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The Author, to censure.
GEntlemen. Our English Trismegistus, that Oracle of wit in his Advancment of Learning, delivers som what singular in defence of my endeavours in this kind, which seeing requisite I cannot pru∣dently omit. As for lives when I thinke thereon. I doe find strange that these our times have so little knowne and acknowledged their own vertues, being there is so seldome any memoriall of the lives of those who have beene eminent in them. For although Kings and such as have absolute Soveraignty may be few, and Princes in free Commonwealths not many. Yet however there hath not beene wanting excellent men, though of an inferiour degree that have deserved better then an uncer∣taine and wandring fame of their memory, or some naked and barren Elegy. Such certainly was himself, and the Gentleman I have here exposed: choosing rather like one of those Swans (of whose pau∣city the learned Viscount complaines) to carry my tablet to the Tem∣ple of Immortality, then like those other negligent birds loose it in the River Lethe: lest my owne name should deservedly live fa∣mous onely for ingratitude; that living could neglect to expresse his unparallel'd worth, who even dying look't with such a happy and affectionate eye on my indesert; yet am I so farre from judge∣ing that these meane endeavours have acquitted the debts and affe∣ctions of others, that I beleeve to have scarce satisfied for my selfe, nor shall I rest content till I bring one graine of incense more to that great oblation which I hope the Muses will offer ere long in publique to his memory thereby to induce Historians those Gold∣smiths of time in their elaborate rings the Chronicles and Relati∣ons of these daies, curiously to enchace this choicer Diamond to the delight and benefit of succeeding ages.
Ʋt'herba solstitialis paulisper sumns.