The Brazen Serpent, To the reader
To the Reader.
REader (whether courteous or vncourteous, I know not; I am ſure, I care not: For, in this matter, I am Iohn indifferent.) As I came, of late to the Croſſe, as a Beare to the Stake; ſo, now I come to the Preſſe, (as a Theefe to the Gallowes) ſore againſt my mind. Which I write to premoniſh thee, leſt thou ſhouldeſt miſtake one for another. For another there is, who writes both his Names as I doe; and hath publiſhed diuers Bookes, as Petitions, Subpoena's, Chriſt-Croſſes, &c. Now becauſe I would be loth to defraud him of any Right or Honour, which may duly belong vntounto him; or that He ſhould ſhare with me in my ſhame; I doe heereby certifie thee, that I am not the Man: For I neuer ſaw the Kingdome of Ireland in all my life, but in Bookes; nor the County of Wilts, but in the worthy Worke of the learned, iudicious and famous Antiquary, Mr. Clarencieux. And for my part, howſoeuer I be the meaneſt among the many thouſands that are called to the Sacred Prieſthood; yet I may truly proteſt, that I neuer played the Circumforanean Theologaſter: Iſtos enim Circulatores, qui Sacram Philoſophiam honeſtiùs neglexiſſent, quàm vendunt, ſemper exoſos habui. And for mine Owne part, I was neuer in Print before: Neither was it either in my purpoſe, or in my deſire to come abroad to the World in Print at this time. The importunate requeſt of my friends could neuer hauehave preſſed me to the Preſſe, if I had knowne which way to ſuppreſſe certaine baſtard and illegitimate Copies of this ſilly Sermon, which wandred vp & down the Town, like vagrants; and were taken Begging, here, for a Crown; and there for an Angel, &c. It was my deſire, that they ſhould hauehave been had to the Houſe of Correction; and (after due puniſhment) ſent back to the place where they were born, or, rather, misbegotten. But the multitude of them was ſo numerous, that Iuſtice (without inconuenience) could not be done vponupon them. Therefore, to vindicate my ſelfe from the imputation of glorious Barbariſme, and moſt lame and vnioynted Nonſence; I knew no better courſe, then by making the Genüine Copy of that, which I then deliuered, publique to the World. Such as it is, thou haſt it; accept it, euen as thou canſt finde in thine Heart. I grant, I hauehave not interlarded it with any exotique Elegancies, nor conclouted the Margent with many Quotations; becauſe I found it ſomewhat cumberſome to the Compoſitors. For the Style, I confeſſe, it is plain and incurious (euen like my Speach & Garments.) For it was my ſtudy, euer, to be rather inter Zenonis foreign, quàm foreign. And to ſay the Truth, as I neuer had any facilitie in teaching Periods to daunce Friskin, and ſuch-like curioſities; So did I neuer take any felicitie in it: For I was perſwaded, that ſuch laborioſae nugae were better neglected then ambitiouſly affected; If for no other regard, yet for this: That they do Emaſculate the Senſe. Knowing it therefore to be ſuch an homely piece, and ſo far out of the Faſhion, I could not expect any applauſe by it: nay, I defie him that can thinke more contemptibly of it, then I doe:
Falſus honor juvat,Horat. & mendax infamia Terret,
Quem? niſi Mendoſum & Mendacem.
For as there be many great Names, to whom I doe, with all reuerence, riſe vp; acknowledging that nothing which can fall from me, can be worthy their eye: So for vulgar and halfe-coddled Iudgements (whether of Patricians or Plebeians) The VVorld knowes, that Pro Captu Lectoris habent ſua Fata Libelli.Martial. As it is, If it doe any good to any one; it is that which I heartily wiſh, but dare not Hope for. For (as the Times are) How may I hope for any Good from a Sermon, when euen Ballads (which are in farre more reſpect amongſt the Many) can doe no good vponupon them? If it doe Good to none, it doth but ſhare with others of farre better worth; in the ſame Fortunes. Yet, Come the worſt that can; I am ſure, That after it hath burdened the Stationers Stall the 12. part of the date of an Almanack, it may ſerue well enough for waſte Paper; which is the common Deſtinie that hangs ouer the Moſt writings of this Kind. So I take my leaue, May 25. 1621.
Io: ANDREVVES, Presbyter.