The natural history of Stafford-shire by Robert Plot ...

THE PREFACE to the Reader.

HAVING for the most part persued the very same Method in writing this History, that I used in that of Oxfordshire, I shall have little occasion further to enlarge my self here, than to acquaint the Reader with those few alterations he will find I have made, which I doubt not he will judg, so advantageous and reasonable, that he will easily approve of what I have done, and ex∣cuse me of all levity, and unsettledness of temper.

The first and cheifest of which alterations, he will meet with in the Map; where he will find many Letters, as well as figures set over the Sheilds, and these divided with lines drawn between them; the figures on the right hand each Escocheon, shewing what Armes belong to the Houses, as they did in Oxfordshire; and the Letters and figures on the left hand division, shewing on the contrary what Houses, belong to each Armes: so that whereas in Oxfordshire upon the sight of a house, one could easily find the Armes that be∣long'd to it; in this, upon sight of any mans Armes (which are easily met with, being all placed in alphabetical order) one may as quickly find the house belonging to them; by seeking the same Let∣ters and figures over the Armes, in the Western and Northern Limbs of the Map, and finding where they meet in a right angle: the houses (as well as parishes and villages, whereof there is an In∣dex also annext to this History) being always within or somewhere at lest touching the lines of the squares, wherever these Ltters and figures meet; that are set over, or after, those Armes, or parishes. So that the Reader hereby tho' never so great a stranger, may not only when he sees a Gentlemans seat with figures annext, quickly find whose' tis; but (which is of greater use) if he know but any persons name in the County, he shall as quickly find his Armes, and whereabout he lives; as he may also any Town, Parish, or village, if he read any thing remarkable in this History, found or done there, and would know whereabout it is situate in the County.

Concerning the distances, and Scale of Miles in the Map, they were taken after the same manner as in the History of Oxfordshire, and set off in the Map at the rate of two miles in an inch, as may be found upon comparison of a Rule with the Scale, and of the

Scale with the squares, the mean or middle sort of reputed Miles of this County (which I have followed here as I did in Oxford∣shire) containing for the most part about 10 furlongs, of which about 55 answer a degree, so that 92/100 parts of a mile or 9/10 and 1/3 make a minute; according to which computation the degrees of North Latitude are divided into minutes on each side the Map, be∣ing cheifly made off from the Latitude of Stafford, which hath been observed to be situat in the 52^d minute of the 52^d degree, proxime; the 53^d degree beginning at the line passing betwixt Knighton and Radwood on the West side of the Map, and so through Hanchurch, Trentham, Blurton, Huntley, Bradley, and Denston: by which di∣vision't is easy to know to a minute of a degree, nay almost to a se∣cond, in what latitude every Town, Parish, Village, and Gentle∣mans house, is seated.

Which is all wherein the Map differs from the former: and as for the History it self, I have so little reason to repent me of the Method I follow'd in that of Oxfordshire, that I hope it differs not from it at all; unless in case of meliority, viz. in a greater variety of parallel Histories, whereby the more unusual ones, I met with in this County, have been all along confirm'd; and in the determination of more dif∣ficult Questions; whereby there is scarce a Chapter in this History but has been render'd the more considerable, I mean in the stating of some one, or more of them: which I hope all men will find done with that accuracy, that they will accept of them in excuse of the long delay, that has partly been made upon that account, in the publishing this History; it having been really so far from a preju∣dice, that I think I can satisfy any reasonable man, that this Hi∣story could not have possibly been, what (I hope) it is, in a much less time.

I know 'twill be objected I publish't it in print, that this History should be exstant by such a time precisely, now long since past; which I here as publicly deny, as ever it 'twas asserted: for the truth whereof I appeal to the very papers subscribed by the hands of the Nobility and Gentry, who encouraged the work, and if it be found otherwise then is here profess't, let me never enjoy the benefit of them; nor of any thing there mention'd, if I doe not litterally and with advantage, make all good I there promised: which I hope is as much as will be expected of me, by any judicious unprejudiced persons, and for others, I am not concern'd to give them satisfaction.