ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

I told the Captain, that, I was obliged to keep this Commiffion of the King's a Secret: I must first carry all my particular Effects to Mr. Simfon's, at an English-Coffee- House in Lisbon: and ftrictly charged him, not, on any Account, to mention this Affair, until he fhould either have my Confent or that of the Minifter's for fo doing..

This I advanced for the better Security of myself and my Effects; for as foon as I found every Thing safe at my old Friend Simfon's, I did not value, of a Rufh, how foon the Captain should explode all that had ever pass'd be

tween us.

NB. Here ends the Journal of Captain Silvius Greenland; as given from his own Pen. And now, with the Authority of his loose Notes, and other Papers, which we are properly furnish'd with; we fhall in our next Book, re-affume the Offices of Biographer, Topographer &c. and alfo, fhew by what Means, and for what Reafon this great undertaking was intrufted to our Care and Skill.

The End of the eleventh Book.

THE

THE

ADVENTURES

O F

Capt. GREENLAND,

BOOK XII.

CHA P. I.

Containing a small but fufficient Preface to this our laft Book.

A

S this is the laft Book of our present Work, it may be expected by fome of our Readers (who may, perhaps, be more nice than wife) that we should here present them with fomething like a Preface: and as the great Mr. F-ld-g feems to have fet it down for a Rule, that thofe Kind of Works, which, for the Benefit of our Readers, we have divided into Books and Chapters, should always contain

contain a fufficient Quantity of Prefatory Matter to each Book; we shall now condefcend to conclude with a perfect Compliance to that Rule: although we have, in feveral Places, already, thought it full as proper to set that Rule at nought. And which, we may by and by account for. Few Prefaces, in the Middle of a Work, but are particular Portions of Impertinence; and this, without Doubt may be thought as impertinent as any.

[ocr errors]

The ingenious Author of a great Work, call'd Pompey the Little, hath been pleased to ftyle that worthy and learned Genleman above mention'd, the King of Biographers. For which good Deed, I will alfo, confer upon him, the Title of Archbishop of Romance; for, being the firft Perfon, who, by divine Providence, hath happily placed this Imperial Crown upon his Majefty's Head. But as it was doubtless, such a fawning, crafty and ambitious Wight, who first made a King; in hopes, we fuppofe, of being himself appointed chief Minifter; we difclaiming all fuch flavish Innovations, do deny his Right and Title. And as it is the Opinion of many learned Man, that all Kings, according to the Law of Reason, were, at first, only Ufurpers; and fet up by the Cringing Pufillanumous Tools of Power and Ambition; I fhall always declare for the Freedom of the Common Wealth

Wealth of Biography; nor will I ever swear Allegiance to any King thereof, while I have Life.

[ocr errors]

The common Arguments either to establish, or to confirm the Rights of Kings, and their Succeffions, and fo forth; are only Food for Fools: fuch as, the Rights of Conqueft; the indefeasible Right of Birth and Inheritance; and fuch Stuff: as though an ambitious Tyrant, because he has Craft and Intereft enough to affemble a parcel of desperate Wretches, to back his Fortunes and overrun a Country, should, for his Murder and Rapin, deferve the facred Power and Honour of a King: and that, the general Opinion of the People, concerning his Qualifications and natural Merit, fhould have no Weight in the Settling of that high Officer.

But as the Roman Brutus dipt his Hand in his. dear Friend's Blood; and one too, who was perhaps the greatest Man this World ever pro-. duced; fo will I, either infpired by his Example; or, by my own obftinate and rebellious Spirit, dip my Pen again and again, against any such a tyrannical and forced Ufurpation.

f

I can be a joyfull Spectator of my Friends Virtues; either natural or acquired, and give: him all the Applaufe that his Merit demands; but will not put him up for an Idol: or, gives him a Power to the Disadvantage of myself.

So

So that, with all due Reverence to his Biographical-Majesty, and Mr Archbishop Pompey, I defire they may be pleased to take Notice, that, as a Token of my Negative to his Election, I have here omitted all prefatory Form, to feveral of my Books: and do, alfo, declare, that I will never condefcend to compofe any Work of this Kind by the confined Rules of any Author whatsoever.

CHA P. II.

Our Hero makes a very impatient Enquiry into the Situation and Affairs of his divine Angelica; and receives a very difagreeable Anfwer thereto. With an Account of what Meafures he next purfued.

HEN the Captain now enter'd the

WH City of Lisbon, it is almoft paft the

Imagination of Man to conceive the fudden fucceffive Paffions, which struggled in his impatient Breast. His Heart bounded with Excefs of Joy, that he was once again enter'd that happy Place which fo lately was the Habitation of his dear and lovely Angelica. But then, the Dread of being alarm'd by fome difagreeable News of VOL. IV.

G

her,

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »