e West of _England_.]

And so much by way of Prose, I shall only now give the Reformer a
little further Advice, in return of his, in my Lyrical way, which is in
a Fable of _A Dog and an Otter_; and to turn his own words upon him, the
Citation may possibly be of some service to him, for if not concern'd in
the Application, he may at least be precaution'd by the Moral. I find he
knows I can sing to other Peoples sense, I'll try now if I can make him
sing to mine: And when he Diverts, or is Diverted with _Vox_, then,
_Preterea nihil_.

* * * * *

_Maxims_ and _Reflections_

upon

PLAYS.

(_In Answer to a Discourse, Of the Lawfullness
and Unlawfullness of PLAYS. Printed
Before a late PLAY Entituled,
BEAUTY in DISTRESS_.)

Written in FRENCH by
the Bp. of MEAVX.

And now made ENGLISH

The PREFACE By another HAND.

_LONDON_,

Printed for R. Sare, at _Grays-Inn_ Gate, in
_Holborne_. 1699.

* * * * *

THE PREFACE

The Charge drawn up by _Mr. Collier_, against the English Stage hath
obliged the Persons concerned in it, to use all possible methods for
their own Vindication. But their Endeavours of this kind have been such
as seem to have done no great Service to their Cause. The natural
Reflection, arising upon the present State of the Controversy, is, that,
when Persons so nearly concerned and so well qualified, to say all that
the case will bear, have yet been able to say so little to the main
points of the Accusation brought against them, the only effectual Reply
would be either to write no more for the Stage, or to write for it
after quite another manner, than of late hath been done. They that have
attempted to answer the _View_ are in good hands already. But since
other Succours are called in from abroad, 'tis fit the World should
know, that this Reserve too hath been already defeated in it's own
Countrey. And that we ought not to be imposed upon here in England, with
an Adversary, _whose Arguments have been not only confuted and Scorned
by Others, but also retracted by Himself, at home.

That Moroseness of humour, which Some in great good manners have of late
been pleased to fix upon the English as their peculiar Character, might
possibly