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Show ord RoE TEE norablefir Henrie Sidneie knight, lord deputie generallofIreland,lord prefident ofWales , knight ofthe moft noble order ofthe garter, and oneofhir maiefties priute councell within hir realme ofEngland. -T verie good Lord, there haue beene diuerfe of late, that with no fmall toile , and great commendation , hane throuchlie imploiedthem/elues ,1n culling andpacking togither the|iss andfragments ofthe historie ofIreland . Among which crue, my faft friend , and inward companion, = maister Edmund Campion didfo learnedlie bequite himfelfe, Wes inthepenning ofcerteine breefe notes, concerning that coun- kd trie, as certes it was greatlie to be lamented , that either a} his theame hadnot beenefhorter , or elfe his leafure had not ‘beene longer. For ifAlexander were fo ranifht with Homer =| bis historie , that notwithstanding Tiherfites were a crabbed janda rugged dwarfe, being in outwardfeature fo deformed, | and ininward conditions fo crooked , as hefeemed to fland I) <0 0 better fteed , than to lead apes in hell:yet the vali= ant capteine , weighing howlinelie thegolden poet hath fet Sorth the ouglie dandeprat in his colours,didfooner wifh to be Homer his Therfites , thanto be the Alexanderofthat doltifh rithmour , which undertooke with his woodden ver{es to blafe hisfamous and martiallexploits : howmuch more ought Ireland (being infundrie agesfeized ofdiner[e good and couragi-~ ous Alexanders ) fore tolong andthirft after forarca clarke , as matiter Campion, ke wasfovpright wm confcience ,fo deepe in indgement fe ripe in eloquence , as the countrie might haue beene well 4fSn- red to haue had their historie trulie reported , pithilie handled, and braneliepolifhed. Howtbeit, although the glofé ofbisfine abbridgement, being matcht with other mens dooings, bare 4furpafing kind of excellencse : yet it was [ohudledup in hast , as inrefpect ofa Campion his abfolute Perfection, itfeemedrather tobe awoorke roughlie hewed, than{moothlie planed . Vpon which ground thegentleman being willing that bisfotenderafuckling , hauing asyet butgreene bones , fhould hane beenefvadledand rockt in acradle , tillin tract oftime he joints thereofwere knit ,andgrowen fironS67 :yet notwithftanding he wasfo croft inthe nicke ofthis determination , that his hiftorie in mitching wifewandred throughfundrie hands , andbeing therewithallin certeine places fomewhat tickle toon&¢d for maiiter Campion did learne it topeakelyand in otherplaces onerfpare , ittwitledmoretales out offchoole , anddrowned weightier mattersinfilence, than the author (upon better viewand longer Je ar ch)would hauepermitted . Thus much being by thefager fort pondered , and theperfection of the biitorte earncitlie defired : I, as one ofthe most that could doo least , was fullie refolued to inrich maiiter Campion his chronicle , withfurther additions. But weighing onthe otherfide , that my cour/é packthred could not hauebeene [utablie knit with his finefilke , and what adifgrace it were , bungerlie %e atch vp a rich garment , by clouting it with patches offundrie colours , I was forthwith reclaimed from my former refolution , reckoning it for better , that my pen fhould walke in fuch wifein that craggie and balkish waie , as the truth of the matter being forprifed , I would nesther openlie : arom , orpriuilie imbezell ought to aniegreat purpofe from his historie. But as I was hammering og worke byftealths onthe anuill, Iwas ginentovnderftand by fome of mine acquaintance , that o» os hadbrought our rawhistorie to that riper Je, a5 my paine therern mouldfeeme but needleffe . h Berevponbeing willing to be eafed of the burden, and loath alfo in lurching wife to forstall anie man trauell , Imas contented to leaue _ thumping intheforge ,andquiete toreparre to mine ufuall 4prittinatfhudies , rdking it not toftand with good maners, likeaflitteringfle tofallin an other man i : his |