30Earle of Montgomery, &c. Gentleman of his Maiesties

34 Right Honourable,

35WHilst we studie to be thankful in our particular, for

36the many fauors we haue receiued from your L.L

37we are falne vpon the ill fortune, to mingle

38two the most diuerse things that can bee, feare,

39and rashnesse; rashnesse in the enterprize, and

40feare of the successe. For, when we valew the places your H.H.

41sustaine, we cannot but know their dignity greater, then to descend to

42the reading of these trifles: and, vvhile we name them trifles, we haue

43depriu'd our selues of the defence of our Dedication. But since your

44L.L. haue beene pleas'd to thinke these trifles some-thing, heereto-

45fore ; and haue prosequuted both them, and their Authour liuing,

46vvith so much fauour: we hope, that (they out-liuing him, and he not

47hauing the fate, common with some, to be exequutor to his owne wri-

48tings) you will vse the like indulgence toward them, you haue done

49vnto their parent. There is a great difference, vvhether any Booke

50choose his Patrones, or finde them: This hath done both. For,

51so much were your L L. likings of the seuerall parts, vvhen

52they were acted, as before they vvere published, the Volume ask'd to

53be yours. We haue but collected them, and done an office to the

54dead, to procure his Orphanes, Guardians; vvithout ambition ei-

55ther of selfe-profit, or fame: onely to keepe the memory of so worthy

56a Friend, & Fellow aliue, as was our SHAKESPEARE, by hum-

57ble offer of his playes, to your most noble patronage. Wherein, as

58we haue iustly obserued, no man to come neere your L.L. but vvith

59a kind of religious addresse; it hath bin the height of our care, vvho

60are the Presenters, to make the present worthy of your H.H. by the

61perfection. But, there we must also craue our abilities to be considerd,

62my Lords. We cannot go beyond our owne powers. Country hands

63reach foorth milke, creame, fruites, or what they haue : and many

64Nations (we haue heard) that had not gummes & incense, obtai-

65ned their requests with a leauened Cake. It vvas no fault to approch

66their Gods, by what meanes they could: And the most, though

67meanest, of things are made more precious, when they are dedicated

68to Temples. In that name therefore, we most humbly consecrate to

69your H.H. these remaines of your seruant Shakespeare; that

70what delight is in them, may be euer your L.L. the reputation

71his, & the faults ours, if any be committed, by a payre so carefull to

72shew their gratitude both to the liuing, and the dead, as is