Gentle Reader, I trustyng in thy accustomed kyndnesse, haue published this booke, entituled, _The Second part of the Mirrour for Magistrates_, the authour whereof, is now beyond the seas, and wyl marueile at his returne to find thys imprinted. For his intent was but to profite and pleasure one priuate man, as by his Epistle may appeare. But I fyndyng the copie by chaunce, shewing it vnto diuers men, both learned and wise: and findyng a booke alredy in print, entituled _The first and third part of the Mirrour for Magistrates_, I was moued diuersly of diuers men, by printyng this latter woorke, to make perfite the former booke. It may be (good reader) that the friendely acceptyng hereof wyll encourage the authour to set thynges of greater price in print: yet esteeme thou this as a lanterne, hauyng lyght sufficient to guyde thy wandryng steppes, both vnto the happynesse of this worlde, and of the world to come. Whiche happynesse God graunt wee all may enioye. THE AUTHOUR’S EPISTLE VNTO HIS FRIENDE. [Before the edition 1578.] Sir, it woulde be too manifest an argument of a nature degeneratyng from al gentrie, if I shoulde not consider of your request, you asking and vrging both honest and profitable thyngs. I therfore to ensure you, that I am not forgetful of your demaund, presumyng like blynd _Bayard_ to this my boldnesse, haue not with _Apolloe’s_ pensile, but with _Pan’s_ pleasantlesse pen, indeuoured to endite that which you are so desirous to haue done. And although I once translated for you, _Ouid, De remedio amoris_, as you said, to your contentation, we beyng then in _Cambridge_, where aske helpe, and haue helpe, might be had: yet nowe I wyl ensure you, lyke one amazed, I haue strayned my strength vnto the vttermost, being desirous to finish this woorke. You know that loue matters be agreeing with _Caliope’s_ quill; euery apprentise can, of such matter, make a meter. But how hard a thing it is to compell _Clio_, with her boysterous banners, to couch vnder the compasse of a few metered lines, I referre you vnto the good _Turberuile_, who so soone as he began to take the terrible treatise of _Lucan_ in hand, he was inforst to vnyoke his steeres, and to make holy day.[1164] Shal I then with _Bochas_ pen declare the falles of the vnfortunate Princes of the olde worlde? O, intollerable presumption, that timorous _Tyro_ shoulde dare to deale with menasing _Mars_: or that a young infant should offer to put on the buskins of _Hercules_: shall I then with silence ceasse to accomplish your request? O, singuler ingratitude, that any friend should refuse to sweate, to pleasure and profite his friend. Doo you not consider, that al the fine wyts that England hath inioyed these many yeres, haue busied their braynes very much, to make an English _Mirrour for Magistrates_, which booke is left euen vnto this day, like the vnperformed image of _Venus_, paynted by _Apelles_?