The Noble and Worthy Science of Defense, Title page – Dedication
THE SCHOOLE OF THE NOBLE and Worthy Science of Defence.
Being the firſt of any Engliſh mans inuention, which profeſſed the ſayd Science; So plainly deſcribed, that any man may quickly come to the true knowledge of their weapons, with ſmall paines and little practiſe.
Then reade it aduiſedly, and vſe the benefit thereof when occaſion ſhal ſerue, ſo ſhalt thou be a good Common-wealth man, liue happy to thy ſelfe, and comfortable to thy friend.
Alſo many other good and profitable Precepts and Counſels for the managing of Quarrels and ordering thy ſelfe in many other matters.
Written by IOSEPH SVVETNAM.
LONDON, Printed by NICHOLAS OKES. 1617.
❧ TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCE CHARLES, PRINCE OF WALES, DVKE OF CORNEwale, Yorke, Albany and Rotheſay, Marques of Ormount Earle of Roſſe, and Baron of Armanoch, high Seneſchal of Scotland, Lord of the Iſles, and Knight of the moſt Noble order of the Garter.
MOſt Gracious and Noble Prince, the many great and kinde fauours which I receiued from the hands of your late Brother deceaſed, vntounto whom I was tutor in the skill of weapons, to my no little credit, which makes me now turne backe to ſhew my louelove in a ſmall meaſure vntounto your Princely ſelfe, and yet it is as much as I am able, a bunch of grapes is but a ſmall preſent, and yet King Philip of Macedon did receiue them, and accept them, and the rather, becauſe a poore man preſented them, and therefore J truſt your Highneſſe will more eſteeme the good-will of the giuer, then the value of the gift.
Three things did chiefly encourage me to publiſh it vnderunder the glorious name of your gracious Highneſſe: The firſt is, in regard of your Highneſſe deepe deſire to gaine experience in all Arts and Sciences, the which is ſeene by jour Graces fauouring and furthering any man which is endued with any good quality, therein rightly reſembling a branch of the ſame Stocke from whence your Excellency ſprang, of whom in my next Epiſtle to the Reader I will ſpeake more at large: But at this time for doubt of beeing offenſiue, with the renewing of olde griefes, I ſtand in a maze, like vntounto that childe, who being asked whether he loued his father or his mother beſt, ſtood mute as doubting how to anſwer for feare of diſpleaſing the one of them: euen ſo in this place will J. Now the ſecond cauſe of this my Dedication vntounto your Excellency is, in reſpect of my vehement louelove wherto in duty I am bound vntounto your Princely ſelfe: and thirdly, that it may paſſe vnderunder your Highneſſe protection, the better to ſhroud it ſelfe from backe-biters and fault-finders, leaſt amongſt ſuch it be taken vp like a friendleſſe vagarant: Oh therefore let it find fauour, J humbly intreate your Highneſſe, although it can little pleaſure your Princely ſelfe, yet it may ſtead many others, and ſo doubting leaſt J hauehave troubled your Highneſſe ouer long. J will therefore heere drawe the Curtaines, and commit your Highneſſe to the Protection of the Almighty, who euer bleſſe, preſerue and keepe your Highneſſe with long life, and proſperous health, and happineſſe to the worlds end.
By your Highneſſe to be commanded ſo long as I liue. Ioſeph Swetnam.