ll knowledge taketh repast. And for that
my priuat reading might not delyte and pleasure me alone, to
auoid the nature of that cankred churle and foe of humain
companye, Timon of Athens, that liued but for him selfe, I haue
(after my skill) culled some floures and fruites from that
pleasaunt store of those my readinges to impart for vniversal
gayne and benefite, chosynge rather hereby to followe the
liberalitye of Cimon a gentleman of that Cittye, who knowynge
hymselfe to bee borne to profite other and for the enriching of
his Couutry, not only atchiued maruailous matters for
furtherance of Comon wealth, but lefte his Gardens and Orchards
open for all men to participate the Fruictes of his pleasure and
trauell. Wherby so wel as I can I follow the tract and practice
of other, by whose meanes, so manifold sciences in our known
toung and translation of Histories be frequent and rife amonge
vs. Al which be done after our commodity, pleasure, solace,
preseruation and comfort, and without the which we cannot long
be sustayned in this miserable lyfe, but shal become not much
vnlyke the barbarous, ne discrepant from the sauage sorte. The
inuestigatours and bringers to light, wherof direct their eyes
and meaning to none other end but for the benefyte of vs and our
posteritye, and that our faces be not taynted with the blushing
coloure to se the passing diligence of other Countryes by
curious imbelishinge of their states with the troublous trauaile
of their brayne, and laboursom course of penne. Who altogeather
imploi those paynes, that no Science lurke in Corner, that no
Knowledge be shut vp in cloysters, that no History remaine vnder
the maske and vnknowne attyre of other tongues. Among which crew
(I say) I craue an inferiour place and haue vndertaken the
vnfolding of sundry Histories from the couerture of foren
language for none other purpose and intent but to vniuersal
benefyte. Part whereof, two yeares past (almost) were made
commune in a former boke, now succedeth a second, furnished
withlike ornaments that the other was. The first (by duties
chalenge) was addressed to the right honorable the Earle of
Warwik, for respect of his honour, and my calling. This the
second by lyke band, your worship may iustly clayme as a iust
tribute now this moneth of Nouember, payable. Or if your
curtesye would not deale so roughly with youre bounden
creditoure, yet for duty sake I must acquite and content that
which hath so long ben due. T