PREFACE^ XXi 



sanction they give to the narrative, would, it^ 

 was thought, make a sufficient excuse for theii; 

 number. And, indeed, the design of intermix- 

 ing so many of his own letters, was not only to 

 give light, but credit too, to the whole perform- 

 ance. They are generally brought in as testi- 

 monies to the truth of the account, either to. 

 support matters of fact, as they are here related, 

 or to stand for specimens of his temper and 

 spirit, as they are here described ; or to vouch 

 for his principles in Church and State, as they 

 are here laid down. And of those letters that 

 were wrote to him, no more is made public than 

 what was necessary to the making what is said 

 of himself the more authentic. > 



j^ The compiler, indeed, of this work, was, in 

 justice to the Archbishop's correspondents, very 

 scrupulous on that article, and very sparing in 

 embellishing his work with original letters, 

 when he might have done it, such was his 

 opportunity, with a liberal hand, had it been 

 consistent with the honour and respect due to 

 them. 

 l In short, there is nothing of moment, through- 



