Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland, vol. 2 | Page 2

other
region; and therefore leaue that to his well deserued praise. If any well
willer will imitate him in so praiseworthie a worke for the two other
regions, we will be glad to further his endeuour with all the helpes we
may.
The histories I haue gathered according to my skill, and conferred the
greatest part with Maister Wolfe in his life time, to his liking, who
procured me so manie helpes to the furtherance thereof, that I was loth
to omit anie thing that might increase the readers knowledge, which
causeth the booke to grow so great. But receiuing them by parts, and at
seuerall times (as I might get them) it may be, that hauing had more

regard to the matter than the apt penning, I haue not so orderlie
disposed them, as otherwise I ought; choosing rather to want order,
than to defraud the reader of that which for his further vnderstanding
might seeme to satisfie his expectation.
I therefore most humblie beseech your Honour to accept these
Chronicles of England vnder your protection, and according to your
wisedome and accustomed benignitie to beare with my faults; the rather,
bicause you were euer so especiall good Lord to Maister Wolfe, to
whom I was singularlie beholden; and in whose name I humblie present
this rude worke vnto you; beseeching God, that as he hath made you an
instrument to aduance his truth, so it may please him to increase his
good gifts in you, to his glorie, the furtherance of the Queenes
Maiesties seruice, and the comfort of all hir faithfull and louing
subiects.
Your Honours most humble to be commanded,
RAPHAEL HOLINSHED

THE
PREFACE TO THE READER.
* * * * *
It is dangerous (gentle reader) to range in so large a field as I haue here
vndertaken, while so manie sundrie men in diuers things may be able to
controll me, and manie excellent wits of our countrie (as well or better
occupied I hope) are able herein to surpasse me; but seeing the best
able doo seeme to neglect it, let me (though least able) craue pardon to
put them in mind not to forget their natiue countries praise (which is
their dutie) the incouragement of their woorthie countriemen, by elders
aduancements; and the daunting of the vicious, by foure penall
examples, to which end (as I take it) chronicles and histories ought
cheefelie to be written. My labour may shew mine vttermost good will,
of the more learned I require their further enlargement, and of

fault-finders dispensation till they be more fullie informed. It is too
common that the least able are readiest to find fault in matters of least
weight, and therefore I esteeme the lesse of their carping, but humblie
beseech the skilfull to supplie my want, and to haue care of their dutie;
and either to amend that wherein I haue failed, or be content with this
mine endeuour. For it may please them to consider, that no one can be
eie-witnesse to all that is written within our time; much lesse to those
things which happened in former times, and therefore must be content
with reports of others. Therein I haue beene so carefull, that I haue
spared no paines or helpe of freends to search out either written or
printed ancient authors, or to inquire of moderne eie-witnesses for the
true setting downe of that which I haue here deliuered: but I find such
want in writers for the necessarie knowledge of things doone in times
past, and lacke of meanes to obteine sufficient instructions by reporters
of the time present; and herewith the worthie exploits of our
countriemen so manie, that it greeueth me I could not leaue the same to
posteritie (as I wished) to their well deserued praise. But I haue here
imparted what I could learne, and craue that it may be taken in good
part. My speech is plaine, without any rhetoricall shew of eloquence,
hauing rather a regard to simple truth, than to decking words. I wish I
had beene furnished with so perfect instructions, and so many good
gifts, that I might haue pleased all kinds of men, but that same being so
rare a thing in any one of the best, I beseech thee (gentle reader) not to
looke for it in me the meanest.
But now for thy further instruction, to vnderstand the course of these
my labours. First concerning the historie of England, as I haue
collected the same out of manie and sundrie authors, in whome what
contrarietie, negligence, and rashnesse sometime is found in their
reports; I leaue to the discretion of those that haue perused their works:
for my part, I haue in things doubtfull rather chosen to shew the
diuersitie of their writings, than