THE

BOOKSELLER TO THE READER.

IT is now* fix years fince thefe papers came first to my hand, which feems to have been about a twelvemonth after they were written. For the author tells us, in his Preface to the first Treatife, that he hath calculated it for the year 1697; and in feveral passages 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. So that whether the work received bis laft hand, or whether he intended to fill up the defective places, is like to remain a fecret.

If I fhould go about to tell the reader, by what accident I became mafter of these papers, it would, in this unbeliev ing age, pafs for little more than the cant or jargon of the trade. I therefore gladly spare both him and myself fo unnecessary 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

The Tale of a Tub was first published in 1704. + See the Apology.

now

now polished and refined; or, as our present writers exprefs themselves, fitted to the humour of the age; as they have already done, with great felicity, to Don Quixotte, 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 fball very gratefully acknowledge the favour, and print it by itself.

THE

EPISTLE DEDICATORY,

SIR,

TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS

PRINCE POSTERITY.

Here prefent your Highness with the fruits of a very few leifure-hours, ftolen from the fhort intervals of a world of bufinefs, and of an employment quite alien from fuch amusements 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 tedious fit of rainy weather. For which and other reafons, it cannot chufe extremely to deferve fuch a patronage as that of your Highness, whose 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 refolved upon appealing to your future dictates with the loweft and

The citation out of Irenæus in the title-page, which seems to be all gibberish, is a form of initiation ufed anciently 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, who fometimes offer fuch reasons and excufes for publishing their works, as they ought chiefly to conceal, and be ashamed of.

I

moft

moft 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 shock and startle any judge of a genius less unlimited than your's. But, in order to prevent fuch glorious trials, the perfon, it feems, to whose care the education of your Highness is committed, has refolved, as I am told, to keep you in almost an universal ignorance of our ftudies, which it is your inherent birthright to inspect.

It is amazing to me, that this person should have affurance, in the face of the fun, to go about perfuading your Highness, that our age is almost wholly illiterate, and has hardly produced one writer upon any fubject. I know very well, that when your Highness shall come to riper years, and have gone through the learning of antiquity, you will be too curious to neglect inquiring 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 ashamed to mention; it moves my zeal and my spleen for the honour and interest of our vast flourishing body, as well as of myself, for whom I know, by long experience, he has profeffed and fill 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 designs,) by asking your Highnfs, Where they are? and What is become of them

and