men did.]

393 g As stout, &c.] Two formidable women at arms, in
romances, that were cudgelled into love by their gallants.

395 h Of GUNDIBERT &c.] Gundibert is a feigned name,
made use of by Sir William d' Avenant in his famous epic poem,
so called; wherein you may find also that of his mistress. This
poem was designed by the author to be an imitation of the
English Drama: it being divided into five books, as the other is
into five acts; the Cantos to be parallel of the scenes, with this
difference, that this is delivered narratively, the other
dialoguewise. It was ushered into the world by a large preface,
written by Mr. Hobbes, and by the pens of two of our best
poets, viz. Mr. Waller and Mr. Cowley, which one would have
thought might have proved a sufficient defence and protection
against snarling critics. Notwithstanding which, four eminent
wits of that age (two of which were Sir John Denham and Mr.
Donne) published several copies of verses to Sir William's
discredit, under this title, Certain Verses written by several of
the Author's Friends, to be reprinted with the second Edition of
Gundibert in 8vo. Lond. 1653. These verses were as wittily
answered by the author, under this title, The incomparable
Poem of Gundibert vindicated from the Wit Combat of four
Esquires, Clinias, Damoetas, Sancho, and Jack-Pudding;
printed in 8vo. Lond. 1665, Vide Langbain's Account of
Dramatic Poets.

496 i What OEstrum, &c.] OEstrum is not only a Greek word
for madness, but signifies also a gad-bee or horse-fly, that