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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.

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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

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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 true occasion of his fall, and the treachery and cruelty of the
French, 4to, containing four pages

The Speech of his Highness the Lord Protector, made to both Houses
of Parliament at their first meeting, on Thursday the 27th of
January, 1658, 4to, containing four pages. And
His late Highness's Letter to the Parliament of England; shewing
his willingness to submit to this present government: attested under
his own hand, and read in the house on Wednesday the 25th of
May, 1659, 4to, containing two pages
The Plots of the Jesuits, viz. of Adam Contzen, a Moguntine, Tho-
mas Campanella, a Spaniard, and Robert Parsons, an Englishman,
&c. how to bring England to the Roman Religion, without tumult,
1658, 4to, containing twelve pages

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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,
Esq. 1677, 4to, containing eight pages

The Mischiefs and Unreasonableness of endeavouring to deprive his
Majesty of the Affections of his Subjects, by misrepresenting him
and his Ministers, 1681, 4to, containing eight pages

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A Word without Doors, concerning the Bill of Succession, 4to, con-
taining twelve pages

Robin Conscience: or, Conscionable Robin; his progress through
court, city, and country, with his bad entertainment at each several
place, &c. 1683, 12mo, containing twenty four pages
An Address agreed upon at the Committee for the French War, and
read in the House of Commons, April the 19th, 1689, folio, con-
taining four pages

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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.

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