THIS Play, as it was Writ only for my divertisement at Vacant Hours, or Recreation after severer Studies, was never design'd to see the light, at least not betray the weak­ness of its Author so publickly on the Stage, or more uni­versally in Print, had not the Communication of it to one or two Friends spread the rumour of it so far about the Town and Vniversity, that running like Wild-Fire through every place, it kindled a general ex­pectation in all that either knew me in my self, or by my Friends to see it in Publick.

Nevertheless, their perswasions and inducements cou'd not make me Presume, to trust so far to my own small abilities, or to rely so much on my own weak Iudgment, as to send it forth into the World, un­til it had past the Censures of some (I may say) the greatest part of the Witty and Iudicious Men of the Town; untill it had receiv'd some Rules for Correction from Mr. Dryden himself, who also was pleas'd to Grace it with an Epilogue, to which it ows no small part of its success.

After this, I thought I might safely enough commit it to its For­tune, and having had the Approbation of the Greater, I presume it was Protected from falling under the Censure of the Lesser, and half Witted Iudges.

But no sooner can a young Writer appear in the World, but he is look'd upon by those squint-ey'd Pretenders, to wit, no less than some Notorious Malefactor, or Branded Outlaw, whom all may Prosecute, Attaint, Iudge, Condemn, or what they please, cum Privilegio.

For passing by some, whose more nice Iudgment, or rather prying appetite, can find faults where few others wou'd suspect them, some whose sharper Wit is Satyrically employ'd in turning the best thoughts into Ridicule, to Ruine a Writer, as it were betwixt Iest and Ear­nest; There are others who wanting the sense to discern, what is, and where a true Fault lies, nay, sometimes to distinguish it from a Beau­ty, [Page] will yet in spight of Stupidity have their share too in Damning the Reputation of an Author; and the means they took, was to give out, that this was only an Old-Play Transcrib'd.

But I hope I may easily unload my self of that Calumny, when I shall testifie that I never heard of any Play on the same Subject, untill my own was Acted, neither have I since seen it, though it hath been to [...]d me, there is a Cock-Pit Play, going under the name of the Scy­thian Shepherd, or Tamberlain the Great, which how good it is, a­ny one may Iudge by its obscurity, being a thing, not a Bookseller in London, or scarce the Players themselves, who Acted it formerly, cou'd call to Remembrance, so far, that I believe that whoever was the Author, he might e'en keep it to himself secure from invasion, or Plagiary; But let these who have Read it Convince themselves of their Errors, that this is no second Edition, but an entirely new Play.

Moreover, utterly to overthrow this Objection, I must acquaint you that I drew the design of this Play, from a late Novell, call'd Tamer­lane and Asteria, which I'm sure bears not half the Age of the Tra­gedy before mention'd, and I am confident the Characters are quite dif­ferent.

The last and worst aspertion is cast upon me, is, that I was help'd by others in the performance. But if I have not Friends that can clear me of this also, I hope the Congruity of the Style throughout the whole Play will testifie the simplicity of the Author.

This I think may satisfie my more equal Iudges, that this Trifle is mine own, or if you will, honestly begotten between me, and my Muse, which I hope is yet so Chast, and her Reputation so sound, as not to have her Issue Branded with Plurality of Fathers.

Thus we see what kind of Criticks we have now-a-dayes, that can lye by the whole sale, and Damn a Play in a Breath, that we may the more easily bear with them who pique at word by word, and thought by thought, in a more modest retail manner.

I shall not now strive to defend this Trifle in any particular Circum­stances, but leave it to those of a more impartial Iudgment; hoping first they may not find as many faults, as they expect, next that they wou'd be so kind as to wink at those which do occur, attributing them to the Youth of the Author, and consequently his want of experience, and Iudgment.