bridle and rested, after so long a journey; when a learned friend having perused this my Description of Italy, desired much to see a Preface to it of my fashion, and Concerning Travelling. I could refuse nothing to such a friend; and have done it here willingly, both for my own, and my Countryes sake.
For my own sake; to pre-excuse some things in my book, which some perchance may dislike.
For some, I fear, will quarrel with my English; and justly, seeing three long voyages into Flanders, six into France, five into Italy, one into Germany, and Holland, hath made me, liue half of my life time in forrain Countryes, to the disturbance of my own language. Yet if I bring not home fine language, I bring home fine things: and I have seen great Ladyes, both in France, and England, buy fine things of Chimney-sweepers, and Pedlars, that spoke but course Lombard language, and gross Scotch.
Others perchance will find fault, that I write merrily sometimes: And why not? Seeing I write to young men, and for them; and mirth is never so lawful as in Travelling, where it shor-tens
