kind as to oblige me with a sight of their evidences or manuscripts, I shall freely refer to them, and own their favours.
Several reasons there are that induced me to publish in this method, among which, these are the chief, viz. the improvements that may be made as I go on, by gentlemen's seeing in what manner I proceed, and helping me, as I come to their parts, to a sight of old evidences, or antiquities, or by subscribing for plates of their seats, monuments, arms, ruins, or other things worth observation, which advantage I could not have had, if I had done it at once; besides, I do not fear but I may hereafter meet with several Subscribers who will willingly expend a trifle every month, that would not have chose to lay down half the price before-hand, (as is the common way), nor to have expended it all at once; and this is the reason why I do not design to publish the list of my Subscribers till the whole is finished, because then I can do it complete. And that this work may be done to my own liking, and corrected by myself, I have procured a workman, who hath put up a press in my own house, for the publication of it; so that all that now have, or hereafter shall, subscribe, shall be upon the same terms; neither shall there be any alterations or additions made after it is finished, except such memoirs as may come in too late, all which shall be published by way of appendix, to be bound up with the last volume.
And as to the use of this History, I shall only observe, that the ancient and present lords, patrons, and incumbents, the different customs of the manors, the customs and yearly outgoings of the livings, and the divers valuations of the parishes, are things that will be of use to the present, and future proprietors. Not to insist upon the delight and pleasure that many take in historical affairs, which, though it may be decried and run down by some, yet it must be acknowledged, that History is the light of truth, and life of memory, as the great Orator formerly observed; and if there be nothing more in it, experience teaches that by recording the lives and actions of the good, those that come after them are thereby encouraged to imitate their virtues, for nothing so much incites the mind of man, to an emulation of others, as the report of the noble actions of them that have gone before them; and on the other side, nothing more affrights people
