The Preface to the Reader.
When this piece was first published it was ushered into the World with
the usual ceremony of a Preface, and that a large one, whereby the
Authour intended and endeavoured to possess the Reader with a belief,
that what was written was the Life of a _Witty Extravagant_, the
Authours Friend and Acquaintance. This was the intent of the Writer, but
the Readers could not be drawn to this belief, but in general concurred
in this opinion, that it was the Life of the Authour, and
notwithstanding all that hath been said to the contrary many still
continue in this opinion. Indeed the whole story is so genuine and
naturally described without any forcing or Romancing that all contained
in it seems to be naturally true, and so i’le assure you it is, but not
acted by any one single person, much less by the Authour, who is well
known to be of an inclination much different from the foul debaucheries
of the Relations, & if the Readers had read the _Spanish_ Rogue,
_Gusman_; the _French_ Rogue, _Francion_; and several other by Forraign
Wits, and have upon examination found that the Authors were persons of
great eminency and honour, and that no part of their own writings were
their own lives; they had happily changed their opinion of the Authour
of this; but they holding this opinion caused him to desist from
prosecuting his story in a Second Part, and he having laid down the
Cudgels I took them up, and my design in so doing was out of three
considerations, the first and chiefest was to gain ready money, the
second I had an itch to gain some Reputation by being in Print, and
thereby revenge my self on some who had abused me, and whose actions I
recited, and the third was to advantage the Reader and make him a gainer
by acquainting him with my experiences. This were the reasons for my
engaging in the Second part, and the very same reason induced me to joyn
with the Authour in composing and Writing a third and fourth Part, in
which we have club’d so equally, and intermixt our stories so joyntly,
that it is some difficulty for any at first sight to distinguish what we
particularly Writ and now having concluded the Preface, which should
never have been begun but that I had a blank page, and was unwilling to
be so ill a husband for you, but that you should have all possible
content for your money, and withal to tell you that I would not have you
as yet to expect any more parts of the book, for although a fifth and
last part is design’d, yet i’le assure you there is never a stitch
amiss, nor one line Written of it, and if you desire that, you must give
me encouragement by your speedy purchasing of what is already Written;
and thereby you will ingage
_Your Friend_,
_Francis Kirkman_.
[Illustration]
_The Epistle to the Reader._
Gentlemen,
It hath been too much the humour of late, for men rather to adventure on
the Forreign crazy stilts of other mens inventions, then securely walk
on the ground-work of their own home-spun fancies. What I here present
ye with, is an original in your own Mother-tongue; and yet I may not
improperly call it a Translation, drawn from the Black Copy of mens
wicked actions; such who spared the Devil the pains of courting them, by
listing themselves Volunteers to serve under his Hellish Banners; with
some whereof I have heretofore been unhappily acquainted, and am not
ashamed to confess that I have been somewhat soiled by their vitious
practices, but now I hope cleansed in a great measure from those
impurities. Every man hath his peculiar guilt, proper to his
constitution and age: and most have had (or will have) their exorbitant
exiliencies, erronious excursions, which are least dangerous when
attended by Youthfulness.
This good use I hope the Reader will make with me of those follies, that
are so generally and too frequently committed every where, by declining
the commission of them (if not for the love of virtue, yet to avoid the
dismal effects of the most dangerous consequences that continually
accompany them.) And how shall any be able to do this, unless they make
an introspection into Vice? which they may do with little danger; for it
is possible to injoy the Theorick, without making use of the Practick.
* * * * *
To save my Country-men the vast expence and charge of such experimental
Observations, I have here given an accompt of my readings, not in Books,
but Men; which should have been buried in silence, (fearing lest its
Title might reflect on my Name and Reputation) had not a publick good
interceded for its publication, far beyond any private interest or
respect.
When I undertook this Subject, I was destitute of all those Tools
(Books, I mean) which divers pretended Artists make use of to form some
Ill-contrived design. By which ye may understand, that as necessity
forced me, so a generous resolution commanded me to scorn a _Lituanian_
humour or Custom, to admit of _Adjutores tori_, helpers in a
Marriage-bed, there to engender little better than a spurious issue. It
is a legitimate off-spring, I’ll assure yee, begot by one singly and
soly, and a person that dares in spight of canker’d Malice subscribe
himself
A well-willer to his
Countries welfare,
_Richard Head_.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
On the approvedly-ingenious, and his loving Friend, Mr.
_Richard Head_, the Author of this book.
_What _Gusman_, _Buscon_, _Francion_, _Rablais_ writ,
I once applauded for most excellent wit:
But reading _Thee_, and thy rich Fancies store,
I now condemne, what I admir’d before.
Henceforth _Translations_ pack away, be gone;
No _Rogue_ so well writ, as our _English_ one._