THE PREFACE.
HOW far these collections may conduce to the knowledge of the antiquities and state of this Land, let the fit reader judge: yet something I may not passe by touching Mr. Edmund Spenser & the worke it selfe, lest I should seeme to offer injury to his worth, by others so much celebrated. Hee was borne in London of an ancient and noble family, and brought up in the Vniversitie of Cambridge, where (as the fruites of his after labours doe manifest) he mispent not his time. After this he became Secretary to Arthur Lord Grey of Wilton, Lord Deputy of Ireland; a valiant and worthy Governour; and shortly after for his services to the Crowne, he had bestowed upon him by Queene Elizabeth, 3000 acres of land in the Countie of Corke. There hee finished the latter part of that excellent poem of his Faery Queene, which was soone after unfortunately lost by the disorder and abuse of his servant, whom he had sent before him into England, being then á rebellibus (as [i 1] Camdens words are) è laribus ejectus
- ↑ Annul, rev, Anglic. & Hibern. pag. 729, edit. 1625.
