History of the house and race of Douglas and Angus

PREFACE. XXI
of the Veiens; and African I. (if it were he) who rescued
his father at the battle of Tesin, are remarked for their per.,
sonal valour. Now, neither of these two families doth equal
the Douglases; who in fewer years, viz. from the 1309 until
15S8, about 300 years, brought forth twenty-seven persons,
all singular for their valour, and some of them far beyond any
of these, as may be seen. This advantage these Romans had,
that living in the continent of Italy, and in a common-wealth
which did so flourish, and was so great, their actions and deeds
were more conspicuous, being acted in a more large and am-
ple Theatre, than those of our men, . who were pent up in a
narrow and obscure corner of an Island, and had neither the
Carthaginians nor Hannibal to fight against, whose overthrow
would have given a greater splendour to their actions. And
moreover they have had good heralds to sound their praise,
aloud, and trumpet them abroad in the world; when as ours,
omnes occiderunt illacrimabiles, carucre quia vate sacros.
And yet even by this which we have been able to collect
of them, our proposition will appear to be sufficiently
proved: with which, as we began, so will we conclude, so
many good, &c. in the world were never seen of one name
and family.
Touching which assertion, 1 will earnestly entreat this fav-
our of the courteous reader, that he would be pleased to con-
sider what hath been said in an even balance and indifferent
judgement, setting aside all prejudice and preconceived opin-
ion of any worth in any nation ; and if he do not approve of
our conclusion, and assent to do it, let him calmly and mod-
estly impart his reasons, and he shall find me one that shall
be most willing and ready to retract what hath been said, and
to give place to the truth, if I be not able to satisfy him in
reason. For my own part, I protest, I speak as I think, and
no more than I think; according to my reading and know-
ledge of men, and according to the measure of my judgement
and undertsanding, without prejudice of any, who upon more
knowledge, and out of better judgement, shall find things to
be otherwise than I have thought. In the mean time we will,
set down here what we have said of them elsewhere, speaking