TO MY VERY GOOD LORD, 



MY LORD R. B. E. 



(probably RALPH (bROWNRIGg), BISHOP OF EXETER.) 



My Lord, 



I was never so proud, as to think I could write 

 any thing that might abide the test of your judicious eye: 

 w hat I now send, appeals to your candour, entreating 

 you to lay aside the person of a judge for that of a friend. 

 It is at best but a pamphlet, whether you consider its 

 bulk, or worth. The result of a few pensive hours spent 

 in recollecting what the memory had registered from 

 public observance, or private reading, in a theme so sadly 

 copious as this is. If it be not impertinent to tell you 

 what hinted to this trifle, it was this : — Having had an op- 

 portunity to look abroad into the world, I took some 

 notice of the contrastos of the Italian princes, I re- 

 marked the Spaniard's griping Portugal, his grounds for 

 the challenge of that kingdom, and his way of managing 

 those grounds ; I looked upon his method of propagating 

 Christianitv' in the West; (where, one says, the Indian is 

 bound to be religious and poor, upon pain of death.) 

 Moreover, I observed with what artifice the Pope 

 moderated in the European quarrels, and with what de- 

 vices he twisted the Gospel and the advantage of the 

 chair together ; and in all the strugglings and disputes, 

 that have of late years befallen this corner of the world, 

 I found, that although the pretence was fine and spiritual, 

 yet the ultimate end, and true scope, was gold, and great- 



q4 



