ΤΟ

SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART.

THIS WORK

IS DEDICATED,

IN TESTIMONY OF THE

ADMIRATION AND AFFECTION

OF

THE AUTHOR.

THE

AUTHOR'S ACCOUNT

OF

HIMSELF.

"I am of this mind with Homer, that as the snaile that crept out of her shel was turned eftsoons into a toad, and thereby was forced to make a stoole to sit on; so the traveller that stragleth from his owne country is in a short time transformed into so monstrous a shape, that he is faine to alter his mansion with his manners, and to live where he can, not where he would.> LYLY'S EUPHUES.

I WAS always fond of visiting new scenes, and observing strange characters and manners. Even when a mere child I began my travels, and made many tours of discovery into foreign parts and unknown regions of my native city, to the frequent alarm of my