TO THE MOST ILLVSTRIOVSPrincesse,FRANCIS, Dutchesse DowagerofRichmond,andLennox,&c.Famesayes (greatPrincesse) that thePow'rs-above,Will soone forgive; which, I desire to prove:For, I am guiltie of aVenial-sinneAgainst yourGrace; and, have remain'd thereinWithout anAbsolution, so long time,That, now, myConsciencechecks me for theCrime;And, to reprove me for it, will not ceaseTill I have, someway, sought to make myPeace.To palliate myFault, I could produceEnough, perhaps, to stand for anExcuse.But, when I mind whatFavours, and whatFameI might have purchased unto myName,(By taking Courage, to have done my best)I dare not makeExcuses; but, requestYour pardon, rather, and, that someOblationMay game myPerson, future acceptation.To that intent, this humbleOffring, here,Within your gracious presence, doth appeare.And, that it may the more content your eye,Well-gravenFigures, help to beautifieMy lowlyGift: And, vailed are in these,ATreasuryof GoldenSentences;By my well-meaningMuse, interpreted,That, with yourName, their Morals may be spreadAnd scattred,Largesse-like, (at your commanding)To helpe inrich thePoore in Vnderstanding.IfYovaccept theTender, I shall know,YourGraceis pleased with yourServant, so,As, that there may be hope, my future Actions,Will give the more contenting Satisfactions:And, yourEncouragements, myPow'rsmay raise,To make theBeavtiesof yourLater dayes,More glorious, far, than your freshYovth'sperfection,Though, knowne to be, theLoad-stoneofAffection.For, like the lovingTvrtle, you have stoodSo constant, in your vowedWiddow-hood;So strictly, kept a solitarie state;So faithfull beene, to your deceasedMate;So firmly true, and truly kinde, tothem,Which are theBranchesof hisPrincely-stemme;And, personated in so high aStraine,The parts ofHonovr; that, my rustickevaine,Must raised be, before it can ascendTo say, how much, yourFame, doth you commend.Yet, if theseLines, (or,thatthey Vsher in)For me, somePassagemay, anew, beginTo yourEsteeme; I, may so happily,Illustrate forth, theGolden-HistoryOf thoseAffections, which within your Brest,Have to the world remained unexprest.That, future times, to your applause may reade,The matchlessePaterneof aWiddowed-bed,Which you have drawne, for those toimitateWho can; and, for the rest to wonder at.For, what (thereto) yet wanteth, in myMuse,YourGrace, as myMinerva, may infuse.Nor, will it be in vaine, to shew the worthOf thosePerfections, truly blazed forth,Which you may personate: Nor, shall it beTo yourContentunusefull, when you seeTheBest part of your selfe, (as in aGlasse)Disclosed, and set up, before yourGrace,To represent thoseBeauties, wherein lurkes,More sweetnesse, than inPicture-drawersWorkes;And shew, how temp'rallGlories, andAffections,Have hourely ripened you, for thosePerfectionsThat, makeImmortall; and, which are thatEnd,Whereto, all EarthlyGraces, ought to tend.Then, if yourExcellence, desire to heare,ThoseMvses, honour you, whose prayses areAttendingVertue; and, shall please to liveThatLife of Glory, which myVersecan give;YourGracesfavour, (when you please) hath pow'rsTo make bothMee, and all myMusesyours.And, wee are hopefull, that, so well wee knowYourMerits, and thoseDuties, which wee owe,That, wee shall raise, yourHonovr'sTrophieshigh,Though,Wee our selvesupon the pavement lie.Thus, I have made mineOffring; and I standAttending, now, to kisse yourGraceshand.Your GRACESin all humilitie,Geo: Wither.
