[Illustration] _The Globe’s thy Studye; for thy boundless mind In a less limit cannot be confind. Gazing, I here admire: thy very lookes Shew thou art read as well in men, as bookes. He that Shall Scan thy face, may judge by it, Thou hast an Headpeece that is thronged with n’t._ I·F ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE English Rogue: DESCRIBED, IN THE LIFE OF MERITON LATROON, _A Witty Extravagant_. Being a Compleat History of the MOST Eminent Cheats OF BOTH SEXES. __Read_, but don’t _Practice_: for the Author findes, They which live _Honest_ have most quiet mindes._ Dixero si quid forte jocosius hoc mihi juris Cum & eniâ dalis. London, Printed for Henry Marsh, at the Princes Arms in Chancery-Lane. 1665. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PREFACE. _Beloved Country-men_, Had I not more respect to my Countries good in general, than any private interest of mine own, I should not have introduc’d my _Friend_ upon the common Theatre of the World, to act the part of a _Rogue_ in the Publick view of all. _Rogue!_ did I call him? I should recal that word, since his Actions were attended more with Witty Conceits, then Life-destroying Stratagems. It is confest, the whole bent of his mind tended to little else then _Exorbitancy_; and _Necessity_ frequently compelled him to perpetrate _Villany_: And no wonder, since he lived in the infectious Air of the worst of most _Licentious Times_. But still I blame my self for stigmatizing him with such an _Opprobrious Title_, since in the declination of his days, the consideration of his former _Wicked Courses_ hath wrought (I have so much charity for him to believe it) in him cordial contrition, and unfeigned repentance: and the truth of it is, Man should be regarded not for what he _was_, but what he _is_.