Narbonus The laberynth of libertie. Very pleasant for young gentlemen to peruse, and passing profitable for them to prosecute. Wherein is contained the discommodities that insue, by following the lust of a mans will, in youth: and the goodnesse he after gayneth, being beaten with his owne rod, and pricked with the peeushnesse of his owne conscience, in age. VVriten by Austin Saker, of New Inne.

¶ To the Gentlemen Readers.

I Stood maruailing Gentlemen, after the vvriting of this troublesome trashe, and the fini∣shing of this tedious trauaile, and fared like A∣lexanders man, who shiuered in the Sunne and svvet in the shadovv: or like the Thessalian La∣die that wept, when she beheld her protrated Pic∣ture, and vvas sorrovvfull vvhen she vvrote any letter, fering it should be disliked: I doubted, vvhether best present this to the Printer to be put in the Presse, or giue it the Painter to pinne on a Poste, but remembring that the Painter, if a mā be bald, he paints him bare: then thought I, this beeing nothing nice, he vvill dravv it starke naked: yet let the Printer haue any booke, and it shall be bought though but a bable, and let the Painter haue any Picture, and it shall be stared on, though but a Beast. Seeing therfore Vulcan to be draw∣en with his foule foote, so well as Venus to be painted vvith her faire face, I thought my booke might as well lie in a shop, as other ballads which stand at sale: yet he that puts any thing in Print to the end to haue it praised, is like him that coms into a Church to haue his bra∣uery noted: But Tullie (I remember) the most eloquent, pleased not al vvith his svveete sayings: and Crassus so broade mouthed as any, was liked of some, with his sowre sothings. The solacing strings of Orpheus could not saue his life vvith his sweete Musick, yet the Pipe of Pan, was liked vvith his rusticall melodie: he vvas regarded in the coun∣trie, and I happely shal be read in the Court: he vvas a stale to many, and I looke to be a laughing stock to moe: If the best vvriters haue not beene liked of some wantons, should my selfe thinke mutch to be loa∣thed of many that are vvilfull. I looke not that Fortune vvhich was neuer fauourable in woords of small vvaight, should novv be freendly in workes of great wisedome: And as my ill happe hath hetherto beene so hard as anies, so looke I not to haue it amended by this heereafter. The old saying is: he that liues in hel, thinkes there is no other heaue••▪ and he that daunceth with the Diuell, careth not, so he bee loued of his Damme. Augustus sayd, he had rather be a Pigge in Herodes coun∣trey, then a child in his Court: for all the male children he put to the sword, but Svvines flesh amongst the Ievves, was loathesome and vn∣sauerie,

and he that shall write to please the faculties of all fancies, must either reache beyond the Moone, or misse of his marke: And if any thinge be vvorthy blame, reprooue Narbonus vvho knovves you not, and if Saker, any way haue merited shame, let him be repayed vvith such sauce, though he hate you not: Yet had not I liked to loue you, this should neuer haue come foorth of my Libertie: and had I not beene willing to saluted you courteously, I should expected to beene re∣vvarded as carelesly: and the moste that I aske, is but Bona verba, for my willing minde, and good vvill for my honest meaning: if you repay me with lesse, I must liue by the losse, but if you graunt me so much, it is the vttermost I looke for: And Gentlemē, if you pardon me, for this same beeing the first, I vvill excuse my selfe vvhen I present you the second? vvhich if you denie me, I vovv it shall be the last: And if you gaine saie me this reasonable request, I vvill neuer offend your eares vvith so vnseasonable a sute: As for the verdite of fooles, I plead not for their pardons, and for the sottish sort, I meane not to prooue them vvith protestations: I knovv some will grinne, but not take hould of my flesh: and other vvill snap, but not touche my finger: Gentle∣men I knovv vvill be ruled with reason: as for others, I feare not their rigour: for vvho so likes of my doings, I shall be bound to commend their demeanours, but who pretends me faithlesse fauour, I must of force requite vvith flattring freendshippe.

Farewell.