RIGHT a a Summa apud Deum est nobilitas , clarum esse virtutibus . Sola apud Deum libertas est , non servire peccatis . Hierom. Epist . ●4 . c. 5. vertuous , pious , and most accomplished Gentlemen , the present hope , the future prop and honour of our English Nation ; that cordiall longing desire of your temporall and eternall felicity , which hath a long time harboured in the very innermost receptacles of my soule , hath , as at first provoked me to pen , so now at last to publish this HISTRIO-MASTIX for your common good , which here lieth prostrate at your feet , imploring not onely your naked acceptations , but your unprejudicated affections too ; that so you may thorowly scan it with an impartiall scrutinie , before you preposterously fore-judge it out of a misinformed prejudice . It is not I suppose unknowne to any , b b Homines vitiis suis sapientiam inscribunt , ut abscondenda profitentur . Ita non ab Epicuris impulsi luxuriantur , sed vitiis dediti luxuriam ●uam in Philosophiae sinu abscondunt , et eo concurrunt , ubi audiunt laudari voluptatem ; quaerentes libidinibus ●uis patrocinium aliquod ac velamentum . Itaq , quod unum ha●bebant in malis bonum perdunt , peccandi verecundiam . Laudant enim ea quibus erubescebant , et vitio gloriantur : ideoque ne resurgere quidem adolescentiae licet , cum honestus turpi desidiae titulus accessit . Senec● De Vita Beata cap. 12. what favour , what estimation Playes and Players have lately purchased in the opinions and hearts of most ; which I feare are so strangely forestalled , so desperately infatuated with their Syrenian enchantments , that they will hardly brooke the sight , much lesse the reading of this Play-scourging Discourse , whose very title will be a sufficient warrant for many to condemne it , if not a Supersedeas to them to peruse it : such being the froward disposition of prejudicated persons , ( especially when their popular universall overspreading pleasures of sinne in which they most delight , come once to c c See August . Enarratio in Psal. 128. p. 750 , 751 , 752 , accordingly . be controlled by some one private person , which is now the case of Stage-playes : ) that let the truth be never so evident , the arguments , the authorities against them never so convincing , yet they will quite reject and precondemne them , ere they have once examined them . What therefore d d Octavius , pag 96. Minucius Felix , that famous Christian Lawyer , and e e De Idolorum Vanitate Tract . St. Cyprian complained of long since , against the Pagans of their age , in the name of all the Christians : Sic occupant animos et obstruunt pectora , ut ante nos incipiant homines odisse quam nosse , ne cognitos aut imitari possint , aut damnare non possint : Or what f f Apologia advers. Gentes , c. 1 , 2. Tertullian writes in the selfesame case ; Nolunt audire quod auditum damnare non possint . Malint nescire , quia jam oderint , adeo quod nesciunt praejudicant id esse , quod si sciant odisse non poterant , quando si nullum odij debitum depraehendatur , optimum utique si● , desinere injustè odisse . Quid vero iniquius , quam ut oderint homines quod ignorant , etiamsi res meretur odium ? Tunc etenim meretur cum cognoscitur an mereatur . Vacante autem meriti notitia , unde odij justitia defenditur ? quae non de eventu , sed de conscientia probanda est , &c. Or what g g De Iustitia l. 5. c 1. Lactantius of olde lamented upon the like occasion : Student damnare tanquam nocentes quos utique sciunt innocentes ; itaque constare de ipsa innocentia nolunt ; quasi vero major iniquitas sit probatam innocentiam damnare quam inauditam : the same I feare may be the just complaint of this my HISTRIO-MASTIX now● Many , I doubt , will censure , if not exclaime against it ere they reade it ; h h Omnis enim malus ideo persequitur bonum , quia non illi consentit bonus ad malum . Facia● aliquid mali , non obiurget Episcopus , bonus est Episcopus , obiurget Episcopus , malus est Episcopus● Sonat verbum , sonat sermo contradictor libidinis . At ille amicus libidinis suae , et inimicus sermoni contradicenti amicae suae , infestus est , et odit sermonem Dei . August . Enarratio in Ps. 128 , Tom. 8. pars● , p. 751. Vid. Ibid. because it reprehends their vices : and some perchance will purposely disdaine to cast their eyes upon it , for feare they should approve it , at leastwise be unable to controll it . But however others may