The History of the Worthies of England, To the reader
A NECESSARY PREFACE TO THE READER.
IT bare a debate in my serious consideration, whether a Totall Omission or Defective Description of this Principality were to be preferred, finding my self as Unable to do it Exactly, as Unwilling to Pretermit it. For First, I never was in VVales, and all know how necessary foreign is to accurateness herein. Secondly, I understand not their Language, and cannot go to the Cost, nor dare take the State of having an Interpreter. King James was wont pleasantly to say, that he cared not though he was poor himself, so long as his Subjects were Rich, as confident he could command their wealth, on good conditions and a just occasion. But indeed it matters not how meanly skil'd a Writer is, so long as he hath Knowing and Communicative Friends; my happiness in England, who here am quite destitute of such assistance. However on the other side, a Totall Omission seemed very unhandsome, to make a Cypher of this Large Principality. Besides, England cannot be well described without VVales, such the Intimacy of Relation betwixt them, three of our English Kings *Edward 2. H…nry 5. Henry 7.being born, and many of Our Prime Atchievments being acted in VVales. Wherefore, I resolved to endeavour my utmost in the description thereof, though sadly sensible in my self, that my desires were as high as a Mountain, but my performances would fall as low, (would they were half so fruitfull) as the Vallies.
And here I humbly desire, that the many faults by me committed, may be like a Ball cast down and deaded on a soft Floor, even to be buried in my own weakness to my own shame, without the least Ripling or Rebounding to the disgrace of the VVelsh Country or Nation. And my hope and desire is that these my weak pains will provoke others of more Ability, to substitute a more Exact Description in the room thereof.
I had rather the Reader should take the name of that worthy Knight from Master *In his Brit. in Shropshire.Camden, then from me, who designing to build according to the Italian Mode of Architecture, plucked down a good and convenient English-house, preposterously destroying the one, and never finished the other: I hope the Reader, will not be so uncharitable, (I will not say undiscreet) but will allow our grains a subsistence, till they will willingly vanish at the substitution of another.
In Doubtfull Nativities of Worthy Persons betwixt England and Wales, I have not call'd for a sword to divide the controverted Child betwixt the two Mothers, but have wholy resigned it to VVales, partly, out of desire of quietness, (not engage in a contest,) partly, because I conceived England might better spare then VVales want them.
To conclude some will wonder, how Perfect [coming from Perficere, to do throughly,] and Perfunctorie [derived from Perfungi, throughly to discharge,] should have so Opposite Senses. My Motto in the description of this Principality is betwixt them both,
Nec Perfectè, Nec Perfunctorie.
For as I will not pretend to the Credit of the former, so may I defend my self from the shame of the latter, having done the utmost, which the Strength of my Weakness could perform.