Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/292

THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. . For whereas it is well knowne to the learned in this land, how late it was ere I could meet with Gerald of Wales, the onely Author that ministreth some indifferent furniture to this Chronicle, and with what search I have been driven to piece out the rest by helpe of forreine Writers (incidently touching this Real me) by a number of briefe extracts of rolles, records and scattered papers. These things (I say) considered, I trust this little volume shall seeme great enough in such barren shift, & my defect in penning the same shalbe imputed partly to my haste, who must needs have ended all before I should leave the land, and am now even upon point of my departure. So as to handle and lay these things together, I had not in all the space of ten weekes. Such as it is, I addresse and bequeath it to your good Lordship, for two causes. First that by the patronage of this Booke you may be induced to weigh the estate and become a patron to this noble Realme, which claimeth kindred of your eldest auncestors, and loveth entirely your noble virtues: The fame whereof is now carried by those strangers that have felt them intd many forraine countryes that never saw your person. Secondly because there is none that knoweth mee familiarly, but he knoweth withall how many vvayes I