On the Day of His INAUGURATION,
_April 23._ MDCLXI.


I have decreed with myself (O best and greatest of Kings!) to publish the
just resentiments of a heart, perfectly touch'd with the Joy and Universal
Acclamations of your People, for your this dayes Exaltation and glorious
investiture. And truly, it was of custome us'd to good and gracious
Princes, upon lesser occasions, to pronounce and celebrate their merits
with Elogies and Panegyrics; but if ever they were due, it is to your
Majesty this Day; because as your Virtues are superiour to all that pass'd
before you; so is the Conjuncture, and the steps by which you are happily
ascended to it, Miraculous, and alltogether stupendious: So that what the
former Ages might produce to deprecate their fears, or flatter the
Inclinations of a Tyrant, we offer spontaneously, and by Instinct, without
Artifice to your Serene Majesty, our just and rightfull Soveraign. And if
in these expressions of it, and the formes we use, it were possible to
exceed, and so offend your Modesty; herein only (great Sir) do we not fear
to disobey you; since it is not in your power to deny us our rejoycing,
nor indeed in ours, to moderate. Permit us therefore (O best of Kings) to
follow our genius, and to consecrate your Name, and this dayes exaltation
to that posterity which you alone have preserved, and which had certainly
seen its period, but for your happy Restauration; so that your Majesty
does not so much accept a benefit from, as give it to your Subjects. For
though the fulness of this Dayes joy, be like the seven years of plenty;
yet, is that bread far more sweet, which is eaten with remembrance of the
past Famine (too bitter, alas! to be forgotten on the suddain) especially,
when it may serve to illustrate our present felicity, and conduce to your
Majesties glory: For so the skillful Artist, studious of making a
surprising peice, or representing some irradiated Deity, deepens the