Judicious Lector; if good Bookes may be tearmed wise guides, then
certainely true Histories, may be tearmed perfite Oracles, secret
Counsellours, private Schoolemasters, familiar friends to cherish
knowledge, and the best Intelligencers, for all intendements; being
duely pondered, and rightly used. This laborious worke then of mine,
depending on this preamble, is onely composed of mine owne eye sight,
and occular experience; (pluris est occulatus testis unus, quam auriti
decem) being the perfit mirrour, and lively Portraicture of true
understanding, excelling far all inventions whatsoever, Poeticque,
or Theoricque. And now to shun Ingratitude, which I disdaine as Hell,
I thought it best to exhibit the profit of my paynefull travailes to
the desirous world; for two respects, the one a naturall obligation,
the other a generall request: for as my dangerous adventures, have bene
wrought out from the infinit variety of variable sights, innumerable
toyles, pleasures, and inevitable sorrowes; so doth it also best
simpathize with reason, and most fitting, that I should generally
dispose of the same, to the temperate judgements of the better sort,
the sound and absolute opinions of the Judicious; and to the variable
censures of calumnious Critticks, who run at random, in the fields
of other mens labours, but can not find the home-bred way in their
owne close grounds: And therefore the different disposition of the
good and bad, doe best concurre with the interchangeable occurrences
of the matter.
Neverthelesse, for thy more easier understanding I have divided
this History, in ten severall parts, and they also in three Bookes;
which being seriously perused, doubtlesse thy labour shall receave
both profit and pleasure: Accept them therefore with the same love,
that I offer them to thee, since they cost thee nothing but the
reading, how deare soever they are to mee: But understand me better,
I scorne to draw my pen to the ignorant foole, neither shall it stoop
to the proud Knave, for I contemne both: To the wise I know it will be
welcome, to the profound Historian, yeeld knowledge, contemplation, and
direction, and to the understanding Gentleman, insight, instruction,
and recreation; and to the true-bred Poet fraternall love, both in
meane and manner. Now as touching the hissing of snakish Papists;
a tush for that snarling Crew; for as this worke, being fensed
with experience, and garnished with trueth, is more than able to
batter downe the stinging venome of their despightfull waspishnes:
so also they may clearely see therein, as in a Mirrour, their owne
blindnes, and the damnable errours of their blind Guiders, Deceavers,
and Idolaters: And above all the cruell infliction imposed upon me,
by the mercilesse Inquisition of their profession in Malaga: which for
Christs sake I constantly suffered, in tortures, tormentes, and hunger:
And lastly they may perceave Gods miraculous mercy, in discovering
and delivering me from such a concealed and inhumane murder. And
now referring the well set Reader to the History it selfe, where
satisfaction lyeth ready to receave him, and expectation desirous of
deserved thanks; I come to talke with the scelerate Companion: If thou
beest a Villane, a Ruffian, a Momus, a Knave, a Carper, a Crittick, a
Bubo, a Buffon, a stupid Asse, and a gnawing worme with envious lips;
I bequeath thee to a Carnificiall reward: where a flaxing rope will
soone dispatch thy snarling slander, and free my toylsome travells,
and now paynefull labours, from the deadly poyson of thy sharpe edged
calumnies: and so go hang thy selfe, for I neither will respect thy
love, nor regard thy malice: And shall ever and alwayes remayne;
To the Courteous still observant, and to
the Critticall Knave as he deserveth,
William Lithgow.