To the PR INCE. 



nefs Grand- father of bJeffcd memory, and Your Royal 

 Father now Reigning ; and it was their glory that he 

 lived in their times j and will be the eternal honour of 

 this Nation, that the Greateji Kings and the Createfi 

 Thilofophet met together in one age , in one Ifland- 

 By the favour of his Prince^ who well knew the value of 

 Learning and Learned men, he was raifed to the higheft 

 dignities in the Civil ftate , and by his own happy Geni- 

 us , to the higheft degree in the ftate of Learning.' 

 which was the greateft wonder of the two i being fuch 

 incompatible perfe£lions, and divided, enough to fill up 

 the Sphere of the greateft ablities alive. Yet with great 

 applaufe he a6ted both thefe high parts, of the greateft 

 Scholar, and the greateft States-man of his time ; and Co 

 quit himfelf jn bottr, as one and the fame Perfon, in 

 title and merit 5 became Lord Keeper of the Great Seal 

 of England^ and of the Great Seal of Nature both at 

 once 5 which is a Myftery beyond the comprehenfion of 

 his own times, and a Miracle requires a great meafure 

 of -Faith in Pofterity i, to believe it. This is the Author 

 I here prefent unto Tour Highnefs ^ this his work , 

 which by the powerful influence of Your favour fhall 

 profper, and, it may be, be quickned to the regeneration 

 of another Phoznix out of his Afhes , to adorn your 

 World : for it is only the benign afpeft , and irradiati- 

 on of Princes, that infpires the Glob of Learning, and 

 makes Arts and Sciences, grow up and flouriHi. Heaven 

 blcfs Tour Highnejs with bleffings on the right hand, and 

 on the left, and make You Heir of all the vertues of 

 your Royal Progenitors , that the Honour of Princes 



begun 



