To the most virtuous lady Mrs. Joanna Thornhill, wife to the honourable Colonel Richard Thornhill of Ollantigh in Kent.

Madam,

As my many obligations to your name, in both your relations of husband and brother, have long since claimed from me a public acknowledgement, so those to your person have created in me a confidence, not only to obtain pardon for this presumption, but a protection of this innocent stranger, who durst not venture abroad without it. Such is his innocence, that in this habit he might, without Gaule to the spectators, have entered the theatre (had not the guilty ones of this age broken that mirror lest they should there behold their own horrible shapes represented) but now he is fain to seek sanctuary, which cannot be found, but at the altar of an immaculate virtue, which, Madam, all that are so happy as to know you, confess to be raised in your name, under whose shadow, as under laurel, poor Lysis will not only be secured from the thunder of the times, but I shall be absolved from my errors and confirmed, with all devotion, to continue in all gratitude,

Madam,

Your most humble servant,

T. R.