chance thus ignorantly or maliciously to forejudge it ; yet I hope it shall finde no such ungenteile discourteous entertainment from you deare fellow-Brethren , whose generous ingenuous education hath taught you thus much courtesie , whose religion and profession have learned you this good Lesson ; to heare and know , before you sentence : since Gods Law , & ours too , * * Iohn 7.51 . doth not judge any man , before it heare him , and know what he doth . What i i Seneca , Medea , Act. 2 , f. 145. Medea therefore requested of Creon ; Si judicas , cognosce : or what k k Epistola 110. Seneca desired of his friend Lucilius ; Adhibe diligentiam tuam , et intuere quid sint res nostrae , non quid vocentur ; shall be my present suite to you ; * * Legant prius et poste● despiciant , ne videantur non ex iudicio sed ex odii praesumptione ignorata damnare . Hier●n . Apologia advers R●finum , l. 3. c. 9 , p. 2●1 . to peruse my HISTRIO-MASTIX first , and then to censure it as you finde it . Perchance it may seeme some Paradox , some meere fantastique Novalty , or strang● Monster at the first in this Play-admiring age ; wherein most men like the l l Acts 17.18 , 19 , 20. See Chrysostome , Theophylact , HRabanus Maurus , & Lyra , Ibidem . Athenian Epicurean Stoicke Philosophers , who encountred S. Paul , will be ready to demand in scorne , What will this Babler say ? May we know what this new doctrine whereof thou speakest is ? for thou bringest certaine strange things to our eares ; wee would therfore know what these things meane . But if you will doe it so much honour as considerately to revolve it , you shall finde it to containe nought else but resolved , uniuersally receiued ancient ( though now forgotten ) truthes ; so farre from any suspicion of factious Novalty , or puritanicall singularity , that they have the concurrent testimonies , the unanimous resolutions of m m See Act. 7 , Scene 1 , here p. 545. sundry sacred texts of Scripture , of the n n See Act. 7 , Scene 2 , p. 551 , & Act. 6 , Scene 3 , 4 , 5. whole primitive Church and Saints of God , both before and under the Law and Gospell ; o o See Act. 7 , Scene 3 , p. 570 , to 668● the Canons of 55 severall oecumenicall , nationall , provinciall Synods and Councels of divers ages and Countries : together with the canonicall , the imperiall Constitutions of the Apostles themselves , of Emperours , Popes and other Bishops , p p See Act. 7 , Scene 4 , p. 668 , &c. & Act. 6 , Scene 3 , 4 , 5. the workes of 71 Fathers and ancient Christian Writers of chiefest note , from our Saviours Nativity to the yeare 1200. the suffrages q q See Act. 7 , Scene 5 , p. 688 , & Act. 6 , Scene 3 , 4 , 5. of above 150 Christian Authors of all sorts , from the yeare 1200 to this present ; the sentence of r r See Act. 6 , Scene 3 , 4 , 5. & Act. 7 , Scene 6. p. 70● , &c. 40 Heathen Philosophers , Orators , Historians , Poets ; together with the Play-condemning t t See Act. 6 , Scene 5● p. 455 , to 473. & Act. 7 , Scene 7. p. 713● &c. Lawes and Edicts of sundry Christian , yea Pagan Nations , Republikes , Emperours , Princes , Magistrates in severall ages ; with the u u See Act. ● , Scene 5 p. 485 , to 498. Act. 7 , Scene 5 , & 7. p. 715 , 716. Statutes , Magistrates , Vniversities , Writers and Preachers of our owne renowned Kingdome ; to back , to second them in all particulars ; who all have long since passed this heavie Censure against Stage-playes : that they are the x x Se● here p. 42● to 62. Act. 6 , Scene 12. p. 522 , to 525. & Act. 7. Scene 2. p. 561 , to ●68 . very workes , the pompes , inventions and chiefe delights of the Divell , which all Christians solemnly abjure in their baptisme : y y See Act. 6● Scene 5. p. 447 , &c. the most pestilent corruptions of all mens ( especially young mens ) minds & manners ; z z See Act. 6. throughout . the chiefe fomenters of all vice and wickednesse ; the greatest enemies of all vertue , grace and goodnesse ; the most mischievous plagues that can be harboured in any Church or State ; yea lewd infernall pastimes not tollerable among Heathens , not sufferable in any well-ordered Christian Republike ; not once to be haunted or applauded by any civill vertuous persons , who are either mindfull of their credits , or of their owne salvation . Which as it controlls the grosse mistake of divers voluptuous paganizing Christians in our dayes , who dote on Stage-playes as the most