Fair Play on Both Sides, Title page – Dedication
Fair-Play on both ſides: OR, The ſureſt way to HEAVEN.
DISCOVERED IN A DISPUTE BETWEEN A Roman-Catholick, AND A PROTESTANT.
LONDON, Printed for Richard Head, at the Heart and Bible in Little-Brittain, 1666.
To my much eſteemed Friend, Mr. J. L.
YOU will wonder, I am ſure (conſidering my profeſſion) to ſee me become a Poet. And indeed I do almoſt marvel at my ſelf, knowing my ſelf to want the two principal furtherances of Poetry; the one is Natures inſtinct, (a)They ſay, Poeta noſcitur If a man be not as it were a Poet born, he ſhall never prove excellent in that faculty.which God in his holy providence hath denyed me: the other is, A certain retired freedom from all ſuch buſineſſes which may breed deſtraction; (b)Carmina ſeceſſum ſcribentis & otia quae unt. Ovid. de. Triſt.which my publick calling, beſides private encomberances, will not afford me. Yet notwithſtanding, upon this preſent occaſion, I have even forced my ſelf to this ſtrait…r courſe of verſe-making; though I know, that for my own eaſe (having to deal in ſuch a diſtempered and unruly ſubject) that leſs limited, and freer kind of diſcourſe, which Proſe alloweth, had been more convenient, becauſe the Rules of Cadence & number (to which our Engliſh Poetry ſpecially is confined) do many times ſo ſtreighten an unaccuſtomed Practitioner, that he is in hazard, either of obſcuring the ſence (which in a matter of this nature were ſomething dangerous) or of marring the Verſe (which to the apprehenſion of every common conceit, were very ridiculous.) But howſoever I have erred in the carriage of this Verſe, I hope, to you and to others, whoſe favour, either becauſe of their judgement, or their honeſty, I deſire, this ſhall excuſe me; that meeting with our common Adverſary (who appeareth ſometime in ſhape of a Statesman, debating of Titles, and common-wealth affairs, (c)Witneſs the Quodlibets, &c.ſometime as a Petitioner to the King and Parliament, (d)At the Kings firſt coming, and now ſince the Parliament.ſometime as a plauſible Perſwader, (e)B…iſtows Motives, and Books of that nature.ſometime as a reſtorer of the holy Text, to the native purity thereof (f)Rhem. Teſt. & Grego. Martin.ſometime as a man of a very tender conſcience, giving reaſons why he cannot come to our Aſſemblies, (g)Howlet.ſometime as a Raylor at our Government, and an approver of our open enemies (h)The ward-word. Quo teneam vultus mutantem, Proted nodo?that I ſay, meeting with this time-ſerving Proteus, in the faſhion of a Rimer or Balladins, and crept in (as the manner of falſe Brethren 1 is) (i)Galat. 2.4. Similes habet labra lactucas.into …oth the ha… and … ſimple ſeduced; I have endeavoured to make … like the Lips (as the Proverb is) …ſing, to … I am ſure (without wilful forſaking the plain truth of God, … I ſhall …
The ſervice it … here … by …, (k)He confeſeth he … Proteſtant.is … though … ſay the truth it … through … yet ſet forth after any good or … but it is even … of certain …egations (as to there the …avings and ſcraps of … other … order or proof … word of … than Or…. Belike, the …rough for thoſe for whom it was provided, as … it is for thoſe which turn their ears from the Truth, and are given unto fables: (l)2 Tim. 4.4and by ſome, upon my knowledge (to whom … me, God hath ſent ſtrong deluſions, that they ſhould believe …) (m)…. The…. 2.11.it is highly magnified, as a ſpecial preſervative againſt ſuppoſed Hereſie, and as a well-framed Sconce, which none of us all is able to overthrow.
In regard whereof, knowing my ſelf … others, to contend earneſtly for the maintainance …; (n)Iude. 3.…2 1…I have undertaken this which you here ſee, For my deſire and true intent therein, it is beſt known to him which ſeeth in …, (o)Ma…. …and in his due time will make the counſels of all hearts manifeſt.(p)1 Cor. 4.…
Touching the thing it ſelf, how it is, and how well it is, I ſubmit it to the ſenſure of the godly-wiſe, praying them, that with their favourable (if not allowance, yet at leaſt) connivance, it may paſs to the uſe of thoſe, to whom it is intended: And among others, I have directed it eſpecially to you, in part of recompence for a great deal of kindneſs intreating you to entertain … with the like meaſure of Love; wherein it is offered. And ſo …ching God to fill you with the fruits of Righteouſneſs (q)Phil. 1.11., I command you to his grace in Chriſt Jeſus.
Your loving Friend, SAM. HIERON. Modbury, Aug. 20. 1604.