Poor Robins ansvver to Mr. Thomas Danson author of the late friendly debate between Satan and Sherlocke: as also of another pamphlet since published; pretended to be a defence of that debate against Poor Robin and others. By the author of Poor Robin's Weekly Intelligence. This may be printed, Feb. 6. 1677. Ro: L'Estrange. 1677 Approx. 17 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2006-06 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A55407 Wing P2875 ESTC R219508 99830975 99830975 35437 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A55407) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 35437) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 2037:6) Poor Robins ansvver to Mr. Thomas Danson author of the late friendly debate between Satan and Sherlocke: as also of another pamphlet since published; pretended to be a defence of that debate against Poor Robin and others. By the author of Poor Robin's Weekly Intelligence. This may be printed, Feb. 6. 1677. Ro: L'Estrange. Winstanley, William, 1628?-1698, attributed name. [2], 6 p. [s.n.], London : printed in the year, 1677. Authorship of the "Poor Robin" pamphlets is usually attributed to William Winstanley, though imitators undoubtedly wrote some of them.--Cf. NUC pre 1956. Caption title on p. 1 reads: Poor Robin's answer, &c. Considerable print faded and show-through. Reproduction of the original in the British Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. 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Great Britain -- History -- Restoration, 1660-1688 -- Early works to 1800. 2005-08 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2005-12 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-03 Taryn Hakala Sampled and proofread 2006-03 Taryn Hakala Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion POOR ROBINS ANSVVER TO M r. Thomas Danson Author of the Late FRIENDLY DEBATE BETWEEN SATAN and SHERLOCKE : As also of another Pamphlet since Published ; Pretended to be A Defence of that Debate against POOR ROBIN and others . Bilem , Saepe Jocum vestri movêre Tumultus . By the Author of POOR ROBIN'S Weekly Intelligence . This may be Printed , Feb. 6. 1677. Ro ▪ L'Estrange ▪ London , Printed in the Year , 1677. POOR ROBIN'S ANSWER , &c. Post varias Remoras , post tot Discrimina Praeli , — Coram quem quaeritis Adsum . THis Contest between Mr. Danson and my self , will I presume , appear so surprizing and unexpected ; that as it happens in sudden Frays , the first Quere generally started is like to be , How fell you out ? To satisfie which , I must dispence with the Vanity of telling the World ; that ( whatever Fools thinks , or Knaves Report ) our Weekly Intelligence is not publisht solely to Get Money , ( though that be an Ingredient which insinuates in most undertakings ) nor meerly to Entertain the Idle with Stories , and furnish Coffee-Houses with Chat , ( though for that some ungrateful Dons are not a little oblig'd , for without such Innocent Diversions , 't is a thousand to one but their Tongues would be imploy'd to the Hazard of their Ears . ) But besides these , another main use of that Sheet , is for Extravagants to do Pennance in : To Expose Vice and Ill Nature to deserv'd contempt , and if possible Laugh Foppery out of Countenance and Practice . Thus the Name of POOR ROBIN becomes more awful than an Apparitors , keeps the peace no less than the Constable , and makes those tremble who bid defiance to the Stocks and the Whipping-Post , whilst yet he dispences his Corrections with so much Mildness , that onely the conscious feel the Lashes ; and By-standers could scarce take notice of their Chast●zements , did not their own Wincing proclaim their personal Guilt , and summon a crowd to whoot at their Folly. In which Predicament we must Rank Mr. Danson's Printed Resentments : For certainly , as never Man gave more Cause for a Satyrical Reflection , so none but his Discreet self would since have taken the pains so amply to satisfie the World how well he deserv'd it . Wise and good Men cannot but abhor that mischeivous humour of testy Fencers in Divinity , who like Tavern Bullies catch up whatever stands next , and convert it into a Weapon , or New Medi●● , ( as our Author calls it ) for carrying on a Brangle , which too of● is no less unnecessary than unseasonable : the one but Milking an He-Goat , whilst the other holds under a Seive ; But for a Person of his pretended Piety and Gravity to abuse an - Eminent Minister by representing him Dialoguing with , and Preaching Salvation to the Devil : and by slanderous Imputations , mangling his words , and putting Innocent Expressions on the Rack of Malice . To Extort an odious Meaning which 't is like his thoughts were never Guilty of , was such a Matchless peice of Disingenuity , that I co●ld not but think 't deserv'd to be expos'd in a D●vertisement to the Hiss and Laughter of all the world . As for the Merits of the cause , or Original Controversie I shall not meddle , for 't is dangerous trampling in Holy Ground , unless our Shooes are first pluckt off . I mean , that Lightness Prejudice , Self-conceit and Opiniastry remov'd ; wherein most Men are too apt to walk . And besides , 't is the opinion of Wiser Men , that Mr. Sherlock has so fully