_be receiued vnder your name, and that the world should owe thanke
therof to you, to whom my husband the authour of it was for good
receyued of you, most dutiefully bounden. And so besechyng you, to
take on you the defense of this booke, to auaunce the good that may
come of it by your allowance and furtherance to publike vse and
benefite, and to accept the thankefull recognition of me and my poore
children, trustyng of the continuance of your good me-
morie of_ M. Ascham _and his, and dayly commen-
dyng the prosperous estate of you and yours to
God whom you serue and whoes you
are, I rest to trouble you._
Your humble Margaret
Ascham.
_A Præface to the
Reader._
WHen the great plage was at London, the yeare 1563.
the Quenes Maiestie Queene _Elizabeth_, lay at her
Castle of Windsore: Where, vpon the 10. day of December,
it fortuned, that in Sir _William Cicells_ chamber, hir Highnesse
Principall Secretarie, there dined togither these personages,
M. Secretarie him selfe, Syr _William Peter_, Syr _J. Mason_,
D. _Wotton_, Syr _Richard Sackuille_ Treasurer of the Exchecker,
Syr _Walter Mildmaye_ Chauncellor of the Exchecker, M.
_Haddon_ Master of Requestes, M. _John Astely_ Master of the
Iewell house, M. _Bernard Hampton_, M. _Nicasius_, and _J_.
Of which number, the most part were of hir Maiesties most
honourable priuie Counsell, and the reast seruing hir in verie
good place. I was glad than, and do reioice yet to remember,
that my chance was so happie, to be there that day, in the
companie of so manie wise & good men togither, as hardly
than could haue beene piked out againe, out of all England
beside.
M. Secretarie hath this accustomed maner, though his head
be neuer so full of most weightie affaires of the Realme, yet, at
diner time he doth seeme to lay them alwaies aside: and findeth
euer fitte occasion to taulke pleasantlie of other matters,
but most gladlie of some matter of learning: wherein, he will
curteslie heare the minde of the meanest at his Table.
Not long after our sitting doune, I haue strange newes
brought me, sayth M. Secretarie, this morning, that diuerse
Scholers of Eaton, be runne awaie from the
Schole, for feare of beating. Whereupon, M. //M. _Secreta-_
Secretarie tooke occasion, to wishe, that some //_rie._