A MAIDENS DREAME . VPON THE DEATH OF THE right Honorable Sir Christopher Hatton Knight , late Lord Chancelor of ENGLAND . By Robert Green Master of Arts.

Imprinted at London by Thomas Scarlet for Thomas Nelson . 1591.

MOurning as well as many ( right Worshipfull Ladie ) for the late losse of the right Honorable your deceased Vnckle , whose death being the common preiudice of a present age , was lamented of most ( if not all ) and I among the rest sorrowing that my Countrie was depriued of him that liued not for himselfe , but for his Countrie , I began to call to mind what a subiect was ministred to the excellent wits of both Vniuersities to work vpon , when so worthie a knight , and so vertuous a Iusticiarie , had by his death left many memorable actions performed in his life , deseruing highly by some rare men to be registred . Passing ouer many daies in this muse , at last I perceiued mens humors slept , that loue of many friends followed no farther then their graues , that Art was growen idle , and either choice schollers feared to write of so high a subiect as his vertues , or else they dated their deuotions no further then his life . While thus I debated with my selfe , I might see ( to the great disgrace of the Poets of our time ) some Mycanicall wits blow vp mountaines , and bring forth mise , who with their follies did rather disparage his Honors , than decypher his vertues : beside , as Virtutis comes est inuidia , so base report who hath her tong blistered by slanderous enuie , began as farre as she durst , now after his death , to murmure , who in his life time durst not once mutter : whervpon touched with a Zealous iealousie ouer his wonderfull vertues , I could not , whatsoeuer discredit I reapt by my presumption , although I did Tenui Auena meditari , but discouer the honorable qualities of so worthie a Counsellor , not for anie priuat benefit I euer had of him , which should induce me fauorably to flatter his worthie partes , but onely that I shame to let slip with silence , the vertues and honors of so worthie a knight , whose deserts had bin so many and so great towards al. Therfore ( right worshipful Ladie ) I drewe a fiction called A Maidens Dreame , which as it is Enigmaticall , so it is not without some speciall and considerate reasons . Whose slender Muse I present vnto your Ladiship , induced therunto , first , that I know you are partaker of your husbands sorrowes , for the death of his honourable Vncle , and desire to heare his honors put in memorie after his death , as you wished his aduancement in vertues to be great in his life : as also that I am your Ladiships poore Countriman , and haue long time desired to gratifie your right worshipfull father with some thing worthie himselfe . Which because I could not to my content performe , I haue now taken oportunitie to shew my duetie to him in his daughter , although the gift be farre too meane for so worshipfull and vertuous a Lady . Yet hoping your Ladishippe will with courtesie fauour my presuming follies , and in gratious acceptance vouch of my well meant labours , I humbly take my leaue .