to us in Hiftory, is very near the fame with the Picture I have endeavour'd to draw of her: And if, in the Poetical Colcuring, I have aim'd at heightning and improving fome of the Features, it was only to make her more worthy of those Illufiricus Hands to which I always intended to prefent her.

As the British Nation, in general, ̄is infinitely indebted to YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS; fo every particular Perfon amongst us ought to contribute, according to their several Capacities and Abilities, towards the discharging that Publick Obigation

We are your Debtors, MADA M, for the Preference You gave us, in chufing to wear the British rather than the Imperial Crown; for giving the Best Daughter to our KING, and the Best Wife to our PRINCE. It is to YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS we owe the Security that fhall be deliver'd down to our Children's Children, by a moft Hopeful and Beautiful, as well as a Numerous Royal Iffue. These are the Bonds of our Civil Duty: But YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS has laidus. under others yet more Sacred and Engaging; I

mean

mean, thofe of Religion. You are not only the Brightest Ornament, but the Patronefs and Defender of our Holy Faith.

Nor is it Britain alone, but the World, but the prefent and all fucceeding Ages, who fhall blefs Your Royal Name, for the greatest Example that can be given of a Difinterested Piety, and Unfhaken Constancy.

This is what we may certainly reckon amongst the Benefits YOUR ROYAL HIGENESS has conferr'd upon us. Though at the fame time, how partial foever we may be to our felves, we ought not to believe You declin'd the First Crown of Europe in regard to Britain only. No, MADAM, it is in Juftice to YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS that we must confefs, you had more Excellent Motives for fo great an Action as that was: Since you did it in Obedience to the Dictates of Reafon and Confcience, for the Sake of True Religion, and for the Honour of God. All things that are Great have been offer'd to You; and all Things that are Good and Happy, as well in this World as a Better, fhall become the Re. ward of fuch Exalted Virtue and Piety.

A 4

The Bleffings

Bleffings of our Nation, the Prayers of our Church, with the Faithful Service of all Good Men,fhall wait upon YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS as long as you live. And whenever, for the Punishment of this Land, You shall be taken from us, your Sacred Name shall be dear to Remembrance,and Almighty God, who alone is able, fhall bestow upon you the Fulness of Recompence.

Amongst the feveral Offerings of Duty which are made to you here, be graciously pleas'd to accept of this

which is, with the greatelt

Unworthy Trifle; Respect and lowest

Submiffion, prefented to YOUR ROYAL

HIGHNESS, by,

MADAM,

YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS'S,

Moft Obedient,

Moft Devoted, and

Moft Faithful

Humble Servant,

N. ROWE.

THE

PREFACE.

T

HO' I have very little Inclination to write Prefaces before Works of this Nature, yet, upon this particular Occafion, I cannot but think my self cblig'd to give fome fport Account of this Play, as well in Juftice to my felf, as to a very Learned and Ingenious Gentleman, My Friend, who is dead. The Perfon I mean was Mr. Smith of Christ Church, Oxon: One whofe Character I could with great Pleafure enter into, if it was not already very well known to the World. As I had the Happiness to be intimately, acquainted with him, he often told me that he defign'd writing a Tragedy upon the Story of the Lady, Jane Gray; and, if he had liv'd, I shou'd never have thought of meddling with it my felf. But as he dy'd without doing it, in the beginning of the last

Summer

Summer I refolv'd to undertake it. And indeed, the hopes I had of receiving fime confiderable Affiftances from the Papers he left behind him, were one of the principal Motives that induc'd me to go about it. Thefe Papers were in the Hands of Mr. Ducket; to whom my Friend, Mr. Tho. Burnett, was fo kind to write and procure 'em for me. The leaft Return I can make to thofe Gentlemen, is this Publick Acknowledgment of their great Civility on this Occafion. I must confefs, before thofe Papers came to my Hand, I had intirely form'd the Defign, or Fable of my own Play: And when I came to look 'em over, I found it was different from that which Mr. Smith intended; the Plan of his being drawn after that, which is in Print of Mr. Banks; at least I thought fo, by what I could pick out of his Papers. To fay the Truth, I was a good deal furpriz'd and disappointed at the fight of 'em. I hop'd to have met with great part of the Play written to my Hand, or at the leaft the whole Defign regularly drawn out. Inftead of that, I found the Quantity of about two Quires of Paper written over in odd Pieces, blotted, interlin'd and confus'd. What was contain'd in'em in General, was loofe Hints of Sentiments, and fhort cbfcure Sketches of Scenes. But how they were to be apply'd, or in what order they were to be rang'd, I could not by any Diligence of mine (and I look'd 'em very carefully over more than once) come to underftand. One Scene there was, and one only, that Seem'd pretty near perfect; in which Lord Guilford fingly