no¦thing so difficult, but the wit of man if wil be with it may well bring it to passe, comforting my selfe with this assu∣red hope, that God will neuer suffer them to perrishe that put their trust in him.

Thus muche my good harmena, I haue thoughte good to wryte vnto you because I coulde not finde conuenic〈…〉〈…〉 tyme or mete opportunity to deliuer it vnto you in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I pray you consyder of it aduisedly, that I may know your resolute aunswere therein, And so fare you well.