READER
TIS frange to me, that they that love to tell
Things done of old, yea, and that do excell
Their Equals in Hiftoriology,
Speak not of Manfour's Wars, but let them ly
Dead, like old Fables, or fuch worthless things,
That to the Reader no advantage brings:
(own,
When men, let them make what they will their
Till they know this,are to themselves unknown.
Of Stories I well know there's divers forts,
Some foreign, fome domeftick, and reports
Are thereof made as fancy leads the Writers,
(By Books a man may guess at the Inditers.)
Some will again of that which never was,
Nor will be, feign, (and that without a caufe).
Such matter,raife fuch mountains, tell fuch things
Of men, of Laws, of Countries, and of Kings:
And in their Story feem to be fo fage,
And with fuch gravity cloath ev'ry Page,
That though their Frontice-piece fays all is vain,
Yet to their way Difciples they obtain
But, Readers, I have fomewhat else to do,
Then with vain ftories thus to trouble you;
What here I fay, fome men do know fo well,
They can with tears and joy the story tell.
The Town of Manfoul is well known to many,
Nor are her troubles doubted of by any
That are acquainted with thofe Hiftories
That Manfoul, and her Wars Anatomize.