To the Reader.
TO conceale the graces inſpired by God, or the giftes ingraſſed by nature, or the vertues atchiued vnto ourſelues by induſtrie, in all ages and of all wiſe men was accounted vnduetifulneſſ, vnkindneſſe & impietie vnto that common wealth, in the which, and vnto the which we are both bred and borne: but to ſupreſſe the worthie works of any author, may iuſtly be iudged not only iniurie to the perſon, but euen enuie at the whole world. Wherefore chauncing vpon this ſhort diſcourſe compiled by the honorable knight ſir Thomas Smyth, and conſidering that the ſame could not but be a great light vnto the ignorant, & no leſſe delight vnto the learned in the lawes and policie of ſundrie regiments: I thought it part of my dutie, aſwel for reuiuing of the fame of ſo notable a man, as for publike imparting of ſo pythic a treatiſe, to preſent the ſame vnto thy indifferent and diſcreete iudgement. Wherein although the errors & raſhnes of Scribes, appearing in the contrarietie & corruption of cop-
