The daydawn of happiness which begins to break in Europe conducts me from long absence (causd by blindness and misfortunes) to wish your Highness not only a happy new year, but a happy new Century, and to lay at your feet this little collection, where in is contain'd part of the madness and mallice which concluded the old; supposing such a retrospect to give as it were a gust to coming Felicity. The attempt indeed is somwhat audacious for so feeble a capacity, for if the learned M r : Cowley found so great a difficulty in writing the transactions of his time, that he suppressd them after written, the enterprise in me must needs seem a temerity allmost to madness; But truth is bold and what I here present to your Highness has so much of reality that it superseds fancy, and scarce leaves place for what they call poetical fiction: The discourses (or at least some of them) contain not onely the sentiments, but even the very words which mallice dictated to people in those days, that one might rather call them a verbal than a poetical repetition, and have so far verified the proverb in me, as to have gaind me much Hatred and many enemys; But that is so far from displeasing that it gives me rather a secret satisfaction to have sufferd somthing for such a cause; But I cou'd expect no other, since that learned and great wit, on the occasion of his Hine and Panthar was so raild at, and ridicul'd, as if he had layd down wit and sence, when he took up Religion, and Holy life, where as both were refind, not above their capacity to understand, but their conveniency to approve: Now if it far'd thus with this great man, what must become of me an insect scribler, except enliven'd by the rays of your Royal Highnes's protection, which at your feet I begg with profound respect and humility: And that acceptance which Justice wou'd refuse, let goodness exhibit: Regard not the meaness of the offring, but the zeal and affection of the votary: which is such, that if I was capable to transfer your story to posterity, I wou'd represent the frenzie, mallice, and madness of our present times so as to fright the future from the like proceedings even in thought, and with sharp repremands due to rebellion cut off troops of unborn Rebells: But since nature has not favord me so far, accept graciously these few and weak representatives of some transactions of our present times. No doubt but there are many writers in our country, who have not bowd the knee to Baal, whose learned pens have performd this work more anply and gracefully, But Rebellious, and rigorous laws have fixd as it were an inpassable gulf betwixt them and the place of your abode; but that which is a piller of a clowd to them, is a piller of fire to me lighting me to the most desirable presence of your Royal Highness, the haven of happiness, the asylum of vertue, and the reward of Loyalty: You who are Sir not onely the hopes of us your miserable followers, but of all Europ, and the darling of mankind; as your birth renders you Heir of great dominions, so your worth makes you reign in all minds replenish'd with vertue and Honor: I dare not desend to particulars, for I shou'd be lost, your merits out number our words, and though our language be copious, it is much too narrow to express those ideas your perfections present to our thoughts: At least a person whose fingers are made to wield the needle and distaf, must not presume to write the character of so great a Prince, but with awfull respect admire at distance, those glories in which you are incircul'd, praying for their dayly increase, till their splendor disperce all vapours of Rebellion and faction, and extinguish those blazing meteors, whose influence has causd so much ruine, and mischief to mankind; and that your Royal Highness then refulgent with your native brightness, may like the Caelestial bodys move in your proper sphere, dispensing happiness in your native Country: Which is and shall be the prayer of her who is with most profound respect S: r /your Royal Highnes s/most humble/most obedient, and/Most dutifull servant