nd subscribed by some
_Worshipful Name_, but had nothing clear through, besides long unsightly
Scrawls and foul Blots with a Pen; and so intended for some such flam as
your Twelve-Penny Writers use to gull those idle people with, that buy
up all Pamphlets they meet: And since I have confess'd my self such a
Customer, 'tis but justice I should be laughed at in my turn.

After all I have writ upon this Subject, I cannot but think my Ink has
been too white all this time; however, I have Gall enough about me to
make it blacker at another, if ever the fit of Scribling should take me
again; which may very well be, when I meet with another Author of so
little _Wit_, so little _Memory_, and so little _Truth_ as _De Cros_.

_----Melius non tangere, Clamo,
Flebit, & insignis tota cantabitur Urbe._

As to the candid Translator, I cannot forbear doing him the Justice to
give him that part which he deserves, and belongs to him in all I said
of _De Cros_, for his share in the Letter, by so false, and so malicious
a Translation; nor can refuse him my approbation for a worthy Translator
to so worthy an Author; wherein he has taken the same pains a man would
do in smutting over a Chimny-Sweeper, or blacking over a Crier of
Smalcoal. Which is all I shall say of him.

But, for the _Advertiser_, as his Stile is much fairer, and consists
mostly of Criticisms, so he will deserve no other than very fair and
critical Reflections. Yet I cannot but wonder, that in the first part of
his Advertisement, he should go about to defend the _severe or indecent
Language_ (as he calls it) in _De Cros_'s Letter: Which sure, nothing
could do towards a person who has so often represented a great King,
whatever his own Merits or Demerits might have been. I am also something
at a loss what he should mean by slandering _De Cros_ with such a Title
as that of, _The Ingenious Author of the foregoing Letter_. For
doubtless if the Man has any Wit, I may say of it as one did of a
Gentleman's Courage, which another had much commended; That _he might
have courage for ought he knew, but he had as live be damn'd as shew
it_.

The rest of his gentle _Advertisement_ consists, (as he pleases to call
it) of _the Sentiments of the Criticks upon these Memoirs when they
first came out_.

The first whereof is, That _the Stile was too luscious and affected_. I
confess I am not acquainted with that Term of _a Luscious Stile_, and
cannot easily stumble upon what