XXVI. Post . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Desunt reliqua . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FINIS.
An ACCOUNT of
RICHARD OF CIRENCESTER,
MONK of WESTMINSTER,
And of his Works:
With his Ancient MAP of ROMAN BRITAIN,
And the Itinerary thereof.
Read at the Antiquarian Society, March 18, 1756.
I.
To the Right Honourable the Lord WILUGHBY of Parham, President of the Antiquarian Society.
THE love I had for my own country, in my younger days, prompted me to visit many parts of it, and to refuse great offers made me to go into foreign and fashionable tours. I was sensible we abounded at home with extraordinary curiosities, and things remarkable, both in art and nature; as well as most valuable antiquities in all kinds, most worthy of our regard, and which it most became us to take cognisance of.
These considerations might perhaps induce me to be too hasty in publishing my juvenile work in this kind of learning, Itinerarium Curiosum, chiefly with a view to point out a way and method of inquiry, and to render this study both useful and entertaining.
The more readily, therefore, I can excuse myself, in regard to imperfections in that work, as I had not sight of our author’s treatise, Richard of Cirencester, at that time absolutely unknown.
Since, then, I have had the good fortune to save this most invaluable work of his, I could not refrain from contributing somewhat toward giving an account of it, and of its author. I gladly address it to your Lordship, who worthily preside over the Antiquarian Society. I am sensible your Lordship is animated with a like spirit in favour of your country, and of your country antiquities.