The memoirs of the Count de Rochefort containing an account of what past most memorable, under the ministry of Cardinal Richelieu and Cardinal Mazarin, with many particular passages of the reign of Lewis the Great / made English from the French.

PREFACE.

THE Translation of this Book may perhaps stand in as much need of an Apology as another, to make some Ex∣cuse for a great many Errors; but the Translator professes, he has that indiffe∣rence for it, that he had rather own 'em all, and leave it to the Readers Discretion to damn or forgive 'em, as he pleases, than trouble himself any more about it.

For one Excuse, amongst a thousand others us'd upon these occasions, he might say that the Translation suffers extream∣ly for want of Leisure, but he has not the Face to pretend such a thing, when

'tis but too apparent that it suffers indeed for want of a little Application. This Negligence is his Ʋnhappiness, but too late to be helpt now: Nay, what's worse, if it was to be done again, 'tis to be fear'd he could not be prevaild on to take the pains to revise it, for the Reputation of Writing never so cor∣rectly.

As for the Work it self; the Transla∣tor when he read it, fancy'd he found something more pleasant and entertaining in it than ordinary, and that engag'd him to make it English, which when he had once undertaken, he was no longer at liberty to reject some other things that to him appear'd trifling enough. To make amends for which it must be con∣fest, that thro the whole Book there is a great Variety of very surprising Passages, and that most of 'em are very diverting. If any doubts the truth of them, he is referr'd to the French Preface, which is

writ on purpose to justify the Author's Sincerity. Tho after all, the passage about his Birth is reckon'd by some not only a doubtful Story, but an Impossibility: But perhaps he might himself be impos'd on in that; for 'tis no New Practice to call such Births Miraculous, which hap∣pen a little too soon for the Credit of the Family.

As for the Stile, if after what has been said the Reader will be so unrea∣sonable, as to expect the Language in the Translation to be very pure and just, he must be inform'd, that the Original in that respect is none of the most finisht pieces in its own Tongue. For tho the Author was a person of Quality, and of extraordinary Parts and Address, yet 'twas his Misfortune, that his Education was not only far from that of a Man of Learning, but much inferior to his Con∣dition.

His Subject, is the Particularities of his own Life, which requir'd no more than a free, easy, and natural Style, and that he has for the most part observ'd well enough. 'Tis sufficient then if the Translator has not mistaken his Sense, and that 'tis hop'd he has not done, nor in the main done him any great Injury.