[Decorative thought break]
TO ALL MY LOVING ADVENTURERS,
BY WHAT NAME OR TITLE SOEVER,
MY GENERAL SALUTATION.
_Reader, these Travels of mine into_ Scotland, _were not undertaken,
neither in imitation, or emulation of any man, but only devised by
myself, on purpose to make trial of my friends both in this Kingdom of_
England, _and that of_ Scotland, _and because I would be an eye-witness
of divers things which I had heard of that Country; and whereas many
shallow-brained Critics, do lay an aspersion on me, that I was set on by
others, or that I did undergo this project, either in malice, or mockage
of Master_ Benjamin Jonson, _I vow by the faith of a Christian, that
their imaginations are all wide, for he is a gentleman, to whom I am so
much obliged for many undeserved courtesies that I have received from
him, and from others by his favour, that I durst never to be so impudent
or ungrateful, as either to suffer any man's persuasions, or mine own
instigation, to incite me, to make so bad a requital, for so much
goodness formerly received; so much for that, and now Reader, if you
expect_
That I should write of cities' situations,
Or that of countries I should make relations:
Of brooks, crooks, nooks; of rivers, bournes and rills,
Of mountains, fountains, castles, towers and hills,
Of shires, and piers, and memorable things,
Of lives and deaths of great commanding kings,
I touch not those, they not belong to me;
But if such things as these you long to see,
Lay down my book, and but vouchsafe to read
The learned _Camden_, or laborious _Speed_.
_And so God speed you and me, whilst I rest