Sentence:  those that have willed to attaine to some greater excellence, have not beene content, at home, and at rest to expect the rigors of fortunenb...; but have rather gone to meet and <WSD>front</WSD> her before, and witting-earnestly cast themselves to the triall of the hardest difficulties. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To face up to, to meet head-on, to confront.