The works of the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esq., epitomiz'd by Richard Boulton ... ; illustrated with copper plates.

TO THE Most Illustrious Prince WILLIAM, Duke of Bedford, Marquiss of Tavi∣stock, Earl of Bedford, Baron Rus∣sel, and Baron Russel of Thorn∣haugh, Baron Howland of Streat∣ham; Lord Lieutenant of the Coun∣ties of Bedford and Cambridge, and during the Minority of Wrichesly, (commonly called Marquiss of Tavi∣stock) his Grandson and Heir appa∣rent, Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex; as also Custos Rotulorum for the said County and the Liberties of West∣minster; One of the Lords of his Ma∣jesty's most Honourable Privy Council, and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter.

May it please your Grace,

THE Great and No∣ble Character which you have already obtain∣ed

in the World, hath justly obliged them both to applaud and admire You; and no Wonder then, that it should raise in me an Ambition to lay this at Your Feet; where whilst I lye secure from the Censure of the World under your Grace's Pa∣tronage, I have this great Advantage, that in what∣ever I can say, in relation to your Illustrious Cha∣racter, I cannot be Guil∣ty of Flattery; since the World universally agrees, that Your Noble Quali∣fications are not unworthy

so Noble a Prince; Your Sagacity and Judgment not being less conspicu∣ous in State Affairs, than your Virtue and Piety in Divine things; the For∣mer having rendred You both acceptable and ser∣viceable in Council, as the Latter have made You an Eminent and Illustri∣ous Example of Christia∣nity; so that You be∣come serviceable to your Country upon a double score; Your Virtues in∣cite your Admirers to pur∣sue and emulate Good A∣ctions, and your Wisdom

and Prudence contribute to the well Governing of a People, who are the more disposed to be Loyal and Good Subjects, the more by Example you promote Religion, which teaches them to obey: Upon which Account we may truly say, that You act not the Politician, but, what is much more diffi∣cult, like a Wise and Pru∣dent States-Man; You gain the People not by Stratagem, but Exam∣ple.

But on this Ocasion I can make use of no great∣er

Encomiums than what his Majesty hath been plea∣sed to Honour You with, in the Preamble to the Pa∣tent which creates you Duke, where He declares, in better Words than I am now Master of, that, as there was no Family in En∣gland more conspicuous in Virtue and Piety, so he thought himself obliged to give Testimony of it, by conferring that Ho∣nour on You, which You long before deserved.

But not to enlarge too much on a Subject which the World is so well ac∣quainted

with, I shall need to say no more, than that in Your Illustrious Person we may see all the just Qualifications of an English Nobleman concentered; since your Honour is sup∣ported not only by Titles, but Actions; so that Your Character is pure and un∣spotted, in a World ready to take the least occasion of Calumny and Aspersi∣on.

Let me therefore rather admire than endeavour to delineate so Noble and so Great a Character; which be it never so well copyed,

must come far short of its truly Illustrious Origi∣nal.

I shall therefore only add, that all Your Admi∣rers wish that You may long continue an Orna∣ment of the English Nati∣on, and a Standard of Ho∣nour and true Nobility; which are more particu∣larly the Wishes of,

May it please your Grace, Your most humble, and most devoted Servant, RICHARD BOULTON.