Dedication: To Sir Willoughby d'Ewes, Baronet

To Sir Willoughby D'Ewes, Baronet.

SIR,

ALthough none can have so good Title to your Father's Labours as your Self, and the improvement of his Posterity by them was his great desire; yet he did not intend to confine them to his own Family, but his Study tended to the publick good. Amongst those very many and large Volumes Written by his own hand, and his Servants, I made choice thoroughly to revise these fournals, in the Collecting of which, the most indefatigably Industrious Author imployed much Time, Labour and Cost, constantly endeavouring to find out the Truth, and faithfully and impartially relating the same. In his own Preface (to which there needs no other to be added) he doth declare his Credentials and Vouchers, and also the Usefulness of the Work. But there are several other good purposes, to which these Journals are very conducible, not particularly mentioned in his Preface: Yet I shall name but two, The one to be a discovery of the true intent and meaning of some Acts of Parliament of those times which are now controverted; The other to be a just representation of that Sincerity, Perspicuity and Unreservedness with which the Members of Parliament then exprest their Minds and gave their Advice, that there was no difficulty to understand them. The Authority and substantial Excellency of these Collections (especially since the Original Journal Books are not now extant) and their rarity do sufficiently recommend them to all Judicious Persons, and did abundantly convince me, that I could do no better service to my Country, nor greater Justice to the Memory of my Worthy Uncle, than to publish this Monument of his Fame; Nor do I know how duly to express my thankfulness to you otherwise than by this publick acknowledgment; as of your many other Favours, so in particular for my free access unto, and use of your well stored Library, which hath furnisht me with this opportunity to subscribe my self

Your most Obliged

Humble Servant,

PAUL BOWES.