The Voyage of Italy/Dedication

by Richard Lassels

TO THE
RIGHT HONORABLE
AND MOST TRULY NOBLE LORD

RICHARD
LORD LUMLEY
VICOUNT WATERFORD
&c.

 

MY LORD,

It were needlesse to tell you, by how many titles this little Orphan booke, claimes the honour of your Lord^ps protection. First, by the law of Nature, its parent dying in your service, you stand bound to be a foster-father to it; again it having been my fortune to contribute something to the bringing it forth to light, it hath a new relation to you under the title by which I have long agoe consecrated all my endeavours to your service. But to pass by these two, there is yet a third reason, whereby it will appear, not the effect of choise, but of necessity, that it should come forth under the favour of your name: The well grounded experience which you have gained in your travels; the exact and judicious account you are able to give of the places you have seen, which make a great part of the subject of this book; the mature judgment of the interests of states, and manners of people whereof it treats, which in you is not the after fruit of age; the Gentile and courteous behaviour which you have acquired, and which charmes all those who have the honour to converse with you: These, I say, are vertues so peculier to your Person, and so conspicuous in the eyes of all the world, that the design of this Book being to form the like in the rest of the Gentry of our Nation that pretend to travel; It would be a wrong to the publick to let it appear under the Patronage of any other than of him that is the Idea of an accomplished and consummate Traveller. And this, I doubt not, was the reason, why the Author having had the honour to have been a Governour to so many of the flower of our Gentry, made choise of your Lordship to bequeath this work unto, by his last Will and Testament: And which imposeth upon me a necessity, both in complyance to the memory of my worthy friend and fellow traveller, and to the duty I owe unto your Lordship, by the honour I have to succeed unto him in his last engagement, to offer up this his last work to you, as an everlasting monument of esteem and gratitude, of him who while hee lived ever was, and of him who living ever is,

 

MY LORD

 

Your Lordships most humble
& most obedient servant
S. Wilson.