Animadversions on two late books one called Remarques &c., to which is added notes on some humors and conversations of the countrey, the other called Reflections on marriage, and poetick discipline : in two letters to Sir T.L.

SIR ,

SInce my last to you I have seen another Letter from your old Friend , which some body or other has serv'd as they did the former , and made a Book on 't too .

As soon as I saw it , bless me , think I , what a pudder is here of troubling this Gentleman with so many long printed Letters : If this trade goes on , he 'l have his Study so stuft with them , as no room may be left for good Books . Well , Sir , but think I further , why should I add to the number : and indeed I intended to write no more in that way : but pray Sir give me your pardon for this small one more and I have done .

And if this , Sir , should seem Contest with my brother Writer , I desire your belief that the Contest lies only in serving you , which service may appear two ways .

First , It 's to be hoped he may be hereby prevailed with to write no more , and so save some trouble to you and many more .

Secondly , For that you may not be at leisure to read out so large a writing ; I have ( for your ease ) abridg'd it , and taken leave to postil a little thereupon .

Sir , you may remember that the last time we conferr'd , I made bold to make several guesses at the man of Masquerade , and I 'm told I was quite out in all : I scratched my head thereupon , and bethought my self again , and after that it came into my mind , and without more ado I take him for a Gentleman , and a Gentleman who has found some Generosity about him , as he says , but ( I fear ) not that Generosity ( as he says ) which none more dextrous has done to perform an act of so much Justice ( as to write of Marriage , he means ) and therefore I cannot at present set my hand to that saying of his , viz. That he wrote not out of affectation or busie humour , for reasons enough .

And I guess him further to be a descendant of some Clergy-man , ( and ne're the less Gentleman ) for he seems to have a piece of the sermonizing faculty entailed on him , though it vents it self mostly in uses of Reproof , and little Consolation , but to dear Antonia .

And now , Sir , for the grounds of my scruple , why I think he wrote not without Affectation or busie humour .

First , Sir , I find more dexterous pens have found more Generosity to the same purpose , and have had more success , ( not to mention what is in the sacred leaves , nor the ancient and later Writers of the Christian Church , nor the learned Heathens ) there is a Dramatist ( now living ) even the Poet , whose fault was lately his Acuracy in Poem , who by a woman in one Act has said much more for Marriage then he , or perhaps his Country Parson can do .

And it seems much to me , that he should meddle with any thing , on which the Comical Wits had breathed .

There is also a late Book , wrote by a Lawyer ( whose profession he so prophanely and basely Libels ) 't is called Moral Gallantry , in less then 20 pages whereof there is more sense , solidity , and true Eloquence than in his 198.

And lastly ( for an unanswerable testimony ) there is a late Book called Remarques , &c. that has as much in few pages as in all his last ; so that whether it was affectation or busie humour , to strive to outdo or undo , what himself had better done , I know no more than others : yet this I know , that Phantastes ( in the Comedy ) fanci'd he could go further beyond the Artick Circle than Geographus his Master could do .

Secondly , As to Affectation and busie humour , let 's survey his Book in general , and mode of writing , and we shall see , that as ill as he treats the New Philosophers , he would be nibling ; for by the help of a Microscopial Rhetorick he has Magnified Ovids Flea ten times as big as Mr. Hook's .

He had blown a serviceable Grain of Nitrous compound into a huge smoke , to dazzle eyes , but ( like the famous powder of Alphonsus ) is not of force enough to kill a Chicken .

A little Bird ( that of Paradise , if you will , for there 't was bred ) he makes ( like the hungry Philosopher ) to be vox & praeterea nihil . He abounds so with Identical phrases , as if he design'd an Echo like that in the Gallery at Constantinople , to repeat one word seven times over : as if he intended to ring Changes on the Alphabet , but ( ill luck as it is ) the Musick is marr'd , by several Clanks returning too often out of their course ; as Votaries , Chimera's , Conduct , Idaea , Important Concernments , Spectres , Punctilio's , &c. some coming ten times over .

But ( especially ) the Circle turns round and round again , and ( which is waggishly observed by some Wits , at whom he quirks ) this Marriage Circle he so often repeats , they account the best Argument he uses for Marriage .

