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Nugae Antiquae

Nugae Antiquae - CONCLUSION

CONCLUSION


Of the Lives of Bishops


            Thus have you, most highly esteemed and entirely beloved Prince, this unworthy Supplement of mine to the worthy work of a more worthy man. It is grown into greater length than I expected, by reason I took some kind of pleasure with the pain of writing hereof; supposing I was all the while, as it were, telling a story in your Highness' presence and hearing. Now if any that favour not the persons I write of, nor the purpose I write for, happen to sport at this my fashion of writing to your Highness, as Tigranes jested at Lucullus' army, saying, if he came as an ambassador his train was too great; if as a warrior, his troop was too small: <544> so if they say, this treatise for an epistle is too long, for a history too little; I will also hope that this, whether long epistle or short relation, shall have like success in your Highness approbation, as that contemptible army had, to conquer their contemners.

            In the meantime my soul shall join with all the good bishops I have written of, and other good subjects spiritual or temporal, to send up our continual and devout prayers to Almighty God, that your Highness may increase daily in all good gifts and graces, and in favour with God and men: to answer the hope of those kingdomes that you are born to, of so many godly, noble, and imperial families, as you are descended from, so magnificent an uncle, so excellent a mother, and so admirable a father.

            18 February, 1607.

FINIS.

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