[Illustration: _View of Boscobel House, taken in 1792._] TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. SIR, Among the many addresses, which every day offers your sacred Majesty, this humbly hopes your particular gracious acceptance; since it has no other ambition, then faithfully to represent to your Majesty, and, by your royal permission, to all the world, the history of those miraculous providences that preserv'd you in the battle of Worcester, conceal'd you in the wilderness at Boscobel, and led you on your way towards a land, where you might safely expect the returning favours of Heaven; which now, after so long a tryal, have graciously heard our prayers, and abundantly crown'd your patience. And, as in the conduct of a great part of this greatest affair, it pleased God (the more to endear his mercies) to make choice of many very little, though fit instruments: So has my weakness, by this happy president, been encourag'd, to hope it not unsuitable for me to relate, what the wisest King thought proper for them to act; wherein yet I humbly beg your Majesties pardon, being conscious to my self of my utter incapacity to expresse, either your unparallel'd valour in the day of contending, or (which is a vertue far less usual for Kings) your strong and even mind in the time of your sufferings. From which sublime endowments of your most Heroick Majesty I derive these comforts to my self, That whoever undertakes to reach at your perfections, must fall short as well as I, though not so much: And while I depend on your royal clemency more then others, I am more obliged to be Your Majesties Most loyal Subject, And most humble Servant, THO. BLOUNT. TO THE READER. _Behold, I present you with an_ History of Wonders; _wonders so rare and great, that, as no former age can parallel, succeeding times will scarce believe them._ _Expect here to read the highest tyranny and rebellion that was ever acted by subjects, and the greatest hardships and persecutions that ever were suffer'd by a_ King; _yet did his patience exceed his sorrows, and his vertue at last became victorious._ _Some particulars, I confess, are so superlatively extraordinary, that I easily should fear, they would scarce gain belief, even from my modern reader, had I not this strong argument to secure me, That no ingenuous person will think me so frontless, as knowingly to write an untruth in an history, where_ His Sacred Majesty _(my dread Soveraign and the best of Kings) bears the principal part, and all the other persons concern'd in the same action_ (_except the_ Earl of Darby _and_ Lord Wilmot) _still alive, ready to poure out shame and confusion on so impudent a forgery._