Prefaces to Four Seventeenth-Century Romances / Roger Boyle, Lord Broghill, preface to Parthenissa (1655) Sir George Mackenzie, "Apologie for romances," prefixed to Aretina, the serious romance (1660) Nathaniel Ingelo, preface to Bentivolio and Urania (1660) Robert Boyle, preface to Theodora and Didymus (1687)

by Earl of Orrery Roger Boyle; Nathaniel Ingelo; George Mackenzie

AND

URANIA,

IN

FOUR BOOKES.

By N. I. D. D.

LONDON:
Printed by J. G. for Richard Marriot, and are to be
sold at his shop in Saint Dunstans Church-yard Fleetstreet.
MDCLX.

A
PREFACE
TO THE
READER,
CONCERNING
The Design of this Book.

T is justly esteemed by those which know themselves, as the onely work that is worthy of wise men, so to employ their better faculties and improve their time, that at last they may obtain an End, in which they may rejoyce eternally: After a sincere intention of this End, to prosecute it with a constant use of fit means, is the Character of a Prudent and Good man. Those which govern not their life by this Principle, do either suffer themselves to be benum’d with Idleness, or abuse the activity of their Souls in some vain employment.