Gideon's fleece, or, The Sieur de Frisk an heroick poem, written on the cursory perusal of a late book, call'd The conclave of physicians / by a friend to the muses.

A PREFACE TO THE READER.

Courteous Reader,

COmeing accidentally to a Friends House in the Ci∣ty, a Worthy Member of the famous College of Physicians in London, among other things, I was entertained with a Book Intituled, The Con∣clave of Physicians, Written by a Doctor of Paris, and Physician in Ordinary to His Majesty, as he there styles himself.

Hearing my Friend read, and perusing it a little, we were both surpriz'd to find a man, that pretended to the highest Degree in Physick, and the Ʋmbrage of his Majesty, fall so foul on a Society of Men, that ought to be, ••…••…d generally are, men of the best Education, Parts, and Practice in a Nation, founded on his Ma∣jesties Grace, encouraged by his Favour, conven'd and insti∣tuted

by Royal Authority, continued, supported, esta∣blish'd, and endowed with all the Power and Priviledge, the Supream Court of Judicature of a Nation, then thought fit to afford.

Finding also under feigned Names, easily intelligible, and in a Parisian Scheme Calculated, or rather clan∣destinely Design'd for a Meridian nearer home, gross Reflections, as generally apprehended, on many Worthy Men now living, and some dead; (Fecit indignatio versum) the horror of the thing extorted the ensuing Poem, which, as it is, I freely commit to thy perusal, desiring thee to consider, if in some words and expressi∣ons, I have been a little keen and severe, that in this Case, and Thing especially so Circumstantiated,

Difficile est Satyram non scribere.

We did then also not a little admire, how a great and stately Fabrick so far East, cou'd so privately, and soon, be conveyed to the West; or how the Presidency, and Censorship of a * 1.1 Coll. cou'd so cunningly be vested in one Man, who rudely, maliciously, and sawcily exercises more Magisterial Authority, and Correptive Jurisdiction over the Prescripts, and Receits of its Celebrated Members, then ever That did over the greatest Empirick, or un∣authoriz'd Physitian.

But considering that in the Opinion of some sort of Men, there is not a pin to chuse between a Conclave, and a College, it may not be difficult to apprehend how so absurd a thing shou'd happen, especially if we take in the Heifer of Envy to solve the Riddle of Malice, the working with which but a very little while, like another Sphinx, will unfold the Aenigma.

A Low Condition in the World, I account a great un∣happiness,

but no disgrace, being what Infinite Wisdom, in an unquestionably prudent Series of Providence, thinks fit to determine; provided it be accompany'd with an humble, industrious, and submissive mind, satisfied for the present, and patiently expecting better things when God shall see fit; but an impatient, restless, and turbulent necessity, that does cogere ad Turpia, such a Poverty as good Agur prayed against, that makes men steal, invade Property, and Common Right, break the Bonds of all Societies, and Laws, and turns men into Banditi, Pirates, and High-way men, such an Envious mean Condition, and no other, I wou'd be thought to ex∣pose.

As to what relates to Practice, for which this Ca∣pricio seems so much concern'd, those Famous, Learned, and Worthy Men of the Parisian Conclave, whose Re∣putation, 'tis more then probable, is maliciously pelted, through the Crape and Tiffany of an envious disguise, if it be not thought, as I presume it will, too mean an undertaking, when it comes to their Knowledge, are bet∣ter able to make a Defence; from which both their oc∣casions and Dignity, may well excuse, in regard nothing material, but is here sufficiently, though succinctly an∣swered, in sense, or in kind; from whom no other an∣swer can justly be expected, then what a Learned Man gave an Antagonist he contemn'd: Audio contra me Scarabeum quendam scripsisse, cui respondere nec dignitatis est, nec otij.

One thing more I wou'd have thee understand, Rea∣der, That what is here said in Just Vindication of the Mem∣bers of the Conclave, that are concerned, is no way Deroga∣tory to the known Worth, and great Eminence of the Cardi∣nals Exempt; for as the Reach went, the Cloud brake, and the Conclave, like the Israelitish Ground, was partly wet, and

partly dry, but both so inconsiderably, that neither the moistures improves, nor the drought impairs.

And here I thought fit to mention, That as I never had the Honour to be a Conclavist, so * 1.2 I do pro∣test, I never yet saw either Pope, Patriarch, or Cardinal; much less can be suspected to have had any encourage∣ment from them, otherwise than the Satisfaction of my own Fancy, and the doing that good Office for others, which they may well think (as mentioned before) too mean for themselves, as knowing the best answer to Ca∣lumny is silence, according to that of the Historian,

Convitia spreta exolescunt.

Wherefore, if in this product of a few spare and drolling hours, that now ensues, any Service be done the Living, any Justice to the Dead, or the least Di∣vertisement given Thee, Reader, is the uttermost aim and ambition of the Author, and thy Friend

Philo-Musus.

Notes

• * 1.1

  p. 158.
• * 1.2

  Intred.