TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE

MY VERY GOOD LORD

THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM

HIS GRACE, LORD

HIGH ADMIRAL OF ENGLAND
 
 

EXCELLENT LORD:
 
 

SALOMON saies; A good Name is as a precious

oyntment; And I assure my selfe, such wil

your Graces Name bee, with Posteritie.  For your

Fortune, and Merit both, have been Eminent.  And

you have planted Things, that are like to last.  I doe

now publish my Essayes; which, of all my other

workes, have beene most Currant: For that, as it

seemes, they come home, to Mens Businesse, and

Bosomes.  I have enlarged them, both in Number,

and Weight; So that they are indeed a New Worke.

I thought it therefore agreeable, to my Affection,

and Obligation to your Grace, to prefix your Name

before them, both in English, and in Latine.  For I

doe conceive, that the Latine Volume of them,

(being in the Universall Language) may last, as

long as Bookes last.  My Instauration, I dedicated to

the King: My Historie of Henry the Seventh,

(which I have now also translated into Latine) and

my Portions of Naturall History, to the Prince:

And these I dedicate to your Grace; Being of the

best Fruits, that by the good Encrease, which God

gives to my Pen and Labours, I could yeeld.

God leade your Grace by the Hand.  Your Graces

most Obliged and faithfull Servant,
 
 

FR. ST. ALBAN