Justifi'd his Principles , that his Book may serve as a sufficient Answer , not only to his Adversaries first Pamphlet , but the latter too ( which pretends to be a Reply to it . ) And even whatever else , Indefatigable Impertinence shall scribble for the future on this subject ; if people will be but at the pains to consider and compare his Words with the others wild distorted Inferences only give me leave to say ; That I cannot think Mr. Danson , for all his Clamours to be so much at odds with the foul Fiend as he pretends , for what can be more favourable and obliging , then when p. 3. of his Defence , he possitively , and no less Blasphemously calls God , The Devils Benefactor ▪ and abuses a sacred Text to countenance his madness . Had Mr. S. been Guilty of such an Obnoxious Expression , 't would no doubt have afforded Tragical matter enough for Two or Three more Vnfriendly Debates . But waving the Body of the Pamphlet , I shall take notice onely of what he has been pleas'd particularly to concern me in , Viz. The Preface ; and this forlorn Hope comes fronted with Two of our Authors Cardinal Vertues , Boasting and Falshood ; Telling the World that his late friendly Debate between Satan and Sherlock had a very fair Reception both as to matter and MANNER , from all Ranks and Orders , Learned , Intelligent and Pious — Now how well the Illegitimate Brat was resented by Persons of the best RANK ; Those that Mid-Wiv'd it into the World have some little reason not to forget : and 't is notorious that most modest Men of his own party and Sentiments in the matter of the Controversie were so far dissatisfi●d with his scandalous manner of managi●g it , as generally to disown and condemn it . But he proceeds . It had a very foul R●ception from other● of Mr. Sherlocks perswasion , from whom as I will not so much d●●●●● as to deny them their share in the two first Characters ; So , NOR , AS NOT to deny them any in the last , &c. You see the Gentleman has so blundered himself of late in Logick , that he has forgot his Grammar , and now cannot speak without Nonsense and Solecismes . There is a credible story of a certain Quondam Fellow of M●●dlins , ( you know the Stars name , no body Mr. Danson ! ) that since the memory of man undertook to teach some Gentlemen Latine ; but having got an encouraging spill 〈◊〉 ●●●●●●sh'd and never came at them more ; I fear our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some such slippery trick by the Learned Ma●ron that 〈◊〉 have taught him English . After a very punctual Recital of a Divertisemement in our Intelligence , beginning — There is lately publisht a Dialogue between a Monkey and his Looking ▪ Glass , &c. This Hero of the Goose-quill turns up his Mustacho's , and says — He would scorn to take notice of that abus● , if he had not Good Ground to believe Mr Sherlock as truly the Authour of it , as other Men are of the Weekly Advertisements ; sure he imagines Poor Robin to be of Kin to Smectym●●●● . " Where tuck'd under each Arm a double Gizzard , " Five Faces lurk u●der a single Vizzard . I confess I have often with much satisfaction over-heard grave Coxcombs relate ; that as many Authors Club to an Intelligence as there go Taylors to a Man ; that we tug at the Pen like Slaves at the Oar a whole Bank together , and write in the posture that the Sweeds give fire in , over one anothers heads ; Nay some have been so impudent as to pretend intimate acquaintance with half a dozen of the Fraternity of Robin-Writers . But that any of the Tribe of Levi had any Finger in the Pye is a slander , that none but the Devils Dialogue-maker would suggest ; for in truth the Ground of his belief ( as well in this as greater matters ) is like to prove nothing but Fancy , or rather Malice , which cares not what it reports , so he may cast an Odium upon Mr. Sherlock ; If I should say I have good ground to believe ; Mr. Danson addicted to Gaming , Bowls , Nine pins , &c. No doubt he would cry out calumny and Slander ; and yet I can shew where he was charged therewith in Print some Years since , and which he never disprov'd that I know of ; A far better ground for believing it , than any he can produce in this case ; For I do Solemnly declare ( and know no reason but my unbias'd Testimony may be Credited before his Envious Surmises ) That the said Divertisement was ne●ther Directly nor Indirectly promoted or procured by Mr. Sherlocke ( whom to my knowledge I never saw , nor never had any Correspondence with ) nor by any from him , or on his behalf ; But was i●serted out of that Natural Antipathy and contempt I bear to such a Ridiculous and Abusive piece of Foppery as the Title , and Contrivance of that Pamphlet . But now behold ! The Man of Sylogismes comes furiously to Attaque our Divertisement , and gravely Confound it with a First , Second , Third , and Fourth — ly ; Beloved ; — First , It was not Well Witted ; Though few that know Mr. Danson can admit him for a Competent Judge ; Yet let 's hear his reason ; The Monkey , ( he says ) must needs be Satan : &c. And why must it be so ; S●r Positive ? May it not serve as well to Emblematize your Worship ? who being like those unlucky Animals , of a medling Enterprizing humour , and having made abundance of strange Grimaces , took