I have the rather presumed humbly to offer unto your Honour the
dedication of this little poeme, for that the noble and vertuous
gentlewoman of whom it is written was by match neere alied, and in
affection greatly devoted, unto your Ladiship. The occasion why I wrote
the same was as well the great good fame which I heard of her
deceassed, as the particular goodwill which I bear unto her husband,
Master Arthur Gorges, a lover of learning and vertue, whose house, as
your Ladiship by marriage hath honoured, so doe I find the name of
them, by many notable records, to be of great antiquitie in this
realme, and such as have ever borne themselves with honourable
reputation to the world, and unspotted loyaltie to their prince and
countrey: besides, so lineally are they descended from the Howards, as
that the Lady Anne Howard; eldest daughter to John Duke of Norfolke,
was wife to Sir Edmund, mother to Sir Edward, and grandmother to Sir
William and Sir Thomas Gorges, Knightes: and therefore I doe assure my
selfe that no due honour done to the White Lyon, but will be most
gratefull to your Ladiship, whose husband and children do so neerely
participate with the bloud of that noble family. So in all dutie I
recommend this pamphlet, and the good acceptance thereof, to your
honourable favour and protection. London, this first of Ianuarie, 1591.
Your Honours humbly ever.
[* This lady, when widow of William Parr, the only person who was ever
Marquis of Northampton, had married Sir Thomas Gorges, uncle of Lady
Douglas Howard, the subject of this elegy. Mr. (afterwards Sir) Arthur
Gorges was himself a poet, and the author of the English translation of
Bacon’s tract _De Sapientia Veterum_, published in 1619. See Craik’s
Spenser and his Poetry, Vol. III. p. 187. C.]