¶Now héere, bicause this Iohn Hastings, being the last of that surname and armes of the whole blood, Francis Thin, out of diuerse ancient mo|numents be|longing to the Hastings and others. which of that line inioied anie title of honor, I thinke it not vnfit for this place (since other occasion will not be giuen therefore) to talke of the Hastings som|what higher than this man: though not from the shell to perpetuate the memorie of them, the which I haue now doone, least otherwise by ingrate obliuion it might neuer hereafter come to light. In which I will not begin from the first honourable Hastings, whose bloud by manie descents continued, is thought by most ancient monuments, which I haue séene and read, to haue béene a baron before the con|quest in this land, and to haue borne the same cote in the field, which this now slaine earle of Penbroke did: whereof hereafter in my descriptions and lines of the earles of Penbroke I will make more ample discourse in a new booke (if God giue good successe therein) onelie at this time making some small repe|tition from that Henrie Hastings, from whome the Hastings (in respect of the mariage of Alda daugh|ter to Dauie earle of Huntington, brother to Wil|liam king of Scots) did descend: who (amongst o|thers) in the reigne of Edward the first, made title to the kingdome of Scotland. The originall of which name in this treatise I will neither flatteringlie de|fend, nor obstinatlie reiect, to haue growne from Ha|stings the Dane, who in the reigne of Alured (long before the conquest, about the yeare of our redempti|on 890) came with Rollo into England, and for a cer|teine space infes [...]ed this nation, departing aside to France. And now to the purpose.

Henrie lord Hastings (who bare for his armes gold a manche gules) married Alda (or Ada) the fourth daughter of Dauid earle of Huntington, she being one of the heires to Iohn Scot earle of Chester, & of Huntington (which died without issue) son of the said Dauid, and brother to the said Ada. To this Henrie EEBO page image 468 and Ada did Henrie the third king of England, in the two & twentith of his reigne (in place of the portion of hir brothers lands, which should haue descended to hir as parcell of the earledome of Chester, for that the king would not haue the said earledome diuided a|mongst distaues) giue in exchange certeine lands mentioned in this déed following.