Clievelandi Vindiciæ, or, Clieveland's genuine poems, orations, epistles, &c. purged from the many false and spurious ones which had usurped his name, and from innumerable errours and corruptions in the true copies : to which are added many never printed before, with an account of the author's life.

To the Earl of Holland, then Chan∣cellour of the Vniversity of Cam∣bridge.

Right Honourable,

YOU have rais'd us to that height by writing unto us, that we dare at∣tempt an Answer; in which Presumption, if we have dishonoured your Lordship, you must blame your own Gentleness, like the Sun, who if he be mask'd with Clouds, may thank himself who drew up the Exhalati∣ons. Sir, they that assign Tutelar Angels, betroath them not only to Kingdoms and Cities, but to each Company. Your Good∣ness hovers not aloft in a general care of the University, but stoops by a peculiar Influence to every private College. That Omnipresence which Philosophy allots to the Soul, to be every where at once through the whole Man, your Noble Diligence exemplifies in us. There is not the least Joynt of our Body, but in its Life and Spirits confesses the Chancellour. Nor have we in special the least share of your Favours, as appears by many pregnant Demonstrations of your Love; among

which this is not the meanest, that you would deign to require our Service. To offend against so Gracious a Patron, would add a Tincture to our Disobedience; yet such is the Iniquity of our Condition, that we are forced to defer our Gratitude. We have many in the College, whose Fortunes were at the last Gasp; and if not now reliev'd, their hopes extinct: Whereas he whom your Lordship commends, gives us farther day of Payment by his green years. He is yet but young, but the Beams of your Favour will ripen him the sooner for the like Preferment; which if it please your Lordship to antedate by a present Accep∣tance of our future Obedience, We shall gladly persevere in our old Title of.