Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/296

TO THE READER. briefer. From Henry tli eight hitherto, I tooke instructions by mouth, whatsoever I bring besides these helpes, either mine own observation hath found it, or some friend hath enformed?ne, or common opinion hath received it, or I reade it in a pamphlet, or if the Author be worth the naming I quote Jam in the maigent. Scottish Histories I used these twaine, famous in their times, John Major, and Hector Boethius. For English, wherein the state of Ireland is oft implyed, because I am not in place to examine the auncient, I have credited these lata writers, Fabian, Polidore, Cooper, Hall, Grafton, and Stowe: diligent and thankesworthy collectors. Touching the rest of all sorts, from whose bookes I picke matter to my purpose, they are mentioned as they fall in nre, which here I list not to reckon, being loath to fill the page with a ranke of empty names. Irish Chronicles, although they be reported to be full fraught of lewde examples, idle tales, and genealogies: Et quicquid Græcia mendax audet in historiâ, yet concerning the state of that wilde people specified before the conquest. I am perswaded that with choice and judgment, I might have sucked thence some better store of matter, and gladly would have sought them, had I found an interpreter., or understood their