Aubrey's remark at p. 26, as to the effect of a great social convulsion like a civil war upon the customs and traditions of the people, is illustrated throughout the book. "Before the Civil wars" is a constantly recurring date for sayings and customs which Aubrey seems to imply, even when he does not actually state, did not exist after that period.
It need hardly be said that Aubrey has by no means exhausted the folklore of the classics from which he has made extracts. Those which he has given are rather indications of the richness of the mine which will some day, no doubt, be thoroughly worked—perhaps by a member of the Folk-Lore Society.
I have not thought it necessary to give any biographical sketch of Aubrey; the Memoir issued by John Britton in 1845 may be consulted on this head.
I trust that the little I have been able to do, imperfect and unsatisfactory as it is, will be accepted as an evidence of my desire to help forward the Folk-Lore Society to the best of my power.
Isleworth, February, 1881.
