The Unfortunate Politician, Title page – To the reader
ANDRONICVS, OR, The Vnfortunate POLITICIAN.
Shewing, Sin stoutly punished.
Shewing, Right surely rescued.
ECCLES. 8. 11.
Because sentence against a dull worke is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the Sons of men is fully set in them to doe evill.
BY THO. FULLER. B. D.
LONDON, Printed by W. WILSON, for John Williams, at the Crowne in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1646.
To the Reader.
WE read of King *Hest. 2. 6.AHASHUEROSH, that having hishead troubled with much businesse, and finding himselfe so indisposed, that hee could not sleep, hee caused the Records to be called for, & read unto him; hoping thereby to deceive the tediousnesse of the time, (an honest fraud) and that the pleasant passages in the Chronicles would either invite slumber unto him, or enable him to endure waking with lesse molestation.
We live in a troublesome and tumultuous age; and hee needs to have a very soft bed, who can sleep soundly now a-dayes, amidst so much loud noise, and many impetuous rumors. Wherfore it seemeth to Mee, both a safe and cheap Receipt, to procure Quiet and Repose to the Mind which complains for want of rest, to prescribe unto it the reading of History.
Great is the pleasure and profit thereof.*Lul. 19. 4 Zaccheus, wee know, was low and little in stature, but when hee had borrowed some height from the Fig-Tree, into which he climbed, the Dwarfe was made a Gyant on a suddain; last minute beneath the Armes, but now grown above the heads of other men. Thus our experimentall knowledge is, in it selfe, both short and narrow, as which cannot exceed the spanne of our owne life. But when wee are mounted on the Advantage of History, we can, not onelyonly reach the yeere of Christs Incarnation, but, even touch the top of the worlds beginning, and at one view over-see all remarkable accidents of former ages.
Wherefore, untill such time, as I shall by Gods providence, and the Authority of my Superiors, bee restored to the open Exercise of my profession, on termes consisting with my Conscience, (which welcome Minute, I doe heartily wish, and humbly wait for; and will greedily listen to the least whisper sounding thereunto) it is my intent (God willing) to spend the remnant of my dayes in reading and writing such Stories as my weak judgement shall commend unto me for most beneficiall.
Our English Writers tell us of David King of the Scots, that whilst he was Prisoner in a Cave in Nottingham Castle, He, with his Nailes, shall I say carved, (or) scratched out the whole History of our Saviours Passion, in the Wall. And although the Figures be rough and rude, yet in one respect they are to bee compared unto, yea, preferred before the choysest Pieces, and most exact Platformes of all Engravers, being done at such disadvantages; cut out of a maine Rock, without any light to direct him, or Instruments to help him, besides his bare hands.
The Application of the Story serves mee for manifold uses. First, here I learn, if that Princes, then meaner Persons, are bound to finde themselves some honest employment. Secondly, that in a sad and solitary condition, a Calling is a comfortable Companion. Thirdly, where men want Necessaries, fit Tooles and Materialls, the worke that they doe, (if it be any degree passable,) deserves, if not to bee praised, to bee pardoned. Which encourageth me to expect of the charitable Reader, favour for the faults in this Tract committed, when hee considers the Author in effect banished, & Booklesse, and wanting severall accommodations requisite to the compleating an History.
Noah, to make an Essay *Gen. 8. 7., whether the waters were abated from the face of the earth, before hee would adventure to expose the whole Fraught of his Arke to danger, dispatch'd a Dove to make discovery, and report unto him the condition of the World, intending to order himselfe accordingly. A deep Deluge hath lately over-flowed the whole Kingdome, to the drowning of many, and dangering of all. I send forth this small Treatise, to try whether the swelling surges, and boyling billowes in mens breasts, (flowing from the distance in their judgments, and difference in their affection) begin now to asswage, and whether there be a dry place for this my innocent Dove, safely to settle her selfe. If shee finde any tollerable entertainment, or indifferent Approbation abroad, it will give mee encouragement to adventure a Volumne of a more usefull Subject, and greater concernment in the view of the world.
Thine in all Christian offices, THO. FULLER.