To the Reader, 



T Hough this Eflay has faelVd to fo much greater a Bulk thdft 

 ever I expecled it could poffibly have done, that I might well 

 bazz fuperfeded any further addrefs than that ^/Dedication; 

 yet it being but neceffary to acquaint the Reader with fome matters^ 

 that are general, and will ferve for all other Counties as well as this* 

 I thought good toput them down briefly asfolloweth. 



Andfirfl, that though I dare not pretend the Map of Oxford-* 

 (hire prefixt to this Eflay, isfo accurate as any I fhallmakg, hereafter 

 yet I dare promife the Reader it far exceeds any we had before ; for 

 befide that it contains all the M.ercat Towns, and many Paridies 0- 

 tnitted by Saxton, Speed, &c. it pews alfo the Villages, diftinguifi \ 

 edby a different mark and chara&er, and the tioufes of the Nobili- 

 ty andGentry, and others of any magnitude within the County j 

 and all thefe with their bearings to one another, according to the 

 Compafs. 



And as for the diftances, though I dare not promife them Mathe?* 

 matically exacl (which by rcafon of the rifings and fallings of the 

 ground, interpolations of Woods, Rivers, &c. I think, farce pof 

 fible in many places to be given at all) yet fome few of them are as true* 

 asaftual dimenfuration, and mofi of them asthedoftrin of Trian- 

 gles, and the beft information, all compared together, could direel 

 me to put them : So that provided they have not been moved in the 

 Graving (as I think, they have but little) I take them all feated not 

 far from the truth. 



As for the fcale of miles, there being three forts in Oxford- 

 ill ire, the greater, lejfer, and middle miles, as almosl every where 

 elje ; it is contrived according to the middle fort of them ; for thefe I 

 conceive may be mofi properly called the true Oxford-fhire miles, which 

 upon aclual dimenfuration at fever al places, I found to contain for 

 the mofi part y furlongs and a quarter, of which about 60 anfwer a 

 Degree : Where by the way its but expedient that the Reader take 

 notice, that I intend not that there are 60 of thefe miles in a degree^ 

 according to the common account ; for reckoning 5280 feet-, (or eight 



b 2 fur- 



