To the virtuously noble and rightly honoured Lady, the Countess of Sussex.

Having no leisure, most noble Lady, but such as evermore is travelled with the afflictions of the mind, then which the world affords no greater misery, it may be wondered at by some how I dared undertake a matter of this moment, which both requires cunning, rest and opportunity, but chiefly, that I would attempt the dedication of so rough unpolished a work to the survey of your so worthy self.

But being well instructed in your noble and heroic dispositions and perfectly assured of your honourable favours past, though neither making needles glosses of the one, nor spoiling paper with the others' Pharisaical embroidery, I have presumed upon your true conceit and entertainment of these small endeavours, that thus I purposed to make known my memory of you and them to be immortal.

A fitter present for a patroness so well accomplished, I could not find than this fair president of honour, magnanimity and love. Wherein, what grace that excellent Garnier has lost by my default, I shall beseech your Honour to repair, with the regard of those so bitter times and privy broken passions that I endured in the writing it.

And so, vouchsafing but the passing of a winter's week with desolate Cornelia, I will assure your Ladyship my next summer's better travel, with the Tragedy of Portia. And ever spend one hour of the day in some kind service to your Honour and another of the night in wishing you all happiness. Perpetually thus devoting my poor self

Your Honour’s in all humbleness,

T. K.