would. May he (as now) always fhine in the clearest Light: May he continue the Support of Church and State: Let his Crown flourish upon his own Head; and may his Enemies meet with that Reward which is always due to Ingratitude, Treachery, and Infidelity; and when Time has fpun his Thread to the laft Inch, may he again revive in his Heroick Son, your

Father.

As for the Trifle I have laid at your Highness's Feet, it is, I own, unworthy of fuch a Patronefs; but if it be not fo very correct, it is free from the three grand Topicks on which most of our modern Comedies are founded, viz. Obfcenity, Faction, and a general Contempt of Religion; which makes it fitter for the Protection of fo much Innocence and Goodnefs. And, if your Highness can but find (in one of those Hours that you allow to your Diverfion) the least agreeable Amusement from it, it will be the greatest Honour, as well as Satisfaction, to

MADAM,

Tour Highness's most Dutiful,

AND

Moft Obedient Humble Servant,

MARY DAVY s.

The

PREFACE.

I Confefs it is not without a good Share of Vanity,

that I reflect how induftrious fome of the York Gentlemen were to damn this Play; and it is still an Addition to that Vanity, to think how fuperior a Number there was to defend one, and oppose t'other. The first Night, in which lay all the Danger, was attended with only two fingle Hiffes; which, like a Snake at a Distance, fhewd a Resentment, but wanted Power to do Hurt. The one was a Boy, and net worth taking Notice of; the other a Man who came prejudic'd, becanje be expected to find fome of his Relations expos'd. But both his Fears, and his ill Nature, were groundless, his Family being fuch as deferve Refpect from all, and from me in particular; and if any of the Characters was design'd for any of them, it was only one of the very best. But as fome Tempers are not to be oblig'd, 1 fhall take no farther Pains in my own Vindication; only I think this angry Gentleman would have fhewn a greater Contempt, had he said, This is a Woman's Play, and confequently below my Refentment.

But it seems even that is deny'd me by some; and as a Child born of a common Woman, has many Fathers, fo my poor Offspring has been laid at a great many Doors,who, out of Pity to their own Undertandings, has fent the Brat back toits lawful Parent: I am proud they think it deferves a better Author. The Succefs it met with the third Night, was (confidering the Time of Year, and my own want of Ac quaintance) infinitely above what I had Reason to expect; and as the Town, and the Ladies in partisular, have been pleas'd to favour my first Attempi, it will make me more industrious to promote their Diversion at a more convenient Seafon. A 3

The

'ས

A Female Mufe, from Northern Clime, this

Day

Prefents upon the Stage her first-born Play.
What he expects, to all but her's unknown:
She fure can never hope to please this Town.
Learning fhe as none, fo can have no Supplies
From ancient Books, but on her felf relies.
How weak Support, you Poets know,whose Brains
Having at laft produc'd, with mighty Pains,
Pieces in which not one Rule was forgot
Of all that mighty Ariftotle wrote;
Nature in all the Characters obferv'd,
And Time and Place to Nicety preferv'd.
Tet for all this ill-natur'd Criticks Spite,
Have fcarcely let them live 'till their third Night.
Befide, fhe wants thofe Helps that fome have got,
Who take from French or Spanish Plays their
Plot,

From others Works judiciously can glean

The choiceft Flow'rs to adorn their barren Scene.
Could fhe do this, he then perhaps might please
An Audience, and do it too with Eafe.
Alas! fhe knows no Languages but one;
And what he gives you here, is all her own.
From ber own Sex fomething fhe may expect ;
'Tis Womens Duty Women to protect.
For Pity, Ladies, let her not defpair,
But kindly take the Suppliant to your Care;
Let ber from you but fome Small Favour find,
The Men will be out of good Manners kind.

THE

T is a Cuftom very much in Vogue,

When the Play's done,to fpeak the Epilogue,
In Style that may the Ladies Humours bit,
And, tho' the Play has none, to have Some Wit:
But if the Poet's Brains fo empty are,
As to have none, or none at least to fpare,
It then has been his Care, that every Line
Should with fome roguish double Meaning shine.
In Jerious Plays, this moftly has prevail'd,
And of Applaufe feldom or never fail'd,
When a Nymph comes in ftately tragick Drefs,
With Smutty Feft in jingling Doggrel Verfe.
The Reaux all clap, as pleas'd to fee her Pain
Is at an End, and he is theirs again.
Our Author I advis'd to take this Way,
And told her it perhaps might fave her Play:
From Lady Greafy's Mouth it would not look
Amiß, if he bad down right Bawdy spoke ;
Whofe Character I own I can't but fear
Will feem too ftrain'd to-fome nice Criticks here,
Because perhaps it mayn't be very cafy

In this fine Town to match my Lady Greafy;
But fhe, I'll warrant, thought herself too wife,
To bearken to, or follow my Advice;
Has, as moft Poets have, Conceit enough,
Talk'd of her Modefty, and fuch ftrange Stuff.
Lord help her Head, whoe'er in any Age
Knew Modefty fuccefsful on the Stage?
I told her this; but he wou'd not fubmit,
Wou'd ftill be obftinate; 'tis therefore fit
The Play was damn'd, to teach the Author Wit.

Dramatis

MEN.

Gamont. A Gentleman makes Love to the Heirefs. Welby. A Gentleman just come from Travel, in Love with Louifa.

Sir Jeffrey Hearty. A good Sort of a Country Knight. Sir Loobily Joddrel. A Fool.

· Bareface. A Fop.

Capt. Tinfel. A Half-pay Officer.

Ralph. Gamont's Man.

Three Country Fellows. Tenants to Sir Loobily.

Fiddlers.

WOMEN.

Ifabella, The Heiress.

Lady Ample. Her Aunt.

Louifa, Gamont's Sifter. A Lady of Merit.

Lady Greafy. A Chandler's Widow, whofe Hufbands Lady Swi. A Brewer's Wife,

had been Lord

Lady Cordivant. A Glover's Wife,Mayors of York, Mifs Dolly. Lady Greafy's Daughter.

Lyddy. Ifabella's Maid.

Sufan. Lady Ample's Maid.