O happy _Greece_ for Eloquence, that hast celebrated the fortune of thy _Heroes_ trifling Adventures! who shall set forth and immortalize the glory of our illustrious Prince, and advance Great _CHARLES_ to the skies? You had Poets indeed that sung the fate of an unfortunate Lady, the theft of a simple fleece; what wouldst thou have done, had the glorious Actions of such a King been spread before thee, who has not robbed with Armies, depopulated Cities, or violated the Rights of Hospitality; but restor'd a broken Nation, repair'd a ruin'd Church, reform'd, and re-establish'd our ancient Laws; in summe, who has at once render'd us perfectly happy? What then have we to do with _Augustus_, or _Titus_, with _Trajan_, _Hadrian_, _Antoninus_, _Theodosius_ or even _Constantine_ himself? There is not in any, there is not in all these Subjects more worthy of praise, and to which your Majesty; O best of Princes, ought at all to render. We are told _Periculosae rem aleae esse, de iis scribere quibus sis obstrictus_; because it is so difficult to observe a mediocrity, where our affections are engaged: But your Majesty is as secure from flattery, as your Virtues are above its reach; and to write thus of ill Princes, were both a shame and a punishment: For this the _Senate_ condemn'd the History of _Cremutius_ to the flames; and _Spartianus_ told _Dioclesian_ boldly, how hard it would be to write their Commentaries, except it were to record their Impudence, Murthers, Injustice, and the (for most part) fatal periods of Tyrants; which if any esteem a glory, you envy not, whilst your Majesty is resolv'd to secure your own by your virtue and your Justice; so as no age to come shall possibly find an aemulator, or produce an equall. ----_Fuerint aliis haec forte decora, Nulla potest Laus esse tibi quae crimina purget._ But I shall never have done with your obligations of the publick; and the measure which is assign'd me, would be too narrow but to mention briefly those your private and interiour perfections which crown your Majesties Person, and dazle our eyes more then the bright purple which this day invests you. To give instance in some; you are an excellent Master to your Domesticks. Their Lives, Conversations and Merits as well as Names, and Faces, are known to your Majesty as the Companions of _Caesar_ were: Honour is safe under your Banner, and the Court so well regulated, that there is no need of _Censors_ to inspect Mens Manners; _vita principis pro censura est_. He who knowes that every body eyes, speaks and writes of him, cannot in prudence, or think, or act things unworthy and abject: You Sir direct all your objects and motions so, as may recommend you to posterity; and even burn with desires of immortality, so as Histories may relate the Truth without fear or adulation.