To the most high and virtuous Princess, Elizabeth, by the grace of God Queen of England, France and Ireland, defenser of the faith, her Highness, most humble and obedient subject Jasper Heywood, student in the university of Oxford, wishes health, wealth, honour & felicity.

If consideration of your Grace’s goodness toward us all your loving subjects which flying fame by mouths of men resounds had not fully in me repressed al dread of reprehension (most noble princess and my drad sovereign Lady), if the wisdom that God at these years in your Highness has planted had not seemed to me a strong defence against all bite of shameless arrogance (reproach whereof flung with disdainful words from ireful tongues, as adders stings {NP2} should strike me), finally if the learning with which God has endued your Majesty had not been to me a comfortable pervasion of your gracious favour to ward the simple gift and duty of a scholar, I would not have incurred so dangerous note of presumption, in attempting a subject to his princess, a simple scholar to so excellently learned, a rash young man to so noble a queen, by none other figure to signify allegiance and duty toward your Highness save by writing : when ofttimes is the pen the only accuser in some points of him that therewith does endit. But now, to see (most gracious Lady) that thing come to pass which, to the honour of him and for the wealth of us, God has ordained, a princess to reign over us such one, to whom great freedom is for us to serve, what joy may serve to triumph at that blissful day, or what should we spare with pen to preach abrode that inward gladness of heart that flows from the breasts of us your most loving subjects ? Beseeching God that it may please him to grant your Grace long and prosperous governance of the imperial crown of England. Then well understanding how greatly your Highness is delighted in the {NP3} sweet sap of fine and pure writers, I have here presumed to offer unto you such a simple new year’s gift as neither presents gold nor pearl, but duty and good will of a scholar, a piece of Seneca translated into English which I the rather enterprise to give to your Highness, as well for that I thought it should not be unpleasant for your Grace to see some part of so excellent an author in your own tongue (the reading of whom in Latin I understand delights greatly your Majesty) as also for that none may be a better judge of my doings herein, then who best understands my author : and the authority of your Grace’s favour toward this my little work, may be to me a sure defence and shield against the sting of reprehending tongues. Which I most humbly, beseeching your Highness, end with prayer to God to send us long the fruition of so excellent and gracious a Lady.