tiquities as I had
perused towards the furniture of a Chronology[52] which I have yet in
hand; I was at the first very loth to yield to their desires: first, for
that I thought myself unable for want of skill and judgment so suddenly
and with so hasty speed to take such a charge upon me; secondly, because
the dealing therein might prove an hindrance and impeachment unto mine own
Treatise; and, finally, for that I had given over all earnest study of
histories, as judging the time spent about the same to be an hindrance
unto my more necessary dealings in that vocation and function whereunto I
am called in the ministry. But, when they were so importunate with me
that no reasonable excuse could serve to put by this travel, I
condescended at the length unto their irksome suit, promising that I would
spend such void time, as I had to spare, whilest I should be enforced to
tarry in the city, upon some thing or other that should satisfy their
request and stand in lieu of a description of my Country. For their parts
also, they assured me of such helps as they could purchase: and thus with
hope of good, although no gay success, I went in hand withal, then almost
as one leaning altogether unto memory, since my books and I were parted by
forty miles in sunder. In this order also I spent a part of Michaelmas and
Hilary terms insuing, being enforced thereto, I say, by other businesses
which compelled me to keep in the city, and absent myself from my charge,
though in the mean season I had some repair unto my poor library, but not
so great as the dignity of the matter required, and yet far greater than
the Printer's haste would suffer. One help, and none of the smallest that
I obtained herein, was by such commentaries as Leland had some time
collected of the state of Britain, books utterly mangled, defaced with wet
and weather, and finally imperfect through want of sundry volumes;
secondly, I gat some knowledge of things by letters and pamphlets, from
sundry places and shires of England, but so discordant now and then
amongst themselves, especially in the names and courses of rivers and
situation of towns, that I had oft greater trouble to reconcile them one
with another than orderly to pen the whole discourse of such points as
they contained; the third aid did grow by conference with divers, either
at the table or secretly alone, wherein I marked in what things the
talkers did agree, and wherein they impugned each other, choosing in the