Among the many addresses, which every day offers your sacred
Majesty, this humbly hopes your particular gracious acceptance;
since it has no other ambition, then faithfully to represent to
your Majesty, and, by your royal permission, to all the world, the
history of those miraculous providences that preserv'd you in the
battle of Worcester, conceal'd you in the wilderness at Boscobel,
and led you on your way towards a land, where you might safely
expect the returning favours of Heaven; which now, after so long a
tryal, have graciously heard our prayers, and abundantly crown'd
your patience.
And, as in the conduct of a great part of this greatest affair, it
pleased God (the more to endear his mercies) to make choice of many
very little, though fit instruments: So has my weakness, by this
happy president, been encourag'd, to hope it not unsuitable for me
to relate, what the wisest King thought proper for them to act;
wherein yet I humbly beg your Majesties pardon, being conscious to
my self of my utter incapacity to expresse, either your
unparallel'd valour in the day of contending, or (which is a vertue
far less usual for Kings) your strong and even mind in the time of
your sufferings.
From which sublime endowments of your most Heroick Majesty I derive
these comforts to my self, That whoever undertakes to reach at your
perfections, must fall short as well as I, though not so much: And
while I depend on your royal clemency more then others, I am more
obliged to be