annotations upon several dozens; from fome of which I fhall impart a few hints to the candid reader, as far as will be neceffary to the conclufion at which I aim.

The first piece I have handled, is that of Tom Thumb, whofe author was a Pythagorean philofopher. This dark treatise contains the whole fcheme of the metemPfychofis, deducing the progrefs of the foul through all her ftages.

The next is Dr. Fauftus, penned by Artephius, an author bone note, and an adeptus. He published it in the mine-hundredth-eighty-fourth year of his age. This writer proceeds wholly by reincrudation, or in the via humida and the marriage between Fauftus and Helen does moft confpicuously dilucidate the fermenting of the male and female dragon.

:

Whittington and his cat is the work of that mysterious Rabbi, Jehuda Hannafi; containing a defence of the Gemara of the Jerufalem Mifnat, and its juft preference to that of Babylon, contrary to the vulgar opinion.

The Hind and Panther. This is the mafter-piece of a famous writer now living t, intended for a complete abstract of fixteen thousand schoolmen from Scotus to Bellarmin.

Tommy Potts. Another piece fuppofed by the fame hand, by way of fupplement to the former.

The wife n men of Goatham, cum appendice. This is a treatise of immenfe erudition; being the great original and fountain of thofe arguments, bandied about both in France and England, for a juft defence of the moderns learning and wit against the prefumption, the pride, and ignorance of the ancients. This unknown author hath fo exhaufted the subject, that a penetrating reader will eafily difcover whatever hath been written fince upon that difpute to be little more than repetition. An

The chymifts fay of him in their books, that he prolonged his life to a thousand years, and then died voluntarily. Hawkes. The Gemara is the decifion, explanation, or interpretation of the Jewish rabbies: and the Mifna is properly the code or body of the Jewish civil or common law. Hawkef.

Viz. in the 1698.

abftra&

abstract of this treatife hath been lately publifhed by a worthy member of our fociety *.

These notices may ferve to give the learned reader an idea, as well as a tafte, of what the whole work is likely to produce; wherein I have now altogether circumfcribed my thoughts and my ftudies; and, if I can bring it to a perfection before I die, fhall reckon I have well employed the poor remains of an unfortunate life +. This indeed is more than I can justly expect from a quill worn to the pith in the fervice of the state, in pro's and con's upon Popish plots, and meal-tubs, and exclufion-bills, and paffive obedience, and addresses of lives and fortunes ; and prerogative, and property, and liberty of confcience, and letters to a friend: from an understanding and a confcience thread-bare and ragged with perpetual turning; from a head broken in a hundred places by the malignants of the oppofite factions; and from a body spent with poxes ill cured, by trusting to bawds and furgeons, who, as it afterwards appeared, were profeffed enemies to me and the government, and revenged their party's quarrel upon my nofe and fhins. Fourfcore and eleven pamphlets have I written under three reigns, and for the fervice of fix and thirty factions. But, finding the ftate has no farther occafion for me and my ink, I retire willingly to draw it out into fpeculations more becoming a philofopher; having, to my unfpeakable comfort, paffed a long life with a confcience void of offence.

But to return: I am affured from the reader's candor, that the brief fpecimen I have given, will eafily clear all the reft of our fociety's productions from an afperfion grown, as it is manifeft, out of envy and ignorance, That they are of little farther ufe or value to mankind beyond the common entertainments of their wit and their ftyle; for these I am fure have never yet

This I fuppofe to be understood of Mr. Wotton's discourse of ancient and modern learning.

Here the author feems to perfonate L'Eftrange, Dryden, and fome others, who, after having paffed their lives in vices.. faction, and falfehood, have the impudence to talk of merit, and innocence, and fufferings.

In King Charles II.'s time, there was an account of a Pref byterian plot, found in a tub, which then made much noise.

been

been difputed by our keenest adverfaries: in both which, as well as the more profound and myftical part, I have throughout this treatife closely followed the most applauded originals. And to render all complete, I have, with much thought and application of mind, fo ordered, that the chief title prefixed to it, I mean, that under which I defign it fhall pafs in the common converfations of court and town, is modelled exactly after the manner peculiar to our fociety.

