TO
THE
MOST
Reuerend
Father
in
God
,
GEORGE
,
by
the
Diuine
Prouidence
,
Lord
Arch
bishop
of
Canterbury
,
Primate
,
&c.
and
to
the
rest
of
the
most
Reuerend
Archbishops
.
To
the
Reuerend
Fathers
also
,
the
L.
Bishops
,
and
to
all
other
the
deuout
Pastors
and
Superintendents
,
of
the
Churches
of
Great
Britaine
,
and
Ireland
.
GEORGE
WITHER
,
their
humble
Seruant
,
wisheth
all
encrease
of
Spirituall
graces
:
and
to
their
Christian
disposure
,
submits
Himselfe
and
this
Endeauour
.
Most
Reuerend
Fathers
,
&c.
THe
many
pious
Instructions
,
and
Christian
Pledges
,
which
I
haue
at
your
hands
,
and
by
your
meanes
receiued
of
our
holy
Mother
the
Church
,
haue
so
oft
informed
me
,
in
that
Wherewithall
a
yong
man
ought
to
cleanse
his
way
;
and
so
much
confirmed
me
in
the
comfortable
study
thereof
:
That
(
howsoeuer
the
vaine
inclinations
of
youth
tempted
the
contrary
)
I
was
euer
conscionably
fearefull
of
trifling
away
all
my
first
age
,
in
the
pleasures
of
Sensualitie
.
Yea
,
so
often
haue
you
rung
in
my
eares
that
gratious
and
most
serious
Memorandum
of
the
holy
Ghost
;
Remember
thy
Creator
in
the
dayes
of
thy
youth
,
&c.
That
(
more
often
then
I
should
haue
beene
)
I
was
thereby
put
in
minde
,
both
to
contemplate
the
works
and
mercies
of
the
Almighty
:
and
to
endeauour
also
(
as
the
slendernesse
of
my
vnderstanding
,
and
the
frailties
of
my
yeeres
would
giue
leaue
)
so
to
imploy
my selfe
,
that
the
little
time
I
purposed
to
spend
well
,
might
(
if
it
were
possible
)
produce
something
,
which
(
being
as
well
profitable
to
others
as
to
my selfe
)
would
make
a
little
recompence
for
those
many
dayes
,
my
youth
and
the
temptations
of
the
world
,
would
force
me
idlely
to
consume
.
And
I
thanke
God
;
somewhat
hath
beene
already
effected
,
which
(
notwithstanding
my
owne
personall
vnworthinesse
)
the
Church
hath
vouchsafed
with
a
motherly
approbation
,
both
to
receiue
at
my
hand
,
and
by
her
reuerend
Authority
to
deliuer
ouer
also
vnto
others
:
Whereby
I
haue
beene
encouraged
,
to
proceed
according
to
those
beginnings
,
and
(
as
a
testimony
as
w●ll
of
gratitude
,
as
of
obedience
)
now
to
consecrate
vnto
the
vse
,
of
good
men
,
and
in
the
name
of
your
RRces
ces
this
;
the
little
gaine
of
my
one
Talent
.
Being
a
Metricall
Translation
of
those
sacred
Canonicall
Songs
dispersed
in
the
Old
Testament
,
and
anciently
vsed
to
be
sung
by
the
Primitiue
Churches
:
My
Thankefulnesse
it
witnesseh
in
this
;
that
I
offer
vp
the
best
fruit
of
my
labours
vnto
those
,
by
whom
I
was
first
taught
how
to
be
so
imployed
:
and
my
obedience
is
also
testified
,
both
in
thus
submitting
it
vnto
your
graue
Censures
,
and
in
hauing
thus
,
according
to
your
desires
,
imployed
my
poore
faculty
in
the
seruice
of
the
Church
.
For
neither
by
any
vaine-glorious
humour
of
my
owne
,
nor
by
the
motion
of
any
giddy
Seperatists
,
but
by
some
of
you
,
was
I
first
called
and
encouraged
to
this
worke
.