Thirdly , For the Affectation and busie humour , he Perriwigs his leaves with dead mens Locks , and tells not whose they were , and so some think they may be imposed upon , and that is , when he tells of the Inhumane Greek , the Phantastick Roman , the Noble Greek , the Prince of the Blood , the Darling of Mankind , the African and Gothick Hero , the Barbarian , the Generous Corinthian , the Wretched Gamester , he that was rock'd in the Cradle , and they think this is Affectation ; for my part I account it no great fault , I doing so too ; where 't is not fit to name persons , or where I can't ; only I remember a drolling witicism thrown at one on such an occasion , speaking to his boy thus , Deminitive or my defective slave Fetch my Corps Coverture immediately , It 's my Complacency that rest to have T ' insconce my person from frigidity . The Boy thought all was Welch his Master spoke Till he rayl'd English , Rogue go fetch my cloke .

Come we now to the particulars of his last Labours , and first of his Epistle .

He was writing it ( it seems ) and it came into his thoughts ( by some impulse ) that he was Censured , as taxing the whole Town with the blemishes of some : and having wrote ( as he says ) so far — and just so far and no further , the Answer of Remarques came to him , and told him just as before he thought .

Hence , Sir , may easily be concluded the Philosophy of Spirits and the Communication of those Airy Intelligencers .

But whether it was Castor and Pollux ( who ( they say ) brought to Rome from Macedonia , which was 2500 miles in one day , the Victory against King Perseus ) or whether it was the spirit of Mascou , ( who used to carry Commendations , tell of Sack-possets , and go of the lesser errands ) who informed our Author I know not , but I dare say it was not the Drummer of Tedworth , for he might ( with his ratling ) have caused trouble and surprize : and it seems here was no trouble nor surprize : yet had it not been said so , one might have thought , the coming of that Book from London might have caused as much trouble and surprize as the news of your going to London , Sir , did in the last Letter . Well , though no Trouble or Surprize , yet a little Heat , it seems , seized him , but ( thanks to a good healthy Country-Constitution ) the paroxisme was soon over , and the cause of the Heat was an Epistle .

A good luck take Epistles for me , I think there 's none of 'em but displease some body , I perceive I was mistaken , and my Faculty lies not that way , and for that cause I have taken a course with the Epistle , and have made amends with this short Postscript .

But , Sir , as to your friend , I profess , I think , I like his Epistle ( even this angry Epistle ) better than his Book ; therefore I think it may be better for him to write only Epistles , and I 'le write only Books , and so we may club , and that 's fair .

Sir , I find next the Marriage Circle had so brisk'd him , that he could not let a fair Lady ( innocent in our affair ) alone , who ( I must tell him ) is of more honour than Antonia , because Married , or else I 'le burn his Book , and is also every whit as virtuous .

But why may not I show my regard to Catharina as well as he to Antonia ; why may not I worship the fruitful vine in the Sun-shine , as well as he the barren fig-tree in the shade .

Then comes he gently to my Book ( perhaps he 's whetting his Pownces ) at present he says 't is a continued mistake .

A mistake there is in the case , that 's plain , if on my side , it 's my want of knowledge in Grammar and of my native Language ; for I was told that Age , Nation , Town indefinitely , imported all or the greater part ; and I never heard that All was Latine for some , till the Calvinistical distinction of singula Generum , and Genera singulorum came up , which Jacob van Harman swears by all the blood in his bones , is non-sense ; and I vow I believ'd him , and do so still .

Well , Sir , I find some mens heads are full of Proclamations , and out skips a piece of one of King Charles the First , That Country Gentlemen should reside on their Estates , and well it was done ; and I have known a time when such another might be seasonable and requisite , for many reasons , particularly to cause a Circulation of money , which otherwise comes all in specie to London , and thereby the Nation seems to have the Rickets .

But , I pray Sir , let him tell us , if there was in it a prohibition , or any trouble or surprize , that young unmarried Country Gentlemen should not receive Education at the Inns of Court or other Societies of Learning in London ? he was too great a Scholar , and too wise a Prince to confine dextrous youth to riding after a Deer , as you were advised , and so to prevent a succession of Counsellors for his Crown .

Next , Sir , If you and the Gentleman go on board his Majesties Fleet this Spring , what then ? why then if it falls out so ( and 't is with an If ) and if the power of his Steel be as formidable as that of his Pen , great Atchievements may be expected from him ; for I doubt not in the least ( such a good opinion have I of him ) that he can with as much ease come off victoriously , if the Dutch fight not , as maintain Marriage lawful when no body denies it .

