That Sir _John Skeffington_ (one of his late Majesties servants, and a stranger to no language of _Christendom_) did about 40 years now past, bring this Hero out of Spain into England.
There they two kept company together 'till about 12 months now past: and then, in a retyrement of that learned knights (by reason of a sequestration for his masters cause) a friend coming to visit him, they fell accidentally into a discourse of the _wit_ and _galantry_ of the _Spanish Nation_.
That discourse occasioned an example or two, to be brought out of this _Hero_: and, those examples (with Sir _John's_ choice language and illustration) were so relisht by his friend (a stranger to the _Spanish tongue_) that he became restles 'till he got a promise from Sir _John_ to translate the whole, which he did in a few weeks; and so long as that imployment lasted it proved an excellent diversion from his many sad thoughts; But he hath now chang'd that Condition, to be possest of that place into which sadnesse is not capable of entrance.
And his absence from this world hath occasion'd mee (who was one of those few that he gave leave to know him, for he was a retyr'd man) to tell the Reader that I heard him say, he had not made the _English_ so short, or few words, as the originall; because in that, the Author had exprest himself so enigmatically, that though he indevour'd to translate it plainly; yet, he thought it was not made comprehensible enough for common Readers, therefore he declar'd to me, that he intended to make it so by a coment on the margent; which he had begun, but (be it spoke with sorrow) he and those thoughts are now buried in the silent Grave,[1] and my self, with those very many that lov'd him, left to lament that losse. I.W.
[1] Compare the poem on the death of Cartwright, _supra_:--
"But now 'tis lost; lost in the silent grave," &c.
COMMENDATORY VERSE TO THE AUTHOR OF SCINTILLULA ALTARIS.
[Scintillula Altaris or, a Pious Reflection on Primitive Devotion: as to the Feasts and Fasts of the Christian Church, Orthodoxally Revived. By Edward Sparke, B.D. London; Printed by T. Maxey for Richard Marriot, and are to be sold at his Shop in St. Dunstan's Church-yard in Fleetstreet, 1652.