THE PREFACE ΤΟ ΤΗΕ READER. T HE following Treatife was compofed by that most Learned and Judicious Civilian FRANCIS HOTOMAN, a grave, fincere, and unexceptionable Author, even in the Opinion of his Adverfaries. This Book gives an Account of the Ancient Free State of above three Parts in four of all Europe and has of a long time appeared to me fo convincing and inftruEtive in those Important Points he handles, that I could not be fatisfied whilft it remained unknown, in a manner, to Englishmen; who, of all People living, have the greatest Reason to be thoroughly inftructed in what it contains; as having, on the One hand, the most to lose; and, on the Other, the leaft Sense of their Right to it. Therefore a fincere Defire of Inftructing the only Poffeffors of True Liberty in the World, what Right they have to that Liberty, of how great a Value it is, what Mifery follows the Lofs of it, and how eafily, if Care Care be taken in time, it may be preferved, has induced me to Tranilate and fend Abroad this fmall Treatife. And if it either opens the Eyes, or confirms the Honourable Refolutions of any of my Worthy Countrymen, I have gained a Glorious End; and done that in my Study, which I would have promoted any other way, if I had been called to it. I hope to dye with the Comfort of Believing, that Old England will continue to be a free Country, and know its felf to be fuch; that my Friends, Relations, and Children, with their Pofterity, will inherit their fhare of this ineftimable Bleffing, and that I have contributed my part to it. I have often wish'd, in regard to my Author, that he had o mitted his Nineteenth Chapter, wherein he difcovers a great A· verfion to Female-Governments; having nothing to say in Excufe of him, but that being a Lawyer and a Frenchman, he was Vindicating the Conftitution of his Country: Certain it is how lit tle favourable foever fuch Governments have proved to France) other Nations have never flourish'd more, in good Laws, Wealth and Conquefts, than under the Adminiftration of Women: There are not brighter, Characters in Antiquity, than of Semiramis, ThaleAris, Tbomiris, Zenobia, and many Others. I am fure our Ifland in parti |