POOR ROBIN'S ANSWER TO M r. Thomas Danson  
Author of the Late FRIENDLY DEBATE BETWEEN SATAN and SHERLOCK: As also of another Pamphlet since Published; Pretended to be A Defence of that Debate against POOR ROBIN and others.  
Bilem, Saepe Jocum vestri mouêre 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, etc.  Post varias Remoras, post tot Discrimina Praeli, 
— Coram quem quaeritis Adsum.  
THis Contest between Mr. Danson and myself, will I presume, appear so surprising and unexpected; that as it happens in sudden Frays, the first Quere generally started is like to be, How fell you out? To satisfy which, I must dispense with the Vanity of telling the World; that (whatever Fools thinks, or Knaves Report) our Weekly Intelligence is not published solely to Get Money, (though that be an Ingredient which insinuates in most undertake) nor merely to Entertain the Idle with Stories, and furnish Coffeehouses with Chat, (though for that some ungrateful Dons are not a little obliged, for without such Innocent Diversions, 'tis a thousand to one but their Tongues would be employed to the Hazard of their Ears.) But besides these, another main use of that Sheet, is for Extravagants to do Penance in: To Expose Vice and Ill Nature to deserved 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 dispenses his Corrections with so much Mildness, that only the conscious feel the Lashes; and Bystanders could scarce take notice of their Chast●zements, did not their own Wincing proclaim their personal Gild, and summon a crowd to hoot at their Folly.  
In which Predicament we must Rank Mr. Danson's Printed Resentments: For certainly, as never Man gave more Cause for a Satirical Reflection, so none but his Discreet self would since have taken the pains so amply to satisfy the World how well he deserved it. Wise and good Men cannot but abhor that mischievous 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 'tis like his thoughts were never Guilty of, was such a Matchless piece of Disingenuity, that I co●ld not but think't deserved to be exposed in a Divertisement to the Hiss and Laughter of all the world.  
As for the Merits of the cause, or Original Controversy I shall not meddle, for 'tis dangerous trampling in Holy Ground, unless our Shoes are first plucked off. I mean, that Lightness Prejudice, Self-conceit and Opiniastry removed; wherein most Men are too apt to walk. And besides, 'tis the opinion of Wiser Men, that Mr. Sherlock has so fully Justified 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 positively, and no less Blasphemously calls God, The Devil's Benefactor▪ and abuses a sacred Text to countenance his madness. Had Mr. S. been Guilty of such an Obnoxious Expression, 'twould no doubt have afforded Tragical matter enough for Two or Three more Unfriendly Debates.  
But waving the Body of the Pamphlet, I shall take notice only of what he has been pleased particularly to concern me in, Viz. The Preface; and this forlorn Hope comes fronted with Two of our Author's Cardinal Virtues, Boasting and Falsehood; 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 Midwived it into the World have some little reason not to forget: and 'tis notorious that most modest Men of his own party and Sentiments in the matter of the Controversy were so far dissatisfied with his scandalous manner of managing it, as generally to disown and condemn it.  
But he proceeds. It had a very foul Reception from other● of Mr. sherlock's persuasion, 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, etc. You see the Gentleman has so blundered himself of late in Logic, that he has forgot his Grammar, and now cannot speak without Nonsense and Solecisms. 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 Latin; 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 published a Dialogue between a Monkey and his Looking▪ Glass, etc. This Hero of the Goose-quill turns up his Mustachoes, and says— He would scorn to take notice of that abus●, if he had not Good Ground to believe Mr Sherlock as truly the Author of it, as other Men are of the Weekly Advertisements; sure he imagines Poor Robin to be of Kin to Smectym●●●●. 
" Where tucked under each Arm a double Gizzard,  
" Five Faces lurk u●der a single Vizard.   
I confess I have often with much satisfaction overheard grave Coxcombs relate; that as many Author's Club to an Intelligence as there go Tailors 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 another's 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 Pie is a slander, that none but the Devil's 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, etc. No doubt he would cry out calumny and Slander; and yet I can show where he was charged therewith in Print some Years since, and which he never disproven 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. Sherlock (whom to my knowledge I never saw, nor never had any Correspondence with) nor by any from him, or on his behalf; But was inserted 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— lie; 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: etc. 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 meddling Enterprizing humour, and having made abundance of strange Grimaces, took them, when represented in your Cracked Imagination for a Picture of Mr. Sherlock; And so frighted with your own hideous Reflection, Conjured up a pitiful Devil to debate with Absurdities, that had no body but yourself for their Author.  
Secondly, He says, It was not well worded, because there is no reason the Arguments managed by Satan should be styled 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 stolen) from the Non Con's Books; only the railing abusive part is entirely your own. Secondly, Your Satan declares himself to be a very Precise Devil; A Constant and Attentive Hearer at Conventicles, etc. Thirdly, Because yourself seemed very fond, it should be thought so, making your Devils Common Formula of Ushering in his Arguments to be thus A Fanatic would press you, p. 7. The Calvinists will object, p. 16. would J.O.. say, p. 30 Would a Fanatic say, p, 34. fanatics think, p. 38. etc.  
In the next Lines Mr. Danson grows modest, Disclaims his having Improved 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 Monopolise 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 distinguished 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 Nips; And at this Rhetoric Mr. Danson is Excellent, as himself confesses, to make the Devil play upon Mr. Sherlock.— As p. 22. Now we are under the Rose, I will tell you truly I believe all your talk of a Saviour is but a copy of your countenance; p. 38. I believe all Christ's 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 Club (which it seems is a very merry Club, p. 43.) care much for Paul, etc. 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 Beware for Ware; But why the Latin must be rendered 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 drags in by Head and Ears such a pitiful shred of Bombast, where there is not the least occasion for't, but merely for the Lechery of Latin, and then cackles over it thus— You see as old as I am I have not forgot all my Latin.  
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 only publish Pamphlets without Licence, but also abuse the Ipprimaturs of Authority, as he does Pr. Deb. p. 28, and 49. 'tis 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 far 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 Mahometan, or Subverter of the Gospel; and if he needs must be ●●●ling in polemics, to treat his Antagonists hereafter with the Candour of a Scholar, the Civility of a Gentleman, the Gravity of a Minister, and the Moderation of a Christian; this I am sure is wholesome Council, 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 Physic 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 threatened in the Dog-days.  
Sed— Motos praestat Componere Fluctus.  
— FINIS.