_To seeke out the =Author= of every particular =Emblem=, were a labour without profit; and, I have beene so far from endeavouring it, that, I have not so much as cared to find out their meanings in any of these =Figures=; but, applied them, rather, to such purposes, as I could thinke of, at first sight; which, upon a second view, I found might have beene much betterd, if I could have spared time from other imployments. Something, also, I was =Confined=, by obliging my selfe to observe the same number of =lines= in every =Illustration=; and, otherwhile, I was thereby constrained to conclude, when my best =Meditations= were but new begunne: which (though it hath pleased Some, by the more comely Vniformitie, in the Pages) yet, it hath much injured the libertie of my =Muse=._ _There be, no doubt, some faults committed by the =Printer=, both Literall and Materiall, and some Errors of the =Gravers= in the =Figures=, (as in the =Tetragrammaton=; in the Figure of =Arîon=; and in the =Proprieties= due to some other =Hieroglyphicks=; but, for the most part, they are such, as =Common-Readers= will never perceive; and I thinke, that they who are =Judicious= will so plainly finde them to be no faults of mine; that, leaving them to be amended by those, to whom they appertaine; and, =You=, to accept of these =Play-games= as you please: I bid you =Farewell=._ The Occasion, _Intention_, and use of the Foure _Lotteries_ adjoyned to these foure Books of _Emblems_. Stultorum plena sunt omnia. _The world is growne so in Love with =Follie=, that the Imprinting of over-solid and serious =treatises= would undoe the Book-sellers; especially, being so chargeable as the many costly =Sculptures= have made this Booke: therefore, (to advance their =Profits=, rather than to satisfie my owne =Iudgement=) I was moved to invent somewhat, which might be likely to please the vulgar Capacitie, without hindrance to my chiefe =End=. And, though that which I resolved on, be not so =Plausible= to Criticall understandings, yet I am contented to hazzard among them, so much of my Reputation as that comes to._