Mystical bedlam, or the world of mad-men. By ThoMystical bedlam, or the vvorld of mad-men. By Tho

TO THE RIGHT Honourable, Sir THOMAS EGERTON, Knight, Baron of Ellesmere, Lord high Chancellor of England, one of his Majesties right Hon. Privy Counsel, the true Pattern of virtue, and Patron of good Learning.

TO THE RIGHT Honourable, Sir THOMAS EGERTON, Knight, Baron of Ellesmere, Lord high Chancellor of England, one of his Maiesties right Hon. Priuy Counsell, the true Patterne of vertue, and Patron of good Learning.

Right Honourable: it is a labour that hath neither recompense nor thanks, to tell them their madness, that fain would think themselves sober. Having therefore presumed (not to trouble the peace, but) to disquiet the security of our Israel: I durst not but aspire to some noble Patronage, that might shield both my self ⟨image 3⟩and labours, from the blows of all malevolent Censurers. In which thoughts, I was bold to centre my self in your Honour; as the individual point of my refuge, wherein I have been taught the way by more worthy precedents: your Honourable Name having long stood, as a communis terminus, or Sanctuary of protection, to the labours and persons of many Students. The un-erring hand of God hath placed your Lordship in the Seat of Justice, and Chair of Honour, (especially if it be true, what S. Hieron: says, that Summa apud Deū nobilitas, clarū essevirtutibus: whereby you have power & opportunity, to whet the edge of virtue with encouragements, & to give ⟨image 3⟩vice the just retribution of deserved punishments. Happy influences have been derived from you, sitting as a Star in the Star-Chamber: conscionable mitigations of the Laws rigour in the Court of Chancery. To punish when you see cause, is not more Justice then Mercy: Justice against the offender, Mercy to the Commonwealth. Those punishments are no other then actual Physic ministered to the Inheritance, Liberty, Body, to the bettering of the Conscience,