Famesayes (greatPrincesse) that thePow'rs-above,Will soone forgive; which, I desire to prove:For, I am guiltie of aVenial-sinneAgainst yourGrace; and, have remain'd thereinWithout anAbsolution, so long time,That, now, myConsciencechecks me for theCrime;And, to reprove me for it, will not ceaseTill I have, someway, sought to make myPeace.To palliate myFault, I could produceEnough, perhaps, to stand for anExcuse.But, when I mind whatFavours, and whatFameI might have purchased unto myName,(By taking Courage, to have done my best)I dare not makeExcuses; but, requestYour pardon, rather, and, that someOblationMay game myPerson, future acceptation.To that intent, this humbleOffring, here,Within your gracious presence, doth appeare.And, that it may the more content your eye,Well-gravenFigures, help to beautifieMy lowlyGift: And, vailed are in these,ATreasuryof GoldenSentences;By my well-meaningMuse, interpreted,That, with yourName, their Morals may be spreadAnd scattred,Largesse-like, (at your commanding)To helpe inrich thePoore in Vnderstanding.IfYovaccept theTender, I shall know,YourGraceis pleased with yourServant, so,As, that there may be hope, my future Actions,Will give the more contenting Satisfactions:And, yourEncouragements, myPow'rsmay raise,To make theBeavtiesof yourLater dayes,More glorious, far, than your freshYovth'sperfection,Though, knowne to be, theLoad-stoneofAffection.For, like the lovingTvrtle, you have stoodSo constant, in your vowedWiddow-hood;So strictly, kept a solitarie state;So faithfull beene, to your deceasedMate;So firmly true, and truly kinde, tothem,Which are theBranchesof hisPrincely-stemme;And, personated in so high aStraine,The parts ofHonovr; that, my rustickevaine,Must raised be, before it can ascendTo say, how much, yourFame, doth you commend.Yet, if theseLines, (or,thatthey Vsher in)For me, somePassagemay, anew, beginTo yourEsteeme; I, may so happily,Illustrate forth, theGolden-HistoryOf thoseAffections, which within your Brest,Have to the world remained unexprest.That, future times, to your applause may reade,The matchlessePaterneof aWiddowed-bed,Which you have drawne, for those toimitateWho can; and, for the rest to wonder at.For, what (thereto) yet wanteth, in myMuse,YourGrace, as myMinerva, may infuse.Nor, will it be in vaine, to shew the worthOf thosePerfections, truly blazed forth,Which you may personate: Nor, shall it beTo yourContentunusefull, when you seeTheBest part of your selfe, (as in aGlasse)Disclosed, and set up, before yourGrace,To represent thoseBeauties, wherein lurkes,More sweetnesse, than inPicture-drawersWorkes;And shew, how temp'rallGlories, andAffections,Have hourely ripened you, for thosePerfectionsThat, makeImmortall; and, which are thatEnd,Whereto, all EarthlyGraces, ought to tend.Then, if yourExcellence, desire to heare,ThoseMvses, honour you, whose prayses areAttendingVertue; and, shall please to liveThatLife of Glory, which myVersecan give;YourGracesfavour, (when you please) hath pow'rsTo make bothMee, and all myMusesyours.And, wee are hopefull, that, so well wee knowYourMerits, and thoseDuties, which wee owe,That, wee shall raise, yourHonovr'sTrophieshigh,Though,Wee our selvesupon the pavement lie.Thus, I have made mineOffring; and I standAttending, now, to kisse yourGraceshand.
Famesayes (greatPrincesse) that thePow'rs-above,Will soone forgive; which, I desire to prove:For, I am guiltie of aVenial-sinneAgainst yourGrace; and, have remain'd thereinWithout anAbsolution, so long time,That, now, myConsciencechecks me for theCrime;And, to reprove me for it, will not ceaseTill I have, someway, sought to make myPeace.To palliate myFault, I could produceEnough, perhaps, to stand for anExcuse.But, when I mind whatFavours, and whatFameI might have purchased unto myName,(By taking Courage, to have done my best)I dare not makeExcuses; but, requestYour pardon, rather, and, that someOblationMay game myPerson, future acceptation.To that intent, this humbleOffring, here,Within your gracious presence, doth appeare.And, that it may the more content your eye,Well-gravenFigures, help to beautifieMy lowlyGift: And, vailed are in these,ATreasuryof GoldenSentences;By my well-meaningMuse, interpreted,That, with yourName, their Morals may be spreadAnd scattred,Largesse-like, (at your commanding)To helpe inrich thePoore in Vnderstanding.IfYovaccept theTender, I shall know,YourGraceis pleased with yourServant, so,As, that there may be hope, my future Actions,Will give the more contenting Satisfactions:And, yourEncouragements, myPow'rsmay raise,To make theBeavtiesof yourLater dayes,More glorious, far, than your freshYovth'sperfection,Though, knowne to be, theLoad-stoneofAffection.For, like the lovingTvrtle, you have stoodSo constant, in your vowedWiddow-hood;So strictly, kept a solitarie state;So faithfull beene, to your deceasedMate;So firmly true, and truly kinde, tothem,Which are theBranchesof hisPrincely-stemme;And, personated