I confess to have been fomewhat liberal in the business of titles*, having obferved the humour of multiplying them to bear great vogue among certain writers, whom I exceedingly reverence. And indeed it seems not unreasonable, that books, the children of the brain, fhould have the honour to be christened with variety of names, as well as other infants of quality. Our famous Dry-den has ventured to proceed a point farther, endeavour-ing to introduce alfo a. multiplicity of godfathers † ; which is an improvement of much more advantage, upon a very obvious account. It is a pity this admirable invention has not been better cultivated, fo as to grow by this time into general imitation, when fuch an authority ferves it for a precedent. Nor have my endeavours been wanting to fecond fo useful an example: but it feems, there is an unhappy expence ufually annexed to the calling of a godfather, which was clearly out of my head, as it is very reasonable to believe. Where the pinch lay, I cannot certainly affirm; but having employed a world of thoughts and pains to fplit my trea tife into forty fections, and having intreated forty lords of my acquaintance, that they would do me the honour to ftand, they all made it a matter of conscience, and fent me their excuses.

The title page in the original was fo torn, that it was not poffible to recover feveral titles, which the author here fpeaks of..

See Virgil tranflated, &c. He dedicated the different parts of Virgil to different patrons.

SECT.

49

SECT. II.

Nce upon a time, there was a man who had three

could the midwife tell certainly which was the eldest. Their father died while they were young; and upon his death-bed, calling the lads to him, fpoke thus:

Sons, Because I have purchased no eftate, nor was born to any, I have long confidered of fome good legacies to bequeath you; and at laft, with much care as well as expence, have provided each of you (here they are) a new coat t. Now, you are to understand, that thefe coats have two virtues contained in them. One is, that, with good wearing, they will last you fresh and found as long as you live. The other is, that they will grow in the fame proportion with your bodies, lenghtening and widening of themfelves, fo as to be always fit. Here, let me fee them on you before I die. So, very well; pray, children, wear them clean, and brush them often. You will find in my will‡ (here it is) full inftructions in every particular concerning the wearing and management of your coats; wherein you must be very exact, to avoid the penalties I have appointed for every tranfgref fion or neglect, upon which your future fortunes will entirely depend. I have alfo commanded in my will, that you should live together in one houfe, like brethren and friends; for then you will be fure to thrive, and not otherwife.

By these three fons, Peter, Martin, and Jack; Popery, the Church of England, and our Protestant Diffenters are de→ figned. W. Wotton.

In the character of Peter, we see the Pope, feated on his pontifical throne, and adorned with his triple cown. In the pi&ure of Martin, we view Luther and the firft reformers. And in the description of Jack, we behold John Calvin and his difciples. The author's arrows are chiefly directed against Peter and Jack. To Martin he fhews all the indulgence that the laws of allegory will permit. Orrery.

+ By his coats, which he gave his fons, the garment of the Ifraelites. W. Wotton.

An error (with fubmiffion) of the learned commentator; for by the coats are meant the doctrine and faith of Christianity, by the wisdom of the divine founder, fitted to all times, places, and circumstances. Lambin.

The New Testament.

Here

Here the story fays, this good father died and the three fons went all together to seek their fortunes.

I fhall not trouble you with recounting what adventures they met for the first feven years, any farther than by taking notice, that they carefully obferved their father's will, and kept their coats in very good order; that they travelled through feveral countries, encountered a reasonable quantity of giants, and flew certain dragons.

Being now arrived at the proper age for producing themselves, they came up to town, and fell in love with the ladies; but especially three, who about that time were in chief reputation; the Dutchefs d'Argent, Ma dame de Grands Titres, and the Countefs d'Orgueil *. On their first appearance, our three adventurers met with a very bad reception; and foon with great fagacity gueffing out the reafon, they quickly began to improve in the good qualities of the town. They writ, and rallied, and rhymed, and fung, and faid, and faid nothing; they drank, and fought, and whored, and flept, and fwore, and took fnuff; they went to new plays on the first night, haunted the chocolate-houfes, beat the watch, lay on bulks, and got claps; they bilked hackney-coachmen, ran in debt with fhop-keepers, and lay with their wives; they killed bailiffs, kicked fidlers down stairs, eat at Locket's, loitered at Will's; they talked of the drawing-room, and never came there; dined with lords they never faw; whispered a dutchefs, and spoke never a word; expofed the fcrawls of their laundrefs for billetdoux of quality; came ever juft from court, and were never seen in it; attended the levee fub dio; got a lift of peers by heart in one company, and with great familiarity retailed them in another. Above all, they conftantly attended thofe committees of fenators, who are filent in the house, and loud in the coffeehouse; where they nightly adjourn to chew the cud of politics; and are encompaffed with a ring of disciples, who lie in wait to catch up their droppings. The

* Their mistresses are, the Dutchefs d'Argent, Mademoiselle de Grands Titres, and the Countefs d'Orgueil; i. e. covetoufnefs, ambition, and pride; which were the three great vices that the antient fathers inveighed againft, as the first corruptions of Chriftianity. W. Wotton.

three