ore
wenches attained their two husbands, for hauing of whom, theyr
onely care was for Ryches, and for lacke thereof were dryuen to
despayre: and in the ende both (though diuersly, and the one
more fortunat than the other) recouered riches, and with the
same theyr husbandes, to their heartes singular ioye and
contentation. Which lucke I wyshe to all other poore Girles (but
not hangyng rype, or louynge in despayre) that bend their mindes
on Mariage, and seeke to people by that estate, their countrey
common wealth. But leauinge for a time these Tragicall Nouels
and heauy chaunces, wee purpose to remember some morall matters
right worthy of remembraunce: Letters they bee from a godly
Pagane clerk, the famous Philosopher Plutarch, Schoolemaister to
an Emperour of no lesse vertue, than hys mayster's Schoole and
mynde was fraught with diuine Precepts. Wherefore proceede (good
Reader) to continue the paynes vpon the readinge of these, so
well as thou hast vouchsafed to employ thy time before. They
shal no lesse delite thee, if vertue brooke thee, they shal no
lesse content thee if duty please thee, than any delightsome
thing, whereupon (at any tyme) thou hast employed thy vacaunte
tyme.

THE TWELFTH NOUELLE.

LETTERS OF THE EMPEROUR TRAIANE.

_Letters of the Philosopher Plutarch to the noble and vertuous
Emperour Traiane, and from the sayd Emperour to Plutarch: the lyke
also from the sayd Emperour to the Senate of Rome. In all which be
conteyned godly rules for gouernment of Princes, obedience of
Subiects, and their duties to common wealth._

Bicause these Letters ensuinge (proceeding from the infallible
Schoole of Wisedome, and practised by an apt Scholler of the
same, by a noble Emperor that was well trained vp by a famous
Philosopher) in myne opinion deserue a place of Recorde amonge
our Englishe Volumes, and for the wholsome errudition, ought to
Englishmen in english shape to bee described, I haue thought
good in this place to introduce the same. And although to some
it shal not peraduenture seeme fit and conuenient to mingle holy
with prophane, (accordinge to the prouerbe) to intermedle amongs
pleasaunt histories, ernest epistles, amid amorous Nouels,
learned Letters, yet not to care for report or thought of sutch
findefaults, I iudge them not vnseemely, the course of those
histories. For amid the diuine works of Philosophers and
Oratours, amongs the pleasaunt paynes of auncient Poets, and the
No