Published sometime after May 1673 (see Letters, p. 328), GREGORY, Father-Greybeard, with his Vizeroff…in a Letter to Our Old Friend, R. L. from E. H. refers to Marvell as ‘the Headman Father Greybeard’ but even more villainous. R. L. probably refers to Roger L’Estrange (see No. 17).
E[dmund] H[ickeringill] (1631-1708) was the rector of All Saints, Colchester, where his lively style of preaching endeared him to the public. In RT II, Marvell twice asserts that Hickeringill’s work if not of Parker’s own penning at least passed under his approval (pp. 175, 201).
Extracts from pp. 7, 12-13, 134-5.
It is a marvel (saith another) what you will make of this New Author, at the long run; for you have made him a Ferret, a Tarrier, and a Jaccall already; The Gentleman himself has reduc’d thus many Metaphors within the compass of one bare sentence, p. 49. [I, p. 23] fetching a Conjurer, a Play house, and a Ferret to make it up: sure his Rhetorick was born in a time when Metaphors were cheap; for though they be far fetch’d, yet sure they were not dear bought, he is so prodigal of them.
…then and even then, it is the old cry of the Rebells, who when they had got their will of the Earl of Strafford, and Arch-Bishop Laud and left the King no Councellors, nor Kingdomes, nor so much as liberty; then changed their note, and justified the Evil Councellors, more than the King himself; saying he himself was his own wicked Councellor, and a Tyrant and ought to die: And though their words (like these of this Authour) were devillish and malicious; yet they were as good as their words, and condemn’d him for a
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