These considerations might perhaps induce me to be too hasty in publishing my juvenile work in this kind of learning, _Itinerarium Curiosum_, chiefly with a view to point out a way and method of inquiry, and to render this study both useful and entertaining. The more readily, therefore, I can excuse myself, in regard to imperfections in that work, as I had not sight of our author’s treatise, Richard of Cirencester, at that time absolutely unknown. Since, then, I have had the good fortune to save this most invaluable work of his, I could not refrain from contributing somewhat toward giving an account of it, and of its author. I gladly address it to your Lordship, who worthily preside over the Antiquarian Society. I am sensible your Lordship is animated with a like spirit in favour of your country, and of your country antiquities. I propose therefore briefly to recite, I. What memoirs we can recover, concerning our author and his writings, with the occasion and manner of finding out and saving the manuscript. II. I shall give an account of the map prefixed to the present treatise, which I copied from that of our author; giving it the advantage of the present geographical direction. I shall exhibit an alphabetical index of all the places mentioned in it, with the modern names annexed. III. A transcript of his most curious Itinerary; with an alphabetical index, all along aligning the present names of the places, according to the best of my judgement. This is the last help we must expect, toward finding out the Roman Names of places in Britain. I. Let us inquire, who our Richard of Cirencester was: and it will be regular to declare who he was not. He has often been confounded with a Richard, a monk of Westminster, a writer who lived a good deal after our author. This latter Richard was a Devonshire man, cited by Risdon, in his description of that country; by Antony Wood, from Pitse’s manuscript, p. 462; by Fuller, book I. in his Worthies, p. 263; by Bale, V. 87; by bishop Tanner, who repeats this; all erroneously. My learned friend, the reverend Mr. Widmore, librarian to Westminster Abbey, deserves public thanks for his inquiries, which he made at my request. In perusing the Abbey rolls diligently, he finds, that he was Richard, a monk of Westminster, admitted, in 1450, a member of that religious foundation: that he continued there till 1472. The roll beyond that time is defective. But our author (Richard of Cirencester)’s name first appears on the chamberlain’s list of the monks of Westminster, by the name _Circestre_, in 1355. 30 Ed. III. In 1387, he is witness in a parchment deed, by the name of _Richardo Cirencestre confrater_. 1397, in the chamberlain’s list, mentioned again _R. Cirencester_. 1399, _Ric. Cirencestre_. 1400, he was in the Abbey infirmary, and died in that or the next year. The place of his interment, questionless, is in the Abbey cloisters.