The extreme quaintness and originality of 

 Rowland Vaughan's little book have led me 

 to republish it, in the hopes that ivhat has 

 charmed me in its diction, will not prove 

 " caviar to the general." The spelling and 

 punctuation I have scrupulously followed, 

 but have omitted the old-fashioned lettering. 

 The original binding was too costly for re- 

 production, so I have taken a suggestion from 

 it, with a view to keeping up the character 

 of the book. 



I cannot write even a small half-page of 

 introduction without acknowledging my in- 

 debtedness to Dr. Vevers, who, by kindly lend- 

 ing me his copy of the " Water-workes" halved 

 my labours by enabling me to transcribe it 

 at home; and to Mr. J. H. Parry of 

 Harewood, from whose hospitable house I 



