ftory, both of your lordship and themfelves. Now your lordship is to underftand, that this proceeding was not of my own invention; for I have fomewhere heard, it is a maxim, that those, to whom every body allows the second place, have an undoubted title to the firft.

This infallibly convinced me, that your lordship was the perfon intended by the author. But, being very unacquainted in the style and form of dedications, I employ'd those wits aforefaid to furnish me with hints and materials towards a panegyric upon your lordship's virtues.

In two days they brought me ten fheets of paper fill'd up on every fide. They fwore to me, that they had ranfack'd whatever could be found in the characters of Socrates, Ariftides, Epaminondas, Cato, Tully, Atticus, and other hard names, which I cannot now recollect. However, I have reason to believe, they impofed upon my ignorance; because, when I came to read over their collections, there was not a fyllable there, but what I and every body else knew as well as them

felves:

felves: therefore I grievously fufpect a cheat; and that thefe authors of mine stole and transcribed every word from the univerfal report of mankind. So that I look upon myself, as fifty fhillings out of pocket to no manner of purpose.

If, by altering the title, I could make the fame materials ferve for another dedication (as my betters have done) it would help to make up my lofs; but, I have made several persons dip here and there in those papers, and, before they read three lines, they have all affured me plainly, that they cannot poffibly be applied to any perfon befides your lordship.

I expected, indeed, to have heard of your lordship's bravery at the head of an army; of your undaunted courage in mounting a breach, or fcaling a wall; or, to have had your pedigree trac'd in a lineal defcent from the houfe of Auftria; or, of your wonderful talent at dress and dancing; or, your profound knowledge in algebra, metaphyfics, and the oriental tongues. But to ply the world with an old beaten ftory of your wit, and eloquence, and learning, and wisdom, and justice,

I 3

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juftice, and politenefs, and candor, and evennefs of temper in all fcenes of life; of that great difcernment in discovering, and readiness in favouring deferving men ; with forty other common topics: I confefs, I have neither confcience, nor countenance to do it. Because there is no virtue, either of a public or private life, which fome circumftances of your own have not often produced upon the ftage of the world; and thofe few, which, for want of occafions to exert them, might otherwise have paffed unfeen or unobferved by your friends, your enemies have at length brought to light.

It is true, I fhould be very loth, the bright example of your lordship's virtues fhould be loft to after-ages, both for their fake and your own; but chiefly, because they will be so very neceffary to adorn the hiftory of a late reign; and that is another reason, why I would forbear to

In 1701 lord Sommers was impeached by the commons, who either finding their proofs defective, or for other reafons, delay'd coming to a trial, and the lords thereupon proceeded to the

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trial without them, and acquitted him.

K. William's; whofe memory he defended in the H. of Lords against fome invidious reflexions of the E. of Nottingham.

make

make a recital of them here; because I have been told by wife men, that, as dedications have run for fome years paft, a good hiftorian will not be apt to have recourse thither in fearch of characters.

There is one point, wherein I think we dedicators would do well to change our measures; I mean, instead of running on fo far upon the praife of our patrons liberality, to spend a word or two in admiring their patience. I can put no greater compliment on your lordship's, than by giving you fo ample an occafion to exercife it at present. Though perhaps I fhall not be apt to reckon much merit to your lordship upon that score, who having been formerly used to tedious harangues, and fometimes to as little purpofe, will be the readier to pardon this ; especially, when it is offered by one, who is with all refpect and veneration,

MY LORD,

Your lordship's most obedient,
and most faithful fervant,

Sir John Sommers was at torney general; then made lord keeper of the feals in 1692, and

The Bookfeller.

lord high chancellor and baron of Evesham in April 1697.

IT

TO THE READER.

T is now 'fix years fince thefe papers came firft to my hand, which feems to have been about a twelve-month after they were written: for, the author tells us in his preface to the firft treatise, that he hath calculated it for the year 1697, and in feveral paffages of that difcourfe, as well as the fecond, it appears, they were written about that time.

As to the author, I can give no manner of fatisfaction; however, I am credibly informed that this publication is without his knowledge; for he concludes the copy is loft, having lent it to a perfon, fince dead, and being never in poffeffion of it after: fo that, whether the work received his last hand, or, whether he intended to fill up the defective places, is like to re

main a fecret.

If I fhould go about to tell the reader, by what accident I became master of these papers, it would in this unbelieving age pafs for little or more than the cant, or jar

The Tale of a Tub was firft published in 1704.

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