ΤΟ THE TRULY HONOURABLE AND MOST VIRTUOUS LADY, THE LADY MONCK. MADAM, HAD the happiness, some sixteen years since, to be minister of that parish wherein your ladyship had your nativity, and this I humbly conceive doth afford me some title to dedicate my weak endeavours to your honour. It is notoriously known in our English Chronicles, that there was an ill may-day, Anno Dom. 1517, in the ninth year of King Henry the Eighth, wherein much mischief was done in London, the lives of many lost, and estates of more confounded. This last good may-day hath made plentiful amends for that evil one, and hath laid a foundation for the happiness of an almost ruined church and state; which as under God it was effected by the prudence and valour of your noble and most renowned husband, so you are eminently known to have had a finger, yea, a hand, yea, an arm happily instrumental therein. God reward you with honour here, and glory hereafter, which is the desire of millions in the three nations, and amongst them of Your Honour's most humble Servant, THOMAS FULLER. Zion College, I TO THE COURTEOUS READER. JUSTLY presume thee too much Christian and gentleman to trample on him who prostrates himself. I confess myself subject to just censure, that I have not severally sorted these contemplations, setting such which are, 1. Of Scripture; 2. Historical; 3. Occasional; 4. Personal; distinctly by themselves, which now are confusedly heaped, or rather huddled together. This I confess was caused by my haste, the press hourly craving with the daughter of the horseleech, give, give. However, such a confused medley may pass for the lively emblem of these times, the subject of this our book. And when these times shall be reduced into better order, my book, at the next impression, may be digested into better method, mean time I remain Thy Servant in Christ Jesus, THOMAS FULLer. |