He often invited Mr. Selden and me togither to his houfe 1654. to dinners, where we had great cheer, and greater learning July 17. in excellent difcourfe, wherof himselfe bare a chiefe part.

I was the more frequent with him, being god-father to one of his fons, and Mr. Selden the other god-father, which brought us two the oftener togither to his house to see our god-fon; and, even in fuch meetings as thefe, I gained very much of knowledge from the most learned and rationall discourses of Mr. Selden.

APPEND. I X.

I

VIRGIL. 2. Æneid..
PROV. iv. I.

F you heare your father cenfured, as probably you will, for a vaine often-· tation, or prefumption, to write the annales of his own life, though the cenfurers heare nothing butt the title of the booke, which is more than: I intend should be publifhed; yett, for your fatisfaction, and to inable you to anfwear for me, if there fhould be occafion, I have thought fitt, before I begin the worke, to give a fhort account of the grounds and motives of it.

Deus nobis hæc otia fecit. God was pleased to reduce me to this leifure, in: a privacy more then accustomed, and therin to a frame of the heart for the review of my former courfe of life, wherby I might become more fencible of the errors of my wayes, more penitent for them, and more frequent in feeking to God for pardon.

My

My labours and hazards for the publique have bin very great, as you will fee in these annales; and likewife, that the remembrance and reward of them, from fome of thofe with whom I was ingaged, and for whom I did most adventure, hath bin envy, and indeavour to ruine me, had not the clemency of our king and parlement interpofed.

It is therefore the more excufable, if now, being out of publique affayres, I betake my felfe to my private affayres and confiderations; especially having, through the goodnes of God, uppon me, the charge and care of a numerous family.

The politique old fayings, of Partim Patriæ, &c. Dulce et decorum eft pro patria mori, and the like, I paffe by; and though I fhall never discourage you in your duetyes to the publique, which I acknowledge uppon every one; and do advise you with all readyness and industry, to ferve your king and countrey:

And yett, I fhall likewife counfell you, that if you fhall be fo happy, as to be ferviceable to your countrey, which, I hope, you will, that you do not expect much recompence from them, nor too much neglect your private families; as perhaps fome of your friends have done, to ferve thofe who will fcarce thanke you for any of your labours.

The opinion of that ingenious and wise statesman, Grave Woolfeldt, seems not irrationall; who being in banishment, accounted that place his countrey, where he was best used, and which gave his prefent livelyhood, though farre distant from the place where he did first breath: and that his wife and children were the principall part of his countrey, wherefoever they were; and omne folum forti patria, quocunq; fub axe.

This may the more excufe my tinconcernement, as to the publique, in this worke, and my intention of it, as it is proper for my private family; and 'tis rather a duety, than boafting, for a father to inftruct his children, and no unprofitable way of inftruction, by example as well as præcept.

In the following annales, fome few particular examples may be fitt for imitation, more to be avoyded, both may be usefull, and this way the better fixed, and preferved in memory; the examples which you will find of others allowe the fame liberty, butt require the more attention.

Togither with the ftory of these annales, I have inferted fome notes of learning on feverall fubjects, as occafion is given, which may be a diversion, if not usefull to fome of you; I hope it will, and intend it fo: as likewise the abrigement, which you will heer find, of the publique ftory of your native countrey, which did coft me no fmalle labour in the collecting, and compofing of it.

Heer you will meet with feverall private, and perhaps you may judge triviall transactions, butt they are private, which is fome apology for them, and to me fomwhat out of them obfervable; and I wish, and believe, that moft of them may be fo to you; however, they are not intended by me for publique view.

7

You

You will alfo find heer, the tranfactions of feverall other private perfons, and of fome of the moft eminent: and whileft I write the annales of my owne life, I am therby put in mind, almost every year, of the death of some friend, or of fome perfons of publique imployment and quality.

Wherof I doe the rather take notice to remember our mortality, and the certain conclufion of all labours under the funne; and to tranfmit that confideration, with the examples of your age, and the memory of perfons. whofe actions are worthy of imitation, and of others whofe actions merit a deteftation.

All is recommended to the perufall, and intended for the inftruction of those of my own house, and allmost in every page, you will find a dedication to you, My deare Children,

Whom nature will perfwade to a beliefe of your father, telling you, that he feekes your good, and respects you more than any others; for which reafon chiefly he hath written, and commended to you thefe annales, not for your patronage, butt inftruction: the authority of a father needs no countenance, butt requires a due regard, and obfervance from his children.

Some of you are parents, and I hope more of you will be; and heer you: may find examples and præcepts for all relations, with the comforts and dif comforts in them; examples to be imitated, more to be avoyded; the duety of husbands and wives; of parents and of children; of mafters and of fervants; of fovereigns and of fubjects; and where there have bin any faylings.. Heer you may find fomwhat of the laws and governement of your native countrey, the most proper fubject for your father's pen; and of resemblances. to the politie of the Hebrewes, and of other nations, with fome (though weake) vindications, of the antiquity, juftice, and honour of the English lawes and people, cuftomes and governement..

Heer you may alfo find, fundry meditations, though confused, and unlearned expofitions uppon feverall texts of the holy fcripture, wherin I accounted my time beft fpent; and fo. may you account yours, that shall be spent uppon the like fubjects.

Butt heer arifeth another objection against me, that one of my profeffion, a common lawyer, educated in other studyes and sciences, fhould make choice of a subject so improper for him, fitter for a doctor of theologie, than for a counsellor att lawe, to treate uppon, who cannot be prefumed to be furnished. with learning or abilities for fuch a worke.

The latter part of the objection I acknowledge to be true, and unanswearable, my want of learning and abilities, for any mediations, or expofitions uppon the texts of holy fcripture; and indeed who is fufficient for thefe things?

That I have not neglected the ftudyes of my own calling, will fomwhat appear in these annales, where I have inferted divers of the labours of my study in my profeffion, the better to preferve them, for your use; and by other papers and manufcripts of mine, heer omitted; and by the many fmaHe volumes of common places (yett too many to have roome in this worke)

which.