TO HIS MOST SACRED MAJESTY WILLIAM III.

King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, &c.

THE PUBLISHER's EPISTLE TO THE READER

The Collection of the following Letters is owing to the diligence ofMr. Thomas Downton, who was one of Sir William Temple's Secretaries, during the whole time wherein they bear date. And it has succeeded very fortunately for the Publick, that there is contained in them an Account of all the chief Transactions and Negotiations, which passed in Christendom during the seven Years, wherein they are dated; as, The War with Holland, which began in 1665: The Treaty between His Majesty and the Bishop of Munster, with the Issue of it: The French Invasion of Flanders in the Year 1667: The Peace concluded between Spain and Portugal, by the King's Mediation: The Treaty at Breda; The Tripple Alliance; and The Peace of Aix la Chapelle in the first Part. And in the second Part; theNegotiations in Holland in consequence of those Alliances, with the Steps and Degrees, by which they came to decay: The Journey and Death of Madame: The seisure of Lorrain, and his Excellency's recalling; with the first Unkindness between England and Holland, upon the Yatch's transporting his Lady and his Family: And the beginning of the second Dutch War in 1672.

With these are intermixt several Letters, familiar and pleasant.

I found the Book among Sir William Temple's Papers, with many others, wherewith I had the opportunity of being long conversant, having passed several Years in his Family.

I pretend no other Part, than the Care, that Mr. Downton's Book should be correctly transcribed, and the Letters placed, in the Order they were writ. I have also made some literal amendments, especially in the Latin, French and Spanish: These I have taken Care should be translated and printed in another Column, for the Use of such Readers as may be unacquainted with the Originals.