Maitland Club > Works of Sir Thomas Urquhart

TO THE READER.
Some few months after that, amongst other papers of the Author's of very
great concernment and knowledge, which were totally lost in the pillage
ensuing the fatal blowe given to the Royal party at Worcester, this an-
cient Pedigree, from amongst the regardless fingers of the promiscuous
souldiery, was, by a surpalsing honest and civil officer of Colonel Pride's
regiment, most opportunely rescued from the inexorable rage of Vulcan,
to whom by a file of musquettiers it was consecrated, to afford smoak to
their pipes of tobacco ; it falling by meer chance into my hands, and after
perusal perceiving it to be exceeding useful and ingenious, I thought my
self in duty to the Publike, obliged, lest at any time hereafter it should
incur the like hazard of imbezelling, faithfully to commit it to the prels.
Which designe I the rather undertook, that the Author, whose Genealogie
it is, hath already been highly esteemed of for his literature and other
qualifications ; whereof by treatises long ago evulged, and actions of more
then ordinary vertue, he hath at several occasions given many ample tes-
timonies. And albeit the condition wherein for the present he stands with
the State, in matters of his charge and deportment in the Regal Army,
appear not, in the judgements of those have taken his examination, to be,
as I am informed, so desperate as that he thereby will be much endanger-
ed ; yet, leaving these mysteries to whom they are competent, and medling
with no more then what by a common obligation to learning, and excel-
lent endowments of the interior faculties, where ever they be found, I am
tyed unto ; I will onely make bold to speak a word or two in behalf of
the Author, and in all humility submit the censure thereof to the judicious
construction of the State, whose prisoner he is.
It being here every way perceptible by the Chronologie of his House,
in this little tractate so punctually deduced, that Providence hath been