Tudor Letters Index

TO OUR MOSTE NOBLE AND vertuous quene KATHERIN, Eliza- beth her humble daughter wisheth perpetuall felicitie and everlasting joye   NOT ONELY knowing the affe- ctuous wille and fervent zeale the wich your highnes hath towardes all godly lerning as also my duetie towardes you (most gracious and souverayne princes) but knowing also that pusilanimite and ydlenes are most repugnante unto a reasonable crea- ture and that (as the philosopher sayeth) even as an instrument of yron [2r] (192K) or of other metayle waxeth soone rusty onles it be continualy occupied. Even so shall the witte of a man, or woman waxe dull and unapte to do or understand any thing perfittely oneles it be alwayes occupied upon some maner of study, wiche thinges consydered hath moved so small a portion as god hath lente me to prove what i could do. And therfore have i (as for aseye or beginninge fo- lowinge the right notable sayeing of the proverb aforesayd) translated this lytell boke out of french ryme in to englishe prose joyning the sentences [2v] (182K) together as well as the capacitie of my symple witte and small lerning coulde extende themselves. The wich booke is intytled, or named the miroir or glasse, of the synnefull soule where in is conteyned how she (beholdig and contempling what she is) doth perceyve how, of herselfe, and of her owne strenght, she can do nothing that good is, or prevayleth for her salvacioun: onles it be through the grace of god: whose mother, daugh- ter, syster, and wife, by the scriptures she proveth herselfe to be. Trusting also that through his incoprehen- [3r] (199K) ible love, grace and mercy she (be- ynge called frome synne to repen- taunce) doth faythfully hope to be saved. And althoughe i knowe that as for my parte, wich i have wrought in it (as well spirituall as manuall) there is nothinge done as ut shulde be nor els worthy to come in youre graces handes, but rather all unper- fycte and uncorecte: yet do i truste also that oubeit it is like a worke wich is but newe begonne and shapen, that the syle of youre excellent witte and godly lerninge in the reding of it (if so it vouchesafe your highnes to do) [3v] (173K) shall rubbe out, polishe, and mende (or els cause to mende) the wordes (or rather the order of my writing) the wich i knowe in many places to ne rude, and nothinge done as it shuld be. But i hope, that after to have ben in youre graces handes there shall be nothinge in it worthy of reprehen- sion and that in the meane whyle no other (but your highnes onely) shal rede it or se it, lesse me faultes be knowen of many. Than shall they be better excused (as my confidence is in youre graces accoustumed benevolece) that if i shuld bestowe a whole yere [4r] (188K) in writtinge, or inventinge wayes for to excuse them. Prayeng god almigh- ty the maker and creatoure of all thinges to garaunte unto youre high- nes the sam newe yeres daye, a lucky and a prosperous yere with prospe- rous yssuem and contunuance of many yeres in good helthe and contynuall joye and all to his honnoure, praise, and glory. Frome assherige, the laste daye of the year of our lord god, 1544. [4v] (191K)