EPistles like Prologues of Playes , being for the most part past over without Reading ; I shall not therefore Enlarge my self , only to give you an Account , that I have in this work used my best Endeavours to be punctually True in these Collections ; The Work it self would have afforded matter sufficient for a Large Volume : So many of our Noble Hero's having been Engaged in their Service , and many of them lost their dearest Lives , in that Nations Defence , dying there in the Bed of Honour . Yet am I confident no matter very materiall is here omitted , and therefore free from those many Impertinencies with which Large Volumes must needs be stuffed . This may serve to give sufficient Instructions to the Intelligible Reader ; like a little Watch shewing the time of the day , as well as a great Dyall ; and therefore more usefull , because less comber some . Here hast thou truly presented ( and not in a Multiplying Glass ) the great kindnesses the DUTCH have from time to time received of the ENGLISH ; And on the other side , how unthankfull the DUTCH have been for them . What my performances have been herein , I shall neither Extenuate nor Extoll , leaving every Reader , to judge as he best pleaseth ; But this let me tell thee , if thou beest a True ENGLISH-MAN , thou canst not but in reading it , very much rescent the Injuries and Affronts which the ENGLISH have continually received from that Nation . I shall not add hereunto by way of Aggravation , nor reflect upon the Visitation of the Almighty so hevy now upon them ; no less then odd of 1000 dying of the Pestilence at AMSTERDAM in one Week : A True ENGLISH Nature , as he hates Ingratitude , so doth he scorn to insult over Men in misery . My Prayers therefore shall be , that the Almighty would be pleased to remove his heavy hand of Visitation from them , and that they would call to minde the great benefits they have received from the ENGLISH , and that Ingratitude is the worst of Vices .