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no body will fo grofly miſtake us as though we intended thereby to juftifie what is here printed againft any fufpition of forgery; as if any man taking the advantage of Dr. Dees name and fame of a Conjurer, could be fufpected to have devised and invented theſe things in his own brain to abufe the world. I fhould be forry my name should appear in any kind to any book lyable to fuch a fufpition; and the very name and credit of that fo much and fo defervedly prized Library from whence this is pretended to be taken, is fufficient (with civil underftanding men) to prevent the groffeneffe of fuch a miſtake. Beſides the Original Copy it felf, all written with Dr. Dees own hand, there kept and preferved. But by Truth and Sincerity, intending not only Dr. Die's fidelity in relating what himfelf believed, but also the reality of thofe things that he speaks of, according to his relation: his only (but great and dreadful) error being, that he mistook falfe lying Spirits for Angels of Light, the Divel of Hell (as we commonly term him) for the God of Heaven. For the Truth then, and Sincerity or Reality of the Relation in this fenfe, I fhall firft appeal to the Book it felf. I know it is the fashion of many (I will not fay that (I never did it my felf) that are buyers of books, they will turn five or fix leaves, if they happen upon fomewhat that pleafeth their fancy, the book is a good book, and when they have bought it, it concerneth them to think fo, becauſe they have paid for it: but on the other fide, if they light upon fomewhat that doth not pleafe (which may happen in the beft) they are as ready to condemn and caft away. It is very poffible that fome fuch buyer lighting upon this and in it, upon fome places here and there, where fome odd uncouth things may offer themfelves; things ridiculous, incredible to ordinary fenfe and construction, he may be ready to judge of the whole accordingly. But for all this, I will in the firſt place appeal to the book it felf; but with this refpect to the Reader, that he will have patience to read in order one fourth part of the book at leaft before he judge; and if by that time he be not convicted, he fhall have my good will to give it over. Not but that all the reft, even to the end, doth help very well to confirm the truth and reality of the whole Story: but because I think there is fo much in any fourth part, if diligently read, and with due confideration, that I defpair of his affent, that is not convicted by it. Sir Thomas Cotton Knight Baronet. For my part, when the book was firft communicated unto me by that Right worthy Gentleman who is very ftudious to purchafe and procure fuch Records and Monuments as may advantage the truth of God (all truth is of God) and the honour of this Land, following therein the example of his noble Progenitor, by his very name Sir Robert Cotton, known to all the Learned as far as Europe extendeth. I read it curforily becaufe I was quickly convinced in my felf that it could be no counterfeit immaginarie bufineffe, and was very defirous to fee the end, fo far as the book did go. Afterwards when I understood that the faid worthy Gentleman (efpecially, as I fuppofe, relying upon my Lord of Armagh's judgment and teftimonie, which we have before fpoken of) was willing it fhould be published, and that he had committed