Compare 1587 edition: 1 Where as therfore, that worthie Citizen Reginald VVolfe late Printer to the Queenes Maiestie, a man well knowen and beholden to your Honour, meant in his life time to publiſh an v|niuerſall Coſmographie of the whole worlde, and therewith alſo certaine perticular Histories of euery knowen nation, amongst other whome he purpoſed to vſe for performance of his entent in that behalfe, he procured me to take in hande the collection of thoſe Histories, and hauing proceeded ſo far in the ſame, as lit|tle wanted to the accompliſhment of that long promiſed worke, it pleaſed God to call him to his mercie, after .xxv. yeares trauell ſpent therein, ſo that by his vntimely deceaſſe, no hope remayned to ſee that performed, whiche we had ſo long trauayled aboute: thoſe yet whome be left in trust to diſpoſe his things after his EEBO page image 3 departure hence, wiſhing to the benefite of others, that ſome fruite might follow of that whereabout he had imployed ſo long time, willed me to continue mine endeuour for their furtherance in the ſame, whiche although I was ready to do, ſo farre as mine abilitie would reach, and the rather to anſwere that trust which the deceaſſed repoſed in me, to ſee it brought to ſome perfection: yet when the volume grewe ſo great, as they that were to defray the charges for the Impreſsion, were not willing to go through with the whole, they reſolued first to publiſhe the Histories of Englande, Scotlande, and Irelande, with their deſcriptions, whiche deſcriptions, bycauſe they were not in ſuch readineſſe, as thoſe of forreyn countreys,William Ha|riſon, and Ri|chard Sta [...]y|burſt. they were enforced to vſe the helpe of other better able to do it than I.
Compare 1587 edition: 1 Moreouer, the Chartes wherein Maiſter VVolfe ſpent a greate parte of his time, were not founde ſo complete as wee wiſhed: and againe, vnderstanding of the great charges and notable enterprice of that worthie Gentleman maiſter Tho|mas Sackeforde in procuring the Chartes of the ſeuerall pro|uinces of this Realme to be ſette forth, wee are in hope that in tyme he will deliniate this whole lande ſo perfectly, as ſhal be comparable or beyonde any deliniation heretofore made of any other region, and therefore leaue that to his well deſerued prayſe. If any well willer will imitate him in ſo prayſe wor|thie a worke for the two other regions, we will be gladde to fur|ther his endeuour with all the helpes we may.
Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 The Histories I haue gathered according to my skill, and conferred the greatest parte with Maiſter VVolfe in his life time, to his liking, who procured me ſo many helpes to the fur|therance thereof, that I was lothe to omit any thing that might encreace the Readers knowledge, whiche cauſeth the booke to grow ſo great. But receyuing them by partes, and at ſeuerall times (as I might get them) it may be, that hauing had more regard to the mater than to the apt penning, J haue not ſo or|derly diſpoſed them, as otherwiſe I ought, chooſing rather to EEBO page image 3 want order, than to defraude the Reader of that whiche for his further vnderstanding might ſeeme to ſatisfie his expe|ctation. I therefore moste humbly beſeeche your Honour to ac|cept theſe Chronicles of Englande vnder your protection, and according to your wiſedome and accuſtomed benignitie to beare with my faultes, the rather bicauſe you were euer ſo eſpeciall good Lord to Maiſter VVolfe, to whome I was ſingularly be|holden, and in whoſe name I humbly preſente this rude worke vnto you, beſeeching God, that as he hath made you an inſtru|ment to aduaunce his truth, ſo it may pleaſe him to increace his good giftes in you to his glorie, the furtheraunce of the Queenes Maiesties ſeruice, and comforte of all hir faithfull and louing ſubiectes.
Your honours moſt humble to commaunde, RAPHAEL HOLINSHED.