laudable , generous , if not necessary recreations ; so it should now at last ingage all Christians for ever to abandon them ; as the a a See Act. 4. Scene 1 , 2. Act. 6 , S●ene 3 , 4 , 5 , 12 , 20. Act. 7. Scene 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. accordingly . very best of Saints , of Pagans have done in former ages . Alas , what goodnesse , what profit doe men reape from Stage-playes , that should any way ingage their affection● to them ? Doe b b See Act. 7 , Scene 3 , 4 , 5. they not enrage their lusts , adde fire and fewell to their unchast affections ; c c See Act. 6 , Scene 5. deprave their minds , corrupt their manners , d d See Act: 6 , Scene 12 , 18 , 20. cauterize their consciences , obdurate their hearts , multiply their heinous transgressions , e e See Act: 6 , Scene 1 , 2. Haec mala dedecoris impie●atisque plenissima , adorentur in templis , ride●antur in theatris , cum his victimas immolant , vastetur pecus etiam pauperum ; cum haec histriones agunt et saltant● effundan●ur patrimonia divitum . Aug: Epist : 202 , Tom: 2 , p : 953. consume their estates , mispend their time , f f See Actus 6 , throughout . canker their graces , blast all their vertues , interrupt their studies , indispose them to repentance and true godly sorrow for their sinnes ; make all Gods ordinances ineffectuall to their spirituall good , draw downe the guilt of sundry Play-house abominations on their persons , incorporate them into lewd ungodly company , and without repentance damne their soules● Doe g g See Act: 3 , 6 , & 7 , throughout accordingly . they not dishonour their most holy God , abuse their most blessed Saviour sundry wayes , blaspheame and grieve Gods holy spirit , prophane the sacred Scriptures and the name of God , deride and jeare religion , holinesse , vertue , temperance , grace , goodnesse , with all religious , vertuous persons , advance the Divels scepter , service , kingdome , by sowing , by cherishing the seedes of atheisme , heathenisme , prophanesse , incontinency , voluptuousnes , idlenes , yea , of all kind of wickednes both in their Actors and Spectators hearts ? How many thousands have Stage-playes drawne on to sinne , to lewdnesse , to all sorts of vice , and a● last sunke downe to hell , with the weight of those prodigious evills which they had quite avoided , had they not haunted Play-houses ? How many Novices and Youngsters have beene corrupted , debauched , and led away captive by the Divel , by their owne outragious lusts , * * See Act. 6 , Scene 3 , 4 , 5. by Panders , Players , Bawdes , Adulteresses , Whores , and other lewd companions , who had continued studious , civill , hopefull , towardly and ingenious , had they not resorted unto Stage-playes , the originall causes of their dolefull ruine ? which bring no other benefit to their Actors , their Spectators at the last , but this , h h See Act. 6 , Scene 12 , 18 , 19 , 20. to post them merrily on to hell with a greater loade of soule-condemning sinnes ; i i Hieron● Epist: 3 , cap : 3. quasi vivendi sensum ad hoc tantum acceperant ut perirent ; as if they had received life for no other purpose , but to worke out their owne eternall death , which needes no other instruments to effect it , than lewd lascivious Enterludes . O therefore ( deare Brethren ) as you tender Gods honour● the publike welfare , or your owne soules safety , abominate these glittering gawdy pompous snares , these k k See Act: 8 , Scene 5 , p : 789 &c. sugered poysoned potions of the Divell , by which he cunningly endeavours your destruction when as you least suspect it : and if any of you have formerly frequented Stage-playes , either out of l l Adhuc enim non pueritia in nobis est , sed quod est gravius , puerili●as remanet : et hoc quidem peius est , quod auctorita●em habemus senum , vitia puerorum , nec puerorum tantum , sed infantium . Seneca Epist : 4. childish vanity , or injudicious ignorance of their oft-condemned mischievous lewd effects ; or through the m m Arbitror es●e hic nonnullos quos amici sui volebant rapere ad Circum , ad theatrum , et ad nescio quas hodiernae festivitatis nugas . Forte ipsi illos adduxerunt ad Ecclesiam : sed sive ipsi illos adduxerunt , sive ab iis ad Circum adduci non potuerunt , in aqua contradictionis probatisunt : August : Enar : in Psal. 80 , Tom. ● , pars 2 , p. 8. over-pressing importunity of voluptuous carnall acquaintance ; or by reason