cated it to the duke of Monmouth, from whom he
received no great encouragement. This circumstance induced him to
reflect, that the life of an author was at once the most dissipated
and unpleasing in the world; that it is in every man's power to injure
him, and that few are disposed to promote him. Animated by these
reflexions, he again took a house, and from author resumed his old
trade of a bookseller, in which, no doubt he judged right; for while
an author (be his genius and parts ever so bright) is employed in the
composition of one book, a bookseller may publish twenty; so that in
the very nature of things, a bookseller without oppression, a crime
which by unsuccessful writers is generally imputed to them, may grow
rich, while the most industrious and able author can arrive at no more
than a decent competence: and even to that, many a great genius has
never attained.

No sooner had Mr. Head a little recovered himself, than we find him
cheated again by the syren alurements of pleasure and poetry, in the
latter of which, however, it does not appear he made any proficiency.
He failed a second time, in the world, and having recourse to his pen,
wrote the first part of the English Rogue, which being too libertine,
could not be licensed till he had expunged some of the most luscious
descriptions out of it.

Mr. Winstanley, p. 208, has informed us, that at the coming out of
this first part, he was with him at the Three Cup tavern in Holborn
drinking a glass of Rhenish, and made these verses upon him,

What Gusman, Buscan, Francion, Rablais writ,
I once applauded for most excellent wit;
But reading thee, and thy rich fancy's store,
I now condemn what I admir'd before.
Henceforth translations pack away, be gone,
No Rogue so well writ, as the English one.

We cannot help observing, that Winstanley has a little ridiculously
shewn his vanity, by informing the world, that he could afford to
drink a glass of Rhenish; and has added nothing to his reputation by
the verses, which have neither poetry nor wit in them.

This English Rogue, described in the life of Meriton Latroon, a witty
extravagant, was published anno 1666, in a very large 8vo. There were
three more parts added to it by Francis Kirkman and Mr. Head in
conjunction.

He also wrote

Jackson's Recantation; or the Life and Death of a notorious
highwayman, then hanging in chains at Hamstead, 1674.

Proteus Redivivus; or, the Art of wheedling, Lond