other vertues I make xii.

other knights the patrones, for the more variety of the history: of which these three bookes contayn three.

The first of the Knight of the Redcrosse, in whome I expresse holynes: The seconde of Sir Guyon, in whome I sette forth temperaunce: The third of Britomartis, a lady knight, in whome I picture chastity.

But because the beginning of the whole worke seemeth abrupte and as depending upon other antecedents, it needs that ye know the occasion of these three knights severall adventures.

For the methode of a poet historical is not such as of an historiographer.