preface to the reader it be true say good reader that error ignorance be her  inseparable twynne do in her proceed so infinite multiply her self produce  such monstrous strange chimaera float in such and so many incerteinties and  suck down such poison from the contagious breath of ignorance as all such into  who she infuse any of her poison breath she dangerous infect or intoxicate and  that which be wonder before she can come to any end she bring all thing if she  be not prevent by confusion to a miserable and untimely end physical scientist  true technicalities  are to limit nullus terminus falsely error immeasurable  on the other side truth can be support or defend by any thing but by truth her  self and be of that constitution and constancy as she can at any time or in  any part or point be disagreeable to her self she hate all bombast and  sofistication and bring with her certainty unity simplicity and peace at the  last rotten fishpickle amant origanum veritas per et placet  regarded with honor per see decent falsehood dye ugly a metal indigent  ignorance be so far from excuse or extenuate the error of he that have power  to find out the truth which necessary he ought to know and want only will to  seek it as she will be a just cause of his great punishment quoth to know  to withhold et non vis non pro ignorance say pro contempt  to have debet error  and falsehood be of that condition as without any resistance they will in time  of they self fade and fall away but such be the state of truth that though  many do impugn her yet will she herself ever prevail in the end and flourish  like the palm tree she may peradventure by force for a time be tread down but  never by any mean whatsoever can she be tread out there be no subject of this  realm but be instruct by good and plain evidence of his ancient and undoubted  patrimony and birthright though he have for some by ignorance false persuasion  or vain fear be deceive or dispossed but will consult with learned and  faithful counsellor for the recovery of the same the ancient excellent law of  England be the birth right and the most ancient and best inheritance that the  subject of this realm have for by they he enjoy not only his inheritance and  good in peace quietness but his life and his most deer country in safety and  for that I fear that many of my deer countryman and most of they of great  capacity and excellent part for want of understanding of their own evidence do  want the true knowledge of their ancient birth right in some point of great  importance I have in the beginning of this my five work direct they to those  that will not only faithful counsel full resolve they therein such as can be  daunt with any fear move by any affection nor corrupt with any reward but also  establish and settle they in quiet possession upon just ground to rectify a  error in a man own mind be a work of a clear understanding of a reform will  and frequent with such as be good man have sober and settle wit the end of  such as write concern any matter which by some for want of instruction be call  into controversy shall be with all the candour charity that can be use to  persuade and resolve by demonstrative proof the diligent reader in the truth  but now adais those that write of such matter do for the most part by their  bitter and uncharitable invective transport with passion and fury either beget  new controversy or do as much as in they lie to make the former immortal  certain it be that some book of that argument that have have truth for their  centre yet because they have want temperance modesty urbanity for their  circumference have to the great prejudice of the truth harden the adversary in  their error and by their bitter invective whet they not only to defend  themselves and to offend in the like but many time be thereby urge to write to  defend the error it self to the hurt of many which otherwise may have vanish  away without any contradiction he that against his conscience do impugn a know  truth do it either in respect of himself or of other of himself in that he  have within he a discontent heart of other who for certain worldly respect he  seek to please discontent he be either because he have not attain to his  ambitious and unjust desire or for that in the eye of the state he for his  vice or wickedness hoth just deserve punishment disgrace therefore do oppose  himself against the current of the present to please other in respect that his  credit or maintenance depend upon their favour or benevolence I know that at  this day all kingdom and state be govern by law that the particular approve  custom of every nation be the most usual bind assure law I deal only with the  municipal law of England which I profess and where of I have be a student  above these year my only end and desire be that such as be desirous to see  know as who will not desire to see know his own may be instruct such as have  be teach amiss every man believe as he have be teach may see and satisfy  himself with the truth and such as know and hold the truth by have so ready  easy a way to the fountain themselves may be comfort confirm farewell  Multaignoramus who non to lurk si old times  reading  we be  member of household  Macrobius lib.6.Satur