in so high aStraine,The parts ofHonovr; that, my rustickevaine,Must raised be, before it can ascendTo say, how much, yourFame, doth you commend.Yet, if theseLines, (or,thatthey Vsher in)For me, somePassagemay, anew, beginTo yourEsteeme; I, may so happily,Illustrate forth, theGolden-HistoryOf thoseAffections, which within your Brest,Have to the world remained unexprest.That, future times, to your applause may reade,The matchlessePaterneof aWiddowed-bed,Which you have drawne, for those toimitateWho can; and, for the rest to wonder at.For, what (thereto) yet wanteth, in myMuse,YourGrace, as myMinerva, may infuse.Nor, will it be in vaine, to shew the worthOf thosePerfections, truly blazed forth,Which you may personate: Nor, shall it beTo yourContentunusefull, when you seeTheBest part of your selfe, (as in aGlasse)Disclosed, and set up, before yourGrace,To represent thoseBeauties, wherein lurkes,More sweetnesse, than inPicture-drawersWorkes;And shew, how temp'rallGlories, andAffections,Have hourely ripened you, for thosePerfectionsThat, makeImmortall; and, which are thatEnd,Whereto, all EarthlyGraces, ought to tend.Then, if yourExcellence, desire to heare,ThoseMvses, honour you, whose prayses areAttendingVertue; and, shall please to liveThatLife of Glory, which myVersecan give;YourGracesfavour, (when you please) hath pow'rsTo make bothMee, and all myMusesyours.And, wee are hopefull, that, so well wee knowYourMerits, and thoseDuties, which wee owe,That, wee shall raise, yourHonovr'sTrophieshigh,Though,Wee our selvesupon the pavement lie.Thus, I have made mineOffring; and I standAttending, now, to kisse yourGraceshand.
Famesayes (greatPrincesse) that thePow'rs-above,Will soone forgive; which, I desire to prove:For, I am guiltie of aVenial-sinneAgainst yourGrace; and, have remain'd thereinWithout anAbsolution, so long time,That, now, myConsciencechecks me for theCrime;And, to reprove me for it, will not ceaseTill I have, someway, sought to make myPeace.To palliate myFault, I could produceEnough, perhaps, to stand for anExcuse.But, when I mind whatFavours, and whatFameI might have purchased unto myName,(By taking Courage, to have done my best)I dare not makeExcuses; but, requestYour pardon, rather, and, that someOblationMay game myPerson, future acceptation.To that intent, this humbleOffring, here,Within your gracious presence, doth appeare.And, that it may the more content your eye,Well-gravenFigures, help to beautifieMy lowlyGift: And, vailed are in these,ATreasuryof GoldenSentences;By my well-meaningMuse, interpreted,That, with yourName, their Morals may be spreadAnd scattred,Largesse-like, (at your commanding)To helpe inrich thePoore in Vnderstanding.IfYovaccept theTender, I shall know,YourGraceis pleased with yourServant, so,As, that there may be hope, my future Actions,Will give the more contenting Satisfactions:And, yourEncouragements, myPow'rsmay raise,To make theBeavtiesof yourLater dayes,More glorious, far, than your freshYovth'sperfection,Though, knowne to be, theLoad-stoneofAffection.For, like the lovingTvrtle, you have stoodSo constant, in your vowedWiddow-hood;So strictly, kept a solitarie state;So faithfull beene, to your deceasedMate;So firmly true, and truly kinde, tothem,Which are theBranchesof hisPrincely-stemme;And, personated in so high aStraine,The parts ofHonovr; that, my rustickevaine,Must raised be, before it can ascendTo say, how much, yourFame, doth you commend.Yet, if theseLines, (or,thatthey Vsher in)For me, somePassagemay, anew, beginTo yourEsteeme; I, may so happily,Illustrate forth, theGolden-HistoryOf thoseAffections, which within your Brest,Have to the world remained unexprest.That, future times, to your applause may reade,The matchlessePaterneof aWiddowed-bed,Which you have drawne, for those toimitateWho can; and, for the rest to wonder at.For, what (thereto) yet wanteth, in myMuse,YourGrace, as myMinerva, may infuse.Nor, will it be in vaine, to shew the worthOf thosePerfections, truly blazed forth,Which you may personate: Nor, shall it beTo yourContentunusefull, when you seeTheBest part of your selfe, (as in aGlasse)Disclosed, and set up, before yourGrace,To represent thoseBeauties, wherein lurkes,More sweetnesse, than inPicture-drawersWorkes;And shew, how temp'rallGlories, andAffections,Have hourely ripened you, for thosePerfectionsThat, makeImmortall; and, which are thatEnd,Whereto, all EarthlyGraces, ought to tend.Then, if yourExcellence, desire to heare,ThoseMvses, honour you, whose prayses areAttendingVertue; and, shall please to liveThatLife of Glory, which myVersecan give;YourGracesfavour, (when you please) hath pow'rsTo make bothMee, and all myMusesyours.And, wee are hopefull, that, so well wee knowYourMerits, and thoseDuties, which wee owe,That, wee shall raise, yourHonovr'sTrophieshigh,Though,Wee our selvesupon the pavement lie.Thus, I have made mineOffring; and I standAttending, now, to kisse yourGraceshand.
