To Mr Vicechamberlein,
Sir, the honnorable welcome yowe vouchsaffed my laste doth promyse this booke also a good acceptacion Yet will I not warrant the thinge so much worth, but assure my selfe, your courtesie can afforde so favourable an allowannce. It is longe since I had this worke in hande, though but nowe it be finished: And in truth my entent was (beinge vsed to lose my labour) either to caste it awaye, or not suffer it to be seene of manie, wch is yet my meaninge. ffor I knowe, those that be either ignorannt, or careles of honnor (as the moste parte of men is) will holde thease discourses, rather vaine & ridiculous, then virtuous or necessarie. But be it so, or otherwise, sure I am, that your noble minde cannot mislike to reade the glorious arte of anntiente time, and the singular care, wch gentlemen in that age, had of their fame and reputacion
Moreover, for so muche as this Author hath onlie set downe the mannor of combatte and doubfull accidente hapned in trialls of armes, not defininge what honnor is, nor discoursed of what causes quarrell dooth growe. I have loked into other writers, intreatinge of such matter, and collected some parte of their opinions: wch collection, I have bounde wth this booke: particularlie to describe the nature of iniuries, howe they ought to be repulsed or revenged, and by what honnorable meanes peace & reconsiliations maye be made, wth some other thinge, perhapps pleasinge to a martiall minde.
Your honnors moste humble & assured
T. B.
