XXII + 

Albeit, gentle reader, I have lusted earnestly, and endeavoured carefully (according to the measure of such a slender skill as God has vouchsafed me, and as convenient leisure from other occasions of needful profit and healthful pastime have permitted) that these little books which I here put into thy hands, might stand instead of many bigger booksвБ†вАФyet have I carried myself towards thee in such fanciful guise of careless disport, that right sore am I ashamed now to intreat thy lenity seriouslyвБ†вЄїin beseeching thee to believe it of me, that in the story of my father and his christian-namesвБ†вАФI have no thoughts of treading upon Francis the FirstвБ†вЄЇвБ†nor in the affair of the noseвБ†вАФupon Francis the NinthвБ†вАФnor in the character of my uncle TobyвБ†вЄЇвБ†of characterizing the militiating spirits of my countryвБ†вАФthe wound upon his groin, is a wound to every comparison of that kindвБ†вАФnor by TrimвБ†вАФthat I meant the duke of OrmondвБ†вЄЇвБ†or that my book is wrote against predestination, or free-will, or taxesвБ†вАФIf вАЩtis wrote against anything,вБ†вЄЇвАЩtis wrote, anвАЩ please your worships, against the spleen! in order, by a more frequent and a more convulsive elevation and depression of the diaphragm, and the succussations of the intercostal and abdominal muscles in laughter, to drive the gall and other bitter juices from the gallbladder, liver, and sweetbread of his majestyвАЩs subjects, with all the inimicitious passions which belong to them, down into their duodenums. + 