Famesayes (greatPrincesse) that thePow'rs-above,
Will soone forgive; which, I desire to prove:
For, I am guiltie of aVenial-sinne
Against yourGrace; and, have remain'd therein
Without anAbsolution, so long time,
That, now, myConsciencechecks me for theCrime;
And, to reprove me for it, will not cease
Till I have, someway, sought to make myPeace.
To palliate myFault, I could produce
Enough, perhaps, to stand for anExcuse.
But, when I mind whatFavours, and whatFame
I might have purchased unto myName,
(By taking Courage, to have done my best)
I dare not makeExcuses; but, request
Your pardon, rather, and, that someOblation
May game myPerson, future acceptation.
To that intent, this humbleOffring, here,
Within your gracious presence, doth appeare.
And, that it may the more content your eye,
Well-gravenFigures, help to beautifie
My lowlyGift: And, vailed are in these,
ATreasuryof GoldenSentences;
By my well-meaningMuse, interpreted,
That, with yourName, their Morals may be spread
And scattred,Largesse-like, (at your commanding)
To helpe inrich thePoore in Vnderstanding.
IfYovaccept theTender, I shall know,
YourGraceis pleased with yourServant, so,
As, that there may be hope, my future Actions,
Will give the more contenting Satisfactions:
And, yourEncouragements, myPow'rsmay raise,
To make theBeavtiesof yourLater dayes,
More glorious, far, than your freshYovth'sperfection,
Though, knowne to be, theLoad-stoneofAffection.
For, like the lovingTvrtle, you have stood
So constant, in your vowedWiddow-hood;
So strictly, kept a solitarie state;
So faithfull beene, to your deceasedMate;
So firmly true, and truly kinde, tothem,
Which are theBranchesof hisPrincely-stemme;
And, personated in so high aStraine,
The parts ofHonovr; that, my rustickevaine,
Must raised be, before it can ascend
To say, how much, yourFame, doth you commend.
Yet, if theseLines, (or,thatthey Vsher in)
For me, somePassagemay, anew, begin
To yourEsteeme; I, may so happily,
Illustrate forth, theGolden-History
Of thoseAffections, which within your Brest,
Have to the world remained unexprest.
That, future times, to your applause may reade,
The matchlessePaterneof aWiddowed-bed,
Which you have drawne, for those toimitate
Who can; and, for the rest to wonder at.
For, what (thereto) yet wanteth, in myMuse,
YourGrace, as myMinerva, may infuse.
Nor, will it be in vaine, to shew the worth
Of thosePerfections, truly blazed forth,
Which you may personate: Nor, shall it be
To yourContentunusefull, when you see
TheBest part of your selfe, (as in aGlasse)
Disclosed, and set up, before yourGrace,
To represent thoseBeauties, wherein lurkes,
More sweetnesse, than inPicture-drawersWorkes;
And shew, how temp'rallGlories, andAffections,
Have hourely ripened you, for thosePerfections
That, makeImmortall; and, which are thatEnd,
Whereto, all EarthlyGraces, ought to tend.
Then, if yourExcellence, desire to heare,
ThoseMvses, honour you, whose prayses are
AttendingVertue; and, shall please to live
ThatLife of Glory, which myVersecan give;
YourGracesfavour, (when you please) hath pow'rs
To make bothMee, and all myMusesyours.
And, wee are hopefull, that, so well wee know
YourMerits, and thoseDuties, which wee owe,
That, wee shall raise, yourHonovr'sTrophieshigh,
Though,Wee our selvesupon the pavement lie.
Thus, I have made mineOffring; and I stand
Attending, now, to kisse yourGraceshand.
Your GRACES
in all humilitie,
Geo: Wither.