Fennors defence: or, I am your first man VVherein the VVater-man, Iohn Taylor, is dasht, sowst, and finally fallen into the Thames: With his slanderous taxations, base imputations, scandalous accusations and foule abhominations, against his maiesties ryming poet: who hath answered him without vexatione, or [...] bling recantations. The reason of my not meeting at the Hope with Taylor, is truly demonstrated in the induction to the [...] udger. Thy hastie gallop my milde muse shall checke, that if thou sit not sure, will breake thy necke.

To all that can Iudge, of what Degree soeuer.

IVdiciall Reader, after a Sup∣per of Slanders, giue me leaue to bestow a Banquet of Defence; which, I hope, shall rellish with more delight in thy generous opi∣nion. I am sorrie that my Penne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pluckt backe from better Occasions, to an∣••were an Opposite so ignoble. But seeing my Reputation is shot at by such a poysoned Pi∣••toll, I thought it meete to scrue out the Bul∣••••t of his Infamie with my approued Hone∣••••ie, before it grew ranke, or festered too farre ••n the Worlds Apprehension. But to the pur∣••ose: Maister Taylor, the Gentleman-like ••culler at the Hope on the Banke-side, at a

friends house of mine, acquainted me with his Proiect; which was as followeth: That hee the said Taylor had studied such seuerall Hu∣mors in Prose, as neuer were the like before: (which indeede fell out true, to his shame) wherein hee would haue me ioyne; hee to play a Scene in Prose, and I to answere him in Verse: Whereto I condiscended, on these Con∣ditions; viz. That I might haue halfe the Commoditie thereof; Or Securitie for fiue pounds; Or else twentie shillings in hand, and the rest as the Day affoorded. Next, That I might heare his Booke read (which was fit) to know on what ground I might build my In∣uention. And last, That I should see the Manner of his Challenge before it was pub∣lished, and set my Answere to it with my owne hand. To all which hee graunted, and deliuered mee fiue Shillings vpon the same: Whereupon I promised faithfully, That if all this were on his part performed, I would (God willing) meete him, and with my best endeauor striue to give the Audience content. Now, here I must entreat you, before you con∣demne mee, note but the Occasions of my Breach of Promise: This Water-Taylor, with his Confederates, presuming he had bound

me with his Earnest-money, printed his Chal∣lenge-Bill, and my Answere annexed there∣unto, without my Hand, Knowledge, or Con∣sent: Nay more; My Answere was by him set vp so meane and insufficient to so brauing a Challenge, that I altogether disliked there∣of (as I had reason) and thereupon sent my Man with the Money fiue dayes before the Play, to certifie them, That I was otherwise employed, and would not come, in regard of the Wrong done vnto mee, in setting vp my Answere without my Consent: My Man deliuered the Message, but lost the Money at Play, emboldening himselfe vpon the Wrongs I had receiued; which I haue since payed. And the same day I receiued a Letter out of Warwickeshire from my Father, That he was not well; wishing mee and my wife to repayre vnto him with all possible speede. Now, you that are Parents of Children, or Children to Parents, Iudge, whether I ought rather to dis∣obay my Father, or displease Iohn Taylor; purchase my Fathers hate, or lose a Scullers loue; and I hope you will say I had sufficient cause to keepe me from the Hope. But fea∣ring my homely Truth (though it be sufficient to plead my Honestie) is not answerable to your

••xpectation of my practice in Poesie; I will, as ••eare as I can, fit my Muse to your liking, which is my content: And euer rest honester by Land then Taylor by Water,

WILL: FENNOR.

Although I cannot Rogue it, as he can, Yet will I shew my selfe an honest man.