at Freedom_, and _little Ceremony_, either to the Persons they
represent, or concerning the Actions they relate. And this in my
Opinion, gives the great and general Esteem that is deservedly put upon
the Memoirs of _Philip de Comines_, whose Stile seems very mean and
vulgar, but his _Freedom_ great, and _Ceremony_ very little, either with
those two Great Princes that were his Masters, or in any Account he
gives of Actions, or of Persons, tho many of these were probably alive
at the time of Writing or Publishing these _Memoirs_. But in truth since
his time, his Method has been very little pursued, and more is the pity,
since it has made so much room, and so unworthily, for the fulsome
Flatteries, and nauseous Panegyricks of so many Books or Prefaces as
have over-run the Press in our Age; which not only endeavour to put
Shams and Cheats upon Mankind; but are, I doubt, of great Mischief to
the Interests and Concernments of those Countries where they grow. For
let the _Criticks_ say what they please against writing Story with _too
much Freedom_, and _too little Ceremony_, I am a little disposed to
believe, That if there were more such _Authors_, there would not be so
many such _Actors_, as have been so often seen upon the Publick Stages
of the World; who, like Rooks when they are gotten to the Top-branches
of great Trees, think only of building their own Nests as high as they
can, and feathering them as well as they can, without any care how the
Tree thrives under them, or whether by their Muting and Fluttering
about, they spoil the Branches and Leaves of that Tree it self where
they were bred, or found shelter. Peradventure such Actors would not
have plaid such Parts upon the Stage, if they had not trusted to the
Disguises and Masks they were in, or had suspected they would be pull'd
off by some _plain, rough hand_, either while the Play lasts, or as soon
as 'tis ended. For men are seldom so harden'd, as to grow totally
careless of their Names, and their Memories, after they are dead, tho
they may hope to escape while they are alive.

* * * * *

For these and some other such trivial Reasons, I must profess, I cannot
joyn heartily with the _Criticks_ in this last Objection; but shall be
very glad to joyn with the Advertiser in believing, or at least in
wishing, that Sir _W. T._ would be prevailed with by the Letter, or this
Advertisement, to take some notice himself either of the one, or the