GEntlemen, being incouraged through your gentle acceptance of my Cynthia, I haue once more ventred on your curtesies: hoping to find you (as I haue done heretofore) friendly. Being determined to writ of something, and yet not resolued of anything, I considered with my selfe, if one should write of Loue (they will say) euerie one writes of Loue: if of vertue, why, who regards vertue; To be short, I could thinke of nothing, but either it was common, or not at all in request. At length I beethoght my selfe of a Subiect, both new (as hauing neuer been written vpon before) and pleasing (as I thought) because Mans Nature commonlye) loues to heare that praised, with whose presence, he is most pleased.
Erasmus (the glory of Netherland, and the refiner of the Latin Tongue) wrote a whole Booke, in the praise of follye. Then if so excellent a Scholler, writ in praise of vanity, why maye not I write in praise of that which is profitable? There are not two Countreys, where Gold is esteemed, lesse than in India, and more then in England: the reason is, because the Indians are barbarous, and our Nation ciuill.
I haue giuen Pecunia the title of a Woman, Both for the
termination of the Word, because (as Women are) shee is lou'd of
men. The brauest voyages in the World, haue been made for Gold: for
it, men haue ventured (by Sea) o the furthest partes of the earth:
In the pursute whereof, Englandes Nestor and Neptune (Hawkins
and Drake) lost their liues. vpon the Deaths of the which two, of
the first I writ this:
The Waters were his winding Sheete, the Sea was made his Toombe,
Yes for his Fame the Ocean Sea, was not sufficient roome.
Of the latter this:
England his Hart, his Corps the Waters haue,
And that which raisd his Fame, became his graue.
The Praetorians (after the death of Pertinax) in the election of a new Emperour, more esteemed the money of Iulianus, then either the vertue of Seuerus, or the valour of Pessennius. Then of what great estimation, this Lady Pecunia, both hath beene in the world, and is at this present, I leaue to your Iudgement. But what speak I so much of her praise in my Epistle, that haue commended her so at large, in my Booke; To the reading whereof, (Gentlemen) I refer you.