xii PREFACE. 
few will begin to make. Else we shall have to seek further 
in the streets and lanes of the city, for bringing in hither the 
poor, and the maimed, the halt, and the blind ; which being done 
as commanded, there will yet be room. 
Our forefathers did not forget piety in their feasts. At the 
Coronation of Henry the Sixth, 1429, ‘‘ After a soteltie (at the 
first course) of Seynt Edward, and Seynt Lewis, armed in their 
cootes of armes,” the second course opened with a “ Vyaande 
inscribed with the Te Deum Laudamus.’’ “In the third course 
was again a soteltie of our Lady syttynge, holding hyr child in 
hyr armes, in every hand a crowne, and Seynt George knelying 
on oon syde.” Finally then, in the same spirit, we ‘‘ Bless 
the Trinity which hath given us health to prosecute our 
worthless studies thus far: and we make supplication with a 
Laus Deo, if in any case these our poor labours may be 
found instrumental to weede out bodily ailments, black 
melancholy, carking cares, and harte grief, from the minds 
of men.—Sed hoe magis volo quam expecto.—I, nune liber ; 
goe forth my brave treatise, child of my labours with the 
pen; and ye, candids lectores, lo, here I give him up to you: 
even do with him what you may please, my masters!” 
“All we know of the matter is, when we sat down, our 
intent was to write a good book: and, as far as the tenuity 
of our understanding would hold out, a wise, aye, and a 
discreet: taking care only, as we went along, to put into it 
the wit and judgment, (be it more or less) which the great 
Author and Bestower of them had thought fit originally to 
give us: so that, as your worships see, ’tis just as God 
pleases.” “Take therefore, gentle readers, in good part 
what’s projected for thee: so shall our pains not quite want 
their recompense ; nor thyselves be branded with the base 
mark of mean ingratitude.” “Fare ye well!” 