of that popular erronious good opinion which our wicked times conceive of Stage-playes which humour them in their lusts ; or because such n n In vitia alter alterum trudimus : Quomodo autem ad salutem revocari possint , quos iam nemo retinet , populus impellit ? Seneca , Epist : 41. multitudes resort now daily to them , that they carry one another headlong to these sinfull pleasures without any sense of danger , or hopes of reformation ; be you henceforth truly penitent for what is past , o o August . Enarratio ●n in Psal. 84 , p. 55. Quem delectaba● spectare , delectet orare ; quem delectabant cantica nugatoria et adulterina , delectet hymnum dicere Deo , currere ad Ecclesiam , qui primo currebat ad theatrum : as St. Augustine sweetly councels : and wholly abandon them for all future time . And so much the rather , that you may now at last falsifie that ignominious Censure which some English Writers in their printed Workes have passed upon Innes of Court Students ; of whom they record● p p See Earles Character of a Player , Charact . 38. & Sir Thomas Overbury his Character of an Innes of Court man , accordingly . That Innes of Court men were undone but for Players ; that they are their chiefest guests and imployment , & the sole busines that makes them afternoons men : that this is one of the first things they learne as soone as they are admitted , to see Stage-playes , q q Bishop Halls Epistles Decad. 6 , Epistle 6. Mr. Bolton his generall Directions for our comfortable walking with God , p. 73 , 74 ; here p. 364 , 365 Stephen Gosson his Epistle to the Right Worshipfull Gentlemen & Students of both Vniversities and the Innes of Court prefixed to his Playes confuted in five Actions . & take smoke at a Play-house , which they commonly make their Studie ; where they quickly learne to follow all fashions , to drinke all Healths , to weare favours and good cloathes , to consort with ruffianly companions , to sweare the biggest oaths , to quarrell easily , fight desperately , game inordinately , to spend their patrimony ere it fall , to use gracefully some gestures of apish complement , to talke irreligiously , to dally with a Mistresse , and hunt after harlots , to prove altogether lawlesse in steed of Lawyers , and to forget that little learning , grace and vertue which they had before : so that they grow at last pas● hopes of ever doing good , either to the Church , their Country , their owne or others soules . Which heavie Censure , if any dissolute Play-haunters have justly occasioned heretofore , to the dishonour of those famous Law-Societies wherein they live , I hope their subsequent reformation will reverse it now ; that so all England may henceforth experimentally discerne , that Stage-Playes and Actors are as well condemned , detested by her Lawyers , as by r r See here pag. 492 , to 498 her Lawes and Statutes , which brand all Stage-playes for unlawfull pastimes ; all common Actors , for notorious Rogues ; too base Companions for generous spirits to beholde or dance attendance on , who were created for more noble objects , more sublime imployments than base infamous Enterludes , or most abject Players . O therefore let the serious consideration of your owne native generositie , of your heroicke Studies , elevated with the sublimer contemplations of your transcendent Christian Nobility ; which makes you s s Rom. 8.17 heires of heaven , coheires with Christ , yea , t t Revel. 1.6 . 1 Pet. 2.5 . Kings and Priests unto God your Father , ( who hath not onely u u Hebr. 2.7 , 9. 1 Pet. 5.4 . crownes of glory , but likewise an x x Luke 12.32 . 1 Thes. 2.12 . Hebr. 12.28 . Iames 2.5 . heavenly eternall Kingdome to bestow upon you ) raise up your depressed mindes and thoughts so farre above these earthly childish vanities , as with a kinde of holie magnanimitie to trample them under feete y y Hebr. 11 , 25 as drossie filthie pleasures , unworthy any Christians presence , much lesse his approbation , who hath farre better , farre sublimer spectacles to beholde ; even those which I shall here commend unto you in Cyprians words , in his elegant Booke against Stage-playes : z z De Spectaculis lib. Tom. 2 , p. 244 , 245. See Augustine Enarratio in Psal. 39 , Tom. 8 , pars 1 , p. 416 417 , 418. De Symbolo ad Catechumenos l. 2 , Tom. 9 , pars 1 , p. 1393 , here p. 345 , to 347 ; & Tertullian de Spectaculis , c. 28 , 29 , &c. to the like purpose . Habet