In
the
performance
whereof
,
I
haue
been
euer
mindfull
of
that
Religious
reuerence
,
which
was
fit
to
be
obserued
in
so
weighty
an
vndertaking
.
And
I
hope
,
I
haue
so
effected
the
same
;
as
Gods
Maiestie
may
be
praised
in
it
,
your
RRces
,
pleased
with
it
,
good
Christians
benefitted
by
it
,
and
my
owne
soule
receiue
comfort
therein
.
The
liberty
I
haue
taken
,
and
the
manner
of
my
proceeding
in
this
Translation
hath
been
little
diff●rent
from
that
,
which
(
in
my
Preparation
to
the
Psalter
)
I
professed
to
vse
in
the
Translation
of
the
Psalmes
;
and
I
doubt
not
,
but
the
greatest
fault
which
shall
be
discouered
therein
,
vpon
notice
giuen
,
may
be
asoone
(
almost
)
amended
as
found
out
.
That
to
the
glory
of
God
they
may
be
sung
either
in
publike
,
or
in
priuate
,
as
your
RRces
shall
see
cause
;
I
haue
endeauoured
to
procure
from
some
of
our
b●st
M●sitians
,
such
Notes
as
(
being
easie
,
and
proper
to
the
matter
)
might
the
more
accommodate
them
,
for
the
praise
of
God
,
according
to
the
laudable
custome
of
singing
now
in
vse
.
Moreouer
;
that
such
as
are
delighted
with
those
Exercises
,
may
not
make
meere
sensual
Musicke
,
but
expresse
melody
both
●cceptable
to
God
and
profitable
to
themselues
,
by
knowing
the
Vse
,
and
meaning
of
what
they
sing
.
I
haue
(
according
to
the
Truth
,
and
agreeable
to
the
doctrine
of
the
Ancient
Fathers
)
prefixed
a
briefe
Prologue
before
euery
Song
.
Wherein
I
first
shew
the
generall
meaning
and
scope
of
it
,
according
to
the
litterall
Sense
:
then
,
how
in
the
spirituall
and
most
principal
Sense
,
it
hath
respect
to
the
Misteries
of
our
Christian
Religion
;
and
that
each
Song
doth
appertaine
vnto
vs
,
vpon
some
occasions
,
in
this
age
of
the
Church
,
as
properly
as
it
did
to
them
,
for
whom
they
were
first
composed
.
Which
in
the
Arguments
themselues
,
is
so
euidently
and
particularly
declared
,
as
I
hope
it
will
be
well
perceiued
,
it
was
not
my
owne
idle
fantasie
which
directed
me
.
This
your
RRces
doe
well
know
,
and
how
the
vse
of
these
Hymnes
hath
been
continued
in
the
Primitiue
Churches
;
yea
,
and
retained
euen
to
this
day
in
many
Congregations
,
as
not
impertinent
to
vs
of
the
last
Ages
.
And
to
me
it
seemeth
they
neuer
were
(
all
at
once
)
so
much
vse-full
,
as
now
in
these
times
,
if
the
necessities
of
this
Age
be
w●ll
considered
.
For
which
Cause
;
being
thus
to
your
hands
presented
,
ready
fitted
for
vse
,
according
to
the
kinde
of
Musicke
now
best
approued
of
for
subiects
of
this
nature
;
And
seeing
also
,
they
are
both
desired
,
and
may
without
any
knowne
inconuenience
be
generally
admitted
of
:
I
doubt
not
but
you
will
be
pleased
to
recommend
the
practise
of
them
to
all
those
who
are
willingly
disposed
for
such
Exercises
.
For
,
though
some
scoffing
Ismaelites
may
deride
this
addition
of
Songs
,
to
that
ouer-many
which
(
as
they
thinke
)
the
Church
already
hath
.
Neuerthelesse
;
You
,
who
by
your
experiences
finde
,
that
the
humane
nature
in
all
things
requires
variety
,
to
keepe
it
from
loathing
;
and
by
your
spirituall
knowledges
are
assured
,
that
God
prouides
for
his
Church
,
neither
more
nor
lesse
of
any
thing
then
shall
be
requisite
.
