OF

MERLIN,

SURNAMED

AMBROSIUS;

HIS

Prophecies and Predictions

INTERPRETED,

And their Truth made Good by our English Annals:

Kings and memorable Passages of this Kingdom,

FROM BRUTE TO THE REIGN OF KING CHARLES.

A Subject never published in this Kind before, and deserves to
be observed and known by all Men.

Quotque aderant rates, Rebar adesse Deos..

CARMARTHEN:

PRINTED AND SOLD BY J. EVANS;

SOLD ALSO BY

Messrs. LACKINGTON, ALLEN, & Co. Finsbury-Square, Mr. WILLIAMS
& Son, Stationer's Court, and Mr. E. WILLIAMS, No. 11, Strand,
London; Mr. JONES, Printer, Dolgelley; Messrs. JAMES & WIL-
LIAMS, Printers, Aberystwith; Mr. SAUNDERSON, Printer, Bala;
Mr. C. LEWIS, Bookseller, Cardigan, Messrs. THOMAS & GRIF-
FITHS, Booksellers, Haverfordwest; Mr. JENKINS, Printer, and
Mr. HARRIES, Bookseller, Swansea; Mr. WILLIAMS, Mer-
thyr-Tydvil; Mr. NORTH, Brecon; Mr. RICE REES, Landovery;
and Mr. E. CARNES, Holy-Well.

نہ

TO THE READER.

COURTEOUS & CONSIDERATE READER,

I HAVE here exposed to thy especial pe

rusal, The Life and Prophecies of our famous Predictor, MERLINUS, surnamed AMBROSIUS; who, though he lived in the time of profane paganism, was a professed Christian, and therefore, his auguries the better to be approved and allowed, which thou hast, with all their exposition and explanation, expressly and punctually, making plain and evident how genuinely and properly they comply with the truth of our chronology. In which you shall find (adding the sup. plement of the history from Brute, who laid the first foundati on of our British Colony, to the time of king Vortigernus, or Vortigern, the usurper of the crown, under whose reign Merlin first flourished) a true catalogue of all the kings of this island, with a summary of all passages of state, ecclesiastical or temporal, of any remark or moment, during their principalities and dominions, insomuch that scarce any thing shall be here wanting to thy best wishes, if thou art desirous to be instructed and faithfully informed in the knowledge of our English annals. For in the stead of a large study book, and huge vo luminous tractate, able to take up a whole year in reading, and to load and tire a porter in carrying, thou hast here a small manuel, containing all the pith and marrow of the greater, made portable for thee (if thou so please) to bear in thy pocket, so that thou may'st say, that in this small compendium or abstract, thou hast Hollinshed, Polychronicon, Fabian, Speed, or any of the rest of more giantlike bulk or binding. To which, my short abbreviary, I strive to make this my prologue or preface, to thee alike suitable, being as succinct and briefly contrived as the former summarily comprehended, desiring thee to read considerately, and withal to censure charitably, and so (without further compliment) wishing thy care in the one, and courtesy in the other, with a favourable pardon of some few errors committed in the Press, I bid thee farewell.

THOMAS HEYWOOD.