Memoirs 185 



they never heard, saw, or thought on, but just when 

 they speak of it. And some have great capacities, as 

 may be perceived in their discourse: but yet their 

 speech is Hke those that are lame, which limp and 

 halt, although the ground whereon they go is even, 

 smooth, and firm. But some have such large capaci- 

 ties, elevated pliancies, illuminated souls, and volu- 

 bility of speech, that they can conceive, create, 

 enlighten and deliver with that abundance, curiosity, 

 facility and pleasure, as their conversible company 

 is a heaven, where all worldly delights reside. 



But to return to the ground of this epistle. I desire 

 all my readers and acquaintance to believe, though 

 my words run stumbling out of my mouth, and my 

 pen draws roughly on my paper, yet my thoughts 

 move regular in my brain, for the several tracks or 

 paths that contemplation hath made on my brain, 

 which paths or tracks are the several wayes my 

 thoughts move in are much smoother than the tongue 

 in my mouth, from whence words flow, or the paper 

 on which my pen writes: for I have not spoke so 

 much as I have writ, nor writ so much as I have 

 thought; for I must tell my readers, that Nature, 

 which is the best and curiosest worker, hath paved 

 my brain smoother than custome hath oiled my 

 tongue, or variety hath polished my senses, or art 

 hath beaten the paper whereon I write; for my 

 phancy is quicker than the pen with which I write, 

 insomuch as it is many times lost through the slow- 

 ness of my hand, and yet I write so fast, as I stay not 

 so long as to make perfect letters. 



But if they will not believe my books are my own, 

 let them search the author or authoress: but I am 

 very confident that they will do like Drake, who 

 went so far about, untill he came to the place he first 



