TO THE RIGHT HONO-
rable, and my very good Lord and Maister,
Sir William Cecil Knight, Lord Burghley, and sonne and heire apparant vnto the Earle of Exceter.
I Here present vnto your Lordships view an Account of th'expence of many houres, which in your seruice, and to mine owne benefit might haue beene otherwise imploied: for sloth, howsoeuer, had not consumed them; somewhat I must haue done the whilest; nor could I haue bestowed them on a Worke of lesse vse for your Lordship, the French being alreadie so well vnderstood by you, and all yours. In which regard, as I am particularly bound to acknowledge your Lordships goodnesse, bearing with my humor to follow, and allowing me time to finish, it; so haue all they, to whom it shall proue of any worth, iust cause to honour in your Lordship that goodnesse, continued a long time vnto their, and the common good. No priuat consideration was fit to make your Lordship often to dispence with th'ordinarie attendance of an ordinarie seruant. But this is one of the least of your Lordships respects to the Publicke; and I would be loath to ingage your Judgement, or Honour, on the successe of so meane a Peece. My desires haue aimed at more substantiall markes; but mine eyes failed them, and forced me to spend much of their vigour on this Bundle of words; which though it may be vnworthie of your Lordships great patience, and perhaps ill sorted to the expectation of others, yet is it the best J can at this time make it, and were, how perfect soeuer, no more then due to your Lordship, to whom I owe, for what I haue beene many yeres, whatsoeuer I am now, or looke to be hereafter.
Your Lordships
most bounden seruant,
Randle Cotgraue.
