Zayde a Spanish history, or, romance / originally written in French by Monsieur Segray ; done into English by P. Porter, Esq.

TO THE High-Born and Mighty PRINCE Henry Fits-Roy, Duke of Grafton, Earl of Eu∣ston, Vicount Ipswich, Baron of Loestoffe, &c.

My Lord,

THe Honour I had once to be Yours, gives me the bold∣ness to affix your Graces Name before this Book, made

English in your Service, at those vacant hours I could borrow from the Function of my Employment: It is a Romance, but so like a True Story, that your Grace may reap by it the use and pro∣fit of a true History. It was a good Tale in Monsieur Segrays dress, therefore I must humbly beg your Graces par∣don

if I have spoil'd it in the Telling.

The scope of it, is chiefly to shew the deformity of Treachery, Ingratitude, the Folly and Mischiefs of ill-grounded Jealousies; as also to punish Vice, and reward Vertue, though Vertue be

—Pulcherrima merces ipsa sibi—

Yet if not cultivated and ap∣plyed, it may be truly said of her, as in this our Age is made out;

—Virtus Laudatur & alget.

But if we may ground our Conjectures upon those early Rayes of hopeful Good∣ness, which breaks forth like a glorious Morn from your tender Years, we may with

Assurance promise the World that You will not starve her.

And that the Riches and Beauty of your Mind, will in time out-shine that of your Body; in which, although the Majesty of your Great Sire, and the lovely features of your Mother, at once dasle and surprize the eyes and the

hearts of all that see you; yet the clearness of your Un∣derstanding, the quickness of your Apprehension, the hap∣piness of your Memory, your Gracefulness and Manly car∣riage in performing all your Exercises, your Solidity in Reasoning, well-grounded assurance in Discoursing, even with the greatest and most

Learned men, may confirm us in our most assured Hope (that if the Almighty be graciously pleased to pro∣long your Life) you will out-doe our just expectations of You.

And that when you are called by the Prerogative of your Blood, to publick Em∣ployments, you will embrace

them, not as prises of Am∣bition, Oppression, Injustice, and Covetousness, but as your proper Sphere wherein you will move, most usefully for the Service of God, the safety and honour of your Prince and Country, nourishing Arts and Vertue wheresoever you find them:

And that when all occa∣sions

of the publick are at a stand, you will be able most profitably to actuate upon your self, as the properest object of your Industry, God having made you so rich a Soil, that you will be still improvable, and rather chuse to bestow your time in Cultivating the rich mines of your Great and Princely Soul

(of which you give daily most clear demonstrations to all those that have the ho∣nour to Converse with you) than to suffer your self to be carryed away by the ill managery of others, or by the example or imitation of such who Mispend their times in evil Conversation and worse Manners, and that you will

not let so hopeful a Field produce a degenerate Crop; having this Maxim still in mind, That 'tis Ʋertue alone that can make you powerful and happy, and that nothing but Ʋice, and the practise thereof can debase what was intended so Great.

I therefore most humbly beseech your Grace to par∣don

this my boldness, and to accept this small Oblation of this First Part of Zayd, with that goodness which is so na∣tural to you, from one, whose chiefest Ambition has been (since he had the honour to know and serve your Grace) to approve himself,

My Lord,

Your Graces most Obedient, and most Faithful Humble Servant P. Porter.