Samuel Butler (1612-1680)

• notable for "Hudibras", from which the term "Hudibrastic verse" comes, which was Swift's chosen poetic style
• "Hudibras" is a mock heroic poem
• work is a satirical polemic upon Roundheads, Puritans, Presbyterians and other factions involved in the English civil war
• tells the story of Sir Hudibras, a knight errant who is described dramatically and with laudatory praise so thickly applied that it is absurd. Hudibras is praised for his knowledge of logic despite appearing stupid throughout.
• his squire, Ralpho, is of a similar stamp but makes no claim to great learning, knowing all there is to know from his religion
• Butler is influenced by Rabelais and Cervantes's Don Quixote
• the title comes from the name of a knight in Edmund Spenser's Faerie Queene who is described as "not so good of deeds as great of name" and "more huge in strength than wise in work"
• Plot:
• The knight and his squire sally forth and come upon people bear-baiting. They decide it is anti-Christian and attack the baiters, who then rally and capture the knight and his squire. While locked up they argue on religion.
• The knight's imprisoned condition is reported to a widow he has been wooing and she visits him. She complains he doesn't love her and he promises to self-flagellate if she frees him. Once free he regrets his promise and debates with his servant on how to avoid his fate. 
• Hudibras tries to convince Ralpho of accepting the beating in his stead. They are interrupted by a procession celebrating women. Hudibras harangues the crowd for their lewdness but they pelt him with eggs and chase him away.
• Hudibras visits an astrologer, Sidrophel, to ask him on how to woo the widow, but they argue instead. Hudibras and Ralpho run off in different directions after believing they killed Sidrophel.
• Hudibras goes to the widow's house to explain the details of the whipping he had promised to give himself, but Ralpho had gotten there first and told her what had actually happened.
• Suddenly a group rushes in and beats Hudibras. Supposing them to be spirits from Sidrophel, Hudibras confesses his sins. 
• Huidbras then visits a lawyer and convinces him to write a letter to the widow. The poem ends with their exchange of letters in which the knight's arguments are rebuffed by the widow.