To the right honourable Thomas, lord Howard, earl of Suffolk, lord Chamberlain of his Majesty's household and one of his Highness most honourable prince Counsel.

Weakness (right honourable) hath need of help and supportance, as well in politic, as natural bodies, the like in studies and labours of the mind. Caesar's commentaries needed no apology, because his power was able to defend them. Nor his Trium verborum litterae, to the Roman Senate, Veni, vidi, vici, crave any other enlargement, because his fame went still before him to dilate his acts. In private and interior studies, that want countenance in themselves, the extensive power of greatness and authority gives strength and encouragement, to intensive weakness, when our endeavours though unworthy of acceptation are suffered in their minority and insufficient age, to grow up and prosper in the defensive bulwark of protection, against the storms of envious and calumnious tongues, that by continuance, though use and practice, they may happily afterwards prove worth y of regard. In the want therefore of mine own worth, I have presumed to shield myself under your worthiness and finding cause to distrust mine own strength, I have adventured to shroud myself under your power. Humbly desiring your honour so far to grace these my labours, as to vouchsafe them a passage under your patronage, that thereby (though happily they have nothing in them to deserve your private reading and account) they may yet the better by your countenance find admittance and respect to public view. For I must confess they come much short, as well of the worthiness of the subject, that they treat of, as also of your regard and estimation. If therefore out of your general respect to all, your Lordship shall be pleased to vouchsafe me this particular favour, I shall hereafter admit all times and pretermit no occasions to manifest my duty , ever remaining

Your honours in all service,

Anthony Nixon.