by his vertuous parents) which is famiarly knowne vnto me and other that domestically (as it were) do frequent his companie. But alas my Lorde, among the mid of my reioyce of those before remembred, I cannot pretermit the lamentable losse of the best approued Gonner that euer serued in our time his Prince and countrie, Robert Thomas, the Maister Gonner, who for skill and seruice, a title of Prince of Gonners iustly did deserue: And see the lucke, when he thought best to signifie his good will, by honouring Hymeneus bed, at nuptial night, a clap of that he neuer feared did ende his life. Such is the dreadful furie of Gonners art, and hellish rage of Vulcane’s worke. And therefore that daungerous seruice by skilful men is specially to be recommended and cherished. Whereunto as your honour hitherto hath borne singuler affection, by preferring to her Maiestie suche as from their infancie haue bene trayned vp in that necessarie seruice and very painefullye haue imployed their time, euen so I humbly beseche your honour for continuance of the same, specially in those, that be indewed with greatest experience, in whome only resteth the brunte of our defence. A seruice and science so rare and nedefull, as none more. But what neede I to prouoke your willing mynde, whiche is more prest to cherishe such, than I am able by wyshing heart for to conceiue? Finallie yet once againe, I humblie besech your honour gratefully to accept this booke, and at your Leisure and conuenient time to reade and peruse it. By reuoluing whereof your honour I trust shall be delighted with the rare Histories and good examples therin contained, such as to my knowledge heretofore haue not bene published. And which with all my good wil and indeuour I dutifully exhibite. Beseching almightie God fauourably to defende and gouerne your honour, prosperously to maintaine and keepe the same, godlye to directe my right honourable Ladie in the steppes of perfect vertue, bountifully to make you both happye parentes of manie children: and after the expence of Nestor’s yeares in this transitorie life mercifully to conducte you both to the vnspeakeable ioyes of his kingdome. Nere the Tower of London the first of Ianuarie, 1566. By your L. most bounden WILLIAM PAINTER. _Authours out of whom these Nouelles be selected, or which be remembred in diuers places of the same._ GREEKE AND LATINE AUTHORS. Titus Liuius. Herodotus. Aelianus. Xenophon. Quintus Curtius. Aulus Gellius. S. Hierome. Cicero. Polidorus Virgilius. Aeneas Syluius. Paludanus. Apuleius. L. Cælius Rhodoginus. ITALIAN, FRENCH, AND ENGLISHE. Pietro Messia di Siuiglia. Boccaccio. Bandello. Ser Giouanni Fiorentino. Straporole. The Queene of Nauarre. A booke in French intituled Comptes du Monde. Francois Belleforest. Pierre Boaistuau, surnamed Launay. Froisarde. Fabian. TO THE READER.