 | |  |
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE,
Sir John Egerton, Lord Elismere,
Viscount Brackley, Earle of Bridgewater.
Right Honorable,
The great worke contained in this little Booke, requires the
patronage of such a one as your Lordship. Though it be but the
observations and collections of a plaine Souldier; yet if you please
to grace it with your countenance and good acceptance, the Author
and it will both thinke themselves happie, and hopes in time to
returne you such fruites from those labours, as hereafter may perswade
you to pardon their boldnes, and accept them to be your faithful
servants.
Your Honours to command,
John Smith.
2. This cancel, or substitute dedication, also survives in two forms: the copy in the
Huntington Library is for John Egerton, earl of Bridgwater, son and heir of Sir Thomas
Egerton, first Viscount Brackley; the second, in the Ayer Collection, Newberry Library,
is for Sir Edward Coke (1552-1634), that personification of English law who lived from
the days of Mary I until Charles I began to take the doctrine of divine right of kings too
seriously. Bridgwater was wealthy and might have helped Smith; Coke was vaguely
interested in the Virginia Company and was a member of the Privy Council. Furthermore,
Smith had dedicated his Description of N.E. to Bridgwater's father and to the longlived
Coke.
| | |