And this Cuftom has been so univerfally allow'd by the Great and Powerful in all Ages, that it is become a Priviledge by Prefcription.

However, My Lord, 'tis neither the Concern I have for my Works; nor the great Figure your Lordship makes in the World, both by your Titles, and as a Branch of the most noble Family of the Howards, (which is inferior to no other in England, except the Royal) that has encourag'd me to this Addrefs.

The active Zeal You have lately fhewn in vindicating the Honour of your Royal Mafter, King William, would not fuffer me to be long in fufpence about the Choice of a Patron, to the History of his Reign. Others may boast a larger fhare of His Majesty's Favours, but all must yield to your Lordship in point of Gratitude; and this generous Tem per gives me Hopes, that You will favourably accept of this Dedication. Pofterity will certainly read with

Indignation, that King William was hardly cold in his Death-bed when Malice endeavour'd to blaft his Name; but then it will ever be grate fully remembred, that your Lordfhip was the first that check'd and confounded that injurious Report.

And indeed never was any Imputation fo ill-grounded; let King Wil liam's greatelt Enemies confider but impartially the whole Series of his Conduct, and his perfonal Circumftances, and they must be forc'd to own that he never acted out of any private Intereft; but folely, in an Uprightnefs and Sincerity of Confci ence, to do good to all Mankind in general, and to his Subjects in particular; to preferve the Liberties of Christendom, and maintain the Proteftant Religion in all Parts of Europe. God had not bleft His Majefty with an Heir; and therefore when he fo often expos'd his Life to the imminent Hazards of War, the Dangers of the Sea, and the Inclemency

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clemency of Seafons, 'twas only to attain true Glory, and fecure to himfelf an Immortal Reputation; whereas had he been Guilty of the Defign which his Enemies lay to his Charge, he would, by that fingle ftroke, have fullied the Luftre of all his noble Atchievements.

This Calumny as it was groundlefs in its Beginning, fo it was foolish in its End: Since none can, with Juftice, hope to make their Court to our prefent Gracious Queen, by afperfing the Memory of our late Sovereign. Let People reflect as much as they please on the Mifmanagements of fome private Perfons; and ufe what Diftinctions they think fit as to prevailing Parties; but ftill it must be acknowledg'd, that as Queen ANNE was eminently inftrumental in the late Revolution, so her Government ftands upon the fame Basis with that of King William.

This Part of His Majelty's Hiftory will go a great way to confute

his malicious Accufers: For it will fhew,that the bringing the Illuftrious Houfe of Hanover into the Succeffion, was no new Project in the Year Seventeen Hundred; fince not only his late Majefty, (with Consent of his Queen, and our prefent Gracious Sovereign) but most of the Lords, and many of the Commons, tickled for it Eleven Years before.

And now, My Lord, fhould I follow the common Drift of Dedi. cations, it would engage me to attempt your Lordship's Character; but I fhall purposely avoid it, both because I find my felf unequal to fo great a Task; and because I look upon it as an Affectation which always carriesa Face of Adulation; and which therefore cannot but make a Perfon of Your real Merit uneafie. It will fuffice to give the World a high and juft Idea of your Lordfhip, barely to tell them, that no Man was admitted deeper into his late Majefty's Confidence, or was greater

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greater in his Efteem; that he was fo well fatisfied in your Lordship's Wisdom, Loyalty and Integrity, that he had committed to your Care the chief Administration of his Treafury, and defign'd to have entrusted You with the whole; And that as no Perfon ever had a righter Understanding of the true Intereft of England than your Lordship; fo none ever fhew'd a more conftant Zeal to pursue it.

I humbly beg your Lordship to excufe the Faults of this Hiftory,for the Goodness of my Intention; which is, impartially to relate Matters of Fact; And to give me leave to Subfcribe my felf, My Lord,

Tour Lordship's most Obedient,

London, Auguft

and most faithful, bumble Servant,

10th 1702.