FOR THE Clark, HISTORY Of the Lait PARLIAMENT. Began at WESTMINSTER, The Tenth Day of February, in To which is added, The Short Defence of the laft Parliament, &'c. By the fame Author. The Second Edition. Hinc fpargere voces. In vulgum ambiguas, & quærere confcius arma. LONDON, Virg. Printed for Fra Coggan in the Inner-Temple-Lane то Anthony Hammond, Efq;. SIR, A N Honeft Zeal for the wel. fare of the Publick, anda juft indignation to see the laft House of Commons fo unworthily treated, mov'd me to write this Hiftory, and the gene ral acceptance it has met with from all honeft Gentlemen, gave me refolution to Infcribe it to you. A Friendship fo largely begun, and fo long continued as ours, might have claim'd a more timely Addrefs. But I prefum'd not fo far upon my own performance as to grace it with a Friends name, till A 2 the the fuccefs did in a manner warrant my Confidence. However, I am not yet fo vain, as not to difcern, that the kind reception it hath met with, is owing more to the honefty of the Intention, and the Juftice of the Caufe, than to the skill of the Author, or the merit of his performance. It is ufual to say something in these Cases to the Person Addrefs'd to, not perhaps what is thought of him, but what is intended he he fhou'd believe is thought of him. For that reason the good things I have to say of you, fhall be faid behind your Back, where they will be better received, and less fufpected than by yourself. It has been the endeavour of fome to fright us out of our Liber ties with the apprehenfions of Sla |