Being requested lately by my kind Friends, the Wardens of the Worshipful Company of Skinners, to assist them in their Visitation of the free School at Tunbridge, founded long since by that worthy Knight, of blessed memory, Sir Andrew Judd, your Grandfather, and committed to the charge and over-sight of that well-deserving Society; I made choice of such a portion of Scripture there to treat of, as seemed not altogether unfitting an occasion of that kind. After the handling whereof, being then presently solicited by some, and since further importuned by others, to make these my weak labours more public, as not unlikely (so they deemed) to do some further good; I was at length drawn, regarding more their opinion, than mine own conceit thereof, as well knowing it to be but a tumultuary work, amidst many distractions hastily pieced together; and to give them satisfaction therein, that seemed so desirous of it; to let it go abroad, and make trial what benefit either Teacher, or Scholar, or other might make of it. This resolved on, I began to bethink my self, observing the usual manner of the times, whom I should make choice of for the patronizing of it. In all respects none seemed so fit as your self, whom I have therefore made bold to address it unto. The School was first erected and endowed by your Worships Ancestor. And you have worthily built upon his foundation, and added liberally to his gift. So that through your munificence it is very likely to flourish, and not to come behind some of those that be of chief note. Your bounty herein, and in other works of the like nature, is the rather to be regarded, for that you do not (as the manner is of the most, unwilling to part with ought, till they must needs leave all;) defer wholly your well-doing to your deaths-bed, or your dying day; but bend your self ⟨image 5⟩thereunto, while you may yet surviving your own donation, your self see things settled in a due course, and receive comfort by view of the fruit and benefit that may thereby redound both to Church and Common-weal. And certainly, to omit, thata the good that men do in their life time is a surer note of true bounty, than that they do at their decease;
BEing requested lately by my kinde Friends, the Wardens of the Worshipfull Companie of Skinners, to assist them in their Visitation of the free Schoole at Tunbridge, founded long since by that worthy Knight, of blessed memorie, Sir Andrew Judde, your Grandfather, and committed to the charge and over-sight of that well-deserving Society; I made choice of such a portion of Scripture there to treat of, as seemed not altogether unfitting an occasion of that kinde. After the handling whereof, being then presently solicited by some, and since further importuned by others, to make these my weake labours more publike, as not unlikely (so they deemed) to doe some further good; I was at length drawne, regarding more their opinion, than mine owne conceipt thereof, as well knowing it to be but a tumultuary worke, amids many distractions hastily peeced together; and to give them satisfaction therein, that seemed so desirous of it; to let it goe abroad, and make triall what benefit either Teacher, or Scholer, or other might make of it. This resolved on, I began to bethinke my selfe, observing the usuall manner of the times, whom I should make choice of for the patronizing of it. In all respects none seemed so fit as your selfe, whom I have therefore made bold to addresse it unto. The Schoole was first erected and endowed by your Worships Ancestor. And you have worthily built upon his foundation, and added liberally to his gift. So that through your munificence it is very likely to flourish, and not to come behind some of those that be of chiefe note. Your bounty herein, and in other workes of the like nature, is the rather to be regarded, for that you doe not (as the manner is of the most, unwilling to part with ought, till they must needs leave all;) defer wholly your well-doing to your deaths-bed, or your dying day; but bend your selfe ⟨image 5⟩thereunto, while you may yet surviving your owne donation, your selfe see things setled in a due course, and receive comfort by view of the fruit and benefit that may thereby redound both to Church and Common-weale. And certainly, to omit, thata the good that men doe in their life time is a surer note of true bounty, than that they doe at their decease;
- aBeneficium nisi à volente non datur. Sen. de ben. l. 5. c. 19. Beneficium est quod qui• dedit, cum posset & non dare. Ibid. l. 3. c. 19.
