we Utopians are of your extraction, the famous
Sir Thomas More having been the Founder of this
our Republick. Of him our Annalls say, that as an
Eminent Statesman, he had the right Knack of
living in the World, his motto being loco-Serio,
Betwixt Jest and Earnest, which the most learned
in the Languages of the Suburbs have translated
Drolling; and he kept to it a long while, but at
length leaving it off, and falling from his Principle,
by being but once in his daies in earnest (and
that was when he stood for his supremacie who is
the greatest Droll in the world) you see what became
of him then; be brought himself to the block
by it, and there finding his error he fell to Drolling
again when 'twas too late, and so (the Story
faith) he took his leave of Mortality, as a sad example
to such as shall venture to be in earnest,
among the great Politicoes of the captious
World.
Upon consideration of so lamentable a Fate befaling
this our Founder, we Utopians and our Ancestors,
in all succeeding times, have set it down
for a sure Maxim of State, To live in Jest, and never
to be Earnest, expect it be in order to die. And
This being, premised as the prime Point of Policie,
you are thereupon to understand, throughout
the whole Course of my Correspondence with
you, that whatever I write is no further in earned
than you please to make it so. Indeed (Sir) 'tis
but Drilling.