the world as ye bee are such as (without my simple lines testimonie)
are throughlie knowen to all men; namely, your excellent beautie, your
vertuous behavior, and your noble match with that most honourable Lord,
the verie paterne of right nobilitie. But the causes for which ye have
thus deserved of me to be honoured, (if honour it be at all,) are, both
your particular bounties, and also some private bands of affinitie*,
which it hath pleased your Ladiship to acknowledge. Of which whenas I
found my selfe in no part worthie, I devised this last slender meanes,
both to intimate my humble affection to your Ladiship, and also to make
the same universallie knowen to the world; that by honouring you they
might know me, and by knowing me they might honor you. Vouchsafe, noble
Lady, to accept this simple remembrance, though not worthy of your
self, yet such as perhaps by good acceptance thereof ye may hereafter
cull out a more meet and memorable evidence of your own excellent
deserts. So recommending the same to your Ladiships good liking, I
humbly take leave.

Your La: humbly ever.

ED. SP.

[Footnote: Lady Strange was Alice Spencer, sixth daughter of Sir John
Spencer of Althorpe. C.]

* * * * *


THE TEARES OF THE MUSES.