A Touch of the Times, OR, TWO LETTERS Casually Intercepted.  
The First, From the Author of a late Pamphlet Entitled, Day-Fatality: To the supposed Author of the Weekly Packet of Advice from Rome.  
The Second, The ANSWER thereunto.  
REturning out of the Country, I was showed a Pamphlet of yours, Wherein you made Reflection upon me as a Two Penny Scribbler; with other Unhandsome Terms. I am told you Write for a Living (Sedulitatem tuam lando) and yet your Books are but Pence apiece, etc. to unbraid my Two Pence. I Wrote mine for no Reward or Gain; and if you understand Latin, you may know when I did it, and guests upon what Account: It being Compiled shortly after his Highness' Recess, Upon a Duty I owe to Him as being the KING (my Master's) only Brother. I proffered it to several, to do Gratis, but none durst till the Press Open, and Parliaments Dissolution.  
I'll assure you, its Impression was upon my Contribution, without any design of Profit.  
You made a Damnable Reflection upon the Duke's Safe (therefore I say Happy) Arrival, (taken Notice of by more than myself); and for which (no Doubt) you must give Account to Greater Persons than the Gotham Author (who is no Redletter Man) as you would have it.  
And whom also you have injured in this Particular; In hitting him in the Teeth, with the Second of September; when as he himself Acknowledges it A Dismal and Unhappy Day, not only to the City of London, but consequently to the whole Kingdom, [pag. 4. Paragraph the last.]  
I shall then (and not before) prove an Impertinent Coxcomb, when such as you, come to have the Rule of that Providence, that Attends his Royal Highness; and will then apply to myself, your 1 Kings 22. & 22, 23. verses.  
I have made Enquiry after you, and find you were Bred an Attorney; as such, you cannot but have (at least) some little kind of Gammar-Learning: Read Then. 
Reges ac ipsis ortos reverenter habeto  
Ranaque desistat torvum irritare Leonem.  It was at the Printers Request, I set my Name: But I Faith Sir, I would you were out of Harms Way as well as he is. (You know what I mean.)  
Inquire for me (if you have any thing to say to me) at Mr. Bilingslies a Stationer near the Exchange South Door, (I am not unknown to Mr. Stephens, belonging to the King's Printing-House, and one of his Majesty's Poursivant Messengers) or Mr. Philip Foxcroft belonging to the Printing-House in Little Britain. And my Name is  
Septemb. 15. 1679. JOHAN GIBBON.   

The Answer.  
Most Illustrious Unknown!  
LAst Night I received a Paper which you did me the Honour to send, or, (perhaps out of Good husbandry) bring me. What that meant I cannot throughly comprehend. If you imagine me to be the Author of the Antipapal Packet, be Convinced the small Intelligencers (possibly some of those your good Friends you mention) may have deceived you: For, I am told the same is written by I know not who, with Three Caps a piece, your small Wits of St. Omers 'tis like will call 'em Legion, for, it's confidently Averred, they are many. If you are not a Papist I am glad of it, not for my own sake, but yours; but must needs tell you, you are then one, of the most Unfortunate Protestants that have writ Pamphlet since the Reign of Mr. L'Estrange Expired.— You say you have inquired after me—— Sedulitatem tuam Laudo, (to return you one of your own scraps, for I mortally hate to be endepted to any Body, for Pedantry) but I fear the pains in that, as well as in your printed Labours, proved to little purpose. What a company of Rascals were these Printers that they would not break an Act of Parliament to Oblige the World, (and the Bog-houses) with such an Excellent Piece; and then at last, to make you pay Contribution too, (as you say you did) towards Printing, really Sir, that was unkind; and a man were better write for a living (as you are told, you know, or rather know not, who does) than scribble to undo ones-self, which must Infallibly be your Fate, If on such unconscionable Terms you publish any more such 〈…〉 ear. For since an Inundation of Wit and Latin is as mischievous, as that of the Sea, 'tis most wise men's Opinion. That the Fee-simple of an Author will never turn to any more Account to you, than the Land in the Marsh, did. Dear Sir, Consult Erra Pater next bout. Did not you begin that, That Fatality-work on a Childermass-day? As for your terrible Reges ac Ipsis, etc. I carried it, late as it was last Night, to a Pedagogue for Construction, who tells me the English of it is, That 'tis good sleeping in a whole Skin. Now I must profess, That though I Love and Revere my King, as well, and would venture my Blood to serve him against Rome, or Geneva, as freely as any little Fellow between Barwick and Dover Peer, yet I cannot very Cordially brook any of the Pope's Subjects (as such) be they what they will; though in other respects, I honour them as much, and somewhat more than any that shall go about with Freaks and ridiculous Flim flams to flatter them. I like your humour rarely well for Swearing with your Pen, though I must, to deal plainly (as you know Friends should do,) tell you, 'tis not altogether so Jantes, as by word of mouth. For observe me, If I, that am but a bad Reader (though my Grannum, and my Grammar (as you note right well) might teach me at least some little kind of Learning) should not happen to Tone I Faith luckily in pronunciation, Then would the Grace of that Expression be utterly lost. As for the wishing me out of Harms-way, 'tis most Obligingly done, but I beseech you do not you give yourself the trouble of putting me out of the way, (the Phrase is known) alamode de Godfrey, were I not assured under your hand that you are none of the Bloody Letter, I should not like those Menacing. But to obtain your favour, I do assure you, If you please to Write an Hundred and Fifty more such Volumes as the Last, I will henceforward never so much as directly or indirectly read one of them.  
This is all at present, besides my love kindly remembered to you, and my respects to Philip Foxcroft (who for aught I know may be your Godfather, for I never heard of him before in my Life) so hoping that all our friends at home, and going abroad are in good health: I rest  
Septem. 17. 79. Your much obliged Servant, and my Name (lest you should have forgot it) Is HEN. CARE.