THE
DECAMERON

CONTAINING
An hundred pleasant
Novels.

Wittily discoursed, betweene
seaven Honourable Ladies, and
three Noble Gentlemen.

London, printed by
Isaac Jaggard,
1620.

The Epistle Dedicatory.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE,Sir Phillip Herbert, Knightof the Bath at the Coronation of our Soveraigne LordKing James, Lord Baron of Sherland, Earle ofMontgomery, and Knight of the most NobleOrder of the Garter, &c.

The Philosopher Zeno (Right Honourable,and my most worthily esteemedLord) being demaunded on a timeby what meanes a man might attaine tohappinesse; made answere: By resortingto the dead, and having familiarconversation with them. Intimatingthereby: The reading of ancientand moderne Histories, and endeavouring to learnesuch good instructions, as have bene observed in our Predecessors.A Question also was mooved by great King Ptolomy,to one of the learned wise Interpreters. In what occasions a Kingshould exercise himselfe, whereto thus hee replyed: To knowthose things which formerly have bin done: And to readBookes of those matters which offer themselves dayly, orare fittest for our instant affaires. And lastly, in seekingthose things whatsoever, that make for a Kingdomes preservation,and the correction of evill manners or examples.

Upon these good and warrantable grounds (most Noble Lord)beside many more of the same Nature, which I omit, to avoide prolixity,I dare boldly affirme, that such as are exercised in the readingof Histories, although they seeme to be but yong in yeares, andslenderly instructed in worldly matters: yet gravity and gray-headedage speaketh maturely in them, to the no meane admiration ofcommon and vulgar judgement. As contrariwise, such as are ignorantof things done and past, before themselves had any being: continuestill in the estate of children, able to speake or behave themselvesno otherwise; and, even within the bounds of their NativeCountries (in respect of knowledge or manly capacity) they are nomore then well-seeming dumbe Images.

In due consideration of the precedent allegations, and uppon thecommand, as also most Noble encouragement of your Honour fromtime to time; this Volume of singular and exquisite Histories, variedinto so many and exact natures, appeareth in the worlds view,under your Noble patronage and defence, to be safely sheelded fromfoule-mouthed slander and detraction, which is too easily throwneupon the very best deserving labours.

I know (most worthy Lord) that many of them have (long since)bene published before, as stolne from the first originall Author, andyet not beautified with his sweete stile and elocution of phrases, neitherfavouring of his singular morall applications. For, as it was hisfull scope and ayme, by discovering all Vices in their ugly deformities,to make their mortall enemies (the sacred Vertues) to shinethe clearer, being set downe by them, and compared with them: soevery true and upright judgement, in observing the course of thesewell-carried Novels, shall plainly perceive, that there is no sparemade of reproofe in any degree whatsoever, where sin is embraced,and grace neglected; but the just deserving shame and punishmentthereon inflicted, that others may be warned by their example. Inimitation of witty Æsope; who reciteth not a Fable, but graceth itwith a judicious morall application; as many other worthy Writershave done the like.

For instance, let me h