But I was thinking of another If , and that is , what if this Gentleman be not there ? why then I be thought my self again , that as good and as stout might be there in his room : and for one If more , with good leave .

Sir , If indeed you and he be there , I wish ye like the fortunate Knight of Naples , Don Garsia de Toledo , If one wave throws ye over-board , another wave may throw ye in again .

To conclude the Epistle , Sir , and for certain Apology for over-sights , failings and what you please ; his Book it seems was mended and altered , and so in a manner was Printed against his desire .

Sir , I 'm so good natur'd as to allow the same excuse for this Book too , if he will do no more so ; and so I 'le run that over and have done with him or not as he pleases : for though I was but a beginner t'other day , yet methinks I can do such jobs as these with a wet finger .

Advance we then to the second Epistle , to consider on 't : Consider on 't , said I ? It requires consideration indeed ; he said true , when he said he had Entertained Antonia in an unusual manner , it seems like a Mock to a Sybil it sounds like some Charm . Cato said three Inchanted words would cure the eye-sight , and Varro , that a verse of the Sybils would cure the Gout . And who knows but this Epistle was designed to cure the Itch of the Marriage Circle , for from the oraculous contexture of words , it seems , as if a pair of Gelt Turtles in their Privacies ( by the power of that Love which reigns in their united hearts ) were solacing themselves , in the best sense they can make of their conditions , and so admiring their own Justice , Fidelity , Virtues , the Ornaments of their Breasts , preserved like Treasure under ground , like snow in cold houses , and surpassing the words of Romance ; seeming nevertheless to make necessity a principal vertue , while they regret the difficulty of attaining to t'other state : yet excusing themselves by their Affairs , which ( they say ) Conceal the Clue that should let them out of the Labyrinth , and ( to prevent obloquy ) give themselves out for Votaries to the open State , commending the Divinity of it , declaring their obsequious respects to it ; yet concluding that single life has Equal Beauty , and and that they have taken other Measures of a just and and happy life ; they have committed the immortality of their ( unmarried ) Love , to perpetual abiding Letters ( meaning this Epistle ) more durable than Marble .

Thus , Sir , is innocent Country modesty pleased to speak of it self , for lack of neighbours .

Thus are the Encomiums of a single life a fit preface to a Book on behalf of Marriage , especially while the Book says , page 64. the peculiar wandring humors and dispositions of unrest in that ( single ) life . page 90. Its sullenness in private life not Gallantry : and 114. Those that want Marriage are to seek in the Turns of humane affairs , and the artful traverses of glory : and page 173. Marriage knows all the traverses and turns of humane affairs : and page 116. the Crafty Italian ( being Married ) with his single Conduct wound about the bravery and vigour of the French Affairs : and page 86. The Inventions of them who enjoy perpetual vacation from affairs has been mischief to the world , and remain a reproach to idle speculation .

Thus our Architect is out , either in the Porch , or in the house , chuse you whether .

So soon may a man lose himself in Dodona's Grove , so easie 't is for a little sence to be labyrinth'd in a wilderness of Talk : to which we now come , i.e. to the Book .

And it seems the Book was occasion'd by a divertisement with a Modern Philosopher , but what manner of Philosopher this was , is hard to judge ; for had it been a Modern ( called Mechanick ) Philosopher , he would have advised , that a subject , so sacred , should have been handled gravely and substantially , with reference to its institution and ends . And if he had bent his strength against some few extravagants , by Arguments of another hue , more adequate to their Genius : such a Philosopher would have advised to use proper mediums , and to argue more logically : And withal such a Philosopher might have ( with prudence enough ) insinuated , that for the sake of every idle person differing from the generality of the Age in some one sentiment or other , not destructive to the Community , it 's not fit to trouble the sober part with a Book .

Therefore , I rather think , Sir , that by Modern Philosopher , he intended what Country Folk call by Irony , notable Philosopher to be some simpleton : And it s strange to see the danger of keeping ( even but ) silly company , for they say Gallus Villius , by imitating mad men became mad .

