16 CHRONICLE OF DALE ABBEY. 
before the advent of our Preemonstratensians ; and through whom, 
or in what manner, our Order, by the right hand of God, was first 
planted here, as from-our predecessors and others who knew those 
things well, which I am about to relate, I have known by veracious 
narrative ; with faithful pen I will briefly take pains to set forth, 
that those who come after may tell of the praises of the Lord and 
His virtues and His wonderful works which He did in that place. 
But I pray thee, whosoever readest these things, not to blame 
me because I venture to attempt this little work, unattempted by 
such eminent men who preceded us in this way in which we 
walk ; but that, in the way in which I compose it, do thou 
understand it. For not with the assurance of levity or of rashness 
do I commence it ; but with true humility and mere good will, 
that our juniors and others who will, may have knowledge of 
past events done in this place in the days of our forefathers, 
which, if through the fault of neglect they be not committed to 
writing, would be unknown to those who come after. 
Read therefore patiently, and when thou hast read it through, if 
in the little work itself thou shalt have found certain things worthy 
of emendation, be, I beseech thee, a charitable corrector and not a 
presumptuous perverter, because in no way can he be a good 
corrector who is always an interpreter of the unfavourable part. 
But because there are very many who without cause delight to 
detract from the writings of the pious, I then, having invoked the 
grace of the Holy Ghost, not fearing the barkings of such, after 
the example of Ulysses will pass by with deaf ear the voices of 
the syren. May the Most High, through the merits of those who 
read, cause my name to be inscribed in the book of the living. 
Nevertheless to him wishing to know it, it can easily be known by 
the capital letters. 
Honorable do I deem it in the beginning of the first chapter, 
briefly to compose something in praise of the brave men who 
received me, on the call of God, among them to the regular habit. 
For why may not this (work) praise those on earth whom a most 
holy life led to an honorable death and Christ has already happily 
crowned in the heavens? I therefore, in the midst of the flowers 