Euen
you
also
know
;
that
these
are
not
to
be
accou●ted
a
vaine
,
or
burthensome
addition
to
our
Psalmes
:
especially
when
the
Apocriphall
Inuentions
of
m●n
may
there
haue
place
.
And
when
these
shall
be
compared
with
those
Measur●s
we
haue
hitherto
made
vse
of
in
our
deuotions
,
I
doubt
not
(
seeing
the
matter
is
of
the
same
Authority
)
but
the
manner
of
expressing
it
shall
make
this
no
lesse
worthy
of
entertainment
then
that
;
(
and
though
I
should
say
more
worthy
,
I
thinke
it
were
no
arrogance
.
)
For
(
if
I
mistake
not
)
as
naturally
haue
I
exprest
the
sense
of
these
Songs
,
and
as
plainely
as
most
prose
Translations
haue
yet
done
.
And
,
if
any
indifferent
man
,
who
knowes
the
Poesie
and
power
of
the
English
tongue
may
be
my
Iudge
;
I
assure
my selfe
,
hee
will
censure
the
expression
to
be
such
,
as
that
it
shall
neither
be
obscure
to
the
meanest
capacities
,
nor
contemptible
to
the
best
Iudgments
:
but
becomming
the
purpose
it
was
intended
for
.
I
haue
not
lept
on
a
sudden
into
this
employment
;
but
in
studies
of
this
nature
haue
now
consumed
almost
the
yeeres
of
an
Apprentiship
.
And
if
it
be
well
weighed
:
First
,
how
full
of
short
sentences
and
suddain
breakings
off
,
such
like
scriptures
are
:
Secondly
,
how
frequently
these
particles
For
,
But
,
and
such
like
,
which
are
gracefull
in
the
Originall
,
will
seeme
to
obscure
the
dependancy
of
sense
in
the
English
phrase
,
if
they
be
not
carefully
needed
:
Thirdly
,
how
harsh
the
Musicke
will
be
,
if
the
Pauses
be
not
vsually
reduced
vnto
the
same
place
,
which
they
haue
in
the
first
Stanza
of
each
Song
:
Fourthly
,
how
many
other
differences
there
must
be
betweene
this
kinde
of
Lyricall
verse
and
what
is
smoothed
onely
for
the
reading
:
Fiftly
,
how
the
Translator
is
tyed
to
make
choise
,
not
of
what
is
easiest
,
but
of
that
kind
of
verse
which
may
become
best
the
nature
of
euery
Song
:
Sixtly
,
how
he
is
bound
not
onely
to
the
Sense
,
but
to
the
very
words
(
or
words
of
the
same
power
)
which
another
hath
vsed
:
Lastly
,
how
beside
all
this
strictnesse
,
he
is
euen
in
conscience
also
constrained
,
so
to
expresse
things
by
circumlocution
(
when
he
shall
be
forced
to
it
)
as
that
,
although
his
phrase
be
of
the
same
power
,
it
will
not
be
warrantable
vnlesse
it
be
so
also
done
,
that
the
manner
of
speaking
,
peculiar
to
these
writings
,
may
be
all
the
way
perceiued
by
those
vnderstanding
Readers
who
are
acquainted
therewith
.
I
say
,
If
all
these
circumstances
be
well
considered
(
and
how
difficult
they
make
it
,
to
close
vp
euery
Stanza
with
a
Period
,
or
some
such
point
as
the
voyce
may
a
while
decently
pause
there
)
I
am
both
perswaded
a
worke
of
of
this
nature
,
would
neither
be
hastily
aduentured
vpon
againe
by
any
other
;
nor
my
labour
herein
be
altogether
disesteemed
:
who
haue
bin
mindful
of
all
those
,
&
many
other
particulars
,
considerable
in
such
a
busines
.
And
now
;
that
it
may
be
finished
with
more
exactnes
,
then
my
owne
industry
is
able
to
adde
vnto
it
.
