is euthanasia." He died in 1735.



AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

When I was first called to the office of historiographer to John
Bull, he expressed himself to this purpose:--"Sir Humphrey
Polesworth,* I know you are a plain dealer; it is for that reason I
have chosen you for this important trust; speak the truth and spare
not." That I might fulfil those his honourable intentions, I
obtained leave to repair to, and attend him in his most secret
retirements; and I put the journals of all transactions into a
strong box, to be opened at a fitting occasion, after the manner of
the historiographers of some eastern monarchs: this I thought was
the safest way; though I declare I was never afraid to be chopped**
by my master for telling of truth. It is from those journals that
my memoirs are compiled: therefore let not posterity a thousand
years hence look for truth in the voluminous annals of pedants, who
are entirely ignorant of the secret springs of great actions; if
they do, let me tell them they will be nebused.***

* A Member of Parliament, eminent for a certain cant in his
conversation, of which there is a good deal in this book.
** A cant word of Sir Humphrey's.
*** Another cant word, signifying deceived.

With incredible pains have I endeavoured to copy the several
beauties of the ancient and modern historians; the impartial temper
of Herodotus, the gravity, austerity, and strict morals of