x EDITOR'S PREFACE. 



TIMONIAL. In return for this, and to reciprocate the compliment, I have undertaken the laborious 

 and delicate task of writing an AUTO-BIOGRAPHY which will narrate the chief incidents of my public 

 life, and describe the literary works which I have produced. It is my intention to present a copy 

 of this volume to each subscriber, so as to perpetuate the event in his own library and family, by a 

 receipt or acknowledgment commemorative of the mutual sympathy and obligation of the donor and 

 the receiver. Being now relieved from all other engagements and occupations, it is my intention 

 to prosecute this memoir with zeal and devotion ; and if health and life be awarded to me I hope 

 to accomplish it in the ensuing winter.* 



To the MARQUESS OF NORTHAMPTON, a native of Wiltshire, the zealous and devoted President of 

 the Royal Society, my especial thanks are tendered for his influence with the Council of that Society, 

 in obtaining their permission to copy Aubrey's manuscript ; and also to 



GEORGE POULETT SCROPE, Esq. M.P., for contributing materially towards the expense of the 

 copy, and thereby promoting its publication. 



To my old and esteemed friend the REV. DR. INGRAM, President of Trinity College, Oxford, I am 

 obliged for many civilities, and for some judicious corrections and suggestions. His intimate ac- 

 quaintance with Wiltshire, his native county, and his general knowledge of archaeology, as well as 

 of classical and mediseval history, eminently qualify him to give valuable aid in all publications like 

 the present. 



To JOHN GOUGII NICHOLS, Esq. F.S.A., both myself and the reader are under obligations, for 

 carefully revising the proof sheets for the press, and for several valuable corrections. 



To C. R. WELD, Esq. Assistant Secretary to the Royal Society, I am indebted for affording 

 facilities for copying the manuscript. 



Lastly, my obligations and thanks are due to MR. T. E. JONES, for the accurate transcript which 

 he made from Aubrey's fair manuscript, for collating the same with the original at Oxford, for 

 selecting and arranging the extracts which are now for the first time printed, and for his scrupulous 

 and persevering assistance thoughout the preparation of the entire volume. But for such essential 

 aid, it would have been out of my power to produce the work as it is now presented to the 

 members of the " Wiltshire Topographical Society," and to the critical reader. 



JOHN BRITTON. 



Burton Street, London. 

 1st September, 1847. 



The volume will contain at least Bfteen illustrations from steel, copper, wood, and stone, uml more than 300 pages of letterpress. A 

 copy of the work will be presented to each subscriber, proportionate in value to the amount of the contribution. Hence three different 

 sizes ol the volume will be printed, namely : imperial 4to, with India proofs, fur subscribers of 101. ; medium 4to, with proofs, for those of 

 3/. and Si, ; and royal 8vo, with a limited number of prints, for subscriber* of II. and V. 



