| | To The Right Honorable, and my especiall
good
Lord, IOHN Lord MOHVNE, Baron of
Okehampton,
&c.
My
good Lord,
LET my
presumption in stiling you so (hauing neuer
deseru'd it in my seruice) from the clemencie of your noble disposition
finde pardon. The reuerence due to the Name of Mohune, longe since honored
in three Earls of Sommerset, and eight Barons of Munster, may challenge
from all pennes a deserued celebration. And the rather in respect those
Titles were not purchas'd, but conferr'd, and continued in your Ancestours,
for many vertuous, noble, and still liuing Actions; nor euer forfeited, or
tainted, but when the iniquitie of those times labour'd the depression of
approued goodnesse, and in wicked policie held it fit that Loyaltie, and
Faith, in taking part with the true Prince, should be degraded, and
mulcted. But this admitting no farther dilation in this place, may your
Lordship please, and with all possible breuitie to vnderstand, the reasons
why I am in humble thankfulnesse ambitious to shelter this Poem vnder the
wings of your Honorable protection. My worthy friend
Mr Aston Cokaine your
Nephew, to my extraordinarie content, deliuer'd to mee, that your Lordship
at your vacant hours sometimes vouchsaf'd to peruse such trifles of mine,
as haue passed the Presse, & not alone warranted them in your gentle
suffrage, but disdain'd not to bestow a remembrance of your loue, and
intended fauour to mee. I professe to the world, I was exalted with the
bountie, and with good assurance, it being so rare in
this age to meete with one Noble Name, that in feare to bee censur'd of
leuitie, and weakenesse, dares expresse it selfe, a friend, or Patron to
contemn'd Poetrie. Hauing therefore no meanes els left mee to
witnesse the obligation, in which I stand most willingly bound to your
Lordship, I offer this Tragæ-Comœdie to your gratious acceptance, no way
despairing, but that with a cleere aspect, you will daine to receiue it (it
being an induction to my future endeauours) and that in the list of those,
that to your merit truely admire you, you may descend to number,
|
| Your Lordships
Faithfull Honorer;
PHILIP MASSINGER. |
[@ Emperovr of the East, A2r-v]
| |
