tion, when People differ fo much in Opinion about the Prince, whofe Hiftory I have attempted to Write? Some Efteem the late King to have been a Tutelar Angel, appointed by Providence to Support the Proteftant Religion, and Alert the Liberties of Europe; and with almost the fame Veneration which is only due to the Deity, extol every Action of his Life: Whereas others look upon him as an Ambitious Prince, who has had the Cunning to raise and foment Popular Discontents, and has attain'd Sovereignty by feeming to decline it, and by pretending to redress thofe very Grievances, he had, in fome measure occafion'd. Nay, a Prince who aim'd at making himself an Abfolute Monarch, in order to destroy Monarchy, and who by Tolerating all Religions, intended to over-turn the Establish'd Church.

Thefe different Thoughts, which People entertain of King William, cannot but render my Undertaking extreamly arduous and difficult. An infatuated, Whiggish Republican, or a virulent Non-juror, would, I confefs, find no manner of difficulty in Writing either a fulfom Panegyrick, or a Scandalous Satyr, upon this Occafion; and many fuch the World may reafonably expect to fee, e're it be long. But an Hiftorian, who embraces no Party, but that of Impartiality (if I may fo Speak without a Point) who loves Truth, and looks upon it as the most eminent Attribute of God Almighty, and therefore pays it a

Kind of Adoration, fuch an Hiftorian, I fay, cannot but be very much embarrast, when he relates it to People almost invincibly prepoffeft against it.

Notwithstanding thefe Difficulties, I have attempted to Write the niceft Part of the English History, wherein I have endeavour'd to find out Truth, and made bold to Speak it, without any other Defign than to do fuftice to whomsoever it is due.

It is confeft on all hands, even by the worft of King William's Enemies, that He was the greatest Politician, as well as the greatest Commander of his Time; undaunted in the most imminent Dangers; firm and steddy in his Refolutions; neither elevated with Profperity, nor dejected by Adverfe Fortune: In a word, that he was Mafter of the chief Virtues which make up the Character of a Heroe. That he had Ambitious and afpiring Thoughts, all the Actions of his Life Suffici ently evince: But certainly no Prince ever chofe a more plaufible and justifiable Pretence for his Ambition, fince he aim'd at making bimfelf Great, by freeing Nations from Oppreffion; and by procuring to all Chriftians the Liberty of Serving God, according to the Dictates of their Confciences.

I have divided this Piece of History into three Parts, according to the three Remarkable Periods of the Prince of Orange's Life. The first comprehends all the Time

from

from his Birth to the Beginning of King James's Reign: The fecond contains the Reign of that unfortunate Monarch; and the third that of King William.

In the first Part the Reader will fee the Prince of Orange, brought out of his Obfcucurity; Heading the Dutch, and Confederate Armies at one and Twenty Tears of Age; Putting a stop to the Torrent of the Conquering Arms of France: Giving Life and Vigor to all the Refolutions and Enterprizes of Germany, Spain and Holland: Holding fecret Correfpondences with the Difcontents of England, both to deprive France of a Powerful Ally, and to Marry a Princess of the Royal Blood, thereby, to strengthen his Title to the Crown of Great Britain, which he had early in View) and Managing a Treaty of Peace, at the fame time that he carries on a vigorous War.

The Second Part gives the Reader a full and diftinct Profpect of King James the Second's Reign, and of the Great Revolution which follow'd upon his Recefs. A Subject which has hitherto been treated, by the Boutefeux of the late Reign, with a great deal of Partiality, Prejudice, and Malice against that unfortunate and delu ded Prince. For my own Part, tho I am far from juftifying the irregular Proceedings, or so much as Palliating the Faults of his Government, yet the Force of Truth obliges me to fay; That as he was a Kind

Father

Father, a fond Husband, and a generous Mafter, fo he would have been a Good King, if he had not had ill, defigning and jarring Ministers; and if the Fury of a cer tain Party had not fhewn him the Way to unwarrantable Violences, and exasperated his Temper, naturally Debonair. This fecond Part was entirely finifh'd and Printed before the Death of King William, which Circumftance alone is fufficient to confirm my Title to Impartiality.

The Third Part contains King William's Reign, with the Aufpicious Beginning of that of our Gracious and Lawful Sovereign Queen ANNE, which I defign to carry as far as her Majefty's Coronation. This Part being yet unfinish'd, tho' in great forwardness, I shall fay no more of it in this

Place.

The Reader, may perhaps expect to know where I had my Materials? Let this fatisfy him, that in the First Part, I have made ufe of De Maurier's Memoirs, the Lives of the Princes of Orange, the Lord Arlington's, and Sir William Temple's Letters and Memoirs: And in the Second and Third, tho' I have not neglected the Affistance of Printed Books; yet, for the most Part, I have had Recourfe to Publick and Authentick Records, and confulted Perfons of unqueftion'd Probity and Honour, who have themselves been concern'd in the Paffages I relate. Not to mention my particular Obfervations,

Jervations, upon Things of which I have been an Eye-Witness. The Third Part not being yet compleated, as 1 faid before, if any Perfon will favour me with the Communication of any Memoirs, or Authentick Pieces, relating to King William's Reign, he may be pleas'd to direct them to my Bookfeller, and I will endeavour to acknowledge the Obligation, as far as the Sincerity and Candor of History will per

mit.

ERRATA.

Page 27. 1. 8. and p. 28. 1. 4. for Naerden, read Woerden.

THE