But Sir , a Theme was started , it seems whether by Writer or Philosopher , no great matter , and the Theme wanted Assistance , as was thought , and some body there is ( may be one or two in this Age or Nation ) that have ( in drolling humour 't is like ) spoken Irreverently of Marriage : This Alarms our Author who ( in trouble and surprize ) feared this vile Praterost , was as dangerous as the Spanish Ewe , brought over in 1275. which being rotten , was the first in England , and the Murrain from thence , which lasted 28 years ; therefore cries he , O the Nation , the Age , the Town , Barbarous , Vile , Prophane ; Marriage appears to the Author to be run down by a popular practice and Contempt , and he finds the Generosity about him to do an act of so much Justice as none more dexterous has done : to work he must go , and assist the Theme ; so comes he — To prove by force Of Argument , a man 's no horse .

And to effect this he cannot ( he says ) furnish the discourse with any Experience of his own , nor never intends it , by his discourse with Antonia .

Alas poor Theme that should want Assistance and should find none , but of an Adversary , or it knows not whom .

I remember this Author elsewhere says , He that stands on high , sees more of a show than one that is in it : so one , that from a Mount saw the Marriage in Cana knew more ( perhaps ) of it than any was there ; and it may be our Writer may fancy wedding Feasts , though not the Garments .

Sir , I am a Batchelor also , and owe as great votes to the married state as another , and I resolve as soon as I can obtain a woman circumstanced answerable to my expectations , to change my condition : and in the mean time , I dare not say that any bravery in single life , or vertuous designments , makes me not marry .

In plain English Sir , I find Ladies plaguy Coy , and therefore I would desire the Gentleman ( pray Sir move him to it ) that ( if ever he write again ) he would write to that Sex to be as virtuous as they please , but not so nice ; by that means his Pen may ( more likely ) purchase the owner the Immortal Fame of a Here . O how generous a Task would he take upon him , how obliging to the Modest to facilitate their Addresses to the Coy , and the Addresses of the Sparkish to the more reserved .

Let him obtain this , and I 'le warrant Marriage's business done to the life ; in the interim to show the dexterousness of Pen , and the Generosity of Writer , beside skill in Logick and History , some arguments are framed to prove Marriage lawful , just , convenient , and useful . O mighty task .

But first , Sir , it s to be understood that Marriage and Uxoriousness is to be accounted all one . Secondly , that Uxoriousness and Effeminacy are not all one . Thirdly , that Uxoriousness is made to comprehend all morality and virtue .

Truth on 't is , till this time I took Uxoriousness to be a fault , and it was the greatest that could be devised by the worst of men , against the best of Princes ; who said he was not fit to hold a Scepter who could not govern a Distaff : And a witty Clergyman said that Apron-string Tenure is worse than Bond , or that of Vassalage ; so much is holding at the will of the Lady worse than at the will of the Lord .

But taking Uxoriousness for a due and prudent Management of the conjugal state , the first main Argument is page 39. The four great Empires of the world flourished with greatest bravery , when they were most virtuous , and their Greatness declined with their Morals : therefore Uxoriousness was the sole cause of their flourishing .

As to this ( to do him all the right ) though it be a naughty syllogism , and like Seton's syllable eating the Cheese , yet a vertuous observation of Marriage may do a deal of good .

Next , Sir , Marriage helps learning , of which the Gentleman himself may be a prime instance , for we see what he wants , and he says he 's not married .

But it helps learning , for it tempers the wit , and though it may dull the fancy , yet that is but Cashiering of madness , he says .

So that it s come to now , either Marriage or Madness ; but I hope , Sir , 't is but the madness of a March Hare ; but still it helps learning : And though my Lord Bacon wholly overslipt it in his Advancement of Learning , yet Socrates makes it out clearly ; and now come aloft Socrates , and what of him ? why of him thus : page 51. Some men might have the fame of greater learning , but the Oracle pronounced Socrates the wisest man in Greece : therefore Marriage helps Learning . This Logick was well chopp'd ; but for a little Learnings sake , let 's consider , how knows our Author that any had a greater Fame for learning than Socrates , while we read that it was accounted a proud speech of him to say , Hoc scio quod nihil scio ? because he knew so much ; also that his mind run so much on his Book , that a little before his death he desired to learn Musick , because he would die still learning something .

Sir , such instances as these ( methinks ) had better serv'd his turn for the help of learning , than that some might have greater fame of learning , &c.

