make post hast, I could not exemplifie what I would out of them all,
neither yet dispose it so orderlie as had beene conuenient, nor pen it
with so apt words as might satisfie either myselfe, or those to whose
view it is now like to come. And by reason of the like haste made in the
impression, where I was determined to haue transposed the most part of
that which in the English historie I had noted, concerning the conquest
of Ireland by Hen. the second, out of Houeden & others, I had not time
thereto; and so haue left it there remaining where I first noted it,
before I determined to make any particular collection of the Irish
histories, bicause the same commeth there well inough in place, as to
those that shall vouchsafe to turne the booke it may appeare.

For the computation of the yeares of the world, I had by Maister Wolfes
aduise followed Functius; but after his deceasse, M. W. H. made me
partaker of a Chronologie, which he had gathered and compiled with most
exquisit diligence, following Gerardus Mercator, and other late
Chronologers, and his owne obseruations, according to the which I haue
reformed the same. As for the yeares of our Lord, and the kings, I haue
set them downe according to such authors as seeme to be of best credit
in that behalfe, as I doubt not but the learned and skilfull in
histories it shall appeare. Moreouer, this the reader hath to consider,
that I doo begin the yeare at the natiuitie of our Lord, which is the
surest order (in my fansie) that can be followed.

For the names of persons, townes, and places, as I haue beene diligent
to reforme the errours of other (which are to be ascribed more to the
vnperfect copies than to the authors) so may it be that I haue
some-where committed the like faults, either by negligence or want of
skill to restore them to their full integritie as I wished. But what I
haue performed, aswell in that behalfe as others, the skilfull reader