OF HICKLETON AND GARROWBY IN THE COUNTY OF YORK ONE OF YORKSHIRE’S MOST GIFTED AND DISTINGUISHED SONS THIS BOOK WHICH AMONGST OTHER THINGS TELLS OF SOME OF THE WORDS AND DEEDS OF CERTAIN YORKSHIREMEN IN THE DAYS OF SHAKESPEARE IS (BY KIND PERMISSION) MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR. BLAND’S COURT, CONEY STREET, YORK. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE VISCOUNT HALIFAX. My Lord, The book which your characteristic generosity has permitted me to dedicate to you wears a two-fold aspect. For it is as to one portion——and predominantly——an Inquiry taking the form of a discourse with questions and proofs, propositions and demonstrations. While as to another portion——but subordinately——it is a History taking the form of a narrative of events, a relation of mental occurrences, a statement of concrete facts. Now these twain aspects will be found duly to play their respective parts in the course of the subsequent pages, in accordance with a selected order and method. With most of the allegations of fact and the inferences therefrom, and with many of the assumptions and conclusions which this work contains, your Lordship will agree. From others you will disagree. Whilst in the case of a third class, it may be that you will deem a suspension of judgment to be the part which wisdom and justice alike enjoin.