Proteus redivivus, or, The art of wheedling or insinuation obtain'd by general conversation and extracted from the several humours, inclinations, and passions of both sexes, respecting their several ages, and suiting each profession or occupation / collected and methodized by the author of the first part of the English rogue.

THE AUTHORS EPISTLE and APOLOGY TO HIS INGENIOUS FRIEND N. W. Esq

SIR,

IN a late Conference between you and me, (retiring our selves from the un∣pleasant discords of ratling Carts and Coaches, and the Confusion of City-cries, (which obstruct the Freedom of an Active Fancy) you may be pleased to remember the Complaints I then made against the mis∣understanding Vulgar, in censuring so se∣verely

the Author of the English Rogue, concluding him to be the Actor too: how irrational that Opinion is, I shall leave to any indifferent Person to judge, without Suggesting this; that as it is impossible for any one man to act all those Villainies contained in that Book so if any one com∣mitted but the tith of them, certainly Justice, though Blind, would soon find him out, and lop him off as an useless, Rotten, and Per∣nicious Member of the Common-welath, and not let him live at home in quietness so long as I have done, without ever appearing be∣fore the face of Justice upon any account, much less as a Criminal.

I cannot say I have done well in the pub∣lication of some Books, yet I intended no ill; for my design was not to prepagate Vice, but so to detect it, that at the sight of its uggly loathsomness, men should shun it worse then the greatest Contagion.

But you may say, to detect Sin, is to teach Sin; the discovery of Vice, like the

Hydra's heads, doth rather increase, then decrease the Vitious; for Vertue is seldom found to spring from over-flowing glasses, and Chastity from Bawdy Aretins lascivi∣ous Pictures: that wicked Persons, and wicked Actions, should rather be damn'd in obscurity, then by the Pen preserv'd to E∣ternity; that it is a Sin against Piety to give Wickedness any life of Memory; so the Vil∣laine became lost that set fire on Diana's Temple, and Manlius was forgot in Rome that did an injury to Rome: wicked Names dishonour fair Report, and if by compulsion the Pen must glance upon them, they ought ever to be accompanied with execrations, and Devil must be their only appellation.

I cannot deny but all this is true; yet consider Brutus, and his Confederates, are not forgot in Livy; Sinon lives in Virgil, and Pandarus in Homer; there is a Layis memorable in Corinth, and a Lamia in Athens, and why should we not match those Rampant Whores with a pair of as lusty

Rogues, one Spanish, and the other En∣glish; not but that other Countries have as large a stock of each, but only want recording. If Vice should lye conceal'd, how should we know good from evil; the Minister, 'tis true, Discovers, Arraigns and Condemns it, and with that severity Executes it in the Pulpit, that none can stand before him but with fear and trembling; the Law hath several punishments for offences besides down right hanging: thus, though I have not play∣ed the immediate Executioner of such Vices as I have presented to publick view, yet I have lasht some at the Carts arse, others I have Carted, and given others the opportuni∣ty, as well as my self, to pelt Villainy with the rotten Eggs of scorn and reproach, whilst every one that would, might pour on her head the Piss-pots of what ignominy they pleased.

I need not urge more arguments to prove the honesty of my Intention in Printing the Witty Extravagant, and that my principal aime was not private advantage, but the

general benefit of every individual Person, and that it should not be imputed as a fault in me, if any make a bad use thereof, or wrong construction; some vainly, and falsly sup∣posing me, not only so meer a Fool, to relate my own extravagances, but so great a Beast, nay Monster, to wrong the known Piety of my Parents.

According to the promise made in my Post∣script to the first Part of the English Rogue, I purposed to have finisht that Book in a Se∣cond Part, travelling him through the gen∣tiler parts of Europe, Topographically discri∣bing all places of eminency, with an account of what Tricks and Rogueries he committed where ever he came; but the Cudgels were snatcht out of my hands before I had fairly laid them down, I intending to have had but one more bout at the same Weapons, and so have compleated the Rogue, but seeing the Continuator hath allready added three Parts to the former, and never (as far as I can see) will make an end of pestering the

World with more Volumes, and large Edi∣tions, I diverted my intention into this Sub∣ject, The Art of Wheedling, or Insinu∣ation, wherein, I have been at no small pains in the Method and Contexture: what I have Collected hath been out of the Choi∣cest French and English Authours, not so much as casting an eye upon any Copy of the aforesaid Continuator, that might any ways assist me in this Composure. I would not willingly do him any prejudice, though I have been injur'd, and abused by him, and his instigating others, yet his un∣kindness I repay with respect, and would not be indebted to him for that Character he gave me in his second Part of the Rogue, but that I fear I should wrong his Reputa∣tion by ill wording his Encomium; where∣fore I shall be silent, and refer you to his Unlucky Citizen, and Books of Knight Errantry, &c. which lowdly speak his Panagyrick; as for those Yelping Curs he

he formerly kept, I shall not vouchsafe a back∣ward look upon them, whilst they snarle undeserved Malice, and bark non-sense at my heels.

