To my deservingly honoured John Wyrley, esquire and to the virtuous and right worthy gentlewoman, Mrs Mary Wyrley, his wife, this service.

The inequality of retribution turns to a pity, when there is not ability sufficient for acknowledgement. Your equal respects may yet admit the readiness of endeavour, though the very hazard in it betray my defect. I have enjoyed freely acquaintance, with the sweetness of your dispositions, and can justly account, from the nobleness of them, an evident distinction betwixt friendship and friends. The latter, according to the practice of complement, are usually met with, and often without search; the other, many have searched for, I have found. For which, though I partake a benefit of the fortune, yet to you, most equal pair, must remain the honour of that bounty. In presenting this issue of some less serious hours to your tuition, I appeal from the severity of censure to the mercy of your judgements, and shall rate it at a higher value than when it was mine own, if you only allow it the favour of adoption. Thus, as your happiness in the fruition of each other’s love proceeds to a constancy, so the truth of mine shall appear less unshaken, as you shall please to continue in your good opinions.

John Ford.