viii ADVERTISEMENT 70 ORIGINAL EDITION. 
and records that were removed to the.College from the Priory at 
the time of its dissolution ; and, being carefully copied on the 
spot, may be depended on as genuine; and never having 
been made public before, may gratify the curiosity of the 
keen antiquary, as weil as establish the credit of the history. 
If the writer should at all appear to have induced any of his 
readers to pay a more ready attention to the wonders of the 
Creation, too frequently overlooked as common occurrences ; 
or if he should by any means, through his researches, have lent 
an helping hand towards the enlargement of the boundaries of 
historical and topographical knowledge ; or if he should have 
thrown some small light upon ancient customs and manners, 
and especially on those that were monastic, his purpose will be 
fully answered. But if he should not have been successful in 
any of these his intentions, yet there remains this consolation 
behind—that these his pursuits, by keeping the body and mind 
employed, have, under Providence, contributed to much health 
and cheerfulness of spirits, even to old age: and, what still 
adds to his happiness, have led him to the knowledge of a 
circle of gentlemen whose intelligent communications, as they 
have afforded him much pleasing information, so, could he 
flatter himself with a continuation of them, would they ever be 
deemed a matter of singular satisfaction and improvement. 
SWE, 
SELBORNE, 
Fanuary 1st, 1788. 