(
If
in
any
part
of
these
Songs
the
genuine
Sense
be
not
yet
well
expressed
,
)
vpon
reason
giuen
,
and
the
l●st
notise
vouchsafed
from
any
of
your
RRces
,
after
the
view
of
this
;
I
shall
be
ready
to
amend
it
,
according
to
your
directions
.
Or
if
the
Tunes
haue
not
w●ll
suted
the
nature
of
them
;
Those
who
haue
formerly
bestowed
their
paines
(
and
many
other
also
)
will
be
liberall
of
their
best
Art
,
more
to
apt
them
for
the
glory
of
God
.
For
,
although
this
Booke
hath
already
the
allowance
appointed
by
Authority
,
and
so
much
the
approbation
of
many
other
good
men
,
as
that
they
desire
it
generally
published
(
at
least
)
for
their
priuate
deuotions
:
Yet
,
knowing
these
vndertakings
can
neuer
be
too
perfect
,
I
haue
purposed
this
Impression
for
no
other
end
,
but
to
be
distributed
among
your
RRces
,
and
my
other
speciall
friends
.
That
if
there
be
any
ouersight
committed
,
or
ought
necessary
omitted
in
them
;
it
might
be
reformed
and
supplied
in
the
next
Edition
,
by
warning
and
instruction
from
some
of
You.
But
,
I
hope
it
shall
not
be
found
very
defectiue
;
And
in
my
Epistle
to
make
answere
vnto
those
many
obiections
,
which
vulgar
vnderstandings
will
be
apt
to
frame
against
this
vndertaking
;
I
thinke
it
also
needlesse
.
Because
you
,
to
whom
(
onely
)
I
at
this
time
preferre
it
,
are
all
sufficient
enough
without
information
from
me
,
to
perceaue
how
friuolous
those
doubts
and
cauils
be
,
which
the
weakenesse
of
such
are
apt
to
inuent
.
And
if
your
RRces
be
herewith
satisfied
,
I
value
not
how
the
wits
of
our
age
shall
censure
the
Stile
I
haue
vsed
;
for
though
many
of
them
are
well
acquainted
with
the
raptures
in
Hero
and
Leander
,
the
expressions
in
Venus
and
Adonis
,
and
with
the
elegancies
becomming
a
wanton
Sonnet
;
yet
in
these
Lyricks
,
in
the
naturall
straine
of
these
Poems
,
in
the
power
of
these
voyces
,
and
in
the
proprieties
befitting
these
spirituall
things
,
their
sensuall
capacities
,
are
as
ignorant
as
meere
Ideots
:
and
had
it
the
Poeticall
phrases
they
fancy
,
I
should
hate
it
;
or
were
it
such
as
they
might
praise
,
I
would
burne
it
.
That
which
I
feare
will
be
the
greatest
blemish
to
this
labour
;
is
,
my
owne
indignity
.
For
I
must
confesse
,
I
am
the
more
vnworthy
to
be
imployed
in
these
holy
things
:
Seeing
I
am
none
of
those
,
who
are
allowed
to
intermeddle
with
the
Mysteries
of
our
Christian
Sanctuary
.
Neuerthelesse
,
if
what
I
haue
performed
be
allowable
in
it selfe
,
and
by
your
approbations
once
consecrated
to
a
holy
Vse
,
doubtlesse
(
if
no
mans
Will
stand
for
a
Reason
)
it
shal
be
no
lesse
auaileable
,
then
if
some
eminent
Father
of
the
Church
had
laboured
therein
.
And
whensoeuer
it
shall
be
againe
vndertaken
,
this
I
am
certaine
of
;
No
man
will
go
about
it
with
a
heart
more
desirous
to
be
rectified
,
or
more
fearefull
to
offend
against
the
Matie
of
these
Scriptures
.