But let that go which way it will , Marriage does help Learning still , ay that it does , and for no small reason neither , The Oracle pronounced Socrates the wisest man in Greece . What credit the Heathen Oracle has in the opinion of my Brother Batchelor , he best knows ( their way of uttering he seems to imitate ) let 's examine the truth of the Oracles pronouncing ( supposing first , that his wisdom must make out the learning of that Age , which ( out of good nature ) I 'le grant , ( expecting he 'l do me a good turn another time . )

But whence are we to conclude this wisdom of Socrates ; no instance is given , but the ipse dixit of the Oracle ; if his wisdom lay in Morals . Oracle was out , or a prime Father of the Latine Church , who says that the Athenians gave sentence against Socrates , as a defiler of young boys : now whether Heathen Oracle or Tertullian be of most Credit , I won't dispute .

Well , but Marriage helps Learning , for Socrates was wise for all this ; ay , and the wisest in all Greece ; for Oracle could not be mistaken : no , no mistake in Oracle sure , wisest he was , for he was married .

Was no wise man in Greece married but Socrates ? let that go too : married he was and that made him wisest , though not the learnedest ; and so Marriage helps learning .

Well , Married , Learned , wise ; married with a mischief ! I believe if truth were known my Brother Singleman and I would not think our selves e're the wiser for being so married .

Sir , I 'le appeal to you , do not you think it wisdom to keep out of a shrews clutches ; and ( indeed lo ) I 've credibly been informed , that Xantippe was a notable woman ; nay , that she was an errand scold ; and so perverse that Aelian says , she put on her worst clothes to go to a great show , because her husband desir'd her to put on her best : O how she differs from the women of this Age .

But ( to go on Sir in this Track of Wisdom and Argument of helping Learning ) as Socrates once sate in deep meditation under Sun-shine . This parlous woman , out of the Chamber window , empties a Chamber-pot on his head ; not out of provocation , but meerly to keep good bumours working , and to increase Wisdom ; and so it fell out , that from hence and from such occasions as these , he gave the world account of his wisdom , for when she scolded he held his peace ; and to this last trick he said ( easily to himself , he durst not speak out ) I thought we should have a shoure after so much Thunder .

Thus Sir , is the Argument for learning help'd by Marriage cleared , and the wisdom of Socrates , as being married to a wrangling bed-fellow ; for page 91. Vertue hardly acquired is best . page 53. Marriage was a model of Government to after ages of the world ; what then ?

It follows then that Marriage is Marriage still , and ought to have Government in it : ay , and if Epistle says true , you may live a vertuous single life ; and if Book says true , you may live a vertuous married life as you please , chuse whether .

Page 60. Marriage is lawful , and convenient too ; for married men dread Wars , therefore Sir , if you 'l sleep in a whole skin or two , marry .

Page 66. Marriage makes repose , i.e. in its Circle ; therefore so does single life in the shade with Antonia , like Snow in cold houses : as he says .

Page 69. Marriage affords the honour of issue , and nothing was esteemed of old more honour than many Children .

This ( because of its weight ) ought to be inforc'd : by the Julian Law in Rome , precedency was given to him who had most Children ; and in Florence , he who had five children was exempt from Imposts , Subsidies , and Taxes : Thus it was in old time . Therefore it follows now in new times , and in England , that Marriage is lawful ; only I think precedency goes not here by that law , not the payment of Taxes ; but it may be a seasonable hint to the Parliament in the next Subsidy for equalling payments ; for most commonly the poor Vicar , and healthy Countrey Labourer have the best gift that way ; and their Issue prove mostly but Candidates for Alms.

Well , by Marriage you have not only the honour of Issue as aforesaid , but thereby page 74. The glory of your name shall be preserved by an Interest remaining beyond the Grave .

This is something indeed on behalf of Marriage , had not one told us in his Reflections on Marriage at the same time , of a better way of getting the Immortal Fame of a Hero ; and in his Epistle to Antonia , of Immortalizing beyond Marble , even by perpetual abiding Letters , i.e. by writing Books : So that it seems , Sir , to some , that by our Authors Conceit , however he treats Marriage , he does but wheadle , while the Issue of the brain he affirms more durable than that of the body . However , I think , that the instance of our Author , ( of Agrippina's desire of her Sons reigning , though with her death ) might be a piece of ambition and vainglory .

Page 79. Marriage perpetuates Vertue ; this is to be understood if the Children take right , or the soul be convey'd by Traduction , otherwise the Gentleman ( by his own report ) can preserve virtue as long .

