Reflections upon Ancient and Modern Learning/Epistle
TO THE
Right Honourable
DANIEL
Earl of Nottingham,
Baron Finch of Daventry.
May it please Your Lordship,
SInce I am, upon many Accounts, obliged to lay the Studies and Labours of my Life at Your Lordship's Feet, it will not, I hope, be thought Presumption in me to make this following Address, which, on my Part, is an Act of Duty. I could not omit so fair an Opportunity of declaring how sensible I am of the Honour of being under Your Lordship's Patronage. The Pleasure of telling the World that one is raised by Men who are truly Great and Good, works too powerfully to be smothered in the Breast of him that feels it; especially since a Man is rarely censured for shewing it, but is rather commended for gratifying such an Inclination, when he thankfully publishes to whom he is indebted for all the Comforts and Felicities of his Life.
But Your Lordship has another Right to these Papers, which is equal to that of their being mine: The Matter it self directs me to Your Lordship as the proper Patron of the Cause, as well as of its Advocate. Those that enquire whether there is such a Spirit now in the World as animated the greatest Examples of Antiquity, must seek for living Instances, as well as abstracted Arguments; and those they must take care to produce to the best Advantage, if they expect to convince the World that they have found what they sought for.
This therefore being the Subject of this following Enquiry, it seemed necessary to urge the strongest Arguments first, and to prepossess the World in favour of my Cause, by this Dedication. For those that consider that the Vertues which make up a great Character, such as Magnanimity, Capacity for the highest Employments, Depth of Judgment, Sagacity, Elocution, and Fidelity, are united in as eminent a Degree in Your Lordship, as they are found asunder in the true Characters of the Ancient Worthies; that all this is rendred yet more Illustrious by Your Exemplary Piety and Concern for the Church of England, and Your Zeal for the Rights and Honour of the English Monarchy; and last of all, that these Vertues do so constantly descend from Father to Son in Your Lordship's Family, that its Collateral Branches are esteemed Publick Blessings to their Age and Country; will readily confess that the World does still improve, and will go no further than Your Lordship, to silence all that shall be so hardy as to dispute it.
Justice therefore, as well as Gratitude, oblige me to present these Papers to Your Lordship: Though, since I have taken the Freedom, in several Particulars, to dissent from a Gentleman, whose Writings have been very kindly received in the World, I am bound to declare, that the chief Reason of this Address was, to let the World see, that I have a Right to subscribe my self,
May it please Your Lordship,
Your Lordship's
Most Obliged,
And Most Dutiful
Servant and Chaplain,
William Wotton.