The heroe of Lorenzo, or, The way to eminencie and perfection a piece of serious Spanish wit / originally in that language written ; and in English by Sir John Skeffington, Kt. and Barronet.

Let this be told the Reader,

THat Sir John Skeffington (one of his late Ma∣jesties servants, and a stranger to no lan∣guage of Christendom) did about 40 years now past, bring this Hero out of Spain into Eng∣land.

There they two kept company together 'till a∣bout 12 months now past: and then, in a retyrement

of that learned knights (by reason of a sequestration for his masters cause) a friend coming to visit him, they fell accidentally into a discourse of the wit and galantry of the Spanish Nation.

That discourse occasio∣ned an example or two, to be brought out of this He∣ro: and, those examples (with Sir John's choice language and illustration) were so relisht by his friend (a stranger to the Spanish tongue) that he be∣came restles 'till he got a promise from Sir. John to translate the whole, which he did in a few

weeks; and so long as that imployment lasted it pro∣ved an excellent diversion from his many sad thoughts; But he hath now chang'd that Condition, to be possest of that place into which sadnesse is not capable of entrance.

And his absence from this world hath occasion'd mee (who was one of those few that he gave leave to know him, for he was a retyr'd man) to tell the Reader that I heard him say, he had not made the English so short, or few words, as the originall; because in that, the Author had exprest himself so

enigmatically, that though he indevour'd to translate it plainly; yet, he thought it was not made comprehen∣sible enough for common Readers, therefore he de∣clar'd to me, that he inten∣ded to make it so by a co∣ment on the margent; which he had begun, but (be it spoke with sorrow) he and those thoughts are now buried in the silent Grave, and my self, with those very many that lov'd him, left to lament that losse.