My Lord,

If the Application of too great a Part of my Time to the unprofitable Love and Study of Poetry, has been an Imputation, perhaps, justly enough charg'd upon me; I am bound, by the first Principles of Duty and Gratitude, to own, that it is by Your Grace's immediate Goodness that I have

at length an Opportunity of turning my Thoughts a better and more useful Way. The Honour of Your Grace's Protection and Favour, has something in it which distinguishes it self from that of other Great Men; the Benefit of it is extensive, and to have a share in Your Grace's good Opinion, is to be entitled, at least, to some Esteem and Regard from Your Grace's illustrious Friends, that is, from those who fill up the first and best Rank of Mankind. Whatever I am or can be, (if I am ever to be any thing) is all Your Grace's. It is an Acknowledgment that I make, with as much Satisfaction as Pride; and I don't know whether the Obligation I lye under, or the Benefit I receive from it, be capable of giving me the greater Pleasure. Some Dependances are indeed a Pain, tho' they bring considerable Advantages along with them; but where there is a gracious Temper, an easie Condescension, and a Readiness to do Good equal to the Magnificence of the Giver, the Value of that Gift must certainly be very much enhanc'd. 'Tis my particular Happiness, that Your Grace is the best Benefactor I could have; for as I am capable

of making no Return, Your Grace never thinks of receiving one. I have indeed one thing still to beg, That as Your Grace receiv'd me into Your favourable Opinion, without any Pretension that could be made on my side, I may have the Honour to continue there, by my first Title, Your Grace's meer Goodness.

Tho' it be high time to disclaim those Studies, with which I have amus'd my self and other People; yet I could not take leave of an Art I have long lov'd, without commending the best of our Poets to the Protection of the best Patron. I have sometimes had the Honour to hear Your Grace express the particular Pleasure you have taken in that Greatness of Thought, those natural Images, those Passions finely touch'd, and that beautiful Expression which is every where to be met with in Shakespear. And that he may still have the Honour to entertain Your Grace, I have taken some Care to redeem him from the Injuries of former Impressions. I must not pretend to have restor'd this Work to the Exactness of the Author's Original Manuscripts: Those are lost, or, at least, are gone beyond any Inquiry I

could make; so that there was nothing left, but to compare the several Editions, and give the true Reading as well as I could from thence. This I have endeavour'd to do pretty carefully, and render'd very many Places Intelligible, that were not so before. In some of the Editions, especially the last, there were many Lines, (and in Hamlet one whole Scene) left out together; these are now all supply'd. I fear Your Grace will still find some Faults, but I hope they are mostly litteral, and the Errors of the Press. Such as it is, it is the best Present of English Poetry I am capable of making Your Grace. And I believe I shall be thought no unjust Disposer of this, the Author's Estate in Wit, by humbly Offering it where he would have been proud to have Bequeath'd it.

The Present Age is indeed an unfortunate one for Dramatick Poetry; she has been persecuted by Fanaticism, forsaken by her Friends, and oppress'd even by Musick, her Sister and confederate Art, that was formerly employ'd in her Defence and Support. In such perillous Times, I know no Protection for Shakespear, more Safe nor more Honourable than Your Grace's: 'Tis the best

Security a Poet can ask for, to be shelter'd under that Great Name which presides over One of the most Famous Universities of Europe. To do publick Benefits, is indeed an Honour Natural and Hereditary to Your Grace's illustrious Family; 'tis to that Noble Stock we owe our Edward the Sixth; a Prince of the greatest Hopes which that or any other Age ever produc'd: A Prince, whose uncommon Proficiency in Learning made him the Wonder of his own Time; whose Care for his People will distinguish him among the best of our Kings, and whose Piety and Zeal for the true Religion, will preserve his Name Dear and Sacred to our Church for ever. But if we look back so high as the Reformation, 'twill be impossible not to remember the Share Your Grace's Noble Ancestor had in that good Work: He was the Defence and Ornament of it in his Life, and the Martyr of it in his Dearh. Since it is most certain, that those wicked and ambitious Men, who design'd the Subversion of Church and State, and of whom the Chief dy'd a profest Papist, could not propose to have brought about those fatal Designs, 'till they had first remov'd the Duke of Somerset.

I need not tell the World how well Your Grace has follow'd the Examples of Honour and Virtue in your own Family. The Establish'd Church, the Crown and Your Country, have receiv'd many Eminent Testimonies of Your unalterable Zeal for their Service, and unshaken Resolution in their Defence. There was a Time, somewhat above twenty Years ago, when the pernicious Councils of some Men put the Crown upon taking such Measures as might have been fatal in the last Degree to both Our Religious and Civil Liberties; when they had the Hardiness not only to avow a Religion equally destructive to the Church and State, but did even presume to bring in a publick Minister from the Bishop of Rome, as it were in Defiance of Our Constitution, and in Triumph over Our Laws: It was then, I say, that they thought it highly necessary to their Purpose, that a Man of the first Quality and Figure in England, should countenance so bold and unexampled an Undertaking. They pitch'd upon one, 'tis true, whose known Love of his Country might in a good measure have taken off the Odiousness of that Action,

and even allay'd the Apprehensions of Danger, which on such an Occasion People naturally had. It must be own'd, that they had thought prudently for themselves; but they were highly mistaken in the Man they had chosen, and found him to be above all Temptation; such a one, whom neither the Respect he bore to the Person of the Prince, (which was very great) nor the Menaces of an insolent Faction, could prevail upon, for any Regards, to do Violence to his Country, or engage in any thing which might be an Offence to his Honour and Conscience.

It is with Pleasure, my Lord, that we compare the troublesome Condition of those past Times, with the Security of these present. And I cannot but Congratulate Your Grace upon the Prosperity and Success of Her Majesty's Counsels, in the great Juncture of Affairs which now draws the Eyes and Expectations of all Europe. Never, certainly, was there a fairer Prospect of Happiness than that which now rises to our View. There appears to be a general Disposition for Unanimity and good Agreement at Home, as for Peace Abroad. These

are the great Rewards given to the Piety of the Best of Queens: And it seems a Blessing peculiarly reserv'd for Her, to save, not only Europe in General, but even France, her Enemy, from the last Ruin. That Your Grace may long enjoy the Happiness of that Peace, which in Your several high Stations, either as a Patriot to Your Country, or a faithful Councellor to the Queen, You have so largely contributed to, is the most humble and hearty Wish of, my Lord,

Your GRACE's
Most Oblig'd,
Most Devoted, and
Obedient Humble Servant,
N. Rowe.

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