Not to tire you Sir, with a tedious Epistle, I shall only give you a short account of this present Publication, and conclude. Though in this Treatise I have endeavoured to detect the most remarkable Wheedles of several Trades and Professions, yet I have avoid∣ed all reflection on particular Persons: and as it is impossible to recount the Wheedles of all Mysteries and Occupations, so it is not requisite to meddle with some subjects, too inferiour for discourse: but you may wonder why I left out Book-selling, a Trade that's called a Mystery, and so it is, the Cabal of deep Intrigues and Stratagems: Sir, I may be very well excused, if upon no other grounds, than that I was a quondam Member of that mysterious Occupation, and that's an ill Bird (according to the old saying) that befouls its own Nest: besides, would

it not be madness to run the hazard of sting∣ing to death by approaching too near the Nests of Wasps and Hornets, when with safety a man may walk another way: I love my Bro∣ther too well to cut his throat, and then hang my self to make him amends; if any have been so inconsiderate to do it, by this time they have found but little praise, and lesser pro∣fit for their pains.

My main drift in this Discovery, is to come to the knowledge of our Selves, by the knowledge of others. That incomparable sentence, Nosce te ipsum (Proceeding from that Exchequer of all knowledge, Pitha∣goras) ought to be engraven on the Frontis∣piece of every mans, heart, evermore in a practice applicative, that it may prove the Elixir Salutis, the never failing Recipe of human Welfare: but to know a mans self is not so proper (saith Menander) as to know others; and certainly, had he lived in these Hypocritical and debauched times, necessity would have compelld him to be laboriously

studious in this Art, carefully inspecting the variety of mens humours to prevent the pre∣judice proceeding from the practices of such men, who are generally well read in all the Subtle Arts of Circumvention. Accor∣ding to my ability, I have discovered some, and as these shall prove Succesful in the ac∣ceptation of the World, I shall bestow my pains in a further Collection, and shall Correct my present defects in some other Im∣pression.

Therefore, without the knowledge of our Selves and Others, we are like Crazy Vessels, yet richly laden, which are tossed up and down in the Ocean of Ignorance so long, till we are either shatter'd in pieces against the Rocks of disorder'd desires and affections, or else boarded, and made prize by such, who live on Pyracy and Rapine, Cruzing on the Coasts of Craft and Circumvention.

The secret of Wisdom consists in this, That a man knows what he is himself, what he may do, and what he ought to do; and

the Soul of Prudence lyes in this, that a Man knows what others are, what they may do, and what they are desirous to do; he that hath gain'd this knowledge, hath acquired the greatest advantages of life; and may sail, or safely ride it out at Anchor in the greatest Storm that can happen.

To study well the Knowledge of our selves, is the ready way to come to the knowledge of others; and though the Art of knowing others seems to have no other ends than to discover the Inclinations, Motions of the Soul, Vir∣tues, and Vices, and what for advantage may be observable in others, yet doth with the same labour teach every one to find out in him∣self what is either good or bad, and to deduce more rational and impartial judgments there∣of, than if he first considered them in his own person. We cannot by our selves come to a perfect knowledge of our Selves; for if, as in a Mirrour, the Soul attempts the beholding of her self in that Self-reflection, Self-love corrupts and poisons all the judgments she

makes thereof: thus Men transported with Anger, though ever so injurious in that action, by beating or reviling, think all the Reason and Justice on their side: the Covetuous Man thinks his fordid cares the effects of Prudence and necessity; the Prodigals ex∣pences are excused by the undeserved name of generosity; The Philautist or self-ad∣mirer being rais'd by the indulgent hand of Fortune, to the top of Natures preheminence; as a petty God, directs his imagination far beyond the levell of Humility, and thinks his worst of actions best, but at last is lost in his own foolish Self-contemplation; and indeed every man commonly looks upon him∣self through a Magnifying Glass, so that he cannot behold his true proportion. In short, as all our Inclinations and Habits please and honour us, so all our Passions seem rational to us; that we may therefore apprehend their imperfections, it is requisite we saw them in another, that being a Glass which flatters not, le Miroir quine flatte Point.

The knowledge of a Mans self, as it principally concerns the Soul, so it neg∣lects not the Body, and hath a careful and watchful eye for its Preservation, en∣deavouring to save the Viol from cracking, as well as the infused Aqua Caelestis from corrupting: Thus the perfect and sound estate of Soul and Body is maintained by the knowledge thereof, and that cheif∣ly by the due observation of such things as may be hurtful, or helpful thereunto; this is an Art obtain'd by a very few.

As to the knowledge of others, we have been in the study of it since there were but three men in the World, yet if what we have purchased by much travel and inquiry, were put into the Ballance with what we have not attained to, I believe you will find (Sir) that the Scale of Ignorance, will out-weigh that of Know∣ledge. Certainly there is no Art so full of uncertainty, as for one Man to know another, and though there are several

helps, as the lineaments of the Face, lines of the Hand, and Constitutions of the Body; yet these are insufficient to lead us into a perfect knowledge. We cannot de∣ny that Vultus est Index amini; and though the eyes are the Casement of the Soul, yet they frequently prove false Glas∣ses; though as the Turk believes every mans fate and fancy be written in his Fore-head, yet the letters are so obscure, that we cannot read them. The most pro∣bable way to get this Art, is by Con∣versation according to the Italian Proverb, I saw thee at Rome, I knew thee at Venice; and without this, it is impossible for any to practice the Art of Wheedling, or Insinuation, and it is pity so bad a use should be made thereof, which is not my intent in this Persent Publication; for I'le assure you my sole intent is only to discover how knavishly some Wheedle for advan∣tage, and to teach men to be wary of hypo∣critcial underminding Insinuations.

For my own part I shall indeavour to be in the defensive part only, and shall make no 〈◊〉〈◊〉use of what Wheedles I observe in ••••hers, then to preserve my self, ever prefer∣ing an honest reputation before an ill got∣ten fortune, this is the sincere resolution of,

SIR,

Your faithful, and most obliged Servant, R. H.