Chapter 1
Preface
The entire text, including the modern (1869) material, used long “s” (ſ). Possible or probable long-s errors are individually noted. Words shown in boldface were originally printed in blackletter (“gothic”) type. The symbol shown as (,’,) has not been identified.
The format of this html text reproduces the design and layout of the original book as closely as possible. For readers who find it too chaotic, or whose browsers have trouble with the details, some of the introductory material is repeated at the end of the text in simpler form.