XXXV111 PREFACE. 



&quot; lastly, I call to mind, that your lordship at some 

 &quot; times hath been pleased to express unto me a 

 &quot; great desire, that something of this nature should 

 &quot; be performed ; answerable indeed to your other 

 &quot; noble and worthy courses and actions : joining 

 &quot; and adding unto the great services towards his 

 &quot; majesty, which have, in small compass of time, 

 &quot; been performed by your lordship, other great de- 

 &quot; servings both of the Church and commonwealth, 

 &quot; and particulars ; so as the opinion of so great and 

 &quot; wise a man doth seem to me a good warrant both 

 &quot; of the possibility and worth of the matter. But 

 &quot; all this while I asure myself, I cannot be mistaken 

 &quot; by your lordship, as if I sought an office or em- 

 &quot; ployment for myself; for no man knows better 

 &quot; than your lordship, that if there were in me any 

 &quot; faculty thereunto, yet neither my course of life 

 &quot; nor profession would permit it ; but because there 

 &quot; be so many good painters both for hand and co- 

 &quot; lours, it needeth but encouragement and instruc- 

 &quot; tions to give life unto it. So in all humbleness I 

 &quot; conclude my presenting unto your lordship this 

 &quot; wish ; which, if it perish, it is but a loss of that 

 &quot; which is not. And so craving pardon that I have 

 &amp;lt;c taken so much time from your lordship, I remain 



The next letter is 

 &quot; To the King, upon sending unto him a beginning 



&quot; of the History of his Majesty s times. 

 &quot; It may please your Majesty, 



&quot; Hearing that your Majesty is at leisure to pe- 

 &quot; ruse story, a desire took me to make an experiment 



