vnderʃtandeth theʃe examples, knowing little, ʃhoulde by them knowe much. And fourthly, and laʃt of all, if he were yong, and had ʃmall delight to reade much: yet he may with a ʃhort and pleaʃant waye be inʃtructed with theʃe delightful ʃayninges, and with thoʃe ʃimilitudes and examples taʃte the ʃweetneʃʃe of the wordes, the pleaʃure of the ʃentences, accompanied with proper tales: and ʃo (Gentle Reader) profite himʃelfe, and teache others. In this their treatiʃe ʃuch wiʃe Fathers have hidden from vs woonderfull ʃignifications. For a treaʃure vndoubbtedly of ʃo high a myʃterye and doctrine as this is to be more eʃteemed than all the Jewelles in the worlde. This precious Iemme of knowledge, who ʃo ʃhall lodge it in the ʃecreʃie of his memorie, ʃhall neuer loʃe it, but ʃhall rather augment and increaʃe it with age in ʃuch ʃort, that hee ʃhall winne a marueylous commodotie to him: and of that plant ʃhall taʃte the ʃauorie, pleaʃant, and profitable fruites, no leʃʃe wonderfull than delectable. To reade ʃuch a Booke (worthy Reader) thou muʃt call thy wittes togither vniting them and thy vnderʃtanding with the due order of the woorke, to knowe why, and to what purpoʃe the olde prudent Fathers framed it: leaʃt thou be
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16
THE PROLOGUE.
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