Introductory Note

Neville's histories were issued towards the end of the year 1575/6, but the book was recalled when his comments in De furoribus regarding the actions of Welsh mercenaries who fought at Norwich in 1549 were deemed insulting. We do not know which individual or individuals made the complaint, but censorship was not uncommon if there was a risk of offence or embarrassment to public figures. Neville consequently revised his text, apparently in two stages (see notes to pp. 132–3 of De furoribus, and Fig. 2).

He defended himself in this short pamphlet (STC 18477), which demonstrates not only his rhetorical skills but also a degree of bravado.

[Ar] ALEXANDRI NEVYLLI

AD WALLIAE PROCERES APOLOGIA

LONDINI

Ex officina Henrici Binnimani

Anno salutis humanae

M.M.lxxvi. Maii xii.

[Av] [Neville coat of arms]

[Ar] ALEXANDER NEVILLE

TO THE WELSH NOBILITY: A REPLY IN HIS DEFENCE

LONDON

Issued from the press of Henry Bynneman

in the year of mankind's salvation,

12 May 576.

[Av] [Neville coat of arms]

[A2r] Alexandri Nevylli Angli ad Walliae Proceres Apologia

OMNIUM iam paene sermone (viri amplissimi) percrebuit (idque mihi summo sane dolori est) vestrorum me vocibus ubique, maledictisque conscindi: magnamque mihi (tanquam summi sceleris reo) ex scriptis meis invidiam undique conflari: perinde quasi eo in libro quem non ita multis abhinc diebus de KETTIANORUM FURORIBUS pervulgavi, Genti vestrae (nescio quas) dedecoris et ignominiae labes impresserim. Huic tam gravi, (ne dicam iniquo) crimini occurrendum mihi primo quoquo tempore existimavi, ne taciturnitate mea, sparsos, et disseminatos de meo erga vestros populares animo rumo-

[A2v] res si minus comprobasse: at certe neglexisse viderer. Quanquam equidem si continuo simul ac quicquam in hominum voculas, repraehensionemque incurrerit, idipsum auctori capitis semper periculo praestandum erit, iam tum ante animo prospicio, qualis, quamque perdifficilis, ac lubrica cunctis historiam perscripturis, condicio proponatur: quemadmodumque eorum salus (ni curae ea principibus sit, ac summis in Republica viris) in dubium atque discrimen vocetur.

Verba mihi quaedam obiiciunt: quibus suam a me pollui dignitatem, contaminarique queruntur: perinde ac si non eos duntaxat homines, qui illa gesserunt quae scripsi, sed gentem universam oratione mea iniquissime perstrinxerim.