The siege of Antwerp.: Written in Latin by Famianus Strada, Englished by Tho: Lancaster, Gent.

The Translator to the Reader.

Courteous Reader,

HAving lately left off our Country Schooles, I was not minded to lose that little I had learned; wherefore I ap∣plyed my selfe to peruse some of the best latine authors; and though I sought to better my selfe in the language, yet to digge and labour in the Quarry of choice words, and still to be hewing and squaring out latine phrases, onely I thought too servile, unlesse the matter it selfe also yeelded some sweetnesse and content: which made me walke forth into the pleasant fields of History, in which I found a rare mixture of pleasure and pro∣fit, where the matter it selfe with variety of passages informeth and delighteth the understanding, and the elegant words and delivery teacheth the tongue and pen to expresse. Amongst the rest, I fell upon a moderne master-piece in that kinde, viz. Famia∣nus Strada of the Low-country Warrs, and of all other parts, I was most taken (and not without just reason) with the Siege of Antwerp, contained in the sixth, and part of the seventh booke of his second decade. A compleate History of it selfe, and to

those that understand it in the Originall, as exact a piece perhaps, as hither to hath beene published, wan∣ting neither worth in the actours, nor ability in the writer. This for my owne private practise I assayed to translate; which after shewing to some friends (to whose judgement and anthority it were presumption in me not to subscribe) their pleasure and desire was to have it sent to the presse. Nor doe I doubt, but if in playing the Translators part I could neer have paralel'd the latine relation, lit∣tle had beene wanting to have made this small Tea∣tise appearing in our Country habit gratefull to the perusers. But how can that bee expected from a Schoole-boy? for neither by age, nor knowledge, dare I assume more to my selfe, having not passed the eighteenth yeare of my age, nor saluted any U∣niversity, or Schoole of more eminent learning, nor yet travelled to converse with those of a more terse style, and consequently lesse able to treate of so seri∣ous a subject, and shadow in our native colours the deepe expressions and language of so grave an Au∣thor. For my presumption herein I expect not but to be censured, when others of greater ability have not escaped the browes of Critickes. But yet my nonage may afford mee this advantage, that what others point at as a fault, I may learne to amend; for as yet I cannot despaire of bettering my selfe in learning for the future.

The right Worshipfull Sir Robert Stapylton hath highly merited of our Country men, by sowing

this field with our English seede, having with ex∣quisite skill and generall applause to their pleasures and profits published the first Decade of Strada, and may perhaps produce the second, of which this is a part. Why doe I then presume to thrust my sickle into his corne? That worthy learned man I trust, will not be offended, if I gleane one sheafe out of his rich harvest, who will thereby neither become poo∣rer, nor his worke of lesse value even in this part, when the judicious Reader shall see how far his pure language and expressions doe surpasse those bare lines of mine: the whole disparagement will fall upon my selfe. As for the injury I may seeme to doe to the Author by not publishing the whole worke, how can that bee imputed to me as a crime? Hee wants not his due desert in the Originall, nor is hee wronged, if neither I nor any else should make him a Denizon of our Country? Why then should I bee taxed for making him free at least in part. Nor wants there examples which may render me irre∣prehensible in both: and in particular, have not se∣verall tuned Horace his Lyre, to keepe consort with our English Vyoll, sung some, yea even the same se∣lect parts of that Roman Muse, and not the whole worke, and have neither been censured, nor yet de∣frauded of their deserved bayes. The like may wee say of that learned Caledonian, who hath taught Rome to speake her owne language more refined, and yet hath at least tw••se been instructed in the Dialect of his owne Island. Nor lastly, can the Reader just∣ly

complaine for wanting the whole worke, both for the reasons before mentioned, and especially for that I serve him with one compleat dish, as well seasoned as my skill for the present will afford; an exact, entyre, full history of it selfe, where the actours and relator, seeme to contend, which shall beare away the palme. And admit the whole Decade be printed, yet this part by it selfe may also take; for sometimes a small treatise hath gotten perusall, when a greater volume hath been cast aside. What more to say I have not, but only to request thee not to be too rigid a censurer, but rather to favour my weak beginnings, and if any thing be mistaken, any thing defective, I shall be as ready to correct, as thou to find faults. Farewell.

T. L.