A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, Book 5 · Dedication – Part 1
To the Right Honourable JOHN LORD BVRGHLEY Son to the Right Honourable JOHN EARL OF EXETER.
MY LORD,
IT is confidently reported of the Stork, (plenty of which build in the Low-Countreys, being Inmates in most chimneys) that she usually thro…eth down one of her young ones out of the nest, as a Rent to the Land-lord of the house, for permitting th…re her quiet and unmolested habitation.
Now as our Saviour sends us to such Masters, [Behold the fowles of theaMat. 6. 2…. aire &c.] of them all to learn the generall lesson of a contented dependence on divine providence, (and particularly Innocence from thebMat. 10. 16. Doves) so may this practise of the Stork instruct us to be gratefull to such as have bestowed courtesies upon us.
Now the first light which I saw in this world was in a Benefice cOldwin…le (old shop Saxon) Saint Peters in Northhampton-shireconferred on my Father by your most honourable great Grand-father, and therefore I stand obliged in all thankfulness to your family. Yea this my right hand which grasped the first free aire in a Manor to which your Lordship is Heir apparent, hath since often been catching at a Pen, to write something in expression of my thankfulness, and now at last dedicates this Book to your Infant honour. Thus as my Obligation bears date from my Birth, my thankfulness makes speed to tender it self to your Cradle.
I know it will be objected, that your Lordship is infraannuated to be the Patron of a Book in the strist acception thereof: For a Patron properly is appealed to as Judge of the Merits of a Treatise. Yea Authors anciently-craved their Patrons consent (as dutifull children their Parents leave) whether that he thought it fit their work should be matched to the Publick view, or rather remain in the single estate of privacy. This censure some will cavill at me that your tender Age is unable to pass, and therefore incapable of being a Patron.
In answer hereunto, first I am assured, none of those who please to call themselves Roman Catholicks, will lay this to my charge. If they doe, I return them with the story confessed by their Champian, of a child not fully five years old consecrated Archbishop ofdB…onius An. Er. ann. 925. Rhemes, by Pope John the tenth, sinc… which time some children of small age, (but great birth) have been made Cardinalls, though long since their Church of Rome had been off the hooks, had it had no stronger Hinges.
But generally I plead in my own defence, that Custome Custome hath much mitigated the rigor of the word Patron, which is not currant in common discourse, at so high a rate whereat first it was coined, insomuch that a Negative vo…ce is denied to many Patrons now adays, and they generally used not for Censurers, but Countenancers of books dedicated unto them, in which notion I humbly request your Lordships patronage of our present endevour.
Our London Gardiners doe not sow or set all their seeds (though of the same kinde) at the same time, but so that they may ripen successively, to last the longer in season. Such is my design, planting a Nursery of Patrons, all Noble, but of different years, a Babe, a Child, two youths of severall date, and a Man, (having as a Scale of miles in my Maps, a Scale of Ages in my Honourable Patrons) hoping so always to have one or more in full power to protect my endevours.
Thus in process of time your Lordship (as yet but a Patron in reversion) will be possessed with power effectually to discharge that place. As for the present, let not your tender age be slighted by any, seeing such an one (eMa…. 18. 2. foreign a little child) was chosen by our Saviour to be Doctor of the Chair to determine the controversie between the Disciples; which he truly decided, not by his speech, but humble silence. Till such time as your Honour shall be able to learn by my writing, may I learn from your Honours living the necessary vertues of Meekness, Humility, Quietness, Contentedness. For the continuance of which in your Honour, with the daily addition and increase of other Graces proportionable to your growth, the hearty prayers shall never be wanting of
Your Honours most bounden servant THO. FULLER.