Britain, or A chorographicall description of the most flourishing kingdomes, England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the ilands adjoyning, out of the depth of antiquitie beautified vvith mappes of the severall shires of England: vvritten first in Latine by William Camden Clarenceux K. of A. Translated newly into English by Philémon Holland Doctour in Physick: finally, revised, amended, and enlarged with sundry additions by the said author.

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A PRAEFACE TO THE ANNALES OF IRELAND.

THus far forward was the Printers presse a going when the Honourable Lord William Howard [ B] of Naworth, for the love that he beareth unto the studies of Antiquity, willingly imparted unto me the Manuscript Annales of Ireland, from the yeere of our Salvation MCLII. unto the yeere MCCCLXX. Which I thought good to publish; considering that after Giral∣dus Cambrensis, there is nothing, to my knowledge, extant better in this kind; and because so noble and worthy a person, [ C] whose they were by right in private before, permitted so much. Unto whom, the very same thankes in manner are duly to bee yeelded for bringing them to light, that were to be given unto the authour himselfe, who first recorded them in writing. And albeit they are penned in a stile somewhat rude and barrain (as those times required) yet much matter is therein contained, that [ D] may illustrate the Irish Historie, and would have given good light unto mee, if they had not come to my hands so late. Take them here therefore truly and faithfully exemplified, even as I found them, with all their imperfections and faults; and if you have any better, impart them with semblable courtesie unto us; if not, make use of these with us, untill some one come forth and shew himselfe, that will helpe us to a fuller Chronicle, and [ E] happilie continue the same in length even unto our daies with more elegancie of phrase, which verily would be no painfull work to be performed.

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