Christianus Spectacula meliora , si velit ; habet veras et profuturas voluptates , si se recollegerit , et ut omittam illa , quae nondum contemplari potest , habet istam mundi pulchritudinem , quam videat atque miretur ; solis ortum aspiciat , rursus occasum , mutuis vicibus dies noctesque revocantem , globum lunae , temporum cursus incrementis suis , decrementisque signantem , astrorum micantium choros , et à summo de summa mobilita●e fulgentes , anni totius per membra divisa , et dies ipsos cum noctibus per horarum spatia digestos , et terrae molem libratam cum montibus , et proflua ●lumina cum suis fontibus , extensa maria cum suis fluctibus atque littoribus : Interim constantem pariter summa conspiratione nexibusque concordiae , extensum aërem medium tenuitate sua cuncta vegetantem , nunc imbres contractis nubibus profundentem , nunc serenitatem refecta raritate revocantem , et in omnibus istis incolas proprios , in aëre avem , in aquis piscem , in terra hominem . Haec inquam , et alia opera divina , sint Christianis fidelibus Spectacula . Quod theatrum humanis manibus extructum istis operibus poterit comparari ? magnis licet lapidum molibus extruatur , crusta sunt montium ; et auro licet ●ecta lucanaria reluceant , astrorum fulgore vincentur : nunquam humana opera mirabitur quisquis se cognoscerit filium Dei. Dejicit se de culmine generositatis suae qui admirari aliquid post Deum potest . * * Therefore every Christian though a Lay-man ought t● reade the Scriptures . Scripturis in quam sacris incumbat Christianus : ( let Papists , and those who are given so much to Play-bookes co●sider this : ) ibi invenie● condigna fidei Spectacula . Videbit instituentem Deum mundum suum , et cum caeteris animalibus hominis illam admirabilem fabricam melioremque facientem : spectabit mundum in delicijs suis , ●justa naufragia , piorum praemia , impiorumque supplicia : maria populo sicca●a , et de pe●ra rursus populo maria por●ecta : spectabit de coelo descendentes messes , non ex areis : inspiciet flumina transitus siccos refraenatis aquarum agminibus exhibentia : videbit in quibusdam fidem cum igne luctuantem : religione superatas feras , et in mansuetudinem conversas : intuebitur et animas ab ipsa morte revocatas : considerabit etiam de sepulchris admirabiles ipsorum consummatorum jam vitas corporum redactas : et in his omnibus jam majus videbit Spectaculum , Diabolum illum qui totum detriumphaverat mundum , sub pedibus Christi jacentem . Quàm hoc decorum Spectaculum Fratres ? quàm jucundum ? quàm necessarium ? intueri semper spem ●nam , et oculos aperire ad salutem suam . Hoc est spectaculum quod videtur etiam luminibus amissis . Hoc est spectaculum , quod non exhibet Praetor , au● Consul , sed qui est solus et ante omnia , et super omnia , immo ex quo omnia , Pater Domini nostri Iesu Christi , cui laus et honor in saecula saeculorum . These ( my beloved Brethren ) are the true celestiall worthie Spectacles of every pious Christian : O let your hearts , your mindes , your affections , your eyes and eares be wholly ravished and taken up with these , which will onely bring true comfort to our soules . Let mee therefore ●lose up my Epistle to you with St. Augustines words : * * Enarratio in Psal. 80 , & 81. Ton . 8 , pars 2 , p. 1 , 18. Intendite ad magna haec spectacula . Ista sunt spectacula utilia , salubria , aedificantia non destruentia , imò et destruentia et aedificantia : Destruentia recentes Deos , aedificantia fidem in verum et aeternum Deum : Let other men therefore who love their Stage-playes * * 2 Tim. 3.4 better than their God , their soules , resort to Theatres whiles they please ; ( * * August . Enar. in Psal 81. p. 18 Illi habeant mare in theatro ; nos habeamus portum in Christo : ) but let Christ Iesus be your * * Ephes. 1.23 . 1 Cor. 15.28 . all in all , your onely solace , your onely Spectacle , and joy on earth , whose soule-ravishing heart-filling presence , shall be your eternall solace , your everlasting * * 1 Cor. 13.12 . 1 Iohn 3.2 Rev. 21.22 , 23. visible all-glorious most triumphant Spectacle in the highest heavens ; whither God bring us all at length for this his Sonne and mercies sake . Amen .

THREE things there are , beloved Readers , in this my HISTRIO-MASTIX , for which I am necessitated to make some Apologie , to prevent all causelesse cavills .

