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THE WORTHIES OF ENGLAND
CHAPTER I. The Designe of the ensuing Work.
ENGLAND may not unfitly be compared to an House not very great, but convenient, and the se∣veral Shires may properly be resembled to the rooms thereof. No, as learned Master Camden and painful Master Speed with others, have discribed the rooms themselves; so is it our intention, God willing to discribe the Furniture of those rooms; such Emi∣nent Commodities, which every County doth produce, with the Persons of Quality bred therein, and some other observables coincident with the same subject.
Cato that great and grave Philosopher did commonly demand, when any new Project was propounded unto him, * Cui Bono, what good would ensue, in case the same was effe∣cted. A Question more fit to be asked, then facile to be answered in all undertakings, especially in the setting forth of new Books, Insomuch, that they themselves, who com∣plain, That They are too many already, help dayl•…•… to make them more.
Know then, I propound five ends to my self in this Book: First, To gain some Glory to God. Secondly, To preserve the Memories ef the Dead•…•… Thirdly, To present Examples to the Living. Fourthly, To entertain the Reader with Delight. And lastly, (which I am not ashamed publickly to profess) To procure some honest profit to my self. If not so happy to obtain all, I will be joyful to attain some, yea, contented and thankful too, if gaining any [especially the First] of these Ends, the Motives of my Endeavours.
First, Glory to God, which ought to be the aim of all our actions, though too often our bow starts, our hand shakes, and so our arrow misseth the mark. Yet I hope that our discribing so good a Land, with the various Fruits and fruitful varieties therein, will ingage both Writer and Reader, in gratitude to that God, who hath been so bounti∣ful to our Nation. In order whereunto, I have not only alwayes taken, but often sought occasions, to exhort to thankfulness; hoping the same will be interpreted, no stragling from my Subject, but a closing with my Calling.
Secondly, To preserve the Memories of the Dead. A good name is an oyntment poured out, smelt where it is not seen. It hath been the lawful desire of men in all ages to per∣petuate their Memories, thereby in some sort revenging themselves of Mortality,