Q

[V]

THE GOOD AND THE BAD;

OR,

DESCRIPTIONS

OF THE

Worthies and Unworthies of this Age:

WHERE

THE BEST MAY SEE THEIR GRACES, AND THE WORST DISCERN

THEIR BASENESS.

Hepolas Breton.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY GEORGE PURSLOWE FOR JOHN BUDGE, AND ARE TO BE SOLD AT THE GREAT
SOUTH DOOR OF PAULS, AND AT BRITAIN'S-BURSE.

ΤΟ

THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL AND WORTHY

SIR GILBERT HOUGHTON,

OF HOUGHTON, KNIGHT;

THE NOBLE FAVOURER OF ALL VIRTUOUS SPIRITS; HIGHEST POWER OF HEAVEN GRANT THE BLESSING OF ALL HAPPINESS TO HIS WORTHY HEART'S DESIRE.

WORTHY KNIGHT,

HE worthiness of this subject, in which is set down the difference of light and darkness, in the nature of honour and disgrace, to the deservers of either, hath made me (upon the note of the nobleness of your spirit) like the eagle, still looking towards the sun, to present to your patience the patronage of this little Treatise of the Worthies and Unworthies of this Age:

wherein, I hope, you will find some things to your content, nothing to the contrary; which leaving to the acceptance of your good favour, with my further service to your command, I humbly rest,

Your Worship's devoted,

to be commanded,

NICHOLAS BRETON.

TO THE READER.

AM sure that if you read through this book, you will find your description in one place or other: if among the Worthies, hold you where you are, and change not your card for a worse: if among the

other, mend that is amiss, and all will be well. I

name you not, for I know you not; but I will wish the best, because the worst is too bad: I hope there will nobody be angry, except it be with himself, for somewhat that he finds out of order; if it be so, the hope is the greater, the bad will be no worse: yet the world being at such a pass, that living creatures are scarcely known from pictures till they move, nor wise men from fools till they speak, nor artists from bunglers till they work, I will only wish the worthy their worth, and the contrary what may mend their condition; and for myself but pardon for my presumption, writing upon the natures of more worth than I am worthy to write of, and favourable acceptation of no worthy intention of reprehension, by the least thought of malicious disposition. So leaving my book to your best like, with my better labours to the like effect, in hope to find you among the Worthies, I rest,