Well , but what if Infants have been carried in Ancient Wars to incourage Battels ? why then I say , in ancient times also Wives used to go with their Husbands into the Wars , and the Tyrian Wives helped their Husbands out of Prison at Lacedaemon , and the Bavarian Wives , having liberty granted by Conrade the Third to carry away their goods on their back ) carried away their Husbands : So did the Spanish Lady at Cales serve an old Husband ; and what of all this ?

Then , Sir , it s to be considered , if it be not adviseable , at this Conjuncture , that our Army going into France should carry their Children in their Knapsacks to incourage them , and their Wives to get them out of Prison , and so travail Bag and Baggage .

Further , page 84. Marriage helps practical Virtue , how does that appear ? why , Pompey left Gallant Sons , he did so , and I 'le help him forward : An Idolater in Ur of the Chaldees was Father of Abraham , such another of Tertullian , and a Gentile of Timothy : And of the other side instances may be of many virtuous Parents who have had rude Children ; insomuch that some think its hard to make out , that practical Virtue is transferr'd by the Vehicle of Generation .

Besides , the Adversary wits laugh , and say , that without Marriage , the Skinners Daughter ( for I 'le write blanck too ) brought forth the great Norman , our Common Ancestor . And the Spanish Player furnished Christendom with the great Don John who faced the Grand Seignior : but no more of that .

Page 93. Married people have been by all ages allowed for Hero's , deified and served with Altars ; still stronger and stronger : only , it seems to follow that there are other ways , besides dexterous pens to procure men the Immortal Fame of Heroes

And here the Wits laugh again like vile lads , and say that Mars , Mercury , Minerva , Apollo , Bacchus , and Sterculus &c. were deified and serv'd with Altars ; and it s believed that some of them were never married .

To go on , page 93. Rome owed its being and safety to the perswasions of a Mother ; and therefore Marriage is lawful .

At this the Prophane Wits laugh another time , and say , that the Protestant Cause , and the Commonwealth of the Netherlands owe their being to a Maiden Queen ; therefore single life is very expedient .

On still , page 100. Marriage assists mankind with a mind vigorous and constant in its Circles : And page 101 , the virtue of Brutus is highly commended , in religiously prizing the married state , and having a good Wife .

Sir , as to the Circles of Marriage , I 've nothing to do yet ; yet as to Brutus , I hope he means not Brutus the Traitor ( who murdered Julius Caesar ) that does thus Religiously prize , &c. For page 61 , 62. who would commit Treason that has a loving Wife leaning on his bosom , and Innocent Children hanging about his knees ? so that married men having ( by it ) a vigorous mind , do prize it religiously , and commit no Treason .

A shame take this Brutus for me , who has kill'd ( not only a good Emperor , but ) a good Argument to boot .

Pray , Sir , wish our Writer to be more careful , in his discourses for I can't help him out , do what I can , and you see I endeavour it after my fashion , till I 'm grown so weary , as I must give over , only having shown the very upper Tire of his Militia , I shall but show you some Blunderbusses that ( Eupheniae gratia I suppose ) are brought in to help the noise : one is charged against Philosophy and Philosophers . Page 2. the little Modern Philosopher . Page 144. The New Philosophers . Page 107. Hunting wild and thin Idaea's in sport , through the Barren Regions of Philosophy . Thus , jeering ( at once ) at all learning , and showing himself the Notable Philosopher we spoke of before .

Then , Sir , ( according to a bad use he has gotten ) he 's on the jack of the present Age , calling it , page 3. Barbarous Age , Page 123. The Extravigances of this Age . 124. This Age is like to be branded amongst all the lustres of successions as the most disingenious that ever was ; and ( because it may appear he means again but some few ) page 125. ( by a contrary figure ) he says no man makes it his business to be serious in any thing . Alack , Alack , how , no man ? his own self , nevertheless ( I hope ) always excepted ; witness the virtuous Batchelor , recounting in the shade to Antonia , And if the worst comes to the worst , it 's but synechdochizing none into some , or at worser still ( if it may be ) adding some , and then it will be , no-some-man will help at a dead lift .

Then , Sir , to conclude this Battel , and compleat the Victory , forth comes a Granado stuft with direful knacks , and is thrown into the Cloysters , with Authority to destroy what is there sullenness ; but in the shade with Antonia , Gallantry , and Virtue .

