erefore in seeking up the Chronicles of
the Britons and English Saxons, which lay hidden every where
contemned and buried in forgetfulness, and through the
ignorance of the languages not well understanded, his own
especially, and his mens, diligence wanted not. And to the
end that these antiquities might last long, and be carefully
kept, he caused them, being brought into one place, _to be
well bound and trimly covered_. And yet, not so contented,
he endeavoured to set out in print certain of those ancient
monuments, whereof he knew very few examples to be extant;
and which he thought would be most profitable for the
posterity, to instruct them in the faith and religion of the
elders. [Orig. 'to instructe them in the faythe and religion
off the elders.] Hereupon, he caused the perpetual histories
of the English affairs, by _Mathaeus Parisiensis_, once a
monk of Saint Alban's, and _Mathaeus Florilegus_, a monk of
Saint Peter in Westminster, written in Latin, to be printed;
after he had diligently conferred them with the examples
which he could get in any place; to the end that, as
sincerely as might be, as the authors first left them, he
might deliver them into other men's hands. Lastly, that he
might not be unmindful of those monuments which, both in
antiquity, worthiness, and authority, excelled all other, or
rather wherewith none are to be compared (I mean the Holy
Scriptures) here he thought to do great good if, by his
number, he increased the _Holy Bibles_, which shortly would
be wanting to many churches, if this discommodity were not
provided for in time. Therefore it seemed good unto him,
first, with his learned servants, to examine thoroughly the
English translation; wherein he partly used the help of his
brethren bishops, and other doctors; with whom he dealt so
diligently in this matter that they disdained not to be
partners and fellows with him of his labor. And now all
their work is set out in very fair forms and letters of
print," &c. Sign. C. rect. & rev.

_His work De Antiquitate Ecclesiae Britannicae._

"----Much more praiseworthy is she (the 'Assyrian Queen of
Babylon,') than he, whosoever it was, that of late hath set
forth, to the hurt of christian men, certain rhapsodies and
shreds of the old forworn stori