gon of the trade. I therefore gladly fpare both him and myself fo unneceffary a trouble. There yet remains a difficult queftion, why I published them no fooner. I forbore upon two accounts: first, because I thought I had better work upon my hands; and fecondly, because I was not without fome hope of hearing from the author, and receiving his directions. But, I have been lately alarmed with intelligence of a furreptitious copy, which a certain great wit had new polished and refined, or as our prefent writers express themselves, fitted to the humour of the age; as they have already done, with great felicity, to Don Quixote, Boccalini, la Bruyere, and other authors. However, I thought it fairer dealing to offer the whole work in its naturals. If any gentleman will please to furnish me with a key, in order to explain the more difficult parts, I fhall very gratefully acknowledge the favour, and print it by itself, See the Apology. THE HERE present your highness with the fruits of a very few leisure hours, ftolen from the short intervals of a world of bufinefs, and of an employment quite alien from fuch amufements as this: the poor production of that refufe of time, which has lain heavy upon my hands, during a long prorogation of parliament, a great dearth of foreign news, and a The citation out of Iraneus in the title page, which feems to be all Gibberish, is a form of initiation used antiently by the Marcofian heretics. W. Wotton. It is the ufual ftyle of decried writers to appeal to Pofterity, who is here reprefented as a prince in his nonage, and Time as his governor; and the author begins in a way very frequent with.him, by perfonating other writers, wha fometimes offer. fuch reafons and excufes for publishing their works, as they ought chiefly to conceal and be afhamed of. tedious : tedious fit of rainy weather for which, and other reasons, it cannot chufe extreamly to deserve fuch a patronage as that of your highness, whofe numberless virtues, in fo few years, make the world look upon you as the future example to all princes for although your highness is hardly got clear of infancy, yet has the univerfal learned world already resolved upon appealing to your future dictates with the lowest and most refigned fubmiffion; fate having decreed you fole arbiter of the productions of human wit in this polite and most accomplished age. Methinks, the number of appellants were enough to fhock and startle any judge of a genius less unlimited than yours: but, in order to prevent fuch glorious trials, the perfon, it seems, to whofe care the education of your highness is committed, has refolved (as I am told). to keep you in almost an univerfal ignorance of our ftudies, which it is your inherent birthright to infpect. It is amazing to me, that this person fhould have affurance in the face of the fun to go about perfuading your highness that that our age is almoft wholly illiterate, and has hardly produced one writer upon any fubject. I know very well, that when your highness fhall come to riper years, and have gone through the learning of antiquity, you will be too curious to neglect enquiring into the authors of the very age before you and to think that this infolent, in the account he is preparing for your view, defigns to reduce them to a number fo infignificant as I am afhamed to mention; it moves my zeal and my fpleen for the honour and intereft of our vaft flourishing body, as well as of myfelf, for whom, I know by long experience, he has profeffed, and still continues, a peculiar malice. It is not unlikely, that, when your highness will one day perufe what I am now writing, you may be ready to expoftulate with your governor upon the credit of what I here affirm, and command him to fhew you fome of our productions. To which he will answer, (for I am well informed of his defigns) by asking your highness, where they are? and what is become of them? and pre-. tend |