document is printed in Mr. Bolton Corney's _Curiosities of Literature
Illustrated_, and sets forth, that

"Whereas our louing Subject, John Stowe, this fine & forty yeers
hath to his great charge, & with neglect of his ordinary meanes
of maintenance (for the generall good as well of posteritie, as
of the present age) compiled and published diuerse necessary
bookes & Chronicles; and therefore we, in recompense of these
his painfull laboures, & for the encouragement to the like, haue
in our royall inclination ben pleased to graunt our Letters
Patents &c. &c.; thereby authorizing him and his deputies to
collect amongst our louing subjects, theyr voluntary
contributions & kinde gratuities."

The whole preface to this edition of the _Summarie_ is curious, and is
followed by a List of "Authors out of whom this Summary is collected."

In Hearne's _Robert of Gloster_, preface, p. lxi., allusion is made to
these _Summaries_. He says:--

"I have not yet met with a copy of this _Summary_ in which we
have an account of his authors."

After a panegyric on Stowe's incredible industry he says:--

"Sir Roger Lestrange, talking some years before his death with a
very ingenious and learned Gentleman about our Historians, was
pleased to say, _that it was always a wonder to him, that the
very best that had penn'd our History in English should be a
poor Taylour, honest John Stowe_. Sir Roger said a _Taylour_,