NEW
ENGLANDS
PROSPECT.
Noble Sir.
The good assurance of yournative worth, and thrice generousdisposition, as also thecontinuall manifestation ofyour bounteous favour, andlove towards my selfe in particular,hath so bound mythankfull acknowledgement,that I count it the least partof my service to present the first fruites of my farre-fetchtexperience, to the kinde acceptance of yourcharitable hands: well knowing that though thismy worke, owne not worth enough to deserve yourpatronage, yet such is your benigne humanity, that Iam confident you will daigne it your protection, underwhich it willingly shrowdes it selfe. And as it isreported of that man whose name was Alexander,being a cowardly milke-sop by nature, yet hearingof the valiant courage of that magnificent Hero,Alexander the Great, whose name hee bore, hethenceforth became stout and valorous; and as hewas animated by having the very name of puissantAlexander; so shall these my weake and feble labours,receive life and courage by the patronage ofyour much esteemed selfe; whereby they shall beeable to out-face the keenest fanges of a blackemouth'd Momus. For from hence the world mayconclude, that either there was some worth in thebooke, that caused so wise a person to looke upon it,and to vouchsafe to owne it, or else if they supposethat in charity he fosterd it, as being a poore helpelessebrat, they may thence learne to do so likewise.If here I should take upon me the usuall straine of asoothing Epistolizer, I should (though upon bettergrounds than many) sound forth a full mouth'd encomiastickeof your incomparable worth: butthough your deserts may justly challenge it, yet Iknow your vertuous modesty would not thanke mefor it