A01970:9
The dignity of chivalry set forth in a sermon preached before the Artillery Company…The dignitie of chiualrie set forth in a sermon preached before the Artillery Company…
The dignity of chivalry set forth in a sermon preached before the Artillery Company of London, June xiij. 1626. By William Gouge, B. of Divinity and preacher of Gods Word, in Black-friars London.The dignitie of chiualrie set forth in a sermon preached before the Artillery Company of London, Iune xiij. 1626. By William Gouge, B. of Diuinity and preacher of Gods Word, in Black-friers London.
London: printed by George for Ralph Mab, 1626
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Worthy President, Captains, and Gentlemen.
Worthy President, Captaines, and Gentlemen.
AS by a free Election of you all, I was called to preach that which is here presented to you, so by the first motion & ⟨image 3⟩earnest solicitation of many of you, I am induced to publish it. How far mine own purpose was from any such purpose, God is my witness How far your desire prevailed to alter that my purpose, this evidence is an apparent evidence. Among other motives mentioned by you that in the name of the rest were Solicitors in this business this, which by some of you was alleged, most prevailed with me, that the more common this Sermon was made, the more commodious it might be to your Company. How my poor pains may add any advantage to your important employments I know not. This I know, and do openly acknowledge, & publicly profess, that my heart is set upon your Artillery C• pany: I love it: I admire it: I honour it: I praise God for it: I will continue to pray to the Lord of Hosts for his blessing upon it: and to my poor power I will do, what I can for the advancement thereof. As one though a very mean and weak proof thereof, I do here dedicate to you in particular, that which by your means, and for your sake is divulged to ⟨image 3⟩all in general. I confess, that as the matter thereof, so the manner of handling it, is somewhat differing from my ordinary course. For I had respect to the kind of Auditory before which I spake. Among Soldiers I endeavoured to speak soldier-like. If offence be taken at matter or manner, I shroud my self under your shields for defence Now that you have brought me forth into the open field, & set me up to be gazed on, & baited at by the differing censures of divers censors, leave me not to shift for my self. Be not backward to patronize what you have been forward to produce. I may the rather expect all just defence from you, because by appearing somewhat otherwise in your Assembly then I use to do in my usual Auditory, I take you, worthy President for my president, yea all you valiant Captains, and other Gentlemen whom I make as one Patron, for my pattern herein. Me thinks, o prudent President, when in a forenoon I see you sitting, & giving advice among the wise Senators of our City, and in an afternoon