_S. WILLIAM BROOKE KNIGHT_,
LORD WARDEN OF THE CINQUE PORTS, AND BARON OF COBHAM, ALL
INCREASE OF THE FEARE AND KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, FIRME OBEDIENCE
TOWARD HIS PRINCE, INFALLIBLE LOUE TO THE COMMON WEALTH, AND
COMMENDABLE RENOWME HERE IN THIS WORLD, AND IN THE WORLD TO COME
LIFE EUERLASTING.
Hauing had iust occasion, Right Honorable, to remaine in London,
during the time of Trinitie terme last passed, and being earnestlie
required of diuers my freends, to set downe some breefe discourse of
parcell of those things, which I had obserued in the reading of such
manifold antiquities as I had perused toward the furniture of a
Chronologie, which I haue yet in hand; I was at the first verie loth
to yeeld to their desires: first, for that I thought my selfe vnable
for want of skill and iudgment, so suddenlie & with so hastie speed to
take such a charge vpon me: secondlie, bicause the dealing therein
might prooue an hinderance and impechment vnto mine owne Treatise: and
finallie, for that I had giuen ouer all earnest studie of histories,
as iudging the time spent about the same, to be an hinderance vnto my
more necessarie dealings in that vocation & function wherevnto I am
called in the ministerie. But when they were so importunate with me,
that no reasonable excuse could serue to put by this trauell, I
condescended at the length vnto their yrkesome sute, promising that I
would spend such void time as I had to spare, whilest I should be
inforced to tarie in the citie, vpon some thing or other that should
satisfie their request; and stand in lieu of a description of my
Countrie. For their parts also they assured me of such helps as they
could purchase: and thus with hope of good, although no gaie successe,
I went in hand withall, then almost as one leaning altogither vnto
memorie, sith my books and I were parted by fourtie miles in sunder.
In this order also I spent a part of Michaelmas and Hilarie termes
insuing, being inforced thereto I say by other businesses which
compelled me to keepe in the citie, and absent my selfe from my
charge, though in the meane season I had some repaire vnto my poore
librarie, but not so great as the dignitie of the matter required, and
yet far greater than the Printers hast would suffer. One helpe, and
none of the smallest that I obtained herein, was by such commentaries
as _Leland_ had somtime collected of the state of Britaine, books
vtterlie mangled, defaced with wet and weather, and finallie vnperfect
through want of sundrie volumes: secondlie, I gat some knowledge of
things by letters and pamphlets, from sundrie places & shires of
England, but so discordant now and then amongst themselues,
especiallie in the names and courses of riuers and situation of
townes, that I had oft greater trouble to reconcile them one with an
other, than orderlie to pen the whole discourse of such points as they
contained: the third aid did grow by conference with diuers, either at
the table or secretlie alone, wherein I marked in what things the
talkers did agree, and wherin they impugned ech other, choosing in the
end the former, and reiecting the later, as one desirous to set foorth
the truth absolutelie, or such things in deed as were most likelie to
be true. The last comfort arose by mine owne reading of such writers
as haue heretofore made mention of the condition of our countrie, in
speaking wherof, if I should make account of the successe, &
extraordinarie c[=o]ming by sundrie treatises not supposed to be
extant, I should but seeme to pronounce more than may well be said
with modestie, & say farder of my selfe than this Treatise can beare
witnes of. Howbeit, I refer not this successe wholie vnto my purpose
about this Description, but rather giue notice thereof to come to
passe in the penning of my Chronologie, whose crums as it were fell
out verie well in the framing of this Pamphlet. In the processe
therefore of this Booke, if your Honor regard the substance of that
which is here declared, I must needs confesse that it is none of mine
owne: but if your Lordship haue consideration of the barbarous
composition shewed herein, that I may boldlie claime and challenge for
mine owne, sith there is no man of any so slender skill, that will
defraud me of that reproch, which is due vnto me for the meere
negligence, disorder, and euill disposition of matter comprehended in
the same. Certes I protest before God and your Honour, that I neuer
made any choise of stile, or words, neither regarded to handle this
Treatise in such precise order and method as manie other would haue
done, thinking it sufficient, truelie and plainelie to set foorth such
things as I minded to intreat of, rather than with vaine affectation
of eloquence to paint out a rotten sepulchre; a thing neither
commendable in a writer, nor profitable to the reader. How other
affaires troubled me in the writing hereof manie know, and
peraduenture the slacknesse shewed herein can better testifie: but
howsoeuer it be done, & whatsoeuer I haue done, I haue had an
especiall eye vnto the truth of things, and for the rest, I hope that
this foule frizeled Treatise of mine will prooue a spur to others
better learned, more skilfull in Chorographie, and of greater
iudgement in choise of matter to handle the selfe same argument, if in
my life time I doo not peruse it againe. It is possible also that your
Honour will mislike hereof, for that I haue not by mine owne trauell
and eysight viewed such things as I doo here intreat of. In deed I
must needs confesse, that vntill now of late, except it were from the
parish where I dwell, vnto your Honour in Kent; or out of London where
I was borne, vnto Oxford & Cambridge where I haue bene brought vp, I
neuer trauelled 40. miles foorthright and at one iourney in all my
life; neuerthelesse in my report of these things, I vse their
authorities, who either haue performed in their persons, or left in
writing vpon sufficient ground (as I said before) whatsoeuer is
wanting in mine. It may be in like sort that your Honour will take
offense at my rash and retchlesse behauiour vsed in the composition of
this volume, and much more that being scambled vp after this maner, I
dare presume to make tendour of the protection therof vnto your
Lordships hands. But when I consider the singular affection that your
Honour dooth beare to those that in any wise will trauell to set
foorth such profitable things as lie hidden, and therevnto doo weigh
on mine owne behalfe my bounden dutie and gratefull mind to such a one
as hath so manie and sundrie waies benefited me that otherwise can
make no recompense, I can not but cut off all such occasion of doubt,
and therevpon exhibit it, such as it is, and so penned as it is, vnto
your Lordships tuition, vnto whome if it may seeme in anie wise
acceptable, I haue my whole desire. And as I am the first that
(notwithstanding the great repugnancie to be seene among our writers)
hath taken vpon him so particularlie to describe this Ile of Britaine;
so I hope the learned and godlie will beare withall, & reforme with
charitie where I doo tread amisse. As for the curious, and such as can
rather euill fauouredlie espie than skilfullie correct an error, and
sooner carpe at another mans dooings than publish any thing of their
owne, (keeping themselues close with an obscure admiration of learning
& knowledge among the common sort) I force not what they saie hereof:
for whether it doo please or displease them, all is one to me, sith I
referre my whole trauell in the gratification of your Honour, and such
as are of experience to consider of my trauell, and the large scope of
things purposed in this Treatise, of whome my seruice in this behalfe
may be taken in good part, that I will repute for my full recompense,
and large guerdon of my labours. The Almightie God preserue your
Lordship in continuall health, wealth, and prosperitie, with my good
Ladie your wife, your Honours children, (whom God hath indued with a
singular towardnesse vnto all vertue and learning) and the rest of
your reformed familie, vnto whom I wish farder increase of his holie
spirit, vnderstanding of his word, augmentation of honor, and
continuance of zeale to follow his commandements.
_Your Lordships humble seruant
and houshold Chaplein._