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no body will ſo groſly miſtake us as though we intended thereby to juſtifie what is here printed againſt any ſuſpition of forgery; as if any man taking the advantage of Dr. Dees name and ſame of a Conjurer, could be ſuſpected to have devised and invented theſe things in his own brain to abuſe the world. I ſhould be forry my name should appear in any kind to any book lyable to ſuch a ſuſpition; and the very name and credit of that ſo much and ſo deſervedly prized Library from whence this is pretended to be taken, is ſufficient (with civil underſtanding men) to prevent the groſſeneſſe of ſuch a miſtake. Beſides the Original Copy it ſelf, all written with Dr. Dees own hand, there kept and preſerved. But by Truth and Sincerity, intending not only Dr. Dee's fidelity in relating what himſelf believed, but also the reality of thoſe things that he speaks of, according to his relation: his only (but great and dreadful) error being, that he mistook falſe 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 ſenſe, I ſhall firſt appeal to the Book it ſelf. I know it is the faſhion of many (I will not ſay that (I never did it my ſelf) that are buyers of books, they will turn five or ſix leaves, if they happen upon ſomewhat that pleaſeth their fancy, the book is a good book, and when they have bought it, it concerneth them to think ſo, becauſe they have paid for it: but on the other ſide, if they light upon ſomewhat that doth not pleaſe (which may happen in the beſt) they are as ready to condemn and caſt away. It is very poſſible that ſome ſuch buyer lighting upon this and in it, upon ſome places here and there, where ſome odd uncouth things may offer themſelves; things ridiculous, incredible to ordinary ſenſe 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 ſelf; but with this reſpect to the Reader, that he will have patience to read in order one fourth part of the book at leaſt before he judge; and if by that time he be not convicted, he ſhall have my good will to give it over. Not but that all the reſt, even to the end, doth help very well to confirm the truth and reality of the whole Story: but because I think there is ſo much in any fourth part, if diligently read, and with due conſideration, that I deſpair of his aſſent, that is not convicted by it. Sir Thomas Cotton Knight Baronet. For my part, when the book was firſt communicated unto me by that Right worthy Gentleman who is very ſtudious to purchaſe and procure ſuch 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 becauſe I was quickly convinced in my ſelf that it could be no counterſeit immaginarie buſineſſe, and was very deſirous to ſee the end, ſo far as the book did go. Afterwards when I understood that the ſaid worthy Gentleman (eſpecially, as I ſuppoſe, relying upon my Lord of Armagh's judgment and teſtimonie, which we have before ſpoken of) was willing it ſhould be published, and that he had com-mitted