them , when represented in your Crackt Imagination for a Picture of Mr. Sherlock ; And so frighted with your own hideous Reflection , Conjur'd up a pittiful Devil to debate with Absurdities , that had no body but your self for their Author . Secondly , He says , It was not well worded , because there is no reason the Arguments manag'd by Satan should be stiled the Non-Conformists ; Yes Sir ! Two or Three small reasons there are : First , Because what ever looks like an Argument is generally borrowed ( not to say stoln ) from the Non Con's Books ; onely the railing abusive part is intirely your own . Secondly , Your Satan declares himself to be a very Precise Devil ; A Constant and A●tentive Hearer at Conventi●les , &c. Thirdly , Because your self seem'd very fond , it should be thought so , making your Devils Common Formula of Ushering in his Arguments to be thus A Phanatick would press you , p. 7. The Calvinists will object , p. 16. would J.O. . say , p. 30 Would a Fanatick say , p , 34. Fanaticks think , p. 38. &c. In the next Lines Mr. Danson grows modest , Disclaims his having Improv'd the Art of Scolding , yet acknowledges he had found out an unheard of way to abuse any Antagonist : These are his words ; — The unheard of way to abuse any Antagonist , discovered in the Friendly Debate , was not the Improvement of the 8th ▪ Liberal Art which the Vulgar call scolding ( for that may be heard every day at Billingsgate ) but the choice of a Dialogist — That was the Novelty ; A Novelty indeed ! and since we owe the discovery wholly to Mr. Dansons Ingenuity , I am content he should have a Patent to Monopolize the Invention to Him and his Heirs ; Nor is the Mystery of Scolding so little beholding to him for its Improvement , as he bashfully pretends ; For as the Common Professors of Railing have their Figures , and Peculiar Ornaments , though not so learnedly distinguisht by the Names of Sarcasmus , Asteismus , Mict●rismus , Antiphrasis , Charientismus , or Ironia , yet have they their dry Bobs , their broad flouts , bitter taunts , their fleering srumps , and their privy Nipps ; And at this Rhetorick Mr. Danson is Excellent , as himself confesses , to make the Devil play upon Mr. Sherlocke . — As p. 22. Now we are under the Rose , I will tell you truely I believe all your talk of a Saviour is but a copy of your countenance ; p. 38. I believe all Christs Revelations , and were I sure none but Friends were within hearing , I would say that 's more than you do ; p. 4. None of your Clubb ( which it seems is a very merry Clubb , p. 43. ) care much for Paul , &c. But above all , that figure is Superlatively fine , and wholly Novel in his Preface to The Defence , where he calls Mr. Sherlock — Whore. Thirdly , He taxes the Divertisement as Guilty of calamny , all●adgeing there is no hint of Bawdry in the words Operam Dare ad Liberos procreandos , they signifying no more than to have conjugal commerce ; I confess Commerce is a very pretty and apposite term , that is , To Truck Ware for Ware ; But why the Latine must be rendred conjugal , rather than any other private Commerce I am yet to learn ; And indeed who could Imagine but our Author , or ( which is all one ) his Devil was not a little Tickled with some conceit , when he draggs in by Head and Ears such a pittiful shred of Bumbast , where there is not the least occasion for 't , but meerly for the L●tchery of Latine , and then cackles over it thus — You see as old as I am I have not forgot all my Latine . He takes it ill , That the Divertiser should recommend him to a Scotch Casemont , which , he , says , Is a Pillory . — Seriously a Profound found Commentator ! but I warrant you he had never hit on 't so luckily , had not Consciousness of his own merits assisted his guessing : For not to mention their deserts who not onely publish Pamphlets without License , but also abuse the Ipprimaturs of Authority , as he does Pr. Deb. p. 28 , and 49. 't is certain that Forgery is a cr●me generally punishable by the Wooden Ruff , and how far guilty of that ( at least against conscience and honesty , though not within the Statute ) Mr. D. is by Misrepresenting Mr. S● . words and sense , Is obvious to every considerate Reader . But I am farr from the Malice he charges me with , or wishing the least Ill to his Person , and would advise him ( as a Friend ) to calm that fiery , contentious spirit , which hurries him into these Absurdities ; Not to suffer blind furious Zeal to consume all his Charity ; Nor think every man that dissents from his Sentiments an Atheist , a Mahumetan , or Subverter of the Gospel ; and if he needs must be ●●●ling in Polemicks , to treat his Antagonists hereafter with the Candor of a Scholar , the Civility of a Gentleman , the Gravity of a Minister , and the Moderation of a Christian ; this I am sure is wholsom Councel , but if he will neglect it , and proceed as he has begun , I would wish him to Imitate his Brother R. to betake himself to the Study of Physick in the Galenical way , with particular regard to the nature of Hellebore and its Operation , which may be of great use this Spring to a person of his complexion , and prevent the dire effects otherwise threatned in the Dog-daies . Sed — Motos praestat Componere Fluctus . — FINIS .