tion to the number of the questions that were discussed at that time; each party had its authors, and its presses, and no endeavours were omitted to gain proselytes to every opinion. I know not whether this may not properly be called The Age of Pamphlets; for, though they perhaps may not arise to such multitudes as Mr. Rawlinson imagined, they were, undoubtedly, more numerous than can be conceived by any who have not had an opportunity of examining them. After the restoration, the same differences in religious opinions are well known to have subsisted, and the same political struggles to have been frequently renewed; and, therefore, a great number of pens were employed on different occasions, till, at length, all other disputes were absorbed in the Popish controversy. From the pamphlets which these different periods of time. produced, it is proposed, that this Miscellany shall be compiled; for which it cannot be supposed that materials will be wanting, and, therefore, the only difficulty will be in what manner to dispose them. Those who have gone before us, in undertakings of this kind, have ranged the pamphlets, which chance threw into their hands, without any regard either to the subject on which they treated, or the time in which they were written; a practice in no wise to be imitated by us, who want for no materials; of which we shall chuse those we think best for the particular circumstances of times and things, and most instructing and entertaining to the reader. Of the different methods which present themselves upon the first view of the great heaps of pamphlets which the Harleian Library exhibits, the two which merit most attention, are to distribute the treatises according to their subjects or their dates, but neither of these ways can be conveniently followed. By ranging our collection in order of time, we must necessarily publish those pieces first, which least engage the curiosity of the bulk of mankind; and our design must fall to the ground for want of encouragement before it can be so far advanced as to obtain general regard. By confining ourselves for any long time to any single subject, we shall reduce our readers to one class, and as we shall lose all the grace of variety, shall disgust all those who read chiefly to be diverted. There is likewise one objection of equal force against both these methods, that we shall preclude ourselves from the advantage of any future discoveries, and we cannot hope to assemble at once all the pamphlets which have been written in any age or on any subject. It may be added, in vindication of our intended practice, that it is the same with that of Photius, whose collections are no less miscellaneous than ours; and who declares, that he leaves it to his reader to reduce his extracts under their heads. proper Most of the pieces, which shall be offered in this collection to the publick, will be introduced by short prefaces, in which will be given some account of the reasons for which they are inserted; notes will be sometimes adjoined for the explanation of obscure passages, or obsolete expressions; and care will be taken to mingle use and pleasure through the whole collection. Notwithstanding every subject may not be relished by every reader; yet the buyer may be assur ed that each number will repay his generous subscription, VOL. I. THE Reasons which induced her Majesty to create the Right Honourable Robert Harley Esq. a Peer of Great Britain, 4to, containing two pages An Essay upon the Original and Design of Magistracy; or, A modest vindication of the late proceedings in England, 4to, containing sixteen pages Vor Regis: or, the difference betwixt a King ruling by Law, and a Tyrant by his own Wili; and, at the same time, declaring his royal opinion of the excellency of the English laws, rights, and privileges, in the speeches of King James the First, to his parliament in 1603 and 1609 A Plea for limited Monarchy, as it was established in this Nation, before the late War; in an humble address to his Excellency,General Monk, by a Zealot for the good old laws of his country, before any faction or caprice, with additions, 4to, printed in the year 1660, containing eight pages A Letter written by the Emperor to the late King James, setting forth The Speech of his Highness the Lord Protector, made to both Houses PAGE The Protestants Doom in Popish Times, 4to, containing eight pages 36 The present Case of England, and the Protestant Interest, 4to, containing six pages The Pre-eminence and Pedigree of Parliament, by James Howell, The Mischiefs and Unreasonableness of endeavouring to deprive his A Word without Doors, concerning the Bill of Succession, 4to, con- Robin Conscience: or, Conscionable Robin; his progress through 41 45 45 50 54 63 74 Machiavel's Vindication of Himself and his Writings, against the imputation of Impiety, Atheism, and other high Crimes; extracted from his letter to his friend Zenobius, 4to, containing eight pages 78 The History of the most unfortunate Prince, King Edward the Second; with choice political observations on him and his unhappy favourites, Gaveston and Spencer: containing several rare passages of those times, not found in other historians; found among the papers of, and supposed to be writ by the Right Honourable Henry Viscount Falkland, sometime Lord Deputy of Ireland, 12mo, containing eighty-four pages. 90 A Letter from the Nobility, Barons, and Commons of Scotland, in the year 1320, yet extant, under all the seals of the nobility, direct- ed to Pope John; wherein they declare their firm resolutions to adhere to their King, Robert the Bruce, as the restorer of their safety, and liberties of the people, and as having the true right of succession: but withal, they notwithstanding declare, that, if the King should offer to subvert their civil liberties, they will disown him as an enemy, and choose another to be king for their own defence. Translated from the original, in Latin, as it is inserted by Sir George Mackenzy of Roschaugh, in his observations on precedency, An Historical Narration of the Manner and Form of that memorable Parliament, which wrought wonders. Begun at Westminster, 1386, in the tenth year of King Richard the Second. Related and pub- lished by Thomas Fannant, Clerk. Printed in the year 1641, 4to, The Praier and Complaint of the Ploweman unto Christe: written not long after the yere of our Lorde, a thousande and thre hundred. [Christus Matth. x. [If they haue called the Lorde of the House Beelzebub: how much more shal they so call them of hys houshold. [Printed, without date, 8vo, black letter, containing ninety six Love Letters from King Henry the Eighth to Anne Boleyn: and two Letters from Anne Boleyn to Cardinal Wolsey; with her last to A Brefe Comedy or Enterlude of Johan Baptystes Preachynge in the The very Beggars Petition against Popery: wherein they lamentably complain to King Henry the Eighth of the Clergy; Presented to King Henry the Eighth in the twenty ninth year of his reign, Anno. Dom. 1538, eight years before his death, and now printed, verbatim, from a very old copy, only mending the autography, for the ease of the several sections, and collecting the contents, folio, containing An Epistle of the moste nyghty and redouted Prince, Henry the viii. by the Grace of God, Kyng of England, and of Fraunce, Lorde of Irelande, defender of the faithe, and supreme head of the church of England, nexte under Christe. writen to the Emperours Maiestie, to all Christen Princes, and to all those that trewly and syncerely professe Christes religion. London, printed by John Berthelet, A Lamentable aud piteous Treatise, very necessarie for euerie Chris- ten manne to reade, wherin is contayned, not onely the high enter- prise and valeauntnes of Themperon Charles the v. and his army, (in his voyage made to the towne of Argier in Affrique, agaynst the Turckes, the enemyes of the Christen fayth, thinhabitoures of the same) but also the myserable chaunces of wynde and wether, with dytierse other aduersites, hable to mone euen a stonye hearte to bewayle the same, and to pray to God for his ayde and succoure. Whiche was written and sent unto the Lorde of Langest. Truly and dylygently translated out of Latyn into Frenche, and out of Frenche into English. 1542. Ricardus Grafton excudebat, cum Priuilegio ad imprimendum solum. 8vo. containing twenty seven pages. ... 232 A Brete Chronycle concerning the Examinacion and Death of the blessed Martir of Christ, Sir Iohan Oldcastell, the Lord Cobham, colected together by Iohan Bale. Imprinted at London, by Anthony Scoloker, and Wyllyam Seres, dwelling without Aldersgate. Cum |