Transcriber's Notes:This work was originally produced in 1630,only 26 years after Cawdrey's first English dictionary and morethan a century before Johnson's. The spelling is, in many cases,strange to modern standards and highly variable. I have noted asmall number of cases which would, I think, have been consideredabsurd by the original author. These have been amended to a moreconsonant form and marked as, for example,observation,where theoriginal may be seen by hovering the mouse cursor over the word;all other spelling has been retained as the original. Someapparently incorrect or missing punctuation has been correctedsilently. The reader should note that ẽ,õ and ũ are used to implynasalization and should be read as indicating an omitted'm' or 'n' following the vowel. Words includingthis have been marked as, for example,frõ,where the recommended reading maybe seen by hovering the mouse cursor over the word. The letters'u' and 'v' are used largely interchangeably as also, though to alesser extent, 'i' and 'j'.--ATB.
To the Reader
Gentle Reader; I here present vnto thy view these few sheets,written by that learned man Mr William Pemble, I doubt not tocall him the father, the childe fauours him so much. It hath longlay hid from thy sight, but now at length emboldned vpon thycurteous acceptance of his former labours, it lookes abroad intothe world; Its but little; let not that detract any thing fromit, there may lie much, though pent vp in a narrow roome; whenthou reades, then iudge of it; Thus much may bee sayd: Thoughmany haue writ of this subiect, yet this inferiour to none; thoumay'st obserue in it an admirable mixture of Art and delight, sothat for younger Students it may bee their introduction, forothers a Remembrancer, for any not vnworthy the perusall: only,let it finde kinde entertaynment, at thy hands. Farewell.
Topographie is a particular description of some small quantity ofLand, such as Land measurers sett out in their plots.
Chorographie is a particular description of some Country, as ofEngland, France, or any shire or prouince in them: as in thevsuall and ordinary mappe.
Geography is an art or science teaching vs the generalldescription of the whole earth, of this especially wee are now tospeake of, and also Chorography as a part vnder it conteyned:both, excellent parts of knowledge in them selues, and a