ΤΟ All the Worthy Louers S. D. Orthy Gentlemen, about a yeare since, vpon the great reproach giuen to the Professors of Ryme, and the vse thereof, I wrote a priuate letter, as a defence of mine owne vndertakings in that kinde, to a learned Gentleman a great friend of mine, then in Court. Which I did, rather to confirme my selfe in mine owne courses, and to hold him from being wonne from vs, then with any desire to publish the same to the world. But now, seeing the times to promise a more regard to the present condition of our writings, in respect of our Soueraignes happy inclination this way; whereby we are rather to expect an incouragement to goe on with what we doe, then that anye innouation should checke vs, with a shew of what it would do in another kinde, and yet doe nothing but depraue: I haue now giuen a greater body to the same Argument. And here present it to your view, vnder the patronage of a Noble Earle, who in bloud and nature is interessed to take our parte in this cause, with others, who cannot, I know, but holde deare the monuments that haue beene left vnto the world in this manner of composition. And who I trust wil take in good parte this my defence, if not as it is my particular, yet in respect of the cause I vndertake, which I heere inuoke you all to protect. Sa: D. ΤΟ TH He Generall Custome, and vse of Ryme in this kingdom, Noble Lord, hauing beene so long (as if from a grant of nature) helde vnquestionable; made me to imagine that it lay altogether out of the way of contradiction, and was become so naturall, as we should neuer haue had a thought to cast it off into reproach, or be made to thinke that it ill-became our language. But now I see, when there is oppositio made to all things in the world by words, we must now at length likewise fall to contend for wordes themselues; and make a question, whether they be right or not. For we are tolde how that our measures go wrong, all Ryminge is grosse, vulgare, barbarous, which if it be so, we haue lost much labour to no purpose: and for mine own particular, I cannot but blame the fortune of the times and mine owne Genius that cast me vpon so wrong a course, drawne with the current of custome, and an vnexamined example. Hauing bene first incourag'd & fram'd thereunto by your most worthy & honorable mother, & receiued the first notion for the formall ordering of those compositions at Wilton, which I must euer acknowledge to haue beene my best Schoole, and thereof alwayes am to hold a feeling and gratefull memory. Afterward, drawne farther on by the well liking & approbation of my worthy Lord, the fosterer of me and my Muse, I aduetured to bestowe al my whole powers therein, perceiuing it agreed so well, both with the complexion of the times, & mine owne constitution, as I found not wherein I might might better imploy me. But yet now, vpon the great discouery of these new measures, threatning to ouerthrow the whole state of Ryme in this kingdome, I must eyther stand out to defend, or else bee forced to forsake my selfe, and giue ouer all. And though irresolution and a selfe distrust be the most apparent faults of my nature, and that the least check of reprehension, if it sauour of reason, will as easily shake my resolution as any mans liuing: yet in this case I know not how I am growne more resolued, and before I sinke, willing to examine what those powers of iudgement are, that must beare me downe, and beat me off from the station of my profession, which by the law of nature I am set to defend. And the rather for that this detractor (whose commendable Rymes, albeit now himselfe an enemy to ryme, haue giuen heretofore to the world the best notice of his worth) is a man of faire parts, and good reputation, and therefore the reproach forcibly cast from such a hand may throw downe more at once then the labours of many shall in long time build vp againe, specially vpon the slippery foundation of opinion, and the worlds inconstancie, which knowes not well what it would haue, and: Discit enim citius, meminitque libentius illud Quod quis deridet quam quod probat & veneratur. And he who is thus become our vnkinde aduersarie, must pardon vs if we be as iealous of our fame and reputation, as he is desirous of credite by his new-old arte, and must consider that wee cannot, in a thing that concernes vs so neere, but haue a feeling of the wrong done, wherin euery Rymer in this vniuersall Iland as well as my selfe, stands interressed. So that if his charitie had equally drawne with his learning he would haue forborne to procure the enuie of so powerfull a number vpon him, from whom he cannot but expect the returne of a like measure of blame, and onely haue made way to his owne grace, by the proofe of his abilitie, without the disparaging of vs, who would haue beene glad to haue stood quietly by him, & perhaps |