my
thoughts dutifully to affect your Lordship. Having with Captain Clarke
made a voyage to the island of Terceras and the Canaries, to beguile
the time with labor I writ this book; rough, as hatched in the storms
of the ocean, and feathered in the surges of many perilous seas. But
as it is the work of a soldier and a scholar, I presumed to shroud it
under your Honor's patronage, as one that is the fautor and favorer of
all virtuous actions; and whose honorable loves, grown from the
general applause of the whole commonwealth for your higher deserts,
may keep it from the malice of every bitter tongue. Other reasons more
particular, right honorable, challenge in me a special affection to
your Lordship, as being a scholar with your two noble sons, Master
Edmund Carew, and Master Robert Carew, two scions worthy of so
honorable a tree, and a tree glorious in such honorable fruit, as also
being scholar in the university under that learned and virtuous
knight Sir Edward Hoby, when he was Bachelor in Arts, a man as well
lettered as well born, and, after the etymology of his name, soaring
as high as the wings of knowledge can mount him, happy every way, and
the more fortunate, as blessed in the honor of so virtuous a lady.
Thus, right honorable, the duty that I owe to the sons, chargeth me
that all my affection be placed on the father; for where the branches
are so precious, the tree of force must be most excellent. Commanded
and emboldened thus with the consideration of these forepassed
reasons, to present my book to your Lordship, I humbly entreat your
Honor will vouch of my labors, and favor a soldier's and a scholar's
pen with your gracious acceptance, who answers in affection what he
wants in eloquence; so devoted to your honor, as his only desire is,
to end his life under the favor of so martial and learned a patron.

Resting thus in hope of your Lordship's courtesy in deigning the
patronage of my work, I cease, wishing you as many honorable fortunes
as your Lordship can desire or I imagine.

Your Honor's soldier
humbly affectionate:
Thomas Lodge

TO THE GENTLEMEN READERS

Gentlemen, look not here to find any sprigs of Pallas' bay tree, nor
to hear the humor of any amorous laureate, nor the pleasing vein of
any eloquent orator: _Nolo altum sapere_, they be matters above my
capacity: the cobbler's check shall never light on my head, _Ne sutor
ultra crepidam_; I will go no further than the latchet, and the