Excerpt from The Life of Merlin, Surnamed Ambrosius; His Prophecies and Predictions Interpreted, and Their Truth Made Good by Our English Annals: Being a Chronographical History of All the Kings and Memorable Passages of This Kingdom, From Brute to the Reign of King Charles

I have here exposed to thy especial pe. Rusal, The Life and Prophecies of our famous Predictor, Marianas, surnamed Amsaosrus; who, though he lived in the time of profane paganism, was a professed Christian, and therefore, his auguries the better to be approved and allowed, which thou hast, with all their exposition and expia nation, expressly and punctually, making plain and evident how genuinely and properly they comply with the truth of our chronology. In which you shall find (adding the sup. Plement of the history from Brute, who laid the first foundati on of our British Colony, to the time of king Vortigernus, or Vortigern, the usurper of the. Crown, under whose reign Merlin first flourished) a true catalogue of all the kings of this island, with a summary of all passages of state, ecclesiastical or temporal, of any remark or moment, during their principalities and dominions, insomuch that scarce any thing shall be here wanting to thy best wishes, if thou art desirous to be instruct ed and faithfully informed in the knowledge of our English annals. For in the stead of a large study book, and huge vo. Luminous tractate, able to take up a whole year in reading, and to load and tire a porter in carrying, thou hast here a small manuel, containing all the pith and marrow of the greater, made portable for thee (if thou so please) to bear in thy pocket, so that thou may'st say, that in this small compendium or abs tract, thou hast Hollinshed, Polychronicon, Fabian, Speed, or any of the rest of more giantlike bulk or binding. To which, my short abbreviary. I strive to make this my prologue or preface, to thee alike suitable, being as succinct and briefly contrived as the former summarily comprehended, desiring thee to read con. Liderately, and withal to censure charitably. And so (without further compliment) wishing thy care in the one, and courtesy in the other, with a favourable pardon of some few errors com pitted in the Press, I hid thee farewell.

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