Works, Dedication 2
TO THE MOST High and Mighty, moſt Gracious and Religious PRINCE, IAMES, by the grace of God, of Great Brittaine, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith Apoſtol… ▪ call, &c. All bleſſed hap in this life, and eternall bliſſe in the life to come.
THe picture of puritie▪ and patterne of Piety, (moſt Gracious and dread Sou…r…ign… Lord) holy Bernard by name deciphereth o…t at large th… groſſe enormity of that vgly v… Ingratitude, ſaying: that it is Inimica animae, exinanitio mer…orum, diſperſiovirtutum, &c▪ An enemy to the Chriſtians ſoule, an exile of merits, a ruine of vertues, and a conſuming fire, that ſcorcheth vp the fountaine of all godlineſſe. Leſt therefore I ſhould condemne my ſelfe of this ſenſuall ſin, and challenged bee of groſſe Ingratitude; I hauehave preſumed (crauing pardon for my arrogant audacity herein) in token of my loyall duty to your ſacred Maiesty, to tranſport theſe lines Laconicall, and letters Impolite, to the happy hauen of your Princely heart, wiſhing to your Royall Grace, the ſiluer of all earthly proſperitie, and the gold of all celeſtiall …elicitie▪ If your Highneſſ reſpect the matter; it is celeſtiall: …f your Supremacy the manner, it is t…o t…o terreſtriall: Yet pardon (moſt religious Prince) this my bold attempt, partly weighing the compulſion of …ntire affection, and partly conſidering the neceſsity of your ſimpleſt ſubiects erudition. Thus ceaſing further troubling your Maieſties ſacred …ares, proſterning my ſelfe vponupon the knees of ſubmiſsion, at your Highneſse foot-ſtoole, for pardon for my preſumption herein; I begge without intermiſsion, before the Throne of Grace, that it would pleaſe the Almighty to bleſſe, protect and defend your Royall Maiesty, and all your Royall Iſſue, in this life preſent; and in the life to come, crowne you all with the Crowne of immort all Glory: and that for Ieſus Chriſts ſake our onelyonly Lord, and euer-liuing Sauiour. AMEN, From Hempſtead in Eſſex, this 16. of October. 1608.
Your Maieſties moſt humble ſeruant, and moſt loyall Subiect, HENRY GREENEWOOD.