TO THE

RIGHTE HONORABLE HIS SINGULER GOOD LORDE

SIR THOMAS EGERTON, KNIGHTE,

LORDE KEPER OF THE GREATE SEALE AND MASTER OF THE ROLLES OF THE CHAUNCERYE.

IT was (ryghte honorable and my verye good lorde) one aunciente and gretlye estemed custome emongst the Romans in the height of their glorye, that eche, one, accordinge to their abylytye or the desarte of his frende, did in the begynnynge of the monthe of Ianuarye (consecrated to the dooble-faced godd Ianus, on the fyrste daye whereof they made electione of their cheife officers and magistrates,) presente somme gyfte vnto his frende as the note and pledge of the contynued and encresed amytye betwene them; a pollicye gretlye to be regarded for the many good effectes which issue from so woorthye cause. This custome not restinge in the lymyttes of Italye, but spredinge with the Romans (as did their language and many other their vsages and lawes) into euerye perticuler countrye where theyr power and gouermente stretched, passed also ouer the oceane into the litle worlde of Britannye, being neuer exiled from thence, nor from those whome eyther honor, amytye, or dutye doth combyne;

ffor whose cause lest I myghte offende in the breche of that most excellente and yet embraced custome, I thinke yt my parte to presente unto yo' Lo: suche poore newe-yeres gyfte as my weak estate and the barrennesse of my feble skyll will permytte. Wherefore, and because Cicero affirmeth that he whiche hathe once ouerpassed the frontiers of modesty must for euer after be impudente, (a grounde which I fynde fully veryfyed in my selfe, havinge once before outgonne the boundes of shamefastnesse in presentinge to yo' Lordshippe my confused collectōns and disordered discourse of the Chauncelors,) I ame nowe become vtterlye impudente in not blushinge to salute you agayne (in the begynnynge of this newe yere) with my petye animadversōns vppon the annotacōns and corrections deliuered by master Thomas Speghte vppon the last editōne of Chaucers Workes in the yere of oure redemptōne 1598; thinges (I confesse) not so answerable to yo' Lordshippes iudgment, and my desyre, as bothe youre desarte and my dutye doo challenge. But although they doo not in all respectes satisfye youre Lordshippes expectacōne and my goode will, (accordinge as I wyshe they sholde,) yet I dobt not but yo' Lordshippe (not degeneratinge from youre former courtesye wontinge to accompanye all youre actōns) will accepte these trifles from yo' lovinge wellwiller, in suche sorte as I shall acknowledge my selfe beholdinge and endebted to yo Lordshippe for the same. Whiche I hope

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yo' Lordshippe will the rather doo (with pardonynge my presumptione) because you haue, by the former good acceptance of my laste booke, emboldened me to make tryall of the lyke acceptance of this pamphlette. Wherefore yf yo' Lordshippe shall receve yt curteous (and so not to discharge mee in my swete and studiouse idlenesse) I will hereafter consecrate to yo' lykinge soome better labor of moore momente, and a higher subiecte, answerable to the excellencye of yo judgmente, and mete to declare the fulnesse of the dutyfull mynde and seruice I beare and owe vnto youre Lordshippe; to whome in all reuerence I commytte this simple treatyce. Thus (withe hartye prayers cōmendinge youre estate to the Almightye, who send to yo' Lordshippe manye happye and helthfull yeres and to me the enlarged contynuance of youre honorable favor,) I humblye take my leave.

Clerkenwell Grene

the xx of december 1599.

Your Lordshippes wholye to dyspose,

FRANCIS THYNNE.