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To Mr Vicechamberlein,

Sir, the honnorable welcome yowe vouchsaffed my [?]
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 allow:
annce. 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 can:
not 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.