And
I
trust
no
man
will
enuy
me
the
honour
of
this
employment
:
For
,
though
it
be
no
meane
contentment
to
a
Christian
(
whose
soule
is
touched
with
the
vnderstanding
of
these
things
)
to
be
any
way
an
instrument
of
Gods
glory
,
yet
(
if
we
tru●ly
consider
it
)
that
which
I
haue
aspired
vnto
therby
,
makes
me
in
regard
of
You
,
or
in
respect
but
of
the
meanest
of
those
who
are
admitted
to
administer
the
blessed
Sacraments
,
no
more
then
a
hewer
of
wood
,
or
a
drawer
of
water
,
for
the
old
Sacrifices
,
was
in
comparison
of
the
Leuite
,
who
offered
on
the
golden
Alter
.
God
knowes
with
what
minde
I
haue
proceeded
in
this
endeuour
;
and
therefore
Reward
and
Acceptation
from
aboue
the
Sunne
I
am
certaine
of
.
But
the
course
of
things
below
the
Sunne
,
I
haue
so
well
considered
,
that
should
I
reach
the
perfection
of
what
I
went
about
,
yet
all
my
labour
might
be
no
to
purpose
.
For
as
the
Preacher
saith
,
Eccl.
9.11
.
I
haue
seene
vnder
the
Sunne
,
that
the
race
is
not
to
the
swift
,
nor
the
battell
to
the
strong
,
nor
yet
bread
to
the
wise
,
nor
riches
to
men
of
vnderstanding
,
nor
fauour
to
men
of
knowledge
;
but
time
and
chance
commeth
to
them
all
.
If
my
paines
shall
be
aiudged
vnnecessary
,
yet
my
comfort
is
,
I
haue
onely
spent
my
owne
meanes
about
it
,
and
not
vnder
the
colour
or
pretence
of
being
imployed
,
fedde
my selfe
fat
on
the
patrimonies
of
the
Church
,
without
effecting
(
or
so
much
as
intending
)
any
thing
to
her
aduantage
.
And
if
it
be
thought
profitable
;
that
profit
shall
be
gained
without
hinderance
to
any
other
mans
preferment
.
For
I
neuer
intend
(
though
my
necessities
were
more
importunate
)
to
petition
for
so
much
as
a
lay-Prebend
in
recompence
of
my
labours
.
Only
your
benediction
,
your
loues
,
&
your
holy
Prayers
,
next
vnto
Gods
glory
,
is
my
principall
aime
.
And
seeing
neither
the
manner
of
my
education
,
nor
the
course
of
my
life
,
nor
the
performance
of
this
worke
(
though
I
will
not
iustifie
my selfe
)
can
yet
appeare
to
be
such
as
may
disparage
the
Church
to
receiue
these
endeauours
at
my
hands
:
So
much
confidence
haue
I
in
your
Fatherly
dispositions
towards
all
well
affected
persons
,
of
what
outward
condition
soeuer
they
be
,
that
I
am
verely
perswaded
you
would
not
for
a
few
ouer-sights
,
sleight
all
my
paines
;
but
rather
to
the
encouragement
of
others
(
for
no
affront
in
these
studies
can
dishearten
me
)
graciously
vouchsafe
in
some
measure
to
accept
what
I
here
make
humble
proffer
of
vnto
your
RRces
.
Which
if
you
please
to
doe
,
I
shall
euer
acknowledge
my selfe
obliged
for
your
Christian
respect
,
and
study
such
things
,
as
(
perhaps
)
will
make
me
hereafter
more
worthy
of
your
esteeme
.
So
,
presuming
that
if
I
haue
deliuered
Reason
,
it
shal
be
with
your
Wisedomes
,
euery
whit
as
Authenticke
as
if
I
had
begun
,
continued
,
and
ended
this
Epistle
with
the
Prouerbs
,
or
ouer-worne
Sentences
of
olde
Authors
:
I
humbly
wish
(
according
to
the
custome
of
my
Countrey
on
this
day
)
a
happy
NEW-YEERE
to
all
your
RRces
,
and
to
the
whole
Church
,
in
her
seuerall
af●●ires
,
a
most
prosperous
successe
.
Ianuary
the
1.
1621.