PREFACE TO THE READER.

* * * * *

It is dangerous (gentle reader) to range in so large a field as I haue
here vndertaken, while so manie sundrie men in diuers things may be able
to controll me, and manie excellent wits of our countrie (as well or
better occupied I hope) are able herein to surpasse me; but seeing the
best able doo seeme to neglect it, let me (though least able) craue
pardon to put them in mind not to forget their natiue countries praise
(which is their dutie) the incouragement of their woorthie countriemen,
by elders aduancements; and the daunting of the vicious, by foure penall
examples, to which end (as I take it) chronicles and histories ought
cheefelie to be written. My labour may shew mine vttermost good will, of
the more learned I require their further enlargement, and of
fault-finders dispensation till they be more fullie informed. It is too
common that the least able are readiest to find fault in matters of
least weight, and therefore I esteeme the lesse of their carping, but
humblie beseech the skilfull to supplie my want, and to haue care of
their dutie; and either to amend that wherein I haue failed, or be
content with this mine endeuour. For it may please them to consider,
that no one can be eie-witnesse to all that is written within our time;
much lesse to those things which happened in former times, and therefore
must be content with reports of others. Therein I haue beene so
carefull, that I haue spared no paines or helpe of freends to search out
either written or printed ancient authors, or to inquire of moderne
eie-witnesses for the true setting downe of that which I haue here
deliuered: but I find such want in writers for the necessarie knowledge
of things doone in times past, and lacke of meanes to obteine sufficient