The first , is its tedious prolixitie ; which as it far exceeds its primitive intended Brevity , so it may somewhat derogate from its welcome acceptation , as being too large for so slight a subject : But as it was no disparagement to Phaebus his pallace ; that a a Materiam superabat opus ; Ouid. Metamorph . l. 2. the workmanship of it did exceede the matter ; so I hope it will be no prejudice to this Treatise , if b b Hierom Com. in Matth. c. 21 , Tom. 6 , p. 45 , C. Malo nodo malus cuneus , may be allowed for a Plea . Hee who intends to encounter a potent enemie , c c Luke 14.31 , 32. & Ioanni● Sarisberiensis , de Nugis Curialium , lib. 1 , c. 1● 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. had neede provide a puissant armie : Hee who will cure a large spreading gangrene , must proportion his plaister to the maladie ; he who would discover or refute an inveterate generally received Error , must come strongly armed with convincing reasons and authorities , else he is like to do more harme than good . Players and Stageplaies , with which I am now to combate in a publike Theatre in the view of sundry partiall Spectators , are growne of late so powerfull , so prevalent in the affections , the opinions of many both in Citie , Court and Country ; so universally diffused like an infectious leprosie , so deepely rivited into the seduced prepossessed hearts and judgements of voluptuous carnall persons , who swarme so thicke in every Play-house , that they leave no empty place , and almost crowd one another to death for multitude ; as they did in * * Sunt enim multi non digne viventes baptismo quod perceperunt . Quam multi enim baptizati hodie Circum imple●e quam istam basilicam maluerunt . Si mimus est , curritur ad Amphitheatr●̄ ; quantis turbis impletur ? stipantur parietes , pressuris se urgent , prope se suffocant multitudine : isti super numerum sunt . In Psal. 39 , Enar. Tom. 8 , ●ars 1 , p. 418 ; & in Psal. 80 , pars 2 , p. 5. Augustines time , chusing rather to fill the Theatre than the Church ; that had not this my HISTRIO-MASTIX overgrowne its first intended pigmies stature , it had d d Magnis enim telis , magna portenta feriuntur . Seneca Epist. 82. never beene able to foyle those many Giantlike Enemies with which it is now to grapple ; neither could it have borne any geometricall proportion with those festring ulcers , those many practicall applauded Errors , whose cure and refutation it indeavours . * * Ben-Iohnsons , Shackspeers , and others . Some Play-books since I first undertooke this subject , are growne from Quarto into Folio ; which yet beare so good a price and sale , that I cannot but with griefe relate it , they are now e e Shackspeers Plaies are printed in the best Crowne paper , far better than most Bibles . new-printed in farre better paper than most Octavo or Quarto Bibles , which hardly finde such vent as they : And can then one Quarto Tractate against Stage-playes be thought too large , when as it must assault such ample Play-house Volumes ? Besides , our Quarto - Play-bookes since the first sheetes of this my Treatise came unto the Presse , have come forth in such e e Above forty thousand Play-bookes have beene printed and vented within these two yeares . abundance , and found so many customers , that they almost exceede all number , one studie being scarce able to holde them , and two yeares time too little to peruse them all : And this made this Treatise swell the greater , because these Play-bookes are so multiplied . Againe , I considered with my selfe , that our Players , our Play-haunters are now more in number , more various in judgements , in humours , in apprehensions , than they have beene in former ages ; whereupon I thought good to produce * * Nam quoniam variant animi variavimus artes : Mille mali species , mille salutis ●●unt . Ouid. De Remedio Amoris , l. 2. p. 225. more store of different Play-refelling Arguments and Authorities than else I should have done ; that so I might satisfie every Reader to my power , and meete with all evasions . All which being l●id together , will easily excuse my overmuch p●ines ; which if it seeme irkesome to any Reader , I am sure it ●as farre more troublesome to me the Author , who if I am peccant in this kinde , it is onely out of too much lo●e to doe the Readers greater good : who if they complaine for want of time , may soone peruse it without any losse , by devoting their Play-house houres to it , till they have read it over .