A

COMPLETE KEY

TO THE

TALE of a TUB;

With fome Account of the

AUTHOR S,

The Ocafion and Defign of Writing it,

and Mr. WOTTON's Remarks examin'd.

Printed for EDMUND CURLL at the Dial and Bible against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetftreet. 1710. Price 6d.

Where may be had A Meditation upon a Broomstick, and fomewhat befide, utile dulci; by one of the Authors of the Tale of a Tub. Price 6d.

I

AS

TO THE

READER.

S these Notes were communicated to me purely for my own Use, so had I never the least Intention of making 'em publick: But finding what various Opinions are entertain'd of the Authors, and Misrepresentations of the Work to which they belong, insomuch that Mr. Wotton has added to his Reflections upon Learning some severe Remarks, in which he represents the Book as a design'd Satyr upon the Church of England, and even to ridicule the Doctrine of the Trinity; upon which score these Papers now appear, plainly to demonstrate, that the true Intent and Aim of the Authors was not to ridicule all Religion, but to assert and defend the Purity of our Church's Doctrine, which Mr. Wotton and his Party would insinuate they have aspers'd, and to display the Innovations of Rome and Fanatical Hypocrisy in their proper Colours.1

In his private copy of the Complete Key, now in the British Museum (C 28 b. 11), Curll recorded his authorship of this note 'To the Reader' by appending to it his signature E Curll'. At

the top of p. 1 (p. 327 of this reprint) he wrote Given me by Ralph Noden, Esq; of the Middle Temple. E Curli'.

The page references are to the first edition.

SOME

ANNOTATIONS

AND

EXPLANATORY NOTES

UPON THE

TALE of a TUB.

The Occasion of Writing it.

Preface of the Bookseller to the Reader before the Battle of the

A Boks chews the Cause and Design of the whole Work, which was perform'd by ta couple of young Clergymen in the Year 1697. who having been Domestick Chaplains to Sir William Temple, thought themselves oblig'd to take up his Quarrel in Relation to the Controversy then in Dispute between him and Mr. Wotton concerning Ancient and Modern Learning.

The tone of 'em began a Defence of Sir William under the Title of A Tale of a Tub, under which he intended to couch the General History of Christianity; shewing the Rise of all the Remarkable Errors of the Roman Church in the same order they enter'd, and how the Reformation endeavour'd to root 'em out again, with the different Temper of Luther from Calvin (and those more violent Spirits) in the way of his Reforming: His aim is to Ridicule the stubborn Errors of the Romish Church, and the Humours of the Fanatick Party, and to shew that their Superstition has somewhat very fantastical in it, which is common to both of 'em, notwithstanding the Abhorrence they seem to have for one another.

Generally (and not without sufficient Reason) said to be Dr. Jonathan and Thomas Swift; but since they don't think fit publickly to own it, wherever I mention their Names, 'tis not upon any other Affirmation than as they are the Reputed Authors.

Pag. 225 [i. e. p. 213 of this edition].
Thomas Swift.

The Author intended to have it very regular, and withal so particular, that he thought not to pass by the Rise of any one single Error or its Reformation: He design'd at last to shew the Purity of the Christian Church in the primitive Times, and consequently how weakly Mr. Wotton pass'd his Judgment, and how partially in preferring the Modern Divinity before the Ancient, with the Confutation of whose Book he intended to conclude. But when he had not yet gone half way, his Companion borrowing the Manuscript to peruse, carried it with him to Ireland, and having kept it seven Years, at last publish'd it imperfect; for indeed he was not able to carry it on after the intended Method; because Divinity (tho it chanc'd to be his Profession) had been the least of his Study; However he added to it the Battle of the Books, wherein he effectually pursues the main Design of lashing Mr. Wotton, and having added a jocose Epistle Dedicatory to my Lord Sommers, and another to Prince Posterity, with a pleasant Preface, and interlarded with one Digression concerning Criticks, and another in the Modern kind, a Third in Praise of Digressions, and a Fourth in Praise of Madness (with which he was not unacquainted) concludes the Book with a Fragment which the first Author made, and intended should have come in about the middle of the Tale, as a Preliminary to Jack's Character.

Having thus shewn the Reasons of the little Order observ'd in the Book, and the Imperfectness of the Tale, 'tis so submitted to the Reader's Censure.

Thomas Swift is Grandson to Sir William D'avenant, Jonathan Swift is Cousin German to Thomas Swift both Retainers to Sir William Temple.

The two Gentlemen as before hinted being the reputed Authors of the Work, the several Parts of the Book are thus attributed to 'em, viz.

The Dedication to my Lord Sommers, the Preface, Epistle to Prince Posterity, the four Digressions, viz. 1. Concerning Criticks. 2. In the Modern kind. 3. In Praise of Digressions. 4. In Praise of Madness and the Battle of the Books are assign'd to Dr. Jonathan Swift; and the Tale of a Tub, and the Fragment containing a Mechanical Account of the Operation of the Spirit, to Thomas Swift.

CLAVI S.

In blank Page 32. Insert these Words.
Democritus dum Ridet Philosophatur.

* Dr. Jonathan Swift.

Page 33. SECT. I. The Introduction.

Pag. 47. last Line. The Word Exantlation (signifies) an overcoming with much Labour and Difficulty.

Page 54. SECT. II.

The three Sons mention'd in the 2d. Section are the three Religions, Viz. the Church of Rome, England, and Presbytery.

Pag. Idem. Line 15.

After the old Man's Description of the Virtues of the Coats, bequeathed to his Sons, and Instructions given for the wearing of 'em, add this Note.

Religion, if well us'd, will continue still the same, (alluding to the first Virtue of the Coats, that they would last fresh and sound to their Lives end) and admits of decent Ceremonies, according to Times and Places; (second Virtue, Lengthening and widening of themselves.) Keep up to the Purity of it, and if there creeps in any Corruption correct it; i. e. wear them clean, and brush them often.

Pag. Idem, Line 23.

The Will mention'd is the Bible.

Pag. 55. Line 7. By the old Man's Advice to his Sons, of living together in one House like Brethren and Friends, Unity is enjoined. Pag. Idem, Line 14. The first seven Years the Sons carefully observ'd their Father's Will.

i.e. The first Centuries kept pure, and abolish'd Heathenism. Pag. Idem, Line 25. The three Ladies they fell in Love with, allude to the Vices of Covetousness, Ambition, and Pride.

The Idol mention'd in the 57th, Page is a Description of a Taylor, the Goose the Iron he uses, Hell a Hole so call'd, where he throws his Shreds; the Creature whose hourly Food is human Gore, is a Louse; the Yard and Needle two necessary Instruments belonging to the Idol.

66

Pag. 59. The Allusion of "Religion to a Cloak, Honesty to a Pair "of Shoes worn out in the Dirt, Self-Love a Surtout, Vanity a Shirt, "and Conscience a Pair of Breeches, which tho' a Cover for Lewdness, as well as Nastiness, is easily slipt down for the Service of both ", "is a severe Satyr upon the Fanaticks, who have ever made Religion "a Cloak for all the Villanies committed by them, despising and treading "real Honesty under Foot, extolling the divine Vertues of Self-Love and Vanity, and always making their Consciences subservient to their Interest.

66

Pag. 60. This and the next Page is a merry Banter upon those Gentlemen, who reduce all Points of Gentility to this one of dressing nicely, as is prov'd in the 62d. Page.