TliniesEpipictoTJ/ej^afafu 



atertain fpeech againft them : And what was it ^ \ know right well Cquothlie, 

 ill thatbookeaforefaid) that if thefe writings of mine come abroad once and be 

 publifhed to the view of the world, there vvi'll be many ftep foorth to c|uarrell 

 and cavill therwith j fuch fellows foonefl: and mojfl of all who are quite void of 

 vertueand honeftie, and know not what belongeth to true honour. Butfurely 

 fay what they will, I let their words run by, like raine water. It vVas a prettie 

 fpeech alfo and a pleafant apothegme,thatP/4«c/^j uttered in the femblable cafe : 

 forbeeing informed \}sxdXiAftmusl?ollio was devifingand framing certain e in- 

 vedive Orations againft him, which fhould be fet foorth either by himfelfe or 

 his children, after the deceafe of T>Uncus and not before, to the end that they 

 might not be anfvvered by himiheefaid readily by way of afcoffe, Thatnone 

 but vainebugs bC hobgoblins ufe to fight with the dead: with which word he 

 gave thofe orations fuch a counterbuffe, that (by the iudgement of the learned) 

 none were accounted afterward more impudent and fhameleflfe than they. For 

 mine own part, being fure that thefe bufie bodies fball never be able to bite me 

 (and verely Cato hath given fuch fellows a proper name, and called them FniU" 

 tigatoresy by atearme elegantly compounded of vices and quarrels -.for to fay 

 a truth,what did they elfe but picke quarels and make brawls f* ) 1 will proceed 

 and goe on ftill in my intended purpofe* 



Now to conclude and knit up mineEpiftle: Knowing as I doCjthat for the 

 good of the Commonweale,you fhould befpared and notempeachedby any 

 privatbufinefTeof yourowne, and namely in perufing thefe long volumes of 

 mine 5 to prevent this trouble therefore,! have adioyned immediatly to this Epi- 

 flle and prefixed before thefe books,the Summarie or Contents of everie one : 

 and verie carefully have I endeavoured, that you fhould not need to read them 

 throughout, vvherebyall others alfo after your example, may eafc themfelves 

 of the like labour : and as any man is defirous to know this or that,he may feeke 

 and readily find in what place to meet with the fame. This learned I of Va^ 

 leritts Sormnus one of our owne Latin vvriters,vvho hath done the 

 like before me and fet an Index to thofe B ooks which 

 he entituled £7rpw7iVZ«?» 



