I found this an insuperable difficulty, since they manage with such vile Art, as to keep all Proofs of that sort from our Knowledge, so I knew no better method to vilify their measures, and serve his Majesty and my Country, then shewing the World, that notwithstanding the popular Cry of the Prosperity of our Affairs, there will, some Ages hence, be much greater and more successful Ministers than they are, and who, by the by, may then remember to their Posterity, the little respect these Gentlemen pay one of their Ancestors now, whom (out of that Modesty so natural to all great Spirits) I shall not mention here.
Another reason, which, I must own, induced me to present the World with this Work, was, that the busy inquisitive Sages and Politicians of these times, may have some more Employment given to their restless Tempers. For as Charles II. by publickly setting up new Systems of Philosophy, diverted his unmanageable Subjects from disturbing the ancient Forms of Government, and by amusing them with searching into the Revolutions of the Heavens, kept them from contriving new ones upon Earth; or (not to grudge the Reader another instance of equalforce)