I must here observe , Sir , that there is a Geneva Maggot , that gets ( I know not how ) into some mens Crowns , and makes them very Wrathful , Fearful , and Spightful ; fulls enough in all conscience . It will possess a Noddle with apprehensions of terrible dangers and woful events , which arise in some places and from some persons .

As for example , if one names Rome , it makes the man take his rise and skip from Italy into Scotland .

At the naming of a Monk , Frier , or perhaps but a Papist , he takes his heels and runs out of sight ( if not out of his wits ) at least till he thinks himself out of harms way , and then takes another run , and runs himself out of breath , prodigalling his Lungs in such Oratory as this : p. 4. Ambushes of Cloysters , the unmarried lives of the Romish Priests have been the causes of great Calamities and Disorders in Kingdoms , doing great mischief . Page 64. Flinging about kindled firebrands to inflame the world . Page 65. Putting Empires into Convulsions , with fire disguised in snow , and ( because 't is a good expression ) Page 177. with fire disguised in snow halls . Page 52. The Priests vice non Continence , Cloysters of wretched lusts , the Jaques of the world ; then was a night of knowing nothing . And page 141. I cannot remember that the Cloysters obliged the world by many excellent performances .

And ( which is worse ) when he is come to his breath , this fright has put him past coming to his memory , and so cannot remember what has been said ( and truly too ) of the unmarried Divines , even those of the Cloysters , viz. he that looks on their Books would think they did nothing but write , he that looks on their Devotions , would think they did nothing but pray ; and he that looks on their Learning would think they did nothing but read .

Such was the night of knowing nothing , and such the performances , the Gentleman out of breath and memory could not remember .

Sir , for my own part I am not of the Cloyster perswasion , yet do I honour the learning and Piety of any dissenter , and can freely acquaint with him , while we differ not in the end of our Journey , bet in the way of our Travel .

But my marvail is , Sir , what Authority this man has , to dub his own single life an Immortal Virtue , and of others an Everlasting Vice ; why he should Hallow the Shade with Antonia , and Hellize the Cloyster of Mrs. Abbess , you Sir , are to judge of these things , amongst the rest , and so I leave them .

A word only to his Poetick Discipline , and I find he has taken much pains to trace Love through all the Poets .

The old Poets ( it seems ) made Love serious and sober ( like Antonia no doubt . )

After Poets brought it to Courts and Armies , and perhaps it may meet our Author in the Fleet this spring ; let him and Antonia look to it .

After it was brought , ( by I know not who , nor he neither ) into the Cloysters , and there It did , no Body knows what , but it turn'd there ( he says ) into Vice .

Modern Poets have brought it on the Stage , and for the Authors sake of Marriage Alamade , Love in a Tub , or Love in a Nunnery , or some such thing . What s become — what ? why , it s become the exact scheme of Poetick Discipline .

Poetick Discipline was I thinking ? aye , and of uxoriousness , and Reflections on Praise of Marriage , and some other things , I could not make sence of ; and so I made an end with this short Conclusion by way of modest Quaere , having first found by experience that a man of some parts may prove , that the Sun shines sometimes , that its light and heat are comfortable , and that humane bodies are influenc'd hereby , but withal that same man may not prove that Hereules and his twelve labours signifie but the Suns going through the 12 Signs of the Zodiack ; and so to the Quere .

Whether a Batchelor writing a Book of 198 pages ( besides Philacteries ) in praise of Marriage ; in it Commending ( in the first place ) himself in Seraphick lines for his single life , next for the Generosity he found about him to perform an act of so much Justice ; for his dexterousness in doing it , for his virtuous entertainment of virtuous Antonia in the shade , then arguing Inconsequentially , using improper Mediums , proving Generals by Particulars ; at the same time defying Philosophers , rebuking the Age , reproving he knows not whom , or at most but some few , clouding his subject over with talk , till it s like the needle in the Hay , or the Treasure under ground , mentioned in page 155. And in the Epistle to Antonia ; and printing this too , whereby ( as he says ) page 147. Wit ( such as it is ) makes such a noise as disturbs the Quiet and serious Affairs of the world : and ending with an unintelligible Poetick Discipline .

Whether I say , all this be done without Affectation or busie Humour , I leave also , with this Advertisement ( for his good ) viz. he who knows how and when to hold his peace , put in his name among the famous Orators .

FINIS .