Category: England

Saturday, Feb. 19. 1704.

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[1]

The INTRODUCTION.

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THIS Paper is the Foundation of a very large and useful Design, which, if it meet with suitable Encouragement, Permissu Superiorum, may contribute to Setting the Affairs of Europe in a Clearer Light, and to prevent the various uncertain Accounts, and the Partial Reflections of our Street-Scriblers, who Daily and Monthly Amuse Mankind with Stories of Great Victories when we are Beaten, Miracles when we Conquer, and a Multitude of Unaccountable and Inconsistent Stories, which have at least this Effect, That People are possest with wrong Notions of Things, and Nations Wheedled“Wheeled” in both of the Harry Ransom Center’s copies; “Wheedled” in Secord facsimile. In this case, the HRC copies contain an obvious error, which we have emended in accordance with our editorial practice. to believe Nonsense and Contradiction.

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As these Papers may be Collected into Volumes, they will Compose a Compleat History of France, the Antient Part of which shall be a faithful Abridgement of former Authors, and the Modern Affairs stated, as Impartially and as Methodical as the length of this Paper will permit.

As we blame our Enemies for being Partial to themselves, and for filling their Gazettes with French Rhodomontades, we shall carefully avoid the same Errour, and give even the French themselves full Satisfaction for those of our own Writers, who are Guilty that way, by sufficiently Exposing them in our more Diverting part of this Paper.

We shall particularly have a Regard to the Rise and Fall of the Protestant Religion in the Dominions of France; and the Reader, if the Author live, and is permitted to pursue the Design, shall find this Paper a Useful Index, to turn him to the best Historians of the Church in all Ages. Continue reading Saturday, Feb. 19. 1704.

The Preface

THE
P R E F A C E.

WHen Authors present their Works to the World, like a Thief at the Gallows; they make a Speech to the People.

The Author indeed has something like this to say too, Good People all take Warning by me; — I have studied to Inform and to Direct the World, and what have I had for my Labour, Profit, the Press would not allow; and therein I am not deceiv’d, for I expected none.

But Good Manners and Good Language, I thought I might expect; because I gave no other; and it was but just to Treat Mankind, as they would be Treated by them.

But neither has this been Paid me, in Debt to Custom and Civility — How often have my Ears, my Hands, and my Head, been to be pull’d off, — Impotent Bullies, that Attackt by Truth, and their Vices storm’d, fill the Air with Rhodomontades and Indecencies, but never shew’d their Faces to the Resentment Truth had a just Cause to Entertain for them. Continue reading The Preface